Its not every day an 80 year old bassist stops in Albany to play a club show. Its not every 80 year old bassist who happens to be Phil Lesh, who, while in between shows at The Capitol Theatre, made some stops with his son Grahame’s band, Midnight North as they played in Burlington and Albany this past weekend.
photo by Frankie Cavone
Phil has been no stranger to Midnight North shows recently, having sat in for shows in Washington, D.C., Fairfield, CT and Woodstock, as noted by Jambands.com. Phil joined Midnight North at Nectar’s on Friday night for “I Know You Rider” and “Ripple,” with Twiddle members Mihali and Ryan Dempsey joining in.
On Saturday, as Midnight North made their way to Albany, Phil Lesh was along for the ride, and sat in with Midnight North for their original “Wine and Roses,” followed by the Grateful Dead classic, “New Speedway Boogie” with Elliot Peck taking lead on vocals. Watch the two songs below, with Video courtesy of Mirth Films
Phil Lesh returns to the Capitol Theatre this week, October 18 – 20 with Stuart Bogie and Amy Helm join Phil on the first and last night of the run, with Eric D. Johnson, Josh Kaufman, Elliot Peck and Phil’s son Grahame set to play on the 19th. This run will also feature Joe Russo on drums and Benmont Tench on keys.
A new archival release from the estate of Jerry Garcia highlights a series of Fall 1989 shows taking place in Hartford, CT and Uniondale, NY. Dubbed “The Long Island Sound,” the two shows recorded by John Cutler feature one set each night from Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman, along with two-set performances each night from Jerry Garcia Band.
cover art by Stanley Mouse
Released on Round Records, Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound features two complete performances with over five and a half hours of previously unreleased music from September 5th, 1989 at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, CT and September 6th, 1989 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY.
Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound celebrates the storied East Coast 1989 run which featured acoustic duo Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman setting the stage for two nightly sets from the Jerry Garcia Band.
Recorded on a 2-track DAT and mastered by Joe Gastwirt, this collection contains audio with apparent, irremediable sonic imperfections (most notably the distortion on Jerry’s vocal during “Cats Under The Stars”) heard by all who experienced these performances in person or on tape. Despite the limitations in fidelity, the performances presented showcase timeless, transcendent and often blistering moments of pure magic.
The release features an album package including a liner note essay by Blair Jackson and archival memorabilia from the collection of Steve Parish. Pre-order the box set here.
September 5th, 1989 – Hartford Civic Center – Hartford, CT
Bob Weir & Rob Wasserman: Festival, Fever, K.C. Moan, Desolation Row, Looks Like Rain, The Winners, Victim or the Crime -> Wasserman Bass Improvisation no. 1 -> Throwing Stones
Jerry Garcia Band Set 1: Cats Under the Stars, They Love Each Other, Waiting for a Miracle, Run for the Roses, Like a Road, My Sisters and Brothers, Deal
Set 2: The Harder They Come, Mission in the Rain, Forever Young, Evangeline, Gomorrah, Don’t Let Go -> Lonesome and a Long Way From Home
September 6th, 1989 – Nassau Coliseum – Uniondale, NY
Bob Weir & Rob Wasserman: Walking Blues, City Girls -> Fever, Blackbird -> When I Paint My Masterpiece, Shade of Grey -> The Winners -> Easy to Slip -> Wasserman Bass Improvisation no. 2, Heaven Help The Fool
Jerry Garcia Band Set 1: How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Stop That Train, That’s What Love Will Make You Do, Mississippi Moon, I Second That Emotion, And It Stoned Me, Deal
Set 2: The Harder They Come, Dear Prudence, I Shall Be Released, Let It Rock, Evangeline, That Lucky Old Sun, Tangled Up in Blue
Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced their 2022 World Tour including a stop in East Rutherford, New Jersey on October 7, 2021. The tour will start in Seville, Spain on June 4, 2022 and will wrap up in September 18, in Arlington, Texas.
