Life is Music™

Together for their first shows since the Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis last year, The Jayhawks reunited for a long awaited trio of concerts at First Avenue.  The band warmed up for these concerts with an in-store performance at the Electric Fetus record store and a live taping on 89.3 The Current.  After that it was three shows at the infamous First Avenue.

I attended nights one and two.  With the sold out “Rock the Garden” concert keeping the younger crowd busy just across town, the capacity crowd on this Saturday was predominantly middle aged and brimming with energy.  The Brooklyn based duo, KaiserCartel, opened before The Jayhawks finally took stage.  At that time I looked throughout the crowd and saw nothing but smiles.  The band opened with the hit “Wichita” from their classic 1992 record Hollywood Town Hall.  From their they worked through songs from every era of the band before ending the show with a five song encore.

The Jayhawks

Gary Louris

Gary Louris & Mark Olson

The Jayhawks – First Avenue – Saturday, June 19th, 2010

Wichita
Pray For Me
Real Light
Red’s Song
Nothing Left To Borrow
Tomorrow The Green Grass
Let The Critics Wonder
Two Hearts
Settled Down Like Rain
Nevada Ca.
Falling Star
Two Angels
Blue
I’d Run Away
I Don’t Want [Sir Douglas Quintet]
Miss Williams Guitar
Lights
Bad Time
People in This Place on Every Side

Encore:
Waiting For The Sun
Ann Jane
Will I Be Married
Over My Shoulder
Last Cigarette

Sunday night the crowd was more mixed with younger people but the smiles didn’t change.  Once again First Avenue was electric with anticipation for the legendary hometown band.  After local band Strange Lights got things going with a moody rock set, The Jayhawks took the stage with ease and all smiles.  They opened the night with the song “People in This Place on Every Side” from their recently released The Bunkhouse Album.  Once again they worked in their hits including another beautiful version of “Blue”.  That song has never sounded better and will never get old.  They ended the night with a four song encore including an absolute goose-bump inducing “Tampa to Tulsa”.

Each night I witnessed professional musicians at their finest.  The Jayhawks were smooth, playing as though they had never taken a break.  The band didn’t hesitate to call out friends in the crowd making each night feel intimate and fun.  The Jayhawks are an amazing band.  Lets hope that they continue playing together.

Mark Olson & Gary Louris

Gary Louris

Marc Perlman

The Jayhawks

The Jayhawks – First Avenue – Sunday, June 20th, 2010

People in This Place on Every Side
Up Above My Head
Red’s Song
Real Light
Nothing Left To Borrow
Tomorrow the Green Grass
King of Kings
Two Hearts
Clouds Settled Down Like Rain
Someone Will
See Him on the Streets
Blue
I’d Run Away
I Don’t Want [Sir Douglas Quintet]
Miss Williams GuitarLights
Bad Time
Wichita

Encore:
Ain’t No End
Sister Cry
Tampa To Tulsa
Will I Be Married

The Jayhawks – First Avenue – Monday, June 21th, 2010
Wichita
Over My Shoulder
Real Light
Red’s Song
Nothing Left To Borrow
Tomorrow The Green Grass
Let The Critics Wonder
King of Kings
Two Hearts
Settled Down Like Rain
Martin’s Song
Take Me With You When You Go
She’s Not Alone Anymore
Blue
I’d Run Away
Miss Williams Guitar
Lights
Bad Time
People In This Place On Every Side

Encore:
Tampa To Tulsa
Waiting For The Sun
Will I Be Married
Almost Saturday Night* [John Fogerty]

The New Standards know how to play.  Putting a jazz twist on everyday pop songs, this trio of accomplished Minnesota musicians has created a style all their own.  I was quite fortunate to witness their late night set at the wonderful Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, MN on Saturday, June 5th.

