Preshow: Got to the Bowl a little late – it was a snowy day in NYC, perfect for lounging, horrible for motivation. I had also been out late the night before, seeing the Drive By Truckers at The Capitol Theater, and then late night at B. B. King’s to see Berry Oakley Jr. Tired indeed – yet one happy lady.
Opener – Alecia Chakour Band: I missed the whole set except the last song. She blows me away everytime I see her.
Bottom line is: The Alecia Chakour Band is one you must go see. Alecia’s voice is, well, just incredible. See Chakour with The Warren Haynes Band for a sample, find The Alecia Chakour Band for a full show. Trust me on this, she is amazing, Neal Evans is on keys, there is a plethora of horns and it is just a great band, great lyrics, great vocals. Yum.
Setbreak: The usual – bathroom break, try to get to the bar and get a drink, find a place to settle in, say hi to the Bowl Family. Check out the sold out crowd.
Random Thought: The Bowl was amped. You could feel the electricity in the air. People were psyched, and since it was St. Patrick’s day weekend, it has an extra special twinge of Party on this closing night of Bowlive. I saw a bridal party, complete with bride and groom come in and celebrate..kind of a cool after party show, Bowlive IV!
Set 1: Soulive w/ The Shady Horns & The London Souls
It was great to see Soulive up there, doing their thing, seemingly relishing the last night of Bowlive IV. Soulive is a strong band, they get fuller, stronger, funkier when there are horns. The Shady Horns including James Casey (sax, Trey Anastasio Band), Eric Bloom (trumpet), Ryan Zoidis (sax, Lettuce) with special guest Cheme Gastelum (sax/flute, Dap Kings). Again, you can’t go wrong with horns on the stage. Ever. They hit their staple songs, “Uncle Junior,” the Beatles’ “Come Together,” and the low/funky tune, “One in Seven.”
The London Souls also got up there and played the last couple songs of the set. The lead guitarist, Tash Neal, was in a pretty serious accident last year, but no one would have guessed by seeing him play on Saturday night. I heard the same thing about them about Friday night’s Bowlive – they crushed it. I’ve always liked these guys – check out my old Bowlive reviews.
Photo by: Jen Bernstein
Random Thoughts: Sirius XM was broadcasting from Bowlive for their Jam On station and I saw fellow press people Scott Bernstein, editor, Glide Magazine/Hidden Track; Jen Bernstein (no relation), editor, High Times and Ari Fink and Steve Brandano from Sirius. The booth looked like it was a party in amongst itself. Continue reading →
I covered Bowlive IV, night 3 for TheRoyal Family Records. My recap was on Brooklyn Bowl’s site and The Royal Family’s site, so that was cool. Here’s the words below. -M
Bowlive IV #3 Recap w/ Nigel Hall, James Casey, Igmar Thomas, and More : Tuesday’s 3/12 show w/ Booker T Jones & More
Bowlive alum Alecia Chakour Band opened the evening on this Bowlive Night 3. Chakour had her own special guests, the stage was filled with musicians including Cochemea “Cheme” Gastelum (sax, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings) and Igmar Thomas (trumpet.) Chakour’s vocals got the crowd ready for what was about to happen this evening.
By the time Soulive took the stage, it was a little after 10pm, the sold out crowd loosened up with a funky, ten minute “Steppin.” Kraz starts to soulfully play The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” before the stage erupts from Neal Evans’ keyboards. During Kraz’s shredding solo, the audience were singing “All the lonely people” to the band. What a moment!
Special guests James Casey (sax, Lettuce/Trey Anastasio Band), and Igmar Thomas, (trumpet) both from Bowlive’s past, joined the stage for “Lenny” and “Vapor”, where on Thomas was literally smoking his trumpet. No Joke.
