Nebraska Report-March/April 2000

Paul "Pro" Pearson, Ph.D. © 2000, www.strangepleasures.com

Bob Dylan and Jimmy Cliff topped the musical performances of early spring here in Omaha. Dylan's show was given a by Omaha World-Herald columnist Jim Minge which spawned dozens of letters telling Minge just what they thought of his musical tastes. The Jimmy Cliff show didn't register on the local radar, except with true fans who attended his inspirational performance at the Music Box.

Strange Pleasures Show Reviews

Thursday February 16 Saddle Creek Bar, Omaha NE. The original 'Walkin' the Streets' made an appearance after a 105 show absence. Guitarist B. Bordy, who had jammed occasionally with the Doobies while touring with their opening band a few years back, joined for a blues.

Saturday March 25 Saddle Creek Bar, Omaha NE (with openers My Church Band). A packed house ready for dancing hit the floor immediately when SP took the stage and didn't leave, even during a four-song Floyd adventure. Former bassist Steven Petty joined the band for 2001-->Steve's Anti-Gov't Rag*-->Bubblehouse, inciting the crowd. Guitarist Elmo Moseman from S.O.U.P. (aka Grateful Dudes), joined on a ripping "I Don't Want To-->Turn On Your Lovelight" at the end of the night with Petty adding vocals. The vocal crowd didn't care that the hour was late and the light was on-an abbreviated "China Cat Sunflower" encore greeted their applause.

Sunday March 25 Pastimes Bistro, Omaha NE (acoustic, with Miss April Domet). Strange Pleasures rarely does acoustic shows, but they are always a must-see. This night was no exception. Former bassist Steven Petty and Miss April Domet joined SP for a night of musical surprises. First set was mainly a collection of favorite covers, with the first performance of the Petty original "Car" since January. Second set included April and Greg on Rusted Roots' "Cruel Sun" and Indigo Girls' "Closer To Fine", a first-ever run through "Proud Mary" and concluded with host Earl Bates sitting on "Feelin' Alright" and "Summertime." An excellent night of music-more subdued, clearer, versatile.

Thursday March 30 Saddle Creek Bar, Omaha NE. Another excited, dancing crowd and a great vibe. Odd show in that the 'tight' parts of the songs were loose, but the jam segments were incredibly woven. Highly enjoyable if a bit sloppy.

Thursday April 6 Saddle Creek Bar, Omaha NE. Totally different crowd-everyone

Other bands:

March 16 and 17 The Get, Saddle Creek Bar, Omaha NE. One young band that deserves recognition in this scene is The Get. A three-piece, mainly blues and funk influenced, these guys play with intensity and flavor. Check out their website at http://www.getness.com .

Strange Pleasures is pleased to announce their inclusion in the second annual "Thousands Peak Festival" to be held near Fairplay, Colorado (on Thousands Peak Ranch) on July 15-17. Three nights of camping and music are included in the $30 price tag. Headlining this years' musical lineup is Stir Fried, featuring legendary pedal steel player, Buddy Cage (formerly of New Riders of the Purple Sage). Local Colorado jam standouts Jyemo, Soul Patch and Chataqua are also confirmed at this time. For more information, email coordinators/hosts Russ and Donna Hartman.

Take care.