With John Munson (formerly of Semisonic & Trip Shakespeare) on upright bass, Chan Poling (formerly of The Suburbs) behind the piano, and Steve Roehm on the vibraphone, The New Standards played an exceptionally entertaining set of pop covers.  The intimate brick lined Dakota Jazz Club was the perfect venue for the near capacity concert.  The crowd listened along with attentive ears and a respectful quietness, although the band’s humor and interesting choice of songs induced chuckles at times.  Britney Spears’ song “Toxic” was my favorite with Steve Roehm taking it out with some very impressive vibraphone work.  Their version of The Clash’s “London Calling” opened my eyes to the song.

Later in the evening, Twin Cities jazz singer Kristin Rooney joined the band for a few songs.  Then the Minneapolis alt-country legend Gary Louris (The Jayhawks) sat in and sung along.  The night ended with a satisfied crowd yelling for more.  Go see this band when they are in your area.  They put on a fantastic show.

Here are a few samples of their music.  More songs and tour dates are available on their website.

Hey Ya (Outcast)
London Calling (The Clash)
Toxic (Britney Spears)

The New Standards

The New Standards

The New Standards

The New Standards with Kristin Mooney & Gary Louris

On Thursday, May 6th, I had the opportunity to photograph the Evik James Band.  Evik James Band is a power pop trio of accomplished musicians based here in Minneapolis.  I had a great time working with them and thankfully the rain held off just long enough to get the job done.  Here are a few of the publicity shots I took for them.

Check the band out at www.evikjamesband.com.

Evik James Band

Evik James Band

Evik James Band

Evik James - guitar & vocals

Trampled by Turtles gets their star

Trampled by Turtles have come a long way.  Knowing this, on Saturday, April 10th, 2010 the management of First Avenue awarded the alt-bluegrassers with their very own star on the infamous exterior wall of the finest rock club in the Midwest.  Later that night singer and guitarist, Dave Simonett, sincerely explained how that was one of the biggest honors to date for the band.

The bluegrass boys from Duluth, MN were in fine form for night two of their album release weekend at First Avenue.  Palomino is the title of the band’s fifth album in six years, and if their live performance of each track  is any indication, it is destined to be one of Trampled by Turtles’ best.

Dave Simonett starts things off with "Wait So Long" from Palomino

After Minneapolis band, A Night in the Box, opened things up, the superb California Americana-playing, Devil Makes Three, kept things rolling with a terrific set of rebel country.  Then as they did the night before, Trampled by Turtles opened their set by playing straight through their new release Palomino.  The crowd attentively bounced along to the new songs before the band finally mixed in older material to take the show out.  That’s when the crowd did its best to rage, but on this night it seemed there wasn’t enough energy to rage.

It was a rather mellow yet nice show, and the band’s version of “Breathe” by Pink Floyd was a fantastic piece of their first encore.  The band ended the night with their raucous hit “Codeine”, from their 2005 release, Blue Sky and the Devil.  The joyful and animated crowd then dissipated, all smiles, into the streets of downtown Minneapolis with appreciation of one of Minnesota’s greatest musical treasures.

Erik Berry on mandolin

Trampled by Turtles

Trampled by Turtles

Brendan Bayliss shines

“I’m just being a representative of the Midwest.”

Brendan Bayliss sings that lyric in the Umphrey’s McGee’s tune, “Slacker”. Yet when it comes to playing shows in the Midwest, Umphrey’s McGee has never slacked. Instead they continuously bring multi-day runs to the heart of their fan base and the fans show up big, oftentimes from all parts of the country. In their fourth year at the best rock club in the Midwest, the prog-rocking powerhouse brought it larger than ever with the inclusion of their newly innovative and wonderfully orchestrated Stew Art series (S2).

In the Stew Art series (named after “Jimmy Stewart” which is what the band calls their improvisational jams), a very limited amount of fans not only get to direct the music the band plays, but there is a question & answer and meet & greet session. I was fortunate to have taken part in this and it was a fantastic experience that I’ll never forget.

