Maurice Brown To Play New Music At Intimate NYC Performance
Maurice ‘Mobetta’ Brown is widely recognized for his tenure with Tedeschi Trucks Band, but the Grammy-Award-winning trumpet virtuoso has also been featured on dozens of stellar recordings alongside greats like Aretha Franklin, Talib Kweli, De La Soul, Diddy, Lettuce, and Cee-Lo Green, to name a few. More recently, he’s dedicated his time entirely to a solo career, featuring a stellar band blending hip-hop, jazz, soul, and funk-inspired beats from all over the map.On Monday, April 4, he’ll be bringing the band to the Blue Note for a very special night of music, showcasing all original music including several new tunes off his upcoming album The Mood, which is due out in June.Maurice Brown Performs Two Tracks From Upcoming Hip-Hop/Jazz Album [Watch]The evening’s festivities will be extra celebratory in honor of drummer Joe Blaxx‘s birthday, so come prepared for more than a good time. The full band includes Chelsea Bartaz on tenor sax and vocals, Ben Williams on bass, James Francies on keys, and Marcus Machado on guitar, plus special guests.Tickets are available here, and you can purchase a table here.
Dead & Company threw it back to the days of yore last night, recalling the bygone era when the Grateful Dead were merely the musical figureheads of a countercultural movement. The heart of that movement lay in San Francisco, CA, and one man, promoter Bill Graham, was destined to see this music spread nationwide. Graham started booking shows at the Fillmore towards the end of 1965, and The Dead would perform at the 1,150-capacity venue a total of 51 times between 1965-1969. The venue famously inspired spin-off locations, Fillmore West and Fillmore East, but neither of them had the longevity as the classic Fillmore venue. The location has stood for over 100 years, and was even voted by Consequence of Sound as the #1 venue in the country. With all of that history in mind, the Grateful ensemble known as Dead & Company took the stage at the Fillmore, poised to perform some of their best music to the intimate crowd for the free show.The set started off with a powerful note, as the band launched into an extended version of “St. Stephen.” John Mayer was really letting loose on the guitar, and he kept up the fireworks during the Bob Weir-led “Hell In A Bucket.” From there, Mayer had a chance to shine with the lead on “Cold Rain & Snow.” The sing-along kept the crowd on their toes, but the set continued with a not-so-surprise visit from Sammy Hagar. Hagar had posted about the invitation to guest earlier in the day, and, true to his word, he came out and led a fun – albeit sloppy – rendition of “Loose Lucy.”The band continued their set by working in Bob Dylan’s “Queen Jane Approximately,”, with some excellent organ work from Jeff Chimenti accompanying Weir’s vocals. Possibly played in honor of Dylan’s birthday (May 24th), the cool down moment brought the group into another Mayer led classic GD tune, “Brown Eyed Women.” The uplifting number served as the set closer, as the band took a short break and refueled for round two.Watch the first set below, courtesy of Moonalice’s live feed:After a quick respite, the band got the second set rocking with a fun “Big Railroad Blues,” keeping things punchy before steadily segueing into “Sugaree.” The version was slightly slower than normal, allowing for some longing vocals from Weir and guitar tones from Mayer. The version had a bluesy feel throughout, shuffling on the song’s familiar rhythm and letting Mayer really shine in his familiar blues rock roots.Next up was “Estimated Prophet,” a majestic soaring version with Mayer keeping up his great guitarwork. His tone was reminiscent of Jerry Garcia’s as he led the jam, with drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart keeping up the tricky 7/4 meter. The song’s jam stayed very melodic throughout, with Mayer riffing while the band members explored new space. The group ultimately landed on the riff of “Dark Star,” playing the song out for an impressive jam that circled in space before landing on “The Other One.” The pairing of these two psychedelic tracks from the band’s heyday in San Francisco certainly were appreciated at The Fillmore, whether that was a conscious or subconscious decision.The jam session winded down with “Days Between,” as the contemplative song filled the set with its slowed down tempo. The brief interlude concluded with “China Cat Sunflower,” and the upbeat tune segued into the classic “I Know You Rider.” A fiery version of “Rider” closed out the show, and the band encored with their famed American Beauty song, “Brokedown Palace.” What a performance!You can watch the full second set here:The band is set to return to the stage on June 10th for their summer tour, so don’t miss out! Check out last night’s setlist below.Setlist: Dead & Company at The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA – 5/24/16Set One: St. Stephen, Hell In A Bucket, Cold Rain and Snow, Loose Lucy*, Queen Jane Approximately, Brown Eyed WomenSet Two: Big Railroad Blues, Sugaree, Estimated Prophet > Dark Star > The Other One, Days Between > China Cat Sunflower > I Know You RiderEncore: Brokedown Palace* = w/ Sammy Hagar[Cover photo by mattbusch28/Instagram]
