Category Archives: SHOW “G”-Views

They are calling it the Tornado Alley Tour 2007 and this was a billing that has smart written all over it. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit kicked the room into overdrive from the first chorus. For the past six years, Jason was one of three frontmen for the Drive-By Truckers, and although fans may have been shocked by his leaving the band in April, when you fill your ears with his solo debut Sirens Of The Ditch it will only reassure you that his music has its own unique voice. His songs are written with intelligence that starts in the heart and for the set here in Madison, his group had all the intentions of making sure we knew that. Featuring many songs of the new album, there was a taste of Psycho Killer and Into the Mystic, just to keep us in check. I will see this band again and am ready for it. Then came Cracker. Now I will admit that I have not surrounded myself with a lot of their music over the years, but damn what a great live act. This band is a rock and roll wall, solid from the floor up and man, the songs I didn’t know were even better than those I recall. There is humor, endearment and most of all a satirical smartness about the songs, phrases that jump out at you and stick there for a while where many artists don’t get to take you. If your plate is ever with an empty section on it, fill it up with some CRACKER and see what sticks. The host of this event, the High Noon Saloon was a perfect venue to showcase true musicianship with artists that ooze of their appreciation for the audience and their songs. Where else but at a place that offers live event 7, that’s right, seven nights a week. So if you can, go there and support live music.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit

When Desdamona and Carnage the Executioner work their lyrical content and hand-woven catastrophe tapestry orally attached to beats the outcome is a dynamic being known as Ill Chemistry. The hip-hop heard when they collide is so damn raw and open that it makes a listener hit the refresh button on their minds. I was fortunate enough to catch the show here in Madison right at the University and man, was I overwhelmed with the power of beatbox and the rhythm of the rhymes. With loops in loop and mics in hand, Ill Chemistry brings meaning and life to words….you can see the actions and feel the chest rise in these words. Dez and Carnage worked the night with another Minneapolis product, The New Congress. The New Congress are the winners of the 2006 Minnesota Music Awards for Best R&B Artist/Group and R&B Album for their release “Everybody Gets Up“. They also earned two Los Angeles Music Awards in 2006 for Neosoul Artist of the Year and R&B Single of the Year for “Make You Move“. Once you take a listen to this band, you’ll be ready to vote in the New Congress.

With one of my favs. Desdamona 11/3/07

Check out my previous conversation with Ms. Desdamona here.

Vermont-based rock band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals opened up for Gov’t Mule on Tuesday night, this is where the story begins. Smart opening acts cannot be talked about enough. The stage was left on fire by Miss Potter & the Nocturnal ones with a rockin’ rhythmic percussion colliding with the roll of thunder from an appreciating audience. The approach to their music is as old fashioned as a proper root beer float but as timeless as those great songs are. Yeah, I said great. This is one act to catch, bring a glove or a paper sack, whatever it takes to make sure you don’t miss a set of musicians made to play music together. Speaking of…Man was Warren Haynes ON for this one. Did I mention that Gov’t Mule was visiting us here in Madison? It was a show that I will always remember being in attendance for. ” I was there when…” The energy was electric. As with any MULE show, there were the cool ones from others, CREEP was a nice seasonal choice… but really this was a show that was great from start to finish, the innovative drum solo of Matt Abts bring too many words to mind that I remain speechless. Overall and Under-some this was the place to be and I am grateful for the Barrymore Theatre for being a great stable for Mule and allowing me to pretend it was a Saturday night on a Tuesday.

First Set:
1. Slackjaw Jezebel
2. Thorazine Shuffle
3. Banks Of The Deep End
4. Empty Pages
5. Temporary Saint
6. Creep
7. Unring The Bell Shakedown Street Tease
8. About To Rage
9. Lola Leave Your Light On Lola Intro

Second Set:
1. Brighter Days
2. Like Flies
3. Reblow Your Mind Get Up, Stand Up Jam
4. Streamline Woman->
5. Drums
6. Brand New Angel
7. Many Rivers To Cross
8. Mule 3rd Stone From The Sun Jam
9. Into The Mystic

Atlantic Waves, London International Festival of Exploratory Music, is getting bigger, better and more global. Innovative international collaborations and outstanding creative musicianship have been sought out for the 2007 program, which is based on world premieres. This year the much praised festival features 22 concerts within 8 days, with over 70 artists from around the world, including Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Israel, Lithuania,Georgia, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Finland, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Japan and Australia. A rather special program even for cosmopolitan London. This year’s festival includes the Grand Divas of Fado (at the Queen Elizabeth Hall), the Portuguese Guitar Masters (at St Giles Cripplegate), three Lusophone clubnights exploring soundclash, techno/electro and ghettotrash (all at Cargo), and three world class experimental audiovisual electronica nights at the ICA. With an extraordinary mix of new music for the “quench-ment” of all pallets ongoing between 1st and 11th November, the Atlantic Waves 2007 event promises an unmissable line-up of artists and genres.