DJ Logic then joined the stage and spinned with Soulive on “Tuesday.” Nigel Hall then came out to end the set, and played keys with Neal. It was more like a Nigel/Neal keyboard showdown. At first there were three hands on the keys, and that went into a dance, where Nigel and Neal switch sides with each other at the keyboard. I thought I saw Nikki Glaspie (drums, Dumpstaphunk) peeking behind James Casey and Igmar Thomas with a tambourine in her hand. The whole band was smiling, the crowd was smiling, it felt like family. Someone told me it felt like home. It was certainly beginning to feel that way.
Just when you thought it was setbreak, Alecia Chakour comes back on the stage to sing duet with Nigel. If you haven’t seen them before, Alecia can sing exactly, on Nigel’s level with her heavy duty pipes and her vixen voice. At one point, Nigel gets on his knees and sings to Alecia, like he’s begging, the crowd goes nuts, the moment had finally arrived at the Bowl. This was the quintessential Royal Family Records/Bowlive magic that has become commonplace here in Brooklyn in March. Continue reading →
I tried to write the week down and, I got up to the second day of the cruise. Jam Cruise is one of those experiences that is hard to write about. It is one part “vacation on a cruise ship,” plus one part mindblowingly wonderful music, plus one part sharing the boat with the funniest and most friendliest people. You make friends from second to second, laugh for 5 whole days and dance the night away. You stop at ports and play kickball or work/donate your time to worthy causes in beautiful islands, dive or rent boats, or you just suntan yourself on the beach, feet in the sand.
This experience is, for me and those who board the ship, bliss and contentment. It is quite beautiful to experience, and share.
Being my first Jazz Fest, and taking a crazy roadtrip from NYC to NOLA a day before the second weekend, needless to say, I was blown away. The Fairgrounds were during the day, including 8 or 9 music tents, not to mention the food at the stands.
It was hot and sweaty and it felt like “it-doesn’t-matter-cuz-we’re-in-New-Orleans-for-Jazz-Fest” fun. The late night shows were, hot and sweaty and oh my lord! crazy – we are in NOLA, in the town that doesn’t sleep, the Big Easy showing me how Easy it really is down south, and the music, the jams, the funk/jazz/in your face horns dancing music. Yeah. Wow.
Standouts: New Mastersounds at HOB, Neville Brothers closing out the Festival, Bruce Hornsby during the day, Dr. John, Warren Haynes Band at the fairgrounds, Warren Haynes playing with 7 Walkers the first night I went out, getting into a cab where it spits out soda cans in the back seat, the coffee from Cafe DuMonde, and the beignets, the cochon de lait, crawfish monica and the fried green tomatoes, the crawfish boil, seeing random buddies from NYC at 6am, feeling at home there. Oh, I want to go back this year badly. That was crazy fun!
It was my first time at Bear Creek, and the beloved venue, Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park, was welcoming, open and magical for another throwdown of a party filled with music, funk, fun, dancing and laughing. Although those who have been for years say its called “Brrrr Creek” due to the weather, we happened to be lucky this year. It was not too cold. Or, maybe it wasn’t too cold for me as I live in NYC, and Bear Creek is in Florida. Those southerners have thinner blood than I do.
Hidden away upstate New York, almost on the border of Pennsylvania is a little known festival called Catskill Chill. Well, perhaps the secret is out, as tickets were sold out this year, and cabins are already sold out for next year. Besides the tornado warning and the septic backup, no one cared about anything but the chill atmosphere and the great music. My full review is here at Relix.
I have listened to Pat Metheny since my early college days – and this man schooled me on experimental jazz. I try to catch him every time he comes through NYC. This time he came to town with an incredible small trio including a monster drummer named Antonio Sanchez, Chris Potter on sax and bass clarinet, and Ben Williams on bass.
I admittedly love everything Metheny puts out, so every song that was played was an awe-inspiring moment for me, but the crux of the show was when Metheny played solo, improv with his Orchestrion, and then his band also played improv with the Orchestrion. It was incredibly moving to me, and I floated for a few days after that.
