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Kung Fu/Twiddle, 4/16/2015 – Atlanta, GA

Kung Fu/Twiddle ~ April 16th, 2015 ~ Terminal West @ King Plow ~ Atlanta, GA

Twiddle

Twiddle

New Haven funk-masters, Kung Fu, are hitting the road this spring. To get the tour to cruising altitude as quickly as possible, they have teamed up with Twiddle right from the start calling it the Dirty Dozen tour. The first leg of the tour started in Buffalo, NY and will end in Atlanta on April 16th for a total of 13 shows.

After a slight break and a show to keep the residents of CT from growing restless, Kung Fu ventures down to New Orleans for none other than, Jazz Fest 2015 (April 29-May 2). After performing six shows at Jazz Fest, they will return to the northeast by way of Arkansas. Also, be on the lookout for Kung Fu in CO in mid-June for the Lohi Music Festival.

Kung Fu guitarist, Tim Palmieri, was recently featured on XM Radio station JamOn (XM29) and has played alongside artists such as Moe, Umphrey’s McGee, Tea Leaf Green and even, Mike Gordon from Phish. All members of Kung Fu are masters of their instruments and get things moving from the first note! Twiddle hails from Vermont and their shows are jam packed with improvisation spanning many genres. According to social media, the Twiddle and Kung Fu are cutting a musical swath of destruction only paralleled by Mother Nature herself! Jump on and enjoy the ride!

Terminal West at King Plow is a top venue in Atlanta but often sells out. If you wait to get your ticket at the door, chances are you will be left high and dry…get yours now here!

Shakey Graves with special guest Nikki Lane |Old National Centre | Indianapolis, Indiana | April 3, 2015

Written by: Tony Vasquez

Photography by: Vasquez Photography

Photo Gallery: Shakey Graves with Special Guest Nikki Lane

PB1A6509jmplrIt’s Friday night in Indianapolis, Indiana on the weekend of the NCAA Men’s Final Four Tournament. There is a plethora of events to attend, and the Shakey Graves show, at the Deluxe at the Old National Centre is sold out. The crowd is packed in and filled with chatter in anticipation of the show. I’m really excited to see Shakey Graves for the first time, and little did I know how pleasantly surprised I would be by the opening act Nikki Lane.

Tonight is the last night of the tour for the opening band Nikki Lane. The band reigning from Nashville showcased a strong nostalgic country influence with a subtle influence of catchy rock hooks. Lane worked with The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach who produced their sophomore release, All Or Nothin.’ Their sound is comprised of Nikki on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, a lead guitarist, a pedal steel player, a bass player, and a drummer.

KV7A1767jmplrOne tune that really stood out to me from their set was “Seein’ Double.” The song is filled with surf guitars, and a beautiful whining pedal steel. The fast paced tempo contrasts with her laid back vocals. It is definitely one of my favorite songs from their set.

With their closing song “Right Time” the band delivers a high-energy ending. The crowd feeds off it, and begins clapping along with Nikki’s encouragement. With the line, “If you’re looking for a good time you and me will get on just fine,” the song is a perfect ending to their set.

KV7A2002jmplrAlejandro Rose-Garcia aka Shakey Graves comes onto the stage. Starting off the set as a one-man band with just a guitar and suitcase drum. He proceeds to blend an original sound of alt- folk with elements of blues and country, as well as pop melodies.

One of my personal favorite tracks, “Family and Genus” off the latest release, And The War Came, is the second song of their set. The rest of Shakey’s band, a drummer and a guitar player, take the stage. Shakey continues his double duties this time on guitar and keyboards for this moody tune.

Throughout the night the band on stage varied from a solo performer, to a trio, and even on one tune with just Shakey and the drummer on “If Not for You.” For the entire night the stage was washed in a colorful haze with the drummer disappearing at times in the smoke during the concert. The night flew by with some banter from Shakey Graves’ front man, but he mostly kept the tunes coming despite lots of chatter from the crowd. He continued to play his amazing songs with passion and a drive that was hard not to get sucked into. A few tracks that stuck out to me included “House Of Winston” and “Pansy Waltz,” both of which can be found on the latest album And the War Came.

