Mile High Fest 2010

I have to admit, when I heard several months ago that the Mile High Music Festival would be recycling headliners, and only a few years into its tenure on the festival scene, I rolled my eyes and considered skipping the whole thing this year.  I mean, Dave Matthews is only one of thousands of musicians suitable for headlining a festival with Mile High’s demographics, and for a festival trying to establish itself as a player on…

Outside Lands 2010

“Hear ye, hear ye! From deadhead hippies to electro pop hipsters,” screeched the harlequin gliding on rainbow roller skates, “come one, come all.” And did they ever! Over 50,000 audiophiles packed into San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park for Outside Lands Festival to sample a delectable smorgasbord of rock immortals, indie stalwarts, and rookie sensations. Directions? No need, just follow that sweet, pungent aroma!

Phish | Telluride

Grateful Web trekked out to lovely Telluride, Colorado last week for Phish's shows in one of the most majestic places to ski, ride and see some of the greatest bluegrass, jazz, and in this case one of the greatest live acts to ever grace the stage in Town Park.  Phish, who has not played Telluride since their infamous 1988 shows, was in fine form for what many anticipated to be the best run of the summer.   The beauty…

GOTV 2010

Until I arrived at this year’s Gathering of The Vibes Festival in Bridgeport, CT, I didn’t know I was looking for something. Until I left, I didn’t realize that I had found it. The following is a recounting of that journey. Along the way masters in the field of musical entertainment will appear. All were influential, some more than others. But as you read this recounting of GOTV 2010, remember that this is one man’s quest. This is not a…

Bisco CO & Beyond

Before I even begin to describe the Disco Biscuit madness that has been transpiring lately, I would like to qualify the title of this article. The word renaissance means rebirth. I use it because in the 14 years that I have been a fan of the band, I have never seen this rapid rate of success, drive, and fan appreciation that I have witnessed within the last year, specifically since the Colorado run and the debut of their newest release…

Horning's Hideout

The dusty road leads to an unseen location. Clouds of dirt and earthy grime pass through the air. As the dust settles and the road becomes steeper, Horning’s Hideout comes into view. “Happy Horning’s,” comes a chipper voice from my right.  My window is rolled down and I turn to see a girl standing on the side of the road. She wears a neon-green shirt that reads “Volunteer”.

Sonic Bloom 2010

Feather & Leathers unite!  A gathering of gladiators tribes under a full strawberry moon took place at Sonic Bloom 2010, June 25^th -27^th at Mishawaka Amphitheatre.  What they believe is real with the twirl of the hula-hoop, the sphere of the glow sticks and the glow of the body paint is manifest as this rainbow tribe brings alive the 5^th year of Sonic Bloom.

The Days Between

The San Francisco Giants will pay tribute to music legend Jerry Garcia on Monday, August 9, when they face the Chicago Cubs at 7:15 p.m. Garcia and the Grateful Dead are synonymous with San Francisco and each year the City celebrates “the days between” which are the days within Garcia’s birthday (August 1) and the day of his passing (August 9).

Merriweather Post

Say what you will about whether taping in the audience is even necessary anymore, given LivePhish downloads.  But the taper community is a vital and colorful part of the Phish scene.  I shall hope for some consideration in the future about how taper tickets are sold.  Could selling taper tickets separately be the answer?  Maybe.  I’m just not sure how much extra work ticketing agencies would be willing to do, to ensure that only..

Furthur | Brooklyn

Furthur played this past weekend at MCU Park in Brooklyn New York, home to the Brooklyn Cyclones and just adjacent to one of the most famous amusement parks in the world, Coney Island.   Growing up 10 minutes from NYC I felt almost embarrassed to admit I have never been to Coney Island before.  During Furthur's intermission I spoke to my mom who told me she would come to Coney Island when she was a kid, which really illustrates the longevity…

Phather's Day

The Grateful Web was on-hand at this weekend's Phish shows up in Saratoga Springs, New York, taking pictures, videos, etc.  Last night's show was a big hitter, smoking Saturday night's show.  During 'Brother,' the Phish kiddos came on stage and jumped into a bathtub just in front of Trey and Page, becoming something of a Father's day tradition.  Trey introduced the kids and it was apparent both the band and their kids…

Phish | Portsmouth

What do you get out of attending a Phish show? What do you get out of attending MANY Phish shows? Why do you see live music performed at all? Surely you’ve fielded this question before; I know I have. A relative looks at you quizzically, or maybe it’s a co-worker... “You’re going out of town to see them, AGAIN?” They’d say, incredulously. We all have our variously rehearsed answers, at least everyone I’ve asked did. A…

Summer Camp '10

The 10^th annual Summer Camp Music Festival took place as it has for the past decade in Chillicothe IL May 28^th – 30 2010.  Over Memorial Day weekend, there could be no better expression of freedom than Summer Camp, a party for the outsiders.  Rob Bresney describes the state of experiencing the visceral yet also cerebral excitement that comes from listening to live music played impeccably by skilled musicians as lyrical consonance...

