Bowlive 3, Night 1, 2.28.12

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photo by: Michael Jurick

So, we’re back – the 3rd annual Bowlive held in Brooklyn’s own Brooklyn Bowl. This is the favorite time of year to be eating lots of fried chicken, hearing bowling pins crash while listening to some of today’s finest musicians in a room where only 600 can comfortably stand, or dance. The first night went off without a hitch. Here’s my recount – it gets increasingly harder to understand my notes as the night goes on….

Pre-show:
No real preshow for me. I got to the Bowl at around 8:15pm, the show didn’t start until 9pm. I dropped my coat and bag off, said some hellos, hit the ladies room, got a drink and settled in for the evening. Chatted with my friend and looked to the right of me, there was John Scofield talking with some people, no less than 4 feet from me. I noted it but couldn’t bring myself to gawk at him. He’s one of my guitar heroes-being so close to greatness made me nervous.

photo by: RuthRocks

First Set:
Soulive alone. The trio (Eric Krasno and brothers Neal and Alan Evans) just came off their three night Snowlive weekend in Boulder Colorado, and they sounded tight. Soulive usually sounds tight but tonight they sounded like they had tightened a few notches up. They played alone, and for the first few songs I was so enthralled I had forgotten guitarist John Scofield was going to join the stage.

The trio just nailed the first set of the Bowlive 3 run, my friend turned to me and said, “first set, eh?”. I laughed and shook my head. It had already gotten heavy with funk and bass… We were only a hour in.

Set break:

Bathroom Run. Smoke Break. Hit the bar. Get back near stage left.

photo by: RuthRocks

Set 2:

Alan introduces John Scofield onto the stage and off we go.

Nigel Hall joined Neal Evans on the keyboard before he grabbed the mic to sing a slow bluesy serenade.
Here are my notes on that:
Nigel slow serenade soulful sexy and raw. 10pm. Organ keys reverb right through The Brooklyn Bowl

Nigel wails. Scofield wails. Organ wails and a hot beat by Alan. Damn. Night 1 w the posse surrounding me, all goo love in the air.

First set. Jesus. It just started and it’s crazy funky souled up in here.

Scofield gives props to Soulive and particularly Nigel. Sweet. They go into Boozin’. Scofield is in love with Nigel. You can see it by his face.

Next, a crazy banter w Scofield and Neal. This rage officially melts the Bowl at 1022 pm.

Set Break: I’m kinda floating at this point. With permagrin wide I made it outside, chatted with friends, and realized I was starving. Good thing the Bowl has some good food.

I dropped my coat and winter crap back near my spot next to the stage and went for food. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who had such an idea. So I hit the ladies room instead.

photo by: RuthRocks

Set 3:
Soulive comes on the stage, alone once again. I find a dark corner close my eyes and groove hard in anonymous land. I went there. But I was in dire need of food. So, off to the restaurant!

Food choice? The Beach french bread pizza. Oh my. Lord. Yum. Not for vegetarians but for a pork filled meat lovers delight? I highly recommend. Soulive plays while I wait for my pizza. Food!! Come quickly. They’re raging!

By the time I settled my bill, i heard the unmistakable southern guitar twang on the stage Luther Dickinson from The North Mississippi Allstars on the stage. I have a permagrin wide on my face. Can’t help it. He’s sans beard but still hot. And, shreddinggg his guitar.

Luther and Kraz tease Santana before Kraz goes off leading into Jimi Hendrix’s Hear My Train. Plucking frenzied glory jam.

I love it when guitarists banter with each other with their instruments. Tit for Tat back and forth as we fall into a shredding glory.

I walked away from the first night thinking, “damn, if this is first night, …. phewwwww”

What a way to start…Scofield and Luther Dickinson. Fantastical. Unimaginable. I love Bowlive, for mashups just like this.

Set Lists:

Set 1: So Live, Hat Trick, Tabasco, Red Baron, What You See, More Than You Know, Boozer

Set 2: El Ron, One in Seven, Hip Hug Her, Never in all my Days, Uncle Jr., Ghetto, Hear My Train Encore: Stone Free

Bowlive III starts tomorrow at Brooklyn Bowl, NYC 2/28-3/9/12

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BOWLIVE III:

The chatter and anticipation is humming here in NYC with the return of the 3rd annual Bowlive, Soulive’s 10 day residency at The Brooklyn Bowl. 

