hotel carack: 8/18/16

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

ALO and The Hip Abduction at the Brooklyn Bowl 8.18.16: Review andSetlist by Lori Bockelken

ALO and The Hip Abduction took the stage at the Brooklyn Bowl on 8/18/16. Our contributor, Lori Bockleken was their to check it out.

The Brooklyn Bowl was alive with anticipation as crowd favorites ALO were returning to the East Coast with friends, The Hip Abduction. The Brooklyn Bowl was humming with a restless, creative energy for the singer-songwriter hits that made it feel like you were on a vacation and nothing else mattered.

Kicking off the evening was The Hip Abduction whose sound has been dubbed "alt-rock indie tropical pop " and despite that headache of a qualification, David New and his seven-piece band are wonderful musicians and labels don't do them justice. When they start playing, it's like basking in the sunshine on the beaches of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Coming off the success of their latest work, Gold Under The Glow, the band kicks out the stops and lets loose with tropical sounds of pure reggae love. They are entertaining like a summer evening on the bluest of waters that temporarily make you forget that right outside the door lies Brooklyn.

Each of the musicians are skilled in instruments we rarely see American bands bring on stage. The West African kamale ngoni is amazing to watch while played by John Holt III. Other percussionists' dream pieces are brought in by David Johnson, who also plays sax. It's a feast for your eyes and ears, a veritable smorgasbord of sound.

Global love spreads across the floor listening to these guys perform "Golden Sky" and " Children of the Sun". The song "Higher" is played, which you may be familiar with through the youtube video is an electronica meets dub meets reggae tune that helps this septet recreate the feel of a tropical vacation at each show. They've been playing lots of festivals so be sure to look out for them if you are heading to one.

New York welcomed back ALO to the Brooklyn Bowl and even though they hail from CA, they are no strangers to the East Coast. They are now touring with their successful latest release, Tangle of Time, and we were expectantly ready to rock along!

The group opens up with "Walls" which has a Jack Johnson "sound" but that is to be expected because they are on his record label but it is oh so much more than the mellow, "roll up your pants and walk on the beach" sound or the surfer chic of Jack Johnson.

Lead singer Zach Gil has a commanding stage presence that makes the band/crowd connection tight and engaging,seemingly building a rapport with each human spirit in the Bowl. If you add the energy of Dan Leibowitz, it's hard to beat the good energy flowing through the strings of Dan's guitar. These guys were rocking the crowd and the whole Bowl was into the show.

The band played songs with melodies that had that feel-good sound, and you find your feet tapping to it and you can't help but start dancing. The song lyrics soothe your soul and bring along a gratefulness for life and an appreciation for the wonder of the world around you.

ALO played two sets and just when you think the second set is about to take off with another Dan Leibowitz one-man show stopper, they toss a curveball and bring out the kid, Jackie Greene hits the stage and brings along Leslie Medelson from K I M O C K (Steve Kimock's current band) to accompany him in a rendition of an ALO-style "Shakedown Street". Is this a dream? No, these are the surprise guests we live to see. There is no mistaking the signature sound of Jackie Greene's delicious guitar licks and Leslie's sultry vocals. They had the place literally bouncing because of people dancing with the music and each other.

You can't help but feel more connected leaving the show with new friends, who just hours ago were strangers you happened to walk into the venue alongside each other at the same time. You find yourself smiling at strangers and the band has worked their magic and suddenly all those previously random people now have a contented look with a small smile on their face like they just become friends with every other person that was just at that concert. They are also on tour around the country, so be sure to check them out if they come to anywhere close to your area.

Written by: Lori Bockelken

Edited by: Greg Heffelfinger

The Hip Abduction website with tour dates, videos, and other info

Tour dates, music, videos, and other info for ALO

ALO Setlist

Brooklyn Bowl

Brooklyn, NY

(setlist courtesy of setlist.fm)

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Umphrey's McGee in Memphis at Minglewood Hall on 8/18/2016: A Review and Setlist by Greg Heffelfinger

What else can you say about Umphrey's is that they put on a great show? Every time I've ever seen them they've rocked the house.

