January 21, 2011

Winter’s comin’ and I’ve got a debut…and what a night it was. Months in the making, Wyllys and the New York Hustler Ensemble made their first appearance ever at Sullivan Hall on December 30th as part of the Phish After Party series thrown by CEG. The gig blew all of our expectations out of the water and we can’t wait to do it again. We already have three more gigs in the books but that’s for another article.

[Photo by Laura Wainer]

I figured my column here on HT would be a great place to give the public insight as to how the project came together, our method of writing/rehearsing, and what we plan to do in the future. If you, the reader, thinks this reeks of shameless self promotion, you’re right. But who better to interview me than myself. ENJOY.

About two years ago I began collecting Nu Disco and Re Edit records when I lived in Chicago. My DJ partner Lax Class had turned me onto the genre and I slowly became obsessed with it. The style seemed to be what Dubstep is to Drum and Bass; a slower, funkier and more psychedelic version of its predecessor. I loved the tunes but couldn’t figure out how people were suppose to dance to it. It was a drastic tempo change from House but still had the 4-on-the-floor groove. The more I listened, I started to identify the main components of each record. Indigenous instruments and soulful vocals were on almost all of the tunes. I figured if I really wanted to play this style out in the clubs I would need to magnify these human attributes, and what better magnifiying glass than actual humans.

READ ON for more on The Hustlas’ debut performance…

In April 2009, I took a trip to Chicago with a couple of friends. Our goal was to “research and visit” a few of Chicago’s best hot dog joints to see what the fuss was all about. It was a 24 hour festival of tasting, eating, enjoying and laughing. We also happened to check out a couple of non hot dog places along the way. Here is the story (in words and pictures) of that trip. Thankfully one of the people I was with was a Chicago native which made getting around a lot easier.

We flew into O’Hare airport and our first destination was Gene & Jude’s.

As per wikipedia:

In 1946 Gene Mormino (Hot Dog Gene) started a hot dog stand at Polk & Western Streets in Chicago with his partner Jude DeSantis. Gene lost his first hot dog stand in a card game in 1949. In 1950 they moved operations to their current location in River Grove, Illinois. Today it is owned and run by Joe Mormino, Gene’s son. They were inducted into the Vienna Beef Hot Dog Hall of Fame on May 1, 2006.

We decided that we were going to try basically the same thing at every hot dog place, a couple of Chicago dogs “dragged through the garden,”  which means topping them with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, neon-green pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt.

READ ON for more about Jon’s trip to Chicago…

Gregg Allman Band @ Bowery Ballroom, January 18

Please welcome photographer Marc Millman to the Hidden Track family. Marc was a busy man on Tuesday, when he attended Gregg Allman’s show at the Bowery Ballroom and then headed down to Brooklyn Bowl for the Soul to Soul II benefit. Here’s his take and shots from the Gregg show. He’ll be back with some thoughts and photos from Soul to Soul II next week…

Tuesday night was one of those nights when you could just tell good things were going to happen. Monday had been bitterly cold. And Tuesday it was pissing rain SIDEWAYS all day.

[All photos by Marc Millman]

But when Ron Delsner walked onto the stage of the Bowery Ballroom at 9:10PM, you just knew things were going to be special. Ron told the audience of how he first made Gregg’s acquaintance thought the notorious booking agent Jon Podell. And then, the Midnight Rider and his six-piece band took the stage.

From the opening strains of Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’ off of the Allman’s second album, Idlewild South, through the final strains of a very different sounding Statesboro Blues 16 songs later, Gregg put on a show to please just about everyone in the crowd. The notable exception was a lack of material representing the Laid Back album (including any version of Midnight Rider). But on a night when the legendary performer was celebrating the release of his new T-Bone Burnett produced solo album, Low Country Blues, the choices and arrangements were great. And when you add in a crack band featuring Bruce Katz on keys, Jay Collins on Sax and Scott Sharrard on guitar. What more could you ask for?

• Marc’s Incredible Videos From Gregg @ the Bowery: Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’, I’m No Angel, Just Like A Woman, Dreams, Dreams Pt. 2, Whipping Post, Melissa

Well then, I am glad you asked! How about Gregg’s old friend from South Florida, Floyd Miles on vocals & percussion, a tight rhythm section of Steve Potts on drums and Jerry Jemmott on bass…and some guy on guitar as a special guest. Seems he goes by the name WARREN HAYNES!

READ ON for more from Marc on the Gregg show…

The Wanee Festival returns to the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL on April 14th – 16th, boasting a lineup that mixes old favorites and a slew

Tune in to Palladia on Saturday night at 7PM EST to catch The Avett Brothers’ latest concert film – Live Volume 3.  Live Volume 3 shows off the busting at