The birth of this music blog began four years ago, at the first Bowlive, Soulive’s yearly residency at The Brooklyn Bowl. The Bowl had also just opened their doors around that time, and it seemed that View Skewed and Brooklyn Bowl has grown leaps and bounds since that time.
Brooklyn Bowl has become one of the top 10 destinations in NYC, and opening locations in Las Vegas and London. View Skewed has been writing for such great publications like Jambands.com, Relix.com and now for The Capitol Theatre. It is fitting that View Skewed returns to our roots by covering Bowlive IV. The reviews of the first Bowlive shows, if your interested, for shits and giggles….
NIGHT 1 Highlights: (set lists below) The Bowl was packed, Kung Fu opened, with their amazing 100% in your face jazz/funk fusion fury. Night 1 special guests were John Popper, from Blues Traveler, and Luther & Cody Dickinson, with an unannounced appearance from Tedeschi and Trucks Band trombonist, Saunders Sermons.
NIGHT 1 Scene: John Popper, special guest
Packed Bowl. Packed for a Thursday, the most packed first night of Bowlive I’ve seen in the four years. Soulive played first set and then brought out John Popper. Popper sounds gooood, he looks good, and he sounded powerful and strong when he sang his tune, “Mulling it Over.” His signature voice sounds sweet yet tough, and it was great to see him up there. It’s always a treat for me to see Popper.
It was all southern twang style with Luther and Kraz going tit for tat against each other, and Cody was playing some electronic drum next to Neal Evans’ keyboard rig. Then Cody put on his infamous electronic washboard, and made those odd yet fun swishing sounds that I have come to love from the North Mississippi Allstars. I turned to my friend and said, “This makes me feel like Wanee is close.” Indeed, The Wanee Festival is about a month away. Saunders Sermon strolled on stage to finish the last couple of songs with Soulive and The Dickinson Brothers.They played long on the first night, since DJ Questo couldn’t make his Bowltrain set, and we danced until around 1:15pm on a Thursday evening in Brooklyn.
Night 2
Pre-Show: Line to get in, packed house, people milling around for Sister Sparrow. We got our drink, we said hello to some people, we found our spot near the stage, and watched the opening set. Continue reading →
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!
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.
[Ed note: I have been lax in my habit of coming home and writing about every show I see. Very lax. That seemed to happen for only a few months in the beginning of this journey, but now it seems to be harder to do every show I see, (yes, I know - crybaby cry...) I will try to sum up what's been going on in NYC on these dreary wintery nights, where the snow piled high on cement streets, freezing cold winds slapping in my face.... Oh, whilst in the depths of winter, music will warm my bones...]
Bernie Worell, The Bitter End
That Bernie Worrell show with his whacked out jacket, jammin hard with a stage full’a fellas, Will Bernard, 2 saxs, great drummer, trumpet player from PFunk, in the tiny Bitter End club.
Umphree's McGee, Brooklyn Bowl
Umphree’s McGee and all their lightshow bonanza at the Brooklyn Bowl, phewwweee! That was great fun, and their lights made the Brooklyn Bowl sparkle, there was a haze on the mirrored dance ball over the dance floor. It was wild, they sounded great, the crowd was psyched and ready to roll with UMG’s surprise Monday night show.
Funky Meters, Brooklyn Bowl
Nigel Hall‘s, vocals/piano, Residency last Wednesday at the Rockwood with all the Royal Family members in the house and then to Brooklyn Bowl to see the funky Meters play with Brian Stoltz, Art Neville, Russell Batiste and George Porter, Jr., the late night at Bembe with some tasty DJ licks by Nutritious, where the night came full circle when Nigel Hall comes to bang on some congas and dance the night away. Did I say this was a Wednesday…
The insane late night rage at the Blue Note with Sam Kininger, Sax that I wrote about here.
Dr. John, Maceo Parker, Eric Krazno, Photo by Allison Murphy
The killer Soul II Soul Benefit at Brooklyn Bowl with Nigel Hall and the Royal Family folks with Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley. Horns in the HOUSE. Dr. John on keys. Good lord. Insanity. Listen here at Archive:
Photo by Robyn Gould
The night at The Beacon Theater with the gorgeous Dickinson Brothers, Cody (drums), and Luther (guitar) opening for Robert Plant’s Band of Joy. WOW. First off, the Dickinson Brothers (North Mississippi Allstars), wailed incredibly tight jams my ears couldn’t believe at times that there was only two instruments on the stage. Then Robert Plant and the Band of Joy, his new band. Really great to see Robert in the flesh, dancing and singing perfectly. Voice sounds great, the band is filled with string instruments and great singers. Sweetness.
It was an exceptional year for live music. I am lucky enough to live in a city where music is a part of the lifeline, like matzoh ball soup and a good reuben, as much as we love to hate our mayor, and collective groans when the MTA hikes their fares. Here is to 2010. May we all have a healthy, prosperous and musically exceptional new year!
This show could easily have been the best show of the year.
After almost a week, I believe I have processed this show enough to write my own notes. I have floated all week from this gig, and many of my friends have also experienced the same. Chad Berndtson has written two great write-ups for Glide Magazine, and Jambands also has reviewed the show. I will try not to replicate, but put my own skewed view on it.
