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Watch Umphrey's McGee Perform "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" At Hulaween October 27, 2017 11:20

Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography

Hulaween, the weekend so many have been waiting for all year, got its 'unofficial' start last night as its truly ridiculous 'pre-party' began. With the variety of Joe Russo's Almost Dead x2 , Greensky Bluegrass, Lettuce, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, Spafford, and Zach Deputy on tap, the vibe at Suwannee felt like the weekend was in full force. Oh yeah, did we mention two sets Umphrey's McGee, as well? Well, that happened too. One of the evenings many highlights came in the form of a 20-minute cover of Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" late during UM's second set. Fortunately, HD video footage has surfaced via Live For Live Music and can be watched in full below!

Watch Umphrey's perform Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond via L4LM here:

Umphrey’s McGee: Suwannee Hulaween - Live Oak, FL - 10.26.17

Set 1: No Crying In Mexico > 40’s Theme > Wappy Sprayberry > All In Time > Push The Pig, Dump City > All In Time

Set 2:: Le Blitz > Remind Me > The Triple Wide > The Floor, Day Nurse > Shine On You Crazy Diamond > Day Nurse, Booth Love


Lettuce Brings The Dirty Funk Back To Birmingham's WorkPlay October 26, 2017 13:59

Photos by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography

Words by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Wednesday night in Birmingham, AL was far from your average night. Originally booked as an outdoor show in Avondale Brewery, frigid temperatures moved Lettuce to nearby WorkPlay, which is honestly the perfect room for the occasion. Alternative hip-hop group RDGLDGRN started the party in powerful form, with a remarkably high-energy set which featured its fair share of entertaining crowd interaction. I had no idea what to expect from these guys, but I'd gladly catch another show of theirs in the future. 

After a quick 30-minute turnover, Lettuce took the stage promptly at 8:45 PM. This would be the second year in a row that the band stopped in Birmingham while en route to Suwannee Hulaween, and if last year was any indicator, we were in for quite a treat. The set kicked off with a smokin' "116th," one of my favorites from last year's Mt. Crushmore. The hot start continued with "Prince Shmza" and "Chron Dutch," before Nigel Hall sent the building into a frenzy with a cover of Charles Wright's "Express Yourself."

"Remember The Children," another favorite from Mt. Crushmore was up next and "Dilla" wasn't far behind. "Dr. Digglesworf," an outtake from the 2015 release Fly kept the room moving, as did the "Nyack" that followed. The set would ultimately close out with emphatic takes on "Shmink Daddy Kane," "Don't Change," "House U," and "Force." After a brief exit from the stage, the band returned and looked to Nigel Hall once again for the Lettuce classic, "Do It Like You Do." It wasn't long before Hall was center-stage, delivering the good word and getting down amongst his fellow bandmates. Video footage (via Isom Morgan) of the encore performance can be found below. 

While the weeknight shows can be difficult at times, I realized a long time ago that I just can't pass up an opportunity to see Lettuce. These guys are truly the modern day kings of funk, in my humble opinion. While a handful of their tunes do include vocals, the instrumental genius of this band is what keeps me coming back for more. These guys couldn't be stronger from top to bottom, featuring a cast of straight up all-star musicians. When it's all said and done, there just ain't no party like a Lettuce funk party. 

Lettuce - WorkPlay - Birmingham, AL - 10.25.17

Setlist: 116th, Prince Shmza, Chron Dutch, Express Yourself, Remember The Children, Dilla, Mr. Digglesworf, Nyack, Shmink Daddy Kane, Don't Change, House U, Force

Encore: Do It Like You Do

Watch Lettuce perform "Do It Like You Do" at WorkPlay here:


Foo Fighters Return To Birmingham On Thursday Night October 25, 2017 14:32

Photo by Brantey Gutierrez

Rock-and-roll giants, Foo Fighters, are in the midst of yet another major national tour, and Alabama fans can get their fix on Thursday night (10/26) at Legacy Arena at TheBJCC in downtown Birmingham. Fresh of the release of their ninth studio album, Concrete & Gold, this tour finds the band mixing in a brand new collection of original material, which has just been played live in the U.S. for the first time earlier this month. This tour has included stops in major markets such as Richmond, Columbia, Knoxville, Cincinnati, and Memphis thus far. A very limited number of tickets remain for Thursday night's show in Birmingham. Click here to secure your spot in the Arena now. See below for the latest info on the band's plans for 2018!

With newly minted memories of their CalJam 17 triumph still fresh in the eyes and ears of 30,000+ true rock believers, and with Concrete and Gold (Roswell Records/RCA Records) still riding high in the charts worldwide since its international #1 debut, Foo Fighters have announced the next phase of the Concrete and Gold global domination initiative:

The first 2018 North American dates of the Concrete and Gold world tour have been confirmed: The new shows will kick off April 18 in Austin, Texas and will run through the band’s July 29 return to Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Included on the newly announced itinerary are a July 16-17 two-night stand at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a July 21-22 encore doubleheader at Boston’s Fenway Park, and so much more.

Tickets for these shows will be on sale to the general public Friday, November 3 at 10am local time (*with the exception of the public on sale for Chicago, which will begin November 10).

Capital One cardholders will have access to an exclusive cardholder pre-sale for Foo Fighters Concrete and Gold Tour. The Capital One cardholder pre-sale starts Thursday, October 26 at 10 a.m.local venue time and ends Saturday, October 28 at 10 a.m. local venue time, or until pre-sale tickets run out. Capital One cardholder pre-sale for the Chicago date will begin Monday, November 6 at 10 a.m.

Visit www.foofighters.com/capitalone for more details and information.

Foo Fighters kicked off the first U.S. leg of the Concrete and Gold Tour October 12 with an intimate show by FF standards—the grand opening of The Anthem in Washington DC—a performance that USA Today noted “transformed the venue into a raucous rock cathedral.” In the days since, Foo Fighters have continued to storm through sold out arenas in Richmond VA, Greensboro SC, Cincinnati and more. The first Foo Fighters global trek since the 20th Anniversary trek that placed #5 in 2015’s top grossing world tours, the Concrete and Gold Tour has seen the Foos reaching new peaks of their estimable powers.

“Foo Fighters keep going and going and going in epic Greensboro show,” wrote the Charlotte Observer, “If there’s one thing you can count on lately when you walk into a Foo Fighters concert, it’s that you probably won’t get home until tomorrow.” The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported, “Having played and sung all night with a seemingly endless store of energy, Grohl noted as midnightapproached, ‘I’m going to feel like I was run over by a truck tomorrow.’”

And the Washington Post called the Anthem opener “a rock-and-roll clinic from Foo Fighters,” adding “when it was time to officially open the venue… the Anthem called in the only band with the local roots and international fame that could pull it off: Foo Fighters… That’s exactly what Grohl and friends did, treating the Anthem like a new leather jacket: turning something that glimmers with newness and making it feel as cozy as a childhood home.”

For further updates on the 2017-2018 Concrete and Gold World Tour, continue to check www.foofighters.com

Watch Foo Fighters' new music video for "Run" here:

FOO FIGHTERS
CONCRETE AND GOLD

North American Tour 2018

4/18 – Austin, TX — Austin360 Amphitheater
4/19 – The Woodlands, TX (Houston) – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
4/21 – Dallas, TX – Starplex Pavilion
4/22 – Bossier City, LA – CenturyLink Center
4/25 – Tampa, FL — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
4/26 – West Palm Beach, FL– Coral Sky Amphitheatre
4/28 –  Atlanta, GA — Georgia State Stadium
4/29 – Jacksonville, FL – Welcome to Rockville
5/1 — Lexington, KY —Rupp Arena
5/3 — Memphis, TN — Fed Ex Forum
7/7 — Philadelphia, PA — BB&T Pavilion
7/12 — Toronto, ON — Rogers Centre
7/14 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
7/16 & 17 – New York, NY — Madison Square Garden
7/19 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
7/21 & 22 — Boston, MA – Fenway Park
7/25 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH (Cleveland) – Blossom Music Center
7/26  – Noblesville, IN (Indianapolis) – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
7/29 — Chicago, IL  — Wrigley Field


Outsider's Ball Will Feature Phil Lesh + Many More In Mobile October 24, 2017 09:39

Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band will be teaming up with special guests, Eric Krasno, George Porter Jr, Marcus King, Ivan Neville, Jennifer Hartswick, & The Jake Peavy Foundation on Wednesday, November 22nd for a special show in Mobile, Alabama, to raise money for disaster relief. On the 21st, Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band will play what’s being described as “an ultra-exclusive” show at a private venue in downtown Mobile. On the 22nd, Phil & his Family Band will head over to the Mobile Civic Center with this stellar cast of special guests.  The proceeds from this show will directly support individuals and families affected by the recent hurricanes in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean as well as the victims of the Northern California fires. 

