Concert Review: Phil & Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends
June 28, 2006
Alltel Pavilion
Raleigh, N.C.
I had seen the Grateful Dead a number of times over the years. I caught "The Other Ones" in Greensboro about 5 years ago, and saw "The Dead" in Charlotte a couple years back.
Each time, the only thing really missing was Jerry Garcia. So, I was interested to see Phil Lesh & Friends, and how they sounded in comparison.
To put it simply, it was different. It's not the Grateful Dead, or even The Dead. Instead of leaning toward spacey jams, the band leans more toward rock and blues.
"Not that there's anything wrong with that," to quote Seinfeld.
The show was high-energy and had the crowd dancing and singing for the duration of their nearly three-hour set. It just wasn't The Dead.
I say this because my most recent show was The Dead featuring Warren Haynes that absolutely tore the roof off in Charlotte a couple years ago. It was enjoyable in its own way, and I'd go again if given the chance. It was good to "scratch the itch."
Most in the crowd didn't mind though - Dancing in the aisles, juggling on the lawn, singing their hearts out.
Dead bassist Lesh was joined on stage by Joan Osborne, Greg Osby, John Molo, Rob Barraco, Barry Sless and Larry Campbell.
That's not to say it wasn't a good show. It took them a little time to get warmed up, but even Lesh noticed the crowd up and moving and singing along through "Tennessee Jed."
"There now," he told the crowd. "That's much better."
"Friend of the Devil" featured Sless on mandolin and was nicely done.
Osborne's vocals were in fine form all night. While she may not have the easy-going tone for some classic Dead tunes, she sure rips apart blues and rock numbers.
She seemed a little off for "Loose Lucy," but I thought she had the power to pull off "Gimme Shelter" to close out the second set.
"The Weight" was a nice way for the band to close out their two-hour-and-45-minute set.
Set list
Set 1
Good Lovin'
Tennessee Jed
Friend of the Devil (into)
Hardest Part
Next Time You See Me
Bertha
Set 2
Loose Lucy>
Bo Diddley>
Shakedown Street
They Love Each Other
Unbroken Chain>
Death Don't Have No Mercy
Gimme Shelter
Encore
The Weight
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:26 AM | Comments (2)
June 27, 2006Heavy Rebel
Looking for something fun to do this weekend?
Why not head to Winston for a bunch of rockabilly?
That's right. The Heavy Rebel Weekend is going on once again.
Non-stop music fun for three days.
Don't like the band on the main stage? Wander to one of the others. There are usually three bands playing at the same time...
You can find more information at www.heavyrebel.net
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 1:14 PM
June 26, 2006This week's new releases (6/27)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Frank Black "Fast Man Raider Man" - I think Frank Black releases solo albums more often than Edwin McCain...
Fatboy Slim "Greatest Hits - Why Try Harder?" - I didn't know he had more than one or two hits...
India.Arie "Testimony Vol. 1" - OK - the period in the middle of her name. Someone explain please?
Journey "Live in Houson 1981" - My "What year is this?" of the week.
As always, the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week are: Creatures, DragonForce, Lady & Bird
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 1:13 PM | Comments (1)
June 24, 2006Concert Review: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
June 23, 2006
Ziggy's
Winston-Salem, N.C.
The joint was jumpin' and the audience was dancing as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy got things swinging in Winston on Friday night.
The Straight 8's set the tone with some rockabilly, getting the crowd warmed up for the headliners.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's hour-and-a-half, high-energy set kept the small crowd entertained for the duration of the evening.
It may have been a tough squeeze to get all nine band members on stage, but they didn't seem to care as the band appeared to enjoy every moment of the set.
Playing the majority of the songs from their self-titled debut, it was like the movie "Swingers" came to life.
15 songs later, most of the crowd was worn out, as young and old danced their way through the night.
I'm not sure if it was the thunder, but there should have been more people out there to enjoy the show.
If you missed the show, you should be kicking yourself in the zoot suit - you missed a good one.
Setlist
Zig Zaggity Woop Woop
Simple Songs
You Know You Wrong
Big Time Operator
Jump With My Baby
Minnie The Moocher
Oh Yeah
King of Swing
Jumpin' Jack
I Wanna Be Like You
You & Me & The Bottle Makes 3 Tonight
Mambo Swing
Go Daddy-O
Encore
Mr. Pinstripe Suit
So-Long-Farewell-Goodby!
