Atlanta-Based Duo Kissing Electric Debuts Fresh New Sound February 3, 2017 00:35

Interview by Taylor Pack: Live & Listen

Atlanta-based duo Kissing Electric release their debut EP KE at the beginning of this month. KE was recorded at Europa Studios and includes six original tracks and features other local Atlanta artists. Kissing Electric is the brain child of guitarist Trevor Wolford and drummer Che Marshall, who have been a local mainstay on the Atlanta scene for several years. At the end of the month, they will be hosting their own album release party at Aisle 5 on Friday, February 24th. Earlier this week, we were able to sit down with Kissing Electric to learn a little bit about the band and their upcoming debut.

Let’s start off with the name Kissing Electric. How did you guys come up with it and what does it mean?

Che: I think the basis of it was that the type of music we deal with. A lot of us are out of the acoustic world and a lot of music we make comes from the acoustic world. So in the name we had to have something that signifies how we were going to deal with music i.e. electricity or a way we were going deal with technology differently.

Trevor: I had a friend that I was staying with and he was hearing me mess with these sounds that weren’t conventional to what type music we played together as a drummer that played jazz with me. He told me he thought I should explore this and make a group with these sounds. So I listened to him and later on when Evan said kissing electric I knew it was perfect because it was embracing electronic. I had finally gotten out of this world of being jaded about you know, other music. I actually really like electronic sounds. I grew up listening to that stuff with Roni Size and Aphex [Twin] and all those people… The Chemical Brothers were big for me. Kissing Electric is about embracing the combination of acoustic instruments in a world they are not traditionally found in.

Right on. So where did you guys meet?

Che: [laughs] On the scene, playing around… It was initially at a church gig for the very first meeting but then after that, just playing around the Atlanta scene.

Trevor: Yeah, probably playing at Elliot Street [Pub] or something like that.

So you guys were in the same scene here in Atlanta. Did you guys share similar musical backgrounds?

Trevor: I started out just playing like any white kid in America would play guitar. They hear Hendrix or Zeppelin and…

Che: Oh do they? [laughs]

Trevor: [laughs] Then I got into jazz through Wes Montgomery and started playing in bands in high school. By the time college came around I was really serious about it. I studied classical guitar and then got into jazz guitar with a guy that used to teach at the college. Long story short, I was just playing in a bunch of jazz groups and trying to figure out how to play jazz guitar in a way that I felt like I wanted to play it. So here I am today doing the same thing just trying to go further with it.

Che: Dig. Well mine came from my mom playing a bunch of records throughout the house when I was a kid. I started out on pots and pans, ice-cream buckets, desks, the coffee table, sofas, stuff like that [laughs]. Yeah, and my mom would play everything from Ella to Chopin to Dizzy. My dad was real heavy into jazz coming up so I just played along with those records. I got my first real drum set in middle school and spent the summers with my grandparents who are Pentecostal ministers. So I spent hours on end playing ‘boom-tap boom-tap, boom-tap boom-tap’ about ten hours on Sundays doing that. Then I went to the school of the arts in Pittsburgh which expanded my palette of music a bit, you know being around a bunch of different people.

I took on a lot of rock then and even more jazz then because during that time period in America those worlds were intertwined a bit, at least from drummer’s perspective. A lot of cats were checking out Elvin [Jones] and Tony [Williams]. So I spent time doing that through college. I did some marching band and gospel, got into the pop thing and did a lot of touring and then got into the drum and beat scene. I eventually got into the more eclectic side of things thanks to Atlanta. Thanks to WCLK back in the day. There was this cat Ken Batie who played stuff from everywhere and that was my first real taste of like European music and some of the risks they were taking. That was all a heavy influence that has led to today dealing with afro beat and world music.

So what can music fans who have never heard Kissing Electric expect to find on the new EP?

Trevor: This project for me was meant to be a real expression of what I want music to do and say. If you’re at a show I want you to feel some kind of groove or feel some kind of emotional attachment. All of my favorite music does that whether it’s an electronic thing, a jazz thing, or just a guy playing acoustic guitar, I want it to speak in some way. For me, there is definitely the electronic thing happening but the groove element was the biggest thing with this group.

Che: Dig with that. But to say what the music is… I am always leery of throwing it into a genre because that gets really dangerous. With all these influences that we have and that are being thrown out there, if your even like really checking some music out you’re not going to say “aah you only listen to music in 7/8’. Right now, at heart, we are artists, and artists go through phases. Where we are right now is like “okay, we need to document this because this is you know… a pure form of expression”. Like I said before, we want you to dance to it, we want you to bob your head to it, and we want you to connect with it. This energy that we put into the music and into the album, and that we put into the shows, we want you to come experience that and get on this wavelength and connect.

Tell me a little about the tracks on KE and where the material comes from.

Trevor: Well it is all very collaborative. Um… it usually starts with two or three of us putting the platform down… usually I come up with some kind of idea or format that is either built on the groove or the guitar or the bass. From there we kind of build upon it and decide if we want to add a synth layer or we feel it needs a vocalist on the track in which I will call one of my favorite people. For instance, with “Drifting” that is exactly how it went down.

I heard Evan play a bass riff at his house, just kinda noodling and I was like “I really like that” so I just took the guitar part and ran it through an arpeggiator and the next thing you know they kinda mesh together. I kinda heard them in my head and then I tried it out and built upon the idea and added a bridge and a chorus and stuff like that. Then we asked Brenda if she would like to write something to it. That day she came over and we just started going at it and came up with some great stuff. So yeah, it is all very collaborative. By the time we were in the studio we had all really thought about what we wanted to do.

Che: Yeah, you can always get to the root of the tracks. Like with some of the other songs, like “L5P”, we were sitting in Little Five Points, in that room… I guess the same with “Drifting”, you had that line and came in with the arpeggiator and I was like “man, what am I gonna do with this?” At the basis of a lot of our music it needs to be feel-good music, it needs to be true music, and you need to be able to dance to it somehow. We don’t want it to be like math stuff where your like “what the hell is going on?” So sitting in the room that day, all four of us had gone in there to get through everything and take it chunk by chunk and being pretty democratic about what we want to say and how we want to get our points across.

Trevor: It was cool… And this is the world we live in where you randomly see someone you don’t know on social media and say “oh my gosh, that’s that guy and they are here right now”. So I randomly saw that Jacob Bergson, who did some synth stuff on the track “Drifting”, was in Atlanta. I just randomly saw him on an Instagram post or something, and I was like “aah that’s Jacob, the guy who plays with Nerve”, which is Jojo Mayer’s drum n bass/electronic group, and I thought it would be cool to try and get him in the studio.

So as I was literally going to bed but I thought I would put my pants back on and see what was happening. I texted my friend who said they were at The Local and went down there and bought him a beer and asked if I could get him to come into the studio, bring his moog and do something and he told me he would love to. He just came in the next day and killed it. He did this kind of stacking of sounds that created a lot of tension that ended up being really cool and created a really cool ending to the tune. At the very end you hear all these synths going in and out of tune, very much like a film score where it’s very dissonant and it…

Che: Creates some chaos…

Trevor: Yeah, exactly.

