CONCERT REVIEW - MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD at PUMPKIN FESTIVAL day 1, Santa Fe, NM

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD setlist 10/3/09 Santa Fe Horse Park

This is corrected compared to what the actual printed setlist says…

A Little Bit of Riddim
Hello Bonjour
We Don’t Stop
Rude Boys Back in Town
All I Want Is You (w/Tainted Love tease)
East to the West *
Everyone Deserves Music
(You Got to Walk and) Don’t Look Back (w/Casey Jones tease)
Sometimes (Electric)
Anytime You Want Me
Never Too Late
Yell Fire * (w/Smells like Teen Spirit tease **)
Sound of Sunshine *
I Got Love for You

E:

Everybody Ona Move (w/Billie Jean tease)
Hey World (Remote Control version)
Hey World (Don’t Give Up version w/new arrangement, new lyrics)
Say Hey (I Love You) ***

* with guest Robert Mirabal
** with Mirabal and audience members Erica and Denny
*** with Mirabal and lots of kids from the audience

# # #

Michael Franti has God-like powers. I’m not just referring to his notorious ability to connect with an audience like the tractor beam connected with the Millenium Falcon in “Star Wars,” nor am I referring to the way he somehow manages to be political and positive at the same time – I’m talking about being able to deliver a performance which proves he has those powers and more while sweating out a fever of 104 degrees.

Michael Franti & Spearhead have been in their current configuration (minus Cherine Anderson) for some 15 years, but they’re now amidst an audience growth spurt with the release of their first, bona-fide, across-the-board, hit single – “Say Hey (I Love You)”. This is a roundabout way of saying there were a lot more “norms” in the crowd than usual, but also just a lot more people, period.

All the hoopsters (that particular brand of show regular first seen, by me, at String Cheese shows in the early 00’s) had started congregating on the grass. One already sunburned hippy-shaker managed to balance a glass of beer on her head while hula hooping in a very heavy, warm-looking, presumably homemade, patchwork halter top dress. These typical Franti-show-free-spirit-types mingled with the vaguely “Colorado-jock-and-their-perfect-family-with-2.5-children” types, and a few thousand varying degrees of us grooved along somewhere in between.

I had been in line for one of the ridiculously small number of port-a-johns about 30 minutes when the first drum-and-bass driven notes of “A Little Bit of Riddim” came thumping across the Santa Fe Horse Park. One of my favorites from their most recent release, “All Rebel Rockers,” its siren’s call nearly pulled me away from the queue, but I resigned myself to missing the first couple of songs in the interest of finally urinating. Nearby Apsen beckoned me to relieve myself in a more primitive fashion, but I was on the clock and reluctant to be branded as uncivilized.

“Hello Bonjour” came on, another personal favorite from 2006’s “Yell Fire.” That gal with the 2.5 children had certainly been in the plastic toilet a long time. “We Don’t Stop,” from Everyone Deserves Music (2003) may or may not have been great, or even played for that matter. I was now delirious with how close and yet so far I was from civilized relief.

Ah! At last! And “Rude Boys Back in Town” provided the soundtrack for my return the concert area. First though, I decided to take a load off and watch people pass by. I’d been standing or walking for about 5 hours straight and the row of hay bales looked comfy enough. Though I was now right at the center of the festival grounds (which also included vast expanses of kid’s activities, food and craft vendors, and carnival rides), the bustling crowd of earlier appeared to have vanished. They apparently couldn’t resist Spearhead’s call to positive, beat-driven revolution, and I supposed I shouldn’t either – so much for giving my dogs a rest.

During “All I Want Is You,” it seemed from a distance that Franti descended from the stage and was absorbed by the crowd, song still playing. He interpolated quotes from the terminally 80’s club hit “Tainted Love” which miraculously meshed with the former’s acoustic dub structure.

He returned to the stage without missing a beat, and welcomed Taos Pueblo flautist Robert Mirabal to the stage for a particularly delicate reading of “East to the West.”

A rousing “Everyone Deserves Music” followed, and I had finally made my way close enough to the front to really see what was happening: they had the audience – hippy hoopster and Colorado jock alike – totally caught in their tractor beam. Everyone was completely bewitched by Franti’s charms, and well they might be, for his charms are legendary. Young parents bore small children atop their shoulders; some were thoughtful enough to stuff makeshift napkin earplugs into their children’s ears. The children were also bewitched – clapping when asked to clap, hands in the air like they just didn’t care, singing along with songs to which they couldn’t possibly know the words. Thankfully, Franti leans less on the expletive-laden raps these days.

In the midst of an otherwise faithful rendering of Motown’s “Don’t Look Back” via Peter Tosh’s “Bush Doctor” (1978), Franti quoted “Casey Jones” with more happiness and conviction than I ever heard The Grateful Dead themselves muster in concert. I’m assuming Sly & Robbie turned him on to “Don’t Look Back” while he was recording with them in Jamaica, or perhaps they just helped show him how it was played, since they were also part of Peter Tosh’s band way back when. At any rate, I was glad that, if he was going to do an actual reggae cover, that it wasn’t a Bob Marley tune. Not because Bob Marley doesn’t have the most archetypal and broad reggae catalog in history, just that I’ve been sick of most of Bob’s material for years. I know, Rasta heresy.

I was glad to hear the electric version of “Sometimes” again. Originally arranged this way on the 2001 recording “Stay Human,” I’ve seen him perform this since in the acoustic “Songs from the Front Porch” arrangement more often than not. It’s a great song either way; I just prefer the one with a beat.

By contrast, I was perfectly happy with the next number, a beautiful acoustic sing-a-long called “Anytime You Want Me” according to the setlist, which I’m guessing is a new Franti original since I can’t Google up any responses from the lyrics.

“Never Too Late” reminded me that Franti’s never afraid to reveal that he has emotions and that it’s okay for us to have them too. At some point during the show when I broke away from looking at the stage, I saw two teenage boys (presumably not gay from the way they were dressed) put their arms around each other and sing something which involved the repetition of the word “love.” This was a welcome change for me, accustomed to seeing teenage boys mimic the thuggery they see in mass media, or some other form of alienated, bruised-but-tough guy. The entire audience was joyful – full to bursting, actually.

The title track from “Yell Fire” always get my blood pumping, and I remember thinking if anyone’s not sold yet, they surely will be now. Though, I really couldn’t imagine someone so determined to remain mired in their own cynicism they hadn’t been won over at this point, because I’m usually that person, and I was in. Mirabal guested on didgeridoo, which added an interesting new dimension to a song I already knew backwards-and-forwards. Then Franti pointed out a couple of audience members for security to let onstage – their names were Erica and Denny and I’m assuming they were picked at random since Franti had to ask their names – and they were given guitars and busted out with the riff from Nirvana’s angst anthem “Smells Like Teen Spirit!” All that rocking took the chill off the fact that the sun was setting on an already crisp fall day.

Franti introduced the next song – another acoustic number called “Sound of Sunshine” – by pointing out the blazing sunset (average by Santa Fe standards) and stated plainly that “the sunset can cure a lot of bullshit.” This was the only vulgar term I heard him utter all day, and I wondered if this sunset could go so far as to cure his fever, which he hadn’t remotely let on he was suffering through.

He prefaced the last song the same way he had almost exactly one year ago at Paolo Soleri, by telling us he’d written it for his then 21 year-old son when Cappy departed San Francisco for NYC on a Greyhound bus. The song was “I Got Love for You,” from “All Rebel Rockers,” and it really is a pretty song, at least the way it appears on the record. I don’t know if this is a typical reggae affectation, but I have seen Toots and the Maytals do it often: take a nice slow song (or a nice fast one) and, once you get a nice groove going, send it into double time and totally ruin the audience’s ability to keep up. Then, back to normal time just long enough to get the audience back into it, then, for no apparent reason, back into double time. Repeat until everyone, including the band, is totally exhausted. Despite all this annoyance, I remember thinking how blessed Cappy was to have a father who’d write such a heartfelt ditty for him to listen to while he was thousands of miles from home.

After the world’s shortest encore break (during which I presume Franti realized if he sat down now, he wasn’t getting back up without medical assistance), came a spot-on reading of “Everybody Ona Move” (no double time shenanigans) with a sprinkling of synth from Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” toward the end, like the toy surprise at the bottom of a Cracker Jack.

The “Remote Control version” of “Hey World” followed. Franti changed one lyric from the album version, and I thought it was a good change: before reprising the chorus, he would say “You’ve got to let go BEFORE IT TAKES ALL YOUR SOUL.”

Next was the “Don’t Give Up version” of “Hey World,” which began much like the recorded version. After about one verse and one chorus though, Franti stopped the song dead in its tracks, and told us he and the band had totally re-written the song the night before and we would be the first to hear it in public. WOW! If anyone has a recording of this PLEASE post it somewhere. Maybe, if we’re lucky, the band will release it as a bonus single or something. I tried to write down all the new lyrics, but simply couldn’t, and I don’t know enough about music theory to say what had changed about the arrangement, but this version of that song was a whole different ball game. They made a good song great and I sincerely hope I get to hear it again someday.

Finally, Franti instructed security to let the front-of-crowd children (he called them "all the little pumpkins") on stage. One presented him with a brown paper sack full of New Mexico green chilé (packed with vitamin C, y’all), which Michael said should help cure his cold. He announced that Spearhead was currently enjoying their first run in the top 10 of the nationwide charts with “Say Hey (I Love You)” (which means all you ingrates who complained about the $30 ticket price should be ready to pony up $60 next time), and I’ll be damned if those 2 dozen-or-so "little pumpkins" didn’t know just about all the words. Franti even passed his microphone to a couple of them during the “song about a boy and a girl” part, and this one boy totally nailed the words and the rhythm perfectly. The kids all bounced happily and sang along on stage while we all bounced happily and sang along in the audience. It was the kind of moment which seemed right at home in a Spearhead show but which, somehow, had never happened before and, sadly, probably never will again. I doubt most Spearhead shows take place at a kid-friendly pumpkin festival.

I did manage to write down some of the changed lyrics to “Hey World (Don’t Give Up),” and I now notice they seem to sum up the whole Spearhead vibe and are good words to go out on. They are: “Don’t let nobody tell you that it couldn’t be done | Don’t let nobody tell you that it shouldn’t be sung…” and what should be writ large and shouted from the mountaintops, a trio of perfectly distilled Spearhead-isms: “Don’t ever give up,” “Everything is possible,” and “Keep on believin’.” Coming from anyone else they would sound trite or childish. Coming from Michael Franti and Spearhead they sound sincere and powerful, almost holy.

God bless you, Michael, and get well soon.

