Umphrey's McGee play the first show without Jake Cinninger. Get the 411, Setlist and watch Videos
Jake Cinninger must have dined with Bob Weir because he has a "wicked flu" and U.M. reported yesterday he would be out indefinitely. His absence unfortunately will include the impending improvisation set with Jason Redman. Unlike fans stuck in Mexico, where it was a no brainier to continue the Dead scheduled show with Jackie Greene filling in. This however is a different situation entirely with some fans expressing negative feelings on how Umphrey's McGee handled Jake's illness. They would have preferred to postpone a few shows, especially the highly anticipated improve show until Jake was feeling better. Well thanks to Jambase you can watch a few songs from last night's show and make up your own mind. Joshua Redman sat in last night and will again be with the band tonight for the all improvisation set. How did Brandan Bayliss sound as the only guitarist? I personally find it interesting but I was not planning on attending any of the effected shows. Personally, I can sympathize with all parties involved but at the end of the day...... The show must go on! Umphrey's McGee honored Butch Trucks by performing"Jessica" and also mixed up the setlist to keep things interesting. I know those in attendance had no arguments during the dub version of "Breathe". Tonight will be some shit!
The 16th Annual Northwest String Summit announce a corking lineup as they return to Horning's Hideout.
Portland, OR -- Mon, Jan. 9, 2017 -- The 16th Annual Northwest String Summit (NWSS) presents an array of today's top live music acts for a blow-out return to Horning's Hideout (North Plains, OR) from July 13 - 16, 2017. Located just 20 miles outside of Portland, OR, Horning's Hideout stands as one of the most scenic festival sites in the country; NWSS is the only music offering this year taking place at Horning's Hideout. A family-friendly and locally sourced festival, NWSS caps its capacity at 5,000 attendees to ensure an intimate experience for all festivalgoers at an incredible ticket price. For more detailed information, please visit: www.stringsummit.com
The 16th Annual Northwest String Summit is hosted by Colorado's Yonder Mountain String Band; YMSB will perform 3 nights of music throughout the four-day festival. Additional standout acts include 2 Nights of Greensky Bluegrass; Del McCoury Band; JJ Grey & Mofro; Elephant Revival (2 Nights); Fruition (2 Nights); Turkuaz (2 Nights); The Travelin' McCourys; Blitzen Trapper; Shook Twins (2 Nights); The California Honeydrops (2 Nights); Dead Man Winter featuring members of Trampled By Turtles; Chatham County Line; Danny Barnes; The Lil' Smokies; Scott Law & Ross James' Cosmic Twang; Charlie Parr; Banana Slug String Band; Slocan Ramblers; DeadPhish Orchestra; Ducky Pig; Crow & The Canyon; Cascade Crescendo; The Good Time Travelers; Pete Kartsounes; Arthur Lee Land; Brad Parsons; Kitchen Dwellers; Old Salt Union; The Last Revel; Ginstrings (2016 Band Competition Winners); and more acts to be announced soon!
String Summit event promoter Skye McDonaldcomments about NWSS 2017, "This is our 16th year producing String Summit and we're pulling out all the stops! Horning's Hideout is such a special festival destination, we're thrilled to invite all our friends and many core bands for the party. Several will perform on multiple days as to properly soak it all up, and in turn, give us more magnificent musical magic morning, noon and night!"
While the Main Stage will be at full tilt, the Kinfolk Revival Tent returns with daytime artist workshops and late night sets. The Cascadia Stage will ramp up to provide music all day Friday - Sunday, and late night sets after Main Stage acts from Thursday - Saturday. In such a lovely and cozy nook of the woods, the Cascadia shows have proven to be some of the most memorable of the weekend.
