News

Big Friendly Productions Announces Live Stream Series in Birmingham March 17, 2020 12:00

-
Words by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen
Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography
-
We have officially entered uncharted territory, as the reality surrounding COVID-19 increases throughout each day. The devastating effect that this virus has had on industries across the globe is immeasurable at this point. For the first time in American history, we've seen a total shutdown on all public gatherings, including professional sports, NCAA March Madness, and live music as a whole.
-
The widespread cancellations have put the well-being of so many in jeopardy. The music industry is one of many which has come to a complete halt; leading to a very harsh reality for musicians, managers, booking agents, promoters, venue employees, and so many more. How long will this last?  When will it be safe to return to our normal lifestyle? These are perfectly reasonable questions, which seem impossible for anyone to provide a definite answer.
-
We do have a bit a good news to share today. Our friends at Big Friendly Productions have officially launched a new live stream series called Hunker in the Bunker, which kicks off on Friday, March 20th with performances from Little Raine Band and Desert Island Monster Mash. The series will continue on Saturday with Winston Ramble and Zach Austin & The Lonesome, while Taylor Hunnicutt and The Yellow Dandies will close out the weekend on Sunday. HITB will continue on a Thursday through Sunday basis for the foreseeable future. 
-
-
Here's the really cool part. This series gives you the opportunity to financially support all parties involved. As the amount of cancelled gigs continues to pile up, the music industry's total revenue is plummeting. Hunker in the Bunker allows you to make a donation of any amount to support both the artists and Big Friendly Productions, while enjoying the luxury of live music from your couch. Make sure to follow Big Friendly Productions on Facebook in order to tune in to all future live streams.
-
We caught up with Alex Cape, the founder of Big Friendly Productions, to learn more about the specifics of this unique live stream series. Check out the quotes below to learn more about Hunker in the Bunker, and feel free to reach out to Alex@bigfriendlyproductions.com for further details.
-
"In the past four days, we have had all shows in until May 9th cancel or postpone until further notice. It is hitting the pause button right at the beginning of our very busy spring / summer season."
-
"It's massive for us. We have been planning and preparing for the last 3 months for the spring and summer festival and private event seasons.  We have had over $100k in lost revenue in the last four days."
-
"We have activated a rehearsal space in downtown Birmingham to host local and regional artists that have also had cancellations. We have started with many of the bands that we work with on a regular basis. We plan on streaming as much as we can until whenever we can go back to work."
-
"Our first live stream will be this Friday, March 20th from 7:00 PM - 10:30 PM. We are going to broadcast from our company's Facebook page. We will take donations via Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App and hopefully pick up local business sponsors. Donations will be split appropriately between Big Friendly Productions and the participating bands"
-

The Jauntee & The Talismen Join Forces in Birmingham on Saturday August 20, 2019 18:59

-
Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography
-
Worlds are colliding in Birmingham on Saturday night as The Jauntee and The Talismen are teaming up for a big night at Zydeco. It's no secret that we keep a close eye on the jam scene's up-and-comers, and these are two bands we have had our eyes on for several years. Many will remember The Jauntee from their Friday night set at CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival last October. The Colorado-based quartet also made a stop in Birmingham with Twiddle last fall. They have been busy touring across the country in 2019, while performing alongside many of the most notable acts on the festival circuit. This band brings a super unique, eclectic vibe to any show, and we expect Saturday night to be no different.
-
The Talismen are wrapping up a busy summer which has allowed the band to tap into quite a few new markets. With successful outings in Atlanta, Athens, Savannah, and Mobile, it's clear that this young band is making major strides as they expand on their audience outside of Alabama. They are fresh off the release of their debut album, Jar Full of Something, which is quickly approaching 100,000 streams on Spotify. Rumor has it that they've been adding a bunch of new originals into the arsenal this summer. 
-
-
We had a chance to catch up with members of both bands to learn a little more about what they've been up to over the summer.. Check out the quotes below and make sure to plan accordingly as you think about your weekend plans. 
-
"It's been a busy summer for us thus far. We've had shows coast to coast and filled nearly all our weekends at home with local gigs in Colorado. It's been a lot of fun traveling the country this year and sharing our music with so many people. We're excited to wrap up Summer tour in Birmingham this weekend and look forward to sharing a Jaunt with our Southern family!"
-
Scott Ferber (drums) of The Jauntee
-
" It’s been a great summer thus far for us. We started this tour on May 31st in Atlanta and wrap it up next Saturday in Mobile. Throughout, we have grown closer as a unit, and we're all super excited about the new music we have released as well at the songs we have in the works. We are very grateful for the opportunities we have had to play in front of new crowds this summer."
-
Jack Anderson (bass/vocals) of The Talismen
-
Watch The Jauntee perform "One Too Many" here:
-
-
Watch The Talismen's music video for "Lawnchair" here:
-
-

Little Raine Band Confirms 6th Annual Day After Christmas Show December 10, 2018 21:21

Words by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Photo by Charity Ponter

Live & Listen is fully funded by our merchandise + ticket sales. Click here to shop now and support the cause!

Birmingham favorites Little Raine Band will continue their post-Christmas extravaganza this year, as the 6th Annual Day After Christmas Show has been confirmed. The band began this concept in 2012, and the tradition has quickly become one of the Alabama jam scene's favorites. Joining LRB this year will be Atlanta jamtronic act Space Kadet, as well as local producer Devonte Hutchins

We've been on the LRB bandwagon since the inception of Live & Listen in 2014, as the band has played many events we have promoted, such as The Blueberry JamCukoRakko Music & Arts Festival, Jam in the Ham, and multiple shows at ZydecoWorkPlay, and Bourbon Street Bar (Auburn). This show will be a special one, as the band has been hard at work in the studio for their next release in 2019. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here.

We recently caught up with Little Raine Band frontman Davis Little to learn a little more about what the band has been up to, as well as the concept behind this particular occasion:

"The Day After Christmas Show is a very special tradition for us. It always marks our last show for each year. There’s no better way to wrap up the year than getting down with the hometown crowd. This has also become a way for us to get together with friends and fans who are back in town for the holidays. It’s hands down one of our favorite shows to play each year, and it never disappoints. 

This year’s show is going to be the best one yet (in our eyes). We’ve got Space Kadet from Atlanta joining us. We love these guys, and they put on an kick ass show. Also, our brother DeVonte Hutchins, who will be running lights all night, is going to open up the night with a solo set. There are plenty of sit-ins lined up. Needless to say, it’s shaping up to be a very special night for us, and we are really looking forward to getting down with everyone. 

We're currently finishing our second album, which we are extremely excited to release next year. We’ve put in a lot of time into making this album and can’t wait to get this new material out there." 

Davis Little of Little Raine Band

RSVP to the official Facebook event here!

Check out the videos below for a little taste of what you can expect from this year's lineup!

Watch footage from LRB's 2016 Day After Christmas Show here:

Watch Little Raine Band & Friends performing "Cortez The Killer" here:

Watch Space Kadet's recap video from Imagine Festival (2018) here:


Umphrey's McGee and Spafford Deliver Sold-Out Sunday Special August 13, 2018 16:20

-
Photos by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography
Words by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen
-
While Sunday afternoon would see heavy rains roll through early on, the skies would clear just in time for a rock show that Birmingham will be talking about for some time. Jam veterans Umphrey's McGee always bring a special show to The Magic City, but there was a notable buzz surrounding this particular date. The opening gig for Umphrey's has been a highly coveted spot for years, and I'm not sure that role has ever been filled by a hotter band than Spafford. These two seem like a match made in 'jam band heaven', and Sunday night's sold-out show at Avondale Brewing Company was everything we could have hoped for. 
-
Spafford has quickly become one of the hottest rising acts in the jam/festival scene, and the showing of fans for this early 5:30 PM set was a direct indication. This would be just my third opportunity to catch these guys, with the first two coming earlier this year at SweetWater 420 Festival. The band came out firing with an 18-minute "Windmill" to open the set, showcasing their brilliant approach towards improvisation early on. Next up was the beautifully melodic "Slip and Squander," one of my favorites from the band's latest release For Amusement Only. This one captures the essence of keyboardist's Andrew "Red" Johnson's vocals as well as any tune in the bands arsenal. Heavy jams within "Lovesick Melody" and "Soil" would round out one of the stronger 45-minute sets of music I can remember. While we were all hungry for Umphrey's, Spafford left one hell of a mark on Birmingham. We'll all be anxiously awaiting their return, which will undoubtedly be a hot ticket. 
-
Umphrey's took the stage shortly after to the first sold-out crowd that I've witnessed in quite a few shows at the brewery. This was a night that featured a heavy dosage of UM staples, starting off with a rocking "August." The set continued with "Day Nurse" > "The Linear," only to be followed by one of my all-time favorites, "Mantis." I can't help but throw my hands up in celebration when the chorus for that one comes around. The jam would ultimately segue into "Draconian" and one of the band's newest tracks, "Forks," would follow. Frontman Brendan Bayliss then called on "local up-and-comer" Taylor Hicks for the band's debut of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" to close out the set. If anyone hadn't been singing along by this point in the night, they surely chimed in for this moment. Video footage from "Mantis" and "Drift Away" can be found below.
-
Speaking of all-time favorites, the second set was about as strong as a long-time Umphrey's fan could ask for. "Ringo" lit a fire in the rowdy Birmingham crowd and a massive "Cemetery Walk" > "Cemetery Walk II" made for a super funky, electro dance party. Keyboardist Joel Cummins would continue to shine as he led the way into "2 x 2," another UM ballad which just resonates with a beautiful, peaceful vibe. "Bridgeless" provided some of the evening's heavier moments, as it tends to do, before a nice segue into "Seasons," a newer tune from the band's recent surprise album it's you. "Seasons" ultimately led back into the unfinished "Mantis" from earlier in the night, which made for an emphatic end to the second set. 
-
The encore would point the spotlight on Cummins yet again as he sparked the intro and led the way through "Kimble." Just when I was thinking we might get another big cover to close out the night, the band ripped back into "Bridgeless" and finished in appropriately raging fashion. It had been about a year since my last non-festival, two-set Umphrey's show, and this was just what the doctor ordered. This band operates like a well-oiled machine, and they continue to raise the bar like very few have ever been capable of doing. We'll be anxiously awaiting their return, and speaking of which, would it be too much to ask for a two-night run in Alabama?  You know what they say...you can't get a hit unless you swing the bat. 
-

Spafford - Birmingham, AL - 08.12.18

Set: Windmill, Slip and Squander, Lovesick Melody > Soil

Umphrey's McGee - Birmingham, AL - 08.12.18

Set 1: August, Day Nurse > The Linear, Mantis > Draconian, Forks, Drift Away[1]

Set 2: Ringo, Cemetery Walk > Cemetery Walk II, 2x2, Bridgeless >  Seasons > Mantis

Encore: Kimble > Bridgeless

Notes: [1] debut, Dobie Gray; with Taylor Hicks
-
Watch a clip of Spafford performing "Soil" here:
-
-
Watch a clip of Umphrey's McGee performing "Mantis" here:
-
-
Watch a clip of Umphrey's peforming "Drift Away" with Taylor Hicks here:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
=-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

The Road to CukoRakko: Luke Quaranta of Toubab Krewe May 15, 2018 16:32

 

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

If you're a music lover in Alabama, you've more than likely heard about an amazing grassroots festival known as CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival. Founded in 2014, the festival has been held twice a year at Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL. As this concept has continued to evolve each year, festival producers have decided to bring the spring festival to Birmingham's Avondale Brewing Company on Saturday, May 19th, while still having plans for a full-weekend festival in October.