~ Chris “Toast” Diestler

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Chris’ interview with Michael Franti – Hear HERE

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TnJ 088 (10/1/09)

-HOUR ONE-

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – Yes I Will (11/26/04 the Fillmore, San Francisco, CA)
LEVON HELM BAND – Going Back to Memphis (4/26/08 Merlefest) festivalink.net
RED ROOSTER – The Places In Between (2009 Walk)
CROSS CANADIAN RAGWEED – Bluebonnets (2009 Happiness and All the Other Things)
NEW RIDERS of the PURPLE SAGE – Barracuda Moon (2009 Where I Come From)
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN and DOUBLE TROUBLE – Testify > Mary Had a Little Lamb (1999 Texas Flood [Legacy Edition], 9/23/83 the Palace, Hollywood, CA)
TREY ANASTASIO BAND – Mr. Completely (8/6/05 Jones Beach Amphitheater, Wantaugh, NY)

-HOUR TWO-

OYSTERHEAD – The Owner of the World (2001 the Grand Pecking Order)
LES CLAYPOOL FROG BRIGADE – Cosmic Highway (2002 Purple Onion)
BONERAMA – When the Levee Breaks (2009 Hard Times EP)
STEVE KIMOCK’s CRAZY ENGINE – Night Train (live, c. 2009, promotional e-release)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Two Step (8/9/08 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI)
BIG HOUSE – I Know You Rider (2008 Never Ending Train)
MICHAEL FRANTI – People in the Middle (2000 Live at the Baobab, c.1999)

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TnJ 087 (9/24/09)

-HOUR ONE-

HOT BUTTERED RUM – Limbs Akimbo (2009 Limbs Akimbo)
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Looking Glass (9/23/03 Austin, TX)
KYLE HOLLINGSWORTH – Wide Open (2009 Then There’s Now)
JIM WEIDER’S PROJECT PERCOLATOR – Release Yourself (2009 Pulse)
CADILLAC JONES – Rhythm Method (2009 Rhythm Method)
JOHN COLTRANE – Equinox (1964 Coltrane’s Sound)
JIMMY CARPENTER – Don’t Believe It (2008 Toiling in Obscurity)

-HOUR TWO –

PAPA GROWS FUNK – Dolemite Returns (2006 Live at the Leaf)
RED ELVISES – I Wanna See You Bellydance (1999 Your Favorite Band LIVE)
PHISH – First Tube (8/1/09 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO)
moe. – Time Ed (2005 Warts & All Volume 4, 7/18/98 Carbondale, IL)
EMORY QUINN – Ships and Planes (2008 the Road Company)
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – Sometimes (2001 Stay Human)***
GOOSE CREEK SYMPHONY - Head for the Hills / Will the Circle Be Unbroken (2009 Head for the Hills, c. 1975)

*** As of this writing, wikipedia incorrectly lists www.stayhuman.org as Franti's official site - DON'T BELIEVE IT!

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NATHAN MOORE NEWS

Santa Feans may remember Nathan Moore from ThaMuseMeant days. Since relocating back east, he's joined forces with The Slip and Marco Benevento to re-form Surprise Me, Mr. Davis, and also continues to release great solo roots records, such as his latest ("Folk Singer," on the Royal Potato Family label). Also check Frogville Records for Nathan's past releases.

Here's a couple of links you can check out to see what he's been up to lately:

A performance of "Hard Times" from the RELIX Magazine offices

And a brand new feature from JAMBASE

Santa Fe loves you, Nathan (^_^)

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IF I HADN'T SEEN IT...

...I wouldn'ta belieft it. If the Chuck Mead / Felice Brothers / Old Crow Medicine Show combo rolls through your town (and I think I overheard them saying they were going through Arizona next) -- YOU -- MUST -- SEE -- THIS.

I was so transfixed by the amazing, bestial showmanship on the stage tonight, I couldn't even bring myself to break away for a "trip to the loo." For like, 3 hours.

I'm still too shell shocked to make any cogent statements right now, actually.

SEE THIS

You won't be sorry. Forget what other people are saying is worth checking out. This is it. The most authentic, jubilant, visceral, insane, possibly deadly spectacle I've ever witnessed. Their energy level was so off-the-chart I kept thinking they were gonna hurt themselves. If they can keep this up indefinitely, they're definitely on to something.

God bless you all for such a magical night (^_^)

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JAMES FELICE interview posted

Thanks to James Felice for taking time out before hitting the road to speak with me from rural, upstate New York. Thanks to Holland Nix for setting things up and turning me on to The Felice Brothers' "Yonder Is the Clock." It's great stuff.

Listen to the interview HERE

Don't forget they're playing in Santa Fe this Tuesday night (^_^)

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TnJ 086 (9/17/09)

-HOUR ONE-

LITTLE FEAT – Dixie Chicken > Tripe Face Boogie (1978 Waiting for Columbus)
James Felice – Interview part 1
FELICE BROTHERS – Penn Station (2009 Yonder Is the Clock) thefelicebrothers.com
FELICE BROTHERS – Run Chicken Run (2009 Yonder Is the Clock)
James Felice – Interview part 2
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – Alabama High-Test (2008 Tennessee Pusher)
fun. – All the Pretty Girls (2009 Aim and Ignite)
CHARLIE HUNTER – Two for Bleu (2000 Charlie Hunter)

-HOUR TWO-

LETTUCE – Twisted (2002 Outta Here)
TAJ MAHAL – Leaving Trunk (1968 Taj Mahal)
JOE COCKER – The Letter (1970 Mad Dogs & Englishmen)
JIM McPHERSON – Left Out In the Cold (2009 A Promise Kept, c. 1982)
BEN HARPER – Burn One Down (8/18/96 San Rafael, CA)
ZACH DEPUTY – Games (Roll Tonight) (2009 Sunshine) homegrownmusic.net
WIDESPREAD PANIC w/DEREK TRUCKS, SUSAN TEDESCHI, and YONRICO SCOTT – Angels On High (7/12/08 All Good Festival, Masontown, WV) livewidespreadpanic.com

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FELICE BROTHERS interview

Tune in this Thursday (9/17) to hear Toast's interview with James Felice of The Felice Brothers - then catch The Felice Brothers live at the Santa Fe Brewing Company on Tuesday (9/22). They're on the bill with Old Crow Medicine Show!

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CD REVIEW – PHISH “Joy” – 9/14/09

PHISH “Joy” – released 9/8/09 - phish.com

It’s been a long time since Phans have had a new studio disc from Fishman & co. Five years, in fact. Of course, a number of those years they weren’t even together anymore – seemingly for good this time.

I haven’t looked as forward to a CD release in a while, and yet rarely have been as disappointed with the release once it was in my stereo.

Of course, it’s arguable that anything so anticipated couldn’t possibly live up to expectations (“Phantom Menace,” anyone?), nor do I mean to say there aren’t some things to love about “Joy,” but it’s not an instant classic like “Rift” or “Billy Breathes.”

Maybe Burlington’s Phinest are merely trying to reclaim territory they already conquered from upstart, would-be usurpers who arose in their absence, but much of the material on “Joy” has a real “been-there, done-that” feel to my ears.

And yet, it’s exactly some of this shopworn material which pleases me the most among these 10 new tracks:

“Kill Devil Falls” recalls one of their earliest radio singles, “Chalk Dust Torture,” from 1992’s “A Picture of Nectar.” It chugs along in a passable rock-n-roll groove and is one of my favorite songs on this disc, yet lacks the ebullience in its execution which compelled me to drop everything and dance, or at least air-guitar, when “Chalk Dust Torture" was heard.

“Time Turns Elastic” certainly manages to masquerade as a classic Phish jam, clocking in at 13 minutes and change, and there’s never been a studio track of that chronological magnitude. But where an early epic like “The Divided Sky” or “Reba” succeeds without the benefit of a rabid audience to fuel its madness, “Time Turns Elastic” seems to merely hint at jams-to-come without ever actually jamming. It’s more akin to the carefully plotted, sprawling suites of Zappa, Rush, or Yes than to a Phish jam, but it certainly has the potential to blow the roof off a venue live, if allowed to breathe.

“Come hide in the herd and float with the flock,” from the anthropomorphic curiosity “Ocelot,” comes off like a quintessential Tom Marshall lyric – maybe a little too quintessential. For the uninitiated, Marshall is to Anastasio as John Perry Barlow is to Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, i.e. he cobbles together the trippy lyrics which make a Phish song so very Phishy when doled out over the psychedelic alchemy of the band’s musical structure (anyone feel free to correct me if I’m wrong). There’ve been many of these kinds of songs in the Phish catalog and, though not nearly as cringingly embarrassing as “Guyute,” from 1998’s “The Story of the Ghost,” it has an undercurrent of Phish going through the motions.

Of course, I’d argue all of Phish’s albums since “Ghost” have had that feeling all the way through, and I’d like to state for the record I think “Joy” is definitely a stronger statement of purpose than any of those. Maybe it’s the burgeoning curmudgeon I find myself becoming in the second half of life, but “Joy” is just oozing with happiness, and it’s not like I don’t get the feeling they’re sincere about it (this is the first album they’ve released without major label backing), it’s just a bit much for me to endure from a Phish album. Wither something akin to the creepiness of “Tweezer,” or the playful menace of “Fee”?

The title track, “Joy,” starts in the same earnest, heartfelt vein as “Waste,” from 1996’s “Billy Breathes,” also produced by Steve Lillywhite – no slouch of a producer, I might add – but quickly veers into a blissful and uninteresting chorus which begs me to turn my frown upside-down. Personally, whenever some twirly-dancing flower child begins orbiting me at a show, it’s usually all I can manage not to punch their lights out.

Honestly, I’ve heard more interesting stuff from the members of Phish during their individual jaunts of the last few years and, while this reunion is not nearly the half-hearted train wreck the last one was (see their clunky read of “Chalk Dust Torture” from SNL at the dawn of their last reunion), I can only hope that this is merely the first toddling step into a brave new Phish world yet to come.

~ Chris Diestler, A.K.A. Toast

TnJ 085 (9/10/09)

PHRESH PHISH PHRY-UP (^_^)

-HOUR ONE-

PHISH – Ocelot (2009 Joy)
PHISH – Joy (2009 Joy)
PHISH – Kill Devil Falls (2009 Joy)
GOV’T MULE – Frozen Fear (2009 By a Thread)
STEEZ – Trouser Snakes (2009 Creepfunk Crusade) homegrownmusic.net
FOUR FINGER FIVE – Bullets (2007 Four Finger Five)
JOHNNY WINTER – You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now (2009 the Woodstock Experience, c. 1969)

-HOUR TWO-

GRATEFUL DEAD – It Hurts Me Too (2/18/71 Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY)
LEO KOTTKE – I Yell at Traffic (1995 Live)
CRACKER – Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room (2003 Countrysides)
MiLkDrive – Baby Arm (2009 Live ’09)
EMMITT-NERSHI BAND – Mango Tango (2009 New Country Blues) scifidelity.com
GREG MERRITT’s HEAVY ROAD – Improvisation #4 (2/26/09 Day 2 demo) myspace.com/GregMerrittMusic
PHISH – Time Turns Elastic (2009 Joy)

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TnJ 084 (9/3/09)

-HOUR ONE-

WEEN – A Tear for Eddie (1994 Chocolate and Cheese)
THE FELICE BROTHERS – Chicken Wire > Ambulance Man (2009 Yonder Is the Clock)
THE RADIATORS – River Run (2009 the Lost Southlake Sessions)
KARL DENSON’s TINY UNIVERSE – Brother’s Keeper (part 1) > Brother’s Keeper (part 2) (2009 Brother’s Keeper)
OZOMATLI – Can’t Stop (2007 Don’t Mess with the Dragon)
UMPHREY’s McGEE – Mantis (2009 Mantis)

-HOUR TWO-

GREAT CAESAR’s GHOST – Bertha (2009 Better Off Dead)
RAILROAD EARTH – Railroad Earth (2005 Elko)
CASEY DRIESSEN – Uncontinental Breakfast (2009 Oog)
ROBERT WALTER – Snakes and Spiders (2008 Cure All)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – Desdemona (7/10/04 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO)
THE SUBDUDES – All the Time in the World (2008 Live at the Ram’s Head)
BONERAMA – Funky Miracle (2001 Live at the Old Point)

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SHOW REVIEW - Yonder Mountain String Band 8/29/09, Santa Fe Brewing Company, Santa Fe, NM

First of all, Ben Kaufmann is a gracious, thoughtful human being. He soldiered on through not one, but two interviews. I am a technical Neanderthal. If you'd like to hear what the second interview sounded like, it will be posted on kbac.com (HERE)

I felt as though there were some things worth repeating from the first (unrecorded) interview, though. Firstly, Kaufmann is 5 months clean and sober, not that he was anxious to be preachy about it - far from it, actually - but he seemed very forthcoming about YMSB and their place in the world. I am truly sorry that his insights were lost to the ravages of technical ineptitude on my part.

