Category Archives: live music

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.


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

Happy New Year’s from View Skewed

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Whatever you’re doing tonight, have a blast, be safe, and dance your booty off.  A new year: a celebration of freeing yourself from the old, setting new and improved intentions for the new. Tonight I celebrate with my loved one, Gov’t Mule, and a bunch of like minded Muleheads in the Beautiful Beacon Theatre.  Many of my Posse are Phishing tonight at Madison Square Garden, and I am thankful that we are representing around the city.

Much love to those who read this blog, I appreciate your support and your comments, and I love to write my skewed views down on “paper.”  My new intention for next year:  Get better about writing the shows down.  I admittedly was lacking the latter part of this year, and I will try hard to stay on track for next year.

Here’s to a great 2012, may it be prosperous, healthy and happy for us all!

-M

Jambands.com – Need We Say More? The Royal Family Ball, Terminal 5, NYC – 10/15

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Jambands/Relix takes first pick at my review of The Royal Family Ball. Let me know what you think!

Jambands.com – Need We Say More? The Royal Family Ball, Terminal 5, NYC – 10/15

Below are more pics, by yours truly.  I finally got a new camera!!  :) – M

Coming Up: Saturday 10/15/11 – Royal Family Ball

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This weekend is the Royal Family Ball starring Soulive and Lettuce, with special guests.  Last year, John Scofield showed up, with special surprise guest, Warren Haynes.  Wonder who this year’s Ball will bring out of the woodwork?

Last year, I covered the show for View Skewed, and, well, it blew my musical head apart.  Here’s the coverage of last year’s Ball:  http://wp.me/ppvLC-D0 Hopefully, people will dress like it’s a ball this year!  :)  And I hope to see you there.

Click here for tickets

-M

Primus, Roseland Ballroom, Sept 30 – Setlist

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Picture by: Brooklyn Vegan

Primus at Roseland Ballroom

SETLIST:
Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers
Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver
The Pressman
Groundhog’s Day
Over The Falls
Southbound Pachyderm
Mrs. Blaileen
Jerry Was A Race Car Driver
Over the Electric Grapevine

Picture from: Brooklyn Vegan

Set 2: Green Naugahyde
Prelude to a Crawl
Hennepin Crawler
Last Salmon Man
Eternal Consumption Engine
Tragedy’s a’ Comin’
Eyes of the Squirrel
Jilly’s on Smack
Lee Van Cleef
Moron TV
Green Ranger
HOINFODAMAN

Extinction Burst
Salmon Men

Encore:
Mr. Knowitall
Harold of the Rocks

2011 Catskill Chill Festival, Last day, Sunday

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Photo by: Katie Feinstein

I slept like a baby the night before.  Missed the late night Wyllis show with the fantastic Jennifer Hartswick (trumpet, vocals) and I was bummed, thinking, “I just had to rest my ankles, not pass out for the night.”  Darn it…

Luckily there was a small crew from my cabin, virtual strangers before the Chill Festival, who were up and chatting on the porch.  To my ultimate surprise, I was treated to a coffee machine, hooked up and coffee being spooned in to be brewed.  There is nothing like a weekend at a festival, with a coffee maker.  Thank the sweet heavens, I am becoming re-born again.

This morning was a real treat for me, meeting strangers and becoming close friends with them in the early morning over coffee and bloody Mary’s.  Laughing so hard with each other, recounting the adventures of the day before, and truly making bonds.  I was so grateful I was amongst such wonderful people, and feeling the bliss from music wash over me.   My mind drifts, and I apologize for this is a festival review, so… on to the music….

The line up:
Particle
Dopapod
John Brown’s Body
7 Walkers
Big Sam’s Funky Nation

Particle

Photo by: Phrazz

I interviewed Steve Molitz from Particle before the Catskill Chill Festival (click here for the review), and I was excited to see him play again.  These guys are like electronica/trance/groovy dance music.  The crowd was still light at this time (3:30pm)… perhaps we all needed more coffee?  But I got my groove on, danced a while and flitted through the crowd, seeing friends and friendlies everywhere I turned.

