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Posts Tagged ‘Chili’

Captain Beefheart dies aged 69

American rocker and painter Don Van Vliet, who recorded under the moniker Captain Beefheart, has died at the age of 69. According to a representative for the Michael Werner Gallery in New York, the star passed away on 17th Dec 2010, reports Contactmusic. The exact cause of his death was unknown, although he had long [...]

OFF! | NYC | Review

By: Ron Hart

OFF! :: 10.22.10 :: Generation Records :: New York, NY


OFF!’s debut, The First Four EPs, is out digitally worldwide. iTunes has the exclusive bonus track “Zero Hour” and eMusic has the exclusive bonus track “Sexy Capitalists.” The vinyl box set and cassette versions of The First Four EPs will be released on December 14th.

OFF! by Dan Monick

For a guy who collects vinyl, having to wait in line for a show in the basement of one of your favorite record shops instead of thumbing through the racks is a practice in restraint no crate digger worth his weight in wax should be required to endure. But when the concert you are waiting to see is an intimate performance from former Black Flag/Circle Jerks frontman Keith Morris’ new California punkcore supergroup OFF!, it is well worth the torture.

Formed by Morris in 2009 and rounded out by guitarist Dimitri Coats of Burning Brides, Rocket from the Crypt drummer Mario Rubalcaba and Steven McDonald of Red Kross fame on bass guitar, the band is a total throwback to the days when punk rock was a bloodsport, a time that Morris fondly recalled several times over the course of OFF!’s half-hour set.

In fact, right when we walked down the steps of Generation Records’ nugget-rich used section that comprises the basement, Morris was in the middle of a yarn about his old bandmate in Black Flag, Robo, making extra money in the old days allegedly digging ditches for a snuff film operation before OFF! tore into an uncompromising mini-set that featured select tunes from the band’s excellently brief 7-inch box set The First Four EPs. As records by Iggy Pop, AC/DC, David Bowie and The Who adorned the wall behind them, the quartet played loud, fast and fearless, tearing through minute-long songs like “Darkness,” “Killing Away” and “Fuck People” with the tenacity of a far younger band, interspersed with Morris musing on everything from the capitalist practices of his former peers on the L.A. scene like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gwen Stefani to meeting guitarist McDonald when he was just an 11-year-old Black Flag fan who used to sneak into shows.

However, the most poignant moment of the evening came when Morris performed a stirring, ferocious tribute to his old pal, the late Jeffrey Lee Pierce of western punk icons The Gun Club, and with whom Keith was in the early stages of working on a musical collaboration before Pierce tragically succumbed to a brain hemorrhage in 1996.

And nothing was cooler than seeing this whole thing go down at Generation, a place where so many NYC punk fans discovered the dreadlocked trail of inspiration, influence and energy Keith Morris has blazed for over 30 years and continues to do so as a 55-year-old creating some of the most incendiary sounds of the 21st century.

JamBase | Pissed Off
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Flogging Molly: 2011 Green 17 Tour Dates

TOUR STARTS FEBRUARY 8 IN DALLAS, TX


Flogging Molly

Celtic punk ensemble Flogging
Molly
have announced dates for their 7th Annual Green 17 Tour, which crosses the U.S. from February 8
through March 19 (see dates below). The Green 17 Tour was born in 2004 as a countdown to St Patrick’s Day with a
performance celebration in each city leading to the holiday.

The band is currently in Asheville, NC recording their new album with producer Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers,
The Avett Brothers). Songs from the upcoming 2011 release will be performed during the Green 17 Tour. Special
guests for the tour will be announced shortly.

Tickets for the Green 17 Tour go on sale on December 11. For more info on the 2011 Green 17 Tour, visit www.floggingmolly.com.

Flogging Molly 2011 Green 17 Tour Dates:

February 8 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
February 9 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
February 11 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
February 12 – Miami, FL – The Fillmore

February 13 – Tampa, FL – Ritz Ybor

February 14 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
February 15 – Charlotte, NC – Fillmore
February 17 – Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
February 18 – Norfolk, VA – NorVa

February 19 – Atlantic City, NJ – House of Blues

February 20 – Albany, NY – Northern Lights
February 22 – Providence, RI – Lupo’s
February 24 – Rochester, NY – The Armory
February 25 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
February 26 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
February 27 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
March 2 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
March 3 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
March 4 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
March 5 – Nashville, TN – War Memorial Auditorium
March 7 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue

March 8 – St Louis, MO – The Pageant

March 10 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room

March 11 – Chicago, IL – Congress Theater
March 12 – Chicago, IL – Congress Theater

March 13 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
March 15 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
March 17 – Tempe, AZ – Luckyman’s St Patrick’s Day Bash
March 18 – Las Vegas, NV – Beach at Mandalay Bay
March 19 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater

Flogging Molly
Tour Dates

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Las Tortugas V | Review | Pics

Words by: Dennis Cook | Images by: Chad Smith

Las Tortugas – Dance of the Dead V :: 10.28.10-10.31.10 :: Evergreen Lodge :: Groveland, CA

Las Tortugas V by Chad Smith

We are pulled through this life by small miracles. One needn’t be religious or even spiritual to understand this. The muck of bosses, bills and bullshit we trudge through would be simply unbearable if not for the oases along our trek. For several years, a nigh-perfect music festival in the lush Yosemite woods has proven such a blessed respite for a growing tribe, and the fifth anniversary installment was far & away the finest outing yet, one of those small miracles that makes all the weary miles fade and invigorates us for the rocky road ahead.

Las Tortugas V, like previous outings, miniaturized and refined all the best aspects of a festival, throwing an incredible four-day party with an extraordinary soundtrack. While other fests may have bigger names and carnival rides, Tortugas focuses on serious musicians who overflow with passion and heartfelt artistry. This is a showcase for some of the best music coming out of California today paired with kindred spirits from around the country, a place where veterans embarking on a new thang (7 Walkers), utter pros seeking one of the most engaged, joyful audiences they’ve ever encountered (Yonder Mountain String Band), workingman’s lifers (The Mother Hips, ALO, Cornmeal) and crazy talented comers (Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, Antioquia, Big Light, Pimps of Joytime) mingle. A feeling of creative freedom and smiling connection with all the things that originally got these players into the music game floats in the air.

And this palpable, happy charge buzzes in equal amplitude from the attendees. Perhaps more than any other festival I’ve experienced, Tortugas creates a beautiful crucible that burns hot and bright because EVERYONE throws a pinch or two into the pot (Jam Cruise is the only thing that compares, though each gathering is singular & beautifully strange in its own way, and something any serious music geek should experience at least once, like Glastonbury, Bonnaroo and a handful of others). With most folks bringing different costumes every day and an all-in enthusiasm that hums loudly before the first set kicks off, Tortugans are a rare breed. The near total absence of thievery, sketchiness and rudeness common at most music fests immediately sets Tortugas apart in a big way. It’s not to say that everyone is cool but un-cool moments are quickly defused, and there’s so much obvious love and care bouncing around the tents and trees that even grumps inclined to kick up dust are charmed into grinning contentment. The depth of conversation and generally open-handed attitude that abounds at Tortugas is a glimpse of our better angels, the way the world might be if we shared our bounty and lived with less fear and worry.

