Tag: holly bowling

Dance 2016 Away in the Big Apple

New Year’s Eve and New York City go hand-in-hand. While the celebration and ball drop in Times Square receive the most attention from people around the world, there are also a ton of musical happenings in the city, with Phish’s storied Big Apple New Year’s Eve run at Madison Square Garden, December 28 to 31, 2016 being one of the big highlights. Here’s a rundown of the shows happening, some billed as Phish after-parties and some shows worth mentioning on their own accord. There’s something for Phish fans and non-fans alike in the city during the days leading up to 2017.

American Beauty, just a block from MSG, is hosting several Phish-related events. They kick off the run on Dec. 27 with a free show by Phish tribute band Jibooty and a late set from Escaper. The show starts at 7 p.m. The following four nights, they feature Phish pre-parties and after-parties. Dec. 28 sees PEAK and Gang of Thieves playing a pre-party at 4 p.m. for $5 and Particle and J. WAIL playing the after-party at 11:55 p.m. for $20. Dead Sessions plays tribute to the Grateful Dead for both the pre-party at 4 p.m. and after-party at 11:55 p.m. on Dec. 29. These shows are $20 each. Phanart presents a free pre-party on Dec. 30 with Formula 5 starting at 3 p.m. Spafford and the Magic Beans play two nights on Dec. 30 and 31 after Phish. They start at 11:55 p.m. and are $25 for each night. The pre-party on Dec. 31 features the Stella Blues Band paying tribute to the Grateful Dead at 4 p.m. with a $15 cover.

DROM in the East Village hosts two Phish after-parties on Dec. 28 and 29. Aqueous plays the 28th with Mungion. The show starts at midnight with tickets at $12.50 in advance or $17 at the door. The 29th sees lespecial with Chromatropic. The show starts at 11:30 p.m. with tickets going for $12 in advance or $15 at the door.

The Cutting Room, a handful of blocks from MSG, is also hosting several Phish parties, all presented by CEG. Elise Testone brings her “Thankful for Amy” tribute to Amy Winehouse with several special guests for an early show at 8 p.m. and a Phish after-party at midnight on Dec. 28. Tickets for both are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Kung Fu plays an after-party on Dec. 29 at midnight with tickets at $18 in advance or $20 at the door. Holly Bowling pays tribute to Phish and the Grateful Dead through her solo piano work at pre-parties on Dec. 30 and 31. The shows start at 4 p.m. with tickets running $15 in advance or $20 at the door. The Marcus King Band plays the after-party on Dec. 30 at midnight. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

The Brooklyn Bowl has a series of shows leading up to the new year. Zeppelin Bowl, featuring Gene Ween, Scott Ian and John Medeski, takes place on Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and still available. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead plays a sold out show on Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. Late night on the 29th is Talib Kweli performing a DJ set at midnight for $10. Kamasi Washington and the Budos Band are playing Dec. 30 and New Year’s Eve. Tickets are $40 for the 30th and $65 to $75 for New Year’s Eve. Both shows start at 8:30 p.m. Sleigh Bells is playing a DJ set late night at midnight on the 30th for $15 with Animal Collective doing the same on New Year’s Eve for $20 to $25.

Being New York City, there are plenty of other shows taking place that are worth checking out. See below for a rundown.

Wednesday, Dec. 28
PEAK with Gang of Thieves @ American Beauty (Midtown) – 4 p.m. – $5 *
Zeppelin Bowl feat. Gene Ween, Scott Ian, John Medeski @ Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn) – 8 p.m. – $20
“Thankful for Amy” with Elise Testone @ The Cutting Room (Midtown) – 8 p.m. & 12 a.m. – $20 each #
Aqueous with Mungion @ DROM (East Village) – 12 a.m. – $17 #
Particle with J. WAIL @ American Beauty (Midtown) – 11:55 p.m. – $20 #
Madaila @ Arlene’s Grocery (Lower East Side) – 11:55 p.m. – $10 #
Hayley Jane and the Primates do Bowie @ Lucille’s at B.B. King’s (Times Square) – 11:59 p.m. – $10 #

Thursday, Dec. 29
Harlem Gospel Choir @ B.B. King’s (Times Square) – 12:30 p.m. – $30
Dead Sessions @ American Beauty (Midtown) – 4 p.m. & 11:55 p.m. – $20 each * #
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead @ Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn) – 8 p.m. – $40
Dar Williams @ The Bell House (Brooklyn) – 8 p.m. – $25-$30
The Skints with The Far East and Rude Boy George @ Knitting Factory (Brooklyn) – 8:30 p.m. – $20
The Lone Bellow @ Bowery Ballroom (Lower East Side) – 9 p.m. – $30
Start Making Sense @ Irving Plaza (Gramercy/Flatiron) – Doors 11 p.m. – $20
lespecial with Chromatropic @ DROM (East Village) – 12 a.m. – $15 #
Kung Fu @ The Cutting Room (Midtown) – 12 a.m. – $20 #
Talib Kweli (DJ Set) @ Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn) – 12 a.m. – $10

