TOAST-N-JAM

NEW moe,. ANYONE?

2012-01-28T11:10:00.000-08:00

Cool YouTube clip (and free download) here

# # #

TnJ 378 (1/26/12)

2012-01-26T21:37:00.000-08:00

-HOUR ONE-

PHISH – Party Time (8/10/10 Telluride Town Park, Telluride, CO) livephish.com
JJ GREY & MOFRO – Dirtfloorcracka > Footsteps > Turpentine (7/13/07 Howelson, Hill, Steamboat Springs, CO) jjgrey.com
LOS LOBOS – Chuco's Cumbia (5/7/11 Camel Rock Casino, Tesuque, NM)
GRUPO FANTASMA – Realizando (2010 El Existential) grupofantasma.com
the WIYOS – Mary (2012 Twist) thewiyos.com
DUB IS a WEAPON – Destiny (2011 Vaporized) homegrownmusic.net
BLACK KEYS – Hell of a Season (2011 El Camino)
HAYES CARLL – Bad Liver and a Broken Heart (2008 Trouble in Mind) hayescarll.com

-HOUR TWO-

NEW RIDERS of the PURPLE SAGE w/ JERRY GARCIA – Runnin' Back to You (4/29/71 Fillmore East, New York, NY) wolfgangsvault.com
RAILROAD EARTH – the Wheel (2011 Jerry Jams for Rex Vol. II, 12/31/10 Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO) livedownloads.com
HOGSLOP STRING BAND – Prohibition Is a Failure (2011 Volume Two – the Butcher Shoppe Sessions) redeyerooster.com
the HARPOONIST & the AXE MURDERER – Get Out (2011 Checkered Past) harpoonistaxemurderer.com
STRANGE ARRANGEMENT – Bed Bugs (2011 Polygraph) homegrownmusic.net
GOV'T MULE w/ GREG RZAB, DR. DAN MATTRAZO, JON SMITH, MIKE BARNES & DJ LOGIC – Sco-Mule (2011 Warren Haynes Presents - the Benefit Concert, Vol. 4, 12/21/02 Asheville, NC) warrenhaynes.net
CLUB D'ELF – Gettin' Squinty (2011 Electric Moroccoland / So Below) clubdelf.com

# # #

TnJ 377 (1/19/12)

2012-01-19T20:04:00.000-08:00

-HOUR ONE-

TR3 – Burning Season (2011 From Space and Beyond, 11/09 Evanston, IL) timreynolds.com
WARREN HAYNES – Hattiesburg Hustle (2011 Man in Motion) warrenhaynes.net
LEO KOTTKE – Snorkel (1999 One Guitar, No Vocals) leokottke.com
JJ GREY & MOFRO – the Sun Is Shining Down (2007 Country Ghetto) jjgrey.com
CAROLYN WONDERLAND – What Good Can Drinkin' Do (2011 Peace Meal) carolynwonderland.com
JANIS JOPLIN – Cry Baby (2005 Pearl [legacy edition], 6/28/70 Toronto, Ontario)
ROBERT PALMER – Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley (1974 Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley)

-HOUR TWO-

moe. - Captain America > She (2007 Warts & All, Vol. 5, 2/22/05 Des Moines, IA ) moe.org
MiZ – October Skies (2011 East Hope Avenue) mikemizmusic.com
23 STRING BAND – Fat Frankie (2011 Catch 23) the23stringband.com
CORNMEAL – Drinking Away the Memory of You (2011 Live in Chicago, IL Vol. II) homegrownmusicnetwork.net
DARK STAR ORCHESTRA – St. Stephen (2011 Jerry Jams for Rex II, 5/9/11 Burlington, VT) rexfoundation.org
PEARL JAM – Release (2011 PJ20 OST, 9/16/06 Verona, Italy)

# # #

TnJ 376 (1/12/12)

2012-01-19T17:54:00.000-08:00

Guest toast Scottie H dug up 3 hours worth of killer DMB, in celebration of Dave's 45th birthday on 1/9/12 (^_^)

-HOUR ONE-

DAVE MATTHEWS / TIM REYNOLDS – Squirm (9/14/09 Las Vegas, NV)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Warehouse > Louie Louie (7/8/06 Fenway Park, Boston, MA)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Trouble With You (2005 Stand Up - bonus track)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Exodus (8/23/95 Rochester Hills, MI)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Rapunzel (3/23-24/07 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV)

-HOUR TWO-

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Sweet Caroline (7/8/06 Fenway Park, Boston, MA)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – You Might Die Trying (7/17/10 NYC)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Spaceman (7/17/10 NYC)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Louisiana Bayou (3/23-24/07 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Crush (9/30/08 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

-HOUR THREE-

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – the Idea of You (3/23-24/07 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Shake Me Like a Monkey (2009 Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND - #41 (9/11/05 Red Rocks, Morrison, CO)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – All Along the Watchtower > Ants Marching (7/8/07 Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA)

# # #

Sorry this list took so long to post - I've been on the hunt for the audio archive of this show and it seems to have vanished. If all the phone calls were any indication though, you had a great time riding along (^_^) TOAST

# # #

NO LUKAS NELSON

2012-01-18T18:35:00.000-08:00

Word has filtered down that Lukas Nelson's tour bus has broken down, and the anticipated Santa Fe show will need to be rescheduled. Refunds at point-of-purchase. Stay posted. Stay toasted.

(^_^) TOAST

# # #

TnJ 375 (1/5/12)

2012-01-05T21:14:00.001-08:00

-HOUR ONE-

BOB WEIR & FRIENDS – Truckin' > the Other One (2011 Warren Haynes Presents - the Benefit Concert, Vol. 4, 12/21/02 Asheville, NC) warrenhaynes.net
PRIMUS – Moron TV (2011 Green Naugahyde) primusville.com
KING CRIMSON – Thela Hun Ginjeet (1981 Discipline)
TALKING HEADS – Born Under Punches [the Heat Goes On] (2/27/81 Sun Palace, Tokyo, Japan)
the BLACK KEYS – Stop Stop (2011 El Camino)
CRUSHED VELVET & the VELVETEERS – the Lay Down (1974/2011 the Big One OST) bandcamp.com
TROMBONE SHORTY – For True (2011 For True) tromboneshorty.com

-HOUR TWO-

JJ GREY & MOFRO – Ho Cake (2011 Brighter Days CD/DVD, 1/22/11 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA) jjgrey.com
BUZZUNIVERSE – Round and Round (2011 Living Breathing Magic) buzzuniverse.com
WIDESPREAD PANIC w/ DANNY LOUIS – Blackout Blues (7/19/09 Mile High Music Festival, Denver, CO) livewidespreadpanic.com
JEFF BECK w/ IMELDA MAY – Walking in the Sand (2011 Rock'n'Roll Party Honoring Les Paul)
the WHO – My Generation (4/6/68 Fillmore East, New York, NY) wolfgangsvault.com
the HOLY GOATS – Next Round (2011 Next Round) theholygoats.com
TEA LEAF GREEN – All Washed Up (2011 Radio Tragedy!) tealeafgreen.com
the HEAVY PETS w/ DAVID GRISMAN – Grandma June (2011 Swim Out Past the Sun) homegrownmusic.net
BUXTER HOOT'N – Spill Some Juice on Me (2011 Buxter Hoot'n) buxterhootn.com

# # #

TnJ BEST of 2012

2012-01-02T17:05:00.000-08:00

TOAST’s FAVORITE ALBUMS of 2011

10) STOCKHOLM SYNDROME – Apollo

Possibly just too much raw talent to settle down and try to get conventional airplay, this jam band supergroup is largely for the already converted.

HIGH POINTS: Emma’s Pissed, Red Lightning

09) the BLACK KEYS – El Camino

Like the automobile adorning its cover, a collection of songs sounding like and praising what was often dismissed as merely commonplace in the 70s.

HIGH POINTS: Little Black Submarines, Gold on the Ceiling

08) NATHAN MOORE – Dear Puppeteer

I’ll bet even Moore’s unsure at this point how many releases this makes, but it could be one of the highlights of his lowlit career.

HIGH POINTS: Choose Thy Love, Can’t Fly to Heaven

07) TOM WAITS – Bad as Me

Put this one on and be pulled into the warm, familiar, bizarre, occasionally menacing carnival of a supreme storyteller’s mind.

HIGH POINTS: Chicago, Bad as Me

06) GRAYSON CAPPS – the Lost Cause Minstrels

Essentially a contemporary blues album with a bit of a Cajun kick, Capps mines the sound for all it’s worth and delivers one of the most unusual and listenable blues albums of the year.

HIGH POINTS: No Definitions, Ol’ Slac (Joe Cain), Coconut Moonshine

05) BLACK JOE LEWIS & the HONEYBEARS – Scandalous

Down’n’dirty, like James Brown with a punk attitude. Splitting their efforts between rock and funk may make gaining a wide audience difficult (because others have already done it), but they pull it off live in the proverbial spades.

HIGH POINTS: Booty City, Mustang Ranch, Livin’ in the Jungle

04) TV on the RADIO – Nine Types of Light

Sonic architect Dave Sitek has constructed an album both edgy and retro, which may be the musical recording skill of the future. The songwriting and musicianship are beyond reproach. This album might still sound new 10 years from now.

HIGH POINTS: Second Song, Killer Crane, You

03) MY MORNING JACKET – Circuital

Though not as diverse and mind-blowing as MMJ’s “Evil Urges,” this album certainly has its moments. Retro-rocketeer Jim James may not be the mad genius he’s touted as being, but he’s more interesting than most.

HIGH POINTS: Circuital, Victory Dance, First Light, Outta My System

02) the DECEMBERISTS – the King Is Dead

I have a hard time believing a band I had so little interest in could concoct something so delicate, beautiful and gut-wrenching. Until now, their attempts at symphonic indie-folk left me wanting. Now I just want more.

HIGH POINTS: Dear Avery, Don’t Carry It All, Down by the Water, Calamity Song

01) the JAYHAWKS – Mockingbird Time

If this is what every Jayhawks album could’ve been, I’m a little miffed they weren’t. This is a jangly, harmonic, power-folk masterpiece. Maybe every band should break up for 13 years then regroup, if this is the result.

HIGH POINTS: High Water Blues, Tiny Arrows, Hide Your Colors, Stand Out in the Rain, Hey, Mr. Man

# # #

TOAST’S FAVORITE SINGLES of 2011

10) UMPHREY’S McGEE – Hajimemashite

Pleased as punch they finally made a good studio recording of this one. There’s not likely to be a better radio song from these titans of prog-metal-jam.

09) IMPERIAL ROOSTER – Korhn Sirup Sundae

Anytime I find myself singing along (or wanting to sing along) to a song the first time I hear it, it makes the list. Doesn’t happen often.

08) WARREN HAYNES – Man In Motion

The hardest working man in jambandom now also has an old-school R&B project going – when does he sleep? Only the album version of this one will do, by the way: great lead-in and outro eviscerated for the radio version.

07) the DECEMERISTS – Down by the Water

Seems as though when 3 of the Decemberists formed the side group Black Prairie they got to stretch their folk muscles a little. Did they know the tide was turning folky this year? Did the tide turn folky because the Decemberists did? Chicken or the egg.

06) BEN HARPER – Rock n’Roll Is Free

Harper proves he knows how to churn out a by-the-numbers rock song and make it give you goosebumps remembering how much you loved those three chords in the first place. Basic but oh-so-solid, “this might be a good one to learn on,” thinks the fledgling bass player in me.

05) GARAGE á TROIS – Assault on Precinct 13

The lineup lost Charlie Hunter and gained Marco Benevento over the years, but this experimental groove collective has laid down a solid, almost danceable, cover of a John Carpenter film score composition. One of the most addictive songs I’ve heard in a while, but then I’m not obsessed with lyrics. Now, if only they would do an entire John Carpenter cover album.

04) TV on the RADIO – Second Song

Within the first few bars, this song had me convinced I absolutely had to buy the album. Luckily, the rest of the album’s pretty great as well (see album #4 above). They may not be as popular as the Black Keys, but I’ll argue they’re better (at least on this album), no matter how much ink the hipster press gives those Akronites. Of course, I really like the Black Keys, too (see album #9 above). No doubt TVOTR put a lot of effort into making this bubbly, fractured, infectious synth-funk-rock seem so effortless.

03) FOSTER the PEOPLE – Pumped Up Kicks

Any song that takes this long to climb the charts is likely to have the kind of staying power that say, Hootie and the Blowfish, didn’t. Time will tell if this observation will bear out, but this song became ubiquitous so slowly I was like a lobster on a slow boil, unaware my environment was changing at all. I predict this is now the sound all wannabe “indie” music makers will try to ape until the next big thing comes along. I won’t be able to recall 2011 later without this tune tagging along, unbidden, from the morass of my memories.

02) the CIVIL WARS – Barton Hollow

Chilling. Spine-tingling. Toe-curling. Recordings this perfect usually come out months, if not years, apart. It’s definitely a standout on this album. I don’t care much for most of the rest. Some of it I actually dislike. But I’m definitely going to be curious to check out what they come up with next. Huh. That makes them sound like the Woody Allen of folk music to me. “Barton Hollow” is as powerful and soulful as folk music has been since, well, for years, certainly. My memory doesn’t go back that far anymore. If you liked Cash’s take on “Ain’t No Grave,” this is about twice as good.

01) the JAYHAWKS – High Water Blues

An ebullient song to begin with, but the bridge just knocks it out of the park. Possibly the only time this year I actually listened to a song repeatedly during the same sitting. It’s almost 2 great songs in one. I don’t think folk is capable of being more rock than this without crossing the line into punk. On an album saturated with wonderful harmonies and crafty songsmanship, this track is the one I’ll remember most. It’s so good it may be the song I remember most 10 years from now, by anyone.

# # #

Okay, enough with the Casey Kasem countdown format…

LIVE BANDS WHO BLEW MY MIND in 2011:

WIDESPREAD PANIC
TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND
SOULIVE
CHRIS ROBINSON BAND
IMPERIAL ROOSTER
GRUPO FANTASMA
ARCADE FIRE
LOS LOBOS
HYMN for HER
BLACK JOE LEWIS & the HONEYBEARS

HONORABLE MENTION > CRYSTAL METHOD (Playing turntables, sequencing, and sampling isn’t exactly the same as playing instruments, is it? These guys sure tear it up, though.)

“OFFICIAL” LIVE 2011 RELEASES NO JAM FAN SHOULD BE WITHOUT:

GALACTIC – The Other Side of Midnight – Live in New Orleans

Like their original live at Tipitina’s release from 2001, this is a fantastic snapshot of the band as they stand now, and with smoking guest appearances to boot.

PHISH – Live in Utica [CD/DVD]

If only for the epic “Melt > Mercy > Piper > Melt > Slave,” but not even only for that.

INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – We’ll Do It Live

Impossibly, their jams become more concise the more of a jam band they become. They are the psychedelic Jedi of bluegrass.

TODD SNIDER – the Storyteller

If you like the rambling storytelling of Leo Kottke or Arlo Guthrie as much as their music, you’ll enjoy this album.

WARREN HAYNES PRESENTS the BENEFIT CONCERT VOL. 4

One of the best of the famous “Christmas Jam” releases so far, with memorable turns from Bob Weir & Friends, moe., and Robert Randolph & the Family Band.

“UNOFFICIAL” LIVE 2011 SHOWS WORTH HUNTING DOWN:

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – 8/12/11 Albuquerque, NM

This combo is incredible. Hopefully we’ll get an official live release someday, and hopefully it will include the Sly & the Family Stone medley!

STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – 3/10-3/12/11 Broomfield, CO

Might go down as a historically great run. Some of the best performances of their career. Even a lot of the “new songs” sound good (^_^)

WIDESPREAD PANIC – 6/22/11 Taos, NM

Second set especially mind-melting during a sit-in by School’s Stockholm bandmate, Eric McFadden. Possibly the best “Red Hot Mama” ever.

PHISH – 9/3/11 Denver, CO

The middle of an epic 3-night run. First night has novelty on its side (all “S” songs), but this one is just so solid it blows me away.

INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – 3/18/11 Boulder, CO

You will believe a progressive bluegrass band can cover a large swath of the Police’s catalog! When these guys go out on a limb, it usually pays off.

BEST LOCAL ALBUM:

ANTHONY LEON & the CHAIN - the Pistol, the Bottle, and shaded pastures

“LIKES” from the FRESHIES CROP – MORE, PLEASE:

OLD CALIFORNIO
BRUSHFIRE STANKGRASS
DUB IS A WEAPON
HYMN for HER
BUXTER HOOT’N

BEST ROCK DOC SINCE LIKE, the 70s, PROBABLY:

PEARL JAM TWENTY

WTF?:

Dubstep? Is that even a thing? I mean, as opposed to a mash-up of 2 other, previously existing things that hadn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of ever being popular? Is it somehow related to Zumba?

# # #

LIVE PHISH from the ARCHIVES

2012-01-02T09:55:00.000-08:00

w00t

The livephish.com folks have just made available the entire 12/31/91 Worchester, MA show.

Here's a preview track: Tweezer > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, courtesy of the band.

