Sometimes you just lose it…and it happens more often than not at the annual Jackmormons run in Virginia City. The 10th anniversary of the event marked the departure of 19 veteran and founding member of the Jackmormons JR Rupple. An emotional run during which the Montana music scene also bid farewell to a recently departed fellow traveler.
Filmed on location over all three nights (and edited as well) by jamsplus correspondent Phil Santala this presentation of “Savage Garden” features the Jackmormons accompanied by Jeff Crosby (of Jeff Crosby and the Refugees) and Jenny Conlee Drizos (the Decembrists). Full coverage of the events can be found at our review HERE. The still photos from the event used in addition to the video can be on our SMUGMUG PAGE.
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-Phil Santala
Written by: Rosemary A. W. Roberts
In its 20th Anniversary since its inception, BayFest kicked off on Friday October 3, 2014 in the streets of downtown Mobile, AL. Throughout these 20 years, BayFest has brought a widely varied lineup of talented musicians to the Port City, and 2014 would be no exception. Many music festivals across the country decide on one main genre to focus on, and occasionally pepper it with acts of a different style. Touted as Alabama’s Largest Music Festival, BayFest has never been tied down to one genre; instead, it gathers music lovers from all points in the spectrum, from Hip Hop to Country, from Rock-n-Roll to Folk, and everything in between. In addition to all the great music, BayFest is very family-friendly, with Bienville Square hosting a Children’s Area filled with activities and performers sure to please kids of all ages.
On Friday night, local band Phunk Blue Moon put on an energetic show for a pumped up crowd at the Launching Pad stage. Meanwhile at the Miller Lite Stage, old-school hip hop band Bone Thugs-N-Harmony threw down for their fans, performing a great set that included a tribute to rapper Easy-E. That stage would later find Ludacris rapping to close out the evening. On the Coca-Cola Stage, hardcore rockers AFI thrilled the crowds, followed by BayFest veterans 
Stone Temple Pilots, who have been hooked up for a while now with vocalist Chester Bennington of Linkin Park acclaim to round out their sound. By far, the pinnacle of the evening was when country music legends Alabama arrived on the AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage, ready to rock their namesake state crowd. A pre-show montage informed the fans just how huge this band is, with a long spanning successful career studded with numerous #1 Hits. And Alabama performed an electrifying set, showcasing their great songs to their grateful fans. BayFest certainly hit a homerun inviting Alabama to help headline the festival.
Saturday came with a welcome coolness in the air, and the crowd knew it would bring another incredible day of music for Mobile. Shawna P, known from appearing on The Voice, shared her vocal stylings with the downtown crowd. A favorite in Alabama and 
beyond, Kristy Lee brought her band Dirt Road Revival to BayFest, performing a rousing set which the audience adored. Amos Lee has amassed quite a fan base, and his band sounded great on songs like “Windows Are Rolled Down”. It was a treat to see him deliver “Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight” with sweet tenderness. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts have been rockin’ with rebellious delight since the 1980s, and she maintains her commanding stage presence and edgy voice to this day. In a different vein, All That Remains brought seriously heavy metal to the stage, with headbanging intensity, thrashing guitars, speedracing drums, and the deep growls from bassist Jeanne Sagan; I still am amazed this petite woman can growl like that!