A new documentary about acclaimed poster artist Jim Pollock is in the works. The project, from filmmaker Jay Patton, is slated for a 2017 release and contains interviews from Phish keyboardist Page McConnell, archivist Kevin Shapiro, artist AJ Masthay, and more. An old friend of McConnell’s, Pollock has maintained a connection with Phish their early days. Pollock provided the artwork for many of the band’s earliest shows in Vermont, as well as the now well-known cover art for their debut studio album Junta.In 1995, Pollock began creating original, limited edition posters for select Phish concerts, and continues to do so to this day. The artist’s signature linoleum block prints have become a ubiquitous part of the Phish exprience, with fans routinely lining up hours ahead of shows for the chance to score a coveted “Pollock” before they’re all gone. Pollock has also done poster work for many other big names in the music community, such as Primus, Greensky Bluegrass and Twiddle, as well as for festivals like Bonnaroo. For more information on the upcoming documentary, visit the filmmaker’s website. You can check out the trailer for the film below:Chicago’s Galerie F will host a 30-year retrospective on the artist’s career during Phish’s run at Wrigley Field next weekend, June 24-25. For more information on the exhibit, head here.
There’s just something that’s purely magical when Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders performed together. When Garcia wasn’t out with the Grateful Dead, there was a good chance you could find him jamming with Saunders at a JGB performance. Saunders was the king of the Hammond B3 organ, and perhaps no recording captures the musical harmony between the two than Keystone Companions: The Complete 1973 Fantasy Recordings.Captured over two nights at the Keystone Club in Berkeley, CA from July 10-11, 1973, the new vinyl re-release will feature each and every song performed throughout the run for the complete listening experience. Spread across six LPs, the release will also include an extensive booklet with new photos and words from David Gans. A collectible poster is also included.The deluxe release is set for October 21st, and pre-orders can be found here. Until then, we can listen to some of the music from that night, streaming below:
Phish came out of the gates sprinting last weekend, as they kicked off their fall tour with a rager in Charleston. The show was marked by several huge moments, with “Ghost” and “Bathtub Gin” both making appearances in the first set, and they turned in an impressive version of “Light” towards the end of the second set. However, it was the run from “Down With Disease” into their cover of the Talking Heads’ “Cities” that really stole the show. The almost 22-minute clip shows the band working through “Disease”, taking it out to space for some nice improv, and then dropping into a slow version of “Cities” from seemingly out of nowhere.Now you can re-live the magic from Charleston, as Phish have released pro-shot footage of the early-tour-highlight. See the video of “Down With Disease” into “Cities” below, in all of its glory.
The four day excursion of Dominican Holidaze closed on a high note, as the fans assembled in Punta Cana, DR were treated to sets from Manic Focus, Umphrey’s McGee, The Disco Biscuits, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and Michal Menert in succession. The final performances came to close the ultimate four-night experience that saw additional performances from STS9, Lotus, Lettuce, Shpongle (Simon Posford DJ Set), The Floozies, Goldroom, and Deitch (DJ Set). To open up the last day, Manic Focus provided the perfect pool party to cool off after three days of non-stop adventure. Sunshine, chill vibes, and good company was all that was needed to start off another perfect day.Umphrey’s McGee took the main stage for the sunset show, with Ryan Stasik playing a portion of the set with an actual parrot on his shoulder. Opening with old favorite “2nd Self”, the band really kicked into gear with a high-energy “Puppet String”. More old material followed, as “Push the Pig” led into a wild jam that eventually landed on “Dear Prudence” by The Beatles. Funky dance tune “Day Nurse” came next, and that kicked off a long segment of non-stop music, eventually segueing into “Resolution”, which contained teases of “You Are My Sunshine” and more Beatles with “Norwegian Wood”. The electronic rocker “Blue Echo” came next, eventually transitioning into John Lennon’s magnum opus, “Tomorrow Never Knows”, which contained a jam centered around Miles Davis’s “It’s About That Time”. The emotional high point of the night came