Friday, Dec. 30
Formula 5 @ American Beauty (Midtown) – 3 p.m. – free *
Holly Bowling @ The Cutting Room (Midtown) – 4 p.m. – $20 *
David Wax Museum with Auld Lang Syne @ Mercury Lounge (Lower East Side) – 6:30 p.m. – $20
Tower of Power @ B.B. King’s (Times Square) – 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. – $45 each
Snarky Puppy @ Irving Plaza (Gramercy/Flatiron) – Doors 8 p.m. – $45
Gov’t Mule @ Beacon Theatre (Upper West Side) – 8 p.m. – $50-$60
Kamasi Washington with The Budos Band @ Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn) – 8:30 p.m. – $40
The Lone Bellow @ Bowery Ballroom (Lower East Side) – 9 p.m. – $30
Cymbals Eat Guitars with Haybaby @ Mercury Lounge (Lower East Side) – 10:30 p.m. – $20
Pink Talking Fish plays Animals @ Gramercy Theater (Gramercy/Flatiron) – 11 p.m. – $29.50 #
Spafford with The Magic Beans @ American Beauty (Midtown) – 11:55 p.m. – $25 #
Sprocket with Kabina @ The Bitter End (Greenwich Village) – 12 a.m. #
The Marcus King Band @ The Cutting Room (Midtown) – 12 a.m. – $20 #
Sleigh Bells (DJ Set) @ Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn) – 12 a.m. – $15

Saturday, Dec. 31
Stella Blues Band @ American Beauty (Midtown) – 4 p.m. – $15 *
Holly Bowling @ The Cutting Room (Midtown) – 4 p.m. – $20 *
Snarky Puppy @ Irving Plaza (Gramercy/Flatiron) – Doors 8 p.m. – $60
Rainer Maria with Snail Mail @ Saint Vitus (Brooklyn) – 8 p.m. – $25
Kamasi Washington with The Budos Band @ Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn) – 8:30 p.m. – $65-$75
Gov’t Mule @ Beacon Theatre (Upper West Side) – 9 p.m. – $65-$75
Guided by Voices @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (Brooklyn) – 9 p.m. – $70
The Lone Bellow @ Bowery Ballroom (Lower East Side) – 10 p.m. – $40
All-Star James Brown Dance Party @ Gramercy Theater (Gramercy/Flatiron) – 12 a.m. – $35 #
Spafford with The Magic Beans @ American Beauty (Midtown) – 11:55 p.m. – $25 #
Animal Collective (DJ Set) @ Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn) – 12 a.m. – $20-$25
Snarky Puppy @ Irving Plaza (Gramercy/Flatiron) – Doors 1 a.m. – $35 #
The New Deal @ B.B. King’s (Times Square) – 1:30 a.m. – $30 #

* Billed as Phish pre-party
# Billed as Phish after-party

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJyf5NqiMNE[/embedyt]

December 26, 2016
Best of NYS Music 2016: Staff and Reader Picks for Best Shows by Region and Best Venue in NYS

NYS Music is celebrating the end of 2016 by posting staff and reader picks on 10 various categories, and today we are highlighting the winners of the Best Show by Region and the Best Venue in New York State.

We polled the staff and asked our readers for their input in eight other categories: Best Albums by NYS Artists, Best Albums Overall, Biggest Musical Loss, Best Live Cover or Tribute Performances, Best NYS Festivals, Best Out-of-State Festivals, Best Music Town, and Bands on the Rise.

Best venue in New York State:

The number one venue, according to our staff pick, is the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).

SPAC is a focal point for music for areas like upstate New York, the Hudson Valley, Vermont, the Berkshires, and Connecticut. Originally instated in the late 1960’s, the concert venue has held some of the greatest acts of our age, including an iconic performance by the Doors in 1968, and others such as, Santana, Guns N’ Roses, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, KISS, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Phish, Dire Straits and The Grateful Dead, to name just a few. Dave Matthews Band holds the title of the most sold-out performance at the venue.

This summer, SPAC had a full schedule of not-to-be-missed performances, in celebration of their 50th anniversary summer. NYS Music staff writer, Mike Kohli, wrote a preview to highlight the eventful 2016, that you can read here.

“…highlights of this season include a three-night run from Phish July 1 to 3 and a double bill of Dave Matthews Band July 15 and 16. Dead and Company pay a visit to SPAC June 21 with John Mayer laying down Jerry’s licks, and Mumford and Sons bring their electric brand of folk to a sold-out show on June 15.”

We are looking forward to seeing what summer 2017 at the SPAC will bring!

Our readers picked differently, however, and the winner this year for the Best Venue in NYS was the Brooklyn Bowl. The Brooklyn Bowl was opened in 2009 and has since become one of the more prominent venues in New York State.

Following closely behind it were The Capitol Theatre, SPAC, The Hollow and The Town Ballroom which all tied for second place.

Best Show by Region:

The staff pick for the Best Show by Region was Dead & Co. at the SPAC on June 21.

