Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – S.O.B.

Son of a bitch, give me a drinkOne more night, this can’t be meSon of a bitch, if I can’t get cleanI’m gonna drink my life away

While baking in the 95-degree heat at the Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson concert, I told Bailey, my son, I was going to get some shade between acts. He told me not to be late for the next act, which he had wanted to see since 2013. I ran into a Canadian couple, and we started talking. I looked down at my phone, and Bailey was calling. He was worried, so I told him to come meet them.

We all talked for a while, and then we went back to our seats when the music from Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats started. Out of all the bands we saw…they impressed me the most. Bob and Willie are what they are, and they were great, but I expected that. I didn’t expect this band, though. I do remember listening to them on Christian’s Blog. He is right up my alley… he lists Townes Van Zandt, Willie Nelson, and Dylan as his influences.

As I listened, the first thought that came to me was a 60s R&B Stax feel. I looked up their discography, and… they are signed to Stax today! They had a sax and trumpet player and a B3 Hammond Organ, and sounded great. As I looked at their discography, they have had many charting recordings, including this one. 

They closed their set with this song. Nathaniel, with his suspenders, came howling out of the speakers like a Pentecostal James Brown who’s had one too many bad nights with a bottle. It hit me like a gospel revival in a whiskey joint. The song is about detox and desperation. A song about hitting bottom that sounds like a party. Nathaniel was seeking sobriety when he wrote this. 

Bailey has known of them since he was 13. He never shared these guys, and I wish he had done that. Bailey is a huge Dylan fan, and when he saw these guys on the bill, he got the tickets for us both. They sold out Madison Square Garden with their first headlining gig in March of this year. 

This song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot Rock and Alternative Songs, #36 in Canada, and #2 on the Canadian Rock Charts in 2015. It was on their self-titled album, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, released in 2015. The album peaked at #17 on the Billboard Album Charts, #7 in Canada, #1 on the Billboard US Folk Albums, and #27 in the UK. 

S.O.B.

I’m gonna need someone to help meI’m gonna need somebody’s handI’m gonna need someone to hold me downI’m gonna need someone to care

I’m gonna writhe and shake my bodyI’ll start pulling out my hairI’m gonna cover myself with the ashes of youAnd nobody’s gonna give a damn

Son of a bitch, give me a drinkOne more night, this can’t be meSon of a bitch, if I can’t get cleanI’m gonna drink my life away

Now for 17 years I’ve been throwing them back17 more will bury meCan somebody please just tie me down?Or somebody give me a goddamn drink

Son of a bitch, give me a drinkOne more night, this can’t be meSon of a bitch, if I can’t get cleanI’m gonna drink my life awayHey, yeah

My heart was breaking, hands are shakingBugs are crawling all over meMy heart was breaking, hands are shakingBugs are crawling all over meMy heart was breaking, hands are shakingBugs are crawling all over meMy heart was aching, hands are shakingBugs are crawling all over me

Son of a bitch, give me a drinkOne more night, this can’t be meSon of a bitch, if I can’t get cleanI’m gonna drink my life away

Son of a bitch, give me a drinkSon of a bitch, this can’t be meSon of a bitch, if I can’t get cleanI’m gonna drink my life awayYeah, ah

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

36 thoughts on “Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – S.O.B.”

  2. I came across these guys on a sampler and immediately got their first album, which is excellent. Haven’t kept up with them much, but that first album is a gem.

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    1. They were on the mark live…perfect…just a great band. I can see why they sold out Madison Square Garden but I didn’t know they were that popular…I’m happy they are.

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  4. wow, I’ve never heard of them but apparently they had some decent success. Fun sound to them, I also didn’t know Stax was an ongoing entity. I totally forgot you were going to the Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson concert… hope it was as good as you and Bailey had expected. Any reviews coming up?