Saturday’s headliners had garnered a great deal of excitement, and though you would have to split your time just right to catch them all, there were many who did just that. Performing one of the best sets of BayFest 2014, super rockers Jane’s Addiction came onstage to thunderous cheers. These guys still look and sound amazing, and singer Perry Ferrell worked the crowd over all night, talking to a few front row folks; telling the story of Jane’s Addiction’s first visit to Mobile 20 years prior, and how some things have changed for the better; and even expressing condolences for the Crimson Tide’s loss earlier that day. The band even threw in a tease of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama”, with guitarist Dave Navarro totally nailing the classic riff. For me, a fan of Jane’s Addiction since I was about 13 years old, the best part occurred when after hearing excellent renditions of “Up The Beach”, “Ocean Size”, and “Had A Dad”, the band started the slinky disturbing “Ted, Just Admit It”; at that point I realized they were playing their 1988 album Nothing’s Shocking in its entirety, and I was ecstatic! In addition to the expertly delivered album tracks (with a gorgeous “Summertime Rolls”, an explosive “Mountain Song”, and the acoustic and steel drum rhythms of “Jane 
Says”), the band did “Been Caught Stealing” and “Ain’t No Right” from Ritual de lo Habitual. For the show-stopping climax, two scantily clad ladies danced on the stage, while two more were hoisted above the stage to provide aerial acrobatic dancing; and the electrifying “Stop!” ensued, putting an exclamation point on a fantastic show! Meanwhile, classic funkmasters The Roots had begun a non-stop dance party at the Miller Lite Stage. The Roots consistently play high-energy dance-driven shows, and are a band Mobile was lucky to have join the BayFest lineup. To close out the evening, Kid Rock drew a huge crowd, and performed hits spanning his musical career and styles, to the enjoyment of his fans.
BayFest continued to entertain all the way through Sunday, when The Ben Jernigan Band provided a lineup of long-loved Mobile musicians, including John Milham, Chris Spies, and Christopher Spies. A bit later, Blackberry Smoke brought more of a country flavor, while Trombone Shorty & the Orleans Avenue brought the funk factor from New Orleans. A relatively new band from Canada, MAGIC! already has a few hits that caused many young girls to squeal. A real pleasure on Sunday was watching and hearing Foster The People, an indie-pop band whose song “Pumped Up Kicks” has made them known worldwide. The lightshow and stage presence of this band was huge, as they were constantly switching instruments and never missing a beat. Meanwhile, living legends Earth, Wind & Fire performed all their greatest hits, and sound as amazing today as they did 20 years ago. A favorite of country music fans, Brantley Gilbert played his heart out to the large crowd at his feet, closing out another awesome BayFest celebration.
For 20 years, BayFest has provided an incredible opportunity for music lovers from Mobile and beyond, allowing us to gather in the streets of downtown Mobile, AL for music, food, and fun. This year’s festival seemed to reach even higher than past years, surprising us with huge stars, delivering major bang for your buck. Be sure to “save the date” and put October 2-4th on your 2015 calendar for the next great installment of BayFest; if this year’s festival is any indication, rest assured that it will be another awesome event!
PHOTO GALLERIES
Written by: Zen Wild
Photography by: Tony Vasquez of Vasquez Photography
Photo Gallery: Pete Yorn
Pete Yorn is back in Indiana again. This time, it’s Tuesday, October 7th in the Deluxe Room (at the Old National Centre). I saw him a few years back, in 2010 or 2011, at the Bluebird in Bloomington, and that was a good show. He had his full band with him, then. This is a more intimate affair. It’s an all-acoustic set. Only Pete, and a bunch of people waiting to see, and hear, him do what he does best.
When Pete hits that stage, he does so like a laid-back rocker, shaggy hair, flannel shirt, jeans, and boots. The crowd, as one would expect, erupts. A hippie girl, who I’ve been standing next to, and speaking with, and will later be dancing with a bit, is grinning to outshine the sun. She’s already told me how lucky I was to see Pete with his full band, but I can already tell that this crowd is in for a treat. I think most of them know it, too. The second song of the night, Pete plays “For Nancy,” which is great, and I always recognize. The whole crowd is singing it right back to him as he plays. That’s something I love to see at a show, and I’m sure the artists do, as well. It’s got to feel good.
