Category: Beyond NYS

Gathering of the Legends: A Vibes Recap

Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Conn. once again played host for the 2014 edition of the Gathering of the Vibes, a music festival which featured a dreamlike musical lineup with rock legends at every turn. Literally offering something for almost all musical tastes, Vibes once again showed why it has become one of the most entertaining and dominant festivals this country has to offer. The music that these four magical days produced seemed to blow the sky-high expectations out of the water and will certainly serve as one of the true highlights of this year’s summer festival season.

Thursday Gathering of the Vibes offered a full four days of music and the proceedings kicked off early Thursday afternoon. One of the early headliners was White Denim, a true up and comer on the scene, currently in the midst of a full-scale North American tour. Their set on the Green Vibes Stage, the secondary stage of the festival located just outside the main grounds and near Boardie Camping, featured selections from their new album Corsicana Lemonade. Afterwards, Rusted Root took over the stage and contributed a set filled with their usual selections including their entertaining take on the Elvis classic “Suspicious Minds”. Following a spirited set of tunes from Ryan Montbleu & Friends on the Main Stage, old school northeastern jam icons Strangefolk delivered the first memorable set on this stage with a poignant yet lighthearted string of songs that included a full set sit in from Jason Crosby of God Street Wine and Assembly of Dust. Stanley Jordan, a guitar virtuoso who essentially served as a musician at large throughout the entire festival, made his first appearance with an inclusion on “Sometimes”. Despite a solid start of music, an unfortunate mishap occurred on the opening night of the festival as East or Boardie Camping, an area of campsites located near the festival grounds that comes with an additional cost due to its close proximity, was improperly arranged with cars due to a staffing deficiency earlier in the afternoon. This forced the area to close at a certain hour of night and force campers who had rightful access to it to park in West aka General Camping which is further away from all the stages and main festival grounds. To the festival’s credit however, they did allow campers with passes to East Camping to move their cars and belongings to the right area the following morning when sunlight would allow for a much more feasible transition.

The latter part of music on Thursday night included a Grateful Dead tribute band and one of the true rising talents in the jam scene. Dark Star Orchestra did not replicate a Dead show of yonder but instead delivered two sets of covers that traversed both the Dead and Jerry Garcia Band catalogs. “Shakedown Street” served as an appropriate opener before seguing into an impressive “Greatest Story Ever Told”. Later, the GOTV veterans smoothly moved through the JGB classic “Cats Under the Stars” before bringing Stanley Jordan and drummer Kenwood Dennard on stage for a sit in on “Bird Song” which ended the first set. DSO’s second set, as expected, was a little more spacey but not before a “China Cat Sunflower” started things up again before giving way to a “Hey Pocky Way” and, eventually, “I Know You Rider”. A stellar “Playing in the Band” then sandwiched a drums jam which featured another appearance from Jordan and Dennard for good measure. This performance helped set the tone for what is typically a heavily Grateful Dead inspired weekend and this year’s Vibes would certainly prove to be no different. A late night set from Dopapod was the only thing left on the menu this evening and the thriving electronica quartet was the perfect fit for last act of the day. The group displayed a deft touch in moving in and out of different musical styles ranging from hard rock to psychedelic dub and showed off a much improved light rig that definitely enhanced the performance. The collaborative spirit was still alive and well late at night as Dopapod’s set also featured another sit in from Stanley Jordan and later Todd Stoops and Adrian Tramantano from Kung Fu joined the fray for two songs which included a monstrous version of “Trapper Keeper”. Dopapod seems to slowly be making the ascension many thought they would and their set capped off an extremely busy first day.

Friday Another band making a slow yet steady rise to prominence in the festival circuit, Twiddle, served as the wake up call on the Main Stage for the first full day of music. As would be expected for any set starting at 11 a.m., the group played a fairly laid back but heartfelt set of songs to a crowd that steadily grew as the festival population continued to rise and shine. By the end of their set, the band seemed genuinely honored with how many people were present which suddenly made such an early start time not as bad. Afterwards, the next Grateful Dead inspired act took the stage in the form of a certified power trio. Keller Williams brought his Grateful Grass act to Bridgeport which featured the very capable assistance of Jeff Austin on mandolin and Reed Mathis on bass guitar. On an increasingly humid afternoon in front of a rapt crowd, the group acoustically plowed through a string of Dead tunes from all eras. The set began with the band intricately weaving in and out of a sublime version of “Eyes of the World” that featured a strong outro jam which segued right into “Brown Eyed Women” which, in turn, transitioned right into the opening of “Birdsong”. Perhaps more impressive than the quality of play from these masterful musicians was their innate ability to craft cohesive jams that seamlessly flowed right into one another. After Williams delivered a heartfelt thank you to the crowd for giving them an excuse to play all of these wonderful songs, the group demolished one last segue in the form of the set closing combination of “Scarlet Begonias -> Fire”.

The musical tone then shifted, albeit briefly, to big band style as Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue followed on the Main Stage with a rousing set of New Orleans themed funk and jazz numbers. Strong rhythmic jams with heavy brass overtones filled this lively set as festival goers slowly started to populate areas in the crowd with lawn chairs and blankets in an effort to carve out personal real estate for the rest of the night. In the true spirit of a communal festival, setting chairs and leaving other personal belongings on the ground to do this is not only safe and permissible but also somewhat recommended as long as it’s not done too close to the stage or it interferes with someone else’s vantage point. Once the Mardi Gras atmosphere that had been built up subsided a little, it was once again time to pay homage to the Grateful Dead, the band responsible for the inspiration of the first Gathering of the Vibes festival 19 years ago. Drummer extraordinaire Joe Russo has assembled an all-star band of sorts that is making themselves quite known due to their ability to both pay tribute to Dead compositions of all sorts while adding a modern-day influence and style to the jams that ensue. Featuring other established artists like Marco Benevento on keys and Scott Metzger on guitar, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead tore through Grateful Dead staples like “Casey Jones” and “St. Stephen” and did so in a fashion that seemed to have even the oldest or most jaded Deadheads slowly nodding in agreement. A true highlight was a soulful version of “Reuben & Cherise”, a song Jerry Garcia often performed with his solo projects, that slowly but steadily morphed into yet another stirring rendition of “Eyes of the World”. Guitarist Tommy Hamilton took care of lead vocals on the majority of songs played and the set ended with one last segue of “Lazy Lightning -> Uncle John’s Band”, a pair of songs which had been played in the opposite order to begin the set.

This would be the last of The Grateful Dead themed portions of the day as the final three acts on the Main Stage greatly varied in both substance and style. San Diego rockers Slightly Stoopid brought a loose, fun and total West Coast vibe to this East Coast festival with a lengthy set of rock and reggae inspired songs. A vibrant horn section helped give a lot of their songs an old school ska feel to them as well. The band even decided to reach back into the vaults for an older song from 1994 that was straight up punk rock which, no lie, resulted in a full-fledged hippie mosh pit. This may be a first for Vibes but research is still ongoing. With a fun and ‘lively’ mood in the crowd now firmly established, it was then time for one of the weekend’s true headliners, John Fogerty. The driving force behind Credence Clearwater Revival, one of the most iconic American bands ever formed, seems like he hasn’t lost a step at all and prowled all over the Main Stage with a complete set of classic rock hits. Starting with the “Travelin’ Band” opener, Fogerty began his set with a string of popular songs like “Born on the Bayou”, “Lodi” and “Lookin Out My Back Door”. Following this, he then went back and forth between lesser known solo numbers and other CCR classics like “Susie Q” and a set closing “Fortunate Son” that seemed to feature the entire crowd on backup vocals. The rock legend then came out for a stirring encore of “Bad Moon Rising” and “Proud Mary” which allowed Fogerty one last chance to show off his infectious stage presence and properly end a set that was much more lively and powerful than many may have expected.