Pro pro@jambands.com

THE ST.LOUIS BLACKOUT

by Jack A. Rogers

A Blackout descended upon Cicero's on Thursday March the 30th, a blackout in the form of the funkiest band in the universe, Deep Banana Blackout. I was very excited to see DBB at Cicero's, because back in the Northeast going to see Banana now means going to a club the size of Mississippi Nights and standing on a long ass line. I was psyched to see them play Cicero's, mainly because it reminds me a lot of one of the dives they used to play when they first branched from CT to Long Island in '97(No offense to all you Cicero's folks). I was hoping there would be more room to dance, but it's still great that there wasn't as perhaps they are finally getting some well deserved national recognition. I got there late (typical), forgetting to check the opening time and assuming 10-10:30. I paid my cover walked in and was immediately taken back by the crowd, but a smile instantly rushed to my lips as I heard Fuzz's guitar running all over the rhythms for what could only be Hear My Song. Saying Hi to a few friends, I grabbed a beer and settled in for the ensuing jam. Immediately after Jen went into some patter about the next song and then the familiar guitar lick for Mama Feelgood started up......HELL YEAH! This is a Jen Durkin showcase tune for them. She always kicks it into Janis mode in the middle with some improvised words of wisdom to the house. I do remember her encouraging us with the rant "Spring has sprung!" before the horns kicked it back into gear. but it didn't end there. A seemingly smooth, seamless transition ripped into the Fred Wesley and the JB's tune, Doin' It To Death. I couldn't take it any longer, my head bobbing had started transforming into hip shakin' and with DBB throwin' down the old skool covers, I ran down front-fuzz side. I should have known that would kickstart a nasty, nasty Volo solo before we kicked back into the refrains of "All the Way-Take you There-All the way-Down Deep"-etc.....but it didn't end there either. The horns brought it around again into....VERGE???!??? A George Clinton/P-Funk cover, that is a banana standard, but in the middle of the set??? This is usually a show ender and it is easy to see why. A lead-in/break that builds in intensity, Jen's screaming when they get to the peak, and a call and response chant section of "PEOPLE WHAT YA DOIN'?-STANDIN' ON THE VERGE OF GETTIN' IT ON, GETTIN' IT ON", has long been a climactic song for DBB. Hell, it ushered in the last two new years. As the song washed over me, I couldn't stop the dancin'...but I wondered what they could possibly do after that. What happened was perfect. The horns sounded the final notes of a killer Verge as Fuzzy dropped the first notes of "Doin' It". One of the two brand new songs that Fuzz has written in the wake of Jen's announcement to leave the band. The song is beautiful but you can definitely tell that her decision is certainly affecting his song writing. The lyrics, while extremely metaphorical, are easily applied to the band's upcoming situation. As Jen came back, they kicked into "Homo Lingo", another original with a Latin, samba feel. This segued into Mama's Boy with Volo's smooth T-bone intro, building through the song to it's mad high pitched finish. Banana opted not to finish it this night, but after the huge explosion to sail further into JB's territory with a little Pass Da Peas. I love this song so much and it is always a treat to hear them do this, but then it segued into a drums/percussion break with Johnny and Eric trading mad stomps with smooth fills until, faster then I have ever heard it performed, Fuzz kicked it into high gear with the rocker intro. This little guitar improv piece was originally written as an intro to Rocker or Take the Time as it is known on DBB's first CD "Live in the thousand islands", but nowadays is performed by the bassist, Volo, Somerville-whoever. Tonight-however it was pure "I am fucking metal" Fuzz. He tore through it with abandon and when the horns joined him for the release, the bass line dropped for one of DBB's signature tunes, Tug. You cannot be a member of the human race and stand still within the proximity of this groove. The dance floor exploded and when the solo section came, Volo stepped up and took control!