Northwest String Summit partners with singular Portland organizations, food vendors and emerging Pacific Northwest-based musicians as a way to support the thriving local communities. Celebrated Eugene, OR favorite Ninkasi Brewing Companywill offer exceptional craft beers onsite for the sixth year-in-a-row, including an exclusive small-batch NWSS Specialty Brew called Clusterpluck Session Ale. Made with Northwest Pale Ale and Honey malts, Clusterpluck is a light and refreshing golden ale - the perfect accompaniment to a summertime jam session. Additional sponsors include Klean Kanteen and Keen.
NWSS exudes fun for the whole family. Evident in the festival's overtly family-friendly environment, NWSS has become the yearly grounds for reunions among close friends and neighbors. Several onsite enhancements are in store to make festivalgoers' experiences that much better -- with or without their kiddos. Additionally, more artistic and interactive installations are in the works for the 16th Anniversary, thanks to the exceptional art teams of Tyler Fuqua Creations, Ghost Stag, Vestiks, among others!
Now in its 14th year, the Band Competition at Northwest String Summit reigns in some of the hottest pickers from all across the country. The competition is in line with other top festival competitions, such as Telluride Bluegrass Festivaland Rockygrass, and will occur on Friday, July 14, 2017. Four bands/musicians will be chosen by a panel of judges including members of Yonder Mountain String Band and festival staffers to compete for the winning crown (each band will perform for 10 - 15 minutes). The winner is awarded an opening slot on Sunday, July 16, 2017at The Cascadia Stage, and an offer for the following year's festival on the Main Stage. The Band Competition is a single mic only set-up, and only acoustic instruments are allowed (no DIs, no drums). Applications can be submitted until April 14, 2017; for more information please visit: stringsummit.com/band-competition
16th Annual Northwest String Summit Ticket Information: Early Bird Passes & RV PASSES -- SOLD OUT Tier 2 4-Day Passes, 3-Day Passes, Parking Passes (Pricing Varies) -- On Sale NOW
*Festival pass prices include primitive camping, and children 10 and under get in free with a paying adult. *New for 2017: Parking Fee of $20 per car available in advance. *Thursday add-on passes and 3-Day passes are available, for more info please visit: stringsummit.com/2017-tickets
Widespread Panic: NYE Nashville 2016 (More Of The Usual Shenanigans) A Review by Jamband Purist Photos (W.S.P. FB page) & complete audio of 12/31
Our love for music tends to spread ourselves throughout the four corners of the country so we can celebrate with our respective favorite band. for every New Year's season. We must remember that we are all the same in many ways and can all find common ground, you just gotta poke around . While some of us headed to MSG with their favorite Phriends or Denver to get Cheesie; this New Years I again chose my long time favorite Widespread Panic, who has yet to disappoint in my 5 years of NYE shows. My review will tackle the 30th, Nashville itself and then the New Year’s Eve show.
Night 1: "The Hordes Descend Upon Music City"
The show opened with "Porch Song" but I was a bit too busy waiting in line to get into the venue to really enjoy it. It took an extremely long time to get into Bridgestone Arena and it also seemed very confusing in many ways: perhaps the staff was unable to keep up with demand of its patrons or had no idea that the horde was about to descend upon them with the ferocity of all 2016's pent up aggression/agitation. "Space Wrangler" was the next solid performance. I opted for a seat in the back with lots of room for all my friends to boogie together. I "suffered" through...
"Last Straw" brings back-home, kick stomping jams. It's very reminiscent of southern gospel, with killer licks thrown in by the master guitar wizard, Jimmy Herring; the entire band letting him take off into a spacey solo. I love "Rock" a Panic staple but Duane still gives it away; one of my favorite things about "Rock" was that it used to surprise me. Todd was a master of subtlety, something Duane has yet to master. (He seems more like the John Bonham type, slam and pound kinda guy) This was not so with this particular "Rock," we all felt it coming. "Postcard" is always welcomed with open arms. The backstory is as good as the song itself but this is truly a fan favorite. You can feel the energy of the crowd rise to a peak whenever they perform it.