Enjoy (^_^) TOAST

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TnJ 374 (12/29/11)

2011-12-29T22:34:00.000-08:00

2011 TOAST-n-JAM BEST OF SAMPLER

-HOUR ONE-

the DECEMBERISTS – Calamity Song (2011 the King Is Dead)
TOM WAITS – New Year’s Eve (2011 Bad as Me)
IMPERIAL ROOSTER – Khorn Sirip Sundae (2011 Decent People)
the CIVIL WARS – Barton Hollow (2011 Barton Hollow)
BEN HARPER – Rock n’ Roll Is Free (2011 Give Till It’s Gone)
the BLACK KEYS – Gold on the Ceiling (2011 El Camino)
GALACTIC w/ SOUL REBELS BRASS BAND and COREY HENRY – From the Corner to the Block (2011 the Other Side of Midnight – Live in New Orleans, 10/29/10 Tipitina’s, New Orleans, LA)
BLACK JOE LEWIS & the HONEYBEARS – Livin’ in the Jungle (2011 Scandalous)
TV on the RADIO – Repetition (2011 Nine Types of Light)
MY MORNING JACKET – You Wanna Freak Out (2011 Circuital)

-HOUR TWO-

PHISH – Theme from the Bottom > Black-Eyed Katy (2011 Hampton/Winston-Salem '97 [box set], 11/23/97 Veteran's Memorial Coliseum)
GRAYSON CAPPS – Rock ‘n’ Roll (2011 the Lost Cause Minstrels)
TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – Midnight in Harlem (2011 Revelator)
BRUSHFIRE STANKGRASS – Funk Epidemic (2010 One for the Salamanders)
the INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – the Hitchhiker (2011 We’ll Do It Live)
the JAYHAWKS – Mockingbird Time (2011 Mockingbird Time)

# # #

Keep an eye on the blog in the next few days and I’ll post my yearly listmania (^_^) TOAST

# # #

2011 MUSICAL YEAR IN REVIEW

2011-12-24T17:12:00.001-08:00

This Thursday (12/29), tune in, turn on, and jam out with the sweetest sounds from this year's crop. Not just the best studio releases, but the best live releases (both official and unofficial), the best local music, and as always, the best bands you must see live. It'll be one for the record books - hope you can join me (^_^) TOAST

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TnJ 373 (12/22/11)

2011-12-22T19:38:00.001-08:00

"What's it all about?" "It" being the whole jam band thing, I guess. Here's as good a place to start as any. A primer for a friend looking for an "in," perhaps. And though I could certainly do a few more lists like these to get everyone in I feel should be represented, I'm calling this JAM BAND 101. Enjoy (^_^)

-HOUR ONE-

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Warehouse (1997 Live at Red Rocks 8/15/95)
JIMI HENDRIX – Jam Back at the House (1994 Woodstock, c. 1969)
moe. - Meat (2000 L)
PHISH – the Moma Dance > the Wedge (9/3/11 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Denver, CO)
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT w/ JOHN COWAN – Can't Stop Now (6/19/03 Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Telluride, CO)
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – Kentucky Mandolin (2008 Mountain Tracks Volume 5, 7/21/07 Columbus, OH)

-HOUR TWO-

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – Whipping Post (1997 Fillmore East February, 1970)
LED ZEPPELIN – You Shook Me (8/31/69 Texas International Pop Festival, Dallas, TX)
GOV'T MULE – Mule (4/28/07 Santa Fe Brewing Company, Santa Fe, NM)
UMPHREY'S McGEE – Hangover (12/30/04 the Riviera, Chicago, IL)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Travelin' Light (2010 Live in the Classic City II, MM)
GRATEFUL DEAD – the Music Never Stopped (1999 So Many Roads 1965-1995 [box set], 10/14/80 the Warfield, San Francisco, CA)

# # #

TnJ 372 (12/15/11)

2011-12-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

Once again, guest toast Clinton Huling gets it done, excavating rare treasures from his archives (^_^)

-HOUR ONE-

JIMMY REED – Christmas Present Blues (2009 In the Christmas Groove)
AFRICAN MUSIC MACHINE – Black Music Gold [Pearl] (1972 Black Water Gold)
EDDIE HAZEL – California Dreamin’ (1977 Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs)
JIMI HENDRIX – Hear My Freedom (2010 West Coast Seattle Boy – the Jimi Hendrix Anthology)
KING CURTIS – Instant Groove (1969 Instant Groove)
JERRY GARCIA & FRIENDS – Slippin’ Into Christmas (11/23/72 Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, TX)
JIMMY McGRIFF – Jingle Bells (1963 Christmas with Jimmy McGriff)
EDDIE HARRIS & LES McCANN – Shorty Rides Again (1971 Second Movement)
RAY CHARLES – the Little Drummer Boy (1985 the Spirit of Christmas)

-HOUR TWO-

CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD – Never Been to Spain (11/2/11 George’s Majestic, Fayetteville, AR)
CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD – Ride (11/2/11 George’s Majestic, Fayetteville, AR)
CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD – Mr. Charlie (11/2/11 George’s Majestic, Fayetteville, AR)
MARSHALL TUCKER BAND – Melody Ann (1979 Running Like the Wind)
NEIL YOUNG – Pocahontas (11/17/92 WTTW Studios, Chicago, IL)
RECONSTRUCTION – Strugglin’ Man (7/7/79 the Keystone, Palo Alto, CA)
MIKE BLOOMFIELD – the Ones I Loved Are Gone (1969 It’s Not Killing Me)

# # #

TnJ 371 (12/8/11)

2011-12-08T21:20:00.001-08:00

-HOUR ONE-

WIDESPREAD PANIC – Postcard (12/31/10 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO) livewidespreadpanic.com
STOCKHOLM SYNDROME – Apollo (2011 Apollo) stockholmsyndromeband.com
RYAN ADAMS – Invisible Riverside (2011 Ashes & Fire)
DARK STAR ORCHESTRA – Feel Like a Stranger (7/8/10 All Good Music Festival, Masontown, WV) darkstarorchestra.net
ROBERT EARL KEEN – Play a Train Song (2011 Ready for Confetti) robertearlkeen.com
GRAYSON CAPPS – Coconut Moonshine (2011 the Lost Cause Minstrels) graysoncapps.com
FORMER CHAMPIONS – [Worthless] Human Artifacts (2011 Former Champions) homegrownmusic.net
moe. - Downward Facing Dog (2012 What Happened to the La Las) moe.org

-HOUR TWO-

moe. w/ WARREN HAYNES – Opium (2011 Warren Haynes Presents – the Benefit Concert, Vol. 4, 12/21/02 Asheville, NC) warrenhaynes.net
JOE CARO – Sludge (2011 Home Alone) joecaro.net
DOORS – Back Door Man > Love Hides > Back Door Man (6/5/70 Seattle Center Coliseum)
DOORS – Soul Kitchen (2008 Live at the Matrix '67, 3/7/67 San Francisco, CA)
GREGG ALLMAN – I Can't Be Satisfied (2011 Low Country Blues)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – Melissa (1992 An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band – First Set)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (7/19/79 Merriweather-Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD)

# # #

OAKHURST LIVE on KBAC WEDS 12/7

2011-12-02T14:49:00.001-08:00

Tune in, turn on, and jam out with an afternoon Toast-n-Jam session in KBAC's Studio 2, 3 p.m., featuring Colorado's jamgrass up-and-comers: Oakhurst.

# # #

Here's the link to listen to Oakhurst live on KBAC...
# # #

TnJ 370 (12/1/11)

2011-12-01T20:58:00.000-08:00

-HOUR ONE-

KELLER WILLIAMS INCIDENT – Man Smart [Woman Smarter] > Kidney in a Cooler (6/21/02 Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN)
OAKHURST – Bitterroot Hop (2008 Jump in the Get Down) porchmusic.com
DECEMBERISTS – Row Jimmy (2011 Long Live the King EP) thedecemberists.com
TOM WAITS – Satisfied (2011 Bad as Me)
NICK MOSS – Here Comes Moses (2011 Here I Am) nickmoss.com
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD – Come on Over (2011 How I Go)

-HOUR TWO-

ROBERT RANDOLPH & the FAMILY BAND – Squeeze (2011 Live in Concert) robertrandolph.net
ROBERT RANDOLPH & the FAMILY BAND w/ WARREN HAYNES and DANNY LOUIS – Shake Your Hips (2011 Warren Haynes Presents – the Benefit Concert, Vol. 4, 12/21/02 Asheville, NC) warrenhaynes.net
BLACK SABBATH – Jack the Stripper / Fairies Wear Boots (1970 Paranoid)
JANE'S ADDICTION – Curiosity Kills (2011 the Great Escape Artist) janesaddiction.com
UMPHREY'S McGEE – Miami Virtue (2011 Death by Stereo) umphreys.com
PHISH – Stash > NICU (2011 Hampton/Winston-Salem '97 [box set], 11/23/97 Veteran's Memorial Coliseum) phish.com

# # #

TnJ 369 (11/24/11)

2011-11-23T13:53:00.000-08:00

Extra Grateful Thanksgiving Edition...

-SET ONE-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Hard to Handle (4/29/71 Fillmore East, New York, NY)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Sugar Magnolia (2007 Live at the Cow palace – New Year’s Eve 1976)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Deal (5/8/77 Cornell U)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Bertha > Good Lovin’ (7/8/78 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO)

-SET TWO-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Uncle John’s Band > Playing in the Band > Uncle John’s Band (6/8/80 Folsom Field, Boulder, CO)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Bird Song (4/28/85 Frost Amphitheatre, Palo Alto, CA)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Shakedown Street (12/14/90 McNichols Arena, Denver, CO)

ENCORE:

GRATEFUL DEAD – Dancing in the Street (5/8/77 Cornell U)

# # #

BIRDLAND BIRTHDAY BASH

2011-11-17T21:40:00.001-08:00

D Numbers and Moksha? This is likely to be a show worth seeing!

Go here for more (^_^) TOAST

# # #

THANKSGIVING SPECIAL NEXT WEEK

2011-11-17T21:15:00.000-08:00

Tune in, turn on, and jam out this Thursday night (11/24) for an EXTRA GRATEFUL THANKSGIVING edition of Toast-n-Jam (^_^)

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TnJ 368 (11/17/11)

2011-11-17T19:42:00.000-08:00

-HOUR ONE-

MY MORNING JACKET – First Light (2011 Circuital) mymorningjacket.com
HYMN for HER – Drive (2008 Year of the Golden Pig) hymnforher.com
HEAVY PETS – a Doy and His Bog (2011 Swim Out Past the Sun) homegrownmusic.net
DISCO BISCUITS – Spraypaint (2011 Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens) discobiscuits.com
D NUMBERS – Paradise Moonshooter (2010 Onda) dnumbers.com
TINARIWEN – Iswegh Attay (2011 Tassili) tinariwen.com
KELLER WILLIAMS – Dance of the Freek (2004 Stage, 3/11/03 the Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA) kellerwilliams.net

-HOUR TWO-

INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Well, Well (2011 We’ll Do It Live) thestringdusters.com
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – Whipping Post (1992 the Fillmore Concerts, 3/13/71 Fillmore East, New York, NY)
METALLICA – Disposable Heroes (2011 the Bridge School Concerts – 25th Anniversary Edition)
RODRIGO y GABRIELA – One (2008 Live in Japan) rodgab.com

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TnJ 367 (11/10/11)

2011-11-10T19:28:00.000-08:00

-HOUR ONE-

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – Bound for Glory (2011 Revelator) tedeschitrucksband.com
DELANEY & BONNIE & FRIENDS – Comin’ Home (1970 On Tour with Eric Clapton)
PEARL JAM w/ NEIL YOUNG – Walk with Me (2011 Pearl Jam Twenty OST, 10/23/10 Bridge School Benefit, Mountain View, CA)
NEIL YOUNG and CRAZY HORSE – Cowgirl in the Sand (1969 Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere)
ALBERTA CROSS – Driving with Myself (2011 the Rolling Thunder EP) albertacross.net
HYMN for HER – Grave (2010 Lucy & Wayne and the Amairican Stream) hymnforher.com
the MACPODZ – 9 Lives (2011 the Truth EP) themacpodz.com

-HOUR TWO-

UMPHREY’S McGEE – Conduit (2011 Death by Stereo) umphreys.com
MOKSHA – Entranced (2011 Here to Go) mokshatime.com
BOOKER T. JONES – Crazy (2011 the Road from Memphis) bookert.com
BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO – Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? (1988 Taking It Home) buckwheatzydeco.com
LOS LOBOS – Teresa (2005 Acoustic en Vivo) loslobos.org
DAWES – Coming Back to a Man (2011 Nothing is Wrong) dawestheband.com
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Come as You Are (2003 On the Road, 5/24/03 Sedona, AZ) stringcheeseincident.com
GRATEFUL DEAD – Throwing Stones (1987 In the Dark)

Let me point out to Joe Caro that, while I applaud your ability to make an album on your Mac, maybe you’ll want to invest in a professional CD mastering service next time. None of our industrial quality players would play your disc, “Home Alone.” Was gonna spin “Sludge,” for the curious. Thanks for the coaster, dude (^_^)

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TnJ 366 (11/3/11)

2011-11-03T20:59:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

OLD CALIFORNIO – Sundrunk Angels (2011 Sundrunk Angels) oldcalifornio.com
NATHAN MOORE – Train of Thoughts (2011 Dear Puppeteer) nathanmoore.org
DARK STAR ORCHESTRA – Mr. Charlie (8/12/10 Party in the Park, Rochester, NY) darkstarorchestra.net
HOT RIZE – Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning (2002 So Long of a Journey, c. 1996 Boulder Theater, Boulder, CO)
CHRIS THILE & MICHAEL DAVES – Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms (2011 Sleep with One Eye Open) punchbrothers.com
TIM O’BRIEN – Walkin’ Boss (2005 Cornbread Nation) timobrien.net
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – No More to Leave You Behind (2011 We’ll Do It Live) thestringdusters.com
BIG DADDY LOVE – Home Tree (2011 Let It Grow) homegrownmusic.net
REVEREND RAVEN and the CHAIN SMOKIN’ ALTAR BOYS – Shake Your Boogie (2010 Shake Your Boogie) reverendraven.com

-HOUR TWO-

BLACK JOE LEWIS & the HONEYBEARS – Mustang Ranch (2011 Scandalous) blackjoelewis.com
NEW MASTERSOUNDS – Passport (2011 Breaks from the Border) newmastersounds.com
JOHN SCOFIELD – Hottentot (1998 A Go Go) johnscofield.com
PHISH – Prince Caspian (12/31/96 Fleet Center, Boston, MA)
PRIMUS – Jilly’s on Smack (2011 Green Naugahyde) primusville.com
PINK FLOYD – Shine On You Crazy Diamond parts 1-5 (11/14/74 Empire Pool, Wembley, London)

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ALBUM REVIEW

2011-11-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

The Jayhawks – Mockingbird Time

It’s been about 15 years since this version of The Jayhawks line-up collaborated. It was worth the wait.

Mark Olson left in 1995, at the group’s artistic and popular peak. The band carried on as best they could, and Olson even rejoined with Jayhawks co-leader Gary Louris as a duo for a short time a few years back. Rumor has it they suspected there was at least one, amazing, absolutely classic Jayhawks album yet to be recorded. Turns out they were right.

“Mockingbird Time” may well go down in history as their best, and it certainly stacks up with their landmark releases, “Hollywood Town Hall” and “Tomorrow the Green Grass,” which recently got the reissue/re-master treatment if you missed them the first time.

The first single off the new disc, “She Walks in So Many Ways,” is a fitting re-introduction to their sound: jangly, harmonic, power-folk. But, as is often the case with singles, it’s hardly the best this album has to offer.

One of the standout qualities of this disc is the almost-forgotten songwriting art of the bridge, and on songs like the sublime title track and especially “High Water Blues,” the bridges practically steal the show. “High Water Blues” is unusually manic, even rockin’ for this band. So far it’s my favorite song of the year.

The lush instrumentation in tracks like “Hide Your Colors,” and “Tiny Arrows” buttresses the complex arrangements and helps carry the listening experience through. Yes, this album is a listening experience, overflowing with delicate, fractured beauty and the kind of raw emotional power hardly ever captured on a recording.

There isn’t a single track here I’d consider tedious listening, or filler, as most albums are burdened with. I used to dismiss The Jayhawks as just another neo-hippie folk band, but even the folkiest tracks here, like “Pouring Rain at Dawn” or “Black-Eyed Susan,” contain tiny surprises (like those imported Kinder Eggs) and elevate my overall estimation of the band.

“Stand Out in the Rain” plays like an epic, but clocks in at a concise 4 minutes. It’s one tiny epic after another on this album. The album’s closer, “Hey Mr. Man,” plays like a classic Jayhawks number, bringing us full circle, but also implies what’s to come. If we’re lucky, Olson and Louris may decide to re-convene the classic line-up for another session, but if not, this is as good a swan song as any.

These days, an actual album – a collection of songs with a dynamic range yet an underlying cohesion as well as layers which only peel away with repeated listening – is a rarity. This is one to appreciated, even relished, in its entirety.

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(Released September 20, 2011, Rounder Records)

by Chris Diestler

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TnJ 365 (10/27/11)

2011-10-27T21:53:00.000-07:00

Halloween Musical Costume Party!!!

