Category Archives: SHOW “G”-Views

Remember the days of walking down the streets with the boombox position high upon your shoulder, pointing the tunes right into your ear….well here is something you’d like to do that with again,and they call themselves “BOOMBOX”. BoomBox is Producer/Engineer/DJ/Drummer Russ Randolph and Producer/DJ/Vocalist/Guitarist Zion Rock Godchaux. This pair of dynamic artists uses their rich musical history and their vision of music and popular culture to deliver a style of music distinctly different from anything heard or seen in music today. This signature sound and show brings live music to a new, elevated level. BoomBox evolved through the common visualization of two forward-thinking artists from diverse musical backgrounds. Raised by supportive and musically inclined parents, both Godchaux and Randolph had an obsession with music at very young ages. Godchaux, who grew up with deeply embedded rock and roll roots, began playing drums at the age of two, and played guitar and wrote his own songs as a teen. During the 90s, Godchaux was a well-received touring DJ based out of the San Francisco area. Randolph began as a young drummer, but it’s what was happening behind the scenes that attracted him most. As much producers as they are musicians, it is Randolph’s understanding of soundscape and Godchaux’s knack for songwriting that keeps BoomBox resonating at higher levels…and now, this grand duo is making a splash as they rock & roll electroland-like through the musical world of their own that they created….it might seem like the path less chosen until you get an ear full.

The Vagabond Opera.

The Barrymore Theatre has been my one time a week stop, this time for more twang and stringed instrumentation. Old Crow Medicine Show gave the sold out crowd a “humdinger” of two sets. Raucous Bluegrass and country rock, jams into fiddle psychedelia lead the evening into a that feeling I had when first drinking beers in the back woods where only the four-wheel drive equipped vehicles could get you in and out. The music of this night gave me a sense of my youth as it is still being tamed by my adult (some would say) life. I have been spinning these guys on my show since I began some 6 years ago and would easily bump several acts in the similar vein to the side over if they were around playing. The gig is more than a gig, it is a hoe-down party built for overalls and smiles, flannel shirts and tie dyed skirts……It was nice to hear the variety in their on stage “twangings” and the variety in the crowd.

Charlie Cheney & Delaney Davidson

It has been many years since I was told I should check out Railroad Earth doing their thing live and each time something either came up or it just never worked out….well, this time I made sure to make sure I was there and I was not disappointed. There is something to their “jamgrass rock” that really gets me feelin’ more than alright. While I missed the opening act of Vince Herman’s Great American Taxi this time around to watch baseball, I am sure that the billing of there two acts made so much sense (after all I caught G.A.T’s set last time around), and drew the right kind of crowd for each set…certainly I couldn’t get enough of that down home feeling I was getting from the people in attendance. I love the fiddle, I love the mandolin and I love rockin’….so put those three things together and you got such a trip on the Railroad Earth that you don’t care to know where or when your stop arrives. For their part, RRE kicked it into overdrive towards the end of their first set and the explosiveness continued when they returned to the stage, leaving me to ask myself, “What took you so long to get to one of their shows?” And I am now able to say simply…FINALLY.

JULIAN MARLEY & THE UPRISING featuring STEPHEN MARLEY “AWAKE” NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2009 hit Madison at the Barrymore and was there a feeling of unity inside the walls. The conscious awareness of the music made it easy to get immersed in the positive vibe Julian brings around with him, and shares in the message of his lyrics and the island rhythms of the band. The crowd was diverse and never divided as we were always under the guide of the Rastafarian spirit as it too was AWAKE with this night’s uprising. Featuring many tracks off the new album, the songs were traveling throughout the hall on the wings of smoke and gladly they collided with a couple of Bob Marley classics~because after all, why not start from the beginnings. With a few songs left for the night, Stephen joined on stage and the electricity of that collaboration took off with more power than any man made facility could conjure up, the attitude & altitude of the performance was on the rise..

…the bouncing, the smiling and the IRIE feelings were the bond that kept this night’s unity alive and breathing. It was a time when Reggae music came to life as Autumn has been ready to change to Winter, and this show helped keep a little summer time in my mind.

Had a chance to catch the action as the Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company was at the Memorial union for a night of whirling, stepping and happy times. I made sure to have some German Wheat Beer and spoke in my best Slavic accent all evening. It was just the type of event I needed to throw me back into the world of culture and differences i enjoy celebrating….just wish I had my clogs on.

It’s always nice to get to hang out with good people…and that is exactly what happened on this night. On a cool drizzly evening at the Memorial union got the chance to hang out with some of the gang of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band before the show and during the opening acts set…It was a blast to chill with the real people of the music world, talking about times and music with guys who have seen it all and been doing it so long. Efrem, Kevin and Jermal were all cool to chill with and then the set that followed brought it all home. The brass was solid and heavy sounding for most of the show and there were moments and dance, scream and even space out. The march-ability of the music made for some serious dancing and groovin’ from many a head & body bobber and fan of that sweet N’Orleans flava, that only the DDBB can stir into a gravy of sound. The funk was in the air, and the soul of the band fits here in Madtown perfectly and I am guessing the band will like to head on back..maybe even get some outside summer terrace time?

