RSS Feed     Twitter     Facebook

Posts Tagged ‘Jeff Austin’

30db | 05.20 | S.F.

Words by: Eric Podolsky | Images by: Brian Spady

30db :: 05.20.10 :: Great American Music Hall :: San Francisco, CA


Austin & Bayliss – 30db :: 05.20

“This is the fifth show we’ve ever played,” mandolinist Jeff Austin told the crowd at Great American Music Hall shortly after his new band 30db finished its second song. Considering this fact, the impressive size of the audience showed that these musicians’ reputations precede them. 30db’s roots stem from a casual musical relationship which formed between Yonder Mountain String Band‘s Austin and Umphrey’s McGee‘s Brendan Bayliss, eventually growing into a supergroup of sorts as their music called to be fleshed out. So, they recruited Cody Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars/Hill Country Revue) to rock the drums, Nick Forster of Hot Rize to bring his professionalism on guitar and lap steel, and bassist Eric Thorin of Open Road to complete a fully-formed, well-oiled rock band.

Taking the stage to a casual, if not curious, audience, 30db introduced their music to our ears for the first time, and let the strength of the well-crafted songs from their debut album One Man Show do the heavy lifting throughout the night. First and foremost, Austin’s good-humored vocal delivery and excellent harmonizing with Bayliss stood out as the backbone of the music. The tunes were delivered in a straightforward rock format, notably punctuated by the hard strumming of Austin, whose mandolin sprinkles were just audible poking over the top of the music. Bayliss and Forster shared some soaring guitar line harmonies, though for much of the set Bayliss played acoustic and Forster shone on slide lap steel. Dickinson’s rock-solid drumming was the driving force in the band as they powered their way though the catchy, almost radio-friendly choruses of songs like “One Man Show,” “Liar,” and “Susannah,” arguably their strongest tune.

Other times, the band brought it down and let the music breathe, evoking almost U2-like wide open spaces with the lap steel and mandolin taking the forefront. A spot-on cover of The Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down” had Austin and Bayliss nailing the vocal harmonies. When the rock was brought back, the band used the rollicking, Southern-tinged tune “Grave” as their jam vehicle for the night, and everyone got some time in the spotlight, notably Forster, who ripped it on the lap steel.

After a single set, Austin and Bayliss reemerged on their own for an acoustic mini-set “encore,” which was arguably the highlight of the night. Their chemistry was uncanny, and it was very apparent that these guys get off on each other musically, both backstage and onstage. Introducing a gorgeous instrumental as “Psychotic Dive Bombing Hummingbirds of Colorado,” their combined acoustic chops were fluid, rapid, and playful. After a few more well-crafted, smile-inducing tunes and a couple of dueling solos, the rest of the band returned to flesh out the music, with Forster’s lap steel chiming and echoing though the open spaces of the music (think Chris Isaak). This segued into a sped-up, chugging modern rock take on Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” which closed the show with abandon as Austin’s yearning tenor yelped out each verse one by one.

This band has only begun to realize its potential. Interestingly enough, its quality brand of catchy melodic rock is probably more accessible to the masses than its members’ full-time bands. Here’s hoping they treat this group as more than just a side-project and give the music the time it needs to mature.

var siteRoot=”http://www.jambase.com”;var newPhotoIndex=”9″;$(document).ready( function() { $(“#GalleryWidget”).load(siteRoot+”/Photos/Widget.aspx?galleryID=57″);}); 30db at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA 30db photo gallery from Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA on May 20, 2010… View Photos

30db Tour Dates :: 30db News :: 30db Concert Reviews

JamBase | In Harmony
Go See Live Music!


Hangout Festival | 05.14-05.16 | Alabama

Words by: Alex Borsody | Images by: Dave Vann

Hangout Beach & Music Festival :: 05.14.10-05.16.10 :: Gulf Shores, AL

Hangout Beach & Music Festival

The inaugural Hangout Beach & Music Festival was an eclectic crossroads of Southern culture and the progressive festival scene. The promoters put incredible thought into the lineup to appeal to just about everyone. The wide range of fans and artists combined with the recent events of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, made for an interesting dynamic – ripe seeds of the green movement. Swimming in the 8-foot waves was unforgettable, but on the last day a gas station attendant showed me a tar ball that had washed up on the shore as the spill finally started to make its way to land.

Town-visitor relations could not have been better and the Southern hospitality was warm. Things ran smoothly and peacefully with the community on the white sandy beaches. The promoters pledged to donate their proceeds to the oil cleanup, a generous promise, and the political organization HeadCount was on-site leading a letter writing campaign on the issue.

As the festival went on, the crowd changed from those nearby who just came to check out the scene to more veteran live music lovers. The fans waited out an epic storm and tornado warning on Sunday and prayed for better weather. The grounds closed for a few hours and some performances were canceled, including Matisyahu, who played later that night at a free after party to the first 500 lucky fans. The sky cleared and with some schedule changes, the organizers managed to fit in some of the bigger acts on the bill in the limited time allowed. In the same pithy fashion, here are some of the highlights of the weekend.

Alison Krauss :: Hangout

Best Song Tease:
The first day of the festival featured a high percentage of the local population, with a generous 5000 tickets given out to the local community. Many were unfamiliar with the majority of acts, however, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas appealed to a variety of different people. After a few songs, Krauss stepped off stage leaving Douglas, arguably the world’s best dobro player, to go at it solo. He coasted through a tease of the Duane Allman penned “Little Martha,” while across the beach, Girl Talk played a mash-up of the Grateful Dead’ s “Casey Jones,” creating an unplanned homage to two pioneers of the modern music experience, one from the Deep South and one from freaky San Francisco.

Best collaboration:
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band played a funky New Orleans inspired set that included the sensual charisma of Grace Potter and the superb guitar playing of Warren Haynes. They played an amazing cover of the 1929 Albert E. Brumley bluegrass standard “I’ll Fly Away” and threw Dixie Cup ice cream into the crowd. The band marched off stage through the audience, then back onstage with some enthusiastic dancers from the crowd. They then led a procession up the boardwalk and into the VIP area, where the fun for many had to halt.

Best Dose of Southern Comfort:
The Grammy Award winning Zac Brown Band brought out a sea of meaty, clean cut, good ol’ boys in golf shirts. Brown looks similar to the guitarist Zach Deputy and shares his lightning fast picking style. His lyrics are a cross section of marijuana laced party rock and patriotic southern pride – a seemingly incongruent mix that somehow works. One song even went into a long instrumental jam. Brown played a solemn version of Crosby, Stills and Nash’s “Cost of Freedom,” followed by Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” The presence of the armed forces is ubiquitous in the Deep South, and Brown was cheered on as he spoke about the importance of the military and their role in preserving our way of life.

Best Southern Picking:
Jeff Austin & Friends, including Larry Keel, wowed the crowd with a power trio bluegrass combination. The band played complicated bluegrass with fast picking and complex modulation. The Honey Island Swamp Band gets a honorable mention for some solid electric slide guitar.

Trey Anastasio Band :: Hangout Beach & Music Festival

Best Opportunity to Hook Up with a Southern Belle:
John Legend played soulful tunes until curfew, evoking a young Marvin Gaye. Each song was steamier than the next, set amidst the backdrop of crashing waves and a starry sky. He ended with a soulful, yet somber version of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.”

Best New Jam:
Nashville natives Moon Taxi played the JamBase Stage before it closed on Sunday due to weather. The high energy and virtuosity of this band is not to be missed.

Best Dose of Culture Shock:
Kathleen Kennedy was brought on to introduce the Zach Brown Band. Dressed in the height of hipster fashion, she began talking about preserving the environment, an issue difficult to oppose. Somehow Kennedy managed to ruin a very clear, beautiful message with the pompous attitude of an MTV VJ crossed with a royal bloodline. As she got booed and subsequently escorted off the stage, there were actually two sides of the coin that became apparent. It was appalling and shocking to see Americans so ignorant and uncaring about an issue as vital as clean beaches, yet here was this famous, twenty-something jetting down to Flora-Bama and lecturing folks with not a bit of humility in her voice.

Best Dose of Psychedelia:
Trey Anastasio and Classic TAB opened with a solid version of “Gotta Jibboo” and the set hit its climax early with “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” The Phish tune “Alaska” was subdued but featured the horn section creatively. The set was mostly slow and steady carried by bass player Tony Markellis‘ groove. Trey announced that when he and Tom Marshall found out about the festival, they wrote a song just for the occasion. The fruit of this was a reggae tune called “Sailboat Man.” The song was written in the most common rock arrangement of 1-4-5 (think “Stir It Up” or “Chalk Dust Torture”) and it sounded like it was written in five minutes, but nevertheless, was a thrill.

The set closed with slightly higher energy, including a beautiful version of “Drifting” and Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog.” The choice of “First Tube” for an encore was exciting, but nothing for the record books. Fireworks were set off behind the stage, with bombs bursting in air giving those who traveled just for this show an over the top Southern send off.

For more pics of the Hangout Music Festival go here.

JamBase | Alabama
Go See Live Music!


JamBase Questionnaire: Cornmeal

Welcome back to JamBase’s baker’s dozen of probing, wide-ranging questions to the bright lights in the jam scene (and beyond). Last week we heard from Jeff Austin and upcoming weeks will include insights from Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Trampled By Turtles, U-Melt and more!

Chris Gangi by Norman Sands

Cornmeal is rib-sticking stuff. Like the grain that gives them their name, there’s some bite and substance to them. Inspired by unorthodox string pioneers like New Grass Revival, Goose Creek Symphony and John Hartford, Cornmeal honors their ancestors by doggedly and vibrantly stretching this line into new places. For a band closely associated with the string band and bluegrass worlds, Cornmeal can be hellaciously rowdy, unexpectedly psychedelic and downright raunchy when they put their minds to it.

All these traits crop up on Live in Chicago, IL Vol. I, their poppin’ new live release. Honoring the longstanding Wednesday night shows in their native Chicago that Cornmeal performed between 2000-2006, Live in Chicago, IL Vol. I captures the breakneck pace of their shows, as well as showcases the strength of their songwriting and picking. Recorded live throughout the winter of 2009 at Martyrs’ in Chicago, this set showcases their improvisational gifts alongside their more structured aspects for a fine snapshot of Cornmeal at their rollicking, heart-tuggin’ best. (Dennis Cook)

Here’s what Cornmeal bassist Chris Gangi had to say to our inquiries.

1. Great music rarely happens withoutÂ…
Inspiration

2. The first album I bought wasÂ…
Queen’s News Of The World

3. The last song or album to really flip my wig wasÂ…
Backyard Tire Fire’s Good To Be

4. When I was a kid I wanted to grow up to beÂ…
An English teacher

5. My favorite sort of gig isÂ…
The one that people show up for.

6. One thing I wish people knew about me isÂ…
I have a secret love of bad ’80s movies.

7. I love the sound ofÂ…
Trains

8. One day I hope to make an album as fantastic asÂ…
Beck’s Sea Change

9. The best meal I ever had on tour was atÂ…
An all vegetarian Chinese restaurant in Atlanta before playing Smith’s Olde Bar. Forgot the name of it.