Now that you guys got KE finished up what should fans be on the lookout for next from you guys?

T: The Release party is February 24th. There are a couple other bands on the bill that are opening and are totally worth checking out. Chelsea Shag is going to be releasing a single as well that night. We specifically wanted to do the release show at Aisle 5. We talked about a lot of venues but ultimately we felt like we had played there before and it was such a good vibe, and the sound crew there did such a good job and knew exactly what we wanted to do sonically. All that spoke the most and of all the neighborhoods in Atlanta Little 5 Points feels like home. So that is the next show and after that we are planning a short run of dates in the summer. Last year we did a one off at the Rockwood in NYC that went over really well so we want to try and do another Rockwood show and then work our way down the east coast.

C: Yeah, and you can also check us at the art parties.

T: Yeah, we do the art parties every year. That is something we like being a part of which is the non-tradition music scene, stuff like art parties and fashion shows and stuff like that.

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Official Website: Kissing Electric

The Low Down On Electric Beethoven: An Interview With Todd Stoops February 1, 2017 18:35

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Just last year, one of the most intriguing groups in recent years surfaced in the form of Reed Mathis & Electric Beethoven, which features a purely improvisational take on the music of famed composer Ludwig van Beethoven.  Conceived by Reed Mathis, former bassist of Tea Leaf Green, Electric Beethoven now has dozens of shows under its belt and continues to turn heads across the country.  This project, which has been cleverly dubbed as "classical dance music," focuses specifically on the music of Beethoven's 3rd through 6th symphony.  The freedom of this concept has quickly proved to allow a level of freedom and improvisation that not even Mathis could have predicted.

As the band prepares for this evening's show at The Broadberry in Richmond (VA), we had a chance to catch up with Todd Stoops (keyboards) to learn more about the phenomenon of Electric Beethoven and the nature of "classical dance music."  While Todd and his fellow bandmates are involved with a variety of projects, it's clear that this group is focused on exploring just how far they can take this concept. 

Let's start off with the backstory on how this idea became a reality.  While I haven't had the opportunity to see you guys perform yet, I've been fascinated by this project since its inception.   

Todd: Well, Reed Mathis is the son of two technical conductors.  He grew up in an intense musical family.  Both of his parents played Beethoven all of the time.  Reed would play Beethoven just as a way of life, you know?  He listened to that music from a very early age on.  I think he told me he remembers laying under a piano and listening to Beethoven when he was like three or four years old (laughs).  So, a few years ago, he decided that he really wanted to try and make this idea happen.  He took the entire 3rd and 6th symphony and reimagined each section with different grooves and different musicians...a pretty amazing piece of art.  

When he played it for me in the car, I was just like, "Wow...I would love to be a part of this.  It was beautiful.  It made me cry.  It was awesome.  Hearing the album...we were at one of the many super jam gigs.  I forget exactly what we were doing.  One of those gigs where all of the members fly in from different parts of the country.  He played it for me, and I was just blown away.  A few months after that, we started talking about putting a live version of this art out on the road.  So, we got together and made it happen.  The last six or seven months have been a whirlwind, you know?  

I can imagine.  So Reed recruited this all-star cast of musicians to begin recording the actual album (Beathoven).  Had the album been recorded and released before you guys started touring?

Todd: The album had not been released at that point.  We were sort of the band touring behind it.  There were so many people involved.  The cast of characters on that album spans from Pearl Jam to Phish.  Some of those guys are pretty busy (laughs).  I was really psyched to get the call.  The album actually came out after we hit the road.  We had played a few shows out in California, where the band is from.  We've had the opportunity to play all over the country since then, which has been pretty awesome (laughs).  

That's obviously a unique position for you as the pianist of the group.  Did you have any type of similar background with classical music or share a similar passion for Beethoven's music?

Todd: No, not really.  I always appreciated it.  If it were ever being played, I wouldn't try to turn the channel or anything.  You wouldn't say that I had ever done any deep studying on Beethoven's music.  As a matter of fact, the first time I had ever listened to the entire 3rd or 6th symphony was on Reed's album.  Then, I went back and listened to the symphonic versions of them.  It was a really interesting experience.  I feel like that has been a common theme with a lot of the people we have been performing this music for.  

That's one of the things I hear a lot when meeting people at these shows.  They'll say, "Wow, I can't wait to go home and actually listen to the actual symphony now."  It's pretty interesting.  The whole genius of this is the approach that Reed has taken to it.  It's all improv.  We're literally creating while following Beethoven's form, his core progressions, the melodies, and what not.  Other than that, we're making it up from scratch.  Whatever we do with the core progression, all of that is happening in real time.  That piece of this pretty amazing stuff.  I've never been a part of anything like it.  

The closest thing I can compare it to is Everyone Orchestra.  Matt Butler conducts the group, and it's complete improv from the first note.  It has that kind of spirit, but it's focused on the preludes of Beethoven's core progressions.  We might play one movement of the symphony for 45 minutes.  It's pretty wild, you know? (laughs).

Watch Electric Beethoven perform at Terrapin Care Station here:

That's one thing that I was really curious about.  Unfortunately, I'm not a musician myself, so I can only go so deep with this.  How would you explain the concept of staying within the movement of the symphony while purely improvising?  How would you compare this type of improvisation to that of the "type 2" jamming that you experience with a band like RAQ?

Todd: You know...(laughs)...it's hard for me.  Knowing all of that stuff, this band is just so wild.  Anything can literally happen at anytime.  There is no, "Oh shit...you can't do that." There is nothing like that.  Even if you're following something, and giving it a name like "type 2," there is always a destination.  You know how you're going to end it.  You're not going to end the concert in the middle of a type 2 jam...like, "Alright everybody. See ya later!" People would be upset, shrugging, frowning, asking, "What just happened?!" Which, by the way, would be a fucking awesome prank.  There is always a destination though.  

With this project, you just don't know.  The destination could be something completely different each time.  We've spliced and put different movements together...like the first movement of the 3rd symphony...we have spliced with other movements from other symphonies.  It's really just a wild question mark, which makes it really tough to label, you know?  It's just wild.  That's the best label I can come up with. WILD!  Focused, but wild. 

It certainly sounds that way.  I've picked up on that just through watching the video footage which has surfaced on YouTube.  Anything can happen at any time.  It's very obvious that you guys are having a whole lot of fun with it.  I can only imagine the type of freedom that opens up for you as an artist.  That's gotta be a different level of exploration.  

Todd: Absolutely brother.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the band's first scheduled performance was last year at Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, but you guys got a little surprise a Terrapin Crossroads the day before.  Can you tell me about that?

Todd: That's right.  We were originally supposed to debut at Outside Lands.  We were in town hanging and rehearsing, and we ended up getting offered to play a gig up at Terrapin Crossroads.  That was awesome.  There was a really great crowd, surprisingly.  It had just been announced, but the place was nice and packed.  It was a completely different band though.  For instance, what we were just talking about, at that point we had just learned all of the music.  If you listen to the Terrapin show, we actually played the entire 3rd and 6th symphony.  Every movement, every piece of it...more like the way that the album is.  Except that we did it backwards.  We started with the last movement of the 6th symphony and moved backwards through the 6th and the 3rd.  