Throughout the night, despite the small venue, which lends itself to storytelling in between songs, Pete keeps up the pace. A lot of his songs are fast-paced, anyway, and without the full band behind him, he’s able to just dive right into the next one. No external communication is needed. He only needs what’s in his heart and in his head. That’s part of the beauty of the solo, acoustic set. The set list is a good mix of familiar tracks, deep cuts, and a few covers. Including a great rendition of “Splendid Isolation” by Warren Zevon and a fun cover of “Kiss Off” by the Violent Femmes. It’s a great night I’d do it again, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
Now, If you didn’t happen to be in Indianapolis, or if you were, and couldn’t come, don’t feel bad. He’s got more acoustic shows coming up. You might have to drive a bit to get to one, or maybe not, but either way, once you get there, you’ll know why you came. Tour dates can be found here: http://www.peteyorn.com
Set list: Paradise Cove, For Nancy (‘Cos It Already Is), I Feel Good Again (Charlie Feathers & Junior Kimbrough cover), Closet, Splendid Isolation (Warren Zevon cover), Bandstand in the Sky, Strange Condition, All at Once, Relator (Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson cover), Lose You, June, The Good Advice, Undercover, Broken Bottle, The Man, Vampyre, Murray, Burrito, Kiss Off (Violent Femmes cover), Crystal Village, Black, Life on a Chain
Written by: Kristi Pye
Below are the top 10 reasons why you should make plans to attend Hulaween 2014 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT suwanneehulaween.com
Review and Photos by Clayton Roberts
The Head and the Heart rolled into town on October 9, 2014 to a full and excited crowd at the Soul Kitchen Music Hall in downtown Mobile, AL. The band consists of Charity Rose Thielen on violin, Jonathan Russell and Josiah Johnson on guitars, Kenny Hensley on piano, Chris Zasche on bass, and Tyler Williams on drums to complete this indie folk band from Seattle, Washington. They have an extensive fall tour with stops in towns all over the nation and a stop at Austin City Music Festival, so catch them in a town near you.
The evening started out to a very enthusiastic crowd as they opened with “Cats and Dogs” then “Coeur d’alene” off their self-titled album. Next would be a taste off the latest album Let’s Be Still with a great version of “Homecoming Heroes”. The night would continue on and the crowd grew louder and louder as the more familiar tunes were played to the fans’ pure enjoyment. “Lost in My Mind” was met with crowd participation and the band ate it up.
The set list (seen in the picture) was truly accommodating to the atmosphere of the room and we wish The Head and the Heart a quick return to the port city. We want to thank Steve Hall Productions, WZEW 92.1, and the Soul Kitchen for presenting such a fantastic evening of music!
CONGRATULATIONS TO BROOKE SOMMERS FOR WINNING THE TICKETS!!!
Check back soon for our next contest!!
Enter below for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Rodrigo Y Gabriela in Indy on 10/21 at the Egyptian Room in Indianapolis, IN.
Brought to you by FX Media (Phierce Photography) and Jams Plus Media.
Drawing to be Oct 19th, so enter now!
[Photo credit Peter Neil]
Words and Photos by: Phil Santala
Over the years Virginia City has meant a lot of things to a lot of people. Throughout the decades it has been home to vigilantes, gold rush miners, cowboys and the settlers of the west. It has always played host to an eclectic mix of citizens and travelers. Opium purveyors, fur traders, adventurers and vagabonds have brushed shoulders on the wooden sidewalks. For the last 10 years a different, but equally eclectic, mix of nomads has descended on the once territorial capital of Montana. Every August without fail, the weekend tourist crowd brushes shoulders with the zombies and Jackmormons as they stroll the wooden walkways. Jerry Joseph and company repeatedly have come to town…always to party down.
This year marked a bittersweet moment in the annals of Virginia City, the Jackmormons, and their fan base (affectionately know as “Zombies”). It was a year to say goodbye and fare-thee-well. Not just to a band member departing, but also to a friend and fellow traveler on Montana’s ragtag asphalt and dusty rural music scene. The backroads have played host to many a musical event in Montana, and even more post show shenanigans. In a state where distance isn’t measured by miles, but by hours of travel the road sometimes plays a tragic role as well. Last April the Montana music scene lost a friend to many in a traffic accident. Out here on the highway another fellow traveler in life slipped into the silence like an ocean…Kari Friedman’s void was recognized by Jerry Joseph Friday night with the dedication of “My Little Tiger.” Jr Ruppel wore a button with her picture on it, as did many of the fans in attendance all three nights. The dozen prayer candles gracing the stage were a beautifully stark reminder too. They pulled into mind the lyrics from “Altar in Your Box.” Looking at them softly flickering, struggling mightily against the alternating total void of light and the overwhelming brilliance of the wash and led lights it was easy to call to mind these lyrics: “And I will light a candle…And say a prayer for you..So that I will not feel guilty, On the nights that I drive through.”