DelFest 2010

There’s something inherently ‘good’ about Del McCoury. I say this, never having met the man; although I’ve been close enough to photograph him on a number of occasions, and to have briefly exchanged pleasantries. But that doesn’t count, and I know it.. Yet, here I am – insisting that I have perceived enough about the man to proclaim him thus. And before you suggest it, ‘it’s not about the hair;’ although, the 71 year old surely possesses the…

Summer Camp!

Summer Camp 2010 has come and gone... but don't fret because June Reedy was on-hand at this year's Summer Camp on behalf of The Grateful Web.  June will have a full write-up from the weekend, but in the mean time we have some awesome fan photos -- If you were there... its a good chance June took your picture.   Please check back for our full coverage from Summer Camp, but…

Furthur Festival

The Grateful Web on-hand at the Furthur Festival over Memorial Day weekend.  The Furthur Festival took place up in Mountain Aire in Angels Camp, CA, and included:  Furthur, Hot Tuna, Galactic, The Waybacks, The Mother Hips, among others.   Check out some great photos from the weekend, thanks to Mr Aaron Dietrich.   Grateful Web was also at DelFest this past Memorial Day weekend, as well as Summer Camp & Bisco Inferno -- so be sure to check…

Waterfront Fest.

After Winterfest on the Mountain in Nederland this past January, Waterfront was another first for Silverfox Productions. The Waterfront was a drenched example of exceeding expectations and putting on another fantastic festival.  Music from Head for the Hills, White Water Ramble, Wicked Messenger, Mountain Standard Time, Drew Emmitt, Bill Nershi’s Blue Planet, Pete Kartsounes, Greensky Bluegrass, and Cornmeal...

Grace Potter

The ‘cosmic serendipity’ is continuing for these musicians. Although only performing a free festival set at this outdoor city festival, GPN played with significant intensity, and deft musicianship. Ms. Potter was in motion from the moment the show began, owning the stage as only a travel-honed musician can.. And like the great dancer, Ginger Rogers, she was doing it in very high heels. Ms. Potter has that unmistakable and even more un-definable…

Ian Anderson chat

The Grateful Web was fortunate enough to have a chance to speak to Ian Anderson, singer and songwriter for the legendary band, Jethro Tull. We're incredibly flattered Ian spent some of his time with us as he prepares for a summer tour on the east coast of the United States.  We have both the transcription and audio version if you prefer.   Ian was a pleasure to speak with and we'll have coverage in the summer from Tull's summer shows.

Keller's Thief

Later this month, the enigmatic Keller Williams will release his 756^th album. Okay, that number may be off by a few. Nonetheless, every time I turn around, it seems as if k-dub is onto some new project- playing solo, taking a stab at group rock with the WMD’s or complimenting the drumming of Bill Kruetzmann and Mickey Hart this summer with the Rhythm Devils.

Avett Bros. | 4-20

The Avett Brothers followed with their own version of rootsy southern charm, with a little punk rock screaming thrown in for flavor.  Following the hugely acclaimed release of their major label, Rick Rubin produced, debut I and Love and You, the Avett Brothers soared almost immediately to something resembling mainstream success.  What is perhaps more amazing is how, despite mainstream acceptance, the Avett Brothers have kept their...

Wanee Festival

For a nation, and I was soon to learn that it was truly for a continent that endured a particularly intense winter weather season, the arrival of the 2010 Wanee Music Festival couldn’t have been more welcome. And the location of The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park couldn’t have been more picturesque. The weather was warm and sunny, with low humidity, some of the last of those kinds of days in Florida, till the looming…

Wanee Fest Photos

The Grateful Web just returned from the 2010 Wanee Music Festival down in Live Oak, Florida.  Gina Proulx covered the festival on behalf of the Grateful Web and Gina just started adding some photos from the festival to Grateful Web's photo gallery.   Gina will have a full write-up from the festival soon, so be sure to check back for that.  In the interim, we encourage you to check out some of the terrific…

Toubab in Boulder

Nearly an hour on stage with a two-song encore, Toubab's set included only one song with vocals. A reflection of the band members' Asheville, North Carolina roots, the song had a more southern folk sound. Kamel ngoni, kora and electric guitar player Justin Perkins's subtle drawl, accented with the occasional whoop and holler from electric bassist David Pransky, no doubt gave the song a southern timbre.

