Reviews
“The older the song, the harder they slam” –Vince Herman
For the first time since Yonder Mountain String Band took up residence at The Boulder Theater for its holiday run (in 2011), the band decided to play three sets for New Year’s Eve. Each set had its own motif, but all three were governed by the same primary theme. When it initially hit the stage, the quintet played an hour of buoyant, uplifting songs that were singed with beauty.
This past Friday, Philadelphia’s kings of trance-fusion The Disco Biscuits made their triumphant return to the Windy City, delivering a two-night holiday run at Concord Music Hall that marked some of their most well-rounded, creative shows seen in quite some time.
We like to think of ourselves as intellectually superior beings. I am speaking of the jamband fan of course; but based on my observation, I am sure you already assumed that. We like to think of ourselves as intellectually superior, and we talk out of both sides of our mouth in doing so. We promote inner balance and are renowned for drug use. We promote originality, but foam at the mouth at a song played every 3rd show on summer tour for 30 years. We liken our musical preferences to art at its highest and we ignore anything that the masses have given the same validation.
Stuck somewhere between obscure, psychedelic Frank Zappa B-sides and the soundtracks to retro Sega Genesis videogames you’ll find the ultra-versatile, moog-driven sounds of Northeast-based jam quartet Dopapod. Between the recent release of their fourth studio effort Never Odd or Even, and an extensive collection of East Coast and Midwest dates alongside the incomparable Umphrey’s McGee, it’s clear the future is looking exceedingly bright for the progressive dance-rock group.
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, long known for their rock’em sock’em live shows, are the latest group to tap into their vast vault of concert recordings for official release. They launched the series, dubbed Vaulturnal, with the release of a complete headlining show recorded at the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, MA on the night of Aug. 19, 2013.
Bluegrass singer/songwriter Peter Rowan makes his way around the whole United States performing intimate gigs and festival headliners on a regular basis. Rowan is generally touring with multiple different projects at once and in the studio. He’s released four original albums since 2010 including with his bluegrass band, his Twang an’ Groove project and solo. The bluegrass icon began his career in 1965 when he was hired by founding father of bluegrass Bill Monroe into his Bluegrass Boys band.
As a high school student in Des Moines, Iowa during the early 90s it was difficult to hear about new or good music. The internet as we know it today did not exist yet and therefore the only way to learn about such things was via print, commercial radio, or word of mouth; most all of which only focused on popular or classic music. You can only turn on the radio so many times and hear the same crap before you get jaded. Around my sophomore year a friend obtained a copy and played for me an album by this roots-rock-reggae act from Colorado called
One of Denver's newest and hottest bands ATOMGA headlined their first big show at the Gothic Theater a couple of weeks ago with Supercollider, The Abstract Collective, and Contraband. “The backstage area was as full as it has ever gotten due to the number of musicians in each band,” said percussionist Jared Fischer. This was a party! The night before Thanksgiving has traditionally been a night where many reunite and celebrate and give thanks. This night was no different.
After a long five weeks on the road through the mid and northwest, Drew McManus (guitar and vocals) and David Cleaves (mandolin) finished their tour in their second home and the place where they recorded their last album, In Between the Blinks. This dedicated duo are some of the nicest people you will find. They are teachers, poets, and storytellers. Their music is deeply rooted in acoustic roots/reggae music or what they call Rocky Mountain Reggae. Their lyrics and messages are spiritual and world conscious.