Nowadays, we will play one or two movements, and that's the entire show.  We're really getting down into the grit of each movement and composing new music in real time based on the lexicon that is used in those movements, you know what I mean?  It's gotten pretty wild.  I don't know that...well, I think maybe once we have done something sort of like that, but we've never blown through all of it.  There was one track at Terrapin that we played for 11 or 12 minutes, and we've since played it for well over an hour in the most recent evolution of the band.  It's pretty fucking awesome (laughs).

Watch Electric Beethoven's official music video for "Rebirth" here:

So, in terms of the flow of an Electric Beethoven show, is it typically a one set performance?  When you're working through one movement for over an hour, is there even time/reason to split the performance into two sets?  

Todd: It just depends on the show.  However the show is formatted.  I'm not a big fan of set breaks, honestly.  We've done both though.  Tonight, we're in Richmond, and we're playing one set straight through.  Two hours plus an encore.  So, you know, it just depends on the show. 

Unfortunately, being in Alabama we just missed you guys on this first run through the Southeast.  I had my fingers crossed for a Birmingham or Atlanta show.  

Todd: Oh, don't worry man.  It will happen!

Each of you guys are involved with multiple side projects.  You're obviously still playing quite a few shows with RAQ.  How do you see the touring schedule playing out with Electric Beethoven?  What is the focus with how consistent this band will be year round?

Todd: This is very much a priority for all of us.  Everyone has other projects, but we're all kind of looking at this thing to see how far we can explore it musically.  We want to play and bring this music to all of the corners of the country, at least.  We would love to play Europe at some point as well.  We're going to stay focused and see where it leads us, you know?

Before we wrap up, how would you best describe the evolution of this band in its six to seven months of existence?  

Todd:  It's becoming more and more clear to me that this is some of my most favorite music that I have ever made in my life.  If it's making me feel this good, then hopefully it's translating to everybody we're playing to.  It seems to be working so far (laughs). We're going to keep riding it out.  The music is beautiful.  This music is like saying a prayer to the universe. It's very special to be a part of it.  

I can only imagine the types of reactions that you're seeing from the crowd.  If you guys don't know quite what to expect, they certainly have no idea. With that level of improvisation, I'm sure the crowd reaction is priceless. 

Todd:  It's pretty amazing brother.  The feedback has been fantastic, and it's great to see people feel it right in front of you.  We're proud to be able to help process and to be part of the solutions (laughs). 

Thanks for everything you guys do and all of the amazing music that you continue to share with us all.  I appreciate you taking the time to chat with me, and best of luck with the show tonight.

Todd:  Absolutely brother.  Thanks for having me. 

Listen to "Scene By The River" from Cervantes in Denver, CO (11.13.16) here:

McLovins Head Back To The Basement For New Video Series February 1, 2017 12:05

Photo by Nick Sonsini: Sonsini Media

Those familiar with Connecticut-based jam quartet McLovins know that this band has a long history with its 'basement takes'.  The band stormed onto the scene as teenagers just over eight years ago with a mind-blowing cover of Phish's "You Enjoy Myself," which proceeded to go viral and ultimately land the band its name (courtesy of Phantasy Tour).  Fast forward to 2017, and McLovins are back in the basement recording a series of equally impressive originals with mixed/mastered audio and HD multicam by Nick Sonsini of Sonsini Media.  

In less than two months, the band has released three new basement takes, two of which are brand new, unreleased tunes in "Ringo" and "No Limit.'  The third video for "Catch The Ball," a tune from the Funk No. Uno EP (2014), was recorded as a special tribute to Live Music Daily's Andrew McConnell, who tragically passed away on December 28th.  If this is any sign of what's to come, we can expect a exciting year full of new, creative material from the jam scene's youngest seasoned veterans.  See below to stream all three videos today. 

McLovins just wrapped up the first leg of its 'No Limit Tour' in Colorado.  The tour continues on Friday, February 2nd at Headquarters Live in Salisbury, MD.  The band will then make its way down the East Coast and through the Southeast, including shows with The Werks (Richmond, VA - 2/12), Hayley Jane & The Primates (Asheville, NC - 2/15 and Atlanta, GA 2/16).  The Alabama faithful can catch the band in Auburn (2/18), Huntsville (2/20), and Birmingham (2/23).

Watch McLovins performing "Ringo" as a part of the 'Basement Takes' here:

Watch McLovins performing "No Limit" as a part of the 'Basement Takes' here: 

 Watch McLovins perform "Catch The Ball" as part of the 'Basement Takes' here:

McLovins & The Werks collaborating at Funksgiving in Montgomery, AL (11.25.17)

Photo by Michelle Stancil

McLovins playing to a packed house at American Beauty in New York City (12.17.16)

Photo by Capacity Images

CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival Reveals 2017 SpringFest Lineup February 1, 2017 02:41

Purchase tickets to CukoRakko SpringFest!

Get To Know This Year's Lineup

Col. Bruce Hampton & The Madrid Express

Col. Bruce Hampton has been making music since he formed his first band in 1963. Col. Bruce has been in constant motion ever since leaving a trail of memorable live performances with his many bands, including The Late Bronze Age and Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit.  Along the way he appeared in the movie "Sling Blade" as the poet and band manager Morris and starred in Mike Gordon's cult classic "Outside Out" as a mystical guitar 'out'structor. Since 2006, The Colonel has been playing a unique blend of blues and jazz with his band Col. Bruce & The Quark Alliance. Still rolling down the road, Col. Bruce continues his quest for the tonal center at each exit #6.

Hampton helped start the 1990s seminal H.O.R.D.E. tours. The best known of his bands to play H.O.R.D.E. is the jazz-rock outfit Aquarium Rescue Unit, which featured improvisational music all-stars Oteil Burbridge, Jimmy Herring, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Matt Mundy and Jeff Sipe.

Watch an entire set from Col Bruce & The Madrid Express here:

Zach Deputy

Zach Deputy is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter based in Savannah, GA and best known for his live looping shows. Deputy has made his mark thus far as a touring powerhouse. As a boy, the music of his Puerto Rican, Cruzan and Irish heritage was cooked up in the South Carolina heat. The Calypso rhythms and folk songs of St. Croix competed with the R&B / soul of pioneers like James Brown and Ray Charles for space on the family stereo. As Deputy honed his craft, a unique hybrid of these influences emerged, ultimately creating the signature Zach Deputy sound.