The spring festival will now be known as CukoRakko Fam Jam, a one-day event held in the heart of Birmingham which features a wide variety of world class talent from across the country. As we prepare for another unforgettable CukoRakko experience, we're sitting down and getting to know a few of this year's performers. For our next installment, we caught up with Luke Quaranta, percussionist of Toubab Krewe. See below for the full interview and stay tuned for further coverage throughout the weekend.

Share this post directly from the Live & Listen Facebook page and tag a friend in the comments section for a chance to win a pair of tickets to CukoRakko Fam Jam. We will announce the winner on Friday, May 18th.



Some music cannot be found on a map or within iTunes categories. Some music is so original it seems snatched from the great, invisible substrata that runs below all human activity, a sound aching to be born without a flag or fixed allegiance – free, questing, overflowing with immediate, tangible life. This is the music of Toubab Krewe, the vibrant Asheville, NC-based instrumental powerhouse that creates a sonic Pangaea that lustily swirls together rock, African traditions, jam sensibilities, international folk strains and more.  While nearly impossible to put into any box, it takes only a few moments to realize in a very palpable way that one is face-to-face with a true original who recognizes no borders in a march towards a muscular, original, globally switched-on sound.   

Formed in 2005, Toubab Krewe has tenaciously honed their craft through relentless touring and a fierce dedication to carving out something they can truly call their own.  This is a band that actively draws inspiration from whatever source floats into their purview, something they've exhibited in their decade of heavy gigging, including regular appearances at major U.S. festivals like Bonnaroo, High Sierra, Wakarusa and New York City's Summer Stage, and abroad at such legendary gatherings as Festival In The Desert in Mali, The Shanghai World Music Festival, and The Festival of World Music in Sines, Portugal.  

Their globe-hopping propensity has made them an emerging headliner at their hometown's famous Orange Peel and a familiar face at similar venues throughout the country. Whether on their own or collaborating with luminaries like the Last Poets' Umar Bin Hassan or Uncle Earl's Rayna Gellert, Toubab Krewe has already earned the attention and respect of a broad musical community.   

Toubab carries echoes of African greats like Ali Farka Toure, Orchestra Baobab and Salif Keita, no doubt picked up during the group's travels to study and live in Guinea, Ivory Coast and Mali.  But what truly differentiates Toubab Krewe from other Statesiders inspired by African music is how they innovate on what they've learned instead of simply recreating tradition. Toubab Krewe carves out a new trail honoring the African originators they admire by making something alive and contemporary. 

Click Here: Purchase CukoRakko Fam Jam Tickets

Let’s start off with some general history on the band. You guys got started in Asheville back in 2005. How did this project come together?

Luke: We started in 2005, and we had actually been friends for a lot longer than that. The project really came together around our friendships formed at Warren Wilson College. A few of the guys had been friends well before that. Our kora/ngoni player Justin Perkins and our guitarist Drew Heller grew up together in Asheville; playing music for a number of years. Our original drummer, Teal Brown, also grew up with those guys since the middle school days. They had some bands throughout high school and college.

I met the guys during the college years, and we had all developed this mutual interest in West African music. I was a part of a drumming group on campus, and then I went to Guinea, West Africa to study music in 1999. Four of us in the group (at that time) went to Guinea and Ivory Coast to study in 2001. So, those were the roots of it all. The interest in West African music and traveling to West Africa. Drew and Justin actually took a trip to Bamako, Mali in 2004 for about four months, and it was when they returned from that trip that we started in the band in 2005. 

I think on that trip...their eyes were opened to not only all of the traditional music that we had been studying, but also more of the contemporary scene in Bamako. Bands playing clubs, mixing Western instrumentation and more modern instrumentation with the traditional music. They got a real sense that we could play a lot of the music that we had come to really love, but also in a style that was true to our American roots. 

It was a cool moment, man. We started the band in '05 and cut the first record in April of that year. I think we released it in June of that year and started hitting the road, playing festivals, and never really looking back. We ended up being on the road for like 10 years, up until 2014. We played through that year, and that's when we decided to take a bit of a break from the road. 

I'd say that was well deserved. As you said, the band mixes the musical styles of West Africa and America. It's quite unique to say the least. I read that "toubab" means "foreigner," and "krewe" is in reference to New Orleans. Would you say that there is much of a New Orleans influence?
-
Luke: Yeah...I think so, man. A lot of Americana roots. A lot of roots in old time and string music from Western North Carolina. Especially because Drew and Justin grew up there; playing banjos, fiddles, and what not. We all have such an appreciation for New Orleans music. At the time, it really reflected what we were doing, which was experimenting in a style that had really deep roots. I think a lot of the same things have happened in New Orleans music. 
-
People come here (New Orleans) from all over the world. There's a lot of music from the Caribbean and African traditions...which are kind of morphed into their own styles here in New Orleans. That's kind of what we felt like we were doing. Studying the music of West Africa, and then also mixing it with things we grew up with. Trying to create a fresh sound with an authentic voice of our own. So yeah, I think New Orleans has always been a big influence. 
-
I would imagine that the rich, eclectic culture of Asheville served as a great environment for a young band. How vital has the Asheville culture been on the evolution of Toubab Krewe?
-
Luke: Yeah, I know that it was a great place to grow up for Drew and Justin. There's so much amazing traditional music there. As we came up as a band, the city was growing quite a bit. I think there was a real openness to different styles of music in town. The feedback that we got and the following we developed early on was really special. Asheville was just a really supportive place. I think a lot of artists and more musicians were moving there at the time. It really was a great place for us to start out as a band. Experimenting with music and making it our own. 
-
Sounds about right. So, as a percussionist, would you say that your setup and overall style is significantly different than that of a more traditional american band?
-
Luke: Yeah, for me, it definitely is. I think it is also for Justin. We have the traditional instruments in the group...drums, bass, and guitar are obviously integrated at the root of most American bands. Justin playing the kora, the 21-string harp from West Africa, and also the 12-string kamel ngonia is obviously much different. For me, the traditional West African instruments that I integrated into the band were the djembe, dunun, sangban, kenkeni, and then there is this log drum called the kryn that I always use as a part of my setup. There is also this metal scraper from southern Mali called the karenye. 
-
More recently, I've used the sangban and kenkeni on either side of the djembe...kind of like a conga setup. They're traditional West African drums, and everything that I've brought to the band is typically West African in nature and in terms of instrumentation. I guess my background has included a lot of music from Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Mali, so I've been bringing that language into the band, as well. 
-
In that sense, I think what I bring is different than maybe a traditional percussionist in a contemporary American band. They might integrate more congas, bells, blocks, racks, timbales, and stuff like that. Those instruments are more indigenous to Cuban music and music from South America and the Caribbean. So yeah, my setup is pretty unique and specifically West African in nature.
-
Watch Toubab Krewe's official video for "That Damn Squash" here:
-
-
Very cool. So, back in March, the band released Stylo, the first studio album since 2010. How long had this material been in the works? 
-
Luke: At the end of the run...towards the end of 2014, we were thinking it was probably a good idea to take some time off from the road. We went into the studio in Atlanta with the current roster, which includes Terrance Houston from New Orleans on drums and Justin Kimmel from Brooklyn on bass. Our good friend, Vic Stafford, had revived Southern Tracks Recording Studio in Decatur, GA. He had been doing some new projects from there. We went in for about ten days and cut the majority of the record in late 2014. It was a great session. A lot of the material came about from previous sessions...really just jammin' and flushing out ideas. Longer form jam sessions, which were recorded. 
-
We would then go back and instill some of those ideas into tunes. Justin and Drew brought some original tunes to the table. There are some reworked traditional arrangements, which we had done quite a bit on previous records. We kind of sat on it for a couple of years and didn't touch it much until early 2017. Drew, Justin, and I got together over a number of sessions in Asheville and Brooklyn to edit, overdub, and mix the record. It was cool, because all of the material was from late 2014, when we were really tight as a band, touring consistently. 
-
We might have been a little burnt out as well, so when we came back to it, we came back with really fresh ears. It was a fresh experience, and we took a creative license to the mixing and editing process. This allowed us to shape the record into the final product. It was a cool process. We were able to encapsulate two time periods of the band. I'm really happy with the way it came out. We had a really good time with it. 
-
That's amazing. It seems like the response has been strong, and the album has gotten some great exposure. You mentioned the three to four year touring hiatus. How vital was that time off for the band, and how has the return treated you so far?
-
Luke: I think it was really good timing for us. Drew had just started a family and had a young baby. He had time to really focus on his family. I took the opportunity to move to New Orleans in September of 2014. That was great for me. I really got to branch out and play music with a lot of different people here. I know Justin spent a lot of time in Miami and Asheville. I think it was really good timing and a nice reset for the band. It allowed us all to do a lot of playing in casual, different settings. 
-
Playing on the road with one project for so many years...it's such an intense focus. I think that this gave us a chance to recharge and realign some life goals. We've been really psyched to be back at it. It was a lot of fun to get together to finish the album. The response from the road has been great. Catching up with fans that we haven't seen in several years. I think everything has been great. We've been having some really great shows. Digging into this new material has been really fun too. 
-
I guess we did our first run back in the fall of 2017, which allowed us to 'warm up'. Then we dropped the record this spring, and we've been out for a number of dates in Colorado, the northeast, and southeast. This summer, we're obviously focusing on festivals. We had still been doing a few festivals and one-offs during 2015 and 2016, but we didn't really focus on getting back to the road until we were prepping the album. It's been great to get back out there and gauge the response with the new music. 
-
I love hearing that. Before we wrap up, you guys are playing CukoRakko Fam Jam in Birmingham on Saturday. What would you tell your casual music fan who might be walking into their first Toubab Krewe experience?
-

Luke: I would say that they can expect a dance party, for sure. A lot of the music is heavy dance music. Also, I think they can expect a merging a worlds and cultures. They may hear a style of music that they've never heard before. If they have heard West African music, they might be experiencing it through a different lens. I think whether folks want to be on their feet dancing, or just listening and deciphering the different influences, I think it works for both experiences. 

Every show is different. The band prides itself on really allowing the music to move us and the crowd together. We want to take the whole experience to a new place that we might not have thought we'd get to. We're always open to seeing where the music takes us artistically, musically, and spiritually. I think it's going to be a great time. We haven't played in Birmingham too much, so I'm really looking forward to playing there in a nice, outdoor setting. 


The Road to CukoRakko: Tanner Brown of Steady Flow May 14, 2018 14:38

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

If you're a music lover in Alabama, you've more than likely heard about an amazing grassroots festival known as CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival. Founded in 2014, the festival has been held twice a year at Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL. As this concept has continued to evolve each year, festival producers have decided to bring the spring festival to Birmingham's Avondale Brewing Company on Saturday, May 19th, while still having plans for a full-weekend festival in October.

The spring festival will now be known as CukoRakko Fam Jam, a one-day event held in the heart of Birmingham which features a wide variety of world class talent from across the country. As we prepare for another unforgettable CukoRakko experience, we're sitting down and getting to know a few of this year's performers. For our first installment, we caught up with Tanner Brown, lead guitarist of Steady Flow. See below for the full interview, and stay tuned for additional preview coverage in the near future.

From the Heart of the Midwest, Steady Flow brings a unique style of powerful funk music like you've never heard it before. Formed in 2012 by 18 year old, soul guitarist extraordinaire, Tanner Brown, and his older brother, Ky "Goonie-Mom" Brown on bass guitar, the group has now transformed into a six-piece funk-powerhouse, quickly claiming their spot as one of the best live acts around.

In Steady Flow's short existence, the group has taken on music festivals such as North Coast, Summer Camp, Phases of the Moon, and the list goes on. The band is constantly turning heads at every performance as their hard hitting Funk Rock compositions shake the room and force all audiences to dance, rage, & simply feel good.

