Terrapin Hill Harvest Festival: September 19-21, Harrodsburg, Kentucky

This made my day:

After taking 2007 off the folks at Terrapin Hill have announced the 2008 Terrapin Hill Harvest Festival. The initial lineup includes Keller Williams & the WMD'S, Tea Leaf Green, Mike Ferris, Benevento-Russo Duo, and Cornmeal, with more to be announced.

Mulberry Mountain, Festie Additions, Weekend Links

-The Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival, which will take place September 11-13 in the Ozark Mountains, will feature Leftover Salmon, Umphrey's McGee, the Avett Brothers, Perpetual Groove, Split Lip Rayfield, and the Wailers.

-Levon Helm, U-Melt, the Bridge, and Swampadelica have joined the lineup at moe. down

-Camp Bisco just added Bassnectar, Pnuma Trio, Shpongle, and the Egg

-I am considering moving to Buffalo after seeing the schedule for its Thursday at the Square concert series, which will include FREE concerts this Summer from the Disco Biscuits, Yonder Mountain String Band, Mickey Hart, Mike Gordon, Tea Leaf Green, Zappa Plays Zappa, Galactic, and the New Deal

-we can all expect free soundboards from moe.'s Friday and Saturday shows at Summercamp

Summer Camp Schedule Released

The schedule for Summer Camp, which will take place Memorial Day weekend up in Chillicothe, IL, was just released.


I have to say that, although I love moe., I am especially psyched to see that Umphrey's McGee will have their own headlining slot on Friday night. I am also pleased with the fact that Tea Leaf Green is playing 16 times throughout the course of the weekend. The Summer Camp folks have also done a good job minimizing the amount of time fans will be subjected to the Flaming Lips and O.A.R. by placing them in between the headlining sets at another stage.

My only real complaint with the schedule is the poor placement of Lotus and STS9, which would be much more appropriate for the late night barn shows.

You can download your own copy of the schedule here.

Random Goodness Vol. 1

So I finally figured out how to use this imeem thing, and it's pretty cool actually. I figure if it works, this can be a regular feature of el bloggo.

So here's some random goodness. Enjoy!



The Phish is from 12-31-93 Worcester.
The Tea Leaf Green is from 10-13-07 at the Echo Project.
The Disco Biscuits is from 12-31-06 in Camden.
The Umphrey's is from 12-31-07 at the Aragon.

Another Festival: Mile High

Let's just say I've got some bad news, some good news, and some really bad news...

Bad news: Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer will headline this festival.

Good News: Tom Petty will also headline. You also get to see moe., The Black Crowes, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Steve Winwood, The Roots, Leftover Salmon, Tea Leaf Green, JJ Grey & Mofro, and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.

The Mile High Music Festival will take place July 19-20 outside Denver, CO. Tickets go on sale March 29. More information can be found here.

Really bad news: this is unrelated, but is guaranteed to make you gag.

Flash Light: Camp adds P-Funk, TLG

Summercamp just announced the addition of George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, G Love & Special Sauce, Tea Leaf Green, Clutch, Blind Melon, and others (in addition to STS9's addition earlier this week.)

This festival is just getting better! I've never had the opportunity to catch George Clinton but I have been a fan of the Afro-nauts longer than the rest of the lineup. I'm also glad to see Tea Leaf Green's addition - they played a great Thursday night pre-party set last year and just have so much potential; it's always great to catch them play.

Catching Up

Let's just say that a combination of a lost ATM card, traveling across the country, and a wretched little bubble called Palo Alto has prevented posts for almost a week. Here's what went on...

-a giant Phil & Friends fall tour was announced

-the initial Vegoose lineup was released - Umphrey's, Franti, and STS9, and then...well...I'll limit my comments to "I don't hate Superfly Productions any less today"

-Austin City Limits announced their official aftershows

-Page McConnell and Mike Gordon rocked the Simpsons Movie premiere

-Arcade Fire addes U.S. tour dates

-the real Guns 'n' Roses will reunite to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Appetite for Destruction (without Axl)

Once you're done catching up check out these assorted links of fun...