Finally, it was time for one of the most anticipated sets of the weekend as Lotus, an established act in the jamtronica vein of today’s music scene, promised a set of ‘deconstructed’ Talking Heads covers. This meshing of two distinct musical styles had everyone dreaming big and also wondering if the performance would be all instrumental or not. This question was answered immediately with Gabe Otto taking care of the lead vocals on the opener ‘Pull Up the Roots’. Donned in his finest all white suit and doing an admirable impression of David Byrne, Otto handled the vocals on all songs when needed. When it wasn’t needed, Lotus delighted the evening crowd with a stunning technical proficiency and truly unique take on another immensely influential American band. Driving guitar riffs and spacey synth effects served as a foundation for the music that expertly mixed the percussive heavy jam style of Talking Heads with the electronica aspects of Lotus – a match made in music festival heaven. ‘The Great Curve’ was played to perfection and, later, Tommy Hamilton reemerged to lend guitar work on “I Zimbra” and the Lotus original “Spiritualize”. Some of the other highlights were songs taken from the Talking Heads Remain in Light album like “Born Under Punches” and “Crosseyed and Painless”, the latter of which featured Jason Hann from String Cheese Incident and EOTO on percussion. What appeared to be a first time musical experiment can clearly be deemed a success which was met with resounding applause from a tired yet appreciative Vibes crowd. With action now complete on the Main Stage after a thorough day of music, the crowd slowly parted as people weighed decisions on whether to retire to campsites, trudge over to the Green Vibes stage for Deep Banana Blackout and EOTO late night sets or take a nice long walk down the shoreline to the Silent Disco which featured a plethora of DJs spinning well into the night.

Saturday The term “Super Saturday” can be thrown around loosely at times and may not always ring true but on the third day of Gathering of the Vibes it most certainly did. With superstar names like Umphrey’s McGee, Widespread Panic and The Disco Biscuits all on the day’s lineup, Saturday was, by far, the day most people were looking forward to and it certainly featured the largest crowd of the weekend as many came to the festival this day only based on the music that was being offered. If it’s possible, a day that began with very high hopes seemingly had them all exceeded and then some with a Saturday that produced one magical moment after another. Appropriately filling in the pre-noon time slot on the Main Stage was Assembly of Wine – a hybrid of band members from Assembly of Dust and God Street Wine. Their relaxed and quasi-folky sound helped those few who were in attendance to wake up and start a new day with a relaxed attitude. Afterwards, Connecticut locals Kung Fu got things a little more warmed up with their signature brand of ‘in your face’ funk rock. When their set was completed, Stoops, Tramantano and guitarist Tim Palmieri held court in the media tent, answered questions and shed a little inside light on what appears to be a potentially exciting and popular band on the rise.

Gathering of the Vibes really showed its musical diversity on Saturday with the bands performing that afternoon. First, a relaxed and intimate set of bluegrass inspired rock went down on the Main Stage as the recently reunited Leftover Salmon were joined by Bill Payne of Little Feat for the entire set. Covers of Little Feat classics “Oh Atlanta” and “Dixie Chicken” stood out amongst everything played even though they stayed fairly true to the original versions. Next, acoustic guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela wowed spectators with their unique style of synchronized strumming and picking before giving way to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, a relatively new indie folk band and one of the few West Coast acts to appear this weekend. All of these acts served as wonderful musical appetizers of sorts, but now it was time for some main courses. Starting with a lively Dumpstaphunk set on the Green Vibes stage, for the rest of the evening, music would be served by true titans of the current jam scene. One of these is the popular Midwestern rock outfit Umphrey’s McGee. Certainly no stranger to the festival circuit, Umphrey’s played a set full of songs from their newest album Second Skin starting with the opener, “Cut the Cable”. Later, Kenwood Dennard would lend his percussive assistance again with a sit in on “Women Wine and Song”. The Chicago rockers then proceeded to deliver a complete set of their popular blend of musical improvisation fueled by prog rock themes and blistering cohesiveness. UM showed off its dark side as well with a harrowing cover of Tool’s “Forty Six & Two” with drummer Kris Myers taking care of the vocals. This paved the way for an old school closer in “Miss Tinkle’s Overture” that served as a fitting end to a remarkable set.

The bar had certainly been set high with this performance, but amazingly, Widespread Panic was able to build on it and take the music to another level. With all traces of sunlight now finally gone, the Southern rockers opened things with an energetic “Tall Boy” opener highlighted by some spirited play on piano from JoJo Hermann. This moved seamlessly into another older, classic tune in “Climb to Safety” and the band was off and running and didn’t look back. Other highlights included a massively psychedelic “Little Lilly” which featured some captivating background lighting on stage. A slow and steady jam followed that eventually picked up in pace and before long, Col. Bruce Hampton joined the band on stage and lent his vocal prowess to a wild version of “Fixin’ to Die”. Between the truly inspired guitar solos from Jimmy Herring and an ultra-steady rhythm section, Panic delivered both a musical and visual show for the ages that touched on all areas of their extensive catalog of songs. Classics like “Chilly Water” and “Driving Song” were expertly mixed with newer songs like “Cotton Was King” and covers like JJ Cale’s “Ride Me High”. The finished product wound up being one of the most impressive and memorable acts of the entire weekend, a feat unto itself right there. While most people knew what to expect from a Widespread Panic performance, the one that followed had everyone guessing as to the possibilities. The kings of the modern jamtronica scene, The Disco Biscuits, recruited the help of some familiar faces for a potentially mind-blowing musical collaboration. Mickey Hart & Bill Kretutzmann, the Rhythm Devils themselves, would be joining them for a performance that saw old school Grateful Dead songs performed in a truly new school manner. At first, only the Philadelphia foursome appeared on stage as they warmed everyone up with a fairly standard run through of “Story of the World”, a Bisco original. A surprising cover choice in James Brown’s “I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing” followed which also featured a guest vocalist in Greg Sherrod to give it a truly soulful touch. Soon after, the music steadily shifted back from funky to untzy as the band ripped through the ending of another standout original song, “Confrontation”.

While hopes of an inverted version went by the wayside, it was then time to bring out the guests of honor as Hart and Kreutzmann got both the introduction and warm welcome each deserves as they arrived on stage. In a truly fitting first song choice, the newly formed sextet delivered a stunning version of “Home Again” that was marked with a superb ascending jam. It only made sense to play a first song like this with two members of The Grateful Dead, a band which helped inspire the notion of festivals like this. In true jamband fashion, the opening number eventually turned into a new one without any stoppage and a string of modernized Dead classics ensued. Starting with “West L.A. Fadeaway” – the next sequence of songs was one for the ages as the drum icons lent a steady and recognizable rhythm to the proceedings. “I Know You Rider” and yet another “Eyes of the World” with keyboardist Aron Magner on vocals followed; the group did a remarkable job of keeping the basic integrity of these classic songs intact while injecting a faster tempo with contemporary musical effects at certain times. The always upbeat “Shakedown Street” also made an appearance and as a slow, gentle rain began to descend on the crowd towards the end of the set, another impressive jam steered its way into a take of “Viola Lee Blues”. A song that was expected to be heard as The Disco Biscuits had debuted it in a performance earlier this summer. One last Bisco tune rounded out the set in the form of a long and powerful “I-Man” that was rich in musical texture and served as a fitting end to the set. The encore featured a legitimate choir on stage that sang everybody home with a spirited version of “And We Bid You Goodnight” – a song often used to close out Dead shows of the past and a more than fitting ending to an epic day of music.