Steady Flow released their first EP, "The Oneoff Sessions" in 2013, and their debut album, "Loud." in June 2015. The band released their newest full length album, "Do You Like That?" in April 2017! Do not miss a live show near you. Steady Flow is "The Future Of Funk."

Click Here: Purchase CukoRakko Fam Jam Tickets

Steady Flow came to life in 2012 and has since evolved into a six-piece power funk force. How did things begin, and when did you realize that this band had serious potential?

Tanner: When I was a junior in high school, I started to obsess over any type of music that made people’s asses shake.  Once I discovered The Meters and Funkadelic, I knew it was something I needed to be involved in. My brother and I have been playing music together since we were toddlers. When I was 12 and he was 15, we played in a cover band with our dad on vocals. So, we were always surrounded by music, and knew we we’re going to be in a band together. It was just a matter of time. Our shared interest of rock ’n roll and hip-hop converted to funk, and we started writing grooves.

I remember posting flyers up at our community college that said “Looking for horn players and keyboardist to join funk band.” That’s how I met Cody “The Sensei” Ward on sax. The rest is history. We just had fun playing together and when we performed live, it seemed to rub off on people. I think we realized our potential when we first headlined the coolest venue in our hometown, the Peoria Riverfront Landing and over 800 people showed up. We freaked out, big time.

You released the debut EP, The Oneoff Sessions, in 2013 and followed with the debut album, Loud, in 2015. It's been just over a year since your second album, Do You Like That? How do you feel the band has progressed over these three releases?

Tanner:  Oh, wow. We’ve learned a lot. The first two releases, we had no idea what we were doing. Our last album Do You Like That? shows the band maturing quite a bit and getting a lot tighter. We went through some turnover with our lineup during the first two releases, so I feel like Do You Like That? is our first real album, you know?

Have any plans been made for your next studio release?

Tanner:  Absolutely. We’re putting out a new record this Summer. That’s all I can say right now.

Watch Steady Flow's music video for "Do You Like That?" here:

The touring schedule has clearly picked up as the band has grown in popularity. How valuable has this experience been for your growth, both individually and as a band?

Tanner:  Insanely valuable. For one, it’s a miracle if you can find a group of guys that are willing to drop everything and travel around the country playing music. It’s a tough living, no doubt; so many ups and downs.. But when you’re surrounded by great band mates, as well as fans that enjoy the music and atmosphere, nothing beats it. You learn a lot about each other when you’re confined to a van and hotel rooms every day. The funny part is, when we started the band, none of us would ever just “hang out.” Our personalities were way too different.. But now that we’ve been on the road so much, we’ve grown into this crazy family with hundreds of inside jokes, which by the way is the only way to get through a tour. Inside jokes. Stupid ones.

I'm always particularly intrigued by the song-writing mechanics within a predominantly instrumental band. How does Steady Flow go about creating new music?

Tanner:  It’s always changing. When I write, it’s very riff based. So, I’ll have a guitar riff that I’ll send to Cody (Ward) and say, “do whatever you want with this..” Everybody throws their ideas into the mix. Sometimes Cody will write a tune, 100% by himself, and bring it to us.  For me, I’m always thinking about drum patterns/grooves before I even think of melody, which might be uncommon. But I like finding beats/feels that we haven’t touched yet, and build from there, all while picturing a live show atmosphere. I went to so many shows growing up that when I write tunes, I’m thinking about being in the audience, and what I’d like to see and feel.

I feel like the jam/funk scene is as strong as it's ever been in 2018. You've had the chance to share the stage with some killer bands, both at festivals and clubs. What are a few of the highlights?

Tanner:  Last year, George Porter Jr. of The Meters sat in during our set at Peoria Blues & Heritage Festival. And like I said before, if it wasn’t for The Meters, there would be no Steady Flow. So that was a “Holy shit” moment for me. We played “Just Kissed My Baby” and I almost pissed myself. Other than that, we had Sammi Garret from Turkuaz sit in with us recently at one of our sold out shows in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. They are one of the hottest funk bands on the scene right now so that was a fun moment. We’ve also been rocking with our homie, Boogie T, a sick emerging DJ from New Orleans and one of the coolest dudes i’ve ever met.. Flava Flav sat in on drums with us in Wisconsin. That was a trip.  I’m trying to get Action Bronson to sit in with us at Summer Camp in a few weeks, so hopefully I can report back and update this list of awesome-sauce.

You'll be playing as the sun sets at CukoRakko Fam Jam in Birmingham on Saturday. What can attendees expect from you guys?

Tanner:  All of us sweating our asses off. Giving it 110%. A lot of head banging and booty shakin’. Kicking off the festival season proper. See you there.

Click Here: Purchase CukoRakko Fam Jam Tickets


Win Tickets to See Fruition in Birmingham on May 3rd April 13, 2018 11:25

-
Folk rock stars Fruition are in the midst of a big run through the southeast, which includes a show at Birmingham's Zydeco on Thursday, May 3rd. One might remember their past performance with Yonder Mountain String Band at Workplay, or perhaps their set with Greensky Bluegrass at Avondale Brewery. Regardless, Fruition has undoubtedly been one the hottest rising "jam grass" acts in recent years, and they show no signs of slowing down. They have also been on the road with Jack Johnson for a number of support dates in 2018. The band's first headlining set in Birmingham promises to impress, and we strongly suggest marking your calendars. Make sure to arrive early, as Atlanta's Voodoo Visionary will be providing direct support.
-
We're giving away a pair of tickets to Thursday night's show. To enter the contest, share this post directly from our Facebook page. Make sure your settings are designated to 'public', so we can see the share on our end. We will announce a winner at 3:00 PM CST on Thursday, May 3rd.
-
Fruition is a folk-rock / Americana band from Portland featuring:
-
Jay Cobb Anderson - vocals, lead guitar, harmonica
Kellen Asebroek - vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
Mimi Naja - vocals, mandolin, electric & acoustic guitar
Jeff Leonard - bass 
Tyler Thompson - drums, banjo
-
Watch Fruition's official music video for "I'll Never Sing Your Name" here:
-
-
Official Bio: Fruition
-
On their fifth full-length, Watching It All Fall Apart, Fruition transform pain and heartache into something truly glorious. With their songwriting sharper and more nuanced than ever before—and their sonic palette more daringly expansive—the Portland, Oregon-based band’s full-hearted intensity ultimately gives the album a transcendent power.
-
“The songs are mostly breakup songs,” says Asebroek. “There was love and now it’s gone—we fucked it up, or some outside circumstance brought it to an end. It’s about dealing with all that but still having hope in your heart, even if you’re feeling a little lost and jaded.”
-
In a departure from their usual DIY approach, Fruition teamed up with producer/mixer Tucker Martine (My Morning Jacket, The Decemberists, First Aid Kit, case/lang/veirs) to adorn their folk-rooted sound with delicately crafted elements of psychedelia and soul. Showcasing the sublime harmonies the band first discovered during an impromptu busking session in 2008, Watching It All Fall Apart also finds Fruition more fully embracing their rock-and-roll sensibilities and bringing a gritty vitality to each track. “We’ve been a band almost ten years now, and we’re at the point of being comfortable in our skin and unafraid to be whatever we want as time goes on,” Anderson notes. 
-
Recorded in ten days at Flora Recording & Playback in Portland, Watching It All Fall Apart came to life with the same kinetic urgency found in Fruition’s live sound. “It’s kind of an impossible task, this idea of transmuting the live energy into something you can play on your stereo, but I feel like this record comes close to that,” says Asebroek. At the same time, the band pursued a purposeful inventiveness that resulted in their most intricately textured work to date. “Tucker helped us push ourselves to create something that glistens in subtle little ways that you might not even pick up on at first,” says Asebroek. “We got to play around with all this analog gear and these weird old keyboards we wouldn’t ordinarily use, like a bunch of kids in a toy store where everything is free.”
-
On lead single “I’ll Never Sing Your Name,” that unrestrained creativity manifests in a fuzzed-out, gracefully chaotic track complete with sing-along-ready chorus. Built on brilliantly piercing lyrics (“And all those kisses that you were blowing/Somehow they all got blown right out”), the song echoes the album’s emotional arc by painfully charting the journey from heartache to acceptance. “It’s about going through a breakup, moping around, and then finally getting to the point where it’s like, ‘Okay—I’m done with feeling this way now,’” says Anderson.
-
Throughout Watching It All Fall Apart, the band’s let-the-bad-times-roll mentality reveals itself in ever-shifting tones and moods. On the stark and sleepy “Northern Town,” Naja’s smoldering vocals channel the ache of longing, the track’s twangy guitar lines blending beautifully with its swirling string arrangement. One of the few album cuts to have already appeared in Fruition’s setlist, “There She Was” sheds the heavy funk influence of its live version and gets reimagined as a shimmering, soulful number documenting Asebroek’s real-life run-in with an ex at a local bar. Meanwhile, “Turn to Dust” emerges as a weary but giddy piece of psych-pop chronicling the end of a failed romance. The song’s opening lyric also lends the album its title, which partly serves as “a commentary on the general state of the world today,” according to Asebroek. “Even if you’re mostly an optimistic person, it’s hard not to feel down when you look at all the insanity happening right now,” he says.
-
While those unflinchingly intimate breakup songs form the core of Watching It All Fall Apart, Fruition infuse an element of social commentary into songs like “FOMO” as well. Written on the Fourth of July, with its references to wasted white girls and cocaine cowboys, the mournful yet strangely reassuring track unfolds as what Anderson calls “an anti-party party song.” “It’s about one of those situations where you said you’d go to party but you really don’t want to go, because you know it’s going to be the same old bullshit,” he says. “The song is a call to defuse that guilt in your brain.” And on the sweetly uplifting “Let’s Take It Too Far,” the band offers one of the album’s most purely romantic moments by paying loving tribute to music as solace and salvation (“But don’t you worry ’bout dyin’/’Cause there’s no better way to go/We’ll sing until we’re out of honey/Then pour the gravel down our throats”).
-
From song to song, Fruition display the dynamic musicality they’ve shown since making their debut with 2008’s Hawthorne Hoedown LP. Through the years, the band has evolved from a rootsy, string-centric outfit to a full-fledged rock act, eventually taking the stage at such major festivals as Bonnaroo and Telluride Bluegrass (a set that inspired Rolling Stone to praise their “raucous originals filled with heartfelt lyrics and stadium-worthy energy”). Following the release of 2016’s Labor of Love, Fruition again made the rounds at festivals across the U.S., prompting Rolling Stone to feature the band on its “8 Best Things We Saw” at DelFest 2016.
-
In choosing a closing track for Watching It All Fall Apart, Fruition landed on “Eraser”—a slow-building, gently determined epic delivering a quiet message of hope in its final line: “Let it help you heal.” “Because there’s so much heartbreak on this album, we wanted to end on Kellen singing that last line very sweetly,” explains Anderson. “The whole point of having all these sad songs is helping people to let those emotions out—and then hopefully when they get to the end, they feel a little better about everything they’ve gone through along the way.”
-

Widespead Panic In The Magic City: Trouble Set Me Free February 20, 2018 11:26

Words by Erika Rasmussen

Photos by Clay Carroll: Carroll Production

This past weekend at the BJCC in Birmingham, AL, was a time of reflection and a time of healing. Widespread Panic’s songs and face-melting jams provided some much needed therapy. This is a time of violence and culture clashes. We've seen it in the form of mass shootings nationally and the nitrous mafia scene right on Shakedown. But tour time also includes the greatest examples of people helping each other out. I watched the kindest vendor take time to sit and talk with a guy who’d had a little too much, too fast. He kept this tall fella from falling to his feet and from wandering into trouble. I saw my friends rallying to find those last minute tickets for everyone seeking a night of solace. I stopped by Avondale Common House, owned by fans and packed by other happy fans. I got to take part in a big carpool since my poor engine is struggling and we all threw in on a hotel room together. Again. It’s this family spirit that keeps us coming back to the shows. It’s the therapy of listening to JB pour his heart and soul out into the mic. It’s the chance of getting to see the people that you love from all over the country, even if just for a quick hug in the hallway. (Lookin’ at you, Sweet Melissa…)

Night 1, Set 1 opened with “Pleas > Makes Sense to Me” followed by “Little Kin”. And then, did we get to catch a breath? Nope. Straight into “Action Man”. I don’t think anyone had a breather until JoJo slowed it down with “Street Dogs”. And THEN, we got a “Red Beans Cookin’”. And I mean, COOKIN’. We haven’t sampled that tasty dish since 9/24/16. Yum. “Red Beans” went into “All Time Low” and I asked a friend if they, too, always sing the Dottie Peoples part during this song. They agreed that they did, pretty much every time.