-get your Trancegression Podcast from Umphrey's website (sweet!)

-video of Tea Leaf Green 4/22/06 @ CBGB's

-oh yea, and a robot that plays Guitar Hero

"We Could Jam in Joe's Garage..."

Bored at work like me? This might help...Frank Zappa performing "Joe's Garage" in Paris, 1980



Or if you really need a good wake-up check out these HILARIOUS Mike Tyson quotes



In the news today...

-the Trancegression schedule was released

-Tea Leaf Green added 3 New York dates, September 6-8 @ Gramercy

-the complete idiot's guide to Queen - part deux

-Gene Simmons boasts about his own awesomeness (and other tangentially-related issues)

-a Beatles statue will be built in Hamburg, Germany

-Apple will release the iPhone nano

-and more Live Earth satire; saving the world with bad music

Tea Leaf Green, ALO, & New Monsoon to Play Dance of the Dead

Tea Leaf Green, ALO, and New Monsoon will headline this year's Las Tortugas Festival of the Dead October 25-28 in Groveland, Ca. Otherwise...

-listen to moe.'s killer 07/06/07 show at the Cape Cod Melody Tent

-KyndMusic reviews D.U.M.B. 07/01/07 @ Pompano Beach, Fl

-Phil & Friends played a virtually private show last night; at lease we can see the setlist

-and of course, Page McConnell's High Sierra setlist

-Grateful Web discusses Bob Weir, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Mr. Blotto, and Festival Philosophy

-The Police used a teleprompter to remember their lyrics

-Thanks Axl! I was wondering why you didn't play Live Earth

-Nickel Creek adds more pre-hiatus dates

-June 23 declared "Bluegrass Day" in the state of Colorado

-Always good for a laugh: stoners running from the police

-the trailer for Bob Dylan's new movie "I'm not there" started floating around; check it out for yourself

Help Wanted: Better Publicist

This is a courtesy posting for Tea Leaf Green, who is in desperate need of a new publicist. Why do I say this? Check out a stub of a recent L.A. Times Blog article that was sent out on the TLG e-mail list (I've highlighted my favorite parts for you):

"I understand why rock critics give jam bands a hard time. Their lyrics usually aren’t very good. Their self-indulgency borders on wankery and while their fans are usually good and decent people, they quite often aren’t the sharpest sticks of incense in the pack. But people need to start paying attention to San Francisco four-piece Tea Leaf Green. Sure, they sound a lot like the Dead, but no one ever said that was a bad thing and with Jerry pushing up scarlet begonias six feet deep, bands that can deliver improvised searing guitar solos and atmospheric keyboard riffs will always have a place in my heart (and the entire Jam Nation). Tea Leaf might not be breaking any new ground, but their set amply displayed why they’re regarded as one of the top bands on the jam-band circuit. These guys can play as well as anyone and if you’re looking for rootsy, soulful music that admittedly probably sounds much better under the influence, Tea Leaf Green are a much see. Already a huge commodity in the un-shaven set, Tea Leaf’s bravura nightcap performance at “The Other Stage,” proved that indie kids might have to stock up on patchouli the next time they roll through Los Angeles."

This author reeks of Darryl Smyers; in the span of a paragraph this dude insulted jam bands, their fans, Jerry, and Tea Leaf Green's inability to break "any new ground" (complete with a standard patchouli joke outro).

Why exactly are all of TLG's fans being sent this article? Just because it says Tea Leaf Green? My $.02...

Internet Radio's Day of Silence

Today is the Internet Radio day of Silence; give 'em some traffic and help support Internet Radio Equality. Here's what else is going on today...

-Michael Franti & Spearhead, Los Lobos, and the John Butler Trio will headline the Taos Solar Music Festival in New Mexico

-the Smashing Pumpkins + Asheville = Smasheville

-spend a day at Bonnaroo with Tea Leaf Green's Josh Clark

-Live Daily reviews Ryan Adams' "Easy Tiger"

-the Verve will reunite for a Winter tour

-Weezer plans to release a new album in early 2007

-Axl Rose fights with fans, this time in Australia

-Nintendo Wiilco?

