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Midwest Regional Report
Edited by Natalie Guinsler - dagny_esque@yahoo.com

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Berkfest Rays

by Pat Gillespie

When I returned to Cincinnati from The Berkshire Mountain Music Festival in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, everybody was waiting with the same question: "How did Ray's Music Exchange do out there?" After routing my way through the story again and again, it is now time for my most detailed description of the events surrounding Ray's East Coast debut.

After driving all night long, Ray's arrived early on the second day of the festival. The previous night the boys were in Cleveland opening for Vince Welnick's Missing Man Formation. I thought it quite impressive that they were to be playing on the last night of Berkfest. After playing on the first day at High Sierra it was nice to see the promotion to a position later on in the festival (Berkfest and High Sierra are put on by the same people). Next year I hope to see the fellas headlining the Showcase Stage or perhaps even get a second, earlier spot on the Main Stage. It won't be long before we see Ray's jamming with the big boys on the Main Stage later on in these festivals.

The day Ray's Music Exchange was scheduled to play seemed to start off disasterously. All festival goers were awakened to storms not unlike those from the previous day that shortened the All Star Jam with Oteil Burbridge and John Scofield. The entire festival was postponed for about an hour on that Sunday until the rain let up. And then the sun came out. Not only did it come out, it got hot. As Ray's 3:50 time slot approached, I busied myself with menial tasks such as checking the soddened Earth for dancibility. The dirt was dry enough for me to stomp around on it for about an hour or so. I was ready. Unfortunately, the stage was not ready for Ray's. With the delay in the festival there were too many Showcase Stage acts and not enough time to fit all of them in. This meant somebody had to be moved. The low men on the totem were informed that they were to be playing a couple hours later in the Upper Lodge.

This was the indoor facility in which The Disco Biscuits, Leftover Salmon, and Karl Denson's Tiny Universe played. It looked like they somehow lucked into a better time slot and a better stage. Unfortunately, the schedule everybody had said Ray's would be on the Showcase Stage. The stage manager agreed to make several announcements regarding the switch, which he did. But that wasn't enough for me. As I walked toward the Main Stage I joked with the guys saying, "I'm going to get a formal announcement from the Main Stage about the switch" I said it jocularly, but knew it wasn't impossible because Deep Banana Blackout were about to take the Main Stage. I kicked a RME tape down to Rob Somerville of DBB a while back and they've been fans ever since. I managed to find Deep Banana's massage therapist and pleaded for her to go ask her crew to make an announcement during their set about the switch. She said, "No problem, we were all planning on coming to see you guys anyway." And that my friends, is why Jenn Durkin of DBB was making those announcements from the Main Stage concerning Ray's Music Exchange.

I watched most of Deep Banana's set before climbing the hill to the Upper Lodge. They played the fattest "Getchall '98" with DJ Logic and John Scofield sitting in with them. If you haven't seen these guys, go check them out as soon as possible. The band that preceded Ray's in the lodge was called Soulive. They're a three piece jazz unit that straight jams. Toward the end of their set John Scofield sat in with them. He must have went straight from the Main Stage to the Lodge to make it in time. I was in heaven knowing that Sco was playing right before my boys were going on, what an opening act.

Finally after much delay, Ray's Music Exchange took the stage at around 7p.m. in the Upper Lodge. They were going up against the Main Stage headliners, Soul Coughing. The fellas played well. I've seen so many great Ray's shows and have yet to be disappointed. There is always something different. No two shows are ever alike. Even when they're not totally on fire (which is rare) there will always be something different. On this particular evening the something different went by the name of Oteil Burbridge. As the Ray's set neared its end, Oteil joined in on the RME original, Hydro Funk. He gave this funky little number a nice twist with his distinctive bass playing.

The final song of their set was a cover of the great Freddie Hubbard's, "Gibraltar". If you know this song then you can probably imagine how amazing this jam was with the two bassists that lasted for close to twenty minutes. After an hour and a half the Ray's Music Exchange set was over. As expected, the East Coasters danced hard and enjoyed their first taste of our MidWest jam phenomenon. Getting people to like Ray's is the easiest thing in the world to do. Come see them and you'll see what I mean.

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Festival Watch

Mudsplash '99 - Sept. 17-19
20 miles from Bloomington, IN

Featuring:
Dark Star Orchestra
Your Mom SRO
Guy Smilies Blues Exchange
Funk Bud Johnny
...and more

Call (317) 251-FEST or (317) 251-KIND for more info.

PhunkPhest - Oct. 1-3
Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, Garrettsville, OH

Featuring:
Bernie Worrell and the Woo Warriors
Sultans of Bing
Victor Wooten
Ray's Music Exchange
Sanduleak

For more info see www.nlqp.com

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Begging for more

by Shannon Miller

The band Beggar's Bridge is quite honestly one of the best new bands I've seen in awhile. I've grown up with the Dead blaring through speakers and I got into Phish and Widespread Panic and the jamband scene really appealed to me. In July, my friend dragged me to a Chicago/Doobie Brothers show at Polaris Amphitheater in Columbus, OH and I went along just for her.

Then, during the set break my night became fun because Beggar's Bridge took the sidestage. Their stage presence and commitment to delivering a beautiful performance really got across to me and I loved it. I couldn't believe it...a band who was amazing at jamming, but who actually had songs. I mean really good songs with stories and words to live by. I was fascinated and quite angry when Chicago took the stage. I picked up a Beggar's Bridge schedule after their set and went to their show at Denison University on Aug 27th. I wished I had taped it. Ted Wulfers, the lead guitar player and lead singer took me on a trip to a place I wish I was every Friday night. Ted and drummer, Brad Stevens, have this musical bond that is incredible and so much fun to watch.

Beggar's Bridge played for 3 1/2 hours playing mostly originals and some very cool and witty covers that overall made the night one of my best concert/show-going nights ever. If you're in the Columbus area, or anywhere for that matter and Beggar's Bridge is playing, CHECK THEM OUT. They rock live, their new album, In The Spirit is amazing and I want to see this band become huge because they are well deserving. Thanks a lot and see y'all at the shows.

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Hey JiMiller Band fans.

Looking for showdates and other odds and ends about JiMiller Band? Check out their site (with updated web address) at www.jimiller.com