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Northeast Regional Report
Edited by Tony Oliveira & Peter SahlinHi folks,
Hey all, Looks like the Summer Music season is winding down and fall is right around the corner. No need to dwell on its passing. Hopefully, everyone had as much fun as I did this summer. With all the great music both in New England and in the Northeast in general, it kind of hard not. Anyhow, there is still time to squeeze in a bit more. Check the "festivus section" to see what I'm yapping about. I've also decided to put up some general review guidelines, as it seemed some of you were wondering what they were, and hopefully, it will clear up some questions and get some of you to submit more of them! 'Tis all.till next month, remember to keep getting your live music fix.
-Tony
REVIEW B&P OFFER: (Analog Only) Just a reminder, I will pick one review each month with the winner receiving a B&P offer from my dat list, so let's keep them coming! I won't necessarily pick the most well written review; in fact, the winner will be somewhat random. Last month's winner is our first repeat winner Dan Alford congrats! BTW, Dan is leaving my region
, so I'd just like to thank him for all his past contributions and encourage some of you to step up and help fill the void. Thanks Dan!
FYI * FYI * FYI * FYI >>> FOR YOUR INFORMATION <<< FYI * FYI * FYI * FYI
DRUMMING ABOUT YOU w/Bob Bloom - participatory concerts:
August 22nd - On this date at 2:00 pm, the Berklee College of Music will host (and I'll facilitate) a free drum circle as the culmination of its' annual "Percussion Festival".
Here's an opportunity to play along with some of the world's most inspiring hand drummers.
Berklee will be providing some drums, or bring your own. The event will be held at the courtyard of the Prudential Center in Boston.
For more information, call Berklee at 617-266-1400.
September 4th - There will be a Drumming About You drum circle at 3:00pm. At the main stage of the Riverfront Plaza as part of the opening ceremonies of the Riverfront Recapture project.
Bring your hand drum, or play one of mine. (Bob Bloom)
*FESTIVUS! ** FESTIVUS! ** FESTIVUS! ** FESTIVUS! ** FESTIVUS! ** FESTIVUS! *
AUGUST 28TH AND 29TH - WORMTOWN MUSIC FEST
WHERE: STEPPING STONE RANCH- ESCOHEAG, RI
FEATURING:
Max Creek
Disco Biscuits, Zen Tricksters, Percy Hill
Foxtrot Zulu, MoonBoot Lover
Loose Change, Toni Brown Band
Gruvis Malt, Arthur Dent Foundation
Pork-n-Beans, Fat Apple, Juggling Suns
Electric Blue & the Kozmic Truth
Bruce Mandaro Band
Uncle SammyFor more set times, ticket info, or directions surf over to: www.wormtown.com
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Sept 4th and 5th -Garden Of Eden Festival http://www.strangefolk.com Addison County Field Days, New Haven VT 802-654-8740 two days of Strangefolk, Gordon Stone, and Bread & Puppet - fun stuff!
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SEPTEMBER 11th - "WNEC's Back 2 School Bash" -Western New England College - 1215 Wilbraham Rd. Springfield, MA
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Showtime is 12 noon till sometime around 10pm
Line-up and approximate times:
12:00 Triskyt Falls
1:30 Schleigho
4:00 Blind Man's Sun
7:00 The Slipthe cost is $10 for general public, free for students... also, there will be plenty of free food.
SHOW REVIEWS: REVIEWS! REVIEWS! REVIEWS! REVIEWS! REVIEWS! REVIEWS!
GENERAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
I pretty much accept anything as far as reviews go, as long as they pertain to jambands. Rreally, this is a very broad category, and I give a lot of leeway on this too. Of course, I reserve the right to not use anything or to edit them as I see fit. You will get full credit for reviews and I generally take a hands-off approach to editing, meaning I don't want to change the feel of your review, after all, YOU were there, not me. Some important things to keep in mind. Deadline! Our deadline is the 5th of the month. This may change in the future, but for now, that is it. You can still send me your review if you miss the deadline; I "may" still be able to get it in, if not it will be used in the next issue. Please run "Spell-Check" before submitting your reviews. Also, if you are referring to song titles, please put them in quotations. When sending them in, it's best to just put them in the body of the e-mail or mail them as .txt. If you send something else there maybe a chance that I won't be able to open it because of software incompatibilities. The best way to get a feel for what the reviews are like is by reading past ones. Remember you don't have to be a journalist or professional writer, you just had to be at the show. If you have any specific questions, you can always scroll on up to the top of this page and just send me an e-mail. I promise to be gentle. I guess that's it for now. Looking forward to getting some new reviews and reviewers in the coming months.