during “Upward”, before “Partyin’ Peeps” delivered the ultimate beach vibes with it’s reggae-tinged verses. Finally, Umphrey’s brought things to a close with a newer song in “Attachments”.Setlist: Umphrey’s McGee | Dominican Holidaze | Punta Cana, DR | 12/4/16One Set: 2nd Self, Puppet String, Push the Pig > Dear Prudence, Day Nurse > Resolution[1] > Blue Echo[2] > Tomorrow Never Knows[3], Upward, Partyin’ Peeps, Attachments[1] with You Are My Sunshine (Davis/Mitchell) tease and Norwegian Wood (The Beatles) jam[2] unfinished[3] with It’s About That Time (Miles Davis) jamAfter a brief break for dinner, The Disco Biscuits arose to their Sunday night throwdown with no restraints for two full, jam-heavy sets and an “On Time” encore. The night seemed to be moving at perfect speed, with tDB showing up their impressive skills with a four-song second set that included fan-favorites “Crickets” to start and “Munchkin Invasion” to close.Setlist: The Disco Biscuits | Dominican Holidaze | Punta Cana, DR | 12/4/16Set I: Morph Dusseldorf, Rock Candy (Marc Brownstein song), Pimp Blue Rikkis, Gangster, Story of the WorldSet II: Crickets, The Champions, Spaga, Munchkin InvasionE: On TimeBy midnight, it was time for everyone’s new favorite Grateful Dead act to get acquainted with their fans in a new location. Marking their first offshore performance, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead opened the late night with an unidentified jam that turned into a rendition of Neil Young’s “Vampire Blues” before continuing in their typical Dead-fashion.Setlist: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead | Dominican Holidaze | Punta Cana, DR | 12/4/16Public Soundcheck: Jam %% ->Vampire Blues (JR) ->King Solomon’s Marbles ->Jam ->New Speedway, Boogie @ (TH) ->Music Never Stopped @ (SM), Uncle John’s Band (All)Set I: Scarlet Begonias # (TH) ->Cassidy $ (SM) ->Fire on the Mountain % (TH) ->St Stephen (All) ->Alligator ^ (SM) ->St Stephen Reprise (All) ->The Eleven (TH & JR) ->Deal (TH) ->Scarlet Begonias Reprise &Set II: Dancing In The Streets *(SM) ->Eyes Of The World (TH) ->Throwing Stones (SM) ->Cumberland Blues + (All) ->Throwing Stones Reprise (SM) ->Ramble On Rose (TH), Truckin (SM) ->Born Cross Eyed JamE: Shakedown Street ** (TH)%% – This was probably an actual song, but nobody knows the title yet – Dave might. Will update when I hear 
One of the most exciting 2017 announcements is that of the Last Waltz tour, a traveling tribute to the 40th anniversary of The Band’s final performance. Fans in Asheville, NC got a taste of that tour last night, as Warren Haynes, Michael McDonald, Don Was, Jamey Johnson, John Medeski and Terence Higgins all joined forces for a set of music at the 28th annual Christmas Jam. That group will be the same lineup as the coming tour, so fans really got a chance to see these musicians dig into The Band’s renowned catalog.Of course, the Christmas Jam featured a number of great musicians on its lineup, creating an enormous potential for sit-ins during the Last Waltz tribute. When it came time for the big show-stopper, “The Weight”, Haynes and co called on a few special guests for the moment, including vocals from Bob Weir and Alison Krauss.Fortunately, rohbear1 captured this magical collaboration for us all to enjoy. Take a load off…
Beloved Southern rockers Gov’t Mule set up shop at NYC’s The Beacon Theatre, playing the second of two sold out shows to ring in the New Year. Unlike years past, Mule remained very tight-lipped about their New Year’s plans, only adding suspense to what was sure to be a historic celebration. In the end, the band would pay tribute to countless musical legends who passed on in 2016, everyone from David Bowie to Prince to Bernie Worrell to Maurice White and more.The first set of the night was all Mule, as the band worked through a number of their original tunes like “Thorazine Shuffle,” “Child Of The Earth” and more. They also welcomed guitarist Oz Noy on “Birth Of The Mule” and “Sco-Mule” getting warmed up for the festivities ahead.It was set two that began the tributes, as the band came out of the gate with a trio of Parliament Funkadelic songs in honor of Bernie Worrell. The first song included percussionist Marc Quiñones as well as the Chronic Horns, who were then joined by Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers for some soulful backup vocals. The ensemble would stay on stage as the band moved into a tribute to Leon Russell with “Tight Rope” and “Delta Lady.” The Eagles’ Glenn Frey was the next focus, with heartfelt covers of “Take It Easy” and “Already Gone” played in his honor.The horn and vocal sections remained on stage during a fabulous tribute to Ms. Sharon Jones, with performances of “100 Days, 100 Nights” and “Midnight Rider.” They kept things going with a performance of “Lucky Man” by Emerson Lake and Palmer, in honor of both Keith Emerson and Greg Lake who passed away this year. Perhaps one of the most soulful moments of