Pete Mason wrote the following in his review of the evening:

“With Dead and Company having started their fall tour in Albany this past October, Capitaland got the first taste of John Mayer in a Jerry Garcia role, one that brought criticism and concern from those who weren’t familiar with Mayer’s guitar prowess but experts in tabloid fodder. But to those in the know, musicians and real fans alike, convivial awe and heightened expectations were the emotions directed toward Mayer, and when the October show ended with “Touch of Grey,” any musical concerns were laid to rest.

And they were laid to rest over and over, as the tour wrapped around the country, culminating with New Year’s Eve in Inglewood, CA, and now a summer tour that began this month, including a stop at Bonnaroo. Four shows deep and the expectations for the performance at SPAC on June 21 were as high as ever, partially because three members of the original Grateful Dead were back in Saratoga for the first time in more than 20 years, and partially thanks to no repeats in the setlist during the previous four nights.”

To see a full recap and photo gallery by Jim Gilbert, go here.

The readers’ picks for the best show were Twiddle, TAUK, Holly Bowling and Matisyahu at Capitol Theater on May 7.

To read the full review of the event, go here:

“Take the fastest rising jamband in recent years, add in a hot prog-rock band boiling over with talent, a classically trained pianist performing the music of Phish and The Grateful Dead, and a cross-genre reggae singer and you have the fixings for one of the best nights of live music The Capitol Theatre has seen this year, and that’s saying a lot.”

NYS Music had a chance to talk to Ryan Dempsey of Twiddle before the show, see the interview below:

December 21, 2016
Initial Lineup for Pre and After Parties for Phish NYE Run Announced

CEG Music has announced a string of pre- and after-parties for the four-night New Year’s run at Madison Square Garden in NYC.

On the first night of the run, you can catch a late-night set by Thankful for Amy at the Cutting Room on 44 E 32nd St. Thankful for Amy is a nine-piece all-star tribute to Amy Winehouse, featuring talented singer/songwriter Elise Testone, also known for being an American Idol finalist, joined by members of Trey Anastasio Band, Snarky Puppy and more.

Thursday, Dead Sessions performs at the American Beauty Bar, located on on 251 W 30th St., before and after the Phish show. Dead Sessions is a 16 year long project known for its authentic and unique renditions of Grateful Dead classics that features a rotating cast of musicians. In the past, members have included artists from big names like TAB, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, and Assembly of Dust.

On Friday Dec. 30, The Marcus King Band will do an after-party at the Cutting room. Marcus King is a young phenomenon with dazzling music ability and style that he describes as “soul-influenced psychedelic southern rock.” This is only improved by members of his band, as they “[broaden] his sound, touching upon everything from funky R&B to Southern soul and Americana in the process.”

Finally, on New Year’s Eve, catch Holly Bowling at the Cutting Room, for a pre-party prior to the Garden party. Bowling is a talented pianist rapidly growing in popularity due to her impressive renditions of beloved songs by Phish and the Dead, which she transforms into solo piano interpretations. Snarky Puppy will be playing at the Irving Plaza, for an after-party that is not to be missed. Celebrate the new year with this talented ensemble of an array of musicians, as they take you on a journey of an eclectic, unclassifiable jazz/funk/global collective. Snarky Puppy is a 2014 Grammy Award winner for “Best R&B Performance,” and was nominated in 2016 for the “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.”

More shows are to be announced. NYS Music will bring you updates as the announcements come.

For more information, visit the official Phish After-Parties website.

September 30, 2016
Holly Bowling Announces New Album Date, Tracklist for “Better Left Unsung”

Holly Bowling’s crowd-funded album now has a release date and a track list. Bowling’s set of solo classical arrangements of Grateful Dead songs, Better Left Unsung, is set for release Dec. 9 on the Royal Potato Family label.

To date, Bowling has raised 38 per cent of her goal, with less than 60 days remaining in the crowd funding campaign.

The three-LP/two-CD set includes over two hours of music:

Help On The Way > Slipnot!
Franklin’s Tower
Cassidy
Bird Song
Wharf Rat
Unbroken Chain
Crazy Fingers
Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One
Row Jimmy
Terrapin Station (Suite)
Eyes Of The World (6/18/74 Louisville, KY)
China Doll
Dark Star

Bowling revealed a sneak peak of what’s to come in a Jambase session for the magazine’s Twenty Years Later series, in which she also performs Buffalo’s own Ani DiFranco’s “Dilate” from the 1996 album of the same name.

Original post:

Pianist Holly Bowling, best known for her piano renditions of Phish songs, has announced a new album. Bowling is crowd-sourcing the new album through Pledgemusic entitled Better Left Unsung that reinterprets the music of the Grateful Dead for piano.

Featured on the upcoming three LP,two CD album are her versions of the Dead classics “Eyes of the World,” a completely hand-transcribed interpretation of the 6-18-74 Freedom Hall rendition from Louisville and a “Terrapin Station” suite.