-Tony
4th Annual Winter Island Blues and Music Festival
July 10th and 11th - Salem, MABy Tony Oliveira
It isn't very often that I get a chance to catch a festival that I actually find to be relaxing. Like many of you, most of my summers are spent seeing a lot of live music and much of it at multi-act festivals around the Northeast. You know the type, camping, in a field or park, usually pretty hot, and full of "extracurricular activities" in addition to taking in a full day's worth of music. Don't get me wrong, I love these things, but the last word I would use to describe my weekends spent this way would be "relaxing". I'm usually exhausted by the time they are over, and dragging at work on Monday. It was with this thought in the back of my mind that I decided to check out this little festival. I believe that in past years, it has been heavier on the blues and a little lighter on the so-called jambands, but this year, they seemed to strike a pretty good balance, so I grabbed a lawn chair and headed out to Salem to take in some sun and some fine music. I had never been to this site, but it was pretty decent. They actually have camping for regular folks on the grounds and access to the ocean too. The way the stage was set-up was pretty conducive to relaxing. The stage was set up at the foot of a small, grassy hill, which provided some natural bleachers, so there was no need to stand up if you were a bit back. Great for a blanket as well, and the cool, ocean breeze didn't hurt either ;)
Day 1 - I arrived in the afternoon, so the first band that I caught was the Derek Trucks Band. I've seen them a few times, mainly at bars and this was a nice change of pace. Derek was..well, Derek. If you've seen him before you can understand why the Allmans have chosen him to fill their vacancy. Everyone always harps on his age, but it really doesn't matter that boy can flat out play the slide guitar with almost anyone. The atmosphere was way too relaxing to worry about getting a set-list, I was more worried about getting a sunburn actually ;) In other words, there is no song play-by-play, sorry. I will say the band seemed a bit more relaxed than my other times seeing them in bars. They looked like they were having as much fun as everyone else. In any event, it was a nice way to kick of the day for me. Next up was Jazz is Dead. I had heard good things about these guys for a year or so now, and it's not that I didn't believe everyone, but honestly I just kept thinking "oh boy, not another dead cover band!", boy was I pleasantly surprised. The thought of a jazz-tinged band playing dead tunes did sound pretty interesting, but since there are so many bands covering the Dead these days, you can understand my pessimism. Anyhow, I really enjoyed their set more so than anything else I heard that day! I guess the biggest difference/plus for them was that they didn't just cover the dead, they interpreted them and put their own spin on some very familiar material. I should mention there are no lyrics, which felt a bit strange at first. I'll admit to singing some of the parts in my head at first, but once I got past that, I realized that there really was no need for them..apologies to one Jerome Garcia and Robert Hunter ;) Seems like a lot of people were there mainly for JID, and they were really into them..dancing barefoot and having a great time. Me, I was glued to my seat, my head was dancing, but my feet and more importantly my butt, said no. Derek Trucks even joined them for a couple of tunes. If I recall one of them was "Scarlet Begonias" ("Row Jimmy" was the other). I do recall Derek doing some wonderful slide work. Not up and down the fret work, but holding notes so eloquently while Jimmy Herring worked his magic in the background. It was truly a unique version when compared to the Dead and all those bands that have covered that song. The set ended with an amazing St. Stephen ->Eleven and a Dark Star encore! I guess this was Jazz Is Dead's first appearance in the Boston area, but I hope it certainly isn't their last! Local favorite - Entrain was up next. They used to play a lot of shows out on the Cape and the islands. I can see why. They are a fun party atmosphere type band. It was during them that I noticed a lot of the folks who had been sitting till this point, up and dancing. Entrain has a very good rhythm section and they are quite danceable in this regard. I thought it was really cool to see people of all ages dancing together, and just having fun. Again, I should point out that this isn't what I'm used to. I'm 29 years old, and heaven knows I feel pretty old at all the usual festivals I go to. I must admit, it was nice to feel younger than most of the folks there :) Plus, this was a festival that a lot of families came out for, so in addition to dancing older folks...you had their kids up and getting down. This definitely brought a smile to my face. After Entrain, it was Booker T. and the MG's, that day's headliner. I had never seen these guys before. I didn't even think I had heard a song by them, but once again, I was wrong. Once they broke into "Green Onions", which is their hit song, quite a few more people got up to dance and sing along. I instantly recognized this song as something I must have heard on AM radio back when I was a kid (not that it debuted then). I just took it all in. Very enjoyable way to end the evening.