the show came in honor of Leonard Cohen, with performances of “Hallelujah” and “Bird On The Wire” played in memory of the brilliant songwriter and singer.The show continued with “Angel Band” in honor of Dr. Ralph Stanley, a legend of the bluegrass genre, as well as “Mama Tried” in honor of Merle Haggard, a legend of the folk genre. Two Americana heroes that truly deserve recognition for their dedication to their craft. “Shining Star” and “Getaway” both followed, as Gov’t Mule honored the late Maurice White of Earth Wind & Fire with a guest filled celebration. They then brought out “Descending,” a Black Crowes song, in honor of keyboardist Eddie Harsch who recently passed on.David Bowie got his due next, as the band welcomed out Jimmy Vivino for a guitar-fueled take on the classic ballad “All The Young Dudes.” They kept up the energy for “Rebel, Rebel” before shifting their sights onto a Prince tribute, closing out the set with “Kiss” and “Let’s Go Crazy.” They would ultimately return for an encore, with Marcus King in tow, and resume their Bowie/Prince tribute with “Purple Rain” and a reprise of “All The Young Dudes.” What a show! So many remarkable musicians were honored at this show, each spanning such a unique subset of the music community as a whole. Mule put together a tremendous show for New Year’s, honoring the past and moving ahead into 2017 with a gusto.Check out videos from Sean Roche and the full setlist below.Setlist: Gov’t Mule | The Beacon Theatre | New York, NY | 12/31/16Set 1:New Year’s Eve (Warren Solo)Larger Than LifeThorazine Shuffle >Funny Little Tragedy > with Message In A Bottle lyricsThorazine Shuffle RepriseChild Of The EarthWhich Way Do We RunBrighter DaysBirth Of The Mule with Oz Noy; Hottentot teaseSco-Mule with Oz Noy; Smoke On The Water teaseSet 2:Maggot Brain > with Marc Quiñones & Chronic Horns; Auld Lang Syne themeFlash Light with Marc Quiñones, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedRed Hot Mama with Marc Quiñones, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedTight Rope with Marc Quiñones, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedDelta Lady with Marc Quiñones, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 SingersTake It Easy with Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedAlready Gone > with Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time played100 Days, 100 Nights with Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedMidnight Rider with Marc Quiñones, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 SingersLucky Man > with Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedHallelujah without Matt Abts & Jorgen CarlssonBird On A Wire with Chronic Horns,, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 SingersAngel Band > with Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 SingersMama Tried with Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedShining Star > with Marc Quiñones, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedGetaway with Marc Quiñones, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedDescending with Marc Quiñones,All The Young Dudes with Jimmy Vivino, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedRebel Rebel with Jimmy Vivino & Marc Quiñones; First time playedKiss with Jimmy Vivino, Marc Quiñones, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedLet’s Go Crazy with Jimmy Vivino, Marc Quiñones, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedEncore:Purple Rain with Marcus King, Jimmy Vivino, Marc Quiñones, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedAll The Young Dudes (Reprise) with Marcus King, Jimmy Vivino, Marc Quiñones, Chronic Horns, Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers; First time playedChronic Horns (Pam Fleming, Jenny Hill & Buford O’Sullivan)Jasmine Muhammad & The Sweet ’16 Singers (Tamara Jade, Tesia Kwarteng)
Back in 1989, Paul McCartney released Flowers in the Dirt, an album that featured guest spots from Elvis Costello, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, and famed Beatles producer George Martin. Costello and McCartney teamed up on 18 tracks, four of which actually made the album (“My Brave Face,” “Don’t Be Careless Love,” “That Day Is Done” and “You Want Her Too”). The album is getting a reissue, and some of the demo tracks, that have previously gone unreleased, will finally see an official release, including “Twenty Fine Fingers.”In a statement with regards to the reissue, McCartney explained, “The demos are red hot off the skillet and that’s why we wanted to include them on this boxed set….What’s great about these songs is that they’ve just been written. So there’s nothing more hot off the skillet as I say. So that was the kind of great instant thing about them. I hadn’t listened to them in ages but when I did I knew we had to put them out. We made a little tape of them and sent them to Elvis, who loved them too. We said we should put out an EP or something and now the moment’s finally arrived.”The release will be available in a three CD/1 DVD set, a two CD set and a double vinyl LP, and will feature a number of previously unreleased demo recordings. The album reissue is currently available for pre-order here. Take a listen to “Twenty Fine Fingers” below:[via Rolling Stone]