Charity Auction!

Other auction highlights include String Cheese Incident Red Rocks packages, a Gathering of the Vibes pass package, Dave Matthews Band ticket/lounge passes, and Jon Fishman signed/used drumsticks. In keeping with the baseball theme the auction also includes an official major league baseball signed by all members of Yonder Mountain String Band. The auction is on the heels of the Foundation announcing their first grants…

Phil's 70th Birthday

The third set opened with “Not Fade Away,” while red balloons from the ceiling dropped and everybody sang Happy Birthday to a seventy-year-old Phil Lesh. Who could believe that Lesh could still be rocking the stage at such an age, especially after surviving nearly fatal liver failure. Lesh reminded fans as he always does at each concert that the boys name was Cody who saved his life by donating his liver Cody died in a motorcycle wreck, and his rare…

The Contribution

An album bursting with country gumption and raw poetic flare, this debut showcases the artistic veracity and harmonious nature of some of the best musicians on today’s jam circuit. A balanced blend of old-time charm and aggressive string-heavy muscle, this collaborative effort exemplifies the razor-sharp skills of Tim Carbone (violin, vocals Railroad Earth), Jeff Miller (guitar, mandolin, vocals, New Monsoon), ...

Michael Gordon

The duality of Mike Gordon is easy to understand, when you consider his background. Massachusetts born and raised, Gordon was exposed to business through his father, and the arts – via his mother. Gordon’s father Bob founded a chain of convenience stores (Store 24) in New England. And his mother Marjorie, is a renowned artist who well into the 1990’s painted Phish’s backdrops. Her work explores the interplay of light and...

Drive-By Truckers

Why did you fall in love with rock and roll...?  I ask that, not particularly sure you love rock and roll at all, in its purest definition, anyway.. It isn’t heard all that often these days.. Music genres in recent years seem to have splintered into multitudes of subgenres, in some ways – diluting the original archetype. We ‘think’ we have the leaded coffee, cause we haven’t tasted it in so long, we’re sure nothing stronger, exists.

Furthur | Colorado

Furthur, featuring Phil Lesh & Bob Weir played the brand new 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado on March 5th & March 6th, 2010.  The Grateful Web was on hand to check out the show, take some photos, shoot some videos and soak in seeing the band a mere 10 minutes from our home office in Boulder, Colorado.  The band started their 1st sets around 8:15 each night and played until a whopping 12:45…

Bela in Boulder

Then, I came in while the intimate feel and soft sounds of Bela Fleck playing with Gogo style musician blind singer/mbira player Anania Ngoliga and his accompanist guitarist/vocalist John Kitime from Tanzania permeated the room. It was beautiful from the first minute. The crowd was silent and honed in on the togetherness and gentle speed of this combination. The trio played a few songs together including Ngoliga’s...

N.M.A.S. in Virginia

The gospel and blues of The North Mississippi AllStars seem perfectly at home, with the ghosts of music and entertainment’s past in downtown Charlottesville. The swinging pendulum between the Christian ‘anointing’ associated with their gospel efforts provides an interesting dichotomy to the more mythological aspects of a Dionysian experience with music, through their grittier and more hedonist blues compositions.

John Butler Trio

The story he told the Fox Theater last night goes like this – he decided to go for the front first, so that he would have to finish the job even if he lost his nerve.  Right as he was giving himself a new set of bangs, trimming off the dreads that would normally fall in front of his face, his wife walks in and asks him just what the hell he thinks he’s doing sitting here in the…

Trey & Classic Tab

On what would have been his sister’s 47^th birthday, Anastasio along with a number of his family members and those of his sister’s married family gathered for what at times, felt like both a great party and a musical group hug.  Manning succumbed to neuroendocrine cancer in April 2009.  Given that this show was a benefit, I do think it was a missed opportunity for educating fans about the myriad of environmental causes that fall under the umbrella…

The Cheese is Back!