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 2:31 PM
June 23, 2006Concert review: Jimbo Mathus
Jimbo Mathus
June 22, 2006
The Flying Anvil
Greensboro, N.C.
It had been quite a while since former Squirrel Nut Zippers frontman Jimbo Mathus had played a show in the Greensboro area.
That may have been evidenced by the small turnout for his show at The Flying Anvil.
It would be sad to think that North Carolina has forgotten one of its best blues guitarists.
Sure, he may have moved to Clarksdale, Miss., a few years ago - though now he calls Memphis, Tenn., home - but for years, Mathus would pack local clubs as he tore the joint up with his smoking Southern blues riffs.
While he may have packed Cafe Europa and the Green Bean a few years ago, he only drew about 30 people to The Anvil.
Those in attendance weren't disappointed. He didn't play anything from his latest acoustic release, "Old School Hot Wings," but he tore through a number of blues songs with his band, Knockdown South.
Laid back, as always, Mathus appeared to have fun from the get go. I would give his bandmates as much credit - though he didn't introduce them, to my knowledge.
Mathus is never one to travel without the best musicians he can find, and those with him on stage last night were as good as any others he's played with.
Though his show ventured into jam-band territory, as the four-piece wandered and riffed over standard blues chords, it was more about the talent than the song.
Mathus' pick-free strumming and down-and-dirty style of guitar got the crowd moving for the duration of the hour-and-a-half set.
Hopefully, next time, more will be there to witness it.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:10 AM
June 22, 2006Concert review: Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band with ALO
June 21, 2006
Alltel Pavilion
Raleigh, N.C.
Having never been to see Dave Matthews Band live before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
I left more than two hours early for the hour-and-15-minute drive, hoping to ensure plenty of time to get there early.
No such luck. As traffic built up just outside of Raleigh, it would last all the way to the exit. Then to the pavilion. Then to the parking lots
One lane for that much traffic once off the interstate was an easy recipe for disaster. By the time I reached the venue, the main parking lots were already full and people were being directed into nearby fields.
By the time my car rolled onto its grassy parking spot, it was more than three hours after I had left home.
A long hike to the pavilion, a long line for will call, a long line to be searched, a long line to the seats - by the time, I sat down, I had approximately two minutes before DMB hit the stage.
I looked over my shoulder to see a massive sea of people covering the lawn. You just had to assume there was, in fact, a lawn. Not a hint of green could be seen.
I heard there were still tickets available on the radio on the way to the show, but I'm not sure where they were for - unless they were selling seats on the roof.
Now, I've been to a lot of concerts over the years. A lot. And I have never seen this many people in one venue before - The lawn was overflowing, the seating section was full.
It would have been nice to see the opener, Animal Liberation Orchestra. ALO hit the stage at 7 p.m., but at that time I was 8 miles from the exit and stuck in traffic.
Yes, it took more than an hour to go about 10 miles. Sitting in my car, I was wishing I was already inside the pavilion, listening to the funky, melodic stylings of ALO, but it was not to be.
I didn't have a prayer. Having listened to ALO's recent album, "Fly Between Falls," the music would have been a perfect "appetizer" for DMB.
It's laid back, with a touch of humor. "Girl I Wanna Lay You Down" has been on the airwaves and it would have been nice to catch it live. ALO gives the impression that their live show is better than the studio version. I'll have to wait for another day to find out if that's true.
DMB hit the stage around 8:35 p.m. for what would be a two-and-a-half hour set.
It was a show for the true fans, and not a greatest hits show by any means.
Opening with "One Sweet World," the crowd was on its feet from the moment Matthews walked out on stage and picked up his acoustic guitar.
Dressed in a black t-shirt and blue jeans, Matthews bounced around the stage from time to time, appearing to enjoy every minute of the performance. His laid-back demeanor was no surprise, but his inaudible comments to the audience were.
The sound all night was fantastic - not too loud, and clear enough to hear most vocals. However, between songs, Matthews would sometimes address the crowd, but you'd only hear mumbling.