Chad Batka for The New York Times
Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Oh. What to say about this. I have heard from the nay-sayers, and I have to disagree. Young and Crazy Horse on the stage again was magical to me. They played with feedback through the speakers, loudly – cuz that’s what Crazy Horse does. The crowd at MSG would not stand up, oddly enough. They played most of his new stuff, not the old stuff, and not even a Cortez was played for me. (My favorite all time song.)
However, Young and Crazy Horse still brought it, with strange stage hands dressed as construction workers and all. Cinnamon Girl, Needle and the Damage Done, Hey Hey, My My and Powderfinger was enough to make me swoon. It was one of those shows where I was just so happy and felt so lucky to be in the same room with him, to hear him sing and play guitar.
Yeah, nothing much to say about this show except it rocked me from the minute it started to the minute it ended. I literally was shaking in anticipation and excitement. Oh yeah, these guys still have it. And bring it to you in spades. Our special guests that night were Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Gary Clarke Jr., Black Keys and Mick Taylor. Sick. Absolutely Sick show. If they go on tour in 2013, pay the ridiculous cost and see them. You won’t be disappointed at all.
This was two very moving shows at the 92Y. Andras Schiff playing both books of The Well Tempered Clavier. Bach wrote them as musical exercises from each major and minor key of every note in the chromatic scale. It was amazing to see this pianist play both shows without the pedal, and without the written piece in front of him. Schiff played both books from memory. It was beautiful, and very cool to hear the different keys being played. I loved it. It was incredibly special.
We walked into the Brooklyn Bowl where there were large signs stating that tonight’s concert was being taped and by being there we could be on TV.
The Concert lasted about 2 hours and 30 minutes, and Aaron Neville sang many doo-wop songs. From what we learned on Wednesday, Neville can do doo-wop. Well. Really well.
This concert was the actual live filming for Aaron Neville’s upcoming PBS special, produced by Keith Richards and Don Was. This show also promoted his upcoming Doo-wop album coming out in January. If it is any indication of what I saw on Wednesday, I can’t wait to purchase it.
Neville singing, known for his sweet harmonic voice, shouldn’t have been a surprise when he was harmonizing with Joan Osborne, or Paul Simon. But it was. The specialness of being at such an intimate setting as The Brooklyn Bowl with two incredible icons like Neville and Simon. It gives me goosebumps as I write this.
Mr. Neville looked sharp up there, in his suit, with his brother Charles next to him on sax, and a plethora of talent behind him. The formality of the show was not lost on me. Joan Osborne looked like she was in awe of Mr. Neville as she dueted with him. Paul Simon and Neville sat on stools, both dressed with fedoras as they played an acoustic We Belong Together, an old Ritchie Valens song.
Even though the house lights were on the whole time, and the crowd itself was an odd mix of NOLA fans, and Doo-Wop fans, it was still one of the most special shows I’ve seen all year. The intimacy of a packed Brooklyn Bowl was also juxtaposed against the all kinds of aged crowd, and the immense amount of talent on the stage… it was, for me, overwhelmingly mind-blowing. At times, it brought me back to this year’s NOLA Jazz Fest, my first Jazz Fest, and the tears that streamed down my face when Neville sang Amazing Grace, the last song at the Fairgrounds.
Neville played some favorites too, like a hair raising Hercules, ending the set with his , Tell It Like It Is. @WebVixenNYC grabbed a set list – grateful for your set list snag!
The band members on the stage behind Neville were, Greg Leisz on guitar, (Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams), George G. Receli on drums (Bob Dylan, James Brown), Tony Scherr on bass (Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, Rufus Wainwright), brother Charles Neville on saxophone (Neville Brothers). Also featuring Michael Goods on organ/piano and Joel Katz, David Johnson and Earl Smith, Jr. on background vocals. Special guests including Eugene Pitt of the Jive Five (who co-wrote the album’s title song), and Dickie Harmon from the Del-Vikings, Joan Osborne and Paul Simon.
Again… goosebumps all over my body. Thank you, Mr. Neville… thank you.