If this seems like an overreach for a music festival it isn’t. Las Tortugas is a playground for music loving people with an amiable synergy that relaxes muscles, eases minds and lifts spirits. Scoff if you must – modern cynicism is hard to shake – but four years running I’ve witnessed this vibe grow & grow & grow, seeing it put the zap – in the best way – on the heads of first timers that leaves them pleasantly shaken by weekend’s end. It is why the vets scheme all year long on how we might delight others, tickling fancies and pricking up ears in any way we can dream up, and then sharing that dream with anyone willing to jump through the looking glass with us.

Nestled in one of the most unique, idyllic settings in the United States (Evergreen Lodge), Las Tortugas situates about a 1000 people in a world apart and lets them share in a fully communal shindig. Each year a couple tunes spring into my head during the course of my wooded walks, a few lines that repeat like mantras as I gather up as much Tortugas mojo as I can before heading homeward. This year it was these verses from Jackson Browne’s “Farther On” and the Grateful Dead’s “The Music Never Stopped.”

Las Tortugas V by Chad Smith

Adrift on an ocean of loneliness
My dreams like nets were thrown
To catch the love that I’d heard of
In books and films and songs
Now there’s a world of illusion and fantasy
In the place where the real world belongs
Still I look for the beauty in songs
To fill my head and lead me on

AndÂ…

There’s a band out on the highway.
They’re high-steppin’ into town.
They’re a rainbow full of sound.
It’s fireworks, calliopes and clowns

And everybody was dancing, drink hoisting blurs of color and laughter that convinced one that the world might not be so bloody awful after all.

What follows are some musical highlights, pointers towards sweet new bands, and a whole bunch of great pictures from Chad Smith, heavy on Tortugans and their mirthful ways. Even if every band isn’t mentioned it’s important to point out that EVERY band that graced a stage at Tortugas V was the real deal, dedicated craftsmen born to meld melody and verse. Where one might wonder at other fests why a band made the lineup, Tortugas only presents quality, ranging from the newly born to the well-seasoned. It’s a formula that’s generated a lot of connections between the bands, resulting in some of the finest sit-ins one can find in the festival world. The sense that we’re ALL in this together – both for this weekend and in a much larger sense – is inescapable on both sides of the stage at Tortugas.

Continue reading for Thursday highlights…

Thursday Highlights

See the full gallery for Thursday here

Theme: Gypsy Circus

Lebo by Chad Smith

1. Lebo :: 2:15-3:30 am. :: Terrapin Big Top Stage

With a shortened introductory day, it wasn’t hard to stay up for the first rousing late night set in what turned out to be Tortugas’ finest night owl programming to date. As usual, Thursday felt like a Saturday here, and ALO’s guitar shredder and a special rhythm section were the flaming cherry atop everything. Flowing loose ‘n’ heavy, Dan Lebowitz, playing a hollow-body electric instead of his usual axe, gave us a commanding showcase that reaffirmed his place amongst today’s very best guitarists. Backed by ALO bandmate Dave Brogan (drums) and Tracorum‘s jaw-dropping rhythm section, Ian Herman (drums) and Mark Calderon (bass), Lebo stirred up his own Band of Gypsys roar, jamming with impunity and instigating some of the fiercest rhythm work heard all fest. Lebo’s versatility as a singer also shown through, and the obvious camaraderie these guys displayed made for some of the least predictable, most immediate music I’ve heard from any of them.

2. Poor Man’s Whiskey :: 9:15-10:30 pm :: Terrapin Big Top Stage

PMW pulled off a real neat trick: Playing the iconic, deeply held music of Old & In The Way – an obvious root source for their music – while authoritatively putting their own stamp on the material. For one thing, bassist Aspen holds his own against John Kahn’s original bass work, and he’s got a whole new sonic range to explore with drummer George Smeltz, bringing a whole new beat to things. As great as the musicians were in Old & In The Way, they weren’t exactly forthcoming performers. By contrast, PMW boasts two natural born rock stars in multi-instrumentalist/singers Eli Jebidiah and Josh Brough, who have that thing that gets everyone in the room off. Ably goosed by guitar-mandolin whiz Jason Beard, the boys made the well-tread newly furrowed and showed once again that Poor Man’s Whiskey is one of the premiere country-rock outfits today, a wild bunch that could have handily shared bills with the Flying Burrito Brothers, Goose Creek Symphony and Garcia and his picking pals.

Allie Kral by Chad Smith

3. Cornmeal :: 11:45 pm-1:00 am.:: Terrapin Big Top Stage

I like when Chicago’s Cornmeal get weird and they certainly did on this inaugural eve. There’s no doubting their hard strummin’ might – bluegrass doesn’t get more blue or grassy – but like a lot of quality acts lumped into the string band basket, Cornmeal have a LOT more variety in their Crayon box, and they didn’t hesitate to color outside the lines at Tortugas. Especially impressive was their ability to move from incredibly melodic strains to downright psychedelic runs, each feeling a part of the other instead of bordered off segments. The many raised glasses and elevated bonhomie in the tent spoke to their pronounced ability to lift heels, and the whole lot of them is goddamn charming as hell. Extra gold stars for ever-compelling violinist Allie Kral, who seemed possessed in a lovely way at several junctures, and dead-on-it drummer JP Nowak. Also, I’m kind of in love with their easy flowing songwriting and the entire delivery and style of banjoist-singer Wavy Dave Burlingame after this set.

Ones To Watch

Jack Grace Band
Full of good time, bohemian energy of the sort Tom Waits left behind when he grabbed a bullhorn, Grace and his slinky compatriots are a bar band in the archetypal sense, specializing in Latin tinged, gold standard song craft instead of by-the-numbers boogie, but still perfect for tossing back a few. First band to play the Tuolumne Hall and one I came home anxious to explore further.

Dead Winter Carpenters
With members of Montana Slim, it’s no surprise these cats ‘n’ kittens twang a bit, but they do so very winningly, and while their set on Thursday was appropriately uptempo, their recent self-titled debut shows a knack for slower, more meditative fare. They’re still getting their feet fully under them but there’s already some very appealing things happening in this band.

Continue reading for Friday highlights…

Friday Highlights

See the full gallery for Friday here

Theme: Decade Dance (retro looks from TV, history, etc.)

ALO & Friends by Chad Smith

1. ALO :: 2:00-4:00 am. :: Terrapin Big Top Stage

What other band could meld Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ In The Years” with snippets of The Four Seasons’ “December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)” with the whole panoply of pop past & future sandwiched in between? Dressed in the outfits from the Man of the World photo/video shoot, ALO lived up to every part of their name at this dawn chasing performance. In fact, keyboardist-singer Zach Gill even got so in touch with his animal side that he started talking to the stuffed birds on the branches decorating the stage late in the set. When these boys are on – and believe you me, this was as ON as I’ve ever seen them – music feels alive and organic, something to be touched and tasted, savored and slathered all over. That its also incredibly tuneful and you can dance to it speaks to their great talent and dedication to making even outside-the-norm music conform to something more sophisticated and thoughtful. After spending the better part of the summer and fall opening up for pal Jack Johnson, ALO played like men balling without a condom for the first time in a LONG time – liberated beasts whose bite set a good many of us free, too.