Still the show goes on and the only constant in life is change. After 19 years with Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons a big change was coming down the pipeline as well. Jerry described Jr Ruppel as “one of my best friends for 19 years…” before stripping off his guitar and letting it crash to the floor from chest height at the end of Sunday’s “Speedwater> We Will Not Be Lovers> Boys and Girls in America> Let It Be>Speedwater.” It could very well be the last time Jerry would close out a set with Jr on bass beside him. Leaving the band to pursue other ventures in life was not a decision it seemed Jr was taking lightly, but one all were resigned to. As the two of them clasped shoulders walking off the stage it was clear that the understanding was there. Life happens and we will go on while the dusty road plays out 
in front of us.
At set break while outside, Jerry commented that the entire Sunday show setlist was hand picked by Ruppel. “We’re kind of letting him do his thing” Jerry commented when asked about a request for the second set. Songs like “Salt Lake City”, “Good Sunday” and “Climb to Safety” represent the meat of what the Jackmormons have been crafting over the last two decades between those two. The set was filled with explosive energy that reverberated off the walls and into our hearts and down our spines. Jerry played a rousing jam on the keyboard during “Climb To Safety”. Jr reached back to his punk rock roots; bashing and smashing his bass into his amp. Steve Drizos lept over his drum set while closing out “Speedwater”. The emotions almost melted the amps and seemed destined to reduce the block to a pile of wooden rubble. It’s amazing the old Virginia City Community Center, once the high school gymnasium 60 years ago, was still standing at the end of the run.
All three nights had their moments. Saturday’s “Pink Light> Fire and Rain> Pink Light” was sublime. With the addition of Jenny Conlee Drizos on the keyboard (as she was for much of the weekend), it gave the band room to maneuver within the song. 
The James Taylor cover was fitting and appropriate on so many levels as we said farewell this weekend. But also we were still in shock never believing that what were seeing was happening. The lengthening of a well know song with the jam in the middle was a newer fixture of the weekend. Sets would weigh in at close to 80 minutes with only 4-6 songs in them. The addition of both Jenny and a heavy dose of up and coming axe man Jeff Crosby helped facilitate this. While the power trio system works well for the Jackmormons, the addition of other well oiled gears to the machine gives the tempo, pacing, and jams more depth and variance. 
“Savage Garden> Woman’s Gotta Have it> Let’s Get It On>Savage Garden” is a perfect example of this. Clocking in at just over 18 minutes the song in no way feels that long when listened to. The movement into and out of the vocal rap in the middle is supported heavily by the keys and second guitar. Jeff’s solo which develops out of the rap grows in size and subtly commands one’s attention as the band slowly fills in behind, picking one up just as Jeff starts to drop away. It leads into the dramatic ending of the song with eloquence and determination.
Hitting the road out of Virginia City seemed to be a little bit slower this year. Every year for the last 10 years people seem to linger post show. This year that seemed even more pronounced. Fans struggled to pull meaning back from the weekend. They struggled like the prayer candles on the stage, sometimes finding context (and light) while other times they seemed overwhelmed by the context (and light) around them. Sometimes it seems we’re frightened by the truth… that we don’t need an Angle to cover up our past. That this is the charmed life and through it all, the good the bad, the beginnings and the ends… through it all, with a little work it’s still the best we’ve ever had.
Full Photo Album can be found: HERE.
