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The Werks ~ Terminal West ~ Atlanta, GA ~ May 3, 2014 (photos by Luke Armstrong, words by Mike Gregory)

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King Plow is an arts center rich with history starting in 1902 and consistently hosting great bands as well. The walls are lined with sepia colored railroad photos. Directly opposite the stage sits a massive antiquated hunk of metal machinery representing an era gone by. Upstairs is a smoking deck and bar facing the railroad tracks where trains still cruise by. A little more exploring will reveal access to a small balcony that offers a one of a kind view of the stage and crowd! If you take the opportunity to catch a show at Terminal West you will not be disappointed. Tonight would be no exception!

LJA_1550The Heavy Pets opened for The Werks taking the stage at 9:15. Both are new bands to me, and I was pleased to see two guitars along with the bass, drums and keyboards. As the first song captivated my attention, worldly concerns faded away being replaced by a melodic picture of sound floating in the air. By the end of the second song, I can honestly say I am a fan! Twisting yellow and blue lights projected a solar pattern on the dance floor as fans continued to shuffle in. Rob Chafin, The Werks drummer, would literally “sit in” for the fourth song. Fans looked on with enthusiasm as he sat down in a chair at the outermost edge of the stage and adjusted the microphone.

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He crossed his legs and pretended to read a book titled “Hippie Watching”, all the while hamming it up for the crowd. The confused audience expected him to do something musical, but eventually realized that it was a joke. All he did was sit there and be animated while the band played a funky tune conjuring up a Stevie Wonder vibe. Apparently, St. Patrick was in the house. Werks’ lighting director, Blake Addington, would spring onto the scene, complete with his finest leprechaun attire, and dart up to the stage giving Rob a handful of silver plastic coins. Rob continued the rouse by flicking the coins into the audience and making funny faces while reading his book. They were having a lot of fun and so was the crowd.

LJA_1939Just before 11pm, The Werks fired up their show with an ominous version of the Mission Impossible theme! Expecting the usual set up with drums centered in the back of the stage, I was surprised to see a horizontal line up across the front of the stage (from left to right—Drums, Bass, Guitar & Keys). Sitting in for Norm Dimitrouleas on the keyborads was Dan Shaw.  His careful finger work produced euphoric sounds and ever so slightly dominated the sound. Added to the mix was the fine guitar work by Chris Houser, interjecting solos with seamless execution. The guitar gradually became more prominent as musical hints were dropped of the greatness that would come. Backlighting went purple as the 20 minute opener progressed into a song where the guitarist smiled wide and started making a “whooping” sound into the microphone which the crowd mimicked back. During this time, the stage lighting got brighter and everyone could see the entire band.

As I stepped back from the crowd to look around, I glanced up at the balcony to see dancing legs moving back and forth and could help but smile. Fans were totally feeling this show and rightfully so!  I spotted the coin-toting leprechaun from earlier in the sound booth groovin’ hard to music as he fine-tuned the lights all night. The other soundman was motionless leaving me to believe he is the “dancing on the inside” type of guy. To each their own as they say!

LJA_1991-2The Werks paused for a minute to announce this was the last show of their tour and thanked Atlanta for consistently being a solid crowd and showing them lots of love whenever they come through town. Next thing I know I was searching the crowd for Roy Munson, from the movie Kingpin, as the band broke into “Disco Inferno” (a personal favorite of mine)! Radiating smiles and the sway of the crowd only substantiated my growing love for this band!

At midnight, the stage lights went blue transitioning into darkness. Rob and Dino Dimitrouleas (bass) took control evolving into another slow and aggressive jam. From here on, the jams rarely slowed down and lightshow projecting into the crowd made the band and audience feel like one cohesive unit.

LJA_2532As the show began its descent, a cosmic vibe entranced the crowd much like the show started. It came full circle when the Mission Impossible theme returned and I knew the end was close. The band finally took a break revealing it was Rob Chafin’s (drummer) birthday and coaxed the crowd into singing Happy Birthday to him!