Sunday The final day of Vibes generally has a more relaxed and intimate feel to it as people begin to pack up campsites and prep for the ride home back to reality. This year’s Sunday was no different as afternoon sets from Maceo Parker and McLovins were fairly laid back and mellow. After each of these, the music then took on a true Upstate New York vibe as two more legends graced the festival with their respective styles. Donna the Buffalo has been delivering their infectious sound of zydeco fueled grassroots rock all over New York and the rest of the country for many years now. Their set on the Green Vibes stage fit the relaxed Sunday atmosphere perfectly as Tara Nevins belted out the inspirational lyrics of the band’s classic hit “If You Only Could”. Over on the main stage, fellow New York rock legends moe. treated the Sunday crowd to a set full of originals. A lively “Tailspin” opener soon turned into “Hi and Lo” – a much older tune, before transitioning into “Little Miss Cup Half Empty”; a song from their most recent release No Guts, No Glory. A fairly straightforward set followed with “Buster” and “Wind it Up” serving as songs/jams of note.

Once the Upstate New York portion of the festival was completed, the end of a memorable weekend was within sight, but not before two more notable acts closed out the Main Stage. Ziggy Marley was the perfect choice to fill one of the Sunday afternoon time slots as he led his band and the audience for a set composed of mostly original numbers. As good as they may have been, it’s hard to argue that they got the same reception as his father’s ‘love’ songs as “Is This Love”, “One Love” and “Could You Be Loved” all made appearances. Afterwards, one of the last additions to the festival’s lineup, Dispatch, closed things out in fine fashion with an upbeat and positive set of rock and harmonies. The 19th Gathering of the Vibes was now in the books and what a weekend of music it was for those fortunate enough to be in attendance all four days. Despite some early mishaps, the festival smartly put all its chips behind the immense musical talent that truly defined this year’s Vibes. With pleasant weather throughout and the same warm, communal vibe that’s present every year, it would be hard not to declare this year a resounding success with one of the finest musical lineups ever assembled.

August 14, 2014
The Peach Music Festival 2014 will be an Epic Good Time

The Peach Music Festival is nestled in Northeast Pennsylvania’s Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA and returns this August 2014. The festival is less than four and a half hours from Pittsburgh and Buffalo and a little over two short hours from Albany, New York City and Philadelphia making it perfectly located for music lovers all over.

The Festival will be welcoming back The Allman Brothers Band, who started the festival back in 2012 with Live Nation. This year marks a certain milestone for The Allman’s, they’ve announced this will be their final year of touring together. The Peach is chock-full of some of the most premier touring bands, that for the price of admission, is an absolute steal. Below you will find a break down each day, so that you can plan accordingly, it’s going to be tough to see everyone but with proper planning you can make sure you catch the most bands humanely possible.

The Peach offers several different options for tickets but options are becoming limited as the festival approaches. Along with a ticket purchase most people either camp on site, bring an RV or stay in a local hotel. Thursday is the official start of the festival and with everyone pouring in for a busy weekend, you will want to get there early enough to set up and catch the opening band, Citizens Band Radio. All of Thursday’s bands will be playing on the Mushroom stage. The Mushroom stage is right smack in the middle of the water park of Montage Mountain. One of the coolest things about the Peach is that with the price of admission you also get to use the water park all weekend. The water park has a lazy river, wave pool and several water slides. There is nothing like being able to float around the lazy river and listen to the acts on the Mushroom stage. Citizen’s Band Radio will start at 6PM

Cabinet plays at 7:30PM on Thursday, local to the area, this band was the talk of The Peach in past years. Cabinet is bringing the northeast bluegrass scene to the front and center of whatever city they are in;don’t miss this homegrown sensation. George Clinton and the Parliament Funk follows Cabinet in the 10PM slot. George Clinton and the Parliament Funk are absolute legends in the Funk music scene, touring since the ’60s, they have influenced countless music groups and are going to get you fired up for the entire weekend. Closing out the first night will be Dopapod, who are deservedly returning to the festival this year. They got everyone raging last year in the late night slot and are perfectly paired once again, with the Thursday night midnight slot. The night is packed with a great lineup but its only a taste of what the weekend will bring. Don’t burn yourself out too much on the first night there will be plenty of music come Friday.

On Friday the music starts at 12pm on the Mushroom stage. The Grove stage and The Peach Stage will also start on Friday so this is when the planning will really begin on your part. The Grove stage is a smaller stage outside of The Peach stage’s entrance. It is easier to check out music within those two stages but to get to the Mushroom stage, it’s a short walk to get there but nothing drastic. With music starting first on The Mushroom stage with Bobby Lee Rodgers at noon. Perfect timing for grabbing a bloody-mary from the water park’s bar and chillin to some early tunes from the Jazz rocker.

Here is where it begins to be tough, 2PM brings Trigger Hippy to the Mushroom stage and From Good Homes to the Peach stage. Trigger Hippy which is a super group of sorts and produces a soul driven rock and roll experience. The group consists of Black Crowes Steve Gorman (drums), Joan Osborne (vocals), Jackie Greene (vocals, guitar, keys), Tom Bukovac (guitar) and Nick Govrik. From Good Homes is a side group of Railroad Earth’s frontman Todd Scheaffer. The band dates back to Scheaffer’s high school days and disbanded in 1999, only to reunite 10 years later in 2009. The group combines Rock, Jazz, Celtic and Folk with Scheaffer’s solid writing. They have toured very extensivly throughout the Northeast, it will be good to see them back at it.

Blackberry Smoke follows From Good Homes and Bass master Victor Wooten follows Trigger Hippy on the Mushroom stage. Blackberry Smoke, mixing elements of Gospel, Rock and Bluegrass have been on the rise and earning it while touring 250 plus shows a year. The Mushroom stage will see The Revivalists, Boombox, and Papadosio for the remainder of the evening, The Grove stage will include Consider The Source, American Babies, The Vegabonds and Zoogma. The Peach stage begins to pick up quite a bit of steam with JJ Grey and Mofro and Tedeschi Trucks Band. Closing out Friday on the main stage will be none other then Grateful Dead’s legendary Bob Weir, who will be playing with Ratdog. Late night moves over to the Grove stage with Cabinet playing there second show in as many days and Big Gigantic on the Mushroom stage.

If you do go to sleep Friday night, you’ll want to be back at it in time for the music Saturday mourning, which will start again promptly at 11:15AM with The London Souls. The band will get everyone rocking early and might be a perfect start to the day on the Mushroom stage. The Same stage will also be shared with Rich Robinson Band, Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, The Wood Brothers and Particle throughout the day and up until midnight. The Grove stage will see Tom Graham, Big Leg Emma, Flux Capacitor, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Aqueous, and The Werks will all play up until midnight. On the Peach Stage, Acts Tribal Seeds, Infamous Stringdusters, and The Greyboy Allstars will play the afternoon slots. Headlining Saturdays event will be Gov’t Mule, Trey Anastasio Band, and The Allman Brothers Band. The late night bands include Ron Holloway Band on the Grove stage and Lotus on the Mushroom stage.

Wake up with Warren, always a good time on Sunday’s at The Peach. Warren Haynes will play the morning slot, last year we saw Bob Weir so for those who were there last year will see a change this year. With only two stages on sunday it makes it easier to travel while both stages open are the Peach and it’s neighbor in the Grove stage. The Grove Stage will include Cherokee Red, George Wesley, Miz, and closing the weekend out on the Grove stage will be Jimkata at 430PM. The Peach stage will include Taj Mahal Trio, The Soul Rebels and only fitting closing the Peach Stage as well as the festival, The Allman Brothers Band.