2. New Monsoon :: 6:15-7:30 pm. :: Terrapin Big Top Stage

For a band that doesn’t play out that much anymore, New Monsoon commanded the stage like utter professionals. There’s so much damn talent in this quintet that it remains shocking to me that more people don’t know and adore them. But regardless of stardom, San Francisco’s New Monsoon demonstrated how adept they are at commingling styles and giving all of them rock ‘n’ roll oomph in this early evening set. Filled with rhythm and force, their mix of originals and tasty covers (and a whole lot more well-picked, well-executed covers on Saturday from ZZ Top and more) goes down so smoothly that the many hours of woodshedding and sweat that lay before each performance are invisible. What we got at both sets this Tortugas was a band fully in control of their instruments and material, able to knock it out with aplomb at a moment’s notice. Drinking in electric guitarist Jeff Miller – long a personal favorite – renewed my desire to see him form a Derek & The Dominoes tribute band since he’s one of the few axe slingers who could generate the same guitar magic as Clapton at his inarguable peak.

Pimps of Joytime by Chad Smith

3. Pimps of Joytime :: 8:45-10:00 pm. :: Terrapin Big Top Stage

Dressed as ragtag cowpokes, the Pimps offered a master class in funk and its roots, showing equal flair for gutbucket blues, silky soul and myriad other variations on what seem like overplayed, boring forms in lesser hands. This band knows groove, way down in their bones, and they move with harnessed power and abundant natural charisma. Every single time I see the Pimps I like them WAY better. Shooting straight, I haven’t been this wholly charmed by a band in the funk-rock vein since I first saw Prince back in the day. Only Seattle’s Staxx Brothers are competing in the same arena, and rather than play favorites, I’ll just say that anyone who likes to get more than knee-deep as they howl about atomic dogs and funky drummers should get familiar with both. Quickly.

4. Antioquia :: 10:15-11:45 pm. :: The Tavern

With the propulsive energy of Remain In Light Talking Heads and political dance-mindedness of The Clash, SF’s Antioquia turned heads in their Tortugas debut. Admittedly, it wasn’t just their reach-out-and-grab-ya sound alone that did the job. The band set a new fest record for the most exposed flesh by dressing as the cock-socked Red Hot Chili Peppers with lead singer Maddy Streicek dolled up like an actual chili pepper. In their veins flows the sticky stuff that agitated early Brian Eno, the initial wave of jazz-fusion cats, Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band and similar inspired wackos. In so many ways, this set showed that Antioquia is exposed, fearless and free of boundaries, and they’ve got the chops to back up the bravado with substance and style.

Continue reading for Saturday highlights…

Saturday Highlights

See the full gallery for Saturday here

Theme: Monsters vs. Aliens

1. 7 Walkers :: 4:00-7:15 am :: Terrapin Big Top Stage

Bill Kreutzmann by Chad Smith

Bill Kreutzmann returned to Tortugas with his new labor of love, 7 Walkers. Hitting the stage in the middle of the night and playing till well after sunrise, Billy, Papa Mali, George Porter, Jr. and Matt Hubbard took us into the thickest, headiest swampland, brimming over with bayou shuffles, primal rock, psychedelic sparks and other rich, earthy textures. The only break any of them had during this three-hour-plus journey – and if you took the whole trip you really felt like you’d conquered a major peak – was when Papa and Matt paired off for some harmonica pierced deep blues and tender balladry followed by a bass-drums conversation between Bill and George. Each is a marvel in their own right but the chemistry in 7 Walkers just bowled folks over during this set, where they offered almost all of their fabulous self-titled debut, Dead & New Orleans chestnuts and fat-free jams that pounced and tore at one like a hungry gator. 7 Walkers feels vibrantly alert, alive in all the ways that count, and this only seems like the beginning of more and better music to come. [The band killed it again on Sunday night, only 13 hours after this set, where they leaned more heavily on Dead tunes like "I Know You Rider" and a great "Sugaree" with George on lead vocals. What's so cool about this band is how the familiar numbers feel freshly washed and ready to be pushed into service in the way they handle them. The final encore of "Iko Iko" lit up the tent with a light that comes from within, steering our ragged conga line into folklore and festivity with sure hands and hearts.].

2. Guitarmageddon:: 3:00-4:15 pm :: Terrapin Big Top Stage

Under the new leadership of PMW’s Eli Jebidiah, this starts-over-the-top celebration of shred science topped themselves with this Prince themed set. Any serious fan of His Purple Mounted Majesty would have stumbled away grinning ear-to-ear after this display that launched with a sizzling reading of “Let’s Go Crazy” but then weaved into killer recent tunes (“Chelsea Rogers,” “Musicology,” “Guitar”), the infamous Black Album (“Rockhard in a Funky Place”) and the choicest medley ever (“Raspberry Beret > Kiss > Sexy MF > Little Red Corvette > 1999″). The core band consisted of Eli (guitar, vocals), absolutely stunning heavy hitter Daria Johnson (drums, vocals), bassist Mark Calderon (doing some primo tough-funk bass faces), Tracorum keyboardist Fletcher Nielsen (the “Doctor” suited up in scrubs!) and guitar marvel Sean Leahy, who also summoned up a host of voices to fill different Prince-ly holes. Guest six-stringers included former Guitarmageddon leader Josh Clark (TLG), NM’s Jeff Miller, Newfangled Wasteland’s Chris Haugen, Tracorum’s Louis XIV-attired Derek Brooker and Big Light’s Jeremy Korpas, with each cameo suiting the songs to a tee and showing off how much amp-rattling guitar talent resides in Northern California today. The material was well rehearsed but not so much so that flashes of inspiration didn’t prevail. The whole gliding, intoxicating set ended in Gold Experience standout “Endorphinmachine.” Let’s hope that tapers were active during this one because the Minneapolis faithful just gotta hear this performance. One of the absolute best times all weekend.

3. Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers :: 4:15-5:15 pm :: Tuolumne Hall

Nicki Bluhm by Chad Smith

It’s a blast to watch an audience be warmed by Nicki and her gifted Gramblers. It starts slow, the potency of their songwriting and their leader’s obvious vocal pow scooping one up, pulling them in close, and whispering sweet, softly wise things in their ears. Once snuggled in, well, they’ve got you and good. Bluhm is a throwback to classics like Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt and other strong women who carved their place in the largely male rock game. She’s a far cry from the manufactured divas and half-talents that pass for “female artists” in the mainstream today, and it’s her abiding quality, natural gifts and good instincts for collaborators that are making her an artist to watch VERY closely. The new songs from her forthcoming sophomore album were uniformly excellent, and as ever guitarist Deren Ney is a haunting knockout, especially when he works a slide. Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers are the full package, and they left Tortugas with a LOT of new fans this year.

4. Sean Leahy Trio :: 12:00-1:45 pm :: The Tavern

Leahy may be one of THE best guitar players you’ve never heard. His cult amongst Northern Cali musicians and serious music nuts is well established, but it probably wouldn’t have taken more than a single tune at this blazing trio set to win over almost anyone with a six-string boner. Lean, fast and highly interactive, Leahy’s trio consists of himself on electric guitar and lead vocals with Tortugas all-star Mark Calderon on bass (only ALO/Big Light bassist Steve Adams worked as many sets) and drummer Daria Johnson, equally fantabulous here as her Guitarmageddon stint earlier in the day. The gal is a real talent and a show unto herself – just watch her face if you want a whole movie to accompany the music. Blues, classic rock, fleet-fingered jazz and more were explored in this set, and all of it packed with thick, ropy muscle. When Leahy lets go and trusts in his abilities, as he did here, he’s positively superhuman and a joy to watch. Johnson and Calderon are perfect foils, and they even made time for a brief M80 Mailbox cameo, a Leahy project with Dave Brogan and Josh Clark, that included a bruising cover of Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing In The Name Of.”