Their final song, Duck Farm, was a great choice for an encore! The song seemed to sum up the entire experience and let me ease into the night feeling fulfilled. As the crowd dispersed from the stage area, silver coins on the floor reflected the bright lights indicating it was time to go home.

Set list:

Theme from Mission Impossible> Heading South> Light> Burning Groove, Disco Inferno> Better Half> Disco Inferno> O.G., Sane, Alive, Note Alone, Fire Eater> Theme from Mission Impossible, Cake

Encore: Duck Farm

“We Will Survive” – A Pin Campaign for Dear Friends

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Please help support them by purchasing one of these limited “We Will Survive” pins

100% profits go straight to Rob and Casey.  The set is limited to 100 for the first run, so act quickly.  $25.00 and includes shipping. The pins looks like the image on the right.  There is also a website for donations located at http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/-help-on-the-way-a-fund-to-help-the-decker-rua-family/164606




PREVIEW: Leftover Salmon at the Vogue in Indiana ~ May 1st, 2014

Written By: Kristen Mack-Perry

Bluegrass power house Leftover Salmon will be starting their next tour at the Vogue in Indiana this Thursday, May 1st. Joining the band will be friend and producer, Bill Payne of Little Feat. The Vogue holds a deep history in Indianapolis and is currently known as “the place to be” when it comes to live music and dancing.

Leftover Salmon has been back on the scene now for several years, going strong since their eight year hiatus and the loss of founding member Mark Vann in 2002. The friendship between Bill Payne and the group was forged when a benefit show for Vann brought together Salmon and Little Feat.

When the band returned in 2012 they also came back from that hiatus to tour in support of a new album, Aquatic Hitchhiker. In 2013 Leftover Salmon then teamed up with Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado to release four new songs to fans which were released exclusively through the brewery’s 12-pack Sampler Packs and are now available on iTunes. Recently the band released their 2004 self-titled album for the first time on all major digital outlets. To celebrate the digital release of the album, Leftover Salmon is offering a free stream and download of the track “Whispering Waters” featuring Bill Payne: http://bit.ly/LOSWhisperingWaters.  The band is stronger than ever and ready to embark on their next tour, which will feature special guests like Bill Payne, Jeff Austin, Danny Barnes, Eric Thorin, Yarn and the Jon Stickley Trio.

Join Leftover Salmon on May 1st at the historical Vogue in Indianapolis, IN (www.thevogue.com ) –  doors open at 8PM and the show is at 9PM, Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 day of the show, this is a 21+ show.

Looking back over the past 25 years of rootsy, string-based music, the impact of Leftover Salmon is impossible to deny. Today, Leftover Salmon is: Vince Herman (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin); Drew Emmitt (vocals, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, mandola, fiddle); Andy Thorn (vocals, acoustic and electric banjo, National guitar); Greg Garrison (vocals, acoustic and electric bass, acoustic guitar); Alwyn Robinson (drums, percussion).

Umphrey’s McGee / Lionize –The Saenger Theatre—Mobile, AL—04/16/2014

Written by: Rosemary A.W. Roberts

Having lived in Mobile for almost 20 years, I’ve seen a large number of concert events at the gorgeous Saenger Theatre. Some of these concerts have featured performances by musicians like Neil Young, The Rippingtons, or the recent Southern Soul Assembly, in which you expect to sit in the comfortable theatre seats and listen in quiet enjoyment. Other shows, though, like Hippiefest and Jethro Tull were amazingly rocking, but the audience seemed stubbornly glued to their seats, as if an unspoken rule prevents rockin’ out in the Saenger. I assure you, nothing could be further from the truth; and after seeing Gov’t Mule in February, and now Umphrey’s McGee, I am proud to report that Mobile Alabama DOES know how to get up and get down, even in our beautiful Saenger Theatre!

