Mickey Hart Band @ Stage 48 – May 10

Words: Chadbyrne Dickens
Photos: Vernon Webb

The devil is in the details. Mickey Hart, aka former member of Grateful Dead drum duo The Rhythm Devils, entertained a nearly sold-out Stage 48 venue in New York City last Friday night. Born in nearby Brooklyn, the consummate drummer, only months shy of his 70th birthday, Hart still knows how to satisfy his loyal fan base. In addition to his storied tenure as drummer for the world’s all-time greatest jam band, Hart is a multi-Grammy winner, a drum historian and successful author. Upon taking the stage he exclaimed with authority, “Let’s find places known and unknown together!”

[All Photos by Vernon Webb]

As Hart’s five-member band took the stage, the proceedings commenced with Hart’s lengthy cymbal smashing as if a symbolic start to the evening. The band blasted off into the saucy fan favorite, Shakedown Street, the dancing ditty about which Bobby Weir once said in 1979, “we tried to make a disco song.” The predominantly mature crowd paid tribute to Hart and company by clapping, singing and dancing throughout the joyous Shakedown Street romp and subsequent exploratory jam. Some people may have difficulty chewing gum and patting their head at the same time but Hart, hands adorned with white surgical gloves, snapped hard at his gum while working an elaborate varied drum kit that he stood at for the entire performance.

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Railroad Earth @ Best Buy Theatre – March 9

Words: Chadbyrne Dickens
Photos: Kylla Delisio

One of the prominent leaders in the current jamgrass revolution showcased their immense talent last week by returning to New York City for the first time in a year at the sold-out Best Buy Theatre. Formed in 2001, New Jersey ‘s own Railroad Earth consists of Todd Sheaffer (Lead vocals), Tim Carbone (Violin, electric guitar), John Skehan (Mandolin, Irish bouzouki), Andy Goessling (Acoustic & electric guitars, banjo, dobro, mandolin, flute, pennywhistle, saxophones), Carey Harmon (Drums) and Andrew Altman (Bass). The band’s name pays homage to a short story by Jack Kerouac.

[All Photos by Kylla Delisio]

With their patented sound including consistent rocking rhythms and gyrating grooves, Railroad Earth seems to improve every year. By mixing up a consistent rotation of bluegrass, Celtic, jazz, jam and rock, one is consistently challenged to anticipate what melodic structure or sound will come next. This particular incarnation of RRE showcased deeper and more fulfilling jams than in the past. The members played well off each other and appropriately filled in the spaces with exploratory instrumental magic. Black Elk > Spring-Heeled Jack was an appropriate opening complete with an intricate call and response jam. After the warm up, a Lake A Buddha > 1/2 Jiggy > Where Songs Begin segment fueled the crowd with its abundant energy.

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Unlike their genre contemporaries, who they are consistently lumped in with, Lotus brings a more diverse and varied sound as evidenced in the new repertoire of music recently released on Build. The new album adds another layer of musings from the well-traveled and still burgeoning band.

[All Photos by Jeremy Gordon]

A live touring juggernaut, currently scheduled to be at a venue near you, complete with a stellar light show experience, a beat and melody that is unpredictable and a unique sound with a slow build-up, Lotus is jamtronica at its finest, a musical force known to pummel your senses and leave one gasping from air from the relentless euphoric grooves. It ultimately leads to a monumental crescendo that allows participants to bask in its afterglow.

Fresh off a successful turn at sold-out venues in New York City, Hidden Track caught up with guitarist and synthesizer player, Luke Miller.

Hidden Track: I have been enjoying the new album, Build. Can you share how it is different from the band’s previous studio albums?

Luke Miller: We try to record most of our albums live in the studio which does not necessarily mean that every instrument is played live simultaneously but we try to do the majority of it live yet some of the electronic elements are added afterwards. I think it is a little more focused, a little less eclectic than our last album. We recorded 2 1/2 albums worth of songs, so we chose songs with the same kinda up-tempo sound on this one.

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Rubblebucket at Williamsburg Music Hall – November 18

Words: Chadbyrne R. Dickens
Photos: Tamara Lee

“We are serious, never mysterious, we’re just the chromed up lubed up image of ourselves” exclaims Kalmia Traver within the stanza of Silly Fathers. Many in attendance at Rubblebucket’s sold-out show in Brooklyn earlier this month could recognize these patented quirky and contagious party bounce-athon anthems. The show marked the band’s umpteenth show in 2012 including stops at numerous festivals including Bonnaroo, Catskill Chill and All Good. The band provides a sound wide in depth and scope by exhibiting raw emotion while pounding power and displaying original creative energy. At a show, one may easily escape to whatever fantasy land the band may escort you towards that particular evening.

