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International Report
Edited by Evan Newman - newmando@hotmail.com

KVHW CRASHES THE GATE IN VANCOUVER

I had just arrived in Vancouver from my journey across Canada when I learned that KVHW, one of todays hottest live acts was to appear at the Gate for a two night stand. I had heard of KVHW (Steve Kimock,Bobby Vega, Alan Hertz, and Ray White) through chat groups and jambands.com. But, I had yet to hear any of their material, I had been looking forward to hearing lead guitarist Steve Kimock play again after he performed wonders this summer playing guitar for The Other Ones. There were a small gathering of people from San Francisco who had been following KVHW around the west coast. In talking with them, we were told to expect the unimaginable and that what we were about to hear was not like any other music around... they were right.

As soon as Steve Kimock played the first few chords, you knew that this band was special. Kimock plays an astonishing guitar, a very crisp guitar that resembles but does not copy, his mentor from Marin County, Jerry Garcia. Kimock has the incredible gift of gathering all of the great musical elements of blues, jazz, rock and throwing them at the audience in a way that that leaves you in awe. The thumping rhythm section led by Bobby Vega of Zero fame and complemented by the booming drums of Alan Hertz. When a band like this jams, you don't want them to stop, unless it's to hear Ray White belt out songs with his soulful voice. White has a tremendous voice that complements the many styles of this band and has great range as well as a great stage presence.

After three glorious nights (they played an extra night for half price) KVHW had answered all questions. They are an extremely tight band that takes you to the places only few bands can take you. The highlight of the three nights was the song, Spring Waters. The only song played all three nights, it blew you away with it's melody and it's crowd roaring finisher with Kimock and White hitting feverish notes that were once unattainable.

The band has left a mark on Vancouver, so much that a small crowd of Vancouverites made the trek to San Francisco to catch KVHW along with Ratdog, Mickey Hart and others on New Years Eve. Catch KVHW while you can, this could be to good to last.

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The Birth of the World Wide Concert: Webcasts 1998 in Review

Many of us international jam band fans from across the globe have little access to regular concerts. For us the closest thing to being at a concert is listening to a tape. However, in 1998 many of us got closer, with many jam band concerts being broadcast over the internet. For the first time, many of us in foreign lands are hearing and seeing a show live, experiencing the light show, hanging out with other like minded people (in the chatroom), and having the exciting energy wondering "What the hell are they gonna do next?". Web casts have brought the full concert experience closer to people around the world, all with a 28.8 modem and a decent computer.

Now here are some brief reviews of what you missed in 1998:

Phish at Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI: August 1st 1998 - JamTV.
One of the highlights of the year concert wise, making almost every phan's top ten list, due to a number of grovy segues and rarities. These included a delicious "Mikes Song >> Esther >> Weekapaug Groove", as well as a "2001 >> Magilla >> 2001 >> Tweezer >> Fluffhead" that people won't stop raving about.

Of the web casts experienced this year, this one was particularly well done technically, featuring stage mounted cameras and little net congestion, largely because not many people know about it.

Farm Aid, Tinley Park, Chicago, October 3rd 1998 - Jam TV.
Phish played a short set which featured guest appearances from Neil Young amongst others, as well as a jammed out 25 minute version of "Down by the River". This web cast was simply carrying the TV coverage, which jumping around and panning done by TV camera men not converting too well to a web cast. However, unlike the TV coverage we got the complete show, commercial free and without those annoying hosts talking over "Runaway Jim".

Phish at Las Vegas. October 31st 1998 - Ear1.
A complete disaster. Halloween was one of the most hyped shows of the year, and the chaos caused by thousands of ticketless phans hanging around outside a show was also recreated with this web cast. Because of the thousands trying to access the web cast, many were turned away due to server limitations. I don't know anyone who managed to successfully get the first set. However, by the second set, enough people had given up and gone to bed, and most of those left managed to tune in.

Of course, the second set was the Velvet Underground's "Loaded", which was played very nicely, and the 3rd set was one of the most controversial of the year. Featuring just three songs (Wolfman's Brother >> Piper >> Ghost) this 55 minute crazy/weird/ambient occurrence divided the community. Half hated it, half loved it. A truly great visual experience with weird lights, smoke and glow sticks adding to the ambient "Wolfman's" jam.

Dave Matthews Band at Chicago. December 19th 1998. - JamTV. The most commercially sucessful band of 1998, many wandering if they still deserve their "Jam Band" status, as they have started to play some of their radio friendly hits every night. This concerts proved "many" wrong with guest appearances from Maceo Parker on saxophone on "What Would You Say", as well Flecktones bassist Vic Wooten on a jammed out bass-riffic "#41". Tim Reynolds electric guitar added to the experience also with soaring extended solos, including one on the best "Jimi Thing" this author has ever heard. Retired songs "#40" and "The Maker" also made appearances, although the former was really only teased.

Others? Well there are so many web casts now, it is hard to keep track of them all while also studying at University. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones made an appearance at Ear1's Musicfest during October. If my memory served me correctly, Widespread Panic may have also done a web cast, as well as Moe. But I tend to have a bad memory.