Tag Archives: Ivan Neville

Dumpstaphunk, Brooklyn Bowl, March 23, 2013

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579796_10151421223611575_2065743179_nHigh level notes:

  • The Bowl was packed – sold out, line out the door and holding because they were at capacity.
  • I did not have the fried chicken this time – I had the BBQ Wings. Still just as delicious.
  • I did not bowl this time. Last time I bowled a 43. I will not bowl there until I have practiced sufficiently to bowl over 43!
  • There was a bachelorette party in the crowd, I saw a blowup penis, bouncing up and down in the crowd. I tried to see if there was a reaction from Dumpstaphunk, but I think these guys have seen it all. No blow up penis is gonna change Dumpsta’s funk factor.

Opener: The London Souls

These guys are high on the radar. They rock it down with their old school rock (shredding guitars, hard beats of the drum – think Led Zeppelin with a Lenny Kravitz vibe – that’s The London Souls.  I just saw them last week at Bowlive IV.  They never disappoint.

Dumpstaphunk

Nick Daniels III – Bass, Vocals
Tony Hall – Bass, Vocals, Guitar
Nikki Glaspie – Drums, Vocals
Ian Neville – Guitar, Vocals
Ivan Neville – Hammond B3, Clavinet

You know about the whole two bassist’s thing right?  For a funk band, the more bassist’s you can get on the stage the better.  It works.  It’s deep – it’s nasty funk.  In a very good way.

Did you know they all sing?  That their songs have lyrics – that it isn’t a jam fest where you go deep into one song for 20 minutes?  (You all know I love a good 20 minute jam, but sometimes it’s not for everyone)  Did you know they are releasing a new album in June?  This will be their second album – they played a few songs from the new album on Saturday night, and from what I could tell around me – everyone was diggin’ it.  I was diggin’ it.

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photo by: Vernon Webb

I didn’t have my notebook, I wasn’t taking notes – I was trying to observe the crowd around me but I have to tell ya’ll – it was a party.  It felt like Dumpsta brought the party with them all the way from New Orleans.  They have an energy that gets everyone moving, up, dancing, laughing, smiling, hootin’ and hollering.  The Brooklyn Bowl in itself has magic – great club, food, atmosphere, music and then Dumpsta comes in and throws a bit of Louisana charm all over the walls and it just becomes one big dance party.

The night ended with a dance party – no joke – a dance contest that lasted well throughout the night.  The Dance Contest, billed as “Soul-Clap” started at 1am, and danced well into the night.  The dance floor was full.  My friends were still bowling.  It was another beautiful night at The Brooklyn Bowl.

Highlights: 

  1. Tony Hall took off his bass at one point, to where he was playing this gorgeous blue guitar.  (Or was it a bass?)  If anyone has a picture of this, I’d love to see it.  It was absolutely amazing.
  2. Ivan Neville got up from behind the keys to play guitar with Tash for the last couple of songs.  That was smoking, I do hope the tapers caught that.  Five guitars – Ivan, Ian, Tash, Nick Daniels and Tony Hall.  Sickness.
photo by: Vernon Webb

photo by: Vernon Webb

Set List:

Blues Wave
Gasman Chronicles
Water
Take Time
Color Blind
Dancing to the Truth
Quazar
Deeper
Put It In the Dumpsta
Meanwhile… (w/Tash)
Living in a World Gone Mad (w/Tash)
Lt. Dan
Nikki Glaspie drum solo madness
Shake Your Money Maker (Ludacris cover)
Public Service Announcement (Jay Z cover)
Vivrant Thing (Tribe Called Quest cover)
Do Ya
One Nation Under a Groove

Here’s a great YouTube from last year’s Jazz Fest with Dumpsta and The Neville Brothers.  Kids, it doesn’t get any better than this.  Enjoy!

Insane funky music melts icy NYC

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Tonight’s Agenda, Saturday February 5, 2011:

photo by: Allison Murphy

Le Poisson Rouge: Eric Krasno & Chapter 2 w/ special guests James Hurt, Maurice Brown, Chris Loftin & Nikki Glaspie opening for Big Sam’s Funky Nation w/ special guest Christian Scott

Aftershow: The Blue Note, NYC: Sam Kininger Band w/ special guests James Hurt, Nigel Hall, Maurice Brown, Ivan Neville, Eric Krasno, Nikki Glaspie

Two horn playing Sam’s (Sam Williams, trombone from Big Sam’s Funky Nation) and Sam Kininger (saxophone, Sam Kininger Band) played in the west village last night… it was Sam Squared.  Let me see, I’m going to try to recount as best as I can.

