Medeski, Martin, and Wood - 7/33-23/99 - Stubb's
Barbecue -
Austin, TX
Allman Brothers Band
The Backyard - Austin, Texas
Sunday July 25
by Doug Payne
You know, it's really kind of hard to find words to write a review
for this show because it was so damn incredible. I was talking to
my friends before the show, and I predicted they would start off the
show with Don't Want You No More/It's Not My Cross To Bear. Lo
and behold, those guys walked onstage and started with a little of
the old DUUH DUUH Duh Duh DUUUUUUHHHHH. Gotta love it. I was so
close I could see young Derek Trucks slide moving up and down, side
to side.
Dickey Betts was really moving and shaking the whole time--I really
kind of think these guys are partial to Texas, because Dickey
was all smiles, (Last time they played the Backyard, Dickey looked out
at the crowd and said, "Whoooeey, this is Willie country!"--and for those
of you keeping score, that is Willie as in Nelson) There was many
a time I caught Gregg Allman grinning as he watched Derek put the moves
on. But, I digress. The Allman Brothers really hit their first record
hard, as they also played a SMOKING version of Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
(this song in itself was worth the price of admission). They hit Black
Hearted Woman, Please Call Home, and Dreams in the encore.
This summer, I think the band decided to retool Southbound. As a
result it has become a real funkified jam--this may be a direct result
of throwing Oteil into the mix--,and the crowd was really shaking.
After the set break, the 4 Horseman of the apocalypse--Gregg, Derek,
Dickey, and Oteil returned armed with acoustic guitars and set the
crowd straight with Seven Turns and Melissa. It's crazy when you hear
Gregg say, "This is a song I wrote a LONG time ago", and then you hear
him strum the opening chords to Melissa. Dickey's acoustic soloing on
this song was especially sweet. The Allman Brothers also have an
excellent habit of leading into Blue Sky by way of a Franklin's Tower
intro. The Tower just flows right into Blue Sky so beautifully. It's
just meant to be. My only complaint is that they don't sing Franklin's
Tower. They just jam on it for a couple minutes. I would love to see
Dickey and Gregg join in for a rousing chorus of "Roll Way, the Dew".
Les Brers in A Minor was bad ass--I love that bass line--and it led
into the drum solo. You can really tell that Butch Trucks cares when
he steps behind those kettle drums during the solo. Those rolling
sounds will blow your mind. Butch, Jaimoe, and Marc Quinones really
create both a visual and audio wall of drums, and you can't help but
stand there with your mouth open as drool oozes down your face.
I really think the Allman Brothers' partiality for Texas--or at least
the Backyard--really holds true, as the band treated the audience to
two songs during the encore. In my prior concert experiences, they
normally encore with No One to Run with Anymore and then wave goodbye.
The crowd got to hear this fine song, but they had to "sit through"
Dreams first. Dreams was totally bad ass, man. You get some really
sweet slide and Gregg booming out with the bluesiest voice on the planet.
This is one guy for whom smoking cigerettes every day for 30 years has
really paid off. No One to Run With Anymore ends the show. Its a
great song--a great closer because it speaks the truth. They have
been around for 30 years. They emerged from a time when music was
king--there will never be a time like that again. Their peers
included the likes of Jimi Hendrix, the Dead, Janice Joplin, Mike
Bloomfield, Freddy King, etc. Greats such as these are gone but not
forgotten. The Allman Brothers are carrying on the tradition, yet
they are elevated to a level as yet unattainable by aspiring jam bands.
They truly have no one to run with anymore.
Smilin' Jack Update
Utah Makes Good
SMILIN JACK SIGNS RECORD DEAL
SMILIN JACK, the Park City based jam band has just signed a major
record deal with RIPE & READY Records. The band will be nationally
distributed through BIG DADDY Distribution. Ripe & Ready is based
in New York City. They are known for signing Jam bands and have been
a stepping stone for many up coming bands. They also are home for
some legendary acts. "FACES IN THE CLOUDS," is due for national
release on September 28, 1999. The band's debut album is well known
to Utah fans from sales at local performances, stores and radio airplay
on KRCL. The album was originally released on Feb. 14, 1998 "Smile TOO",
Smilin Jack's second album will be out in the late Fall 99. The band
has been working on the album all summer in between short tours of the
surrounding Rocky Mountain states. The plans are to do a tour of the
east coast before the end of the year.
More details available on these websites:
American Independent Music
Medeski, Martin, and Wood
Stubb's Barbeque
Austin, TX
July 22 and 23
by Felipe Melchor
Of course everyone is pumped that MMW is in town for two nights.
The crowd was medium sized but it was nice.. got there a little early
and got a nice view right in front of Billy Martin..Well DJ logic got
everyone moving with some brief preshow spinning. The records he was
spinning are great super beats, so fluid and smooth..plus the BASS in
YO face...But then it was time..the guys took stage without Logic for
the first set..It was a rather warm day and everyone was ready to sweat,
including the band. Medeski was on the grand piano for the first set.
Chris switched it up between the upright and electric, and Billy had a
magnificent setup of percussive instruments..
They started pretty serious..immediately falling into a deep free
form jazz improvisation..it was almost ear shatterin...testing
boundaries of music as anyone knows it..nobody moved....all
eyes on the maestros at work...nobody moved for the first couple of
songs...just staring...I don't even think the music was danceable....but,
the great thing was that we all knew the grooves were coming....so
they made us wait about 3 or 4 song...then the boom....they played a song
called "BLue Pepper" a Duke Ellington tune..they said they were
celebrating Duke's 100th birthday this year...Each set had a solo
from everyone...the solos were just speechless and indescribable..
their faces said it all..you know what i mean if youve seen them
upclose..the 1st set was great...i knew it would only get better..
2nd set with Logic and Medeski on the organs..
By this time the band was pleased with the turnout and energy...
they were gonna tear it up..i dont know exactly what happened in
that set, but it was heavenly ..non stop grooves..im not really sure
of song names but i think Night Marchers, Bubblehouse, and Chubb
Subb were all included. Billy Martin had the sweetest percussive
instruments I've ever seen...absolutely amazing to watch him
find which sound he likes the most...just goes through and tests
them all out...various shakers, nutshells, at least five different
types of whistles...again in the second set, each member took his
turn doing mind boggling solos.
The show was absolutely fantastic...everything I expected and
much more...DJ Logic was with them for the entire second set and
closer...getting better and better everytime i see him he is.
Its great to watch such a diverse combination of music blend together
into melodic grooves. I also love in the 2nd set when the band stops
groovin and just chills and watches logic tear it up...Logic builds
some musical tension in his own right and then KAPOW! they all hop
back on the previous groove, its a great thing to see.
Another great aspect of the show is when one member chills out and
watches the others have their own groov...just Chris and Billy playin'
...Jon payin' close attention...or vice versa...amazed how
deep of a jam just two members can acheive. The encore was solid,
when they closed the second set the house lights came on so
everyone started to take off...I and others knew that MMW usually
employs a encore. The band came out and shook their heads about
people leaving...not in dissapointment...kinda like you guys
will be sorry you missed this one. The closer was great the band was
having a great time...I dont think Medeski wanted to quit.
Well once again MMW manages to blow everyone away and show everyone
why they might possibly be the most inventive and imaginative group in
music today. I didn't make it to the second show, but i heard nothin'
but good things. The second night was probably better than the first.
My friend did tell me one fact about the second night on the 23rd. He
said that before the band started, Jon looked over at Chris and said
FUCK IT UP...that's how the second night began...you can only imagine
how great that show was.
Please send any and all submissions to Chris Gardner at chris__gardner@hotmail.com
