NYS Music 20​18

Category: Rochester

  • Mike Powell set to release new solo EP, ‘Shelter Without Walls’

    Mike Powell has had a prolific few years, performing throughout the northeast with his solo act, his duo, and his full band the Black River.  He also released a solo album and an album with his band. This Friday, Oct. 5, Powell will release his latest solo effort, Shelter Without Walls.

    shelter without walls

    The six song EP features two previously released, but re-worked songs, “Twenty One Rounds” and “Sad Day in Champion” and four brand new heartfelt compositions. The album can be pre-saved on Spotify and Apple Music through this link. It will be available on all streaming services beginning Oct. 5.

    Powell is a unique storyteller who writes with emotion, breaking down walls to allow the listener into the story. He writes best when he draws from personal experiences. “Twenty One Rounds” tells the tale of a mother who lost her son while serving his country; something Powell has knowledge of through his upbringing in Carthage, just outside of the Fort Drum Army Base in Northern New York. This much-loved song gets a rework on the new EP and has lost little of the original’s emotional appeal.

    Writing songs has always been a soul satisfying activity for me. I just have a deep love for words and telling stories. Music is the most impactful medium I’ve found for connecting with people and evoking emotion. Being able to play intimate acoustic sets in tandem with rock n’ roll shows with my band is like scratching two creative itches at once. I feel like I have two separate vehicles that share the same fuel system.

    “Sad Day in Champion” recalls the closing of a paper mill in that same region of the North Country that affected so many of the people in the region as well as those close to the young Mike Powell.

    One of Powell’s new songs, “Poison Diamond” closes the record. A dirgy number, highlighted by Hanus’ trademark guitar and a church-like organ, where the narrator laments, “You took my hand/You stole my heart/ You loved me to pieces/That’s what tore me apart/You set the fire/And it made me cold/You made me higher/And you cut me down low/That’s what tore me apart/I need some glue, or something heavy I can hold on to/This old bottle here will do/I’m never together with you.”  This is one of the Powell’s most powerful recordings to date, from the lyrics to the delivery to the musicianship within the song. The subdued duet with a female voice on “I’m never together with you” hits the listener in the heart. This song could be Powell’s launching pad to a wider audience.

    shelter without walls

    “The Polite Rebel” will also embark on the most ambitious month of his professional music career beginning Friday. The busy month kicks off with the Black River opening for Canadian rockers The Trews at Exhibition Hall in Watertown this Friday, Oct. 5. Following the Watertown gig, Powell and his duo partner, John Hanus trip down to Goshen, CT for a main stage gig at the Black Bear Americana Music Fest on Oct. 6. The weekend wraps on Sunday with an intimate gig at The Sinclair in Skaneateles on Oct. 7.

    Powell’s intense schedule continues Oct. 10 and 11 as he makes his solo debut at Ani DiFranco’s 9th Ward at Babeville in Buffalo and Lovin’ Cup in Rochester. Oct. 12 sees Powell closer to home at the Brewerton Center for the Arts for another solo show.

    The most highly anticipated nights of the month occur at the historic Nelson Odeon, a renovated former Grange Hall located in the rolling hills of Nelson, near Powell’s current hometown of Cazenovia on Oct. 13 and 14. These shows will be used to record Powell in both solo and duo formats as well as certain selections with the Black River, to be included in a future live Powell album.

    The Odeon is one of Powell’s favorite rooms to perform and is the reason he chose this historic building for the recording of his first live album. He says of the building:

    The Nelson Odeon stands for everything I love about music. It’s like stepping back to a simpler time. I have always dreamed of releasing a live record and this is the perfect room to try and bottle up a moment in time. It will be a special night.

    The Black River, in addition to their gig opening for The Trews on Oct. 5, will take up a Thursday residency at King of Clubs in Syracuse’s famed Armory Square on Oct. 4 and 18. Dubbed “The Thursday Night Rock Show,” this ongoing event is hosted by the band and features some of the region’s top acts. Capital District rockers Wild Adriatic will join the Black River in a November session of “The Thursday Night Rock Show.”

    Finally, on Oct. 19 Powell makes a trip to Blue Mountain Lake for a performance at the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts and wraps up with a songwriters and on Oct. 20 the 18 Songs Tour visits Casita del Polaris in Ithaca. This set brings together three of Central New York’s premier singer songwriters for a night of music – 18 songs- with Powell joined by Charley Orlando and Chris Merkley.

