Freaker Scene

2-3-2010 Dark Star Orchestra @ the Varsity Theater

2010-02-04T10:20:00Z

Ever since moving to Minneapolis at age 18, I have noticed that this has always been a Grateful Dead town. That said, it remains today & this evening of the music playing the band via Dark Star Orchestra all in the spirit of the Dead.

The 1st set was reported to be remarkable & thrilling by friends on the scene. The 2nd set was musically impressive & vibrantly dance centric. The Varsity is a fave cool venue for me & for this is was sold out completely packing in more than 800. Though wicked crowded, the crowd along with DSO commanded a nice mellow fun bouncy vibe throughout.

The scene was psychedelic. The nite was electric.
The final set blew wide open with a convincing “He’s Gone” flashing me back the the old days of touring with the good old GD. Some of the other standout moments for me during the set were the trip spinning “Dark Star”, a seal the deal “Sugar Magnolia”, swagger fuelled “Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad” & delicately complicated beauty “Ripple”. Spacy, all out rocking, cosmic ballads, obscurities, stories, cowboy songs... this show had it all.

Me & Mike Z.. the coolest friend ever
who 1st brought me to see the Grateful Dead

DSO live is always a fun dancercize Jerryatric style freakadelic hip happening. Catch them live if & when you can. Visit DSO: darkstarorchestra.net. Play (with) dead.

"Rockin' The Rhein" 4-24-72

*FreakNote: The GD show that DSO were recreating here was the famed 4-24-1972 from Dusseldorf, Germany. There’s a GD release of this show called “Rockin’ The Rhein”.

12-29-2009 Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Ken Valdez @ 1st Avenue mainroom

2009-12-30T10:20:00Z

Big Head Todd & the Monsters enliven the crowd.

One downtown ritual I’ve enjoyed for years is Big Head Todd & the Monsters at the mainroom of First Avenue. It remains a true joy for me. You can tell they love to play this historic room & always bring their most potent juice.

Ken Valdez did a good funk infused set to open the night. Then it was BHTMs for over 2 hours straight including a captivating crowd pleasing encore. Some of the songs heard were multiple climaxing “City on Fire”, signature “Bittersweet”, trip tangled “Tangerine”, John Lee Hooker’s blues boogie burn “Boom Boom” & sonic soaked “Conquistador” with some brand new songs sprinkled in nicely.

TPM & BHTM perform "City on Fire"

When I first met bandleader Todd Park Mohr was in 1991 at the Cabooze. He reminded me then of Neil Young. Now; he’s still the same warm friendly guy & down to earth talent he was then. Their music has evolved sweetly over the years & many records as well as countless stunning live shows. Go big. You will never look back.

11/22/09 Widespread Panic @ Riverside Theater Milwaukee, WI

2009-11-23T10:20:00Z

Widespread Panic "Let's Get The Show On The Road" opener * foto: timmy

Panic had pleasurably heated the chilly beer town massively for the 2 previous meltdown nights & now Sunday had arrived like the colossal mothership. Following a powerful whim, I had traveled by train all day from the Twin Cities to join good friends for this finale show occasion.

From down on the street to outer space.... WsP

Widespread Panic came in hot flailing their dance erupting electrical storming musical wizardry from the very start. The Riverside Theater is a truly amazing venue for a big rock show. Large & ornately historic, this place still maintained a comfortable & intimate vibe. The band boisterously made their presence known on stage opening with a rip roaring primo version of “Let’s Get the Show on the Road”. Other peak momentous highlights of the first set were party pleaser “Tall Boy”, Vic Chesnutt’s popular fave “Aunt Avis” > melting into down home rockin’ “Rebirtha”, ultra freaking rare gem “Almost Fried”, slow burning “I’m Not Alone” & heavy passionate “Solid Rock”.

Dancing up front for Panic was so much fun here.

Set 2 sweetly arose to life with an adventure inviting “Last Dance” before further fully engaging the scene with more of their charming sexy muses at large. My personal fave treasures unearthed in the 2nd set were: the jam filled frolicking “Walkin’ (for your love)” > “Saint Louis Jam” > intensely moving rare beauty “Morning Dew” (my friends said I brought the ‘Dew’), fast hard “Tie Your Shoes”, fired up funky southern hoodoo “Walk on Guilded Splinters”, extreme “Blackout Blues”, very worthy of giving thanks for sweet sounding “Pilgrims” & improv savvy love soaked “Junior”.

Panic from the balcony of the Riverside. Awesome venue!

The encore featured crowd peaking “All Time Low” & the wondrous dance enchanting “Dream Song”. Panic is well known for their Sunday cosmic knockouts whenever they do weekend runs like this. With this bit of knowledge & an overwhelming desire to dance amongst friends & strangers, I was there. I’m so glad I made it. Here I want to thank all my amazing friends who encouraged my whimsical trip especially Erica & Jesse, whose generosity truly made this possible. Also my thanks & praises to Widespread Panic as well as the universe. I am grateful with all my heart.

My kind hosts Erica & Jesse loot the Waukee pirate booty pre-Panic

The blessings on my whirlwind journey were abundant. The nonstop alluring music propelled my body in ways I previously never knew. The warm feelings of euphoria this experience provided go way beyond the physical realm. Thinking about it, I’m left speechless. Be in the moment. It’s good for you.

The Scene outside the show

11/18/09 Dinosaur Jr. @ First Avenue

2009-11-19T10:20:00Z

Dinosaur Jr. detonate 1st Avenue

This enormously anticipated rock show burstively blew thru town like a dangerous category 5 tornado as Dinosaur Jr. ragingly thrilled & rocked the captive enthusiastic throngs at the quintessential premiere live nightclub First Avenue in the mainroom. The place was pretty packed with enthusiasm from the loyal crowd clearly felt in the air. Dinosaur Jr. is J. Mascis on guitar, vocals, Lou Barlow on bass, vocals & Murph on drums.

Lou Barlow goes low.....

D-Jr opened the nocturnal night wide jumping in with the scorcher “Thumb”. Then they performed wickedly amped up ditties “Kracked”, newer heavies like self explanatory “Imagination Blind”, urgency steeped “Pieces”, wondersome “Plans”, & twangy plea “Crumble”. All rocked ridiculously. Many of the songs played were from their most recent 2 stellar records “Beyond” from 2007 & “Farm” from 2009. Both as well as their older stuff belong in everyone’s collection.

From here, Dinosaur Jr. launched into their classic indie hit “I feel the pain”, forward leaning “Over It”, surreal “Out There”, sonic “Fury”, reflective “Back to your heart” & sensory “Repulsion” before careening recklessly into the show’s finale aural peaks with the timeless anthem “Freak Scene” & future classic “I don’t wanna go there”. After the seismic shaking of the encores subsided, a random girl approached me & said “thanks for dancing so hard”. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make my night.

stage set list 11-18-09

This high energy band gives me physical bodily felt boosts & makes me wanna live life to the fullest with all I got. If there could be any higher compliment to give a band, please let me know. Dinosaur Jr’s distinctive sound is personified by amplified high gain, distortion, feedback, effects & the like. Their driving music is filled with passion & thrusts toward you like an intense inescapable force. How often do you hear a great band play only all original music all night. Not often enough is what I say.

Dinosaur Jr.

This occasion was one of the best hardest hitting live shows I’ve experienced in my ramblings about. Catch Dinosaur Jr. before they set the whole world burning & in ruins. Hurry!

10/10/09 Davina & the Vagabonds @ The Dakota Jazz Club

2009-10-11T10:20:00Z

I was ecstatic to make it down to Davina & the Vagabonds on this the 2nd night of a very well attended weekend 2 night stand at the premiere jazz showcase club The Dakota. I caught all 3 sets & still wanted more. The place was full packed. I don’t mind dancing some foot jive in a crowded club when the music is so completely engaging as it was.

Some of the marvelous material heard over the evening were originals like crowd pleasing “Saint Michael vs. the Devil”, more recently written call to action “Start Runnin” (that Davina said she wrote while perturbed), captivating thriller “Red Shoes”, & racy album title tune “Under Lock & Key”.

D&TVs also delved into some outstanding covers such as the tongue in cheek “Good Morning Judge” (by American blues shouter Wynonie Harris), “Mellow Down Easy” (classic Willie Dixon), Etta James’ forlorn “I’d Rather Go Blind”, “Ain’t That a Shame” & their own stylistic interpretation of the standard “St. James Infirmary”. Davina also obliged a request for a love song from a couple up front (celebrating their wedding anniversary) with a righteous Lovin’ Spoonful ode.