10. I always find the coolest audiences inÂ…
My mind

11. The worst habit I’ve picked up being on the road all the time isÂ…
Really nothing, I developed all my bad habits before I started touring.

12. The Beatles or the Stones? Por que?
The Beatles. Better complexity and depth of songwriting and lyricism. Better overall album production and innovation. Better harmonies and arrangements, the list goes on and onÂ….

13. The craziest thing I ever saw wasÂ…
When I was in Chile someone transported a live sheep in the luggage bins of the bus on a 90-degree day. It fought and whined the whole five hour trip, banging against the ceiling.

Cornmeal Tour Dates :: Cornmeal News :: Cornmeal Concert Reviews

JamBase | The Road
Go See Live Music!


Hangout Fest: Donates All Profits Adds Preservation Hall Jazz Band

NEW FESTIVAL PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON RECENT ENVIROMENTAL DISASTER
DONATES ALL PROFITS TO REGIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP

Preservation Hall Jazz Band

The Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival has officially announced that environmental activists Erin Brockovich, Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy and Sierra Club Board President Allison Chin will participate in public panel discussion and press conferences at the festival on Saturday, May 15 at 3 p.m. and Sunday, May 16 at 2:30 p.m.

Venerable New Orleans performers the Preservation Hall Jazz Band will appear at the Hangout. Huka Entertainment, producer of the Hangout, and Rehage Entertainment, producer of Gulf Aid and Voodoo Experience, have tapped New York City-based television network Fuse TV to film the band’s experiences traveling across Louisiana and Alabama for the “Concerts for the Coast” documentary project. On the tour, the band will visit establishments along the Gulf Coast interviewing residents affected by the oil spill. The tour will arrive at the Hangout on Friday, May 14, where The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will join Hangout headliners Trey Anastasio and TAB, Zac Brown Band, Alison Krauss & Union Station feat. Jerry Douglas and The Black Crowes.

In light of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill affecting the Gulf Coast, the Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival will be donating all profits to regional coastal cleanup and preservation. In an effort to expand awareness and increase donations, The Hangout, along with New Orleans producer Stephen Rehage, will expand the Concert For The Coast to New Orleans. This two-city concert experience features The Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama and a one-day concert event on Sunday, May 16th in downtown New Orleans. Preservation Hall Jazz Band will be on hand at both events.

The Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival takes place Friday, May 14 – Sunday, May 16 at 101 East Beach Boulevard, Gulf Shores, Alabama (The Southern End of AL-Hwy 59). Tickets are $159 Three-Day Pass / $79 Day Passes.

Confirmed Artists: Trey Anastasio and TAB, Zac Brown Band, John Legend, Ben Harper and Relentless7, The Black Crowes, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Gov’t Mule, The Roots, Ray LaMontagne, Jakob Dylan and Three Legs feat. Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Funky Meters, Blind Boys of Alabama, Matisyahu, Girl Talk, Guster, Brett Dennen, Keller Williams, Jerry Jeff Walker, Papa Mali & Friends, North Mississippi Allstars Duo, ALO, The Whigs, Ozomatli, OK Go, Orianthi, Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam, Pnuma Trio, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Toubab Krewe, Needtobreathe, Jeff Austin & Friends feat. Larry Keel, Matt Hires, A.A. Bondy, Rachel Goodrich, Moon Taxi, El Cantador, Kristy Lee, Roman Street, Kirsten Price, Honey Island Swamp Band, Wild Sweet Orange, Rustlanders, Ben Arthur, Hightide Blues, Jon Black, The Cary Laine Band, and Rollin’ in the Hay.


JamBase Questionnaire: Jeff Austin

Welcome back to JamBase’s regular feature where we put a baker’s dozen of probing, wide-ranging questions to the bright lights in the jam scene (and beyond) in order to expose juicy tidbits about their musical minds. Last week we heard from John Butler and upcoming weeks will include insights from Trampled By Turtles, Cornmeal and more!

Jeff Austin by Tobin Voggesser

Hair flying, sweat pouring off of him, fingers a happy blur, Jeff Austin is a sight and a half. He’s also a surefire catalyst to anybody onstage with him. Some players excel in the role of trickster and instigator, and Austin exudes a heady musk full of mischief and in-the-moment jubilation that makes nostrils flare. He is a smile (or salty tear) transmogrified into musical notes. There’s no doubting his sincerity or passion – it vibrates in every fiber of his being and presence. In his long-standing role in Yonder Mountain String Band he is the ringmaster for their idiosyncratic circus that reminds us of the vaudeville and traveling show roots of their big string thing. As a guest with myriad other bands, he’s a free spirit that frees up others. And the boy can play a pretty dang good mandolin on top of everything else.

His new project is 30db, a spirited, crazy charming collaboration with Umphrey’s McGee singer-guitarist Brendan Bayliss. Their debut studio effort, One Man Show, arrives May 11 on SCI Fidelity. It’s a swell, press-repeat kind of rock affair that wraps a fine pop streak with the vibe of vintage Poco, The Byrds and other folk-tinged, vinyl-era rock combos, giving one the sense 30db is the 21st century answer to Loggins & Messina, except their mamas CAN dance to their rock ‘n’ roll. This pairing is melodically ripe and filled with thoughtful, catchy verses that stick around after the music stops. 30db begins their first tour tonight at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, WI. Then it’s on to Chicago, Boulder, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland and an appearance at Summer Camp 2010. Find full 30db tour dates here. Joining Austin and Bayliss for these shows is the stellar assemblage of Cody Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars, Hill Country Revue), Eric Thorin and Nick Forster.

(Dennis Cook)

Here’s what Austin had to say to our inquiries.

1. Great music rarely happens withoutÂ…
Listening. It’s amazing how many great collaborations go to shit when no one is listening.

2. The first album I bought wasÂ…
I’m pretty sure it was Freeze Frame by the J Geils BandÂ…vinyl, of course. I was pretty damn young. The one that made the most impact was American Beauty by the Grateful Dead. Big life changer, right there.

3. The last song or album to really flip my wig wasÂ…
The Devil You Know by Todd Snider. Every damn track made me pull the car over and just rock out for a bit. Best album in the last ten years as far as I’m concerned.

4. When I was a kid I wanted to grow up to beÂ…
What I am now, a full time musician. The path has been a little different, but I’ve known what I’ve wanted to do with my life since I was very, very young. I’m really glad I have a mom that always encouraged me and let me follow my dreams.

5. My favorite sort of gig isÂ…
Packed to the rafters…50,000 folks at a festival like Bonnaroo or RothburyÂ…Telluride Bluegrass Fest in front of 10,000 people is the best gig to play all year…and Red Rocks…just mind-blowing.

6. One thing I wish people knew about me isÂ…
I cannot get you Telluride Phish tickets. No, really, stop asking me, please

7. I love the sound ofÂ…
My house when it’s quiet. When my girlfriend and the dog and cats are sleeping, the silence is really quite beautiful.

8. One day I hope to make an album as fantastic asÂ…
Demon Days by Gorillaz. Fucking rock show from top to bottom.

9. The best meal I ever had on tour was atÂ…
McMahon’s Steakhouse in Arizona. It was my birthday and we ate for hours; finished the meal with a magnum of Nicholas Feuillatte 1999 champagne. Pretty hard to beat that one.

10. I always find the coolest audiences inÂ…
Wherever folks are all there for the same reason and the energy is really flowing, be it 100 or 20,000 folks. When a crowd is all there for the same reason it just takes on a life of it’s own.

11. The worst habit I’ve picked up being on the road all the time isÂ…
The ability to sleep until 3p.m. That’s a tough thing to shake off when you get back home.

12. The Beatles or the Stones? Por que?
The Beatles, because they are just the best.

13. The craziest thing I ever saw wasÂ…
The international space station flying over the bowl at Horning’s Hideout at String Summit 2009. Folks thought I was crazy making them all look up. But, when that sucker flew over, three thousand faces all turned skyward, staring at an object floating thousands of miles up in space – and realizing there were humans in that machine looking right back at us. Everything stopped for this amazing moment…and the roar after it passed from view was just incredible. Really a moment I’ll never forget.

30db Tour Dates :: 30db News :: 30db Concert Reviews

Yonder Mountain String Band Tour Dates :: Yonder Mountain String Band News :: Yonder Mountain String Band Concert Reviews

JamBase | Always Up
Go See Live Music!


Hangout Fest: The Roots Replace The Flaming Lips

THE ROOTS REPLACE THE FLAMING LIPS IN HANGOUT BEACH MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL LINEUP; ALEX
B, GIFT OF GAB, AND BIG GIGANTIC ANNOUNCED FOR FRIDAY LATE NIGHT PARTY

The Roots

Genre-crossing hip-hop band The
Roots
join the 2010 Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival lineup. The Roots, the house band
for
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, are often hailed as one of the best live bands in hip-hop. When the festival
learned that The Flaming
Lips
had
cancelled a string of shows due to the hospitalization of guitarist Steven Drozd, The Roots stepped in to
co-headline Alabama’s three-day beach party.

And for festival attendees who aren’t ready to call it a night after a full day of music, a late night show featuring
Alex B, Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), and Big Gigantic has been added for
Friday, May 14. Festival revelers looking to keep the party going will move from the white sands of Gulf Shores and
into The Hangout Restaurant. Tickets are $20 in advance/ $25 day of show, and are available through the festival
website.

Tickets to The Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival are available online at www.hangoutmusicfest.com as well as at The Hangout and Surf Style
stores located along the central Gulf Coast. Ticket prices are $159 for a three-day pass. Limited day tickets are
available for $79. VIP ticket packages and travel packages are still available starting at $500 and are available online
or by phone at 1-888-512-SHOW. A wide assortment of lodging options is available surrounding the festival
including traditional hotels and beachfront condos to camping at the local state park.

CONFIRMED ARTISTS: Trey Anastasio and TAB, Zac Brown Band, John Legend, Ben Harper and Relentless7, The Black
Crowes, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Gov’t Mule, The Roots, Ray LaMontagne, Jakob
Dylan and Three Legs feat. Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Michael Franti and
Spearhead, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Funky Meters, Blind Boys of Alabama,
Matisyahu, Girl Talk, Guster, Brett Dennen, Keller Williams, Jerry Jeff Walker, Papa Mali & Friends, North Mississippi
Allstars Duo, ALO, The Whigs, Ozomatli, OK Go, Orianthi, Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam, Pnuma Trio, Black Joe
Lewis and the Honeybears, Toubab Krewe, Needtobreathe, Jeff Austin & Friends feat. Larry Keel, Matt Hires, A.A.
Bondy, Rachel Goodrich, Moon Taxi, El Cantador, Kristy Lee, Roman Street, Kirsten Price, Honey Island Swamp Band,
Wild Sweet Orange, Rustlanders, Ben Arthur, Hightide Blues, Jon Black, The Cary Laine Band, and Rollin’ in the Hay.


