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Northeast Regional Report
Edited by Tony Oliveira & Peter SahlinFrom the Editor(s):
Hi folks,
Well, it's that time of month again and after a "relatively" slow month around here, April is starting off with a bang and more than making up for March (check the calendar section to see what I'm babbling about). In fact, I can't recall a better month of music around here in quite sometime. The timing with the start of Spring is uncanny. Once again I'd like to thank all those past, present and future contributors. It's always appreciated. I've been toying with adding yet another section; this one would be temporary in nature. The section would basically deal with all the Festivals (mainly the overnight type) that are going to be in the area.sort of give them their own space for the warmer months. They'll still be included in the calendar section, but many of them have details/info that warrant more space. It will be called Festivus. Feel free to let me know what you think. I guess that's it, hope to see and meet some of you out there.-Tony and Pete
REVIEW B&P OFFER: (Analog Only) Just a reminder that Pete and I will pick one review each month with the winner receiving a B&P offer from my datlist or Peter's analog list, so let's keep them coming! We won't necessarily pick the most well written review; in fact, the winner will be somewhat random. Last month's winner is Josh L. Bach.congrats!
<\\><\\><\\><\\><\\><\\><\\><\\><\\><\\><\\><\\> FYI * FYI * FYI >>> FOR YOUR INFORMATION <<< FYI * FYI * FYI IRON HORSE MUSIC HALL - LIVE RECORDING!!! Electric Blue and the Kozmik Truth will be recording the follow-up to their debut album "La Raza Cosmica", LIVE at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA on Friday, April 30th & Saturday, May 1st. EBKT will perform two long sets each night. The show is ALL AGES and starts at 8:30PM. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 @ door or purchase the "EBKT Ticket Package" for $17.50! The package will include 1 ticket for each nights performance plus you will receive a voucher for a FREE EBKT "Nothin' But the Truth.Live at the Iron Horse" CD redeemable only at the CD release Party! To purchase tix call 413-586-8686 or 1-800-THE-TICK or visit the Northampton Box Office. For more info you can contact: Gene Phelps - True Blue Productions 413-323-8822 or gene@ebkt.com MAY 1st - BASH ON THE GRASS - UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD - FREE! FREE! FREE! Where: Village Lawn ; University of Hartford Show time: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm The Line Up includes: PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC(ORIGINAL P'S), FREEBEERANDCHICKEN, SECTOR9 SOULIVE ADDISON GROOVE PROJECT Check out the following website for more information and directions: http://www.geocities.com/~bashonthegrass NOTE: If any of you music fans would be interested in reviewing the show and/or a particular band or interviewing any of the musicians, please contact me. I can make arrangements including all access and/or backstage passes, etc. May 8th -THE SECOND ANNUAL- "IT'S ALL DRUMMING" Will be held on May 8th at Cheney Hall, Manchester Connecticut - 1:00pm to 9:30 pm Attend any or all of the segments. It'll go like this: First, classes - African dance with Abdoulaye and Laurie Sylla Frame drumming with Randy Crafton Introduction to African drumming with Bob Bloom Next, a drum circle, facilitated by Bob Bloom. Bring your hand drum, or, use one of Bob's. No experience necessary, open to all ages. Next, an African Buffet Dinner catered by the Paradise Restaurant from Willimantic, CT (YEAH!) Next, a concert with BOB BLOOM AND 'DRUM RIDE' / RANDY CRAFTON AND AMY PLATT / ABDOULAYE SYLLA AND 'ONEWAE' For more information, and to register, call Cheney Hall at 860-647-9824
What's In A Name?
by The Bourbon Cowboy
Currently Nameless. The name conjures up a comical image; a group of people with a quirky sense of humor who couldn't decide what to name their band. This young and talented quintet from Burlington, Vermont does indeed have a ripe and ready sense of humor which they proudly exhibit during their live shows through songs like "Funky Elephant", "Wombat Stomp", "Barrel of Pickles Song" and "Sex in Molasses". But don't mistake namelessness for lack of creativity or you will miss out on the most energetic and creative new band to spring from the musical spawning ground of Burlington in a decade. Despite their sense of humor, this band is serious about their music! Guitarists Josh Keller and Dave Simpson, along with bassist John Treybal first played together during the fall of 1994. Vocalist and harmonica player Sean Daley joined them shortly thereafter. They played with several different drummers and under several different names until current drummer Daemmon Hughes came aboard in the fall of 1995 to complete the lineup. The band deftly combines elements of blues and rock 'n' roll with a touch of funk. Daley has a very distinctive voice, very soulful and at times nearly guttural, incorporating a variety of screams and vocal inflections to punctuate the music, reminiscent of Joe Cocker.