Broccoli Samurai

Since forming in the Rustbelt of Cleveland, OH in 2010, Broccoli Samurai has been taking the club and festival scene by storm. The band's synth-laden, drum and bass influenced, progressive electronica has been thrilling audiences throughout the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast markets, winning them a massive and fiercely loyal fanbase. Eager fans pack dance floors and late-night festival sets with smiles across their faces, waiting to get lost in the band’s ambient soundscapes, anticipating every bass drop that will force them to move with reckless abandon. Broccoli Samurai’s line-up includes founding member Ryan “Bruce” Hodson on keys and synth, Cameron Bickley on drums and percussion, accomplished bassist Zach Wolfe anchors the rhythm section, while guitarist Michael Vincent weaves in and out, exploring new sonic territory.
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The band has played countless festivals such as Peach Music Festival, Electric Forest, Catskill Chill Music Festival, Aura Music and Art Festival, The Werk Out, BIG What?!, Domefest, Paradise Music and Art Festival, Rootwire, The Mad Tea Party Jam, The Ville, SummerDance, Disc Jam, Night Lights Fall Music Festival, The Gathering At Chaffee’s, Utica Music and Art Festival, and Hyperion Fest. Broccoli Samurai has directly supported and toured with many known bands including Dopapod, Papadosio, Lotus, Conspirator, The Werks, Ozric Tentacles, BoomBOX, Big Gigantic, Rusted Root, O.A.R., Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Aqueous, and BIG Something. Broccoli Samurai’s extensive tour schedule has them playing high profile venues and major cities regularly, and the band will be increasing the number of performances and expanding their reach into the West Coast and Southern markets. This band is making big moves and the time to take notice is now.

Watch an entire set from Broccoli Samurai at Asheville Music Hall here:

  Soul Mechanic

Soul Mechanic is a progressive funk group hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Soul Mechanic have been honing their unique sound through a relentless tour regime. Soul Mechanic is William English-Guitar, Jessica Nunn-Viola, Marcus White-Keyboard, Parrish Gabriel-Bass, and Devonte Hutchins-Drums.  Soul Mechanic brings a progressive rock sound with influences from all across the board. Keeping you groovin' for an entire set with an innovative soul sound, heavy on the bass and light on the heart. Soul Mechanic's main focus is having a good time with our crowd, and dancin' the night away with them.

Watch Soul Mechanic perform "Senseless" at Rhythm & Brews in Chattanooga here:

Little Raine Band

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:

Permagroove

Permagroove is a Rock-n-Roll band originally from Fort Payne, AL currently touring regionally in support of their new album, “Perfectly Broken Machine.” With a lot of momentum behind them, the band is seeing a surge of new fans coming to their shows to hear the eclectic sounds blended from many genres. Permagroove’s tight grooves, spacious jams are delivered by top notch musicianship and classic southern taste. This, combined with crafty songwriting and memorable lyrics makes Permagroove a relevant up-and-coming act on the music scene.

Watch Permagroove perform Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved" at Zydeco in Birmingham here:

 Imperial Blend

Imperial Blend is a four piece Electronic/Rock group based out of Greensboro, NC. Their live shows are filled with captivating ambiance and sonic textures. Having soft guitar mixing with tantalizing keys, and tempered percussion propelling heavy dropping bass lines, Imperial Blend will keep you moving during the entire show. Since they began playing shows in March 2011 they have gained a steady following and a lot of love. They have shared the stage with such bands as Zoogma, Dopapod, The Mantras, The Heavy Pets, Jimkata, BIG Something as well as having the privilege to play sets at Camp Barefoot, Gnarnia, Mantrabash, and many others

Watch Imperial Blend perform "Starship" at The Blind Tiger here:

 Voodoo Visionary

Voodoo Visionary hails from the dirty south musical mecca of Atlanta. Their improvisational funk dance music delicately balances a tight, grooving rhythm section with diverse and dexterous keys and masterful guitar licks to create a sound the group calls psychofunk. Influenced by a wide array of artists such as Parliament Funkadelic, the Meters, the Grateful Dead, and Talking Heads, Voodoo Visionary has a uniquely blended sound that’s guaranteed to put the 'oogie in yo boogie.

The band is made up of Dennis Dowd (keys), Jimmy Lynch (bass), Scott MacDonald (vocals), Mac Schmitz (drums), and Mike Wilson (guitar). Wilson, Schmitz and Lynch have been playing together for over 8 years, during which time they built a unique chemistry that allows for exceptional improvisation during live shows. MacDonald joined the group in July 2013 as the lead vocalist and Voodoo Visionary began writing new music and playing shows immediately. Dowd was added to the band in March 2014 providing a missing link that enhanced the band’s distinctive sound, and the group has since taken off in the Atlanta music scene. Jose Rivera (percussion), Martin Anderson (saxophone), and Ben Otieno (trumpet) are regular additions to the live show and are featured on Voodoo Visionary's sophomore album.

Voodoo Visionary released their debut album, Spirit of the Groove in March 2015. Over the past two years, while playing across the southeast, the band has shared the stage with acts such as Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe with Jimmy Herring, TAUK, Col. Bruce Hampton, Zach Deputy, Earphunk, Roosevelt Collier, Jerry Joseph, The Main Squeeze, and Futurebirds. The band has been performing at venues like Variety Payhouse, Terminal West, the Georgia Theatre, Barrelhouse South, Ringside Cafe, and Crowbar, as well as major festivals such as Counterpoint Music and Arts Festival and Sweetwater 420 Fest. The band has made live radio appearances on WUGA's It's Friday program, WMNF's In the Groove, and WPRK's Green Eggs and Jams. In 2016, they have excelled further into the regional and national music scene with festival performances at Sweetwater 420 Fest, Purple Hatters Ball, Great Outdoors Jam, Imagine Festival, Hookahville, and Backwoods Music Festival. They are scheduled to release their second studio album, “Off The Ground,” in February 2017.

Watch Voodoo Visionary perform "Hold TIght" at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta here:

Dirk Quinn Band

Dirk Quinn is the guitarist for a high energy funk/jazz band based out of Philadelphia that travels extensively throughout the US and Canada. Utilizing over a decade of steady performing, Quinn has developed a unique and progressive style - one that appeals to a wide variety of music listeners with fans ranging from the jam band hippies to the jazz snobs.

Surrounding himself with a group of extremely talented and like-minded musicians, Quinn has been playing shows across North America while receiving an ever increasing amount of media attention. His music has now been featured on over 100+ radio stations worldwide and gets regular airplay in his hometown of Philadelphia. Notable spins include the "Pick of the Day" on WXPN in Philadelphia as well as on the nationally syndicated "Keller's Cellar" broadcast hosted by Keller Williams.

The band’s infectious energy and musical interplay routinely attract listeners that are admittedly more accustomed to lyric-based music. With great melodic sensibilities, rhythmic experimentation and an accessible modern edge, the Dirk Quinn Band is jazz/funk improvisation at its most exciting!

Watch Dirk Quinn Band perform "Easy Comes Easy" at Pub Down Under here: 

Roxy Roca

No one leaves a Roxy Roca show dissatisfied. A sonic shot to the arm of Texas infused, powerhouse-southern soul and funk complete with a certain tightness only achievable after playing an average of more than 220 shows a year. Roxy Roca shows are like stepping into a tent-revival somewhere in the Deep South, and crooner Taye Cannon is here to speak the gospel. Each tune flows over with hooky guitar riffs, funky backbeats, slammin’ horn lines, and lyrics of love, heartache, and a message of choosing happiness above all else sung with a conviction and sincerity as only Roxy Roca’s green-eyed Soul-Cannon can deliver.