-HOUR ONE-

JERRY GARCIA BAND – That’s What Love Will Make You Do (1980/2004 After Midnight – Kean College, 2/28/80)
SOULIVE w/ TASH NEAL and the SHADY HORNS – Lucille (2011 Bowlive – Live at the Brooklyn Bowl, c. 2010) soulive.com
YELLOW DUBMARINE – Octopus’s Garden (2011 Abbey Dub) yellowdubmarine.com
BOOKER T. and the M.G.’s – Eleanor Rigby (1968 Soul Limbo)
LOS LOBOS – Are You Experienced? (7/7/99 O’Gara’s Garage, St. Paul, MN)
CAKE – War Pigs [live] (2007 B-Sides and Rarities) cakemusic.com
BIG CHIEF MONK BOUDREAUX & the UPPRESSORS w/ RAS TREE – Spirits in the Material World (2008 Spirits in the Material World – a Reggae Tribute to the Police)
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS w/ PAUL HOFFMAN – Canary in a Coalmine (3/18/11 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO) thestringdusters.com
DEL McCOURY & CO. – High on a Mountain (7/19/02 [late show] Grey Fox Bluegrass Faestival)

-HOUR TWO-

ROY JAY – Deal (Promo – RJB does the Dead) royjayband.com
KELLER & the KEELS – Mountains of the Moon (2010 Thief) kellerwilliams.net
BORIS McCUTCHEON & the SALTLICKS – Suzanne (2011 Utrecht) frogvilleplanet.com
THOM YORKE – After the Gold Rush (2011 the Bridge School Benefit – 25th Anniversary Edition)
LARRY SCHMID – Sweet Jane (2011 Seeds and Stems) greatcaesarsghost.com
GOV’T MULE – Dazed and Confused (2010 Mulennium, 12/31/99 the Roxy Theatre, Atlanta, GA) mule.net
TR3 – Hocus Pocus (2011 from Space and Beyond, 11/09 Evanston, IL) timreynolds.com
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Chest Fever (11/12/09 Fox Theater, Oakland, CA) livewidespreadpanic.com

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PANIC ACOUSTIC

2011-10-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

The so-called Widespread Panic "Wood Tour" has dates nearby in Denver (February 10-12, 2012) and Aspen (February 17-19, 2012). Tickets on sale in November. Details here.

Woodspread Panic?

(^_^) TOAST

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T-n-J UNDERCOVER

2011-10-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

Tune in, turn on and jam out to another Halloweeny "Musical Masquerade," with bands performing as other bands - nothing but cover songs.

I've already locked Gov't Mule as Led Zeppelin and Los Lobos as Jimi Hendrix into the mix (thanks, Yolanda), and other good bets to appear are Jerry Garcia Band as Little Milton, Soulive as Little Richard, Keller Williams as the Grateful Dead, Boris McCutcheon as Leonard Cohen (from the new live album), Widespread Panic as The Band, and, get this: the Infamous Stringdusters (with Greensky Bluegrass) as The Police.

There'll be other surprise "musical costumes" too (^_^)

This Thursday 10/27 after Frogville on KBAC 98-1 Radio Free Santa Fe.

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I should also mention a bunch of bands are doing just this - musical costumes - at Santa Fe Sol this Saturday (10/29). Todd & the Fox as Pink Floyd, BoomRoots Collective as the Beastie Boys, the Strange as the Black & White Striped Keys, etc. Only $5, starts around 7pm. Party!

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EPIC PHISH RUN - MSG NYE NYC

2011-10-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

And lo, it came to pass that many planned to make the pilgrimage to New York City for a celebration to end all celebrations: 4 nights of jammy, Phishy goodness.

Early ticket requests expire Monday at 12 noon (Eastern), general public on sale this Saturday (10/29). Here the link. Fare thee well.

(^_^) TOAST

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TnJ 364 10/20/11

2011-10-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Stella Blue > Good Lovin’ (11/29/80 University of Florida, Alligator Alley Gym, Gainesville, FL)
MiZ – Dopesick Blues (2011 East Hope Avenue) mikemizwinski.com
KENNY VAUGHAN – Mysterium (2011 V) kennyvaughan.net
ANTHONY LEON & the CHAIN – Sons (2011 the Pistol, the Bottle, and shaded pastures) reverbnation
IMPERIAL ROOSTER – the Beast On the Backs of Our Children (2011 Decent People) reverbnation
KING CRIMSON – Court of the Crimson King / the Return of the Fire Witch / the Dance of the Puppets (1969 In the Court of the Crimson King)

-HOUR TWO-

DISCO BISCUITS – We Like to Party (2011 Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens) discobiscuits.com
PEARL JAM – Black (1998 Live On Two Legs)
JJ GREY & MOFRO – Lochloosa (2011 Brighter Days CD/DVD, 1/22/11 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA) jjgrey.com
ELVIN BISHOP – the Night Time Is the Right Time (2011 Raisin’ Hell Revue) elvinbishopmusic.com
TOM PETTY & the HEARTBREAKERS – Mary Jane’s Last Dance (2009 the Live Anthology, 9/21/06 Gainesville, FL)
the BEATLES – Something (1969 Abbey Road)
WILCO – Open Mind (2011 the Whole Love) wilcoworld.net

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DEAD FUNNY

2011-10-20T10:04:00.001-07:00

KBAC guru Ira Gordon passed this along (^_^) TOAST

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WIDESPREAD HALLOWEEN SOLD OUT - AVAILABLE in HD

2011-10-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

All Spread Heads know their Halloween setlists have a reputation for greatness. The Chicago shows are sold out, but will be filmed in HD for our enjoyment.

Click here for more info and get ready to rock (^_^) TOAST

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TnJ 363 (10/13/11)

2011-10-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

WARREN HAYNES w/ RUTHIE FOSTER – River’s Gonna Rise [live] (2011 promotional single) warrenhaynes.com
HANK 3 – Gutter Town (2011 Ghost-to-a-Ghost / Guttertown) hank3.com
the HEAVY PETS w/ DAVID GRISMAN – Song for John (2011 Swim Out Past the Sun) theheavypets.com
UMPHREY’S McGEE – Hajimemashite (2011 Death by Stereo) umphreys.com
MOKSHA – Awaken My Love (2011 Here to Go) homegrownmusic.net
FELA KUTI – Palm Wine Sound (1977 Fear Not for Man)

-HOUR TWO-

RATDOG – Jam > Feel Like a Stranger (9/15/02 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, Telluride, CO)
PRIMUS – Lee Van Cleef (2011 Green Naugahyde) primusville.com
DeVotchKa – All the Sand in all the Sea (2011 100 Lovers) devotchka.net
BUXTER HOOT’N – Go Get Your Gun (2011 Buxter Hoot’n) buxterhootn.com
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – East to the West (2006 Yell Fire!) michaelfranti.com
YELLOW DUBMARINE w/ MISS SARA KRYSCIO – I Want You [She’s So Heavy] (2011 Abbey Dub) yellowdubmarine.com
the BLACK LILLIES – the Arrow (2011 100 Miles of Wreckage) theblacklillies.com
the AVETT BROTHERS – the Ballad of Love and Hate (2007 Emotionalism) theavettbrothers.com

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TnJ 362 (10/6/11)

2011-10-06T19:55:00.001-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Howard (3/12/11 Broomfield, CO) livecheese.com
BOOTSY COLLINS w/ DR. CORNEL WEST – Freedumb [When-Love-Becomes-a-Threat] (2011 Tha Funk Capital of the World) bootsycollins.com
GALACTIC w/ CYRIL NEVILLE – Gossip (2011 the Other Side of Midnight – Live in New Orleans, 10/29/10 Tipitina’s, New Orleans, LA) galacticfunk.com
JOE MOSS BAND – My Life (2011 Drive Time – Live at Chan’s) joemossband.com
NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS – Whiskey Rock a Roller (2004 Under the Influence – a Jam Band Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd) nmallstars.com
LYNYRD SKYNYRD – Call Me the Breeze (1974 Second Helping)
WHITEWATER RAMBLE – When I’m Gone (2010 All Night Drive) whitewaterramble.com

-HOUR TWO-

the JAYHAWKS – High Water Blues (2011 Mockingbird Time) jayhawksofficial.com
FALLING WATER – Early Frost (2011 the Slow Down EP) fallingwatermusic.com
DAWES – That Western Skyline (2/1/11 Odd Fellows Hall, Davis, CA) dawestheband.com
BLITZEN TRAPPER – Destroyer of the Void (7/20/11 Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO) blitzentrapper.net
JOHN LENNON – Remember (1970 John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band)
THELONIOUS MONK – Ruby My Dear (1952 Genius of Modern Music Volume 1)
JOHN COLTRANE – Acknowledgement (2002 a Love Supreme [deluxe edition], c. 1965)
DEREK TRUCKS BAND – Rastaman Chant (2010 Roadsongs) derektrucks.com

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TnJ 361 (9/29/11)

2011-09-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

PHISH – Punch You in the Eye (8/16/98 Lemonwheel, Loring AFB, Limestone, ME)
PRIMUS – John the Fisherman (1990 Suck On This, c. 1989 the Berkeley Square, Berkeley, CA)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Papa Legba (6/19/11 Brady Theater, Tulsa, OK) livewidespreadpanic.com
ANTHONY LEON & the CHAIN – Shotgun (2011 the Pistol, the Bottle, and shaded pastures) reverbnation
BLACKIE and the RODEO KINGS – Stoned (2004 Bark) blackieandtherodeokings.com
COMANCHERO – One Foot in the Grave (2011 the Undeserved) comancheromusic.com
DAVE LITTRELL – Steall Falls (2011 Now I See) homegrownmusic.net
JJ GREY & MOFRO – Brighter Days (2011 Brighter Days CD/DVD, 1/22/11 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA) jjgrey.com

-HOUR TWO-

JJ GREY & MOFRO – Air (2011 Brighter Days CD/DVD, 1/22/11 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA) jjgrey.com
DRASTIC ANDREW – Closure (2011 Save the Machine) drasticandrew.com
WILCO – Art of Almost (2011 the Whole Love) wilcoworld.net
the DEAD – Space > Rhythm Devils Jam > China Doll (5/7/09 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO)
JERRY GARCIA BAND – Reuben & Cherise (11/23/77 Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT)
the OTHER ONES – Franklin’s Tower (8/3/02 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI)

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CONCERT REVIEW - WILLIE NELSON

2011-09-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

WILLIE NELSON – 9/17/11 Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe, NM

The t-shirts and posters at the merch booth lauded Willie Nelson as an American legend and, at age 78, that’s a moniker he’s certainly earned. He’s earned another label of dubious merit over the years: unapologetic pothead.

However, if he was stoned tonight, how could anyone tell? He tore through song after classic song, often at breakneck speed, and never, ever dropped a note or lick or lyric that I caught. All with a posture indicating he could probably do it with both hands tied behind his back. Some say this almost listless urgency is just his style and has been for years, but even on ballads like “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” or “Georgia on My Mind,” which elicited thunderous applause from the largely well-behaved audience before he’d sung half their first verses, Nelson seemed just this side of in a hurry to get finished and on to the next gig.

Not to say the set list wasn’t an impressive string of hits – some his, some not – but with his sparse, honky-tonk lineup, I was hoping for at least a hint of intimacy. What I got was a show just lively enough to imply he wasn’t merely going through the motions.

The first 3 songs were “Whiskey River,” “Still is Still Moving to Me,” and “Beer for My Horses,” from 1973’s Shotgun Willie, 1993’s Across the Borderline, and Toby Keith’s 2002 release, Unleashed, respectively. A nice triptych to open with, covering a wide swath of his catalog, and the crowd cheered for all of them, but if this was going to be a “Willie Nelson’s Greatest Hits” show, somewhat obscure choices. His musical statement out of the gate seemed to be, “I’ll play what I damn well please, and you’re gonna enjoy it.” And guess what? We did.

The show played like one long country super-medley, since he barely stopped to take a breath between any of the songs, so I almost didn’t notice there was an actual medley of early Nelson compositions: “Funny How Time Slips Away/Crazy/Night Life.” All of these unquestionable classics were hits for others during Nelson’s lean years. The first was a hit for Billy Walker in 1961, the second a hit for Patsy Cline in 1962, and the third a hit for Ray Price in 1963. Nelson would not become a star in his own right until a decade later, but these songs prove he had talent, even when hardly anyone knew it yet.

Of course, Nelson isn’t the only one to have had others record hit versions of his songs. Rhodes Scholar Kris Kristofferson, another living legend of the outlaw country subgenre, wrote “Help Me Make It through the Night,” and it was recorded and/or performed by literally scores of artists besides Nelson (including Elvis Presley, though Sammi Smith recorded the most famous version). During this number he took the opportunity to show off some licks which I can only classify as “gypsy jazz,” then played right into “Me & Bobby McGee,” perhaps Kristofferson’s most well-known number (thanks to the late Janis Joplin).

Then came the Acuff-Rose classic, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” and loud applause came too. You know a song’s a classic when the applause comes at the beginning as well as the end. This is a song nearly everyone is certain Nelson must have written (though he didn’t), but it did help make him famous as a recording artist in his own right back in 1975 when he cut it for the classic album Red-Headed Stranger.

Now, at almost the exact middle of the show – when most shows get bogged down in self-indulgence, experimentalism, and trying out new material – the floodgates were finally open, and a seemingly unending barrage of Nelson’s biggest hits came one after the other. Most performers save this part of the set until just before the big encore (or FOR the big encore), but again, Willie’s gotta do it Willie’s way. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the biggest of the big hits got the biggest reaction: “On the Road Again” and “Always on My Mind.” The jaded cynic in me wants to say I yawned my way through them, but hearing them live, with everybody singing along, was even better than hearing those recordings for the first time.

After Nelson paused for a millisecond to name-drop Waylon Jennings, “Good Hearted Woman” actually got a couple of the expensive seat-holders up and dancing before security managed to calm them down.

He even took time to pay homage to one of country’s true originals, Hank Williams, with “Jambalaya (On the Bayou),” “Hey, Good Lookin’” and “Move it on Over,” leaving me to wonder what kind of show ol’ Hank might be doing today, had he not died so young. Of course, he’d be pushing 90, but Nelson’s pushing 80, and seems fine with his lot: carrying the traditional country torch.

There was even a series of songs Nelson classified as “spirituals,” though I’d just classify them as old-timey: “Nobody’s Fault but Mine,” “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” and “I’ll Fly Away.” The first’s origins are so obscure that most who’ve recorded it over the years simply label it a traditional, though some attribute it to Blind Willie Johnson, who recorded it in the early 20th century. The 2nd was derived from an actual Christian hymn and was cut famously by the Carter Family in 1935. “I’ll Fly Away” was published around the same time by a well-known hymnal writer of the day, though Wikipedia states the song’s true origins are secular. Allison Krauss and Gillian Welch revived it for the 2000 film release O Brother Where Art Thou? I recall the film’s soundtrack sparking a popular revival of old-time country. Listening to Nelson for 2 hours reminded me of great old-time songs I’d nearly forgotten, and rekindled my appreciation for that style of music. Trouble is, precious few “new country” artists are carrying that aesthetic into the future, as anyone who’s listened to country radio for 15 minutes could tell you – but I’m certain another revival will spark interest again down the road. Everything old circles back into vogue eventually.

“Me and Paul,” Nelson’s dusty old gem from 1971, was one of the night’s biggest surprises for me. I mistook it for a new song since I couldn’t recall ever hearing it before. I was quick to dig out the original when I got home and compare it to the experience I’d just had at the concert. One of the verses struck me as something he could have just as easily written yesterday: “Almost busted in Laredo / But for reasons that I’d rather not disclose / But if you’re stayin’ in a motel there and leave / Just don’t leave nothin’ in your clothes.” Actually the whole song seems like it could’ve been written yesterday, with lyrics like “After takin’ several readings / I’m surprised to find my mind’s still fairly sound,” and “At the airport in Milwaukee / They refused to let us board the plane at all / They said we looked suspicious.” And that’s what I noticed about this collection of songs from Willie Nelson, the standard-bearer: they are timeless. And so is he.

He already seemed ancient and wise to me when I first looked through my mom’s record albums over 30 years ago, but he and his songs don’t seem to have aged at all since. Nelson, or at least Nelson’s voice, is weathering the effects of old age better than some. He’s got almost a decade on Bob Dylan, but Dylan’s voice blew out ages ago. I’m always impressed by an artist who can perform songs with the barest of instrumentation, no fireworks, no razzle-dazzle, just let the music do the talking. His costume changes amounted to: 1) taking off his cowboy hat and donning his trademark red bandana (just in time for the line in “Me and Bobby McGee,” I noticed), and 2) taking off the bandana and finishing the show with no headgear at all. Other than that, just a black shirt, black pants, black shoes, that bizarre red-white-and-blue guitar strap that looks like it attaches to the bottom of the guitar. Just like always, right?

Maybe that style of performance is nearly extinct. Maybe us old-timers (I feel that way sometimes, but then I always have) are the only ones left who appreciate it in this instant-streaming-pop-culture-overload-hard-to-tell-the-difference-between-news-and-advertising world. Maybe the next generation just hasn’t re-discovered it and made it their own yet. George Jones once sang, “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” referencing the country greats who’d shuffled off this mortal coil. Nelson’s filling ‘em for now, and proudly.

A few of my favorites – “Poncho and Lefty,” for example, or “Time of the Preacher,” went unsung, leaving me to conclude that Nelson’s catalog is so deep, it would be almost impossible to do all the greats in one sitting. This isn’t unusual for a band like the Grateful Dead or the Allman Brothers, but some of their live jams stretch into the 20-30 minute range. I don’t think Nelson let a song go longer than 2 minutes all night. Like I said, he unilaterally played them swiftly, yet effortlessly. I’m not sure he was actually keeping proper time with the accompaniment. We were all on Willie time.