On Friday, March 12th, a capacity crowd welcomed the Chicago band with high spirits as Umphrey’s McGee returned to Minneapolis for night one of their three night run at First Avenue. The first set was a good primer for things to come. The second set rocked. And their were still two days left.

Friday, March 15th, 2010 setlist:
Set I:  Spires, “Jimmy Stewart” > Linear > Mulche’s Odyssey, Much Obliged > Hajimemashite > Glory > Hajimemashite, Hurt Bird Bath

Set II:  Professor Wormbog > Booth Love*, Cemetery Walk II > Making Flippy Floppy**, Gulf Stream > Miss Tinkle’s Overture > Masoka Tango > Miss Tinkle’s Overture
Encore:
Got Your Milk (Right Here), Waiting Room

Notes:
* with Get Up, Stand Up jam
** with Can’t You Hear Me Knocking jam

Brendan Bayliss

Umphrey's McGee

Ryan Stasik

Umphrey's Mcgee

Saturday afternoon I was one of fifty people to take part in the Minneapolis edition of the Stew Art series (S2) which the band started last fall in select cities. When we entered First Avenue, the shadowy club was dimly lit and a large projector screen stood upon stands on the main floor. Pizza and refreshments were provided and half an hour later things got started.

The idea behind Stew Art is to give the fans ultimate control over what the band plays. Fans text message ideas to the sound guru, Kevin Browning, who then displays them on the screen for the band to read. The band makes up the music on the spot and plays a few minutes before molding directly into the next idea which is highlighted. Entering (S2), I was a bit skeptical about this process, but Umphrey’s McGee quickly put those thoughts to rest. The precision of how they play while directing each other is nothing short of amazing. The band’s Midwestern humor has always been evident to me, and on this day hilarity oftentimes ensued from the ideas the fans sent in. Imagine for a moment the band playing as Revenge of the Nerds, or guitarist Jake Cinninger making up words to “Divisions” as he sang like Johnny Cash. That’s how things ended, and when it was over, it took a long while before I could wipe the smile off my face.

After a little over an hour of music, the band then stepped onto the floor to talk and sign autographs. It was a nice experience to talk to the band and their crew. Guitarist, Jake Cinninger, summed up the musical energy the band brings to every show. With a goofy smile on his face he illustrated to me how moments of their live shows peak, “It goes to you, it goes to me, it goes to you, it goes to me, it goes to you, it goes to me…..” The band’s openness and sincere appreciation of their fans is something to be admired.

Stew Art (S2)

Stew Art (S2)

Stew Art (S2) - Waful designs #1

Stew Art (S2) - Waful designs #2

Stew Art (S2) - Waful designs #3

Those who attended the Stew Art got to stay in the venue for the night’s show. Doors opened at 6PM and the venue was quick to fill. The band sounded well rested and they brought great energy straight from the start. The first set rocked.   The second set opened with the title track to their spectacular 2009 release, Mantis. The song was huge and from there I knew the second set was going to get heavy.  The band worked into a jazzed up version of “Wappy Spayberry” with the help of Minneapolis  saxophonist, Kevin Sinclair.  “Fussy Dutchman” was excellent before a dark and nasty “Ocean Billy” into “Plunger” mash. This was the best show I witnessed all weekend, and one of my favorite Umphrey’s McGee shows ever.