Set 2 was full of currently relevant references. “Greta’s got a gun, this ain’t no flower child…”. My personal favorite political commentary of the night came during “Flicker”. “Talking it to death, Just because you mean it, Doesn’t mean we’ve seen it…”. That’s a beautiful way to sum up the feelings of the country right now and our frustration with inaction. But, “I’m Not Alone” says, “And then I turn a little bit scared, Well I feel a little bit easier, Knowing that you’re all here…”. Don’t you always feel better when you’re surrounded by a crowd full of your friends and people like you? And bonus points to me for having carried my custom “This clearly isn’t me” clear vinyl bag to follow the new BJCC bag policy. Which they later retracted. Sigh.

The three-song encore kicked off with “Gimme”, not heard since 5/4/17. Everything seems like a news commentary to me right now, so “Throw myself at the ground, Look away before I hit…” feels especially timely. We closed the night with the staples of “Red Hot Mama” and “Chilly Water” (and where in hell did y’all find water at the end of the night, people?!?).

Night 2, Set 1 started with a “Ribs & Whiskey” opener, which will never get old to me. Of course, I was wearing a Jack Daniels tank top at the time, so I may be a wee bit biased. We got to revel in “B of D” and if you can’t get down to that, man, lemme refer you to a dance therapist. My favorite delight of the set was the “Lawyers, Guns, & Money”. Not only is this the theme song of our badass friend, Rayner, but it’s also one we haven’t heard since 8/12/17. And hasn’t the shit hit the proverbial fan? Hmm?


The second set jumped right off with a “Let’s Get This Show on the Road”, which I like for the final night’s final set. According to Panic Stream and Everyday Companion, we haven’t gotten this show on the road since 10/26/16? What?!? About time. After a tear-jerker of a “Mercy”, we had a hot “Stop-Go” that hasn’t been around in almost six months. And did anyone else hear a “Fire on the Mountain” tease in there?

The final encore began with “Trouble”. Whew. Let me sing you the song of my people, I tell ya. Next up was a beautiful “Honey Bee” that’s only the third ever. This began as a touching tribute to Tom Petty at Halloween ‘17 and again at NYE.

The boys wrapped it all up with a “Rockin’ in the Free World”. Panic has only covered this Neil Young classic four times before, the last of which was 10/25/15. The entire crowd was screaming along to “There’s one more kid that will never go to school, Never get to fall in love, Never get to be cool”. But isn’t that all you can do now? Keep on rockin’ and bein’ the good people? The ones your mama warned you about?

Setlist: Widespread Panic - The BJCC - Friday, February 16th 2018

1: Pleas > Makes Sense To Me, Little Kin, Action Man, Street Dogs For Breakfast > Red Beans, All Time Low > Jam > Space Wrangler > Bowlegged Woman
2: Greta > Jam > Walk On, Tortured Artist > Flicker > Driving Song > I'm Not Alone > Jam > Driving Song > Tie Your Shoes > Jam > Drums > Diner > Sleeping Man, No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature
E: Gimme > Red Hot Mama > Chilly Water
['In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed' jam before 'Walk On']



Setlist: Widespread Panic - The BJCC - Saturday, February 17th 2018

1: Ribs And Whiskey, Send Your Mind, Proving Ground, Walkin' (For Your Love), Holden Oversoul > Jam > The Last Straw, B of D, Lawyers, Guns, And Money, Ain't Life Grand
2: Let's Get The Show On The Road, Blackout Blues, Who Do You Belong To? > Jam > Mercy > Weight Of The World, Big Wooly Mammoth > Papa's Home > Drums > Stop-Go, Blight, Climb To Safety
E: Trouble, Honey Bee, Rockin' In The Free World

-

Watch a clip of "Rockin' In The Free World" here:

Watch a clip of "Big Wooly Mammoth" here"

 

 


The Vegabonds Bring The 'New South Rock' To Zydeco On Friday December 13, 2017 22:39

Riding the wave of a highly successful year, Alabama natives The Vegabonds are returning home on Friday night. The band will bring its unique, 'new south rock' show to Birmingham's Zydeco, with a little help from supporting acts Dirty Girl and The Mammoths. This run has seen the five-piece throughout the East Coast with remaining stops in Jackson, MS (12/14), Birmingham, AL (12/15), Atlanta, GA (12/16), Augusta, GA (12/18), Raleigh, NC (12/19), just to name a few.

We're giving away a few pairs of tickets via Facebook and Instagram, so make sure to head over to our social channels for a chance to win. Simply share our Facebook post + tag a friend and/or like our Instagram post and tag a friend for a chance to win. Make sure your Facebook settings are on 'public' so we can see your shared post. Feel free to double your chances and participate in both giveaways, if you feel so inclined.

The Vegabonds bring their own flavor of the the americana/country movement with each performance, and this homecoming is sure to be a special occasion. Click here to join the official Facebook page. Click here to purchase tickets in advance!

Watch the band's music video for "Long Haired Country Boy" here:

Official Bio: The Vegabonds

Some might assert that The Vegabonds sound is Americana, while others may consider them to be true rock ‘n’ rollers. Regardless of what fans like to call them, the Alabama-born, Nashville-bred quintet is pulling themselves up by the bootstraps just in time for 2018, forging ahead into the future by avoiding pigeon holes.

As they steadily become one of the most sought after, highly-acclaimed Southern Rock bands in music, The Vegabonds’ roots run deep, even alongside the fan base having now extended across the U.S. and Europe. Their devotion to music and their tireless tour schedule illustrates their laser-sharp focus on growing into one of the biggest names out of Nashville, while never forgetting their humble beginnings.

With a sound reminiscent of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers mixed with the grit and twang of the Allman Brothers Band, The Vegabonds give their fans a sensational performance with powerhouse guitar riffs and impactful songwriting night after night. Their hard work and unbridled talents have not gone unnoticed; the group has opened for such notable acts as Lynyrd Skynyrd, the late Gregg Allman, and Kid Rock, among others. Rousing performances at festivals like Peach Fest, Magnolia Fest, Sunfest, and Toadlick grew their notoriety nationwide, leading to a west coast tour that formed in-roads with the music and comedy community in Los Angeles. It’s no wonder that Live for Live Music has compared them to musical legends like My Morning Jacket and The Black Crowes, calling them “a force to be reckoned with,” complete with “gorgeous harmonies and impressive instrumental skills mak[ing] for a perfect combination.


Born in Alabama. Bred in Nashville. Seasoned by the Road. Celebrated the world over. Come let your hair down with The Vegabonds.


Aqueous Is Bringing The Halloween Madness To Birmingham's Zydeco October 27, 2017 13:52

 

Photo by Keith Griner: Phierce Photo

Words by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Share this post directly from the Live & Listen Facebook page and tag a friend in the comments section of the post for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show. A winner will be announced at 10:00 AM CST on Tuesday, 10/31.

It's no secret that Halloween is one of the biggest nights of the year for most major touring bands. If you keep up with the latest happenings in the live touring circuit, you've surely seen the hype surrounding Aqueous, a four-piece, high-energy groove rock act out of Buffalo, NY. Whether its their impressive billing on just about every major festival lineup, their recent Green Day Dookie collaborations with Umphrey's McGee bassist Ryan Stasik, or even their heavy rotation on Sirius XM JamOn, the excitement surrounding this band continues to escalate. 

While Halloween isn't conveniently falling on a weekend this year, there is a party you simply don't want to miss at Zydeco in Birmingham. Aqueous is making a rather rare appearance in Alabama, and you can rest assured that the band has big plans for this special occasion. If that wasn't enough, Soul Mechanic (Chattanooga, TN) will be providing direct support and warming up the stage in powerful fashion. At the rate things are going, Aqueous is on the fast track to playing even bigger rooms/stages, and this is a Tuesday night you're going to have to plan accordingly for. Do yourself a favor and join the official Facebook event for all of the latest updates. Tickets can be purchased in advance by clicking here.

Bio: Aqueous

Aqueous’s groove rock sound stems from Buffalo NY. They have built a name for themselves nationally, following years of touring and high profile sets at major festivals. The band is as strong in composing as they are at communicating and improvising during their shows. Their onstage persona is infectious and undeniable; their lifelong friendship stands as a testament to the tightness of the music. While the band is relatively young, they are polished - check them out as soon as you can, and discover firsthand what the buzz is all about.

For all things Aqueous, make sure to follow the band on Facebook and check their official website.

Check out Aqueous' latest single "Weight Of The World" here:


Looking Ahead To This Weekend's Sloss Music & Arts Festival March 20, 2017 01:55

Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography

Share this post from our Facebook page and tag a friend in the comments for a chance to win a pair of GA Tickets + a framed SlossFest poster from The Beveled Edge.  The Beveled Edge will be on site framing posters all weekend.  

These is no question that the music scene in Birmingham, AL is currently thriving as much as any city in the country.  With longstanding venues such as Oak Mountain Amphitheater, Alabama Theatre, Sloss Furnace, WorkPlay, and Zydeco, you wouldn't think there would be much need for more. The continuous growth across the city has more than warranted new venues such as Iron City and Saturn, as well as the restoration of the historic Lyric Theatre. On top of the existing presence of live music on any given night, Birmingham is also the home of one of the newest major music events in the country, Sloss Music & Arts Festival

Without spoiling all of the details, Sloss Music & Arts Festival is a two-day music and lifestyle event that takes place at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday, July 14th and Sunday, July 15th, 2018. The complete lineup can be found on the graphic listed below.  As we prepare for what is sure to be an epic weekend, we're listing off a handful of reasons why you simply don't want to miss SlossFest 2018.  

As part of our SlossFest preview coverage, we're giving away two General Admission weekend passes to one lucky winner.  In addition, the winner will also take home an official framed SlossFest poster from The Beveled Edge, who will be on site all weekend. To enter this contest, you must share this post directly from the Live & Listen Facebook page and tag a friend in the comments section of the post.  Make sure that your Facebook privacy settings are designated to 'public', so we can see that you shared the post on our end  A winner will be announced on Friday, July 13th.

Click Here: Purchase SlossFest Tickets Today!

SlossFest is a celebration of the unique, creative culture that makes life in Birmingham so unique.  In just four short years, SlossFest has established itself as a major national event, which features many of the biggest names on the music festival circuit, while also providing a tremendous opportunity for so many promising up-and-coming acts. 40 bands on 4 stages in one centralized Birmingham location.  What more could you ask for?

This year's lineup is anchored by Canadian indie rockers Arcade Fire, as well as singer/songwriters Chris Stapleton and Jason Isbell. The Birmingham-born talent will be featured early and often, most notably with the local legends St. Paul & The Broken Bones, as well as alt-rockers Moon Taxi, which features multiple band members who are also natives of the Iron City. Expect a powerful blend of American rock from The War on Drugs, while bands like Rainbow Kitten Surprise should provide a unique take on modern indie rock. Australian singer/songwriter Vance Joy is another performer who we expect to gain high praise from the Birmingham faithful. 

