Top 10 Shows of 2006
All in all I ended up seeing 60 shows (give or take) in 2006. Not a bad year, but I wish I wasn’t sick when moe. was in the Pacific Northwest in September. That said, I was really happy with my festival choices of Jam in the Dam and Vegoose. Who knows where 2007 will take me, but here’s one last look back before I close the book on the year that was.
My Top 10 of 2006…
1) 10/30/06 - Widespread Panic - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena (11th show)
I: Contentment Blues, People are Strange > You Should be Glad > John's Other Jam > Pilgrims > Greta > Sharon > Time Zones, Stop-Go > Imitation Leather Shoes > Chainsaw City
II: Can’t Get There From Here, Slippin' Into Darkness > When the Clowns Come Home, Diner > Proving Ground > Drums* > Airplane** > Morning Dew > Love Tractor
E: That Old Black Magic, Radar Love, I Want You (She's So Heavy)
*w/ Jeff Lane on percussion
**w/ Carrot Top on percussion
[Only 'Cant Get There From Here', Only 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)', Only 'John's Other Jam', Only 'People Are Strange', Only 'That Old Black Magic'; Last 'Airplane' - 07/02/02, 316 shows; Last 'Morning Dew' - 01/14/89, 1976 shows; Last 'Radar Love' - 10/31/96, 876 shows]
I already covered this show in depth on the blog (‘Vegoose in Review’), but suffice it to say that this was a magical night that made me rethink my entire stance on WSP. Great setlist, off the charts energy and the perfect way to cap a long weekend in Vegas.
2) 12/31/06 - String Cheese Incident - San Francisco, CA - Concourse Exhibition Center (11th show)
I: Can't Stop Now, These Waves, BAM! > Rockit > BAM!, Pretty Polly, Rhum 'n' Zouc, Close Your Eyes > Rocket Man > Close Your Eyes, Desert Dawn
II: Miss Brown's Teahouse > Sex Machine > Miss Brown's Teahouse > Star Trek Theme+ > Rollover > Ziggy Stardust, Rain, Farther, Dub Jam* > It Is What It Is, Bumpin' Reel, Black Clouds
E: Joyful Sound, Birdland** > Wheel Hoss > Birdland > Rollover
+w/ NYE countdown
*w/ Bassnectar on turntables
**w/ Soul Eye rapping
Another show that I already wrote about in depth on the blog (‘Sea of Dreams ’07’). I couldn’t have asked for a better setlist, and the overall positive-ness of the vibe inside the arena was something I’ll never forget. Farewell SCI, we had too few *moments* together, but the last was certainly the best.
3) 1/21/06 - Sound Tribe Sector 9 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox (15th show)
I: Instantly, Satori, Warrior, Luma Daylight, Tokyo, Circus, Rent
II: Peoples, One a Day, Four Year Puma, ReEmergence, Dem Be, Orbital, Moon Socket
E: Arigato
The Showbox is one of my least favorite places to see a show anywhere in the country. Small, crowded and no place to sit is usually not a good combo. Unless of course the band plays well enough to make you forget about your surroundings.
Luckily for me, that was exactly the case on this night.
I knew good things were ahead when bassist David Murphy came out and said “Hope ya’ll ready to dance up in here tonight.” They dropped directly into ‘Instantly’ from there and got the party started right. Following ‘Instantly’ with the melodic ‘Satori’ made for the perfect one-two show opening combo.
As high quality as the first set was, the second set was even better. A ‘Peoples’ opener set the tone. New tune ‘One a Day’ did not let up and ‘Four Year Puma’ is an always welcome oldie. But the surprise of the show was ‘ReEmergence’. ReE is a slow number, but the boys took this one way out there and produced the best version ever.
Not much needs to be said about the ‘Orbital, Moon Socket’ closing pair, other then it got real sweaty inside the “Box”. Murph let us know prior to the encore that it was keyboardist David Phipps birthday, and I think that had something to do with the band’s elevated energy throughout this show.
4) 6/10/06 - The Black Crowes - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheater (9th show)
Wiser Time, Jam > Black Moon Creeping, High Head Blues, Got to Get Better in a Little While, Darling of the Underground Press, Jam > Thorn In My Pride, Up on Cripple Creek, Soul Singing, L.A., Hard to Handle, Jealous Again
E: Around and Around
I was super-psyched to finally see my boys headlining their own summer shed tour (with the Drive-By Truckers and Robert Randolph & the Family Band opening). And the first night of their two month tour did not disappoint, even though the place was at least half empty and the lot scene prior to the show was non-existent.