Bowling’s tour kicks off in Columbus, OH Aug. 24 and heads west, including four dates in Colorado. New York stops on the tour include the Night Lights Music Festival in Sherman on Aug. 27 and Brooklyn Comes Alive on Oct. 22.

Holly Bowling Upcoming 2016 Dates:

~~Aug. 24 – with Joe Marcinek Ban – Columbus, OH~~
~~Aug. 25 – with Joe Marcinek Band – St Charles, IL~~
~~Aug. 27 – Night Lights Music Festival – Sherman, NY~~
~~Aug. 31 – Owsley’s Golden Road – Boulder, CO~~
~~Sep. 1 – Quixote’s True Blue – Denver, CO~~
Sep. 2 – Quixote’s True Blue – Denver, CO
Sep. 3 – Quixotes True Blue – Denver, CO
Sep. 7 – Tin Pan – Henrico, VA
Sep. 8 – The Shed – Durham, NC
Sep. 9 – The Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC
Sep. 10 – The Music Farm – Columbia, SC
Sep. 11 – The Gray Eagle – Asheville, NC
Sep. 22 – Lost Sierra Hoedown – Blairsden, CA
Oct. 13 – Lunalight Music and Arts Festival – Darlington, MD
Oct. 22 – Brooklyn Comes Alive – New York, NY
Oct. 23 – The Towne Crier – Beacon, NY

Check out Bowling’s piano rendition of Phish’s “Harry Hood” from a performance in Seattle this past spring and check her out on tour.

September 13, 2016
Night Lights Music Festival to Hold Battle of the Bands 2016

Night Lights Music Festival will hold a Battle of the Bands to give two bands an opportunity to perform at the sixth annual event on August, 25, 26 and 27, 2016. NYSMusic is proud to sponsor this year’s contest.

Interested bands are asked to submit a current Electronic Press Kit including a Hi-Res live video performance, a current band photo and social media details to nightlightsfestbands@gmail.com. All submissions must be received no later than 11:59 P.M. on Aug., 3, 2016. Finalists will be announced on Aug., 4th. Voting will run Aug., 5th through 12th. NYSMusic.com voters will have the final word, with the band with the highest number of votes will open up the festival’s Friday Main Stage. A second artist or band will receive the Judge’s Choice Award and a slot in the festival’s line-up.

The Night Lights Music Festival is a magical three-day event in Sherman, NY that combines the power of sound and light to give festival-goers a unique sensory experience. At the top of the bill are the renowned fusion/electronica powerhouse Beats Antique, two-time Grammy Award winning guitarist Eric Krasno, Moon Hooch, the London Souls, Ithaca’s Jimkata, Holly Bowling, and Buffalo’s groove-rock quartet, Aqueous.

This year’s festival will feature expanded and enhanced lighting trails and installations, and new daytime activities, such as a Kan Jam tournament, poetry readings from Just Buffalo Literary Center, yoga, Hoop-a-Thon from UltraHoops, swimming, biking/ hiking and much more.

For full lineup and more information on Night Lights Music Festival, visit their website.

July 29, 2016
Closing In On Tumbledown: An Inside Perspective with Ryan Dempsey of Twiddle

Vermont’s favorite band, Twiddle, will be hosting Tumbledown as a part of Burlington’s yearly summer Maritime Festival at the waterfront in Burlington, July 29th-30th. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Dempsey, keyboardist of Twiddle, to get the inside perspective. Dempsey shares how the line-up came together, the special connection that they have to Burlington, as well as a few other interesting bits and pieces about the event to let fans know what’s in store for them this coming weekend.

Chelsea Erin Wright: Hey Ryan! So many people, including myself, can’t wait for Tumbledown! This is Twiddle’s first big event, in your home state of Vermont. Can you tell me a little bit about how you guys came up with the name, and why you chose Burlington as the location?

Ryan Dempsey: We came up with with the name when we were looking through our lyrics. There’s this song called “Amydst the Myst”…we also thought it was a really recognizable name that people wouldn’t forget. There’s no other festival out there that has the name Tumbledown, but it also has to do with a song that’s important to us and it’s catchy…like come on tumble down to the waterfront! I think it sounds good. We chose the waterfront because it’s the most beautiful spot in this area, a great place to see a show…have fun, relax watching the sunset and experience good music…we love it and want to promote Burlington, and we’re a Vermont band so what a better way to do that. I grew up there, so it’s a special place to me.

CW: You couldn’t have picked a better spot! Your long-time loyal Vermont fans thank you for choosing to throw it here.

RD: Absolutely!

CW: You guys chose some really amazing acts to accompany you for the weekend-it’s such a great variety of musical styles. I’d love to hear about how you guys came together & crafted your line-up?

RD: We sat down in the tour bus and thought about the line-up, and considered who we would want to be a part of it to get a good vibe going, and who we want to promote…to have a wide variety of musical styles…a little bluegrass, a little funk…a little of this and that. Also, they’re all our friends, and we chose the people that were available on our list…we’re more than excited to have them come, because they bring a positive message. Nahko, Cabinet, Holly Bowling…all of the bands bring a good vibe, and that’s what we want to encompass. We think we nailed it with the artists that we got to be a part of this event. I’m very proud and thankful to the artists who chose to get involved.