Let me just say in summary, because I feel it may be a document to anyone who may write about them in them future, that when pressed to sum up the 4 characters who comprise YMSB, he listed them as follows:

Ben, himself, "The Foundation," which I took to mean "The Roots," as in, without those you have nothing upon which to stand, musically, philosophically, what have you.

Jeff Austin (mandolin), "The Rockstar." Hardly surprising an assessment, as I've seen him play that role happily through many years, despite not being in a rock band.

Adam Aijala (guitar), "The Rock," as in solid, the touchstone which grounds all the madness -- and grounded Ben after a particularly "out there" episode involving multiple shots of tequila. Not that Kaufmann wants to say that anyone out there doing something similar shouldn't be allowed to gauge their own abilities, just that it was, for him, time to rein it back and see whether or not he could perform sober. He admitted it has been, at times, difficult.

Dave Johnston (banjo), "The Mad Genius." Actually, what Kaufmann said was that he reminded him of Keith Richards and that he's written more amazing, groundbreaking material than will probably ever see the light of day. Apparently, Johnston has notebooks full of unrecorded, unreleased, absolutely brilliant material.

As for the show, itself - fun, fun, fun.

Xavier Rudd, the opener, said it best when he said it was like "being at a family barbeque." I didn't take it as an insult (though it may have been meant to be, due to the change of venue from an amphitheatre to a large outdoor patio). It really did have that casual feeling, as if you vaguely thought you actually knew everyone there, but just couldn't quite remember their names.

Carolyn Wonderland and Pigment both seemed good sports about sharing the evening with the displaced Rudd and YMSB, who'd been scheduled for a date at Paolo Soleri Amphitheatre which was, we are told, suffering from severe old age in the plumbing department.

After hearing YMSB rip through the John Hartford number "Up on the Hill Where We Do the Boogie," via Leftover Salmon's arrangement, they had me very nearly from the beginning.

Somewhere in the middle of the show they managed to invent, on the spot, a nice little ditty about changing a string while Dave Johnston restrung his banjo. It seems these guys are so dedicated to the string band art form they each have only one instrument, so all we could do was wait while Jeff Austin regaled us with ad libbed “lyrics” to the string-changing song, teasing Johnston for not being ready because he “never breaks a string.” Austin conceded to a string-breaking tally in the thousands, and told how even Kaufmann had broken a bass string once (in Moscow, ID, for the curious – having grown up near Moscow, I wondered if the gig might’ve been at John’s Alley, a quintessential roadhouse-style dive bar where many amazing up-and-comers have played). Finally, the banjo was restrung and retuned, and the show continued. Maybe I imagined it, but the banjo seemed particularly bright and plucky (no pun intended) for the remainder of the show.

Absolute highlight was their rendition of Frank Zappa's "I'm the Slime." You should be so lucky to hear something this amazing in your lifetime. After Adam Aijala's brain-melting guitar solo, the band seemed a little amazed as well.

I've seen Yonder many times over the years, and listened to many show recordings besides, and they seem to have a whole new show every time I see them. Yes, they played the "Boatman" dance, and yes, I've sat through many a rendition, and it's just impossible for me to resist its charms every time.

But most of the material was new to me, possibly because they just finished a new studio album (one of few in their collective career), and that's one thing I really like about YMSB - like snowflakes, no two shows are even remotely alike.

Kaufmann expressed immense gratitude that the audience seems to be there for their particular brand of jamgrass, which I can't help feeling needs some official moniker to carry it into the annals of music history. I was enjoying the show with an acquaintance from “the south” and it occurred to me that this kind of bluegrass might be a little different from the traditional "Kentucky" style, and I decided to call it "Colorado Bluegrass." The kind Sam Bush (uncrowned "king" of the venerable Telluride Bluegrass Festival) and Benny Galloway (unsung architect of the Colorado folk sound) have been championing for years without getting radio play. Though YMSB are about to release a studio album ("The Show," in September), I suspect their real fans have accumulated through word of mouth on the "Colorado Bluegrass" scene. It's like bluegrass, only without having to apologize for taking you into orbit for a few turns around the planet.

Thank you all for a great show. And if rumors that the opening soundcheck number was Metallica were true, and I missed it, well, sucks to be me.

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LIPBONE REDDING & the LIPBONE ORCHESTRA

Live from KBAC's Studio 2 on 8/27/09! Thanks to Karen Grossman for setting it up. They are loads of fun live, and you should all book them on your show / at your venue a.s.a.p. (^_^) TOAST

GO HERE TO LISTEN

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TnJ 083 (8/27/09)

-HOUR ONE-

BLACK CROWES – Oh, Josephine (2009 Warpaint Live, 3/20/08 the Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA)
mary and mars – Sloop John B (2004 Live at the Old Blinking Light)
NEW RIDERS of the PURPLE SAGE – Dirty Business (7/29? Or 7/30/06, Turkey Trot Acres, Candor, NY)
NEW RIDERS of the PURPLE SAGE – Higher (2009 Where I Come From)
MIKE STERN – Check One (2009 Big Neighborhood)

-HOUR TWO-

GREYBOY ALLSTARS – Still Waiting (2007 Whatever Happened to Television?)
IVAN ‘FUNKBOY’ BODLEY – A Skunk & A Monkey (2009 Pigs Feet & Potted Meat)
ASSEMBLY of DUST featuring JOHN SCOFIELD – Borrowed Feet (2009 Some Assembly Required)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Fishing (7/22/03 Paolo Soleri Amphitheatre, Santa Fe, NM)
WILCO – Solitaire (2009 Wilco [the Album])
XAVIER RUDD – No Woman No Cry (2005 Solace)
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – Elzic’s Farewell > No Expectations (4/28/06 Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM)
NATHAN MOORE – Hard Times (2009 Folk Singer)

# # #

TnJ 082 (8/20/09)

-HOUR ONE-

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – Complicated (2009 the Show)
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – Too Late Now (4/11/09 the Fillmore, San Francisco, CA)
LED ZEPPELIN – That’s the Way (9/29/71 Osaka, Japan)
SAM BUSH – the Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle (2009 Circles Around Me)
LIPBONE REDDING and the LIPBONE ORCHESTRA – Be Thankful for What You Got (2009 Science of Bootyism)
THE MOTET – Mighty (2009 Dig Deep)
PHISH – Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove (7/30/09 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO)

-HOUR TWO-

ERIC CLAPTON – Motherless Children (1974 461 Ocean Boulevard)
CHET ATKINS / LES PAUL – Caravan (1977 Chester & Lester)
TINARIWEN – Mataraden Anexan (2001 the Radio Tisdas Sessions)
GOGOL BORDELLO – Dub the Frequencies of Love (2007 Super Taranta!)
FRANK ZAPPA – Drowning Witch (11/3/84 SUNY, Stony Brook , NY)
KYLE HOLLINGSWORTH – Phat Cat (2009 Then There’s Now)
CULTURE – No Night (1997 Trust Me)
BERES HAMMOND – Give It All You’ve Got (2008 A Moment in Time)

# # #

TnJ 081 (8/13/09)

-HOUR ONE-

ASSEMBLY of DUST featuring MIKE GORDON – Arc of the sun (2009 Some Assembly Required)
GOOSE CREEK SYMPHONY – Number One Gravy Band (2009 Head for the Hills: Special Edition, c. 1975) goosecreeksymphony.com
DAVIS COEN – You Gonna Miss Me (2009 Magnolia Land) daviscoen.com
BEN HARPER – Fight for Your Mind (4/12/98 Biskuithalle, Bonn, Germany)
OZOMATLI – Believe (2004 Street Signs)
STEVE KIMOCK BAND – Better Git Hit in Your Soul (10/28/01 Tipitina’s Uptown, New Orleans, LA)

-HOUR TWO-

JOAN OSBORNE – Dreamin’ About the Day (1996 Early Recordings, c. 1991)
BOB MARLEY & the WAILERS – Stop That Train (10/31/73 the Record Plant, Sausalito, CA)
moe. – Kyle’s Song > Interstellar Overdrive > Brent Black (2008 Dr. Stan’s Prescription, Vol. 1, 3/8/04 moe.cruise) moe.org

# # #

TnJ 080 (8/6/09)

Dang, but that new Zach Deputy CD is even better than the first one! Very groovy, my friend (^_^) TOAST

-HOUR ONE-

LEFTOVER SALMON – Railroad Highway (2002 Live)
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – Nobody Right, Nobody Wrong (2008 All Rebel Rockers)
ZACH DEPUTY – Sunshine (2009 Sunshine) homegrownmusic.net
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS – The Radio Blues (2006 Tuesday Letter)
nelo – You Don’t Know (2008 nelo)
EUFORQUESTRA – Tramba (2005 The Adventures of Glen Devey) homegrownmusic.net
IVAN NEVILLE’s DUMPSTAPHUNK – Cannot Make It (3/20/09 Highline Ballroom, NYC)

-HOUR TWO-

ROBERT RANDOLPH & the FAMILY BAND – Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That (2006 Colorblind)
ANA POPOVIC – Wrong Woman (2009 Blind for Love) electogrooverecords.com
WALTER TROUT – Somebody’s Acting Like a Child (2009 Unspoiled by Progress, c. 1989, Huntington Beach, CA)
JJ GREY & MOFRO – By My Side > Nare Sugar (7/13/07 Howelsen Hill, Steamboat Springs, CO)
GALACTIC w/Lateef the Truth Speaker – No Way (2007 From the Corner to the Block)
JACOB FRED JAZZ ODYSSEY – Drethoven (2009 One Day in Brooklyn)
THE DEVIL MAKES THREE – Aces and Twos (2009 Do Wrong Right) thedevilmakesthree.com
ASSEMBLY of DUST featuring KELLER WILLIAMS – Second Song (2009 Some Assembly Required)

# # #

TnJ 079 (7/30/09)

-HOUR ONE-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (3/15/90 Landover, MD)
JERRY GARCIA & DAVID GRISMAN – The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest (2004 Been All Around This World)
THE WIYOS – All Aboard (2009 Broken Land Bell)
ToasT – interview part 1 toastband.net
ToasT – Shrinkage (2009 the Mad Science) homegrownmusic.net
ToasT – interview part 2
ToasT – Jam Sammich (2009 the Mad Science)
ToasT – interview part 3
PHISH – Time Turns Elastic (6/21/09 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI)

-HOUR TWO-

THE RADIATORS – Soul Deep (2009 the Lost Southlake Sessions)
BORIS & the SALTLICKS – Torn Faith (2006 Cactusman Versus the Blue Demon) frogvilleplanet.com
PIGMENT – Life Born to Lead (2008 Pigment) pigmentjam.net
JIMI HENDRIX – Izabella (1994 Woodstock)
JERRY JOSEPH & the JACKMORMONS – Chainsaw City (2003 Mouthful of Copper)
SON VOLT – When the Wheels Don’t Move (2009 American Central Dust)
GOV’T MULE – Wandering Child (1999 LIVE…With a Little Help from Our Friends, Vol. 2)

# # #

TOAST interviews ToasT

Austin rock band ToasT (playing El Paseo this Friday) will be interviewed on the show tonight via telephone. TUNE IN

# # #

BLACK CROWES TIX

From the promoter:

"Good old fashioned Rock and Roll comes to Santa Fe Center, Santa Fe's new convention center when The Black Crowes invade....
Wednesday, Oct 21 at 7:30.
This is a seated show, limited reserved seating is $53 and then GA seats available is $39
Tickets go on sale THIS Friday, July 31 at 10AM online at http://www.ticketssantafe.org... The Lensic box.. 988-1234."