This band has never sounded better & are subsequently touring all over now. Davina, who is originally from Key West, Florida is truly hitting her groove here with truly passion steeped reckless abandon. She simply doesn’t stop. Ever. Just in the week following this set of show, Davina & the Vagabonds are playing like 6 shows. Absolutely tearing towns apart with their unique jump swing sexy blues soul jazz. Catch ‘em if you can. The heat is rising.

Scott, Zack, Davina, Michael, Dan

7/10/09 The Black Crowes @ Basilica Block Party Main Stage Mpls

2009-07-11T10:20:00Z

Seeing the Crowes in my main hometown feels like a dream come true minus the sloppy drunks, of course, that populate the Basilica’s annual urban debauchery fest.

The Black Crowes rock my Minneapolis!

By the time the show started, the crowd had grown huge & started to pack in a little too tight for my comfort. So I backed out to find more room to dance & then fully enjoyed the intensely thrown down performance.

The Crowes crushed it open with an overly potent one two punch consisting of the adrenaline spiked “Sting Me” & the rager “Thick n’ Thin”. Another hardcore rocker followed with “Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution”, “Good Friday” & “Wiser Time”, all of which seem to please the crowd.

Setlist from the stage (Wounded Bird was omitted)

    My other outstanding highlights were the heavy “Downtown Money Waster”, spot on “Poor Elijah/ Robert Johnson Tribute (medley)”, along with an old school take on “Hard To Handle”. There may have even been some slightly divine intervening too going on as at one point I saw a small but bright lightning bolt strike the air near the cathedral itself. Luckily no one was hurt.

    The 95 minute set entertained the gathered masses tremendously my own self included. Chris Robinson was in top form & it was very clear the whole band was having a complete blast on this occasion. My guitarist friend Luther Dickinson was running hot throughout spasmodically setting ablaze fires everywhere with his detonating riffs. He himself was a high highlight for me.

Chris Robinson * foto: Carbon Silver Photography
                                 (permission pending)

All in all, the Black Crowes delivered the loudly eargasmic body shaking goods of a magnificent display of their powerful unique sound. I loved every minute of it. I wish I could take in the whole tour. Visit: blackcrowes.com

image: mikedubois.net (permission pending)

FreakNote: I must confess that I am slightly disappointed with myself for not, at some point, catching some of the historic Jayhawks reunion show (whom I’ve always loved since the 80’s) on the other side’s stage. Adding to that disappointment: whoever made the decision to put these 2 prolific rock acts at the same time should be fired immediately. And by the way, I’m for hire..

7/7/09 The Black Crowes @ Simon Estes Amphitheater Des Moines, IA

2009-07-08T10:20:00Z

After a smooth quick roadtrip, my friend Paul & I were ready (& beyond excitement) for a summer outdoor concert by the lively invincible Black Crowes in Des Moines. We randomly ran into Luther in our hotel lobby just before soundcheck, which proved to be an unexpected treat. Just when the gates were supposed to be open some annoying light rain was coming down while the stage remained draped in plastic.

The Amphitheater before the soundcheck & rain 7-7-09

To everybody’s delight, as the line was forming the rained stopped & the crowd filled in the sloped yet intimate Simon Estes Amphitheater (which looked to hold around 1000 or slightly more). Sometimes it was a bit of a challenge to dance on the hill’s lawn & sidewalks but nonetheless the show imminently rocked everyone hard & was really truly fun.

Somehow, I had called the opener (half hour prior to start), which was “Wounded Bird” (off their 08 album “Warpaint”). Other high peaks for me of the freak’n’roll missive massive 140 minute show (2 hour set + 20 minute encore) were “Black Moon Creeping” (right after this Chris surreally led the “I Am the Walrus” outro chant “Smoke pot, smoke pot, everybody smoke pot”), festive upbeat “Bring on Bring on”, new (poppy experimental genre defying) “I Ain’t Hiding”, rootsy “Locust Street” (featuring Luther on mandolin), quasi psychedelic “Wee Who See The Deep”, fiery full of feist “By Your Side”, rampantly racy “Remedy” & awe raising double encore of “Mellow Down Easy” > “Tied Up & Swallowed”. Positively stunning.

This is as close as I got to the action * foto: Timmy

The band sounded mighty stellar & looked cool with the Des Moines River directly behind them. They were in a great mood all night. Chris was very talkative & really shined on his harmonica. The backup singers Mona & Charity sounded sweetly incredible as well.

There was a full moon on this night but not visible in the sky.

My most sincere thanks go out to Luther & the band as well as my good friend Paul for everything. Iowa was very good to me.

CrowesNote: This & the other shows are part of the huge expansive “Stuck Inside of Utopia” Tour, which spans 70 shows from 7/4 to the end of 2009 (12/6) added to the 2/21 thru 6/20 shows= totals 84 for the year. Damn! Also of note is that The Black Crowes are releasing their new album “Before the Frost” on 9/1/09 with a special download code inside to thank fans for their support entitled “Until the Freeze”. What a year for this hard working band!

4/10/09 The English Beat @ The Cabooze

2009-04-11T10:20:00Z

Many special positive factors led to my making of the scene for the always enrichingly engaging English Beat at the party friendly Cabooze on a fittingly Good Friday. Among these contributing so-called factors were that many dear friends were to be there as well as the presence of my Left Coast friend Jai Vatuk, who just recently joined the band as a guitarist. Hired for this tour, Jai sounded marvelous tearing up leads at times & singing some.

Jai is here foremost in the foreground * foto: Timmy

Also involved in the decision to attend was my own vast love for the English Beat & their contagious ska sexified live show, which has aged very well still packing a potent dance driving horned up punch. In other words, The Beat prove to always be a lively uplifting socio flirtacious occasion.

English Beat @ the Cabooze * foto: Fantail Media (permission pending)

The EB wickedly opened with an ambitious rendition of their “Rough Rider”. Dave Wakeling, the group’s fearless leader was spot on raging finely all the night long. He leads with precision, grace, talent & of course a sly sense of humor. Following that was more stimulating stimuli from the highly active band like action ready “Hand’s Off, She’s Mine”, my personal Beat fave (& Nicole’s as well) “I Confess”, stridently 2nd fave “Best Friend” & Twister™ defying “Twist & Crawl”. The scintillating show brought me happily back to the late 70s & early 80s.

The Beat eagerly service the crowd * foto: Fantail Media (permission pending)

English Beat also surged into sultry material like “Whine & Grind”, Motown hit “Tears of a Clown”, old school “Can’t Get Used to Losing You”, manic charged “Mirror in the Bathroom” (this tune defined an era for me), “2 Bleeding Swords”, General Public’s (Dave Wakeling side project) seductive “Tenderness” & the signature swansong “Save it for Later”. At some point, my buddy George Peebles busted out some rude boy dance move steps. It was freaking far out.

The English Beat * foto: Timmy {iPhone}

Everytime the Beat come to town I try to go. Their long shows are fun & leave me really happy craving more as music should. I heavily recommend the English Beat & hope they return once or twice a year until the end of time. Quintessentially EB were & are the 2nd (Wave) coming of ska. Please don’t miss out on their musement.

English Beat 4-10-09 Good Friday * foto: Timmy {iPhone}

3/31/09 Railroad Earth @ The Cabooze

2009-04-01T10:20:00Z

RAILROAD EARTH

Ever since I heard my good friend Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon, Great American Taxi) ranting about 2008’s Railroad Earth release “Amen Corner”, I have been on a perpetual quest to see more of them live & learn more. Alas, I have been rewarded once again at the stoneder (not a typo) friendly Cabooze. Oh, how I love this life.

So this show was an epic very well attended (nearly sold out) blast out coming in with 2 huge sets & a manically charged encore for good measure. The flippantly fun friendly crowd ignitingly flailed with youthful flair all night raging inferno style bouncing throughout the dancefloor & all parts of the venue. RRE’s audiences keep growing.

I unfortunately missed some of the 1st set. The Earth was sounding delectable when I arrived imbibing me instantly with their mesmerizing vibe. This band has improved over their decade of playing exponentially. I actually saw them at High Sierra Music Fest on their 1st ever tour. RRE quaked like freakgrass should mightily high on the eccentric electro acoustic Richter scale with the epicenter somewhere between the band on stage & the heart of the excitable dancefloor. Some excelling tunes in the 1st set (which ran well over an hour) were the roots exuding “Been Down This Road” & “Hunting Song” > “Mountain Time”. Pure authentic music to the core.