The boys seemed to be tight and really holding to the standards that they have built for years. While the tightness didn't allow for much risk taking or improv in this first set, consistency is the key to Panics long existence. "Diner" came on strong Jimmy, taking this machine to second gear, ripping it apart and bringing it to a stop with squeals and squawks. JB, "basking in the light" and making "sticky buns." (I always thought this song had some sexual connotation, like many of their songs, this only confirms my theories.) Great use of versatile improvisation in this song, showing amazing skills as musicians; building up into a great organ intro by JoJo >"Blackout Blues"... get my head up off the ground. "Junior," I love your dog I really do. Standard performances for these songs but then Jimmy screams that PRS right into "Fishwater" lights whipping around like a psychedelic tornado, Dave egging Jimmy on with those pocket riffs that say, "If you don't take the solo, I will."
Set 2- Starts off with "Greta" and I always wonder why it's either, yellow rabbits or yellow jackets? This song/band is the perfect platform for Jimmy Herring to shred, there is no better fit in the Jam world, period. I am still constantly amazed at his guitar virtuosity.
"Bears Gone Fishing" is a sexy backstage story about a Halloween show, this was one of my favorites of the night and any night they play it.
"Surprise Valley" saw great interludes and exchanges between instruments; intellectual musical conversations were happening onstage and it was palpable. "Climb To Safety" is a great singalong but check out the original Jerry Joseph lyrics, a much different song.
"Good People" was a sing along as well but they kept it standard musically, heck we all need a break. "North" was rousing and made you want to hop a train and head to Alaska for gold or another romatic fantasy. This song included an extended jam like I've never seen before but was still within standard limits and they didn't venture out too far. An obvious, "Drums" came next, which lead into, "Cease Fire." One of my new favorites, which truly exemplifies Widespread Panics Southern Gothic sound: beautifully epic, ups and downs, with high emotional qualities entrenched in not only the chords but the lyrics, as well. Both, "Stevens Cat" and "Sell Sell" were within standard quality and nothing to write about. They concluded the show with a rousing encore "Protein Drink/Sewing Machine" is always one of my favorite Jimmy solos. "End of the Show," props to the lighting tech, who really knows how to work those disco balls.
(On Nashville)
The streets of Nashville are reminiscent of a war-zone or the aftermath of a WWII bombing. Cranes assault the landscape, and bull dozers scour the earth to greater depths while high risers are being built constantly, higher and higher, above the legendary music capital. The main strip Broadway, had music every five steps; every bar filled to the brim with tourists in cowboy hats and drunk attitudes. This is bar band heaven and the acts that actually stick out, don't stay downtown for long. I roamed the streets for awhile but wasn't attracted to the Faux-Southern city. Nashville is up and coming with a lot of construction but its vibes seemed extremely tourist ridden and it didn't feel like a southern city by any means, as much as it would like to present itself that way.
Night 2: New Years Eve 2016 (Let's Do The Timewarp Again)
I avoided the lines of the previous evening because I arrived for the show much earlier. There were picket lines set up with over a dozen individuals holding signs and yelling from bullhorns about hell and damnation. I had seen these groups before at other shows but nothing to this extent. At one point, they even did a little march down the Main Street, spewing ignorance and intolerance along the way, like hateful paraders throwing out poison candy to the people. New Year's Eve is always an emotional time for me. The New Year is the only time where I can truly feel immediate change is brought forth in my life. A new year, a new life. It may be all in my head but it can be a motivating force. I was able to score a show poster and helped an older lady roll her poster up for her husband's Christmas present. She gave me a kiss on the cheek so, yes, JBP got a NYE kiss. New Years is a time to reflect on one's life. This being my last New Years in my 20s, there was a lot to think about: loss, death and also the future and things to come. Anyway, enough with the cliches, onward to 2017 and more healing with W.S.P..
