September 2009

Sad as it may be, the passing of Labor Day weekend means for all intents and purposes one thing: Summer is officially over. The leaves are changing; school is session; and the NFL’s on Fox. But before you all go running off to buy your school supplies, pack away your casual Friday wardrobes, and cross the “t” on your crappy fantasy team names, there is one last summer rite of passage we almost forgot to mention: Mr. Blotto’s Blottopia Ten.

Ever since we started up the Cover Wars feature here at Hidden Track, the self-contained jamband from Chicagoland has emerged nearly unbeatable, winning not only a number of individual song challenges, but the whole shebang in the Cover Wars March Madness tournament as well. Hence, when their proprietary festival at Vasa Park in Elgin, IL rolls around every summer, we always like to check in to see what went down, particularly to hone in on the big day-two encore, the album performance.

A festive first day kicked things off, which included the tradition of opening with last year’s closing song, in this case Peter Today, an original tune which pays respects to both Peter Tosh and to last year’s cover album, Babylon by Bus. Blotto also treated fans to a scorching and hilarious Cheech and Chong encore in Earache, My Eye, a monster Wedge with some familiar teases, a funky clavinet take on Buju Banton’s Murderer sandwiched in between two halves of Fire on the Mountain and lots of extended takes on their original catalog. READ ON for more from Ryan on Blottopia Ten…

Hey everyone, I was on vacation last week enjoying the unofficial end of summer. This week, I thought I’d bring everyone up to date on foodie related stories and events happening in NYC soon.

The 2nd annual NYC Beer Week starts today. Check out the events schedule and pick up a passport to get all of the amazing discounts. (via Beermenus blog)

The new Motorino Pizza opens in the East Village on Monday at 349 E. 12th St., nr. First Ave.; 212-777-2644. Grub Street previewed the new menu yesterday.

Do you cook? Here is a recipe for Make-Ahead Meals: Asian Dumplings (via The Kitchen)

READ ON for more of this week’s Friday 4 the Foodies…

Mike Gordon Band – God Put A Smile Upon Your Face

Mike’s band debuted their version of Sugar Shack last night at the Port City Music Hall in Portland, ME. READ ON for the full setlist…

Fuse airs Jay-Z’s 9/11 concert live from Madison Square Garden tonight at 9PM. The concert is a benefit for the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.

Words: Jesse Darago
Photos: Matt Speck

In March, Canadian jammers The New Deal ended an extended absence from the South with a raucous post-STS9 show at Nashwa in Asheville, NC. On August 28, they returned with their no-frills brand of electronic music to headline at the Orange Peel.

8-28-2009 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, North Carolina

Set 1: J > VL Tone, J > Ray Parker Suite II > A Little While Longer > J > Deep Sun > J > Deep Sun

Set 2: J>Technobeam, Homewrecker > Kashmir > Homewrecker > Moonscraper > J > Gone, Gone, Gone

The first of two tND sets kicked off with an introductory J (this is how tND notates their jams), driven by the synthesized magnificence that is James “Guitar” Shields. The opening J eventually led into a 10 minute version of VL Tone, which (pardon the lame pun) set the tone for the evening. The bouncing melody of VL was received well by the OP crowd, who danced and hopped right along on the moonbounce-like hardwood floors of the club.

In the brief pause after VL, which would be the only full stop of the set, drummer Darren Shearer apologized for the band’s “neglect” of “this part of the Americas”, after which they launched into the 50 minute segue spectacular, comprised of three songs, three distinct jams and a slew of could-be/might-be teases that kept the crowd on tilt for the rest of the set.

READ ON for more from The New Deal in the South…