CLR_9449The show on Wednesday April 16th 2014 started a bit lukewarm, with opening act Lionize catching some of us off guard, as the tickets did not indicate they were playing. But when lead singer/guitarist Nate Bergman enticed us to our feet (“This isn’t a Sunday social!”), a fair number of us stood up to dance out our mid-week woes. As the audience slowly trickled in, Lionize put forth a solid set of heavy rock grooves, demonstrating commendable confidence by playing all original songs except a brief tease of Cream’s “White Room”. The band recently released a new album, Jetpack Soundtrack, and they’ll be playing throughout the USA all summer on the Vans Warped Tour, so keep your eyes out for Lionize.

CLR_9463As the time for headliner Umphrey’s McGee approached, the crowd began to take full advantage of the “General Admission” status of the venue for the evening, standing all the way to the front of the stage as if the seats weren’t even there. The Saenger staff obliged, and let people go where they pleased; and it worked amazingly smoothly, with the amiable fans ready to dance the night away. It wasn’t just the local Mobile crew, with fans from Atlanta GA and everywhere in between in attendance. When the band took the stage, their massive light show was in full effect, as if rainbows were melting over the crowd. A cleverly crafted jam-laden two sets of music ensued, and it seemed like each band member took a turn in the driver’s seat throughout the evening. There were large spans of instrumentation, and some stellar guitar work, keys, and drums, but also plenty of space for vocals.

CLR_9627-2CLR_9595-2I guess prior to this Saenger show, I had only seen Umphrey’s in outdoor festival settings; but seeing them in this theatre allowed me to have a more fully immersed experience, and I was blown away. Like a well-oiled machine, the band seamlessly transitions between complex time changes, using eye contact and sometimes hand signals to be sure they stay on the same page. They are masters of segues, with setlists filled with ‘>’ ‘s. After a long chain of melodies slickly strung together, when they finally paused for a breath, the crowd would erupt in thunderous cheers and applause. It was a dance party extraordinaire, and it was wonderful to see our Saenger Theatre filled with joyful folks content to be on their feet enjoying the music all night long.

Many thanks to HUKA Entertainment for bringing us yet another fine evening of musical delight, to the Saenger Theatre for letting us get up and dance, and to Umphrey’s McGee for a fabulous concert!

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Set I: There’s No Crying In Mexico > Resolution > Water, Uncle Wally > Domino Theory, Tribute to the Spinal Shaft > The Bottom Half, Partyin’ Peeps > Dear Lord > Partyin’ Peeps

Set II: Slacker, Wappy Sprayberry > Miss Tinkle’s Overture, Reelin’ In The Years, Der Bluten Kat > Nemo > Der Bluten Kat

Encore: In The Kitchen

 

Purple Hatter’s Ball (PREVIEW) – Coming to Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, Live Oak, FL, May 9-11th 2014

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park has been full throttle over the last few years, with new festivals gracing the grounds at a fevered pace. While the park is capable of hosting massive gatherings of music fans, there is a unique vibe flowing through the old-growth trees when the turnout is a bit more tame. Each year as Spring creeps closer to its conclusion, an intimate event takes place that is far more than a music festival, and would best be described as a family reunion to celebrate this dynamic life we share together, and especially one that was taken away from us far too soon.

Purple Hatter’s Ball is special in ways that are hard to articulate. Approaching its 7th incarnation, the non-profit event is put on in memory of Rachel Morningstar Hoffman, who was murdered during a botched police operation in Tallahassee, FL. The police department faced public outrage and came under extreme scrutiny for their mishandling of Rachel. Their shameful conduct eventually led to reforms in the way authorities deal with citizens they’ve enlisted in their perpetually failing war on drugs.

Many of Rachel’s closest family and friends attend the event each year, along with folks who just appreciate the usual highlights of Suwannee Park- amazing music, picturesque camping, visionary artwork, and a sense of community that encapsulates all who enter the sacred grounds. The event’s lineup is fantastic every year, and only seems to grow as time goes on, adding new talent while staying true to its roots.