Hailing from Austin, Texas, the band has come a long way in the short time it has existed. 2015 brought with it the release of Roxy Roca’s latest album, Ain’t Nothin’ Fancy, on Stag Records. Recorded at EAR Studio in Austin with producer Lars Goransson at the helm, the record captures the classic sounds reminiscent of Stax, Motown, and Domino Records. One might say the band wears its influences on its sleeve, and any member of the six-piece soul outfit would happily list off the forefathers of soul and funk.

Now two albums deep, and hundreds of shows later, Roxy Roca has had the good fortune to share the stage with some incredible acts ranging from outright classics such as B.B. King, Tom Jones, and Lee Fields to more modern acts like Fitz and The Tantrums, Mayer Hawthorne, Trombone Shorty, and Vintage Trouble. The future looks bright for Roxy Roca, and there is no end in sight.

Watch Roxy Roca's official music video for "Love Maker DeVille" here:

Supatight

Currently out of Asheville, NC, Supatight delivers a high energy live performance that is funk driven and appeals to a wide variety of audiences. While specializing in hard-hitting funk, their music incorporates elements of reggae, soul, jazz, and comedic country. Supatight blends intricately timed grooves with improvisational components resulting in an authentic, full sound, drawing diverse styles from every member of the band.

Supatight formed in Durham, NC in 2008 with the original lineup consisting of Tyler Mack (Vocals/Bass/Trumpet), Mikey Domanico (Rhythm Guitar), Max Palmer (Drums), Nigel Kher (Saxophone), and Torrey Beek (Lead Guitar). The original members were spread out at different Universities across NC, allowing the band to build a following from the mountains to the coast. The band relocated to Boone, NC in 2011 where they added Matt Powers (Keys), Will Miller (Drums), and Charlie Evans (Lead Guitar). While sticking to the fundamental funk orientation the band was founded on, Supatight continues to evolve, producing fresh new grooves that have audiences dancing up and down the east coast.

Watch SupaTight's official music video for "Kick Rox" here:

Rescue Dogs

Rescue Dogs was formed in September of 2009 by Birmingham musicians Andy Gathings, Daniel Belk, Bobby Bruner, Derek Nolin, Clifford Smith and Daniel Long. Combining raw and earthen tones from Classic Rock and Roll, the smooth and funky sounds of Southern Soul, a generous dose of down-home Americana, and compelling traditional Rhythms from around the globe, Rescue Dogs forge an energetic and eclectic sonance accompanied by an express invitation to move!

Watch Rescue Dogs perform "Driving Song" at Stillwater Pub here:

Click Here: Purchase Your CukoRakko Tickets Today!

Maradeen Selected To Open For Bon Jovi At Philips Arena January 31, 2017 16:05

Nashville-based rock quintet Maradeen is off to a hot start in 2017, and its most recent news is easily the biggest to date.  The band has just been selected as the opening act for Bon Jovi at Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA on Friday, February 10th.  This show is a part of Bon Jovi's 'This House Is Not For Sale' tour, which kicks off next Wednesday in Greenville, SC and runs through April 11th in Toronto, OR.  Maradeen released its sophomore studio album, Above The Horizon, in October of 2016.  Click here to stream the album today via Spotify.

Bands wishing to enter the 'Bon Jovi Opening Act Contest' for the March 1st - March 8th tour dates can do so by clicking here.  Deadline for submission is Wednesday, February 1st at 12:00 PM PST.

Watch Mardeen's music video for "Livin' For The Weekend" here:

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Jimmy Herring & John McLaughlin Announce "Meeting Of The Spirits" Tour January 31, 2017 10:56

Photo by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Just last week, guitar wizard Jimmy Herring revealed his plans of forming a new all star group known as The Invisible Whip.  Earlier this morning, Herring announced that the new band will be hitting the road with legendary guitarist John McLaughlin during November and December of this year for "The Meeting of the Spirits" tour. McLaughlin has said that this will serve as his farewell tour through the U.S., and that he will be performing music from his work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra.  

Each musician will perform a set of his own, respectively, followed by a collaborative and improvisational encore performance.  This tour will span from November 1st through December 9th, starting in Buffalo and ending in Los Angeles. Stay tuned for future updates on Jimmy Herring & The Invisible Whip's spring tour dates.  See below for a complete list of tour dates.

Watch Jimmy Herring & John McLaughlin jam with the Aquarium Rescue Unit here:

John McLaughlin & Jimmy Herring “Meeting Of The Spirits” Tour

11/1/17 Buffalo, NY, University at Buffalo Center for the Arts
11/2/17 Albany, NY, The Egg
11/3/17 New York, NY, Town Hall
11/4/17 Port Chester, NY, Capitol Theatre
11/5/17 Cranston, RI, Park Theatre/Rhode Island Center for the Performing Arts
11/8/17 Boston, MA, The Wilbur Theatre
11/9/17 Philadelphia, PA, Keswick Theatre
11/10/17 Newark, NJ, Prudential Hall,New Jersey Performance Art Centre
11/11/17 Washington DC, Lincoln Theatre
11/12/17 Durham, NC, Duke Performances at DPAC
11/15/17 Ann Arbor, MI
11/17/17 Chicago, IL, Vic Theatre
11/19/17 Indianapolis, IN, Clowes Memorial-Hall-Butler University
11/21/17 Nashville, TN, Schermerhorn Symphony Center-Laura Turner Concert Hall
11/22/17 Atlanta, GA, Atlanta Symphony Hall
11/24/17 Jacksonville, FL, Florida Theatre
11/25/17 Clearwater, FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall
11/27/17 New Orleans, LA, The Joy Theater
11/30/17 Austin, TX, Paramount Theatre
12/5/17 Seattle, WA, Moore Theatre
12/6/17 Portland, OR, Revolution Hall
12/8/17 San Francisco, CA, The Warfield
12/9/17 Los Angeles, CA, Royce Hall-UCLA

Phish Confirms "The Baker's Dozen": 13 Nights at Madison Square Garden January 31, 2017 09:31

SlossFest Reveals Exciting Lineup For 2017 January 31, 2017 08:05

Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography

The 3rd annual Sloss Music & Arts Festival has revealed its lineup for 2017, and this year looks as exciting as ever.  Widespread Panic, Alabama Shakes, Odesza, Sturgill Simpson, and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats are just a few of the 40 performers listed for the rapidly growing festival in Birmingham, AL.  SlossFest is a two-day music and arts festival which is scheduled for Saturday, July 15th - Sunday, July 16th.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 3, at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster and the festival website. Advance prices are $115 general admission, $180 for an Iron pass (includes access to air-conditioned tents), $325 VIP (includes access to air-conditioned tents, separate viewing areas at two stages and other perks).

Prices will continue to hike as tickets at each level are sold, increasing to $135 and $155 general admission, $210 and $225 for an Iron Pass. VIP prices will remain the same. Information on payment plans is available on the Sloss Fest website.  Stay tuned for further details!

