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Big Sky Regional Report
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Edited by David
Shulman
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Greetings, Ready for the summer? Hard not to be with such a wonderful lineup of music grazing our region. Between Phish, Widespread, String Cheese, Phil/Dylan, and Furthur it looks like local shows and road trips will be plentiful (if only we could do something about the gas prices :). A hearty thanks to Scott, who for the second consecutive month has supplied this regional report a fine summary of the jamband scene from Minnesota. Whether you live in Minnesota or not, I think you'll enjoy Scott's contribution. We sure could use some reports from other states. Please, please, please, feel free to submit any information you feel would be worthy to share with the rest of the BigSky region. I also urge you to check out the new Mimi Fishman Foundation Summer Charity Auction....a link available on this months jambands.com home page. Only a few items this time...however, we have been able to repeat 2 very popular items.....Phish, as well as String Cheese tickets and after show passes. Check it out when you get the chance. Have a great June.....safe traveling wherever the road may take you.
Regional
show list Thur.
June 21st Blueground Undergrass Copper Dragon, Carbondale, IL
Greetings from the Twin Cities of Minnesota! The month of May provided us with many wonderful musical moments: Medeski, Martin and Wood played the smallest venue of their acoustic tour on 5/12. The Women's Club Assembly provided a beautiful setting and the crowd was treated to some breathtaking jazz. Ween played the following night at First Avenue. I did not attend, but all reports indicate that a good time was had by all (the tapes also bear this out - thanks Chris!). On May 18th, Little Feat performed at the Medina Ballroom, which got us primed for the weekend. May 20th and 21st brought us the Heart and Soul benefit concert for Camp Heartland. This is a summer camp for children with HIV, and their annual fundraiser attracts a solid lineup of blues and soul talent. The weather cooperated all weekend at the outdoor location near Bunker's in Minneapolis. Saturday's highlights include Govt Mule and Indigenous. Local favorite Jonny Lang got the capacity crowd roaring from the start of his headlining set. He was joined early by Warren Haynes (returning the favor since Jonny sat in with Govt Mule last month) for one instrumental song. The guitar duel that ensued was easily my favorite musical moment of the month - down and dirty blues, trading guitar licks faster than I could keep track... The second day of Heart and Soul brought a nice, but too short set from Anders Osborne in the afternoon. The evening was capped off by head liner Susan Tedeschi. Her performance was billed 'with special guest Derek Trucks'. Unfortunately, Derek was in Cincinnati with his own band, but everyone still enjoyed Susan's expressive vocals and blues guitar wailing. The Mickey Hart Band made their Twin Cities debut on Monday, May 22. The Cabooze was packed! Everyone was treated to some good ol' Grateful Dead (Aiko Aiko, I Know You Rider, and a calypso Dire Wolf opened the show), as well as some Hart tunes from Planet Drum and Mystery Box. Mickey played bass on Papa Was a Rolling Stone. Coincidentally, this song was also played by Los Lobos at the same venue just a few weeks prior. The show closed with Not Fade Away which led to a nearly 20 minute crowd chant. This enthusiasm, however, could not coax the band out for an encore even though they had an hour before the bar closed. The drum circle outside the venue provided a chance to keep the rhythm flowing for those who wanted to continue the groove. Memorial weekend brought clouds and rain to our part of the country. This moistened the ground, but did not dampen the spirits of those music die-hards who camped at either of the two outdoor festivals. The Big Wu Family Reunion brought a great sampling of national jambands to Black River Falls, Wisconsin. They even had their own batch of micro-brewed beer just for the event. Meanwhile in southern Minnesota, Anders Osborne, Jazz Mandolin Project, and some of the best local jammers (Big Tasty, KGB, Wallace Hartley & the Titanics) thrilled the crowds at Harmony Park. The kind vibe of this venue shone through the rain, and inspired many sit-ins between bands. The last day of May presented a great show by Yonder Mountain String Band. They attracted a large crowd to the Cabooze for their Minnesota debut. Many in attendance had caught their performance at the Big Wu Family Reunion. What can I say? These guys are great! Their on-stage enthusiasm is contagious, and they are extremely capable on their instruments. I would have never thought that Ozzy's 'Crazy Train' could translate so well to bluegrass, but they pulled it off. Yonder Mountain rates as a must-see when they come to your town! Upcoming shows: -June 10 is the annual benefit for the Cedar Cultural Center which will feature The Big Wu. -The PrairieGrass bluegrass festival at Harmony Park will feature Blueground Undergrass on 6/23&24. -String Cheese Incident will play the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre on Sunday, June 25. This is the 5th show of a 7 night run through the Midwest. Taj Mahal will play the Zoo on 6/30 The really big names come in July: -George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars will tear the roof off the Quest on Saturday, July 1st. -Roger Waters plays the Target Center 7/6 -Phish plays at Alpine Valley July 8th. This is their closest gig to Minnesota until fall tour. -Phil & Friends with Bob Dylan are at Target Center on Bastille Day, 7/14. -Widespread Panic invades Harmony Park on Sunday, July 16th. You won't want to miss this show! That's it for this month. I'll see you at the shows! And if you read this far, I'll offer a few B&P's of Yonder Mountain String Band. Drop a line at MNtaper@email.com -Scott
Nebraska Report May/June 2000 The end of an era is about to take place. The Saddle Creek Bar will be closing July 1. Although it is still possible that we will have some 'private' parties there in the future, one of Omaha's oldest establishments will no longer be a vital part of the music scene. Strange Pleasures will join the Get on June 30 to say goodbye to our favorite haunt. Strange Pleasures' May schedule included a number of Saddle Creek shows and special guests. May 12th at the Creek featured Nebraska boy Woody Henkel (who is currently on the Hoe-Bus with Stir Fried) opening with a full set of acoustic originals and Dead covers. Sam Packard, formerly of Uncle Sid's Music Farm, joined SP on trombone, adding a distinctively jazz flavor. Guitarist Elywn "Elmo" Moseman, of S.O.U.P./Grateful Dudes, joined mid-set on the original "Step Inside the Van", turning it into a monster. Elmo returned on the 13th for a jam-filled set featuring his bluesy Santana/Garcia licks over the powerful swirl emanating from the SP warp core. Email pro@strangepleasures.com for a copy... and watch for more of Elmo's wizardry at future SP shows. The most intimate gathering in Colorado, the 2nd Annual Hartman Family Festival will again be held in the mountains near Fairplay on July 14-16th. Only 300 tickets will be sold, all in advance, at $30 each-and the show is nearly sold out. Stir Fried, featuring the legendary Buddy Cage, is the headliner this year, with Strange Pleasures warming up for them both Friday and Saturday nights. Colorado stalwarts Chataqua, Jyemo and Soul Patch will split opening slots. Three days of camping, two nights of music and a whole lot of fun are included in the price tag. Email pro@strangepleasures.com for more information on obtaining tickets. Upcoming Strange Pleasures shows for June/July: Thursday
June 22 Saddle Creek Bar, Omaha NE See
www.strangepleasures.com for up to date information. For all the
music in the Omaha region, check out www.omahabands.com
or www.slamomaha.com. Look
for The Get, Captain Kind, S.O.U.P. (aka Grateful Dudes), Planet
Butter and others in the area. |
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