While much of the hype surrounding many other festivals of this nature points toward the jam rock, folk, indy, and alternative acts, SlossFest will feature a healthy serving of major names from the electronic and hip hop scenes. This year's lineup will feature the likes of GRiZ, Vic Mensa, Louis The Child, Jai Wolf, Hippie Sabotage, amongst others.  

Every major festival must have the major national names from across the musical spectrum to anchor the lineup, but filling those open daytime spots with the right acts is just as important.  You never know what point in the day might be your most ideal moment, where you find yourself watching a new band who becomes the best surprise of the weekend.  We're confident that you'll find just that with local performers such as Taylor HunnicuttWill StewartDead Fingers, and Captain Kudzu this weekend.

While there will be more than enough music to keep you entertained, you can't forget that SlossFest is a true music and arts festival.  Many of Birmingham's most vibrant live painters, visual artists, and specialists from all elements of the local artist community will be on site showcasing their work and helping create the festival scene. 

Whether you're looking for a certain food truck, a funky clothing boutique, or even special handmade jewelry, SlossFest will feature a massive roster of vendors from across Alabama and beyond.  As this festival continues to grow, the list of vendors has increased and one could spend much of the weekend simply shopping and supporting the various traveling businesses if they had enough time.  One of our favorite local vendors, The Beveled Edge, will be selling a variety of posters from different shows, while also providing on-site framing for official SlossFest posters.

Starr Hill Brewery will be on site with their Craft Works area this year.  Located directly next to the beer garden, Starr Hill will be showcasing beers exclusively available in the All Access area.  As one of the most award-winning craft breweries on the East Coast, Starr Hill Beer was made for live music.

The Piggly Wiggly Craftly Beerly Garden will showcase a variety of the finest craft breweries from the great State of Alabama, as well as the Southeast!  Whether you're a fan of the malt or the hops, this beer garden will have something for everyone.  Entry to the tent is free for all guests ages 21 and older, and each brewery represented will be available for purchase at participating Piggly Wiggly stores.

Click Here: Purchase SlossFest Tickets Today!

Check out the official highlights from SlossFest 2017 here: 


Ticket Giveaway: A Live One (Phish Tribute) At Zydeco On January 21st January 18, 2017 02:24

-
Photo by Amy Boyd: Sense & Color Photography
-
Live & Listen is excited to announce that we are once again teaming up with our friends at Zydeco in Birmingham, AL for multiple ticket giveaways throughout 2017.  Next up is one of the hottest tribute acts in the country, A Live One, who brings its one of a kind Phish tribute to Birmingham, AL on Saturday, January 21st.  See below for complete details on how you can win a free pair of tickets to the show.
-
A Live One is Texas’ premier Phish tribute, formed in 2011 by guitarist Josh Pearson, bassist Andy Harn, keyboardist Zack Morgan, and drummer Alan Eckert. Being huge fans and heavily influenced by Phish, the band found it very exciting recreating their music. With 200 shows under their belts, the band has toured heavily throughout the country and performed at several festivals including Phases of the Moon, Euphoria, Art Outside & Highberry. Digging into the chemistry of Phish’s music, A Live One rises to the challenge, striving to create a similar experience, on a much smaller scale.
-
We have one pair of free tickets to the show, and we will announce the winner at 2:00 PM CST on Saturday (1/21). Entering the contest to win these tickets couldn't be any easier.  Simply share this post directly from our Facebook page (make sure your settings are public) and tag two friends in the comments section.  The winner's name (+1 guest) will be placed on the list at Will Call at Zydeco on Saturday night.  
-
Watch A Live One perform "2001 (Also Sprach Zarathustra)" on 07.18.16 here:
-
-

Win Tickets To See Zoogma At Zydeco On Saturday Night (Dec. 3rd) November 28, 2016 21:32

Live & Listen is pleased to join forces with our friends at Zydeco in Birmingham once again for an evening of live music with Zoogma and special guest Chark on Saturday, December 3rd.  Doors open at 9:30 PM and the music will start soon thereafter.  As a sign of our excitement for Saturday night, we're giving away a pair of tickets to the show.  To enter the contest, simply share this post directly from our Facebook page and tag a friend who you would take to the show in the comments.  We will announce a winner at 12:00 PM on Friday afternoon.

Read our recent interview with Justin Hasting of Zoogma

Live electronic quartet Zoogma has been busy over the past year. While maintaining a busy tour schedule, the band has been steadily working on their new concept record, A Future in Blue. The new record combines their Mississippi/Memphis blues roots with their unique electronica sound to bring listeners their own refreshing brand of “Future-Blues”.

The first single, “What It Is”, mixes Leslie-driven guitar and classic 70’s-era horns, with catchy vintage-blues samples that mesh with the funky, futuristic electronic sound Zoogma delivers both live and in the studio. Listen to the new single, streaming below.

Zoogma is a live electronic band based in Nashville, TN. Since 2010, Zoogma has been blending genres into a musical experience that has been called "refreshingly original, yet steeped in dance music tradition".  The band is no stranger to the studio or touring either. With two full studio albums, a live compilation album, a slew of remixes, and the most recent release of their chart topping New Era EP, as well as a handful of national headline tours under their belt, Zoogma has carved out an incredibly loyal fanbase. The band's next record, A Future in Blue, is due out early 2017.

Chark began expressing his interest in music early on as a member of the Birmingham Boys Choir. In his early teens, he began to gravitate towards the punk and metal underground, which would quickly encourage him to break in his own musical chops in a series of hopeful high school garage bands, as a lead vocalist, trying to find his place in the music world. His first forays into electronic music came through classic house channels, like Justice and Crookers, but the first time he heard a dubstep track by Distance, he knew he wanted to recreate that weird, wompy feeling it gave him. Chark began DJing in 2011 at local venues, with an incredibly supportive response from the community, and has never looked back.

Watch Zoogma's Stranger Things Halloween Weekend Recap here:


Win Tickets To See Zach Deputy & Ballyhoo! - Zydeco - Birmingham, AL - Sat. 9/10 September 7, 2016 23:33

We've been looking forward to this Saturday night in Birmingham for some time, and we're here to share that excitement today.  Zach Deputy and Ballyhoo! are bringing the "Dance 'Til You Fall Tour" to Zydeco, and there will be plenty of reggae rock dance vibes to go around.  As part of our preparation for the show, we're giving away a pair of tickets, and here's your chance to win.  Simply 'share' this post from the Live & Listen Facebook page and tag a friend who you would like to take to the show. Make sure your settings are on "public," so we're able to see your post.  

You will want to plan accordingly in order to catch opening sets from Bumpin' Uglies and Sun-Dried Vibes.  Doors open at 7:00 PM, and tickets can be purchased in advance by clicking here.  Make sure to keep an eye on the official Facebook event page, in order to make sure you have all of the latest information on the show.

Zach Deputy

Zach Deputy has a diverse ethnic background, having Puerto Rican, Irish, African, British, French, and Cherokee heritage,  which opens him to influence from Latin, Caribbean, and African music.  Deputy's music is often about "the highs of life," and he has said that songwriting is a way to "take pictures of the things that I want to remind myself of 10 years from now."

Deputy began looping when his bass player couldn't make it to a show and Zach decided to use a delay pedal as a looping pedal rather than cancel the gig.  When he plays live, he will loop and layer chord progressions, bass, beat boxing, drum sounds, vocals, and guitar.  He performs with four microphones: a vocal synthesizer for choir sounds; one for high-hat, snare, and back-beat; one for main vocals, and one for vocal bass or bass drum.  His looping shows are known for their variety. "There are so many different ways it can happen. I can loop my guitar first, go into drums or loop a vocal riff first or straight into beat boxing and loop it or just go acoustic. It's very free formed. Every show can be extremely different from another. I try to have little consistency when it comes to my show. I never want to get bored with myself."  His fans will seek out live recordings of particular shows because each is so unique.

Deputy spends most of the year touring and at one time averaged 300 shows a year.  His performances are mostly one-man-band looping shows, but also include Zach Deputy Band shows and acoustic storyteller shows. He has played many large festivals such as Jam Cruise, Mountain Jam, High Sierra Music Festival, Gathering of the Vibes, and All Good Music Festival.

Watch Zach Deputy perform "Put It In The Boogie" in Vail, CO in July 2016 here:

Ballyhoo!

Ballyhoo! is a rock, pop, punk, and reggae band from Aberdeen, Maryland.  The group has sold over 30,000 copies of its 5 albums and more than 200,000 digital tracks.  Ballyhoo! played the House of Marley Stage on the Warped Tour 2012.  The band has opened up for bands 311, Dirty Heads, Tribal Seeds, and Slightly Stoopid on previous tours.  The group played over 166 shows in 2012.  Ballyhoo! started out in July of 1995.  The band's self-released album Do It For The Money! contained the songs “Cali Girl” and “Cerveza.” The follow-up, Cheers!, was produced by Scotch Ralston (311). The album also features mix work by 311 drummer, Chad Sexton. Ballyhoo! released a single, "Front Porch," in October of 2010.  

The band's album Daydreams was the group's first release under Pepper's LAW Records.  The 12-track album was recorded and produced at Sound Lounge studios in Orlando, Florida by Greg Shields and Mike Stebe and released in September of 2011.  The band’s "Daydreams" single “Last Night” saw rotation at various alternative radio stations including WHFS Baltimore, WRFF Philadelphia, KUKQ Phoenix, Star 101.9 Honolulu, & SiriusXM/Faction, as well as various specialty shows around the country.  The band's single "Walk Away" is next and poised to open even more doors at radio with its melodic chorus and sing along vibe.  Yesod Williams, owner of the band’s label LAW Records says of his newest addition, “Having BALLYHOO! join the LAW family is a perfect fit. They are an incredibly talented band with a really catchy style”.

Watch Ballyhoo!'s official music video for "girls." here:


Runaway Gin: A Tribute To Phish Will Play Birmingham's Zydeco On November 11th August 23, 2016 11:33

Photo by Lucas Armstrong Photography

The world's most active Phish tribute, Runaway Gin, is officially set to make it's Alabama debut on Friday, November 11th at Zydeco in Birmingham.  We couldn't be more pleased to be a part of this show, as we have had the pleasure of seeing Runaway Gin many times over the years.  The group, which holds a weekly residency at The Charleston Pour House every Sunday night, has quickly expanded outside of the South Carolina market and become a nationally touring act in very high demand.  While Phish did not make it back to Birmingham on their fall tour, fans can rejoice in the fact that Runaway Gin is bringing a tribute that is second to none.  We recently caught up with frontman Andy Greenberg, who expressed the band's excitement to break into the Birmingham/Alabama market.  

"As a tribute to Phish we approach each show and jam differently. We strive to capture the vibes of a particular place in space and time and use the music of Phish as a springboard to communicate with each other and with the audience. We are really excited to play Birmingham and AL for the first time. It's so cool for us to travel from town to town and meet and party with segments of that area's Phish fan base.
-
Each town and area of the country has it's own distinct flavor of energy which steers us to play different kinds of shows and jams. Playing new towns is especially interesting, because we don't know what to expect as much so there is the element of surprise to a greater degree. I loved the energy at the Orange Beach and Oak Mountain Phish shows in 2014, so I have an inkling of the feel there, but I can't wait to immerse myself even further"
-
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased in advance by clicking here.
-
-
Design by Mike Sears: Light Train Studio
-
-
Photo by Lucas Armstrong Photography
-
Watch Runaway Gin perform "You Enjoy Myself" in Charleston on 03.23.16 here:
-
-
Official Bio: Runaway Gin - A Tribute to Phish
-

With over 200 shows under their belt, Runaway Gin is the World's most active Phish Tribute Band. They play every Sunday at the Charleston Pour House and tour often.