©Jay Blakesberg Then folks scooted down the hill to the main concert hall to await the reveal and performance of the weekend’s mystery guest. The first year featured bluegrass legend Sam Bush and last year, The Keels made an appearance, so the excitement for who it could be was building while speculative rumors started flying. Was it The Infamous Stringdusters accompanying artist-at-large Jeremy Garrett? Could it be Jeff Austin, who played in Denver Friday? Or possibly banjo hero and friend of the band’s Danny Barnes? The weekend’s resident Jack Nicholson took to the stage to announce that this years guest was none other than Colorado superstar Todd Park Mohr, of Big Head Todd and the Monsters. The crowd erupted with joy at his appearance, and he proceeded to satiate them with an enchanting solo set of newgrass takes on some of his Monsters’ tunes as well as classic Americana ballads. The multi-instrumentalist told stories of his time on the road since 1982 and what his solo career has provided, as well as quips here and there that only Colorado heads could follow. ©Jay Blakesberg While old stand up comedy footage played in the Billiards Room, Salmon side-project Sockeye made a quick changeover to start their 1 am set in the hotel concert room. Featuring Alwyn on drums, Greg on bass, the newest Salmon, Erik, on keys, and special guest singer and trumpet player Jon Grey, in only their third performance ever, the band rocked funk jams melding with reggae beats and everything mostly opposite of what LoS usually does. It was a nice change up and everyone loved to see what else these players had in them. With the spring ahead, music didn’t end until 4 am and even then, musicians and patrons alike were pickin’ on the porch and jamming until after the sun rose and non-festival hotel guests started to trickle out. Load remaining images Setlist: Leftover Salmon | The Stanley Hotel | Estes Park, CO | 3/11/2017Set One: Liza, Gold Hill Line, Sing Up To The Moon *, Bolin Creek *, Better Day *, Blue Eyed Darling *, Unpromised Land *, Jesus Just Left Chicago *^, Get Er Rollin *^, Come On Baby *^, Sweet Virginia *^Set Two: Wind Cries Mary *, Better *, Lonesome Pines *, Bitter Sweet *^, Gulf Of Mexico *^, Sitting On Top Of The World *^, Broken Hearted Savior *^, Railroad Blues *^Encore: Nobody’s Fault But Mine> *, Wake & Bake ** with Jeremy Garrett on fiddle and vocals^ with Todd Park Mohr on guitar and vocals The laid-back event had plenty of down time between sets and for a casual Saturday afternoon, there was nothing better before more Salmon than more Salmon. People packed the Billiards room for a viewing of “Years in Your Ears” documenting the first 15 years of Leftover Salmon, a film by Eric Peter Abramson and Micheal Henry. Others posted up on line for the coveted show poster and everyone dawned their fanciest outfits for the formal night ahead. In their gowns and tailcoats, couples stood in the lobby drinking cocktails and getting their portraits taken by Jay Blakesburg before heading back down for the second Leftover Salmon set of the weekend.
©Jay Blakesberg Saturday morning at the Stanley Hotel was as “wake up and rage” as any festival out in a field in the blazing summer heat. Appropriately for the event, happy heads there for Leftover Salmon’s weekend retreat in Estes Park could be seen with Bloody Mary’s wandering the grounds and saying hey to musicians who were doing the same. A crowd gathered on the hotel deck to watch the annual Big Wheel Race in which five teams raced around the historic maze of the hotel. The reigning champs, Stanley Steamers, took first place again and each member earned themselves a limited-edition Chuck Sperry event poster, while second place all got VIP upgrades. ©Jay Blakesberg Check out a gallery of Saturday’s festivities below, courtesy of Jay Blakesberg, as well as the setlist from Leftover’s performance! They too were in their formal wear and fired up the set with the ever popular “Liza” before “Gold Hill Line.” Then they brought out Jeremy Garrett to sit in on fiddle and vocals and went right into “Sing Up to the Moon,” “Bolin Creek,” and more thrilling originals. For their cover of “Jesus Just Left Chicago” they brought up Todd Park Mohr on guitar and vocals and kept him on for the rest of the set, closing it with a beautiful rendition of “Sweet Virginia.” Second set, Jeremy stayed on and ripped it open with “Wind Cries Mary.” Todd came back up for “Bitter Sweet” and stayed on for the rest of the set, ending it with “Railroad Blues.” Jeremy and the Leftovers encored the night with “Nobody’s Fault But Mine > Wake & Bake” which had the entire festival singing along.