Saturday, March 13th, 2010 setlist:
Set I:  Prowler > In the Kitchen, Cemetery Walk > Pay the Snucka (parts I & II) > Atmosfarag > Resolution* > In the Kitchen , That’s All > Pay the Snucka (part III)

Set II:  Preamble > Mantis > Wappy Sprayberry^ > Mantis, The Fussy Dutchman, Push the Pig, Steppin’ Razor > Ocean Billy > Plunger > Kula > Plunger > Ocean Billy
Encore:
Alex’s House^, 1348

Notes:
* with Norwegian Wood jam and Rock Your Body (Justin Timberlake) teases
^ with Kevin Sinclair on sax

Brendan Bayliss as yoda

Jake Cinninger

Kris Myers

Joel Cummins

Jake Cinninger shreads

Umphrey's McGee

Sunday, March 14th was the finale of their recent American tour. Minneapolis’ own, Heatbox, opened the show with some funk driven hip-hop. Heatbox is a one-man band minus the tangible instruments. He plays beats and instrumentations with his voice and samples them over before adding lyrics. Umphrey’s McGee joined in for his last tune, and worked straight into “Jazz Odyssey” to start their show as he picked up his gear and left the stage. That’s not a show introduction one often sees.

First Avenue was maybe over two-thirds full leaving ample space to move. This was appreciative on a Sunday night as the band once again rocked for the hard cores. Last year I made some friends at the First Avenue shows. We labeled ourselves the “Circle of Trust” and on this night we returned to the same balcony rail that we met at a year before.

Set one was fun, but set two was powerful. The “Nothing Too Fancy” and “Andy’s Last Beer” mashes got things moving and the wicked “Wizard Burial Ground” encore tore the place down.  This was another terrific show and a great way to end the weekend.

Sunday, March 14th, 2010 setlist:
Set I:  #Jazz Odyssey > Hangover > Wife Soup > The Triple Wide*, Slacker > Dear Lord > Slacker, Rocker (part II) > YYZ > Hangover

Set II:  Nothing Too Fancy > Higgins > Get In the Van > Nothing Too Fancy, Andy’s Last Beer > Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty > Andy’s Last Beer, JaJunk > London Calling > JaJunk
Encore:
Wizard Burial Ground> Made to Measure > Wizard Burial Ground

Notes:
Heatbox opened
# during his closing jam, Heatbox was replaced by Umphrey’s before seguing into Hangover
* with Rhiannon teases

If Umphrey’s McGee can top this weekend in their next Minneapolis run, I’d be a little surprised. But then again nothing this band does should be surprising. After all, it was Sunday night when singer Brendan Bayliss also sang in “Slacker”, “In the end I must confess, you have yet to even witness our best.”

Jake Cinninger

Ryan Stasik

Jake Cinninger

Brendan Bayliss

Brendan Bayliss

Saturday Set Break

Here’s another reason why Umphrey’s McGee treats their fans better than any band in the business.  First it started with incredible sounding live matrix recordings (mix of soundboard and audience) that the band uploaded for anyone to download for free.  Sound caresser, Kevin Browning, did this for several years until it evolved into UMlive where a fan can now take home the night’s show minutes after the show is over, or he/she can download it later in mp3 or FLAC format.

With spontaneity and trust in mind, last October the band then created the Stew Art Series (S2).  In the Stew Art Series (S2), the band selects certain cities they are already playing and releases a very limited amount of tickets to an all out improvisational afternoon concert where the fans dictate what the band plays on the spot.  A Q&A session and a meet and greet follow with each attendee taking home an autographed copy of the performance.  The band works through each idea the fans dictate with complex signals that keep everyone on their toes.  A portion of the proceeds go to the USTORM charity which helps children and young adults to improve their lives by providing access to various music and arts education programs.  What an awesome idea!

Now the band is now stepping it up once more with their own take on American football.  The first annual UMBowl will take place at Lincoln Hall in Chicago on April 24th, 2010. UMBowl is a 4+ hour musical extravaganza where the band will play four quarters of music, each with a different interactive theme.

The first quarter will be comprised of an acoustic set chosen entirely by the attendees who will cast their votes for which songs will be played in advance.  For the second quarter the band goes back to the Stew Art Series and will text their soundman ideas, he will then display them on a big screen and the fans must text in “plays” and march the band down the field.  The third quarter is the all request quarter.  Once again each attendee will fill out a ballot in advance and express how they want the songs and interludes to go.  In the final quarter, the fans are the quarterbacks.  During the songs the band plays, options will be provided on the big screen and the fans can then text in which direction the band should go.  The band aims to please and any attendee of this game will certainly get their moneys worth.