Well there is the complete rundown of who is playing where at this year’s festival. Make sure you don’t forget any of your festival gear, bring plenty of water to stay hydrated and bring your dancing shoes as it’s going to be a weekend to remember for years to come. See you at the Peach!

FULL LINEUP WITH TIMES

August 7, 2014
Killswitch Engage Brings Monster’s Mosh to Clifton Park This Fall

Clifton Park, N.Y. will be the last stop on Killswitch Engage’s 3-date tour titled “Monster’s Mosh.” The tour will no doubt, rock out, Upstate New York this Fall.

Jesse and the rest of the boys from Killswitch return to Tri-State area for the first time in almost two years. The band is currently on their sixth studio album “Disarm the Descent” which was released in April of 2013.

Support for Halloween tour will be heavy metal rockers All That Remains. ATR is currently working on their seventh studio album. They will also play Krockathon for the second year in a row this year in Syracuse, N.Y.

The tour will also see new comers Death Ray Vision. The band is fronted by Shadows Fall singer Brian Fair. They are set to release their debut 12 song album this September.

Upstarts, City Of Homes will seize this great opportunity and open the tour. Interestingly all four band’s origins, are from the state of Massachusetts.

The Tour will kick off on Thursday October 30 at the The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ. Doors and showtime is 6:30 pm. This is an all ages event. 21 and over to drink. Advanced tickets are $27.50 and $30.00 day of show. Tickets can be purchased through AXS. Tickets to Starland Ballroom events are also available through Jack’s Music Shoppe and via phone at 1-888-9-AXS-TIX (1-888-929-7849).

The hometown tour will come to Worcester, MA on Halloween night Friday October 31 at The Palladium. Doors and showtime is 6:30 pm. This is an all ages event. 21 and over to drink. Advanced tickets are $27.50 and $30.00 day of show. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketfly.com or call 1-877-987-6487.

The tour will wrap up on Saturday night November 1 in Clifton Park, N.Y. at Upstate Concert Hall. Doors open at 6:30pm and show time is 7:30pm. 16 years and up with ID or parent/legal guardian. 21 and over to drink. Tickets are on sale at the club box office (518-371-0012), all Ticketmaster outlets and also at The Northern Lights Smoke Shop.

Tickets go on sale Friday August 1 at 10:00am.

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July 31, 2014
Luna Light Festival: It’s About The Music

Pulling into the parking lot at Luna Light Festival in Barto, Pennsylvania, on Friday, July 11th foreshadowed the weekend ahead: clear blue skies were overhead, but an air of confusion hung about. Thinking we had made it to the festival, staff told everyone to unload their cars, park, and wait for a shuttle bus to take us to the actual festival grounds. No one seemed to know where the festival grounds really were, though.

After a five-mile ride on a yellow school bus into the woods, we were dropped on the side of a dirt road at Hex Hollow Farms. Despite being in the middle of nowhere, private residences sat on both sides of the road; behind one of those houses, the stage that would host Shpongle, Lettuce, and Keller Williams, among other artists, could be seen, evincing that we had actually made it to Luna.

Setting up shop turned into a free-for-all on a gently sloped and forested rectangular area that was adjacent to the main stage. Halfway down the length of the campground was the Wooded Stage, which became the late night haven after a last-minute late-night live drumming ban went into effect.  Great music wafted from the stages all weekend but, with no physical schedules printed and no wireless signal to check online, it often took a bit of investigation to figure out who was providing the aural enjoyment.

As folks settled in Friday evening, L.A. based Particle took the Main Stage around 7 p.m.  The band played an upbeat jamtronica set that had fans up and dancing.  The quartet sent jams out on dark, spacey trajectories but, before transporting listeners out of the stratosphere, cranked up the funk, inviting everyone back to a space disco.  Particle showed why they have been successful for so long, rocking the Main Stage in Particle-uarly groovy fashion.

The Main Stage was Shpongled next, as nearly all of the roughly 500 attendees came out to see Simon Posford play a DJ set.  For roughly an hour and a half, much of the crowd sat on the lawn watching the psychedelic show and soaking in the transcendent music.  Multiple sets of eyes surrounded by hypnotizing patterns were projected onto geometric prisms above the stage, lulling lookers into a contented daze that was meant to “open the third eye.” The music was also an entrancing ride; Shpongle mixed samples that transported listeners from a sensual cruise through a musical desert to a techno party to a tribal drum circle.  The ambient sound and captivating visuals added up to a unique experience that can only be described as getting Shpongled.

The dearth of schedules was exacerbated by the fact that planned set times were often changing. Because of a missed flight, Kalya Scintilla, scheduled to play late night Friday, missed the festival. Jimkata switched to an evening set Saturday rather than late night due to the drum ban, and Manifested came on earlier than anticipated.

With or without a schedule, there could be no mistaking Consider the Source when they plugged-in and exploded in the Hex Hollow lean-to early Saturday afternoon. If you could not see the source of their music, it would be easy to assume there were 5 or 6 musicians on stage rather than 3: consider that. The fretless top neck of Gabriel Marin’s custom axe proffers sounds that could come from a trumpet, trombone, xylophone, and, at times, even the guitar. He seamlessly moved from a trumpet-guitar solo into a hypnotic, Middle-Eastern fusion into funk into jazz, playing both necks the whole time. On the bass, whether he was slapping with ridiculously fast in-your-face aggression or tapping with mind-boggling precision, John Ferrara is the best bassist many people have never heard of. Rounding out the trio, Jeff Mann did more than just keep time, which would be a difficult enough task with Marin and Ferrara.  Mann changed time signatures on a dime, switching from metallic double-bass to snappy jazz beats.  He supplements his full kit sound with an electric Roland drum pad, which he beautifully employed during a cover of the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt”. Adorned in their typical full-length white linens, Consider The Source pumped out rock as pure and smooth as their outfits Saturday afternoon.

The end of CTS’s first set was overlapped by Pigeons Playing Ping Pong on the Main Stage. The funktastic Baltimore quartet, fresh off the release of their album Psychology, played an upbeat afternoon set. Ben Carrey grooved out rolling bass lines during their catchy original tune “F.U.”, which was smoothly cut into a cover of “I Feel Good”. Their tune “Julia” –imagine Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecilia” with two talented guitarists playing rich, elated melodies– had the crowd beaming and singing along. Pigeons finished the set with guitarists Jeremy Schon and Greg Ormont leading a psychedelic dive down the green pipe into a reggae jam of the Super Mario Bros theme.

Manifested played the Hex Hollow stage following Pigeons. Along with the band’s manager Joe DeAntonio, guitarist Mike Rabito deserves credit for planning and producing Luna. Like the rest of the musicians he brought to the party, Rabito and his bandmates rocked hard. They played an impressive set of improg jams before The Heavy Pets took the Main Stage. The South Floridians funky set was highlighted by heavy synth grooves, and a smokin’ version of “John Galt”.

Ithaca’s Jimkata was the next band to blow the roof off the Hex Hollow Stage, providing one of those most impressive sets at Luna. Lead vocalist Evan Friedell shined on vocals, and the group, whose indie roots shined through more than any band, also demonstrated they can jam hard led by guitarist/keys player Aaron Gorsch. They played an inspired version of “Feel In Light”, and “Die Digital>Legoland” had the crowd jumping. The set’s closer “Release” turned into a huge sing-along.  Throughout the set, poppy choruses led into heavy jamtronica waves that swept the crowd away.  Their growth as a band is evident from show to show, and Jimkata picked up quite a few new followers at Luna Light Festival.