# # #

STRINGDUSTERS on YouTube

Check out pieces of The Infamous Stringdusters' latest visit to New Mexico on YouTube

# # #

SHOW REVIEW 7/10/09

INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS 7/10/09 Santa Fe Brewing Company, Santa Fe, NM

I don’t know how they do it, but they seem to get better every time. This is a band at the height of their magical powers. See them now!

Surprises/highlights:

“High on a Mountaintop,” an old Del McCoury tune they’ve added to their sets. They may well have sacrificed small animals to elder gods to obtain this dark, swampy arrangement. Bluegrass meets Metallica by way of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Haunting and brilliant.

“End of the Line” could be one of those songs music historians look back on 20 years from now and say, “Right there, that’s where the whole thing started to take off.” Though it hails from Jeremy Garrett’s solo disc, “I Am a Stranger,” this tune really comes alive when the whole Stringdusters combo lays into it. Instantly memorable.

“In God’s Country” – yes, the U2 song off “The Joshua Tree,” though you’d barely recognize it. The Stringdusters have made this one their own by re-arranging it into what they’re best at: psychedelic bluegrass. I hope they keep it in their repertoire, because I can’t wait to hear what it morphs into.

“Get It While You Can” just keeps getting funkier. I thought the last time I heard them do this was just a fluke, but they actually seem intent on trailblazing the new hybrid of bluegrass-funk. More power to them.

If you’ve ever wondered where the next Johnny Cash might be coming from, check out Jeremy Garrett on “Tragic Life.” Originally from the Stringdusters’ first album, “Fork in the Road,” this tune about infidelity and murder has become a sprawling, dusty, bloody epic. Worthy of the label “outlaw country.”

Every single one of these musicians managed to amaze me at one point or another during the show. Jesse Cobb was the first – pushing his mandolin to the extreme on several of the opening numbers. Though I love bluegrass, I’ve never been particularly fond of the mandolin. I always felt its sound was too wispy to really get down and dirty, but Cobb proved me wrong.

Andy Falco did the acoustic guitar proud, picking faster than my eyes could follow at times. Could it be they were just trying to outdo each other, tag-teaming our eardrums? One Stringduster would blow the top of my head off, only to have another step in with their musical pastry torch and caramelize my brain like a crème brulee.

I can’t believe the punishment Andy Hall was dishing out to his dobro, particularly during the one-two punch of “Deep Elem Blues” and “Black Rock.” I love the sound of a dobro, but have never seen one played so insistently; the kind of pummeling you might resort to when you realize your bed partner enjoys things a little rougher than most.

And Travis Book on the upright bass – I’ve never known how one mere mortal can rock that instrument. It seems so huge, like one of those insanely oversized motorcycles you could practically live in. Someone driving an upright bass down the freeway I could believe. They’re tanks. Book holds down the groove, jams, sings, and somehow makes it look effortless.

As usual, banjo picker Chris Pandolfi was the last to join the fun. Maybe it just takes him a while to get into it, or maybe the banjo is just that hard to play, I don’t know, but he always seems to be kind of holding back until the very end. Man, when he finally lets loose though, it is truly amazing to behold.

At one point in the show, my friend, Darla, commented that Jeremy Garrett plays the fiddle with his whole body. I had just noticed him writhing and slithering through one of his numbers, possibly the aforementioned “Tragic Life.” I had to agree that Garrett seemed to be leeching energy from the earth, up through his feet, stirring it up through his knees and waist, and finally, blasting it straight through his arms to the fiddle, setting it ablaze with psychic fire.

Actually, in the end, I think the band had set us all ablaze with psychic fire.

The Infamous Stringdusters are the most amazing and honest acoustic combo out there right now. If you are not ready for the next level of bluegrass, best you just stay home and leave more room for me and mine to shimmy.

~ Chris Diestler, AKA “TOAST”

# # #

TnJ 078 (7/23/09)

-HOUR ONE-

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – In Memory of Elizabeth Reed > Drums > Third Stone from the Sun (tease) > In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (7/29/95 Walnut Creek, Raleigh, NC)
PARTICLE – 7 Minutes Till Radio Darkness (parts I and II) (2004 Launchpad)
JEFF BUJAK – Mutator (2009 Alive Like the Spine) homegrownmusic.net
WILCO – Bull Black Nova (2009 Wilco (The Album))
THE WHITE STRIPES – Ball and Biscuit (2008 Elephant)

-HOUR TWO-

WIDESPREAD PANIC – Barstools and Dreamers (7/16/08 Knoxville, TN)
THE DEAD – Easy Wind (5/7/09 Denver, CO)
HOT BUTTERED RUM – Return Someday (2007 Live in the Northeast)
PHISH – Sparkle > Free (2009 the Clifford Ball, 8/16/96)
PETER TOSH – Legalize It (1976 Legalize It)

# # #

FRANTI TIX 8/1 ON SALE

Pumpkin Fest Day One - starring Michael Franti & Spearhead, with local flavor from the Sean Helean Band, Gordon Free, and Hardgroove's Overshine - at the SF Horse Park this October! Tix on sale August 1, 2009 (^_^)

TnJ 077 (7/16/09)

Xtra huge THX to Dennis McNally 4 the Mark Karan interview hookup. I've posted the interview with tracks from his disc, "Walk Through the Fire" on kbac.com (^_^) TOAST

-HOUR ONE-

STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Outside and Inside (8/2/03 North Plains, OR)
MARK KARAN – interview part 1 (recorded @ KBAC 7/10/09)
MARK KARAN – Walk Through the Fire (2009 Walk Through the Fire) markkaran.com
MARK KARAN – interview part 2 (same as above)
MARK KARAN – Fools in Love (same as above)
MARK KARAN – interview part 3 (same as above)
MARK KARAN – Leave a Light On (same as above)

-HOUR TWO-

DEREK TRUCKS BAND – All I Do (2006 Songlines)
DAVY KNOWLES & BACK DOOR SLAM – Riverbed (2009 Coming Up for Air)
JOHNNY SKETCH and the DIRTY NOTES – Big Blow (Africafunk) (2004 Live at the Spleaf)
MARCO BENEVENTO – Bus Ride (2008 Invisible Baby)
THE BAD PLUS joined by WENDY LEWIS – Lithium (2009 For All I Care)
UMPHREY’s McGEE – 40’s Theme (3/6/07 Fox Theater, Boulder, CO)
GREAT CAESAR’s GHOST – China Cat Sunflower / I Know You Rider (2009 Better Off Dead) cdbaby.com
JIMMY PAGE & the BLACK CROWES – In the Light (6/28/00 Pittburgh, PA)

# # #

STEVE EARLE TIX

Just got the word about Steve Earle in Santa Fe 8/20 @ James A. Little - woo hoo!

Tickets thru the Lensic (505-988-1234) or online at www.Ticketssantafe.org

STRINGDUSTERS LIVE @ KBAC

Check out their live appearance at KBAC's Studio 2 here

MORE INTERVIEWS YO

Toast interviews The Infamous Stringdusters live at KBAC's Studio 2 this Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock.

Mark Karan (Bob Weir and Ratdog) will be talking up his new solo CD, "Walk Through the Fire," via telephone Thursday night during Toast-n-Jam.

TUNE IN and TURN ON

(^_^)

TnJ 076 (7/9/09)

Thanks to David Avery at Powderfinger for setting up the Mojo Morgan interview. Hear it in its entirety at kbac.com

- HOUR ONE -

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town (1991 Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
SHEMEKIA COPELAND – Limousine (2009 Never Going Back)
MOJO MORGAN – interview (Pre-recorded @ KBAC 7/7/09)
MOJO MORGAN – Tonight (2009 Got Mojo?)
SLIGHTLY STOOPID – Couldn’t Get High / Untitled (2006 Winter Tour ’05-’06)
TEA LEAF GREEN – Jezebel > (2006 Rock’n’Roll Band OST)

- HOUR TWO -

TEA LEAF GREEN – Franz Hanzerbeak (same as above)
DAVID FIUCZYNSKI – Cumin (2008 KiF Express)
ROLLING STONES – Time Waits for No One (1974 It’s Only Rock’n Roll)
THE WIYOS – Roll On Down the Road (2009 Broken Land Bell)
THE HOT CLUB of SANTA FE – Route 66 (2008 Musique de la Villa Différente)
LE CHAT LUNATIQUE – Sangre del Gato (2007 Demonic Lovely)
PAOLO NUTINI – Pencil Full of Lead (2009 Sunny Side Up)
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Pronto > No More to Leave You Behind > Pronto (4/15/08 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO)

# # #

MOJO MORGAN interview

Tune in this Thursday between 8:00 and 8:30 pm mountain time (on the air or streaming at kbac.com) to hear a piece of TOAST's interview with MOJO MORGAN. He'll be talking about his first solo CD - "Got Mojo?"

After the broadcast, you'll be able to stream the entire interview uncut at kbac.com

Stay toasted (^_^)

TnJ 075 (7/2/09)

Hour one special guest toast Tom Watts – live on the Bullring patio Friday nights this summer (^_^) Good to have you back in the studio, sir!!!