Umphrey’s McGee has come far.  Along this road to prog-rocking legendary status, it’s refreshing to know they never have forgotten their deep and loyal fanbase.  The band now fills theaters and clubs to capacity all across the country yet they still are willing to keep their ticket prices low.  Continually they look for new and unique ideas to impress and grant open access to their fans.  The band has never hid their love of sports and UMBowl again shows that.  This should be a wonderful experience for all those who attend.  Umphrey’s McGee is the best.  Midwest represent!

Also check out the band’s blog, The Floor, for a behind the scenes look into the day to day happenings of the band.

Trey Anastasio and Classic TAB

On Saturday, February 20th, 2010, Trey Anastasio made his triumphant return to the Twin Cities. He was last in Minneapolis in 2005 with his side project, 70 Volt Parade. But most importantly has been the absence of his powerhouse jamband, Phish. The last Phish show in Minneapolis was September, 24th 2000. Jesse Ventura was the governor of Minnesota then. It’s been a while, and most would say too long. But on this night Anastasio tried to make up for lost time with an extensive meandering performance in the company of his original Trey Anastasio Band.

The show opened with “Last Tube” and from there worked into a massive set of TAB tunes as well as the shuffling bass-heavy Phish tune, “Sand”. Their version of “Tuesday” on this night was utterly spectacular.  Trey then stood alone onstage with an acoustic guitar. This is something one doesn’t get to see everyday and it was a real treat. Anastasio wasn’t sure what to play straight off, and fumbled around a bit to the liking of the crowd before finally playing “Joy”.

Trey taps along to the crowd singing "Bathtub Gin"

He then went into four more Phish tunes and had the crowd yelling and singing along emphatically. “Bathtub Gin” had the crowd happily playing their part, and the wonderful acoustics of the State Theatre had Anastasio smiling and laughing. From there, Trey went into “Farmhouse”, a gorgeous “Waste”, and ended with “Chalkdust Torture”.

The Phish tune “Gotta Jibboo” opened up set two. It started off with its repetitive nature, but by the end Trey pushed it as high as it could go. Soon after the band played a slow piano-driven, funk-swinging tune called “Alaska”. This was a nice change of pace to the upbeat nature of most of the show.

Towards the end of set two, singer and trumpeter, Jennifer Hartswick, took the microphone for a ridiculously good version of Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog”. She nailed this song with the hammer of the gods and seeing Trey’s appreciation for her effort was amusing to say the least. He faced her throughout the song, blasting his Languedoc guitar at her in a way that would have made Jimmy Page proud. She took his energy and wailed!

The night ended with a pretty standard version of “First Tube”. Anastasio took the song out like a Jedi, wielding his guitar overhead and swinging it forward with feedback reverberating.  By this time it was after midnight, and the capacity crowd was stirring wildly. When this lengthy show (over 3 hours) was finally over, it was evident by the look on all the fans faces that they got their moneys worth. Trey Anastasio and his Classic TAB were excellent. Hopefully Anastasio doesn’t forget the Twin Cities fans for long, as a stop on Phish’s fall tour is now a decade overdue.

Live at The State Theatre

Trey Anastasio Band

Trey plays acoustic I

Trey plays acoustic II

Trey Anastasio Band

Trey Anastasio Band

"First Tube" encore

Trey Anastasio with Classic TAB – State Theatre – Minneapolis, MN 2.20.10 Setlist:
Set I:
Last Tube
Shine
Caymen Review
Push on til the Day
Mozambique
Drifting
Night Speaks to a Woman
Tuesday
Sand
Joy (acoustic)
Water in the Sky (acoustic)
Bathtub Gin (acoustic)
Sleep Again (acoustic)
Farmhouse (acoustic)
Waste (acoustic)
Chalkdust Torture (acoustic)