Currently Nameless' songs are well-crafted and adroitly arranged. The versatile Daley writes most of the lyrics and will occasionally lend a third guitar to a song. Guitarists Keller and Simpson collaborate to produce energetic licks and artful chord progressions, unifying the band through periods of tension and release while laid-back bassist Treybal and the Berklee-trained Hughes drive the groove with a unmistakably danceable rhythm. But the true beauty of Currently Nameless is their ability to transform their material, especially through their quirky humor, such as when Daley turns Gospel singer in the middle of the band's zany "Barrel of Pickles Song" and delivers a sermon to "The Brotherhood and Sisterhood of the Pickle" which would do a Southern Baptist preacher, or the Mothers of Invention, proud.
The band's name came about when they were trying to get a gig at Club Toast in Burlington. Keller took a demo tape to the club, and since they hadn't decided on a name yet he wrote "currently nameless" on the label. By the time the actual show came around they were still nameless, so the name (or lack thereof) stuck! "Besides," says drummer Hughes; "a band's name can directly affect how people classify a band's musical style.
Currently Nameless represents our attempt to thwart this behavior as much as possible. Music is a universal language which shouldn't be hampered by artificial divisions."
Currently Nameless has toured up and down the East Coast and also did a tour of the Virgin Islands in the summer of 1997. After doing the Virgins the band went on a six-month hiatus only to regroup last summer and return to playing the northeast circuit, as soulful and energetic as ever. To date Currently Nameless has released a four-song cassette in early 1996 and an EP CD in 1997. In March they returned to the studio to record material for a new CD. They will also have a track on an upcoming compilation CD of local Burlington music, which is being produced by WWPV, the St. Michael's College radio station, and they are slated to be playing the CD release party in April.
Currently Nameless encourages taping at their shows, as well as dancing, smiling and laughing. The band's friendly soundman, Eric Lussier, tapes nearly every show and gladly spins copies upon request. The band's next appearance will be April 16th at the 7 Barrel Brewery in West Lebanon, NH. For more information on tour dates and to hear samples of a few Nameless songs visit the Currently Nameless website http://www.value.addr.com/currentlynameless.
1999 David A. Merrill, Risqué Business Enterprises. All rights reserved.
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* FESTIVUS! ** FESTIVUS! ** FESTIVUS! ** FESTIVUS! ** FESTIVUS! * The 4th Annual - Gathering Of The Vibes !!! www.ttapes.com/vibes99 6-18>20 Seaside Memorial Park Bridgeport CT 800-677-8650 Gov't Mule, moe., Strangefolk, Deep Banana Blackout, Percy Hill, John Scofield, Slip, Zen Tricksters, Disco Biscuits, Max Creek, viperHouse Big Wu, Silverspoon, many more ! Guinness Fleadh Festival http://www.guinnessfleadh.com 6-19 Suffolk Downs, Boston, MA 617-931-2000 Elvis Costello, Hootie & the Blowfish, Saw Doctors, John Lee Hooker, Shane MacGowan, Shawn Mullins, Mary Coughlan, Francis Black, Luka Bloom, Richard Thompson, Eileen Ivers Band, Tommy Makem, Black 47, Liam Clancy, Eleanor McEvoy, John Martyn, Moxy Fruvous, Martin Sexton Mark Geary, Kila, Too Cynical to Cry, Jack Lukeman, Watercress, Blink 7-30->8-01 The Beatroots present 3 days of Music, Union Fairgrounds, Union, ME. Featuring: The Laura Love Band, Peter Mulvey, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jiggle the Handle, Inanna Akwapim, The Recipe, The Nields, Smokin' Grass, Entrain, Jim's Big Ego, Maggie, Pierce & EJ, Gordon Stone Band, and many, many more! Ticket info: (207)667-6585 For more info, check out: www.beatroots.com. Berkshire Mountain MusicFest www.berkfest.com 8-13>15 Butternut Basin Ski Area, Great Barrington MA 617-435-3003 Strangefolk, Deep Banana Blackout, Jiggle The Handle, Living Daylights Vinyl, many more - order tickets by 4-20 for a $35 discount !