Hangout Fest Transportation Plan Alex B, Gift of Gab, Big G Added

THE 2010 HANGOUT BEACH MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES TRANSPORTATION PLAN

WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY / ALEX B, GIFT OF GAB, BIG GIGANTIC ADDED TO LATE NIGHT

Gift of Gab

The Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival has added a late night show on Friday, May 14. Alex B, Gift of Gab
(Blackalicious), and Big Gigantic will take the stage on
Friday night, pleasing the insatiable ears of those who wish to
go big, instead of going home. After 11 p.m., the party will move away from the beach and into The Hangout. Tickets
are $20 in advance, and $25 day of show and are available through the festival website.

In the interest of public safety, traffic flow, and environmental conservation, The Hangout Beach Music and Arts
Festival is announcing its public transportation plan. A shuttle system is now in place, and ample bicycle
rentals and parking will also be available. For non-local festival attendees, zimride.com is hosting a Ride Share application for the event.

Public Transportation: There will be three shuttle routes running north, west, and east from 10am-12am on Friday May 14 – Sunday May 16. Each shuttle ride will cost patrons $3.00, which may be payable in cash upon
boarding. Weekend all-you-can-ride passes are also available at $10.00 per rider. These wristbands may be
ordered online through the festival website, and they may also be purchased at the festival box office and on each
shuttle bus.

Road Closures: Portions of Hwy 59 will be closed midnight on Thursday May 13 through 6am on Monday
May 17. Highway 59 will be closed for public access for all points south of 1st Street. Beach Blvd will be closed
from East 1st Street to West 2nd Street. West 1st Street will also be closed south of West 1st Avenue.

Bicycles: For the festival attendees who prefer to feel the wind in their hair, Orange Beach Bicycles is the
official bicycle provider for The Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival. To rent a bicycle, contact 251-974-2025 or
visit their website at www.obbicycles.com. It is recommended that bikers bring and use their own locks.

Carpooling: Non-local festival travelers are encouraged to carpool in the interest of conservation, and a
Ride Share application is being hosted by Zimride. Travelers may find a ride or someone to pitch in for gas by
clicking HERE.

Parking: For festival patrons that wish to drive, parking will be available in the surrounding
neighborhoods, similar to the organic parking system used during the Shrimp Festival.
No Boating Zone. In the interest of public safety, there will be a no boating zone extending 500 feet south from the
festival site.

CONFIRMED ARTISTS: Trey Anastasio and TAB, Zac Brown Band, John Legend, Ben Harper and Relentless7,
The Black Crowes, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Gov’t Mule, The Flaming Lips, Ray
LaMontagne, Jakob Dylan and Three Legs feat. Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Michael
Franti and Spearhead, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Funky Meters, Blind Boys of
Alabama, Matisyahu, Girl Talk, Guster, Brett Dennen, Keller Williams, Jerry Jeff Walker, Papa Mali & Friends, North
Mississippi Allstars Duo, ALO, The Whigs, Ozomatli, OK Go, Orianthi, Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam, Pnuma Trio,
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Toubab Krewe, Needtobreathe, Jeff Austin & Friends feat. Larry Keel, Matt Hires,
A.A. Bondy, Rachel Goodrich, Moon Taxi, El Cantador, Kristy Lee, Roman Street, Kirsten Price, Honey Island Swamp
Band, Wild Sweet Orange, Rustlanders, Ben Arthur, Hightide Blues, Jon Black, The Cary Laine Band, and Rollin’ in the
Hay.

WHEN: May 14, 2010, 11 p.m.

WHERE: The Hangout, 101 East Beach Blvd at AL-Hwy 59, Gulf Shores, AL

PRICES: $20 in advance / $25 Day of Show


moe. | 04.17.10 | Denver

Words by: Ray Bowden | Images by: Larry Hulst

moe. :: 04.17.10 :: Fillmore Auditorium :: Denver, CO


moe. with Kyle Hollingsworth :: 04.17.10 :: Denver

moe. has long been accused of endless noodling, but as any fan of the band would argue, “You either get it or you don’t.”

On Saturday night at Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium, more than 2,000 moe. fans “got it.”

The band hit the stage for the final show of their two-night stint at the Fillmore wearing suits and ties, dressed like stunt doubles from a Martin Scorsese movie, and leapt into three hours of their patented polyrhythmic rock.

The evening’s first set began with a frenetic “Skrunk,” punctuated by Rob Derhak‘s full-frontal bass assault. Following a cheerful wave from Derhak came “Captain America,” which had everyone on the packed floor – including one fire marshal – grooving to the music and singing “You may be right, you may be wrong” during the chorus.

Without missing a beat, the band transitioned into “Akimbo,” showcasing for the first time their ability to change musical direction with whiplash precision. After a brief pause to get everything just exactly right, the audience was rewarded with the Caribbean lilt of “Bring it Back Home,” drummer Vinnie Amico and percussionist extraordinaire Jim Loughlin stirring the pot with their percolating rhythms while guitarist Al Schnier led the jubilant throng through the song’s sing-along chorus.

During the slow transition into “Blue Jeans Pizza,” String Cheese Incident keyboardist and opening act Kyle Hollingsworth, sporting a black and white bovine suit, joined the boys for a trip to “Mexico,” his virtuosity shining through.


Jeff Austin with moe. :: 04.17.10 :: Denver

moe. began its second set sans Hollingsworth with a 15 minute “Water” which bled into “Tailspin,” the audience dancing in tandem with the song’s almost preternatural funk, before bounding into “Wind it Up.” Schnier and fellow guitarist Chuck Garvey simply shredded during the instrumental breaks, wrestling fat chords and piercing leads from their instruments.

Loughlin’s xylophone fills smoothed the jagged edges of the introspective “Letter Home,” before Yonder Mountain String Band‘s Jeff Austin stepped up to the plate with electric mandolin in hand for “Happy Hour Hero,” and “She.”

“Jeff’s a good dude,” Derhak said with a smile while Austin tuned his instrument. “He’s always up for a challenge.”

This musical “challenge” lasted 40 minutes, the band riding the waves of “Happy Hour Hero” while Austin’s mandolin riffs poured over the audience, adding splashes of color before turning the corner into the extended “She.”

After Austin left the stage to prolonged cheers of gratitude, moe. wrapped up its second set with “Seat of My Pants.” Quickly returning to the stage, they summoned their resources for one encore, an epic “Plane Crash,” during which they explored nearly all the genres of music they had touched upon earlier in the evening.

moe. taper and audience member Jim McCreedy, a longtime moe. fan from Boulder, said he has followed moe. for a number of years and called the band’s music “psychedelic rock on steroids. It makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up,” McCreedy said.

Indeed.

var siteRoot=”http://www.jambase.com”;var newPhotoIndex=”4″;$(document).ready( function() { $(“#GalleryWidget”).load(siteRoot+”/Photos/Widget.aspx?galleryID=31″);}); moe. | The Fillmore Auditorium | Denver, CO moe. perform at The Fillmore in Denver with special guests Kyle Hollingsworth of The String Cheese Incident and Jeff Austin of Yonder Mountain String Band… View Photos

moe. :: 04.17.10 :: Fillmore Auditorium :: Denver, CO

Set I: Skrunk, Captain America > Akimbo, Bring It Back Home > Blue Jeans Pizza* > Mexico*

Set II: Water > Tailspin, Wind it up, Letter Home^ > Happy Hour Hero^ > She^, Seat Of My Pants

Encore: Plane Crash



* w/ Kyle Hollingsworth

^ w/ Jeff Austin

moe. Tour Dates :: moe. News :: moe. Concert Reviews

JamBase | Colorado

Go See Live Music!


30db (Austin/Bayliss): Album/Tour

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND’S JEFF AUSTIN AND UMPHREY’S MCGEE’S BRENDAN BAYLISS
JOIN FORCES IN 30DB; RELEASE ALBUM AND TOUR IN SELECT CITIES THIS
MAY

Jeff Austin

This spring, guitarist Brendan Bayliss of the improvisational Chicago band Umphrey’s McGee and mandolinist
Jeff Austin of Boulder’s top-flight Americana unit Yonder Mountain String Band, join
forces as 30db. 30db
releases their new album, One Man Show, on May 11, 2010.

The band, which tours select cities throughout the month of May, also features Cody Dickinson of the
North Mississippi Allstars on drums, percussion, and keyboards; Nick Forster, guitarist for the
groundbreaking newgrass group Hot
Rize
and host of the syndicated radio show “E-Town”; and highly sought after player/producer and Open Road bassist Eric Thorin. The list of currently confirmed tour dates is included below.

30db Tour Dates :: 30db News :: 30db Concert Reviews


Hangout Festival: Daily Schedule

MUSICAL FUN ON ALABAMA SHORE IN MAY

Flaming Lips by Steven Walter

The Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival has announced the daily schedule for its inaugural festival taking place May 14-16 in Gulf Shores, AL, on the beach, next to the Hangout Restaurant.

Daily Schedules

FRIDAY, MAY 14: Zac Brown Band, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, The Black Crowes, North Mississippi Allstars Duo, Girl Talk, Pnuma Trio, Orianthi, Brett Dennen, Jeff Austin and Friends featuring Larry Keel, Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, Rachel Goodrich, Kirsten Price, El Cantador, Ben Arthur, and Hightide Blues

SATURDAY, MAY 15: John Legend, The Flaming Lips, Jakob Dylan and Three Legs featuring Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, Gov’t Mule, Funky Meters, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ozomatli, The Whigs, Toubab Krewe, Moon Taxi, A.A. Bondy, Wild Sweet Orange, Jon Black, and Rustlanders

SUNDAY, MAY 16: Trey Anastasio and TAB, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Ray LaMontagne, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Guster, NeedToBreathe, Matisyahu, Keller Williams, OK Go, Blind Boys of Alabama, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, ALO, Matt Hires, Kristy Lee, Roman Street, Rollin’ in the Hay, and The Cary Laine Band.

Included in the schedule are the recent winners of the Hangout band search hosted by Sonic Bids and includes Hightide Blues, Ben Arthur, Jon Black, The Cary Laine Band, and Rollin’ in the Hay.


Jam in the Dam 2010 Photo Gallery

Photos by: Sam Friedman & Jason Woodside

International live music fans celebrated 2010′s Jam in the Dam over March 21-23 at Amsterdam’s Melkweg. After taking 2009 off while founder Armand Sadlier recovered from serious health issues, the Dam returned in serious fashion with an event that featured Umphrey’s McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, Josh Phillips Folk Festival, Les Claypool, The New Mastersounds, The Bridge and Brendan Bayliss and Jeff Austin‘s duo project 30db. We head beyond the stage with official JitD photographer Sam Friedman and freelance photographer Jason Woodside.

var siteRoot=”http://www.jambase.com”;var newPhotoIndex=”0″;$(document).ready( function() { $(“#GalleryWidget”).load(siteRoot+”/Photos/Widget.aspx?galleryID=6″);}); Jam in The Dam | The Melkweg | Amsterdam, NL | 03.21.10 – 03.23.10 Umphrey’s McGee, Les Claypool, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Bridge, Josh Phillips Folk Festival and The New Mastersounds celebrate Jam in The Dam 2010… View Photos

JamBase | Amsterdam

Go See Live Music!