Atlantic Waves info:
T: 020 7908 7622

file this one under “if I had me a magic carpet”

When I got home from the Tommy Emmanuel show last night at the beautifully renovated Majestic Theater in Madison, I tucked my guitar away and asked it why, and how Tommy could think of those things he does with his very own guitars. I swear he has a couple of spiders or octopus attached to his own hands at times, my gosh can he make magic happen on the stage. When he starts a song, you can actually see the music form around his body as he presents it to the awe-struck people in attendance. When featuring his rendition of Somewhere over the Rainbow, I heard tears falling from the crowd…TEARS! In his storied career, including 16 recordings, Tommy has set sales records that have yet to be broken and performed with hundreds of musical legends including Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Keith Urban, Eric Clapton, Sir George Martin, Tina Turner, Joe Walsh, Stevie Wonder, Nokie Edwards (of the Ventures), Hank Marvin, the Lexington (Kentucky) Philharmonic, the Dortmund (Germany) Symphony, and the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. Whenever and wherever you might get a chance to see or hear Tommy play or create his music, treat yourself to a feeling of “That’s Incredible” and stay for awhile. By the way, my guitar had no answers for me.

A true class act:Mr. Tommy Emmanuel C.G.P.

Looking for something to do on the 19th and 20th of October….go check out my friend Sara Wasserman live. On the 19th Sara will be at Blue Nile and on the 20th at Jayne Marie on Cross Lake. Sara is a singer-songwriter whose vocals have captivated audiences everywhere, accompanied by her father, Grammy-winning bassist Rob Wasserman and Los Angeles-based producer/pianist Randy Emata. New Orleans trumpet legend Irvin Mayfield will appear as a special guest. They will perform an evening of Sara’s original songs from her forthcoming debut CD of acoustic soul and blues, as well as classic standards and high moments of musical improvisation. Her upcoming release features collaborations with Aaron Neville, Lou Reed, Soulive, and Christian McBride, among others. Sara showcased at SXSW ’07, and her original song “You Got Me” was recently featured on ABC’s hit show “Falcon Beach.” I have a feeling that these are going to be the types of show not to be missed. If you happen to run into Sara or her father, tell them MisterG sent you their way.

Follow Sara’s voice to feel that smile you needed.

Check out my conversation with Sara a bit ago here.

…and my conversation with her father Rob Wasserman here.

Glenn Jones: Against Which the Sea Continually Beats released on the Strange Attractors label is instantly gets across the sounds that are sensitive yet firm, a raw power only found in nature rises off the strings. Beautifully rolling melodies, like a hike through the Maine wilderness, personify the musical trail with the feeling of being there. Since 1989, Glenn Jones has led Boston‘s (go SOX!) “avant-garage” instrumental rock band Cul de Sac, whose musical adventures are documented on nine albums to date. Against Which the Sea Continually Beats, Jones’s second album, is a triumph of acoustic guitar composition, an innovative welding of sound and form. Recorded in Martha’s Vineyard, the peaceful, seafaring setting of this island community inspired these recording sessions, lending an air of tranquility that served as a perfect fit to create such art. The eleven tunes on Against Which the Sea Continually Beats travel from Delta to Appalachia, from classical to a cinematic sort of folk sound in a language that is purely imbued in the artist’s own musical vernacular.