WORTH NOTING.. Laughing Water - Great Scott's - 3-13-99 Just a couple of quick notes..I don't recall the setlist or much of the details, but I do recall really enjoying the show. Laughing Water is a Dead cover band, and admittedly, I don't see many cover bands these days, but they were very good. Actually, one of the better Dead cover bands that I've seen, and I'd definitely recommend seeing them if you like to be reminded of why you/we miss Jerry so much. I might also add that the set break was very enjoyable as well..YMMV. Note: there are some full-length Laughing Water reviews in the Review section. Allset - The Middle East (Upstairs) 4-2-99 (Beatroots opened) Unfortunately I missed the other opener, so I can't comment on them, but I was able to get there in time for the Beatroots. They are from 5-member band from Maine, if I my memory serves me correct. The line-up included a drummer, percussionist, horn player, guitarist and bassist. Just a couple of things.the horn player also played the flute on occasion which was a nice touch and the guitarist also played the fiddle during a couple of songs, also nice to hear. I'd also like to make another comment; the guitarist was a woman. This isn't meant as a sexist statement or anything like that, but mainly to point out that there aren't very many woman playing in jambands today, which is kind of strange when you consider their apparent dominance in pop music, today. Hopefully that will change somewhat, as the jamband scene picks up momentum and expands. Of course, seeing them for the first time, I can't comment on any specific songs. I will say that the crowd was pretty into them, and that with a percussionist, a flute, and violin, they were able to add nice little subtleties to many of there songs. I would see them again, if they came around. Allset was up next. It seemed the crowd was pretty into them as well; more so than I remember from any of the previous shows I've attended. The bar was full enough to not disappoint the band and yet, there was plenty of room to move. The best of both worlds, if you ask me. Again, I'm still not familiar with song titles and things of that nature. I do know if I've heard a song before, but I still sense that there is a lot more improv going on up there than most bands that I see. Understandable, since they are an instrumental band and don't have lyrics getting in the way of where they can take a song. I did notice that they seem to be doing a better job of developing a song, by this I mean where they are taking it, and sticking with the theme so to speak. Of course, they are the musicians and I'm just a music fan, so I'll leave that part up to them. I'm sure, I will be seeing more of these guys in the up coming months. Hope to see some of you there. -Tony SHOW REVIEWS: REVIEWS! REVIEWS! REVIEWS! REVIEWS! REVIEWS! REVIEWS! Laughing Water - 3/6/99 Handlebar Harry's, Plymouth, MA by Joe Hacking The windshield wipers were on "high," fwip-fwapping frantically to no avail, as the driving snow/rain mix covered my windshield. The roar of the defroster drowned out The Monkees; blaring out of the speakers. Visibility was low in heavy traffic. The digital speedometer on the Atari dashboard told me that I was crawling along at 46 mph on the Southeast Expressway. What the hell were all these people doing on the road? Hadn't they heard about this week's impending snowstorm of the Apocalypse? I was sure that I was the only one who had a good reason to be out on a night like this. Laughing Water was playing at Handlebar Harry's, that mecca of live music, in the scenic tourist trap known as Plymouth. The last gig here had proven a real shindig, and I was hoping the memory of that would cause the past participants to return. I pressed on through the cold, wet night, a desire for warmth, live song and alcohol fueling my resolve. Early, drenched arrivals got to hear the "Dire Wolf->Promised Land->Viola Lee Blues" sound check. At first it seemed, that only those possessed of an adventurous spirit would dare this biblical Flood tale of an evening. Yet, even as the band started the actual first set off with an energetic "One More Saturday Night," an audience slowly collected within the high ceilinged Harry's. LW gave Mother Nature a nod with "Cold Rain and Snow" next, strutting it along at a cocky pace. The room filled with more citizens, who were just in time to witness a fantastic "Minglewood." Some older members of the audience (fugitives from some Kiwanis gig?) took to the floor, stirring the energy up as each band member spun off into their own synchronized jams during Joe, Dan and Glenn's solos, weaving in and out of each other like high speed interceptors. The moderately filled room responded positively to this inspired jam, raining the adulation of applause loudly upon the band. The band, inspired by this jazz show-type of small crowd attention, immersed themselves into "Sugaree," building the tension slowly for a massive, jam-fest release during Joe's blazing solo. These students of the Dead have learned well, and the audience broke into ecstatic applause at the solo's seamless conclusion. Next, John dedicated "Masterpiece" to friend Arthur Healy, delivering it with the same mellow and laid-back approach, which Arthur takes to life. "Big Boy Pete," standing as tall the man in the song, brought the Kiwanis escapees back onto the dance floor. "Let It Grow" activated John into Bill Kreutzman '74 mode which in turn activated Mike into Phil Lesh '74 mode. Driven by these rhythm addicts, the rest of the band wove the song into the beautiful tapestry that Bobby Weir intended it to be. After the break, LW opened with a "St. Stephen" that began slow but ended with a warm ending full of Glenn's keys. They kicked it in hard with the afterburner discharge of the classic psychedelic jig known as "The Eleven." Then a systemic shock into "The Other One" which spiraled and galloped along to drop right into a rather upbeat "He's Gone." "Smokestack Lightning" was like a storm front heading out to sea under the command of Dan. Joe and John took control of that menacing front, seeded the clouds with a little jamming, and turned it into a thunderstorm called John Reddie. Unsteady drum stands brought John to new heights of Anger Drummingä , producing some of his finest work to date. The rest of the band came out for a squawky, dissonant "Space" while John recharged, only to end up in the sunny day of a "Fire On The Mountain" upon his return. "Sugar Mag" cranked and caused some dancing, but the fear of black ice forced many of the participants to miss the "Miracle" -> "Rainy Day Women" encores. Like the storm itself, the evening simply ended with a simple ending. 