The Earth rocks down to the roots :: foto: Timmy

The 2nd set roared open with stomp worthy “Cuckoo’s Medley” & voraciously continued with crowd pleasing combustible material like “Moonshiner” (a personal fave of mine), winsome “Peace on Earth”, deliciousadelic “Magic Foot” > “Luxury Liner”, “Old Man & the Land” & head rattling “Head” before striking out on a rampant throwdown encore of humongous swansong “Hard Livin’”. Hot damn!

Railroad Earth live @ the Cabooze :: foto: Timmy

I had the pleasure of chatting with the multitalented fiddler guitarslinger Timmy Carbone, who was as always truly down to earth & personable as can be. I have to say with wholeheartedness that this was one of the best shows of 2009 for me. A freaking scorcher & then some. Lots of musefully engaged young freaks & grassy heads digging on the sound everywhere. A cool scene to say the very least. What a fitting refreshing way to begin April. My unfiltered advice to the gracious band & the smiling adoring crowd is this “Please come back soon”! Pretty please..

RRE :: foto: Timmy

3/14/09 Zack Lozier Quintet @ The Dakota Jazz Club

2009-03-15T10:20:00Z

ZLQ returned to the Dakota for another epic show for their late night series. Led by trumpeter/composer Zack Lozier, this quintet is styled after those heading up the Blue Note Records era 5-pieces from the 50s & 60s namely artists like Art Blakey & Hank Mobley.

The ZLQ = Zack Lozier on trumpet, Gus Sandberg on sax, Tanner Taylor on piano, Keith Boyles on upright bass & Reid Kennedy on drums.

Zack & his krewe soared to open the first set with a few highly revered Lee Morgan tunes, which were the lovely & provocative “Afreaka” & “Rumproller”. Lee is Zack’s musical hero & it truly shows in his passionate readings of these scintillating songs. It should be noted too that these songs were recommended by Zack’s pro musician uncle Rick Germanson, who has been very influential.

From here the crowd with myself included were won over delightfully macking on the groove as the hip cats might say. After this warm up, Zack & the rest engagingly torqued into (Zack Lozier) originals “Mogie’s Lament” & “The Comeback” to a very strong response & heated reception for the enrapt audience. Zack wrote “Mogie’s Lament” in 2009 as a tradition honoring tribute to his aforementioned mentor Lee Morgan, who had the nickname “Mogie”. Zack’s prolific “The Comeback” was composed in about 2001.

ZLQ rounded out the impressive set with a captivating rendition of Horace Silver’s “The Preacher” (actually an old standard) further astounding the night’s attendees.

Zack Lozier Quintet live @ the Dakota 3-14-09 * all fotos: timmy

Zack’s 2nd set flew open with another of his career hero Hank Mobley’s quintessential “Hipsippy Blues” (recorded on Blue Note by the Jazz Messengers) pleasing the crowd thoroughly. After that they cooked into the 1938 popular song (written by J. Fred Coots, lyrics by Haven Gillespie) & one of the world’s most enduring standards “You Go To My Head”, which was played &/or recorded by so many including Billie Holiday, Louie Armstrong, Sinatra, Dizzy, Ella, Jerome Kern, even Rod Steward & then some. The quintet shined on this. Following that was the penultimate John Coltrane tune “Lazy Bird” (found on the album “Blue Trane” featuring Lee Morgan), which came off like a vivid dream. The Thad Jones composition “3 & 1” was heard next exuding momentous jazzy soul & stylish substance.

The ZLQ closed the set & show strong with more of Zack’s exquisite wonderful originals “Rum Dance” (written in about 2001) & “Em’s Walk” (2001). These were a peak highlight for me as Zack visibly put his heart & soul into their emotive live rendering. Something to note here that made the night even more special was the touching presence of Zack’s grandparents who ventured into town all the way from Milwaukee for the show.

ZLQ dazzles the captive crowd..

    Zack Lozier is a trumpet playing legend waiting to happen. This is my honest assessment of his passion, skills, ambition & subsequent future career rise. He’s young, strong & gaining chops & playing experience everywhere he turns. He & I have been friends a long time. I’ve noticed his vast talent improve & expand. Very inspiring. You can find Zack playing in other groups such as Davina & the Vagabonds, Jack Brass Band, The Irresistibles, as well as guesting with many many others.

   Lastly, I want to encourage you to see Zack play & to invite you to his website http://www.zacklozier.com. You can see video of this ZLQ show at the Dakota (also vids posted on youtube.com/broddsgarage) <here. Don’t be shy. This is all welcoming music that begs to be heard & appreciated. Find yourself there.

"The Comeback" 3-14-09 video is here.

"Mogie's Lament" 3-14-09 video is here.   Enjoy..

3/4/09 Great American Taxi, Matt Pudas & the North Country Bandits @ the Cabooze

2009-03-05T10:20:00Z

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.

2/13/09 The Toasters @ Triple Rock Social Club

2009-02-14T10:20:00Z

2/13/09 The Toasters, Umbrella Bed, the Prizefighters @ the Triple Rock Social Club

Bucket leads the Toasters * photo credit: DeGross Punk Photography

I was nearly in dance spasmic state to see New York City’s The Toasters, a luminous high energy band that was so dear to me way back in the early 90s (they always played the Cabooze back then) arrive on the West Bank for a Friday the 13th show at the Triple Rock Social Club, which I think is a very cool venue.

The opening bands were both good, one of which was Umbrella Bed. Lots of horns & got the dancers warmed up swiftly while holding their own for their whole show. I was impressed.

Umbrella Bed thrills & dazzles * photo credit: DeGross Punk Photography

28 years strong & the New York City Toasters are considered royalty & are still cooking & busting out the skankin’ ska for the eager masses. Founding frontman Robert “Bucket” Hingley as always leads the charge & does it ever so well I might add.

Robert "Bucket" Hingley: Ska Royalty * photo credit: DeGross Punk Photography

When I researched for this blog I learned a few things about ska. First, the 1st wave of ska was the Jamaican variety in the 60s (which many think of as the precursor for what became known as reggae). Then the 2nd wave was in the 70s, which morphed into the 3rd wave that was more British & more punkish ska emerging in the 80s. This is where the Toasters fit in. Many of my generation were introduced to this in our teens & musically formulative years. What I gathered also is that now we have started the 4th wave. Wow, that’s some rich history.

The Toasters * photo credit: DeGross Punk Photography

Some of the tunes that were launched from the crowded stage were the anthem-like opened “Two Tone Army”, “Run Rudy Run”, “Shocker” (I believe was played), “Weekend in L.A.” & the killer encores were “Life in a Bubble” & the call to action “Don’t Let the Bastards Grind You Down”.

Keeping the dancefloor ablaze * photo credit: DeGross Punk Photography

Even if you don’t listen to much ska, I highly recommend that you listen to the Toasters. They are absolutely likeable & their horn driven sound may grow on you like you wouldn’t expect. Try them. The Toasters are hot right now too as they are playing America then lots of shows in Europe & even Russia in the near future. I toast to them!

The Toasters 2/13/09 * photo credit: DeGross Punk Photography

Sidebar: Immense thanks to DeGross Punk Photography for sharing the excellent images. Check out the cool blog @: www.myspace.com/degrosspunkphotography/

2/12/09 Michael Franti & the Spearhead @ the State Theater

2009-02-13T10:20:00Z

2/12/09 Michael Franti & Spearhead @ the State Theater

The post life changing election return of San Freakcisco’s Michael Franti & his Spearhead to the roomy State could not have been more sweetly anticipated by fans like myself. This was billed as the “Hey World! Tour 2009” & also featured the lovely & talented Cherine Anderson of Kingston, Jamaica, who is known as the “Queen of Dance Hall Soul” (& is also a good friend of Michael’s). Also on the bill with Cherine was Courtney John.

Cherine Anderson Queen of Dance Hall Soul

Franti is an unstoppable force of goodness & positivity who is always gently urging the universe into his captive realm known as Spearhead. I’ve never been let down by their infectious uplifting we-can-do-this community propelled growing living action inspired gathering power. Power to the peaceful if you will.

As at any Spearhead show, there are always many glimpses of special moments & cumbia type epiphanies throughout. Some of these happening on this splendid occasion were Michael pulling dancers out of the crowd to the stage, bringing up 2 elated local kids to jam on guitars, personal stories, unexpected covers & many others.