A ‘Wiser Time’ opener was a welcome surprise, but the ‘Got to Get Better in a Little While’ (with Chris Robinson on electric guitar) really set things off for me. ‘Darling of the Underground Press’ was a tune I never expected to hear again, and Rich Robinson singing lead vocals on The Band’s ‘Up on Cripple Creek’ was as good as it gets. The since booted Marc Ford singing lead on Neil Young’s ‘L.A.’ was also a highlight, as was the encore of Chuck Berry’s ‘Around and Around’.
But what made this set so special were the jammers. ‘Black Moon Creeping, Thorn In My Pride, Soul Singing & Hard to Handle’ all showed why the Crowes are a force to be reckoned with when they put their collective minds to it. I couldn’t have asked for a better show.
5) 12/30/06 - Lotus - San Francisco, CA - Concourse Exhibition Center (3rd show)
One Last Hurrah, Kesey Seed, Greet the Mind, Hammerstrike, Spiritualize, It's All Clear to Me Now > Shimmer and Out
As covered in ‘Sea of Dreams ‘07’, now is the time to see Lotus so you can say “I saw them when.” The fact that this had to be many people’s first time seeing them only adds to their legend in the making.
6) 7/11/06 - Widespread Panic - Eugene, OR - Cuthbert Amphitheater (9th show)
I: All Time Low, Disco, Dyin' Man, Weight of the World, Holden Oversoul, Better Off, 1 x 1, You Should Be Glad > None of Us are Free
II: Aunt Avis > Bear's Gone Fishin', Doreatha, Tortured Artist, Greta, Mercy > Drums > Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun Jam > Interstellar Overdrive* > Astronomy Domine Jam* > Interstellar Overdrive* > Vampire Blues*, Postcard* > Space Wrangler*
E: Thought Sausage, May Your Glass Be Filled
*w/ Sam Holt on guitar
[Only 'Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun Jam'; Last 'Astronomy Domine Jam' - 04/19/02, 272 shows]
This was my first time back at the Cuthbert since 7/3/01 (Phil & Friends), and I was damn glad that the powers that be finally decided to let some real shows return to Eugene in the summertime.
The opening pairing of ‘All Time Low, Disco’ was HOT. Not to mention that you could walk right up to the front row if you pleased. ‘Holden Oversoul’ was PHat as well and I was actually glad to hear ‘You Should Be Glad’.
I’ll never forget the sunset and the breeze floating through the trees behind the stage during the ‘Aunt Avis’ opener. Totally picturesque Oregon summer night and Avis fit the moment perfectly for me. ‘Greta’ was high quality as well, but it was the smorgasbord of Pink Floyd jams out of drums that really set this show apart. Syd Barrett had died a few days prior and Panic did a fine job honoring his memory.
The best ‘Space Wrangler’ I’ve ever heard closed out a super night in Eugene. Here’s to hoping that more bands play the Cuthbert this coming summer.
7) 3/21/06 - Sound Tribe Sector 9 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Old Hall, Melkweg (18th show)
This, Us, Evasive Maneuvers > Kamuy, Somesing, Circus, Be Nice, Tap-In, One a Day, Pianoir, Peoples, Mischief of a Sleepwalker, Moon Socket, Four Year Puma
This was the best set of Jam in the Dam for me. We walked in at the end of ‘This, Us’ and got treated to a ragin’ ‘Evasive > Kamuy’ suite. This show makes the list because beginning with ‘Be Nice’ there was no let-up until they put down their instruments. Just a full force STS9 dance party in the smaller of the two rooms inside the Melkweg on the final day of JITD.
8) 10/29/06 - The Rhythm Devils - Las Vegas, NV - Double Down Stage, Star Nursery Field (1st time)
Jam > The Center, Your House > Cumberland Blues > Comes Dawn, New Speedway Boogie, Next Dimension > Drums > The Other One > The Wedge, Fire on the Mountain, Turn on Your Lovelight
E: Good Lovin’
Since I wrote about this in ‘Vegoose in Review’ I’ve been able to listen to this show on archive.org, and it gets better every time I hear it. The best, and maybe somewhat surprising, thing about this set is the new Robert Hunter penned originals. ‘The Center, Your House, Comes Dawn & Next Dimension’ are all better then average tunes in my book.