The tour will include singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea and drummer Chad Smith and guitarist John Frusciante, who rejoined the band in 2019 after a 10-year absence. The band made the announcement via a spoof news video featuring Anthony Kiedis, Flea and Chad Smith interviewing Frusciante about the prospect of the tour as news anchors. The tour will include lots of supporting acts including big names like The Strokes, HAIM, A$AP Rocky, and St. Vincent.
Red Hot Chili Peppers have been teasing a new album in the works earlier this year with John Frusciante back on guitar. There hasn’t been any more news on this album but with a world tour announcement there is hope it will drop before the start of a tour.
The band will stop in East Rutherford at Metlife Stadium on August 17, 2021. The Strokes and Thundercat will be opening this stop of the tour.
Tickets will be going on sale at 10 AM on October 15, 2021 and can be purchased here. People with access to the presale after 10 AM will be able to purchase tickets on October 8. People can gain access to the presale by pre-ordering the band’s new album, set for release in 2022, here.
For more information on Red Hot Chili Peppers 2022 tour visit their website.
Red Hot Chili Peppers 2022 World Tour Dates
Europe
Sat Jun 04 – Seville, Spain – Estadio La Cartuja De Sevilla=
Tue Jun 07 – Barcelona, Spain – Estadi Olimpic=
Fri Jun 10 – Nijmegen, Netherlands – Goffertpark=
Wed Jun 15 – Budapest, Hungary – Puskas Stadium=
Sat Jun 18 – Firenze, Italy – Firenze Rocks (festival date)
Wed Jun 22 – Manchester, UK – Emirates Old Trafford=
Sat Jun 25 – London, UK – London Stadium~
Wed Jun 29 – Dublin, Ireland – Marlay Park~
Fri Jul 01 – Glasgow, UK – Bellahouston Park~
Sun Jul 03 – Leuven, Belgium – Rock Werchter (festival date)
New Orleans bounce artist, Big Freedia, performed with her usual thunderous energy at Brooklyn Steel on Monday, September 27th. Bounce music is known to be raucous and high energy and Big Freedia did not disappoint, as she showed up with her signature aplomb.
As with my other musicians, Big Freedia’s touring schedule had been on hiatus for the better part of two years. Many in the crowd mentioned that they had been looking forward to this show for quite some time and it reflected in the crowd’s atmosphere, as their eagerness to witness the pioneer of bounce music was palpable.
A 20-year veteran of the bounce music scene in New Orleans, Big Freedia rose to mainstream prominence with vocal cameos on Beyonce’s “Formation” and Drake’s “Nice For What“, two massive hits that exposed her to a wider audience. But, unbeknownst to many is that Post-Hurricane Katrina, Freedia has been known as one of the biggest voices in the regional bounce music scene and maintains and extremely devoted fanbase.
Despite not performing regularly for almost two years, her stage presence has not waned. Right after getting on stage Freedia immediately began flying through several tracks across her several EPs & albums at bone-rattling volume, as she performed nonstop for several records. All the more astounding as she, along with five backup dancers, frenetically went though their choreography. It’s rare to see a performer with such intensity across any genre, but Big Freedia exemplified the spirit and movement of bounce music for a hungry audience. She didn’t let up and neither did the crowd.
Big Freedia is undoubtedly tied to her home state and her success only means more exposure for the region. What was once considered to be a niche regional sound is now being performed for large audiences in major markets. And Big Freedia displayed why it deserves its recognition, and why New Orleans is still a city to be reckoned with musically.
This was not a one-off show for Big Freedia, she will continue touring throughout United States, with more information on her upcoming tour dates available here. Be sure to take a look at the full photo gallery down below!
As they say, California knows how to party and Super Bowl 56 in the Los Angeles Rams SoFi stadium will be bringing the city its largest festivities to date. Jay – Z and Roc Nation’s partnership with the NFL to handle all the league’s most important music events — including the halftime show — has resulted in what is possibly the most star-studded halftime presentation ever.
In unprecedented fashion, Roc Nation and the NFL have announced five headliners for the annual extravaganza. The show will feature iconic producer Dr. Dre, the highest-selling rapper of all-time in Eminem, The Doggfather, Snoop Dogg, one of the most influential rappers of his generation in Kendrick Lamar and the queen of R &B, Mary J. Blige.