Soulive has announced in drips and drabs the special guests, and to be honest with you, this year sounds like the best yet.  I am excited to get it on with my bad self, and the hundreds of other bad selves dancing to great music, incredible jams, loud horns and shredding guitars.  Ah, let Bowlive III begin.

www.royalfamilyrecords.com

ARTIST LINEUP:

T 2/28 John Scofield & Luther Dickinson
 Buy Tickets
W 2/29 John Scofield & Luther Dickinson    Buy Tickets 
R 3/1 Rahzel & Karl Denson + ?uestlove Bowlive Train
 Buy Tickets 
F 3/2 Karl Denson & Jennifer Hartswick
 Buy Tickets 
S 3/3 Marco Benevento & Jennifer Hartswick   Buy Tickets
T 3/6 Lettuce, Zach Deputy, Skerik, & Allen Stone Buy Tickets
W 3/7 Lettuce, Skerik & Zach Deputy
 Buy Tickets
R 3/8 Citizen Cope &  Alice Smith, George Porter Jr. & Billy Martin +?uestlove Bowlive Train  Buy Tickets
F 3/9 George Porter Jr.
 Buy Tickets
S 3/10 TBA
 Buy Ticket

OPENING ARTIST LINEUP:

R 3/1 Rahzel
 Buy Tickets 
F 3/2 Alecia Chakour Band         Buy Tickets 
S 3/3 Nigel Hall Band  Buy Tickets
T 3/6 Zach Deputy Buy Tickets
W 3/7 Zach Deputy
 Buy Tickets
F 3/9 Nigel Hall & Alecia Chakour Buy Tickets
S 3/10 The London Souls
 Buy Tickets

Yeah, it’s gonna be a party.  Check out my reviews on Jambands.com for last years coverage.  Here’s a video to whet your chops.  My question is – will anyone from The Allman Brother’s join the party.  The Allman run at The Beacon starts 3/9.  OVERLAP!!!

PS: If you don’t remember, Brooklyn Bowl Co-Owner Peter Shapiro brought out shots on the first night of Bowlive last year.  I must make sure I make that toast this year.  (Hope he makes one!)

Jam Cruise Virgin No More – Day Two

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photo by: Gabe Terlemezian

Please read Jam Cruise Virgin No More for my recount of the first day on the boat.

Ok, I lied. We did find the Jam Room our first night, and were treated to Zach Deputy jamming the first night away. I also forgot that we ate dinner with The Heavy Pets, and we bonded over us all being Jam Cruise Virgins. They told us where the Jam Room was, how to get there, and that they’d be down there. Yes, this was the first day…

photo by: Jeffrey Dupuis

After an amazing first day on the boat, we woke to coffee that we remembered to order the night before, and lounged on our balcony far away from land, my iPhone didn’t get a connection, and I was beginning to feel the first signs of becoming unplugged. Phones were safely locked away in the safe and it was time to start this second glorious day.This day we figured out what the drink tickets were all about. You buy a packet of drink tickets, charge them to your room, and there is a slight savings on price. Not much, but a small savings. I had decidedly become addicted to the fruity cruise drink known as BBC – Bacardi, Baileys, Banana and Pina Colada mix all whizzed together into a smoothie. Oh my my my, delicioso! (I have become so enamored with this drink, that from here on out we make a BBC every Friday – BBC Friday – and celebrate in honor of Jam Cruise.)

Our Hallway Decorated. Photo by: Gabe Terlemezian

The coolest part of Jam Cruise is that the most unexpected people show up. I met a friend who I had met at Warren Haynes’ Xmas Jam in 2010, and it was like no time had passed. I met friends whom I only see at Wanee, or any of the other festival folk I see year after year. The greatest thing was we were all on this boat together for the next 5 days, it was the ultimate festival.

OK – so this second day we found our place on the 2nd level on the pool deck. I slathered sunscreen on my hideously white body and drank my BBC’s while grooving to Keller and the Keels and Bruce Hornsby. The winds were intense, but the mere scene of warmth, water, cruise, lounging, drinking, music and dancing blew any issues of the wind from my mind.