    When not on the road, Powell will be in the studio recording the Black River’s sophomore effort. The band released its debut, Classic Universe in January.

    Check out the video for “Sad Day in Champion” below featuring Powell and members of the Black River.

  • Rochester’s The Dirty Pennies premiere video for “A Prisoner’s Passage”

    “A Prisoner’s Passage,” a new song with accompanying music video from Rochester’s The Dirty Pennies premieres today on NYS Music. The video, filmed Live at Wicked Squid Studios, will be featured on The Dirty Pennies’ next EP due out in early 2019.

    The song was written shortly after their first run of regional festival appearances at Lilac Fest & Grassroots Festival. The band chose the live video route in order to embody the energy of a live show in hopes of engaging more than just the auditory senses, giving fans, both new and old, a taste of what to expect in the future.

    The Dirty Pennies next show will be on Halloween at Bug Jar in Rochester, with Morning Teleportation & Desert Noises. More info can be found here.

  • Get Up and Dance to Redbeard Samurai’s ‘Turn It Up’ Video

    Redbeard Samurai has just released a new music video that’s going to make you want to get your groove on. The video for his catchy number “Turn It Up” features dancers from a variety of different styles, from hip hop to swing. This fits with the song’s overriding message: “It doesn’t matter how you cut loose, it matters that you cut loose.”

    “Turn It Up” is the first single from from Redbeard Samurai’s upcoming debut hip-hop album Second. The project is the brain-child of versatile musician Blake Pattengale, a recent graduate of Eastman School of Music. With school behind him, Redbeard Samurai is finally ready to launch the music they’ve been writing and recording for the past few years.

    Photo: Dave Jones Empire West Photography

    The video for “Turn It Up” was directed by Josiahx, and features some members of the band and their friends. (Vanishing Sun fans will recognize a cameo by singer Zahyia.) The dancers don everything from traditional dance costumes to a panda suit. It was filmed at Arbor Loft in downtown Rochester, which fit the cleaned-up post-industrial vibe Pattengale was looking to achieve.

    As a concept album, ‘Second’ includes both songs and skits to tell a tale. Pettengale describes it as “an underdog story in which Redbeard Samurai works to liberate the people of Highstrung Falls from the shackles of propriety, conformity and mostly from the autocratic Chancellor who rules Highstrung Falls.” ‘Second’ is being mixed and mastered by Matt Ramerman of The Green Room. The release date will be announced soon. The album visuals were designed by Mexican artists Raul Urias and Moises Cordova.

    To stay current on upcoming events and album news, visit the website or follow Redbeard Samurai on Facebook and Instagram.

  • Rochester Fringe Goes ‘Instrumental’

    Dave Chisholm has a knack for writing and illustrating comics and a gift for making music. Last year, he released the graphic novel Instrumental along with an accompanying soundtrack that he composed. The multi-instrumentalist has a doctorate degree from Eastman School of Music, and not only wrote all the parts for the ensemble, but also performs on the trumpet himself. The members of the band also represent the characters in the graphic novel, who are also in a band. The story line centers around the moral dilemma faced by a musician who is gifted a killer trumpet. Yes, the instrument literally kills listeners.

    Luckily for those of us in the audience, this is a work of fiction. Even if it weren’t, I would have taken the risk. While the soundtrack has been performed live a couple times since its release mid-2017, this was the first time it has been projected onto a screen behind the musicians. The effect was spectacular.

    The novel has seven chapters, each corresponding with a track on the album. As you see the characters in the ensemble playing, you hear their instruments being played live. The characters really come to life.

    One of my favorite characters, the drummer of the fictional band, has an intense practice session at the beginning of the chapter entitled Decompression, and it was such a thrill to see and hear the drum solo played live by local percussionist Matt Bevan-Perkins. Syncing video and audio is no easy task, especially when the music is being performed live. As the drummer, Bevan-Perkins deserves kudos for setting the pace for the rest of the band so that it appeared seamless to the audience when the song ended at the same time as each chapter of the book. Bevan-Perkins was a stand-in for the Instrumental band, but performs regularly in Chisholm’s other project Talking Under Water.

    The protagonist of the work is a trumpet player, so the trumpet is featured prominently in the performance. Chisholm has masterfully infused musical symbolism and applied principles of music theory to create harmony and dissonance as appropriate to the story line, and carrying through golden threads of melody that tie the work neatly together. The listener is swept along as the trumpeter marches through the frustration of grinding out a gig, soars to heights of celebration, then plunges into depths of despair. All the while, Chisholm is playing the role of both musician and conductor giving visual cues to bandmates.