Ones To Watch

Five Eyed Hand
The Tavern seemed wonderfully afloat when this SF unit unleashed their energetic, free flowing music on Saturday night. For sure there’s a foundation of rock ‘n’ roll but things sizzle and switch around with the technically possessed feel of Weather Report taken down to “Shakedown Street.” Mix in the phased dynamics of Bill Frisell, the swerving violin of Mahavishnu and more than a dollop of quality space rock and you’re getting closer to the ballpark. Five Eyed Hand showed being hard to place is a virtue, and jam kids looking to do some traveling between their ears should definitely investigate their self-titled album and fine live show.

Continue reading for Sunday highlights…

Sunday Highlights

See the full gallery for Sunday here

Theme: The Masquerade Ball – Halloween

1. The Mother Hips :: 5:30-7:00 pm.:: Terrapin Big Top Stage

The Mother Hips by Chad Smith

Having seen a ludicrous number of Hips shows (quickly approaching triple digits and spread over the group’s entire history), it’s heartening and more than a little shocking that these guys can still completely blow me away. That’s what happened at this late afternoon set that began with a surprising cover of “Long Black Veil” and seemed like it was going to be one of the band’s cozier, country-tinged daytime sets (“Whiskey On A Southbound,” “Later Days”). Then, they took a wide left turn with a stunning reading of “Young Charles Ives,” fired up the over-thrusters and charged into the unknown, unleashing all the brilliance they possess in a rock show that knocked far more than me back on our heels. Other highlights included “October Teen,” “Chum” and “Precious Opal,” but for sheer audacity and skill it’s hard to beat the rush from “Mission In Vain” into Grateful Dead classic “The Other One,” which the Hips made their own, layering on hard guitar and limber rhythms in a way that nailed the original and infused it with newness. After The Mother Hips recent barnburner at The Fillmore, it’s clear this band is on a very nice tear right now – one more reason to fully commit to one of America’s best bands, as if folks really needed more inducements with the Hips!

2. Yonder Mountain String Band :: 11:00 pm-12:45 am.:: Terrapin Big Top Stage

A couple things struck me quite poignantly at this Yonder performance: 1) What a massively satisfying sound, and 2) how little this music relates to bluegrass despite the stupid label they’ve been given. For just four guys, playing rather quietly, YMSB generates voluminous waves of music, each player accenting and commenting on the lead lines in a clever, unobtrusive way that nonetheless supports the main thrust at all times. In about two hours, one heard echoes of small group jazz from the 20s/30s, 60s modal exploration, hardcore traditional folk, good ol’ fashioned rock, early country music and some of the free-ranging stylistics Oregon introduced to acoustic music.

Yonder Mountain String Band by Chad Smith

There was none of the showy, dick measuring, spotlight grabbing qualities one finds in most actual bluegrass bands, and even when they took solos, they didn’t go on endlessly or freeze out what everyone else was doing. Where at times I’ve found some of Yonder’s selections a little jokey, today’s YMSB came off as relatively serious and considered, but not too much so. There’s no being overly stuffy when you’ve got a natural born court jester like Jeff Austin dancing on the needle’s head, and though a touch jet-lagged, Austin didn’t disappoint. He makes everyone feel welcome and serves as the chief ambassador to Yonder Mountain, though never staying so long in the foreground that the other three guys are overshadowed. Like most aspects of their music, there’s a hearty balance that’s refreshing and worthy of a lot of respect and genuine enthusiasm.

And jeezus can these guys play! As pickers, each is a blast and perfectly attuned to their brethren. A delight in all ways and one of the best closing night exclamation points ever at Tortugas.

3. Tracorum :: 12:45-1:45 am.:: Tuolumne Hall

Sometimes we listen to music without really hearing it. However, when we’re ready to open up and experience a thing as it truly is, well, it can feel like a baptism. Such was my experience with Tracorum on Sunday night. Having enjoyed them at previous Tortugas, this time I got it in a huge way. What they do is rock ‘n’ roll but done so fundamentally right it makes you want to kiss them when they power down their instruments. This night, as the festival raged like we’d never seen before on a Sunday eve, Tracorum embodied our collective high spirits and unspoken ache at this experience coming to a close and put those elements to work in some of the best boogie-minded, straight-great rock heard all weekend. Comparisons to The Band and studio aces The Wrecking Crew flitted through my brain as I danced to the heart of this fleeting makeshift town next to my loose-limbed sisters and brothers. Every aspect was right on the money and every man showed himself a massive talent on their respective instruments, pouring soul into every note, their conviction becoming our own. While they display a lighter hand and more Latin-y hips on their new album, The Lesson, live this band exudes legend-making magic.

4. Big Light :: 12:45-2:00 pm.:: Tuolumne Hall

Big Light belongs on big stages. They are rapidly outgrowing small spaces, pushing their already appealing material into skyward reaching constructs that need room to breath and cavort. A modern rock band to be sure, Big Light betters the majority of the Pitchfork darlings by being able to deliver in a salacious, snarling way live, which is exactly how they charged at folks on this afternoon. A guest turn from Izabella keyboardist Jeff Coleman stirred up the best “Panther” to date, and nothing else was less than excellent. An ever-forward arching NEED to be better is what’s fueling Big Light’s rapid growth. Seeing them onstage in a set like this is to watch evolution take place in real time. It’s exciting and more than a little fun to behold. Based on showings like this, only expect more and finer music from this quartet in the future.

Ones To Watch

Kate Gaffney

Gaffney is a real emerging talent, filling The Tavern with songs that were easy to like but filled with nuances that make you want to hear them again right away. She’s got an instantly likeable voice that’s only growing more subtle and powerful the longer she plies her craft. She’s surrounded herself with top-notch players and keeps adding interesting material to her songbook. So, in short, there’s nothing not to dig about this Bay Area lady.

Newfangled Wasteland

A Beck cover band is a clever idea. Better still is a Beck cover band that plays nearly unrecognizable versions of Beck’s tunes. Dave Brogan, Chris Haugen, Steve Adams and TLG’s Trevor Garrod hit a sublime groove in their Sunday night set, showing that the longer they toy with these mutations the more they become their own. Said it before but it bears repeating: Festival bookers need to pay attention to this band.

The Hydrodynamics

The Hydrodynamics are the new project of former Blue Turtle Seduction chief songwriter/singer/guitarist Jay Seals. While his old band gave folks warm fuzzies in their festival one-off reunion, it’s clear this is where Seals’ heart is. Filled with hooky, bouncing melodies and abundant female energy, The Hydrodynamics were a touch ragged in their Tortugas debut but it was still evident that this is catchy stuff, pulling from the pop side of The Clash and marrying it to smoother vibes. A young band worth putting on your radar.

