2009

Words: Alex Wolff
Photos: Jason Woodside

In the moments leading up to Umphrey’s McGee’s triumphant return to Arizona, it would seem as though most of those in attendance were as excited as the band. It showed in both the music and the way the crowd responded to their first Arizona show in almost four years. A surprising amount of fans had seen Umphrey’s before, and the band ensured that any first timers would be eager for a return visit.

The band wasted little time as they got to work with a 13 minute rendition of Nemo. This song set the tone for the night with a dark and moody, yet playful jam led by guitarist Jake Cinninger. Using various hand signals the band is able to craft exceptionally precise improvisation, and from the beginning of the night it was clear that the improvisation would be spot on in Tucson. The momentum kept going strong with a sequence of tightly executed songs that included the elusive Soul Food 2. The highlight of the set was an impeccable FF. This song included two searing dub jams, and a flawless segue into Push The Pig before wrapping up the set with their cover of Flock Of Seagull’s I Ran.

If there was uncertainty as to whether the second set would carry the momentum of the first, it did not last long. An exploratory, and unfinished, version of The Crooked One picked things up right where they left off. The second set saw heaps of improvisation, and particularly gorgeous playing from guitarist Brendan Bayliss. In both Dump City as well as Example 1, they maintained the overall mood that they set with Nemo and both songs featured some incredibly soulful jamming. Several times throughout the evening keyboardist Joel Cummins and bassist Ryan Stasik both took the lead in improvisation, conducting the band and guiding the flow of the jam.

READ ON for more of Alex’s thoughts and Jason’s photos…

We’ve been screaming for a reunion of The Faces ever since we started this blog, but you can’t reunite that band without Rod Stewart which is exactly what the other

For the second year in a row, Philadelphia’s Lotus kicked off their tour at one of city’s most intimate venues, the Mercury Lounge. Embarking on a 35+ date run, the band remarked on their love for New York City’s music fans, but had no love for the tenuous parking situation in the Big Apple.

[All Photos by Jeremy Gordon]

For many in the sold out house it was their first chance to catch the band with Mike Greenfield on drums – who is filling in while regular drummer Steve Clemens is out on paternity leave – and the results were impressive. Mixing in old classics and new material from their next album, fans and band members alike, danced, joked (Let Chuck Sing!) and sweated until the early hours. Highlights from Saturday night included hot versions of Suitcases, Tip of the Tongue, Wax and an excellent Hammerstrike to finish the evening off.

Next up for Lotus is a two-night stand beginning on October 02 at Aces Lounge in Austin, TX; before the Philadelphia quintet moves on to the west coast with friends Break Science. For those unable to make it to New York City this weekend, Lotus will be returning on November 28th at Terminal 5 with special guests RJD2 and the Junior Boys

READ ON for the setlists and more of Jeremy’s photos…

Back in late 1969 and early 1970, the Miles Davis Quintet boasted a line-up that included Chick Corea on keys, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Dave Holland on bass and the

Two members of the Grateful Dead, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, launched their latest band, Furthur, with three shows at the Fox Theatre in Oakland, CA this past weekend that featured nearly every classic Dead song ever written.

Furthur – Casey Jones

Joining Phil and Bobby as part of Furthur were drummer extraordinaire “Sir” Joe Russo, guitarist John Kadlecik of quintessential Dead cover band the Dark Star Orchestra as well as Jay Lane and Jeff Chimenti of RatDog.

You’d think Kadlecik – a guy who “plays” Jerry every night with his own band would sing all of Garcia’s parts, but Weir sang lead on a number of Jerry songs. Yet, the crowd would go nuts whenever Kadlecik stepped to the mic.

Let’s take a look at the setlists…

Friday, September 18

Set One: Jam> The Other One> The Wheel, Jack Straw> Music Never Stopped> Bird Song> Born Cross-Eyed> Let It Grow

Set Two: Lost Sailor> St. Of Circumstance, Althea, Scarlet Begonias> Fire On The Mountain, St. Stephen> The Eleven> Foxy Lady Jam> Terrapin Station> Not Fade Away

Encore: Donor Rap/Intros, Touch of Grey

READ ON for audio, video and more from Furthur…

I wasn’t sure Jimi Hendrix’s iconic songs could withstand any more bent-note guitar storms, feedback or art damage; as you probably know, the dude became, oh, a bit of a name for not exactly playing solos that sounded like everyone else. But then I hadn’t before heard them through the prism of Richard Lloyd, who has quite the back story with Hendrix & this year released an intriguing album, The Jamie Neverts Story, in tribute to the late Velvert Turner, a Hendrix protege & one of Lloyd’s dear friends. (There’s good reading to be done on the subject, and Lloyd, in this Times article.)

The album itself is fun, but winds up a tad slight: sure, hearing Lloyd deconstruct classic Hendrix like Purple Haze, Spanish Castle Magic and Castles Made of Sand is a lark, but there’s not enough Lloyd in any of it – he rarely cuts loose beyond straight covers, bending the edges slightly at times but never making any of the songs his own.

Lloyd’s Thursday night set at (Le) Poisson Rouge, however, saw him bringing many of the Hendrix material to bear the way you’d hope a guitar sorcerer like Lloyd would: still played straight, yes, but with a lot more of Lloyd’s personality and lengthy guitar heroics that sounded more like the mind-squishing art-rock of Lloyd’s career, and helped, of course, by his mixing of other chestnuts from that decades-long catalog (yes, including Television) into the mix. READ ON for more from Chad on Jounce & Richard Lloyd…