I’m not a big fan of Le Poisson Rouge – drinks are pricey, the ceiling is low, it’s cramped, loud and dark.  But Big Sam’s Funky Nation rolled in from New Orleans, and the Royal Family’s Chapter 2 w/ Eric Krasno (guitar; Chris Loftin, bass; Nikki Glaspie, drums; Nigel Hall, keys & vocals) were in town.  I could deal with Le Poisson Rouge for this throwdown.  The place was vibrating it was so amped, the crowd was ready to get down.

photo by: Allison Murphy

I don’t have a set list so I can’t recount the songs, but what I remember was a bit of Beatles covers sprinkled in with some dirty funk.  Loud, deep, in your face beats with Nigel Hall on vocals (see below for a video and a taste of his talent), and Eric Krasno’s lightning fingers on the guitar.

James Hurt (keyboards) takes over from Nigel’s spot on the keys and it seemed like he couldn’t get the equipment to work for a second. The next thing I see on stage is this guy going crazy on the keyboards…

photo by: Allison Murphy

Like, standing/sitting/falling off his chair and still playing the keyboards “crazy”.  A few minutes later there is a horn explosion on stage with Big Sam, Maurice Brown and another trumpeter (whom I don’t know his name) and it’s gone insane.  Nigel wails in the mic; Chris Loftin, a big guy with a big bass, dances around the stage with a permagrin on his face; Nikki G. on drums keeps the beat fast and loud, prodding the rest of the band to keep up with her.

Yeah.  That’s what I’m talking about.  This was just the opening band.

photo by: Allison Murphy

Big Sam is great.  He’s always a lot of fun, a lot of energy and great sounding, dancing, shaking your hips kind of music. He did the get on the floor real low thing, he got the girls on the stage at the end, there was a Hey Poky Way and Sneakin’ Sally Thru the Alley.  There was Mardi Gras beads in the crowd, the NOLA faction of the city well represented.  Again, if you like horns, if you like great funk, if you like to dance with your hands in the air and shake your booty to some fun New Orleans jazz, go see Big Sam’s Funky Nation. Seriously, he blows you away.

photo by: Allison Murphy

The buzz was catch the Sam Kininger Band over at the Blue Note Jazz Club a few blocks away.  Sam on sax and Nikki G. from Chapter 2 earlier in the night were on the stage, and it wasn’t until I sat down that I realized who I had been hearing from the bar area.

Ivan Neville on keyboards (where did he come from?), Maurice Brown on trumpet, Eric Krasno on guitar, Nigel Hall on vocals, James Hurt again from Chapter 2′s set on keys, and it was way out of control.  Nikki G. on those drums commanded the attention again, she was so amazingly good.  I, and I know a few others who just were blown away.

photo by: Allison Murphy

There were about 30-40 people there at the most, the place was empty.  This jam session that ended at 3:15 am Sunday morning was one of those moments that you felt the special vibe in the room, where friends, artists and fans alike sit in awe.  The YouTubes below give a taste of what went down at The Blue Note last night.

photo by: Allison Murphy

(Editor’s Notes:  Funky sh*t goes down at The Blue Note at 2:54am….slow rolling funk, bass low, sax and trumpet through the air, reeds squealing in the saxophone.  Amongst the funkiest, Ivan Neville on the Baby Grand to join in on the funk.  Krasno’s fingers are at lightning speed on the neck of the guitar, playing it for all it’s worth, Nikki going sick on the drums.)

I have no words.  The whole evening was like slow foreplay until The Blue Note’s explosion at 3am.  I’m still recovering.

photo by: Allison Murphy

22nd Annual Xmas Jam – TOP TEN

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My Top 10 highlights of the 22nd Annual Christmas Jam in Asheville, NC.

10.  The Christmas Jam Ale was delicious going down.  But it crushed me the next morning.

9.  Dirty Dozen Brass Band opening the Pre-Jam, and setting the tone for the whole weekend.

8.  New band The Last Straw from Nashville TN.  Rocking southern sound, and wonderful nice people.  Can’t wait to see them in NYC!

7.  The Satellite Gallery showcasing incredible photos from Allison Murphy, Danny Clinch (this one being my favorite), David Oppenheimer, Dino Perrucci, Don Van Cleave, Jay Blakesberg, Kirk West, Stewart O’Shields.
Poster Art By: Eugene Serebrennikov (Hyp_inc), Gary Houston, Jeff Troldahl, Steve Johannsen & More

6.  Standing next to Artemis Pyle at the Emerald Lounge – no more than 5 feet from him.  Wow.

5.  VIP tickets for Christmas Jam allowing us to get into the Pre-Jam at the Orange Peel, and extra amenities at the Christmas Jam.  They fed me, and they had a separate bar line (albeit always very long), coat check and private bathrooms.