Tickets for the Nov. 21 show and charity auction will be available for purchase this Friday, October 27th at 10 AM CST on eventbrite.com. Tickets for the guest-laden main event on Nov. 22 will be on sale at Ticketmaster.com beginning Friday, October 27th at 10 AM CST. For those interested VIP tickets, there are packages starting at $500 that include entry to both shows, priority seating at the Civic Center, and a Meet & Greet opportunity with Phil Lesh and Jake Peavy. For more info, visit the Outsiders Presents website.

Watch Jake Peavy & The Outsiders perform "U.S. Blues" with Phil Lesh here:


Win Tickets To See TAUK + Little Raine Band In Auburn October 23, 2017 13:51

 

Photo by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

TAUK makes its highly anticipated return to Auburn's Bourbon Street Bar on Thursday, December 26th, and we're giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky winner. Birmingham's Little Raine Band is slated for direct support, and considering the band's deep roots in Auburn, you couldn't ask for a better way to start the night. To enter the contest, head over to the Live & Listen Facebook page, share this post directly, and tag a a friend in the comments section. Make sure your settings are set to 'public' so we can see the share on our end. We will announce a winner on Thursday morning at 10:00 AM EST.

TAUK will be performing songs from their entire catalog including last fall’s Sir Nebula, Collisions, Pull Factors, and fan favorite Homunculus that was released on vinyl on Sept. 11th and made available exclusively at the TAUK merch booth.  The newly pressed vinyl version of Homunculus features the original album mastered for vinyl and 3 bonus tracks from the recent Sir Nebula album sessions.

The band has been making multi-track mixes of select shows available for sale via Nugs.net, Those shows are available to stream via the Nugs.net streaming app, which can be downloaded here. The app gives fans access to over 10,000 shows from bands in the extended jam scene.

See below for further details on this show and TAUK's remaining 2017 tour dates, which include a two-night run at The Charleston Pour House on 12/29-12/30, and a big NYE show at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse on 12/31. Naughty Professor will be on hand for 12/30 & 12/31, which means you can expect the Naughty Professor horns early and often during TAUK's sets.  

TAUK w/ Little Raine Band @ Bourbon Street Bar
Thursday, October 26th, 2017
Doors @ 8pm
Show @ 9pm
Ticket Link: bit.ly/2tEALLj
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Watch TAUK perform "Mokuba" at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta here:
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TAUK Montage Tour: Dates Ahead
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Oct 25          New Orleans, LA                Republic NOLA+
Oct 26          Auburn, AL                         Bourbon Street Bar*
Oct 27          Asheville, NC                     New Mountain Theatre~
Oct 28          Asheville, NC                     New Mountain Theatre=
Oct 29          Live Oak, FL                      Suwannee Hulaween
Oct 31          Athens, GA                        Georgia Theatre$
Nov 2           Richmond, VA                    The Broadberry^
Nov 3           Baltimore, MD                    Baltimore Soundstage^
Nov 4           Ardmore, PA                      Ardmore Music Hall^
Nov 24         New York, NY                    The Bowery Ballroom%
Dec 1-5        Playas-Punta Cana, DR    Dominican Holidaze
Dec 28         Charleston, SC                  Charleston Pour House#
Dec 29         Charleston, SC                  Charleston Pour House&
Dec 31         Atlanta, GA                        Variety Playhouse&
 
+ with Dynamo
* with Little Raine Band
~ with ShwizZ
= with Deaf Scene
$ supporting Perpetual Groove
^ with Broccoli Samurai
% TAUKsgiving featuring The Turkuaz Horns, Max Newman (The Main Squeeze) & Doug Fitch w/ Gentei Kaijo & The Lesson Family
# with The Southern Belles
& with Naughty Professor (and TAUK featuring Naughty Professor Horns)
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Watch a recap video from TAUK's recent show in Boulder, CO here:

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The Orange Constant Prepares For Big Night In Atlanta October 20, 2017 10:19

Athens-based The Orange Constant is gearing up for another big night at Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta on Saturday (10/21). This looks to be the band's final 2017 appearance in Atlanta, so rest assured that they have prepared accordingly. The band's last performance at Smith's was nearly a sellout, so we recommend purchasing your tickets in advance. Fans can also catch TOC at Savannah's Barrelhouse South and Tallahassee's 5th & Thomas next weekend.

The Orange Constant formed in 2012 in Statesboro, Ga. and quickly made a name for itself across the American southeast. Now residing in Athens, Ga., the group continues to grow a loyal fan-base that craves its vintage rock sound. TOC's debut album, Time to Go (June 2015), was recorded with Grammy nominated producer John Keane (REM, Widespread Panic) and garnered national praise from Relix Magazine which cited the work as a "confident and polished debut album...laden with connective riffs and melodious charm."

The band shares bills with nationally and internationally touring acts including Perpetual Groove, TAUK, The Mantras, and Atlas Road Crew and won the 2016 Flagpole Athens Music Award for best "Jam/ Funk" band. Its second LP, Point of Reference (March 2017), was produced by Drew Vandenberg (of Montreal, Kishi Bashi, Futurebirds) and has been described as “eclectic rock n' roll, everything from blissful southern rock and indie jams to urban funk.” 

The Orange Constant draws influence from many different styles, and fans are often drawn to their ability to meld progressive composition and improvisation with a pop-like sensibility. The band consists of Andrew Brantley (guitar/vocal), Nickalous Benson (guitar, vocals), Tyler Walker (bass, vocals), Chris Freiberg (keyboard), Sam Groveman (Drums). 

Watch The Orange Constant perform Perpetual Groove's "TSMM" here:


Modern Measure Returns To Alabama This Weekend October 19, 2017 15:18

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Live electronic duo Modern Measure is gearing up for a two-night run in Alabama this weekend. The festivities kick off on Thursday night at Bourbon Street Bar in Auburn, AL and continue on Friday night at Zydeco in Birmingham, AL. Direct support will be provided by a pair of Birmingham-based producers, with Moglee opening up at Bourbon Street and Chark doing so at Zydeco.
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Modern Measure is a hybrid electronic project like none other. Infusing live organic instrumentation with artfully crafted music production is what sets Modern Measure 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.
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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 STS9’s label, 1320Records, Modern Measure continues 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.

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Watch highlights from Modern Measure's opening set for Big Gigantic at The Tabernacle here:


Rev. Jeff Mosier Preaches Gospel of Col. Bruce Hampton at Suwannee October 19, 2017 13:44

Photo via YouTube

Words by Brett Hutchins: Brett on Bands

Musicians hate genres, but there may be no other festival more aptly named than Suwannee Roots Revival. The event is by all means an unrivaled collection of roots and Americana music, but it also harkens to roots of other sorts, through the twisting moss of the hallowed Spirit of Suwannee Music Park grounds where Native Americans once frolicked to the way generations of families skipped arms entangled from stage to stage.

What better way to cement that heritage than a series of musical workshops with artists themselves. These ranged from songwriting workshops with Willie Sugarcapps to mandolin playing with Mickey Abraham, but my personal highlight was a an hour of banjo and philosophy with Rev. Jeff Mosier speaking and taking questions from about 30 novice players and listeners. Longtime sidekick of cosmic prankster Col. Bruce Hampton, Mosier played three sets of music throughout the weekend, but the most heartfelt and direct mentions of Hampton came in tidbits throughout this workshop. This would be too tidy for Hampton, but let’s boil it down to the four noble truths of Col. Bruce.

  • “Listening is everything.”

Being present when you’re not playing is just as if not more important than when you aren’t. The quality players are in constant conversation when on stage, both audibly and visibly. If you;re not paying attention, you’re being left behind. Mosier went on to clue the crowd into some of those secrets, like the raising of the foot when a song’s about to end,

  • “Drop the ego”.

There should be no boundary between the stage and the audience. As a player, to think you’re more important than the listener because you run your hands over wood well is asinine. Music is above all a human experience and to cut off that connection is to cheapen it.

  • “Lighten up.”

If there’s one thing that was most clear about Col. Bruce in his time here, it’s his belief that “the worst thing in the world is a serious musician”. The constant prankster both on and off stage, Hampton made clear what Mosier demanded of the small gathered: “Have fun!”.