Like Jimkata, who rocked before them, and CTS, who would play again after, Lettuce represented the Big Apple with aplomb.  Everyone came out of the wood-works for the weekend’s headliner. Lettuce waited for the crowd to build up, and with anticipation buzzing, an instant dance party ensued once they took the stage.  Despite the absence of guitarist Eric Krasno, the rest of the band rolled out their signature funk train.  Jesus Coomes’ huge presence was front and center all night as he slayed the bass.  Adam Smirnoff was silky on the guitar, while Ryan Zoidis and Eric Bloom provided blissfully blaring horns.  Coupled with an impressive light show, Lettuce’s soulful funk kept the crowd dancing and buzzing late into the night under the Supermoon.

Because of the late night drum ban, CTS took over Jimkata’s late night Saturday slot and played an unplugged set in the woods.  While Mann was as smooth as ever on various hand drums, Ferrara and Marin busted out some different toys for the acoustic set.  Ferrara produced dirty sounds with both his bass banjo and ukulele-like U-bass, while Marin switched between the Baglama saz and tanbour.  Their acoustic sorcery mesmerized onlookers early into Sunday morning, and forgetting the moratorium on loud late-night sets was easy.

The festival wrapped up early Sunday evening, but not after a few more bands had the chance to strut their stuff.  FiKus opened up the day on the Main Stage, pouring out rocking grooves.  Buffalo’s Aqueous was the last group of New Yorkers to own the Hex Hollow Stage.  Their improg rock had a fluid feel, fitting of the band’s name.  Their grooving melodies coupled with grandiose musicianship created a high-energy, face-melting rock show under the sun.

The day and festival wound down gradually, as people packed their belongings and tried to beat the masses to catch the shuttle back to the parking grounds.  NYC’s Turbine played the Main Stage and The Mantras rocked the Hex Hollow.  By the time Keller Williams took the stage for a solo acoustic set, much of the crowd had dispersed.  Whistling and strumming, Keller calmly brought the remaining fans back down to earth after 48 hours of great live rocking.  While there were bumps in the road and inaugural-year kinks, the Luna Light Festival’s success is a perfect reminder that it’s about the music.

July 28, 2014
Gogol Bordello Bounces Through Burlington

The show started with Eugene, of course. Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello is very much about making music as a collective, but at the same time it’s very much about lead singer Eugene Hutz, a thickly accented Ukrainian with Roma (Gypsy) ancestry who moved to Burlington, Vt., in 1992 as a political refugee with his family.

Traditional Gypsy music was piped in as a shirtless Eugene, wine bottle in hand and guitar strapped to his back, strutted onto the stage Saturday night at Burlington’s Higher Ground, for what the band called on Facebook a“long awaited homecoming show.”

Eugene was soon followed onto stage by the rest of the band: violin player Sergey Ryabtsev, bassist Thomas Gobena, drummer Oliver Charles, guitar player Michael Ward, accordion player Pasha Newmerzhitsky, and Pedro Erazo-Segovia and Elizabeth Sun, who both do vocals and percussion.

Lutz played the guitar and sang the beginning of “Illumination” telling the crowd, “You are the only light there is for yourself my friends.” The rest of the band joined in after a verse. That lighter song made way to “Ultimate” a song with a heavy up and down beat that got the entire crowd jumping already, just two songs into the show.

They went on to rock through 15 more songs — including five from the band’s newest album, Pura Vida Conspiracy released in 2013 — plus four encore tunes. They also ripped through older hits like “Start Wearing Purple” “Think Locally, Act Globally” and “Not a Crime”.

The crowd was super engaged, with the entire floor area bouncing with the beats. The pit was intense and sweaty but not too scary, and crowd surfers popped up here and there but weren’t a regular occurrence. The frantic rhythms did chill out at points to drum jams and bass solos, then they would pick back up again, working the audience into a frenzy.

Eugene was a lot of fun, asking the crowd, “Ya dig, ya dig, ya dig, ya dig?” and interacting plenty in between songs. He yelled to the audience to start a circle pit, and he spilled red wine all over the audience as he used the same hand to hold up his mic and bottle, while he shook his guitar in the air with his other hand. He even made fun of audience members toward the end of the show for acting like they were tired. Saturday was the second in a two-night run for Gogol at Higher Ground, and Eugene said he had tired them out too much.

The other band members were all interesting characters, too. Elizabeth looked like she wanted to cast a spell on you as she waved her arms around and leaned into her mic. Pasha, who looked like a British soccer hooligan, somehow made accordion playing look sexy as he energetically pumped the instrument. Pedro added some hip hop elements as he growled into the mic and pounded a drum he had strapped to his chest.

With eight people on the stage, you’d think it would turn into a bit of a mess, especially when they’re all as energetic as this crowd of musicians. But they placed platforms at the front of the stage, so Eugene could jump up there when the spirit took him, or Elizabeth and Pedro could flank him on there when there was a big vocal moment, or Thomas could jump up when the bass line was featured.

At times the movement looked coordinated, but at others, it seemed as though musicians were coming, going and lounging around on stage doing their own thing, giving it a feel of a Gypsy camp.

There were two cameras filming the entire show, one from in front of the stage and one from farther back, for a documentary being made about the band, so watch for shots of Higher Ground when it comes out!

Gogol Bordello has several other dates coming up around New York state, including Port Chester Saturday, July 19; Clifton Park Tuesday, July 22; and Rochester Saturday, July 26. To see their show date, go to www.gogolbordello.com. For info about other shows at Higher Ground, go to www.highergroundmusic.com.

July 22, 2014
Find Family, Friends, Charity and Fun This Weekend at The Gathering at Chaffee’s

Most festival’s are lucky to get past their first year nowadays, the ones that hold longevity often do it deservedly and the 34th annual Gathering at Chaffee’s is no exception. Along with the storied history, the 2 day festival’s proceeds have always gone to charity, specifically the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Children’s Advocacy Center of Erie, PA.

Held just a hop skip and a 20 mile jump west of Erie, PA on the expansive land of the Chaffee family, this 2 day affair offers on site car camping, explorations through the woods, vendors, on site local beer tasting from Lavery Brewery and local home brewers (10$ for unlimited samples while supplies last) and a whole lot of excellent music. Beyond that, whether you’re a first timer or have been coming for years, you will find one of the friendliest group of festival denizens just about anywhere. Upgrades this year include a 100’x40′ party tent lit up with visuals and morning “hangover” yoga on Saturday.

Things will kick off at 2:30 Friday afternoon with a duo of Erie based bands. The experimental “little bit of everything” sounds of Triage Unit will be followed by the hard bluesy rock of Special Guest. After the locals, the tasteful jamtronica of Ohio’s Broccoli Samurai will make way for the funk bombs of Massachusetts Funktapuss. Eric Brewer and “Phriends” will bring it back to the local scene with a Phish tribute set and Buffalo’s red-hot groove machine Aqueous will headline Friday for the second straight year.

Things start-up earlier Saturday at 11AM with six straight locally based bands – the alt-rock of Falling Moira, the Trohoske Grey Jazz Trio, This American Songs americana, the hip hop jam of The L.E.C., Gnosis’s electronica, and arguably Erie’s biggest band, Falling Hollywood. North Carolina’s BIG Something will start the heavy jamming for the night. Twenty year vets and often moe. contributors Conehead Buddha will then set thing up for the nights two headliners – Ithaca’s Jimkata and Boston’s Spiritual Rez.

Make your weekend a gathering! Only 50$ at the gate and online, including free camping, parking and unlimited awesomeness. And remember, try to have some extra fun, because after all, it’s for the kids!

Funktapuss from the 2013 Gathering

July 22, 2014
Paul McCartney Performs at CONSOL Energy Center

Fans flooded the streets outside the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh last Monday as they waited for the doors to open for Sir Paul McCartney. Pittsburgh was McCartney’s second date on his “Out There” tour after recovering from being severely ill and postponing tour dates.