    One of those bandmates was saxophonist Colin Gordon, who performed an absolutely stellar solo during tonight’s performance.The string section was comprised of Chris Potter on guitar and Dave Kluge on bass. On the grand piano was Matt Curlee, whose part was featured prominently in the finale.

    The audience members fell completely under the spell of Instrumental, and rewarded Chisholm and the Instrumental band with a standing ovation. The line to meet the musicians afterwards lasted nearly as long as the performance itself. If you missed the show, the graphic novel and soundtrack are both available on Amazon. Visit Dave Chisholm’s website for more information about his comics and music.

    This event was one of more than 500 events that have been slated for this year’s KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival. The state’s largest multimedia festival runs through Saturday, September 22.  A comprehensive list of events can be found at the Rochester Fringe website rochesterfringe.com. Stay tuned to NYS Music for continuing coverage.

  • Rochester Fringe Continues: A Recap of Saturday Afternoon at Parcel 5

    It was a muggy 80 degrees in Rochester with nary a breeze to be found, but that didn’t stop people young and old from gathering at Parcel 5 for some live music on Saturday afternoon. Four days into the 11-day-long KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival, and the party is still going strong. The lineup at the main stage included Chris Eves and the New Normal and Shane Scarazzini & EightFingers, leading up to an encore performance by the UK’s Massaoke.

    Chris Eves and The New Normal kicked things off. The Syracuse-based band jam band has shared a bill with the likes of Zac Brown Band, Jon Fishman of Phish, Turkuaz, Gov’t Mule, Cheap Trick, and Gregg Allman. Today, they opened up the main stage on the first weekend afternoon at New York State’s largest multi-media festival.

    With a smooth blend of roots rock, funk, and blues, Chris Eves and The New Normal have been making a name for themselves in the region. The band laid down some groovy tunes that got people from ages 8 to 80 up and dancing. The set included their original songs, featured on their SAMMY-nominated debut album Find Your Way, as well as their latest single “In Between.”

    Following this act was Shane Scarazzini & EightFingers. A Hudson Valley native, Scarazzini relocated to Nashville a few years ago. Luckily for us, he still spends a lot of time gigging in New York. EightFingers is his latest endeavor, a trio that includes Don Holocher on drums and Lucas Carillo on bass.

    They started their set strong with a searing hot cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” People around me were singing along, even though the official mass karaoke party wouldn’t start for a couple hours. The band was comfortable playing everything from rock standards to country. Their set also included their latest original song, “Camilla.”

    Check out our opening weekend preview and coverage of Friday night’s Massaoke headlining set. Stay tuned to NYS Music for more coverage of the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival, which runs daily through Saturday, September 22.

    For information about upcoming events, go to RochesterFringe.com, where you can filter the 500+ events by type, venue, and date.

  • Massaoke Transforms Parcel 5 Into Sing-Along Dance Party at Rochester Fringe

    KeyBank Rochester Fringe has brought the band Massaoke from the UK for the US debut. The sensation of the international festival circuit brings the karaoke experience to the masses – complete with live band, on-screen lyrics, and audience participation.

    Downtown Rochester comes to life during Fringe: people are out and about and there’s something to do or see on every street corner. But the main stage is at Parcel 5, part of the former site of Midtown Plaza on East Main Street. Thanks to a recent vote, parking is still free at meters on weekday evenings. But with record-breaking attendances every year, it was no surprise that I couldn’t find a spot on the street and had to use one of several garages within walking distance.

    When I arrived on site Friday night, the party was in full-swing, with an audience of thousands between the stage and the lights of the Liberty Pole singing along to “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus. While I’m not comfortable standing on stage to sing karaoke, I was quickly swept up in the excitement of the experience. I found myself setting down my camera and notebook several times to sing and dance along with the people beside me to favorites like Blink 182’s “All The Small Things” and The Village People’s “YMCA.”

    Massaoke led the audience in some themed medleys, some specific to decades or genres like 80’s or disco. They also did a really fun guys versus girls sing-off with songs from Grease. In traditional karaoke, people can choose songs. Massaoke replicates this through having the audience vote by volume (for example, Blink 182 beat out Backstreet Boys on this night). They also have an app where fans can vote in polls, request songs, or ask for a shout-out.

    For those who missed last night’s performance, there’s an encore tonight at 8:30pm. It will be the last chance to see Massaoke before they head back across the Atlantic.