To experience the Anoushka Shankar Project is to open yourself up to the wonders of mental movement. For this project, Anoushka is joined onstage by: Tanmoy Bose– tabla, Ravichandra Kulur– flute, Leo Dombecki– piano, and Jesse Charnow– drum kit. In 2007 the tour consists of new, acoustic versions of select pieces from Anoushka´s album Rise, new and as yet unrecorded compositions by her, and a showcase of some of her father Ravi Shankar´s finest Raga creations. The fusion of traditional Indian Classical and masterfully arranged audio interpretations featuring a blend of instrumentation, consumes your senses in a timeless moment of rapture. This project is certainly a step into the modern musical times with a strong sense of understanding where people have been drawn in in the past. There is a vision to this music. As with her father Ravi Shankar, the ability to listen and hear have in my humble opinion, placed Anoushka in a position to shape and invent within the structure of music, and create new boundaries for others to gain inspiration from. With a mixing of perspective, reflection and exploration, that magic of the Sitar should aptly be the choice to create these new stories. Sometimes it’s hard to turn the page, but in this case…..who KNOWS what’ll be next….SPEAKING OF…..

I invite you to check out a new project that features Miss Shankar and Karsh Kale.

Also, take a moment and re-visit my conversation with Anoushka about one year ago….ENJOY

..with Anoushka Shankar 10/5/07

What can be said that hasn’t been….for me, the show usually begins when Victor Wooten gets his bass some “alone time” on stage. Not to disappoint, this bass space was far-reaching, oft-exploratory and bone-a-fide funky at times. Jeff Coffin kept reminding me why sax is so damn good. Just imagine the Flecktones without it. Yeah, I agree. Where o’ Where are you tonight….Futureman is one cool cat (check out my past interview with Roy Wooten) with his unique blending of percussive magic from this world and beyond I found myself happily lost from thoughts other than “the moment” while he worked his art in front of our eyes. Speaking of right in front of our eyes, Bela Fleck can make his fingers appear like they wiggle and jive right in front of you, wherever you sit or stand at a show. He not only uses those banjo strings to play to us, but thankfully has found a way to use those strings to bring us to the music…with so much to take out of a Flecktones show, I really got a kick out of the rendition of the Beatles “Come Together“, just so perfectly true on that night.

Rage Against The Machine frontman Zack De La Rocha has completed his debut solo album, which was seven years in the making. De La Rocha collaborated closely with The Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore, and Billboard.com quotes a source that says it sounds like “Led Zeppelin meets Dr. Dre.” Since leaving the band in 2000, De La Rocha has worked with several artists including DJ Shadow and Trent Reznor, but it is not yet known if these artists will feature on the album. The report also reveals that some of the album was recorded at an eco-friendly studio in Los Angeles, owned by Jack Johnson. Since De La Rocha is currently unsigned, a release date is unconfirmed.

Meanwhile, reunited Rage Against The Machine play the following shows this fall:

New Orleans, LA City Park (Voodoo Music Experience) (October 27)
Las Vegas, NV Sam Boyd Stadium (Vegoose Festival) (28)

Something to look forward too times two.

West Africa never felt so close as it did on Sunday night when Toubab Krewe took the stage at the High Noon Saloon in Madison. There is some kind of wonderful happening when the cultures of a roots-centric West Africa and the rockin’ of the rolling hills in North Carolina collide in a rhythmic force so powerful you can feel the earth take a breath of contentment. The soles of people bare feet were in step with the beats of a sound so “in the now” that you could almost see people embark as if they stepped foot in the transporter room on Star Trek. The band sweats out exploration and expansion, and the music that follows them on the stage beams with excitement and demands that you move along whichever way you choose. They have been features at venues such as the Bonnaroo and Vegoose festivals to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Their live shows and self-titled debut album have won international acclaim from the New York Times, Global Rhythm, fRoots, NPR and more. The members of Toubab Krewe developed their unique sound over the course of numerous extended trips to Mali, Guinea, and Ivory Coast, where they immersed themselves in the local culture and studied and performed with luminaries such as Lamine Soumano, Vieux Kante, Madou Dembele and Koungbanan Conde.

Opening the show was Yawo. The set was an elaborate blend of afro-cuban beats and funky scales which took potions of his Togo, West African homeland and global rhythms which manage to combine luscious melodies with a get-up-and-groove music that won over the crowd easily.

Yawo at High Noon Saloon

TOUBAB KREWE 9/16/07 Madison WI

The signature sound of The Chicken Chokers combines a string pounding 4-man rhythm section, ever-crazed fiddling, infamous ‘air-raid siren’ vocals, and the hallmark Chicken Choker Big Boy Chorus. Throughout the 80’s the Chokers entertained many, influenced a select few, and recorded 2 albums for Rounder Records before exploding in all musical directions. Recent twenty year reunions reveal that the Choker Drive survived the explosion. Combining the unvarnished, primitive energy of the early years with sound scrapbooks from 5 separate musical journeys, the band endures, still inspiring amateur dancers and professional revelers to higher states of consciousness. This album is kind to your ears and your feet at the same time. It is a blend of ten recognizable tracks with one original, yet with the Chokers’ twist to some of these ole favorites, you’ll be heading off on your own musical explosion. Be warned…this album comes complete with strings attached.