This year’s lineup includes:
Beats Antique – Emancipator Ensemble – The New Mastersounds – The Heavy Pets – The Nth Power – DubConscious – Space Capone – Rising Appalachia – Greenhouse Lounge – Catfish Alliance – Locos Por Juana – Grandpa’s Cough Medicine – Applebutter Express – Sir Charles – Vlad the Inhaler – Zak tha Blak
… and many, many more.

If you enjoy a bit of a smaller crowd, some of the best music the country has to offer, and the warmest ensemble of smiling faces & celebrating souls one could hope to find, be sure to join us at SOSMP in Live Oak, FL, May 9-11. Check the links below for tickets and details.
http://rachelmorningstarfoundation.org/ 
https://www.facebook.com/PurpleHattersBall 

Written By: Ryan Emke

Brotherly Love Productions #PurpleHatters

Dose Hermanos – Bob Bralove and Tom Constanten

Dose Hermanos, the world’s premier psychedelic keyboard duo features Grateful Dead space masters Tom Constanten and Bob Bralove

For More Information on Dose Hermanos: bobbralove.com/doshermanos or facebook.com/dosehermanos

base photo via gratefulweb.com

Shaky Knees 2014: A Preview

written by: Brad Lee

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  shakykneesfestival.com

Springtime in Atlanta usually means sky-high pollen counts and Braves baseball, yet May of 2013 saw the inauguration of a new springtime staple: Shaky Knees Music Festival.  Fourteen thousand fans came to Historic Old Fourth Ward Park and Masquerade Music Park to hear twenty-eight bands play over the course of two rainy days, and despite the weather, the outcome was nothing short of positive.

Music festivals have experienced a nice little growth spurt in the past few years.  All over the country new events are entering the scene, trying to carve out their own spot and make a name for themselves.  But what separates success from the fizzling duds is all in what that name stands for.  Events such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Coachella are not just festivals, they are brands with serious staying-power and a loyal fan-base.  Where Lollapalooza was built on the blood and sweat of alternative rock, Bonnaroo was founded on more of a jammed out vibe.  Although evolution often occurs, establishing a direction is key in launching a festival, and Shaky Knees has set off on the right path in this respect by declaring themselves the indie-rock festival of Atlanta.  The name itself is even taken from a My Morning Jacket lyric, while front-man Jim James endorsed the festival by playing its debut.  Other notable artists from 2013 include The Lumineers, Band of Horses, Dr. Dog, and Gary Clark Jr.

The success of year one has paved the way for a new, re-imagined festival.  Having relocated to Atlantic Station, everything that 2013 offered, 2014 will offer more of.  Instead of two days, the festival is now three days.  Instead of three stages, there are now four, aptly named after four of Atlanta’s busiest roads: Peachtree Stage, Piedmont Stage, Ponce de Leon Stage, and Boulevard Stage.  This certainly adds to the hometown feel of the festival for native Atlantans, while another nod to the hometown hero is that all vendors are local food trucks.  Ultimately the most significant area of growth this year is in the artist line-up, which has more than doubled in size from last year’s line-up.   A total of fifty-eight bands will take the stage this year on the festival premises, while several more will play late night shows at various clubs around Atlanta.  Terminal West, The Earl, Masquerade: Hell, Centerstage and Vinyl are all promoting late-night after party events, which gives the festival a city-wide feel.

The addition of a fourth stage and a third day makes for a more structured festival, as there are clear cut headliners for each day.  Friday features brooding indie act The National, who have experienced some recent success with the release of their album Trouble Will Find Me.  Their performance will surely be one to catch, supported by Spoon, Cage The Elephant, Man Man, White Denim, and The Whigs to name a few.  Saturday’s headlining slot brings Modest Mouse, whose on-stage presence always carries anticipatory surprise and in-the-moment rawness, as Johnny Marr is far from predictable.  Other notable Saturday performances include The Replacements, Portugal. The Man, Dawes, Cold War Kids, and Lord Huron.  Sunday is sure to cap off the weekend wonderfully, as Alabama Shakes bring their soulful persuasion and powerhouse vocal stylings.  A band rooted in 60’s-esque soul and sophisticated fidelity, the Shakes are a great fit to close out the festival, following the likes of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, Violent Femmes, Local Natives, Iron & Wine and Blitzen Trapper to name a few.  With such an expansive line-up this year, Shaky Knees’ sophomore effort will undoubtedly attract indie-rocking Atlantans from all corners of the perimeter.