In a statement released with the news, Jay – Z echoed the sentiments.
On February 13, 2022, at the Super Bowl, Dr. Dre, a musical visionary from Compton; Snoop Dogg, an icon from Long Beach; and Kendrick Lamar, a young musical pioneer in his own right, also from Compton; will take center field for a performance of a lifetime. They will be joined by the lyrical genius, Eminem; and the timeless Queen, Mary J. Blige … This is history in the making.
The quintet of legendary acts have amassed 43 Grammy wins and 154 nominations amongst them and with their close association (Dr. Dre has worked extensively worked with Mary J. Blige and mentored Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar musically, along with the Death Row ties between Mary J., Snoop and Dre) there should be plenty of chemistry on stage. They will be able to seamlessly perform each other’s songs and have enough Billboard charting records to keep the crowd hanging on to every word.
The opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, and to do it in my own backyard, will be one of the biggest thrills of my career,
Dr Dre said in a statement
I’m grateful to Jay-Z, Roc Nation, the NFL, and Pepsi as well as Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar for joining me in what will be an unforgettable cultural moment.
Super Bowl 56 will be held on Sunday, February 13, 2022, and will feature the winners of the AFC and NFC championships, with the hosting team a serious contender to appear in the big game.
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Parker Millsap has started a new tour in support of his latest critically acclaimed album, Be Here Instead. Millsap will arrive in New York for a show at Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, October 9, and Lark Hall in Albany on Sunday, October 10.
Millsap’s fifth studio LP and first new album in close to three years, Be Here Instead marks a stylistic shift from the gritty and high-energy folk of the Oklahoma-bred, Nashville-based artist’s previous output. Mainly recorded live with Millsap’s full band, the album sees a departure from the guitar-and-notebook-based approach to songwriting that shaped his earlier work. Instead, Parker Millsap has followed his curiosity to countless other modes of expression, experimenting with everything from piano to effects pedals to old school drum machines (a fascination partly inspired by the early-’70s innovations of Sly Stone and J.J. Cale).
Be Here Insteadwas produced by the legendary John Agnello (Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth, Waxahatchee), and was heralded in January with the luminous “The Real Thing.” The song – which features guest vocals from Nashville singer Erin Rae – was also joined by a video, streaming now at YouTube. “The Real Thing” was met with a lot of excitement at radio, peaking at #1 on the Americana chart and sitting in the top 5 for 13 weeks, and making NPR’s Heavy Rotation list twice. In February, Millsap returned with the song “Vulnerable,” a lushly textured piece of psychedelic soul threaded with elegantly simple wisdom that Rolling Stone called “a shimmering dreamlike production that plays like an underwater orchestra.” The song was joined by a companion video directed by Casey Pierce.
He then released “Dammit,” one of the album’s most majestic moments as it unfolds as an unlikely epic that perfectly captures the nuances of existential frustration while working up a furious momentum that’s nothing less than exhilarating. It was also joined by an official music video.