[All Photos by Tamara Lee]

Rubblebucket was founded by musical and life couple, Alex Toth (trumpet) and Annakalmia Traver (lead vocals, baritone sax) after they met in music class at the University of Vermont nearly 10 years ago. The current band has garnered respect as one of the most diverse and creative bands in the land and includes Adam Dotson (trombone), Darby Wolf (Hammond B3, Juno, Moog, Clavinet), Craig Myers (percussion), Ian Hersey (guitar), Dave Cole (drums) and Jordan Brooks (bass).

Having relocated to Brooklyn, it was apropos that the final stop of their local tour (with six more shows scheduled elsewhere this year) would take place at the Williamsburg Music Hall, the local definitive music venue for indie rock acts. Sitting alone during a telling one hour sound check, I witnessed a slice of the hard work it takes to be the quintessential party band. The brass section impressed with a vast vocal range and luscious harmonies during the warm-ups and stretching exercises. Traver periodically sat center stage to meditate and presumably find “that place” where she likes to be in preparation for a performance.

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“Which one of these doors leads to where I belong?” inquires lead singer JP Biondo on Doors, the addictive first track on the new album, Leap from Ropeadope Records’ bluegrass outfit Cabinet. Doors mirrors a band not afraid to persevere against the odds while taking calculated risks in an effort to breakthrough. A seasoned group of musicians, having already released three live albums Eleven, Covers and Set I, this LP marks an exciting and fresh chapter for the Pennsylvania band, displaying their prowess on a number of contagious cuts.

Comprised of JP Biondo (mandolin/vocals), Mickey Coviello (guitar), Pappy Biondo (banjo/vocals), Dylan Skursky (bass), Todd Kopec (fiddle) and Jami Novak (drums), the band reworked many classic tunes that hard core fans will recognize from tour rotation, as well as unleashed some songs not previously performed before. A jam juggernaut, part bluegrass, rock and country, Cabinet features a distinct variety of lasting flavors that even the most distinguished music connoisseur will find something new in their sound. Leap is an assemblage of quality songs that harken back to the older times, where each song’s monster melody and gyrating groove segues into the next, leaving one consistently satiated after each cut.

Although naturally compared to similar acts in the genre like Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth and Cornmeal, Cabinet’s music jumps out with a flair and texture all its own. Intricate fast tempo and toe-tapping tracks like Susquehanna Breakdown and Eleanor further establish Cabinet as possessors of impressive instrumental chops that they weave among layers of distinctly professional musicianship. The songs are filled with luscious harmonies, grand and euphoric in scope and sound, the depth of which are accentuated with the powerful banjo picking by Pappy and finesse fiddle mastery by Kopec. With descriptive and soulful lyrics delivered with the exquisitely clear and comfortably haunting voice of JP Biondi, a world of moonshine and playful mayhem develops from track to track.

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Catskill Chill 2012 @ Camp Minglewood – September 7-9

Words: Chadbyrne R. Dickens
Photos: Vernon Webb

Chill is not the first word that comes to mind when recalling an experience at a magical festival nestled among the Catskill Mountains in Hancock, New York over the September 7th-9th weekend. A non-stop bombardment of relentless musical fury left many with endless positive memories of the laughing, raging and dancing that delivered exquisite musical memories across three stages.

[All Photos by Vernon Webb]

With a festival pass for only $125, Catskill Chill presented varied offerings apt to wet attendees’ appetites and satiate anyone’s palette: Livetronica lovers spinned out to Lotus, Break Science and Conspirator. Funk fans jived out with Lettuce, EOTO and Soulive while jam aficionados were fortunate to have plenty of opportunities to consistently groove with offerings like The Heavy Pets, JGB with Melvin Seals, Yarn, and Kung Fu. Jamgrass fans cut a rug with Cornmeal and headliners Yonder Mountain String Band. The list of over 40 infectiously fun bands who performed on the festival’s three stages also included hard-to-categorize acts Particle, Kick Rocks, Rubblebucket, Wyllys and the Jennifer Hartswick Band.