Jermal/misterG/Efrem b4 the Dirty Dozen Brass band show

Efrem/Jermal/Kevin

With the release of the new album, One day in Brooklyn (actually put together in one day…in Brooklyn) I was so looking forward to see what the boys from Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey would have going on this time in a live setting. As the crowd started to grow with each stroke on the keys, Brian Haas and gang really had the sound thumping in a strut that was walking all over me. Doing tracks off of the new album as well as some Brian informed us in our chat Saturday morning, some that were written during the traveling on this tour. He wasn’t kidding at all when he said ‘there was a lot of creativity going on in the group right now’. The hour long set was a journey of emotional music, rockin’ slides and percussion 7 bass that has your head nodding in approval the whole time. There was even time to throw in a well crafted rendition of an old Beatles classic.

Mike Gordon did what I would expect Mike Gordon to do….played 2 long sets into the early hours with all the jamband sounds that any kitchen cupboard could hold. The Barrymore Theatre pond was filled with many a Phish-head and the scene was as much fun to watch as was the band for me. A ripping guitarist (Scott Murawski) was the real treat for me during the sets….

It is not very often that I feel like a band is becoming like family here in Madison, but Marseilles’ Watcha Clan sure is more than just another group visiting. Since they came here this summer for Le Fete de Marquette, they seem to have a second home right here at anytime. On this night, the Crystal Corner was the location that was fortunate to hold the sounds of Watcha Clan’s immense soul….there was spirit in the air~not just beats or lyrics but a conscious being formed with the music. Between the on stage musicians there is more chemistry than in a high school science class, like they were meant to make this happen. It is so easy to become part of the essence of this act. I find myself memorized by the grooves, the heavy and the softened down…..the true nature of this scene is something to behold and hold on tightly too. There is more to this band then genre or style…as they defeat and deflect the two of those like an unknown superhero of “eclecticity”…..it is the “real” that is behind the artists and the “strength” around their art that is such a temptress~that I look forward to the next time I find Watcha Clan is back for one more time. This band means a lot to the part of me that transcends the sound….with them come nostalgia.

For me, I feel like the Luminescent Orchestrii are old friends. I have been spinning their music on my show since way back in my WHUS days after we reached out to each other on one of the social networking sites. I finally got to experience them live and it was all that I hoped for. Witty ways on stage coupled with well crafted songs of a gypsy decent……makes for such an entertaining start to the evening. Luckily we here in Madison have a way of dancing our way through it all…and this was certainly the case at the High Noon Saloon. The rawness of the songs feel good on your skin and with an edge of sass, the music makes its way to your spine…and from there it’s up to you what the rest of you does.

On this night, the pairing of bands was stellar. Fishtank Ensemble took over the stage shortly after and wowed the crowd with bass stands, opera singing saw-stress and a violin that was hauntingly mesmerizing. The sounds were often as wild as the night is dark but on occasion I felt the “where it’s at” of the tune….and that moment is always something else. The dancing continued and the music from start to finish on this night was like the mighty rivers—fluid and strong.

This year I was all over the place during the Willy Street Fair. The day itself was a beauty and the food, drink(s) and times had were fun-filled. There is always more to look at then what is on a stage when it comes to this street fair and this year was no different.

friends of the program: the Hussy rawkkkk the WORT underground stage.

The Takebacks making some righteous music

Talk about pieces to a puzzle…..Hanggai Band from Mongolia and Cheb i Sabbah from the mixed up world of sound smashing….I started my afternoon off with some homegrown beer and a musical group from Inner Mongolia…..Don’t let the traditional clothes worn fool you, this band shows off many Western influences in a set that rocked with sound as it did with amazement. Seeing the faces of those not so familiar with throat singing was a highlight for me, the jaws dropping as sounds coming from deep within form and appear almost without recognition of who or where they come from. The vocalizing added to the two string lute (tabshuur) gave this act at the World Stage of the Willy Street Fair that something different people around here seek.

After wandering some around the fair streets, I decided to chill before going out to see Cheb i Sabbah later in the evening. That was a smart idea as I grooved and got down until the wee hours with some serious mixes from a master. Cheb had crowds surrounding him on the stage, belly dancers moving in a serpentine-like fashion around the dance floor and stage areas-it was as it should be….WILD. The crowd was deep in movement and size as the Terrace was in a complete zone of electronica-hoopee madness, one that I sure hope returns again sometime soon. It was worth the wait to be a part of a Cheb i Sabbah created soundscape.

This past Friday I had the pleasure of hanging out a little backstage with Rekha before the show and we did a little interview thing (more on that to come). I am not one for the on the scene interviews but when that is all that works I am down for sure. DJ Rekha is serious about what she is doing, and how she portraits her seriousness is with some killer Bhangra beats that explore not only the inner regions of the ears, but it certainly filters through my brain simultaneously. Watching her work the segues and slam the hefty beats that “speakerbang” and erupt the dancefloor with unique blends of movement that causes me to get my notepad out. Opening the night was DJ Phil Money, who highlighted my night with some sweet “Pimps of Joytime” with a middle mix of some of Jah’s music….it was a night that lasted long~like you hope for.

