I'm just barely catching my breath and back in town, only to have spectacular shows smackin' me upside the head. Let me do my best to spread this pain around, 'cause there sure as hell is plenty of it.
First off, who can give me a little report from the (AAARRR!) Treasure Island Music Fest? Bummed to have been out of town for both of those days. Thievery? Kinky? Built to Spill? Devil Makes Three? How were they?!?
Next, As if the upcoming Showy Birthday wasn't enough to look forward to (FRIDAY OCTOBER 5TH—still working out the deets), we have the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival rolling into town on that very same weekend. I had a glance at the lineup ( http://
Okay Showy, settle down. There are more immediate matters to address. YOU, dear reader, would be well served rockin' out to some of the most bad ass experimental groove jazz on the planet with me this weekend. Medeski, Scofield, Martin, and Wood will be doin' Friday and Saturday at the Fillmore, while right across the street sax machine Skerik will be blowin' his evil horn at the Boom Boom Room. My plan is to hit up Skerik on Friday and MSMW on Saturday.
GOD this city is boring...
|||||| THURSDAY 9/20 ||||||
AIR @ Bimbo's 365 - $40
I struggle to describe this French duo. Their name is an acronym (in French) of "Love, Imagination, Dream" and I've gotta say those terms definitely relate to the sound. Heavy on synthesizer sounds, the music is sometimes dramatic and moody, sometimes uplifting and beautiful, and usually pretty fascinating to my ears. I would go in a second if it weren't totally out of my budget at the moment. If you check 'em out, please let me know what it was like.
http://www.pocket-symphony.
|||||| FRIDAY 9/21 ||||||
Medeski, Scofield, Martin, and Wood @ the Fillmore - $32.50
Friday & Saturday shows (I'll be there Saturday). SAH-WEET! Not only is the best improv freak-jazz trio on Earth gracing us with their presence, but they're bringing freaky-funky guitar virtuoso John Scofield with em'! I've been wanting to see this lineup for years, literally, ever since I first got a listen to their collaborative effort "John Scofield A-Go-Go." It's one of the best albums I own, and they just followed it up with another brilliant release "Out Louder." Sometimes ridiculously complex and cerebral, sometimes straight-up jazz funk groovin', MMW (and S) is relentlessly creative in everything that they do. This stuff isn't for everyone, but if you like your jazz on the weird side there is simply nothing better. I think there are still tickets available for Saturday night, get one now and I'll see you there!
http://www.mmw.net/
Skerik's Maelstrom Trio @ Boom Boom Room - $15
Friday & Saturday shows (I'll be at this one fer sheezy!) Skerik is the saxamaphone player with a horn as black as his soul. This man (from Les Claypool, Garage a Trois, Critters Buggin', Dead Kenny Gs, etc, etc) never ceases to amaze me with his power and creativity. His take on experimental jazz is just plain eeeevil. Like crazy virtuoso eeeevil, just the way I like. For these rare Boom Boom Room gigs he brings 'Nawlins cats Brian Coogan (organ, Stanton Moore Trio), and Simon Lott (drums, Charlie Hunter). It'll be nasty stuff, no doubt about it.
http://www.myspace.com/
Crown City Rockers & many others @ the Independent - $15
This is gonna be one hell of a night of bad ass hip-hop at the Indy (anyone remember the Justice League?) Crown City combines excellent live instrumentation with a super authentic roots hip-hop groove that will make ya move. Opening up for them are emcees Gift of Gab and Lateef the Truthseeker, along with Nino Mochella who does some super rad funky soul stuff from what I'm told.
http://www.crowncityrockers.
|||||| SATURDAY 9/22 ||||||
Medeski, Scofield, Martin, and Wood @ the Fillmore - $32.50
Friday & Saturday shows (join me tonight!). See above.
http://www.mmw.net/
Papa Grows Funk @ the Independent - $20
One of New Orleans' finest funk bands, Papa Grows rocks with a loose improvisational take on the Crescent City's syncopated roots music. If you're lookin' to dance hard to some authentic 'Nawlins grooves, this is definitely the gig for you.
http://www.papagrowsfunk.com/
Skerik's Maelstrom Trio @ Boom Boom Room - $15
Friday & Saturday shows (I'll be there Friday). See above.
http://www.myspace.com/
|||||| SUNDAY 9/23 ||||||
Phil Lesh & Friends @ the Greek (Berkeley)
The venerable Grateful Dead bassist, a talented musician with classical and jazz training, brings his band around for a special night at the Greek. They do rich and vibrant renditions of Dead tunes along with originals by Phil that should compliment the setting sun and Berkeley skyline quite nicely...
http://www.phillesh.net/
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