 

Sweetwater 420 Festival ~ April 18-20, 2014 ~ Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta, GA

Written by: Mike Gregory

This year’s SweetWater 420 Festival came out swinging for the fences announcing heavy hitting all-stars Galactic, Steel Pulse, Sublime with Rome, G. Love and Special Sauce and Chris Robinson Brotherhood.  This year we were playing against a formidable opponent, none other than Mother Nature, and she would not go down without a fight. Though, when all was said and done, a festival win would be logged into the record books.

SweetWater 420 celebrated its 10th anniversary in a new location, Centennial Olympic Park, nestled in the heart of Atlanta (past festivals were held in Candler Park, also in Atlanta). The festival is all about being “green” and people were encouraged to take public transportation, or ride and park their bikes in the Bike Valet inside the park. Bags for recycling were scattered throughout the park and people pitched in to do their part.

The festival coordinators thought of everything, right down to hammocks for the fans that needed to get off their feet for a few moments. Two stages alternated bands throughout the weekend complete with VIP areas stocked with “free” beer, a cash bar, indoor bathrooms, shelter, and even an oversized JENGA puzzle standing 4 feet tall! A comedy tent, the Not So Silent Disco, Artist Village, Kidzone, Food Court, Craft Beer tent, Easter Egg Hunt and a Cornhole Tournament kept patrons stirring about like a beehive in the springtime.

Surrounded by Atlanta’s cityscape, complete with a gigantic ferris wheel towering overhead, the festivities began promptly at 4pm on Friday. With Easter being a time for family gatherings, a festival of this magnitude could have been a risky venture, let alone the weather forecast of steady rain. Everyone hoped the forecast was wrong, but the green blob on the radar seemed to hunker down and make itself comfortable over downtown Atlanta. Mother Nature may have brought the rain, but Friday’s music line-up brought the thunder and lightning!

The crowd represented Atlanta’s most loyal music fans; they were in no way swayed by the gloomy skies and were rewarded as such with a funky display of southern rock by Louisiana’s own, Honey Island Swamp Band. They play together like a well-oiled machine and love doing it from the looks on their faces! The band played numerous gems off their latest release, Cane Sugar, produced by Grammy winner John Porter—worthy of serious attention! Fans lapped up guitar and mandolin solos while the keyboardist played his Hammond B-3 organ like it was his last day on earth. The crowd showed their love clapping, cheering, hooting and hollering.  No doubt they added a few more Swamp Rats to their fan base after that blazing performance. Honey Island Swamp Band laid the groundwork for what would be a magical weekend of music, albeit a wet one.

It quickly became apparent that forecasts were correct and the rain was here to stay, but spirits remained high regardless. Some were prepared for the rain better than others. Gas South came to rescue those in need, handing out hundreds of ponchos as people made their way to the main stage to catch another Louisiana favorite, Galactic. Galactic played a stellar 2-hour set with a bit more vocals than past performances adding another dimension to an already top-notch band.  The crowd couldn’t contain their enthusiasm as they shook their booties to the funkiest of New Orleans funk. Smiles were plentiful as SW420 flowed from the tap just as steady as the rain coming down.

While Galactic was laying down the grooves, just a short distance away Conspirator was busy running their sound check at the Planet 420 Stage. Conspirator could be described as a band that plays electronic music on actual instruments. The crowd gathered in anticipation and I could tell there were some serious Conspirator fans in the group. Judging by the influx of people at the stage, the Not So Silent Disco crowd loves this band!  A bit later, the colorful and animated Steel Pulse pumped out reggae beats to close out the opening night of SweetWater 420 Festival. Band members spread out across the stage appearing larger than life.

