BOWLIVE III: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?!?!
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.
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
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
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!
photo by: Karen Dugan
10. Scofield, w/ Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez, Blue Note, May 2010
9. Jorma Kaukonen, Iridium, May 2010
7. Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble – birthday evening, August 2010
6. Gov’t Mule, PC Richards Theater, August 2010
photo by: Robyn Gould
5. Roger Waters, The Wall, MSG October 2010
4. The Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band, Wanee April 2010
3. Jimmy Herring, Lenny White, Richie Goods Iridium, August 2010
2. Pat Metheny Orchestrion, May 2010
1. Another One for Woody, November 2010
Runners Up (I couldn’t fit them all in the Top 10):
Ed note: I truly have no words. This was an extremely special night for me to witness. Place was standing room only. I met my hero, and said hello, and got a picture of him.
I have never seen any of these guys live. I was so excited all day, I couldn’t focus. The place was packed – standing room only. We were the lucky few to have been there, and I believe we all knew it.
It was the best eight song jam session I’d ever been too. Chick Corea. John Scofield with Paul Motian on drums. Eddie Gomez scatted on the bass, and he took a bow out and played a bit of classical bass. “Bowin’ the bass.” It was wild, beautiful, incredible.
Chick Corea has been doing a 2 week Tribute to the memory of Bill Evans at The Blue Note Jazz Club. When they played, it was like Chick and John were talking to each other with their instruments. It was like I was overhearing a secret between them all. Way intimate, way beautiful.
John Scofield played like a master. His facial expressions while playing are priceless. I love watching musicians sing their songs, lipsyncing their parts, and John’s face is entertaining, to say the least.
A cool interview with the band after the show can be found here: From Soundcloud.
Ed note: I met him, John Scofield. I told him how much I loved his music. He said, “wow, girl fans… I usually have more guy fans.” Yeah, well… I know talent when I hear it. I want to play the guitar now, I want to pluck those strings like he does. But I never will be able to, so I’ll let the professionals play for me. I’ll just listen. And float. I floated for days after this gig. Wow.
I have to admit, I’m not a huge moe. fan. But, I know the music well enough and know the vibe of the tribe well enough to know I’d have fun. And fun, yes, was had.
I walked in to the Roseland knowing I had missed the first couple of songs already. I was watching the set list being tweeted to me by friends inside, and I looked up at the stage to see the boys all dressed up in suits and ties. I found out later this could have been for their 20th year playing in NYC.
I handed my ticket to the lady to scan and I noted the posting above her that said, “No Smoking Allowed.” I said, “hmm, no smoking, eh? Smells like funky smoke in here.” She laughed and scanned me in. Ah hah, nice Roseland.
Went to get a drink and find a place to call “home”. I noticed the tapers and smiled – ah, something about seeing microphones at a show makes me happy. Continue reading
