Geez...is it Spring yet? I don't know about all of you, but I could use some fresh air...and some outdoor shows. Winter is seemingly fighting to hang on, but we're almost into festival season, and it's all down hill from there.

Hookahville's spring line-up has been revealed, as Acoustic Productions has announced that Willie Nelson, Dr. John, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Radiators and Donna the Buffalo will be share the stage with ekoostik hookah at Frontier Ranch this Memorial Day weekend. They all look to be fine additions to the distinguished list of Hookahville guests.

And while only one of you was out writing a review, a few of you did give us a heads-up on some of the more interesting acts out there. Bands like the new crop of the Milwaukee mafia including Zigzag, Plex, Homemade Jam, Tim Cook & The Riverwesterners, Freshwater Collins, and Mississippi Cactus deserve your support, so get out and get down. We'd also like to recognize the talent of The Paul Wertico Trio as well as that of Zambow out of Illinois, Groovulous Glove from Wisconsin, and JEB from Indiana, who gave us a little schooling by sending us their CDs.

Thanks to Phil Simon and his thoughts on the Madison Funk All Stars, so we're not completely without reviews (thanks, Phil). This doesn't let the rest of you off of the hook, though. Help spread the word of your favorite local band by expanding on their finer points through a review. They'll be glad you did. We'll see you at the show.

Todd and Tim (midwest@jambands.com)

In Case You Missed It

Madison Funk All Stars
Barrymore Theatre
Phat Phunktion
Mama's Dig Down Marching Band
Smokin with Superman
hosted by Dave Gray
by Phil Simon

For the second year in a row, Phat Phunktion teamed up with two of the best local bands in Madison to create a show larger than life- the Madison Funk All Stars show at the Barrymore Theatre. The three bands got together and created a compilation disc featuring material from all three bands. Admission price got everyone who came a free disc! Now that is marketing!

The first band, Smokin with Superman, was a classic funk ensemble. Though I had never seen them before, I was impressed with their mixture of funk, hip-hop, and rock. I guess their normal lead singer had a kidney infection (ouch!) and they relied on their MC most of the night. They were good, and I think that seeing them with their full line-up would be even better.

Then came Mama's Dig Down Brass Band. This is an interesting band. They are a Dixieland marching band- with marching bass drum, marching snare, Tuba- the whole works! But instead of playing Dixieland, they played Funk music. This was great, and the whole place was rocking by the end of their set.

Funnyman and local radio personality Dave Gray kept everyone in stitches throughout the night, and got the crowd pumped up calling for Phat Phunktion. The theatre grew dark and before the curtain parted, the band was laying down stadium sized sounds that fore-told of their monster set to come. The band hit the stage, and the funk started flying!

This is one great band! Four piece horn section that is masterfully planned, four different lead singers, incredibly tight rhythm section with percussion, drum set, and bass all kickin it together. I had very high expectations based on everything that I had heard, but I was not disappointed.

The band played a mixture of material from their last release, Here We Go and songs from their release due out next year. They clearly ruled the night, eliciting huge responses from the sold out crowd whenever they waved their hands. The band is an old school mix of funk and r&b, plus some hip-hop and rap. The r&b flavor rules the roost, with smooth vocals and perfect orchestrations. I was especially impressed with Vince Jesse's rendition of their original "Into Your Groove." Soul, I mean SOUL! Courtney Larsen came out from behind the trombone, and was dubbed the First Lady of Phat Phunktion. She did a great rendition of Groove is in the Heart by Dee-Lite that was a real crowd pleaser. This band is unique because they have no troubles supporting whomever is in the lead chair at any moment- with the other 8 members lending their full support without overstepping. The encore brought all three bands onstage at the same time. It was like old school P Funk with dozens of players up at once. They even dragged Dave Gray out for a spirited rap, and the youngsters from the front of the audience came onstage to dance and lead the cheers. By the end of the night, everyone was exhausted, and Madison, Wisconsin took the title of Capital of the Funk world for the night. I can't wait until next year.