The arena was filled to the top with people and barely any floor space could be seen. Fans waited anxiously in their seats as the lights went dim, the wide screens on the stage started showing a timeline of McCartney’s life. Pictures of him as a baby, The Beatles first starting out, to their rise of fame, The Beatles last show and all the while, his band Wings, played along with the images on the screen. The slide show went on for about half an hour. But the arena grew louder when the pictures started to show more recent images of McCartney. The last picture of the slide show ended with a picture that was taken last year. It was an image of the Beatle, with his fist up in the air, looking towards the crowd. The screens went black and the whole arena went dark before the stage was drowned in a blue haze.

The crowd roared as the band took their place on stage and the screens suddenly showed McCartney coming up the stairs to the stage. McCartney waved to the crowd and bowed and the band opened up with a classic Beatles hit, “Eight Days A Week”. The stage filled with lights and images on the screens but the band could have just stood there with their instruments and the audience would have been pleased.

McCartney did not skip a beat. He kept the crowd going and thanked the audience after each song. A water bottle could not even be seen on stage, none of the band seemed out of breath, it was as if they were living off the crowd’s energy. McCartney played a mixture of Wings, Beatles, songs off his Kisses On The Bottom and his recently released album, NEW. McCartney sang hit after hit and the crowd sang loud and proud right along with him.

McCartney played popular songs like – “All My Loving”, “Maybe I’m Amazed” (which he dedicated to his late wife, Linda), “Blackbird” and “Band on the Run”. McCartney switched around with playing guitar to playing piano and it showed only a few of the talents the left-handed guitarist can do.

But one song that made the crowd go quiet with remembrance was when he played his song “Here Today”. McCartney told the audience that the song was about a conversation that he never had with John Lennon. It has been 34 years since John Lennon was killed, McCartney sang raw emotions during the song and the fans held up lighters without saying a word. But to lighten the mood, McCartney continued to talk to the audience telling stories about Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. McCartney sang “Something” which George Harrison wrote for Abbey Road and a memorial of pictures appeared behind the band of Paul and George.

He talked quite casually to the crowd in between songs. He even took a moment to look at all the signs that people held up for him to read. He joked with the fans, “You know, I’m old and signs are distracting to me. If I mess up on any songs, it’s your fault.” McCartney looked at another sign in the audience and read out loud “Paul, will you sign my butt?” The crowd laughed and McCartney teased “Okay, let’s have a look at it.”

Towards the end of the night, McCartney made his way towards the piano and began to perform “Live and Let Die”, as the chorus came, flames shot out from the stage and fireworks shot up towards the ceiling. The crowd screamed and cheered as the powerful chorus erupted the whole arena. After the song ended and the smoke cleared, McCartney stood up and put his forearms on the top of the piano with his head down but in seconds he raised his fist to the crowd. One would think that bringing all the energy to that song would ware him out but McCartney was far from over.

McCartney then slowed things down when he started “Hey Jude”. McCartney ended the song with guys and girls in the crowd taking turns to sing the famous “Na! Na! Na!” – all while holding hands and bowing to the crowd and left the stage. The crowd cheered louder for the band to come back and in a matter of minutes, Paul and the band came back out with McCartney holding the American flag and Wickens holding the British flag. The band performed an encore of “Day Tripper”, “Hi,Hi, Hi” (Wings), “Get Back” and once again the band bowed and rushed off stage and the crowd stood up and cheered for another encore.

The crowd got their wish as McCartney came back on stage to sing “Yesterday” and then immediately went into the mighty powerful song “Helter Skelter” – McCartney’s voice sounded exactly how the studio version was, with the screaming and the rough vocals. McCartney went to the piano for the last time and did a combination of “Golden Slumber and “Carry That Weight”. He looked at the crowd and said, “This is when we actually have to leave,” and the band went into The Beatle’s hit, “The End”. The band for the third time took a bow but as they stood up, confetti exploded from the stage and covered the audience on the floor level seating and McCartney thanked the crowd and said he would see them next time.

Paul McCartney and his band put on a show that was not like any other show. McCartney’s music seeped through the heart of everyone in the audience. His passion for music filled the souls of everyone. That night, Paul McCartney showed that true rock n roll never dies and his legend from the fab four still lives on after fifty years.

McCartney’s current line up is Rusty Anderson (electric guitar), Brian Ray (bassist), Paul Wickens (keyboardist) and Abe Laboriel, Jr (percussion).

July 15, 2014
Complete Gathering of the Vibes Lineup Finalized

An incredibly thorough and diversified artist lineup is now complete for the 2014 edition of Gathering of the Vibes. This increasingly popular music and arts festival, held once again within the friendly confines of Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT features nationally recognized headliners such as John Fogerty, Widespread Panic, moe. and Umphrey’s McGee for starters. The lineup also includes what promises to be an amazing nod to its Grateful Dead inspired roots with a collaboration of The Disco Biscuits and drum legends Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, the group’s first ever public performance.

Vibes certainly doesn’t limit itself to jam based acts either as the bill also includes names like Dispatch, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Ziggy Marley and Maceo Parker. And like last year, the festival will also feature “roaming” acts that traverse the festival grounds all weekend long for spontaneous jams in Primate Fiasco and Funky Dawgz Brass Band.

With music beginning early Thursday afternoon, Northeast icons Ryan Montbleau and Strangefolk each deliver sets to usher in the evening schedule on the Main Stage. The secondary stage for the festival, the Green Vibes Stage, also features performances from up and coming act White Denim as well as the already proven Rusted Root. Dopapod gets the late night assignment for Thursday and Stanley Jordan is also tabbed as the ‘artist at large’ for today, liable to sit in with any of the aforementioned acts at any time which is great for anyone who appreciates guitar virtuosos.

Friday’s highlights includes Keller Williams getting his Grateful Grass band together again for a set of Dead covers with a makeup including Jeff Austin on mandolin and bassist Reed Mathis. Later in the day, drummer extraordinaire Joe Russo gets his turn to pay homage to the legends of jam with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. Slightly Stoopid also makes an appearance with a set on the Main Stage before giving way to the legendary John Fogerty. For any Talking Heads fans, a real interesting tribute of sorts will be paid in the form of Lotus: Talking Heads Deconstructed with a late evening set that has the potential to be epic. Other groups working the late shift on Friday include Deep Banana Blackout and EOTO.

There’s no let up on Saturday, as the afternoon features known acts like Kung Fu and Leftover Salmon which will be joined by Bill Payne of Little Feat. Dumpstaphunk also makes an appearance tonight on the Green Vibes Stage and the Main Stage features an amazingly solid 1-2 punch of Umphrey’s McGee and Widespread Panic before giving way to the aforementioned Disco Biscuits and Grateful Dead debut collaboration. Digital Tape Machine and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe complete Saturday’s almost overwhelmingly full schedule.

Sunday is typically a more relaxed atmosphere at GOTV as the festival nears the finish line. The afternoon includes sets from local act McLovins and the legendary Maceo Parker. Today’s lineup has a verifiable Upstate New York block as well as jam icons Donna the Buffalo will entertain everyone with a set on the Green Vibes Stage before moe. does the same on the Main Stage. Those needing a reggae fix can get it with a performance from Ziggy Marley that follows before Dispatch closes things out and wraps up what promises to be an amazing four days of music.

Tickets for Gathering of the Vibes are still available and can be purchased at www.gatheringofthevibes.com with a number of varieties available. Weekend camping passes can be purchased for $235 and there are also Friday, Saturday and Sunday only tickets available as well. There are no weekend only tickets but there are VIP options as well. What can’t be given a price, though, is a weekend that’s bound to be magical one fueled by a complete musical lineup and the near tangible, friendly communal vibe that’s present from start to finish every year.