  • “The movie ends the same for all of us. Make it a good one.”

Mosier promised he wasn’t being downer when he mentioned this simple fact: we’re all going to die. Instead, he asked to us to recognize it for what it was and to embrace life how we intended it, to get off the fence, stand firmly, and play a tune or two.

As the crowd’s questions came to an end, something happened I’ve never seen in my time at Suwannee. A fuse was blown and power suddenly went out. Unphased, Mosier gathered his two fiddle players and acoustic guitarist for a final tune, Guy Clark’s “Dublin Blues”. Originally a lament for long lost lover, this take, with emphasis on the “day you said goodbye line”, was an obvious nod to the man who shaped Mosier so much.

Watch Rev. Jeff Mosier interview Col. Bruce Hampton in February of 2012 here:


SweetWater 420 Festival Reveals Stellar Initial Lineup October 19, 2017 10:50

Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography

SweetWater 420 Fest will return to Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park on April 20th-22nd. SweetWater Brewing Company have  revealed the initial lineup for next year’s event, which is quickly becoming one of the premier music festivals in the country.

Today's announcement includes headlining act Umphrey’s McGee (two sets), as well as Tedeschi Trucks Band, Sturgill Simpson, Vulfpeck, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Papadosio, Anders Osborne, Spafford, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Southern Avenue. Stay tuned for additional lineup announcements, including a second headliner, in early 2018.

SweetWater 420 Fest also features a 5K run, the Planet 420 Eco-Village, the 420 Disco, the 420 Lyrics & Laughter presentation of comedians and up-and-coming local acts, an Artist Market and Food Village. Terminal West, Aisle 5, and other local venues are known for hosting some heavy hitting late night parties as well. 

Watch the lineup announcement video here:

Sweetwater 420 Fest initial lineup announcement from HEP420 on Vimeo.

 


Watch Tedeschi Trucks Band Perform "Mountain Jam" With Trey Anastasio October 18, 2017 14:32

One of our favorite things about the jam/live touring scene is the sense of family; not just amongst the fans, but the artists as well. While the juggernaut that is the Tedeschi Trucks Band has welcomed many special guests over the years, this past weekend at The Beacon Theatre was certainly special. TTB's roots with The Allman Brothers Band clearly run deep, and Phish frontman Trey Anastasio gives much credit to Duane Allman for his early guitar development. 

Trey joined TTB last weekend for a monster cover of the Allmans' classic "Mountain Jam," and thankfully, pro-shot footage has now surfaced. TTB released footage of the final eight minutes from the 30-minute cover today, and it can be watched below. Keep your fingers crossed for a future release of the entire performance.

Watch the final third of TTB's 30-minute "Mountain Jam" with Trey Anastasio here:


Umphrey's McGee Announces 2018 Tour Dates + New Album October 17, 2017 14:07

 

Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography

Umphrey’s McGee launches into 2018 with a new album and an extensive tour to celebrate 20 years as a band. And they're coming to a town near you to celebrate the occasion. The new album, it's not us, will be the band's 11th studio recording and is scheduled for a January 12th release date. The band will issue a 12″ picture disc featuring two tracks from ‘it’s not us’ on Record Store Day Black Friday, November 24. Here’s more details from RecordStoreDay.com:

The first single, “The Silent Type”, is classic UM: it’s infections riff rock, the musical equivalent of the record’s unique shape, sawing through your turntable. Side B features “Looks”, an uptempo driving composition penned by virtuoso guitarist Jake Cinninger.

Album, tour, umVIP & on-sale info at www.umphreys.com. Support acts for the tour will be revealed at a later date. Pre-sale and umVIP tickets go on sale starting on Monday, October 23. General public onsale for tickets stats on Friday, October 27. See below for a graphic with the full list of tour dates.

Watch UM's official announcement video here:


'Music On The Hill' Returns To Auburn With Glen David Andrews October 17, 2017 12:34

The Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities is excited to host Music on the Hill featuring New Orleans own, Glen David Andrews on Wednesday, November 15th, 6pm at Pebble Hill (101 S. Debardeleben Street). The event will benefit the East Alabama Food Bank and be a part of their annual Beat Bama Food Drive. Music on the Hill is free and open to the public. Due to limited seating, registration is required (click here). Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to contribute to the Beat Bama Food Drive effort and a chair/blanket. Performing at the event is New Orleans talent Glen David Andrews (the “Treme Prince”) whom Quint Davis, Producer of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival claims is “one of the giant talents of New Orleans”. With his expert trombone chops and witty stage banter, the gospel/R&B singer and trombonist is sure to set Pebble Hill on fire with his electrifying performance.

Click Here: Learn More About Glen David Andrews 

Glen David was recruited into a brass band led by his younger cousin, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, and played in both the New Birth, Lil Rascals, and Tremé brass bands, among others, lending equal measures of musicianship and showmanship to each. Now he fronts his own high-powered ensemble that touches on every style of music in the course of a show. He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2010. He appeared in three seasons of HBO’s Treme; in numerous documentaries, including Faubourg Tremé:

The Untold Story of Black New Orleans, by Lolis Eric Elie, Swiss filmmaker Peter Entell's chronicle of the controversial, post-Katrina proposed closing of St. Augustine Church; Shake the Devil Off, and Spike Lee’s two epics about Katrina, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, and If Da Creek Don’t Rise. About Food Bank of East Alabama http://foodbankofeastalabama.com/ The mission of the Food Bank of East Alabama is to alleviate hunger; to provide an efficient, coordinated system for collecting and distributing food; to reduce food waste; and to increase public awareness regarding hunger and food security issues in East Central Alabama.

Watch Glen David Andrews perform on 'Jam In The Van' here:


Joe Russo's Almost Dead Reveals Dates In Nashville, NOLA, + More October 17, 2017 11:32

 

Joe Russo's Almost Dead continues to take the live touring scene by storm; giving fans their wild and creative twist on the music of the Grateful Dead. While the majority of the band's shows seem to fall within the northeast, the band has announced a total of nine early 2018 tour dates, which include Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, Madison, Syracuse, Albany, Portland (ME), and a two-night run in New Orleans during the second weekend of JazzFest. See below for a complete list of dates.

Tickets for the March shows go up for grabs on Friday, October 20 at 1 p.m. ET. General on sale for the New Orleans show will be Friday, October 20 at 2 p.m. ET. Joe Russo's Almost Dead is Scott Metzger, Tommy Hamilton, Dave Dreiwitz, Marco Benevento & Joe Russo

Watch JRAD perform "New Minglewood Blues" with John Mayer on 10.13.17 here:


Snarky Puppy Announces 2018 GroundUP Music Festival In Miami Beach October 17, 2017 11:18

 

Snarky Puppy, The Wood Brothers, The Flecktones Trio feat. Béla Fleck,  Victor Wooten & Futureman, Robert Glasper, Kitailo featuring Buika, Buena Vista Social Club Great Eliades Ochoa, Lionel Loueke  & Many More Scheduled

October 17, 2017 – GroundUP Music announces its’ second annual GroundUP Music Festival in Miami Beach, FL February 9-11, 2018. Hosted by three-time Grammy-winning artist Snarky Puppy, the festival will feature a special set from Snarky each day along with performances from an eclectic list of international superstars including: The Wood Brothers; The Flecktones Trio feat. Béla Fleck, Victor Wooten and Futureman; Robert Glasper; Lionel Loueke (artist at large), Joshua Redman, Michael League, & Larnell Lewis; Eliades Ochoa (Buena Vista Social Club great); Kitailo feat. Buika; JoJo Mayer/Nerve; Knower; Mark Guiliana’s BEAT Music; Under One Sun; Weedie Braimah & the Hands of Time; Paris Monster; C4 Trio; Harold López-Nussa Trio; and GroundUP artists Charlie Hunter & Silvana Estrada; Banda Magda; Becca Stevens; FORQ; Roosevelt Collier; Breastfist; Sirintip; and Alina Engibaryan.

"After an incredible first year of the GroundUP Music Festival -- dubbed by some as the Art Basel of Music -- where attendees traveled to Miami Beach for the festival from 37 states and 34 countries, our goal is to continue to create a transformative annual event for South Florida and worldwide audiences,” says Miami Beach native and GroundUP Music CEO Paul Lehr.  Added Snarky Puppy bandleader and GroundUP Music founder Michael League, “our focus is not to expand, but to build the most ideal experience for both artist and audience while continuing even farther down the road of musical diversity in our programming.”  Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and 2017 GroundUP Music Festival performer David Crosby urged, “I don’t think you’ll get a better shot at hearing real music than at this festival.  It will knock your socks off.” 

