Chad Berndtson

Gov’t Mule: High & Mighty

Chad Berndtson August 29, 2006 No Comments

A few songs into Gov

The Pnuma Trio: Live From Out There

Chad Berndtson June 23, 2006 No Comments

You can’t fault The Pnuma Trio for its nerve: another keyboard-plus-rhythm-section jamtronica live album? Does the amorphous genre have room for one more, especially one that at first listen bears so much resemblance to the New Deal, Lotus, and the rest?

John Vanderslice: Plugged In (INTERVIEW)

Chad Berndtson June 5, 2006 No Comments

John Vanderslice has notched a hot streak of gems, including 2005’s Pixel Revolt. And then there is his techie jones: a tireless and self-professed production geek, as much enamored of a well-kept studio as he is of guitar strums and performance.

Lawrence Shapiro and Jam in the Dam: Pond Crossing

Chad Berndtson May 25, 2006 No Comments

Filmmaker Lawrence Shapiro has shot Jam Cruise, Jazzfest, Hydra, Los Lobos, Bonnaroo and Phish’s IT and Coventry. His latest efforts were capturing the essence of Amsterdam’s Jam In The Dam.

6th Annual Jammys : The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY 4/20/2006

Chad Berndtson April 27, 2006 No Comments

At the Jammy Awards, the musical reach is broad and a sense of history is cherished. Not only that, but it's done so in an organic way that, despite similarities in intent, manages to pull off the type of shaggy genuineness that the museum-enshrinement theatrics of the Grammys and the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame just can't seem to nail.

Secret Machines: Ten Silver Drops

Chad Berndtson April 24, 2006 No Comments

Ten Silver Drops is a leaner effort than Nowhere, with an evidence of staying power, which none of us Machines freaks ever doubted. More importantly, Ten Silver Dropsis just frayed enough to suggest the trio is still just warming up, and their magnum opus may still await.

Black Wire: Black Wire

Chad Berndtson April 6, 2006 No Comments

Black Wire posted a statement online that it doesn’t need a drummer

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones: The Hidden Land

Chad Berndtson April 3, 2006 No Comments

The Hidden Land drops in advance of a major year of touring for our beloved Flecktones, who didn’t perform together in 2005 but certainly found ways to occupy themselves, with all four members mounting successful side project jaunts. Hidden isn’t so much a comeback, as some observers have oddly termed it, but rather just picking up where they left off, possibly with a renewed sense of purpose and a sensibility that seems a bit more earthbound.

Gov’t Mule : Beacon Theater, NY, NY 12/29/2005

Chad Berndtson January 12, 2006 No Comments

As far the Mule Year's Eve run went, this opening night was the meat-and-potatoes end of it: unglamorous and not entirely surprising in setlist, guest list and general delivery.

David Dodd: If My Words Did Glow

Chad Berndtson January 11, 2006 No Comments

David Dodd’s initial work with the annotation of Grateful Dead lyrics first involved name checking certain references in “Ramble On Rose” and posting his findings on the Web. Ten years later, his remarkable scholarship has led to an absolutely essential book of the same name, “The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics.”