KV7A2100jmplrThey started the encore off with the fast paced “Late July,” and it got the entire crowd cheering and engaged. Then they brought out Nikki Lang for the last song, and they capped off the night with the song “Call It Heaven.”

I would recommend getting tickets early if they come to your town since most of their shows this month are already sold out. You can find more ticket info at: http://www.shakeygraves.com/tour/

Umphrey’s McGee – The London Session

 RELEASES THIS TUESDAY, APRIL 7th, 2015!!

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In June 2014, just following the release of their acclaimed eighth studio album Similar Skin and a triumphant set on the main stage at Bonnaroo, Umphrey’s McGee was headed to London for a three night stand at the city’s new Brooklyn Bowl. On a whim prior to the trip, they decided to just see if the legendary studio might be free. With a single 12-hour window available, it seemed the ideal opportunity to try something long discussed–to take some live songs into the studio for the first time and try out new arrangements with fan favorites. With one brand new song and an appropriate cover of “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” to bookend the proceedings; the band entered the revered space on the morning of June 18th to record their ninth studio album, and second full length release on their own label Nothing Too Fancy Music. (Track listing below)

Umphrey’s tracked all of the music live over the next 12 hours, with vocals and a handful of overdubs completed upon their stateside return in Chicago and Los Angeles. Four tracks; “Eat,” “Plunger,” “Out Of Order” and “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”, were recorded in a single take, from top to bottom. Fans of the band will be thrilled with the offering and those unfamiliar are sure to be impressed by the miraculous feat of recording 10 tracks of such high quality in such a short time.

Umphrey’s McGee – The London Session Track Listing:

North Side “Bad Friday”! ,“Rocker Part 2” ,“No Diablo”! ,“Cut The Cable”!

South Side “Out Of Order”+ ,“Glory” ,“Plunger”+

East Side “Comma Later” ,“Eat”+ ,“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”+

West Side “In The Kitchen”#

! First time ever recorded

+ Recorded in a single take

# Live from the Brooklyn Bowl London, 6/19/14

! Acoustic versions

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Umphrey’s Mcgee is

Brendan Bayliss: Guitar, vocals
Jake Cinninger: Guitar, vocals
Joel Cummins: Keyboard, piano, vocals
Ryan Stasik: Bass
Kris Myers: Drums, vocals

**Cover photo by Chris Monoghan

**Content Photos by Keith Griner

Suwannee Springest 2015: A Recap

DSC_4414The 19th annual Suwannee Springfest was an amazing weekend like it has always been.  It is one of those festivals that becomes a yearly tradition for many who have attended, a festival where children have been raised and have grown up, going every year with their families. The musicianship and talent offered at Springfest makes it one of the premier festivals of its kind.  There are four stages; the first night all the shows were in the amphitheater which is natural and dotted with mossy oaks and hammocks and creates a truly magical feeling.  The headliner show was two of bluegrass’s greatest living legends playing together, David Grisman and Del McCoury, which was incredible to see live. They chose to play a set of songs that included many they don`t play very often; for example, “Country Boy Rock & Roll”, “Nine Pound Hammer” and “I`m my own Grandpa”.  Being Thursday it felt like a very intimate show and was an honor to hear them on stage together. Fruition had the next show; they had never played the park before and I was excited to see them because they are an Oregon band I`ve only heard but never seen. And they were bringing it! They had the crowd moving and you could tell they were having a great time on stage.

