Matt Butler will pull musicians from Rubblebucket, Tea Leaf Green and moe. to make up the ensemble for the Everyone Orchestra’s return to the Northeast in April. Butler will lead bassist Reed Mathis, keyboardist Trevor Garrod, guitarist Al Schnier, drummer Vinnie Amico, saxophonist/vocalist Kalmia Traver and trumpeter Alex Toth for shows in Quincy, Mass. (April 18th at South Shore Music Hall), Philadelphia (April 19th at The Blockley) and New York City (April 20th at The Cutting Room).
Marco Benevento was already scheduled to play The Blockey on the 19th, so according to the venue he’ll perform with his trio and then join EO for a “super jam.” The Everyone Orchestra will reveal ticketing details and “more special guests” soon on their Facebook page.
It’s late in the year for lineup changes, but that hasn’t stopped two musicians from leaving the bands for which they’re best known. Percussionist Craig Myers has left Rubblebucket, while multi-instrumentalist John Neff has unexpectedly quit the Drive-By Truckers.
[Photo by Jeremy Gordon]
Myers has left the employ of HT faves Rubblebucket to focus on his own band – Barika, according to a report by Brent Hallenbeck of the Burlington Free-Press. After more than five years in Rubblebucket, when on the road “Myers missed the band that he leads back home in Burlington, the West African-inspired Barika.” According to Hallenbeck, Myers’ last gig with Rubblebucket took place on September 6th. Rubblebucket begins a two-night stand at Higher Ground on Sunday while Barika plays Nectar’s on Saturday.
In a surprise move, pedal steel/guitarist John Neff announced his departure from Drive-By Truckers in a terse statement on his Facebook page, “Today I quit the Drive-by Truckers. Thanks for all the friendships. Let’s keep in touch” as reported by Jambands.com. The Truckers kick off a three-night New Year’s run at Washington D.C.’s 9:30 Club in just two days.
The third annual SnowBall Music Festival will take place in the “majestic mountain paradise” of Winter Park, Colorado on March 8 – 10. Today we got our first look at the lineup as the initial artist announcement has been released. HT faves Pretty Lights, Portugal. The Man, Rubblebucket and Big Gigantic are all aboard as well as Zion I, Kendrick Lamar, Datsik, Flosstradamus, Porter Robinson and Crizzly w/ Lil Flip.
The event combines a music festival with a skiing/snowboarding event. All in all, SnowBall ’13 will feature approximately 65 acts on four stages, so there’s plenty more to be announced. “From the beginning, SnowBall has always sought to offer a unique experience, and to create something that hasn’t been done before. It’s incredible how many people who attend SnowBall ski and snowboard each day of the festival, and somehow still have the energy to experience the music festival from beginning to end, followed by the late-night shows until two in the morning. Our fans’ energy and attitude is ultimately what shapes the event, which is why I know they are going to love Winter Park and the vibe that the town caters to,” festival founder Chad Donnelly explains.
While Snow Day and Early Bird Tickets are sold out, there’s special Holiday tickets available for $149 a pop at the event’s website as well as VIP Advance tickets.
“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.
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.