Epilogue

There’s no real way to say goodbye to Las Tortugas. Life over these four days is so wonderfully intense and happy that disconnecting from it and returning to time sheets and business calls is inevitably a shock to the system. Still, it’s incredible that Tortugas exists at all. What one finds at Tortugas is the sheer capacity for human beings to share and cavort is FAR greater than we might imagine. This feeling stays with us if we’re conscious about it and nestle away a portion in our breast for the long haul that awaits us beyond Evergreen Lodge. Everywhere one turns at Tortugas is evidence of human ingenuity and compassion delivered with melody and harmony. If you didn’t get kissed, bear hugged or otherwise lovingly groped it’s because you didn’t open your arms. But, as we revel, we’re given chances for revelation, too, and these deeper currents make Tortugas more than just a good time. The idea that we might be better citizens of the world – more loving neighbors, more welcoming strangers – is writ large at Las Tortugas, interwoven with the notes hanging in the air, ephemeral but real all the same.

Continue reading for Thursday/Friday pictures…

var siteRoot=”http://www.jambase.com”;var newPhotoIndex=”16″;$(document).ready( function() { $(“#GalleryWidget”).load(siteRoot+”/Photos/Widget.aspx?galleryID=166″);}); 10/28/10 – 10/29/10 – Las Tortugas Dance of the Dead (Evergreen Lodge) (Groveland, CA) View Photos

Continue reading for Saturday pictures…

var siteRoot=”http://www.jambase.com”;var newPhotoIndex=”25″;$(document).ready( function() { $(“#GalleryWidget”).load(siteRoot+”/Photos/Widget.aspx?galleryID=167″);}); 10/30/10 – Las Tortugas Dance of the Dead (Evergreen Lodge) (Groveland, CA) View Photos

Continue reading for Sunday pictures…

var siteRoot=”http://www.jambase.com”;var newPhotoIndex=”60″;$(document).ready( function() { $(“#GalleryWidget”).load(siteRoot+”/Photos/Widget.aspx?galleryID=168″);}); 10/31/10 – Las Tortugas Dance of the Dead (Evergreen Lodge) (Groveland, CA) View Photos

JamBase | Delighted
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12 Musicians & Bands Snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Controversy has surrounded the Hall of Fame in regards to how the nomination process is run, since only a few individuals are behind it — and they’re not even musicians.

Thom Yorke/Atoms For Peace | 04.05 | NYC

Words by: Nick Todaro | Images by: Josh Jarrett

Thom Yorke/Atoms For Peace :: 04.05.10 :: Roseland Ballroom :: New York, NY

Yorke & Flea – Atoms For Peace :: 04.05 :: NYC

Beneath the digital glitter that the world refers to as Times Square, there’s a hidden layer of contextual meaning that provides an explanation as to why our world has become so hectically distorted. Taking a look around this area, advertising displays dominate the landscape; completely side swiping the architectural marvels that wait at every corner and undermining the gritty sincerity such a metropolis has to offer. For the average tourist, looking up at the Roseland Ballroom‘s marquee displaying “Atoms For Peace: Sold Out” must have meant absolutely nothing amidst the sea of endless billboards. However, if you were one of the people waiting in the line wrapping around the block to get into to the Roseland, it meant nothing less than the world.

Back in October, Thom Yorke assembled an all-star backing band consisting of Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, R.E.M. and Beck touring drummer Joey Waronker and percussionist Mauro Refosco of Forro in the Dark to play Yorke’s solo material. Now performing under the name Atoms For Peace, the group kicked off their first tour in New York.

DJ mastermind Flying Lotus opened the evening by delivering an animated set to an eager audience. For the majority of his performance, FlyLo grooved and lip-synced his way around the material while keeping his beats well knit. Regardless of his skills as a DJ, the Roseland’s speakers were not able to handle the bass frequency of the performance. Cracking thuds kept interrupting the sound quality during the most unfortunate of moments. Ending his set with a remix of Radiohead’s “Idioteque,” FlyLo hyped the crowd right when they needed it most. “It’s almost that time,” he announced as the song came to a halt and the house lights came back up.

Atoms For Peace :: 04.05 :: NYC

A half hour later the fervent audience erupted into applause as the room went dark once again. Walking to the left side of the stage, Thom Yorke sat down at his piano to commence a full band recreation of his 2006 solo album The Eraser with the LP’s title track. Along with the addition of a horn player, the band expanded towards a much denser sound than the record displays and instantly threw the crowd into a sonic trance.

Continuing the album in sequence, “Analyse” gave Yorke a chance to demonstrate his arcane falsetto. As the Ballroom attendees continued to fill the room with cheers, Mauro Refosco grabbed hold of a Whamola to add a compelling new element to “The Clock.” After upbeat favorite “Black Swan,” another instrumental surprise occurred with Flea – who happened to be rocking blue hair – swapping out his bass guitar for a melodica to produce a spellbinding version of “Skip Divided.” Together, Yorke and Flea looked like a couple of snake charmers dancing underneath the entrancing arsenal of green pulsating luminosity. Clearly, these guys were having an absolute blast.

Godrich’s stalky silhouette hovered over an assortment of electronics and synthesizers while keeping busy on “Atoms For Peace” and “It Rained All Night.” Both of these songs received a huge crowd response, especially during the latter’s stand out line, “And it rained all night and washed the filth away/ Down New York air condition drains.” Keeping the energy level high, “Harrowdown Hill” gave Flea a rare opportunity to return to his slap bass roots, which attached a new layer of funkiness to the tune. As “Cymbal Rush” concluded the opening set, eyes remained fixated on the whirling figures up on the stage.

Thom Yorke – Atoms For Peace :: 04.05 :: NYC

After a brief encore break, Yorke returned to perform a few songs solo. “Boy! There’s a lot of stuff to remember in those songs. Speaking of remembering, here’s one you’ve never heard before,” he said before debuting “Chris Hodge/Let Me Take Control.” The number features a trill vocal performance by Yorke as he supplely finger picks his way around the guitar. Following this was a piano driven “Daily Mail,” which Yorke debuted last summer. Building up to the song’s pinnacle of pouncing chords, Yorke sent the crowd into a frenzy as he finished and went into the Radiohead classic “Everything In Its Right Place.”

After another short break the rest of the guys rejoined Yorke, and the group dove into the Radiohead b-side “Paperbag Writer” before plunging into a new Radiohead track entitled “Judge, Jury, Executioner.” Held together by a bouncy rhythmic core, the song boasts a dimension of gloominess that’s become one of the signature elements of Radiohead’s music. Grinning, Yorke added a sense of foreshadowing to the last songs by stating, “We’re about to get crazy up here.” Soon, the room became immersed in a battle between jumpy bass patterns and frantic percussion rhythms during “Hollow Earth.” Similarly, “Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses” felt completely disorderly with its changing time signature, while maintaining a strict composition that could only have been masterminded by Yorke. Ending the track in a glitchy jam, the band waved their final goodbyes and the crowd pleaded for more.