Day 2 - This day kicked off with the Slip; the local (to Boston) band that is fast becoming a favorite of mine. These guys are an extremely talented trio; bass, guitar, and drums. Mainly they play instrumentals, but occasionally they will sing. Actually, they are writing more and more songs, so that trend will surely increase. No matter, these guys are incredible. Their jazz laden improv will make you struggle to find a category to put them in. They had a one hour slot on this day, and despite just getting back from the west coast, where they played something like 10 shows in 10 days; they still managed to pack enough energy and emotion in this set to make the few of us who had ventured out early extremely happy. Shit, they were even scheduled to play the Ho-Down in Western, MA later that day- how's that for being dedicated? I'm still pretty unfamiliar with their song titles, but I did recognize quite a few of them, and I've noticed a very nice improvement in their vocals, as well. Quick comment on that- I've always thought that vocally they remind me of Steely Dan. Make sure to catch these guys soon if you haven't already, because the rest of the country is quickly realizing what some of us Boston area fans have know for sometime, mainly that these guys are amazing! Scheduled to be next was the Jazz Mandolin Project, but they had not showed up yet, so Shemekia Copeland moved up a slot in the order. I had never seen her before, and had no idea what to expect, but when they announced that she had numerous awards for her vocals, I knew I was in for something. This woman has a voice that belies her physical stature. It was extremely powerful and soulful. I have no idea what her and her back-up band played, but quite a bit of it had to do with audience participation. I specifically recall one song that she pitted the women in the audience against the men. It was pretty funny, as she would sing the song, and the women would sing the chorus "My kind of guy!" and then eventually letting the men chime in with " My kind of Gal!" Regardless, the crowd, who was obviously more in tune with the blues artists than I was, really seemed to enjoy her, as did I. If I recall correctly Entrain was up next and they easily kept the crowd up and dancing. Good to see that the crowd energy from Shemekia was not wasted. Next up was Jazz Mandolin Project who had shown up in the interim. They played their typical, wonderful show. In fact, I finally made it out of my seat and got up front with all the other fans. It was kind of strange in that, most of the people who were there were more in tune with the blues artists, while you clearly tell who was their for the jamband aspect of the show. I actually, thought this was quite cool because being exposed to music you normally don't listen to can be quite enjoyable. The highlight of the JMP set was a tune featuring Chris Dahlgren on bass. Is there a better stand-up bass player on the scene>.if so, then I haven't seen him yet. This man is simply a virtuoso. The tune was just basically him eking out all kinds of sounds on his bass, eventually leading to a duel with the drummer.kind of a follow the leader type thing. I wish I could remember the drummer's name, but I do recall him being the same guy who was in the line-up at about this time last year. Jamie was of course his usual outstanding self. I find it amazing how he can keep my attention so well with a mandolin, and I've always loved the way his notes just seem to carry so clearly. After they wrapped it up, it was Jazz Is Dead's turn. They played an entirely different set than the previous day. Different feel as well. Unfortunately, I can't recall much of the setlist, but that was mainly because I joined the decent sized crowd - up front - for a little ho-down, instead of thinking about what they were playing, sorry, but listening and enjoying the music still comes first for me J I would like to add that if you are in any way, shape or form - a fan of the Grateful Dead that you should get out and catch these guys at some point it should be a real treat for you! Finally, it was the Bo Diddley up next. This man has been touring on his own for the last few years. It was very cool to see someone up there who is considered a blues legend. His back-up band on this day was none other than Entrain. I kind of found this somewhat strange- enjoyable, but I just imagined he would have a more bluesy back up band. Again, the crowd was really into him, and let's just say this man knows how to work them. He was extremely engaging up on stage, and getting down like he was a 20-year-old again! I didn't stay for his whole set as I was exhausted and wanted to beat the traffic out, but his set pretty much typified the whole weekend; people of all ages dancing and having a great time, with great weather and just a real nice atmosphere. Seemed like a great place to take the kids, the wife, or the whole family out for some summer fun. Hopefully, next year the tradition will continue with the 5th Annual Winter Island Blues Fest.
Phish at Great Woods
July 12, 1999 - Mansfield, MABy Dan Alford
Ahhh... the long wait has finally ended. From the second that first set list scrolled across my screen, I have been anxiously awaiting the boys' glorious return to Great Woods, a venue with rude security and horrible parking; just the sort of place that churns out great shows. Since New Year's, I've caught a handful of solo acts and enjoyed them all, but Phish's return to Boston after almost three years was bound to be something. And what better way is there to say hello than with a ragin' Foreplay > Long Time opener? It's stuff like that that makes these guys absolutely kick ass. (For those not well versed in classic rock the paired set of tunes is by Boston.) It was lengthy, but not long, and had a screechy transition into Mikes bubbling intro to "DWD". A fun version at about 20 minutes, the jam started with an up tempo jam led by Trey... travelling on that Type A course for about 10 minutes to a point where Mike thumped out a series of low end clusters that sent Trey into a staccato Trey noodle, which lingered throughout the rest of the song. A launch pad for serious jams in the past few years, this "DWD" never really lost itself, but as I said, was fun nonetheless. GBOTT is a great groove that moves along slowly, clacking over the rails... sort of similar to "Caution" in that respect, although this is a trip through a river valley, where as "Caution" is a train wreck. It wasn't much different from TAB versions. For me, the highlight of the set and probably the night was the following pair of songs. First, "What's the Use" is awesome. I hadn't heard it yet (problems at Dry Goods), but it was obvious what it was from early on... a slow, plodding, delay looped brontosaurus of despair...absolutely breathtaking! It's like the deepest recesses of a jam, but it's a song. This was followed by a weird "Split Open and Melt" with Mike driving the song structure, which was followed by the nights best example of ego less jamming (with the possible exception of Bowie). I could do without the Bluegrass stuff all together, but "H2O" had some nice work by Page and proceeded the "Character Zero" set closer. Some folks like to get their rock n roll fix with "Chalkdust", but for me it's Zero. It simply blazes. I was out of my head.
Short set break... 30 minutes... A fun "Twist" opened with Trey grinning away... a good, upbeat jam with a pretty yellowish segment in the middle. A drop segue went into a smokin' "Moma Dance". Mike just flat-out owned this set. He has become such an incredibly strong player; he is a skyscraper sending out tsunamis of sound. Also the pre-lyrics jam was more improvised than recent versions, which is great because it had become too scripted for my taste. "Makisupa", laden with swells, followed. Key word, "Stay Kind" (I think it was Stink Kind)... into Bowie. Twenty-five minutes with a short intro and long quiet jam... so pretty and absolutely mesmerizing. This lead into Lizards; the first I've seen in almost three years. Such a fun song- with a gorgeous prayer segment. I'd almost forgotten what is was like to see it live. Also, Page dominated the drowning jam, I mean absolutely dominated! He also added some really cool color at the end of the "Guyute" closer, before lighting up the crowd with a romping "Rock and Roll" encore. Overall, it was a solid night of good music and lots of fun.