CW: I’m pretty sure you nailed it. I think it’s funny, a few years ago I recall having a conversation with you about the Kitchen Dwellers, and you were so stoked on them. I had never heard of them at that point, and since have seen them several times in Vermont at Nectar’s in Burlington, as well as The Frendly Gathering the past two years – they are so great, and I’m really happy they they’re playing Tumbledown with you guys. Can you tell me about your love for them?

RD: Yeah-here’s the story about the Kitchen Dwellers…they’ve become my really good friends. When we were on tour years ago, we played a show in Bozeman at a place called the Filler, and my ex-girlfriend from Bozeman said “hey, let’s go back to this party”…so we go, and we find out when we get there that there’s a bluegrass band who lives there, and they just play music in the kitchen. We learned that they went around to all of the college hot-spots, and played in peoples kitchens. They were clearly bringing a really big vibe and were gaining a scene quickly. They were so young at the time, like 18 or 19…Mickey and I set up our gear and jammed with them in the kitchen at this party, and thats how we became friends. So on the frequent trips I would make to Montana, I would stay with them and we became very close over the years…I got to watch them grow just like we did, starting out at college and expanding outward. The difference was that they were playing in all of the kitchens surrounding the local college scene…they’re a great band, a mixture of jam, funk and bluegrass. They’re killing it…I’m really proud of them, and I’m excited to see what they’re going to bring to Tumbledown.

CW: Awesome-speaking of which, can you tell me a bit about the Kitchen Cabinet?

RD: Kitchen Cabinet will be playing an after-show for Tumbledown, which is a combination of the band Cabinet and the Kitchen Dwellers…they’re both bluegrass oriented bands, and so they are for the first time coming together to blend their sounds. It’s going to be excellent, because they’re both amazing bands, made up of amazing individuals and talented musicians. I’m stoked to see what they’re going to come up with…I know Mihali and I will be sitting in with them. We can’t wait to see what they have in store.

CW: Nice, so we’re going to see whats inside the Kitchen Cabinet and it’s going to be good, I’m sure!

RD: It’s going to be delicious…it’s already making me hungry.

CW: Hah indeed! What would you say is going to make Tumbledown different than your typical maritime festival on the waterfront?

RD: It’s our first big event, and we’re so happy to see the love and support it’s gained so far. People from all over New England will be there…the ‘Frendly crew’ will be there. It’s going to be the first time we’ve had any of these bands in one place together…I’m going to be wearing a tutu. We’re working on a great set…we’ve worked our butts off on making this a fun event. It’s a community of great bands, and we’re offering something that you can’t really get at any other festival.

CW: Yeah that’s what it seems like-it’s like the communities of Twiddle fans, Frendly Gathering folks, and the Burlington scene, as well as many other ‘Frends’ from out of state, are coming together and intertwining, from the waterfront to downtown Burlington – where you can venture around at your own pace, while getting the chance to spend the weekend taking in the beauty of Vermont’s greatest city. This is an amazing opportunity!

RD: Exactly, and rain or shine its beautiful…you’re in one of the most beautiful places in the world, that people dream about. Last year we played the maritime festival, and we got an amazing sunset. This year I hope for people to look at and take in their surroundings, to feel the beauty of Vermont, and to experience the community of Burlington. Also, the idea of so many people from all of the New England states coming together, being friendly and creating a good vibe…just enjoying the music and having a great time….it’s exciting!

CW: I’m also very excited about it, and everyone that I’ve talked to is also stoked for the entire weekend.

RD: Good…you’re not allow to come. I’m making sure that the police escort you out.

CW: Oh wow okay, that’s great. That sounds really appropriate to me..

RD: Yea, I’ll pick you out in the crowd and be like “That girl, Chelsea…shes out”.

CW: Okay so, does that mean that Officer Frodjo’s going to kick me out, or will it be you?

RD: That’s a paradox, I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.

CW: Cause we’re frends…but Officer Frodjo and I are not.

RD: No, no yeah, we are frends…but Frodjo does not like you. Because you’re a good person, and Frodjo doesn’t like good people. You know like every other evil, corrupt cop…anyway, next question.

CW: HA! Yeah, so…while the music is the most exciting part, I know a lot of work and support has to come from many sources to put on a successful event. Can you share some of the ways in which people are coming together, to help make Tumbledown the best experience that it can be?

