3/4/09 Great American Taxi, Matt Pudas & the North Country Bandits @ the Cabooze
3/4/09 Great American Taxi, Matt Pudas & North Country Bandits @ the Cabooze
name in lights * foto: timmy
Whenever the mountain seasoned renegade Great American Taxi rolls into the Twin Towns lots of people get way excited & ready to roll myself included. The Cabooze was mightily abuzz with the north country vibe beginning with Matt Pudas & the North Country Bandits as well as Nick “The Feelin” Mrozinski starting the bonfire of music to warm the hearts & bodies of the friendly crowd.
Then it was time for GAT’s trademark “Americana Without Borders”™. The always freaking Taxi sonically & rampantly took us for a joy filled rootsadelic ride trippin down our West Bank watering hole like holy highness hailing down from the wild Rocky Mountain highlands.
Vince sings the North Country Song 3/4/09 * foto: timmy
Here’s a brief history of GAT as I’ve been told: my friend Vince Herman, once his main squeeze Leftover Salmon decided to go the way of indefinite hiatus, had the wise notion that he would get a bunch of his Boulder area uber talented buddies, who he’d been dying to play with together to jam & see what might happen. There was an environmental benefit they did together as well that helped the cohesion. Well folks, soon after the Taxi was formed & rolling out road ready & passenger friendly to say the least. That was a few years ago & I’m delighted to see them going strong still & getting stronger I might add. Also to note is that GAT put out a great record called “Streets of Gold” on their own in 2007. Check it.
During their nearly 2 hour set, there was much freakadelic music & fun blazing from the stage into the air & dancefloor & then back at the stage again. This is how things work at a freakout hoedown Taxi style.
GAT= Chad Staehly (keyboards, vocals), Vince Herman (guitars, mandolin, vocals), Chris Sheldon (drums, vocals), guest Matt Pudas (on harmonica), Edwin Hurwitz (bass), Jim Lewin (guitar, vocals)
Vince led the pulsing stoner fiendish
charge as the band wailed thru much excellent material including fun
quirky original “Lumpy, Beanpole & Dirt”, “Mystery Train”, improv
savvy “North Country Song”, fun lovin’ “Fuzzy little hippie girl”,
lifestyle anthem at warp speed “Nobody’s Business”, classic “American
Beauty”, “Kentucky Home”, “Like a Road” (popularized by the Jerry
Garcia Band) & as part of a party down freak-for-all encore
Leftover Salmon frenzy fare “Wake & Bake”. There were many
tunes that featured Matt Pudas (who’s main gig is lead singer for White Iron Band) on harmonica, Nick “The Feelin” on keyboards & the Bandit’s fine string ace Drew Druckrey on mando.
The Taxi rides with Matt Pudas * foto: timmy
There were a few festive birthdays of note happening: Chad Staehly GAT’s amazing keyboardist, & Mpls scene darlings Nate A (Dogg) & Chris Castino (Big Wu, Cheetah Nunchuck). Best wishes to them all.
Birthday freak Nate A (Dogg) @ Joint
Now remember that the cruising altitude of this zany band is considerably higher than that of most other touring musical act. So adjust yourself accordingly if you please.
After the exhilarating show, I hung backstage in the green room catching up with Vinny & the guys after which even going so far as help them load out some gear. Yes, my band friends know that I can still hump some gear in my day.
Watch for Great American Taxi on the summer festival circuit as they are doing DelFest (5/23/09), Bandit County Fair (6/12, 13/09) in deSoto, WI with White Iron Band, Smokin’ Bandits & others & I believe the Big Wu Family Reunion X at Harmony Park outside Geneva, MN & others I’m sure.
Another cool thing about Vince & his antics is that he’s constantly adding little spontaneous observational nuances to his lyrics as he sings. The wondrous result is that this gives the impromptu flavor of you-never-know-whats-coming-next & truly makes it personal to each performance. You really gotta see this to believe it. As Vince would say “everybody freak out!”... All aboard!
Freak note: On the good news front: This year Leftover Salmon will be freakingly celebrating their 20th Anniversary with some crazy shows at the Fillmore in Denver (no dates known at press time). So get yourself to the mountains & get your polyethnic Cajun slamgrass on. It’s gonna be some massively monster large unadulterated uncontrolled fun for all.
name in lights * foto: timmy
Whenever the mountain seasoned renegade Great American Taxi rolls into the Twin Towns lots of people get way excited & ready to roll myself included. The Cabooze was mightily abuzz with the north country vibe beginning with Matt Pudas & the North Country Bandits as well as Nick “The Feelin” Mrozinski starting the bonfire of music to warm the hearts & bodies of the friendly crowd.
Then it was time for GAT’s trademark “Americana Without Borders”™. The always freaking Taxi sonically & rampantly took us for a joy filled rootsadelic ride trippin down our West Bank watering hole like holy highness hailing down from the wild Rocky Mountain highlands.
Vince sings the North Country Song 3/4/09 * foto: timmy
Here’s a brief history of GAT as I’ve been told: my friend Vince Herman, once his main squeeze Leftover Salmon decided to go the way of indefinite hiatus, had the wise notion that he would get a bunch of his Boulder area uber talented buddies, who he’d been dying to play with together to jam & see what might happen. There was an environmental benefit they did together as well that helped the cohesion. Well folks, soon after the Taxi was formed & rolling out road ready & passenger friendly to say the least. That was a few years ago & I’m delighted to see them going strong still & getting stronger I might add. Also to note is that GAT put out a great record called “Streets of Gold” on their own in 2007. Check it.
During their nearly 2 hour set, there was much freakadelic music & fun blazing from the stage into the air & dancefloor & then back at the stage again. This is how things work at a freakout hoedown Taxi style.
GAT= Chad Staehly (keyboards, vocals), Vince Herman (guitars, mandolin, vocals), Chris Sheldon (drums, vocals), guest Matt Pudas (on harmonica), Edwin Hurwitz (bass), Jim Lewin (guitar, vocals)
The Taxi rides with Matt Pudas * foto: timmy
There were a few festive birthdays of note happening: Chad Staehly GAT’s amazing keyboardist, & Mpls scene darlings Nate A (Dogg) & Chris Castino (Big Wu, Cheetah Nunchuck). Best wishes to them all.
Birthday freak Nate A (Dogg) @ Joint
Now remember that the cruising altitude of this zany band is considerably higher than that of most other touring musical act. So adjust yourself accordingly if you please.
After the exhilarating show, I hung backstage in the green room catching up with Vinny & the guys after which even going so far as help them load out some gear. Yes, my band friends know that I can still hump some gear in my day.
Watch for Great American Taxi on the summer festival circuit as they are doing DelFest (5/23/09), Bandit County Fair (6/12, 13/09) in deSoto, WI with White Iron Band, Smokin’ Bandits & others & I believe the Big Wu Family Reunion X at Harmony Park outside Geneva, MN & others I’m sure.
Another cool thing about Vince & his antics is that he’s constantly adding little spontaneous observational nuances to his lyrics as he sings. The wondrous result is that this gives the impromptu flavor of you-never-know-whats-coming-next & truly makes it personal to each performance. You really gotta see this to believe it. As Vince would say “everybody freak out!”... All aboard!
Freak note: On the good news front: This year Leftover Salmon will be freakingly celebrating their 20th Anniversary with some crazy shows at the Fillmore in Denver (no dates known at press time). So get yourself to the mountains & get your polyethnic Cajun slamgrass on. It’s gonna be some massively monster large unadulterated uncontrolled fun for all.
Thanks Timothy! I am glad to learn more about this band and maybe even check them out live next time they are in town!
Kristi
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