3-6-99 Handlebar Harry's, Plymouth, 1: Sat. Night, Cold Rain, Minglewood, Sugaree, Masterpiece, Big Boy Pete, Let It Grow 2: St. Stephen > Eleven > Other One > He's Gone > Smokestack > Jam > Drums** > Space > Fire > Sugar Magnolia E1: Miracle > E2: Rainy Day Women *(Soundcheck: Dire Wolf, Promised, Viola Lee)* **(John asks band members to hold drums from sliding)** *(Last "Smokestack": 9-26-97 [71] - First "Rainy Day Women")* REVIEW: Laughing Water 3/10/99 Harper's Ferry, Allston, Ma By Joe Hacking The prelude to the evening began with drummer John "Outlaw Diner" Reddie bringing a submarine sandwich illegally into the club. Previously, he'd been told by Harper's staffers that it was okay to bring his own food to the bar. Tonight this privilege had been repealed, and he was asked to refrain from eating the sandwich in the general bar area. Apparently they've got a sensitive cook on staff at Harper's now who would have "freaked out" had he witnessed this atrocity. As a move to the backstage area would have taken longer than just finishing it where he sat, John continued to dine and was again warned to cease and desist eating operations. With this disciplinary act, the Harper's staffer had inadvertently lit the rage fuse at the base of John's spine. As I watched the fuse sizzle, I knew then that a strong Laughing Water performance was guaranteed. They hit the stage with Joe leading Laughing Water into a rocking "Harder They Come." During "Greatest Story" John fed his mainline anger through his drums, into Mike who put it through his bass and out to the rest of the band. Even during "Friend Of The Devil," John's wrath was legion, infusing this slower version of the song with an edge. "Mama Tried" into "Mexicali Blues" dissipated this energy somewhat, but "Viola Lee Blues" sharpened it up again, working the band into a jam frenzy. They make it easy to see why Phil has referred to this as the Dead's first "jamming" tune. "Samson" kept cutting into the Combined Consciousness of the room, with John erupting on the kit at various points and Joe screaming on his guitar. And suddenly it was time for a break. Harper's was filled up nicely by the time the second set came around. John's anger at the Hoagie Police did not slake, as evidenced by his major contribution to the "Mississippi Half Step" set opener. Light and life poured from Joe's guitar. "Playin" got the dancers to spinning as it spiraled and twisted into a galaxy of sound in the thick atmosphere of the club. The "Playin" jam fell into a spacey jam grounded by John's rambunctious drums that slid into the ever-shining "Crazy Fingers." "Truckin" ended punchy and hard, phasing into a locomoted, ground-covering jam which materialized into "Uncle John's Band." Descending into John Reddie's imitation of the Great San Francisco Earthquake, it took two of his fellow band members to prevent him from knocking his drum kit over Keith Moon style. Obviously, visions of the Hoagie Police were dancing in his head. This chaotic display was followed by a colorful "Space" which provided an ample intro to an airy, floating "Saint of Circumstance." "Bertha" hopped up the room, filling the dance floor with participants. Even Mike the bass player was hopping at John's cymbal splashes. A brief pause precluded "Good Lovin," which incited a mass dance scenario. Without question, an encore was due this wonderful audience, and people went absolutely shithouse when LW went into "Golden Road," which sped along at high velocity, propelled by AngerO . Excess energy generated by that brief song spilled into the second encore, the "Playin Reprise." Mr. Reddie was released under his own recognizance pending the stipulation that he and the band return to Harper's next month to perform again. 3-10-99 Harper's Ferry, Allston, 1: Harder They Come, Greatest Story, FOTD, Mama Tried > Mexicali, Viola Lee > Feedback > Samson 2: Half-Step > Playin' > Crazy Fingers > Truckin' > Playin' Jam > Uncle John's > Drums > Space > Saint, Bertha > Good Lovin' E1: Golden Road > E2: Playin'(Reprise) *(Soundcheck: Stir It Up, Jack Straw)* *(Last "Playin' Jam": 12-13-97 [55])* REVIEW: Max Verna, solo-acoustic, Mass College of Pharmacy - Boston, MA 3/24/99 By Tony Oliveira Before I start, here is the setlist from that afternoon: Set 1 Motherless Child Flying Clouds Come As You Are Freight Train The Little Beggar Man Come And Go Blues Somedays Mr. Wrong Set 2 (the partial request set) Dead Flowers Oberon & Titania California Stars Match Maker Big Yellow Taxi Run For The Roses Over the last few years, I have had the pleasure of seeing the Ominous Seapods 20 some-odd times, and was deeply saddened when I found out that Max Verna, a founding member, was leaving the band. FYI he left on NYE . The parting was amicable and by all accounts, their new guitarist, Todd, is working out nicely. Anyhow, when I found out that Max was going to be playing a solo gig in Boston, I decided that I had to bail from work early and go see what old Max was up to. I met up with my friend, Armand and headed to the show. Max has been playing solo gigs on Monday's in Albany, but that's a bit of a trek for me, so I had to settle for this one. It was kind of strange seeing Max by himself, and it even more strange to see him in the student lounge, while sitting on a couch or chair watching the show, but still nice. Mainly, Max played a bunch of covers, and some Seapods' tunes. He also brought out the harmonica. He actually had one of those harmonica holder things, you know, the ones that go around your neck. It was cool to see him play acoustic and to see his interpretations of songs that I'm familiar with from other artists. There were a decent number of students milling about, though I'm sure many of them had never heard of Max or the Ominous Seapods. I think the first set highlight for me was his take on Somedays, a Seapods tune. He used a nice flanger effect that I found quite cool. After the first set, most of the students cleared out, well actually, just about all of them cleared out.I think there were like 6 of us left, so Max decided to take some requests for the second set. I needed my bluegrass kick, so I promptly requested Oberon & Titania. Thanks Max. The other highlight for me was Match Maker, which was a song that he wrote during his last few moths with the Seapods. I guess, he just never got around to teaching them it. Pretty nice little tune. The show wrapped up shortly there after, and we helped Max pack up and haul his stuff out. We decided to prolong my short taste of old Pods by going having dinner at the Border Café in Cambridge, but that's another story. FYI, Max is planning to put out a solo album at some point in the future and I'm sure he'll turn up, somewhere.down the road. p.s. Thanks for the memories Max and best of luck with all that the future may hold.