Muddy River release ’07

Talk about down-tempo tres chic pop that can chill out the warmest of listeners. This eclectic, multi-instrumental SoCal-based trio that likens their distinct sound to “an experiment in Latin, blues, trip-hop and soul.” UNA has left a mark with me by the Portishead/Morcheeba sound-a-like moments with just as much trip as hop and soul. If UNA is the focus at any local or near -enough-bye chillout club, get there and be ready to groove graciously, with slow rhythms and conscious beats…aware yet never over dominant. Who/What is UNA? Jazz/electronic explorers combining the sultry voice of Jennifer Cook with the inspired keyboards and guitar of The Mighty One (Richard Larsen), and the down-tempo turntables of Eddie Barajas. I have a good feeling and a sneaky suspicion that listening to this album, ONE by UNA, will make you the cool kid on the block.

You like punk rock? You like the sounds of underground rock -n- roll? TRUE punked out rock and roll? Let me tell you what should be in your player tomorrow and there is no surprise it is a Wicked Cool Records release. Long known to have the best sound of any room in the world, where the sounds would begin to live within your body..CBGB‘s was and will always be a legend of and within New York City’s underground music scene. Thankfully some of the artists of that scene trickled out above ground now and again. Hilly Kristal started it in 1973 and even though the initials stood for Country, Bluegrass, and Blues it would be the birthplace of Punk. This great release known as Little Steven’s Underground Garage presents: CBGB FOREVER has Fourteen studio tracks, including RARE cuts from Green Day, U2 and Foo Fighters. Plus additional songs from Audioslave, Ramones, Good Charlotte, Talking Heads, Rancid, Velvet Revolver and more. Liner notes by Lenny Kaye (guitarist for Patti Smith Group & producer of NUGGETS compilation). Features artwork by Arturo Vega, artistic director for The Ramones. I can feel myself there again, as I was fortunate enough to see a few shows there, especially when hearing the middle of the album Patti Smith Group doing Till Victory. If you were another fortunate soul who stepped into the doors and walked the walk, you need to add this to your history…if you were not able to get there, this will help give you a good idea of just how good it rerally did sound at CBGBs.

CBGB FOREVER & RIP Mr. Hilly Kristal

Every year, for the past 41 years, there has been the Orton Park Festival, and this year was no exception. Sunday was the day I spent time there, and here’s why. First, the weather was finally splendid, absolutely. The local to the Madison area Balkan-ic Reptile Palace Orchestra with fiery Anna Purnell in the lead will get everyone dancing in mid-afternoon. The set was wild, ecclectic and there was an array of moment in the crowd that would have made the Wachowski brothers re-think The Matrix. From there, The Fareed Haque Group treated a large crowd of smiling faces to some Jazz-infused ragas on Haque’s sitar as well as some spacey jams while playing guitar and accompanied by is group to just plain rock. You can tell that extensive travels, especially long stays in Spain, France, Iran, Pakistan and Chile, exposed Haque to different musics from a very early age, and these influences stuck. In 2001 Fareed co-founded the jam super-group Garaj Mahal, joined George Brooks’ group Summit, featuring Zakir Hussein and Steve Smith and continues to record and tour with the amazing Fareed Haque Group.

Madison’s Reptile Palace Orchestra

Fareed Haque

I also remember trying the same delicious local wheat beer twice….and now you know that too.

And they were! There was no messin’ around, oh wait…yes there was. Abby and Amanda (the Ditty Bops) were dressed like vegetables, to help promote local farmers and sustainable community farming, on their FARM TOUR 2007. So the carrot did a duet of a childhood lullaby, written for her, by her mother. And the singing partner this night was in fact, her mother. The sharp honey sounds, combined with a toy-box filled with an assortment of instruments affectionately plucked with a cynical sweetness. The Barrymore was lined with a local farmers market in the halls leading into the ballroom. There was, as should be, plenty of down home dancers, including several in the single digit age group. Kudos to the band/the venue/ and the families for making this friendly for all ears. On the most theatrical moment of the evening, during “your head’s too big”, the was a plea to re-use bags and a cry of stop relying on plastics…oh yeah, complete with props. Included from the prop closet was, and I get excited thinking about it…Bubblewrap.