Set 1:
"Blue Indian" kicked off the holiday in style. It's a classic of the classics and there is no need to go any further, either you know or you don't. Now, we all feel the medicine take. This was an extremely standard take on this song but the crowd went wild regardless. "Holden Oversoul” kept the electric vibe alive throughout the sold out arena."Her Dance Needs No Body" was a very poignant and haunting song, especially with strings; the band holding back letting the strings carry the eeriness of the song into a strong, epic conclusion. This was very Southern Gothic.
"Crazy" was followed by, "Still Crazy After All These Years," which JB restarted saying, "Let's start that one again." The crowd goes wild, even for tiniest mistakes. We are all still crazy after all these years and that's the truth... "Expiration Day" seemed fitting for this years occasion and I sat down and thought about my life for this one. Where I had been and where I was going. In the end, we don't really know the answers to the future, we just have to ride it out till the end.
2nd Set:
JB Opens up..."More Of The Usual Shenanigans" "Pigeons" was straightforward with great light production, showing off the diversity of their light show and the addition of two strips of lights in the middle of the venue and 5 Disco balls. "Henry Parsons" was absolutely ripping and I can't comment as much as I'd like for some of these jams because, I was grooving pretty hard. "Rebirtha" All the faces light up as the heroes take the field.
Mega blasters take the stage for "Sharon." I just love the lyrics, "She walks, she talks, she crawls on her belly like a reptile!" This was the crowd favorite; the same rowdy crowd that was here last night is back again! The next few songs were standards. It seems these shows were well rehearsed due to all the sit-in performances. Still, great musically just not a lot of improvisation, only musical envelopment and instrumental/vocal elements added and so well rehearsed. This is by mean son complaint. Next was, "Tail Dragger" and "Tall boy" which both while great, were still standard musically. A Fiddle player who was not Nicky Sanders, joined the band for "Ain't Life Grand." While this set didn't differ much from the original versions with additives, it did show off the meticulous practice it took with all the band members and instruments/harmonies.
3rd Set: Here is where things start to get fuzzy. No, I wasn't drinking or anything like that but the music sure gave me a buzz. By this time, I was dancing and had forgotten all about taking notes and keeping track of the songs. I could lie and say things like, "A little Help From My Friends" blew the crowds mind or, "Disco" brought the audience to their feet, as they screamed and blah blah blah. But of course they did, that's why we all go to shows, that's why we all love these songs. From here on, I will only comment on a few noteworthy mentions.
"Up All Night" has become a NYE tradition, this specific version accentuating the use of the Mccrary Sisters vocal prowess. I enjoyed the very jazzy, big band cover of Van Morrison's, "Moondance" with great horn solos and work from the auxiliary players. "Mexico" with horns is always a great addition.
While getting soaked with water never gets old, "Chilly Water" was full of killer guitar work from both Jimmy and Dave. The lights were amazing and I was super impressed by the precision in which the light engineer could anticipate the bands every move. They breezed through, "All Time Low" with exceptional vocals from The Mccrary Sisters but picked it up again for "Red Hot Mama."
The cover of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" was considerably funny, considering the scene outside the venue with Christian warriors commanding attention. "Stop. Hey, what's that sound?" Ohh no it's just those crazy people yelling at me again. "GO TO HELL HIPPIES!!!"
The ball ballbusting "Burning Down The House" encore was obviously more than anyone was expecting. I can't believe how still my phone camera stayed. I was grooving pretty hard.
After the show, a few my friends entered into an alternate universe and began to drag me into it. There was some sort of time warp outside the venue, with fake nitrous balloons and even actors. I inspected the CO2 tank and found myself in my hotel robe, yelling at a "hotdog vendor" in the streets of Nashville at 4 am, completely sober, but very tired. Needless to say, Nashville is a strange city with a diverse culture that is teeming with all kinds of interesting influences. Nashville may be "Music City" but it's not always the music I am trying to hear.
As for Widespread Panic, they let it be known that they will be touring next year and all is right with the Jam world. I will not miss another Panic New Years as long as they are still playing. I love this band more than ever and can see why they consistently bring the Jam world to its knees.