Power to the Peaceful...

Among the wondrous material featured was the crowd fave “Sometimes”, reggae fired “Jamaica” (with Cherine), audience encouraging “Hey World (remote control)”, “Hey World (don’t give up on me)”, “All I Want is You”, old school “Don’t Look Back” cleverly ironically segueing into Grateful Dead’s “Casey Jones”, “Say Hey (I Love You)”, “I Got Love For You”, humanity serving “Nobody Right, Nobody Wrong”, “I know I’m Not Alone” & the much acclaimed “Obama Song” amidst others.

My spirited (spearited) entourage & me had a truly fun blast of a time dancing mostly in the aisles as security was surprisingly tame. I wanna extend huge thanks to Spearhead for the music & vibe, all my friends present for sharing the experience & my friend Kristi (of Blackbird Photography) for sharing her amazing photography.

Me & my peeps pre-party before the show...

A few final things about dear Michael Franti: he loves humanity, the prospect of world peace, togetherness & he wants to see everybody jumping. Bless Spearhead. Amen.

2/7/09 Galactic @ the Cabooze

2009-02-08T10:20:00Z

2/7/09 Galactic @ the Cabooze

New Orleans’ own Galactic tore straight up out of the gate at the Cabooze with a combustible firestorm of their brain bending limb bouncing high octane hybrid funk. The G-men explored adventurously much of their ever expansive wellspring of material while also giving some stage time to their hopped up hip hop friends Gift of Gab (from Blackalicious) & Lateef the Truth Speaker.

Galactic 2-7-09 Cabooze * foto: timmy

I want to foreward this entry by revealing that I have been seeing & knowing Galactic since their very first emergence in New Orleans many years ago. They have become friends of mine & they have always treated me like a part of their scene family. For this I am very grateful.

Galactic funking up the joint.. * foto: Cosmic Schell

The groove intensive 1st set was highlighted by tunes like funk crazed “Moil”, “Linthead”, “D Boy”, Jimi’s “Manic Depression”, future funk fallout “Technocheck Collision” & dance seductive “Salt Baked”.

Guitar master Jeff Raines shredding * foto: Cosmic Schell

Set 2 careened alive with stuff like opener “Dumptruck”, brass band savvy “Buck it like a Horse”, “Pungee”, Katrina spawned “FEMA”, intragalactic “Doublewide” > Zep’s “Whole Lotta Love” & excellently encoring with frenzied “Tiger Roll” > “Bounce Baby” finishing with happy ending “Santa Cruz”.

Ben Ellman on baritone sax * foto: Cosmic Schell

The show registered high on my show going richter scale deepening my belief in big easy hard driving grooves & the natural born urge to move on the quaking dancefloor. Makes me can’t wait for Jazzfest.

Galactic *future funk* foto: Timmy

2/5/09 North Mississippi Allstars, Hill Country Revue @ the Cabooze

2009-02-06T10:20:00Z

2/5/09 North Mississippi Allstars, Hill Country Revue @ the Cabooze

Hill County Revue heats up the Cabooze * foto: Timmy

This tour was billed the “Do It Like We Used To Do” tour in support of a box set (2 CDs, 1 DVD) with the same name. Cody Dickinson & Chris Chew’s new project Hill Country Revue has naturally morphed into a full blown hill countrified rock band that is completely at home on stage all while truly enjoying each others’ playing & the resulting music. They love to take it to the road touring whenever Luther is playing with the Black Crowes, which was a lot last year.

Luther tears up the frets * foto: Dimitri R.

Besides Cody (who plays drums & some guitar) & Chris (bass), HCR consists of guitarist Kirk Smithhart, percussionist Ed Cleveland & singer Dan Coburn. Depending on the gig, they sometimes have others as well.

HILL COUNTRY REVUE HCR stage setlist 2-5-09

Hill Country Revue’s scintillating opening set was absolutely slamming. As the way they roll, Luther sat in a bunch & the collective whole of HCR easily electrified us the crowd overwhelmingly.

Luther * foto: cosmic Schell Cody does his thang * foto: Timmy

Some of their songs were “Georgia Women”, “Dirty Shirt”, “Let Me Love You”, “Growin” & R.L. Burnside’s “Alice Mae”. Also Cody had an amazing washboard solo (that is sometimes called “Psychedelic Sex Machine”). Cody told me after the set that HCR had an album done & coming out soon that he was very pleased with & hinted that I would dig it too. I can’t wait to hear it.

Luther Dickinson * foto: Dimitri R.

NMA came out swinging like an adrenalin spiked tazmanian devil twisting all of our minds & bodies with ultra crushing cosmic force & bombastic ease. The Allstars served up scorching hot fare of foot stomping hill country bluesified psychedelia tinged rock.

Chris Chew on da bad ass bass * foto: Dimitri R.

NMA’s first set featured tunes like opener “Write me a few lines” > “Drop Down Mama”, “Sugartown”, “(Shake) Yo Mama”, Chris Chew sung “I’d Love to be a hippy”, “Ass”, “Keep the Devil Down”, “Freedom Highway”, “Po’ Black Maddie” > “Skinny Woman” & “Shake ‘em on down”. The second set opened with Grand Funk’s “Some Kind of Wonderful” & was highlighted by “Mississippi Boll Weevil”, “Never in my days” > “Bang Bang Lulu” > “Im a Ram”, “Muddy” with encores “Goin’ Down South” & Jimi Hendrix’s “Hear My Train a’Comin’”. Somewhere in there, Luther initiated a tempestuous tease of “Make My Funk the P-Funk”. Simply astonishing.

Luther electrifies the night * foto: Dimitri R.

The show was a real blazer & I was bouncingly having the time of my music adventuring life as I tend to on nights like this. Afterwards, I had the high honor of late night hosting Luther, Kirk & Ed along with some of my friends at my castle where we listened to vinyl & old Allman Bros. bootlegs till nearly dawn. A fun low key post party to truly match the awesome night of live music. Thanks goes out to all involved. World boogie was once coming. Now it’s here!

Luther sings & shines his soul * foto: Dimitri R.

1/23/09 The Big Pink "A Celebration of the Last Waltz" @ The Cabooze

2009-01-24T10:20:00Z

1/23/09 The Big Pink: A Celebration of the Last Waltz @ the Cabooze

These local talent studded tributes to the Band’s final show “The Last Waltz”, which happened in 1976 (& was documented by Martin Scorcese in a movie in 1978), are popular all over the country & our Twin Cities are no exception as this show at the Cabooze exemplifies.

The “Band” for this crowded (possibly sold out) show was played by Jonny Herchert as Robbie Robertson, Rob Hilstrom as Richard Manuel, DJ Russ as Levon Helm, Pete Sands as Garth Hudson & Chad Whittaker as Rick Danko. Some of the guest “friends” joining in were playing Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Joni Mitchell, Ron Wood, Muddy Waters, the Staples, Paul Butterfield, Emmy Lou Harris & others including some great horn players.

Ace guitarist Jon Herchert riffs up Robbie Robertson

On this below zero arctic numbing night, nothing could feel better than a warm big venue filled with friends & local musicians playing prolific timeless music strengthening our community & bringing us together.

Some of my best highlight peaks on this night were faves like “Ophelia”, “The Weight”, Dylan’s “Baby Let Me Follow You Down” & “I shall be released”, Dr. John’s “Such a Night”, Van Morrison’s “Caravan”, Neil Young’s “Helpless” & especially the wondrous encore of the Band’s “Don’t Do It”.

Chad Whittaker (Danko), Dan Israel (Dylan), Jon Herchert (Robertson)

After hearing last year’s version of this was really good & very well attended, I attended this year’s tribute on a last minute whim. I was very pleased with the entire evening & left feeling charged positively. I’ve heard these Last Waltz themed show go over big all over music scene nationally. I can see why. Good times were definitely had.

This one is from the real Last Waltz 1976

1/16/09 The Wailers @ First Avenue mainroom

2009-01-17T10:20:00Z

1/16/09 The Wailers @ First Avenue mainroom

I was very excited for this occasion as there’s no better place to see the Wailers than at our premier historic live music venue First Avenue. The very roots of reggae music as we know it have direct links to the Wailers, whom most famously were fronted by Bob Marley.

The good news here was that the Wailers were poised to play the whole ‘Exodus’ album in it’s entirety & the not so good news (for me) is that I arrived late & got there right afterward but graciously still in time for another hour & a half of their roots rock reggae that legends are made of.