DSC_4319This is one of the best things about Springfest: if you’re open to discovering new music and listening to a band you may never have heard of, this is one of the best festivals to discover upcoming talent, both regional and national.  Another thing that separates Springfest from so many other festivals is the amount of collaboration between artists that occurs.  Many times artists have never met, and the next thing you know they are jamming onstage together, which is great because you never know who you might get to see playing together. The Larry Keel Experience was definitely a highlight of the weekend, with Jeff Austin, Keller Williams and so many more; I believe I counted 102 strings on stage at one point, and it truly blew me away.  Springfest is a Bluegrass/Americana music festival but also has elements of a Jamband fest which makes the camping experience different than any other festival I have been to. Instead of late night drum circles or folks playing the radio at their campsites, there are places like Slopryland and the Bill Monroe shrine where it is a pick-a-thon all night. Many of the attendees are musicians and many of the musicians make it a point to come out and join in the pickin’ circles. Where else can you get the chance to see Larry Keel, Keller Williams, or the McCourys pickin` around a camp fire with complete strangers?  Not only does just about every campsite have someone with an instrument, this is also a festival with music workshops on all the traditional bluegrass instruments and even songwriting.  The Park is set up perfectly, with easy access to the stages no matter where you camped, clean “real” bathrooms, and shower facilities.  This is not one of those fests they throw in a field and happens once or twice; Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is run professionally and it is clear why it is rated as one of the top outdoor music venues in the country.

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Friday was a full day of music with The Wood Brothers and John Hiatt headlining for the night.  The Wood Brothers are such talented musicians! They have their own unique sound; it was great to have them at Springfest, and I hope they will return. You could tell the whole crowd really loved their set when, even though it started raining at the end of it, people stuck it out.  By the time John Hiatt came on, which was only thirty minutes after The Wood Brothers set, the rain had passed.  John Hiatt was one of those shows where you don`t talk much; he is such a great songwriter his songs just captivate you, and you catch yourself listening to every word.  The Duhks closed out the night with a late night set and really got the crowd moving.  Saturday was another day packed with wonderful music: Hot Rize, Lucinda Williams, Donna the Buffalo, The Infamous Stringdusters and Keller with the Traveling McCourys and Jeff Austin were the main shows of the day.  The weather was perfect, not too hot, and every show was really truly DSC_3972good, with the sound absolutely on point.  Lucinda Williams played a hell a of a blues show and rocked the house. The Infamous Stringdusters had everyone out of their chairs and dancing; and being a West Coast band, it was the first time a lot of people at the fest had seen them. They definitely gained some more fans in the Southeast. Keller with the Traveling McCourys and Jeff Austin was perfect for that time slot between the Grateful Dead covers, and playing Pumped up Kicks had everyone ready for a fun Saturday night.  Sunday was like Springfest always is, with gospel early, and The Blind Boys of Alabama were soul moving. As always Donna the Buffalo closed out the fest with a great set.  So if handmade music and honest- to-God good people are what you’re looking for in a festival experience, Springfest is it.

 

Photo Gallery By Joey Pye

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Delta Spirit with Avid Dancer | The Vogue | Indianapolis, Indiana | March 25,2015

Written by: Jeremy Carie

Photography by: Tony Vasquez of Vasquez Photography

Photo Gallery: Delta Spirit

Avid Dancer March 25, 2015 at The Vogue in Indianapolis, IN.It was a rainy and chilly Wednesday evening when Delta Spirit and Avid Dancer graced us with their presence at The Vogue in Indianapolis, IN. The smaller crowd gave the show a great intimate feeling, and the opening band filled the air with energy.

First up was Avid Dancer, a three-piece band from Los Angeles, California. With a nice blend of 80s new wave and garage rock, their sound was fresh to our ears. With vocals very reminiscent of Morrissey and enough echo on his guitar to drown the venue, lead singer Jacob Summers nailed it.

KV7A1636JMPlrOpening the show with All She Ever Wanted, by far the bands best and catchiest tune, they were on from the first strum of the guitar. On tracks like Stop Playing With My Heart and I Wanna See You Dance, the Morrissey-esque vocals really came through. The only thing lacking was that sweet groove a bass player provides, but all in all they were fun to watch and most definitely a band I’d want to catch again if they come back to Indy.

Delta Spirit, hailing from Brooklyn, New York by way of Southern California, was up next. Lead singer and guitarist, Matt Vasquez, expressed his happiness for being back in Indy after they were “rained out” last time. Vasquez’s unique vocals were filled with a raw emotion that captivated the crowd and fed the connection between the band and the audience throughout the evening.

They opened with Patriarch from their latest release ‘Into The Wide’, which set the high spirited tone for the rest of the evening. They played a well balanced mix from their albums. With lead guitarist, William Mclaren tearing through the second song Bushwick Blues and bass player, Jonathan Jameson laying down awesome grooves with an infectious energy, it was obvious that the band was really on top of their game that night.