"I think he said something about the Hurricanes..." or "I heard 'Thanks,' but I'm not sure what else he said.." were some of the comments around me.
Being two days after the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, it's no surprise that the loudest applause of the night came when drummer Carter Beauford was shown wearing a Canes jersey.
The band was in fine form for "Drive In Drive Out" and "Two Step" - both of which contained extended jams. The latter was the encore closer.
Jams were the standard on the night, as Matthews and violinist Boyd Tinsley often stalked the stage, staring at each other and grooving in the rhythm of the song.
The band was also joined on stage all night by Yerba Buena/Soulive trumpet player Rashawn Ross. He added a nice compliment to the band's horn section.
Smiles on the faces of those in the band and in the crowd, it was a show that appeared to truly enjoy.
The show's encore opened with a new song, "Sister," which was performed solo by Matthews on guitar with a New York City skyline on the screens behind him.
Overall, it was a long energetic set that completely wiped out the stress of the three-hour car ride and lines of traffic and people from my mind.
Sure, I could list 20 songs I would have loved to have heard last night, but I wasn't disappointed. Maybe I'll scratch some of those 20 off my list the next time around.
Setlist:
One Sweet World
Pig
Grey Street
Where Are You Going
Joy Ride
Big Eyed Fish
Bartender
So Much To Say - into
Too Much
Dancing Nancies - into
Drive In Drive Out
Hunger For The Great Light
Break Free
Louisiana Bayou
Stay
Encore:
Sister (Dave Solo)
American Baby Intro - into
Two Step
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 1:31 AM
June 21, 2006Concert week begins
It's concert week...And you can expect a few reviews.
Tonight - Dave Matthews Band with Animal Liberation Orchestra in Raleigh
Thursday - Former Squirrel Nut Zippers singer Jimbo Mathus will perform at the Flying Anvil in Greensboro. Expect southern-fried blues that'll knock your socks off. His new album is old-school acoustic blues.
Friday - It's swinging at Ziggy's with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Go Daddy-o!
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 11:13 AM
June 20, 2006Brickell is back
Remember Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians?
"What I am, is what I am, are you what you are, or what?"
She had a couple of hits in the 90s and then disappeared after marrying Paul Simon. Yes, THAT Paul Simon.
Now, Edie and the New Bohemians are back. They're releasing their first album in more than 15 years.
You can check out two of the new songs here.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:33 AM
June 19, 2006This week's new releases (6/20)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Counting Crows "New Amsterdam - Live at Heineken Music Hall February 4-6 2003" - Couldn't they have just said, "Live"?
Keane "Under the Iron Sea" - They've got a TV commercial on all the time, but I still couldn't tell you anything about them.
Nelly Furtado "Loose" - She's gone the way of the dance music on her latest effort and her first single is all over the radio...
Smokey Robinson "Timeless Love" - What year is this? Version 1.
Diana Ross "Blue" - Version 2.
As usual, the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week are: Counting Crows
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:16 AM
June 15, 2006CD Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers "Stadium Arcadium"
Release date: May 9, 2006
2 CDs - 28 tracks; 62:37, 59:57
There are almost two ways to review a Red Hot Chili Peppers CD - or any band that has had a long career.
You could review the CD as an independent piece of work, or you could compare it to the band's previous catalog.
For "Stadium Arcadium" - if you compare it to earlier works such as "Freaky Styley" or "Mother's Milk," the album is weak. It lacks the energy and funk of those earlier efforts.
If you compare it to "Californication" and other later works, it fits right in.
On it's own, the album is fantastic. It's well-crafted, well-written and stands on its own. It shows a mature version of the band that was once known for wearing nothing but socks on stage - and not on their feet.
"Stadium Arcadium" contains two discs and just over two hours of music on 28 tracks.
The first single "Dani California" isn't bad, but it does grow old after a while - probably because it's overplayed on the airwaves and television.
Skip past it, and the album simply cruises along - the funky "Charlie" and "Hump de Bump" to the mellow "Slow Cheetah."
You won't find a "Give It Away" or "Higher Ground" on this album, but you'll find some solid Chili Peppers music.
The more I listen to the albums, the more they grow on me and become more enjoyable. Both albums are pretty balanced between the funky and mellow.