Parker Millsap 2021 Fall Tour
9/16 – Indianapolis, IN at Hi-Fi w/ H.C. McEntire & Logan Halstead 9/17 – Chicago, IL at Schuba’s w/ H.C. McEntire 9/18 – Chicago, IL at Schuba’s w/ H.C. McEntire 9/19 – Milwaukee, WI at Backroom at Colectivo w/ H.C. McEntire 9/21 – St. Paul, MN at Turf Club w/ H.C. McEntire 9/22 – Iowa City, IA at Gabe’s w/ H.C. McEntire 9/23 – St Louis, MO at Off Broadway w/ H.C. McEntire 9/24 – Louisville, KY at Headliner’s w/ H.C. McEntire 9/29 – Cincinnati, OH at Memorial Hall w/ Molly Parden 9/30 – Columbus, OH at Rumba Cafe w/ Molly Parden 10/01 – Pittsburgh, PA at Thunderbird Cafe Music Hall w/ Molly Parden 10/02 – Cleveland, OH at Beachland Ballroom w/ Molly Parden 10/03 – Ferndale, MI at Magic Bag w/ Molly Parden 10/04 – Toronto, ON at Great Hall w/ Molly Parden 10/06 – Burlington, VT at Higher Ground w/ Molly Parden 10/07- Cambridge, MA at The Sinclair w/ Molly Parden 10/08 – Holyoke, MA at Gateway Arts Center w/ Molly Parden 10/09 – New York, NY at Bowery Ballroom w/ Molly Parden 10/10 – Albany, NY at Lark Hall w/ Molly Parden 10/12 – Philadelphia, PA at WXPN members-only show w/ Molly Parden 10/13 – Washington, DC at Union Stage w/ Molly Parden 10/14 – Carrboro, NC at Cat’s Cradle w/ Molly Parden 10/15 – Asheville, NC at The Masonic Temple w/ Molly Parden 10/16 – Nashville, TN at Basement East w/ Molly Parden 11/11 – Springfield, MO at Springfield Brewing Company’s The Cellar w/ molly. 11/12 – Wichita, KS at WAVE support TBA 11/13 – McAlester, OK at Dancing Rabbit Festival support TBA 11/15 – Tomball, TX at Main Street Crossing (outdoors) an Evening With (full band) 11/16 – San Antonio at Sam’s Burger Joint an Evening With (full band) 11/17 – Austin, TX at 3TEN Center w/ Remy Reilly 11/19 – Dallas, TX at Granada Theater w/ Remy Reilly 11/20 – Oklahoma City, OK at Douglass Auditorium w/ Remy Reilly
Alt-rock group Slothrust have announced the first leg of their 2022 headlining tour, adding to their Fall 2021 tourdates with Manchester Orchestra. Fans on the West Coast are in luck, as the first seven dates will span across California, Oregon and Washington. The tour kicks off on March 17th at the Soda Bar in San Diego.
The tour announcement comes on the heels of Slothrust’s most recent album Parallel Timeline, released earlier this month through Dangerbird Records. Bandleader Leah Wellbaum’s haunting, breathy alto grounds the dreamy record. Wellbaum said she sought to connect with her inner child through the writing process, centering herself in an ethos of freedom and uncensored catharsis. This vision is apparent through her vocal experimentation and the new, expansive production techniques the band uses. Even the records promotional imagery of bright inverted rainbows, reflects “a gateway to exploring the illusory things we see and experience in everyday life.”
Building on the theme of illusion, Slothrust also dropped a surreal new music video for track “Waiting.” Using the iconography of mandalas, Wellbaum moves through an uncertain and hazy world. Some of the imagery is notably childlike: clear balloons and bushels of fruit. Wellbaum grounds herself in the environment by brushing against plants or holding tight to her guitar.
The refrain calls out “Set me free/ I’ve been waiting passively/ I’m not scared/ I’ve never been so prepared.” In other words, Slothrust and Wellbaum are ready to explore their own musical liminal state. After all, Wellbaum characterizes herself as a “strong believer that nothing is quite as it seems, and that a greater reality exists beyond what the human eye can see.”
Fans too eager to wait (or too broke to make it to California) for their headlining tour need not fret. That is to say, Slothrust have many upcoming shows supporting Manchester Orchestra and Foxing. The band will arrive in the New York area on October 21st, playing the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. After that, they’ll move south for Birmingham and Atlanta shows.
The Many Saints of Newark kicked off the Tribeca Fall Preview Wednesday night at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.
The prequel to the critically-acclaimed hit series The Sopranos, The Many Saints of Newark is a look at the formative years of young Tony Soprano amid growing violence between rival gangs and the powerful DiMeo crime family. Tangled in it all is Dickie Moltisanti, the uncle whose influence shapes Tony into a formidable mob boss.
The Many Saints of Newark stars Alessandro Nivola, Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Michael Gandolfini, Billy Magnussen, Michela De Rossi, John Magaro, Joey Diaz, with Emmy winner Ray Liotta and Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga.
The entire cast as well as some of the original Soprano cast were at the Beacon for the premiere. They were all very gracious and greeted fans waiting for them to arrive. Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal were also there to introduce the film, and Sopranos creator David Chase.