The members of Runaway Gin are long time Phish fans who have united with the goal of creating musical moments inspired by Phish. The band's song list is constantly growing and their improvisational and communication skills are constantly developing independently and together. Like Phish, Runaway Gin will never play the same show or jam the same way twice making every show a unique experience and every moment pure artistic creation.

Runaway Gin strives to capture the essence of Phish's flagship live style of group improvisation known as "type-2" jamming as well as learning the composed segments of Phish's catalog with impeccable precision. Their success in these areas comes from constant live shows as well as rehearsals. The current moment is always the driving force in a Runaway Gin show giving the quartet a fresh and original sound during jams and shows as a whole.

Click Here: Purchase tickets to Runaway Gin at Zydeco today!

Photo by Lucas Armstrong Photography


Live & Listen Presents: Zoogma with Moglee at Zydeco - Friday 8/19 August 11, 2016 17:22

Live & Listen is pleased to announce that we are teaming up with our friends at Zydeco in Birmingham for another amazing night of music next week.  Join us on Friday, August 19th for an evening with Nashville-based, live electronic act Zoogma along with an opening set from local producer Moglee.  This marks the highly anticipated return to Birmingham for Zoogma, so mark your calendars and purchase your tickets today, as this is a show you will not want to miss.  Doors are scheduled to open at 9:30 PM on Friday, August 28th.  Moglee will perform an opening set, with Zoogma taking the stage shortly after.  Tickets are available now for $10 and can be purchased by clicking here

Zoogma is a live electronic band based in Nashville, TN. Since 2010, Zoogma has been blending genres into a musical experience that has been called "refreshingly original, yet steeped in dance music tradition".  The band is no stranger to the studio or touring either. With two full studio albums, a double jam cruise live album, a slew of patented live remixes, and the most recent release of their chart topping "New Era EP", as well as a handful of national headline tours under their belt, Zoogma has carved out an incredibly loyal fanbase.  You can get all of their music for free at www.zoogma.net

Zoogma is:
Brock Bowling - Guitar, Live Sequencing
Matt Harris - Drums, Live Sequencing
Justin Hasting - Guitar, Synthesizer
Ryan Nall - Bass, Synthesizer
-

Watch Zoogma perform "Hotel Crunkifornia" at Cervantes in Denver, CO here:

 


Live & Listen Presents: McLovins with Little Raine Band at Zydeco - Thursday 7/28 July 18, 2016 14:10

Photo by Craig Baird: Live & Listen

Live & Listen is pleased to announce that we are teaming up with our friends at Zydeco in Birmingham for another amazing night of music next week.  Join us on Thursday, July 28th for an evening with Connecticut-based four-piece McLovins along with local favorites Little Raine Band.  This will be the Birmingham debut of McLovins, so mark your calendars and purchase your tickets today, as this is a show you will not want to miss.  Doors are scheduled to open at 8:30 PM on Thursday, July 28th.  Little Raine Band will perform an opening set, with McLovins taking the stage shortly after.  Tickets are available now for $8 and can be purchased by clicking here

Both of these bands are scheduled to play The Blueberry Jam at Weeks Bay Plantation on Friday, October 14th - Saturday, October 15th.  Weeks Bay Plantation is a 90-acre organic blueberry farm located in Fairhope, Alabama.  This will be the second year for the event, which will also feature The Heavy Pets (performing a Beatles tribute), Zach DeputyCBDBPaw Paw's Medicine CabinetInfant Richard & The Delta Stones, and Lee Yankie & The Hellz Yeah.  Tickets to The Blueberry Jam can be purchased by clicking here.

McLovins is a soulful rock band that complements a youthful and infectious energy with seasoned and diverse musical talent. Inspired by an eclectic mix of influences like The Band, Steely Dan and The Flaming Lips bassist Jason Ott, drummer Jake Huffman, guitarist Justin Berger and keyboardist Atticus Kelly combine their progressive songwriting skills with 70’s inspired extended improvisations and instrumental ingenuity.
-
Hailing from Hartford, Connecticut, McLovins have appeared at Gathering of the VibesMountain Jam, The Peach Festival, and the legendary Nateva Music Festival. They have also performed with some of the most influential artists on the scene, including Buddy GuyGeorge Porter Jr., Oteil Burbridge and Robert Randolph.
-
Currently the band is on the road promoting its self-titled new album cut in New York
City’s East Village and produced by 2-time Grammy award winner Bill Sherman.
As the band continues to evolve, consistency lies in the distinctive Jam-rock production that brings a vibrant sound and a unique energy to many acclaimed venues and festivals across the country.
-
Watch McLovins perform "Buildin' It Up" at Telefunken Studios here:
-
-
-
-

Little Raine Band is a band truly on the rise, and is quickly becoming known as the hottest act in the Southeast. With an ever-evolving sound and fan base reaching all over the Southeast these young musicians have pledged their lives to master the art of live performance and creating a one of a kind live show. Little Raine Band is a four-piece band from Birmingham, AL that craft their sound from their unique musical backgrounds and an intense passion to follow their dream. Elements of progressive rock, funk, jazz fusion, electronic music, R&B, and energetic improvisations can be heard in a Little Raine Band show along with covers to cater to any crowd.

Watch Little Raine Band perform "New Beginnings" at Exit/In in Nashville here:


Jammin' In The Ham with Kyle Holly & Charlie Thornton of Modern Measure June 2, 2016 23:23

Photo by Taylor Wallace: iWally Photography

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

As we prepare for the upcoming weekend at Jam In The Ham at Zydeco in Birmingham, we are sitting down with several of this year's performers to learn a little more about this year's lineup. Next up is Kyle Holly and Charlie Thornton of Modern Measure, a wildly talented electronic duo you don't want to miss out on. Modern Measure is scheduled to perform on Friday night at 1:00 AM.

Modern Measure is a hybrid electronic project like none other. Infusing live organic instrumentation with artfully crafted music production is what sets them apart. Modern Measure was formed in the musical hotbed of Atlanta, GA in 2013. Coming off of sold out performances at Terminal West in ATL, to touring nationally all across the United States, Modern Measure stays true to art and music. Kyle Holly (Live Drums/Music Production) and Charlie Thornton (Bass Guitar, Music Production) keep the party up at all times. Taking inspiration from around the world, along with Electronica, Hip Hop, Rap, Funk, and Rock influences, it all blends meticulously.

In just a short time, Modern Measure has shared the stage with friends and renowned artists such as STS9, Big Gigantic, The Disco Biscuits, ZOOGMA, Manic Focus, The Floozies, The New Deal, and Turbo Suit. With the help of their label, 1320Records, they continue to push the bar releasing original material, alongside remixes from very respected artists that continually inspire the band.

Modern Measure has performed at music festivals across the country such as Camp Bisco, Suwannee Hulaween, North Coast Music Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, Summer Set Music Festival, Counterpoint Music Festival, and Euphoria Music Festival just to name a few. Get familiar, get comfortable, and lock yourselves in. Modern Measure is a name you will continue to see in music for years to come.

 Click Here: Purchase Tickets to Jam In The Ham

Much has happened since the formation of Modern Measure in Atlanta in 2013.  Your sound continues to evolve, with a tremendous amount of music coming from just two guys.  How do you guys go about creating original music in such a unique way?

Kyle: We really are inspired by everything. We take influences from different points in our lives and translate it into what we're producing. Charlie will start a track, or I will start a track, and we'll just go with it. As time has progressed, we have collected a lot of instruments and samples that's helping the production grow tremendously. 

Charlie: We tend to start tracks individually in Ableton and bounce ideas back and forth. After working in the studio on the last record, the approach to our production is changing and growing. We are trying to start doing more in studio production and conceptualize the next album.

Let's talk about the first full-length Modern Measure album, Epicenter, due out this Friday (June 3rd).  How long has this collection of songs been in the works, and how has the recording process differed from your past experiences in the studio?

Kyle: We started producing the tracks really in depth fall of 2015. We got Montage and Riddle about 80% done in November, and started to test them out in the sets at our live shows. We were on tour with STS9 at that point in time, so those crowds really dug the melodic elements of those particular tracks. We decided in January of this year to go Muscle Shoals to record at the old Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, now known as Cypress Moon Productions. It was a 3 day long affair and we spent the night inside Studio A doing as much work as we could. We hadn't really done anything like that until that point. It was a total lock in. It was a lot of fun. 

Charlie: Everything before now has been produced from home or from one our practice spaces that we have had. These are the first tracks we had help recording and producing the acoustic drums. Behind The Light had drums but we produced them ourselves. We also added bass guitar this time around. We plan to keep expanding these live elements. We will be adding saxophone to some of the newest stuff as I have brought that to the stage for almost a year now. 

Watch Modern Measure's official music video for "Riddle" here:

As the Modern Measure's demand continues to grow, the schedule will only get busier.  Have your touring plans been any different thus far in 2016?  How do you go about finding that balance between life on the road and life at home?

Kyle:  The balance for me is just music. If we're on the road, we're playing music live. If we're at home, we're working on music. I enjoy being home because it allows me to be able to work on new things. I also enjoy being on the road playing shows and us connecting with people. That's really what it's all about. 

Charlie: We are playing some of the same festivals but many different ones than last summer. Sometimes the balance can be tough. Most of my production is done from home or in our studio, so I'm making moves to get my mobile set up optimized so I can produce more on the road. This way we will be able to work on and put out more new material. 

We're coming up on this weekend's Jam In The Ham in Birmingham.  This two-day festival showcases a great deal of young talent from across Alabama and beyond.  While Atlanta is home, you certainly have deep roots in Alabama.  What do you feel this lineup says about the current music scene in this region?

Kyle: Alabama is very much home for us as well. Birmingham is one of our favorite cities to play to be completely honest. There's an energy there right now, and we've felt it the last three or four times we've played. I think the lineup is great, and showcases multiple genres that kind of quenches everyone's thirst musically. I'm excited to catch Daily Bread again. He's a great producer. 

Charlie: Birmingham is still like a home to me as I went to school there and have many friends in the area. Many of the artists on this lineup I have personally seen become producers over the last few years. Many on the line up are bands that I have seen for years, even before I was a part of Modern Measure. There is definitely a solid music scene in Alabama that will continue to grow. 

 

While many fans of Modern Measure will be on hand this weekend, many may be seeing you perform for the first time.  How would you best describe what those an attendance can expect from you guys on Friday night? 

Kyle: There will definitely be some new songs, and get ready for a healthy dose of saxophone. Our dude Seth Hanna will be in the house on lights too. He adds so much to the show. 

Charlie: We are going to bring numerous elements to the stage. I will be bringing sax, bass, and keys and Kyle will be playing drums. We will be playing many genres of electronic music like future bass, jamtronica, and  drum n bass. We plan on keeping the energy levels as high as possible. Don't forget to bring your dancing shoes!

In addition to the upstairs and downstairs stages, Jam In The Ham will also provide a special collaboration stage this weekend.  Will you guys have a chance to take part in any collaboration with other artists performing?

Kyle: If there's time, we love collaborating with other artists. One of our favorite guitarists, David Wright, lives in Birmingham so you may see him with us this weekend.  

Charlie: I would be surprised if we didn't take the time to hit the collab stage for a couple jams with friends. 

Before we wrap things up, is there anything coming up in the second half of 2016 that has you guys particularly excited?  

Kyle: We have some announcements that haven't been made yet that we're really excited about. We also have some stuff in the works this fall with some amazing artists that we really look up to and respect. There will also be more new music coming this fall.