IMG_0116

Photo by: Phrazz

Dopapod I have to say, I personally wasn’t into these guys.  My friends and posse seemed to be, so I wandered back to the cabin to get ready to leave.  The plan was we’d leave after John Brown’s Body, to take the 2 hour drive back to Manhattan, so I figured this was a good a time as any.  Little did I know that I wouldn’t be leaving for many, many hours.

IMG_0881

Photo by: Phrazz

John Brown’s Body – raging RAGING reggae.  These guys were so much fun, the venue was pretty well packed, it was kinda muggy, rainy, sweaty, but no one seemed to mind.  This was an amazing 2 hour set, people dancing, swaying – artists painting in the crowd, soccer balls being kicked around, balls bouncing, hoola hoops hooping… yes. Yes, yes, yes!  The Catskill Chill’s website says it best, ” JBB’s live show has the kind of organic, body-rocking sound that’s only possible with an 8-piece band where air tight drum and bass, a three piece horn section, and “the most gorgeous melodies in all of modern reggae music” [All Music Guide] meet a dubbed-out sound engineer.”  This was a highlight, indeed.

In between these shows, we took the time to pack the car – as originally planned.  Then, I believe it started to rain, so we took cover with…

Photo by: Joshua Raskin

7 Walkers:  I couldn’t leave.  Who, me? Leave during Billy Kreutzmann (drummer, Grateful Dead), George Porter, Jr., (bass, The Meters), Papa Mali and Matt Hubbard.  I had all great intentions, but what do they say?  The best laid plans…. yeah, that’s what happened.  This band is a mix of Grateful Dead hippy bounce with some creole soul from New Orleans.  It is fresh and upbeat, they play new original songs (some written by Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter), and they look like they are having the greatest time.  I have seen them quite a few times now, and I just have a blast every time I see them.  They never disappoint, I always feel like I’m amongst family, and my heart shines bright when they end the show.  Thank you.

IMG_1605

Photo by: Phrazz

Big Sam’s Funky Nation / Jets Game / We gotta go!

Yes, we had to go, but I was very excited to just linger aimlessly amongst the vendors while Big Sam was crushing it at the other stage. I needed some food, I needed some coffee and I was planning on not rushing before jumping in the car. My friend was enamored with the Jets Game, which made me feel no pressure to start driving. I have to admit, this was a great way to end the evening. Watching the Jets with my friends, hearing Big Sam’s Funky Nation in the background, quietly eating, patiently waiting, and enjoying my last few breaths of the Chillest festival I believe I’ve ever been to.

I wonder what the numbers were from their first year, to this year (their second). I will poke around and be sure to report back.

Please leave comments on your favorite memories. And I hope to see everyone again next year!

Gathering of the Vibes, 2011 – Audio Links (torrents incl.)

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Once again, a heartfelt thanks to Rob Clarke and Scott Bernstein for taping the festival, and being so prompt in putting the out there for us to all relive again.  Mucho gracias!

Thursday:
The Infamous Stringdusters: http://www.archive.org/details/stringdusters2011-07-21
Roots of Creation: http://www.archive.org/details/roc2011-07-21.jz-bt201.flac16
New Mastersounds: http://www.archive.org/details/nms2011-07-21.v2KM184
Dumpstaphunk: http://www.archive.org/details/dumpstaphunk2011-07-21
The Mother Hips (torrent): http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=547058

Friday:
Ryan Montbleau: http://www.archive.org/details/montbleau2011-07-22
God Street Wine (Lo Faber, Aaron Maxwell, Jon Bevo, Dan Pifer) with special guests Jason Crosby and Joe Russo:  http://www.archive.org/details/gsw2011-07-22
Kung Fu: http://www.archive.org/details/kungfu2011-07-22
Big Sam’s Funky Nation (torrent): http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=547156
Furthur: http://www.archive.org/detail/furthur2011-07-22.v2km184.clarke.115050.flac16
The Bridge: http://www.archive.org/details/bridge2011-07-22
Tedeschi Trucks Band (torrent): http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=547111
Taj Mahal (torrent): http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=547047