The film releases nationwide October 1st in theaters and on HBO Max.
Atlanta singer Faye Webster brought her I Know I’m Dangerous Haha tour to Burlington, VT on Friday, playing Higher Ground’s Showcase Lounge. The Atlanta singer/songwriter released her album I Know I’m Funny Haha in June to critical acclaim.
Accompanying Faye Webster on the tour, and putting meaning to the tour name, are Atlanta rap duo Danger Incorporated. The pair, composed of Boothlord and Louie Duffelbags, got the crowd hyped with heavy-beats hits like “Diamonds.”
Though Danger Incorporated and Faye Webster couldn’t belong to more different genres, their opening set felt fitting. Their mournful, introspective trap proved an apt opener for Webster’s melancholy country. When Boothlord, Webster’s partner, hops on an electric guitar, you can see why they may get along on. And from his DJ table, the perpetually stoic Louie Duffelbags’ reverberating beats made the small venue feel enormous.
“This next one’s an emotional banger, so beware,” Duffelbags warned before one song. But “emotional banger” could describe their entire repertoire: music for the lonely drive home from the club, when the bass still reverberates in your ears but bleakness starts to filter in. Their latest single “Shut the F**k Up :,)” is a slow, thundering anthem with a simple message: leave me alone. Danger Incorporated’s whispered tones match, in their own emo-trapper way, the laidback, woozy delivery that makes Faye Webster’s music so special.
Before Faye Webster took the stage, a resounding chorus of “ha-ha’s” played from the speakers; different voices, different intonations, but the same haunting laugh. Illuminated by bright red circles reading “haha” that also emblazon her latest album’s cover, Webster played a stunning set to an enraptured crowd. From more upbeat anthems like “Cheers” to the breezy bossa-nova of “Kind Of,” the set flowed into one river of emotion and light drums.
The emotional depth and sense of wisdom in Faye Webster’s music makes it easy to forget she’s only 23. Her exceedingly casual onstage persona evokes youth. Interacting with the audience, she alternates between avoiding attention and extending audience conversation for moments. When a fan called out that they love her, she laughed shyly and mumbled, “That’s sick.” But when an audience member called out, “What’s that guy playing?” referring to Matt “Pistol” Stoessel expertly playing a pedal-steel guitar, Webster became noticeably excited by the question. She called for the crowd to make a pathway for the curious viewer.
“Can you see it yet?” Webster called out, as Stoessel and bassist Noor Khan continued to lay down a groove. “It’s a pedal steel. It’s fucking sick.”
This old-soul, young-spirit quality is exactly what makes Webster’s heart-achey alt-country feel so arresting. Her fascination with old-school country instruments, mixed with a taste for the soul-bearing lyricism of R&B, creates something totally new. At what other show could an emo-trap duo open for a band with a pedal-steel, and flow seamlessly together? This is music for a new generation.
As melancholy as the material she works with is, Faye Webster’s performance felt anything but sad. In fact, her singular, wavering voice and that mesmerizing pedal steel felt like a warm embrace. Webster is a friend who may not know you well but knows exactly what you’re going through.
“I’ve been getting really good at taking care of myself these past few years,” Webster said at one point to thundering applause. And that night in Burlington, self-care was the name of the game. From Webster’s constant onstage hydration to the brimming tears in audience members eyes, clutching each other to especially emotional tracks like “A Stranger” or beloved older track “Jonny,” the set was restorative. If Webster’s dazzling latest album came from an effort to care for herself better, her performance offered that care to the crowd.
Faye Webster’s East Coast tour will continue with an upcoming New York set at Governor’s Ball on September 26. Watch her latest music video, for “Overslept” with mei ehara, below:
As the haze descended over the stillness of West Virginia’s Marvin’s Mountaintop, one could easily miss the creatures cautiously peering out from carefully selected hideouts. Anticipation built for these mystical beings, for the game of games was about to commence. Players arrived unsure of where to go, but had confidence in their mission of finding what they had lost. On the eve of the full moon, the Resonance Music Festival provided a Labyrinth, some goblins, a few other fairy-tale characters and at the center, a Goblin King. This king kept close, but made sure to provide accommodations of the best lighting and soundtrack for the games.