I encourage families to get to know the Ditty Bops, and go on out and meet up with them in a live setting and support what they are doing. It’s for good.

thanks to Sybil

Decided to head out for some dinner and free, that’s right free entertainment last night. Jazz at Five is a free event on Wednesday early evenings and this week featured local act the Jeanne Woodall Quartet at 5pm followed by the Hilario Durán Trio. Mr. Duran is a pianist, composer, bandleader and arranger of the first order and last nights showing left all in attendance knowing exactly why he is held in such high regard. Hypnotically attacking the keyboard with an arsenal of tools that includes runs executed in octaves, block chords at fast tempos, and that method so characteristic of Cuban pianists, his style and grace are unparalleled. The sounds burst off of the keys with an electric energy that traveled directly into the glass-rounded room with a captivating glow of natures very own accompanying lighting storm. This was my first musical event since reaching the Mad City and it did not disappoint. And for those of you asking: What was the choice for dinner? Well, Turkish dumplings stuffed with Beef Tenderloin covered with a spicy curry sauce was what hit the G’s-spot, which turned out to be a great warm up for the show.

Hilario Durán 8/22/07

Looking for the path to figuring out if you… yes you indeed enjoy world music. Here it is!!! Putumayo brings us WORLD HITS, a ear-opening experience that reminds us that some songs just hit it off for people everywhere. From the opening track of Peter Tosh with Mick Jagger doing the Temptation’s “Don’t Look Back from 1978, such the appropriate way to start this album, you’ll be looking forward to what’s next… ALWAYS a thrill. “Oye Como Va”, as made infamous by the classic Latin-rock group Santana off their 1970 release Abraxas, will be sure to set off some momentary senses of deja vu in many a listeners mind. Follow that in the middle of this trip with the cult classic The Harder They Come, by Jimmy Cliff, still thought of as a legend in Jamaican music. A personal favorite of mine, yes I must indulge for a moment..Cameroon‘s Manu Dibango reminds us why he has been a figurehead in African music for over 50 years. Such a innovative visionary from dancable Congolese rumba to the ever-exploratory avant garde jazz, this is one saxophonist I know that when I hear Soul Makossa, I am not only going to shake myself form the ground up, but my mind will venture into uncharted spaces as well.

Set to be released in the U.S and Canada August 28th, be sure to get your copy.

Thanks to Kaveh, as always.

While listening the first time through this album, I knew it was for me. Heavy organ stylistics, and beats that make your heart jealous. And, I must say, there is more jam in Cameron Mizell’s guitar than in any breakfast restaurant on the east coast. On his new album, Cameron partners up with keys guru Brad Whiteley and drummer extraordinaire Mike Fortune to create one of the funkiest jazz instrumental albums of 2007. Well chosen classics blended nicely and with an obvious careful thought make the original tracks stand out like a ornate centerpiece on the dinner table. The wide ranging set on LIFE IS LOUD makes those lucky enough to listen feel a part of the grooves, whether by an uncontrollable urge to shake it slightly, or an all out boogie-down. The thirteen tracks all have a quality of life different from one another making each one almost an album by itself. This album was crafted, not merely put together. It is (in my opinion), an antique in the making. A project that will inspire you, the listener, to greater things but also hopefully carry Cameron Mizell into the future with a larger sense of direction as both a player and a writer. I know he has my vote of confidence.

Cameron Mizell’s Life is Loud 2007

It is no surprise that I have been listening to a lot of soulful funky with an R-n-B flavor. I do like to keep it real you know. Marcus Miller will have a new album out sometime towards the end of the year, and there have been a couple of teasers on his myspace page. Check out the upcoming title track FREE, featuring the beautiful voice of Miss Corinne Bailey Rae. This is such a pretty song with soulful thumps by Marcus on bass that make you want to hug onto the nearest……well maybe thats just me?? Head on over there for yourself and decide. I will be lucky sometime in the early winter months to be setting up a potential conversation with Marcus to discuss the new album, the ongoing tour dates and maybe even engage in some serious basketball conversation.

Many thanks to Bibi for the slam dunk.