Watch the official recap 2017 recap video here:

The North Beach Bandshell’s Amphitheater and sprawling adjacent Palm Grove Park and beachfront complex will once again host the festival during the three-day festival with intimate master classes and workshops and personal interactions with the artists, and top local chefs including Michelle Bernstein serving inspired food and libations in the park.  Partner hotel, the Deauville Beach Resort - site of the Beatles’ first U.S. appearance after the Ed Sullivan Show – will serve as the venue for late night concerts on two stages featuring new artists and surprises.

With room for only about 1500 people a day, tickets will go fast. The intent is to keep the space comfortable and intimate in order to create an optimal experience for both the audience and artists.

Tickets and info at: www.groundupmusicfestival.com

ABOUT SNARKY PUPPY 

Formed in 2003 by bandleader/bassist/composer Michael League, Snarky Puppy is a “D.I.Y. juggernaut” (New York Times) that has won three Grammy awards in the last four years. Through it all, the band has kept a rigorous touring schedule of 100-200 shows per year. They are a collective of sorts, with as many as 25 members in regular rotation.  Each maintains busy schedules as sidemen (with such artists as Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and D’Angelo), producers (for Kirk Franklin, and David Crosby), and solo artists (many of whom are on the band’s independent label, GroundUP Music). At its core, the band represents the convergence of both black and white American music culture with various accents from around the world. Japan, Argentina, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico all have representation in the group’s membership. But more than the cultural diversity of the individual players, the defining characteristic of Snarky Puppy’s music is the joy of performing together in the perpetual push to grow creatively.

ABOUT GROUNDUP MUSIC

GroundUP Music was created to serve as an artistic oasis in the ever-changing world of independent music. The company was founded in 2012 by Michael League as a new home for his band Snarky Puppy and other independent artist he respected. GroundUP Music artists include David Crosby, Charlie Hunter, Michelle Willis, The Funky Knuckles, FORQ, Bill Laurance, and House of Waters, to name a few. As of 2017, GroundUP has continued to adjust to changing times by expanding beyond the traditional role of a record label. It is gradually changing into an artist services company with the aim of guiding like-minded musicians through the label’s tributaries, including a worldwide distribution deal through Verve/Universal Music and The Orchard, a publishing company run through Kobalt Music, an education foundation poised to redefine “music school” and the company’s debut music festival, with others planned in locations around the world.    


Opposite Box Releases 'OBscene' New Album October 16, 2017 22:53

 

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New music explores more mature sound with six tracks of progressive rock, acid jazz and funky storytelling.
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Opposite Box, the genre-bending experimental rock band from Chattanooga, TN known for high energy live shows and a seamless blend of dirty funk and experimental rock, has released a brand new album titled OBscene.  This is the band's first official full length release, and is currently available for streaming through Spotify, Pandora and all major streaming sites.  It is available for download on iTunes, CD Baby and Bandcamp.
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"Opposite Box, (who) has always been a controlled explosion on stage, still keeps that improvisational feel while adding funk and jazz to the mix." -- Dave Weinthal, Enigma magazine (OBscene review)
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Stream Opposite Box's 'OBscene' in full here:
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OBscene offers a total of six tracks and four brand new songs.  The first single, "If You Wanna," features Lili Hayes (daughter of soul legend Isaac Hayes), and shows the band in a new light - one of catchy, singalong hooks and a simpler verse/chorus format. 
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Other new tracks include the fan favorite "Birds on a Fence" (aka the "Sarah story) and is a much more familiar format for longtime fans - a psychedelic odyssey with enchanting moods and turn-on-a-dime transitions.  Also appearing, the songs Anteater Molly and NüJazz round out the new tracks on the album.  Previously released tracks "Afternoon Sex" and "Creatures" (both of which also feature Hayes) were remixed and modified specifically for the album. OBscene is the band's first album featuring Ryan Crabtree (Smooth Dialects, Charlie the Head) on bass. 
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BIOGRAPHY
OB has been making a splash since 2012 throughout the eastern US with a wild style coined Belligerent Jungle Funk. With the latest release, the band has evolved into the nom préféré "Progressive Soul," featuring the same high energy live performances, but with a much more mature and musical sound.
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Opposite Box has completed several DIY national tours, and has been seen on various festival lineups, including The Big What? (2017 - Pittsboro, NC), Willyfest (2016 - College Corner, OH) and The Riverbend Festival (2016 - Chattanooga, TN).
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Watch Opposite Box's entire set from Salvage Station on 06.02.2017 here:
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The Interstellar Series: An Interview With Daniel Hutchens October 13, 2017 14:31

Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Earlier this year, the world learned of a new super group out of Athens, Georgia known as the Interstellar Boys. Led by former Widespread Panic drummer Todd Nance, this band would feature the likes of Jerry JosephDaniel Hutchens  (Bloodkin), Sam HoltJohn Neff, and Jon Mills. The band has now completed a full tour and is in the midst of a weekend run through the southeast. Over the next week, we will be rolling out a three-piece interview series with Jerry, Danny, and Todd in an effort to learn more about this new and exciting project. We're continuing this series off with our recent interview with singer/songwriter Daniel Hutchens, which can be read in full below. This run of shows kicked off on Thursday at Soul Kitcchen in Mobile (AL) on October 12th, with shows at Martin's in Jackson (MS) on October 13th, and Tipitina's in New Orleans (LA) on October 14th to follow.

The roots clearly run deep with this group. What were your initial thoughts as the Interstellar Boys came to life? Tell me about those early conversations about starting a new band.
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Danny: The first motivation behind this was that Todd was ready to get back to playing music. After Panic, he didn't play for about a year. He was just reassessing and figuring out what he wanted to do next. He came to us and said, "I'm ready to do this." The people here in Athens that are involved in this: myself, John Neff, Jon Mills, and Todd, had played together a lot over the years. They were in a band called Barbara Cue, but all of those guys have also played with Bloodkin.
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We've all sat in together and played music quite a bit through the years. So, it's kind of a go-to group of people, as far as the group of guys here in Athens. And then Sam...hasn't been a part of all of those projects, but he's another guy that we've known through the years and have played with a fair amount. Jerry is someone who has a pretty deep history with Todd and with me. Jerry and I wrote some songs together back in the early 90s.
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So, it just kind of made sense, and this is the group of people who came together to do it. It started with Todd being ready to play again, and also, to an extent, myself. I had medical problems last year, so I kind of sat out for a while too. So, it coincided as I started to play again, and Todd was ready to go. It just kind of made sense.  
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It certainly seems that way. How would you say that the song selection / overall catalog played out thus far? What can fans expect with the setlists on the upcoming tour?
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Danny: Well, that's always in flux. We try to keep it fresh; not do the same thing every night. We have plenty of material to draw from. Jerry and I are both pretty prolific songwriters. Sam has quite a few songs that he contributes, and so does Todd. We do some songs that were Todd-related in Panic and Barbara Cue. We do various covers, but there is not a specific song you're going to hear on a specific night. We try to change it up. 
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Well, how much focus have you guys put on writing new material? How has the balance in songwriting played out between you guys?
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Danny: That is kind of in process. We, once again, have plenty of material to choose from. We've moved down to a number of songs. Some of mine, some of Jerry's.  There's a particular song that Todd and I wrote together that we want to record. That kind of thing seems to play itself out, at least in my world, when you get in the studio. We have a number of things that we'll get in there, start playing, and kind of see what comes to life. We have several songs that are kind of...you know...to start with. We're gonna try these several new songs and see which ones of those kind of take off.
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What we're shooting for, eventually, is to go in and record four or five songs. Maybe it's some kind of EP. We don't know that yet either (laughs). Maybe we go back in and finish it out, and it's a full record. I'm not sure yet, but for us right now, it's important just to get the ball rolling. It galvanizes the band. If it's working...if it's going well...it's another step up the ladder. It's what we do. So, just to get that process started is a huge step for us.
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For me personally, any time I have an opportunity to go into a studio, it's fun, but it's also kind of a privilege, you know? I try to appreciate it every time I'm there. With this group of people, it would be hard for me to find a better group of people to record with...outside of my home team of Bloodkin; which a couple of these guys are a part of too. So, it's pretty close to home. 
 