The String Cheese Incident will perform a handful of “Incidents” in 2010. The band will play their greatest hometown venue, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, on July 23, 24, and 25. In addition they’ll set up camp at a site close to the band’s/fans’ hearts, Horning’s Hideout (near Portland, Oregon), July 29 through August 1. This announcement ends a three-year break from performing; a hiatus interrupted only once - this past summer - when SCI united to headline ROTHBURY for one incredible…

Winterfest 2010

The first annual Winterfest on the Mountain happened in Nederland at the new Community Center.  The gold LEED certified venue was reminiscent of a school function with comparisons to elementary school, a high school dance, and what I remembered as youth group lock-ins.  The three day festival featured organic Americana music from Adam Aijala and Ben Kaufmann, Bill Nershi, Drew Emmitt, The Motet, Todd Sheaffer, Tony Trischka, Greensky Bluegrass...

No Rothbury 2010

Today, festival organizers for the ROTHBURY music festival announced that they will not host a 2010 event.  According to event producers Madison House Presents and AEG Live, a contributing factor in the decision is that, due to various artists’ recording and touring schedules, timing will not allow them to assemble the cutting edge roster that has been associated with ROTHBURY. Madison House Presents’ Jeremy Stein explains, “The result for this year is that we are not able to move forward…

Furthur | San Fran

The anticipation outside San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Center was at an all time peak! Dead Heads everywhere with their long hair, dread locks, beards, hemp necklaces and tie-dyed clothing were lined up outside the venue either in line or holding up their pointer finger praying for a miracle ticket. This was the kind of atmosphere I had dreamt about for years! It was beyond a rock n’ roll concert! It was the indescribable coming together of thousands of Dead…

YMSB | 12.30.09

In a recent article with the Denver Post, front man and mandolin freak Jeff Austin gave some insight on the band's decision.  "It's getting a little crowded here for New Year's Eve. For a while, there wasn't as much going on — when we'd play a show, everybody was coming into town to see us. But last year we played with Widespread Panic for two nights at the Pepsi Center, and this year, the floodgates have opened.  You have…

Phish | New Years!

The Grateful Web has been working our butts off to get videos up from the big four night Phish run down in Miami.  Many of the videos up are up now... and more will be coming soon. We also have a lot of photos from New Years Eve as well as the other shows.  Thanks to all the great phans and of course Phish for making our time here (and everyone's) a memorable week…

Furthur | New York

At this moment in the “long, strange trip” all ears are on lead guitarist, singer and Dark Star Orchestra "graduate" John Kadlicek. JK has quickly shown that he welcomes the benevolent scrutiny - and that he can shatter expectations, hearken the spirit gone by, and flat out shred en route to some exciting musical spaces.

The Seldom Scene

"We try to find material that's a little bit different, and approach the music in a little bit broader way than most bluegrass bands do," said the Seldom Scene's Dudley Connell to the Baltimore Sun in 1998. Since its inception in 1971, the Seldom Scene has thrived on playing bluegrass a little differently than everyone else. If other bands used a fiddler, the Seldom Scene used a Dobro; if others relied on old standards, the Seldom Scene played rock classics…

Phish | 12.5.09

Richmond, Virginia’s Matthew Steven Rooks likely wasn’t as alert to the nuances of that Divided Sky performance the way Cheryl, and others were.  He was busy looking for opportunity.  The 21 year old unemployed musician has come to be known as “The Naked Guy.” And if the Facebook fan page and countless odes to his greatness online are any indication, he will live forever in the annals of Phishtory.  His 45 second naked streak across the stage during Phish’s…

USTORM | Chicago

For the past seven years Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger have given Umphrey's McGee fans an extra holiday treat: a holiday acoustic show. This year's sold out show was held at the Park West in Chicago. The proceeds of the show are donated to the USTORM (United So Together Our Reach Multiplies) Foundation which was co-founded by Bayliss. USTORM is a non-profit organization which raises funds to help provide access to music and art educational programs.

STS9: Ad Explorata

As Sound Tribe Sector Nine explains, “Ad Explorata was inspired by the idea that there is always more to be discovered, manifested by the belief that you can always push towards the unknown and unexplored, and created by the will and desire for constant artistic evolution, expression and change.”  “Phoneme” and “ATLAS” were both released as singles earlier this fall; both charted at iTunes Electronic charts.  The third single from Ad Explorata, “Oil and Water” was released December 1.