9) 10/28/06 - Keller Williams Incident - Las Vegas, NV - Double Down Stage, Star Nursery Field (2nd show)
Burning Down the House > Once in a Lifetime, Ninja of Love, Blatant Ripoff, Luckiest Man, Mullet Cut, Sing for My Dinner, Portapotty, Lightning, Bob Rules > Restless Wind > Bob Rules, Bargain, Life > Freeker by the Speaker
I obviously hit upon this one in ‘Vegoose in Review’ too, but I feel compelled to mention again that ‘Sing for My Dinner’ and ‘Freeker by the Speaker’ have amazing jams that come out of them. Great, great show as the sun set on the first day of Vegoose.
10) 3/20/06 - Umphrey’s McGee - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Max, Melkweg (6th show)
Atmosfarag, Der Bluten Kat, Liquid, Wife Soup, Eat > Nothing Too Fancy, Thin Air, In the Kitchen
I’ll admit that maybe I didn’t quite appreciate this show for all it was at the time. I mean, I knew it was solid, but after listening to it on CD my eyes were opened to it’s true quality.
Not many songs, or lyrics for that matter, but the ‘Der Bluten Kat’ (32 minutes) and ‘Nothing Too Fancy’ (27 minutes) took the technical type jams Umphrey’s is capable of to a whole ‘nother level. I also have to mention that of the four bands at JITD, the Umph was by far the tightest unit. I mean, just the jaw dropping mid-song changes that they were able to consistently pull off were something to behold.
The next three…
11) 10/28/06 - Yonder Mountain String Band - Las Vegas, NV - Double Down Stage, Star Nursery Field (2nd show)
Up on the Hill Where They Do the Boogie, Angel, How 'Bout You?, Night Out, Too Late Now, Night is Left Behind, Mother's Only Son, Get Me Outta This City, Left Me in a Hole, 40 Miles from Denver, East Nashville Easter, Damned if the Right One Didn't Go Wrong, Sidewalk Stars, Death Trip
Again, already covered this one in ‘Vegoose in Review’, but is it too much to ask that the YMSB boys play a few non-Horning’s shows in Oregon this upcoming year?
12) 3/19/06 - Sound Tribe Sector 9 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Max, Melkweg (16th show)
Ramone & Emiglio, Aimlessly, Warrior, Tokyo, Music, Us, Surreality > EB, Instantly, Lo Swaga, Really Wut?, Open E
E: Grow
The set that kicked off JITD (The Disco Biscuits closed it out if you were wondering) had it’s moments of greatness, but wasn’t strong all the way through. The opening combo of ‘Ramone & Emiglio, Aimlessly’ certainly got things off to a stellar start. The highlight for me was the ultra-rare ‘Surreality > EB’ followed by ‘Instantly’. The ‘Grow’ encore was also mighty fine.
13) 3/21/06 - Umphrey’s McGee - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Max, Melkweg (7th show)
Hangover, 40's Theme > Dump City > 40's Theme, Passing, Professor Wormbog, Waiting Room > JaJunk, Divisions, Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution > Divisions, Miss Tinkle's Overture, Higgins
E: Pay the Snucka
The boys from Chicago certainly brought it on the final day of JITD. Again, I can’t stress enough just how tight these guys really are. How they can play so fast, change on a dime, keep going and never lose their togetherness or flow is amazing. Other then that, ‘40’s Theme’ and ‘Pay the Snucka’ are always nice to hear.
Honorable Mention…
3/20/06 - Benevento/Russo Duo - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Old Hall, Melkweg (4th show)
setlist unknown
w/ Brian Haas, Jason Smart & Reed Mathis from Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Charlie Hunter & Bobby Previte
I just had to mention this show for the sheer madness we walked into right after having our collective minds blown by Umphrey’s McGee in the other room. Such is why you go to JITD though I guess. I was going to try and explain it, but I’ll let this link do it for me. Remember, there are only two people in The Duo proper.
Worst show of the year…
5/15/06 - The Coalition of the Willing - Eugene, OR - The WOW Hall (1st time)
setlist unknown
How can a super group consisting of Charlie Hunter on guitar, Marco Benevento on keys and the inimitable Skerik on sax end up here? I’ll tell you how. They all end up reading sheet music written by drummer and group founder Bobby Previte.
I’ve never been at a show where a group of guys this talented are reading charts on stage six shows into a tour. When the goal is improvisation, not knowing the songs, much less the changes, much less who’s turn it is to solo, tends to be a major problem.
Now, if the songs were good maybe this would not have mattered all that much, but they weren’t. This band sounded like heavy metal jazz or something, and if that wasn’t bad enough, you literally could see the lack of confidence on everyone’s faces (minus Previte himself) throughout the first set.