Charlie: Without saying too much, I am looking forward to hitting some water slides again this summer. We definitely have a bunch of songs on reserve that I am excited to be releasing the second half of this year too.

-

 

Official Website: Modern Measure

SoundCloud: Modern Measure

Follow Modern Measure on Facebook

Follow Modern Measure on Instagram

Follow Modern Measure on YouTube


Jammin' In The Ham with Max Millwood of Winston Ramble June 1, 2016 08:42

-

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

As we prepare for the upcoming weekend at Jam In The Ham at Zydeco in Birmingham, we are sitting down with several of this year's performers to learn a little more about this year's lineup.  Next up is Max Millwood of Winston Ramble, one of the hottest young bands in Alabama.  Winston Ramble is scheduled to perform on Saturday night at 12:00 AM.

Based in Birmingham, Alabama, Winston Ramble is a homegrown, acoustic, folk-rock band. With members originally hailing from the free state of Winston County, AL, the band aims to interject the raw expression of rock-n-roll into the feel-good vibes of acoustic music.

The sound of an an old southern soul hits you right out of the gate.  Drew "Ben" Benefield's vocals are soulful and still gritty.  Combine that with some mandolin twang, big country bends, and church-like harmonies and you're listening to a mix between a classic rock band and a gospel bluegrass quartet.  Yet, the acoustically driven tunes carry a funky, sometimes psychedelic, but ultimately, and undeniable rock n' roll vibe.

Click Here: Purchase Tickets to Jam In The Ham

Let's get started with the early days of Winston Ramble.  You guys have been going strong for four years now.  How did this band get started, and how has it continued to evolve since then?

Max: We all grew up together so that's the most important aspect, but Winston Ramble started out as an acoustic duo of Ben (Drew Benefiled) on guitar, Justin (Oliver) on mandolin, and Justin's brother Cody sitting in on cajón. About that time, the band I was in had stopped playing together. I randomly got a call from Ben asking if Coty (West) and I could sit in for one show. When we got together to practice, Jud (Mize) happened to be there, and he sat in too.

It started by accident really.  I thought it was gonna be one show...we'd have fun and be done. Now looking back, it's sort of crazy how it turned out. We've been extremely blessed as a band, with help from a lot of other musicians in Birmingham and really cool venues giving us a chance. They definitely gave us our start. 

In the last few years, we've gone from strictly playing bars every other weekend to a full schedule including festivals.  Jam in the Ham is a perfect example.  Again, we've been blessed with good management and a lot of help from others. I think it's a real exciting time for us.

Watch Winston Ramble perform "Dreams" here:

While the band is generally an acoustic, folk rock band, your music is also described as carrying "a funky, sometimes psychedelic, but ultimately an undeniable rock n' roll vibe."  Is the band's diverse sound something that comes natural, or do you make a conscious effort to mix things up?

Max: Our sound really comes from the different influences that we all have. Anywhere from Skynyrd, Tom Petty, and the Grateful Dead, to gospel and bluegrass. When we write a song or learn a cover, we try not to map every little thing out. We really just wait to get together and see what we all can come up with. That's the way to have the most fun, I think most of our sound comes from the fact that we try not to expect anything specific

As the Winston Ramble's demand continues to grow, the schedule will only get busier.  What has the band's approach been towards touring in 2016?  Do you guys have a certain amount of shows you'd like to hit for the year?

Max: We play a lot of shows, but we all like that. We don't have specific number to shoot for. In the last few months, we've had more options on bigger gigs, which is where you want to be. Festivals and shows with bands we know is where we have the most fun, and it helps get your name out there when your not playing the same bar every week. So its a win win. Again, we've been blessed with a great manager, Alex Cape. He's great at what he does and Winston Ramble wouldn't be where we are without him.

Photo by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

We're coming up on this weekend's Jam In The Ham in Birmingham.  This two-day festival showcases a great deal of young talent from across Alabama and beyond.  How does an event such as this impact the current Alabama music scene?

Max: Birmingham is great place for music and aspiring musicians. There many venues that will give you a chance to get started. That being said, some of the best bands, not just in Alabama, but from anywhere are playing this weekend...so I know its gonna be a blast. There's a ton of talent that will be there and we're looking forward to it. It's great for Birmingham cause your never see all these bands in one spot. I can't wait.

Many of the bands most loyal fans will be in attendance this weekend.  How would you best describe what Winston Ramble has planned for the big weekend ahead?

Max: We are very excited to be playing in one of the venues that gave us our start with all these other great musicians. We definitely have a surprise in store, so I hope all the Ramble fans make it out to see something new.

Watch Winston Ramble perform "As Long As I Can See The Light" here:


In addition to the upstairs and downstairs stages, Jam In The Ham will also provide a special collaboration stage this weekend.  Can we expect to see you guys spending much time collaborating with other performers?

Max: We love to collaborate...mixing styles and coming up with something unexpected is what we're about. I'm sure we will be right in the mix.

Before we wrap things up, is there anything coming up in the second half of 2016 that has the band particularly excited?  

Max: Really just having the opportunity to play festivals is enough to be excited about. We just finished with the Acoustic Cafe Festival, which was one of the best experiences I've ever had as a musician. But we're looking forward to and hoping for new things to keep happening this year.
-
-

Jammin' In The Ham with Kris Gottlieb of CBDB May 31, 2016 09:23

Photo by Patrick Hughes: Faces of Festivals 
Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen
-

As we prepare for the upcoming weekend at Jam In The Ham at Zydeco in Birmingham, we are sitting down with several of this year's performers to learn a little more about this year's lineup.  It only seems appropriate to kick things off with Kris Gottlieb of CBDB, one of the hottest young bands in Alabama.  CBDB is scheduled to perform on Saturday night at 12:30 AM.

CBDB is a progressive rock/jam band formed in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, whose stock is rising fast. Fresh off the release of their third album, entitled The FAME EP, they are seeing a pattern of snowballing momentum with large, energetic crowds hungry for their unique brand of progressive jam-rock, dubbed "Joyfunk". CBDB blends soulful vocals and virtuosic instrumentation with smart, tasteful songwriting resulting in a sound that can be enjoyed by the casual listener and audiophile alike. On stage, they parade tight, ambitious compositions that seamlessly gives way to loose, adventurous improvisation and have quickly become a must-see act.

Click Here: Purchase Tickets to Jam In The Ham

So CBDB got started about five years ago in Tuscaloosa.  Tell me a little bit about the bands early days, how you got started, and how the band has progressed to where it is today.

Kris: Well, Cy and I met in Tuscaloosa at a place called The Bear Trap and jammed a bit.  I was in a band with Glenn (Dillard) at the time, so he came in as well.  He was actually just playing sax at the time.  David (Ray) and Paul (Oliver) came around a little later, maybe early 2012 and late 2013.  That kind of finalized the lineup.

I’m guessing you guys were playing the bar scene and fraternity houses pretty heavily early on, and things started taking off from there?

Kris: Yeah, really just trying to stay busy playing, cutting our teeth, and honing the craft in much of 2011 and 2012, you know? And really, you never stop learning, so we are still doing that today.  In a place like Tuscaloosa, you can play 4 or 5 nights a week in different places.  You can do different things each time and really stay busy.  We ultimately got to a point that we realized that this was something we should really pursue, because it’s something unique that we truly enjoy.

People seem to be responding positively.  It seems like you guys have been everywhere lately, and your demand continues to increase.

Kris: Yeah man...we're just grateful that people are enjoying our music, and we are glad that we can play it on the road at so many great venues.

Watch CBDB's official video for "Ground Score" here:

On the topic of writing and recording music, you guys put out your first album Phone Keys Wallet in 2012, and followed up with a second album (Joyfunk is Dead) and The Fame EP in 2015.  Tell me a little bit about how those recording experience differed.

Kris:  I think we were learning at a more rudimentary level of playing with each other and writing when we did Phone Keys Wallet.  I don’t really go back and listen to too many of our recordings after I have heard them once.  It can be tough to listen to at points.  You cringe and ask yourself “Why did I do that?”  So I think with The Fame EP and Joyfunk is Dead, we used the things that we learned in recording Phone Keys Wallet.  We were such a fresh band when we did that album.  We went into the studio within a month of Paul (Oliver), our drummer, joining the band.  That record has a lighter feel, and it's maybe a little beachy in a way.  That might be something we need to play with again in the future. 

In terms of the experiences, I mean…walking into FAME was like walking into a church.  You feel like you're breathing wrong at first, then things eventually start to come together and happen.  That’s just an amazing place. It’s both humbling and empowering in the same way.  I don’t think there is a word that describes that feeling.  If there is, I don’t know it. 

Let’s talk a little bit about the 2016 touring schedule.  I’ve been particularly impressed watching how well your tours have been put together.  You guys recently signed on with the Progressive Global Agency in Nashville.  How has the schedule come together this year?

Kris:  Well, we first talked to Owen (Gray), our agent, in October of last year.  After talking a few times, we decided it would be a good fit.  We were obviously drawn to the fact that PGA is Widespread Panic’s agency.  We are all big fans of them.  Then there are also bands like The Werks and Zoogma, and Backup Planet had recently signed with Owen as well.  He’s really been looking out for both of us this year.  We’ve been on quite a few shows with those guys. 

We’re really excited about doing this Claypool Lennon Delirium Afterparty in New York. David is as big of Claypool fan as I know.  It’s kind of ironic, because a week before we landed that gig, I was talking with a friend of mine in Tuscaloosa about Sean Lennon.  We listened to a few of his albums and really appreciated how similar and different his sound is to his dad’s (John Lennon).  So it’s really kind of neat full circle thing. 

Tonight is another example.  It’s actually my 27th birthday today.  I was born in Atlanta, and we’re here in Atlanta playing Terminal West tonight.  Paul and I saw Rush in Atlanta last year on my birthday.  We’re actually going to cover the Rush song “Sprit of the Radio” tonight.  That's just another example of things coming full circle.  We’re really excited about it.  So, no birthday drinks tonight until I can successfully pull off Rush (laughs). 

Going a little further on the touring, you guys are on for several festivals this summer, including Jam In The Ham in Birmingham next weekend.  I know you guys are excited about that one. 

Kris: We’re really excited about Jam In The Ham.  That’s like a homecoming for us.  We’re really grateful to be a part of it for the second year in a row.  Zydeco is such a historic room.  Paul and Glenn saw Snarky Puppy at Zydeco a few years back, right before they blew up.  We actually saw those guys in Memphis last Wednesday.  That kind of puts things into perspective.   I’m really happy to be a part of a great thing there, with a lot of other great bands.  You’ve got Permagroove, Little Raine Band, Modern Measure…just so many bands.  Ryan Keef is gonna be doing some acoustic stuff that I’m really excited to hear.  That one is gonna be a lot of fun. 

It’s great to see so many great, young Alabama bands playing together.  There really seems to be a great thing going on within the Alabama music scene right now.  You’ve got to love events like this that showcase the collective group of bands.

Kris:  Yeah absolutely.  We’re just happy to be a part of it.  Zydeco is so much fun.  And you’re right… Just look at CukoRakko last weekend.  That was awesome.  McLovins, Permagroove, Funk You…there was so much great music.  The fact that a lot of it is coming out of Alabama is just incredible.  I can’t wait to see Little Raine Band again.  I haven’t seen those guys play in months.  We’re actually going to be in Macon, GA with them next week, and that’s going to be a lot of fun.  Anytime you get to hear Davis play…it’s a treat. He’s the man.

Watch CBDB's official video for "Somewhere to Fall" here:

Absolutely.  So before we wrap this up, are there any other big plans or major highlights that you guys are looking forward to in the second half of 2016?