Just some general notes: I was on the lawn and the sound was great on Page's side. Also, the people were cool, not talkative, and very friendly...definitely there for the music. Additionally, I like them putting Fish in the center of the band; he is so skilled and people should really focus on his playing.
Phish at Great Woods Part II
July 13, 1999 - Mansfield, MABy Dan Alford
Day 2... the eighth anniversary of my first show at BPAC and number 48 by my count. An early rain subsided, leaving a blue sky and smiles from last night. The follow up was spectacular. "NICU" is always welcome, especially as an opener. This version had a weird ending - as though it was the closer. "The Curtain" followed. Let me rephrase that... "THE CURTAIN FOLLOWED! " Such a great song, one of my all time favorites; plus it was the opener of my first show...so glad to see it back in rotation. I was set at this point. They could've played Ginseng Sullivan over and over for the rest of the night and I would've been happy, but instead, an epic "Halley's Comet" followed. There was no ordinary blazing tail on this one, but a faint quiet jam that slowly churned into a monster delay loop groove a la "Ghost" in Copenhagen... pure bliss. Finally it went into a rousing "Roses Are Free". It tore through the crowd, everybody moving. A gritty wind down led into a rare and flawless "NO2", featuring an pretty, delicate headphones jamlet. The Chairman strode out for a welcome "Lawnboy" featuring a sparse and fun filled piano solo and just to be classic- they embarked on Reba. Mike took the lead early on and the final jam was gorgeous; everyone jelling, and Trey hitting just the right notes. Mike and Page jumped out in front, just before Trey sent the tune grinding into "Carini". Funky Bitch, another favorite, closed the set. Again Mike and Page in the forefront; the keys were phenomenal.
Set break was Miles, "A Tribute to Jack Johnson"; experimental and accessible at the same time... Miles. "Wolfman's", another launching pad for great jams, did not disappoint. At close to thirty minutes, this was a monster of jaw dropping jamlets, leading off with heavy handed rock > groove funk > some serious space... a landscape of infinite mountains, swamps, and possibilities. It got really quiet, and then "Piper". Not the smoothest transition, but those first chords give me chills every time... I've even got chills now. The boys were riding the Great Red Worm... a pair of newish tunes followed. I heard "Bug" on studio out takes; it's a good song of the BOAF ilk - made great by wonderful singing. It's one of those situations were group vocals excel and Mike was particularly strong. "Mountains" was pretty, but a fairly standard Anastasio ballad... I like it better acoustic. "Antelope"... either I was really spaced out or it was short. I remember the beginning and then found myself in the midst of the final jam... very heavy and chaotic... "Let's hear it for Dave!" Up next."Possum" with Scott Murawski of Max Creek! He BLAZED. I mean he absolutely ripped it up! Get this on tape! Hugs all around after that closer. The full five returned for Skynyrd's "Tuesday's Gone", eliciting huge cheers from the masses. Framing these shows in classic rock was perfect and Scott and Trey duo solo was phenomenal. We wandered off into the starry night; Tuesday was gone...
General notes... seemed more crowded and there was more talking where I was, but if you ask nicely most folks will keep it down. No Tweeter, I mean "Tweezer", which is good. I would hate to see the guys endorse a corporate acquisition, especially as the Fleet Center shows were titled "The New Boston Garden". Also no "Hood" although the Blimp was cruising above. I noticed, the venue has Bose equipment, which explains the good sound quality.
REVIEW: Jiggle the Handle West Coast Swing.
Editor's note: Normally, we do our reviews by the region the show took place in, but since this little review is more or less a review of a whole road trip and not just one show, we (the reviewer and I) felt that maybe we should run it in the band's home region. Enjoy.
Jigglin' All the Way
By John R. Zinkand
A few weeks ago, Jiggle the Handle blazed a trail across the country to play a summer tour primarily on the West Coast. They had a two-night stand in NYC playing with the Funky Meters, after which they made a b-line to Wyoming where they started their tour. They made the drive to the West Coast uneventfully in their new tour bus, "Yipes." The bus is an airport shuttle that has been converted. Large, comfortable seating benches, wooden bunks for all the band members, and a TV and VCR made this road trip that much more pleasurable for the hardworking team that is Jiggle the Handle. I was lucky enough to catch up with the band in Seattle, WA. I then tagged along for the fun, music, and intensity that would be the rest of their tour.
We pulled into Seattle on June 25th to catch a glimpse of the boys unloading their equipment from Yipes. They all seemed very psyched to be touring. Last year's breakdown's and problems were still fresh in their minds, but this tour would be different. The night's gig was an opening slot for the Zen Tricksters at a club known as The Showbox. Jiggle's set was short but intense. There were some friends and extended family in the crowd, which seemed to spur the boys on to playing at a very high level. "Turn Myself Back Home" was the set opener and it was played tightly. Next, the band shifted gears and played a newer tune that has a definite Latin flavor, "Breath of Life." Gary Backstrom (vocalist and guitarist) penned this new tune and certainly made it his own that night. The guitar soloing had high energy and was played smoothly. Then they played "Walking Backwards," which is a song off their new disc, 'In it Again.' Paul Wolstencroft's keyboard playing and vocals make this song a soothing treat to hear. Chris Q laid down a great bass groove with the help of drummer Greg Vasso that took us right into another tune off their new disc, "Fine Line." This song is pure disco power and had many people flailing wildly. They finished off the set with the Jiggle classic "Walk Right Out." Short, but oh so sweeeet.