TKV7A1708JMPLRhe current spring tour for their latest release ‘Into The Wide’ still has several stops before they will be appearing at Lollapalooza in Chicago this summer. Check out their website http://deltaspirit.net/tour to see if they will be playing near you.

Set list: Patriarch, Bushwick Blues, From Now On, Live On, Parade, Hold My End Up, Into The Wide, People C’mon, Take Shelter, Yamaha, Empty House, Language, Children, White Table Encore: Trashcan, California

 

Mobile AeroFest – Brookley Aeroplex – Mobile, AL – March 20-21, 2015

written by Rosemary A.W. Roberts

Mobile Aerofest - 3-20-2015 - Camera 1-9

Every music enthusiast loves a great music festival, as the chance to see multiple favorite bands is coupled with the opportunity to check out intriguing unfamiliar bands, all in the span of one location and weekend. With the addition of a visual arts element and a culinary arts element, a festival becomes a multi-sensory experience that invigorates the spirit. If you then mix in a bit of physical activity and sports exercise, the mind-body connection is complete. And when the unifying theme of the weekend is honoring our nation’s Veterans and Wounded Warriors, now you’re holding a celebration “For All The Right Reasons”.

Mobile Aerofest - 3-21-2015 - Camera 1-1

Introducing the inaugural Mobile AeroFest, a multi-faceted festival event that is unique in its mission and its offerings. The two-day festival celebrating the true heroes of our nation was held on the grounds of Brookley Aeroplex, the fully functional general aviation airport in the industrial complex of Mobile which will soon include a new Airbus assembly plant. The massive grounds easily accommodated four music stages, plenty of space for Arts & Crafts displays, a CrossFit challenge course, several food trucks in addition to standard festival food vendors, and a Kids’ Zone. There was an Army medical/surgical tent set up that you could walk through to get a demonstration of what injured soldiers encounter on the battlefield. Inside one of the hangars was a Medal of Honor Exhibit of Valor, an exhibition of Hero Games with adapted sports that accommodate disabled athletes, and a career and education expo to help Veterans network future opportunities. A HERO Foundation www.aherousa.com was raffling off a Mobile Aerofest - 3-20-2015 - Camera 1-21chopper, while helping raise awareness of the plight so many Veterans face after returning from war; since 9/11/2001 there have been over 6,000 warriors killed in combat, and a staggering 90,000 tragically lost to suicide. Our service men and women sacrifice so much defending our freedom, and it was inspirational to have Mobile Aerofest provide a venue to celebrate them and thank them for their service.

And what a way to celebrate! The music lineup was absolutely phenomenal throughout, with local and national acts putting forth superb performances sure to please a wide variety of musical tastes. Friday afternoon was sunny and breezy and included Mobile’s beloved Lisa Mills with her gorgeous voice, Hotel Oscar rockin’ out righteously, the Soul Rebels from New Orleans with their big horns and huge sound, and Rosco Bandana bringing cool styles and tunes from Gulfport, MS. Even though the sun began to set, the main stage absolutely heated up when Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe came on. Looking sharp in their suits, they started things right with Jimi Hendrix’s “Power To Love”, and kept the intensity and musicianship high through their set. The new tunes “Monkstrap” and “When I Get Home” were awesome, with blistering guitars, and Karl Denson showing his prowess with both saxophone and flute. Hearing the band nail Traffic’s fun instrumental “Glad” was a treat that had everyone dancing and smiling.

Next up was New Orleans powerhouse funk masters Dumpstaphunk doing what they do best, Mobile Aerofest - 3-20-2015 - Camera 1-41inciting a groovy dance party, opening with “In This World” and bringing out the horn section from Naughty Professor for “I Know You Know”. Chicago-based band The Heard earned rave reviews, and Mobile fan favorite Ryan Balthrop and Friends were soulful and fun, with the giant American Flag a perfect backdrop for these good ol’ American rockers. Robert Randolph and the Family Band gave a lively performance and kept the party vibe going as the night moved on. Friday night headliners Dawes gave their all on the main stage, with pristine sound and rousing stage presence. The bonus was realizing that Duane Betts of Allman Brothers Band legacy (his father is Dickey Betts) was making his debut guitar performance with Dawes; he sounded right at home with their vintage-sounding folk rock.