If his time is short, as alas, it must be, at least he’s making hay while the sun shines. As for his last wish? A new song entitled “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” dropped a hint, and steered the show toward a fitting close. If it ends up being Nelson’s epitaph, I know a few good people who’ll be happy to carry out his final request.

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TnJ 360 (9/22/11)

2011-09-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

Guest Toast Eric Davis digs deep and lays down a thick Springsteen tribute, just in time for his (Bruce's) birthday tomorrow (^_^) TOAST

-HOUR ONE-

BRUCE SPRINGSTONE – (Meet the) Flintstones (1982 Live at Bedrock 12”)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & the E STREET BAND – Thundercrack (1974 unknown venue)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & the E STREET BAND – And the Band Played (1973 radio broadcast)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BAND – You Mean So Much to Me (1971 Damrosch Park, New York, NY)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Eloise (1972 demo)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – If I Was the Priest (1972 demo)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Bishop Danced (1973 WBCN Boston)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Vietnam (Nebraska outtake)

-HOUR TWO-

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & the E STREET BAND – County Fair (1983 Born in the U.S.A. outtake)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & the E STREET BAND – I Want You (WMMR Philiadelphia)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & the E STREET BAND – Who’ll Stop the Rain (unknown source)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & the E STREET BAND – Boom Boom (c. 1988)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & the E STREET BAND – Heartbreak Hotel (1978 the Roxy, Los Angeles, CA)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & the E STREET BAND – Jersey Girl (1986 Live 1975-1985)
JOHNNY CASH – I’m on Fire (2000 Badlands – a Tribute to Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska)
the BAND – Atlantic City (1993 Jericho)
DAVE EDMUNDS – From Small Things [Big Things One Day Come] (1982 D.E. 7th)
WARREN ZEVON – Cadillac Ranch (1982 Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ)
PEARL JAM – Growing Up (2003 Holmdel, NJ)

# # #

THIS WEEK'S THEME

2011-09-21T07:41:00.001-07:00

Bruuuuuuuuuuce!!!

# # #

ANTHONY LEON & the CHAIN CD RELEASE PARTY

2011-09-15T21:52:00.001-07:00

Well, it's about damn time. Can't Wait (^_^) TOAST

# # #

TnJ 359 (9/15/11)

2011-09-15T19:43:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA – Peaches en Regalia (2008 Zappa Plays Zappa DVD) zappaplayszappa.com
FLAMING LIPS – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots part 1 (2002 Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots) flaminglips.com
7 WALKERS – 7 Walkers (2010 7 Walkers) 7walkers.com
REVEREND PEYTON’s BIG DAMN BAND – Some of These Days I’ll Be Gone [slide guitar version] (2011 Peyton on Patton) bigdamnband.com
WILLIE NELSON – the Great Divide (2002 the Great Divide)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – In Memory of Elizabeth Reed > Drums > In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (5/16/09 the Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA)

-HOUR TWO-

PHISH – It’s Ice (2009 the Clifford Ball [box set], 8/17/96 Plattsburgh Air Force Base, Plattsburgh, NY)
MOKSHA – the Seed (2011 Here to Go) homegrownmusic.net
TROMBONE SHORTY – Nervis (2011 for True) tromboneshorty.com
IVAN “FUNKBOY” BODLEY – the Hate Monkey (2011 Look at That Cookie) funkboy.com
CRUSHED VELVET and the VELVETEERS – London Black parts 1, 2 & 3 (1974/2011 the Big One OST) crushedvelvet.bandcamp.com
TV on the RADIO – You (2011 Nine Types of Light) tvontheradio.com
MY MORNING JACKET – Outta My System (2011 Circuital) mymorningjacket.com
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – Rock the Nation (11/26/04 the Fillmore, San Francisco, CA)
SANTANA – Black Magic Woman > Gypsy Queen (1977 Moonflower)

# # #

TnJ 358 (9/8/11)

2011-09-08T19:05:00.001-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

moe. – Okayalright > She Sends Me (2002 Warts & All, Vol. 2, 2/23/02 the Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA) moe.org
Interview > Roy Jay (recorded 9/7/11 KBAC-FM, Santa Fe, NM)
ROY JAY – Zeke Mountain (2011 Joy Ray) royjayband.com
the JAYHAWKS – Stand Out In the Rain (2011 Mockingbird Time) ***due out 9/20/11*** jayhawksofficial.com
SPRING CREEK – Evening Turns to Ashes (2011 Hold On Me) springcreekbluegrassband.com
GRATEFUL DEAD – Big Boss Man (2/18/71 Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY)
GUITAR SHORTY – Too Late (2010 Bare Knuckle) guitarshorty.com

-HOUR TWO-

HOLY GOATS – Something to Tell You (2011 Next Round) theholygoats.com
GRAYSON CAPPS – John the Dagger (2011 the Lost Cause Minstrels) graysoncapps.com
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Impressions > Coal Train Jam > Impressions (7/10/04 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO) livecheese.com
TINARIWEN w/the DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND – Ya Messinagh (2011 Tassili) tinariwen.com
SOUND TRIBE SECTOR 9 – Luma Daylight (9/8/06 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO) livedownloads.com
NEW MASTERSOUNDS – Walk in These Shoes (2011 Breaks from the Border) newmastersounds.com
UMPHREY’S McGEE - Wellwishers (2011 Death by Stereo) umphreys.com

# # #

TnJ 357 (9/1/11)

2011-09-01T21:50:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

TODD SNIDER – Conservative, Christian, Right-Wing Republican, Straight, White, American Males (2011 Live – the Storyteller) toddsnider.net
TODD SNIDER – Rose City (2011 Live – the Storyteller)
TOM WATTS – Space Oddity > Sun King (9/1/11 Live at KBAC-FM, Santa Fe, NM)
ADAM STERN – Weights and Measures (2009 Twang Shui) adamsternmusic.com
ADAM STERN – Progabilly (2011 High Country Gentleman)
TOM WATTS – All Blues > Samba Pa Ti (9/1/11 Live at KBAC-FM, Santa Fe, NM)
TOM WATTS – Imagine > All Apologies (9/1/11 Live at KBAC-FM, Santa Fe, NM)

-HOUR TWO-

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS – Jr. > Stay All Night > Lord Have Mercy > Stay All Night (2009 Do It Like We Used to Do, c. 2008 Memphis, TN) nmallstars.com
GRATEFUL DEAD – Althea (1997 Terrapin Station Live, 3/15/90 Capital Centre, Landover, MD)
TROMBONE SHORTY – Big 12 (2011 For True) tromboneshorty.com
DUB IS a WEAPON – Persistence (2011 Vaporized) homegrownmusic.net
ULTRAVIOLET HIPPOPOTAMUS – Square Pegs Round Holes (2011 Square Pegs Round Holes) uvhippomusic.com
EASY STAR ALL-STARS w/ BUNNY RUGS and U-ROY– Lovely Rita (2009 Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band) easystar.com
LOS LOBOS – Dream in Blue > Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo (7/7/99 O’Gara’s Garage, St. Paul, MN)

# # #

CONCERT REVIEW - CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD

2011-08-29T13:44:00.001-07:00

CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD - 8/23/11 Santa Fe Brewing Company, Santa Fe, NM

For the stalwart few who still enjoy good, old-fashioned rock-n-roll, a night with the Chris Robinson Brotherhood backs up the old adage "they just don't make 'em like that no more."

Granted, some of the songs haven't quite crystallized into their most perfect form yet, and some of the solos kind of fizzle and crash before achieving orbit, but altogether a great set from a combo with a lot of potential.

Eric Davis of SantaFe.com posted a great review here.

# # #

TnJ 356 (8/25/11)

2011-08-25T20:16:00.001-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Just One Story (3/11/11 Broomfield, CO) livecheese.com
DISCO BISCUITS – Portal to an Empty Head (2011 Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens) discobiscuits.com
SAM ROBERTS BAND – Graveyard Shift (2011 Collider) samrobertsband.com
JIMMY DASHER – 3 In the Front (2011 the Waiting Game) jimmydasher.com
the WHO – Underture (1979 the Kids are Alright, 8/17/69 Woodstock Festival, Bethel, NY)
the WHO – Slip Kid (1975 the Who by Numbers)
WILCO – I Am Trying to Break Your Heart (9/4/03 McDonald Theatre, Eugene, OR) wilcoworld.net

-HOUR TWO-

WIDESPREAD PANIC – Maggot Brain > Use Me (6/27/10 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO) livewidespreadpanic.com
ZIGABOO MODELISTE – Ate Ball Waltz (2011 New Life) zigaboo.com
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Get It While You Can (7/17/10 String Summit, Horning’s Hideout, North Plains, OR) thestringdusters.com
MILKDRIVE – Changa Chang (2011 Road from Home) milkdrive.com
REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND – Mississippi Boweavil Blues (2011 Peyton on Patton) bigdamnband.com
ANA POPOVIC – Slideshow (2011 Unconditional) anapopovic.com
le CHAT LUNATIQUE – Minnie the Moocher (2009 Under the Covers) lechatlunatique.com
RUSH – a Farewell to Kings (1977 a Farewell to Kings)

# # #

TnJ 355 (8/18/11)

2011-08-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to KBAC guru Ira Gordon for taking the controls last week, and I hope he's having a toasty time in Hawaii this week. Looks like I missed out on some fine ear candy (^_^)

-HOUR ONE-

COUNTING CROWS - Rain King > Introduction to Sullivan Street > Sullivan Street (2011 Live at Town Hall DVD, c. 9/18/07 NYC) ***release date 8/29/11***
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Seeds > Johnny 99 (4/29/09 the Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA)
NEIL YOUNG - Broken Arrow (2008 Sugar Mountain - Live at Canterbury House, 11/9/68 Ann Arbor, MI)
BRUCE COCKBURN - Wondering Where the Lions Are (1990 Live [Canadian import], c. 1989)

-HOUR TWO-
JIMMY CLIFF - Guns of Brixton (unknown source)
the CLASH - English Civil War (2008 Live at Shea Stadium, c. 1982)
BURNING SPEAR - War (5/4/06 El Rey Theater, Albuquerque, NM)
ROLLING STONES - Midnight Rambler (10/17/73 Forest National, Brussels, Belgium)
GRATEFUL DEAD - Hey Jude (1997 Live at Fillmore East, 2/11/69 NYC)
PINK FLOYD - Atom Heart Mother (4/29/70 Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA) wolfgangsvault.com

# # #

TnJ 354 (8/11/11)

2011-08-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

DIRE STRAITS – Tunnel of Love (1980 Making Movies)
UMPHREY’s McGEE – Slacker (12/31/04 Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL) umphreys.com
NEW MASTERSOUNDS – Free Man (2011 Breaks from the Border) newmastersounds.com
TROMBONE SHORTY – Do to Me (2011 For True) tromboneshorty.com
TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – Come See About Me (2011 Revelator) tedeschitrucksband.com
DONNA the BUFFALO – Living in Babylon (2002 Live from the American Ballroom, c. 2001) donnathebuffalo.com
RAILROAD EARTH – Long Walk Home (2010 Long Walk Home) railroadearth.com

-HOUR TWO-

LEFTOVER SALMON – Get No Better (8/10/02 Mishawaka Amphitheater, Bellvue, CO) leftoversalmon.com
STEPHANIE HATFIELD – Leave Somehow (2011 the Tracks) stephaniehatfieldmusic.com
ZACH DEPUTY – Into the Morning (2011 Into the Morning…into the Night) zachdeputy.com
BIG GIGANTIC w/ STS9 – a Place Behind the Moon (2010 a Place Behind the Moon) biggigantic.net
PHISH – My Friend, My Friend > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters (8/7/93 Darien Lakes Performing Arts Center, Darien Center, NY)
CORNMEAL – Oh Leah Lee (2010 Live in Chicago, IL Vol. 1, c. 2009) cornmealinthekitchen.com
ROY JAY – John Brown [electric] (2011 Joy Ray) royjayband.com

# # #

JOHN PRINE ABQ TIX ON SALE MONDAY 8/15

2011-08-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at UNM's Popejoy Hall, one of America's best songwriters: John Prine. Special guest Loudon Wainwright III. Tickets on sale Monday 10:00 a.m. here.

# # #

GUITAR SHORTY STUDIO 2 INTERVIEW

2011-08-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo!

I get to chat on the air with Guitar Shorty live this Tuesday on KBAC @ 2pm.

Be sure to tune in - who knows, there may be ticket giveaways and/or some live shredding to be had! Then make sure to catch his full set live on the Plaza Bandstand that evening (8/9) in Santa Fe.

Go Shorty! Go Shorty! Go! Go! Go Shorty!

(^_^) TOAST

# # #

August 10, 2011: The interview audio is now posted for streaming here. Includes 2 songs performed live!

# # #

JAMBANDS AHOY

2011-08-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

Santa Fe jam fans get a rare double shot of live shows next week at Sol Santa Fe (formerly Santa Fe Brewing Company).

First, re-creating the Grateful Dead experience one show at a time since 1995, it's Dark Star Orchestra on Thursday (8/11).

Then, on Friday (8/12), the return of Chicago's finest jamgrass outfit: Cornmeal. Serious side-aching dancing to be had, everybody!

These shows are both all ages affairs, and if you mention Toast-n-Jam at the door Thursday when you show up tie-died for Dark Star, they'll cut you a serious break on a ticket for Cornmeal the next night right then and there - only $5 (^_^)

So get out there and see some music!

# # #

TnJ 353 (8/4/11)

2011-08-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Big Railroad Blues (9/10/83 Santa Fe Downs, Santa Fe, NM)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Casey Jones (11/29/80 University of Florida, Alligator Alley Gym, Gainesville, FL)
GUITAR SHORTY – Slow Burn (2010 Bare Knuckle) guitarshorty.com
BEN HARPER – Spilling Faith > Get There from Here (2011 Give Till It’s Gone)
BEASTIE BOYS – Nonstop Disco Powerpack (2011 Hot Sauce Committee Part Two)
BIG GIGANTIC – Foxy (2009 Fire It Up) myspace.com/biggigantic

-HOUR TWO-

DISCO BISCUITS – Kitchen Mitts (2006 the Wind at Four to Fly) discobiscuits.com
EUFÓRQUESTRA – Backbone (2009 Soup) euforquestra.com
TURBINE – Blue Light City (2011 Blue Light City) homegrownmusic.net
MY MORNING JACKET – Victory Dance (2011 Circuital) mymorningjacket.com
the JAYHAWKS – Tiny Arrows (2011 Mockingbird Time) jayhawksofficial.com
BORIS & the SALTLICKS – Peeler (2010 Wheel of Life) borismccutcheon.com
JERRY GARCIA – Mission in the Rain (1976 Reflections)
GRATEFUL DEAD – U.S. Blues (6/30/85 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD)

# # #

THE SOURCE

2011-07-31T01:24:00.000-07:00

Light a candle (or perhaps something else) in honor of what would have been Jerry Garcia's 69th birthday this Monday (8/1).

Definitely wouldn't have this show without him.

Favorite Jerry lines? Leave a comment below - I'll share the best on the air this Thursday (^_^)

# # #

Just had to share this quote from Dead biographer Dennis McNally:

Once, on stage, I asked him a question and ended it by saying, "Boss." Parish turned and said "You can't call him boss, the situation is the boss." And Jerry laughed and said, "Hey, you can call me boss, but don't expect me to make any decisions." (Which wasn't true, but sounded good).

# # #

TnJ 352 (7/28/11)

2011-07-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

Wow! Author Nate Downey (who just got 2nd place in the Santa Fe Reporter reader's poll for Best Locally Authored Book of the Year: "Harvest the Rain") went the extra mile in carefully crafting an amazing setlist for tonight. Many thanks (^_^) TOAST

-HOUR ONE-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain (11/30/80 Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Drums > the Wheel (11/30/80 Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA)
INCUBATORS – Dead River Blues theincubators.net
ROBERT HUNTER – Terrapin Medley (1980 Jack o’Roses)

-HOUR TWO-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Close Encounters > St. Stephen (1/22/78 University of Oregon, McArthur Court, Eugene, OR)
GRATEFUL DEAD – I Need a Miracle > Shakedown Street (1/15/79 Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, MA)
GRATEFUL DEAD – When I Paint My Masterpiece (7/9/95 Soldier Field, Chicago, IL)

# # #

TnJ 351 (7/21/11)

2011-07-21T21:50:00.001-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

PHISH – Tweezer (10/11/10 Broomfield, CO) livephish.com
HOT CLUB of COWTOWN – Osage Stomp (2010 What Makes Bob Holler) hotclubofcowtown.com
LIPBONE REDDING – Chickahominy (2011 Unbroken) lipbone.com
PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND w/ TOM WAITS – Tootie Ma Was a Big Fine Thing (2010 Preservation – An Album to Benefit Preservation Hall & the Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program) preservationhall.com
MIKE ZITO – Show Me the Way (2011 Greyhound) mikezito.com
WARREN HAYNES – River’s Gonna Rise (2011 Man in Motion) warrenhaynes.net
FUNKADELIC – Super Stupid (1971 Maggot Brain)

-HOUR TWO-

GARAGE á TROIS – Resentment Incubator (2011 Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil) garageatrois.net
CRUSHED VELVET and the VELVETEERS – Memphis Stomp (1974/2011 the Big One OST) royalfamilyrecords.com
PETER TOSH – Legalize It [original Jamaican mix] (1976/2011 Legalize It [Legacy Edition])
SOL DRIVEN TRAIN – Watermelon (2011 Watermelon EP) soldriventrain.com
JIM LAUDERDALE – Cruel Wind and Rain (2011 Reason and Rhyme) jimlauderdale.com
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Well, Well (3/18/11 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO) thestringdusters.com
ADAM STERN – Stripper Fight (2011 High Country Gentleman) adamsternmusic.com
JAMES BROWN – Funky Drummer (1970 King single, 1991 Star Time [box set])
BOOTSY COLLINS w/ JIMI HENDRIX – Mirrors Tell Lies (2011 Tha Funk Capital of the World) bootsycollins.com
PHISH – Tweezer [reprise] (10/11/10 Broomfield, CO) livephish.com

# # #

FREE LIVE MUSIC AHOY!