I've been fighting the kinder, gentler Chili Peppers ever since the days of "Under the Bridge." I remember going to Lollapalooza the second year and watching people throw objects at the band and start mosh pits during that song to try and get the band to stop.
I guess in some ways, that was the beginning of the end for the hardcore funk of the band.
They've still got some edge to them, however.
Flea's bass playing and John Frusciante's guitar are still at their peak levels of performance.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 6:37 AM
June 14, 2006Beach Boys reunite
There's an entertaining story on cnn.com about the Beach Boys reuniting on top of the Capitol Records building in Hollywood.
It's not the story that they reunited that makes it entertaining, it's the quotes.
Founding member Al Jardine is quoted as saying, "It's always good to do this while we're living."
When asked if they've buried the hatchet, founding member Mike Love pointed to his back and said, "The hatchets are right here."
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 2:34 PM
June 12, 2006This week's new releases (June 13)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Billy Joel "12 Gardens Live" - I had no idea he was releasing a live album. Actually, I had no idea he was still touring...
Barry Manilow "Live" - My "What year is this?" of the week.
Busta Rhymes "The Big Bang" - I'm still in shock that Busta buzzed off his dreads.
Taylor Hicks "Do I Make You Proud" - The American Idol winner releases his first single. Luckily, "Takin' it to the Streets" is included. That single is pretty weak and needs a boost.
As always, the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week: Blue Dogs
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:05 AM
June 10, 2006Concert Review: Nine Inch Nails/Bauhaus
Nine Inch Nails with Bauhaus
June 9, 2006
Alltel Pavilion
Raleigh, N.C.
Black clothes were out in full force at Raleigh's Alltel Pavilion on Friday, as Nine Inch Nails stormed into town.
Openers TV on the Radio (I'll admit that I missed them) and Bauhaus got things warmed up.
Bauhaus could be considered the "O.G.'s" of the night - as in "Original Goth."
Looking like the Vampire Lestat, singer Peter Murphy paced the stage and played with his own imagery as the band performed.
Though they broke up in the 1980s, the band has made sporadic appearances together before their coming together in the fall for a full-fledged tour.
During the hiatus, Murphy had a successful solo career, while the rest of the band formed Love and Rockets.
There was a strange combination of daylight and Bauhaus music - seeing as the band has a gothic following - but those in the crowd who knew the music, loved the sight of the band back together.
They played a number of their fan favorites such as "She's in Parties" and the closer, "Bela Lugosi's Dead."
Murphy stalked the stage, at one point playing with the lights shining up into his face, and at another bending at the waist and flapping his arms like a bird.
The band's hour-long set was quite mellow compared to the aural assualt that would follow.
Nine Inch Nails hit the stage with little warning for their hour-and-a-half set.
The house lights were on, there was crew on stage and suddenly Trent Reznor walks forward and starts singing the first words of "Somewhat Damaged."
The lights dropped and the stage lit up as the band tore into their set.
Surprisingly, they played five songs from their first album, "Pretty Hate Machine," but no one left disappointed. There was something for everyone in the 21-song set, including two songs from the "Broken" EP.
Reznor didn't address the crowd much, other to say "Thanks." At one moment late in the set, he recalled going to see Depeche Mode in Ohio. "I pointed and said, 'That's going to be me one day,'" Reznor told the crowd.
Dressed in a black t-shirt, black shorts and black boots, Reznor was fully charged for the duration - jumping, stomping feet and launching water bottles into the crowd.
There were even a few slow songs that offered as much emotion as the hardcore.
"Something I Can Never Have" and "Hurt" - two of the band's most heart-felt songs - were as powerful as ever.
Reznor stood at a keyboard with a single spotlight shining down as he performed "Hurt." Images of Johnny Cash - who covered the song shortly before his death - shot through my mind.
As energetic as the entire band was, the lighting was nearly as entertaining - spotlights ten feet above the band's heads, a metal screen that sometimes lit up in front of the band, a large video screen in the back echoing lights off the front.
This was the third time I've seen NIN live - once at the first Lollapalooza, once during The Fragile tour and then tonight. This was easily at the top of the list.