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AeroFest endeavored to establish a distinctive persona with two huge athletic events spanning Friday night and Saturday morning. With great excitement, Friday night featured a Titan FC Mixed Martial Arts championship battle, with fourteen bouts, including four CBS televised title fights. The fight cage was set up in one of the hangars, and a sizeable crowd assembled to watch the fighters compete under the bright lights. On Saturday morning, bicycle enthusiasts of different skill and ability levels participated in the Independence Ride, celebrating the freedom to ride with four different length courses. Riders who were in for the long haul began in Bayou La Batre, AL for a 48-mile or 38-mile trek; there were also an 18-mile and 12-mile journey available; all of the rides ended at Mobile Aeroplex on the grounds of the festival. The Independence Fund www.independencefund.org helped put the event together, allowing Veterans and civilians the chance to ride like the wind.

Mobile Aerofest - 3-20-2015 - Camera 2-8The music continued on Saturday with a full lineup of bands catering to all. Lee Baines and the Glory Fires brought some mighty hard rock to the party, and New York-based Steve Gunn provided a lyrical style of danceable rock that all enjoyed. New Orleans dance trancers Gravity A clearly have an electronica base, but it’s their jazz element that sets them in a deliciously different groove. Local Mobile blues rockers Johnny No are high energy thrillers, and Matthew Curry’s set was a hard rockin’ good time. A really special treat was seeing renowned actor and talented bass player Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band! Gary Sinise has been a steadfast supporter of our nation’s service men and women for numerous years, and his Foundation www.garysinisefoundation.org helped sponsor AeroFest. The Lt. Dan Band is a group of talented musicians and singers who fill the stage with lively renditions of a wide variety of great songs. From Christopher Cross’s “Ride Like The Wind” to big-band swinging “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”, from Stevie Wonder to Michael Jackson, and a smoldering version of Charlie Daniels Band’s “Devil Went Down to Georgia”, the Lt. Dan Band had the Mobile Aerofest - 3-21-2015 - Camera 1-30crowd rockin’ and rolling. And when Gary Sinise asked all the Veterans in the crowd to raise their hands, it was inspirational to see how many brave men and women heroes were in the crowd, and it was awesome to be able to give them a round of applause and thank them for their service.

Progressing to the second stage, the good time vibe of New Orleans’ Honey Island Swamp Band made us dance and swing with their cleverly crafted songs like “Black and Blue”, “Cast the First Stone”, and “Prodigal Son”. They also did a great version of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”, and their set concluded with one of my favorites, “Cane Sugar”. A bit later as full Mobile Aerofest - 3-21-2015 - Camera 1-59darkness set in, the crowd was treated to a fantastic set of transcendent reggae rap from Matisyahu. It was easy to let loose and allow his peacefully intense music to take hold. At the end of his set, Matisyahu invited crowd members onstage to dance with joy and “One Love”; amongst them was a service woman in camouflage fatigues, and he held her hand triumphantly aloft thanking her for her service. The Zydeco sounds of the Lost Bayou Ramblers floated across the runways, before DJ Sinister began warming up the crowd with some mixed up country-pop-rock to get prepared for Saturday night’s headliners. When the party goers were sufficiently primed, on came Big & Rich, with some big stage presence and some rich-sounding guitars to country-rock the night away. The crowd sang and danced along, enjoying every bit of their fun, action-packed set.