2011-07-21T20:52:00.001-07:00

Lawd! Anyone who's never checked out Sister Carol before (and admittedly, I was guilty until Monday), she is the real deal. Rarely has a performer's mere presence wowed a crowd as she did on the Santa Fe Plaza this week. She led her band and her audience with such certainty it was like she was the gravitational center of the galaxy and we couldn't help but dance in orbit.

Also on the Plaza earlier this week was jazz legend Mose Allison. Though not as animated as Sister Carol (and at 83, who can blame him?), Mose nevertheless wields a commanding presence of his own. Festival organizer David Lescht proudly announced from the bandstand a new attendance record had obviously been made for Mose's performance. I don't have an official count, but my estimate was about 2,000 friends, neighbors, and visitors on hand.

More great shows to come in the next few weeks, including Lipbone Redding (7/26), Hot Club of Cowtown (7/28), Cracker (8/4), and Guitar Shorty (8/9), with local support from the likes of Boris McCutcheon, Broomdust Caravan, Bill Hearne's Roadhouse Revue, Joe West, and Anthony Leon & the Chain, all worthy of sharing the stage with the national acts and worthy of your ears. Check out the full schedule at santafebandstand.org

Did I mention all Santa Fe Bandstand shows are free?

Speaking of free, you might want to check out Route 66 Summerfest in Albuquerque this Saturday (7/23): about a mile's worth of Central Ave. will be closed for a giant street fair with a couple dozen bands. Headlining the free event is the legendary Maceo Parker. Check cabq.gov for info on shuttles, buses, parking and such.

GO SEE LIVE MUSIC!

# # #

TnJ 350 (7/14/11)

2011-07-14T20:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, when I add up all the weekly shows from the original Toast-n-Jam run, and all the weekly sessions since re-lighting the show, it totals a big 350 !!!

Just so I can feel the history every week, I'ma keep numbering that way from here on out (^_^) TOAST

# # #

3-FER MADNESS !!!

-HOUR ONE-

BLACK CROWES 3-FER:
JIMMY PAGE & the BLACK CROWES – What Is and What Should Never Be (6/28/00 Star Lake, Pittsburgh, PA)
BLACK CROWES – Share the Ride (2010 Croweology)
BLACK CROWES – Ballad in Urgency (12/5/10 Reno, NV) liveblackcrowes.com

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK 3-FER:
CHEECH & CHONG – Dave (1972 Cheech & Chong)
GALACTIC – Garbage Truck (2011 the Other Side of Midnight – Live in New Orleans, 10/29/10 Tipitina’s, New Orleans, LA) galacticfunk.com
THE POLICE – Message in a Bottle (1995 Live!, c. 1979 Boston)

SOULIVE 3-FER:
SOULIVE w/ OTEIL and KOFI BURBRIDGE – Butter Biscuit (2011 Bowlive – Live at the Brooklyn Bowl, c. 2010) soulive.com

-HOUR TWO-

SOULIVE – Up Right (2009 Up Here)
SOULIVE – Come Together (2010 Rubber Soulive)

LIVE IN NM SOON 3-FER:
MOSE ALLISON – My Brain (2010 the Way of the World)
BEN SOLLEE and DANIEL MARTIN MOORE – Try (2010 Dear Companion)
BOB DYLAN – Chimes of Freedom (1964 Another Side of Bob Dylan)

LONG LIVE THE DEAD 3-FER:
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Trouble in Mind (1987/2010 Ragged But Right, 10/24/87 Lunt-Fontanne, NYC)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Samson and Delilah (??? mystery source - likely 2/5/78 Uni Dome, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA)
PHIL & FRIENDS – Passenger (10/24/00 the Fillmore, Denver, CO)

# # #

TnJ 176 (7/7/11)

2011-07-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

JAMES McMURTRY – Bayou Torture (2009 Live in Europe) jamesmcmurtry.com
TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – Love Has Something Else to Say (2011 Revelator)
NEW MASTERSOUNDS – Fire Eater (2006 Live at la Cova, c. 2005 Menorca, Spain) newmastersounds.com
the BAND – Chest Fever (1968 Music from Big Pink)
SANTANA – Soul Sacrifice (2009 the Woodstock Experience, 8/6/69 Woodstock Music & Art Fair, White Lake, NY)
le CHAT LUNATIQUE – Bus of God (2007 Demonic Lovely) lechatlunatique.com
TODD SNIDER – the Devil You Know (2011 Live – the Storyteller) toddsnider.net

-HOUR TWO-

OLD CALIFORNIO – Allon Camerado (2011 Sundrunk Angels) oldcalifornio.com
STOCKHOLM SYNDROME – Ray of Heaven (c. Jan 2009 JamCruise 7) stockholmsyndromeband.com
GRAYSON CAPPS – Jane’s Alley Blues (2011 the Lost Cause Minstrels) graysoncapps.com
BORIS GARCIA – Christmas in June (2010 Today We Sail) borisgarcia.com
CORNMEAL – Calling Me Back Home (2009 Live in Chicago, IL Vol. 1) cornmealinthekitchen.com
LIPBONE REDDING – Sacred Ground (2011 Unbroken) lipbone.com
BRAVO JOHNSON – Bird (2011 Come Taste the Sun) bravojohnson.com
IMPERIAL ROOSTER – DWI Marijuana Blues (2011 Decent People) reverbnation.com/theimperialrooster

# # #

TnJ Flashback (#131 from 12/26/05)

2011-07-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ira Gordon for letting me run this flashback edition of T-n-J so I could get out-of-town for a few days (^_^) TOAST

-HOUR ONE-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Going Down the Road Feeling Bad (12/31/82 Oakland Auditorium, Oakland, CA)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Loose Lucy (5/26/95 Seattle Center, Seattle, WA)
KELLER WILLIAMS INCIDENT – Moving Sidewalk (6/21/02 Bonnaroo Festival, Manchester, TN)
DEL McCOURY BAND – Nashville Cats (2/21/01 Fox Theater, Boulder, CO)
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – If You’re Ever in Oklahoma > Mason’s Children > Pusherman (12/31/99 Wolf Tongue Brewery, Nederland, CO)

-HOUR TWO-

WILCO – Spiders [Kidsmoke] (2005 Kicking Television, c. May 2005 Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Second Skin (4/29/05 Jazz Fest, New Orleans, LA)
BOB DYLAN – Down Along the Cove (2005 Bonnaroo Music Festival 2004)
TREY ANASTASIO – Sand (2003 Plasma, c. 2002)
JERRY GARCIA BAND – Forever Young (2005 Pure Jerry 05, 9/2/89 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD)

# # #

WIDESPREAD PANIC - 6/22/11 Kit Carson Park, Taos, NM

2011-06-25T07:57:00.001-07:00

Hey, cool! Found this on the Widespread facebook (thanks to Katy) - you can tell it's me from the back 'cuz I've got my "chicken & snake" album cover pin on the back of my hat (^_^)

This show was crazy good, especially second set ("Machine > Barstools" and "Red Hot Mama" with Eric McFadden super amazing).

Here's some more pics: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2217410355241.136073.1247073873&l=520307fffa

TOAST

# # #

TnJ 175 (6/23/11)

2011-06-23T20:40:00.001-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

TR3 – Kabbalah (2011 from Space and Beyond, c. 2009) timreynolds.com
BOOTSY COLLINS w/ BUCKETHEAD & (Z-CLASS) – Minds Under Construction (2011 tha Funk Capital of the World) bootsycollins.com
ULTRAVIOLET HIPPOPOTAMUS – TIJ (2011 Square Pegs Round Holes) uvhippomusic.com
SOUL of JOHN BLACK – Strawberry Lady (2011 Good Thang) thesoulofjohnblack.com
ERIC CLAPTON and STEVE WINWOOD – Them Changes (2009 Live from Madison Square Garden)
PETER TOSH – Stepping Razor (1977/2011 Equal Rights [Legacy Edition])
MOKSHA – Easy A (2010 Mammal or Machine) mokshatime.com
TODD SNIDER – Conservative, Christian, Right-Wing Republican, Straight, White, American Males (2004 East Nashville Skyline) toddsnider.net
PHIL LESH & FRIENDS w/ WARREN HAYNES – Just a Little Light (7/3/00 Mesa del Sol Amphitheatre, Albuquerque, NM)

-HOUR TWO-

*** featuring special guest toast picks from the original co-toast, Jennifer (O'Connor) Dodge ***

WIDESPREAD PANIC – Last Straw > One Kind Favor (6/19/11 Brady Theater, Tulsa, OK) livewidespreadpanic.com
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Chilly Water > Contentment Blues (6/19/11 Brady Theater, Tulsa, OK)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Flicker (2008 Free Somehow)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Can’t Find My Way Home (4/3/96 Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, AL) livewidespreadpanic.com

# # #

CONCERT REVIEW

2011-06-16T22:40:00.001-07:00

THIRSTY EAR FESTIVAL – June 10-12, 2011, Santa Fe, NM

One of the first people I met at this year’s festival summed up the Santa Fe music scene pretty well. His name was Bo, and he had come all the way from Amsterdam for some festivarian action in the states. “I cannot believe that more people aren’t here,” Bo said. “In Europe, Calexico is big, very big band.” I assured him it was early yet, and not everyone had crawled out from under their respective rocks for the evening, but secretly I wondered if this was as much of a showing as Santa Fe was going to give.

Under not-quite-blistering-but-not-quite-comfortable 90-degree sunshine, a couple hundred music lovers had gathered for another Thirsty Ear Festival at the old Santa Fe Brewing Company (now apparently dubbed “Santa Fe Sol”). This year, unlike years past, the festival staked its claim closer to town, with acts playing different venues like Corazón (where Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers reportedly wreaked havoc with an amazing set on Friday, June 10) and the beautiful Lensic Performing Arts Center (where Shawn Colvin played for those who’d rather have a nicely-dressed, sit-down kind of night on Saturday, June 11), as well as the aforementioned Sol. All events were separately ticketed, unless you ponied up for the “all pass,” which made it feel more like a film festival than a music festival, but everyone seemed glad not to be trapped in the oppressive heat and dust of the Eaves Movie Ranch for once.

Cedric Burnside Project turned in an enjoyable performance on the outdoor stage at Saturday’s Sol date. Since they’re used to southern humidity, Santa Fe’s dry heat didn’t seem to faze them. Cedric started the set on guitar, and later switched to drums. Through an unusual acoustic mixture of blues and hip-hop, Cedric smiled the entire time. Despite the fact there was room to pack a few hundred more in the crowd, at least we came off as appreciative. “I wish we could play for 2 hours up here,” he said. “You’re making us feel very welcome.”

Sunday, June 12, dubbed “Community Day” by festival organizers, focused on local acts and the admission price was a pittance in comparison to Saturday. The crowd was sparser than Saturday’s and skewed a little older, demographically. Luckily for the bands, a good number came prepared to boogie. The highlight of the day was an Albuquerque gypsy-jazz combo called Le Chat Lunatique. Their set – Sunday’s (as well as the Festival’s) last – was a little more experimental than those who’d come before. An almost perfect balance of complex instrumental arrangements and what I will call “song-y” numbers you could dance to and sing along with made for a great closer to a great festival.

I only made it to the Sol shows for this year’s Thirsty Ear, so I can’t say what the attendance was like at the other venues. I agreed with Bo from Amsterdam: the crowd seemed a little thin. I think moving the festival from the remote movie ranch location was a good idea, but maybe Santa Fe doesn’t have enough of a live music fan base to split the locations and spread them around town. Then again, maybe one day, in a distant future where all the 20 year-olds don’t leave Santa Fe for Austin, TX or Portland, OR, or even Albuquerque, NM, festivals like this will take root and draw bigger crowds.

Or maybe we should just resign ourselves to apologizing to guys like Bo from Amsterdam for not packing the house.

# # #

TnJ 174 (6/16/11)

2011-06-16T19:30:00.001-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

DISCO BISCUITS – Konkrete (2010 Planet Anthem) discobiscuits.com
FRANK ZAPPA – City of Tiny Lites (11/3/84 SUNY, Stony Brook, NY)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Goin’ Out West (7/18/09 Mile High Music Fest, Denver, CO) livewidespreadpanic.com
TEA LEAF GREEN – Nothing Changes (2011 Radio Tragedy!) tealeafgreen.com
BUXTER HOOT’N – Blue Night (2011 Buxter Hoot’n) buxterhootn.com
NEIL YOUNG – Are You Ready for the Country? (2011 International Harvesters – a Treasure) neilyoung.com

-HOUR TWO-

RAY LaMONTAGNE and the PARIAH DOGS – Old Before Your Time (2010 God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise) raylamontagne.com
PAUL McCARTNEY – I’ve Got a Feeling (2009 Good Evening New York City) paulmccartney.com
TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – Learn How to Love (2011 Revelator) tedeschitrucksband.com
DAVID RALSTON – A Woman That Loves Me (2010 A Woman That Loves Me) davidralston.com
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – Reuben’s Train (2009 Live at the Orange Peel and the Tennessee Theatre, c. 2008) crowmedicine.com
MUMFORD & SONS – Thistle & Weeds (2010 Sigh No More) mumfordandsons.com
EMMYLOU HARRIS – Tulsa Queen (1998 Spyboy) emmylouharris.com
TONY FURTADO – Angelina (2010 Golden) tonyfurtado.com
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Rivertrance (3/10/11 Broomfield, CO) livecheese.com

# # #

NEXT WEEK: OMG! The original Jam returns! For one week only, Jen (O’Connor) Dodge will be co-toasting with the Mighty D (^_^)

# # #

TOAST'S ERIC KRASNO INTERVIEW ON JAMBANDS.COM

2011-06-15T11:05:00.001-07:00

Huzzah! Soulive turned in an outstanding performance in New Mexico this May, and Toast was on hand to ask guitarist Eric Krasno some questions.

Head over to jambands.com and read about Kraz's predictions for the future of music, as well as his side projects, his feelings on behemoth music festivals like Bonnaroo, and what he'd do with a time machine.

# # #

WIN TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND TIX THIS WEEK

2011-06-13T16:15:00.000-07:00

Be listening this Thursday to win Tedeschi Trucks Band tickets to their Sandia Casino show in August!

(^_^) TOAST

# # #

TnJ 173 (6/9/11)

2011-06-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

MEAT PUPPETS – We Don’t Exist (1994 Too High to Die) themeatpuppets.com
WIDESPREAD PANIC – North (7/3/10 Idaho Botanical Gardens, Boise, ID) livewidespreadpanic.com
GRAYSON CAPPS – No Definitions (2011 the Lost Cause Minstrels) graysoncapps.com
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD – King’s Highway > True Lies (2010 Live! In Chicago, c. 2007 House of Blues, Chicago, IL)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’ (6/5/09 Wanee Festival, Live Oak, FL)
TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – Don’t Let Me Slide (2011 Revelator) tedeschitrucksband.com
PO BOYZ – Dear Robert poboyz.net

-HOUR TWO-

BOOKER T. JONES – Rent Party (2011 the Road from Memphis) bookert.com
ZACH DEPUTY – You Can Take Me Anywhere (2011 Into the Morning…into the Night) zachdeputy.com
GRATEFUL DEAD – Promised Land (5/5/77 Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, CT)
TIM REYNOLDS – If the Ocean Had its Way (2010 the Limbic System) timreynolds.com
CHET ATKINS w/ LES PAUL – Birth of the Blues (1977 Chester & Lester)
NEW RIDERS of the PURPLE SAGE w/ PROFESSOR LOUIE – Pour House Jelly (9/18/07 the Pour House, Charleston, SC) thenewriders.com
B.B. KING & JIMI HENDRIX w/ BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND featuring AL KOOPER and ELVIN BISHOP – Blues Jam #2 [part 2] (4/9/68, possibly 4/15/68, the Generation Club, New York, NY)
GALACTIC w/ CHALI 2NA – Think Back (2007 from the Corner to the Block) galacticfunk.com
BLACKALICIOUS – Alphabet Aerobics [the Cut Chemist 2 ½ Minute Workout] (1999 A2G EP)
BEASTIE BOYS w/ NAS - Too Many Rappers [New Reactionaries version] (2011 Hot Sauce Committee Part Two)

# # #

PLEASE VOTE for TOAST-n-JAM

2011-06-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, I realize what slim chances this little show has at winning the Best of Santa Fe Reporter Reader's Poll, but if you do dig it, please take the time to cast your vote here.

Or vote for Gabe Gomez' show, or Lisa C's show, or the Frogville Radio Show. As the saying goes - JUST VOTE (^_^) THX!!!