July 9, 2014
Luna Light Music & Arts Festival Begins This Weekend

The Luna Light Music & Arts Festival will take place in Barto, PA from July 11-13. The location is two hours southwest of NYC at Hex Hollow Farms and will be headlined by the healthiest batch of funk New York has to offer, Lettuce. Keller Williams, Shpongle, Particle, and The Heavy Pets are also among the 40+ bands on the bill in the festival’s inaugural year.

While Woodstock ’94s host town, Saugerties, NY, will draw an estimated 20,000+ eclectic EDM, hip hop, and rock fans for The Hudson Project this weekend, Luna’s attendance will be capped around 1,800, including some of New York’s best live rock bands. Buffalo’s Aqueous, Ithaca’s Jimkata, and New York City’s Consider The Source will each offer unique interpretations of rock. Lettuce will play the prime-time Saturday night set.

With a plethora of festivals to choose from this summer, the intimate crowd size and rocking lineup make Luna Light Festival one to catch. Check out more details on the festival’s website and see below for the full schedule.

July 9, 2014
The Mad Tea Party Jam: A Mason-Dixon Funk Fest

From June 19-22, eager festival goers from up and down the East Coast jumped down the rabbit hole into The Mad Tea Party Jam. Down Tally Ho Lane, miles from the nearest town of Hedgesville, West Virginia, Ashton Farms sits among rolling Appalachian hills and has been the home to the festival since its inception in 2012. The party started Thursday and raged all weekend, driven by jazz, funk, and good ole’ rock n’ roll. It rained on and off all weekend, yet no one’s tempers were dampened.

Thursday

Turkuaz took the stage for the first nighttime set at 8 p.m. Thursday night. This Brooklyn band puts out huge sound. The band consists of two sax players, a guitarist, bassist, drummer, a trumpeter/synth player, and a synth player/guitarist. Then there are the ladies—both of whom shake the tambourine, sing, and shake it on down. The group’s uplifting jazzy funk started drawing people to the crowd as then sun came out just in time to go down. Playing to the crowd at hand, Turkuaz cranked up the weird meter for their sundown set; if Rick James and the Queen of Hearts hosted Mardi Gras, Turkuaz would’ve led the parade. Smiles were contagious and bodies were jiving as Turkuaz set the tone for a weekend that would be full of grooving and jamming.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, a Baltimore 4-piece with 2 guitars, a bassist, and drummer, followed Turkuaz. Funk is their menu, and this band serves it up hot, whether you’re ready or not. They played a heavily psychedelic improvisational set, tightly casting out and reeling back in jams. Bassist Ben Carrey and drummer Dan Schwartz held the tempo while guitarists Greg Ormont and Jeremy Schon fed off each other as tunes poured out. Ormont’s hopeful singing pitch soared during a joyous rendition of their original song “Julia”. They closed the set with Tukuaz’s Greg Sanderson and, artist at large, Ron Holloway joining in on the tenor saxes as the Pigeons reminded everyone they’re just here to “F-U…N-K!”

Next up, Dopapod kept the funk ball rolling, playing upbeat, dark dance rock. A unique cover of Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” may have been the night’s highlight; the crowd sang the familiar lyrics as approving looks of surprised delight were shared with neighbors. The band welcomed their original drummer Mike Angelo on stage for “Roid Rage” and Ron Holloway came back out (this would be a theme all weekend) for a saxy version of “Priorities”. Guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque—who, along with Consider the Source’s Gabriel Marin, was one of two men rocking a double-necked guitar this weekend—offered his talents for a scorching version of “Bahbi”. For the set finale, the band played “Trapper Keeper” while TAUK drummer Isaac Teel relieved Scotty Zwang, Turkuaz’s Craig Brodhead took over on the guitar, and Consider the Source’s bassist John Ferrara manned the bass – combining to form Consider the TurTAUKapod. Rob Compa reappeared on guitar first, soon followed by Zwang, and the jam was kicked up a few notches. Ferrara stayed up with the rest of Dopapod, slapping an entrancingly fast and funky bass solo before handing off to Chuck Jones to end the 25 minute “Trapper Keeper” and a great first Dopapod set.

Around 12:30 a.m., Dopapod stepped down and TAUK smoothly cut in on the neighboring stage. The instrumental quartet of Long Island natives represented the Empire State admirably and is sure to reach another level with the release of their new album Collisions in July. Drummer Isaac Teel, having already showcased his talent during a particularly technical section of “Trapper Keeper”, proved he is TAUK’s rock during their first set with his tight, snappy, concise style of delivering the beat. Alric “Ace” Carter also demonstrated his value on the keyboard; while the band constantly floated in an emotional, exploratory rock space, it was often Ace’s infliction on the keys that determined the mood a given song would take on—exulting or ominous, adventurous or reverent. While Teel and Ace were the backbone all weekend, Charlie Dolan shined on the bass and Matt Jalbert brought it all together on the guitar. The band’s chemistry was evident; they’ve been playing together for 10 years, dating back to middle school. Their powerfully raw rock left the crowd TAUKing at the end of night one.

Friday

The first full day began with the sun sizzling and temperature edging toward the ’90s. The watering hole, which was within a five-minute walk from any campsite, was a godsend for campers. A drum circle ebbed and flowed on the far bank, people floated with their beers in the creek, and dogs splashed and swam excitedly. The watering hole provided a much-needed and inviting respite from the sun, and there was neither a shock nor a knot in the stomach when entering the water—just pure, pleasant refreshment flooding the body with each step deeper in. Scranton’s Primate Fiasco, which features a virtuosic fiddle playing front-man, played an upbeat afternoon set before the sound of Turkuaz started wafting down to the water; only the grandiosity of their jazz-funk soulshine music could have dragged festival goers from the watery nirvana, and it did. Back at the stage, the band’s chemistry was even more apparent in the daytime. Turkuaz’s members poured enthusiastic joy into their instruments which, in turn, emitted bright, upbeat vibrations that induced twisting hips and shaking arms. At all times, a few people sang, a horn or three blared, strings buzzed, and the percussion marched along, creating the perfect daytime dance party. Turkuaz heads out West during July, but returns to the Northeast in August and is definitely worth checking out (check out their tour schedule).

TAUK’s second set followed, which was, again, thoroughly impressive. If you close your eyes, the four friends from Mon-TAUK will pick you up, bring you on a pioneering aural journey through outer space’s wild west, and send you back with a “whoa!” on your lips, all without singing a line. While the night before Dolan particularly stood out on the bass, Jalbert took on the persona of Master Shredder on the guitar during Friday’s set, as the sunshine apparently fueled him to lead the musical expedition. He poked and prodded along proggy scales, showing off talent that has helped the band earn play time on Sirius and spots at festivals including Summer Camp, Bonnaroo, and the Peach Festival. The downstate band left me wanting more and I now know not to miss the Collisions release party on June 19th at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn.

After getting TAUKed, regrouping was necessary. Luckily, the music could be heard clearly from any campsite, as well as from the Wonderland-styled VIP lounge that featured blow-up couches, disco lights, hanging tapestries, iced coffee, a grill that was constantly churning out dogs and burgers, and a small acoustic stage. The “Insecurity” guard in charge of policing the area, Andy, personified southern hospitality all weekend. When partiers would light up a cigarette on an air couch, he would wander over and, for a moment, a foreboding look would come across his imposing face. He could not pretend to be upset for long, though: “Come on, brother, you know the only rule by now!” From Andy’s first smile to his last beer, he exemplified a Mad Tea Party Jammer: friendly, jocular, and a proud part of the growing MTPJ family.