Mobile Aerofest - 3-21-2015 - Camera 1-76It was quite impressive to witness this first attempt at Mobile’s AeroFest, a major undertaking on so many levels. The venue is an awesome place for this type of multi-dimensional event. The activities were extensive, the music and sound staging was top-notch, and the uniqueness of hosting Titan FC fights and an Independence Ride really set AeroFest apart as something different. However, the most inspirational aspect of AeroFest is the Mobile Aerofest - 3-21-2015 - Camera 1-128fact that it was all done with the purpose of honoring and celebrating the true Heroes of our nation, the men and women who offer to sacrifice everything to defend our country and our freedom. Our thanks and appreciation goes out to all the active military and veterans: you truly gave Mobilians a reason to celebrate “For All the Right Reasons”. And if you live on the Gulf Coast, or even further away, and you didn’t make it to this inaugural AeroFest, be on the lookout for it to return in the Spring of 2016, and make plans to attend! This is definitely an event that deserves a successful and bright future here in Mobile!

 

MORE PHOTOS OF MOBILE AEROFEST 2015 BELOW

 

 

Shaky Knees 2015: Third Time’s a Charm

written by: Brad Lee

sk15-poster_dailybreakdown_webAfter two years of widely acclaimed success, Atlanta’s Shaky Knees festival returns in its third incarnation May 8-10.  The inaugural event in 2013 covered a lot of ground both musically and geographically, taking place at the Historic Fourth Ward Park and Masquerade Music Park.  Last year’s festival moved to midtown Atlanta’s premiere outdoor shopping mall, Atlantic Station.  This year will mark a homecoming of sorts as the festival moves to Central Park, located within the Fourth Ward parameters and close enough to be paying an homage to the festival’s original stomping ground.

What sets Shaky Knees apart from every other festival in the country and incidentally has everyone all abuzz, is that it stays true to its roots.  Founded on the spirit of indie and alternative rock, the festival makes no effort to sell out to the corporate entities that so saturate today’s music festival scene.  That is not to say that the event lacks sponsorship, but compared to the Bonarroo’s and Coachella’s of the world, Shaky Knees’ list of sponsors is rather short in comparison and predominantly local, just like the food trucks that will nourish the festival.  This dedication to vision is very apparent in the line-up, which similar to years prior is nothing short of jaw-dropping.

A defining characteristic in the Shaky Knees line-up is the representation of multiple generations of indie/alt rockers.  Friday’s schedule is jam-packed full of delicacies with a headlining performance from The Strokes.  This marks one of only two American performances on the band’s schedule so far this year.  If that little factoid isn’t enough to wet your beak, The Strokes are preceded by Pixies, who personify the spirit of independent alternative rock through a legendary career spanning from the mid 80’s.  Other supporting acts for Day 1 of Shaky Knees include TV On The Radio, Mastodon, Manchester Orchestra, Tennis, and Mac Demarco to name a few.

Saturday’s festivities will also provide a wealth of diversity with a headlining gig from The Avett Brothers, showcasing the folksier side of rock.  The Avetts are immediately supported by Wilco who will undoubtedly compliment the headliners with their unique blend of alt-country and Beatles-esque rock/pop.  Some other guaranteed highlights from Saturday’s lineup include Neutral Milk Hotel, Flogging Molly, Social Distortion, Real Estate, ZZ Ward, Built To Spill, and Atlanta’s own The Black Lips.  Another name that is sure to instill a welcomed sense of 90’s nostalgia is none other than Noel Gallagher, whose band Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will be championing their latest release Chasing Yesterday.

The final day of the festival is bound to deliver.  Aussie psych-rockers Tame Impala will close out the festival after recently dropping Let It Happen, their first single in over two years.  Impala fans have been starving for some new material and their latest release is one of epic proportions, clocking in at just under eight minutes.  Other Sunday acts that are sure to entice festival-goers include Ryan Adams, Dr. Dog, Panda Bear, Heartless Bastards, Best Coast, and The Sheepdogs.  If this lineup weren’t enough to have Atlantans counting down the days until May, Shaky Knees recently announced the addition of Ride to Sunday’s lineup, legendary British shoegazers who have reunited for a handful of North American dates.  Not only will Ride participate in what is sure to be the best Sunday Funday of the year, but they have also signed on to play a late-night set Friday night at Terminal West.  The late-night sets have proven a signature characteristic unique to Shaky Knees in that even after the festival site shuts down each day, there is still plenty of music to be heard in various clubs around Atlanta. shaky knees late night