Bruce Hornsby Photo by: View Skewed

We caught Matt Hubbard playing as we walked from the Pool Deck to our room. Photo by: View Skewed

Ivan Neville’s crew were set to play a Sly set on the pool deck, and they did a funky little bit until the rain came. They were troopers, Ivan didn’t want to leave the stage, but the rain came down quick and fast, and everyone scrambled. I was bummed that set was cut short.

We went for dinner at the buffet (pizza and pasta) and then went back to the cabin to get ready for the evening musical extravaganza.

So, there is a theater on the boat called Zebra Bar. And everyone wears zebra clothing in the Zebra Bar. This night, I wore my zebra shoes – 5 inch platform real zebra shoes, which I was only able to stand in for about an hour. We bounce our way down to the Zebra Bar – we have a definite idea now how to navigate around the boat, and the place is pumping with the Dead Kenny G’s. Raging. Hard. Fast. Furious. I’m loving it, in seventh heaven until George Porter Jr. shows up and raises this funk a notch. Or two.

photo by: View Skewed

We ran from the Dead Kenny G’s to see Galactic on the Pool Deck. The rain had passed, and these guys crush it. The pool deck was packed, but not too packed. I stayed on the side of the stage, behind the speakers so the music wouldn’t kill my ears. I tried to be aware of things like that. Me and my crappy ears…thank goodness for ear plugs.

Then we ran to the back of the boat for Eric Krasno’s Jam Room session where the Royal Family members were kicking back, jamming in perfect Jam Room style. Seriously, this room is chill, and funky and intimate. Did I say this whole cruise still felt intimate and accessible?

photo by: Ananda Atmore

Then we hit a little bit of Umphree’s in the Purple Theater (Teatro Carlo Felice) and go for The New Mastersounds on the pool deck, and back to the Jam Room. Yes, it was a Magical Meredith Tour once again from the front of the boat to the back of the boat, up and down elevators, stairs and hallways.

photo by: View Skewed

The third day we got off the boat in Haiti. By this time, I had fully unplugged. Stay tuned!

New Orleans in NYC: Galactic, Steel Pulse w/ Soul Rebels Brass Band, 2.25.12 Terminal 5

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Pre-show: There was no real pre-show. It was freezing and windy, and my personal pre-show consisted of waiting outside for my friend to show up. I saw other friends pass by as they walked into Terminal 5, but no one stopped to chat for more than a few seconds. It was cold, a typical February evening, cold and breathtakingly windy.

Pre-show II: We walked into the venue and the space was open. Soul Rebels Brass Band had finished their set, and we were waiting for Steel Pulse to join the stage. Walking up the stairs to find the smoking area, we realized that the third floor was not packed, and there were sofas and sitting areas up there, in the dark, perfect places to dance and get down while not being too cramped or too in the way. Just the way I like it. Needless to say, that is where we could be found the rest of the evening.

Soul Rebels Brass Band Set List: Living For the City, Turn It Up, My Time, I Made It, Night People, Sweet Dreams

photo by: Jen Bernstein

Steel Pulse: They took the stage and jammed their reggae rock-a-licious tunes throughout the venue. Their famous “Steppin’ Out” tune belted from the stage, and I felt the place amp up a few notches in preparation for the third band to hit the stage. I have no set lists at this time, but I can say that Steel Pulse brought it hard to T5, and everyone was dancing with huge smiles on their face. I as well danced my little jig, shaking all the winter cobwebs off my hips, grateful to be surrounded by great people, great friends, but most of all, great music.

Set Break: Bar run, check. Smoke break, check. Bathroom break, check. Ready for Galactic.

Galactic: These guys always bring it. Stanton Moore on drums (see above video) sets the pace for a 100mph in your face blasting New Orleans funk. They never disappoint. This night they brought out Corey Glover (In Living Colour) on vocals and Corey Henry (Rebirth Brass Band) on trombone, and the Soul Rebels Brass Band on stage at various times. Swear to G-d, no joke – it was full on horns explosion-mania on stage.