The after show celebration occurred on the bus with friends and family from the area. There was a general feeling of happiness and good vibes. Assorted folks found the bus a suitable place to crash for the night, while others meandered off to other places. The next night was a headlining gig at the Rain Dancer in Seattle's University district, so no travelling was necessary. A not-so-enthused parking lot owner who wanted to see Yipes leave so he had some more parking spaces to sell, rousted the folks on the bus. He kind of looked like the guy from that one Simpson's episode that sells Kaukalsche at a stand in New York City.
The second night in Seattle was even better than the first. As the headliner, Jiggle really got the time to spread their wings a bit more and get down to some more serious musical explorations. Classic Jiggle tunes like 'Easy Street,' 'Heart of Steel,' and 'Break the Light' were jammed out to their fullest potential while brand new tunes like "Over the Edge/Spinning Charlie" wowed the crowd. Although the room was not huge, it was packed with people shaking their groove things' to the sweet, sweet Jiggle music. There was a guy in the front row that even chipped in during the night by providing some extra percussion on his large drum. Greg seemed to appreciate the help.
The next night's gig was down the I-5 corridor in a town called Hillsboro located just outside of Portland, OR. Gary, Greg, Paul and Q were excited to play the gig as it was an acoustic affair and added a little variety spice to the tour thus far. The bar, which is in the infamous Northwest McMenamin's family, was called The Rock Creek Tavern. The McMenamin's are famous for their rustic bars and incredible micro-brew. This little bar was set in the Hillsboro farmland and was a perfect setting for the acoustic evening. Jiggle played two sets to a very tuned in crowd. This was not the intense get up and dance Jiggle of the past two nights, but a more mellow rendition of what the boys do so well. They played two full sets including Jiggle classics and newer tunes. Some of the newer tunes had never been played acoustically, so there was some new territory to explore, as well. Some folks in the crowd seemed really impressed and hung out a bit after the show. Little did the band know that these guys would show up in Bend, OR the next night, after having made the 3 hour trip, just because they were so impressed with what they heard in Hillsboro.
The next day, Yipes drove over the Cascade Mountains, past Mt. Hood, and into the central Oregon town called Bend. The view of the Cascade peaks of Mt Jefferson, The Sisters, and Three-Fingered Jack were truly inspiring. And although they were tired, the playing was truly inspired, too!! Once inside the club, we met up with the guys who had driven all the way from Hillsboro for this show. They were very excited and had their video camera and tripod in hand.
The show started fairly slowly, as the band seemed to be trying to shake off a little tour weariness. The title track of their new CD opened the set in a slow and slinky kind of way. By the time they started the tune "Let it All Out," the band had hit their stride. Saucy Pauly sang his tune "Here We Are" which segued into a great jam. Gary was really wailing on the guitar and somehow the band ended up playing the tune "Invisible." Then Chris Q stepped up to the mic and the band sung the opening words to the Charlie Daniel's Band classic, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." It was played very true to the original version and was pure hoe-down fun. Almost everyone in the place was dancing like mad. Just when the night had seemingly reached its peak, the opening riff of the song "Felix" was heard. Felix was the name of Jiggle's old tour bus that gave them so many problems on tour last summer, and they have honored it in song form..what an honor!! This song is a psychedelic springboard that the band uses to catapult the music into strange new places. Tonight it led into a stellar cover of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition." Now every single person in the bar, bartender included, was up and dancing. This craziness led back into "Felix" to tie things up neatly. Then a fan of bassist Chris Q's old band, Hypnotic Clambake, asked for Chris to sing a rare song. On this night Q was in the mood and he sang what has been dubbed "Professor Q's Amazing Geography Lesson." The song mentions every country in the world in a rhyme that takes about 4 or 5 minutes..amazing. Then the band offered the crowd a chance to 'stump Jiggle.' The idea was to name a song that the crowd thought, perhaps, the band may not know. Jiggle was not stumped this evening as someone yelled "Don't Fear the Reaper." Jiggle turned into Blue Oyster Cult and had no problem with a solid rendition of the classic hit. The crowd participation continued, however, during one of the last songs played. During the slow part of the jam in "Fine Line," before it becomes a chaotic disco frenzy, there is almost total silence. The crowd decided to fill up these empty spaces with the sounds of barnyard animals- mooo, baaaaaa, meow, and oink can be heard on the tapes. A crazy end to a crazy night.