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    1. I thought I might do one…it was a great concert to see those two legends and they held their own. Their voices were really good…Dylan’s voice was better than when I saw him last…and that was 9 years ago.
      This band though Dave…just hit me because I wasn’t expecting it. They were excellent…I can see why they have the success they do. Funny I told Bailey (he knew about them for years) that they sound like a Stax band….and I couldn’t believe they were signed there lol.

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  8. This is a cross between Stax, Mahalia Jackson and George Thorogood at his worst/thirstiest. Truly like ‘a gospel revival in a whiskey joint’. At the end it sounds like the DTs have got him. It’s a song someone like Jerry Lee could have lived and breathed and sung. Is it a Southern thing, that ides of being between seeking salvation and and needing the devils libations.?Whatever, I’ll raise a glass and shout ‘Hallelujah.’

    Nice switch up too; Congratulations Bailey. Nice of the son to guide his pater to another Promising Band.

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    1. Thanks Obbverse… they closed with this song and I knew I had to hear it. It got the entire crowd going…yes…I agree…it’s a Southern thing no doubt. It’s a happy depressing song.

      Yes I have to give him all the credit for this one.

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  10. Thanks for the shoutout, Max. While I immediately recalled the name Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and that I had covered them before a couple of times, pathetically, I had to search my own blog to refresh my memory! Well, I have to say I have good taste – sometimes!🤣

    “S.O.B.” wants me to listen to more of Rateliff’s music.

    I have a ticket for an Outlaw Show in September. It’s supposed to feature Sheryl Crow, in addition to Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, along with Waxahatchee and Madeline Edwards.

    Waxahatchee, a music project of indie folk and indie rock singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield, I covered once before. Madeline Edwards doesn’t ring a bell.

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    1. I have to re-research my blog every single time! LOL
      I so wish you could see these guys. I’m sure Waxahatchee will be great but I want you to see The Night Sweats. I mean I had no idea they sold out Madison Square Garden

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    2. Also Christian…thank you so much for the introduction to this band. If I would have been smart at the time…I would have dug deeper… after Bailey’s enthusiasm….I was sold.

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  11. I don’t know why I didn’t see this post in my reader before. It’s a great recap of your unforgettable experience. I looked at the Dylan setlist and you certainly got a good serving. Desolation Row would have been cool!
    Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats – Fantastic vocals and energy. Your vivid descriptions in your post nailed it.

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    1. I miss them all of the time. Yes it was cool hearing that…I’ll have to check the other setlists I’ve seen but it might be the first time I ever heard it live….thanks for checking it out Matt.
      The NIght Sweats…great live band…a lot of fun and energy.

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  12. Sounds like you and Bailey had a great time. I like this NOLA sound and love that horn. I like this description you give:
    “It hit me like a gospel revival in a whiskey joint. ”
    Best of both worlds.

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    1. It really was good Lisa…aside from the fact it was Bailey and I….that made it even more meaningful…As soon as this band came on…the sun went behind the clouds and it cooled off.

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      1. What a wonderful respite to enjoy the band with. Nice you and Bailey are getting out there and enjoying live music. Not sure if I told you yet or not but I was able to snag some Cake tickets for 8/18 at Meijer Gardens. I’m so geeked!

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      2. Oh cool! I know they will be enjoyable.
        We are going to try to get Big Star tickets for July 20th. The drummer is original and they have Mike Mills from REM playing bass, a guy from the Posies playing guitar, and a power pop legend from the Db’s named Chris Stamey…to hear those songs live would be so cool!

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      3. Oh my gosh, Max, you’ve got to be in 7th heaven. Hope you get the tickets. Will be vibing it happens. With Cake, I negligently missed my window to get early tickets and was so disappointed. Then fmg sent out an email saying some of the acts released some extra tickets, and Cake was one of them. Thank you, Cake!

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    2. Thank you by the way for the compliment. Since I have more time now I try my best to come up with some phrases and lines. You and obbverse has inspired me!

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