Goblin friends
It’s further than you think. Time is short.
Keeper of the Beans
Paths twisted and tents upon tents repeated. Nondescript thumping of DJ music could be heard in the distance of an unknown direction. Seeking direction was futile when it came to camp dwellers claiming to be “only worms” relaxed at their sites. These worms, while unhelpful, were very friendly and offered players to meet the Mrs. and stop for some tea. Tempting as it may be, Eggy was about to go on and the center had to be found.
She Chose Down
Satan’s Empress
Eventually, that thing the wizard said about the jam holes filled with Magic Beans made a lot more sense. It was not a dead end, but rather, an energizing oasis. Hobbits with stimulated hemp hats were experts at foraging the Resonance grounds. They advised consumption of Magic Beans was best at The Bog of Eternal Funk You. Doing so summoned Doom Flamingo and our first peek at both Goblin King and Satan’s Empress.
Goblin King
The babe with the power.
Cory Wong reminds the Goblin King of the babe with the Voodoo Power
Attitude was everything that mattered for this maze game and Cory Wong delivered a set that helped reconciliation with players still being so early in the game. His laid back and fun energy was something to behold. To casually joke about a complex timing about to be played evoked the feeling of hope that mastery of something as complex as a guitar or a maze game could be achieved. The laughter on stage was infections and as coolness of the night set in, the next two days felt far more possible thanks to this true artist. Cory also showed that, with good listening skills, it could be possible to play with others outside of the tribe. When sitting in with TAUK Cory had slightly more reserved demeanor, which helped him listen and respond without skipping a beat.
That’s not fair!
Occasionally the board itself seemed to be alive. Initiated by the most subtle of Jack-O-Lantern lights, landscapes would shift dramatically.
Melodic
Flamingo
“The mellow jams would pull you in, then (Umphrey’s) got real nasty with guitars. Melodic to demonic in an instant, but all with that smooth bass keeping it all together while the guitars were going wild.”
-VIP Goblin
Demonic
Doom
You have no power over me…
Lespecial commanding attention.
On September 16-18, Eastern met Mountain and Jam converged with EDM with roads paved in metal. The most notable hour of convergence was when Connecticut Ancient HomiesLespecial (or as the goblins playfully mis-pronounced, “lay-spesh-ee-al”) played on Saturday afternoon. From the VIP crow’s nest, hoards of players could be seen running like the fast zombies from 28 Days Later to the center of the labyrinth, easily finding their way after all the searching they had endured. The crowd grew in size and density as a universal epiphany dawned on everyone involved in the games. A next-generation metal-jam-electronic fusion band deriving from influences like Primus was the lost item no one realized they were missing.
Your eyes can be so cruel…
I wish…
It has been said that legendary sets happen in the center of the Goblin King’s Labyrinth. Ask any Goose fan. The great equalizer of the center provided a grounding humility to many that thought they knew a lot about music.
Conversations held in the crowd were surprising in that nobody had heard of anyone else’s favorite band. The players arrived deeply rooted on many teams. Disciples of Tipper were ready for Detox Unit, but had never heard of The Motet or Dizgo. Doom Flamingo fans were psyched to see Papadosio, but had never witnessed a laser show like the one Sunsquabi put on. Umphrey’s fans had however, heard of Lotus and could not wait to see Tim Palmieri display his technical mastery as if it were the plumage of a rare bird.
“I move the stars for no one…”
Photo courtesy of Albie Binkley
Behind the games, behind the curtain, and beneath the veil was an Oz-like figure in control of the entire game. Only when he was satisfied, were we were released from the simulation.
“Should you need us…”
Dizgo members showing up for Eggy in more ways than one.
After it all, when intensity subsided and the sun was up again, Eggy played an intimate set from the VIP Crow’s nest and provided the perfect time to reflect on the lessons learned.
Despite the game only lasting a weekend, the friendships made were lifelong.