I love it, man. So while there is so much history between each of you, you're all quite accomplished within your own endeavors. What's your personal goal for The Interstellar Boys? What do you feel that the future holds for the band?
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Danny: Our goal is to follow this as long as it will organically go, as long as it is a positive thing and good for everybody involved. You don't want to force that. You want to see how it grows. But the idea is to be an entity to itself; a band. In my mind, what that means is that you record great records, and you tour. We're just taking baby steps on that right now, but that is the goal. I know that everybody in the band...we've had plenty of discussions about this...and everybody feels that same way. It's not a hobby. It's our lives. So, we don't really enter into it without trying to do it seriously and with the right intents...watching it as far as it will take us. We're gonna follow it. 
 
I know that the music industry has evolved tremendously since the early stages of your career. What are the challenges but also some advantages associated with forming a new band in this era?  
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Danny: Well, it's very different that from when I first came up. The main thing that's happened in my life that's different involves digital music and the structure of how royalties are paid. It used to be that that was a more direct and reliable source of income. If you put out a record, people bought the record. If it was played on the radio, and you were paid mechanical and performance royalties directly based on that. There was a direct accountability. In theory, at least, it worked that way.
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With digital music, it's a completely different world. Obviously, you're able to record shows. Implicate recorded music. Pass it around. Post it online. Musicians aren't necessarily paid for that. The flip side of that is a vast, open horizon of promotion and being heard. With the internet, bands can immediately be heard by people around the world, if you do it right. That's the plus side of it, and that's what people, I think, have to work with and have to gear or skew their efforts toward. That's just the reality. That's how it is.
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For me, I consider myself a songwriter first. That's my stock and trade. That's my life's work. That's what I do. I've always thought that the more people who hear my songs...I kind of think of my songs almost separately from myself, if that makes any sense. It's a body of work that I want to live on after me. I want people to hear the songs. And if it's another band playing them, like Widespread Panic, who was always generous enough to play a lot of our songs, that was always terrific to me. It means that people are hearing the songs. It's the same thing with the technology now. At the end of the day, of course I want to make a living and all that. But if I had to make a list, the most important thing to me is that people hear the songs. That's what it's about. 
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It really is. I wish more artists had that mentality.  So, this was something that just came to mind before we hopped on this call. I feel obligated to ask about Tom Petty. From the songwriters perspective and someone who has been in the game as long as you, what did he mean to you, and what can you say about the overall impact he made on American songwriting?
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Danny: It feels amazingly personal. This isn't just me. I hear this from a lot of musicians and music lovers in general when someone that you don't know personally passes away. This feels personal. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, arguably...I can't really think of an argument against this...they were the greatest mainstream American rock-and-roll band there ever was. They did it for over 40 years without ever making a bad record. The songwriting sounds so effortless. They are such perfectly crafted songs, but it's not just the technical craft of it.
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They're so emotional. Whether they're tough or sweet, they seem to resonate with so many people. He was iconic. I honestly think that he's going to be remembered alongside guys like Woody Guthrie or Robert Johnson. If you had monuments to the great American songwriters and musicians, he's up there with the best. Yeah...it just feels like...it was just so unexpected. It's sad, you know? That music is so much a part of everyone's life, and that's amazing to me. 
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I couldn't agree more. So, just one last question. Going back to the whole new era of music. There is certainly leaves no shortage of new music to choose from. Who's been on your personal playlist this year? Who's Danny Hutchens listening to in 2017?
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Danny: Man...my music tastes are so erratic and so strange. I'm not the greatest fan in terms of brand new music. I'm often just led to whatever comes my way. Sometimes it's ancient stuff. I love Warren Zevon. I've kind of had a renaissance of listening to his music lately. A lot of the ole blues guys, and things like that. You're right though. There is so much to choose from. I love the new...I guess what you would have originally called the 'alt-country' stuff: Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, and those guys. I love that stuff. I think they're making incredible records. Relating to Isbell and Drive-By Truckers, I think that American Band that has been made in recent years, but those aren't really new people on the scene (laughs). That's the kind of stuff that has registered and made a difference to me lately. 
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I was able to see Sturgill for the first time over the summer, and I had pretty high expectations going into it. My god...I was totally blown away. He was one of the headliners the night after Panic played SlossFest in Birmingham, and I love Panic, but I feel like Sturgill kind of stole the show on that particular weekend. 
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Danny: Those two guys in particular, he and Jason Isbell...and Amanda Shires. There is something about the records that they've been making that is mainstream. It's become mainstream. Jason won a Grammy and all that. It kind of reminds me of reading through the history back with Waylon Jennings...and the outlaw country scene was a separate thing, but it was kind of making in-roads into the mainstream. That's what this feels like to me, and I think it's important. That's the stuff that's really been on my radar. 
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Time will tell, but when it's all said and done, I think that those two guys will be up there on the list of the most impactful artists of this generation, without a doubt. 
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Danny: I really think so. It's carrying the torch from Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, and those kind of people, in my mind. I've always loved that kind of stuff. That's kind of my go-to area of music, I think. 
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Well I can't thank you enough for taking some time to chat with me this morning. I've been a big fan of your work for a long time, and it's been a pleasure getting this type of insight. I'm really excited to watch how things unfold with Interstellar Boys, and of course Bloodkin as well. 
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Tank & The Bangas To Play Montgomery's 'Art In Concert' On Oct. 20th October 13, 2017 11:48

Photo by Gus Bennett Jr.

Over the last few years, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts' Junior Executive Board has worked tirelessly to establish the tradition of 'Art in Concert'. Held annually on the museum's beautiful property, this event has brought the likes of St. Paul & The Broken Bones, The Futurebirds, and many more to one of the city's most unique venues. This year's event has raised the bar yet again, as one of the hottest acts in America, Tank & The Bangas, is all set to bring its wildly unique and entertaining show to Montgomery on Friday, October 20th.

Tank and the Bangas is a New Orleans-based band that has gained popularity in the last several months after winning the NPR Tiny Desk Concert. Judges said they selected this band because of their mastery of a unique sound while maintaining a chemistry that made them a pure joy to watch. The six-person band features Montgomery native and BTW alum Albert Allenback, and to bring the experience full circle, opening for the band will be BTW's Wilbur Terrell Jazz Ensemble.

The MMFA will be bringing back the popular VIP tent sponsored by Pine Bar and Vintage Year for this year's concert.  Enjoy food and drinks and meet the band under a private tent from 5:30-7:00 P.M. prior to the concert.  VIP tickets are only $50. General Admission tickets are $15. Gates open at 5:30 P.M. and the music starts at 7:00 P.M. 
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Please, no outside coolers.  Food and beverages will be sold during the event.  Remember to bring with you a valid ID to purchase alcohol. There will be a 100% ID check, no exceptions. 

MMFA would like to give a special thanks to this year's sponsors: 

Poarch Creek Indians, EMERGE, Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Dan Harris, Jr. - County Commissioner District 1, Bailey Brothers Music Company, Vintage Year, Pine Bar, Capitol Container, Live & Listen, The Shoppes at Eastchase, Jack Ingram Motors, and Whole Foods.

The Junior Executive Board uses the funds raised from Art in Concert to support Museum programs. Funds from the First Art in Concert were used to sponsor Summer Art Camp for A.C., a little boy who participated in the Museums after school program and showed promise. A.C. was so excited for summer art camp that even when his mother had car trouble he found a way to art camp by taking a cab to the museum all on his own. 
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While continuing to support promising art students by sponsoring Summer Art Camp programs, the Junior Executive Board has been able to expand its support as Art in Concert has continued to grow. Most recently funds raised through Art in Concert were used to sponsor a young professional party at the Museum to preview the MMFA's fundraising auction, Bazaar d'Art. This sponsorship meant the Junior Executive Board was able to raise even more funds for the museum by getting a new audience to bid in the fundraising auction for the Museum. 
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Watch Tank & The Bangas' acclaimed NPR Tiny Desk Concert here:
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Watch Tank & The Bangas official music video for "Quick" here:
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“A New Orleans funk outfit that incorporates 1970’s soul dynamics and 2000’s rapping into an appealingly tactile hybrid.” –The New York Times
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“A sense of constant discovery animates their music and drives them to glorious heights of spontaneity.” –NPR Music
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Nashville's Soul/Jazz Outfit Dynamo Announces 3-Night Thankful Feast October 12, 2017 14:07

Feeling Thankful? Soul/jazz 9-piece Dynamo is thrilled to announce the inaugural Thankful Feast happening November 16th -18th at The 5 Spot in Nashville. 

Dynamo will be performing all three nights, with an exciting cast of musicians joining each night. Featuring performances from Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Mike Hicks, The 4 Korners, Electric Kif, The Fritz (soul-driven dance rock band hailing from Asheville, NC), and Voodoo Visionary

Single day and 3 day tickets are available, as well as a limited number of VIP packages, which includes a 3 Day pass, exclusive Thankful Feast Poster (Signed) & exclusive Thankful Feast Mug. 