The band is fronted these days by Elan, who is a truly amazing singer & animated human spirit. Holding it all down on bass is the original “Family Man” Barrett who always shine so brightly as did the whole wonderful band.

The Wailers

Some of the mesmerizing goodness performed were genuine roots classic “Redemption Song” (which started out with just Elan, then some guitar & finished strong with the full band), sweet “Mellow Down”, prolific bond bender “Dem Belly Full (but dem hungry)”, emotive “No woman, no cry”, touching “Is this Love?”, dance encouraging “Keep on Movin”, my absolute fave highlight of the night “Trenchtown Rock” & the timely double dose of “War” > “No More Trouble”.

The vibe was high & supremely positive all night & I had a full on blast dancing with my friends. Don’t miss any chance to see these magnificent purveyors of irie. Keep this blessing enriched blessed music alive.

1/15/09 Cheetah Nunchuck @ the Downtime

2009-01-16T10:20:00Z

1/15/09 Cheetah Nunchuck @ The Downtime

The bitter cold couldn’t stifle the urge to groove & so it was off to Dinkytown to catch a fabulous band comprised of some good friends, which has never ever let me down. I’m talking Cheetah Nunchuck strutting their funky ass stuff down at the Downtime Bar. Another cool feature of these shows is that the players are always encouraging friends to sit in (this time a bassist named Zack was brought up) & so each night is uniquely different.

For this particular night on a spontaneous whim I decided to turn on a dear dear friend to this rhythm driven dance friendly 7 piece super group of some of the Twin Cities best musicians (Matt Darling on trombone, Chris Castino on guitar, Casey O’Brien on bass, Jared Rush on B3, etc). Braving the elements for this was very much worth the reward, which was a truly fun experience. So get your Cheetah on if you dare.

1/12/09 George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic @ First Avenue mainroom

2009-01-13T10:20:00Z

1/12/09 George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic @ First Avenue mainroom

The brutal sub zero temps & cruel inhumane windchills couldn’t keep me away from getting it on by means of the full blown funk on the freakin’ dancefloor that I find essential to life. The bitter arctic front met the sweet scorching hot funk of George Clinton & his 20+ entourage band mob Parliament / Funkadelic at Minneapolis’s most celebrated nightclub First Avenue for a fairly intimate rambunctious crowd several hundred strong.

    The P-Funkers did an early set to feature some of their grab bag of danceable talents. Once the main event set began, it wouldn’t let up for an elongated funk fuelled 3 hours long musical mothership groove spasm. George came out about a half hour in to readily raise the temp & the already rising energy level.

     Some of the musing material that was fondled over the duration of this funkathon were the body bending “Cosmic Slop”, party potent “Bop Gun”, semi rare old schooler “Funkintelecky”, self fulfilling “We Got the Funk”, highly lit “Maggot Brain”, sexy smokin’ “Red Hot Mama”, uber classic hit “Flash Light”, desirous “Make my Funk the P-Funk”, sticky skunk funk “Something stank & I want some” (featuring George’s daughter Sativa on vocals & was heightened by George & the band puffing on a huge fatty joint onstage), crowd quaking “Bounce to This”, climaxing “Atomic Dog” (with feverishly heated dancers invited up from the audience) & many more too.

    I caught a Euro aired interview of the 67 year young George Clinton where someone asked him how long would he keep funking & George casually said that he was just getting started, which made me love him & his music even more.   Of his core band (20-30 funksters), many have been loyally be his side since the 70’s (some longer than others). I had the pleasure of interviewing Clinton in 1998 for the Weekly Freak magazine (& my underground TV show), which stands as a true highlight of my blessing enriched career. The super cool band member I’ve known the best is my friend P-Nut, who is always an entertaining figurehead of any p*Funk show (this one included) always singing & cheerleading his ass off.

George has a new 2008 cover record out with his self described “Gangsters of Love” featuring friends like Santana, Sly Stone, Red Hot Chili Peppers, El Debarge, Kim Manning, Kim Burrell & others. Uncle Jam aka Dr. Funkinstein aka George Clinton & Parliament / Funkadelic are fully alive & running hot bursting with the real deal funk in 2009. So please get yourself some. Do it & never look back.

1/9/09 The Butanes with Willie Walker @ McMahon's Pub

2009-01-10T10:20:00Z

1/9/09 The Butanes with Willie Walker @ McMahon’s Pub

On the eve of a luminous full moon, this show brightened up a cold Friday night. I have loved the Butanes for many years now (they formed in 1983) & I couldn’t be happier that they are still alive & kickin’ out the soul blues & funk. When we arrived at McMahon’s (in a former jaded life the Poodle Club) the band was cooking up some bluesy stew.

This great band has been anchored by scene luminaries (& friends of mine) Curtis Obeda on guitar & John Lindberg on bass. As a special guest for this occasion was Willie Walker, who is a music legend first gaining acclaim in Memphis. [special note: Curtis’s lovely wife Lolly has a wonderful radio show “The Sugar Shop” (for over 20 years), which airs every Friday 3-6pm on our beloved KFAI FM 90.3 in Minneapolis & 106.7 St. Paul.]

The Butanes

The hot soul stirring music heated up the brutally cold night as the Butanes careened thru many thrilling songs including one by James Carr that they hadn’t attempted since 1994 performed in sheer spontaneity as well as another classic James Carr tune “Pour Water on a Drowning Man” (single released in 1966) sung by “Wee” Willie Walker that was outstanding. The whole night was electric & steeped in R&B drenched soul.

The Butanes have recorded a fine live album at the Cabooze on the West Bank of Minneapolis called “Night & Day” released in 2001. Also they have joined forced with Willie Walker for 2 records: “Right Whre I Belong” in 2004 & “Memphisapolis” in 2006 both nicely showcasing Willie’s deeply sweet soul music.

The Butanes play McMahon’s every Friday night & every Wednesday at the Eagles Club #34 in South Minneapolis. The partial list of star artists that they have backed over the years (on their website) is unbelievable. Please catch them when you can.

1/8/09 Greensky Bluegrass, High Strung String Band @ The Cabooze

2009-01-09T10:20:00Z

1/8/09 Greensky Bluegrass, High Strung String Band @ The Cabooze

This would be the first show I saw after my birthday therefore there was an air of celebration there for me. I purposely got down to the Cabooze on the West Bank (my birthplace) early to make sure I made it in time for the High Strung String Band, whom have become one of my warmestly regarded faves in that genre.

Bettina & Eldon 1-8-09

The High Strung sounded mesmerizingly good for their opening set. HSSB = Eldon Hagen on banjo & vocals, Bettina Villamil on fiddle & vocals, Brad Ray on guitar, harmonica & vocals, Jim Hinkley on upright bass & vocals.

High Strung String Band 1-8-09

Some of my own highpoints of HSSB’s show were “Keep my Skillet Greasy” (sung by Eldon), “Love is a Rose”, Brad Ray’s fine original “Northwoods Boy”, “The 8th of January” (this instrumental fiddle tune was scorchingly nailed by the striking talented multi-instrumentalist Bettina, who note that it was the 1st time she’d ever played it on the actual day making it that much more special), old time gem “Mountain Dew”, “The Coo Coo”, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” & the encore “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” among the many others.

High Strung String Band

High Strung continues to improve playing more while getting their lonesome sound out to more hungry ears as well as dancing fans.

HSSB setlist from stage 1-8-09

One thing that dawned on me while listening & dancing to this lovable bluegrass is that to be successful in the genre, every band member has to sing on top of playing instruments. This seems to be key.

Greensky Bluegrass @ the Cabooze 1-8-09 * foto: Timmy

Next up headliners Greensky Bluegrass from Kalamazoo, Michigan soared with their uplifting dreamy own brand from the overall bluegrass canon. I had seen them one other time a few years back & was truly intrigued on how they were even better now & more comfortable on the stage. If you can, check out their latest record “5 Interstates”. Another well attended bluegrass hoedown dance party to warm our Minnesota January. Come back soon, y’all.

12/31/08 > 1/1/09 The Big Wu "Wu Year's Eve", God Johnson, Dean Magraw @ Trocadero's

2009-01-01T10:20:00Z

12/31/08 > 1/1/09 The Big Wu, Dean Magraw, God Johnson @ Trocadero’s

On this kind occasion of the Wu’s Years Eve, we arrived on the arctic chilled last night of the turbulent year to a huge line of cold revelers some of whom would be turned away from the completely sold out (1400+) show. Once inside Troc's, the heat of the music & dancers warmed me to my core.