REVIEW: Pork Tornado at the Paradise, Boston 4-6-99 by Dan Alford About two months ago (assuming that this appears on April fifteenth) I had one of my most embarrassing concert experiences. The previous holder of that dubious title was my second Dead show. It was early on in both my high school years and my obsession with the Dead and I was lucky enough to get floor seats (maybe thirteen rows back or so) for the last night of a three night run. It was deep in the second set and Brent was finishing up a Mr. Fantasy which I was expecting to segue into a Hey Jude Finale. Being young and somewhat overenthusiastic, I started belting out "Nah, Nah, Nah...." before the transition actually happened. This guy behind me told me to be quiet because he couldn't hear. First I realized that I had probably been singing like that throughout most of the show, and second, I noticed that Hey Jude wasn't coming; Phil was actually pounding into Gimme Some Lovin'! I was humiliated at the time, and over the years people who sing too loudly have become a huge pet peeve. When I think back on that little obnoxious kid, I hang my head. What happened just over two months ago, though, caused a different kind of embarrassment. The Fantasy > Hey... wait a minute... GSL debacle was focused exclusively on me. I was the offender; I was the only one embarrassed. The new champion of shame was earned by the majority of the crowd and I felt it not just for myself, but for the performers (one in particular) and for the future selves of so many in that crowd, who would one day look back on that night and blush. Let me preface this by saying that the first time I saw Jamie Masefield he played one set by himself and one with a guitar player whom he had just met that afternoon. The room was a college snack bar with about twenty people assembled on couches and at small tables. Right from the start he floored both my girlfriend and me. His speed and distinctly non-bluegrass feel were amazing, not to mention his muscles. I mean this guys forearms are chiseled; you can actually watch his muscles ripple as he plays. This was years before Bad Hat, even before the short lived Jazz Trio with Trey and Mike. Since then Jamie has made quite a name for himself, mainly through the vehicle of the Jazz Mandolin Project which, in true jazz fashion, has a rotating roster. Of course the flashiest member of that roster in the past few years has been our own Jonny B. Fishman. His stint in 98 sent waves through the improv music scene and led directly to the amazing Tour de Flux album. The obvious thing to do was to take the trio of Masefield, Fishman, and bassist Chris Dahlgren (a name to know and watch) back on the road to celebrate the recording achievement. That super short four night tour in mid February made its second stop at the Somerville Theater just outside of Boston. It's a great old place, very small and just right for the quiet, intricate, and utterly sophisticated sound of the powerhouse trio. That is where the embarrassment comes in. It's been said over and over again that Fish is more comfortable with a jazz solo than a huge rock-n-roll solo. That's not to say that Frankenstein doesn't rock, or that the recent prevalence of Wipe Outs hasn't been fun; it's just that Jon is a detailed player, possibly the most skilled member of his main band, who dances and skips over the skins. Even someone with almost no music background can tell how heavily he relies on his high hat. The JMP is the perfect place for him to groove in his own quiet way. Remember back at Matthew's Arena when there were fliers that said something to the effect of "Remember when Fish used to play during that part in Stash where everybody claps? Let's be quiet and see what he does..." That's what we're talking about here; let the man groove how he wants. For those who lock onto to Fish often at shows, this mini tour was the perfect opportunity to really enjoy his skills. The theater was packed early, and tapers abounded; there was actually a bigger taping section than at some Phish shows. When the band came on at about quarter after nine, the crowd was pumped. But as they started to play the crowd didn't settle down; people were getting up and moving around, talking. No one was dancing, mind you; there was just a lot of commotion. But the crowd never really relaxed; all this milling about continued throughout the entire set. Someone actually screamed out for AC-DC Bag! I understand that a lot of Phish fans were