-and for a sneak-peak at a Bob Marley after-party, check out Hidden Track

Bonnaritis

Well it looks like I'm not the only one out there with the Bonnaritis; nothing's going on out there right now. Here's the best of what I can scrounge up...

-get your Bonnaroo downloads here (thanks to a largeheartedboy)

-a Chicago Tribune article about the increasing prevalence of VIP tickets, areas, bathrooms, etc. (and its corresponding douchiness)

-Roger Waters talks about...wait for it....wait for it...his own greatness...does he still have it? see what Isorki thinks

-someone from Kentucky died at Bonnaroo? (and other thoughts from the Courier-Journal)

-do you live in Michigan (or happen to travel there often?) Go here and stop the ticket tax

-there's a new Tea Leaf Green acoustic Podcast with Tim Carbone

-and if nothing else, download an epic Halley's Comet and have an epic day (or car ride)

Summer Camp: Pre-Party & Day 1

"Welcome to Planet Summer Camp!"

Upon arriving on Thursday night to the 2007 Summer Camp festival two things stood out: it was raining; and there were way less people there than I expected. In fact, it took less total time to get off the highway, get in, and set up at Summer Camp than it did just to get to the Bonnaroo campsite from the highway.

Luckily the people we camped with got there before us, and so we only had to spend a few minutes setting up before running off to Thursday night's Tea Leaf Green show. I'm a big TLG fan and frankly, was a little underwhelmed by their late night set. They played well, threw in a nasty Pink Floyd cover, Bayliss sat in, and the Barn was out of the rain and not as poorly ventilated as I had feared; yet I just felt like there was something missing. Maybe the band was exhausted, but it just seemed like there was a lack of energy (and it wasn't a lack of energy from the crowd).

Set: The Devil's Pay, The Invasion, Don't Curse the Night, The Garden (Part I), The Garden (Part II) > The Garden (Part III), Wet Spot1, Young Lust2, Kali-Yuga, Panspermic De-evolution > If It Wasn't for the Money, Not Human > Dragonfly, Criminal Intent > Trouble > Criminal Intent, Have a Drink on Me3
Encore: Jackson Hole, Sex in the '70s
1w/ Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey's McGee) on guitar, 2Pink Floyd cover, 3AC/DC cover

Friday we awoke to a gorgeous day, (really, perfect festival weather) grabbed our chairs and headed out for ALO.
I've listened to a bunch of ALO but haven't gotten the chance to see them live. After the Tea Leaf show I was tired and my expectations weren't very high; then ALO blew my mind. We showed up around the end of Walls of Jericho, which had been seemingly uneventful. "Girl I Wanna Lay You Down" is an upbeat easy crowd pleaser, and although the majority of the folks at the show were laid back in their fold-up chairs, the song really got the crowd in front moving. "Plastic Bubble" and "BBQ" were fun, silly, and the perfect kind of music for a lazy Friday afternoon. ALO ended on a more serious song that really wrapped the show up nicely, "Maria"

Set: Roses & Clover, Empty Vessel, All Alone, Walls of Jericho, Girl I Wanna Lay You Down, Try, Plastic Bubble, Barbeque, Lady Loop, Do You Like My Pecs?, Maria

We also checked out TLG periodically throughout the afternoon, but the guys were visibly (and understandably) exhausted and just didn't have the same energy as ALO.

Set: I've Got a Feeling1, One Reason, Piss It Away, Ride Together2, Planet of Green Love, Death Cake, Earth and Sky, Franz Hanzerbeak, Cops Took My Weed2, Georgie P, Emma Lee2 > Incandescent Devil2, Lil Hood, Red Ribbons
Encore: I've Got A Truck3, Bouncin' Betty, These Two Chairs
Notes: 1Beatles cover, 2w/ Trevor on harmonica, 3solo Trevor

Next up on the lineup were Keller Williams and his WMD'S. I basically had a mixed reaction: I think that Keller as an artist shines most brightly as a one-man band. Obviously having Droll on the guitar and Sipe on the drums goes a long way towards having a super group; but having a super group doesn't guarantee super music (Temple of the Dog anyone?). Overall it was a fun show; and while the addition of band-mates gives Keller's music more potential in theory, in reality I felt like a Keller solo show would have been a little but more entertaining (maybe I just wanted Keller's dog to come on stage again).