30db: Jeff Austin/Brendan Bayliss New Band, Album, Tour

DUO NAMES BAND, RELEASES DEBUT STUDIO ALBUM

Bayliss & Austin by Chad Smith

Jeff Austin (Yonder Mountain String Band) and Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey’s McGee) have announced the long-awaited studio debut from their new project, 30db.

One Man Show will be available in stores and online on May 11th, and the duo will be touring with their new band in support of the release. The band features Cody Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars, Hill Country Revue), Eric Thorin and Nick Forster.

Visit www.30db.net to preview the album, and for up-to-date news, pre-order info and tour dates.

30db Tour Dates

May 6 Minneapolis, MN – Cabooze
May 7 Madison, WI – Barrymore Theater
May 8 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
May 19 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
May 20 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall (on sale Sun 3/21)
May 21 Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
May 22 Portland, OR – Berbati’s Pan

30db Tour Dates :: 30db News :: 30db Concert Reviews


Hangout Fest Adds Potter Jakob Dylan, Case, Austin

THE HANGOUT BEACH MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINEUP ADDITIONS

INCLUDING JAKOB DYLAN AND THREE LEGS FEATURING NEKO CASE AND KELLY HOGAN

GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS, NEEDTOBREATHE, AND JEFF AUSTIN & FRIENDS

The Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival has added eight more acts to its May 14-16 lineup. The newest artist additions include Jakob Dylan and Three Legs featuring Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, NEEDTOBREATHE, Jeff Austin & Friends featuring Larry Keel, Kirsten Pierce, Timmy Curran, Wild Sweet Orange and Rustlanders. Last month, the festival announced national headliners and Grammy winners Zac Brown Band and John Legend, plus Trey Anastasio & TAB, The Flaming Lips, Ben Harper and Relentless7, The Black Crowes, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Gov’t Mule and Ray LaMontagne. For a complete artist listing, see below.

The Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival will host a live radio broadcast throughout the weekend featuring backstage interviews and performances, live video streaming, and festival updates and info. The festival is also planning a shuttle system to improve safety, parking, and traffic flow for residents and festival patrons. More details will be announced soon.

With performances taking place on four stages including two main stages on the beach, the festival hopes to bring the Gulf Coast into the national music scene. In addition, festival organizers have other activities still to be announced. Attendance will be limited to 35,000 people per day.

Festival tickets are available online at hangoutmusicfest.com as well as at The Hangout and Surf Style stores along the central Gulf Coast. Ticket prices are $159 for a three-day pass and limited $82 day passes will be available. VIP ticket packages and travel packages start at $500 and are available online or by phone at 1-888-512-SHOW. A wide assortment of lodging options is available surrounding the festival including traditional hotels and beachfront condos to camping at the local state park.

The Hangout Festival is currently seeking volunteers and street team members. Can’t afford the festival ticket??? Not to worry, you can work in exchange for your full weekend pass. Sign up for both at http://www.shimonpresents.com/email/thehangout.htm.

CONFIRMED ARTISTS: Trey Anastasio and TAB, Zac Brown Band, John Legend, Ben Harper and Relentless7, The Black Crowes, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Gov’t Mule, The Flaming Lips, Ray LaMontagne, Jakob Dylan and Three Legs feat. Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Funky Meters, Blind Boys of Alabama, Matisyahu, Girl Talk, Guster, Brett Dennen, Keller Williams, Jerry Jeff Walker, North Mississippi All-stars, ALO, The Whigs, Ozomatli, OK GO, Orianthi, Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam, Pnuma Trio, Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears, Toubab Krewe, Needtobreathe, Jeff Austin & Friends feat. Larry Keel, Matt Hires, A.A. Bondy, Rachel Goodrich, Moon Taxi, El Cantador, Kristy Lee, Roman Street, Kirsten Price, Timmy Curran, Wild Sweet Orange, Rustlanders.


YMSB | 02.06 | Knoxville, TN

Words & Images by: Brandon Bouchillon

Yonder Mountain String Band :: 02.06.10 :: Tennessee Theatre :: Knoxville, TN

YMSB :: 02.06 :: Knoxville, TN

In Knoxville, Tennessee, this winter has been relentless. Once great football hopes have flickered, former trusts been proven misguided, and almost two feet of snow has piled atop the whole mess. To call the citizens of Knoxville jaded of late would be an understatement. Last Saturday, Yonder Mountain String Band did their part to churn one town’s troubles into a dance floor bout of amnesia.

“We’re from Nederland, Colorado, a city with more medical marijuana dispensaries per capita than any other,” announced Jeff Austin, with Ben Kaufmann adding, “We don’t know what’s going on.”

The boys of Yonder Mountain have more fun playing music than any act touring today. It’s contagious, this joy that emanates from the guitar yelps, banjo lines and torrents of mandolin. Yonder plays with an understated charisma. No frills, no fuss, just the best bluegrass going today – still driven with a youth and stamina that promises many more milestones.

With Yonder throwing-down danceable favorites like “Darling One” and “Howard Hughes,” the Tennessee Theatre came to life. It was clamoring room only, even in the aisles. This immaculate venue houses an eerie luminescence, like some sinister cathedral. It’s a room with macabre grace, which can be tough to pin-down. Imagine the Ryman Auditorium if Anne Rice had been the architect. Picture the type of venue you’d hope to see Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem perform at.

“We love this room,” Austin beamed. “We’re lucky enough to have played here before, and we always look forward to coming back.”

The first set kick-started with a number of standalones, and the first “Huckling the Berries” in two years was a semi-bustout. But once Yonder reached “If You’re Ever In Oklahoma,” they shifted into high gear. “Sidewalk Stars” > “Death Trip” rounded out the first set proper, and the boys showed their improvisational chops, with Austin and banjo player Dave Johnston ripping the segue into the stormy goodness of “Death Trip.”

“For some reason, the straight-edge bluegrass society doesn’t embrace us,” admitted Austin, pausing, before his toothy rebuttal. “We have fun anyway.”

This energy, and his ability to absolutely shred the mandolin are the foundations of Yonder’s success.

Adam Aijala :: 02.06 :: Knoxville, TN

Dr. Pete Wernick (banjo player for the legendary Hot Rize) is one of the few bluegrass artists who’s been able to cross over, time and again [between purist bluegrass and more experimental newgrass realms],” Austin told the audience. “We have a ton of respect for him.”

Even the infamous stump banjo made an appearance. Formerly owned by Mark Vann (of Nederland newgrass legends Leftover Salmon) until his tragic passing in 2002, the stump banjo is exactly what it sounds like – an electric banjo made from a tree stump.


The second set began with a “Keep On Going” > “Shantytown” (Desmond Dekker and the Aces cover) > “Keep on Going” sandwich. This segue was minus the traditional “Legalize It” portion, to the dismay of many bleary-eyed fans in attendance (and who doesn’t love singing, “Pass the dutchie on the left hand side”?). But Yonder can play bleggae (bluegrass reggae) with the best of them, and this was the highlight of the show. The second set cooled-off with “New Horizons” > “Funtime” > New Horizon” coming late.


An absolutely blistering “Peace of Mind” finished set two, going for a nice experimental ride before wrapping. The setlist actually read “Peace of Mind” > “Girlfriend Is Better” (Talking Heads cover) > “Peace of Mind.” but the Tennessee Theatre’s 12:30 a.m. curfew was impending, so the band chose to scrap the middle section. Seemed a shame to cut such an epic pairing.

After a brief exit, Yonder returned for a short encore. A forgettable “Free To Run” gave way to crowd-favorite “Ooh La La” (Faces cover). Curfew issues aside, anytime you’re treated to three-plus hours of Yonder Mountain String Band you’re getting your money’s worth.

YMSB :: 02.06 :: Knoxville, TN

However, the pacing of the Knoxville show was a little off, with an inordinate number of standalones and an absence of classic Yonder material, opting for a majority of cover songs instead. To be fair, when you play two nights in Asheville, as Yonder did this week, you may need to reach deeper into the catalog.

“Even though the setlist wasn’t chockfull of big-name songs, that was the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” admitted one hometown Yonder Mountain fan. “Even on a tame night, Yonder will kick your ass.”

“If this show would’ve been outside, the dust cloud would’ve been of epic proportions. People were getting down, hard,” claimed Elliot Anders, a senior at UT.


Even at their best, Yonder Mountain String Band seems to be torn between the past and the future, between older material and the new (read: the faster material and the slow). Fans come for the quicksilver banjo burners, the songs you can’t dance quickly enough to, and they sit patient through the slower and often more recent tunes. Some nights, the impasse is apparent.


When they’re clicking, nobody does it better than Yonder Mountain String Band. Yet, too often they venture away from their niche (high-velocity bluegrass) in favor of something more down-tempo. The results can take the wind right out of a set. Often it’s a combination of both moods, a home run followed by a head-scratcher.


Maybe it’s not just Knoxville that’s jaded. Perhaps it’s an infectious notion that strikes fans with feelings of inertia. A general skepticism towards the unfamiliar ensues, with steely indifference soon to follow. Or maybe that’s passing the buck. Either way, Yonder Mountain should just bring the heat. This winter’s been frigid enough, and bluegrass is best served scorching.

Yonder Mountain String Band :: 02.06.10 :: Tennessee Theatre :: Knoxville, TN

Set I: My Gal, At The End Of The Day, Roughneck Blues, Huckling The Berries, Jesus On The Mainline, Howard Hughes Blues, Just The Same, Darling One, If You’re Ever In Oklahoma, Town, Hit Parade Of Love, Big Spike Hammer, Sidewalk Stars > Death Trip

Set II: Keep On Going > Shanty Town > Keep On Going, Fingerprint, To See You Coming Round The Bend, Pockets, New Horizons > Funtime > New Horizons, Complicated, Another Day, Sometimes I’ve Won, Peace Of Mind

E: Free To Run, Ooh La La

YMSB is on tour now; dates available here.

JamBase | Knoxville

Go See Live Music!


moe. | 01.22.10 | NYC

Words & Images by: Jarrod Dicker

moe. :: 01.22.10 :: Roseland Ballroom :: New York, NY

moe. :: 01.22 :: Roseland Ballroom

“Thank you, NYC, and welcome to the show,” Rob Derhak announced while smiling after the conclusion of moe.‘s second selection of the evening, “Bearsong.”

“We are extremely pumped to be here, thank you all for coming and supporting WHY [World Hunger Year],” continued Derhak. “We have a lot of guests coming out tonight and a lot of fun in store. We’re here to have a good time, but the cause is what it’s all about. So, even though we’re all enjoying ourselves up onstage and you’re all dancin’ in the crowd, just know that the money that’s spent on this show will be feeding a lot of people.”

Cheers filled the Roseland Ballroom on what was truly an evening to remember. moe.’s New York City homecoming served somewhat as a “jam band prom” for all ye’ faithful in attendance, attracting fans and performers from all over the musical spectrum.

Publicized as a WHY benefit performance, the band announced on their website that the charitable contributions would be allocated accordingly to assist Haiti after the devastating earthquake that shocked that country on January 12.