God Johnson finishes off 2008 warming the crowd to hot..

God Johnson was in the mind melting midst of one the most fantastic sets I’ve ever heard them deliver. Amongst the wonder of their show was one of my all time personal fave GJ originals “Electric Shoes”. Yes, I believe there were some there wearing these type of special shoes. The man of the hour here was definitely my friend Jason Fladager, who not only leads God Johnson but also plays with the Big Wu, hence pulling double if not triple duty for the highly enchanted evening of spirited festive fun & body flexing music.

J. Flad doing double duty all night

The Big Wu made their grand entry just moments before the countdown choosing to start their headline set just after the balloon drop & fresh new moment. I must say that some stoner energy must have been in play here as the countdown & actual real time reality were about 2 to 3 minutes off (late as you might have guessed). But that said, this was just a tiny technicality that had nothing to do with the positive experience.

The Wu rocked many of their best originals while sprinkling their great set with shiny gems like the opener carousing “2 Person Chair”, rousing “Kick In the Head” > GD’s “The Wheel” > “Pinnacle” > “Dog’s Dead”, always good “Southern Energy”, fan faves “Red Sky” > “Minnesota Moon”, crowd pleasing Neil nod “Heart of Gold” > “Jazz 88” > highly eccentric & unusually arranged timely “Like A Rolling Stone” (with the madness being helmed by Minneap muse hero Dean Magraw). The Bigger Wu completely nailed it & the crowd went wild.

The bigger Big Wu with Dean Magraw 1-1-09

    Over the course of this excellent gathering of friends, there were many fine guest appearances like Timmy & Vinnie from God Johnson & some of the other bands involved. The Wu family was in full effect. The very diverse in age & background crowd was unruly at times with the expected amount of overindulgence that is upon the scene. Troc’s is a really fun venue but can be a little intense when that many people are packed in tight.

    A notable beauty of this night & all that went into it along with all the good peeps behind it was that The Big Wu raised $13,000 for their musical instrument drive to benefit the school band program at Anthony Middle School in Minneapolis. Huge warm kudos for all that made that happen.

   The night was fun & interesting on many levels including the VIP room (on the 3rd floor) that I didn’t make it to but heard it was cool & even had it’s own live music (Dean Magraw & friends). This festive time proved to be a sweet way to enter into 2009. A year that I prognosticate will be better than 2008 in many many ways. Let’s hope that I predict right. Enjoy your new year with abundant blessings & dreams & wishes revealed.

12/26/08 Trampled By Turtles @ the Cabooze

2008-12-27T10:20:00Z

12/26/08 Trampled By Turtles @ The Cabooze

As a slightly belated Christmas present to the Twin Cities, scene darlings Trampled By Turtles lit up the all jacked up Cabooze & all its contents like a rabid bull in a china shop during a riot. This festive get-together was billed as a “Holiday Hangover Party”.

Trampled By Turtles 12-26-08 * foto: Greg Hefner (permission pending)

We arrived at this totally sold out show (1150 pre-sales!) late around midnight, which meant the energy was way high & the crowd was subsequently peakingly imbibed. Finding a dancing spot that was comfy for me was nevertheless a challenge but easily worth the musical reward of TBT.

Trampled @ the Boozer * 12-26-08 foto: Greg Hefner (permission pending)

In this 2nd set, the Turtles scorched through many of their best songs including “Burn for Free”, “The Ballad of Jesse James” as well as some of their latest record “Duluth”, which is their 5th album & was released in the fall (08) to immense praise & acclaim.

Now that record is climbing the Billboard charts & the boys are going out to tour hard & get the freaking music out to their evergrowing base of fans gaining new ones all the while. You gotta strike it when it’s hot. I’m more than happy for them. Go get ‘em!

12/11/08 The Black Crowes, Vetiver @ the Val Air Ballroom Des Moines, IA

2008-12-12T10:20:00Z

12/11/08 The Black Crowes, Vetiver @ Val Air Ballroom West Des Moines, IA

This enchanted evening, which was on the eve of one of the biggest full moons in recent history, sublimely starts before the show as Luther was so kind as to invite us to the soundcheck & then to have dinner with us. The soundcheck lasted about 40 minutes with Vetiver jamming with them on “Fernario” & “He was a friend of mine”. Later on Rich took charge & they were working out some material with Luther not to mention just jamming out some. Being in an otherwise quiet big room like this (2600 capactiy) with no one on the floor at all was truly an amazing thing to take in & would qualify as any devoted fan’s wet dream so to speak. After the soundcheck, Luther invited us to have dinner with him, which was yet another highlight of the unbelievable night.

We arrived at the Val Air just a little ways into Vetiver’s opening set, which was a delight once again. I wanna encourage any & all to check out this band’s recordings & of course their live show whenever you get a chance.

The Black Crowes 12/11/08 (foto: Timmy the Freak)

As far as I’m concerned, the entire Crowes show was all peaks & highlights. They opened up the cosmic can convincingly with Warpaint’s “Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution” taking that hard driving vibe mind & body bendingly into a wildly wicked “Thick & Thin” & the absolutely epic jam strewn “P25 London”.

The Black Crowes @ Val Air Ballroom Des Moines, Iowa (photo: permission pending)

After that, the Crowes conjured love with another of my personal faves “Evergreen”. From there, they launched exuberantly into “Coming Home”, “Nonfiction” & rock hymn “Whoa Mule”, which features drumming force Steve Gorman nicely on djembe.

The Black Crowes "Whoa Mule" Des Moines, Iowa (photo: permission pending)

There a thing on the Crowe’s setlist archive (crowesbase . com) where they note what are called “Chris-isms” when Chris Robinson says some freaky stuff, which are always profound &/or funny. Tonight, the only one I can remember was abruptly before a song started Chris called out “Couples skate only!” in the spirit that this hokey venue looks like a roller skating rink. I had to laugh. Priceless.

Chris Robinson freaks Iowa (photo: permission pending)

In the hootenanny style showcased on much of this tour, the Crowes brought up tourmates Vetiver for “He Was a Friend of Mine” & a sweetly done “Fernario” (which some of you Deadheads know as “Peggy-O”). My dancing here felt natural & my body flowed like a river.

    Then the show stepped up in intensity with the rare gem “One Mirror Too Many”, always a marvel psychedelia inducing “Wee Who See the Deep”, crowd pleaser “Thorn in my Pride”, sensory soaring “Soul Singing”, hot to trot “Hard to Handle” & set to fly “Wounded Bird” to close the show.

BEFORE     (foto by Timmy the Freak)

AFTER     (foto by Timmy the Freak) 12/11/08

Then the climaxing fireworks found a finale with a wildly magnificent & soulfully delicious extraordinary rendition of the Band’s “Don’t Do It”. (Please) Don’t you break my heart! I was in heaven yet somehow still grounded on earth. My dance moves here were truly an attempt to defy gravity. Kiddies, don’t try this at home. This freaking show was a damn miracle. And I want more.

The Black Crowes Freak 'n' Rollin Des Moines, Iowa (photo: permission pending)

12/10/08 The Black Crowes, Vetiver, Gary Louris @ First Avenue mainroom

2008-12-11T10:20:00Z

12/10/08 The Black Crowes, Vetiver, Gary Louris @ 1st Avenue mainroom

Ah, the Crowes in my backyard (almost) at the premiere venue of funky Minneapolis, 1st Ave. Having them only mere blocks from my home was a heavenly feeling only to be eclipsed by how damn good they were & how much hellacious fun I had that night.

San Fran’s Vetiver played in support turning in another good set of their entrancing genre defying sounds. I briefly met their singer Andy, who was really nice & truly excited to be on this tour.

The Crowes invade Minneapolis * photo: Thadkrgr (permission pending)

Before their set, the Crowes went across the street to catch a little of their friends Oasis (at the Target Center), who later showed up for the BCs watching happily from 1st Ave’s prestigious VIP Owner’s Box.

1st Avenue Minneapolis * photo: Thadkrgr (permission pending)

The Black Crowes started out the brightly burning night with the scorching “Movin’ On Down the Line” & fan fave “Wiser Time” (during this the typically reserved Rich Robinson unleashed a schooling on an extremely unruly disruptive fan in front). Other brilliance exuded were knock down “A Conspiracy”, get back up “Walk Believer Walk”, semi rare “Evil Eye”, richly storied “Darling of the Underground Press”, & diehard fan fave “Girl from a Pawnshop”.