Notable Dates:

OHIO:

3/19 Local Color, Ruby Tuesdays, Columbus
3/20 Doug Wood, Cyber Cafe, Kent
3/21 Doug Wood, Barking Spider, Cleveland
3/21 John Mullins Band, Billy Cricket's, Lancaster
3/22 Freshwater Collins, Howard's, Bowling Green
3/22 Alexis Antes, Case Western Reserve University
3/22 Robin Stone, Peaberry's, Youngstown
3/23 Freshwater Collins, Brewsters Poor House, Bowling Green
3/23 ekoostik hookah, SeaGate Convention Center, Toledo
3/23 Baked Potato, The Village Idiot, Maumee
3/23 The Big Creak, Oldfield's, Columbus
3/23 Birth, Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland
3/23 Halias, Stadium Bar & Grille, Oxford
3/23 Jukebox Soul, Howard's, Bowling Green
3/23 Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom, BarrelHouse Brewing Co, Cincinnati
3/23 Uncle Sam's Dream Machine, Stanley's Pub, Cincinnati
3/23 Waxy Monx, Ruby Tuesdays, Columbus
3/24 Color Wheel, Tommy's, Avon Lake
3/24 Freshwater Collins, Brewsters Poor House, Bowling Green
3/24 Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom, Easy St. Cafe, Bowling Green
3/25 Four Ohms, Stanley's Pub, Cincinnati
3/24 Cuyuga, The Symposium, Cleveland
3/24 The JiMiller Band, Terrapin Station, Cleveland
3/24 Hudson Chase, Flying Machine, Lorain
3/24 Hello Dave, Stadium Bar & Grille, Oxford
3/24 Ray's Music Exchange, The Balcony, Oxford
3/24 Doug Wood, Borders, Solon
3/26 Local Color, Ruby Tuesdays, Columbus
3/28 Ray's Music Exchange, The Balcony, Oxford
3/27 NRBQ, Thirsty Ear, Columbus
3/28 NRBQ, Euclid Tavern, Cleveland
3/29 Strange Gravity, The Rhythm Room, Cleveland
3/29 Tim Easton, Grog Shop, Cleveland
3/29 Doug Wood, Grovewood Tavern, Cleveland
3/29 Leftover Salmon, Newport Music Hall, Columbus
3/30 Grasshopper Pie, Hard Rock Cafe, Cleveland
3/30 Ween, Newport Music Hall, Columbus
3/30 Tim Easton, Little Brothers, Columbus
3/30 Halias with Color, BarrelHouse Brewing Company, Cincinnati
3/30 Doug Wood, Borders, Fairlawn
3/30 burning river band, The Robin Hood, Kent
3/31 Ween, Bogart's, Cincinnati
3/31 Granville, Grog Shop, Cleveland
3/31 The JiMiller Band, Rhythm Room Cafe, Cleveland
3/31 John Mullins Band, Little Brothers, Columbus
3/31 Peach Melba, Little Brothers, Columbus
3/31 Doug Wood, Borders, Cuyahoga Falls
3/31 Color Wheel with Hudson Chase, Flying Machine, Lorain
4/2 Local Color, Ruby Tuesdays, Columbus
4/4 The Guy Smiley Blues Exchange, Top Cat's Cincinnati
4/5 Deep Banana Blackout, Little Brothers, Columbus
4/5 Guest, Oldfield's, Columbus
4/5 Peach Melba with Color, Canal St. Tavern, Dayton
4/5 Joules Graves, Marietta College
4/6 Fairbanks 142, BarrelHouse Brewing Co, Cincinnati
4/6 Guest, Mad Frog, Cincinnati
4/6 Grasshopper Pie, Little Brothers, Columbus
4/6 Peach Melba, Robin Hood Inn, Kent
4/6 Halias, Ozzie's, Oxford
4/7 JayWalking, Smiling Skull, Athens
4/7 Peach Melba, The Union, Athens
4/7 Doug Wood, Borders, Cincinnati
4/7 Birth, Happy Dog, Cleveland
4/7 Color with AM Flavor, Mad Frog, Cincinnati
4/7 Grasshopper Pie, Oldfield's, Columbus
4/7 Guest, Northberg Tavern, Columbus
4/8 Doug Wood, Borders, Cincinnati
4/9 Local Color, Ruby Tuesdays, Columbus
4/9 Doug Wood, LEO Coffeehouse, Cincinnati
4/11 Grasshopper Pie, Howard's, Bowling Green
4/11 Drifting Through, Denison University
4/12 Guest, Top Cat's, Cincinnati
4/12 Left Undone, Newport Music Hall, Columbus
4/12 Doug Wood, Arabica Coffeehouse, Cleveland
4/13 Peach Melba, Easy Street Cafe, Bowling Green
4/13 Doug Wood, Borders, Canton
4/13 The JiMiller Band, The Greenville, Chagrin Falls
4/13 Guest, Ruby Tuesdays, Columbus
4/13 The Fabulous Johnson Brothers, Little Brothers, Columbus
4/13 Jiant, The Village Idiot, Maumee
4/14 Cuyuga, Terrapin Station, Cleveland
4/14 The JiMiller Band, Terrapin Station, Cleveland
4/14 Doug Wood, CD Warehouse, Cleveland Hts
4/14 Color Wheel with Electric Magi, Flying Machine, Lorain
4/14 Jiant, The Village Idiot, Maumee
4/14 Left Undone, Mad Frog, Cincinnati