I woke up and hung with my camp family while some people trekked up to the Peach Stage for Bruce Hornsby. Even in camp I could hear Bruce playing a soulful tribute to Levon Helm with “The Night They Drove ‘Ole Dixie Down” and “Ride That Train”. It gave me the chills and I wasn’t near the stage. My friends told me it blew them away.
I do finally motivate around 1:30 to go see Buddy Guy. On a hot afternoon, the sun beams down on the field and my notes go something like this: playing with one had, keyboardist explosion, deep southern groove, Buddy is BAD.
Yes, Buddy is bad singing “Nobody Loves Me but my Guitar,” and then he stops and banters with the crowd. “Wait a minute, wait a minute. Ya’ll brought me here to sing the blues, we will not disappoint!” He goes into “Hoochie Coochie Man” and then stops again to scream at the crowd. “I was in India, and even they didn’t f*ck up the words like yall have.” Yep, Buddy Guy is a character – but can belt the blues like nobody’s business.
Then he does this bit where he leans on the speaker, turns the guitar around and sings this song where he plays a lick with his belly – or more to the point – his man parts. Uh huh. Seriously.
Then I move over to the mushroom stage to hear Mickey Hart’s new band that I had been hearing really great things about. I wanted to hear it for myself. The crowd goes wild on the first song, Not Fade Away, and the female singer, Crystal Monee Hall, brings a nice feminine voice to the mix. Dave Schools (Widespread Panic) is on base and then we go into some of Mickey’s new songs from his latest album, Mysterium Tremendum.I can honestly say this was the set that blew me away with new sounds, great jams and hard hitting percussion and bass. Some new music that really blew me away with its experimental groovy danceable jams. The third song began sounding reminiscent of early Pink Floyd with a bit of space and drums mixed in. The jams were hot and new and fresh. I can’t wait to see them again.
SET LIST: Not Fade Away >, Let There Be Light, Time Never Ends > Who Stole The Show?, Starlight Starbright, Cut The Deck > Bertha >, Supersonic > jam >, Fire on the Mountain
photo by: Shelly Smith
I then move back to the Peach Stage to see Tedeschi Trucks Band. If you know me at all, you know I’m a huge Derek Trucks fan. No, I was not disappointed at this set. They are greeted by a loving crowd. Tedeschi sings the first note of the first song and the audience is captivated. The sun beams down on the field, Susan Tedeschi banters with Derek Trucks’ guitar. The horn section is tight and sharp.
A few songs from Trucks’ old band, Derek Trucks Band were dusted off with “I Know” with Matt Mattson singing. It was a strong rendition, with a B3 keys explosion from Kofi Burbridge, and a just a tiny bit of shredding from Derek Trucks.
“Love Has Something Else to Say” was changed up a bit, there was a sick trumpet groove by DeShawn Ross, Oteil Burbridge, bass, was squirming in the background, hitting the sickest bass groove.
I then found some food while they played “Midnight in Harlem.” Derek noodled for a bit while I was on the ticket line, and then they began the song. Derek and Kofi start off the song sultry and soft. It is a beautiful song, Susan sings it perfectly – there is no one else out there with her type of voice. It was chillingly beautiful. And it was silent during Trucks’ solo. A field of 20,000 people, silent. He shreds that guitar to a silent crowd. Wow.
The second DTB song was Majoun, with its soft and dreamy bantering flute and guitar also kept me swaying in the crowd. Full set list below:
Don’t Let Me Slide, I Know, Love Has Something Else To Say, Midnight In Harlem, Down Don’t Bother Me / Band intros, Lord Protect My Child, Nobody’s Free, That Did It, Mahjoun > bass > drums, Darlin’ Be Home Soon >, Bound For Glory
I needed a break after that one; needed some food, more drink, and a rest back at camp. On the way back to the site I heard Bonerama from the Mushroom stage. A little bit later I heard Furthur begin to play. I sat in a chair at camp (home), and listened to both bands play. Continue reading →
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.
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?!?!
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
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
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
11/28/12