From 8-11pm, the comedy tent engaged many people looking to stay dry. Others found shelter in the SweetWater experience tent for beer cocktails.  No matter where you went, smiles and laughter could be heard; that is, except for at the Disco. Nothing but people jamming out to DJs Sugar Kayne, Nextakin & Daddy Dough Tag Set,  Eddie Gold, An-Ten-Nae and Two Fresh. A good portion of the disco was under shelter so it would remain a good spot to stay dry for the entire weekend. After the sun went down, the rain and cold began to have an effect on concertgoers. As the night wore on, the crowd thinned out revealing a muddy pit; and this was only day one.

On Saturday, the party picked up where it left off from the night before, though Mother Nature would repeat her performance with soaking rain throughout the day. It was readily apparent that crews were up all night trying to dealing with the mud.  Metal planks were laid down from the stage to the sound booth for people to stand on. Of course there were those that were perhaps swine in their previous lives and decided to wallow in the mud. About 2000 people ran in the 5k race and those that stuck around would see Wesley Cook, EOTO, Sublime with Rome, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, and Anders Osborne.  The disco sported DJ Applejuice, Sorted, MK Ultra, Ployd, NiT GriT, Up Until Now, Paul Basic & Supervision, and George Acosta spinning groves for the crowd that seemed to love it.  The comedy tent featured Brian Emond, Cherith Fuller, Jake Head, Kevin Saucier (of course he is), Paige Bowman and Rob Haze among others. The tent was packed to the gills all day and offered up laughter to those looking to forget about life for a while.

Anders Osborne jammed intense solos that spoke to the souls of onlookers—a crowd favorite for sure. An estimated 16,000 people showed up on Saturday, and no doubt Sublime brought them there. The stage show was a little weak and boring though the crowd enthusiastically sung along to the lyrics. The Cornhole Tournament set up on a sidewalk courtyard. This disrupted the flow of people walking from stage to stage. Equally, it disrupted the tournament.  Plans for next year’s tournament may want to include a tent in the grassy area in case of inclement weather.

Mother Nature finally relented on Easter Sunday with abundant sunshine for everyone to enjoy; so much, in fact, that those without sunscreen would be red-faced by the end of the day. It breathed new life into an already fun festival. Masses of crowds were everywhere. Sunday smelled like a festival, with funnel cakes and food trucks catering to everyone’s taste. The food court and market were bustling with action the entire day. Everything was magnified from the previous two days. Surprisingly, Centennial Olympic Park drains off pretty well. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a mud pit and I was shocked to see people dressed in white walking around as if we were in the middle of a drought. The usual cast of characters was in the crowd as well—a girl dressed as a butterfly, a guy with no shirt wearing what appeared to be a wolf skin, something right out of Dances with Wolves.

Music wise, it was another big day on the stages and at the disco. Sunday’s DJs included Ralphie and Louie, ATLiens, RL Shine, Jiriki, Ill Esha, PhuturePrimitive, and Archnemesis while the Dirty Dozen Brass Band brought a little slice of New Orleans feel good music to the party at the main stage. Kung Fu kicked it up more than a few notches when they took the stage. They play their instruments with ferocious finesse that can only be described as unscrewing the cap off a fire hydrant and music coming out! Seeing this band live is where it is at, but if that is not an option check out their latest release Tsar Bomba; heck, check it out anyway! These guys rocked it and are coming back to Atlanta in the fall. Schedule your life accordingly! People continued to pile in the park as G. Love and Special Sauce took the main stage late afternoon. He was dressed in a robin egg blue color leisure suit playing a guitar of the same color. Reggae Rock band, the Dirty Heads, have amassed a loyal following and they showed up in full force to dance to the beat they were laying down.

Sunday peaked with the Chris Robinson Brotherhood performing from 7-9pm. The vibe was mellow for the first few songs and then progressively picked up momentum until it was time to go home and catch a few Z’s before the Monday morning rat race would begin. SweetWater 420 Fest pulled off another winner. Can’t wait until next year!

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