Watch the official SlossFest 2017 lineup announcement video here:

Steve Miller Band & Peter Frampton Announce 32-Show Summer Tour January 30, 2017 17:24

Ween Announces First Red Rocks Show In Eight Years January 30, 2017 16:22

Photo by Keith Griner: Phierce Photo by Keith G

Following an eight year absence, veteran jam band Ween has announced its long awaited return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO on Wednesday, July 12th. Ween, who made their Red Rocks debut in 1995, and also performed at the famed Colorado amphitheater in 2001, 2006 and 2009. Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo, Aaron “Gene Ween” Freeman, Dave Dreiwitz, Claude Coleman Jr. and Glenn McClelland are set to play Red Rocks once more on July 12.

A pre-sale starts Tuesday, January 31 at 10 a.m. MT via Ween Ticketing using the password “GREEN”. The public on-sale starts Friday, February 3 at 10 a.m. MT.

Watch Ween perform "Beacon Light" at Red Rocks in 2009 here:

Tom Marshall Performs "Brian And Robert" With Runaway Gin In Baltimore January 30, 2017 10:54

The night after their sold-out debut in Richmond, VA, Tom Marshall joined Charleston based Runaway Gin - a Tribute to Phish for their debut of Anastasio/Marshall penned "Brian and Robert" in front of a packed house on Saturday night at the legendary 8x10 Club in Baltimore, MD after Runaway Gin spelled out "Tom Marshall" with their first set which featured many songs with lyrics written by Marshall. Tom was in Baltimore along with RJ Bee of the Helping Friendly Podcast recording an upcoming "Under the Scales" podcast episode earlier that day:

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Watch Runaway Gin perform "Brian and Robert" with Tom Marshall here (01:45 mark):

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Setlist: Runaway Gin - Baltimore, MD - 01.28.17:

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Set I: Tube, Olde Home Place > Moma Dance > Maze, Axilla > Runaway Jim* -> Steam > Harry Hood, Also Sprach Zarathustra > Limb by Limb, Llama

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Set 2: Brian and Robert^, Reba > Tweezer > Cities > You Enjoy Myself$ > Carini > Lizards

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Encore: Dogs Stole Things > Frankenstein > Tweezer Reprise

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*unfinished

^RG debut featuring Tom Marshall on lead vocals

$ w/ Midnight Rider teases

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NOTE: the first set spelled Tom Marshall

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For tour dates, videos and live recordings visit Runaway Gin's website here complete with videos, posters, photos, and setlists.

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Follow Runaway Gin on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@runaway_gin)

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Watch SUSTO's National Television Debut On 'CBS This Morning' January 30, 2017 09:21

Charleston-based alt-country group SUSTO has been making major waves across the southeast since its break through self-titled release in 2014, and 2017 looks to be its biggest year yet.  After recently announcing a national tour supporting The Lumineers, there is no doubt that the band's exposure and visibility will be at an all time high in early 2017.  

Earlier this month, the band released a new full-length studio album called "& I'm Fine Today." Making their national TV debut on "CBS This Morning: Saturday," Susto performs three brand new tunes, "Far Out Feeling," "Waves," and "Jah Werx."  See below to watch all three tunes, as well as learn more about a band that is on the verge of becoming a household name.

Watch SUSTO perform "Far Out Feeling" on 'CBS This Morning: Saturday' here:

Watch SUSTO perform "Waves" on 'CBS This Morning: Saturtday' here:

Watch SUSTO perform "Jah Werx" on 'CBS This Morning: Saturtday' here:

SUSTO is the brainchild of Justin Osborne. It was born out of collaboration between Osborne & various colleagues including but not limited to Johnny Delaware, Wolfgang Zimmerman, Nicholas Scott Woodley, Jordan Hicks & Camilo Miranda. These collaborations took place between 2011 & 2013 in Charleston & Havana.
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Early writing & recording for SUSTO began in late 2011.

In early 2013 Osborne began performing solo in South Carolina & Cuba under the name of SUSTO. By August of that year SUSTO was performing as a full band. In addition to Osborne covering rhythm guitar, keyboards, & lead vocals _ this line-up included Taylor McCleskey on drums, Eric Mixon on Bass and Johnny Delaware on lead guitar & background vocals.
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By early 2014 the debut self titled album was finalized & subsequently released by Osborne & Delaware's label Peninsula Records on April Fool's Day (04/01/2014).
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After an extensive North American solo tour (Summer 2014) in support of SUSTO's debut album, Osborne returned to Charleston where he formed a new live band including Gordon Keiter on drums, Matt Lohan on bass and background vocals, & Corey Campbell on lead guitar.
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Jazz Fest Announces Major Lineup For 2017 January 27, 2017 11:09

Jimmy Herring Announces Formation Of New Group 'The Invisible Whip' January 27, 2017 09:24

While we won't be seeing quite as many shows from Widespread Panic in 2017, lead guitarist Jimmy Herring shows no signs of slowing down.  Earlier this morning, Herring announced the formation of a new all-star group, "The Invisible Whip."  This group will feature a cast of long time friends, including Jeff Sipe (Aquarium Rescue Unit) on drums, Jason Crosby on Wurlitzer and Rhodes, Matt Slocum (Aquarium Rescue Unit) on B3 organ and clavinet, and Kevin Scott on bass.  While no official dates have been announced yet, Herring's announcement mentions, "Coming soon to a town near you in 2017 and beyond."  Stay tuned for further details on this exciting development! 

Click Here: Follow Jimmy Herring on Facebook

Jake Cinninger Will Miss Upcoming Umphrey's McGee Shows January 26, 2017 16:14

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While Umphrey's McGee is set to resume its winter tour tonight in New Haven (CT), the band will have to do so without lead guitarist Jake Cinninger. Umphrey's released a statement today via Facebook stating that Cinninger has "come down with a wicked flu and will not be able to play the next few shows." Saxophonist Joshua Redman will be performing with the band all week, and fans can expect a fair amount of improvisation. See below for the band's complete statement. Get well soon, Jake! 

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Official Facebook statement from Umphrey's McGee:

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While Umphrey's McGee is set to resume its winter tour tonight in New Haven (CT), the band will have to do so without lead guitarist Jake Cinninger. Umphrey's released a statement today via Facebook stating that Cinninger has "come down with a wicked flu and will not be able to play the next few shows." Saxophonist Joshua Redman will be performing with the band all week, and fans can expect a fair amount of improvisation. Get well soon, Jake! 

Dopapod Announces Extensive 2017 Spring Tour Dates January 26, 2017 12:35

Boston-born progressive jam band Dopapod has announced a major spring tour, which spans across the East Coast, Midwest, and Southeast.  The tour kicks off with a three-night run at Brooklyn Bowl (March 23rd-25th) and wraps up at Soundstage in Baltimore on April 29th.  With a total of 26 shows on the tour, the Dopapod faithful should have plenty of opportunities to catch the band this spring.  Fans in the Southeast can also catch Dopapod at SweetWater 420 Music Festival on April 22nd at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, GA.  For further details and all of the latest updates on Dopapod, head over to the band's official website and Facebook page.  See below for a complete list of tour dates.