Continue reading →

Tune In To Hep C. Benefit with The Allman Brothers and very special guests

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photo by: Allison Murphy

Wednesday July 27, 2011, Beacon Theater

I got in late, close to the end of the first set and I missed Natalie Cole and Ron Holloway, (darn it.)   I did, however, hear an incredible Liz Reed with Bill Evans on sax – making it a spacy, raging, beautiful jazz/guitar mashup jam before setbreak.  Warren tells us they are going to take a short break, a really short one and to stay tuned for more really special guests.  Time to hit the restrooms, wrestle the crowd for a drink, and get back for more.

photo by: Allison Murphy

Second set, David Crosby and Graham Nash were already on stage with Derek Trucks when I walked in (I was dealing with a large unmovable crowd), and the three of them are on stage, Derek strumming his guitar while Crosby and Nash sing Teach Your Children.  My eyes at this point are bugging out of my head, I don’t think I have ever seen Crosby and Nash live before, and I’m frozen in watching these three men on the stage.

The whole theater was on their feet, I was in awe seeing Crosby and Nash only 10 rows away from me.  Couldn’t get the grin off my face, but did not sing along because I wanted to hear these two sing, play acoustic guitar, with Derek.  It was so beautiful and special, I had goosebumps.  I doubt I was the only one.

Crosby and Nash alone sing Guinnevere .  Guinnevere.   Yes, really.  If I didn’t have goosebumps by then, I really had them now.  Liftoff to my blissful music high, this is when I began to swoon.  Warren Haynes comes out and the three sing Find the Cost of Freedom a capella. David Crosby then tells us “…how he hasn’t played the next song for a while because, well, he couldn’t remember all the words.  Since he wasn’t stoned tonight,” he continued, “he wanted to play it.”  Chuckles from the stage and audience started Cowboy Movie song.

photo by: Allison Murphy

Afterwards, Phil Lesh comes out to join for a plethora of Dead tunes including Continue reading →

Robert Plant and The Band of Joy, Wanee Festival, 4.15.11

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The artists who play with Plant are extremely talented musicians, it brings the band up a stratosphere.  Add, Plant’s beautifully eerie vocals reminiscent of the Zeppelin days, but not,- add in a splash of the beauty of the Wanee Festival, with its friendly folk and country charm equals… Wow.   15,000 of us out in a Floridian field, next to the Suwanee River, jamming out with Robert Plant.  Yes, Wow.

The Band of Joy are: vocalist Patty Griffin, guitarist Buddy Miller, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Daryl Scott, bassist-vocalist Byron House, and drummer-percussionist-vocalist Marco Giovino.

I was sitting on the soundboard, about 30 feet from the stage, and I was elevated, sitting above the crowd.  My eyes were fixated on Plant, in awe of his presence.  He still dances great, he still sings strong, and he turns the stage over to Miller, Scott, House, Giovino who all respectable, intricately technical musicians.  Patty Griffin has one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard, and when she sings with Plant along with the strings of Daryl Scott and Buddy Miller, well, it’s like… I have no words.

Favorite Songs:  The Zep Covers, How Many Times Have You Heard Someone Say, I’m In The Mood For A Melody, … actually, to be honest, the whole set I was mesmerized.  Plant had a nice banter with the audience, complementing someone’s tattoo, and after his set was done he came back and said something like, “Well hi, they say since I’m the headliner I can play a few more songs.”  We started during the sunset, and we ended in the dark, with flame lanterns flying in the sky, all of us dancing away the day.

Ending the set with Dylan’s A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, Plant and Griffin singing duet, my friends and I floated off the field back to camp for food intake before the second night of Allman’s.  It was a beautiful 2 hours spent with the incredible Robert Plant and The Band of Joy.  It was a beautiful day filled with incredible music.  There were still two bands still to play that evening. And I was floating on a cloud, named Wanee.

Set List
1. Black Dog
2. Down by the Sea
3. Angel Dance
4. Black County Women
5. House Of Cards
6. Monkey
7. Somewhere Trouble Don’t Go
8. Gallows Pole
9. How Many Times Have You Heard Someone Say
10 .Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down
11. Ocean Of Tears
12. I’m In The Mood For A Melody
13. Please Read The Letter
14. Houses Of The Holy
15. Ramble On
16. Crowd
Encore:
17. Central 208
18. Rock & Roll
19. A Hard Rain Is A Gonna Fall

http://robertplant.com/