Keller Williams & the WMD'S

Set: Killer Waves, Got No Feathers, People Watching, Apparition, Kiwi and the Apricot, Still Wishing to Course, Pets, We Love You, Ground Score, Life, Santeria, Play This

After Keller we hung around, checked out the scenery, etc. until Umphrey's

Scenery

Crowd Gathering for UM

Umphrey's show the first night was nothing short of fantastic. The show started out with a pretty hoppin' "Miss Tinkle's" and then simmered down before really picking up again with "The Bottom Half" and closing out with "Pay the Snucka". The second set was really where it was at for me. A great "JaJunk," a nasty "Plunger," a special guest appearance by Jennifer Hartswick for "No Ordinary Love," and then back into "JaJunk" to close it all. Sometimes bands end on a softer note (we'll call this the "Wading in the Velvet Sea approach") and sometimes they hold back that one song you've really been waiting to hear until the very end (the "Bruce Springsteen approach"); Umphrey's approach was just to throw every last ounce of themselves into their instruments, leaving the crowd with their jaws on the floor craving more. At the very end of the set Brendan and Jake stood up on something (speakers?) while they played those final riffs and I swear they looked like they were 20 feet tall hovering over the entire crowd; I was in complete awe.

Umphrey's McGee
Set I: Miss Tinkle's Overture, Ocean Billy> Hajimemashite> Eat> Jimmy Stewart> Hajimemashite> Eat, The Bottom Half, Pay the Snucka
Set II: JaJunk> Walletsworth, All Things Ninja, Alex's House> Plunger, Words, No Ordinary Love1> JaJunk
1 Jennifer Hartswick (Vocals) ; Last Played 8/7/2004 (373 Shows)

moe. was next and they were good; but I couldn't help but feel that they were outdone by the younger troubadors from South Bend. The set was one big "Rebubula" sandwich, "Not Coming Down" kept the energy going in the beginning, then I felt like the show lost a little but until "Seat of My Pants" and then picked up until ending back on "Rebubula" and a "Spine of a Dog" encore (the Assembly of Dust appearance was pretty underwhelming). Maybe I was just tired, but at times I really felt bored and like I had seen this show before (maybe because it was basically a combination of 11/24/06 Chicago and 03/01/07 Atlanta). Anyways, it was still entertaining, and moe.'s light show alone made this one worth going to (seriously, probably the best light show I have ever seen). Good show, but not great.


moe.
Set I: Rebubula> Not Coming Down> Wormwood> St. Augustine1> Westerly2> The Pit, Shoot First, Skrunk3, Seat Of My Pants> St. Augustine> Seat Of My Pants> Rebubula
Encore: Spine Of A Dog
1 Nate Wilson on keys
2 Assembly of Dust Band Switch/Segue (Strangefolk song)
3 New moe. song - First time played

(Special thanks to Burning Oak for a ton of good photos collecting and organizing the various 2007 Summer Camp Downloads. Most of these and many more are available to stream or download here. Also thanks to flickr users smittenkitten03, gordonjer, CB61550)

I'll be posting Days 2 & 3 sometime in the near future...

jammin' aMsterDaM Again

*Image copyright Live Music Blog


This year's Jam in the Dam will go down March 16-18 at the Melkweg in Amsterdam. After an awesome 2004 lineup, 2005 left much to be desired. Fortunately, this year there will be five groups performing rather than in previous years where there were only four performers.

Already confirmed to perform Jam in the Dam 2008 are Umphrey's Mcgee, Tea Leaf Green, and Lotus, in addition to two other groups who will be chosen by the fans here.

Clearly of all the shows going on outside of the U.S. this is the one that I would want to be at the most. Whether or not I actually get to go is another story...