-HOUR ONE-

PHISH – Stash (3/6/09 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA) livephish.com
TOM WATTS (acoustic) – Little Martha > Police Dog Blues (Live at KBAC)
TOM WATTS (acoustic) – Little J (w/”Mother Nature’s Son” tease) (Live at KBAC)
TOM WATTS (electric) – Moondance > tuning (Live at KBAC)
TOM WATTS (electric) – All Blues > Lenny (Live at KBAC)
PHISH – Runaway Jim (3/7/09 Hampton Coliseum) livephish.com

-HOUR TWO-

THE DEAD – King Solomon’s Marbles (5/7/09 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO)
CASEY DRIESSEN – Conversation with Death > the Day Before Halloween (2009 Oog)
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – Mary’s Kitchen (2008 Tennessee Pusher)
SARAH JAROSZ – Mansinneedof (2009 Song Up In Her Head)
MICHAEL FRANTI – Anybody Seen My Mind (2003 Songs from the Front Porch)
MOJO MORGAN – Childhood (2009 Got Mojo?)
GREAT CAESAR’S GHOST – These Blues (2008 Means to an End)
KARL DENSON – Rumpwinder (2001 Dance Lesson #2)
OUTFORMATION – Fastburn (2009 Fastburn)

# # #

TOM RETURNS

For one night only, the return of my long lost comrade, Tom Watts, from 8-9pm July 1, 2009 (^_^)

TnJ 074 (6/25/09)

Featuring Guest Toasts PIGMENT

You guys ROCK!

-HOUR ONE-

PIGMENT – For Glory (2009 Pigment)
PIGMENT – Molly’s (2009 Pigment)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Weather Report Suite (1973/1993 Dick’s Picks, Vol. 1, 12/19/73 Tampa, FL)
PIGMENT – Dead Branch (2009 Pigment)
PIGMENT – the Lorenzini Suite (2009 Pigment)

-HOUR TWO-

WIDESPREAD PANIC – From the Cradle (6/24/07 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO)
PIGMENT – Color of A Bird (2009 Pigment)
PHISH – Chalk Dust Torture (7/16/94 Sugarbush, VT)
JERRY GARCIA BAND – Mission in the Rain (1980/2004 After Midnight: Kean College, 2/28/80)
PIGMENT – Little House (2009 Pigment)
DAVE WECKL – Tower of Inspiration (1990 Master Plan)
PEARL JAM – Breath (5/3/03 State College, PA)
PHISH – Tweezer (reprise) (7/10/99 Camden, NJ)

# # #

PIGMENT IN STUDIO 6/25

Tune in and turn on to Pigment, then catch them at Corazon for the CD release party in Santa Fe!

TnJ 073 (6/18/09)

The studio computer that usually archives the show took a dive halfway through on this particular evening. Anybody happen to have a copy? Please leave a comment below (^_^) THX

-HOUR ONE-

INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – A Hundred Years from Now (9/13/09 Normal, IL) www.livedownloads.com
JEREMY GARRETT – Y2K (1009 I Am a Stranger)
CHRIS PANDOLFI – Winnipeg (2009 Looking Glass)
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Fork in the Road (same as above)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Stop-Go (w/”People Like Us” rap) (7/22/08 House of Blues, N. Myrtle Beach, SC)
LED ZEPPELIN – How Many More Times (1969 Led Zeppelin)
TR3 – Burning Season (2009 Radiance) www.homegrownmusic.net
JIM WEIDER’s ProJECT PERCoLAToR – Two Worlds Intro > Two Worlds (2009 Pulse)

-HOUR TWO-

JERRY GARCIA & DAVID GRISMAN – Friend of the Devil (2001 Grateful Dawg OST)
JORMA KAUKONEN – Cracks in the Finish (2009 River of Time)
MARK KARAN – Rock Your Papa (2009 Walk Through the Fire) www.markkaran.com
HIGH CEILING – Ubuntu (2009 Illusions)
BOOTSY’s RUBBER BAND – Body Slam! (1982 Warner Brothers 12” single)
MEDESKI, MARTIN & WOOD – Jelly Belly > Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus (11/3/95 the Wetlands, NYC)
LEVON HELM – Tennessee Jed (2009 Electric Dirt) www.levonhelm.com

# # #

TnJ 072 (6/11/09)

"Ghosts of Bonnaroo Past" - hope you enjoyed listening as much as I enjoyed puttin' it together (^_^) TOAST

-HOUR ONE-

BÉLA FLECK w/EDGAR MEYER – Bonnaroo Traveler (2002 Bonnaroo Music Festival)
JOHN BUTLER TRIO – A Better Man (Bonnaroo backstage recording, 2005)
WARREN HAYNES – Stella Blue (2004 Live at Bonnaroo)
UMPHREY’s McGEE – That’s the Way (Bonnaroo backstage recording, 2005)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Junior > Fishwater > Red Hot Mama (6/12/05 Bonnaroo) www.livewidespreadpanic.com

-HOUR TWO-

BONNAROO SUPERJAM w/LES CLAYPOOL, GOGOL BORDELLO and KIRK HAMMETT – Big in Japan (6/13/08 Bonnaroo) www.archive.org
WEEN – Bananas & Blow (2002 Bonnaroo Music Festival)
THE BAD PLUS – Big Eater (2005 Bonnaroo Music Festival 2004)
KELLER WILLIAMS INCIDENT – Freeker by the Speaker > Callaloo and Red Snapper (6/21/02 Bonnaroo)
GALACTIC w/DJ LOGIC – Tiger Roll (2002 Bonnaroo Music Festival)
BONNAROO SUPERJAM w/STANTON MOORE, MACEO PARKER, GEORGE PORTER, SOULIVE, more – Soul Power (6/13/04 Bonnaroo) www.archive.org

# # #

BONNAROO FLASHBACK this Thursday night

I'll be diggin' through the archives for past BONNAROO performances this week, since I can't actually go to Bonnaroo this year.

If you're stuck not going as well, TUNE IN Thursday night for Bonnaroo revisited, onstage and backstage (^_^)

# # #

TnJ 071 (6/4/09)

Phish sandwich, anyone?

-HOUR ONE-

PHISH – Contact (2009 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA, 3/8/09) www.livephish.com
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – All Your Dreams (4/11/09 Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA)
INDIGENOUS – Blues from the Sky (1999 Live at Pachyderm Studios)
KENNY BROWN – If Down Was Up (2003 Stingray)
DEL McCOURY BAND – Cold Rain and Snow (2002 Bonnaroo)
TONY FURTADO – Hurtin’ in My Right Side (2006 Thirteen)
LEFTOVER SALMON featuring BÉLA FLECK and REESE WYNANS – Up on the Hill Where We Do the Boogie (1999 the Nashville Sessions)
QUACTUS – Alligator (2008 Once a Pond, A Spine…) www.homegrownmusic.net

-HOUR TWO-

moe. – Akimbo (2000 L)
THE SOUL of JOHN BLACK – Bottom Chick (2009 Black John)
JEFF BUJAK – Prodigium (2009 Alive Like the Spine) www.homegrownmusic.net
THE BLACK CROWES – Feathers (1995 non-album track)
DAVID BYRNE – What a Day That Was (2007 Live from Austin, TX)
RODRIGO y GABRIELA – Diablo Rojo (2008 Live in Japan)
PRIMUS – Frizzle Fry (2005 Bonnaroo Music Festival 2004)
PHISH – Bug > Tweezer (reprise) (2009 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA, 3/8/09) www.livephish.com

# # #

BONNIE RAIIT / TAJ MAHAL tix on sale Friday

HEADS UP!

Billed as "BonTaj Roulet," BONNIE RAITT & TAJ MAHAL perform at the Sandia Casino Amphitheater (Albuquerque) Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Tickets go on sale FRIDAY morning, June 5, 2009 at 10 am

# # #

TnJ 070 (5/28/09)

-HOUR ONE-

NEKO CASE – John Saw That Number (2006 Fox Confessor Brings the Flood)
CALEXICO – El Gatillo (Trigger Revisited) (2008 Carried to Dust)
THE WAYBACKS – The River (2008 Loaded)
LEVON HELM BAND – Ophelia (4/26/08 Merlefest) www.festivalink.net
LEVON HELM BAND – It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry (same)
THE MYSTIX – I’ve Been Scorned (2009 Down to the Shore)
DEREK TRUCKS BAND – Get What You Deserve (2009 Already Free)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – You Don’t Love Me / Soul Serenade (1989 “Dreams” box set, 8/26/71 WPLJ Broadcast)

-HOUR TWO-

THE FLATLANDERS – Neon of Nashville (2004 Wheels of Fortune)
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Cluck Ol’ Hen (12/6/08 Morse Theater, Chicago, IL)
DARRELL SCOTT – Hank Williams’ Ghost (2006 The Invisible Man)
WILCO – Sunken Treasure (1996 Being There)
MAX ALLEN – Unionize (2009 Uphill) www.homegrownmusic.net
RUSTED ROOT – Dance in the Middle (2009 Stereo Rodeo)
THE MACPODZ – Architeuthis (2007 Genius Food for Super Heroes)
THE JMC PROJECT – Ride the Wave (2009 Making a Statement)
UMPHREY’s McGEE – Ringo (12/31/04 Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL)

# # #

FROGFEST 4 THIS SATURDAY

The place to be this weekend - C U there (^_^)

For details, visit FROGVILLE

(See the poster much larger by clicking on the thumbnail)

TnJ 069 (5/21/09)

-HOUR ONE-

LEO KOTTKE / MIKE GORDON – Living in the Country (2005 Sixty Six Steps)
DIXIE DREGS – Goin’ to Town (1994 Full Circle)
CASEY DRIESSEN – Lunar Cages (2009 Oog)
TOAST – Fro Sho (2009 The Mad Science)
BLACKALICIOUS – Powers (2005 The Craft)
The GumboProject – L’aissez les Bon Temps Rouler (2009 Roux)
THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS BAND – Man Smart (Woman Smarter) / Iko Iko (2008 Live! in Aspen)
PIGMENT – Veteran (2008 Pigment)

-HOUR TWO-

TOM PETTY and the HEARTBREAKERS – Breakdown (1985 Pack Up the Plantation – Live!)
THE POLYPHONIC SPREE – Section 12 (Hold Me Now) (2004 Together We’re Heavy)
WHITE ROSES – Spark the Chain (2009 Spark the Chain)
MY MORNING JACKET – Honest Man (2001 At Dawn)
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – My Good Gal (2006 Big Iron World)
NEIL YOUNG – Helpless (2007 Live at Massey Hall 1971)
PHISH – Fluffhead (2009 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA 3/6/09) livephish.com

# # #

CORNMEAL show review

Though sparsely attended, I hear the Cornmeal show at SF Brewing was smokin'. Based on this review from Lael Eccard (drummer of local jamband Pigment), I'ma hafta make sure I show up for Cornmeal's next visit (^_^) TOAST

# # #

CORNMEAL 4/23/09 Santa Fe Brewing Company, Santa Fe, NM

Being the musician and jamband music fan that I am I knew I had to attend the Cornmeal gig at the Santa Fe Brewing Co. this past Thursday. Boy was I impressed. They started off with that very familiar banjo and stand up bass driven southern bluegrass feel. Boom chick, boom chick goes the drummer with viola and acoustic guitar playing steady rhythms. Just then a voice takes the limelight with that wonderful twangy, nasally sound that is all too indicative of bluegrass. This is just the calm before the storm. These guys kick bluegrass is the ass! With a couple hits of his pedals Kris Nowak has taken flight. Instantly there is this mean sounding guitar that demands attention as he fiddles the upper register...morphing the song into a psychadelic jam that made me grin from ear to ear! If these guys come through Santa Fe again...do not miss them. Thank you to the band and to David "Wavey" for a brief chat outside the venue. My hat is off to you!