RD: Yeah, so we have a non-profit organization for charity called the White Light Foundation. We’re choosing many different ways to help the community, such as providing for homeless people and those in need. My dad is in charge of helping the homeless people of Burlington, he’s doing a great job…all of the excess money is going to go towards helping charities, which is great. We’re going to have Frisbee golf and a disc golf tournament, and the proceeds from that will go to the White Light Foundation. We’re going to have a PhanArt exhibit at Nectar’s, which is a great way for fans and artists to creatively express their love for bands such as Phish, Nahko, Twiddle…they can come up with their own art related to songs or lyrics, and they get to make money off of their art while also contributing proceeds to the White Light Foundation. This is bringing the artist community together to be a part of the event, which I think is huge. I’m wearing a tutu, that’s bringing many people together…

CW: That’s all amazing…and yeah the tutu, clearly that’s going to draw many, many ladies Ryan. And men.

RD: Yeah, the charity’s not important at all…it’s all about the tutu. But really those parts of the festival allow people to congregate and do something different during the music. It’s going to bring a lot of positivity. And Higher Ground is supporting us, which is helping us to make it possible…we couldn’t do it without the people of Burlington, and our supportive family of . We’ve had a lot of sponsorship…Ben & Jerry’s, the Outdoor Gear Exchange, Keep Vermont Weird…they’ve all been a huge help.

CW: Awesome. Let’s talk about the video that you made to advertise the event. It’s pretty rad that you were able to make it yourself, since video is something that you’ve always been into

RD: Yes, I was not expecting the amount of attention that my video got…we went downtown, Alex my girlfriend filmed it, and we have another friend who films, who provided some footage from Capitol Theater to add to it. The premise of that video was going downtown with a puppet, and approaching a bunch of random people and asking them to be a part of our video. It got like 20,000 hits within a few days. Then we made a second video with Frodjo…I had fun with it. Yeah, I went to school for film and am definitely a film guy…Frodjo is my avenue out into that world, having fun and making it a thing to promote Tumbledown.

CW: Sweet! What are you most excited about, as the days wind down to the event?

RD: Probably when I get on stage and pull off my tutu, and then pull my pants down, I’m going to get arrested

CW: And then it’s going to be over, because Twiddle’s not going to play Tumbledown…unless you’re going to have a 3 man show.

RD: Yeah, and then Twiddle’s going to breakup because they’re mad at me. Yeah, that’s what I’m most looking forward to. But really, in all seriousness I’m looking forward to Nahko…he is my biggest inspiration. Also, Madison Pruitt is coming and I believe she’s going to be playing a couple of shows…she is from Ohio, and is amazing. She’s a 16 year old girl who is just incredible, she’s going to blow up. I love all of the bands, but right now I’ve been following Nahko pretty steadily. I’m looking forward to sitting in with as many musical experiences that I end up a part of during the after-shows, and Mihali’s show…It’s just a full 2-days of music for me, the thing I love doing. I’m looking forward to all of it. I don’t doubt that everyone’s going to have a good time, so I’m looking forward to the aftermath of hearing people talk about it and seeing the photos.

CW: Cool! Well thank you so much for taking the time to share the inside perspective, and I’m looking forward to the very first Tumbledown! See you there!

RD: I’m looking forward to seeing your pretty face there, and everyone elses! Thank you for interviewing me, and I’ll see you soon!

Check out Twiddle’s website for more information.

July 24, 2016
Pianist Holly Bowling Reimagines Phish’s “Chicago Wedge,” Announces San PhranArt Vinyl Release Party

Known for her classical reinterpretations of Phish and Grateful Dead jams, San Francisco pianist Holly Bowling is soon to issue her arrangements of Phish’s “Chicago Wedge” (July 20, 2014) and “Glens Falls Twist” (Oct. 23, 2013) on vinyl.

Bowling released her debut album Distillation Of A Dream: The Music Of Phish Reimagined For Solo Piano through Royal Potato Family last year, which featured a reimagining of the Vermont quartet’s “Lake Tahoe Tweezer” (July 31, 2013) that Bowling has also issued on vinyl. The latest vinyl compilation will be a companion to continue the series of her piano “jam transcriptions,” and is pressed on 150-gram red transparent vinyl with album artwork from a linocut Isadora Bullock print. Only a 500 limited-edition run is available; copies can be picked up here, or for those heading west for Phish’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium shows, Bowling will host a record release party at PhanArt’s San PhranArt Show on Tues., July 19 at Mezzanine.

Here’s what Bowling shared about her second record via Facebook:

Catch Bowling at Twiddle’s Tumble Down in Burlington, VT, July 29 and 30, and at the Night Lights Music Fest in Sherman, NY, on Aug. 27, before she heads to the southeast. And watch as Bowling walks viewers through her “jam transcription” process for the “Chicago Wedge” in the video below:

July 14, 2016
Phish Embarks on Summer Tour 2016

Phish embarks on their 2016 summer tour tomorrow when they take the stage at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota for their first show of the year on American soil since January 2. Phans across the country will rejoice as the Vermont quartet plays a series of shows at some of their most beloved venues, including the Gorge, the Mann, SPAC, Bill Graham and Dick’s; as well as making some notable debuts at Wrigley Field and the Lockn’ Music and Arts Festival.