4.  Steve Miller, a cappella and Carlos Reyes on harp.  Song dedicated to Les Paul.  Breathtaking, goosebumps.

3.  The Warren Haynes Band. No words.  Seriously.  Highlight: Sneakin’ Sally through the Alley

2.  Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes, acoustic, playing Melissa at the Pre-Jam.  Brought me to new heights.

1.  The Players:  Warren Haynes, Ruthie Foster, Ivan Neville, Ron Holloway, Ron Johnson, Terrence Higgins, Kevn Kinney, Audley Freed, Gregg Allman, Steve Miller, John Bell, JoJo Hermann, Umphree’s McGee, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Cody Dickinson and so many more…

Wanee Festival, Day 3 – Saturday, April 16

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Ed note:  If you haven’t read Day 1 or Day 2 before Day 3, you should start there.


Lost Vortex #3: You knew it was coming, right?  Things happen in threes.  Sunglasses.  Gone.  Sheesh.

Back to camp, hangin’ with the camp family with coffee in hand, we hear flute sounds coming from the Peach Stage.  10:30 am, it was time to boogie.  I went down to see the goings on with my girl.  Her brother was playing with the Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio this morning, and we wanted to get up there and see the music.  The Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio was lovely morning music, nice and jazzy with shredding rock, a flute here and there, keys, killer.  Yep, just beautiful.  After the show, we were told that Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings were stranded in Iceland because of the volcanic ash, so they were gonna re-jigger the schedule around and there would be a jam session before Johnny Winter.  I laughed out loud, I love Wanee impromptu jams, they are so sweet… heh, we are in for a treat later today.

Spirit of the Suwanee Magical Moment: I asked my friend to call my phone, one last time, maybe someone will pick up?  She looked at me crazy but appeased me.  The next thing I know she’s saying “Hello?  Hello?”  The person on the other side says, “Wow, I just turned the phone on this second and it rang.”  Yes, that is what I’m saying…magical.  He found it in another campsite, in the dirt, two days ago.  Wow.

Went back to the campsite, chilled with my camp family and waited for Dr. John. The Peach Stage and the Mushroom Stage’s schedules had slipped because Sharon Jones couldn’t make it, and my timing was getting off.  The dilemma:  Dr. John vs. Robert Randolph vs. Dumpstaphunk.  I decided to go see a bit of Dr. John, then go see Dumpsta, then go see Robert Randolph and the Word.  I was feeling a bit schizophrenic, to be honest.  I had total “I’m gonna miss a really great set” anxiety going on.  I had camera, notebook and earplugs.  I left the camp and started on my journey.

A Family Affair with Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk is on stage.  Wow.  Good lord they threw down.  A Sly set, holy schmoley.  It was a breezy hot afternoon, people were raging out, the sax and the trumpet were loud and strong. Ivan’s keys were screaming, bass low and groovy.  Whooo, out of control funky, and now I can hear The Word with John Medeski, Robert Randolph and the North Mississippi Allstars from the other stage.  So, I decide to run over to the Peach Stage after Everyday People to see Robert and the Word, but still can hear Dumpsta and want to get back there to that crazy rage.  See, schizophrenic.

I did run back to the Dumpsta craziness.  Danced hard, my legs now were beginning to ache, serious ache in my calves, but it didn’t matter, I can’t stand still.  Legs and hips had a mind of their own, cuz this was going DOWN.  One of my personal highlights of the festival.  Phewwwwww.

I went back to my camp for hydration purposes, and could still hear The Word featuring John Medeski, Robert Randolph and North Mississippi Allstars playing from the other stage.  They sounded so sweet, Funk + Southern Rock… Rage.  Yes, it was raging.

So now, the next dilemma I had was The Black Keys vs. The Funky Meters.  Yes, it was getting insane.  So, I decide to get to the hammock and listen to the Funky Groove of the Funky Meters before the Wanee Family Funk Jam that was going on.  And, wow, did it go on.

Wanee Family Funk Jam: If I thought Dumpsta and the Funky Meters brought it in….I was wrong.  I mean, Dumpsta was way insane, way amazing, way fun, but this Funk Jam stuff.  Hot.  Way hot.  Way deep.  Damnnnn.  Let’s see – Dumpstaphunk and The Funky Meters, Cody and Luther Dickinson, Oteil and Kofi Burbridge, JoJo Herman, Bobby Lee Rodgers, Matt Grondin.  Yep, that’s what I’m talking about.

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Dumpstaphunk + Rebirth Brass Band, Highline Ballroom, 4.1.10

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Preshow: Venue: Insane to get in.  Total chaos between the will call line and the line for tickets.  Couldn’t get in, venue staff was less than helpful.  Painful.  Yet, still, my show karma stayed with me, and throughout all the chaos to get into the place, I was able to get settled and find a place before the band went on.  Love that.