expecting a Phish show on a smaller scale, and many of the younger fans had never been to a jazz show... but come on! Have some respect for the musicians! You could see how Jon was almost hiding behind his set; he must have been mortified. Here was a throng of his fans who wouldn't shut up and let him or his comrades play! The tension finally broke, literally and metaphorically, after the second set opener when Jamie snapped a string. That gave the crowd a chance to howl and scream, chant for their boy, try to get him to tell the Prison Joke, and eventually relax. That snapped string was the best thing that could've happened, as the crowd chilled and focused for the rest of the show. Despite the commotion, it turned out to be an evening of exceptional music. With that night in mind I was particularly anxious to see the Pork Tornado show at the Paradise in Boston. Having never seen them, but heard them described in the Pharmer's Almanac as "cosmic disco" and by Fish himself as "a tequila drinking band," I figured that this would be the hard rocking show that many folks were looking for at the JMP. My guess was dead on. The Tornado was a brutal musical onslaught of USDA certified rock-n-roll. Was it finely polished music? No. Did songs turn chaotic? Yes. Were there mistakes and some sloppy playing? Yes. Did it kick ass? Hell yeah! The band crashed through a number of covers and a few originals, opening up most tunes so that each member could take an extended solo. The raw, heavy rock sound in the first set was reminiscent of early Gov't Mule shows, although the comparison doesn't respect the individuality of either group. The highlight of the set was the monster funk stomp entitled Pork Tornado. Great sax, guitar, and keyboard solos raced over a solid rhythm base provided by Jon and Aaron Hersey, who took his own solos in many other tunes. The second set started off in a much smoother vein with quieter playing, a piccolo solo, and more cohesive music overall. That's when the fun really began. The Tornado launched into a wild Jungle Boogie that had the whole place bouncin'. I looked up and there were people on the stage; then it was flooded with people dancing with and around the band. Dan Archer picked up a megaphone and began shouting some undecipherable story, fighting feedback all the while. When the huge groove finally finished Fish was shouting "That was excellent!" Other highlights of the set included Joe Moore on Kiss My Black Ass, which boasted a sensational bass and drums jam, and the encore of Sex Machine, which satiated the chants that had perforated the entire show. Fishman also came out doing a Russian dance kick dance during the piccolo solo that preceded the James Brown classic. The show was indeed a tequila drinking tour de force that will go down in my own history as one of the most fun filled nights, although I won't search too hard for a tape. REVIEW: ENTRAIN @ the Met Cafe', Providence RI 2-11-99 by Pat Gasbarro Entrain is one of those bands that I had been hearing about for a long time, but had never gotten a chance to see or hear. Two nights before this show happened I hear their new single "Dancing in the light" on the The River 92.5, WXRV while driving through Boston. The song absolutely blew me away! So I decided it was time to check out their live show- I walked into the Met Cafe for the first time in years to find a widely varied crowd in age. Included were children, some high school kids, students from various local college institutions, and a middle-aged crowd. As the band took the equipment-cluttered stage, all minds were soon captivated by the heavy-tribal drums of their first song "Mo Drums". With percussion and conga solo's being traded feverishly, the capacity crowd was driven into a fury within minutes. Entrain is a drummer's band. With their second song "River Run" came the warm New Orleans swamp sound, decorated with a sax solo by Klem Klimek (worked with NRBQ and Roomful of Blues). They easily moved into their next tune "Can't Let Go", a ska tune sung by one of the tallest musicians I've ever seen (close to 7 feet), but also complete with some funky stage choreography and acrobatics by the horn section. This band has great vocals, catchy songs, terrific horn lines, a killer drum section and more energy than any other band that I've ever seen. After the first few songs my mind shut down, and I danced and danced for the next two hours. If you haven't seen Entrain, you don't know what drumming is.