The crowd eagerly awaited the Buffalo natives to hit the stage, as well as anticipating the much-publicized guests that were scheduled to appear on the benefit’s bill. The evening’s ensemble consisted of Butch Trucks (Allman Brothers), Jeff Austin (Yonder Mountain String Band), saxophonist David Sanborn, Marco Benevento, Danny Barnes (Bad Livers) and, of course, Rob, Chuck, Al, Jim and Vinnie.

Danny Barnes w/ moe. :: 01.22 :: Roseland Ballroom

The evening, which marked the kick off of moe.’s 20th anniversary tour, began with Headseed favorite “Timmy Tucker,” performed with extreme velocity. The crowd took well to the familiar introductory track, and further applauded the in-depth jam session that inevitably followed.

“Tucker” fed into “Bearsong,” which exhibited yet another unbelievable shred session, highlighting what makes moe. moe. – the high peak and plateau riding grooves that give up little if any energy throughout.

The band then welcomed their first two guests of the night, Danny Barnes on banjo and Marco Benevento on keys, for the infamous moe. tune “Captain America,” followed by Barnes’ “Caveman,” where Jeff Austin came out to contribute mandolin.

There was talk leading up the show that the presence of all these different players onstage together might produce a confusing, jumbled mess since the entire group as a whole have never all played with one another simultaneously. As soon as “Captain America” and “Cavemen” were played, all those concerns went right out the door.

Jeff Austin w/ moe. :: 01.22 :: Roseland Ballroom

“Nebraska” was next up in the first set, followed by “Happy Hour Hero.” moe. invited David Sanborn and Butch Trucks up to assist on “Hero,” hinting with Trucks’ presence at some classic Allman tunes to come. Sanborn’s saxophone mirrored the drum and guitar lines throughout “Hero,” creating a fresh – and possibly better – version than the original with the beautiful saxophone infusion.

At the conclusion of “Hero,” Derhak grabbed the mic and said, “We got a singer? Yes.” The bass line started and Jeff Austin took hold of the microphone. The Allman Brothers’ “Whipping Post” ensued, creating absolute musical mayhem (in a good way). It is hard for guitarists (even Al and Chuck) to mimic the hammering of Duane and Dickey, and even Warren and Derek. However, the band adopted the song rather well in terms of providing a complimentary and thorough version of the gem.

Returning from set break, the group (accompanied by Benevento and Trucks) went right into Dickey Betts’ “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” Marco on keys was unbelievable throughout, venturing beyond back beats to engage with the wide variety of musicians onstage.

“Shoot First” came and went, followed by “Waiting for the Punchline.” During “Waiting,” Al adjusted the verse to compliment his new ‘supergroup’ bandmates: “Jeff Austin told me about the likes of you.” A hoedown jam arrived after the verses, and Rob yelled, “Jeff Austin and Danny Barnes, everybody – separated at birth!” The fusion of moe., Barnes and Austin was unbelievable, especially during this track, which fit the musicians’ instruments rather well.

moe. :: 01.22 :: Roseland Ballroom

After “Waiting,” Al said, “Mr. Marco, everybody. It’s our pleasure to get to play with Marco finally, and we get to do it with style. We’re going to play one of Marco’s songs now. He made a really cool video for this song that you can see on YouTube. It’s called ‘The Real Morning Party’ and it’s awesome!”

“The Real Morning Party” was followed by “Shake Your Hips.” Then, Austin grabbed the mic again, “So, I gotta say something. When I was first riding around playing music I met the moe. guys and they were just so nice to me. That was ten years ago and they’re still so great to me now. It’s just a pleasure to be playing with these guys. They’re just the best. So, give it up for this great band we got up here! And they wanted to learn one of my songs so we’ll play it right now.”

Austin offered lead vocals on moe.’s cover of Yonder’s “East Nashville Easter.” Benevento remained with the group through “Blue Jeans Pizza,” and then Butch came back out for the set closing “Mexico.”

All guests stepped back on the stage and assembled for the grand finale of this outrageous and unbelievable event. The guitar began, and it took the crowd less than two seconds to figure out the encore. It seemed fitting at this special event that the group closed with one from The Last Waltz. “The Weight” was performed exceptionally well, rotating vocals between members of moe., Austin and Barnes.

“Thank you very much NYC,” Rob graciously pronounced at the end of “The Weight.” “Have a great night everybody. Thank you for coming out. Let’s give a hand for the WHY Band, Marco Benevento on keyboards, Danny Barnes on banjo, Jeff Austin on mandolin and vocals, Mr. Butch Trucks on drums, Mr. David Sanborn, and the rest of you guys for making this all possible. Give yourselves a hand. Have a great night. We’ll see y’all tomorrow night.”

moe. :: 01.22.10 :: Roseland Ballroom :: New York, NY
Set I: Timmy Tucker > Bearsong, Captain America, Caveman, Nebraska, Happy Hour Hero, Whipping Post

Set II: In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed, Shoot First, Waiting For The Punchline, The Real Morning Party, Shake Your Hips, East Nashville Easter, Blue Jeans Pizza, Mexico

E: The Weight

moe. is on tour now; dates available here.

JamBase | Big Apple
Go See Live Music!


Jam In The Dam Updates: Packages, Music, More

JAM IN THE DAM 2010 UPDATES INCLUDE ADDITIONAL MUSIC, NEW PACKAGES, MORE

JitD 2007 – Amsterdam by Sam Friedman

Jam in the Dam is now just two months away so there’s still time to plan your trip. Airfares are about the same as they’ve been since fall and tickets, while selling well, are also still available. Europe sales are ahead of any year to date, and the JitD folks are expecting them to make up nearly 40% of the crowd.

As a reminder, the concert schedule is available here.

A big congratulations are in order for Curtis Killian, the winner of the JamBase Flyaway to Amsterdam contest. He and a friend will receive round trip airfare to Amsterdam and two tickets to the show. Congratulations, Curtis!

Since the last update, Josh Phillips Folk Festival has been added to the show. They were also voted onto the boat for Jam Cruise this month, and are making lots of friends. The group will be raffling off a pair of Jam In The Dam tickets each week for the next six weeks, and each Sunday will begin a new raffle. Winners will be announced each Monday. The raffle will be through PayPal and you can enter here.

Additionally, Consider It Dan has added some new travel package options. You can now put a down payment on a ticket and pay the remaining balance by March 5. Soon, an option for just rooms will be available as well, if you already have a ticket.

The Canal Cruises will go on sale next week, and availability will be very limited. Same deal as always, $50 for two hours including open bar. As of now, there is only a cruise left on Monday, March 22. Check in at the website or message board for any additional questions.

The movie schedule will also be published soon, but expect multiple plays of Electric Apricot, in honor of Les Claypool being at JitD for the first time.

As previously reported, the 2010 event will return to Amsterdam’s Melkweg from March 21-23. Artists set to perform include: Umphrey’s McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, Josh Phillips Folk Festival, Les Claypool, The New Mastersounds, and The Bridge. Brendan Bayliss and Jeff Austin will also perform as an acoustic duo.

Check our coverage of the 2008 JitD here.


Leftover Salmon: Celebrating 20 Years Part 4

By: Michael ‘Jersey’ Gerity

Download the final part of our Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years sampler here.

Every once in a blue moon, a group of musicians will get together and find that they have unleashed a spark of musical and personal compatibility that will not only change their lives but the many lives of the people around them as well. They might not see the longevity of what they are creating at that point, but as the years roll by and the band endures, the magic shines through in their music and amongst the troupe of fans that returns their energy.

If you’ve been following the first three parts of this series (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) then you have come to realize that Leftover Salmon is a band of this ilk. And like Salmon instinctively do, the band recently returned to the exact site of their spawning some 20 years ago. It was at The Eldo in Crested Butte, Colorado in December of 1989 where the journey began, so it was only natural for the band to kick off their four-show holiday anniversary run back where it all got started.

Here in part four of “Celebrating 20 Years” it seemed fitting to have Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt recall the recent run of shows and what it meant to the both of them.

“It was taking it all the way back to the beginning,” explains Emmitt. “There was a lot of intense energy in that little room. I don’t think I’ve seen that many people in The Eldo before. It was a wall of sound in a very small space.”

Vince Herman :: 12.28 :: The Eldo by Jackson Photo

“For me, it was huge personally. I’ve been here now in Crested Butte for almost ten years. So for me to be able to play with Salmon in my hometown for all my friends and give that to my community was huge. I was so psyched we were doing it here,” adds Emmitt. “It was incredibly significant and really fun.”

For a band that has nearly 375 songs in their repertoire, it was any one’s guess what they might play that first night in Crested Butte.

“Vince just really wanted to be old school and he said, ‘You know what? Let’s play everything that really slams.’ Because he really wanted people to slam dance,” Emmitt says. “And I agreed with that.”

The band brought out many of those early slam-grass zingers to get things going down in Crested Butte, saving their ballads and long epic jams for the Boulder and Denver shows.

“For me, it did reveal what’s happened over the years,” says Herman. “It was like, ‘Mission accomplished!’ And it was so cool to see a lot of the same people that were at that first show and what’s become of their lives and you know, up to the same tricks kinda thing – in brand new ways.”

“One of the things that was a revelation to me was thinking about getting there in the beginning and not having a repertoire. You think twenty years later there is this whole repertoire of tunes and all this stuff. But we had absolutely nothing when we rolled into there that we had played together,” Herman recalls. “Lefthand [String Band], at that point, had been playing really fast and the Salmonheads were playing fast but with a drummer and an accordion player, so we just figured out what it was we could pull off. It turned out the more bluegrassy, rowdier stuff caused slam dancing; and probably to the crowd’s surprise and to ours. But slam dancing was kind of a thing at the time. It didn’t have any intention, but it was obvious where to go once those people showed up. And then they showed up again.”

Leftover Salmon & Friends :: 12.30 :: Boulder Theater
By Jackson Photo

Of course what Herman is talking about is the birth of their sound, an amalgamation of music that they coined Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass, which would ultimately go on to help pioneer the jam band scene.

After the Crested Butte show, the band returned to Boulder, their other Colorado home, where they played two nights leading up to New Year’s Eve at the historic Boulder Theater. It was a family gathering and the vibe was one of optimism and hope as the Emmitt-Nershi Band took to the stage to open things up.

As we awaited Salmon’s arrival, it seemed appropriate that just Herman and Emmitt appeared first on the stage for an acoustic rendition of a Woody Guthrie tune and a heartfelt welcome and thanks for twenty wonderful years.

“Everybody came out of the woodwork, all the old friends. It was wonderful,” says Emmitt. “To be honest with you it was a little more overwhelming when we did our last shows at the Fox before the hiatus. That was intense, with a lot of emotion. This was more relaxed and happy. I think this was more of a beginning, with a sense of something we are going to keep doing, and finally after twenty years we have figured out how to do it and have it make sense and have everybody still be able to do their other projects. And it’s great. It was a real nice way to kick off a new era for us.”

Leftover Salmon & Friends :: NYE :: Boulder Theater
By Jackson Photo

Like many New Year’s shows, the anticipation began building early and the room was charged with a special glow. It is said in Salmon folklore that it was a blue moon the night of their first show in 1989. So, it was only appropriate to celebrate twenty years of this band in a special, surreal way on the night of another blue moon. It seems with these fish, things really get done, well, twice in a blue moon.