Ray LaMontagne

On this Tuesday eve, attendees got a very talkative LaMontagne, who seemed to feel the desire to not just serenade us with his art, but also give us glimpses into his personal life and the very spider web of thoughts which jumped off his tongue freely. From mentioning his brother who is serving time in prison to bringing up his experience on Elvis Costello’s Sundance show Spectacle, LaMontagne’s commentary like his music came off tried and true.

The Motet

What do you get when a band known for their funky grooves decides to pair up with a soul soldier to recreate the hip-shaking magic of a legendary posse? Pure perfection. A few days shy of Halloween, the Motet, along with guest Gail Muldrow who lent her blistering guitar and vocal skills to Sly and the Family Stone throughout the seventies, came together for a set as colorful as the band they were honoring.

HBR Webcast

Thanks for tuning in to last night's Hot Buttered Rum live webcast from the WoW Hall in Eugene, Oregon.   We'll have the archive available very soon.   Please check back for future live webcasts coming soon.  Thanks to Hot Buttered Rum, the Wow Hall, Aaron Dietrich and everyone else who helped out to make last night's webcast a success.  More webcasts coming soon...

Dead-Opoly

Discovery Bay Games today announced the release of Grateful Dead-Opoly, available in stores and online in time for the 2009 Holiday shopping season. The board game was created by music industry veteran and longtime Grateful Dead associate Debbie Gold, with artwork by comic book illustrator Timothy Truman. Bob Weir, founding member of the Grateful Dead, and legendary roadie Steve Parish also contributed to the development of Grateful Dead-Opoly.

Cornmeal

Cornmeal came back on stage with all pistons firing they didn’t waste any time getting down to business.  They ripped right into Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” which was an interesting and appropriate Halloween cover (this was the debut of the song).  Another surprise of the second set was a fantastic version of The Bee Gees “You Should Be Dancing” which appropriately featured Wavy Dave on vocals.

T Bird & The Breaks

Band favorites such as “Blackberry Brandy” reveal vocalists Hunt and Ortiz’s ability to tailor T Birds lyrics with a certain feminine air that is so subtle that it may go unrecognized but adds depth, feeling, and harmony to already impressive lyrics. When they aren’t sounding off T Birds lyrics Hunt and Ortiz add a certain aesthetic affect with synchronized throw back dance moves, which on Friday had them pleading for “H2O.”

EOTO | Denver

Describe them anyway you want; whether it be glitch, trance, trip-hop, ambient, dub-step, or electronica.  The fact remains that the explosive improvisational duo known as EOTO are just plain badass.  Multi-instrumentalists and sometimes String Cheese Incident members Jason Hann and Michael Travis continue to explore the universe and conquer galaxies with their house-pounding beats and cosmic rhythms...

Bob Dylan

I got into the show right in time to see Dylan open with “Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat” that dates way back to his timeless 1966 folk classic Blonde on Blonde. If Dylan surprised anyone with “Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat,” he got the crowd even more revved when he ripped up another Blonde on Blonde classic “Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again,” blending blues, country, rock, and folk into a wild, careening, and dense sound.

Festival 8 Recycle

All festival attendees who bring a phone to the Rock the Earth booth for recycling will receive a coupon for 20% off Musictoday purchase, PLUS get a free scoop of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. In addition, each phone is worth one entry into the daily drawing for Phish CDs, Green-themed DVDs, digital download cards, and one lucky Phish Festival 8 mobile phone recycler will win a a Gibson Les Paul Studio guitar!

UM Unveils S2

The inaugural S² at Milwaukee's Eagles Ballroom was received with overwhelming enthusiasm and to rave reviews. The sold-out crowd of 50 fans submitted their ideas by texting descriptive words, phrases, and pop culture references (pretty much whatever came to mind), to the Umphrey's Mozes mobile interface.  The suggestions were then filtered by the band's long time Sound Caresser Kevin Browning and projected on a screen...

Further | Oakland

One of the most anticipated shows of the Fall was Bob Weir and Phil Lesh’s new side project together called Further. The lineup also consists Dead keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and Dark Star Orchestra lead guitarist and vocalist John Kadlecik. Dark Star Orchestra is considered the best Grateful Dead cover band in the country because of Kadlecik’s ability to sing in a very similar mellifluous voice like Jerry Garcia is part of his attraction to longtime Dead Heads.