Galactic released a new CD “Carnivale Electricos” and we were treated to a few new songs from the album. I am still not sure what I thought, I guess I’m going to have to listen to the full CD today, but I did like the new sound. I did dance, and tried to hear the lyrics, but have to admit – T5′s sound system is not the best in the city, and it is so overtly loud that it gets garbled.

Highlights: Hey Na Na, Boe Money, a delicious dirty cover of Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir which crushed us all. Stanton’s crazy amazing drum solo that literally transported me back to the Jam Cruise’s pool deck set, and the horns – ah all the horns on the stage belting loud and long, as if to say – NYC, Nola’s in the house and we are warming you all with some Louisana warmth. I was grateful, we all were grateful.

Galactic Set List: Cineramascope, Hey Na Na, Out in the Street, I Don’t Know What…Funky, You Don’t Know, Karate, Boe Money, Bongo Joe, Fatal Destruction to Your Mind, Ha Di Ka, Keep Steppin’, Kashmir, Carnival Time, Heart of Steel E: Ash Wed Sunrise, Cult of Personality

Thank you @SoulRebelsNo and @JRHevron for the set lists and Jen Bernstein for photos. Greatly appreciate your help! Thank you to the artists who heated up the chilly evening, and for warming me up for this year’s Soulive/Bowlive extravaganza. Who’s ready?!?!

 

Nigel Hall & Alecia Chakour, Rockwood Music Hall 2.13.12

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photo by: View Skewed

The Royal Family warms up a random February Monday Evening

Jazzy, harmonic sexy duets in honor of St. Valentine, warmed the crowd’s bodies and souls for one hour on a cold Monday evening.

Nigel Hall, keyboards, and Alecia Chakour, vocals, both from the Warren Haynes Band sang a sexy little set in honor of St. Valentine’s, with nine love songs which spanned the spectrum from fusion jazz to rhythm & blues, song by song.  The room was intimate, the stage was intimate and the vibe was laid back.  By the last song, people were dancing, and everyone was smiling.  We became a very happy room.

photo by: View Skewed

My favorite song was Lauryn Hill’s Nothing Even Matters, … the sweet, happy banter between these two… so nice.  Now, just because I’m calling it sweet does not mean that it’s soft.  No, both Hall and Chakour have powerful, soulful voices that kinda swirl around each other in harmonies, making it hard to not sway, smile and be….happy.

Members of The Royal Family Records were the backup band members with Adam Deitch, drums, and Adam “Schmeeans” Smirnoff, guitar, from Lettuce.  Eric Krasno, (Soulive, Lettuce, Chapter 2) came eventually replacing Chakour’s brother, Alex on bass.  Alex Chakour played most of the set, with Krasno playing the last song.

I wonder if this could be the warmup to the Brooklyn Bowl’s  Bowlive.


Jam Cruise Virgin No More

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I took a sail on Jam Cruise this past week, and I am still floating from it.  Besides it being a cruise, on the water, to Jamaica and Haiti, being able to lay in the sun, play in the water, get sand on my feet and enjoy the relaxing surroundings, there were also hundreds of musicians, playing from dawn to dusk every night.  A literal music festival on the high seas, and what a sail it was.

We road tripped from seeing friends in Orlando down four hours to Ft. Lauderdale, dropped the rental car off and got in a cab towards the boat, the MSC Poesia.  She’s a large thing, and as an overall cruise newbie, I had never seen one of these tall humongeous boats in person before.  I was excited, to say the least.  We spent 2.5 hours on line going through customs and being shuffled from room to room, going through the maze of lines, sitting and standing in holding rooms and yet, more lines.  But I was still excited.  I told my boyfriend and he laughed at me.  I was just all over excited, grinning from ear to ear.

We met up with two other friends in line, (I knew of about a dozen people on the boat,) and we walked onto the boat together. My head was spinning and I lost my sense of direction immediately.  We were led into The Zebra Bar for our first drink of the cruise and cheered “to Jam Cruise!” as we made our way to our rooms.  One of our two bags were waiting for us, and that one was not mine.  I didn’t get to wear my outfit for the Bon Voyage Yacht Club theme night party.