As I walked into the venue and picked up my ticket, I could hear the strains of "Ocean Billy" drifting out of the doorway. It was 8:36 and the show started six minutes previously, and they were already deep into the jam. I thought I would see more dancers but I heard a lot of people saying they had never seen them before. So UM needs to remedy that. The crowd was stunned. There wasn't much dancing but it was because they couldn't believe how amazing the band sounded and the lights had them hypnotized. The band weaved in and out of different tunes. By the time the band hit "Believe the Lie" most people had chilled out and I started to see dancing, happy faces instead of jaw-dropping looks of amazement. The band showed off it's jam face and it's love of metal and it's funk that the Memphis crowd was eating out of their hand. I stepped out to have a cigarette and their were people out there grooving too. Cigarettes and vapor smoke wafted out of the smoking section while people chatted about the how good Umphrey's was and they had no idea. I found that amusing.

When I went back in through another door on house right, as the "The Floor" was starting. After "Kimble", it happened. The first time my jaw dropped that night. They started a note perfect "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" by Radiohead. I can't say it was note for note because the band put their own stamp on it adding little flourishes that enhanced an already gorgeous song. They finished up the first set by going back into "Ocean Billy" Another great set of UM's in the books. Bookended by "Ocean Billy" and just what I needed.

courtesy of Aaron Bradley

The second set started with just a couple of notes. However, those notes belonged to the incredible "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" which the crowd lovingly sang every word with the band. They definitely dug the Pink Floyd cover that kicked off a set that included another round of the funk/metal/jam that is Umphrey's stock in trade. After the lovingly played tribute to Syd Barrett, the band swung into the "40's Theme" and played after "No Diablo" it was hot as hell, from the crowd and the band. Wailing it's way through "Resolution" the band dropped the Tom Petty classic"Free Fallin" instrumental jam interpolated into the middle of the song. After that showing, the band brought out local boy that made good with his brother in The North Mississippi All-Stars, Cody Dickinson. They started "Booth Love" with Cody on percussion but UM's percussion team is so strong that Cody couldn't really find a place to fit in and only played for a couple of minutes. He then took the microphone and exhorted the crowd into singalong chants and after some hugs with the band, he stepped off. It was nice of the band to invite him up but it didn't really work. It didn't work not because of Cody, it didn't work for the best reason. Umphrey's McGee is so strong as a unit that there wasn't room for another percussionist.

The band showed some fireworks in the second set. With the two guitarist playing with each other, Brendon playing on Jake's guitar while they both kept playing. Or maybe it was the other way around, it's a little hazy. Nevertheless, it was an amazing performance of musicianship. It was also just more proof of the virtuosity of this band. As the band played on during the crowd's blissful amazement, they swung into a smooth and beautiful "End of the Road" the band closed on a good vocal turn by Brendon Bayliss on "Bad Friday" and "Partyin' Peeps" ended another great show at Minglewood Hall in Memphis. Keep coming through town Umphrey's, there were many new fans made that night.

fan with a sign setlist from the band outside the venue. Score!

Umphrey's also offered something I had never seen from any band before ever. For a little extra, a fan would be provided with a set of headphones and an audio mix from the soundboard and a copy of the show in your preferred format. The band sounds amazing without it but for a little more to see the band with high quality headphones that work while you smoke outside and you hear what the sound engineer hears is an interesting idea and they are trying it out on this tour. This is a novel idea and a good idea for audiophile fans. So, the whole show was a winner from all perspectives, as far as i could tell. New fans were made and old fans were happy. That's how a good show should end.

Written by: Greg Heffelfinger

Set 1: Ocean Billy > Words, The Linear > Believe the Lie, The Floor, Kimble, Weird Fishes/Arpeggi, Ocean Billy

Set 2: Shine On You Crazy Diamond > 40's Theme, No Diablo, Resolution[1], Booth Love[2], End of the Road, Bad Friday

Encore: Partyin' Peeps

[1] with Free Fallin' (Tom Petty) jam
[2] with Cody Dickinson on percussion and vocals

(setlist from umphreys.com)