The North Carolina-based Mantras played a heavy rock set from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Friday. The Mantras arsenal includes metal, psychedelic, funk, a hint of electronica, and generally equates to what can only be called good ole’ rock ‘n’ roll. They play a few shows in the Northeast from July 9-13 and at the Catskill Chill in September, and are recommended to anyone who enjoys the slightest head banging at a rock concert.

The Pigeons put on another funk exposition on Friday, reigniting the dance party from 8:30-10:00. They will be jamming out in Saratoga Springs on July 5th for a post-Phish party and are always looking to increase the size of the flock.

Many of the bands at MTPJ played multiple sets, which meant it was possible to miss the occasional set to explore the myriad of other sources of entertainment at this grown-up fantasy land. Dopapod’s second turn to the stage was a good time to explore the concert grounds. Fire dancers showcased their art in one corner as a small crowd always hovered nearby. A big, glittery Cheshire Cat guarded a labyrinth of art—Wonderland—in the middle of the music field, while painters set up easels just outside to watch the stage as the sonic landscape inspired the visual arts. Vendors skirted the outer edges of the field, creating a “V” whose point was straight out from the front of the stage, a few hundred yards up a slight slope, selling colorful clothes, handcrafted pipes, hacky sacks, quesadillas, and other creative goods and foods. Hoopers, families, and friends hanging out on blankets and lawn chairs created a loose-knit buffer between the vendors and the eclectically dressed crowd dancing at the stage— Thursday’s costume theme was “storybook”, Friday’s “Futuristic burlesque”, and Saturday’s “Summer solstice”.

Papadosio was the most popular band to only play one set, from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 1:00 a.m. Saturday, and may have elicited the most dancing all weekend from the crowd. After two days of hard rock and heavy funk, a reprieve into ambient tunes with electronic touches was welcomed. The crowd collectively swayed as ‘Dosio sent out the only waves of electronic vibrations of the weekend. Papadosio’s unique sound is Ambien to the ears and produced a mellow melt-fest among fans; the tribal drums, smooth keys, subtle electronics, and plucky guitar induced pleasant, trancey swaying. The opening tune, “We Are Water”, concluded with a sampling from “Alice In Wonderland”—“would anyone like some tea?”—and more than a few “cheers” went up in the audience. The North Carolina based five-piece played songs like “Curve”, “Hippie Babysitter”, “Night Colors”, and closed their only set with an enthusiastic, 15-minute version of “Unparalyzer”.

After ‘Dosio wrapped up at 1 a.m., The Werks treated Jammers to the first of three slamming sets they’d play in a 30-hour window. The weather broke and sprinkles fell from the sky as Tea Partiers werked out to good old-fashioned rock again. The highlight of the night, however, may have been delivered post-Werks. At nearly 4 a.m., ELM (Electric Love Machine) closed the day/night/morning with a filthy cover of Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter”. The lead singer channeled Robert Plant in his prime for this haunting version that remained generally true to the Houses of the Holy original. Shivers shot down the spine as the beautifully twisted, evilly moving jam conjured up powerful emotions. The sprinkles falling from the sky turned into deluge, and huge raindrops washed away the grime that ELM cascaded from the stage. The party people still awake in the wee hours of the morning were really treated as the dogs of doom howled once more.

Saturday

A light rain lingered Saturday morning, but mostly cleared up by the time Threesound sang “Roll Away the Dew”, covering The Grateful Dead’s “Franklin’s Tower”. They also performed a heavy instrumental cover of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” before ceding the stage to Fletcher’s Grove, Kings of Belmont, and then The Shack Band. The People’s Blues of Richmond (PBR) trio invited up Ron Holloway and Isaac Teel to help create their funky blues sound with a southern rock twang. Nekoro Williams busted out the best drum solo all weekend while lead singer Tim Beavers, who is an amalgamation of Jack White and 311 frontman Nick Hexum, tore it up on the guitar and vocals.

Following PBR, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus rocked out before Moogatu had their shot on the stage. They opened with Pink Floyd, closed with the Allman Brothers’ “Jessica”, and, in between, played a technically proficient cover of Umphrey’s McGee’s “Nothing Too Fancy”. Needless to say, Moogatu can hold their own. If ever in the DC/Virginia area, this band deserves a listen.

Consider the Source took the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, cramming as much talent into a 3-piece band as possible. Another NYC-based band, CTS transcends genres, blending progressive rock and jazz with Middle Eastern influences to create a powerfully unique sound. Bassist John Ferrara had already made his mark on Thursday night while slapping a mean solo with Dopapod, but double-necked guitarist Gabriel Marin and drummer Jeff Mann seized their opportunities to show off on Saturday. The majority of their 90-minute set consisted of all three members playing at mind-bending speeds with total precision. For CTS, that is the norm: rapid, technical jaunts into Middle Eastern psychedelic jazz-rock. I had to pull my jaw up from the floor when Fareed Haque joined the band (2 double neck guitars rocking the same stage) and Mann shifted over to his electronic drum kit. Luckily, this band calls New York home and there are plenty of opportunities to marvel at their proficiency when they are around.

Ron Holloway was likely the busiest man all weekend, offering his jovial presence and impeccable saxophone skills to at least a dozen bands during the festival. Despite the 80-degree plus temperatures, Holloway was as cool and crisp as an October breeze all weekend, undeniably at home on the stage. He expressed joyous, soul-massaging emotions with his sax the whole Jam. When Holloway led his band onto the stage, however, he shifted much of the spotlight to them. His guitarist tore off one of the best solos of the weekend while Holloway bopped in the background, with a lovely lady singing and dancing on either side of him. For over an hour, his band traded solos Saturday evening, energizing a throng of dancers that greatly appreciated Holloway’s groove-master presence for three days and nights.

The Ron Holloway Band yielded the stage to The Werks at 11:00 p.m. Saturday as the festival was winding down. They have a new keys player who completes the band and, during MTPJ, The Werks were firing on all cylinders. Out of the gates Saturday, they set the stage ablaze with “Disco Inferno”, which transitioned into the grooviest “Duck Farm” the Appalachians have seen. Ron Holloway helped the band cover Three Dog Night’s “Fire Eater” before drummer Rob Chafin sang an emotional version of “You’re Not Alone”. Previous keys man Norman Dimitrouleas and Consider the Source bassist John Ferrara joined in on “Galactic Passport” and the set concluded with an intense “Onslaught” that raised brows and dropped jaws.

There would, however, be one final “werkout” of the weekend; at 5 a.m. Sunday morning, the Ohio-based quartet came out to slap an exclamation mark on the festival. “Country Roads” finally drifted from the stage, igniting a full-out sing along, after which Chafin told everyone: “Look to your left; look to your right; hug both of those people. Share the love one last time that has been going around so strong all weekend.” The special moment seemed to stretch on, but ended abruptly when The Werks proffered a shifty, quick-paced “Mission Impossible” theme that had people boogying again. Most of The Mantras rotated in and back out during “G-Funk”, the final collaboration in what became colloquially known as “sit-in-city.” No one wanted the music to stop, but, at around 7 a.m. Sunday, hosts Elise and Taco, whose wedding anniversary the festival celebrates, came out to thank everyone for coming and pulled the plug on the music.

The Mad Tea Party Jam is an incredible secret tucked away in northeastern West Virginia. Its proximity to the Mason-Dixon Line drew in a perfect mixture of Northerners and Southerners for an amazing weekend. There was a comfortably laid back demeanor common among festival goers, and southern hospitality was abundant from “Insecurity” guards, volunteers, Elise, Taco, and the many talented and humble musicians. On the other hand, there were enough Northeasterners with the inherent gusto to squeeze every last drop of jamming into an unforgettable weekend.

July 3, 2014