# # #

Thanks, Lael! And, since one good turn deserves another:

Up and coming PIGMENT shows:

May 23rd
Bull O the Woods Saloon,
Red River, NM, Bike Weekend
4-8pm...outdoor stage

May 24th
Vietnam Memorial Amphetheater
Benefit Concert, (Donation to benefit the memorial)
1-3pm

# # #

INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS show review

I hung onto this for a long while hoping it would get printed, but the editor told me in the end it was too long for his needs, so I'll share it with you now. BTW, The Infamous Stringdusters return to SF Brewing Co this July. See you there (^_^) TOAST

# # #

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS 2/21/09 Santa Fe Brewing Company, Santa Fe, NM

How to speak about my recent -- and first -- live concert experience with The Infamous Stringdusters without stealing previous writers’ hyperbole may be difficult, but I’m gonna give it a try:

These guys are IT.

I’d managed to divert them to KBAC-FM (98.1 Radio Free Santa Fe) on their way to soundcheck for the closing night of their soon-to-be (pardon the pun) infamous Ski Tour 2009 long enough to interview them and get them to play a few songs live on the air.

I’ve interviewed many bands, but never before has a 6-piece acoustic band arrived early with smiles on, got tuned, and hit the airwaves with a live jam right at the previously agreed-upon show time. I guess when you’re only 3 ½ years into your run, have already won a platoon of awards, shared the stage with living legends of your root genre (in this case, bluegrass, for those not yet hip to their thing), and book some 130 shows a year, a certain level of professionalism is to be expected, but these guys are like clockwork.

This is not to say they don’t jam. It’s just not a lazy, aimless, meandering kind of jamming. They don’t noodle – they PLAY.

They seemed a little stunned when I asked how they felt about the being called a more progressive kind of jamgrass or newgrass, as though no one’s ever labeled them that before (they have), but new kid Andy Falco – who replaced founding guitarist Chris “Critter” Eldridge, now playing with Chris Thile in the almost excessively baroque Punch Brothers – stepped in to fill the void with a humble, “Cool, yeah, thanks.”

I came to realize this band is almost reverently aware of their roots, but are nevertheless taking what has gone before and doing something new with it. My mom would call it “taking the scenic route” on interminably long car trips in the summer. This band likes the side roads. Yes, Leftover Salmon, String Cheese Incident, Railroad Earth, New Monsoon, Yonder Mountain String Band and Hot Buttered Rum have blazed similar trails, but The Infamous Stringdusters have an almost transcendent songsmanship (if I may coin that term) usually missing from the typical jamgrass stew.

Maybe it’s because they cut their teeth on the demanding Nashville scene, paying their dues if you will, playing as sidemen for names that are bigger than theirs might ever be (though I’m certainly rooting for them to prove me wrong there). Maybe it was just a matter of right place, right time, when they realized what chemistry they had and decided to devote themselves to it full time. Whatever cosmic alignment of arcane tides formed such a band, we are all enriched because of it.

On to the show:

Stupendous.

The Santa Fe Brewing company wasn’t yet full-to-bursting on this Saturday night, but after the warm-up on the radio earlier, we were ready for a SHOW, by cracky. Opener was “Travelin’ Teardrop Blues,” a gem from also-Nashville-based Shawn Camp, segueing into “Three Days in July” – a song from the new IS release penned by Jon Weisberger and Mark Simos, both of whom seem to have been around the block; both somehow having managed to avoid widespread fame thus far. The Infamous Stringdusters seem intent on spelunking the furthest, unexplored reaches of the talent pool they have access to, both in Nashville and on obscure nuggets from their record collections.

During the interview I asked if there was anyone who tops their dream list of people to someday work with. Having already shared the stage and/or the production studio with legends in the field like David Grisman, Del McCoury, and Tim O’Brien, they all agreed next on the list would be Tony Rice. On the air as well as at this show they pulled out Rice’s cover of Jerry Reed’s “Likes of Me,” which comes from a Tony Rice album called “Cold on the Shoulder,” released in 1984, back when a whole lotta not-many-folks were buying bluegrass records.

But they’re not just historians, archaeologists, or curators of the unusual. They’ve got an impressive repertoire of originals. I’m guessing some of the songs we heard tonight might be new songs-a-brewin’ – they hinted at recording a new album (their third as a combo) this spring. Personally, I can’t wait. Two Travis Book numbers from the second album – “Won’t Be Coming Back” and “You Can’t Handle the Truth” – highlighted the first set, showcasing the bittersweet and the wryly lively sides of Book’s talent, and proved he’s got what it takes to hold up his end of the lead vocal duties.

IS have 3 lead vocalists if you’re keeping score at home but, true to bluegrass tradition, excel at vocal harmony and interplay, and use them often. This is definitely a group effort, greater than the sum of its parts, as proved by the first set’s closing two-fer: “Lovin’ You,” written by Sarah Siskind (recently on tour with critic’s darling Bon Iver), from the current album, and the wistful “Dream You Back,” one of IS fiddler Jeremy Garrett’s from their debut. “Dreambacks,” as it’s referred to on the hand-written setlist, is the kind of contemporary bluegrass number that feels immediately familiar, like an old pair of slippers you can’t bring yourself to throw out because their comfort far outweighs their antiquity. And I’ve made no secret of the fact that I think their recording of “Lovin’ You” is absolutely the best single of 2008, regardless of genre. Every time they perform it, it’s a little different. I caught Book and Garrett leaning into the studio monitors earlier at the radio station while I spun a live version of “Lovin’ You” from the Fox Theater in Boulder, CO (4/15/08). It had never occurred to me that performers like this wouldn’t be just constantly revisiting past performances like a star ball player might review old plays on “tape,” or whatever passes for tape these days. But they were listening to the jam on this recording with big old smiles on their faces and nodding their heads in approval, much like I probably did the first time I heard that show (it’s amazing). Tonight’s “Lovin’ You” was perfect during the verses, and completely original and amazing during the extended jam which always seems to follow. It’s as if any-and-every jam conceivable with a 6-piece acoustic combo can, has, or will be explored during this song’s stagelife, long may it be.

At this point, I’d already witnessed the most rousing newgrass set in years and we all adjourned briefly to the patio to discuss its merits with an entire second set yet to be experienced. One thing we talked about was the instrumentals.

The Infamous Stringdusters have more than a few outstanding instrumental numbers. My last question to them during the interview was how they settled on some of said instrumental’s names. I will recount them for you now, in case you’re the sort who also finds such minutiae interesting:

“Glass Elevator” was named after banjo picker Chris Pandolfi had apparently watched Willy Wonka. I neglected to ask which version, but here’s hoping it wasn’t Tim Burton’s “more accurate” atrocity.

Pandolfi’s “Moon Man” makes reference to a colorful fellow in Georgia they took a “shine” to. Shine as in what them Duke Boys ran. Yep.

Dobro player Andy Hall’s “No Resolution” was dubbed thusly by one Kitsy Kuykendall – wife of Bluegrass Unlimited’s editor, and board member of the International Bluegrass Museum – apparently due to the song’s unpredictable, open-ended nature (which of course means it’s a great one to jam on).

“Black Rock” was the instrumental title I had wondered the most about prior to the interview. My bet was on some kind of Burning Man Festival connection, though I also thought it might be a super-obscure reference to the very old, yet amazingly preserved, derelict galleon on the best science-fiction show ever to air, “Lost.” Nope. Turns out Hall was surfing Google Earth one day, looking at islands near the coast of Maine and “Bam!” there it was. Now you know.

Jesse Cobb’s “40 West” – named for, you guessed it, US Interstate 40 West, opened the second set. And what a set it would be.

A Bill Monroe tune called “Blue Night” was an early 2nd set highlight for me. I had heard they performed it once with David Grisman in San Francisco, but this was my first listen. You know when the old timers say “they just don’t write ‘em like that anymore”? This is one of those. Pristine and gorgeous, you’re almost afraid of listening too closely for fear of accidentally breaking the damn thing.

“Poor Boy’s Delight” is always one of mine. You can’t beat a line like “The Devil would die if you danced one with me.” Credited to Benny Galloway, perpetually nearly-famous Colorado folkster with a list of finely crafted songs a mile long, this is one of the most memorable songs on the first album – heartfelt, exquisite. And, surprise! They pulled Galloway himself from the crowd for a quick run through “Sugartown” halfway through the second set, and the now-capacity crowd really started getting into it.

Oh, but The Infamous Stringdusters weren’t done with us yet. In fact, though they’d certainly managed to give everyone their money’s worth at this point, I got the feeling they were just getting started. Something Falco said earlier on the radio replayed itself in my mind: “We really like to play, so we tend to play as long as possible.” They didn’t mention they were going for the world record. Almost 2 hours and counting – land sakes!

“Fork in the Road,” an award-winning track from their debut, still sounded lively and fresh. If they’ve played it a thousand times and are sick to death of it, none of that showed tonight.

By the time they made it through the aforementioned instrumental “No Resolution,” I was sure they must be winding down.

But no! Special guest #2 took the stage – Bob Heminger from Pagosa Springs, CO, and get this: he brought a sax. Yes! A sax in a bluegrass combo. Who’da thunk it? You know what happens when you throw a sax into a bluegrass combo? You get the funkiest reading of “Get It While You Can (a Danny Barnes tune from 2003’s ‘Dirt on the Angel’)” y’ever did hear. Heminger admitted afterwards it’s very difficult to coax the sax into playing something that meshes with bluegrass, but he managed to work it through several numbers, and stayed with them through to the end, possibly because it’s nearly impossible to get off the SFB stage once the crowd has filled in – most concert stages have an area accessible to the performers but not to the audience, usually dubbed “backstage” or, in theater, “The Green Room.”

Well, right about here the official setlist runs out, but either because the SFB has no backstage or the IS were having such a good time, Andy Hall announced they would simply launch right into the encore. These included Jeremy Garrett’s heartbreakingly beautiful “Starry Night” and Travis Book taking front and center for John Hartford/New Grass Revival’s “Steam Powered Aero Plane,” as well as at least 2 extended instrumental jams, but I was so into it at this point I failed to keep track. Seriously, the encore was as long as a traditional bluegrass combo’s entire set.

The weird thing about the show was this: I’m pretty sure some or all of the IS had smiles on their faces the whole time. Sure, when Jesse Cobb or Andy Hall were in the middle of a particularly blazing solo, they may have temporarily adopted a concentrative look, but mostly they were smiling. Right down to clowning around with a cardboard cutout of Roy Rogers I never was really sure if they had brought in as a mascot or if it was always part of the SFB stage props. When I thought about it, I realized I was probably smiling the whole time too. We all were smiling for some 3 hours straight.

A nice couple let us share their portable fire pit in the lot afterward. They were a little older, and their fifth wheel and camping gear implied they’d traveled to a lot of festivals. They’d seen the IS several times before, but were quick to point out that this time the whole band really seemed to be enjoying themselves. As Steve Martin once said, “you can't play a sad song on the banjo - it always comes out so cheerful.” I know I had certainly come out cheerful.