Obviously, we were out at set break, and almost didn’t last long.
My Top 10 of 2006…
1) 10/30/06 - Widespread Panic - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena (11th show)
I: Contentment Blues, People are Strange > You Should be Glad > John's Other Jam > Pilgrims > Greta > Sharon > Time Zones, Stop-Go > Imitation Leather Shoes > Chainsaw City
II: Can’t Get There From Here, Slippin' Into Darkness > When the Clowns Come Home, Diner > Proving Ground > Drums* > Airplane** > Morning Dew > Love Tractor
E: That Old Black Magic, Radar Love, I Want You (She's So Heavy)
*w/ Jeff Lane on percussion
**w/ Carrot Top on percussion
[Only 'Cant Get There From Here', Only 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)', Only 'John's Other Jam', Only 'People Are Strange', Only 'That Old Black Magic'; Last 'Airplane' - 07/02/02, 316 shows; Last 'Morning Dew' - 01/14/89, 1976 shows; Last 'Radar Love' - 10/31/96, 876 shows]
I already covered this show in depth on the blog (‘Vegoose in Review’), but suffice it to say that this was a magical night that made me rethink my entire stance on WSP. Great setlist, off the charts energy and the perfect way to cap a long weekend in Vegas.
2) 12/31/06 - String Cheese Incident - San Francisco, CA - Concourse Exhibition Center (11th show)
I: Can't Stop Now, These Waves, BAM! > Rockit > BAM!, Pretty Polly, Rhum 'n' Zouc, Close Your Eyes > Rocket Man > Close Your Eyes, Desert Dawn
II: Miss Brown's Teahouse > Sex Machine > Miss Brown's Teahouse > Star Trek Theme+ > Rollover > Ziggy Stardust, Rain, Farther, Dub Jam* > It Is What It Is, Bumpin' Reel, Black Clouds
E: Joyful Sound, Birdland** > Wheel Hoss > Birdland > Rollover
+w/ NYE countdown
*w/ Bassnectar on turntables
**w/ Soul Eye rapping
Another show that I already wrote about in depth on the blog (‘Sea of Dreams ’07’). I couldn’t have asked for a better setlist, and the overall positive-ness of the vibe inside the arena was something I’ll never forget. Farewell SCI, we had too few *moments* together, but the last was certainly the best.
3) 1/21/06 - Sound Tribe Sector 9 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox (15th show)
I: Instantly, Satori, Warrior, Luma Daylight, Tokyo, Circus, Rent
II: Peoples, One a Day, Four Year Puma, ReEmergence, Dem Be, Orbital, Moon Socket
E: Arigato
The Showbox is one of my least favorite places to see a show anywhere in the country. Small, crowded and no place to sit is usually not a good combo. Unless of course the band plays well enough to make you forget about your surroundings.
Luckily for me, that was exactly the case on this night.
I knew good things were ahead when bassist David Murphy came out and said “Hope ya’ll ready to dance up in here tonight.” They dropped directly into ‘Instantly’ from there and got the party started right. Following ‘Instantly’ with the melodic ‘Satori’ made for the perfect one-two show opening combo.
As high quality as the first set was, the second set was even better. A ‘Peoples’ opener set the tone. New tune ‘One a Day’ did not let up and ‘Four Year Puma’ is an always welcome oldie. But the surprise of the show was ‘ReEmergence’. ReE is a slow number, but the boys took this one way out there and produced the best version ever.
Not much needs to be said about the ‘Orbital, Moon Socket’ closing pair, other then it got real sweaty inside the “Box”. Murph let us know prior to the encore that it was keyboardist David Phipps birthday, and I think that had something to do with the band’s elevated energy throughout this show.
4) 6/10/06 - The Black Crowes - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheater (9th show)
Wiser Time, Jam > Black Moon Creeping, High Head Blues, Got to Get Better in a Little While, Darling of the Underground Press, Jam > Thorn In My Pride, Up on Cripple Creek, Soul Singing, L.A., Hard to Handle, Jealous Again
E: Around and Around
I was super-psyched to finally see my boys headlining their own summer shed tour (with the Drive-By Truckers and Robert Randolph & the Family Band opening). And the first night of their two month tour did not disappoint, even though the place was at least half empty and the lot scene prior to the show was non-existent.