Salmon was scheduled to play three sets with no opener. When the lights dimmed, we were off. There are many simultaneous things happening to make this sound called Leftover Salmon and if you have been to a Salmon show, you know the carnival atmosphere I’m speaking of. So, peruse the setlist (at the end of the story) and use your imagination to envision how this band rejoiced in their rebirth at twenty years and how this following of LoSers helped bring in the New Year.

To commemorate this historic four-night run, the band and their management went the extra mile to accommodate the fans. The Eldo show in Crested Butte was broadcast on KBUT and streamed live on their website. It was a great way for all the folks that didn’t get tickets to this intimate show or just couldn’t make it out to Colorado to listen. Likewise, the Boulder shows were streamed in High Definition and will be available through the On Demand stream throughout the month of January. Both shows were also filmed for a possible future DVD.

Continue reading for more on Leftover Salmon’s 20 Year Celebration…

Leftover Salmon & Friends :: NYE :: Boulder Theater
By Jackson Photo

“The Millennium Hotel was Salmon headquarters over the New Year’s run in Boulder. Most of the band and many fans were staying there,” explains John Joy of Salmon’s management team. “An organized poster signing on New Year’s Day took place at the hotel bar and it was dubbed ‘Bloodys with the Band.’ Longtime Leftover Salmon artists Jason Rizzi and Scramble Campbell, who collaborated on the poster art and the set design that went with the 20th celebration run, where both on hand displaying their work. It was a fantastic event where the entire band was there signing posters for over three hours straight with a constant flow of fans, some great storytelling, and even some picking going on in the hotel lobby with some of the members of Elephant Revival along with Vince Herman’s two sons, Colin and Silas. It was the perfect way to erase the hangover from the night before and to reminisce on what a great twenty years it has been.”

“Painting with Leftover this New Year’s was like riding a roller coaster into a new decade,” says Scramble Campbell. “There were plenty of friendly, familiar faces with the music, which simply made my brushes dance. Friday’s gathering was the perfect way to start the year off smooth. It was an honor to be invited to be in their historic 20th anniversary.”

Emmitt & Herman :: 01.02.10
Ogden Theatre by Jackson Photo

“Needless to say it was a trip to work with Scramble to commemorate twenty years of LoS,” says Jason Rizzi. “Scramble has a deep respect for music, art and culture; I appreciate that about him. It’s a blast just to be around him. He’s got amazing intuition, a big heart, and a swell sense of humor if you catch him at the right moments. This three piece project was a joy to work on and has certainly ‘Scrambled’ my mind up real good in the process.”

“I feel this 20 Year Celebration undoubted marks a new era for Leftover Salmon and their Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass following family,” adds Rizzi. “The band is really playing at the edge of magic, and honestly embodies the spirit of renewal and celebration.”

But just when you think it can’t get no better, it does! The final show at the Ogden Theatre in Denver on January 2 was billed as “Salmon and Friends” with Herman and his Great American Taxi opening.

“From the twenty year perspective, it was really cool to be able to do that, because that is where my focus is now, [with] Salmon being a thing we revisit at times,” says Herman. “It’s a great repertoire of tunes that I would hate to see go away because it’s really fun to play them and share them with the family we’ve had listening to those tunes. But, the focus of my writing now is in Taxi.”

“I think we might start integrating some of our newer stuff since Salmon stopped touring and there might be the possibility of introducing some other stuff, here and there. I think as we get more in the groove with this that will begin to happen,” says Emmitt. “In my opinion, I think it’s still okay to put this thing back together as it is and as it was. By in large, that’s what people really want to hear anyway. I think we are playing some of these songs better than we ever have. There is always the possibility for something new. Just let things unfold. I think at this point with this band we don’t need to push it, just let it all happen – just see what happens and what develops and go from there.”

There were many guests and friends that sat in with the band in Boulder and that began right from the start of the final night. Just sighting two drum kits onstage, the crowd knew we were in for a rousing treat. It was an underlying tribute and benefit for Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward, who is suffering from severe liver disease. With both longtime Salmon drummers, Jeff Sipe and Jose Martinez, behind the kits, the band sounded better than ever.

“It was like a monster – powerful, with a light laughter thing over the top of it,” remarks Herman about the two-drummer set-up.

Leftover Salmon & Friends :: 01.02.10
Ogden Theatre by Joe Belinky

Guests kept filling up the setlist, with Bonnie Paine of Elephant Revival on washboard, the Peak To Freak horns (Danny Sears and Justin Jones), Joe Jogerst on accordion, and Yonder Mountain String Band‘s Jeff Austin on mandolin as well as Sally Van Meter, who played a big role in the evening, ripping through many tunes on the pedal steel.

“It had been so long since we played with Sally. You hear her play the acoustic stuff and you kinda forget she gets absolutely raunchy on that thing,” says Herman. “Her and Drew definitely had a great dueling, slippy-slidey thing going on.”

Pete “Dr. Banjo” Wernick was also a friend that sat in on a number of songs, bringing a real full circle moment for Herman.

“It had been way to long since I had seen Pete,” says Herman. “Hot Rize is the reason I moved to Colorado, wanting to get out of West Virginia and get into some new bluegrass scene. And Hot Rize was the center of that. I thought it was incredibly poignant to have Pete there.”

But, the bulk of the evening was dedicated to the numerous rousing renditions with Cracker‘s David Lowery and Johnny Hickman, who’d once played a New Year’s gig in Denver with Leftover, then stayed on to recreate some of the magic found on the collaborative 2003 O’ Cracker Where Art Thou? album. Herman sums it up, “The Cracker stuff was just so fuckin’ fun.”

As the Ogden show wound down four magical nights, you could see the infectious joy across the faces of everyone on the stage and in the crowd. The music spoke for itself and now after twenty years of ups and downs, it might be said that Leftover Salmon may have found a new niche.

The LOS family has now grown to encompass a number of side projects, and the delicate balance of these influences has set a new direction. Salmon has always been a unique and special sound and gathering, so it should be no surprise that when this bunch assembles the magic is sure to follow.

They are bringing the goods and are once again throwing the special kind of party that they’ve become famous for. So, when the call comes, both band and fans will be ready to reconvene and come together in the church of Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass.

This video is from the Boulder Theater HD Live stream that was offered the night of the shows. Both Boulder Theater shows are available now for on demand streaming in HD. Details available at leftoversalmon.com.

Download the entire Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years

free double album sampler here:


Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

Continue reading for NYE Run setlists and album track list details…

Collaborative Art by Scramble Campbell & Jason Rizzi – Celebrating 20 Years of Leftover Salmon

Show poster available here.

12.28.09 :: The Eldo :: Crested Butte, CO

Set I: Intro, Ain’t Gonna Work, Zombie Jamboree, Whiskey Before Breakfast > Over The Waterfall, Rabbit In Log, Tu N’as Pas Aller, Gold Hill Line, Soul Shakedown Party >
Hot Corn/Cold Corn, Squirrel Heads And Gravy, Almost Cut My Hair, Bosco Stomp >
Rocky Road Blues > The Shape I’m In > Hell Yea I Drink > Rocky Road Blues

Set II:
Tangled up in Blue > Sing the Blues > Funky Town > God Save The Queen > Sing the Blues > Tangled up in Blue, Jugband Son, Bill’s Boogie, Other Side, Dear Ole Dixie, Lovin’ In My Baby’s Eyes, Down In The Hollow

E: Band Introduction, Steam powered Airplane, Rise Up

Download the 12.28 Eldo show here.

12.30.09 :: Boulder Theater :: Boulder, CO

Set I: Woody Guthrie (acoustic w/ only Drew and Vince), Voodoo Queen Marie (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Look Mama A Boo Boo (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Get Me Outta This City, Hot Burrito Breakdown, Get ‘er Rolling (w/ Tyler Grant & Joe Jogerst), Zydeco Boogaloo (w/ Joe Jogerst), Blue House (w/ Joe Jogerst), Let’s Give A Party (w/ Joe Jogerst), Delta Queen (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Hard To Handle (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Doing My Time > Danger Man > Doing My Time (w/ Andy Thorn), Y’all Come (w/ Guests)

Set II: Riding On The L&N, Midnight Blues, Tu N’as Pas Aller, Railroad Highway, Wild Bill Joes (w/ Silas Herman, Eric Torin, Eli Emmitt) Alfalfa’s, Whipping Post, Head Bag (w/ Joe Jogerst), She Caught the Katy (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Oklahoma (w/ Glenn Keefe, Gerry Cavagnaro, Joe Jogerst), Quinn the Eskimo (w/ Billy Nershi)

E: Iko Iko > Rise Up (w/ all guests in the house)

Download the 12.30 Boulder Theater show here.

12.31.09 :: Boulder Theater :: Boulder, CO

Set I (Acoustic): Rocky Road Blues, Come On In My Kitchen, Molly and Tembrooks, Lovin In My Baby’s Eyes, Shuckin The Corn (w/ Bonnie Payne), Blue Moon of Kentucky (w/ Bonnie Payne), Just Before The Evening, Blue Night

Set II: I Know your Mother > I Know You Rider > Jack London > Honkey Tonk Woman > Jack London > Honkey Tonk Woman > I Know Your Mother> I Know You Rider, Dance on your Head, 99 Years (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Washington at Valley Forge (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Just Keep Walkin, Breakin Thru, Carnival Time, Troubled Times, Rodeo Geek, Whispering Waters, Euphoria

Set III: Just when you think it can’t get no better (w/ Joe Jogerst), New Year’s Countdown > Auld Lang Syne, This Is The Time, Up On The Hill Where They Do The Boogie, Mama Boulet, River’s Risin, Two Trains (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Ooh Las Vegas (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Wheel Hoss (w/ Silas Herman), Going around the World (w/ Silas Herman), Madam Rosin (w/ Joe Jogerst & Gerry Cavagnaro), Big Mamou (w/ Joe Jogerst & Gerry Cavagnaro)

E: Let it Bleed (w/ Joe Jogerst & Gerry Cavagnaro), White Freightliner

Download the NYE show here.