    Parcel 5 is where the food trucks are stationed, so if you don’t need to go far to grab a quick bite. Organizers have cordoned off an area where people can bring their own lawn chairs for the shows. There are also stadium-style risers to the side for those who opt not to bring their own chair.

    All tuckered out from the show, I popped over to the Spiegelgarden at the corner of Main and Gibbs. The “pop-up urban lounge” is a great place to relax and enjoy refreshments. This is where you’ll find the Immersive Igloo, the Cirque Du Fringe, and the Silent Disco. But it’s also a place to relax between the 500+ events that occur during the 11 days Rochester Fringe. Grab some refreshments, then rally some friends for a game of cornhole, dominoes or connect four. Or pick up a pair of headphones and flop on a beanbag to enjoy the pedestrian drive-in – just like a drive-in but without the cars! While you’re there, pick up some Rochester Fringe merchandise, pick up tickets at the box office, or just chat with the Fringe volunteers about upcoming events.

    Check out the NYS Music preview of some of the music shows this weekend, and head over to the official rochesterfringe.com website to search for events by type, day, and/or venue. Rochester Fringe runs through Saturday, September 22. Stay tuned to NYS Music for more coverage and next week’s preview.

  • A Music-Lover’s Guide to Rochester Fringe Festival 2018 Opening Weekend

    The seventh year of the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival is underway. Now the largest multi-genre festival in New York State, the 2018 Rochester Fringe Festival offers more than 500 performances and exhibits across dozens of venues. Offerings include theater, comedy, art exhibits, multidisciplinary shows, and live music. Here’s the NYS Music Guide to what music-lovers can look forward to this opening weekend.

    https://youtu.be/f2WL6Gy329o

    The main attraction this weekend is the outdoor spectacle on Friday and Saturday, featuring the US debut of Massaoke. The UK sensation is sweeping the festival circuit world-wide, playing everyone’s favorite sing-along hits. Catch the act at Parcel 5 on Main Street. Massaoke starts at 8:30pm each night, but live music starts at 5pm. Opening on Friday night are The Crooked North (Americana), La Muralla (salsa), and Vanishing Sun (funk/soul). Saturday night features Chris Eves and The New Normal (rock), EightFingers (country/blues), and Cold Fronts (garage rock from Philadelphia). Parcel 5 events are free and open to the public.

    For the night owls, the party continues long into the night at the Immersive Igloo 3D sound experience at Spiegelgarden at 9:30 and 10:30 and the Silent Disco in the Spiegeltent. These two events are ticketed, and sell out quickly. Check ticket availability: Immersive Igloo and Silent Disco.

    Silent Disco photo by John Schlia

    Looking for something a little more laid-back? Settle in and enjoy some refreshments at local coffee shops and enjoy some free live music.

    Java’s Cafe on Gibbs Street hosts eclectic rock/folk band Paxtor at 7 p.m. on Friday. Then on Saturday, they feature acoustic trio The Genesee Three on Saturday at 5 and the eclectic musical stylings of Leah and the Upheaval at 7 p.m.

    Around the corner the Little Theatre Cafe has plenty to offer music-lovers, starting with local cover bands B2 and Sad Bastards on Friday night. A full bill on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. includes RIT Surround (a capella barbershop), Proof of Purchase A Capella, The Annual Bill Destler and Rebecca Johnson Show (folk), Norm and The Outliers (jazz), Desert Rhythms (belly dancing), and Howie Lester (international/folk). And the fun continues with interactive shows on Sunday with Music and Visuals with Motion Capture at 1:30 and Virtual Karaoke at 5:30.

    Eastman School of Music will be hopping this weekend. Friday night features two performances by the University of Rochester’s Institute for Popular Music: a performance of The Yes Album at 7 p.m. and Led Zeppelin IV at 9 p.m. Dave Rivello’s ensemble performs Saturday Night. And Sunday brings the return of the popular Gospel Sunday at 2 p.m. Gospel Sunday is free, but the room fills to capacity quickly, so arrive early. Tickets are on sale for the other shows at Eastman School of Music’s Killbourn Hall.

    U of R Institute for Popular Music

    Fans of contemporary dance troupes will want to check out the schedules for PUSH Physical Theatre and Garth Fagan. And if you’re in the mood for a musical, there’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch at 7 p.m. all this weekend or next Thursday and Friday at Lyric Theatre (click here for tickets).