Dynamo is a Nashville-based, nationally touring band whose music fuses jazz, rock, and funk with elements of soul and R&B. The culmination is a sound that’s both spontaneous and composed—and an energy that’s undeniably infectious. Formed in late 2012, Dynamo consists of nine core musicians. When they’re not performing or recording in Nashville, the band is on the road, spreading their unique brand of feel-good music to audiences all over the world.

 "In my opinion, Dynamo represents one of the next chapters in improvisational-based music. They can play, they are passionate, they are hungry, and they are dedicated to the music. I hope this band is around for a good long while and that they achieve the high level of success they deserve." - Jeff Coffin (3x Grammy winner and saxophonist for Dave Matthews Band) 

FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1326193104174218
Ticket Link : http://dynamo.bigcartel.com/product/thankful-feast-advance-ticket

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Watch Dynamo perform "Find Your Way" in studio here:
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The Interstellar Series: An Interview With Jerry Joseph October 11, 2017 14:13

Photo by Ryan Lewis Photography

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Earlier this year, the world learned of a new super group out of Athens, Georgia known as the Interstellar Boys. Led by former Widespread Panic drummer Todd Nance, this band would feature the likes of Jerry Joseph, Daniel Hutchens (Bloodkin), Sam Holt, John Neff, and Jon Mills. The band has now completed a full tour and is preparing for a weekend run through the southeast. Over the next week, we will be rolling out a three-piece interview series with Jerry, Danny, and Todd in an effort to learn more about this new and exciting project. We're kicking this series off with our recent interview with singer/songwriter Jerry Joseph, which can be read in full below. You can catch the band in at Soul Kitchen in Mobile (AL) on October 12th, Martin's in Jackson (MS) on October 13th, and Tipitina's in New Orleans (LA) on October 14th.

The roots clearly run deep with this group. What were your initial thoughts as the Interstellar Boys came to life? Tell me about those early conversations about starting a new band.

Jerry: Well…I’m trying to be careful with my words here. I think that originally, we had played two shows. There was a Todd & Friends show back in the summer before last in Denver. You know what? I guess it’s fucking common knowledge. So, it was a lot about Todd getting sober…and I’m sober. And at one point, I was probably more famous for being a heroin addict than I was for anything else I did. So, it was kind of about supporting Todd. Get back in the game. It was really cool. Danny was there. Sam Holt was there. Most of those guys were all there. I don’t think I had ever met Jon Mills before. And then there was another show around last Christmas. It was the traditional Bloodkin jam thing. That sort of turned into the ‘Danny had a stroke’ show. I think the reason they got me involved was to try to get them all to do fucking yoga. I think a lot of it was about that.

A lot of it was about creating a vehicle, primarily for Todd, to jump back in the game. Several of these guys have been pretty good friends of mine. I’ve known Sam for a long time. He was actually my crew guy for forever. I’ve known Todd since ’86, and me and Danny were both kind of slated to be big rock stars for Capricorn, and instead, at the eleventh hour, they didn’t sign me or Danny. They signed Panic and Col. Bruce (laughs). I think that was part of it, and as the conversations continued, I think it became clear that it was a pretty cool Athens thing. If it only was drawing on Todd songs, Danny songs, Sam songs….and then mutual friends like Vic Chesnut or Mike Houser, it was probably going to be the one band that could actually do some of that material.

I was very clear that I didn’t want to be in a Mikey Houser tribute band. Mike was my friend, but I’ve got a lot of dead friends. I think as it started rolling along, that’s what was really cool about it. I’ve always had this connection to Athens because of Panic, but it’s sort of deeper than that. I think that’s what it started to morph into.

Gotcha. Well you touched on this a little, but how would you say that the song selection / overall catalog has played out thus far? What can fans expect with the setlists on the upcoming tour?

Jerry: I think it’s a pretty good cross section of all of the principal writers. I consider Danny Hutchens to be…and I stand on the quote where Steve Earle is talking about Justin Townes Earle and Townes Van Zandt. You know, that quote where he says, “Townes Van Zandt is one of the greatest songwriters that ever lived, and I’d stand on fuckin’ Bob Dylans fuckin’ coffee table and tell him so." I kind of feel the same way about Danny Hutchens. I think he is one of the finest American songwriters that there is. Period. Fuckin’ period.

So, for me, I feel like there is some attempt to try to make sure we’re presenting the facts that whatever the various singer has. I know with these kind of things, because I was in that band Stockholm Syndrome, where we really has to resist doing the hits. Peter Jackson would hate it that I said that. We have no interest in going out and playing fucking Panic tunes. Even though we wrote them. So, it’s like, we want it to be cool first, and if the stuff fits…awesome. I think, speaking for myself as a fan, there is so much talent there. Todd has some really cool songs. As does Sam. I love doing that stuff. Some of the Mikey stuff that we’re doing is really great, like this song “Bull Run.” I’m sure we could sit out there for a long time and cover him and Vic Chesnut, but we are songwriters. I know we’re going into the studio on Monday. We’re gonna try to start working on some of these new songs.

 

Photo by Ryan Lewis Photography

I’m glad you said that, because the next thing I was going to ask is how much focus on writing new material? How has the balance in songwriting played out between you guys?

Jerry: Well, it just got started. So, we met for these shows, and had maybe one rehearsal. All these fuckin’ southern guys man. They’re so god damn slow. They talk slow. They play slow. I’m giving ‘em shit, you know? You know how the eskimos have fuckin’ fifty words for snow? It’s like Interstellar Boys have fifty words for slow. I think with with Panic, it’s what they do too. I sit on stage at a Panic show and the count starts, and you’re like, “What the fuck?” I would go, “1,2,3,4!” Those guys are more like, “1…2…go get a cup of coffee…3…4.” But it works, because it’s a big buffalo of a fuckin’ machine.

This is kind of like that. John Ness is amazing. It’s kind of the same thing. I’m from Portland, Oregon. It’s a little hard for me to get used to. It’s a different mentality. I know that the south has its fair share of punk bands, but at the same time, there is that thing with the sludge everybody drinks down there. I think it’s the thing that makes it so authentically American sounding and charming at the same time. I’ve gotta say…I’m decidedly the outsider in this whole thing. 

Are the rest of the guys originally from the southeast?

Jerry: I don’t know. I think Danny is from West Virginia. Todd is from Chattanooga. Sam is from who the fuck knows. I couldn’t speak for Jon Mills. They’re all pretty deep, southern players though. I think they just have me in this band so there is a clear target to shoot at from the fuckin’ Trumpers down there. I’m there to take the fuckin’ bullet (laughs).

Photo by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

While there is so much history between each of you, you're all quite accomplished within your own endeavors. What's your personal goal for The Interstellar Boys? What do you feel that the future holds for the band?

Jerry: I’d like to see everybody survive it. That would be great. I’d like to see them all get into Bikram yoga…start eating salads (laughs). I don’t know, man. You know that band Magpie Salute? I went to that show the other night. It’s fuckin' Marc Ford…wicked players. I’m a pretty big Black Crowes fan. Even though, I would again stand on that same theoretical coffee table and tell you Bloodkin was doing it before the Crowes were. They were doing it more authentically. I remember being at Johnny Sandlin’s right when that first Crowes single came out. We were like, “What the fuck is this?” Bloodkin was killing that shit. It was the real deal.

Bloodkin was the real fuckin’ deal, but I grew to be a big Black Crowes fan. At first, I don’t know if I was sold. But by Amorica, I was like, “This is one of the greatest rock bands in America.” So I’m watching this Magpie Salute thing and trying to figure out how it’s doing it’s thing, right? Rich [Robinson] wrote all of those songs. They have all of these players, and it’s been pretty thought out. I think this band should be striving to…if I had my way, we would just be in Europe. Pushing this idea of what I think is a natural authenticity of this Athens music. I hate the term ‘southern rock’, but it’s decidedly southern. It has the elements of that stuff that I like. I’ve always thought Dan should be this massive star. I don’t know if Interstellar Boys is the vehicle for that, but when it hits it’s whatever that is…it’s a pretty new band...I don’t know what that is. When it’s working, I think you can tell.