Deadline is June 16, 2011

# # #

TnJ 172 (6/2/11)

2011-06-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

PHISH – David Bowie > Catapult > David Bowie (6/29/94 Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC) livephish.com
MEAT PUPPETS – Plateau (1999 Live in Montana, c. 1988) themeatpuppets.com
LED ZEPPELIN – Dazed and Confused (8/31/69 Texas International Pop Festival, Dallas, TX)
GALACTIC w/ CYRIL NEVILLE – Heart of Steel (2011 the Other Side of Midnight – Live in New Orleans, 10/29/10 Tipitina’s, New Orleans, LA) galacticfunk.com
NEW MASTERSOUNDS w/ KARL DENSON – You Got It All (2005 This Is What We Do) newmastersounds.com
LETTUCE – Salute (2008 Rage!) lettucefunk.com

-HOUR TWO-

WARREN HAYNES – Sick of My Shadow (2011 Man in Motion) warrenhaynes.net
SOUL of JOHN BLACK – Digital Blues (2011 Good Thang) thesoulofjohnblack.com
GIFT of GAB w/ DEL the FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN & BROTHER ALI – Dreamin’ (2009 Escape to Mars) giftstribution.com
DEVIL MAKES THREE – Poison Trees (2009 Do Wrong Right) thedevilmakesthree.com
EDWARD SHARPE & the MAGNETIC ZEROS – Come in Please (2009 Up from Below)
DAN HUBBARD & the HUMADORS – All I Want Is You (2011 the Love Show) danhubbard.net
TRUTH & SALVAGE CO. – Call Back (2009 Truth & Salvage Co.) truthandsalvageco.com
ROLLING STONES – Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (1971 Sticky Fingers)
ROLLING STONES – Dead Flowers (1971 Sticky Fingers)
JIM LAUDERDALE – Don’t Tempt the Devil [With Your Love] (2011 Reason and Rhyme) jimlauderdale.com
TEA LEAF GREEN – the Cottonwood Tree (2011 Radio Tragedy!) tealeafgreen.com

# # #

THE NEW 11-PIECE TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND

2011-06-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

I've heard rumblings a new Tedeschi/Trucks lineup will make its debut this year. Official word from their management is: new album comes out June 7, 2011!!!

The new 11-piece band feautres Oteil Burbridge – bass (Allman Brothers Band), keyboardist Kofi Burbridge and singer Mike Mattison (Derek Trucks Band), drummers JJ Johnson (John Mayer) and Tyler Greenwell (Susan Tedeschi, Codetalkers), horns and more.

Furthermore, catch them live in our neck of the woods this Saturday (6/4) at the Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest in lovely Snowmass, CO.

Or...

(wait for it)...

Sandia Casino in Albuquerque, Friday, August 12, 2011

While this date is confirmed according to their management, no mention exists (as yet) on the Sandia Casino website. Best guess is the tickets will go on sale soon, but I'll update this post when I get something official to pass along.

UPDATE (6/9/11): Tickets are on sale NOW through Ticketmaster!

# # #

FROGFEST 6

2011-05-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

May 28-29, 2011 - Santa Fe Brewing Co, Santa Fe, NM

clockwise from upper left: Imperial Rooster, Anthony Leon & the Chain, Imperial Rooster, John Courage and the Great Plains

This was the first year they decided to go for broke and make FrogFest a 2-day affair. Saturday featured more rock acts and Sunday featured more country acts.

After baking in the sun all day Saturday, I barely had enough energy to rally for Sunday – but I absolutely HAD to see the Imperial Rooster from Española, NM. They played a mix of early and “new” material (just recorded at Frogville Studios), and were more comfortable with the newer stuff than the last couple of times I saw them, swaggering through the set list like pros. Their song “Khorn Syrup Sundae” is the catchiest of the new batch, though “Anything Goes at a Rooster Show” gets massive points for coining the term “lowfalutin.” Really looking forward to their new disc, “Decent People.”

Getting sets from the classic-rock-esque Albuquerque outfit The Strange on both days was a nice treat. They seemed about as exhausted as I did on Sunday though, compared to their thrill-a-minute set the day before. When asked how they developed their sound, the reply was: "We just listened to our parent's records."

John Courage returned to Santa Fe to record songs for his new album at Frogville, and brought his new backing band – the Great Plains – with him from Santa Rosa, CA. They also played both days.

Though I still consider Courage to be a top-notch songwriter, the new songs / band have an exaggerated air of the “depressed singer-songwriter” compared to the rootsy-rockin’ vibe of the previous album, “Lovers without a Care.” I noticed when that album’s producer, Bill Palmer, joined the Great Plains on stage for a few songs (including the instant classic, “Stuck in Encinitas”), the vibe shifted to a more “arena rock” flavor. Well, as “arena rock” as Americana can be, I guess.

For my money, though, the best band on the Santa Fe scene is still Anthony Leon & the Chain. Even though their set list was eerily similar to the last time I caught them a few months ago, they deliver the goods. Most local bands don’t understand the concept of dynamic range, or genre-bending, or even time changes. Leon fills the boots of frontman / bandleader well, and their sound, which implies a combination of Johnny Cash / Lynyrd Skynyrd / Hank III, sits right with the Brewing Company’s raucous roadhouse atmosphere.

# # #

TnJ 171 (5/26/11)

2011-05-26T19:31:00.001-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

MY MORNING JACKET – Circuital (2011 Circuital) mymorningjacket.com
CLUB D’ELF – I Wish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down (2011 Electric Moroccoland / So Below) clubdelf.com
SOULIVE – PJ’s (2009 Up Here) soulive.com
DEREK TRUCKS BAND – Already Free (2010 Roadsongs) derektrucks.com
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Valley of the Jig (3/12/11 Broomfield, CO) livecheese.com
ANDY SHAW BAND – Summer’s Coming (2011 Own Resolve) homegrownmusic.net

-HOUR TWO-

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – Ramble Tamble (1970 Cosmo’s Factory) johnfogerty.com
LEVON HELM – Kingfish (2009 Electric Dirt) levonhelm.com
LEFTOVER SALMON – Dance On Your Head (10/19/94 the Music Farm, Charleston, SC) leftoversalmon.com
SHAWN PITTMAN – If I Could [Make the World Stop Turning] (2011 Edge of the World) shawnpittman.com
GRATEFUL DEAD – Ramble On Rose (2010 Road Trips Vol. 3, No. 2, 11/15/71 Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX) dead.net
SEAN HEALEN – Angel Meat (2011 Crown of Coal) seanhealenmusic.com
SUPERFROG – Madeline’s Rose (2010 Call from the Moon) homegrownmusic.net
DISCO BISCUITS – Home Again (2003 TranceFusionRadio_Broadcast 01, c. 2002 the Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA) discobiscuits.com
U-MELT – Disclaimer > Disillusion (2010 Perfect World) umelt.com

# # #

Hey, everybody! LEFTOVER SALMON has a few dates coming up in our general vicinity this summer - including the 3rd Annual Taos Mountain Music Festival at Taos Ski Valley. They were a "jamband" before that term was even coined and don't tour much anymore. NOT TO BE MISSED (^_^)

# # #

ABQ CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENT

2011-05-26T10:10:00.001-07:00

It's a 21 or over show. Tickets online @ www.gettix.net or call 1.800.I.GET.TIX

# # #

TnJ 170 (5/19/11)

2011-05-19T20:48:00.001-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

WARREN HAYNES – Take a Bullet (2011 Man in Motion) warrenhaynes.net
JIMMY HERRING – New Moon (2008 Lifeboat) jimmyherring.net
GUMBO PROJECT – Old Man and the River (2009 Roux EP) gumboproject.com
AMOS LEE – Violin (2011 Mission Bell) amoslee.com
SUSAN JAMES – Old Jug Song (2011 Highways, Ghosts, Hearts & Home) susanjamesmusic.com
CHRIS THILE and MICHAEL DAVES – 20/20 Vision (2011 Sleep with One Eye Open) punchbrothers.com
HOT RIZE – High On a Mountain (2002 So Long of a Journey, c. 1996 Boulder Theater, Boulder, CO)
ELVIN BISHOP – Callin’ All Cows (2011 Raisin’ Hell Revue) elvinbishopmusic.com
JASON ISBELL and the 400 UNIT – Never Could Believe (2011 Here We Rest) jasonisbell.com

-HOUR TWO-

RAMONES – Pinhead (1979 Leave Home)
the WHO – Drowned (1973 Quadrophenia)
ZZ TOP – I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (1979 Degüello)
PHISH – Split Open and Melt > Have Mercy > Piper > Split Open and Melt > Slave to the Traffic Light (2011 Live in Utica DVD/CD Box Set, 10/20/10 Utica Memorial Auditorium, Utica, NY) phish.com

# # #

TnJ 169 (5/12/11)

2011-05-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

UMPHREY’S McGEE – 2nd Self (2005 the Best Show on Earth, 12/31/04 Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL) livedownloads.com
HOT CHIP – Shake a Fist (2008 Made in the Dark)
BLACK JOE LEWIS & the HONEYBEARS – Booty City (2011 Scandalous) blackjoelewis.com
JOE KROWN / RUSSELL BATISTE, JR. / WALTER “WOLFMAN” WASHINGTON – Triple Threat (2010 Triple Threat) joekrown.com
PHISH – Soundcheck (2011 Two Soundchecks [Record Store Day vinyl EP], 7/14/09 Hartford, CT)
LEON RUSSELL – In the Pines (2000 Live at Gilley’s, c. 1981)
JUNIOR BROWN – Stupid Blues (1998 Long Walk Back)

-HOUR TWO-

JOHNNY CASH – Leave that Junk Alone (2011 Bootleg, Vol. 2 – from Memphis to Hollywood, c. 1957)
the WOODSHEDDERS – Badger Blood (2011 O dig) thewoodshedders.com
MUMFORD & SONS – Awake My Soul (2009 Sigh No More) mumfordandsons.com
PETER GABRIEL – Secret World (1994 Secret World Live, c. 1993)
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody) > Miss Brown’s Teahouse (2010 Rhythm of the Road Volume One – Incident in Atlanta 11/17/00) livecheese.com

# # #

SOULIVE - 5/10/11 Low Spirits, Albuquerque, NM

2011-05-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

Aladdin
El Ron
Turn It Out
Shaheed
Come Together *
Something *
Eleanor Rigby *
I Want You (She's So Heavy) *
Bobby Byrd **
Hat Trick **
PJs / Lenny **
One in Seven **
Tuesday Night Squad **

E: Do It Again

* Beatles cover
** with Ryan Zoidis (of the Shady Horns) on alto, tenor and baritone sax

# # #

I'll be honest: this is just a placeholder post for guest toast Michelle LaFlamme-Childs to post a review of the evening. I have merely copied the set list and included what notes their road manager, John Hardee, added in sharpie.

I should note it was an amazing night of music. These guys deserve a place of honor in jazz-jam history.

(^_^) TOAST

# # #

PHISH - LIVE IN UTICA - DROPS 5/24

2011-05-13T10:01:00.001-07:00

Another great box set from Burlington's Phinest coming soon! Here's the write-up from phish.com:

On October 20, 2010 Phish played their first ever show in Utica in the heart of the Mohawk Valley. Utica Memorial Auditorium is a hockey arena with a capacity of about 5,700 and a design very similar to another round room and favorite Empire State Phish venue, Madison Square Garden. Utica was the smallest venue on Phish's fall tour and the atmosphere was charged with electricity - the music was swinging, inspired and transcendent with a crowd that rose to the occasion. One clever fan even went so far as to craft a "Guyutica" sign that no doubt helped shape the night’s events. A new camera mounted at the front-of-house position accentuated the light show in a way never before featured on a live, indoor Phish DVD. Set one was bookended by a soul sandwich, opening with "My Soul" and closing with "Run Like An Antelope" ("set the gearshift for the high gear of your soul"). "Vultures" and a funky "Wolfman's Brother" > "Cities" with local references brought the show to an early fever pitch. The music seemed to play the band as intricate, full-band improvisation intertwined the songs of set one throughout an absurdly creative sequence of "Guyute", "David Bowie" and "Wilson”. The show's theme song "Guyute" bloomed again repeatedly during "Saw It Again" and "Run Like An Antelope", both of which oozed with exquisite detail fueled by a fully mind-melded band and audience. Set two built on the momentum of a stellar first set, opening the door with a patient, jazzy "Sand" > "Theme From The Bottom" and diving headlong through it with an explosive combination of "Split Open And Melt" > "Have Mercy" > "Piper" > "Split Open And Melt" > "Slave To The Traffic Light" that nearly blew the roof off the Utica Aud. By the time “Birds Of A Feather” re-appeared during “Piper”, it could accurately be described as Uticular. In keeping with its series of interrelated themes, nearly optimum flow and an overall magical glow, Utica also showcased some relative rarities from The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday such as "McGrupp And The Watchful Hosemasters" and "Tela".

Phish "Wolfman's Brother" - Live in Utica DVD from Phish on Vimeo.

The nearly three hours of music on the Utica box set was recorded with 64 channels of digital multi-track and beautifully mixed and mastered, appearing on the DVD's in 5.1 Dolby surround and full-resolution, uncompressed PCM stereo. The video was shot with 8 cameras (16:9 widescreen), recorded and post-edited in High Definition. Combining a stellar performance with gorgeous improvisation and a healthy sense of adventure, Utica makes it clear that the band is back and playing for keeps.

Phish "Wilson > McGrupp And The Watchful Hosemasters" - Live in Utica DVD from Phish on Vimeo.

PRE-ORDER THE SET HERE.

# # #

TnJ 168 (5/5/11)

2011-05-05T19:23:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

LOS LOBOS – On Main Street (2010 Tin Can Trust)
ORGŌNE – Matanza (2010 Cali Fever) orgonespace.com
Interview > Eric Krasno [Soulive] (recorded 5/3/11 KBAC-FM, Santa Fe, NM)
SOULIVE – Up Right (2011 Bowlive – Live at the Brooklyn Bowl, c. 2010) soulive.com
BOOKER T. JONES – Everything is Everything (2011 the Road from Memphis)
RICH DelGROSSO / JOHN DEL TORO RICHARDSON – Mandolin Man (2010 Time Slips on By) mandolinblues.com
GALACTIC – Balkan Wedding (2011 the Other Side of Midnight – Live in New Orleans, 10/29/10 Tipitina’s, New Orleans, LA) galacticfunk.com
GARAGE á TROIS – Assault on Precinct 13 (2011 Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil) garageatrois.net

-HOUR TWO-

TV on the RADIO – Second Song (2011 Nine Types of Light)
LOTUS – Spiritualize (2004 Nomad) homegrownmusic.net
DUB IS a WEAPON – Seven Doors (2011 Vaporized) homegrownmusic.net
JIMMY BUFFETT – Uncle John’s Band (1994 Fruitcakes)
JAMEY JOHNSON – California Riots (2010 the Guitar Song) jameyjohnson.com
GRATEFUL DEAD – Sugar Magnolia (2010 Road Trips Vol. 3, No. 2, 11/15/71 Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX)
JOE BONAMASSA w/ JOHN HIATT – Tennessee Plates (2011 Dust Bowl) jbonamassa.com

# # #

Extra special thanks to Kraz (a.k.a. Eric Krasno of Soulive) for checking in with Toast-n-Jam this week. Can't wait for Tuesday (^_^) TOAST

# # #

TnJ 167 (4/28/11)

2011-04-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

WILLIE NELSON – Uncloudy Day (1976 the Troublemaker)
JOHN MELLENCAMP – I Couldn’t Believe It Was True (2003 Willie Nelson & Friends – Live & Kickin’)
AVETT BROTHERS – I Killed Sally’s Lover (2010 Live, Volume 3)
WILCO – Heavy Metal Drummer (6/21/03 Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh, PA)
moe. – Y.o.Y. > George (2007 Warts & All, Vol. 5, 2/22/05 Des Moines, IA) moe.org
BUXTER HOOT’N – Cover Band (2011 Buxter Hoot’n) buxterhootn.com

-HOUR TWO-

ZAC BROWN BAND – the Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (2010 Pass the Jar)
TARA NEVINS – Wood and Stone (2011 Wood and Stone)
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Walking on the Moon (3/18/11 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO)
CLUB D’ELF – So Below (2011 Electric Moroccoland / So Below) clubdelf.com
MAGGI, PIERCE and E.J. – 12/12 (2000 For)
JASON ISBELL and the 400 UNIT – Daisy Mae (2011 Here We Rest) jasonisbell.com
SONNY ROLLINS – Alfie’s Theme (1966 Alfie OST)
CHICK COREA NEW TRIO – Rhumba Flamenco (2001 Past, Present & Futures)

# # #

FROG FEST VI

2011-04-25T10:25:00.001-07:00

Crikey! It's going 2 days this year...

