The Motet CD Release Party
The Boulder Theater
Boulder, CO
Thursday, November 30, 2000
Bridget Pleines

If you have yet to see The Motet live, its about time you got up off your ass and got ready to dance!!  Last week The Motet performed live at the historic Boulder Theater in Boulder, CO for their long-awaited CD release party for their new CD Play.   This CD furthers the idea of The Motet's truly unique and original sound which has been labeled as Afri-Cuban funk.  There sound blends together influences ranging from New Orleans Funk and New York Jazz to traditional West African and Cuban folk music, making for a truly new and unique sound all of their own.  The show featured songs from both the new CD and the previous CD Breathe.  And let me tell you, if you were able to sit down at this show, you were not listening!!

As I walked into the Boulder Theatre, I was astonished at the size of the crowd.  Everyone came out for this event.  Openers, United Dope Front, were on the prowl.  As I walked in with their funky sounds, it was time to get a drink and get on the dance floor.  After a short break, it was time for what we had all been waiting for, The Motet to hit the stage and show us the new sounds of the CD we had all been hearing so much about!!

The show started with a long percussion driven jam of Soli.  All the members of the band brought out their percussion instruments for this jam, and it was simply amazing.  But, what stood out most about this jam were the beat abilities of drummer Dave Watts and percussionist Scott Messermeth. Dave Watts, a graduate of Berklee School of music, has toured with bands such as Shockra, The Tony Furtado Band, and The Zambiland Orchestra while, Messermeth spent years touring and playing with acts including The Rebirth Brass Band, Galactic, and Life of Riley.  It is just now that both players have truly found their musical niche with the multi-talented members of The Motet. Soli went into a crazy jam of What's Mine is George's which moved right into The Archer or The Arrow.  This song truly displayed the vocal prowess of lead singer Jans Ingber and the harmonic qualities of the entire band, while also featuring the chops of Steve Vidaic on keyboards,organ, Rhodes, Moog and piano and the understated, yet dramatic guitar sounds of Michael Tierman.  After The Archer or The Arrow came Yemaya and then Know Her which went into one of my favorite, Rumbata.

After that was much, much more Motet craziness that you had to see to believe!!  But, I must say that my favorite was the Encore featuring Because and Belly, an original funk tune off of Breathe.

The Motet is definitely one band you have to see to understand/believe.  If you are a jamband fanatic and have yet to see them, you are definitely missing out!!!  So check out their website and get to the next show in your area!!

Leftover Salmon's Mile High Millennium II!
by Jeff Buske

High from Colorado,

Some truly inspiring shows have come and gone in the recent months.  One run that stands foremost in my mind as being truly magical was the shows played by current, fantastic incarnation of Phil & friends, who happen to be returning to the Denver Philmore in Feb. In fact ,lucky for us, almost all the groups that played in fall are returning - Sector 9, The Big Wu, Miracle Orchestra (Spring), Charlie Hunter, SCI & friends(Hornsby, and Feat!) , Sam Bush.

The list of great musicians traveling to the Rockies goes on, and just brings me further away from the point of this review, namely, Leftover Salmon's Mile High Millennium II! If you're looking for a complete setlist or a coherent analysis of Leftover's New Year, you may want to turn elsewhere, after reading this of course. This year's festivities took place in the heart of downtown Denver at the historic Paramount Theater. Downtown sported a different look from last year's barricades and riot gear clad cops.  Instead there was actually a party goin' on. There were a lot of people milling about, but the freaks were in the Paramount Theater. I always appreciate when a band and their extended family really put their heart into the proceedings. Examples were everywhere from the Day-Glo colored, makeshift downstairs lounge to the exquisite city stage backdrop which resembled the set from Conan or Letterman.