Kris: Yeah…we actually just announced this morning that we’re going to be playing the official Umphrey’s McGee afterparty in Charlotte, NC later this summer.  We have some great friends out that way, and we are excited for that to be the next move for Charlotte.  That was a great feeling this morning.  I had an alarm set, as we were supposed to announce that show at 10:00 AM.  It was fun to announce the Umphrey’s afterparty on my birthday after a long night.  It’s a great move for us, and I’m really looking forward to it. 

The Werks are opening for Umphrey’s that night, so we’ll see who all makes it over to our show.  Hopefully a few of those guys will make it, and we’ll see if we could maybe get Joel (Cummins) to come play some keys with us.  Maybe I could get my face melted by Jake (Cinninger)…that would be humbling and awesome (laughs).

Official Website: CBDB

Follow CBDB on Facebook

Follow CBDB on Instagram


Jam In The Ham To Feature CBDB, Modern Measure, Little Raine Band, Winston Ramble, + Many More May 20, 2016 12:42

Live & Listen is excited to announce that we are teaming up with Jam In The Ham Music & Arts Festival as a sponsor of the 2016 festival at Zydeco in Birmingham, AL on Friday, June 3rd and Saturday, June 4th.  We will be providing interviews and preview coverage leading up to the festival, as well as coverage throughout the weekend.  This second year festival promises to provide an amazing variety of many of the most promising young bands from across the Southeast.  

Keep an eye out for the Live & Listen Collaboration Corner Stage, which will be located on the outdoor porch and feature exclusive collaborations from various Jam In The Ham performers throughout the weekend.  Brand new, limited edition Live & Listen apparel will also be available at the festival.  For further details and information on tickets, click here.

Official announcement from Jam In The Ham:

Jam in the Ham Music and Arts Festival will be held at Zydeco on Friday, June 3rd and Saturday, June 4th.  The two-day festival features Birmingham and Alabama based musicians and artists.  The event features 21 bands on 3 stages over two days with single day tickets starting at $15. The event will feature 9 local art vendors.  Featured artists include CBDB, Little Raine Band, C1ub AM (featuring members of Festival Expressions), Winston Ramble, The Bama Gamblers, Modern Measure, Opposite Box, Permagroove, The Dagobah System, and many more. 

For a full lineup and schedule please visit www.jaminthehamfest.comEach set will be recorded and a digital compilation album included for advance ticket holders only.  VIP tickets are available for $35 and include Sweetwater draft beer, access to every set by every artist recorded at the festival, and a festival koozie. 

We are proud to announce that Montgomery based apparel company ‘Live and Listen’ will be sponsoring the ‘Collaboration Corner’ stage featuring unique collaborations by Jam in the Ham artists throughout the day Saturday.  Jam in the Ham will take place at Zydeco on Friday, June 3rd at 5pm and Saturday, June 4th at 3pm. 

Single Day General Admission tickets are $15.  Two Day GA tickets are $25.  Single Day VIP tickets are $35.  Two Day VIP tickets are $50.  The show is for patrons 18 and older. 
-
Tickets Available Here: 
-
If you’d like more information about the event, email Alex Cape.
-

 

Watch CBDB's official music video for "Ground Score" here:

Watch Modern Measure's official music video for "Riddle" here:

Watch Little Raine Band perform "New Beginnings" at Mercy Lounge in Nashville here:

Watch Winston Ramble perform "Dreams" here:

Watch Opposite Box cover Edgar Winter Group's "Frankenstein" here:


SliceFest To Feature The Revivalists, The Soul Rebels, Keller Williams, Break Science, + More May 18, 2016 11:39

-
Photo by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen
-
SliceFest, Birmingham’s biggest music and food block party returns for year five featuring sounds from all over the South with it's 2016 lineup.  This year's event will feature The RevivalistsThe Soul RebelsKeller WilliamsThe WeeksVallejoBreak ScienceMuddy MagnoliasRiley Green, and Bailey Ingle on Saturday, June 11th.  SliceFest is held in the Lakeview District on 29th Street South, with the stage in the street towards Slice Pizza & Brewhouse and Moe's Original BBQ.
-
“We are excited to be celebrating with the great Lakeview and Birmingham communities as we bring you year five of SliceFest,” stated Jason Bajalieh, co-owner & bro-founder of Slice Pizza & Brewhouse. “The lineup is a solid collaboration of festival to funk and we will top it all off with a grand fireworks show at the end of the night.”

SliceFest 2016 delivers fun family activities for all ages from 1pm to 4pm, followed by a full lineup of musical artists playing sets throughout the evening. A few of this year’s family-friendly activities include giant connect four and chess, face painting, balloon art and the chance to hang out and be photographed with the Marvel Superheroes!
-
SliceFest 2016 celebrates its fifth anniversary on Saturday, June 11 as Birmingham's largest food & music block party hosted by Slice Pizza & Brewhouse. Over the past four years, the event has grown into a full-blown festival bringing in local and regional music talent paired with local craft beer and specialty pizzas. Slice Pizza & Brewhouse hosts the event to celebrate the restaurant’s anniversary and thank the Birmingham community for their continuous support. As with previous years, SliceFest is expected to welcome a SOLD OUT crowd on this fifth anniversary with patrons from Birmingham and across the Southeast. Community is what SliceFest is all about, not just a celebration of those that support Slice Pizza & Brewhouse, but a way to give back to the community. SliceFest has donated over $30,000 to Birmingham-based non-profits.
-
-

Win Free Tickets To See Pigeons Playing Ping Pong At Zydeco (Fri. 4/29) April 25, 2016 16:33

-

Live & Listen is excited to announce that we are teaming up with our friends at Zydeco in Birmingham, AL to give you an opportunity to win two free tickets to see one of the hottest bands in the jam/festival scene, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, with special guests Opposite Box on Friday night.  Simply follow the instructions listed below for your chance to win.  We will announce a winner at 6:00 PM CST on Thursday, April 28th.  Make sure your Facebook settings are set to "public" so we are able to see that you shared the post.

About Pigeons Playing Ping Pong:

Funk, Rock, Electronic ENERGY: These four Pigeons bring it every night. Based out of Baltimore, MD, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong has an undeniably unique and versatile live sound that ascends peaks of musical ecstasy. Their evolving arrangement of original compositions, psychedelic improvisational jams, and contagious smiles have ‘The Flock’ growing and coming back for more. With no end in sight, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong is here to bring the party with their danceable electro-funk grooves and infectious ability to bring positive energy to any environment.

Through extensive touring paired with high profile festival spots including Catskill Chill, The Werk Out, Camp Barefoot, Wormtown Music Festival and others, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong have put the memorable band name on the lips of music lovers and groove nuts.  Playing nearly 200 shows a year, Pigeons continue to expand people’s minds (musically…), playing a unique, energy-packed set at every show. Whether it be at a major festival or in your local rock club, Pigeons will show you a good time.

About Opposite Box: 

Opposite Box is a genre-bending experimental rock band from Chattanooga, TN known for high energy live shows and a seamless blend of psychedelic jazz, progressive rock and dirty funk – dubbed “Belligerent Jungle Funk” – that is often compared to acts like Frank Zappa, Mr. Bungle and Parliament Funkadelic.

Opposite Box presents a theatrical live experience with an over-the-top, psychedelic atmosphere. Dazzling lights, a spectacular cast of characters ranging from belly dancers and fire eaters to live painters and costumed freaks and an organized cacophony of sounds and inspirations hearken back to a time when artists were more than still life paintings in the background performing the soundtrack to failed dive bar pickup lines and overly complicated drink orders. Opposite Box challenges all in attendance to engage and react, allowing the audience to become the show.

Watch Pigeons Playing Ping Pong perform at Ardmore Music Hall on 12.19.15 here:

-

We have one pair of tickets to giveaway, and we will announce a winner at 6:00 PM CST on Thursday (4/28). The winner's name (+1 guest) will be placed on the list at Will Call at Zydeco on Saturday night. 

How the contest works....

1: 'Like' this post directly on our Facebook page.

2: Share this post directly from our Facebook page.  Make sure your privacy settings are set to 'Public' so we can see that you shared the post.

3: Tag a friend who you would like to take to the show in the comments on our Facebook page.

4: The winner will be announced on our Facebook page on Thursday (4/28) at 6:00 PM CST.


Widespread Panic and Tedeschi Trucks Band Join Forces in Birmingham April 25, 2016 10:48

Photos by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Jam veterans Widespread Panic joined forces with the ultimate modern day supergroup, Tedeschi Trucks Band, on Saturday night for a double bill like no other at Birmingham's BJCC Legacy Arena.  While Widespread Panic is typically known for performing two sets of music, this was a unique occasion featuring far more than "just another opening band".  Tedeschi Trucks Band kicked things off promptly at 7:30 PM, featuring tunes like "Made Up Mind", "Bound For Glory", "Let Me Get By", and Derek and the Dominos' "Keep on Growing".  The highlight of the set came when the band took "Don't Know What It Means" directly into an emphatic cover of Joe Cocker's "The Letter" to close out the set.

Watch Tedeschi Trucks Band perform "Bound For Glory" here:

After a 45-minute intermission, Widespread Panic took the stage, and "Ain't Life Grand" kicked off the set.  Panic continued with originals like "Weight of the World", "Better Off", "Proving Ground", "Sell Sell", "Airplane", and "Papa's Home".  Drummer Duane Trucks and percussionist Sonny Ortiz provided the always entertaining "Drums" before the band busted back into "Papa's Home".  Pianist JoJo Hermann led the band through a rocking take on "Blackout Blues", which ultimately led into a cover of Vic Chesnutt's "Protein Drink" > "Sewing Machine" to close out the set.

Watch Widespread Panic perform Vic Chesnutt's "Protein Drink" here":

 As many expected, Saturday night's encore was an instant classic.  Panic returned to the stage with special guest, Derek Trucks.  This would be the first time Derek has performed with Panic since his younger brother, Duane Trucks, became the band's new drummer.  "Gimme" kept a mellow vibe and allowed Trucks to "warm up" a bit before a rousing take on "Surprise Valley".  John Bell then welcomed Susan Tedeschi back to the stage for a flawless cover of Robert Walter's "Me and the Devil Blues".  Many would think that a three song encore would be enough, but the band then welcomed Alecia Chakour and Mark Rivers (Tedeschi Trucks Band) to the stage for a massive family jam on The Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want".

The Panic faithful showed up in strong fashion on Saturday night.  Expectations for a Birmingham show are always high, because this band always finds a way to exceed them.  While the band plans to lighten their schedule in 2017, it's hard to imagine that Birmingham won't make it onto the list of "special occasion" shows that will surface in years to come.

Watch Widespread Panic and members of Tedeschi Trucks Band perform The Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" here":

Tedeschi Trucks Band | 04.23.16 | Birmingham, AL

Made Up Mind, Laugh About It, Keep on Growing, Bird on the Wire, Idle Wind, Sticks and Stones, Bound for Glory, I Pity The Fool, Let Me Get By, Going Down to Mexico, Don't Know What It Means > The Letter

Widespread Panic | 04.23.16 | Birmingham, AL

Ain't Life Grand*, Weight of the World, Honky Red, Better Off, Proving Ground > Bust It Big, Sell Sell, Airplane > JAM > Papa's Home > Drumz > Machine Gun Jam > Papa's Home >Blackout Blues > Protein Drink > Sewing Machine (103 mins)

Encore: Gimme^ > Surprise Valley^, Me and The Devil^**, You Can't Always Get What You Want^

* JB on Tiny Guitar (mandolin)
^ Derek Trucks on Guitar / Susan Tedeschi on Vocals & Guitar
^^ Susan Tedeschi on Vocals & Guitar, Derek Trucks on Guitar, Alecia Chakour & Mark Rivers on Vocals