A ‘Wiser Time’ opener was a welcome surprise, but the ‘Got to Get Better in a Little While’ (with Chris Robinson on electric guitar) really set things off for me. ‘Darling of the Underground Press’ was a tune I never expected to hear again, and Rich Robinson singing lead vocals on The Band’s ‘Up on Cripple Creek’ was as good as it gets. The since booted Marc Ford singing lead on Neil Young’s ‘L.A.’ was also a highlight, as was the encore of Chuck Berry’s ‘Around and Around’.
But what made this set so special were the jammers. ‘Black Moon Creeping, Thorn In My Pride, Soul Singing & Hard to Handle’ all showed why the Crowes are a force to be reckoned with when they put their collective minds to it. I couldn’t have asked for a better show.
5) 12/30/06 - Lotus - San Francisco, CA - Concourse Exhibition Center (3rd show)
One Last Hurrah, Kesey Seed, Greet the Mind, Hammerstrike, Spiritualize, It's All Clear to Me Now > Shimmer and Out
As covered in ‘Sea of Dreams ‘07’, now is the time to see Lotus so you can say “I saw them when.” The fact that this had to be many people’s first time seeing them only adds to their legend in the making.
6) 7/11/06 - Widespread Panic - Eugene, OR - Cuthbert Amphitheater (9th show)
I: All Time Low, Disco, Dyin' Man, Weight of the World, Holden Oversoul, Better Off, 1 x 1, You Should Be Glad > None of Us are Free
II: Aunt Avis > Bear's Gone Fishin', Doreatha, Tortured Artist, Greta, Mercy > Drums > Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun Jam > Interstellar Overdrive* > Astronomy Domine Jam* > Interstellar Overdrive* > Vampire Blues*, Postcard* > Space Wrangler*
E: Thought Sausage, May Your Glass Be Filled
*w/ Sam Holt on guitar
[Only 'Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun Jam'; Last 'Astronomy Domine Jam' - 04/19/02, 272 shows]
This was my first time back at the Cuthbert since 7/3/01 (Phil & Friends), and I was damn glad that the powers that be finally decided to let some real shows return to Eugene in the summertime.
The opening pairing of ‘All Time Low, Disco’ was HOT. Not to mention that you could walk right up to the front row if you pleased. ‘Holden Oversoul’ was PHat as well and I was actually glad to hear ‘You Should Be Glad’.
I’ll never forget the sunset and the breeze floating through the trees behind the stage during the ‘Aunt Avis’ opener. Totally picturesque Oregon summer night and Avis fit the moment perfectly for me. ‘Greta’ was high quality as well, but it was the smorgasbord of Pink Floyd jams out of drums that really set this show apart. Syd Barrett had died a few days prior and Panic did a fine job honoring his memory.
The best ‘Space Wrangler’ I’ve ever heard closed out a super night in Eugene. Here’s to hoping that more bands play the Cuthbert this coming summer.
7) 3/21/06 - Sound Tribe Sector 9 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Old Hall, Melkweg (18th show)
This, Us, Evasive Maneuvers > Kamuy, Somesing, Circus, Be Nice, Tap-In, One a Day, Pianoir, Peoples, Mischief of a Sleepwalker, Moon Socket, Four Year Puma
This was the best set of Jam in the Dam for me. We walked in at the end of ‘This, Us’ and got treated to a ragin’ ‘Evasive > Kamuy’ suite. This show makes the list because beginning with ‘Be Nice’ there was no let-up until they put down their instruments. Just a full force STS9 dance party in the smaller of the two rooms inside the Melkweg on the final day of JITD.
8) 10/29/06 - The Rhythm Devils - Las Vegas, NV - Double Down Stage, Star Nursery Field (1st time)
Jam > The Center, Your House > Cumberland Blues > Comes Dawn, New Speedway Boogie, Next Dimension > Drums > The Other One > The Wedge, Fire on the Mountain, Turn on Your Lovelight
E: Good Lovin’
Since I wrote about this in ‘Vegoose in Review’ I’ve been able to listen to this show on archive.org, and it gets better every time I hear it. The best, and maybe somewhat surprising, thing about this set is the new Robert Hunter penned originals. ‘The Center, Your House, Comes Dawn & Next Dimension’ are all better then average tunes in my book.
9) 10/28/06 - Keller Williams Incident - Las Vegas, NV - Double Down Stage, Star Nursery Field (2nd show)
Burning Down the House > Once in a Lifetime, Ninja of Love, Blatant Ripoff, Luckiest Man, Mullet Cut, Sing for My Dinner, Portapotty, Lightning, Bob Rules > Restless Wind > Bob Rules, Bargain, Life > Freeker by the Speaker
I obviously hit upon this one in ‘Vegoose in Review’ too, but I feel compelled to mention again that ‘Sing for My Dinner’ and ‘Freeker by the Speaker’ have amazing jams that come out of them. Great, great show as the sun set on the first day of Vegoose.