Wuhnurth Fest

Sunday’s headliner Kyle Hollingsworth rolled into Muncie on the last stop of his Midwest tour in promotion of the new album “Then There’s Now”.  Having seen Kyle Hollingsworth solo before, I knew the remaining crowd was in for a big surprise.  Although his key rig is downsized from the one he uses with the String Cheese Incident, Kyle still fires bullets when he sits down on his bench.

Outside Lands 2

We arrived just in time for Robert Randolph & The Family Bands set at The Polo Field (main stage). Randolph--the pedal steel master of today’s era--played a fantastic set highlighted by a ravishing cover of Jimi Hendrix's “Purple Haze.” Dressed wearing a black doo-rag over his head with and red button-down shirt , black vest and black pants, Randolph played the pedal steel to create…

Phish's Joy

Have you ever had ‘make-up sex?’And I mean the ‘grown-up’ kind – full of the peaks and valleys of intimate knowledge of the other, with an understanding of the significance of the recent pasts’ dissonance… It’s sex with the knowledge that one nearly lost this person, and is lucky to have retrieved their relationship from the brink. Sex with someone you LOVE - or maybe ‘loved’ in the past. Sex that’s like physical history in action and re-action - with…

Outside Lands

Day One of the August 2009 Outside Lands Festival held in San Francisco in the Golden Gate Park Polo Fields kicked off the unparalleled music weekend with Pearl Jam headlining the bill. Pearl Jam is the only remaining Seattle grunge band from a scene so powerful in Washington State in the early 1990s that it swept across the entire nation and took over popular music. It even seemed like most of the fans on Day One of Outside Lands had…

Phish | Shoreline

Set II really took off when Phish played one of their best songs they ever recorded off the timeless Hoist “Down With Disease.” Mike Gordon played a fantastic opening bass line that gets the song geared up which was followed by Trey’s opening lines, “Down with disease three weeks in my bed trying to stop them demons that keep dancing in my head. Down with disease and I’m up before the dawn, one thousand little children outside dancing on my…

Avett Brothers

I first saw the Avetts open Day 2 of the Jackson Hole Music Festival last summer, then again at the Monolith Festival in Morrison, CO a few weeks later.  In between I listened to pretty much everything they ever recorded, and talked them up at social events.  In so doing, I’ve been trying to peg them so I can describe them effectively, but it has proved a difficult task.  I’ve referred to them as a blue-country-punk band and as a…

All Points West

The forecast calls for rain throughout the day. I don't feel like waiting to get on a bus from the light rail and decide to take the ferry from Battery Park in Manhattan to the fest. I meet two women on the ferry from East Hampton who have VIP tickets. When we dock, and start making our way down the path to the entrance, the majority of the riders are pointed towards a muddy path while our East Hampton friends…

Phish | Red Rocks

Getting into the show was smooth.  There was none of the hassle everyone had worried about prior to the start of the four night stand.  In fact, the lot was almost, dare I say, quiet?  Tired maybe?   That wasn’t the only difference I noticed...gone were the old clunker RV’s blasting Disco and the rugged old school buses packed to the brim with sleeping bags and camping gear.  In their place were lines of luxury stretch limos and rented party buses…

Mile High Review

Borrowing a thought from another Grateful Web writer, I’d say that you can tell a lot about a festival by how it handles its second year.  No festival is ever perfect, and the first year is definitely the experimental year.  In the second year, you get to see how the festival responds to the demands placed upon it by its patrons.  Do things get better or worse, smoother or more of a hassle?  Last weekend, July 18th and 19th, I…

Rothbury Photos

Amanda Bell was recently on-hand at this year's Rothbury Festival, in Rothbury, Michigan.   Amanda has started uploading pictures from the fest.  Please check back over the next few days for lots more photos from Rothbury.   Also, Amanda's write-up will be up in the next week or so. In the mean time, we invite you to check out some of the pictures from Rothbury 2009.  Please Note: You'll need to be logged in for this URL to be active

Bonnaroo’s Phinest!