Walking out of the Roseland and back into the dizzying clutter of lights in Times Square, many seemed to be wondering if these live performances would result in the group collaborating on an album together or further touring. Underneath the tangled assortment of propagated messages, experiencing something with such a consequential vibe to it seemed far too genuine to have a limited number of occurrences. If Atoms For Peace is any indication of Yorke continuing his career outside of Radiohead, we’re in for one hell of a ride.

var siteRoot=”http://www.jambase.com”;var newPhotoIndex=”1″;$(document).ready( function() { $(“#GalleryWidget”).load(siteRoot+”/Photos/Widget.aspx?galleryID=20″);}); Thom Yorke / Atoms For Peace | Roseland Ballroom | New York, NY Thom Yorke’s new band Atoms For Peace kick off their tour at New York’s Roseland Ballroom to a sold out crowd… View Photos

Thom Yorke/Atoms For Peace:: 04.05.10 :: Roseland Ballroom :: New York, NY
The Eraser, Analyse, The Clock, Black Swan, Skip Divided, Atoms For Peace, And It Rained All Night, Harrowdown Hill, Cymbal Rush

E: ChrisHodge/Let Me Take Control (NEW SONG)*, The Daily Mail*, Everything In Its Right Place*

E2: Paperbag Writer, Judge, Jury & Executioner, Hollow Earth, Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses


* = Yorke Solo

Atoms For Peace Tour Dates :: Atoms For Peace News :: Atoms For Peace Concert Reviews

JamBase | Right Place
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Why Chili is So Important

I was a bit surprised to realize that in the 3 years I have been writing here, I have never written about Chili. Then I thought “Well, that’s not a huge surprise, considering that Chili has absolutely nothing to do with Marketing”. If you are not into cooking or chili, this would be a good [...]

Earl Greyhound: New Album

EARL GREYHOUND TO RELEASE SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE APRIL 13

Earl Greyhound

Brooklyn trio Earl Greyhound will release their second full length album, Suspicious Package, a blistering rock inferno, on April 13. Suspicious Package was recorded at Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica, CA under the nimble and keen production auspices of Dave Schiffman (Mars Volta, Red Hot Chili Peppers, System of a Down).

The band formed in 2002 with the collaboration of songwriters Matt Whyte and Kamara Thomas, who began performing regularly as a duo in New York City. All the while, they were crafting the unique sound and songs that would form the foundation for a colossal rock band. Their influences swept from the strident English three-and four-pieces of the 70′s, to the dark pop and heavy grunge grooves of the 90′s, to the transcendental, noisy acid sounds of modern rock.

In 2005, Earl Greyhound recorded their first album, Soft Targets, but also hit their first snag when drummer Chris Bear left to pursue his fortunes with the band Grizzly Bear. Reluctant to release the album without a permanent drummer, Matt and Kamara vowed to play relentlessly until their dream drummer found them.

Later, guitar player Kirk Douglass (The Roots) witnessed a show and brought his friend and Gold Crowns band mate Ricc Sheridan to the next few gigs. Says Ricc, “I awoke from a dream one night, and I knew this was my band.” A few weeks later, a rockneck-inducing jam confirmed that the band had found its soul mate, and they hit the ground running. Soft Targets and Earl Greyhound’s wrecking ball of a live show earned them oodles of fans and critical acclaim from The New Yorker, SPIN, Rolling Stone, JamBase, Brooklyn Vegan and Pitchfork, among others.

The next three years were spent touring the U.S., Canada and Japan as well as opening for Gov’t Mule, Chris Cornell and Saul Williams.

Suspicious Package marks a turning point in the band’s maturation since the benefit of Sheridan’s full creative collaboration. Listeners will notice a marked expansion into the higher reaches of the sonic territories.

Suspicious Package Track Listing

1. The Eyes Of Cassandra (Part 1)
2. The Eyes Of Cassandra (Part 2)
3. Oye Vaya
4. Ghost And The Witness
5. Shotgun
6. Holy Immortality
7. Sea Of Japan
8. Black Sea Vacation
9. Bill Evans
10. Out Of Air
11. Misty Morning

Earl Greyhound tour dates available here.

And for more on Earl Greyhound, see our 2007 feature here.


Madonna invests £937K in coconut water manufacturing firm

Queen of pop Madonna has invested 937,000 pounds in a coconut water manufacturing firm after she fell in love with the drink during her Sticky & Sweet world tour.
Madonna, 51, along with her manager Guy Oseary, snapped up shares of New York-based company Vita Coco, which sells the latest trendy beverage across the U.S.
And [...]

Ron Asheton Tribute | 01.13 | L.A.

Words & Images by: L Paul Mann

Ron Asheton Tribute :: 01.13.10 :: The Roxy Theatre :: Los Angeles, CA

Ron Asheton (press photo)

One year after his death, this special show in L.A. was a fitting tribute to the StoogesRon Asheton.

Organized by his 18-year-old niece, Leanna Asheton – whose father is the original Stooges drummer, Scott Asheton – the tribute was a chaotic, low-key showcase of some great new bands, as well as a chameleon jam comprised of a bevy of veteran rock stars. Formed in 1967, the innovative Stooges are widely regarded as helping give birth to punk music. Lead singer Iggy Pop, who may have invented stage diving, became an American pop icon largely due to his antics with the Stooges. The proceeds from the door were donated to the Los Angeles Welfare Trust Fund because of Ron Asheton’s fondness for cats and dogs. The Roxy Theatre on Sunset Strip was perhaps the perfect venue for a tribute to the irreverent Ron Asheton. In the nearly four decades since it opened in 1973, little has changed at the dusty little theatre. The same dingy black curtains open to reveal the well-worn stage. The same dark, dimly lit interior enveloped the crowd, dressed mostly in black garb, an identical scene that has played out over and over since the infamous venue first opened.

The event started out relatively orderly, with great young talent being announced and showcased. Hand picked by Leanna, presumably for their strong edgy sounds akin to the Stooges, there were some great new acts flexing their retro roots. Opening band Billy Boy On Poison played gutsy bluesy rock, belying their youthful appearance. Singer Davis Le Duke led the band in a full rock and roll assault of the Stooges’ classic “Search and Destroy.”

The Entrance Band followed with a more modern but no less intense set of music. Sounding like a cross between The Smashing Pumpkins and My Bloody Valentine, the newfangled trio created a wall of powerful, jam trance rock. Lead singer and guitarist Guy Blakeslee, who plays his guitar upside down and left handed, said, “This is all for Ron.”

The Entrance Band

The Southern rock influenced Night Horse played the next set. This Los Angeles-based band sounds a bit like Band of Horses, but with a more traditional Southern blues-rock backbone like The Allman Brothers. The five-piece tore through a short set of hard rocking songs. Lead singer Sam James Velde was joined by Billy Boy’s Davis Le Duke for a blues drenched duet at the end of their set. Velde dedicated the night not only to Asheton, but also to contemporary alt-punk rocker Jay Reatard, who had just died that day.

At this point, in a true punk spirit that Ron Asheton would have probably enjoyed, chaos and confusion prevailed. As the special lineup of rock legends began to congregate onstage, gone were the introductions, leaving the crowd to guess who was actually moving in and out of the ever-changing lineup. Much of the super jam session was led by legendary punk bassist Mike Watt, best known as the founding member of The Minutemen and fIREHOSE. Watt joined the reformed Stooges in 2003. The other most prolific player of the evening was longtime Stooges collaborator Steve Mackay (sax, keys). A revolving mix of drum superstars included Scott Asheton, Jane’s Addiction‘s Stephen Perkins, and Red Hot Chili PeppersChad Smith.