Set II led in with Brunch, an instrumental ending that the band tacked onto their original, Breakfast@Volo's, but now drops anywhere & everywhere. The tom's and percussive tribal beat with jazz riffs over top gives way to a sixteen bar mad dash swing section back to the jazz and when it gave, Cy sprinkled a little salsa feel over the keyboards as the band dropped Ev'rybody, a song they premiered last fall. Another Latin feeling piece, you cant help but samba. After fuzz took a turn with Johnny at the solo, the syncopated bass of Get'chall '76 started. Out of all the incarnations of this tune, '76 is probably my favorite for finding an incredible middle ground between the swampy, sexy, deep funk of Getchall 96, and the hard edged dance hall drive of Getch'all 98. The bass wraps itself up, down, and all around, the horns kick in and finally the jam happens. Getch'all is one of those tunes that can really open up and they did, led by the sweet sounds of Rob Somerville on the Sax. Every instrumentalist manages to blow me away in this band, but tonight the Brass Toungue led me down some serious twists and turns to some dark places. His sax was flowin', mesmerizing. It forced my body and mind into so many different directions like I was following some jazz pied piper. The band took it way out and then brought it back home and launched into Big Thing. This is one of my faves of the newer songs, a little slower with great lyrics. It was just what I needed after the meltdown of Getch'all as Big Thing faded away the second of the evening's new songs made it's appearance. Universal Song, with the vox split between Fuzz and Rob is a great tune, but the bass-horn trade off that followed was even better. Benj LeFevre was droppin' some serious bombs and keepin' it movin until Jen stepped back on stage, and the bass and guitar dropped for B'Gock! A great song with really deep emotive lyrics.."B'Gock!!!" This is the title track from Fuzz's side project, On The Corner and any DBB or Jazz fan would do well to get hold of this LP. During the chicken breakdown, Eric left the drum kit to double up on percussion with Johnny and the horns went insane. They definitely took the B'Gock breakdown to some other level that night before Volo and his bone brought it back around. This was followed by some classic Banana that I haven't heard in a while and was so happy to hear them perform, a version of the Duke Ellington tune Peckin'. Solo's all around in the classic jazz swing style. Peckin' is a fun song, and the house responded to it very appreciatively. Next, Memphis Train started rolling up from the bass of Mr. LeFevre. This song's classic build and it's shared parts are perfect - turning the rhythm section and the horns into a train moving faster and faster as Jen Durkin explodes in her inimitable style over the top. As the song climaxed it moved perfectly into Rocker, a DBB anthem. As they whisked me away I felt my anticipation growing for the breakdown leading to the solo. Would it be a fiery ax rip-up from Fuzz, or perhaps a smooth build transformed into a tidal wave on the sax????? The breakdown spiraled away into nothingness, the percussion making my body shake as the horns bled into their own musical dimensions-but no solo came...rather-the guitar strains of one of the all time greatest songs in Rock and Roll, The Beatles Come Together started. Go Fuzz! Fuzz and Benj recently played in a side project called Sugar Porn Cops with Vinnie from moe. on drums, and The Ominous Seapods' keyboard player. This was one of their tunes but I had no idea that Fuzz had brought it back home to DBB. Very well done, with a neat little horn section thrown in as it wound down to a close, the soaring horn finale of Rocker kicked back in and they were goin' all the way tonight! This was followed by Trip which led into another of the call and response "PAAAAAAAR-TAY!!" songs House Party. This super funky ditty had me groovin' until the sweat was drippin' from my body. I love the way the horns play off of each other here, as a thick groove is laid down by the rhythm and guitar. Then the opening strains of Bump & Sway started- not one of my faves having seen it way too many times to possibly count. There is, however, one part of the song that always thrills me. After the first two verses, the ensuing solos always run in the same order, but, after Fuzz's solo, he always starts an improvised riff for the band to just go off of before returning to B&S. Tonight it wasn't improvised. I knew that riff as it started. A banana moment that had only happened a few times before, and I am now lucky enough to have seen three. Hard Heavy guitar leading into the raving and ranting of Rob Somerville on "STONE PENIS!"

Wow! I don't know if the last call lights scared everybody off or what, but the call for an encore didn't last long as the crowd shoved off into the night. And oh what a pity, for that encore would have been TI-Tight... (sanford & son, anyone?) Oh well. DBB came to Cicero's and showed what true music can be made with a bunch of talented musicians dedicated to their style and craft.