For a Southern Rock lover, this whole show was bliss. From Warren’s first line, “Thanks for being part of this special night, we really appreciate it.” to the ending song by the Allman’s (Wish You Were Here), the place stood on their feet for six hours and we all lifted off the ground a few feet. The ticket was pricey ($117 from Ticketmaster), but it was worth it. Here are my own personal highlights, and why…
The line up consisted of:
7:45 pm Set 1: Warren Haynes Acoustic(Warren Haynes, Edwin McCain & Kevin Kinney):
Edwin McCain on vocals during the second song, The Lucky One, literally made tears form in my eyes, the lyrics tugged at my heartstrings… seriously. I knew we were in for a show, we were no more than 10 minutes in and here I was… moved to tears and goosebumps already. They end with I Shall Be Released which was àpropos since Edwin McCain sounded (to my ears) very Dylan-esque. What a beautiful acoustic way to slide into this night’s magical soundtrack.
photo by: Dino Perrucci
8:15/8:30 pm Set 2: The North Mississippi Allstars(Luther Dickinson (guitar, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, electric washboard) with special guests: Gordie Johnson)
They came out like a bat outta hell, raging on those guitars. They sounded crisp and clear, and they looked like they were having a blast. These guys are so fun, they have that beautiful twang of the guitar that makes me melt. Slowing down for a second after the first 3 or 4 songs with Glory Glory, then bringing up Gordie Johnson for Po Black Maddie, this set really set the tone. Shake up the audience a bit with nice lookin’ men up there with their twangy, slidy, southern guitars. Mmhmm… The Roseland was lifting higher to the stratosphere…
photo by Allison Murphy
9ish Set 3: Gov’t Mule (Warren Haynes (guitar), Matt Abts (drums), Jorgen Carlsson (bass), Danny Louis (keys, trumpet) with special guests: Gordie Johnson, Jim Loughlin, Vinnie Amico, Chuck Garvey, Hook Herrera, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Artemis Pyle, Rich Robinson, Robert Kearns, Audley Freed, Savannah Woody
If you know me at all, you know I’m a Mulehead. So, obviously, I was in heaven the minute these guys took the stage. But a few songs standout to me, and the only way I know this is because I’ve put these selects on repeat on my iPod since the show ended.
Gov’t Mule Highlights: Simple Man, Soulshine, Dear Prudence, 32/20 Blues
Um, 32/20 was incredible, harmonica by Hook Herrera, Luther Dickinson on guitar, Cody Dickinson on some sort of washboard instrument around his neck. The music was coming at you in 100 mph speeds…
Dear Prudence was killer with moe. guitarist Chuck Garvey joining in on the fun.
But for me, the one that blew me away…. Simple Man with Skynyrd’s Artemis Pyle and Robert Kearns … holy hell, my head exploded, heaven…seriously…no words. Look below for the video. Good lord.
Then Soulshine with Woody’s beautiful daughter singing with Warren. Savannah Woody’s voice is sweet and angelic, she seemed a little shy up there, but all the musicians around her on stage were propping her up, you could feel the love on the stage, from the audience and back again. She stood up there, and Artemis ran up to her with a tambourine. This song with Savannah – again it was a goosebump moment…. Breathtaking.
photo by: Dino Perrucci
11:45ish – Allman Brothers Band (Gregg Allman (vocals, keys), Warren Haynes (guitar), Derek Trucks (guitar), Oteil Burbridge (bass), Butch Trucks (drums), Jai “Jaimoe” Johanson (drums, percussion), Marc Quiñones (drums, percussion, background vocals) with special guests: Hook Herrera, Berry Oakley Jr., Rich Robinson, Audley Freed, Danny Louis, Chuck Garvey, Vinnie Amico, James Van de Bogard, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Gordie Johnson, Matt Abts
After a loooong set break, setting up for the last set, we got started probably sometime around the midnight hour with ABB in all their guitar glory.
Allman Brothers Highlights: Black Hearted Woman/Other One Jam, Southbound, Whipping Post
My personal “woohoo” ABB moments: (1): Jorgen Carlsson making eye contact with me at the bar, after he checked out my chest/Dose symbol t-shirt. (2): Being so close to the stage that I made eye contact with Derek Trucks. I am sure he was making eyes at me (hah!)
My feet were killing by this point. Standing since 7pm by midnight my dogs were barking. However, you endure amazing things while under the influence of incredible music.
Black Hearted Woman/Other One Jam was incredibly fast, loud, shredding glorious guitar banter. Oteil dancing, turning his back to the audience, the whole stage jamming hard, fast, greatness. Almost 13 minutes of tasty licks. Yeah the boys are in town, and making a raucous about it.
Southbound was a guitar lovers feast, while Warren and Derek play tit for tat with each other. Two mindblowing guitarists, trying to up each other with their licks. Hook Herrera on harmonica brings this baby up another 10 notches. Good frikkin lord, hot stuff, so hot.
At 1:30, I was willing to sacrifice what I would miss, unbelievably, as I made my way towards the door. Right then, Whipping Post came on, and I couldn’t leave. Derek Trucks wailed on that guitar, and it was the perfect way to end a perfect evening. Close to 2am, floating out of the Roseland, I was grateful to be there and experience, speechless for days, and riding high on the whispers of southern guitars raging in my head.
NIGHT 1 Highlights: (set lists below)
Second Set: Luther and Cody Dickinson, special guests