A parade of singers took the stage to belt out classic Stooges numbers. Mike Jtone of Circus Boy performed in classic Stooges fashion, singing in a trance-like rage. Stage diving, writhing on the floor and kicking instruments about the stage, he raised the ire of Mackay after knocking over his keyboards. Steve Baise, another legendary New York punk bassist, actually played this first barrage of music until he stage dived into the press photographers. Jesse Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal) also played bass before Mike Watt took over.

Mike Watt

The guitarists were also mixing it up. Scott Thurston quietly took the stage about the same time as Mike Watt. He replaced another former Stooges guitarist, James Williamson. Thurston, who was the Stooges’ keyboardist from 1973 until their initial break up in 1977, is perhaps best known as the current guitar player for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. As Watt began his portion of the jam, he cheekily asked the crowd, “Does anybody know ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog?’” When an unidentified member of the audience raised his hand, Watt offered him the microphone and the would-be-singer scrambled onstage to perform an impressive rendition of the song with the super group jamming behind him. Then, Watt took over singing duties on other Stooges classics like “1969″ and “I Feel Alright.”

The super jam was followed by the headliner, the Saint Louis-based Living Things. Reminiscent of early Romantics, this hard rocking band has a clean, polished sound that might be destined for the top of the music charts. Led by lead singer Lillian Berlin and his brothers Eve (bass) and Bosh (drums), along with Cory Becker on guitar, this band has been charting music since their 2005 debut, Ahead of the Lions. Looking and sounding every bit like a classic cutting edge rock band, Living Things may be on the brink of mass exposure. The band is slated to appear as the legendary Ramones in the upcoming motion picture The Runaways. The film, scheduled to premiere January 24 at the Sundance Film Festival, is based on the story of the ’70s all-girl band of the same name that launched the careers of Joan Jett and Lita Ford. The band played a frenetic set laced with Stooges songs at the Roxy.

After most of the crowd had departed, there was one final late night set led by an Iggy Pop impersonator, with Scott Asheton back on drums for more Stooges classics.

Continue reading for more pics of the Ron Asheton Tribute…

Mike Jtone

Mike Jtone, Stephen Perkins, Jesse Hughes

Billy Boy On Poison

Davis Le Duke – Billy Boy On Poison

The Entrance Band

Steve Mackay

Night Horse

Scott Thurston

Random fan singing “I Wanna Be Your Dog”

Chad Smith

Stephen Perkins

Living Things

Living Things

Iggy Pop impersonator

JamBase | Fun House
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Frusciante No Longer A Red Hot Chili Pepper

John Frusciante No Longer In the Red Hot Chili Peppers

John Frusciante

Thanks to Pitchfork, we’ve learned that super-shredder John Frusciante is no longer in Red Hot Chili Peppers. Turns out the guitar ace actually quit about a year ago. Here’s the “Clarification” from Frusciante’s MySpace page:

When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus. There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding. They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways.

To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction. Upon rejoining, and throughout my time in the band, I was very excited about exploring the musical possibilities inherent in a rock band, and doing so with those people in particular. A couple of years ago, I began to feel that same excitement again, but this time it was about making a different kind of music, alone, and being my own engineer.

I really love the band and what we did. I understand and value that my work with them means a lot to many people, but I have to follow my interests. For me, art has never been something done out of a sense of duty. It is something I do because it is really fun, exciting, and interesting. Over the last 12 years, I have changed, as a person and artist, to such a degree that to do further work along the lines I did with the band would be to go against my own nature. There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do.


Sending love and gratitude to you all.

:-)

Frusciante has released several solo albums, the most recent was The Empyrean (January 20, 2009).

This departure is the second time Frusciante has quit the Chili Peppers. He joined the band in 1988 following the death of original guitarist Hillel Slovak and quit the first time in 1992. He rejoined the band in 1999. No replacement has been announced, but Pitchfork and MusicRadar are reporting that the Peppers have been working with Josh Klinghoffer.


Stanley Clarke Trio | 10.05 | Minneapolis

Words by: Joe Lang | Images by: Woody Wolfe

Stanley Clarke Trio :: 10.05.09 :: Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant :: Minneapolis, MN

Stanley Clarke Trio | 10.05 | MN

Hiromi is the future of jazz. A personification of youth, sex appeal, charisma, accessibility, femininity, humility and humor, the five-foot-nothing Amazon woman seems to exhibit everything that the connotation of jazz is not. This type of expectation defying excitement is just what jazz is lacking and needs more of. For her second appearance at the Dakota this year, this time with the Return to Forever rhythm section of Stanley Clarke and Lenny White (billed as the Stanley Clarke Trio in support of Clarke’s 2009 Jazz in the Garden – see JamBase review here), Hiromi brought every aspect of her persona and musicianship to put on a master class that simultaneously created a cohesive musical statement and overshadowed her bandmates. In contrast to her primary influence, Chick Corea, who appeared with the rhythm section the previous month (see the review here), Hiromi used her dynamism and chops not as an end in themselves, but as a mean to cultivate a transcendent musical impact that tore the house down.

The trio opened with a piece which made its live premiere at the venue the previous month, Clarke’s “Three Wrong Notes.” On the frantic swinger, Clarke and White allowed Hiromi out of the gate with a stream of machine gun lines and a vocabulary and cohesion of ideas that dwarfs players three times her age. While her solo was unbelievable in and of itself, her comping behind Clarke after her solo concluded was what cemented her maturity as a player. Unlike Corea in his performance the month before, Hiromi played very sparse and supportive lines behind Clarke’s rapid fire solo, exhibiting a willingness and desire to not command the performance but to serve the music as a whole. Clarke set up a groove not unlike James Singleton’s playing on Robert Walter’s “Parts and Holes,” and the group was into the traditional “Sakura Sakura.” Again, the dynamic emotive range of the trio was on full display as Hiromi conjured up the spirit of maestros like McCoy Tyner and Ahmad Jamal in her chordal fragments and light-as-a-feather touch.

Clarke & Hiromi | 10.05 | MN

The highlight of the night came next as the trio took on Chick Corea’s “No Mystery.” With dazzling unison lines, the piece was a dynamic roller coaster with an endless supply of energy and a sense of melody and counterpoint that transcended the original version. They garnered a standing ovation from many of the club’s patrons (myself included). Hiromi stood with an enormous smile as Clarke took the microphone and facetiously talked about the history of the song. “That was one of our easier pieces of the night. Lenny and I were on the original recording, some time back in the 1800′s,” Clarke said provoking a laugh from the audience. “We still look good though.”

The band then took on two unannounced ballads. The first was a melancholy tone poem that found Clarke drawing his bow while Hiromi conjured up rainy day soundscapes and ethereal colors on her instrument. The second ballad would be hard to chart as it started as a chipper, standard sounding piece and proceeded to deconstruct itself in an improvised excursion into the unexpected. The group then took on White’s “Paradigm Shift,” where the drummer took a solo between Clarke and Hiromi’s playful and quirky melodies and accelerated, unison sixteenth note triplets. After retreating to a standing ovation, the trio returned in triumph to take on the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge.” On the reharmonized tune, Clarke picked up his acoustic bass guitar and plunked out the vocal melody as Hiromi repainted the harmonic climate before launching head first (no pun intended) into a head banging, piano pounding thrash solo that had her looking more like a Muppet than a piano virtuoso. After revisiting the melody, the trio bowed and returned to the green room in triumph.