This is the moment of the day that I was really waiting for. After seeing nearly every show since they came back in March, I had high expectations for this “late night” set. I figured that they’d play a Phish set including many of their new songs and heavy hitters, and they did. It was a very complete show with a dance party ending. They opened with “Chalkdust Torture,” which I have now seen thirty times, and would not mind…

Umphrey's McGee

Arriving early to set up audio taping gear, we noted that the pre-show music was that of Jackson’s, but didn’t yet know why. Gradually, word began to move through the audience, and with that wave of new awareness, so did -- the volume on the pre show music. It was no surprise to witness such a reaction, given the long history the band has with covering the music of Jackson. The culmination of which was surely their Monster Mash-Up last…

Phish-Alpine Valley

Arriving at the massive parking lots at Alpine Valley, it was obvious we were not the only ones pumped to see Phish.  Fans cruising the lot and around their vehicles were energetic and happy.  It was quickly apparent that this was a fan base that, like me, had matured in age and demeanor.  The fist fights, dirty hippies, and general d-bags were all but gone from the crowds.  Rather it was 36,999 other happy (and sweaty) souls that were there only to…

Toubab Krewe Live

Truly integrating two disparate musical genres into a third doesn’t occur all that often.  And when it does, it’s often lopsided in favor of one genre – over another.  It’s unbalanced, and noticeably so.  But when an organic musical marriage does happen, it can be like dynamite.  Happily, such is the case for Asheville, North Carolina’s Toubab Krewe. Formed in 2005, the quartet has quickly established itself within the jam band circles, yet isn’t really a jam band.

Bisco Inferno

Festival season started early this year.  Well, early for Colorado.  Last Saturday The Disco Biscuits and a cavalcade of friends and like-minded musicians brought the ruckus to Red Rocks Amphitheater for an all-night non-stop mini-festival of epic proportions.  If that sounds like an overstatement, perhaps it is.  Although technically not a festival – the word is honestly a little big for what went down – being outside and seeing no fewer than seven bands in a row made…

Summer Camp '09

While most festivals require the majority of campers to set up next to their cars and walk a ways into the actual venue, Summer Camp is self-contained.  Parking occurs just inside the park and festival goers pack in all their gear from there.  The only checkpoint happens between the parking lot and the festival grounds. While this allows for some great camping in the woods, it makes it super difficult to find your way home at night! Luckily there ended…

Hail No - Del Yeah!

Sophomore efforts from fledgling music festivals are often very telling as to where the event seems poised to go, in its’ bid for survival in the summer festival market.  I remember the first year of All Good – when Deep Banana Blackout’s drummer dodged falling stage rigging, as a big storm approached.  My husband’s a taper, we have a recording of it.. All of a sudden, the storm was just ‘there,’ and in a big, angry, way.  Then the rigging…

Bisco Inferno

On Saturday, The Biscuits are down for two full sets, and as if that’s not enough to excite you, there’s a veritable laundry list of talented artists to occupy your time before the main event.  Preceded by heavy-hitters like Paul Oakenfold, Lotus, DJ Z-Trip, The New Deal, RJD2, and Orchard Lounge, the Disco Biscuits are not so much the “main event” per se as one of a cavalcade of sonic euphoria purveyors.  Long story short, come early, plan on staying…

Billy Kreutzmann Interview

The Grateful Web's Nancy Levine recently had an opportunity to speak to Billy Kreutzmann, drummer for the Grateful Dead about playing again as the Dead, his love for ocean and sea mammal protection, and what profession Billy would like to attempt were he not playing music...

Dead at Shoreline

You might still think this was 1973.  I did for a second, as I watched the tie-dye clad Deadheads trekking through wheat-colored fields, on a pilgrimage to Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View on Sunday evening to catch the band now known as The Dead.  I was sitting in my car in the line of traffic, sun setting, windows rolled down, Dead tunes sweetly riding on the breeze, when I was reminded this was a new era.

NMAS in Virginia

Although Hill Country Revue (Cody and Chris’s side project) opened, it really felt like one flowing show.  The  All-Star’s show proper started with “Write Me A Few Lines” and went right into “Drop Down Mama.”   From there it was a power set of at least 25 songs stretching far into the night.  Highlights for me included “Shake ‘em On Down,”  “Poor Black Maddie,” and “Joyful Sounds” the instrumental from the supergroup The Word (NMAS, Robert Randolph and John Medeski).

The Dead in Denver

The Dead featuring: Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Billy Kreutzmann, Warren Haynes, & Jeff Chementi played the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, May 7th and Grateful Web was on hand to snap some photos, get some fan interviews, and enjoy some great music.  Check back for Grateful Web's interview with Grateful Dead drummer Billy Kreutzmann!. In the mean time, check out photos from the show.