NEW ENGLAND SHOW CALENDAR Gathering Of The Vibes Festival tickets go on sale April 1 ! This festival has been excellent the last few years, and seeing that it's in Connecticut this year, it'll probably sell out ... check out Terrapin Tapes web-site for details: www.ttapes.com here's the latest New England Shows listing. if you don't want to receive further listings send email to: armand.turcotte@bigfoot.com and ask to be removed from the NEshows list this listing is up on the web ! check out Mark's web-site: http://www.tufts.edu/~mchoh/neshows.html let me know about any other cool bands, shows, or web-sites ! ***** make sure you call before you head to the show ! ***** New England tour dates: ( ? before date means ***unconfirmed*** ) su 4-11 Day By The River live on WERS 88.9 FM - 7:00 617- su 4-11 Day By The River House Of Blues, Cambridge MA 617-491-BLUE mo 4-12 Banyan Johnny D's, Somerville MA 617-776-2004 mo 4-12 Day By The River Tammany Hall, Worcester MA 508-791-6550 tu 4-13 StringCheeseIncident HigherGround, Winooski VT 802-654-7079 we 4-14 P-Funk/DeepBananaBlackout Roxy, Boston MA 617-338-7699 we 4-14 Slip AS220, Providence RI 401-831-9327 we 4-14 StringCheeseIncident Pearl St, Northampton MA 413-584-7771 we 4-14 Robin Trower Paradise, Boston MA 617-562-8804 we 4-14 Laughing Water Harper's Ferry, Allston MA th 4-15 Blind Mans Sun Harpers Ferry, Allston MA 617-254-9743 th 4-15 Joe Deveau Kendall Cafe, Cambridge MA 617- th 4-15 Max Creek Middle East, Cambridge MA 617-497-0576 th 4-15 Slip AS220, Providence RI 401-831-9327 t h 4-15 StringCheeseIncident Somerville Theatre, MA 617-625-4088 fr 4-16 Ben Folds Five Bowdoin College, Brunswick ME 207- fr 4-16 Day By The River Dartmouth College, Hanover NH 603- fr 4-16 DeepBananaBlkout Wobbly Barn, Killington VT 802-422-3392 fr 4-16 JiggleTheHandle Stone Coast Brew, Portland ME 207-773-2337 fr 4-16 Ominous Seapods Tammany Hall, Worcester MA 508-791-6550 fr 4-16 Slip / Miracle Iron Horse, Northampton MA 413-584-0610 sa 4-17 AllSet Living Room, Providence RI 401-521-5200 sa 4-17 Ben Folds Five Amherst College, MA 413- sa 4-17 DeepBananaBlkout Wobbly Barn, Killington VT 802-422-3392 sa 4-17 Entrain Bridge St Station, Fairhaven 508- sa 4-17 Max Creek W CT State Unv, Danbury CT 203-837-8418 sa 4-17 Ominous Seapods Tune Inn, New Haven CT 203- sa 4-17 Shods Keene State College, NH 603- sa 4-17 Slip Stone Church, Newmarket NH 603-659-6321 sa 4-17 Slipknot Legends, Leominster MA 978-537-0005 sa 4-17 Laughing Water Handlebar Harry's, Plymouth MA su 4-18 Moonboot Lover Stone Church, Newmarket NH 603-659-6321 tu 420! JGB Harp, Boston MA 617-742-1010 tu 420! Strangefolk Colonial Theatre, Keene NH 603- ?tu 420! Jupiter Coyote Boston 420 Festival, MA 617- tu 4 20! Electric Blue and the Kosmik Truth Umass- Boston (Wheately Building) 1-3pm, open to public and FREE! we 4-21 Disco Biscuits Stone Coast Brew, Portland ME 207-773-2337 ?we 4-21 Jupiter Coyote Iron Horse, Northampton MA 413-584-0610 we 4-21 Strangefolk Somerville Theatre, MA 617-625-4088 we 4-21 EBKT U of Vermont- Billings Center, Burlington VT 802-656-2060 FREE & open to the public t- 4-22 AllSet Harpers Ferry, Allston MA 617-254-9743 th 4-22 Disco Biscuits Route 20 Club, Palmer, MA 508- th 4-22 Percy Hill Husky Blues, Storrs CT 860-429-2587 th 4-22 Schleigho Tammany Hall, Worcester MA 508-791-6550 th 4-22 Strangefolk Somerville Theatre, MA 617-625-4088 fr 4-23 AllSet Common Ground, Brattleboro VT 802- fr 4-23 Brothers Fizz Landsowne Street Music Hall 617-536-2100 fr 4-23 Disco Biscuits Commercial St, Worcester MA 508-797-4550 fr 4-23 Entrain Scuttlebutt's, Salem MA 978-741-3850 fr 4-23 moe. Assumption College, Worcester 508-767-7058 fr 4-23 Strangefolk Colby College, Waterville ME 207- fr 4-23 Wilco/VicChesnut Avalon, Boston MA 617-262-2424 fr 4-23 Laughing Water The Claddagh, Lawrence MA sa 4-24 Disco Biscuits Curry College, Boston, MA - afternoon show - ACT I sa 4-24 Disco Biscuits The Ocean Mist, Matunek, RI - ACT II sa 4-24 Hornsby/Tedeschi Hatch Shell, Boston MA 617- sa 4-24 Strangefolk U-Vermont, Burlington VT 802-656-3090 sa 4-24 Chin Ho! Higher Ground, Winooski, VT sa 4-24 Laughing Water Colby College, Waterville ME - 2PM sa 4-24 Conehead Buddha Stone Coast Brew, Portland ME 207-773-2337 sa 4-24 Seth Yacavone Blues Band: Castelton State College, Castelton,VT Spring Bash (8-9:30) sa 4-24 EBKT w/ Viperhouse Keene State