As if the type II jams and deep collective musical voyages aren’t enough, there’s tons of fun stuff to check out beyond when Phish is on stage. In Chicago, Galerie F will be showcasing Jim Pollock’s art – including never before seen sketches, posters and other original pieces. Similarly, Masthay Studios will open their doors in Hartford prior to the Phish show to show fans where the magic happens.

There will be a series of strong after parties including Pink Talking Phish at the Mezzanine in San Francisco, Assembly of Dust at Martyr’s in Chicago, Jazz Is Phish at the House of Blues Chicago, and an abundance of musical happenings at Nanola Malta, just 10 minutes from SPAC, including pre-show festivities with Hayley Jane and the Primates, and a Sunday brunch with Holly Bowling and appearances from Mister F, The McLovins and more. Additionally there will be a James Brown Dance Party aftershow in Philly. PhanArt will be hosting a series of art shows in Chicago and San Francisco as well, bringing together a rapidly expanding fan base of art aficionados.

One thing that’s for certain, is there are a lot of moving parts to Phish tour and it’s not all about the music the Vermont quartet makes on stage. It’s about a umbrella of a community where you’ll find so much love and excitement. It’s about exploring new places, trying new things, stepping outside of your comfort zone and reuniting with old friends that you may only see once a year while simultaneously making new connections. There are a lot of exciting things coming out of the band’s camp, including the free sampler Live Bait 12 where every single track clocks in at double digits and the recent release of the third edition of The Phish Companion benefiting the Mockingbird Foundation, available at the PhanArt show this Saturday in Chicago.

As for the band, things couldn’t look more promising before hitting the road; especially since they’ve presumably finished recording a new album with Bob Ezrin in Nashville. Armed with a fresh stable of new material, it’s safe to say we can expect some debuts and several new launching pads for deep improvisation.

2016 has been a rough year so far with the losses of musical icons such as David Bowie, Merle Haggard and Prince so it will be interesting to see if Phish takes a swing at any of their musical catalogs. In recent years Phish has come more into their element than ever before in the 3.0 era. Now that all of the members are in their early 50s, they seem to have a grasp on the intrinsic connection they all share after being friends for all of these years. They seem more comfortable, happy, appreciative and healthy than ever before and it is certainly reflected in their music. Chris Kuroda is also rumored to be working with a new light rig that’s unlike anything he’s ever used in the past. There is a multi-panel design that will be suspended above the band and there appears to be three large LED panels encapsulating the members on stage. It looks like the perfect stepping stone to some extensive and deep psychedelic visual experiences.

One thing to be expected is the unexpected. Phish hates being predictable and if everything goes off without a hitch this could be one of the best tours in the post-Hampton era. The build up certainly makes it seem that this tour will be a success right out of the gates. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty, lets get this show on the road.

June 21, 2016
Fit for a Queen: Holly Bowling Closes Massry Season with a Thriller

A couple years ago, few knew of Holly Bowling. The unassuming Phish fan — a classically trained pianist with a love of improvisational music — was just going about her life. And that life would be changed on July 31, 2013, when Phish dropped a 37-minute “Tweezer” opus in Lake Tahoe.

How are the two connected? Well, Bowling decided to transcribe the improvised jam note-for-note and arrange it for the piano. Her YouTube video has been viewed more than 65,000 times, and spawned her album Distillation of a Dream, which is full of Phish songs reimagined for the piano.

Fast forward to the present, and Bowling has some time under her belt on the road, taking her act of just herself and a piano across the country. On May 12, Holly Bowling headlined the Massry Center for the Arts on the College of Saint Rose campus in Albany, becoming the first person ever to perform at the venue twice in one season. (Side note: This is the second time in a week I was lucky enough to see her live. She played a benefit at Garcia’s at the Capitol Theater ahead of Twiddle’s headlining show last Saturday.)

To a crowd of enthusiasts in a space with room to move, Bowling jumped right into Phish’s “Pebbles and Marbles,” with her form-fitting black dress a near perfect compliment to St. Rose’s black baby grand piano. With an iPad affixed inches from her eyes, Bowling locked in with the focus of a baseball player at bat down by a run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Aside from the lights, which were provided by Buffalo’s Craig Freudenthal, and the songs, Bowling’s show couldn’t be any more different than what Phish does dozens of times each year. At one point, the green lights providing the backdrop appeared to look like the outside of Hampton Coliseum, a place Phish fans know well.

“Train Song” was next, before Bowling explained that recently, she’s been transcribing Grateful Dead songs. On that note began my all-time favorite song ever written by anyone, the Phil Lesh-penned “Unbroken Chain.” “Theme From the Bottom,” a passionate “Wharf Rat,” “Roggae” and June 18, 1974’s “Eyes of the World”>”China Doll” closed out the hour-long set.

The second set began with “A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing” from Phish’s run at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in June, 2004, which featured a prominent “Piper” tease. To everyone’s delight, Bowling ripped into the entire “Terrapin Station” suite, which took us to the close of the second set. “Slave to the Traffic Light” was a fitting encore to a wonderfully unique experience.