    If you’re already looking ahead to next week’s events, you may want to consider heading out on Wednesday night to catch a rare live performance of Instrumental, the soundtrack to the comic of the same name. Author and composer Dave Chisholm released the set last year, and this will be the first time it will be performed with the comic pages projected as the backdrop. More information and tickets are available here.

    This is just a taste of what this weekend has to offer in Rochester. A comprehensive list of events can be found at the Rochester Fringe website rochesterfringe.com.

    Several events are already selling out. If you plan to attend a show, purchase tickets in advance. 
    Online: rochesterfringe.com
    Phone: (585) 957-9837 (additional fees apply)
    Box Office: One Fringe Place (corner of Main & Gibbs Streets)
    In Person: Venue door one hour before start of show (subject to availability)

  • The Nth Power Prevails

    Known for their enthralling fusion of soulful harmonies, gripping guitar and unpredictable drum patterns, The Nth Power played at Funk ‘n Waffles Rochester on Thursday, August 23 to a cold room devoid of the passionate crowd they deserved. The tiny crowd could have been a blessing in disguise since the uncomfortable volume may have been a discouragement to first time listeners seeking the band out in the future.

    Despite a harsh beginning to the show, moments of clarity during some of their jams showed the room what they can do. Their stage presence added to the spectacle, with Nick Cassarino (vocals/guitar), Nikki Glaspie (drums/vocals) and Nate Edgar (bass) all equally emotive with instruments in hand. Edgar is probably the most amusing to watch, balancing on one foot and bobbling his head, creating almost a bass player caricature.

    Cassarino took a moment during their performance to plug a charity the band wholeheartedly supports. The Harold Robinson Foundation helps the underprivileged youth in South LA connect with nature by sending them to a three-day outdoor camp. The foundation is highly rated for remaining transparent about their operations and is definitely worth checking out.

    The Nth Power soldiered on, displaying a fierce mashup of Earth Wind & Fire’s “Shining Star” and “Mighty Mighty” that lit up the room before delving into one of their most beloved tunes “Only Love” off their 2016 album Abundance. Overall it was a show worth seeing but hopefully the sound will be more on point next time to do justice to their playing.

  • Bob Dylan adds Utica and Rochester stops to 2018 Fall Tour

    This early August, world-renowned musician Bob Dylan announced the continuation of his “Never Ending Tour” taking place in the U.S. this fall. With destinations such as North Carolina, West Virginia, Florida, and many other southern states, it came as a surprise when the Stanley Theatre in Utica announced they would also be hosting a Bob Dylan performance. This one night special act will take place Thursday, November 15th at 8 p.m. He will also perform in Rochester the night before at the Auditorium Theater.

    Since this tour was originally devised in 1988, Bob Dylan and his group have played all over the world and even hit the tremendous milestone of 2,000 performances all the way back in 2007 at a show in Dayton, Ohio. Dylan is currently completing his last set of shows in Australia before beginning the U.S. portion of his quite literal never ending tour with the first being in Phoenix, Arizona on Oct. 4 at the Coamerica Theater.

    Fall 2018 Never Ending Tour dates
    Oct. 4 – Coamerica Theatre – Phoenix, Arizona
    Oct. 5 – Tuscon Music Hall – Tucson, Arizona
    Oct. 7 – Kiva Auditorium – Albuquerque, New Mexico
    Oct. 9 – Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center – Midland, Texas
    Oct. 10 – The Pavilion at the Toyota Music Factory – Irving, Texas
    Oct. 12 – River Spirit Casino Resort – Tulsa, Oklahoma
    Oct. 13 – WinStar World Casino and Resort – Thackerville, Oklahoma
    Oct.14 – Smart Financial Centre – Sugar Land, Texas
    Oct. 16 – Heymann Center – Lafayette, Los Angeles
    Oct. 17 – Mobile Saenger Theatre – Mobile, Alabama
    Oct. 19 – St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, Florida
    Oct. 20 – Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, Florida
    Oct. 21 – Van Wezel Performing Art Hall – Sarasota, Florida
    Oct. 23 – Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall – Fort Myers, Florida
    October 24: Broward Center for the Performing Arts – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
    October 26: Walt Disney Theater/ Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts – Orlando, Florida
    October 27: Macon City Auditorium – Macon, Georgia
    October 28: Tivoli Theatre – Chattanooga, Tennessee
    October 30: Mark C. Smith Concert Hall – Von Braun Center – Huntsville, Alabama
    October 31: Tennessee Theatre – Knoxville, Tennessee
    November 2: Thomas Wolfe Auditorium – Asheville, North Carolina
    November 3: Durham Performing Arts Center – Durham, North Carolina
    November 4: North Charleston Performing Arts Center – North Charleston, South Carolina
    November 6: Johnny Mercer Theatre – Savannah, Georgia
    November 7: The Bell Auditorium – Augustus, Georgia
    November 9: Ovens Auditorium – Charlotte, North Carolina
    November 10: Berglund Performing Arts Theatre – Roanoke, Virginia
    November 11: EKU Center for the Arts – Richmond, Kentucky
    November 13: Covelli Theatre – Youngstown, Ohio
    November 14: Auditorium Theatre – Rochester, New York 
    November 15: Stanley Center for the Arts – Utica, New York 
    November 17: Hard Rock Hotel – Atlantic City, New Jersey
    November 18: Symphony Hall – Springfield, Massachusetts
    November 20: Palace Theatre – Waterbury, Connecticut