MerleFest 2009

merlefest

I observed the warm-hug North Carolina mentality of just about everyone present, from the boy scouts handing out programs, to the senior citizens fanning themselves from lawn chairs under every tree . After about an hour there, I felt like I was on someone’s front porch, sipping iced tea and blissfully commiserating about how to endure the heat -- together.  It felt like a safe release of tension, musical and otherwise, while in the cocoon of familial comfort.

The Hold Steady

hold steady

For The Hold Steady, their energy is frenetic.  Vocalist and guitarist Craig Finn struts madly about the stage, often holding the microphone stand, singing sometimes into the mic, and sometimes just straight out into the crowd.  He yells, spits, jumps, points, and gesticulates like a puppet on speed, his nerd-boy glasses only vaguely disguising the glee and manic excitement in his eyes.

Keller Williams

That image of a lone microphone is one that I have associated with every Keller solo show that I have seen since the days of his bar gigs in Steamboat. Sure, the props have grown- his loop station has become wireless, he has his own onstage soundboard, he has added an electric guitar and bass guitar (the former with a midi set-up so he can make just about any sound known to man on the guitars strings) and he has his infamous…

Béla Fleck

bela

This concert was much more than just a simple concert.  It was a history lesson, a music ethnography lesson, a first time experience for most in the audience hearing this music, and finally it was an example of some of the finest musicianship anywhere in the world.  I can say without reservation that it was one of the best, if not the best performance I have ever seen.  If you are within range of one of the remaining shows.

Boombox

Boombox in Boulder

Part 70’s psychedelic funk, and part ultra-modern electronic dance party, BoomBox feel right at home in groove-crazy Boulder. What is more, Boulder seems to be feeling right at home with BoomBox, and each successive show in the area draws a bigger crowd than the one before. Even for a Thursday night (the unofficial party night of the University of Colorado) the turnout was huge. Before the band came out on stage, the crowd began chanting, pounding, and yelling, generally making…

Mike Gordon in VT

gordo in VT

Mike Gordon is liquid. In the jams he initiates he slowly works outward, like water from a spring. He finds the outer parameters of the jam and fills its entirety. Once the jam's restrictions have been discovered, he begins to recreate the sound within the space. He redefines the parameters, just as a spring will eventually push through the ground. Thus, the groove's space ebbs and flows. Slight changes become larger changes and the area becomes all new. The…

DSO in Boulder

DSO in Boulder

Dark Star Orchestra played the Boulder Theater last weekend.  The Grateful Web was on-hand to snap some pictures and videos of the show.  Thanks for everyone who was kind enough to let us snap their pictures for posterity's sake. Check back soon for our review from the Friday night show in Boulder.  Also, next time Grateful Web is at a show feel free to say hello for an importu interview and/or photos.

Toubab Krewe

They’re a posse of Asheville artists who play with the sort of spunk, meticulousness and joy that should be bottled and sold at some obscure roadside stand by a secret guru. The mystical, tribal and always fascinating Toubab Krewe have the ability to stir those emotions that you thought you may have lost, without singing a single phrase in any language. Their packed gig, at the Fox, proved to be a magic carpet ride of instrumentals, where they soared to…

Rothbury w/ the Dead

the dead

The Dead (their ONLY summer appearance!), Bob Dylan, The String Cheese Incident, Willie Nelson & Family, and The Black Crowes will top the bill of over 60 diverse and stellar artists at the second annual ROTHBURY Festival at the Double JJ Ranch in Michigan on July 2-3-4-5, 2009.

Railroad Earth

rre

Why do I have to go see live music? Not like to- have to. Why are recorded concerts more frequently played in my house than their studio counterparts? How can 3 hours of human life be changed into a heavenly experience just with the addition of an impassioned performance? Rhetorical perhaps, but valid questions. If you don’t agree with me, I am not sure why you are bothering to read any further. I write about music. Music that moves me,…

Phish Summer Tour

Phish will perform ten concerts this coming June. The shows kick off with a two night stand at Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY June 4-5 and wrap up at Alpine Valley in East Troy, WI on June 20-21. Stops along the way include a return to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis on June 16 and the band's first show at the Asheville Civic Center in Asheville, NC on June 9.

Weir Here

The year is 2005. Bob Weir and Ratdog are playing the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, Colorado.  I was born in 1969.  The Grateful Dead were four years old and gathering steam for their unexpected journey through time that would bring them 40 years into the future. They would become separate bands with separate energies, separate missions.  Yet the train keeps rolling, borne of its own momentum, the adoration for the songs of the Grateful Dead, the adoration…