Click here for more info and tickets (^_^)

# # #

TnJ 166 (4/21/11)

2011-04-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

PAUL SIMON – So Beautiful or So What (2011 So Beautiful or So What)
LEFTOVER SALMON – Out in the Woods (2002 Live, c. 2001)
JOHN BROWN’S BODY – Heart and Soul (2005 Pressure Points)
SOULIVE w/ the SHADY HORNS – El Ron (2011 Bowlive – Live at the Brooklyn Bowl, c. 2010)
TONY FURTADO – Devil’s Dust (2010 Golden)
TV on the RADIO – Killer Crane (2011 Nine Types of Light)
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD w/ ROBERT MIRABAL – East to the West (7/1/07 Taos Solar Music Festival) festivalink.net

-HOUR TWO-

PHIL & FRIENDS – Jam (10/1/00 Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, VT)
PHIL & FRIENDS – Dire Wolf (10/24/00 the Fillmore, Denver, CO)
PHIL & FRIENDS – Brown-Eyed Woman (7/20/02 Tweeter Center at the Waterfront, Camden, NJ)
ZEN TRICKSTERS – Jam (4/23/90 Raoul’s, Freeport, NY)
GOV’T MULE – She Said She Said (2/21/02 Hard Hat Café, Toledo, OH)
ZEN TRICKSTERS – Say That I Am (10/29/99 Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? > Franklin’s Tower (3/19/04 Beacon Theatre, New York, NY)
CHRIS ROBINSON & NEW EARTH MUD – Deal (7/10/04 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO)

# # #

Thanks to John Barraco for guest toasting the second hour tonight, all featuring his second cousin, Rob Barraco, who's got a birthday coming up next week (^_^)

# # #

CONCERT REVIEW

2011-04-20T04:08:00.000-07:00

ARCADE FIRE - 4/18/11 Convention Center, Santa Fe, NM

For anyone not yet aware: this band is incredible. They exude an unnatural level of contagious energy through the entire set, all 8 of them wielding a panoply of instruments and skill.

Friends who had, apparently, been dragged to the show by their significant others asked me before the show what kind of band Arcade Fire were. I said, "folky new wave," and now, having seen them live and not just heard their records, I think that's fair, though I might've added energetic and atmospheric to the description.

The opener, "Ready to Start," from the award-winning album The Suburbs (their 3rd), set the pace for the night and the song closed out with an extended jam I ddn't expect from such a "songy" band. Not that they're particularly jammy, but they are great live, and allow many of their songs to breathe more in that setting. I wish the room they'd been playing in hadn't owned the most cavernous echo of any live music venue in history, but the band's greatness overshadowed the poor acoustics.

Another of the new songs, "Modern Man," had a distinct Talking Heads flavor, satirizing the "quiet desperation" of suburban life while somehow glorifying it. Nearly everyone can relate to lines like "In line for a number."

"Intervention," a desperately bitter but beautiful track from 2007's "Neon Bible," was a late-in-the-game surprise, and by the time the first encore came "Keep the Car Running," I had decided that, though their brand of social commentary is somewhat derogatory gospel, merely knowing that you have a problem is hope enough for recovery. I came away a believer.

# # #

ALBUM REVIEW 3-FER

2011-04-17T20:51:00.000-07:00

For the Toast-n-Jammer on the go, here are some quickie album reviews of recent releases in the “genre.” Of course, I dislike using the word “genre” to describe the Toast-n-Jam oeuvre, since “jambands” are less a “genre” than a collection of genres with a similar mindset. Calling jambands a genre is like calling the Adult Contemporary radio format a genre.

Also, I must admit these are less “reviews” than a listening diary, more trying to describe the initial feeling-through-audio experience. At the outset, I will say they all possess a certain tasty goodness, otherwise I wouldn’t have felt the need to write about them.

~ Chris Diestler

# # #

TV on the RADIO “Nine Types of Light” (Apr 12, 2011 – Interscope Records)

Anyone who thinks this Brooklyn combo aren’t one of the most psychedelic around obviously hasn’t listened to them, or had a psychedelic experience, though this album (their 4th) plays more like a righteous come-down than some of the agitated or angry trips they’ve brought us in the past. The opener, “Second Song” is exhilarating and fresh, and makes me all smiles. It sets the tone for the nearly hypnotic-yet-electrifying series of songs which follow.

The band seems less obsessed with impressing its audience with art-funk-rock showmanship than with actually acquiring an audience, for a change.

Aside from the opener, which is already a shoo-in for my year-end best-of list, “Nine Types of Light” has several outstanding tracks I plan to enjoy repeatedly over the next few months, namely “You,” “No Future Shock,” “Killer Crane,” and “Will Do,” likely to be the best 4 songs-in-a-row on any album this year. “Killer Crane” pours actual atmosphere out of the speakers.

Although possibly by design, it’s a shame TV on the Radio seem less interested in writing hooks than just plain being groovy. It’s really difficult to recommend a band without a hook to most people simply because they’re groovy. Not that there aren’t melodies, they just aren’t what we’re used to thinking of as melodies. The opening riff to “You” is as catchy as any melody, but isn’t a vocal. The vocal backup on “Will Do” is catchy enough to be the chorus of most band’s songs, but gets buried in the background here.

Well, “New Cannonball Blues” makes it the best 5 songs in-a-row I’ll likely hear this year. This is a well planned set of songs that deserves to be called an “album,” unlike most albums these days.

And “Repetition” makes it the best 6 songs in-a-row. The last 4th album from a band I remember impressing me this much was “Ghost in the Machine” by the Police, 1981.

# # #

P.S. [4/21/11] Sadly, TV on the Radio announced yesterday their bass player, Gerard Smith, had lost his battle with lung cancer and passed away. The band has cancelled several shows, including a date in Denver. Here's the link to their official website. R.I.P.

# # #

HOT TUNA “Steady as She Goes” (Apr 5, 2011 – Red House Records)

Wow, this is not what I expected at all. Those who’ve followed Jorma and Jack through their transition from Jefferson Airplane (before it morphed into Jefferson Starship and later, sadly, just Starship) into the more front-porch friendly Hot Tuna may have expected this, but not me. This sounds more like a straight up Jorma Kaukonen record than a Hot Tuna record to me, but maybe the coke-addled A&R men of the 70s weren’t about to allow something this down-home onto a “rock” record.

It is slightly less concerned with acoustics and olde-timey song preservation than most Kaukonen albums, but it still has that feel. Even at Hot Tuna’s folkiest, I expect a certain extravagant density in the recording. These songs are almost Spartan in their lack of appointment. If the last 20 or 30 years of Tuna gigs have been classified as either an “Acoustic Hot Tuna” or “Electric Hot Tuna” show, this set is definitely the “Acoustic Hot Tuna” variety.

Not to say it doesn’t have its charm, I was just hoping for something (anything) along the lines of a swampy, electrified “Bowlegged Woman” or “Funky #7.” Sorry to say, not to be found here.

On the plus side, “Second Chances” is just plain gorgeous, old-fashioned songsmanship. “Children of Zion” and “Mama Let Me Lay It on You” are catchy updates of Reverend Gary Davis, an artist whose catalog Kaukonen seems intent on eventually remaking in its entirety.

“A Little Faster” and “If This Is Love” are likewise catchy, and do their best to push the collection in a more electric direction, but come off a little naïve and clunky.

The fantastic opener “Angel of Darkness” may prove to be the gem of the set, and “Mourning Interrupted” at least hints at being timeless.

All in all a very pleasant listen, if not a historical one.

# # #

TONY FURTADO “Golden” (Dec 14, 2010 – Funzalo Records)

This guy is one of the best musicians and songwriters almost nobody’s heard of. Unfortunately for Tony Furtado, I’d have said the same thing when I first heard him nearly a decade ago. Maybe he’s content flying under the radar, being as kick-ass as he is, and doesn’t need the adoration of millions.

Even among his always-impressive albums of sounds, “Golden” is a standout. Songs like “Toe the Line” and “Can’t Lie Down” are instantly memorable, and the instrumental “Portlandia” does a nice job of showing off Furtado’s virtuosity without being too baroque.

“Angelina” has an unusual ranchero-country flavor and finds itself in a rare category indeed: the beautiful sad song.

“Devil’s Dust” has an impressive, thumping rock-n-roll swagger, even though it also comes off like a folk song, which may be one of Furtado’s biggest strengths: combining genres to make interesting sounds. If Tom Petty were singing it, I could believe it was one of his outtakes that, insanely, had never made it to an album.

One of the last tracks on the album, “River Song,” is as fine an entry into Furtado’s songbook as you’re likely to find, hitting on at least two of the things which drew me to him in the first place: extraordinary musicianship and an unashamed revival of folky, almost archetypal themes.

Earthy yes, but with ecstatic, soaring moments, “Golden” is a splendid trip that many might dismiss as merely ordinary.

And, if you’re reading this before April 27, 2011, and happen to be in New Mexico, you’re in luck – he’s playing the Cooperage in Albuquerque. Here’s the link.

# # #

TnJ 165 (4/14/11)

2011-04-14T20:32:00.001-07:00

Got to spin a couple of premieres tonight, made me feel downright special (^_^) THX

-HOUR ONE-

PHISH – Alaska (2010 Alpine Valley [box set], 8/14/10 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, Troy, WI) phish.com
GALACTIC w/ CYRIL NEVILLE – You Don’t Know (2011 the Other Side of Midnight – Live in New Orleans) *** due out 5/3/11 ***
DELTA GENERATORS – Hard River to Row (2011 Hard River to Row) deltagenerators.com
WARREN HAYNES – Man in Motion (2011 Man in Motion) *** due out 5/10/11 ***
the BRIDGE – Rosie (2011 National Bohemian) thebridgemusic.com
HOT TUNA – Children of Zion (2011 Steady as She Goes) hottuna.com
BORIS McCUTCHEON & the SALTLICKS – No Place to Fall (2010 Wheel of Life) borismccutcheon.com
MILKDRIVE – Dry Creek Inn (2011 Road from Home) milkdrive.com
ELEPHANT REVIVAL – Go On (2011 Break in the Clouds) elephantrevival.com

-HOUR TWO-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Candyman (9/15/90 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY)
ARCADE FIRE – No Cars Go (2007 Neon Bible) arcadefire.com
LARRY SCHMID – Seeds and Stems (2011 Seeds and Stems) greatcaesarsghost.com
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Machine > Barstools and Dreamers (2010 Live in the Classic City II, MM) widespreadpanic.com
GARAGE á TROIS – Baby Mama Drama (2011 Always be Happy, but Stay Evil) garageatrois.net
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS – Go-Go Boots (2011 Go-Go Boots) drivebytruckers.com
the DECEMBERISTS – Dear Avery (2011 the King Is Dead) decemberists.com

# # #

NEXT WEEK: Guest toast John Barraco brings the birthday jams for his cousin, Rob! Be listening...

# # #

OUTSIDE LANDS TIX ON SALE THURSDAY

2011-04-12T06:27:00.000-07:00

Here's the official website.

# # #

TnJ 164 (4/7/11)

2011-04-07T19:33:00.001-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

EUFÓRQUESTRA – Dr. Standby (2009 Soup) euforquestra.com
Interview > Mike Tallman [Eufórquestra] (recorded 4/6/11 KBAC-FM, Santa Fe, NM)
HERBIE HANCOCK – Watermelon Man (1962 Takin’ Off)
LITTLE FEAT – Sailin’ Shoes > Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (1978 Waiting for Columbus, c. 1977)
SOULIVE w/ the SHADY HORNS – Hat Trick (2011 Bowlive – Live at the Brooklyn Bowl, c. 2010) soulive.com
GREGG ALLMAN – Tears, Tears, Tears (2011 Low Country Blues)

-HOUR TWO-

FREDDIE KING – Dust My Broom > Hide Away Medley (1996 Live at the Electric Ballroom, 1974)
WALTER TROUT – Hudson Had Help (2010 Common Ground) waltertrout.com
DAN HICKS – the Diplomat (2009 Tangled Tales)
DeVotchKa – Interlude > the Man from San Sebastian (2011 100 Lovers) devotchka.net
SAM BUSH BAND – Mahavishnu Mountain Boys (12/31/03 Boulder Theater, Boulder, CO) sambush.com
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Casey Jones (1988/2010 Almost Acoustic)
BOB MARLEY & the WAILERS – Exodus (2011 Live Forever, 9/23/80 Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA)

# # #

Thanks to Jams of Enchantment for turning me on to the Eufórquestra shows coming up this weekend, and to Mike Tallman for checking in from the road. Playback his interview here.

# # #

YMSB / RRE / ISD @ RED ROCKS

2011-04-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

General tickets on sale Saturday 4/9 @ 10 a.m. MDT

Pre-sale tickets on sale Friday 4/8 @ 10 a.m. MDT

This one'll be a hoot 'n' a holler 4 sho (^_^)

# # #

Link to Yonder's official site here.

# # #

TnJ 163 (3/31/11)

2011-03-31T18:43:00.000-07:00

-HOUR ONE-

HOT TUNA – Angel of Darkness (2011 Steady as She Goes) hottuna.com
HOT TUNA – If This Is Love (2011 Steady as She Goes)
SOULIVE – Taxman (2010 Rubber Soulive) soulive.com
JAS PATRICK – Nothing to Do (2010 Working on My Soul) jaspatrick.com
CLUB D’ELF – Bendir Done That (2011 Electric Moroccoland / So Below) clubdelf.com
Interview > Travis Book [Infamous Stringdusters] part 1 (recorded 3/29/11, KBAC-FM, Santa Fe, NM)*
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – You Can’t Stop the Changes (9/9/10 Live at MusicFog @ Americana Music Awards) thestringdusters.com
Interview > Travis Book [Infamous Stringdusters] part 2 (recorded 3/29/11, KBAC-FM, Santa Fe, NM)*
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Lonesome River (4/15/08 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO)

-HOUR TWO-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Cassidy (11/30/80 Fox Theater, Atlanta, GA)
NATHAN MOORE – Choose Thy Love (2011 Dear Puppeteer) nathanmoore.org
DEREK TRUCKS BAND – I Know (2009 Already Free)
LOTUS – Marisol (2009 Feather on Wood EP) lotusvibes.com
FUTURE ROCK – Romantic Rights [live remix] (2010 Live in Wicker Park) homegrownmusic.net
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Bust It Big > Pleas > Mr. Soul (12/31/10 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO) livewidespreadpanic.com
GIANT PANDA GUERILLA DUB SQUAD - .45 (2010 Live Up!!! Volume II, 4/10/10 Aggie Theatre, Ft, Collins, CO) giantpandadub.com

# # #

* Big thanks to Travis Book for checking in with Toast-n-Jam this week! You can stream the audio here.

# # #

WIDESPREASD PANIC SUMMER TOUR

2011-03-30T14:14:00.001-07:00

June 22, 2011 - Kit Carson Park, Taos, NM !!!

Followed by another amazing must-see run at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO!

Did you know Panic has the distinction of having sold out more Red Rocks shows than any other band in history?

Did you also know the boys plan to take a extensive breather soon?

Pre-sale tickets 3/31, public on sale 4/1.

Here's the link for details.

C U out there (^_^)

# # #

STRINGDUSTERS R COMING

2011-03-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

Don't miss the Infamous Stringdusters at the Santa Fe Brewing Company this Saturday (4/2)!!!

Bassist Travis Book will be calling in from the road during the broadcast this Thursday night (3/31), and of course I'll be spinning some great Stringduster tracks to accompany the interview.

By the way, anyone who's been waiting to hear what the future plans are for the Brewing Company, I'm told there will be an official announcement made at the show this Saturday (^_^) BE THERE!

# # #

YARMONY!!!

2011-03-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Announcing the 2011 YarmonyGrass Festival
High in the Rockies on the banks of the Colorado

August 4-6, 2010
Rancho Rio River Resort, Colorado

What do a hula-hoop, a river raft and a pirate costume have in common? It's Colorado's own YarmonyGrass Festival, of course. The two-night summer camp out known best for its scenic location on the Colorado River basin and its down-home grassroots appeal has announced the 2011 line up, and this year there is a little something for everyone including a little "Crisco" (country-disco for the uninformed), electro, Americana and even soul-lifting roots rock.

The sixth annual YarmonyGrass Festival will again include some of the finest string musicians in the country including the legendary Peter Rowan, the Travelin' McCoury's with Republic of Strings guitarist Scott Law, Emmit-Nershi Band, Greensky Bluegrass, Grant Farm w/ Keith Moseley, The Contribution, Nershi-Law Santa Cruz Guitar Duo along with a first time ever performance by "The Trancident" featuring The String Cheese Incident's Jason Hann, Michael Travis, Kyle Hollingsworth, and Michael Kang - culminating into a Yarmony Joint Set featuring many of the weekends performers on one single stage.

Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, March 29th and include camping at the Rancho Rio River resort along with a boat-load of daytime activities including the 2nd Annual Yarmony Kickball Tourney, music workshops, food vendors, water activities at Dinosaur Eddy, geologic and historic hikes, and even rafting on the famed Colorado River (booked and sold separately).The location and setting of a festival are what make music events memorable and YarmonyGrass has it all.

2011 LINE UP:
The Trancident (Michael Travis, Jason Hann, Kyle Hollingsworth and Michael Kang)
Emmitt-Nershi Band
Peter Rowan
The Contribution
Greensky Bluegrass
Travelin' McCoury's w/ Scott Law
Grant Farm w/ Keith Moseley
Nershi-Law Santa Cruz Guitar Duo
Dead Winter Carpenters
Pete Kartsounes Band
Andrew McConathy & the Drunken Hearts
Chris Thompson & Coral Creek
YarmonyGrass Joint Set

YarmonyGrass tickets onsale Tuesday, March 29th, 10am MDT and include all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning. Early admission on Thursday may be purchased for an additional $25. Onsite parking and car camping is limited. VIP Lodging options include yurts and cabins at the newly renovated Statebridge Lodge. Visit www.yarmonygrass.com for details.