The next night was Tuesday June 28th and the band found themselves in Arcata, CA after a long and hot drive. It was great to pull into this cool, coastal, Northern California town where all the people appeared so nice. Were they ever!! The band played to a hundred or more dancing folks who were all very appreciative of the great show Jiggle put on. People were dancing and hollering as Jiggle worked into a groove during the first set. The second set continued by riding the wave of positive vibes that flowed through the place. Long hair swirling, billowy skirts flowing, and hairy legs shuffling in a unified dance. Each song had folks jumping up and down with excitement. The second set peaked with a great segue combination of Little Feat's tune, "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" that went into a vocal jam, then into "In it Again," then another vocal jam, and finally back into "Feats." After the show, many new fans piled onto the bus for some celebration. People spoke of how they enjoyed Jiggle and wanted them to come back soon. With such a warm reception, I think the band is just as eager to get back there.
The following day, Jiggle drove through winding mountains to get to Chico, CA where record temperatures seemed to beat them down. They played an afternoon set in the 103-degree heat that was very good, all things considered. The Living Daylight's from Seattle played after Jiggle and really jammed. That night the two bands played a double bill at a local bar. The attendance was not that great, but the people who were there were really enthusiastic. Someone in the crowd who had been enjoying what he heard requested the Talking Head's cover of "Slippery People." Vasso's vocal styling's on this tune really make it Jiggle's own.
With Chico behind them, the band looked forward to playing the next night's gig at Sweetwater's in Mill Valley, CA. Sweetwater's is the local bar for such legends as Santana, Phil Lesh, etc. One can feel the mystique upon entering this room filled with snapshots of bay area musicians. The owners are very nice and offered the band a delicious buffet dinner. The band then played two great sets to a mellow crowd. Everyone in the bar was tuned in closely, but there is not much room to dance in this bar. Some people managed to find room to dance on the side of the stage anyway. It is always a pleasure to visit this room in such a beautiful place as Mill Valley. A great place to stop the night before heading over to the High Sierra Music Festival in Bear Valley, CA.
Yipes pulled into the dusty grounds of High Sierra and immediately got stuck. While trying to turn the bus around, it buried it's back tires into 2 feet of dusty dirt. So there it stayed for the next day. Some Festival folks came by with a pick-up truck for the band to load their stuff into. From there, they headed over to the Lodge's pool for a Jiggle Pool Party. This show was wet-n-wild. Jiggle plays while you swim and frolic poolside. What could be better?? I'll tell you. Guest musicians. Jeff Sipe from Leftover Salmon and the temporarily defunct Aquarium Rescue Unit lent a hand and sat in for some guest drumming. He played Greg's kit during a rendition of a tune he used to play with Col. Bruce and the Unit, "Salty Dog." Dr. Didg sat in for a few tunes that he turned into rhythmic psychedelic explorations. People grooving in a pool while bands play..what a treat!
The next day, Jiggle took the Showcase Stage at High Sierra(after Gary played as The Living Daylight's guest guitarist on the Main Stage). This was my last show of the run. I was sad, but so pleased by all the great music, friends, and fun I enjoyed along the way. This last set was a memorable one. The boys caught on fire. Gary was jumping up and down, smiling, and leaning back as they jammed away. Paul was all smiles from under his black cowboy hat. Vasso was drumming like he meant it while Q actually let a smile cross his usually frowning lips. The 400 or so dancing listeners added to the energy as the band ripped and shredded versions of "Finally," "Lost and Found," "Over the Edge," and more. Then Vince from leftover Salmon stepped up on stage dressed in a big black Afro wig. He had a washboard hanging from his neck and added to Vasso's rhythm. Vince on stage made everyone more animated and the crowd really loved it. The set ended with a bluegrass style version of the Jiggle classic "Can't Get Enough." People were vibrating, sweating, laughing and trying to catch their breath by the end of this intense tune. There was no time for an encore, but new and old fans of Jiggle the Handle were extremely satisfied.
The next day, I had to drive back up to Portland where I live and work. The time had seemed to blur by. Jiggle had a few more dates including stops in Vegas and Colorado that I would miss, but I got to experience an exhilarating trip filled with great jams and good times. Although I was sad that it was all over, I was glad that it had gone so well for Jiggle. They work relentlessly and tirelessly at playing great music and it all came together so well on this tour. I can't wait to have them back.
NEW ENGLAND SHOW CALENDAR
Note: Remember, if anyone wants to add dates, but you were too late to make our issue deadline, you can still enter them manually in the JamBase.com Show Database on the homepage at www.jambands.com. It should also be noted that this comprehensive calendar is compiled mainly by a friend of mine, one Armand Turcotte, if you find it handy be sure to let him know how much you appreciate it, .his e-mail is below. You can also sign-up to receive this as monthly e-mail.take advantage of that. You don't want to miss any good music.
Tickets went on-sale for the "Summer Session" Tour, featuring four excellent bands: Galactic, Gov't Mule, moe., and String Cheese Incident ! some stops will also feature special guests - they'll be in boston on august 29, so order your tickets soon!
Plenty of other cool shows happening around New England - check the festival section below for some fun stuff - have a grate summer!
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
Let me know about any cool bands, shows, or other fun stuff!