'Point of Reference' Marks New Sonic Territory for The Orange Constant January 26, 2017 12:09

Lee: For Point of Reference we decided to work with Drew Vandenberg, known primarily for working with experimental and indie acts such as of Montreal, Kishi Bashi, Mothers, and the Futurebirds. He met with us several times at our rehearsal space before we began recording to get a feel for the songs and pitch ideas for new arrangements. That was great because it helped us get to know him better, and kept our time in the studio more efficient. For our first session, we spent 10 days in the studio tracking the songs and adding overdubs. The four of us, plus our friend Chris Freiberg on keyboards, recorded all of the songs live. We then made edits to those tracks, added horns, more keys, vocals, etc. We were trying to keep the process as organic and traditional as possible, similar to how bands in the 70's recorded, while also implementing new sounds and styles that aren't common in the jam scene.

Lee: We learned a lot from John Keane and couldn't have asked for a better experience recording our debut Time to Go, but it was nice working with Drew because he is closer in age. The recording process (live tracking, adding overdubs,etc.) was fairly similar to the first album, but Drew was constantly pushing us to be weirder and to utilize more unique guitar tones and sounds. He also worked at a slower pace (in a good way), and wanted to try every idea before dismissing it. Overall, Drew took on a more producer-like role and shaped the songs more than Keane, while also keeping the experience creative and fun. We had a lot of good laughs in the control room!
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How would you say the new material reflects the overall direction of the band?

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Lee: In some ways I believe it fits the overall direction, but then again, genre shifting has always been a part of The Orange Constant. In many ways this album shows us at this point in time, just like how the first album represented that period. I think our live shows will continue to incorporate more jamming and improvisation, but our studio material will likely hone in on the songwriting and focus on exploring studio possibilities.

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CBDB Reveals Winter/Spring Tour Dates For 2017 January 25, 2017 13:25

One of the southeast's hottest up-and-coming bands, CBDB, has revealed its Winter/Spring Tour dates for 2017.  This run of shows kicks off this weekend with shows at South City Tavern in Statesboro, GA (Friday, Jan. 27th) and Rafters in St. Simons, GA (Saturday, Jan. 28th).  The band then returns to its home city of Tuscaloosa, AL (Friday, February 10th) for an evening at Druid City Music Hall, before making stops in many familiar venues across the southeast.  

It's already shaping up to be a big festival season for CBDB, with appearances at Okeechobee (March 3rd - 5th), SweetWater 420 Fest (April 21st - 23rd), and Summer Camp (May 26th - 28th) already on the schedule.  See below for a complete list of CBDB tour dates make sure to follow the band on Facebook and Instagram for all of the latest updates.  

Check out our recent interview with Cy Simonton of CBDB by clicking here.

Listen to one of CBDB's latest singles "She's Mobile" here:

Legendary Drummer Butch Trucks Has Passed Away At Age 69 January 25, 2017 08:38

Legendary drummer and founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, Butch Trucks, has passed away at age 69.  The news was confirmed early this morning by Trucks' cousin, Lee, as well as the Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival.  The cause of death is currently unknown.  

Trucks helped form The Allman Brothers Band in 1969, along with Duane Allman (guitar), Gregg Allman (vocals and organ), Dickey Betts (guitar), Berry Oakley (bass), and fellow drummer Jai Johanny Johanson. Together, the two drummers developed a rhythmic drive that would prove crucial to the band. Trucks laid down a powerful conventional beat while the jazz-influenced Johanson added a second laminate of percussion and ad libitum cymbal flourishes, seamlessly melded into one syncopated sound.

Trucks would be one of the constants in the band until their disbandment in 2014 and continued playing after that with various projects including his Freight Train Band. Trucks also led the Les Brers project, featuring numerous ABB alumni and put together various Allman-related superjams at festivals like Wanee.  He is survived musically by nephews Derek Trucks (Tedeschi Trucks Band) and Duane Trucks, who plays drums for both Widespread Panic and Hard Working Americans.

Watch this 1984 interview with Butch Trucks and Dickey Betts here:

The String Cheese Incident Confirms Seven "Spring Cheese" Dates January 24, 2017 15:23

The String Cheese Incident has confirmed a total of seven "Spring Cheese" tour dates which will span from the midwest to Texas during early to mid April.  First up is a two-night stand at The Palace Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 5th and 6th.  The band then heads over to Wisconsin for a two-night run at The Orpheum Theater in Madison, Wisconsin on April 7th and 8th. Following the four midwest shows, SCI will head down to Texas for three nights at Stubb’s in Austin, Texas on April 13th – 15th.  Tickets to these shows go on sale through SCI Ticketing beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, January 25th at 11 a.m. MT. Special travel packages for the Texas run of shows is available via CID Entertainment.

Click Here: Official SCI Tour Page

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Watch The String Cheese Incident perform "Sympathy For The Devil" at Red Rocks in July of 2015 here:

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Winston Ramble Announces "Ramble On The Road" Tour Dates January 24, 2017 12:55

The Major Rager Announces Official 2017 Lineup January 24, 2017 09:28

Photo by Josh Timmermans: Noble Visions

Friends With Benefits Productions has revealed the lineup for The Major Rager (2017), the annual concert held in Augusta, GA on the Thursday of Master's Week.  The fourth annual concert will feature a headlining set from The Flaming Lips, as well as performances from People of the Sun (Moon Taxi performing the music of Rage Against The Machine), Eric Krasno Band, and Stop Light Observations.  Past performers at The Major Rager include Umphrey's McGee, Gov't Mule, Moon Taxi, Lettuce, The Revivalists, and Earphunk.  Early bird tickets can be purchased this Friday morning (1/27) at 10:00 AM EST.  For further details and official ticket information, visit the Friends With Benefits official website.

The Flaming Lips are an American rock band, formed in Norman, Oklahoma in 1983.  Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles", "Free Radicals (A Hallucination of the Christmas Skeleton Pleading with a Suicide Bomber)" and "Yeah, I Know It's a Drag... But Wastin' Pigs Is Still Radical". They are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which feature costumes, balloons, puppets, video projections, complex stage light configurations, giant hands, large amounts of confetti, and frontman Wayne Coyne's signature man-sized plastic bubble, in which he traverses the audience. In 2002, Q magazine named The Flaming Lips one of the "50 Bands to See Before You Die".

The group recorded several albums and EPs on an indie label, Restless, in the 1980s and early 1990s. After signing to Warner Brothers, they scored a hit in 1993 with "She Don't Use Jelly". Although it has been their only hit single in the U.S., the band has maintained critical respect and, to a lesser extent, commercial viability through albums such as 1999's The Soft Bulletin (which was NME magazine's Album of the Year) and 2002's Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. They have had more hit singles in the UK and Europe than in the U.S. In February 2007, they were nominated for a 2007 BRIT Award in the "Best International Act" category. By 2007, the group garnered three Grammy Awards, including two for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

On October 13, 2009 the group released their latest studio album, titled Embryonic. On December 22, 2009, the Flaming Lips released a remake of the 1973 Pink Floyd album The Dark Side Of The Moon. In 2011, the band announced plans to release new songs in every month of the year, with the entire process filmed.