° A limited amount of tickets will be available at $129 (plus ticket fees)
° General Admission Tickets $159 (plus ticket fees)
° Children's Tickets are available for $50 (plus ticket fees)
° A limited amount of RV and boat trailer passes will be available for $100 (plus fees)

- # # # -

TnJ 162 (3/24/11)

2011-03-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

Stick THESE in your Pandora, Genius!!!

-HOUR ONE-

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS – Let It Roll (2011 Keys to the Kingdom)
GOV’T MULE – I’m a Ram (9/5/10 Taos Ski Valley, Taos, NM) muletracks.net
ROOTS of CREATION – Dubby Conqueror (2010 ROC Live Vol. 2) rootsofcreation.com
DUB IS a WEAPON – Turbulence (2011 Vaporized) homegrownmusic.net
STOCKHOLM SYNDROME – Town & Country (2011 Apollo) stockholmsyndromeband.com
JIMMIE VAUGHAN – Hey Yeah (1994 Strange Pleasure)

-HOUR TWO-

PHISH – Bathtub Gin (7/3/10 Encore Park, Alpharetta, GA) livephish.com
HIGHLY SUSPECT – the Alligator Song (2011 Highly Suspect) highlysuspect.net
CHRIS PANDOLFI – Jono’s Farewell (2003 the Handoff)
IMPERIAL ROOSTER – Your Friends Think I’m the Devil (2010 Old Good Poor Crazy Dead) reverbnation.com
DAVE RAWLINGS MACHINE – How’s About You (2009 a Friend of a Friend)
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – Bootleg (1969 Bayou Country)
BLACK JOE LEWIS & the HONEYBEARS – She’s So Scandalous (2011 Scandalous) blackjoelewis.com
EASY STAR ALL-STARS w/ MICHAEL ROSE and MENNY MORE – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise) > a Day in the Life (2009 Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band) easystar.com
NOVEMBER GUEST – Be Home by 9 (2010 the Island Pond Connection)
TONY FURTADO – Toe the Line (2010 Golden) tonyfurtado.com

# # #

TnJ 161 (3/17/11)

2011-03-17T20:01:00.001-07:00

Behold! The first-ever T-n-J Pickin’ and Grinnin’ bluegrass/newgrass/jamgrass HOEDOWN THROWDOWN!!! Thanks for all the positive feedback during the broadcast. Maybe I’ll do this theme again sometime (^_^) TOAST

-HOUR ONE-

TIM O’BRIEN – Legend of a Mind (2004 Moody Bluegrass – a Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues)
TIM O’BRIEN – Sinner (2010 Chicken & Egg) timobrien.net
DOC & MERLE WATSON – Mama Don’t Allow No Music (8/7/80 the White House, Washington, D.C.)
TUT TAYLOR w/ ROLAND and CLARENCE WHITE – Black Ridge Ramble (1964 Dobro Country)
STEVE MARTIN and the STEEP CANYON RANGERS – Northern Island (2011 Rare Bird Alert)
BRUSHFIRE STANKGRASS – Sugar Glider (2010 One for the Salamanders) stankgrass.com
EMMITT-NERSHI BAND – Wait Until Tomorrow (2009 New Country Blues) emmittnershiband.com
AUSTIN LOUNGE LIZARDS – Leapin’ Lizards (1991 Lizard Vision)
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – Reuben and Cherise (2010 Jerry Jams for Rex, 12/31/09 Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO) nugs.net

-HOUR TWO-

JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Rosa Lee McFall (1987/2010 Ragged But Right, 10/24/87 Lunt-Fontanne, NYC)
JESSE McREYNOLDS & FRIENDS – the Wheel (2010 Songs of the Grateful Dead) jimandjesse.com
JAMGRASS – Back on the Train (2004 Various Artists – Progressive Bluegrass Jams on a Band Called Phish)
DEL McCOURY BAND – Walk Out in the Rain (2/21/01 Fox Theater, Boulder, CO)
LARRY CORDLE – Freebird (2004 Lonesome Skynyrd Time – a Bluegrass Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd)
MULESKINNER – Orange Blossom Special (1991/2009 Muleskinner – Live, c. 1973 KCET-TV)
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS w/ DAVID GRISMAN – Eat My Dust (11/15/07 Freight & Salvage Coffee House, Berkeley, CA)
DAVID GRISMAN QUINTET – Pneumonia (1977 David Grisman Quintet)
BÉLA FLECK w/ SAM BUSH, JERRY DOUGLAS, GABE WITCHER, BRIAN SUTTON, MARK SCHATZ – Blue Mountain (9/5/99 Strawberry Festival, Yosemite, CA)

# # #

BTW, this show is posted for streaming in its entirety @ kbac.com

# # #

OWSLEY "THE BEAR" STANLEY R.I.P.

2011-03-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

1/19/35 - 3/13/11 Rest in peace and thanks for helping start something (^_^)

The Rolling Stone write-up - here.

# # #

TnJ SPECIAL THIS WEEK

2011-03-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

So, Toast-n-Jam falls on St. Patrick’s Day this year. Now, I’m pretty sure I’d be unable to cobble together a set list of Irish-themed music that would sit right with most of you. However, I think I could gather an equally-folky, but also jammy, enough show’s worth of bluegrass, newgrass, and jamgrass tracks to spin you into orbit. I’m kinda shocked I haven’t thought to do this before, actually.

So, let the word go forth: this Thursday (3/17/11) will be the first-ever TOAST-n-JAM HOEDOWN THROWDOWN!

Tune in, turn on, and jam out (^_^)

TOAST

# # #

Added 3/16/11: I just noticed one of the founders of the newgrass movement (Tim O'Brien) has a birthday today! Prescient (^_^)

# # #

TnJ 160 (3/10/11)

2011-03-10T20:00:00.000-08:00

-HOUR ONE-

LITTLE FEAT – Oh, Atlanta (10/18/75 Auditorium Theater, Rochester, NY)
BLUES TRAVELER – NY Prophesie (2001/2010 Warren Haynes Presents the Benefit Concert Volume 3, 12/21/01 Asheville, NC) evilteen.com
JOE MOSS BAND – Black Boots (2011 Drive Time – Live at Chan’s) joemossband.com
ROBIN TROWER – Confessin’ Midnight (2007 Bridge of Sighs [deluxe], 1/28/75 John Peel Session, BBC)
moe. – Seat of My Pants (2000 L) moe.org
INDUBIOUS – Be Kind (2009 Cosmic Seed) indubiousmusic.com

-HOUR TWO-

IRON & WINE – Rabbit Will Run (2011 Kiss Each Other Clean)
DeVotchKa – Contrabanda (2011 100 Lovers) devotchka.net
BRUSHFIRE STANKGRASS – Me John Lennon and the Escalator (2010 One for the Salamanders, c. 2008 Asheville, NC) stankgrass.com
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT w/ TONY FURTADO – Shenandoah Breakdown (2010 Rhythm of the Road Volume One – Incident in Atlanta 11/17/00) livecheese.com
TONY FURTADO – Portlandia (2010 Golden) tonyfurtado.com
DAVID GILMOUR – Wish You Were Here (2008 Live in Gdańsk, c. 2006)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Driving Song > Saint Ex > Shut Up and Drive (7/4/10 the Spud Drive-In, Teton Valley, ID) livewidespreadpanic.com
RADIOHEAD – Give Up the Ghost (2011 the King of Limbs)

# # #

TnJ 159 (3/3/11)

2011-03-03T22:00:00.001-08:00

Boundless thanks to guest toasts Gabe Gomez and Michelle LaFlamme-Childs for sharing their picks on this week's Mardi Gras warm-up edition of T-n-J (^_^) L'aissez les Bon Temps Rouler!

-HOUR ONE-

WILD MAGNOLIAS – Ha No Nae (1975 They Call Us Wild)
DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND – Mardi Gras in New Orleans (1985 Live – Mardi Gras in Montreaux)
PAPA GROWS FUNK – Soul Second Line (2007 Shakin’)
ANDERS OSBORNE w/ BIG CHIEF MONK BOUDREAUX – Smoke It Right (2002 Bury the Hatchet)
TROMBONE SHORTY – Where Y’At (2010 Backatown) tromboneshorty.com
SOUL REBELS BRASS BAND – Uptown Downtown (2009 No Place Like Home – Live in New Orleans)
QUINTRON – Walk to the Harvest (2008 Too Thirsty for Love)
BALLZACK – Wine Candy (2009 Yeah Indeed)
GALACTIC – Sweet Leaf (2001 We Love ‘Em Tonight – Live at Tipitina’s)

-HOUR TWO-

PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND w/ DR. JOHN – Winin’ Boy (2010 Preservation – An Album to Benefit Preservation Hall & the Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program) preservationhall.com
RADIATORS w/ GREGG ALLMAN – Midnight Rider (2004 Earth vs. the Radiators – the First 25)
BEAUSOLEIL – Bye Bye Jolie (2003 Boozoo Hoodoo! – the Songs of Boozoo Chavis)
FEUFOLLET – Au Font du Lac (2010 En Couleurs) feufollet.net
TONY JOE WHITE – Polk Salad Annie (1969 Black and White)
PORTER BATISTE STOLTZ w/ PAGE McCONNELL – Check Out Your Mind (2008 Moodoo)
REBIRTH BRASS BAND – Here to Stay (2008 25th Anniversary)
BUDDY FLETT – Livin’ Ain’t Easy (2010 Louisiana Swamp Stomp) honeybeeblues.net
BOBBY PREVITE – Airstrip One (2006 the Coalition of the Willing)
KERMIT RUFFINS – Hide the Reefer (2007 Live at Vaughan’s)

# # #

NUTHIN' BUT NOLA

2011-02-28T17:08:00.000-08:00

As a Mardi Gras warm-up, check out the all New Orleans mix on Toast-n-Jam this Thursday, featuring not one, but two guest toasts (^_^)

# # #

TnJ 158 (2/24/11)

2011-02-28T16:41:00.000-08:00

-HOUR ONE-

DEREK TRUCKS BAND – Don’t Miss Me (2010 Roadsongs)
JOHN HERMANN – Don’t Throw It Away (2001 Smiling Assassin)
WIDESPREAD PANIC w/ DAVID BROMBERG – Sharon (12/31/10 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO) livewidespreadpanic.com
STOCKHOLM SYNDROME – Emma’s Pissed (2011 Apollo) stockholmsyndromeband.com
GALACTIC w/ CYRIL NEVILLE – Boban (9/18/10 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival)
BLACK ANGELS – Telephone (2010 Phosphene Dream)
HOT TUNA – Ice Age (1997 Live in Japan at Stove’s Yokohama City)

-HOUR TWO-

HANK WILLIAMS III – 7 Months, 39 Days (2002 Lovesick, Broke & Driftin’)
JOHNNY CASH – Big River (1958 Sun Records single)
JOHNNY WINTER – Cheatin’ Blues (2004 I’m a Bluesman)
HILL COUNTRY REVUE – Hill Country Revue (2009 Make a Move)
HYMN for HER – Here (2010 2010 Lucy & Wayne and the Amairican Stream) hymnforher.com
BLACK CROWES – Nonfiction (12/5/10 Reno, NV) liveblackcrowes.com
FLORENCE + the MACHINE – Drumming Song (2009 Lungs)
THE BRIDGE – Sanctuary (2011 National Bohemian)
BOB MARLEY & the WAILERS – Running Away > Crazy Baldhead (2011 Live Forever, 9/23/80 Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA)

# # #

2011-02-24T10:31:00.001-08:00

Forwarded by a fan, too funny not to post:

Although - he does have long hair and sandals, so maybe not...

# # #

ARCADE FIRE TICKETS ON SALE 2/25

2011-02-22T06:32:00.000-08:00

Grammy winners ARCADE FIRE are slated to play the Convention Center in Santa Fe Monday, April 18th, 2011 - the same night as BRUCE HORNSBY! Decisions, decisions...

Tickets for Arcade Fire go on sale this Friday morning, 10 a.m. MST, through ticketssantafe.org

# # #

TnJ 157 (2/17/11)

2011-02-17T20:18:00.000-08:00

-HOUR ONE-

the DECEMBERISTS – Don’t Carry it All (2010/2011 the King is Dead) decemberists.com
EDDIE from OHIO – Cantering on Fool (2001 Quick) eddiefromohio.com
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS – the Thanksgiving Filter (2011 Go-Go Boots) drivebytruckers.com
SANTANA – Persuasion (1997 Live at the Fillmore 1968)
GRUPO FANTASMA – La Conozco (2010 El Existential) grupofantasma.com
PHISH – Gotta Jiboo (7/4/10 Encore Park, Alpharetta, GA) livephish.com
D NUMBERS – Dead Things (2010 Onda) dnumbers.com

-HOUR TWO-

PINK FLOYD – Run Like Hell (1987 “On the Turning Away” CD single, 11/5/87 the Omni, Atlanta, GA)
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION – Song of Yesterday (2010 Black Country Communion) bccommunion.com
COUNTER RIOT – Get Off (2010 Punk Funk Fugato!) counterriot.net
JOHN BROWN’s BODY – Struggling (2009 Re-Amplify, 10/10/08 Aggie Theatre, Ft. Collins, CO) johnbrownsbody.com
the HEAVY PETS – Grace Blix (2010 the Heavy Pets) theheavypets.com
the JOHN SULLIVAN BRIGADE – Somewhere to Run (2011 Live My Dream Rock True) johnsullivanbrigade.com
GRATEFUL DEAD – When I Paint My Masterpiece (9/15/90 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY)

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BRUCE HORNSBY @ the LENSIC 4/18/11

2011-02-16T07:11:00.001-08:00

Fair warning, Santa Fe:

Bruce Hornsby tickets for the Lensic show April 18, 2011, will go on sale this Friday morning at 10am MST

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BONNAROO ANNOUNCES 10th ANNIVERSARY LINE-UP

2011-02-15T10:11:00.000-08:00

TnJ 156 (2/10/11)

2011-02-10T21:01:00.001-08:00

-HOUR ONE-

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – Wasted Words (8/10/03 Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek, Raleigh, NC)
GREGG ALLMAN – Floating Bridge (2011 Low Country Blues) greggallman.com
TONY FURTADO – the Bawds of Euphony (2009 Deep Water) tonyfurtado.com
FISTFUL of MERCY – In Vain or True (2010 As I Call You Down)
IMPERIAL ROOSTER – the Ballad of Lightnin’ Bill Jasper (2010 Old Good Poor Crazy Dead) reverbnation.com/theimperialrooster
JERRY GARCIA BAND – Let it Rock (11/23/77 Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT)
JOHN-ALEX MASON f/ CODY BURNSIDE – Riding On (2011 Juke Joint Thunderclap) johnalexmason.com
ORGŌNE – A WOT (2007 the Killion Floor) orgonespace.com

-HOUR TWO-

BOB MARLEY & the WAILERS – Could You Be Loved (2011 Live Forever, 9/23/80 Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA)
IVAN NEVILLE’s DUMPSTAPHUNK – Meanwhile… (3/20/09 Highline Ballroom, New York, NY)
7 WALKERS – [For the Love of] Mr. Okra (2010 7 Walkers) 7walkers.com
PHISH – Kill Devil Falls (6/22/10 Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA) livephish.com
LEO KOTTKE – Morning Is the Long Way Home (1999 One Guitar, No Vocals)
CHRIS PANDOLFI – Rolling Blackout (2009 Looking Glass) chrispandolfi.com
NATHAN MOORE – Dear Puppeteer (2011 Dear Puppeteer) nathanmoore.org

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Congrats to the Gregg Allman CD winners tonight, and thanks for tuning in! We know you have a choice when choosing herbally-enhanced entertainment, and we thank you for flying with Toast-n-Jam.

Also, thanks to Rounder Records for kicking down the giveaways (^_^)

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ALBUM REVIEW

2011-02-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

Gregg Allman – “Low Country Blues” (released 1/18/11, Rounder Records)

Word is this album was recorded before Gregg Allman had his liver transplant last summer, but you’ll find no gloomy, death’s door vibe in these intentionally lo-fi grooves. Ubiquitous producer T Bone Burnett brings his favorite players to bear on a sound which calls to mind some of the blues greats Allman grew up idolizing (if his early-career cover songs are any indication). For better or worse, this album sounds like a dusty old analog recording, and Burnett’s uncannily encyclopedic knowledge of long-forgotten gems from the likes of “Sleepy” John Estes, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and Otis Rush fits Allman’s delivery like a glove.

Seeing Allman perform the one original from the set, “Just another Rider,” on the David Letterman show, I was struck by how adept and frisky his B-3 playing still was at age 63. He made it look so effortless, but he was hardly just going through the motions. His trademark bluesy growl might be a little thinner, but it still has presence, and the band was absolutely aces. The subdued horn arrangements added a welcome sparkle to the song without overwhelming its gritty earthiness, and the same can be said for the sound of the album. It sounds like the Muscle Shoals album Allman probably always wanted to make.

As the Allman Brothers Band gears up for another epic Beacon run in March, the bad news is Allman’s tour schedule overall for 2011 is very scaled back. After his surgery last summer, Allman was quoted as saying, “I changed my ways years ago, but we can’t turn back time. Every day is a gift.” Maybe at this point we should treat every Allman performance and recording as a gift, too. Here’s hoping he has years of great playing ahead of him, but if “Low Country Blues” should end up being his swan song, it would be a great one.

~ Chris Diestler, a.k.a. "TOAST"

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