The Black Crowes 12/10/08 Mpls * photo: Thadkrgr (permission pending)

Then came a wondrous surprise as Minneapolis native son music hero Gary Louris (the Jayhawks, etc) & Vetiver joined the band for a large freak for all jam featuring “Long Black Veil” & Bobby Dylan’s “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”. This was a highlight in the true sense of the word.

Black Crowes w/ Gary Louris & Vetiver * photo: Thadkrgr (permission pending)

More of my faves over the course of the surreal sensational 125 minute show were “My Morning Song”, “Share the Ride”, “By My Side”, & the freakadelic cosmic cruiser crusading encore of “Sometimes Salvation”.

The show stood out on many levels. Chris played some great maracas, way more harmonica than usual & lots of guitar. There was a point where the Crowes had an ultra wicked 3 guitar attack, which was amazing.

Chris Robinson the freak * photo: Thadkrgr (permission pending)

Chris is adventurously taking more leads & inspiring everyone around his all the time. Rich sang some, which is always a treat. Luther blazed righteously with his ever so potent instrumentation & colossal chemistry.

Luther Dickinson & Sven Pippien 12/10/08 * photo: Thadkrgr (permission pending)

Drummer Steve Gorman was on fire all night. Mona shined beautifully on backup vocals (as Charity was resting her voice).

Steve Gorman sets Minneapolis ablaze * photo: Thadkrgr (permission pending)

In the risqué all-things-are-possible bidness of ballistic rock & roll, spontaneous risk is everything. Regarding this, the Black Crowes humbly lead by example. My hometown got explosively rocked outrageously. And for that I am extremely thankful.

Thanks to all the Black Crowes, especially Luther !

12/9/08 The Black Crowes, Vetiver @ The Venue Fargo, ND

2008-12-10T10:20:00Z

12/9/08 The Black Crowes, Vetiver @ The Venue Fargo, ND

    Fargo ain’t really my kind of town yet anytime you bring the Crowes anywhere, places even as stark as North Dakota suddenly have tremendous appeal. Who would of thought this show could be such a delicio cosmic treat to consume. Outdoors was a cold ordeal with a frosty temp of 7 degrees & an arctic windchill factor of – 11. Inside the Venue was another story as the energized music contributed to the collective body heat.

    Vetiver did very well to warm up the gathered crowd with their freak folksy scenic sounds & rustic roots. They are growing on me more. They had a long 10 hour drive up to this show, but that didn’t stifle their vibe nor their inviting stage presence in any way during their 45 minute set. Lead singer Andy Cabic has been long on the scene & is good friends with rising hopeful Devendra Banhart.

               Rich & Chris Robinson 2008

The Crowes came on strong to a very intimate captive audience as there was probably 500 (maybe more) in the house, which I’m guessing held about 1500. They opened up rockingly with “Move it on down the line” with “Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution” before traipsing deeper into their songbook with a raging “Black Moon Rising” & “Another Roadside Tragedy”.

From here the BCs tore into “Don’t Know Why” & “Bring On Bring On” followed by a warm fuzzy causing “Locust Street”, which always features Luther on mandolin. Then came the classic “Ain’t No More Cane on the Brazos” & then one of my highlights of the night a full throttle dose of “Welcome to the Good Times”. I felt welcome.

“Wiser Time” fed into the electric dragon of rock, which electrified the entire crowd breathing into us the undeniable urge to dance & otherwise freak to the otherworldly muse. Next was another highly peaking highpoint as the Crowes tripped psychoactively into their intriguing recent “Wee Who See the Deep”, which Chris Robinson always pours the entirety of his being into with fantastic results always. Out of this an electric jam ensued that was propelling us deeper into a time space continuum that only this band could make possible. Somewhere in here I had “a Moses moment” on the dancefloor where a big parting space opened up just as I was about to move back for more space to dance.

Ear pleasing body bending versions of the head spinning “Thorn in my Pride”, soul enriched “Oh Josephine”, soul stunning “Sting Me” & healing on the fly “Wounded Bird” took flight to close the freaker’s ball of a show. What happened after that for the encore was another apex as they slammed into the vintage Stones tune “Silver Train”, which was the true bursting with sweet flavors cherry on top of an astonishingly fun night of Crowes manic mayhem.

The overpowering will of the Black Crowes to rock their audience into a moving grooving frenzy was unshakable. Bassist Sven was jumping up & down like never before & everybody was totally on. It was as if they hit a groove & never came up even for air.

So moved over Fargo, there’s a celestial force out there that can transform even the most boring place on earth to a cosmically robust 420 ring musical circus, far too big & flippantly good for mere mortals to ever understand. Thanks to the Black Crowes. My lucky stars were aligned.

12/7/08 The Black Crowes, Vetiver @ Eagle's Ballroom Milwaukee, WI

2008-12-08T10:20:00Z

12/7/08 The Black Crowes, Vetiver @ The Eagle’s Ballroom Milwaukee, WI

The Black Crowes 2008

After a wicked sketchy wintry 6 hour drive to Beer Town, my runnin’ partner Paul & I were ready to ascend to whatever high headed heights the Crowes had to blessedly bestow upon us. The venue Eagle's Ballroom (aka The Rave) was very cool, intimate & grew on me all thru the night. San Freakcisco’s Vetiver opened the show with a fired up deep roots blues sound that I instantly dug making me a loyal fan immediately. Chris Robinson said something to the effect that they were his favorite band, which is about as high of praise as possible in rock ‘n’ roll in my opinion.

[setlist note: they didn't play 'By Your Side' or 'Wounded Bird' & played 'Remedy' for encore instead of 'Silver Train'.]

This mesmerizingly potent night of music transpired transfixingly immersed with idiosyncracies & other rock eccentricities as well as dance floor erupting built up intensities. My friend Luther had an extremely combustible evening with his mind liquefying guitar unleashings, electro sonic psychedelic bursts & fluid filling fluent solos everywhere from the stage.

    The Crowes came out ballistic swinging beginning with a blastadelic “Wiser Time” before revving hot into “Movin’ On Down the Line” with passionate lusty electric sheen. Then it was front freak Chris leading us with a Sunday special highly spirit charged “Go Tell the Congregation” finding its way into the rarely ventured “Only a Fool”. Rich Robinson stepped up to sing on the edgy dark tinged “44 Blues” using a really cool vintage mic to give it the bluesy grit that was desired. After that followed a spray of climaxes released as the sensory swirling “Seeing Things” & the epic swaggering rocker “Paint an 8”.

    Then “She Talks to Angels” fuelled the set forward into a wonderful “He Was a Friend of Mine” with Andy Cabic from Vetiver joining in on vocals & lending some guitar. In a hootenanny style, the Crowes invited Vetiver up for a ramped up quasi traditional “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”. Back to the blasting rock furnace of musical heat, the BCs strutted into “Downtown Money Waster” segueing tastefully into “Take Off From the Future” lifting into a sweetly mindbending “Spider in the Sugar Bowl” tease before slamming into the wall of freaking sound that was “Thorn in my Pride”.

    The closer was a whim stimulating rendering of the masterpiece “Oh Josephine”. The Crowes returned to the stage convincingly for a big bang blown up stony toned encore of “Remedy”. The feeling I got after with one show down out of four was ‘It’s ON’! Afterwards, backstage we had the distinct pleasure of chatting with bassist Sven Pippien & drummer Steve Gorman, who were very friendly & gracious. Paul & I also got to hang out in the Green Room with the beautiful talented backup singers Charity & Mona, which always a joy. Everybody there was very kind to us.

    And as sure as rumblesticks on the freeway save lives, the next day we lit out of the Hilton for a brief stop home & then next on the tour (Fargo). The cosmos couldn’t stop smiling on us. That I could feel.

12/6/08 Davina & the Vagabonds @ Tryg's

2008-12-07T10:20:00Z

12/6/08 Davina & the Vagabonds @ Tryg’s

My curiosity about this nice restaurant Tryg's was peaking right about the time I decided to go for it & take in some dinner as well as an uppity Davina & the Vagabonds show with a close dear friend just across from frozen Lake Calhoun. This turned out to be the perfect way to warm up the soul & heart from the very cold temps outside.

Davina Sowers

We were both very impressed by the tasty food & the good service not to mention the ambient hotness & friendliness of Davina’s gracious engaging music. Between sets Davina even came over to say hello to us. Everything was feeling outright divine including my company.