In its third year, Catskill Chill has exponentially increased in size and popularity. With last year’s attendance number of 2,700 jumping to a plateau this year, the promoters placed a cap on further ticket sales in order to maintain the integrity of the intimate festival they started because “everyone feels like part of the Family at Catskill Chill.” The family vibe was shared immediately as members from the amazing up and coming bands FiKus and ShwizZ greeted guests upon arrival. Fans were delighted to meet the band members over the weekend as they actually shared the “Shwikus” cabin on the grounds and provided an assortment of intimate and adventurous jam sessions throughout the weekend.

Inexplicably, much has been made of the horrific storm that hit the Camp on Saturday with 60 mph winds. When one is at a festival, they should anticipate rain, mud and sometimes even freezing temperatures as it’s a festival – expect the unexpected and roll with it. For those huddled in a comfortable cabin with dear friends, the hour that the storm came through provided an opportunity to recharge batteries and afforded the chance to relish how fortunate they were to be back and witnessing a spectacular event. The storm one was more apt to be euphorically crushed by was the one brewing amongst Acoustic Junction, the Main, B and Club Chill Stages. Below I share some of the memorable musical moments.

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Equifunk V 2012 @ Camp Equinunk – August 17 -19

Words: Chadbyrne Dickens
Photos: Dino Perrucci

“We are gonna laugh, jump and shout, so keep the music playin” – Brian J, The Pimps of Joytime

Imagine if one could recapture their youth for one weekend. One would harken back to the loss of innocence, the uninhibited fun and revelry amongst like-minded souls on a summer’s day. This past weekend at Camp Equinunk in the heart of the Poconos, nearly 1000 young adults embarked on a full-throttle summer camp type euphoric experience. With two non-stop days of top quality musical entertainment, a swimming pool with a water slide, exquisite summer weather, endless beer and food, at an all-inclusive price, there was nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile. In its 5th year, original founders Eric and Sara Kamen, now in partnership with 5 others, have improved the Festival exponentially, to an impressive level. The staff was friendly and devoid of any tough-guy security antics prevalent at so many other venues. By all accounts, Equifunk Festival V was a smashing success.

[All Photos by Dino Perrucci]

The “all-inclusive Festival” that Hidden Track once dubbed the “Anti-festival”, because at a reasonable price, Equifunk offers every Festival necessity their bigger and ultimately more expensive rivals promise. With 24 sets mostly rooted in the funk genre, performed by 19 different acts over 2 days on 3 stages with no over-lapping sets, the avid concert-goer grows fully satiated with a superior funkadelic musical explosion. The accommodations split between the Equinunk Cabins located on the main campground and the Blue Ridge cabins located nearby across a quaint wooden walking bridge overlooking a glistening lake that offered spectacular sunrises and sunsets on one’s way to and from music. Equifunk is not simply an excuse for debauchery like its brethren, as activities such as a pick-up softball game, 3 on 3 basketball, yoga and a pool party complete with a water slide bustled with energetic attendees. A menu consisting of a varied selection for different tastes was included in the reasonable price as was the unlimited amount of Coors Light draft beer. If one felt hunger pains late night, offerings included pizza and grilled cheese.

Friday’s Musical Highlights

Pimps of Joytime / 8:30pm-10:00pm / E-Rena Stage

The Pimps of Joytime are that band one so immediately falls in love with their energetic and funky dance party grooves that one is immediately torn: you can’t wait to share your discovery to impress your friends that you found them first, but you also consider not telling a soul so it can remain your secret. POJ are a funk-laden, soul-shakedown machine guaranteed to turn any curmudgeon into a laid-back hipster within moments of catching the first beat. A multi-ethnic band mirrors the genre-transcending rhythms and lyrics that only prove this band will soon be the ultimate party experience complete with bombastic bass thumping, heavy beats and a recurring phat jam that gets the blood pumping and shoes kicking up the air. Composed, articulate and driven, band leader Brian J epitomizes the type of cool cat mirrored within his music. Although his style could easily supersede substance, it only adds fuel to the fire and completes a sound concert-going experience. Although the similarities will draw endless comparisons, modest Brian J didn’t abhore the moment the discussion turned to the Purple One, “I don’t mind being compared to Prince, although it’s a bit silly to do so with an icon in that talent stratosphere.” Someday soon, we may be talking about Brian J and the Pimps in a similar manner, as they bask in success; they have the talent and they are starting the ascent.

Setlist: Brooklyn Midnite, Joytime Radio, Take These Blues, L Train>Blues with You, Janxta, San Francisco Bound, Keep That Music Playin, Stop Wastin

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