_____________________________RIP Kari Friedman 1984-2014_______________
MP3 Links:
https://archive.org/details/JJJ2014-08-22.aud.flac
https://archive.org/details/JJJ2014-08-23.aud.fla
https://archive.org/details/JJJ2014-08-24.akg481.flac24
All Photography by Keith Griner (Phierce Photography)
Written by: Zen Wild
Photography by: Tony Vasquez of Vasquez Photography
Photo Galleries: The Wood Brothers | Chris Kasper
It’s been a couple of months since we’ve been to the Vogue, but it’s September 30th tonight and we’re here to see The Wood Brothers, with Chris Kasper opening (along with the beautiful Kiley Ryan on violin). It’s going to be an amazing show. I already know it. Half an hour before the music is supposed to start, the place is already getting packed. It looks like it did when I was here to see G. Love, Dr. Dog, and Gary Clark, Jr. If you want to be up front, you better get near that rail now, because it won’t be so easy to get there later. We settle in near the left side of the stage, a couple feet away. A record player upon the stage is playing some music while we wait, and the stack of vinyl lying below has a Little Walter record in front. I’m hoping that in the time we have left to wait we’ll get to hear it. Time will tell that wishes do occasionally come true, as later, Chris Wood will come out and pop the record on for a few songs before The Wood Brothers start their set. I love the blues. Now, back to the present where everything’s about to start.
Chris Kasper comes out and kicks things off, playing one by himself, before being joined by Kiley Ryan. It sounds great, and once Kiley hits that stage, it sounds even better. I love the sound of a fiddle/violin. It’s absolutely one of my favorite instruments. Coming all the way from Philly, they’re not here just to pass on through, they’re here to let you know about it. Anything that’s steeped in folk, country, bluegrass, or blues, I’m probably going to love, especially if it’s done right. They do it right. Stripped-down affairs such as this, similar to something like The Civil Wars, are just beautiful to behold. Two instruments, two voices, one big, big sound.
The third song they play is “Never Saw You Blues,” and I think it’s amazing. Like I said before, I love the blues. Chris explains, before playing the song, that it’s about one of those instances where you go to a party and see an ex-girlfriend with a friend of yours, and then you pretend like you didn’t see a thing. Who hasn’t been there? They burn that song right down to the ground. “Bask In the Light” follows and after that, “Meet Me Down the Road In a Few,” which, Chris lets us know, is about meeting someone who’s almost cool, but not quite there yet, and so he says, “meet me down the road in a few.” It’s a good tune. Following up, Kasper plays a sing-along, to which everyone sings along, and he compliments a man who trumpets like an elephant before everything begins. They close the set with three more songs, including “Mr. Charlie” and “Oh, Caroline,” before Chris finally thanks the audience and tells everyone to “enjoy the Wood Brothers.” That last statement is undoubtedly a given, but as Chris and Kiley leave the stage, there’s no doubt that the set they blessed us with was absolutely scintillating. Before I leave, I know that I’m grabbing one of their cds.
After Little Walter plays for a bit on that record player, when The Wood Brothers make their entrance, it doesn’t take long for them to suck a person in. Their songs pull you in like the sweet words of a long-lost love. The crowd erupts when they hit the stage, and the band opens with “Neon Tombstone,” off their newest album. I’m dancing from the moment everything starts, and I’m not the only one. It would be much harder to find someone who’s not dancing than someone who is. Right after, the group follows up with “Wasting My Mind,” also from that newest album, and “Blue and Green.” I love it all, and when for the next song, “Keep Me Around,” Chris Wood straps on a harmonica rack while still playing double bass, I’m grinning from ear to ear. That’s one of my favorite tracks from that new album. “The Muse” is next, the title track from that album, and the delivery is brilliant. Without even telling you, I’m sure you already know that I love that one, too.
Now, I could relate to you every song that The Wood Brothers play throughout the night, but I’m not going to. Needless to say, the set is amazing. The harmonized vocals are so good, as well as the percussion, guitar, and you know Chris Wood can play that bass. That’s one of the reasons that Medeski, Martin, and Wood have always been so good: Chris Wood.
At one point, the band has Chris Kasper and Kiley Ryan join them on stage, asking the crowd to quiet down, huddling around a single, sensitive mic, so that they can play to us softly and sweetly. They even cover Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” to which the crowd goes nuts. You know that Hoosiers love Tom Petty. That’s a given, but tonight, at the Vogue, there are a lot of Hoosiers who’ve loved everything that The Wood Brothers, Chris Kasper (and Kiley Ryan) have played. It’s hard not to. I mean, you’d really have to work at it to not love this music. I just hope that both groups are coming to your town soon, so you can love them in person, too.