***** make sure you call before you head to the show ! *****
New England tour dates: ( ? before date means ***unconfirmed*** ) ======================= mo 8-16 Day By The River Tammany Club, Worcester MA 508-791-6550 mo 8-16 Karl Denson Universe, HouseOfBlues Cambridge MA 617-491-BLUE tu 8-17 Karl Denson Universe, HouseOfBlues Cambridge MA 617-491-BLUE we 8-18 Entrain Seadog, Bangor ME 207-947-8009 we 8-18 Gravel Pit Asylum, Portland ME 207- we 8-18 RonLevyWildKingdom -Kitty O'Shea's - Beverly MA w/WK trio 978- th 8-19 Entrain AtlanticConection MarthaVinyard 508-693-7129 th 8-19 Gravel Pit Palace Theatre, Manchester NH 603- th 8-19 JiggleTheHandle Toad's Place, New Haven CT 203-624-TOAD th 8-19 Percy Hill Hot Tin Roof, Martha's Vineyard 508- th 8-19 RonLevyWildKingdom Rio Grande, Marblehead MA 978- th 8-19 Laughing Water - The Beachcomber - Wollaston Beach, Quincy MA. (617)-479-8989 No Cover Charge fr 8-20 Acoustic Junction Lizzard Lounge, Cambridge MA 617- fr 8-20 Allman Brothers Tweeter Center, Mansfield MA 617-931-2000 fr 8-20 Conehead Buddha The Rack, Boston MA 617- fr 8-20 Joe Deveau Kendall Cafe, Boston MA 617-661-0993 fr 8-20 Bruce Hornsby So Shore Music Circus, Cohasset 508- fr 8-20 Max Creek Living Room, Providence RI 401-521-5200 fr 8-20 RonLevyWildKingdom Club Metronome, Burlington VT 802- 8-21>22 Bayou Music Fest Croton Point Park, NY details below sa 8-21 Acoustic Junction Webster Theatre, Hartford CT 860-246-8001 sa 8-21 Conehead Buddha Stone Coast Brew, Portland ME 207-773-2337 sa 8-21 Max Creek CharterOakLanding Hartford CT 860-713-3131 sa 8-21 Slipknot Tammany Club, Worcester MA 508-791-6550 sa 8-21 RonLevyWildKingdom Portsmouth Blues Festival, NH [11 am] sa 8-21 RonLevyWildKingdom House of Blues, Cambridge MA [10 pm] sa 8-21 Laughing Water - The Alberti Hurdy Gurdy III see http://listen.to/laughingwater for details su 8-22 Entrain Waterworks, Quincy MA 617-786-2200 su 8-22 Bruce Hornsby Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis MA 508- su 8-22 Wailers Beachcomber, Wellfleet MA 508-349-6055 tu 8-24 Allman Brothers Walingford Theatre, Oakdale CT 860- tu 8-24 Percy Hill Red Hook, Portsmouth NH 603- we 8-25 Allman Brothers Walingford Theatre, Oakdale CT 860- we 8-25 Gravel Pit Toad's Place, New Haven CT 203-624-TOAD we 8-25 Spirit Of Unity ReggaeFest, BankBoston Pavillion, Boston 617- we 8-25 Ron Levy Wild Kingdom Rhumline, Gloucester MA w/ WK Trio 978- th 8-26 Entrain Atlantic Conection MarthaVinyard 508-693-7129 th 8-26 Bruce Mandaro Tammany Club, Worcester MA 508-791-6550 th 8-26 Toots & Maytalls Ocean Mist, Matunuck RI 401-782-3740 th 8-26 StevieRayVaughanTribute HouseOfBlues Cambridge 617-491-BLUE 8-27>29 Wormtown MusicFest StepStone Ranch Escoheag RI details below fr 8-27 Blind Man's Sun Tammany Club, Worcester MA 508-791-6550 fr 8-27 Max Creek Toad's Place, New Haven CT 203-624-TOAD fr 8-27 Zen Tricksters Living Room, Providence RI 401-521-5200 fr 8-27 Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Salem, MA (afternoon benefit) www.levtron.com for more info sa 8-28 FraminghamBluesFest, Framingham MA details below sa 8-28 RonLevyWildKingdom Plymouth Brewing Co, Plymouth MA 508- su 8-29 Galactic/GovtMule/moe./SCI BankBostonPavillion 617-423-NEXT su 8-29 Entrain Atlantic Beach Club, Newport RI 401- su 8-29 Radiators Beachcomber, Wellfleet MA 508-349-6055 su 8-29 RonLevyWildKingdom Kitty O'Shea's, Beverly MA w/WK trio mo 8-30 Radiators Beachcomber, Wellfleet MA 508-349-6055 mo 8-30 Toots & Maytalls House Of Blues, Cambridge MA 617-491-BLUE tu 8-31 Toots & Maytalls Higher Ground, Winooski VT 802-654-8888 we 9-01 Toots & Maytalls Lupos HH, Providence RI 401-272-5876 we 9-01 Laughing Water - Harper's Ferry - Allston, MA th 9-02 Toots & Maytalls Hot Tin Roof, Martha's Vineyard 508- th 9-02 Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom -Dodge St. Grill- Salem, MA fr 9-03 John Popper Band Toad's Place, New Haven CT 203-624-TOAD fr 9-03 Susan Tedeschi So Shore Music Circus, Cohasset 508- fr 9-03 Toots & Maytalls Nock Middle School, Newburyport MA 978- fr 9-03 Maceo Parker Beachcomber, Wellfleet MA 508-349-6055 9-04>05 Garden Of Eden Festival - Strangefolk & guests details