It’s a weird thing, you know? You can’t practice fucking your girlfriend. You just know when you’re nailing it. It’s the same thing. Cooking is the same thing. You try to make those enchiladas that you had fifty times before, and you never really get it. Then it happens and it’s like “Boom! How did they do that?” Some people would say that’s God. So, I don’t know what that thing is, but when it hits, it’s cool. I guess, the answer to your question is that I would like to see that be presented to as many people as possible. 

Watch Interstellar Boys perform "Raise The Roof" > "Down" in Colorado here:

Very cool. So, the music industry has evolved tremendously since the early stages of your career. What would you say are the challenges and also the advantages associated with forming a new band in 2017?  

Jerry: I’ve said this before. I was at some awards thing. I forget why in the world they would ever give me an award. Oh yeah…it was the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. I had to do this speech. What I said, and what I say a lot…I do this thing where I have been taking guitars to war zones. I’ve been to Afghanistan, and I just got back a few months ago from Iraq. I took guitars to Syrian refugee camps on the Iraqi/Syrian border. I try to teach these kids that there is a way out of the tent…or the cinder block thing that they’re in. I say this to them, and I say this any time I’m actually talking about music in front of a group of people. I think that it’s a pretty weird time to be a musician and be in your 50s. You know?  It’s damn near impossible to figure out. Like, what the fuck, man? Nobody buys a record. Nobody wants a CD.

My BMI checks used to be huge. They’d probably cover my mortgage, and now they’re nothing. Spotify plays are like no money. So, you bemoan that and worry that…and all of my record store owner friends…the promoters are still making money, but they always have. The musicians don’t. That said, I think that in the history of humanity…making art. I think since the first cave dwellers figured out that you could put blueberry juice, blood, and charcoal on the walls and make a picture of a fuckin’ water buffalo (laughs), since that moment in humanity where they figured out how to make that art. This is the most exciting time to make art in the history of the world…if you’re twenty. I think for a twenty-year-old, right now, never in history has there been a more exciting time to make art. Any art. There are no fuckin’ rules. You can create your own paradigm.

Between figuring out social media and being interconnected with so many people. I’m with some kid in Cabo or Afghanistan writing a song, and the next thing you know, he’s got a kid in New Zealand or Edinborough listening to it. The intersourcing of ideas, the ability for the first time ever to be like…fuck the industry. You know? Fuck these promoters. I think these young people can actually break through. I’m not sure how, and I don’t know if that will happen for me ever, but it’s a world where…being in a rock band is a weird thing. We were talking about it the other day. In 1986, we got paid $150 to open for somebody. That was the opening band price. And it’s still the same fucking price. You’re playing a show and say “We’ll have these guys open.” They ask, “What’s the budget?” And you’re like “It’s $150.” That hasn’t changed in 30 years? I can assure you that the cocktail at the bar…it’s price has gone up.

Take a bunch of 50 year olds, put them in a van…I don’t know man. But for young people…I have a four year old and a seven year old. If they want to make art, it’s a super exciting time to do that. The future is unwritten. I think it’s super cool. Being able to connect globally. Being able to use all forms of all colors in the pallet. It’s all available. It’s like…watching EDM go “BOOM!” It’s a super exciting, cool time to be making art. For us, all bets are off. I think we have really great songs, and it’s a really cool band. It would be great if people came and saw it. I don’t totally know how you market that though. I don’t mean to sound skeptical. It’s hard, though. I mean…one answer to your question is, “Who the fuck knows? It’s really hard.” If you had a twenty-year-old Danny Hutchens and half of a brain right now, you could have some massive global start. It’s an exciting time, for sure. I think its also a time where the message is really important. What’s the band saying….I know for me, I’ve got zero interest in artists who aren’t saying something.

I would hope that this band can move through a lot of that. I don’t think me and Danny are really from that as much. You know…that jam band mentality of, “We’re not gonna risk anything politically. We’re just gonna sing about hula hoops and whiskey.” I’m hoping that those days are over. With The Interstellar Boys, I think they keep a big roll of duct tape back stage, so when I start spouting my mouth off, they can get it around my lips (laughs). But it’s a cool band, man. I think we can make a really good record. I think there are a lot of people in different parts of the world that could really love it. It goes beyond the southern thing, which is great. I think it holds up with whatever its being compared to.

Photo by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

When did you say you’re hitting the studio again?

Jerry: The first try is on Monday with Dave Barbee. It should be cool.

So one more question just to wrap things up. This is kind of an extension on the topic of the new era of music. I know one result is that there is no shortage of music to choose from. Who's been on your personal playlist this year? Who is Jerry Joseph listening to in 2017?

Jerry: I haven’t heard a lot of records this year that are just fuckin’ killing me. Like last year, the first three records on my list were really sad. They were Leonard Cohen’s goodbye record, Bowie’s goodbye record, and Nick Cave’s Skeleton Tree, which is about his fifteen-year-old song dying. It was kind of this trifecta of sadness. The other one at the top of my list was the new Truckers record, because it was fuckin’ brilliant. I can’t say that I’ve loved a whole lot of new records. I like this guy John Moreland. In the middle of all of this americana, this guy’s voice and the shit he sings about is so brutal and beautiful that I could listen to that record a lot. Who else have I been listening to? Sometimes I find that it’s a lot of the same stuff. I like this band from Scotland called Frightened Rabbit. My friends have a band called Cronin, and they’re working with a guy from Memphis named John Murray. He put out a record a few years ago called The Grace of Age, which was a really fine record. He’s got a great new album out. I haven’t heard that band, for me, that’s rewriting the book.

Every so often, music seems to go into this thing. It’s all the same thing. “Oh look, it’s another beautiful song-writer from Nashville…singing’ about their girlfriend.” I like a lot of the international stuff. Everywhere I go, there is some cool local band. And I’ve been a lot of places this year. I don’t know…the problem with Spotify, even though they have that Discover Weekly thing, is you tend to play the same shit over and over. Then there are enough rock stars dying that I’ve probably spend an inordinate amount of time listening to dead guys. Guy Clark died. Gregg Allman died. Tom Petty died. You spend all your time listening to your favorite records by the guy who just died. I’ve done that a lot. I think being sad, listening to your dead heroes, and anticipating the next fuckin’ gun massacre…I think that’s what we’re doing for the next years. What happens next week? I think its the new American past time. 

You definitely make a fair point. Thanks so much for taking the time to sit down and share your story with me. I'm really looking forward to watching this band and seeing how things unfold in the future.


The Aquaducks Release 'Burnin' New Single October 6, 2017 12:50

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Does the end of summer have you feeling down?  Well lucky for you, Nashville funk favorites The Aquaducks have a brand new single out that is guaranteed to get you grooving and feeling the heat again.  As catchy as it is funky, "Burnin’" is sure to get you off your feet and dancing by the time the horn line comes in.  Between the soulful voice of lead singer Cavanaugh Mims and the heavy hitting rhythm section, Burnin’ has just what the doctor prescribed for your fall dance needs. 
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Enjoy this exclusive stream of their new single here:
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To celebrate the release of their brand new single, The Aquaducks at performed The Basement East in Nashville on Saturday, October 7th with local favorites CBDB and Cosmic Shift for a night of music that won't be soon forgotten!
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Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band Add Fall Tour Dates October 4, 2017 11:11

Seeing Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh perform outside of California is a fairly rare opportunity these days, which makes yesterday's announcement that much more exciting. Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band have announced a 8-show fall tour, which kicks off on October 25th in Washington, DC, and concludes at Nashville's Exit/In on November 18th. These shows come on the heels of two headlining sets at LOCKN' Festival, including a full performance of The Dead's Terrapin Station. Tickets to all eight shows go on sale this Friday, October 6th. Stay tuned for further updates on this run of shows!

Phil Lesh & Terrapin Family Band Tour
10/25 The Anthem – Washington, DC
10/26 Convention Hall – Asbury Park, NJ
10/27 BB&T Pavilion – Camden, NJ
10/30 Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
10/31 The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
11/15 The Riviera Theatre – Chicago, IL
11/16 The Riviera Theatre – Chicago, IL
11/18 Exit/In – Nashville, TN
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Watch Lesh & Co. perform "The Wheel" via Jam In The Ham here:
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Montgomery's Inaugural 'Fall Equinox Festival' A Huge Success October 4, 2017 10:49

Words by Inge Hill: Druids Charity Club

The 1st annual Fall Equinox Festival put on by the Montgomery based Druids Charity Club was a great success, both in terms of money raised for a great cause and smiles created. Set in Montgomery’s iconic Union Station Train Shed on Sunday, September 23rd, the event pulled in more than $70,000 through a combination of generous donations from sponsors and day of event sales. The occasion of the day was a benefit for Hogs for the Cause, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting families afflicted with pediatric brain cancer. As a result of the event, grants have already been going out to local families in need.