01.02.10 :: Ogden Theatre :: Denver, CO

Set I: Jokester, Down In The Hollow, Steamboat Whistle Blues (w/ Pete Wernick), Day Break in Dixie (w/ Pete Wernick), High On A Mountain Top (w/ Pete Wernick), On The Road (w/ Pete Wernick), Gimme Da Ting (w/ Sally Van Meter & Bonnie Payne), Bend In The River (w/ Joe Jogerst, Bonnie Payne & Sally Van Meter), Get Off This (w/ David Lowery & Johnny Hickman / Horns – Danny Sears & Justin Jones), Mr. Wrong (w/ David Lowery & Johnny Hickman / Horns – Danny Sears & Justin Jones), Teen Angst (w/ David Lowery & Johnny Hickman), 44 Blues (w/ Sally Van Meter / Horns – Danny Sears & Justin Jones), Better (w/ Sally Van Meter / Horns – Danny Sears & Justin Jones)

Set II: Let’s Give A Party (w/ Sally Van Meter / Horns – Danny Sears & Justin Jones), Lonesome Road (w/ Sally Van Meter), Who Put The Pepper In The Vaseline (w/ Pete Wernick, Sally Van Meter & Bonnie Payne), Out In The Woods (w/ Sally Van Meter), Little Maggie (w/ Sally Van Meter & Pete Wernick), Bosco Stomp (w/ Sally Van Meter & Joe Jogerst), Can’t You Hear Me Calling (w/ Jeff Austin & Sally Van Meter), Bill’s Boogie (w/ Jeff Austin & Sally Van Meter / Horns – Danny Sears, Justin Jones), Sweet Potato (w/ David Lowey, Johnny Hickmen & Sally Van Meter / Horns- Danny Sears, Justin Jones), Eurotrash Girl (w/ David Lowery, Johnny Hickman, Sally Van Meter & Jeff Austin), Lonesome Johnny Blues (w/ David Lowery, Johnny Hickman, Sally Van Meter & Jeff Austin)

E: Pasta On The Mountain (w/ all guest)

The Ogden show is free with your NYE download.

Continue reading for Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years track list…

Just unzip the folder and play. If you drag in to iTunes, all show information, comments, and even album art will be imported and displayed. Download and add each part to your iTunes or burn to CDs as they become available to complete the double album set!

Track Listing for Part 1 of the Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years Sampler

1. Blister in the Sun 3:59 – 05/04/1991 McCabe’s Boulder, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Gerry Cavagnaro, Michael Wooten, Rob Galloway

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Violent Femmes

2. Just Before The Evening 4:02 – 05/04/1991 McCabe’s Boulder, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Gerry Cavagnaro, Michael Wooten, Rob Galloway
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Drew Emmitt – Leftover Salmon

3. Whiskey Before Breakfast/Over The Waterfall 3:47 – 05/04/1991 McCabe’s – Boulder, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Gerry Cavagnaro, Michael Wooten, Rob Galloway

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Traditionally arranged by Leftover Salmon

4. Who Stole My Monkey 4:42 – 05/25/1991 Stage Stop – Rollinsville, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Gerry Cavagnaro, Michael Wooten, Rob Galloway

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Zachary Richard

5. Mystery 4:19 – 10/02/1993 – Fox Theater – Boulder, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Michael Wooten, Tye North, Joe Jogerst

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Mark Hallman

6. Weights 3:53 10/02/1993 – Fox Theater – Boulder, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Michael Wooten, Tye North, Joe Jogerst

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Drew Emmitt – Leftover Salmon

7. Dance On Your Head 4:12 – 10/19/1994 Music Farm – Charleston, SC

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Michael Wooten, Tye North

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Vince Herman / Mark Vann – Leftover Salmon

8. Head Bag 5:34 10/19/1994 Music Farm – Charleston, SC

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Michael Wooten, Tye North

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Vince Herman – Leftover Salmon


Track Listing for Part 2 of the Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years sampler:

9. Hot Burrito Breakdown 3:47 – 08/07/1995 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Michael Wooten, Tye North

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Chris Ethridge / Gram Parsons

10. River’s Rising 6:59 – 07/14/1996 Great American Music Festival – Winter Park, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Michael Wooten, Tye North

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Drew Emmitt – Leftover Salmon

11. Funky Mountain Fogdown (with Pete Sears) 4:43 – 04/14/1997 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Michael Wooten, Tye North

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Mark Vann – Leftover Salmon

12. Up On The Hill Where We Do The Boogie 4:16 – 02/16/1998 JR’s Dickson Street Ball Room – Fayetteville, AR

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Jeff Sipe, Tye North

Songwriter/Composer Credits: John Hartford

13. Little Maggie 4:12 – 02/22/1998 Tipitina’s – New Orleans, LA

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Jeff Sipe, Tye North

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Traditional, Arranged by Leftover Salmon

14. Mama Look a Boo Boo (with Karl Denson) 4:11 – 04/22/1999 Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Jeff Sipe, Tye North

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Harry Belafonte

15. Ooh Las Vegas (with Trey Anastasio) 7:38 – 09/20/1999 Rialto Theater – Tucson, AZ

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Jeff Sipe, Tye North

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Graham Parsons

16. Nobody’s Fault But Mine (with John Bell, Jeff Austin, Pete Sears and John Cowan) 8:47
09/09/2000 Planet Salmon – Lyons, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Jeff Sipe, Tye North

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Nina Simone


Track Listing for Part 3 of the Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years sampler:

17. Austin Five (Mark Vann Original, Never Released) 5:53

03/26/2001 The Canopy – Urbana, IL

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Mark Vann

18. Teen Angst (with David Lowery) 5:12
09/24 & 09/25/2002 David Lowery’s Studio – Richmond, VA

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez

Songwriter/Composer Credits: David Faragher/David Lowery/John Hickman – Cracker

19. Dark Hollow (with Del McCoury) 4:09

11/09/2002 The NorVa – Norfolk, VA

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Bill Browning

20. Rocky Road Blues (with Mike Gordon) 4:30

12/04/2002 Higher Ground – Winooski, VT

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Bill Monroe

21. Ain’t No Use (with David Grisman) 7:28

01/29/2003 McNear’s Mystic Theatre – Petaluma, CA

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Joseph Modeliste/Arthur L Neville/Leo Nocentelli/George Porter Jr.

22. Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow (with Sam Bush and Ross Martin) 6:47

02/20/2003 Fox Theater – Boulder, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Traditionally arranged by Leftover Salmon


Track Listing for Part 4 of the Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years sampler:

23. Breakin Thru 7:36

12/31/2004 Fox Theater – Boulder, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Drew Emmitt – Leftover Salmon

24. Catfish John (with Michael Wooten) 7:55
12/31/2004 Fox Theater – Boulder, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Bob McDill / Allen Reynolds

25. Valley Of The Full Moon 4:02

07/28/2007 Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jeff Sipe

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Drew Emmitt – Leftover Salmon

26. Ask The Fish 11:00

07/28/2007 Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jeff Sipe

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Vince Herman – Leftover Salmon

27. Vampire Blues 7:04

10/31/2008 Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jeff Sipe

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Neil Young

28. Rise Up, Wake and Bake 3:19

07/03/2009 High Sierra Music Festival – Quincy, CA

Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez

Songwriter/Composer Credits: Drew Emmitt/Vince Herman – Leftover Salmon

JamBase | 20 Years Strong

Go See Live Music!


YMSB/Railroad Earth | 10.17 | NYC

Words & Images by: Bill Clifford

Yonder Mountain String Band & Railroad Earth :: 10.17.09 :: Nokia Theatre :: New York, NY

Adam Aijala – YMSB :: 10.17 :: New York City

For live music fans, it’s always a wonderful rush when two of your favorite acts are performing together. Such was the case for this writer when Yonder Mountain String Band and Railroad Earth were booked in New York City. That the performance would take place in Times Square was simply the icing on the cake.

New Jersey-based Railroad Earth opened the show with an upbeat and inviting reading of “Seven Story Mountain” before the lilting violin and acoustic guitars of “The Forecast” drew shrieks of excitement from enthused fans now gathered in front of the stage. Older instrumental “Bread and Water” inspired a small portion of the crowd to clap their hands in unison, slightly pulling in a tent revival feel to the proceedings.

The tempo mellowed on the sweet ballad “Loving You,” then lifted again with the familiar opening guitar picking of the buoyant “Smiling Like A Buddha.” Todd Sheaffer and Andy Goessling‘s guitars weaved in and out with John Skehan‘s mandolin and Tim Carbone‘s violin, exhorting the crowd to do-si-do along. RRE closed out its NYC stop with their version of Neal Casal’s “Dandelion Wine.” Their most traditional bluegrass-sounding song of the performance, it got the audience shuffling and stomping its feet and inspired quite a bit of honky-tonk dancing – a sight to see in Times Square of all places.

The lights dimmed and Yonder Mountain String Band took the stage with gracious smiles, looking pleased to see such a large crowd in New York City. The band opened the first of two sets with a sprawling, high-speed romp through “Raleigh & Spencer.” It was an inspired choice for an opener, immediately drawing a mix of suave hipsters and country hippies to the open floor.

Railroad Earth :: 10.17 :: New York City

Frontman Jeff Austin introduced stand-up bassist Ben Kaufmann, who stated, “Thank you very much. This is the most people we’ve ever played to in New York City. We’ve been coming here a long time. Remember The Wetlands? I do.” Austin added that the first time the band played The Wetlands “about twenty three of you were there. Our van got broken into, and we’re like, ‘We’re going to make it in this town.’”

“40 Miles From Denver,” Kaufmann’s bittersweet ode about leaving someone behind to return to life in the Appalachian Mountains, followed, and here it seemed that a large portion of the crowd sang with him. Austin brought a huge cheer from the audience when he said with a bit of a grunt, “We’re gonna cram as much music as we can into tonight for all of you. And when we’re full, were gonna add just one or two more.”

Kaufmann’s lament to the ramblin’ gamblin’ lifestyle of the road, “Sometimes I’ve Won,” featured a sweet guitar and banjo interlude. “Another Day,” sung by guitarist Adam Aijala, was a traditional bluegrass stomp that further shone the spotlight on Dave Johnston‘s banjo picking.

YMSB has an incredible repertoire to pull from, and this evening’s selection of Kaufmann’s “Complicated” was evidence of that fact. The only song they played off their most recent studio CD, The Show (JamBase review), his bass held the low end fine enough, but missing were the drums that many of that album’s tracks were recorded with.

Jeff Austin – YMSB :: 10.17 :: New York City

Austin made note of his family’s Queens connections and that his mom had long dreamed of seeing him play on Broadway. “So, I got to call my mom, and I said, ‘Mom, I just took a picture of my face in Times Square, and I’m playing actually address-wise on Broadway!” Then, stepping back from the microphone, he added with a laugh, “Anyway, this one’s for you, mom!” and with a few plaintive strums on his mandolin was off into their classic “Southbound,” enticing Aijala into a mid-song guitar solo.

YMSB closed the first set with a four-song run that began with the evocatively intoned traditional bluegrass instrumental “Elzic’s Farewell,” featuring stellar picking from Austin. It was followed by the equally dark “New Horizons,” about a farm family running from a deluge of rain, which dissolved via a bass solo into the much more high-spirited “Holdin’,” with Kaufmann’s cheerful chorus of “Do-da-do,” and finally came back around to the closing crescendo of “New Horizons.” Austin and Johnston played right up to one another, locking eyes and bringing it together at just the right moment. It was exactly this kind of “nu-grass jam” that created so many fans for the band in the first place. This closing run lifted the crowd’s spirit and had folks spinning, shuffling, smiling and dancing.

“Is that it on a Saturday night, New York?” asked Austin as the band took the stage for the second set, coaxing a cheer from the remaining fans at the Nokia Theatre. Though it had thinned a bit, the theater was still fairly packed. “I knew ya had more than that in ya. We’ve got a lot more in us as well.”