6th Annual Aura Music Festival 2015

All photography by  Joey Pye, Staged Right Photography and Design

Drive By Truckers~3-7-2015~Hal and Mal’s

All photography courtesy of Chad Edwards, MCE Photography

JJ Grey & Mofro | The London Souls ~ Vogue ~ Indianapolis, IN ~ February 26, 2015

Written by: Zen Wild

Photography by: Tony Vasquez of Vasquez Photography

Photo Gallery: JJ Grey & Mofro

pb1a4225lrjmpWe enter The Vogue, in Indianapolis, a bit late, but we get there in time to catch the tail end of The London Souls’ set. It’s amazing. I love their sound. Incredible lead vocals, and guitar work by Tash Neal, and tight jams, made tighter by the solid groove coming from Chris St. Hilaire on drums. I love big bands, but the simplicity put forth by hard-rocking bands like this make a person recall what is truly rock and roll. I’d love to catch The London Souls again, seeing their entire set. If you’re a person, who happens to be out there reading this, I’d suggest that you do the same. Get online. Check the tour. They’re probably coming to a town near you, and if not, who doesn’t like a little road trip to hear some good music?

pb1a4590lrjmpI’d never seen JJ Grey with Mofro before tonight, having only caught him as part of the Southern Soul Assembly’s tour last year, which was great, but I’ve been a longtime fan, and I can’t fully express how excited I am to catch him with his usual band this evening. Their music is, simply put, incredible. There are so many different genres that seem to be a part of their sound. It could be so easy for a person to casually classify them as southern rock, but when you break down the pieces, you find so many influences that come out. Categorization is not so cut and dry. They are filled with blues, rock, soul, funk, country, and gospel. When the music comes pouring out, numerous sounds come to the forefront. As I stated before, their music is incredible.That’s true, even more so, when it’s presented live and in-person. Songs, that were once only four minutes long, become extended jams that might last even a quarter of an hour. It really depends on how the band is feeling about it, and how the crowd is receiving it. I doubt any crowd, in the right mindset, wouldn’t want to see the songs they love extended.

pb1a4137lrjmpSpeaking of the crowd, tonight, The Vogue is packed. It’s always a standing-room-only affair coming here, but this evening, a person could be hard pressed to find a spot to stand that doesn’t make him feel like a sardine in a tin. Along the main-floor bar, the wings, and in front of the stage, rivers of people are standing, or sitting, and swaying to the music. Up above, in the balcony, a small amount of breathing room can be found, but it’s fairly full, as well. I don’t think anyone really minds. They’re all here for the same reason: to watch JJ Grey and Mofro get down! For that, you can pack me in like that sardine in a tin, and I won’t mind a bit.

When the band hits the stage, they get a warm welcome from the stage announcer and a roar of approval from the crowd. JJ Grey speaks for a second, letting the fans know how glad they are to be back in Indianapolis, and before you know it, we’re all immersed in the beautiful music! All the sounds come streaming in, from guitars, bass, drums, trumpet, saxophone and organ. A wide array of instruments that reflect the diversity and depth of the music.

pb1a4513lrjmpTonight, the band delves into numerous tracks that run the gamut of their catalog, slipping in several tracks off their newest album, Ol’ Glory. Earlier in the day, before coming to the show, I listened to Orange Blossoms, so I’m incredibly pleased to hear a few tracks off that album, including the title track and “Everything Good Is Bad.” Those are two tracks I definitely love off one of my favorite JJ Grey & Mofro albums. “Everything Good Is Bad” happens to be the last song of the set, prior to the encore, and both it and “Brighter Days,” earlier in the set, receive some special extended treatment. They aren’t the only songs to be stretched out, but both of them seem to last and last. No complaints from the audience, myself included. Throughout the night, solos are passed back and forth amongst the band. It’s absolutely brilliant, and a joy to behold! It just makes a person wish the concert could continue to be stretched out, like the songs the band is playing.

pb1a4162lrjmpEventually, the show does end, but before they call it a night, the band comes back on stage and graces us with an encore of a few lengthy jams. It’s a great night, and I’m glad that I got the chance to be here. Whenever JJ grey and Mofro come back around, at whatever venue they’re playing, I imagine you’ll probably find me there, too.

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