If you’ve seen the IS before, or listened to their formative shows, as I have, you know they’ve always had something extra special. But, as the lot couple observed, maybe they’re just now really hitting their stride. Or maybe this is just one of several plateaus in what will hopefully be a long and storied career.

Regardless, when they come to a venue near you, you must check out the Infamous Stringdusters. Bring your party hat and be ready to dance, clap, stomp, whistle, and sing. But mostly, be ready to smile.

# # #

Check out The Infamous Stringdusters’ official site here.

And listen to the entire KBAC IS interview/performance here.

# # #

TnJ 068 (5/14/09) w/Jen Dodge (formerly O'Connor)

Thanks to Jen for taking time out of her busy schedule of HAVING A BABY to bust out these tasty nugs for everyone (^_^)

BTW, it has come to my attention that the streaming signal was weak during the live broadcast, so for all Jen's friends and fans who wanted to listen in, GO HERE


-HOUR ONE-

THE DEAD – The Music Never Stopped (6/18/04 Red Rocks, Morrison, CO)
ERIC McFADDEN TRIO – Devil Moon (10/6/05 Go-West T-Shirt Co, Ft. Collins, CO)
JERRY JOSEPH & the JACKMORMONS – Light Is Like Water (7/20/01 Lobero Theater, Santa Barbara, CA)
PHISH – Ghost (3/7/09 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA)

-HOUR TWO-

WIDESPREAD PANIC – Stir It Up (6/29/08 Red Rocks, Morrison, CO)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Smoking Factory (10/11/07 Dee Events Center, Ogden, UT)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Holden Oversoul > Life During Wartime* (9/27/07 Paramount Theater, Oakland, CA) * with Jerry Harrison on keyboards/vocals

# # #

JEN the Original JAM

Yep, for one night only, Jen Dodge (formerly Jen O'Connor) will once again light up the airwaves with TOAST for a couple of heapin' hefty, heavy sets. Tune in at 98-1 Radio Free Santa Fe, or stream it online at kbac.com Thursday, May 14, 2009 (^_^)

Tony Furtado coming to Albuquerque

I can't think of a single reason we shouldn't ALL be at this show. This guy's the real deal. I could go on and on about how great Tony Furtado is, but I'll let the official press release do the talking (^_^) TOAST

# # #

PRESS RELEASE

HISTORIC EL REY THEATER

May 7, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Where: ALBUQUERQUE:
The Historic El Rey Theater
622 Central Ave., S. W.
(Downtown 7th and Central)

When: Friday, June 5, 2009

Time: Doors: 8:00 P.M.
Show: 8:30 P.M.

Price: $12 in Advance
(Advance tickets on sale at Bookworks,
Encore Music, Birdland, 1-866-I-GET-TIX
and GetTix.net)
$16 at the Door

Age Restriction: 21+


PUCCINI PRODUCTIONS

Presents

Slide-guitar Virtuoso

TONY FURTADO


Prodigious instrumentalist turned singer/songwriter TONY FURTADO will be returning to Albuquerque, this time with his band for his unique brand of folk at the Historic El Rey Theater.

“A talented multi-instrumentalist, cross-pollinating rambler … TONY FURTADO is an eclectic musician with a knack for mining musical gold from the American folk tradition while also incorporating the best of contemporary rock music.”
- Jambase.com

Furtado, who grew up in Pleasanton, CA, took up the banjo at 12 after constructing a banjo to fulfill a school assignment. He studied art and music at Cal State University in Hayward, CA. When he was 19, he won the Grand National Banjo Championship at the renowned Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Furtado is also a two-time winner of the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas (1987 and 1991).

"As a banjo virtuoso, Furtado is well-known for his envelope-pushing, progressive bluegrass stylings. His picking is rapid-fire quick, sharp and clear, and puts him in the school of Béla Fleck and David Grisman."[7]
- Katie Klingsporn, Telluride Daily Planet

As he was cementing his reputation as a banjoist extraordinaire, Furtado was also developing himself into an equally virtuosic slide guitarist. He inked a deal with Rounder Records and put out his debut release, “Swamped,” in 1992.

By the time of his second release, “Within Reach,” he was playing and recording with such luminaries as Jerry Douglas, Alison Krauss and Stuart Duncan. The release of “Full Circle” in 1994 marked a change in Furtado’s sound, which now began reflecting his passion for the acoustic blues and slide guitar of musical influences like Ry Cooder and Blind Willie. The revamped sound continued with 1997's “Roll My Blues Away.”

“He mixes bluegrass roots with a mainstream pop streak, easily holding the spotlight, thanks to his restrained virtuosity on acoustic and slide guitar and a warmly engaging voice reminiscent of T Bone Burnett, sans preachiness.” - PASTE Magazine

Furtado’s latest album, “Deep Water”, comes entirely from Tony’s heart, with tunes that embrace his love of slide guitar, his prowess as a banjo player, and his ability to write a song that elicits deep emotion. Produced by Sean Slade (The Pixies, Radiohead, Dinosaur Jr., Dresden Dolls), Deep Water wanders through a wide array of sentiment; from joy and love, to despair and hopelessness.

“TONY FURTADO once more demonstrates that he is not only a jack of all trades, but is also their master.” - Vintage Guitar

# # #

TnJ 067 (5/7/09)

-HOUR ONE-

MUDDY WATERS – Thirteen Highway (2009 Authorized Bootleg: Live at the Fillmore Auditorium – San Francisco Nov 04-06 1966)
THE BLACK KEYS – The Breaks (2005 Bonnaroo Music Festival 2004)
JAMES BROWN – Super Bad Pts. 1 & 2 (1970 King single, A-side)
SHEMEKIA COPELAND – Never Going Back to Memphis (2009 Never Going Back)
IAN MOORE BAND – Pay No Mind (1994 Live from Austin)
TR3 – Kabbalah (2009 Radiance)
COL. BRUCE HAMPTON & the AQUARIUM RESCUE UNIT – Intro > Fixin’ to Die (1992 Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit)
FRANK ZAPPA – Watermelon in Easter Hay (10/31/80 Palladium, NYC)

-HOUR TWO-

DREW EMMITT BAND – Country Blues (1/15/05 Wheeler Opera House, Aspen, CO)
DEL McCOURY – I Feel the Blues Movin’ In (2008 The Best of Del McCoury: the Groovegrass Years)
BOUGEOIS GYPSIES – Unsquare Dance (2008 Faulty Fairytales)
DeVotchKa – Sunrise on Cicero (2000 Supermelodrama)
ALISON BROWN – Forky in the Water (2008 The Company You Keep)
THE DRUNK STUNTMEN – Silver City (2008 State Fair)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away > Revolution (1997 Capital Centre, Landover, MD 3/15/90)

# # #

TnJ 066 (4/30/09)

Sorry to take so long getting this one posted, y'all. Moving sucks, what can I say? At least the new house rocks (^_^) THX, Geri!!!

-HOUR ONE-

GRATEFUL DEAD – Ramble On Rose (2004 Dick’s Picks 32, 8/7/82 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, Troy, WI)
GRATEFUL DEAD – The Wheel > Playing in the Band > Morning Dew > One More Saturday Night (same source as above)
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Sunny Side of the Mountain (9/13/08, Normal, IL) livedownloads.com
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – Coo Coo’s Nest (2004 Mountain Tracks Vol. 3, 9/12/03 Lyons, CO)

-HOUR TWO-

BLIND MELON – Car Seat (God’s Presents) (1995 Soup)
JEFF BUJAK – Nomadd (2009 Alive Like the Spine)
THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS – The Minx (2005 This Is What We Do)
LYRICS BORN – Hot Bizness (2003 Later That Day…)
THE NEW BIRTH – Comin’ From All Ends (1975 Comin’ From All Ends)
JOHN BROWN’S BODY – The Gold (2008 Amplify)
OZOMATLI – City of Angels (2007 Don’t Mess with the Dragon)
THE RACONTEURS – Level (2006 Broken Boy Soldiers)
GOV’T MULE – Blind Man in the Dark (2005 Bonnaroo Music Festival 2004)

# # #

VOTE FOR TnJ in SF REPORTER's BEST OF SANTA FE 2009 POLL

Deadline is May 15, 2009. This is the first time I've been listed as an option (^_^)

VOTE HERE

# # #

STREAMING FINALLY

Word is the kbac.com live stream is up and stable at this time. Spread the word - TOAST-n-JAM streaming live every Thursday night!

Click here for KBAC.com

# # #

TnJ 065 (4/23/09) Guest Toast Michelle-LaFlamme-Childs - ALL COVERS

-HOUR ONE-

JOE BONAMASSA – A New Day Yesterday (2000 A New Day Yesterday)
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – The New Pollution (ACL Festival, 2006)
GRATEFUL DEAD w/ETTA JAMES & TOWER OF POWER HORNS – Hard to Handle (12/31/82 Oakland Auditorium, Oakland, CA)
CHRIS THILE – Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground (2006 How to Grow a Woman from the Ground)
KELLER WILLIAMS w/MOSELEY, DROLL & SIPE – Bob Rules/A Natural Woman/Bob Rules (2008 Live, DVD bonus)
PHISH – Happiness Is a Warm Gun (2002 Live Phish, Vol. 13, 10/31/94)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (11/8/08 Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, WI)
APOCALYPTICA – Enter Sandman (1996 Plays Metallica by Four Cellos)

-HOUR TWO-

GOV’T MULE – When Doves Cry/Beautifully Broken (2003 The Deepest End, Live in Concert)
PSYCHOGRASS – 3rd Stone from the Sun (1996 Like Minds)
MEAT PUPPETS – Franklin’s Tower (1982/1999 Meat Puppets [reissue])
TONY RICE UNIT – House of the Rising Sun (2000 Unit of Measure)
The GumboProject – Green Minute (Santa Fe Plaza show, c. 2008)
moe. – Fearless (2/28/09 Riviera Theater, Chicago, IL)
EDDIE FROM OHIO – I Know You Rider Medley: Turn on Your Love Light (1998 Portable EFO Show)

# # #

CRAZY GOOD stuff, Michelle! Many thanks for bringing the goods (^_^) Anyone care to comment?

TnJ 064 (4/16/09)

-HOUR ONE-

LITTLE FEAT – Spanish Moon > Skin It Back > Fat Man in the Bathtub (1974 WLIR-FM broadcast, 9/14/74)
TOAST – The Dub > Estudio (2009 the Mad Science)
MOJO MORGAN – Mr. François (Guilty in Advance) (2009 Got Mojo?)
TINARIWEN – Oualahila Ar Teninam (2004 Amassakoul)
TR3 – Test of Time (2008 Radiance)
OUTFORMATION – Faded Memory (2009 Fastburn)
THE RADIATORS – Hard Core (2008 Wild & Free, 2/15/80)

-HOUR TWO-

PHILIP MASORTI – Mark Twain (2008 Father’s Eyes)
JEREMY GARRETT – North and South of the River (2009 I Am a Stranger)
LEFTOVER SALMON – Rocky Road Blues (4/16/96 the 8x10 Club, Baltimore, MD)
PHISH – The Curtain > Stash > Manteca > Stash > the Lizards (1993/2008 At the Roxy, 2/19-21/93 Atlanta, GA)

# # #

Tune in next Thursday for Guest Toast Michelle LaFlamme-Childs (^_^)

TnJ 063 (4/9/09)

Many thanks to Andrew & Matthew Fricek for retrieving these gems from their (frankly, quite extensive) collections and sharing them with all the Toast-n-Jammers tonight. Lots of interesting covers, which always works for me.