College - Solar Fest - Keene, NH 2 PM - FREE & open to public sa 4-24 EBKT - EXTRAVAGANJA '99 - Amherst MA - Town Common @ 5:30 pm FREE su 4-25 Ben Folds Five URI, Kingston RI 401- su 4-25 Disco Biscuits Brown Univ, Providence RI - afternoon show su 4-25 Chin Ho! University of VT, Burlington we 4-28 JiggleTheHandle Libby's, Durham NH 603-868-5542 we 4-28 Ominous Seapods Club Metronome, Burlington VT 802- th 4-29 AllSet Bridgewater State College MA 508-697-1200 th 4-29 JiggleTheHandle Paradise, Boston MA 617-562-8804 th 4-29 Laughing Water The Beachcomber, Quincy MA th 4-29 Chin Ho! Stone Coast - Laconia, NH fr 4-30 Ben Folds Five Williams College, Williamstown MA 413- fr 4-30 Joe Deveau Commonwealth Brewing Company 617- fr 4-30 Entrain Harpers Ferry, Allston MA 617-254-9743 fr 4-30 JiggleTheHandle Met Café, Providence RI 401-861-2142 fr 4-30 Max Creek Toad's Place, New Haven CT 203-624-TOAD fr 4-30 Zen Tricksters Middlebury College, VT 802- fr 4-30 Chin Ho! w/Colin Hay of Men at Work - Emerald City, Montpelier, VT sa 5-01 Bash on the Grass: w/Parliament Funkadelic, freebeerandchicken, Sector 9, Soulive, and Addison Groove Project- Village Lawn, University of Hartford. (see FYI section for more details) FREE! FREE! sa 5-01 Ben Folds Five Tufts University, Medford MA 781- sa 5-01 JiggleTheHandle Commercial St Cafe, Worcester 508-797-4550 sa 5-01 Max Creek Living Room, Providence RI 401-521-5200 sa 5-01 Seth Yacavone Blues Band: Rynborn, Antrim, NH sa 5-01 Chin Ho! Café Eclipse - Concord, NH mo 5-03 JazzMandolinProj Old City Hall, Montpelier VT 802- sa 5-29 DMB / Santana Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro MA 508-543-8200 su 5-30 DMB / Santana Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro MA 508-543-8200 su 5-30 JazzFest TBD, Boston MA (details below) tu 6-02 Bela Fleck Club Casino, Hampton Beach NH 603-929-4100 we 6-03 Bela Fleck Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville CT 860- 6-18>20 Gathering Of The Vibes ! Bridgeport CT (details below!) sa 6-26 Allman Brothers Grate Woods, Mansfield MA 617-931-2000 mo 7-12 Phish Grate Woods, Mansfield MA - mail order 4-05 tu 7-13 Phish Grate Woods, Mansfield MA - mail order 4-05 7-17->18 Phish OswegoCountyAirport, Volney NY 315-472-0700 7-30->8-01 The Beatroots present 3 days of Music, Union Fairgrounds, Union, ME. Featuring: The Laura Love Band, Peter Mulvey, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jiggle the Handle, Inanna Akwapim, The Recipe, The Nields, Smokin' Grass, Entrain, Jim's Big Ego, Maggie, Pierce & EJ, Gordon Stone Band, and many, many more! Ticket info: (207)667-6585 For more info, check out: www.beatroots.com. - 13->15 Berkshire Mountain MusicFest (details below) 617-435-3003 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ other tour dates, festivals, and fun stuff ============================================ MimiStock - Mimi Fishman's Bday www.netspace.org/seapods/mimistock.jpg 4-09 Styleens Rythym Palace Syracuse NY 315-472-2665 String Cheese Incident, viperHouse, Jay Davis Band & Frank Carmichael 4-10 Styleens Rythym Palace Syracuse NY 518- Ominous Seapods, Jazz Mandolin Project JazzFest (Bell Atlantic Fest?) www.flecktones.com 5-30 TBD, Boston MA 617- Bela Fleck, many more Gathering Of The Vibes !!! www.ttapes.com/vibes99 6-18>20 Seaside Memorial Park Bridgeport CT 800-677-8650 Gov't Mule, moe., Strangefolk, Deep Banana Blackout, Percy Hill, John Scofield, Slip, Zen Tricksters, Disco Biscuits, Max Creek, viperHouse Big Wu, Silverspoon, many more ! High Sierra Music Fest www.hsmusic.net 7-01/04 Bear Valley, CA 510-420-1529 Bela Fleck, String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon, Day By The River, Dr Didg, DarolAnger/MikeMarshall, Wolfman Washington, Tony Furtado Band Karl Densons Tiny Universe, The Slip, Living Daylights, Keller Williams Jiggle The Handle, Smokin' Grass & many many more ! PhishFest '99 www.phish.com 7-17/18 Oswego County Airport Volney NY 315-472-0700 Berkshire Mountain MusicFest www.berkfest.com 8-13>15 Butternut Basin Ski Area, Great Barrington MA 617-435-3003 Strangefolk, Deep Banana Blackout, Jiggle The Handle, Living Daylights Vinyl, many more - order tickets by 4-20 for a $35 discount ! Max Verna (from Ominous Seapods) plays at Savannah's in Albany NY every monday night, around 8:00PM til 10:30 PM - 518-425-9647
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