  • Dark Star Orchestra Through the Eyes of a non-Deadhead

    Despite an intense musical appetite, I have always struggled to understand the draw to major jam bands like Grateful Dead. So it was with an apprehensive but open mind that I ventured to Frontier Field Friday, August 3 to test the waters with Dark Star Orchestra, one of the most prominent GD tribute bands out there.

    Dark Star Orchestra

    This year marked their fourth annual stadium show at Frontier Field, and it’s something DSO and GD fans alike look forward to all year. In the past few months I have been exposed to various live recordings of GD shows throughout their career, but often felt the music had no memorable quality, like if it suddenly stopped playing in the background I might not even notice. I’ve also sought the wisdom of knowledgeable friends who have given their best effort to inform my musical appreciation of the jam scene, but still hadn’t gained much traction.

    With this chip on my shoulder, I walked into the stadium and became instantly optimistic. The setting alone is worth going to see DSO. With the stage nestled near home plate, it is surrounded by an impossibly green field, punctuated by some familiar players in the Rochester skyline, including the infamous Kodak building off to the left. Anyone with Rochester pride would seriously appreciate this venue.

    It’s refreshing that DSO plays slightly more uptempo than a lot of the GD recordings I’ve heard, so the music is more lively. Oh- and they can sing. It’s so frustrating when off key vocals distract from an otherwise enjoyable song. This has always been one of my biggest complaints with jam music.

    In terms of the setlist, more seasoned fans know if you hear “China Cat Sunflower,” you’re gonna hear “I Know You Rider” right after. Same with “Lost Sailor” and “Saint of Circumstance.” I didn’t know the songs well enough to recognize them at the show, but I did recognize that “The Music Never Stopped” and “One More Saturday Night” were both really fun to dance to. I feel accomplished to finally appreciate a couple songs from their extensive catalog without a serious fan explaining why I should. It feels like a rite of passage in terms of understanding this music better.

    Even when things got noodly, it didn’t drag on incessantly as jams often can. For a long time I’ve thought musicians noodling on stage and fans noodle dancing in the crowd was just plain funny. It’s hilarious to me that a silly food describes both technical musicianship and the wiggly dance moves of the people who worship this music. It was too easy to make fun of and I couldn’t take it seriously. I can get down with a quick little jam, but I never understood how the crowd tolerated prolonged noodling where the music sometimes doesn’t even make sense or can go off on boring tangents. But that’s the nature of jamming- sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s more difficult to make something sound good having never practiced it. It’s taken me a long time to accept this when all I want at a show is to be blown away by the music.

    Interacting with the crowd at DSO also enhanced the experience. The incredibly welcoming crowd swiftly facilitated making friends with total strangers in the beer line or in the bleachers. Of all the music genres, this one encourages a sort of carefree dance expression you can’t find everywhere, and it’s definitely contagious.

    I may still will never be a Deadhead, but I’ve been a music fanatic long enough to warrant some investigative reporting. I will continue seeking to better understand my own misgivings with jam music and to appreciate some iconic music of our history.

    Set 1: Alabama, Bucket, West LA, Memphis Blues, Lazy River Road, Esau, Blow Away, Ramble On, Sunrise, Music

    Set 2: China Cat > Rider, She Belongs To Me, Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance > Drumz > Dear Mr. Fantasy > Throwing Stones > World To Give > Saturday Night

    E: Mr. Charlie, C’est La Vie (You Never Can Tell)