I was there for the whole show which began with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band kicking it off. Unfortunately for set list connoisseurs, the altitude wasn't the only thing that was a mile high, so song titles may be far and in-between. When Salmon came out , they were a little different with a new bassist and drummer (who debuted at the Planet Salmon festival in Sept.)and a newly added keyboard player(!) These new guys knew how to keep the flow without overplaying or stepping on Vince, Drew and Mark's toes.  Euphoria made an appearance early on, about the third tune, so the crowd knew they were in for a ride. More songs were played, and they finished the first set with Breakin' Thru. The band was also in high spirits and played extremely well with many song teases and a dip from time to time into the bag of traditional bluegrass. I seem to recall hearing Jokester and Better as well as a fairly new Vince tune about life on the road and having a good time.

Later on into the night, and the parade was on and the Dirty Dozen was in full effect.  Many cats had costumes which, along with the sousaphone player, really added to the carnival atmosphere. Party favors were handed out including plastic champagne bottle noise poppers. The city set was put to use with a mini fireworks display, I suppose to mimic the one happening in Denver, complete with confetti showers and the Mayor McCheese elevated on a large pole. The giant projected digital clock was in use again, and after Dirty Dozen/Salmon played All  Over Now, the countdown began. Salmon then returned entirely in silver, Vince appeared as a strange spaceman covered, I mean completely covered, in silver. Very trippy stuff, a great  version of Blues In A Bottle, and Knocked Out Loaded as well as Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow, carried the energy right along. I can't wait to get the discs to see what else they played. The night came to a close well past midnight with Wake and Bake complete with audience participation. Perhaps the biggest faux pas of the night came when Vince yelled, "Sing it Rebirth!", confusing the Dirty Dozen Brass Band with The Rebirth Brass Band, who they also played with at Planet Salmon. After leaving the theater to the tune of the Andy Griffith show, I would say Salmon once again showed us "some Kinda Fun!"

Taking a Trip to Larryland
Sonny's - Albuquerque, NM
January 5, 2001
by Erik Zsemlye

Any band that can start a jam with a rousing tribute to Tenacious D (The Greatest Band On Earth) and finish twenty minutes later with the Simpsons theme is all right in my book.

When I opened the Alibi, the weekly arts and entertainment rag here in Albuquerque, and saw that Larry was coming to town, I was pleasantly surprised.  I had heard just a snippet of them during a show they were playing during South By Southwest in their hometown of Austin, TX a couple of years ago.  I remember really digging what I heard, but I had to move on to another bar (anyone that's been to a SXSW will understand).  Since then, I've seen their name pop up on different websites, but haven't had a chance to see them.  This past weekend, I was finally fortunate enough to catch a full-on Larry experience.

I could hear the sounds of the band as I paid my cover, and from what I heard, I assumed that the place was going to be jumping.  Unfortunately, as I made my way to the stage, I noticed a less-than-rowdy crowd.  The only person out of his seat was the obligatory drunk guy, who was staggering around and pointing his finger at various members of the band as they played a lick that he found particularly pleasing.  None of this seemed to phase the band, however.  They were playing as if they were in front of an arena crowd.  I couldn't believe the amount of sound that was coming from this small stage. I immediately began to groove.  After a while, others gradually found their way to the dance floor, and found themselves swept away by the groove as well.

Larry is a six-piece band (joined this night by a local percussionist) - two lead guitars, bass, drums, harmonica, and a lead singer - whose style is reminiscent of Widespread Panic and Blues Traveler.  These guys put out highly danceable rock and roll, seasoned here and there with blues, funk, and maybe even a little zydeco.  I went to this show not knowing what to expect. To be perfectly honest, I was just going to observe.  I was pretty tired, and by myself, so my original intention was just to go, check out a few songs, and head back home.  However, once the music hit me, all those plans went out the window.  As the great Bob Marley said about music, "When it hits you feel no pain."  All my tiredness left my body, and I danced with the band until the last note.  The same thing seemed to happen to many others in attendance as well, since the small crowd's energy level rose as the second set began, and this obviously pleased the band.

Here's hoping that I get another chance to see Larry in the near future.