But wait — Bowling wasn’t done. Just after announcing she’s working on a new album of Grateful Dead transcriptions, Bowling played a second encore of Phish’s “Taste,” a regular in her setlist. The crowd erupted in applause and Bowling flashed her overly thankful smile, sending everyone out the door in baited exhilaration.

If you get the opportunity to see Bowling, you should not pass it up. Phish fans tend to be supremely passionate about their band, but Bowling has taken that fanaticism to another level with her performances and dedication.

May 17, 2016
Twiddle, Tauk, Holly Bowling and Matisyahu Combine for an Epic Night at The Capitol Theatre

Take the fastest rising jamband in recent years, add in a hot prog-rock band boiling over with talent, a classically trained pianist performing the music of Phish and The Grateful Dead, and a cross-genre reggae singer and you have the fixings for one of the best nights of live music The Capitol Theatre has seen this year, and that’s saying a lot., with Twiddle, Tauk, Holly Bowling and Matisyahu to credit.

The night began with Holly Bowling’s performance at Garcia’s, a benefit for The White Light Foundation, Twiddle’s charitable wing. Being that this was Garcia’s, Bowling offered a spirited mashup of “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot” > “Theme from the Bottom” > “Franklins Tower” and a full Terrapin Station suite. Phish’s “Taste”, a newer addition to her repertoire was full of energy, as was the set closing “Harry Hood”, which found Twiddle keyboardist Ryan Dempsey joining for the latter portion of the song, leading to true keyboard cavalry between the two who enjoyed the dual experience immensely as evidenced by their ear to ear grins.

The remarkable talent of TAUK is something that continues to translate well directly from their studio albums, with an exclamation point placed firmly upon their music in the live setting. Fans gaped in awe at the musicianship performing an opening hour long set. “Eleanor Rigby” -> “In Bloom” capped off their set, a familiar appearance in setlists, and one that beckons for more variety from this quartet who have immense talent contained within to stretch into unfamiliar territory.

While a sell out of the Capitol Theatre is a goal for any rising or established band, it’s not like Twiddle hasn’t played to larger audiences. The rally around the band by the fanbase created an electric feel with familiar faces everywhere, even of those who are uninitiated to the music or skeptical of the group. The fans, these ‘Twiddlers’ (among the variety of names they have for each other – Frends, Twiddiots, Twiddlenauts, etc…) are what draws in attention to the band, as much as the band itself does. Like any mass following of a musician, the community that rallies around them is reflective of the music, and the base has the emotive welcoming personality found in Twiddle’s music. There is a syncopation between the music and the fans, something observed last year after attending four Twiddle shows over three months.

The “Blunderbuss” opener caught many off guard, as it was a debut fresh from the upcoming Plump Chapter 2, and a tight instrumental at that. The “Polluted Beauty” jam was driven by Gubb’s bass and Brooke’s drums, with an impressive funk jam that developed in “Wasabi Eruption” that was a highlight of the first set. Then “The Box” showed up and built off that energy; the build and electronic tone is the reason why “The Box” stands out as one of Twiddle’s strongest jam vehicles.

The all too familiar reggae sound of Twiddle was front and center in the set closing “Lost in the Cold.” It served as the perfect song for Matisyahu to join on with vocals, an unforced and natural fit, after having expressed admiration for the band. Following his contribution to “Lost in the Cold,” he took off his jacket and upon getting fans on the floor to put their hands up, he unexpectedly stage dove into the crowd. You don’t see this at jamband shows, or really any non-punk/metal show for that matter. It was a headscratcher as we headed into setbreak, but the energy from the set hardly dissipated.

A five song second set opened with “Grandpa Fox,” a little proggy no nonsense starter. And when there was a need for funk to keep it rolling, there was a driving funk, like in “Apples,” which featured a Michael Jackson medley and a severe dub jam as well. You gotta like this song. “Snycopated Healing” chilled things out with music to sway to, but “Frankenfoote” picked things up. Dempsey played the keys with his toes on this light, traditional Twiddle song, and one that is easily accessible to rookie fans. The encore began with a truly gracious Mihali giving thanks to the moms in attendance as well as the fans who sold out the Capitol Theatre only an hour before doors opened. With that, fans were treated to a bouncy “Zazu’s Flight” > “Hatti’s Jam” and “When it Rains, it Poors.”

Throughout this truly enjoyable show, the one aspect that I kept returning to was that despite the great deal of talent in the band, both individually and collectively, there are some spots where they play too few notes and could fill in some space, as brief but critical as those spaces may be. A lot of notes isn’t a bad thing.

This show at The Capitol Theatre was enough to wash away any bias and open eyes to see that Twiddle is a reset button on the jam scene, one in which they are strong advocates for the rising stars of the next wave of live bands. The history, the venue, and the centrality of location right off Interstates 95 and 87 led to their biggest NYC area venue show to date. The Beacon is the new goalpost in the continued domination of the band in Northeast markets.

May 10, 2016