We had a small room with a balcony.  Small but cozy and we loved it.  We loved our room.  We jumped up and down, squealing “We’re on the boat!” as the door knocked.  We had 8 or 9 of us in that room, as my friends had the other three rooms next to us, and we had a party in room 10208.  Jam Cruise…we’re jamming before we even left the port.

As everyone settled into their rooms throughout the boat, we unpacked and got ready to go up to the pool deck.  As virgins, we didn’t know where the pool deck was, so we wandered the floors until we found it.  (My boyfriend called these “wanderings” the Magical Meredith Tour.)  On our way, we found the cafeteria, with food ready to be eaten.  We found the pool deck and then we found the bar.  We were told that they didn’t take cash and we had to use our room keys.  Well, that was easy!  Well, not so easy actually.  The bartenders seemed very discombobulated, not organized at all and the wait for a drink was, well, extensive.  But, we got our drinks and headed off to where the Dirty Dozen had already taken stage.  The energy was amped, I was amped, everyone was amped as we danced to New Orleans horns and waited to leave the dock.

And then we left….

Off for one day at sea, then to Labadee Haiti, then to Falmouth Jamaica… ahhhh.

The scene was not your typical festival scene. Everyone had costumes on, matching sailors outfits, men wearing dresses, women wearing nets, brightly colored wigs and the sparkle on clothing were eyeblinding. Masks, feathers, fishnets, neon colors all swirled into a huge crowd dancing, smiling, laughing, hugging each other as we sailed away. I felt the boat move, I looked at my guy wide-eyed and felt it in..my..bones that we were off the grid, unfindable, and on the spectacular Jam Cruise.

We hit the following Monday night shows:

Dirty Dozen
Bruce Hornsby
Lettuce (took over Schpongle’s set)
7 Walkers
Umphree’s McGee
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

We never did find the Jam Room that night.

I will enjoy recounting this – perhaps my Jam Cruise glow will stay alight a little longer….
Stay tuned.. And I’ll find some pictures too. :)

Setlists: Gov’t Mule Run, 2011 New Year’s, Beacon Theatre

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photo by: View Skewed

Gov’t Mule
12/31/11
Beacon Theater, NYC

Torrent Audio:  http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=551330

Set 1
1. Railroad Boy
2. Mule
3. Thorazine Shuffle>Live And Let Die tease>Thorazine Shuffle
4. Brighter Days
5. Like Flies>Les Brers tease>Like Flies
6. Lay Your Burden Down
7. About To Rage
8. Slackjaw Jezebel
9. King’s Highway
10. St. Stephen Jam> Eternity’s Breath Jam>Trane>Norwegian Wood tease

Set 2
1. Tuning
2. Intro
3. Honky Tonk Woman
4. Sticks And Stones
5. Cry Me A River
6. Bird On A Wire>Auld Lang Syne
7. Feelin’ Alright
8. Intros
9. Superstar
10. Let’s Go Get Stoned
11. Medley: Drown In My Own Tears>
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby>
I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
12. Girl From The North Country (Matt Vocals)
13. Give Peace A Chance
14. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
15. Space Captain
16. The Letter
17. Delta Lady

Set 3
1. Sco-Mule w/Oz Noy
2. I Believe To My Soul
3. Soulshine w/Alecia Chakour, Nigel Hall, and Ron Johnson
Encore
4. I Shall Be Released w/everyone

photo by: Dino Perrucci

Govt Mule
12.30.2011
Beacon Theatre, New York, NY

Torrent Audio:  http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=551307

Set 1

Maggot Brain >
Gameface >
Fool’s Moon
Little Toy Brain
Lively Up Yourself
Brand New Angel
Kind Of Bird

Set 2

Jam >
One Of These Days >
Fearless
Since I’ve Been Loving You with Paul Ill, without Jorgen Carlsson
Blind Man In The Dark
32/20 Blues with Hook Herrera, Jimmy Vivino & Nigel Hall
Working Class Hero with Hook Herrera & Jimmy Vivino
Smokestack Lightning > with Hook Herrera, Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo
John The Revelator with Hook Herrera, Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo

Encore

Politician > with Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo
Dear Mr. Fantasy with Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo, with For What It’s Worth Outro