Set II:
Gotta Jibboo
Valentine
Money, Love and Change
Liquid Time
Alaska
Goodbye Head
Mr. Completely
Show of Life
Black Dog (Led Zeppelin cover)
encore:
First Tube

So it seems 2010 is not going to be a great year for music festivals, or at least not in the upper Midwest. First, in December, Minnesota’s annual 10,000 Lakes Music Festival was cancelled indefinitely due to financial issues. Now the real dagger has just been announced. Rothbury Festival will not be back in 2010. Although rumors swirled in December that this festival too was having money problems, according to their website, Rothbury 2010 has been canceled due to the fact that they cannot put together a “cutting edge roster that everyone has come to expect from ROTHBURY”. This news will undoubtedly hit many music fans in the Midwest and all across the country hard, but if things go well, Rothbury should be back in 2011.

Here is the statement published on their website, www.rothburyfestival.com.

“During the past three years, all of us involved with ROTHBURY have greatly appreciated the tremendous outpouring of support for the future of the festival. For 2010, we have had to make the tough decision to postpone our efforts. A contributing factor in our decision is that, due to various artists’ recording and touring schedules, we now believe that timing will not allow for us to assemble the cutting edge roster that everyone has come to expect from ROTHBURY. The result for this year is that we are not able to move forward with the integrity and high standards that we demand from ourselves and for the festival.

Despite the 2010 postponement, we intend to move toward continuing ROTHBURY in 2011. This event is something very special, and we are unwilling to potentially tarnish what ROTHBURY is, and can become, by working under conditions that will produce anything less than a magical experience.

ROTHBURY is more than a festival. It is a mission intended to discover strength in community, and what it means to be a large-scale sustainable event in these times. Our efforts are certainly not coming to an end.

It is important for us to thank the people of Michigan, Oceana County, The Village of Rothbury, Grant Township, and the Double JJ Resort. Also, we thank our team members, volunteers, creative contributors, media partners, and sponsors. We have made many friendships that will last a lifetime.

To all who attended the first two years of ROTHBURY we thank you for the soul you gave the event. Those times entered rarified air because of your energy.

We hope you have a fantastic July 4th this summer.”

In 2008 and 2009, this nearly sustainable music festival held near the west central Michigan town of Rothbury has had the following musicians (to name a few) grace its stages: The Dead, Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews Band, Umphrey’s McGee, Sting Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic, Snoop Dogg, The Black Crowes, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, The Hold Steady, 311, Trey Anastasio, Primus, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Black Keys, Drive-by Truckers.

Are You Ready?

Unfortunately The Verve’s 2008 reunion was short lived.  But in its ashes, singer Richard Ashcroft put together a new band called United Nations of Sound.  Ashcroft liked the work producer, No I.D., did on Jay-Z’s song “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” and hired him on as executive producer.  The new album entitled Redemption is due March 29th, 2010 and has the singer teaming with a host of new musical collaborators.  At this point I cannot confirm if former Verve drummer, Peter Salisbury, is once again backing Richard Ashcroft as he did on Ashcroft’s three previous solo releases.

Redemption is Ashcroft’s fourth solo album and hopefully a welcome follow up to his respectable yet somewhat spotty 2006 release Keys to the World.  NME exclusively unveiled the first material from Ashcroft’s new project.  The song “Are You Ready?” doesn’t run far from his past work, still thematically thick in spirituality, but the lengthy guitar solo taking out the song is a nice addition and something I don’t recall in his previous works. 

Check out the new video here and form your own opinion.

I wish everyone a happy new year in 2010 and invite in this new decade with eternal optimism.  I’m sincerely grateful for everyone who took the time in 2009 to stop by here and read.  Please keep coming back and don’t be afraid to comment!  : ) 

Peace and love in the new decade,

Chad
Life is Music™