Ben Kaufmann – YMSB :: 10.17

A sweet “Traffic Jam” > “Little Rabbit” > “Traffic Jam” sandwich featured Johnston and Aijala picking at a vigorous pace and feeding off the crowd’s energy. Austin made a reference to several of the band’s influences and energetically stated, “Without a guy in a band called the Bad Livers, a musician named Danny Barnes, we might not be standing here. So, we’d like to welcome Mr. Danny Barnes out to the stage, to just rip some shit in New York City with us. What do ya say, Mr. Barnes?”

“Pine County Breakdown” was a traditional bluegrass dueling banjo instrumental, while the Bad Livers’ “Where They Do Not Know My Name,” though rooted in bluegrass, was played with the speed and punk aesthetic the Livers built their name on. When Barnes set into picking with Johnston and Austin, his influence on the quartet was evident.

“Finally Saw The Light” tells the tale of a rambling outlaw who finally finds solace in the Lord’s graces. Kaufmann sang it with passion and zeal, and Johnston’s plaintive banjo was a guiding light in the darkness. Disappointingly, the song drew only modest applause. And Austin’s second set closer, “Peace Of Mind,” which featured slashing mandolin runs against Aijala’s melancholic guitar strums, barely seemed to raise most fan’s energy. Despite a packed house in Times Square, there is just something incredibly different about hearing YMSB perform down South or in the mountains that just wasn’t present in New York City.

As the band returned for the closing two song encore, Austin thanked the crowd, stating that if they’ll keep turning up that the band will keep coming back. Closing out the performance, RRE’s Tim Carbone joined the band on fiddle for a choice cover of Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come;” the reggae classic taking on a new feel played on traditional stringed instruments.

“We got time for one more big old bluegrass number. Are you feeling it friends? Are you feeling it New York City?” hollered Austin. Together with Carbone and Barnes, they launched into a speedy version of “Shady Groove” to end the night.

Railroad Earth Setlist

Seven Story Mountain, Old Dangerfield, Bird in a House, The Forecast, 1759, Bread and Water, Lovin’ You, Like a Buddha, Dance Around Molly > Dandelion Wine

Yonder Mountain String Band Setlist

Set I: Raleigh & Spencer, 40 Miles From Denver, Pride Of Alabama, Sometimes I’ve Won, Winds On Fire, Another Day, Complicated, Southbound, Elzic’s Farewell > New Horizons > Holdin’ > New Horizons

Set II: Traffic Jam > Little Rabbit > Traffic Jam, Crazy, Pike County Breakdown*, Going Where They Do Not Know My Name*, Finally Saw The Light, Country Boy Rock & Roll, Natchez Whistle > Peace Of Mind

E: Harder They Come Harder They Fall#, Shady Grove#

* Danny Barnes on banjo & vocals

# Tim Carbone on fiddle

YMSB is on tour now; dates available here. RRE is also on tour now; date available here.

JamBase | NYC
Go See Live Music!


DelFest Initial Lineup YMSB, Avetts, KW, Grisman, RRE

MCCOURY MUSIC & HIGH SIERRA MUSIC ANNOUNCE

INITIAL LINEUP FOR 3rd ANNUAL DELFEST at ALLEGANY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, CUMBERLAND, MD

Del McCoury Band

After much anticipation, bluegrass patriarch Del McCoury and WAMU’s Bluegrass Country’s Katy Daley announced the initial lineup for the 3rd Annual DelFest live on air this morning. They then proceeded to take calls from fans and play cuts from the Del McCoury Band’s new album, Family Circle, which hits stores today.

Along with the Del McCoury Band and Del’s sons’ spinoff, The Travelin’ McCourys, next year’s featured artists include Yonder Mountain String Band, The Avett Brothers, Keller Williams and Friends featuring Jeff Austin and Keith Moseley, David Grisman Bluegrass Experience, Railroad Earth, Dailey and Vincent and others (see below for full list). “While there will be many more acts added, we are proud to announce this first round of artists — many who are friends of ours,” says Ronnie McCoury of the announcement.

DelFest will be held Thursday, May 27 through Sunday, May 30, 2010 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD (2.5 hrs from Baltimore and DC). It originated from the desire to create a family-friendly music festival celebrating the rich legacy of McCoury music while creating a forum for world-class musical collaborations and to showcase fresh new talent with a down-home feeling. Produced in association with High Sierra Music, the 3rd Annual DelFest will again offer a quality festival experience stamped with the unique McCoury touch. Personally chosen by Del, the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD serves as the perfect location for DelFest. Nestled along the Potomac River in the scenic Appalachian Mountains, the Fairgrounds are convenient to four major airports and easily reached by rail or road.

In addition to traditional stage sets by these world-class artists, attendees can again expect to see one-of-a-kind collaborations, special guest sit-ins, various tributes to Del McCoury and his musical legacy, intimate appearances, both at unique “playshops” — informal workshops where the emphasis will be on performance rather than instruction — and in late night indoor performances and picking sessions. DelFest will also include a band competition, with the winners invited to return for a regular set at the following year’s gathering, and for the second year, DelFest will be immediately preceded by a 3-day Music Academy hosted by The Travelin’ McCourys, where all levels of musicians can learn from their heroes (the Academy will take place May 25, 26, and 27).

A limited number of early bird passes are on sale now, as well as DELuxe Experience (VIP) packages and RV passes. For detailed information and to purchase tickets, visit www.delfest.com.

AT A GLANCE:

3rd Annual DelFest

May 27 – 30, 2010

Allegany County Fairgrounds, Cumberland, MD

Featuring:

The Del McCoury Band (three performances over the weekend)

Yonder Mountain String Band

The Avett Brothers

Keller Williams & Friends featuring Jeff Austin and Keith Moseley

David Grisman Bluegrass Experience

Railroad Earth

Dailey & Vincent

The Travelin’ McCourys

Mountain Heart

Joe Craven

Larry Keel & Natural Bridge

Greensky Bluegrass

The Hillbilly Gypsies


Many more to be announced!

Tickets on sale now at delfest.com

$110 4-day pass; $99 3-day pass (prices good through January 11, 2010)


Yonder Mountain String Band: The Show

By: Sarah Hagerman

As a continuation of the studio explorations on the previous album, with producer Tom Rothrock behind the boards again and Pete Thomas behind the kit for several tracks, Yonder Mountain String Band‘s fifth studio album The Show (released September 1 on Frog Pad – and cheers to being back on their own label) bares more rock and roll incisors in spirit and displays some surprising, unpredictable expansions. On the whole it may not shock people as much as the sonic shifts on 2006′s self-titled release, yet it still might shake some folks out of their comfort zones. But whatever color grass you may like, be it “bluegrass” “progressive grass” or “jamgrass, ” this band thrives in unrestricted spaces where such terminology becomes moot and only the heart remains. On The Show, they fearlessly run with that freedom.

Thomas adds some serious drum smash behind Dave Johnston‘s creepy “Fingerprint,” which has a grungy, crackling Adam Aijala electric guitar breakdown. Thomas adds an extra-sticky thump to Ben Kaufmann‘s sneering “Criminal” and Jeff Austin‘s ode to good-riddance “Fine Excuses.” This is not to say that every cut rolls its way into the semis for me. Despite Austin’s fiery delivery, this take on “Steep Grade, Sharp Curves” feels overcooked. It’s a complementary mood contrast to the stripped-down, almost wistful, version on the splendid Songs from the Tin Shed, Austin and Chris Castino‘s (The Big Wu) 2004 album, and this version does have the “cheap cocaine and neon lights” (instead of PG-rated “cheap drinks…” on Tin Shed) lyrics. But, the production here glosses over some of the instrumental work, particularly when the studio handclaps, a rather distracting effect that rarely serves any artist well, burst out. Contrast that with a more fitting use of production, namely Thomas’ sticks and stones on the Austin/Benny “Burle” Galloway songwriting collaboration “Belle Parker.” As much as I love the spare delicacy of the live version, that song floors me any way it’s served up – neat or with a percussive chaser – and it’s wonderful to have it handled with such richness here. Austin’s heartworn vocal delivery seeps through something strong, and the effect is as warming as a shot of Jameson and wrenching as the morning after.

The well-captured versions of “Out of the Blue,” “Casualty” and “Rain Still Falls” display the creative possibilities within a straight-up acoustic framework. “OTB” and “Casualty” also sandwich the album with two killer, ripping numbers. “OTB” is a meaty opener, keeping Austin’s salt-in-the-wound rawness on the surface, while “Casualty” is a particularly potent Kaufmann lyrical showing, with some punches like, “She wonders why I’m leaving/ And I wonder why she gives me things for free,” and this passage, which combines some “baby I’m leaving you” feel with darker implications in the shadows of the road ahead, with regrets left to cool on the window sills behind:

She’s looking for some kind of grace
In a look that might pass on my face
She don’t see it so she knows that I’ll be going
But when I’m gone please understand
It’s just that I’m the kind of man
That’s learned that you can’t stop the wind from blowing
And the only thing you’ll get from me is time
And a dim awareness something’s on my mind

As for the newest material, which has been creeping into setlists for a few months, some of it really throws you for a loop, the Johnston-penned “Isolate” probably more so than any others. As the center track, it really ties the album together. It’s strikingly minimalist, crawling slow across the floor, capturing the female protagonist’s loneliness in wrenching, claustrophobic strokes – a singular light bulb in a dark hallway, radio static, a neglected kitchen. Johnston’s voice has the lowest rumble to it of the four men, and he delivers the words slowly, letting them drip. The instruments simmer underneath, all woven around a steady, metronomic pulsation. The effect is hypnotic and utterly unlike anything the band has done before. Followed by the tight, Celtic-tinged instrumental, “In the Seam,” featuring Aijala and Kaufmann on bouzoukis, that darkness-to-light journey is powerfully executed as the track rips us out of a dim corner into brilliant sunshine.

Other interesting turns are the eight minute long “Honestly,” which starts with Aijala’s reverb-heavy vocals and shimmery instrumentation that recalls My Morning Jacket‘s “At Dawn” a bit. The music floats and stretches its wings before charging into a driving, grassy kick. It’s a prime headphone track, with skitters and scatters snaking in the backdrop. Meanwhile, Kaufmann’s “Complicated” is unapologetically poppy, but it certainly suits its writer, who can deliver earnest sincerity without sounding cloying. In the car it’s got a steering wheel slapping quality that might be dangerous if you’re trying to avoid speeding tickets, especially when that speedometer splintering Aijala solo kicks in. Finally, the willowy “Dreams,” co-written by all four, is reminiscent of a Neil Young country cut from Harvest Moon. The lonesome harmonica, coupled with background pedal effects that sound like quietly weeping steel guitars, make it perfect for closing time echoes, as slow dancers settle into each others’ shoulders, lost in a forgotten dance hall where floorboards creak and sigh beneath their feet.

It’s details like these, which unfold in brighter colors with each listen, that exhibit plentiful strokes of organic matter and strangeness in The Show, keeping it bucking without losing its heart – or balls. No matter what your reaction, you’d be hard pressed to argue that it doesn’t fit in nicely with the boys’ 11-year modus operandi of acoustic evolution. I for one wouldn’t want it any other way from YMSB.

JamBase | Expanding
Go See Live Music!