below sa 9-04 Susan Tedeschi Rythym & Roots Fest, Charlestown RI 401- su 9-05 Susan Tedeschi CasinoBallroom, Hampton Beach 603-929-4100 we 9-08 DBB/DiscoBiscuits Higher Ground, Winooski VT 802-654-8888 fr 9-10 DiscoBiscuits/DBB Palladium, Worcester MA 508-797-9696 fr 9-10 John Popper Band Somerville Theatre, MA 617-625-4088 fr 9-10 Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Muddy River Smokehouse- Portsmouth, NH sa 9-11 Disco Biscuits Iron Horse MH, Northampton MA 413-584-0610 sa 9-11 Slipknot Wachusett Mountain, Princeton MA 978- sa 9-11 Dave Matthews & Friends, Continental Arena, E Rutherford NJ sa 9-11 Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom -Heatherfest '99, Camp Norton- Norton, MA su 9-12 Slip Outta Summer - Headliner :The Slip - (see festivus section) th 9-16 Laughing Water - The Beachcomber - Wellfleet MA 508-349-6055 fr 9-17 Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Sittin' Bull Pub - Maynard, MA fr 9-18 Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Freedom Fest, Boston Common su 9-19 Billy Bragg Somerville Theatre, MA 617-625-4088 su 9-19 Laughing Water- The 2nd Annual "Dead Days of Summer" A Benefit for The American Diabetes Foundation Francis R. Covey Outdoor Pavilion, (K of C) Lawrence, MA fr 9-24 JohnScofield/CharlieHunter Sanders Theatre, Cambridge MA 617- mo 9-27 Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Time Out Pub - Rockland, ME we 9-29 Bill Bruford RegattaBar, Cambridge MA 617-661-5000 sa 10-02 Chick Corea Berkelee PC, Boston MA 617-266-1400 ?mo 10-04 Victor Wooten House Of Blues, Cambridge MA 617-491-BLUE ?tu 10-05 Victor Wooten House Of Blues, Cambridge MA 617-491-BLUE 10-06 Laughing Water - Harper's Ferry - Allston MA 617-254-9743 sa 10-09 Phish Pepsi Arena, Albany NY 518-476-1000 su 10-10 Gov't Mule Higher Ground, Winooski VT 802-654-8888 su 10-10 Phish Pepsi Arena, Albany NY 518-476-1000 we 10-13 DarkStarOrchestra Harpers Ferry, Allston MA 617-254-9743 th 10-14 DarkStarOrchestra Harpers Ferry, Allston MA 617-254-9743 th 10-14 Laughing Water - The Beachcomber - Wellfleet MA 508-349-6055 fr 10-15 DarkStarOrchestra Pearl St, Northampton MA 413-584-7771 sa 10-16 DarkStarOrchestra Colonial Theatre, Keene NH 603- su 10-17 DarkStarOrchestra Higher Ground, Winooski VT 802-654-8888 ?tu 10-19 Al Di Meola Scullers Jazz Club, Boston MA 617-562-4111 ?we 10-20 Al Di Meola Scullers Jazz Club, Boston MA 617-562-4111 ?th 10-21 BelaFleck+bluegrass SandersTheatre, Cambridge MA 617- th 10-28 moe. Higher Ground, Winooski VT 802-654-8888 th 10-28 Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Calvin Theater- N Hampton, MA th 10-28 Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Dodge St. Grill - Salem, MA fr 10-29 Galactic Paradise Rock Club, Boston MA 617-562-8804 fr 10-29 moe. Higher Ground, Winooski VT 802-654-8888 sa 10-30 Disco Biscuits Somerville Theatre, MA 617-625-4088 fri 11-19-99 FourBitchin'Babes SandersTheatre, Cambridge MA 617- fri 11-19 Laughing Water -The Claddagh Pub fri 11-26 DerekTrucks/JMP Wetlands Preserve, NYC 212-966-4225 sa 11-27 DerekTrucks/JMP Wetlands Preserve, NYC 212-966-4225 ?? 12-99 Bob Marley Tribute, Oracabessa, Jamaica www.rockontv.com fr 12-31 Leftover Salmon Fillmore, Denver CO 303-546-2790 fr 12-31 SCI/ZenTricksters Portland CC, Portland OR 303-544-5875 fr 12-31 Widespread Panic Philips Arena, Atlanta GA 706-354-2586 other tour dates, festivals, and fun stuff ============================================ 1999 Bayou Music Festival 8-21>22 Croton Point Park, Croton-On-Hudson, NY 860-422-0000 Jimmy Cliff, Joan Jett, Robert Bradley, Jiggle The Handle, more Wormtown Music Fest 8-27>29 Stepping Stone Ranch, Escoheag RI 508-753-8882 Max Creek, Disco Biscuits, Zen Tricksters, Ominous Seapods, Bruce Mandaro & Mark Mercier, Percy Hill, Arthur Dent, Juggling Suns, more Framingham BluesFest sa 8-28 Bowditch Field, Union Ave, Framingham MA 508-897-4663 Entrain, Bellevue Cadillac, Fat City Band, Deregulators, more Garden Of Eden Festival 9-04>05 Addison County Field Days, New Haven VT 802-654-8740 two days of Strangefolk, Gordon Stone, and Bread & Puppet - fun stuff!
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