INDIANA:

3/19 Agents of Good Roots, Bluebird, Bloomington
3/19 Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Murat Theater, Indianapolis
3/19 Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise, Vogue Theater, Indianapolis
3/20 Rober Bradley's Blackwater Surprise, Bluebird, Bloomington
3/20 Dark Blonde Water, Columbia Street West, Fort Wayne
3/20 Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend
3/21 Umphrey's McGee, Axis, Bloomington
3/21 The Miller Twins, The Rock Lobster, Indianapolis
3/22 Umphrey's McGee, Vogue Theater, Indianapolis
3/22 Zambow with Dark Blonde Water, State Theater, South Bend
3/23 Zambow, Broadripple Place, Fort Wayne
3/26 Underground Charmin, Bluebird, Bloomington
3/27 Freshwater Collins, Axis, Bloomington
3/27 Leftover Salmon, Vogue Theater, Indianapolis
3/28 Jennie DeVoe, Butler University, Indianapolis
3/30 Lotus, Courthouse Pub, Goshen
3/31 Cryin' Souls, Super Bowl, Crown Point
3/31 Jennie DeVoe, Butler University, Indianapolis
3/31 Sundog, Stone Mug Cafe, Indianapolis
4/3 Seeking Homer, Corby's Irish Pub, South Bend
4/5 Lotus, State Theater, South Bend
4/6 Dark Blonde Water, Daily Grind, Elkhart
4/6 The Guy Smiley Blues Exchange, Duck Inn, Evansville
4/6 The Keiner Family, Barley Island Brewing Co, Noblesville
4/7 The Miller Twins, Ball State University
4/7 Dark Blonde Water, Corby's Irish Pub, South Bend
4/7 Groovatron, Valparaiso University
4/11 The Miller Twins, Scotty's Brew House, Muncie
4/14 The Miller Twins, The Heorot, Muncie
4/14 Zambow, Pete's, West Lafayette

ILLINOIS:

3/20 Mos Isley, Boulevard Cafe, Chicago
3/20 SeventySeven, Hi Tops, Chicago
3/21 ulu, The Rock Island Brewing Co, Rock Island
3/22 Sugar Blue, Boulevard Cafe, Chicago
3/22 Mr. Blotto, Oasis 160, Chicago Heights
3/22 Taboot, Otto's, DeKalb
3/22 Paradigm Shift, Strawberry Fields, Urbana
3/22 ulu and Ray's Music Exchange, Canopy Club, Urbana
3/23 Cedar Creek Bluegrass Band, Griffin's Public House, Chicago
3/23 Leftover Salmon, The Vic Theater, Chicago
3/23 Rebecca's Statue, Abbey Pub, Chicago
3/23 Stu Remley Band, Great Beer Palace, Chicago
3/23 ulu with TheGruv, The Note, Chicago
3/23 Cryin' Souls, Westlanes, Crystal Lake
3/23 Umphrey's McGee, Otto's, DeKalb
3/23 The Flow, Wooden Nickel, Highwood
3/23 Mr. Blotto, The Shack, Mundelein
3/24 Evidence, Heartland Cafe, Chicago
3/24 Jack Straw, Waterloo Tavern, Chicago
3/24 Umphrey's McGee, Martyr's, Chicago
3/24 Weed Street Band, Hog Head McDunnas, Chicago
3/24 TheGruv, Wooden Nickel, Highwood
3/24 Mr. Blotto, Dreams, Lockport
3/24 Taboot, The Rock Island Brewing Co, Rock Island
3/25 Leftover Salmon, Copper Dragon, Carbondale
3/25 Sunday Night Grateful Dead Jam, Boulevard Cafe, Chicago
3/25 U.R.B., Benefit Show with Crazy Diamond at Durty Nellie's, Palatine
3/25 True Gravity, Durty Nellie's, Palatine
3/26 Leftover Salmon, Canopy Club, Urbana
3/27 Mos Isley, Boulevard Cafe, Chicago
3/28 Jack Straw, O'Malley's Bar and Grill, Alsip
3/28 Umphrey's McGee, Canopy Club, Urbana
3/29 Sugar Blue, Boulevard Cafe, Chicago
3/29 Cryin' Souls, Ground Zero Entertainment Complex, Mokena
3/29 Rebecca's Statue, The Rock Island Brewing Co, Rock Island
3/30 Cryin' Souls, Brother Jimmy's, Chicago
3/30 Seers Poncho, The Tippling House, Chicago
3/30 SeventySeven, Cubby Bear, Chicago
3/31 TheGruv, HANGAR 9, Carbondale
3/31 AfterGrace, Slow Down, Life's Too Short, Chicago
3/31 Mos Isley, Park West, Chicago
3/31 Oucho Sparks, Weeds, Chicago
3/31 Weed Street Band, Avenue Ale House, Oak Park
3/31 Jack Straw, S.O.P.'s, Peoria
4/1 Sunday Night Grateful Dead Jam, Boulevard Cafe, Chicago
4/3 SeventySeven, Elbo Room, Chicago
4/5 ekoostik hookah, Interstate Center, Bloomington
4/5 The Disco Biscuits, Chicago House of Blues
4/6 Jack Straw, HANGAR 9, Carbondale
4/6 Duece, Joe Bailey's, Chicago
4/6 ekoostik hookah, Chicago House of Blues
4/6 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Metro, Chicago
4/6 Stu Remley Band, Great Beer Palace, Chicago
4/7 King Solomon's Grave, Rhino's, Bloomington
4/7 Deep Banana Blackout, Park West, Chicago
4/7 Left Undone, The Tippling House, Chicago
4/7 Zambow, Hog Head McDunnas, Chicago
4/7 The Dave Band, Mary's Place, Rockford
4/8 Sunday Night Grateful Dead Jam, Boulevard Cafe, Chicago
4/12 The Funkdamentals, Abbey Pub, Chicago
4/12 Jack Straw, Canopy Club, Urbana
4/13 Cryin' Souls, Lakeview Links, Chicago
4/13 Living Daylights, Double Door, Chicago
4/13 Mos Isley, Griffin's Public House, Chicago
4/13 Robert Walter's 20th Congress, Double Door, Chicago
4/13 Seers Poncho, Hog Head McDunnas, Chicago
4/13 Southern Culture on the Skids, Chicago House of Blues
4/13 Stu Remley Band, Griffin's Public House, Chicago
4/13 Zambow, Martyr's, Chicago
4/14 Jack Straw, Joe Bailey's, Chicago
4/14 AfterGrace, Waterloo Tavern, Chicago
4/14 Robert Walter's 20th Congress, Double Door, Chicago
4/14 Seers Poncho, Lakeview Links, Chicago
4/14 Southern Culture on the Skids, Chicago House of Blues

MICHIGAN:

3/21 Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, University of Michigan
3/21 The James in Flames, Mac's Bar, Lansing
3/22 Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom, Bell's Eccentric Cafe, Kalamazoo
3/22 The Fuzz, Mac's Bar, Lansing
3/22 Freekbass, Czar's, Saint Joseph
3/22 Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Leelanau Sands Casino, Suttons Bay
3/23 Heart of Gold Band, Billy's, Grand Rapids
3/23 Plastic Trance with The James in Flames , The Otherwise Gallery, Lansing
3/23 Freekbass, Union Street Station, Traverse City
3/23 Doug Wood, Borders, Utica
3/24 Birth, Arco Iris, Grand Rapids
3/24 The Flow, Club Soda, Kalamazoo
3/24 Plastic Trance with The James in Flames and Sun King, The Lebowski Center, Owosso
3/24 Freekbass, Union Street Station, Traverse City
3/26 ulu, Billy's, Grand Rapids
3/28 Steppin' In It, Mac's Bar, Lansing
3/29 Freshwater Collins, Rick's American Cafe, Ann Arbor
3/30 Smokestack, The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor
3/31 Leftover Salmon, Majestic Theatre, Detroit
3/31 Freekbass, State Theater, Kalamazoo
4/4 The James in Flames, Mac's Bar, Lansing
4/5 Stephen Makmus & The Jicks, St. Andrew's, Detroit
4/6 The Slip with The Waz, The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor
4/6 Kelly Joe Phelps, The Ark, Ann Arbor
4/7 ekoostik hookah, Michigan Theatre, Ann Arbor
4/7 Disco Biscuits, Majestic Theater, Detroit
4/7 The Fuzz, Churchill's, Flint
4/7 Electric Magi, Bell's Eccentric Cafe, Kalamazoo
4/8 Kelly Joe Phelps, Kraftbrou Brewery, Kalamazoo
4/9 Steppin' In It, The Green Door, Lansing
4/10 The Fuzz, The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor
4/11 Steppin' In It, Mac's Bar, Lansing
4/11 Smokestack, Rubbles, Mount Pleasant
4/11 Jiant, Memphis Smoke, Royal Oak
4/12 Southern Culture on the Skids, St. Andrew's, Detroit
4/13 Ratdog, State Theater, Kalamazoo
4/13 Umphrey's McGee, Club Soda, Kalamazoo
4/13 Dark Blonde Water, Mickey's Club, St. Joseph
4/14 Ratdog, Royal Oak Music Theater, Royal Oak
4/14 Dark Blonde Water, Mickey's Club, St. Joseph
4/15 Robert Walter's 20th Congress, Magic Bag, Ferndale

WISCONSIN:

3/20 ulu with Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom, Cafe Montemartre, Madison
3/21 Freshwater Collins, Luther's Blues, Madison
3/21 Recycled Future, Nomad World Pub, Milwaukee
3/23 Recycled Future, BBC, Milwaukee
3/24 Groovulous Glove with Mississippi Cactus and Onomatopoeia, Imperial Palace, Madison
3/24 The Westfall, Tai Joe's Bankok Orchid, Milwaukee
3/24 ulu, Thai Joe's, Milwaukee
3/24 Uwound Slinky, The Riverwest Commons, Milwaukee
3/24 The Westfall, Thai Joe's, Milwaukee
3/27 Madison Greene, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
3/29 Northbound Train with The Dave Band, Ken's Bar & Grill
3/30 Freshwater Collins, Mission Coffee House, Stevens Point
3/30 Cool Waters Band, The Checkered Flag, Appleton
3/31 Del Mar, Ken's Bar & Grill, Madison
3/31 Groovulous Glove, Tim's SunDog, Madison
3/31 Galactic, The Rave, Milwaukee
3/31 Northbound Train, Renee's Red Rooster, Stevens Point
3/31 Urban Hillbilly Quartet, Borders, Eau Claire
4/4 The Disco Biscuits, Barrymore Theater, Madison
4/4 The Westfall, Nomad World Pub, Milwaukee
4/5 Groovulous Glove, Ken's Bar & Grill, Madison
4/5 Cool Waters Band, Rockaway Cafe, De Pere
4/5 The Slip, Cafe Montemartre, Madison
4/6 The Big Wu, Barrymore Theater, Madison
4/6 Cool Waters Band, Studio East, Green Bay
4/6 The Disco Biscuits, The Rave, Milwaukee
4/7 The Big Wu, Barrymore Theater, Madison
4/12 Robert Walter's 20th Congress, Annex, Madison
4/12 The Radiators, Shank Hall, Milwaukee
4/13 Greyhounds, The Corner Bar & Grill, Milwaukee
4/13 Unwound Slinky, Thai Joe's, Milwaukee
4/13 Zigzag, The Tasting Room, Milwaukee
4/14 Whippoorwill's Secret, Popcorn Tavern, La Crosse
4/14 Cool Waters Band with Diggstown, Jillian's, Green Bay