Phish Tweezer's the 30th. Watch pro-shot Tweezer here, Setlist and 411
Phish continued it's onslaught of their M.S.G run last night with rarities and some delicious jamming. While I have been recovering from S.C.I's amazing show last night, I keep listening to the "Tweezer>Sparks" from Phish's cooking second set last night. I love The Who and loved it in that slot of the set list . It's all about tonight! Here is hoping you are dancing at midnight.
Kevin
Watch official footage of the opening of each set in the two videos below:
A Stunning Perspective on Umphreys McGee's Amazing Performance at The ARAGON by Aaron Bradley. Plus Setlist
Never sleep on the show the night before New Years Eve, was a theme last night especially from the big five. Umphrey's McGee definitely punished the fans not lucky enough to have tickets every bit as they rewarded the packed Aragon with a absolute heater. While tonight promises to be a show for the ages, experience last night through Aaron Bradley's talented eye.
T
Stay tuned to Grateful Music for a tons more coverage on Umphreys McGee's onslaught of Chicago. Happy New Year! RAGE & RIDE! Be safe!
JRAD Continued Taking Over the Grateful World While Managing to Play "Possum"!
JRAD CO SET 1: Don'tEase Viola >Possum >Truckin>space > St Stephen >Truckin > Other1 > Loser > Marco WilliamTell (ststephen)> The Eleven >Shakedown
That is the first set from last night's show which kicked off a three-night Colorado run. However it will be one of their last theatre runs. It was nuts to butts last night, sold out with no fire marshal, packed! Plus, the 200$ price tag they demanded on the open market only proves my point. The Fillmore is in the near future for this magical vessel of Dead dreams to another land. They don't even have complete control of this ride. Hell, we refuse to let them retire from a band that was meant to be a one and done tribute. But one can't put toothpaste back in the tube and it's all over the fucking sink. They have reinvigorated the GD catalogue of music to the point I listen to JRAD bootlegs nightly, but with the same passion as the wide-eyed child I was when I first chased this rabbit to china. I mean listen to this "Eleven" & Terrapin From last night.
JRAD is the future! It's akin to GD on steroids. It's what no other tribute band had the balls, chops or vision to pull off. They play Dead covers like the Dead played Dylan covers. Their own way! Ironically, by not playing the songbook like The Grateful Dead did, they captured that elusive magic that makes it feel so right.
If you still doubt it was not to be I leave with this: Even if you scramble up the GD something good comes out.
Umphreys McGee Announces Three Shows for Red Rocks.
I could not be more excited about the recent announcement that Umphrey's is returning to the Rocks for three glorious nights this summer. There are no scheduling conflicts and more importantly each night's opening acts are stellar. None in my opinion more than "Bruce Hornsby and the NoiseMakers" on July 2nd, to end what sure to be a legendary run. That musical weekend is officially booked in my calendar. I know I will see you there.
Our Sunday Sit in this Week Is Medeski, Martin and Wood Sitting in with Phish for a 45 minute Keyboard Jam.
This show from the tiny State Palace in New Orleans is arguably the best Phish show and the best Medeski, Martin and Wood show rolled up in one. I had to ask my one remaining unconverted Phish Phreak to go and he was not the mold of a Phish fan. Hell, until that night I am not sure if I ever saw Jason Kinslow with a hair out of place. But I needed a ride so I begged and he throws me a sold.( Jason translation =that meant favor). We walk into the plush venue greeted by the sound of 1950's Jazz pulsating through the intimate Theatre. He said "this is amazing" and all I could muster was a small grin. I was not prepared to discover a band with a sound I thought went extinct with the underground jazz clubs during prohibition. To make a long story short, that night in 1995 was destiny. My brother discovered and got Phish. But I discovered one of my favorite bands as well that night, M.M.W. They came out and joined Phish for a 45 minute improvisational jam to close the epic night. Those were the best days of my life. Enjoy this week's Sunday sit in that doubles as one of my favorite shows and jams.