Watch The Flaming Lips' music video for "Do You Realize?" here:

The members of Moon Taxi are no strangers to the stage. Hailing from Nashville, the five-piece formed in 2006 and set out to conquer the Southeast with their unforgettable live set. Nine years later, they’ve amassed over one thousand shows and released two albums, Cabaret (2012) and Mountains Beaches Cities (2013). The latter landed the band their first National late-night television appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman and Conan as well as multiple commercial and TV placements including BMW, Nashville, MLB, NFL and HBO Sports to name a few. With a rabid fan base under their belts, they’ve upped the ante this year to become a festival favorite with recent performances at Bonnaroo, Governor’s Ball, Wakarusa, Houston Free Press and upcoming appearances at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.   Moon Taxi will perform as People of the Sun at The Major Rager, which will consist of an entire set of Rage Against The Machine covers (as seen at Hangout Festival 2014 & 2016).

Watch Moon Taxi (People of the Sun) perform "Sleep Now In The Fire" here:

Eric Krasno is a 2x Grammy winning guitarist, musician & producer best known for his work with Soulive, Lettuce, Tedeschi Trucks Band & Pretty Lights.  For nearly two decades, Eric Krasno has been an omnipresent figure in popular music. We've heard his virtuosic, innovative guitar playing with Soulive and Lettuce (both of which he co-founded), seen him onstage supporting the likes of the Rolling Stones and The Roots, watched him take home multiple GRAMMY Awards, and benefited from his deft, behind-the-scenes work as a producer and songwriter for everyone from Norah Jones, Tedeschi Trucks, and 50 Cent to Talib Kweli, Aaron Neville, and Allen Stone. Krasno's rousing new solo album, 'Blood From A Stone,' reveals a previously unknown and utterly compelling side of his artistry, though, inviting us to bear witness as he both literally and metaphorically finds his voice.

Watch Eric Krasno Band perform 'Curse Lifter" here:

Home-grown Charleston, SC band Stop Light Observations (a.k.a. SLO) started playing together at the age of 13 when songwriter and pianist John Keith "Cubby" Culbreth asked guitarist Louis Duffie the iconic teenager boy question, "Wanna start a band?" His response was, "Yes."  The young years were spent writing songs with captivating melodies and meaningful lyrics. The duo picked up childhood friends Luke Withers and Will Blackburn to "play dem' drums and sing dem' songs!" Over time they added Coleman Sawyer on bass and fiddle and Wyatt Garrey on lead guitar, which formulated the powerful six-piece band known today as Stop Light Observations.

SLO has been described as Southern-Retro-Electro-Rock with influences of Classic, Revival, Psychedelic, Garage, and Arena Rock, with Indie, Motown, Hip-hop and Folk flares.  They are driven by the thrill they get from performing and writing songs, but the camaraderie among these lifelong friends is what keeps them close.  SLO plans on furthering their impact on the national music fan community while having some fun and changing some lives for the good while they're at it.

Watch Stop Light Observations perform "Aquarius Apocalyptic" on Jam In The Van here:

Widespread Panic Shares Pro-Shot Footage of "Burning Down The House" January 23, 2017 13:47

Photo by Clay Carroll: Carroll Production

Veteran jam group Widespread Panic was one of many bands who closed out 2016 with a massive New Year's Eve celebration.  After many years of rotating the event between Atlanta, Denver, and Charlotte, this year's location was Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.  As is tradition on New Year's Eve, the band would call on many friends and special guests to make this an unforgettable experience for the Panic faithful.  Love Sponge String Quartet (strings), Randall Bramblett (saxophone), The Megablasters (horns), The McCrary Sisters (voclas), and David Davidson (fiddle) would all make appearances throughout the night.  

After three sets full of Panic originals and covers from the Paul Simon, Joe Cocker, and Van Morrison catalogs, the band took the stage for an encore for the ages.  The McCrary Sisters would lend a hand on Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth," before Bramblett and The Megablasters would return for the band's second ever performance of the Talking Heads' "Burning Down The House."  Fortunately, Widespread Panic has shared pro-shot HD video footage of "Burning Down The House," which can be watched in full below. 

Watch Widespread Panic and friends perform "Burning Down The House" on 12/31/16 here:

Complete setlist via EverydayCompanion.com:

Funk You Announces Massive 2017 Spring Tour January 23, 2017 12:05

One of Georgia's hottest up-and-coming bands, Funk You, has announced details on a major Spring tour for 2017.  This run of shows will see the band through the month of April and includes supporting dates with bands such as Perpetual Groove, The Werks, and BIG Something.  The funk will kick in to full force starting on Friday, February 3rd at Birmingham's WorkPlay Theatre with BIG Something, before an opening spot for Perpetual Groove at the Georgia Theatre on Friday, February 10th.  

A five-night run with The Werks will follow, which includes stops in Asheville (2/15), Atlanta (2/16), Jacksonville (2/17), Savannah (2/18), and Charleston (2/19).  Funk You will then head out west for a week in Colorado in early March before making its back through Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.  The tour winds down with a hometown show for The Major Rager Afterparty (Augusta - 4/06), and shows in Virigina Beach (4/13), Wilmington (4/14), and Greenville (NC - 4/15).  You can also find Funk You performing at SweetWater 420 Festival at Centennial Park in Atlanta, GA on April 23rd.  See below for a full list of tour dates.

For all of the latest Funk You news, head to the band's Facebook page and official website.

Watch Funk You and friends perform Prince's "1999" at the 2016 SweetWater 420 Fest afterparty here:

Official Bio: Funk You (Augusta, GA)

Hailing from the east side GA town of Augusta, FUNK YOU is an outgoing burst of energy that is continually climbing their way to the top of the music scene. This "funk" oriented outfit projects multiple musical styles focusing mainly on dance driven grooves with powerful clean vocals. Incorporating intriguing musical composition, tasteful lyrics, and crowd captivating live performances, FUNK YOU is surely to make an imprint on your musical taste.

FUNK YOU provides the audience with a furious fusion of influences ranging from Umphrey's Mcgee, Lettuce, James brown, and Stevie Wonder. By colliding funk, jam, rock, fusion, and prog into one uniform sound, these guys will keep your jaw dropped and your feet moving without stopping. Their songs combine lush ambiance, catchy vocals, and intense shredding simultaneously into a unique well defined sound.

For three years the band has been building their fan base in the southern local markets of Atlanta, Augusta, Athens, Statesboro, Milledgeville, Savannah and Macon. They have numerous sold out shows in Augusta and also at the Georgia Theater in Athens. With performances alongside Maceo Parker & Fred Wesley (James Brown horn section), Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Tea Leaf Green, Robert Randolph, Snarky Puppy, and Moon Taxi, the band is paving their way to the festival circuit. FUNK YOU was voted best R&B band by August Magazine and was named Relix Magazine's "Artist On the Rise" in their July/August 2013 issue. Perseverance and hard work best describe the band's attitude, so if you haven't yet, you will be seeing them soon.