As advertised, the event proved to be a family-centric affair with wide appeal across generations. Kids (and some adults) in pig noses could be heard squealing in delight in the ‘Pig Pen’ while they played in the two bouncy houses, ate cotton candy, had their faces painted, and participated in various arts and crafts adventures. For the sports inclined, the Alabama and Auburn games were each broadcast on an enormous LED TV setup. No one left the event hungry as the BBQ was both plentiful and delicious. Moe's Original BBQ served up Alabama style dishes; their pork ribs were a solid fan favorite. Druids BBQ focused on Texas Hill Country (beef brisket and sausage) while Mojo Hand focused on Carolina style ‘Q (pulled pork with mustard sauce). Taken as a whole, Montgomery was treated to a remarkably rounded BBQ review of some of the more distinctive styles that can be found in America.

The music was phenomenal and true to its advertising of a diverse bill spanning Blues and Americana  influences. Family Reunion Trio, consisting of Montgomery mainstays, William Barnes, Dave P. Moore, & John Mark Turner, got things going in the shed with a classy sit down acoustic affair. Moore treated the crowd to soulful vocals across a wide range of blues and roots music standards, while Barnes and Turner accompanied with mandolin and guitars. It was a fine collaboration for a group of musicians who have meant so much to the Montgomery music scene through the years.

After a 30 minute rain delay that made things interesting for a spell, Anthony ‘Big A’ Sherrod and the Allstars hit the stage with a foot stomping set of electronic Mississippi Delta blues. The quartet out of Clarksdale, MS came dressed for the occasion and determined to bring a little bit of that Delta sound to Montgomery. Big A demonstrated that he is a performer in every sense of the word, often interacting with the crowd between blues numbers which were usually punctuated with shredding guitar solos.

Last but not least, The Band of Heathens out of Austin took to the stage to take the bill to a more Americana realm. As a testament to their varied influences, many of their tunes (almost exclusively originals) had a familiar feeling even to first time listeners in the shed. Gordy Quist and Ed Jurdi displayed their vocal range throughout while the crowd was treated to numerous fan favorites and treats from their new album, Duende. While this band of musicians can jam with the best of them (“Look at Miss Ohio”, “Daddy Longlegs,” and the jam out of “Hurricane” come to mind) the band trended towards a disciplined structure underlined by an approachable down-home style. Together, diverse in influences yet similar in spirit, the three bands created a five hour musical jigsaw puzzle that came together piece by piece as the event unfolded. May their roads go on forever.

The Druids are pleased with the result of year #1 of the Fall Equinox Festival and look forward to building on that success heading into next year. A healthy amount of money was raised for local families and a good time was had by all doing it. The Druids would like to thank their countless volunteers and corporate sponsors whose generosity made everything possible. We would also like to thank Live and Listen for their support and promotion. As life goes, the last few years have not been short on challenges - all the more reason to find time to light those fires, plug in those guitars, put on those dancing shoes, and remember that life on this world is precious.


The Jauntee Announces Major National Fall Tour October 3, 2017 15:58

Photo by Ryan Lewis

Road warriors, The Jauntee, have just announced a national fall tour on the heels of their summer midwest run. The band will depart Colorado after playing a few shows in their new backyard and hit a number of markets on their cross country jaunt. They will return to some of their. favorite spots, including Aisle 5 in Atlanta, The 8x10 in Baltimore, and The Southern in Charlottesville with some new and returning characters including Cycles, The Southern Belles, Roots of a Rebellion, and more. The band has also started to unveil their new JAUNTGRASS project which showcases bluegrass and Americana arrangements of their original compositions. Fans in Denver will have the chance to catch this performance in November!
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Hailing from Boston and as graduates of Berklee School of Music, The Jauntee have solidified a dedicated following through playing staple venues across the country and several national festivals including Catskill Chill, Disc Jam, Peach Fest and more. The band is perhaps more widely recognized for their relentless and extensive touring schedule which has resulted in sold out shows on the East Coast, across the Midwest, and as far West as Colorado. A focus on live improvisation, setlist variety, and musical exploration means every show is different from the last, truly making The Jauntee a live act to see again and again.
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Drawing influence from a wide variety of acts, The Jauntee's improvisational landscape spans multiple genres, from rock and jazz all the way to bluegrass, psychedelic, and ambient. Their willingness to explore genres, abandon all song structure, and dive into 'the weird' sets them apart from the average upcoming jam band. They aim to push the boundaries of improvisation, embrace the moment and engage the audience. With a quickly growing loyal fanbase, an ever-expanding song catalog and an inclination for open ended improvisation, The Jauntee promises to deliver a unique experience.
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Fall 2017 Tour Dates
9/30 - Caribou Room - Nederland, CO
10/6 - Ullr's Tavern - Winter Park, CO
10/18 - The Fox Theater - Boulder, CO †
11/2 - Cervantes Otherside - Denver, CO%
11/3 - Cervantes Otherside - Denver, CO
11/4 - Declaration Brewing - Denver, CO%
11/10 - Bodega's Alley - Lincoln, NE
11/11 - Willie's Saloon - Stillwater ,OK
11/12 - Central Standard Brewing - Wichita, KS
11/16 - 2720 Cherokee - St. Louis, MO
11/17 - Stanley’s Pub - Cincinnati, OH
11/18 - Brothers Drake - Columbus, OH
11/19 - MilkBoy - Philadelphia, PA
11/22 - Garry Owen - Gettysburg, PA
11/24 - The Hollow - Albany, NY*
11/25 - Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA#
11/26 - Garcia’s @ Capitol Theatre - Port Chester, NY
11/29 - The 8x10 - Baltimore, MD$
11/30 - The Camel - Richmond, VA@
12/1 - Boathouse Live - Newport News, VA
12/2 - The Southern - Charlottesville, VA&
12/5 - The Local - Boone, NC
12/6 - Heist Brewery - Charlotte, NC
12/7 - Salvage Station - Asheville, NC^
12/8 - Aisle 5 - Atlanta, GA^
12/9 - The Hummingbird - Macon, GA
12/14 - Blue Canoe - Tupelo, MS
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† w/ Flash Mountain Flood 
% Jauntgrass show
* w/ Formula 5
# w/ Viva La Hop
$ Bunk Buddha Residency
@ w/ Roots of a Rebellion
& w/ The Southern Belles
^ w/ Cycles
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“In concert The Jauntee’s mathematical compositions lead to volcanic jams as Sollenberger transforms from a pedal-wizard into the Incredible Guitar Hulk” 
-Jambands.com 
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“This is the kind of album that made me fall in love with music.”
-Joe Holt, Musicbox Pete, on ‘Excelsior’

American Beauty Confirms Shows Surrounding Phish New Year's Run October 3, 2017 15:40

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American Beauty NYC will once again become the headquarters for pre and post show fun when Phish return to New York’s Madison Square Garden on Dec. 28-31, 2017. In addition to ticketed concerts, the bar/concert venue (located one block south of MSG) will also stream the Phish concerts across multiple projectors and host Grateful Dead DJs in the upstairs Jerry Lounge for free.
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American Beauty NYC is thrilled to announce a full schedule of events and bands who will perform before and after each Phish concert at MSG throughout their New Year’s Eve residency. Artists include Kung Fu [originals + Steely Dan], Particle, The Werks, Electric Love Machine, Half Step (Grateful Dead tribute), Teddy Midnight, and many more. PhanArt will be doing another full-venue takeover on Friday, Dec 30th with a performance from local favorites, Polyvamp.
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The venue will open at 3pm daily. Fans can grab their signature FREE personal thin-crust pizza with a unique selection of craft beers on tap and phan favorite cocktails. A recap video of the nonstop fun and festivities that took place at American Beauty during the Baker’s Dozen MSG over the summer can be watched here.
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Daily/Nightly Schedule:
12/28 Pre-Show: Uncle Stump + Teddy Midnight [FREE]
12/28 Post-Show: Very Special Guests TBA
12/29 Pre-Show: PhanArt [FREE]
12/29 Post-Show: Particle
12/30 Pre-Show: Half Step (Grateful Dead tribute) [FREE]
12/30 Post-Show: The Werks
12/31 Pre-Show: Electric Love Machine [FREE]
12/31 Post-Show: Kung Fu (Originals + Steely Dan covers)
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Tickets are on sale now at www.AmericanBeautyNYC.com/Phish

Follow American Beauty NYC: 
http://americanbeautynyc.com/