I've done my best to attribute the correct source information when available. Anyone should feel free to correct me via leaving a "comment" on this post.

Amazing stuff, neighbors! Your second session raises the bar for us all. Thank you (^_^)

# # #

-HOUR ONE-

BOB MARLEY & the WAILERS – Get Up, Stand Up (12/2/73 The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA)
THE SLITS – I Heard It Through the Grapevine (1979 Cut)
SIZZLA – Subterranean Homesick Blues (2004 Jah Knows Best)
QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE – Shady Grove (1969 Shady Grove)
TALKING HEADS – Slippery People (unknown source – possibly a Los Angeles date circa 1984)
TALKING HEADS – Burning Down the House (same unknown source)
TALKING HEADS – Life During Wartime (“”)
STANTON MOORE TRIO – Kick Up Dust (1/19/07 Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO)
STANTON MOORE TRIO – Funky Miracle (“”)
STANTON MOORE TRIO – Good Times Bad Times (“”)
STANTON MOORE TRIO – When the Levee Breaks (“”)

-HOUR TWO-

AFROSKULL – Space Chicken (2/4/05 Parkside Lounge, NYC)
AFROSKULL – In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (“”)
ARETHA FRANKLIN – Love the One You’re With (1971 Aretha Live at Fillmore West)
ARETHA FRANKLIN – Eleanor Rigby (“”)
MIKE BLOOMFIELD – Dear Mr. Fantasy (1969 The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper)
ROBERT RANDOLPH & the FAMILY BAND – Billie Jean (2/21/04 Phantasy Theater, Lakewood, OH)
ROBERT RANDOLPH & the FAMILY BAND – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (“”)
YES – The Clap (1971 The Yes Album)

# # #

GUESTS TOASTS

Tonight on TnJ - the return of the mysterious benefactors: Matt & Andrew!!! Stuff you've probably never heard before and may never hear again!!!

TnJ 062 (4/2/09)

-HOUR ONE-

ROBERT RANDOLPH & the FAMILY BAND – Homecoming (2006 Colorblind)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – Hot ‘Lanta (1971/2006 Eat a Peach Deluxe Edition)
BACKYARD TIRE FIRE – The Places We Lived (2008 The Places We Lived)
JERKS of GRASS – Something (2009 Come On Home)
LE CHAT LUNATIQUE – Lament (2007 Demonic Lovely)
UMPHREY’S McGEE – Cemetery Walk > Cemetery Walk II (2009 Mantis)
LOTUS – Bellwether (2008 Hammerstrike)

-HOUR TWO-

COLONEL LES CLAYPOOL’s FEARLESS FLYING FROG BRIGADE – Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Jack Irons version) (2001 Live Frogs Set 1)
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Joyful Sound (2003 On the Road, Atlanta, GA)
BÉLA FLECK – Blue Mountain Hop (1999 Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Volume 2)
JORMA KAUKONEN – Operator (2009 River of Time)
JIMMY LANDRY – Dead End Road (2009 New Day)
NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE – Barstool (1997 Year of the Horse)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Porch Song (1998/2003 Panic in the Streets)

# # #

TIX 4 LUCINDA

This Saturday at noon, FanMan will release tickets for Lucinda Williams and The Flatlanders (Paolo Soleri, SF, NM, June 1, 2009). Call the Lensic 988-1234 or visit fanmanproductions.com

# # #

TnJ 061 (3/26/09)

-HOUR ONE-

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – Hello Bonjour > Light Up Ya Lighter (3/3/07 Stubb’s, Austin, TX)
FREEKBASS – Pretty Heavy Balance (2008 Junkyard Waltz)
COL. BRUCE HAMPTON & the QUARK ALLIANCE – Susan T (2007 Give Thanks to Chank)
GRATEFUL DEAD – Good Lovin’ > Samson & Delilah (2007 Live at the Cow Palace: New Year’s Eve 1976)
FM – Waiting for a Friend (2008 Waiting for a Friend)
ANGUS & JULIA STONE – Paper Aeroplane (2008 A Book Like This)
JEFF BUCKLEY – What Will You Say (2000 Mystery White Boy: Live ’95-’96)

-HOUR TWO-

JANE’S ADDICTION – Stop! (1997 Kettle Whistle, c. 1990 Hollywood Palladium)
AC/DC – Love Hungry Man (1979 Highway to Hell)
CREAM – N.S.U. (1970 Live Cream)
WILLIE NELSON – Whiskey River > Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer) (1995 Revolutions of Time: the Journey 1975-1993)
NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS – Keep the Devil Down (2008 Hernando)
THE BRIDGE – Diggin’ in the Cold Ground (2008 Blind Man’s Hill)
THE BLACK CROWES – Ain’t No Cane on the Brazos (8/12/06 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO)
QUACTUS – Van Winkle’s Dream (2008 Once a Pond, a Spine…)
THE BREAKFAST – Inner Glimpse (2005 Real Radio)

# # #

TnJ 060 (3/19/09)

-HOUR ONE-

PORTER BATISTE STOLTZ – Ausnacious (2008 Moodoo)
PUBLIC ENEMY – 911 is a Joke (1990 Fear of a Black Planet)
SLY & the FAMILY STONE – Thank You (Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (1970 Greatest Hits)
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Diner > City of Dreams (6/12/05 Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN) livewidespreadpanic.com
SMASHING PUMPKINS – Drown (1992 “Singles” OST)

-HOUR TWO-

SLIGHTLY STOOPID feat. DJ HELLNAW – Breakbeat (2007 Chronchitis)
GALACTIC with TROMBONE SHORTY – Tuff Love (2007 From the Corner to the Block)
THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS – Back in the Game (2007 Whatever Happened to TV?)
LOS CENTZONLES with DAVID HIDALGO – Quaking Giant (2008 Songs of Wood & Steel)
PHIL LESH & FRIENDS – St. Stephen > Not Fade Away (7/7/01 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO)
THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL – On the Road Again (1965 Do You Believe in Magic)
MY MORNING JACKET – Touch Me I’m Going to Scream pt.2 (2008 Evil Urges)

# # #

TnJ 059 (3/12/09) NOW ON THURSDAYS

-HOUR ONE-

PHISH – Halley’s Comet > Mike’s Song > Weekapaug Groove (Live Phish 12/1/95 Hershey, PA)
ADAM STERN – Alchemical Rooms (2009 Twang Shui)
MAMA’s COOKIN’ – Aquarius Skies (2007 Mama’s Cookin’)
THE SOUL of JOHN BLACK – I Knew a Lady (2009 Black John)

-HOUR TWO-

GREAT CAESAR’s GHOST – Me and Bird (2008 Means to an End)
GOV’T MULE – She Said She Said > Tomorrow Never Knows (4/28/07 Santa Fe, NM)
ROBIN TROWER – Bridge of Sighs (1974 Bridge of Sighs)
LITTLE FEAT with JIMMY BUFFETT – Time Loves a Hero (2008 Join the Band)
RYAN ADAMS and the CARDINALS – Trains (6/3/05 Clifton Park, NY)
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – High on a Mountaintop (9/13/08 Normal, IL)
JERRY GARCIA BAND – Sugaree (2004 After Midnight: Kean College, 2/28/80)

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Woo! Everything seems a little different after Phish's reunion shows in Hampton, VA. A little "sparklier," maybe. Thanks for tuning in and enjoying the reborn Toast-n-Jam - NOW ON THURSDAYS (^_^)

Yes, thanks to Ira Gordon at KBAC for temporarily giving me the green light once again. However, the show STILL NEEDS SPONSORS if I'm to continue lighting up the airwaves. Please, spread the word, and leave a comment for me here or email lisa@huttonbroadcasting.com if you're interested in sponsoring the show and keeping Santa Fe in the groove.

I wish Tom Watts nothing but the best in his endeavors as I soldier on without his wit and massive collection, but he's a musician and he's managed to nail down a good gig. Good luck, my brotha!!!

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LIGHT'EM UP, KIDS!!!

TnJ will be moving to Thursday nights 8-10 p.m. as of 3/12/09 (^_^)

Tune in, turn on and jam out!!!

BYRNE / INDIGO GALS ON SALE DATES

Just got news from FanMan Productions about 2 upcoming Lensic shows in Santa Fe:

INDIGO GIRLS 5/18 (M), tix on sale @ the Lensic this Monday, 3/16 10 a.m.

DAVID BYRNE 6/17 (W), tix on sale Monday, 3/23 10 a.m.

However, those of you who've previously signed up for FanMan's email list, check your email for super-secret pre-sale info (^_^)

LYRICS BORN 3/6/09 WAREHOUSE 21

TnJ on HIATUS

SAD NEWS, Toast-n-Jammers ~

As of March 4, 2009, Toast-n-Jam is officially on hiatus. We need sponsors before we can light up the airwaves once again. Please contact Lisa Clark - lisa@huttonbroadcasting.com (505.471.1067) if you're interested in sponsoring Toast-n-Jam (^_^)

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STRINGDUSTER SETLIST 2/21/09

Here's the "official" setlist from the Santa Fe gig, but if you were there, you know they went longer than this. Not one, but 2 encores were called for, and the Stringdusters delivered. Anyone keep track of what was played? I remember "Starry Night" and "Steam-Powered Aeroplane." Travis Book says he thinks "My Destination" was in there somewhere. NOTES: Benny Galloway joined the band on "Sugartown," and Bob Heminger from Pagosa Springs played sax on "Get It While You Can," playing through all encores, I believe. Please correct me if I'm wrong (^_^) WHAT A SHOW!!! Be sure and catch these guys if you have a chance.

STRINGDUSTER PIX 2/21/09

TnJ 058 (2/25/09)

-HOUR ONE-

PHISH – Timber (1988/2006 Colorado ’88)
MODEST MOUSE – The Cold Part (2000 The Moon & Antarctica)
DAVID FIUCZYNSKI – Phoenix Rising (2008 KiF Express)
GOGOL BORDELLO – Tribal Connection (2007 Super Taranta!)
HOT TUNA – 99 Year Blues > Ice Age (1998 Live in Japan, Stove’s Yokohoma City 2/20/97)
THE HOT CLUB of COWTOWN – Ida Red (live) (2003 Continental Stomp)
JERRY GARCIA BAND – Ripple (1987/2004 Pure Jerry 02, Lunt-Fontanne, NYC 10/31/87)

-HOUR TWO-

JERRY GARCIA BAND – Crazy Love (same source as above)
JERRY GARCIA BAND – Ragged But Right (same source as above)
JERRY GARCIA BAND – Deal (same source as above)
LYRICS BORN featuring CUT CHEMIST – Do That There (2003 Later That Day…)
PHISH – David Bowie > Possum/I Can’t Turn You Loose (1997/2007 Live Phish, Madison Square Garden, NYC 12/29/97)
PHISH – Suzy Greenberg (1995/2007 Live Phish, Hershey, PA 12/1/95)

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