The set played like a greatest hits list and had the crowd on its feet for the entire night - a great way to kick off the summer concert season.
Here's the Nine Inch Nails set list from tonight:
1. Somewhat Damaged
2. You Know What You Are
3. Sin
4. Terrible Lie
5. March of the Pigs
6. Something I Can Never Have
7. Closer
8. Burn
9. Gave Up
10. Help Me I Am In Hell
11. Non Entity
12. Only
13. Wish
14. La Mer
15. Into the Void
16. Suck
17. Get Down Make Love
18. Down In It
19. Hurt
20. Hand that Feeds
21. Head Like A Hole
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 12:38 AM | Comments (8)
June 7, 2006Want to sell more tickets? Lower the price
OK, I think I've gone over this before, but it's getting ridiculous.
The Dixie Chicks are struggling to sell a lot of tickets in Southern markets.
It happens all the time. Some band heads out on tour and they think the sales will be huge, only to have the box office numbers come in smaller.
Want some advice? Lower the cost.
Tickets for the Dixie Chicks concert in Tennessee, where they are struggling to sell, are $47 and $65.
That's outrageous. Then you have to pay $10 to park. $5 for a beer. $25 for a t-shirt. And you probably already paid $15 for the CD. Oh, and don't forget the extra $5 that ticketmaster will charge.
I remember when concerts were $20, maybe $25 and they would sell out - all the time! People would sleep in cars overnight at a ticketmaster venue to buy tickets.
Now you want people to pay two or three times as much? For what? It's not like the band is playing for two or three times as long as they used to.
I've been to concerts where the band played for 45 minutes, yet charged $20 to get in.
Bands should feel bad that their fans can't afford it, instead of thinking it's always about them.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 4:25 PM
June 5, 2006This week's new releases (6/6)
Here's a look at some of the new releases for this week:
AFI "Decemberunderground" - Their first single sounds a lot like the Beatsteaks - a band from Europe - but I like it. I'm curious to hear the rest.
Ice Cube "Laugh Now, Cry Later" - Ice Cube's latest effort is 20 tracks that try to prove he can still rap, and is not just an actor these days. I can't evern remember the last time he had a decent single. It's called spreading yourself too thin...
Live "Songs from Black Mountain" - People might not have known the band was still performing if they didn't see them on TV with Chris Daughtry at the "American Idol" finale. ASide from performing, they're apparently recording new music, too...
Bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week: Laughing Hyenas, Hot Tuna, Kottonmouth Kings, Ladyhawk, Metallic Falcons,
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 7:57 AM
June 3, 2006Daughtry rocks the Triad
Photo by Jeff Hahne
Chris Daughtry made his long-awaited homecoming appearances today in the Triad, showing up first in the small town of McLeansville, and then performing with his band, Absent Element, in Greensboro.
Let me first say that Daughtry's live performances were heart-felt, intense and demonstrated some serious vocal power.
I'll admit that I often complained about the vibrato that could be heard on the show, but I didn't hear it at all during the live performances today.
He performed two songs acoustically in McLeansville, including "Dead or Alive," and performed for approximately 30-45 minutes with his band in Greensboro - mostly original songs.
It was worth the wait for many fans - some of whom drove from as far as Florida and Ohio.
At the McLeansville ceremony, Daughtry and his family were given a handful of presents, including a brand-new Harley Davidson motorcycle, a few iPods, a trip to Cancun and a number of "I (heart) McLeansville" t-shirts.
The Greensboro event saw Daughtry get a few honorary titles and certificates from local and state dignitaries and politicians.
He'll be back on the Idol Tour in July, but it probably wont' have the heavy edge that his performances today showed.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 4:45 PM
June 1, 2006Daughtry returns
If you haven't already heard, Chris Daughtry's homecoming is scheduled for Saturday.
He'll be at the McLeansville Shopping Center from 10 to noon and then performing with his band, Absent Element, from 2-4 at Grimsley High School.
They are also selling t-shirts for the event at the shopping center. The store will be open until midnight tonight for presales of the shirts. I believe they cost $12 today and $15 tomorrow.
At the morning event, Daughtry is expected to thank fans for their support, talk with children about "keeping their dreams alive" and answering some audience questions.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 12:27 PM