10) 3/20/06 - Umphrey’s McGee - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Max, Melkweg (6th show)
Atmosfarag, Der Bluten Kat, Liquid, Wife Soup, Eat > Nothing Too Fancy, Thin Air, In the Kitchen
I’ll admit that maybe I didn’t quite appreciate this show for all it was at the time. I mean, I knew it was solid, but after listening to it on CD my eyes were opened to it’s true quality.
Not many songs, or lyrics for that matter, but the ‘Der Bluten Kat’ (32 minutes) and ‘Nothing Too Fancy’ (27 minutes) took the technical type jams Umphrey’s is capable of to a whole ‘nother level. I also have to mention that of the four bands at JITD, the Umph was by far the tightest unit. I mean, just the jaw dropping mid-song changes that they were able to consistently pull off were something to behold.
The next three…
11) 10/28/06 - Yonder Mountain String Band - Las Vegas, NV - Double Down Stage, Star Nursery Field (2nd show)
Up on the Hill Where They Do the Boogie, Angel, How 'Bout You?, Night Out, Too Late Now, Night is Left Behind, Mother's Only Son, Get Me Outta This City, Left Me in a Hole, 40 Miles from Denver, East Nashville Easter, Damned if the Right One Didn't Go Wrong, Sidewalk Stars, Death Trip
Again, already covered this one in ‘Vegoose in Review’, but is it too much to ask that the YMSB boys play a few non-Horning’s shows in Oregon this upcoming year?
12) 3/19/06 - Sound Tribe Sector 9 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Max, Melkweg (16th show)
Ramone & Emiglio, Aimlessly, Warrior, Tokyo, Music, Us, Surreality > EB, Instantly, Lo Swaga, Really Wut?, Open E
E: Grow
The set that kicked off JITD (The Disco Biscuits closed it out if you were wondering) had it’s moments of greatness, but wasn’t strong all the way through. The opening combo of ‘Ramone & Emiglio, Aimlessly’ certainly got things off to a stellar start. The highlight for me was the ultra-rare ‘Surreality > EB’ followed by ‘Instantly’. The ‘Grow’ encore was also mighty fine.
13) 3/21/06 - Umphrey’s McGee - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Max, Melkweg (7th show)
Hangover, 40's Theme > Dump City > 40's Theme, Passing, Professor Wormbog, Waiting Room > JaJunk, Divisions, Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution > Divisions, Miss Tinkle's Overture, Higgins
E: Pay the Snucka
The boys from Chicago certainly brought it on the final day of JITD. Again, I can’t stress enough just how tight these guys really are. How they can play so fast, change on a dime, keep going and never lose their togetherness or flow is amazing. Other then that, ‘40’s Theme’ and ‘Pay the Snucka’ are always nice to hear.
Honorable Mention…
3/20/06 - Benevento/Russo Duo - Amsterdam, Netherlands - The Old Hall, Melkweg (4th show)
setlist unknown
w/ Brian Haas, Jason Smart & Reed Mathis from Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Charlie Hunter & Bobby Previte
I just had to mention this show for the sheer madness we walked into right after having our collective minds blown by Umphrey’s McGee in the other room. Such is why you go to JITD though I guess. I was going to try and explain it, but I’ll let this link do it for me. Remember, there are only two people in The Duo proper.
Worst show of the year…
5/15/06 - The Coalition of the Willing - Eugene, OR - The WOW Hall (1st time)
setlist unknown
How can a super group consisting of Charlie Hunter on guitar, Marco Benevento on keys and the inimitable Skerik on sax end up here? I’ll tell you how. They all end up reading sheet music written by drummer and group founder Bobby Previte.
I’ve never been at a show where a group of guys this talented are reading charts on stage six shows into a tour. When the goal is improvisation, not knowing the songs, much less the changes, much less who’s turn it is to solo, tends to be a major problem.
Now, if the songs were good maybe this would not have mattered all that much, but they weren’t. This band sounded like heavy metal jazz or something, and if that wasn’t bad enough, you literally could see the lack of confidence on everyone’s faces (minus Previte himself) throughout the first set.
Obviously, we were out at set break, and almost didn’t last long.
posted by D$ at 8:14 PM
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