I would like to close by saying a few words about Jen leaving the band. Jen Durkin is an amazing vocalist, a force of funk, and a ball of pure adrenaline energy. To almost everyone who has seen Deep Banana Blackout, she is the first thing they notice about the band. As someone who has seen them over 100 times however, I have seen each member of this band blow me away again and again and again. Anyone familiar with the history of this band knows that most of the members played in one of CT's biggest party bands, Tongue & Groove. Jen was not a member of that outfit, in fact they had a male lead singer then, who had just as much energy and was able to hype the crowd just as much. Fuzz is the chief songwriter anyway, so the incredible song writing wont change. I urge everyone to support them through the changeover coming in the fall. Don't forget to get a copy of Fuzz's On The Corner to see some pure instrumental action comin' at ya!!!!

The Q-Bar

211 IOWA AVENUE, IOWA CITY, IA 52240 (319)337-9107

APRIL 2000 BAND SCHEDULE

DATE BAND

12(wed) from Iowa City, IA THE NADAS - (roots rock)

from Portland, OR special guests: CALOBO

13(thur) from Portland, OR JOHN HERMANN - (acoustic rock)

14(fri) from Iowa City, IA PAL'S OF JOE - (modern rock)

from Chicago, IL special guests: 7TH HEAVEN

15(sat) from Bloomington, IL BROTHER JED - (jam)

from Chicago, IL special guests: EL NINO

20(thur) from Iowa City, IA BOHEMIAN SOUL TRIBE - (groove)

from Iowa City, IA special guests: PORCH BUILDER

21(fri) from St. Louis, MO THE SCHWAG - ("Grateful Dead Tribute Act")

22(sat) from Madison, WI NATTY NATION - (reggae)

27(thur) from Baraboo, WI THE SWING CREW- (folk/ country/ rock) *9:30 start*

28(fri) from Iowa City, IL FOOL'S JOURNEY- (rock) (T)

from Iowa City, IA special guests: MARY AUSTEN (T)

29(sat) from Iowa City, IA BAMBU - (world beat/ jam) CD Release Party!

from Boulder, CO special guests: SUCKER

(T) = Tentative

For more information about entertainment, contact RiverCities Productions, attn: MIKE SZWAYA @ (309)793-0085/ 794-6461 fax/

swayaman@ribco.com

Captain Kind

That's the name. Many of us in the Big Sky region have watched the slow evolution of this band. From it's earliest beginnings as "Purifier" or "Pure Fire" or "Pure Afire" or whatever....They soon moved on to the regionally infamous "Ripple Effect". But when people change, so does the face of the project, and soon it was "Cosmic Ripple" (or was it "Cosmic Giggle"). Anyway, there was plenty for fans to giggle about.

But when "Captain Kind" was born, on the millennium, it was a coming-together of old friends that made it seem different. These guys have been playing together and hangin' out together for a decade, meanwhile playing in such projects as "The Grateful Dudes", "Just the Opposite", "Baby Jason and the Spankers", "The Mystery", "Slo-Burn", and of course the "Cosmic Triple Effect" trilogy.

Point is....Check these guys out. They'll get ya dancin, their originals are cool.

*~*~*~Spring Update from FairyMagick~*~*~*~*

Spring has sprung in our northwest corner of the world. The flowers are blooming every day, and the rain has started to cease=)

We here at Fairy Magick are excited to see that the seasons are changing and would like to announce some specials for you that will last through the months of April and May. Its almost tour time!! and we are gearing up to hit the road with Phish, for a few shows in June and July

The first special is on backless shirts=). The special spring price is 15.00 for any solid calico bottom, 20.00 for any 2-3 strip calico bottom, and 25.00 for any patchwork. And all the trims are free!!!

We also would like to announce the birth of the matching set calico pants and backless shirt. This is a 3 color patchwork backless shirt, with matching calico pants. The pants would be made out of your choice of the 3 calicos that you have chosen for the shirt, and also feature lace, if you choose, and 2 pockets conveniently placed on the side of the pants. This set is being offered for 50.00. A picture of the first set can be viewed on the website on either the tops or the pants page.

Any questions you may have..feel free to E-mail us at FairyMagick@angelfire.com

Thanks for your time and Happy Spring!!!

Amy, Marn, and Stacy from FairyMagick