The only drawback of Clarke’s new trio was the same downfall present when Corea occupied the piano bench. Rather than play as a unison machine greater than the sum of its parts, White and Clarke are more content to play sparsely behind Hiromi as she burns up the keys. While Hiromi’s musical maturity and execution in the lineup showed greater acuity than her forefather Corea, it would be refreshing to see the unit function as more of a singular entity. That said, Hiromi’s playing is worth the price of admission all by itself. It is hard to overstate her musicality or importance to the future of jazz. While some might try to dismiss her playing as overbearing in the technique department, ignoring her sensitivity to the musical situation at hand would be to court ignorance, at best. And for any lingering doubts (if there were any to begin with) about her ability to play straight ahead acoustic jazz, her delivery as a side woman (or frontwoman, depending on how you care to look at it) to one of jazz’s most potent rhythm sections quickly dispatches any such ridiculous notion. If the Minneapolis show was any indication, the upcoming dates are sure to be some of the best shows of the year.

Hiromi tour dates available here.

JamBase | Forefront
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Ben’s Chili Bowl Founder Dead At 82

It’s a solemn Thursday in DC for thousands of hot dog-lovin’ Washingtonians. Ben Ali, the founder of Washington’s world-famous Ben’s Chili Bowl Restaurant, has died. He was 82.
Mr. Ali died of congestive heart failure at his home on Wednesday night, says restaurant manager Maurice Harcum.

Ben’s Chili Bowl — home of the best half-smoke in Washington, [...]

Thom Yorke’s New Band: Videos

Thom Yorke Debuts New Band In Los Angeles

Over the weekend Thom Yorke debuted his new band featuring Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Beck/R.E.M. drummer Joey Waronker, Forro in the Dark percussionist/multi-instrumentalist Mauro Refosco and Red Hot Chili Pepper bassist Flea. The group performed a “public rehearsal” at L.A.’s tiny Echoplex club on Friday (10/02) and put on their first official show last night (10/04) at L.A.’s Orpheum Theater. They play again tonight at the Orpheum. Tickets to Friday’s “secret” gig sold out in minutes and were reportedly being scalped online for as much as $3,000.

Both shows began with the title track from Yorke’s 2006 solo album The Eraser and went on to include the entire album in order. After almost an hour, both shows also featured Yorke performing a solo encore before bringing the band back for a number of new tunes.

10.02.09 :: Echoplex :: Los Angeles, CA

The Eraser, Analyse, The Clock, Black Swan, Skip Divided, Atoms for Peace, And It Rained All Night, Harrowdown Hill, Cymbal Rush

Encore I (Thom solo): Open the Floodgates, Lotus Flower, Skirting on the Surface, Judge, Jury, Executioner

Encore II (full band): Paperbag Writer, The Hollow Earth, Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses


10.04.09 :: Orpheum Theater :: Los Angeles, CA

The Eraser, Analyse, The Clock, Black Swan, Skip Divided, Atoms For Peace, And It Rained All Night, Harrowdown Hill, Cymbal Rush

Encore I (Thom solo): Lotus Flower (Moon Upon A Stick), Open The Floodgates, Super Collider

Encore II (full band): Paperbag Writer, Judge, Jury & Executioner, The Hollow Earth, Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses

Videos From Echoplex (10/02):

“Open the Floodgates”

“”Lotus Flower”

“Skirting on the Surface”

“Judge, Jury & Executioner”

Video’s From Orpheum Theater Night I (10/04):

“Analyse”

“Lotus Flower (Moon Upon A Stick)”

This video is for “Open the Floodgates” and the unreleased Radiohead song “Super Collider”:

Special thanks to ateaseweb.com for setlists and pointing us in the direction of the videos.


2010 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees

The 12 nominees up for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum next year were revealed on Wednedsday.

According to The New York Times, eclectic group of 12 acts in contention for the 2010 class are: ABBA, Darlene Love, Donna Summer, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, KISS, Laura Nyro, LL Cool J, Red Hot [...]

Stanley Clarke Trio:Jazz In the Garden

By: Trevor Pour

If you don’t consider Stanley Clarke one of the top five players in the bass business you don’t know Stanley Clarke. It’s as simple as that. As one of the preeminent global jazz minds of the last four decades, Clarke has contributed his otherworldly abilities to more albums, projects and tours than most artists could ever hope to glean. From his wildly influential 1976 record School Days to his continued work with fusion giants Return to Forever, it appears that Clarke has a true Midas touch. And yet, throughout it all, the man remains as humble and kind as he is talented and creative. But perhaps more surprising than his impeccable history is the fact that throughout his last 40 illustrious and demanding years Clarke has yet to release an acoustic trio record. That is, until now. The long-awaited Jazz in the Garden (Heads Up), features two of the smartest players on today’s scene: Clarke’s long-time friend and collaborator Lenny White on drums and Chick Corea’s protege Hiromi Uehara on piano.


Jazz in the Garden is modeled in large part after traditional jazz albums of the 1970s The tempo isn’t rushed, the character never forced, and the trio never tries to push an overly “modern” spin on their traditional sound. Yet, it remains a fundamentally unique record that rests firmly and confidently against the fringes of both technical ability and emotional intensity. It’s equal parts nostalgia and fresh perspective, shaken to a complex concoction that provides the perfect note for every passing moment. The brilliant chemistry is expected between Clarke and White, whose collaborative history began in their early twenties during their days with Joe Henderson. Their short but lively duet, “Take the Coltrane,” exemplifies their brotherhood on this record.

The real surprise found herein is how well the young Hiromi meshes with her significantly more experienced peers. A few of the compositions on Jazz in the Garden are written by her, and their caliber is remarkable. The first, “Sicilian Blue,” opens with Clarke playing with a bow and evokes strong visuals inspired by Hiromi’s trip to the Mediterranean island in 2008. It is one of the most haunting, beautiful, endlessly deep tracks on the album, and is one of the best examples of the trio’s chemistry. There truly aren’t any ‘highlights’ on this record, since to label anything as such would be to detract from the rest of the album, something I am unwilling to do. But, a few tracks which warrant mention, including the classic Henderson tune “Isotope,” recreated in stunning accuracy and quality, and the deceptively simple “Someday My Prince Will Come,” which displays a powerful yet delicate performance from Clarke and further exemplifies his stunning rapport with the young pianist. The closing track on the disc, arranged by Hiromi, is an adaptation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge.” At first, the contrast in styles seems far-fetched, but as the composition unfolds with Clarke’s unique slap-bass and White’s precision percussion it becomes a beautifully fitting end to a contemporary album which pays due tribute to history.

JamBase | Prime
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Red Hot Chili Peppers to end hiatus this fall

After a lengthy hiatus, Red Hot Chili Peppers are reuniting in October this year.
While ending split reports, drummer Chad Smith insisted he and his bandmates plan to “jam” together for the first time in two years, reports Contactmusic.
Smith tells Billboard.com, “Everybody was like, ”Y”know, I really like having this time off, not being a Chili [...]

Meredith Lopez: The Blue Moon Moments

the #1 rule of parenting is love the child you have, not the child you wish you had.

Sabria Jawhar: If Saudi Women Are Not Permitted to do Anything, at Least Let Them Exercise

For generations the Saudi female has been denied the right to physical exercise, a key aspect of living an active and happy life that benefits not only the woman but her entire family.