Tryg's on West Lake Street near Lake Calhoun

While I don’t recall specifics, Davina tore through many great songs & had the jumping joint all lit up with no place to go but dance wherever space allowed. My night soared from comfy good to beyond amazing. I’ll leave the rest to the imagination.

Davina & the Vagabonds latest record + 2008 t shirt design

12/2/08 Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings @ Pantages Theater

2008-12-03T10:19:00Z

12/2/08 Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings @ The Pantages Theater

One of the best most fun lovable dance demanding touring musical acts Sharon Jones & her Dap Kings had returned to the Twin Cities & we the fans were absolutely ecstatic to have them back so soon & at the gorgeous Pantages nonetheless. We (beautiful Amy T. was my companion in crime for the night) had great spots. I won’t say seats (even though that’s what the tickets were) because you just don’t sit at a Sharon Jones show.

The dynamic supernova Sharon, who has been called & introduced as “the Queen of Funk”, was a raging wellspring of energy & sweet personality all night through. The show started out with the Dap Kings jamming out for a deft alluring warm up 20 minutes or so.

Sharon entered to a deservedly royal reception belting out an astonishingly great set including inspired groove heavy material like “Tell Me”, “You’re Gonna Get It”, “Be Easy”, “I’m not gonna cry” (urging the obedient crowd to sing “Boo Hoo!”), “How do I let a good man down” (a fave of mine where she proclaimed “this is my Tina Turner song, my struttin’ song!”), “100 Days, 100 Nights”, “Nobody’s Baby”, Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” (dreamy Obama inspired duet with friend Charles Bradley, who was a talented doppleganger for the late James Brown), “Gotta Be The Way It Is” (where SJ beforehand explains that her ancestry roots back to Africa & also native American America as well while demonstrating in dance steps like ‘The Boogaloo’, “The Mashed Potato’, “The Tighten Up” & others like the nonstop funk force she embodies).

Sharon's latest record "100 Days, 100 Nights" (DapTone 2007)

    Sharon always pulls people out of the audience at her shows to dance with, sing to, flirt with, whatever she wants. Some songs call for a woman or some women, others she pulls up a man. No one is safe from her spirited random selection. She defines sexy.

    A moment that stands out in my memory of this brilliant show was Sharon ditching her high heels so she could really truly get down on her phenom dance moves. It’s a fact: no one, & I mean no one can dance like Sharon Jones. Not on this planet.

    Another observation I made here was that I noticed that every one of her band members was transfixed watching Sharon. On top of that, I swear she made eye contact everyone in that altogether captive theater (myself included). What an unbelievable woman! There’s nobody that can movingly work a room like her. Catch my praise encapsulated vibe & go see for yourself. Gawd save the Queen, Goddess save the funk!

5/7/08 Walter "Wolfman" Washington & the Roadmasters @ d.b.a. new orleans

2008-05-10T10:10:00Z

Wed. May 7, 2008

For my last night in town, I couldn’t get any better than my soul star friend & funkster extraordinaire Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters at the d.b.a. on Frenchmen. Walter & his faithful krewe of well traveled Roadmasters jettisoned thru many great songs like “You Can Stay but that Noise Got to Go”. The Wolfman is one of my fave performers on planet earth & one of the sweetest guys you will ever meet.

The soul soaked show went late & satisfied my last pangs of musical desire for the time being. Already I found myself longing for next year & doing the whole thing again, each time better than the last miraculously. I believe in miracles as Jazzfest is my yearly one I hold most dear to me.

Jazzfest epilogue:: Peeps have been asking me what was the best show of my 2008 Jazzfest time. Due to the expansive nature of my meanderings & acute participation, there wasn’t a snap response. Some of my height exploring epiphanies were JJ Grey, John Butler Trio, New Orleans Radiators (always!), Zigaboo, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Grupo Fantasma, DragonSmoke, Gov’t Mule, Walter, Snooks & the list goes on & on.

Timmy @ the Tree of Life in Audubon Park near the "Fly" 2008

See you at the 40th New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on the immaculate magic laced weekends of April 24, 25, 26 & April 30, May 1, 2, 3, 2009. Not to be missed for any reason. This will be my 20th career Jazzfest, which means I will have thankfully attended half of all the fests & furthermore that I’ve been going to the planet of New Orleans for more than half my life & counting. I couldn’t be more grateful for this heavenly presence in my blessing enriched life. The universe continues to be good to me. My thankfulness is abundant.

5/7/08 Porter Batiste Stoltz (PBS) @ Lafayette Square Park

2008-05-10T10:09:00Z

Wed. May 7, 2008

There’s nothing like staying in New Orleans a few days after the Fest is done. More solid proof of that theory is put forth by my daytime celebratory participation in the outdoor event of Porter Batiste Stoltz at Lafayette Square Park (for Wednesdays on the Square). I’ve seen many of these open air concerts in the Square & they’re always festive & fun N’awlins style.

PBS on da Square * foto by Timmy the Freak

PBS is the ultimate funk powered trio with their close ties to the funky Meters & vast experiential musical know-how & naturally occuring talent. Always ones to spice up a good party, George Porter Jr., Russell Batiste & Brian Stoltz lifted up the dance bent crowd throwing down the eargasmic soul funking gauntlet of their wonder spasming muse.

George Porter Jr., Russell Bastiste, Brian Stoltz

It’s really a pleasure to be in nicely intoxicating Nola after that main crush of Jazzfest fans have emptied out. I know I risk giving away one of my secrets when I state this but it is a deep truth that I embrace.

5/6/08 Rebirth Brass Band @ the Maple Leaf

2008-05-10T10:08:00Z

Tue. May 6, 2008

Another tradition that I’ve had going for years (maybe decades) that I’m not about to break is my allegiance to the Tuesday night post-jazzfest spectacular that is the Rebirth Brass Band at the Maple Leaf aka jah SpLeaf). This year RBB founders & brothers Phil & Keith Frazier are celebrating 25 years together as Rebirth with 18 years running for the weekly Leaf gig. Hot damn, that’s some magnificent accomplishments.

Nowadays I won’t leave this enchanted town until I get my final fixes of music that feeds my sweet soul like this gig. Rebirth generously gives & gives while ordinary lives are opened up & enhanced to the point of dancing uninhibited & free from the hustle bustle of reality.

Rebirth truly rolls like other brass bands dream of. Their sound is so engaging that it demands appreciation & body movement. On this occasion, RBB was really up to the task phenomenally blasting out Oak Street faves, contemporary dance hits, Motown, Mardi Gras, you name it. Everything’s on the table so to freak. That said, until the sensory overpowering music & vibe knock it off & all over the floor. The dancefloor that is.

The Maple Leaf 8316 Oak Street * Planet of New Orleans

Do yourselves a favor, whenever in Nola for the Fest’s 2nd weekend & stay a few extra days to share in this magic on Oak Street. You will thank me someday. I can only hope.

5/5/08 Papa Grows Funk + Renard Poché (Jazzfest Closing Funky Meltdown) @ the Maple Leaf

2008-05-10T10:07:00Z

Mon. May 5, 2008

Jazzfest 2008 just wouldn’t be complete without attending the ‘8th Annual Jazzfest Closeout Party’ with Papa Grows Funk + Renard Poché at the bedazzling freakspot the Maple Leaf. This night is thee freaking icing on the funking cake with everyone wanting it to last forever held in perpetuity myself included.

    PGF along with longtime friend & family Renard Poshé were bringing the party like a potent category 5 with 2 gigamongous sets. Stirring up cyclonic enticing funkified music & dancing is what both the Spleaf & Papa Grows Funk are all about.

    Over the course of the night, there were many shining special guests (besides guest of honor Renard) like Dirty Dozen’s Efrem Townes on trumpet, Brian Seeger on guitar, Billy Iuso on guitar, the head spinning talent Keiko Komaki on Hammond B3 to name a bunch. The scene was electric with excitement, energy & shared joy amongst the starry eyed vivacious crowd & all the musicians as well as the friendly staff (including kind owner Hank Staples).

    The Leaf on Oak

The soul charged git down sets were filled with familiar Papa Grows tunes mixed with surprises & delights like the good Doctor John’s “Right Time, Wrong Place”. All in all, this night always strikes me as an extra high apex of the entire Jazzfest in New Orleans experience. Next year’s 9th Annual is already on my calender. If only all Mondays could be this funking good!