Rebirth Brass Band: Now, who doesn’t love a stage full of horns?  Yep. That’s what I’m talking about.  Horns, loud and true.  New Orleans funk was in the house, and they came out like a punch in the face and didn’t stop.  The band is: Phil Frazier - Tuba Keith Frazier - Bass Drum, Derek Shezbie – Trumpet, Glen Andrews – Trumpet, Stafford Agee – Trombone, Corey Henry – Trombone, Derrick Tabb - Snare Drum, Vincent Broussard – Saxophone, Chaderick Honroe – Trumpet.  Whoo.  The house got hot and these guys frikkin wailed it.  The Highline was totally packed, groove was on, people were jammin all around me, and the place was lifted.  The crowd was psyched.  The horns were LOUD and we just started.  Dumpstaphunk hadn’t even shown their faces yet.

Set Break: Saw lots of friends in the house.  People were smiling, or maybe shining was the word.  There was a drop off of crowd during the set break, all the better for me, more room to dance.  So, from being packed with no room to move, I was able to have a little bubble of space to shake my hips.  Fabulous.

Photo by: Karen Dugan

Dumpstaphunk: Um, Ivan Neville.  Rocks.  Highline Ballroom lifted.  Yeah.  Fun.  Way fun.  The word was actually sexual. These guys, especially the bassist, Tony Hall, were dripping pure raw, in your face sexual energy around the Highline and the place got hot.  Like, way hot.  Like, ooh baby oh my my my hot.  Let me see if I can try to recount this.  Lost my pen, couldn’t take any pictures that you can see anything with, and got a set list from my buddy.  Yep, one of THOSE nights.

Photo by: Karen Dugan

Set List: Shake it Off, Neutra Rat, No More Okey Doke, Lt. Dan, We Can Make It If We try –>, Everybody Wants Some, Meanwhile…, Jam, She’s Music, Deeper, Put It In The Dumpsta, Gasman, Nick Daniels Bass Solo, Standing in Yo Stuff

Shake it Off starts out tempered, bouncy, nice.  There was some Sly in the house with We Can Make It If We Try, … seriously, you can’t go wrong with any Sly at all.    The front row got crowded, I got claustrophobic so I started to move around.  Thankfully there was more room to dance, I was floating on the music playing in front of me, and I closed my eyes… put my hair in my face, and just listened, and danced.  Danced Hard.  Ivan Neville gets up from the keyboard and grabs a guitar.  Yep.  Head exploding.

Photo by: Karen Dugan

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Bowlive, Brooklyn Bowl, 3.6.10 w/ Ivan Neville + Robert Randolph + a little Charlie Hunter -updated

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Preshow: First stop was Brooklyn Bowl (again – my 3 night consecutive run at Bowlive even surprised me).  But, as someone said, “They’re soooo good.”  

Line: Long,  House: Packed,  Bar: couldn’t get to,  On Stage: Nigel Hall on keys.

Set 1: Soulive (Eric Krasno, guitar; Neal Evans, keys; Alan Evans, drums).

Ivan Neville on keys

Set 2: Soulive with 3 horns.  Ivan Neville shows up with another saxophonist.  Rage continued.  Nigel and Neal were dancing with each other on one set of keyboards,  Nigel’s left hand, Neal’s right hand –switch– Neal’s left hand, Nigel’s right hand.  Wild, I can’t even describe it properly. I need to link to something to show what was going on. Here’s a link to see the dancing… its better than trying to describe it (a picture is a thousand words and all that).   The energy was electric, and was sizzling through the Brooklyn Bowl.  It was only 11pm.

Setbreak: longer than the usual 15 minutes.  My friend started to shake and she said, eyes bugged out, “Oh my god, I just saw Robert Randolph.”  I looked on stage, damned if I didn’t see a steel guitar up there.

Set 3: Robert Randolph and Soulive go absolutely nuts.  Robert is a trip, his energy is so high, the roof was blown off the Brooklyn Bowl once again.  Pure power, pure funky guitar riffs, crazy keys and incredible beats.  We were on that “driving the one beat” train right into the ground.  It was intense.  Intense.

Robert Randolph walked in for a bit

Set 4: I can’t remember if there was a 4th set.  It all merged together at this point.  The music lifted the Bowl and everyone in it a little bit higher.  The stage was packed, 4 horns, 1 drummer, I conga player, Robert Randolph on steel guitar, cranking it out, lifiting that steel with his knee almost off the stage, Ivan Neville on vocals, then he moved to the keyboard on my side of the stage.  Bass keys and more from Neal, Nigel on vocals.  Insanity reigns at Bowlive.

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