Once again I got out for two acts on this beautiful Sunday late afternoon into evening. First up for me were the Cash Box Kings Chicago Revue and this year they brought along with them some of our favorite performers like consummate guitarist/ vocalist Lurrie Bell, silky smooth songstress Katherine Davis and rock solid drummer Kenny “Beady Eyes” Smith. Nick Moss and Piano Willie will join us for the first time. A musician of boundless skill, Nick Moss fully understands that he is carrying on the tradition of the bluesmen before his time and folks let me tell you, he Chicago Rips it up. I have listen to and shared his music on the show in the past but live and watching is the way to fully appreciate him.Piano Willie honed his craft with the likes of Jimmy Rogers, James Cotton, and William Clarke and you can see right away way those named would choose him as a colleague. He rocks like Spann, he rolls like nobody’s business but most of all he is just too cool.

Nick Moss

Piano Willie
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Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue totally blew down the treehouse….The funk started and didn’t stop until the night had fallen and the stars took over. I can’t say enough about Troy’s set of music. The whole band is apart of a show that is all out, from shaking their collective booTAYS, to bass players body surfing backwards on the stage while JAMMing, it was the way to end this festival and I would never complain if it ended any event. The outdoors was a wonderful way to watch people connect to this young New Orleans artist sound and spirit, from Marvin Gaye to a 2nd line through the festival goers on their home turf, it was that which you might be thinking and more. It is always incredible when you can match an artist to an area, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue are really an extension of the east side of Madison. I and many are looking forward to the next visit and are thankful Troy made it our way to close out the Orton Park Festival.

Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and horn section

Orleans Avenue Shakin’ it down!

Check out friend of the program Michael Sullivan’s photos of the event here.

This was one time I had too much reality happening to be at this festival all day, however I managed to see everything I wanted to hit up. Brooklyn- based Latin alt-folklorico group Pistolera strutted their stuff in front of a medium sized but ready to “get it going” Orton crowd. They were rained out at the Waterfront Fest last year, but did put on a great rain-delayed show at the Crystal, and this year the weather was not playing a long nicely either but the set was incredible with melodic and danceable songs sung in Spanish and the strong political content of their lyrics which often talk about border issues, the plight of immigrants, and female strength is “perfecto” for the open minds of the east side of Madison.

After that hot set, we were treated to the brilliant and prolific Robbie Fulks and his music. His website states, “Robbie Fulks writes songs that make you think and feel and quite often laugh out loud.” He’s a favorite at our fests and when he takes the stage with his band there will be a throng of people there to cheer him on. His charm and incredible songbook make Fulks an ideal festival performer…Since it was Michael Jackson’s birthday, Mr. Fulks did this rendition on “Billy Jean” that was deep and mysterious, it was truly a mind blowing moment…and I thank him for. he took that right into the Jackson 5 thing know as “Goin’ Back to Indiana”, which was done in a country western twang that had that Robbie Fulks signature all over it.

Two acts I would see anywhere again.

Having members from North America and Brazil, the Caribbean and Africa, Seven Steps To Havana possesses a sound that truly brings the world into the music. Lovely boleros, raucous rumbas, swinging sambas, and haunting horn trios, this band soars far and wide across the musical spectrum. They were firing on all cylinders as the Jazz at five series heading indoors to the Overture Center’s lobby atrium. Viviana Pintado (pianist/vocalist)- from Cuba, 3-time Latin Grammy nominee was absolutely brilliant in her playing and singing, exciting the crowd as she took familiar sounding arrangements and changed them to fit the “no stone unturned” approach to this Latin Jazz outfit. The other percussion setting the rhythms were created by Eliezer Freitas-Santos & Rey Rivera, and the bass playing of Yohannes Tona has blasts of Victor Wooten sounding explosions to the wooing jazz back bass beat that mirror the music’s pulse. The horns of Mark Miller (trombone), Bill Simenson (trumpet) & Douglas Little (saxophone/flute/leader) rounded out one frenzied fest of Latin sounds that spread smiles on the faces of those who let the music take them over.

Check out some of the photos from the event here.

Madison jazz legends Ben Sidran and Richard Davis first played together in 1975. Over the years, they’ve played countless performances, (including an infamous tour of Wisconsin prisons in the 1980’s), and made several records together. This is their first time sharing the stage since the closing concert of the Oscar Mayer theater in 2004. Ben and Leo Sidran have also been performing together since the late 70’s, when Leo was a boy. They continue to record and perform together around the world, and in 2003 they launched the Nardis Music label to showcase their work. Leo relocated to New York in 2005. Joy Dragland, a former Madison mainstay, also moved in 2005 to New York, where she and Leo record and perform under the name “Joy and the Boy”. In Madison, Joy was a protege of both Richard Davis and Ben Sidran. Louka Patenaude is a Madison treasure, an original musician and composer and he joined in on a few selections to add a little guitar to the set.

Photos click here.

This is the first time all five artists will perform together and it was as great as it sounds…..The mixture of styles and family familiarity made the fingers snap, the toes tap and the smiles widen.

For more info click here for the Jazz at 5 website.