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. :)

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

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

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

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

http://pancan.org/section_donate/donate_now.php

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

Friday:  So, after a long day at work, and a longer ride up to the Catskills, getting our wristbands, parking the car, finding the cabin, and unloading, we were able to catch the evening’s last set.  My friend and I found our friends and I was jonesing for some music already.  We bolted from our posse and went to find the music.  We made the last set of the night, Break Science.  I remember there were about 300-400 people, and some very heavy beats from Mr. Adam Deitch.  After I got my fill from head nodding, and some hip shaking, we went to check out the fire drum circle. Jumping through mud puddles, we checked it out, and was treated to a fire dancer twirl right next to us.  I put my toes near the fire, got warmer (thankfully!) and wandered around.  We went back to the cabins to chill out with my posse, check out the vendors, understand the lay of the land, and think I passed out at 3.  Oh – we had bunkbeds, typical for a summer camp.  It’s been a very long time since I’ve slept in bunkbeds.  (side note: bring padding for bunkbeds).

Photo by: Josh Raskin/Tiny Rager

Saturday:  Ok, so I was hurting this morning.  Between the crazy long week, the dancing and wandering till 3am, the bunk beds and waking up to the sound of the drum circle still going on, I have to admit… I was kind of hurting.  If you know me, you know I am not the most lively, cordial, talkative person in the morning, and my new cabin mates learned that quickly.  I found the coffee truck, bought three cups, gave one to my friend and drank the other two quickly.  It helped…  It was beginning to help.

The day was gorgeous, not a cloud in the sky, the sun was out, the weather was a perfect 80 degrees.  It was spectacular.  And perfect.  And very Catskill Chilling.

The Heavy Pets: I gathered myself together, took a shower, ate a bit of food (don’t remember what it was), and got myself down to the stage for The Heavy Pets.  It was a really nice way to start the day.  The Main Stage wasn’t packed at all – probably under 400 people.  The Pets jammed, crazy guitar licks, heavy groovy bass drum, bouncy, trippy kind of music.  There was room to bounce.  There was room to jam.  I was relaxing into the vibe of the festival – the Chill.

Photo by: Josh Raskin/tinyrager

There was a surprise birthday party for me and a few other Virgo babies, that was completely a surprise for me.  The coordination to get at least 20 people together, at a certain time at a festival is a feat in itself, but to have candles and goodie bags for the birthday boys and girls, well… all I can say is I am grateful.  (And thank you, Karen.)

Photo by: Phrazz

Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds:  Wow.  Hello there.  I’d never seen these guys before and… wow.  Rage-o-rama.  Horns galore, incredible harp player, and the chick that sings – WOW.  I was impressed.  We had trombone, trumpet, sax, bass sax, guitar, bass guitar, harmonica, drums, singer.  The horns do a great dance in sync, Sister Sparrow sings it hard – full Aretha/Whitney/Janis in your face (the chick is about 5 feet nothing and maybe weighs 25 pounds.  How does that work?!?)  This band is on my highlights list.  They are fun.  They are funky.  And I danced my butt off.

Photo by: Robyn Gould

Zach Deputy:  Zach is always cool to watch.  I love to see him overdub, sing, find a riff, overlay music on top of it.  He’s a one man band, and he’s solid.  Always solid.  And I watch in amazement.  I want to understand how/why, what are the physics of this one man overdub amazing musician?  I never get my answers answered.  But I do a little hip shake….and sort of surrender.

Photo by: Robyn Gould

Umphrey’s McGee:  By this time, the headliner of the weekend, we are READY to ROCK with Umphrey’s.  All the bands have led us here, and it has been a steady rise to the evening’s incredible crescendo.  The place was packed and by the second song I had guestimated about 1500 people were there, and then I realized that hippies were still streaming in.  The energy was palpable, this set was going to be off the hook.  With their usual 100-gazillion lights on the stage, they went deep – in typical UMG style.  Bouncing, deep beats from the stage, fire dancers on the elevated side of the venue, the highlights were:

• Brendan Bayliss, the lead singer screams to the crowd, “Wow, I’ve never been here before.  This is f*cking great!”
• Pink Floyd’s Breathe played to end the first set
• The crowd takes out their lighters, instead of their glowsticks, for an old school lighter-a-thon

DJ Kraz:  We all went into the Club Chill part of the festival, a sort of out-of-the-way dance DJ party away from the live stages.  Kraz (guitar, Soulive) spins the records, people dancin’ to the beats.  I, unfortunately, jammed up my ankles from dancing so hard at UMG, I didn’t get up and boogie.  I wanted to.  My legs said no.

Photo by: Phrazz

Dumpstaphunk:  Dirrrty.  This could have been another one of my favorite sets.  I see Dumpsta on a somewhat regular basis, everytime they roll through NYC, I’m at the show.  They are always funky, and always dirty, but this one, for some reason, they felt dirtier.  They felt deeper, they felt all the funk from Ivan Neville, Ian Neville, Nick Daniels, and Tony Hall were on fire. SPECIAL GUESTS:  Eric Krasno comes on and plays Ivan Neville’s keys, while Ivan goes to the guitar. Nikki G plays drums all night, banging on those drums, showin’ all the boys who’s in charge of the beat.  Personally I think that Nikki brought something extra funky to the Dumpstaphunkers, but that’s just me.  Interested to hear what others thought.  I danced, just pushed through, pain and all, because this show was hot….ankles be damned.

And then I passed out… at 3am, and missed the late Wyllys show with the amazing Jennifer Hartswick.  Boo.

More coming soon from the beautiful chill time, dancing my booty off on Sunday with: 7 Walkers, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Particle, John Brown’s Body, and Pimps of Joytime!

Catskill Chill Music Festival, Hancock NY

September 9 – 11th.

My buddies are putting on this great festival and it will be my first year attending.  Travelling north a few hours into the woods of Upstate NY, near the town of Bethel, NY close to the infamous Woodstock of ’69, the lineup touts such great acts as:

• Umphree’s McGee
• Conspirator
• 7 Walkers featuring Bill Kreutzmann
• Dumpstaphunk
• JGB w/ Melvin Seals
• Perpetual Groove
• Particle
• Big Sam’s Funky Nation
• Zach Deputy
• Pimps of Joytime
• The Heavy Pets
• …and more.

I was lucky to get an interview with the keyboardist from Particle, Steve Molitz, and Jambands.com picked it up before I could get it on View Skewed.

Check it out here:  http://www.jambands.com/the-loop/2011/09/06/steve-molitz-talks-catskill-chill/

I’ll be covering the Chill for View Skewed, so stay tuned.  This should be a great end of the summer festival!