by David Burn | Oct 19, 2002 | Music
Gov’t Mule
Warren came to town with an army of bass players to in tow. New Orleans legend and one funky ass Meter, George Porter, Jr. opened the show on bass. WOW! What can I say? Of all the bass players that have stood up there since Woody’s passing, GP really took my breath away. Then to have Schools come out and do his thing…NICE! Greg Rzab, of Buddy Guy’s band also lent a hand on bass in the second set. Aside from the orchestral movements of the band, the Mule also ventured into some serious rock classics that they normally do not play. Warren’s the master.
by David Burn | Oct 12, 2002 | Music
Strangefolk
Strangefolk is a great name for this somewhat unassuming looking band from the lovely Green Mountain state. Actually, if I had to guess I’d say three of these guys were prep school buddies at Choate or some such, and they probably picked up a couple of hitchhikers one day who just happened to play bass and keys. Looks can be deceiveing however. Music on the other hand rarely is. And Strangefolk delivers an inviting, fresh sounding hippie groove that is light and dry, sort of like a high end chardonnay.
by David Burn | Sep 19, 2002 | Music
The Who
Milt called me at work to remind me that one half of The Who would be present on Denver soil this very evening. We decided to go ticketless and see what we could find. Arriving late, we heard the first strains of Pete’s guitar as we approached the gate and box office. We dropped large dig (too much to print here!) and went straight for our 100 level seats. The Who delivered one song after another, every one of them a FM radio hit from my childhood. Kinda trippy. All in all a good outing, especially given that I had never once seen these English rock legends at work.
by David Burn | Sep 1, 2002 | Music
Phil Lesh + Phriends
This pivotal end of summer celebration began on Friday at Aspen’s Buttermilk Mountain as Government Mule (with Dave Schools on bass and Rob Barraco on keys) took the stage at five p.m. Phil then played two phat sets with “Uncle John’s Band” standing out in the second set. Late night brought Deep Banana Blackout to the Double Diamond. When members of Dirty Dozen Brass Band joined them on stage, we suddenly had a Dirty Banana jam to contemplate. Saturday and Sunday brought Phil to Red Rocks with Ratdog and Willie Nelson opening, respectively. Very nice! Saturday’s show featured “‘Til the Morning Comes” and “Mason’s Children” in the first set. On Sunday we were treated to a wicked “I Am the Walrus” in the first and an “Unbroken > Wharf Rat > Terrapin > Again and Again > Terrapin” to open the second. Treats all around. We wrapped up the weekend at Quixote’s new location on South Broadway, where Garaj Mahal duly entertained the highly receptive late night crowd.
by David Burn | Aug 18, 2002 | Music
Widespread Panic and Jerry Joseph + the Jackmormons
“It feels so good to be alive,” sang Jerry at the side stage on Sunday. A truer sentiment could not have been spoken. After losing Mikey Houser to pancreatic cancer only a week earlier, the Panic showed up at Fiddler’s Green for two days of intense emotional release, a.k.a. music. It was powerful healing for all involved. While personal tragedy does strike, the music and the bands live on. So many of the bands we love have a death in them–Government Mule, Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers Band, Blues Traveler, Leftover Salmon, and now Panic. Yet, in every case the music lives on. And in the Panic’s case, we can all be most thankful for this affirming fact of life.
by David Burn | Aug 10, 2002 | Music
Leftover Salmon
As Milt, Julie, Lori, and I arrived at Mishawaka up beautiful Poudre Canyon for the Salmon, we could not help but notice the music playing over the PA–Widespread Panic. A friend approached right before the Salmon started and told us the news. Mikey Houser had passed away. With that sad news weighing on us, the Salmon came out and dedicated the show to Mark Vann and Mikey, and then rededicated “Ain’t No Use” to Mikey in the first set. It was a spine-tingling moment, for sure. Salmon played an enormous show from 9:30 p.m. until 2:20 a.m. with the amazing “Sharon” by David Bromberg thrown in among several encore choices. All the while meteors shot across the mountain sky in celestial grandeur. Cosmic!
by David Burn | Aug 9, 2002 | Music
Robert Hunter and The Radiators on the Rox
I moved back to colorful Colorado last month and rented a place at Red Rocks Apartments in Lakewood, just minutes from Red Rocks. Last night, on the seven year anniversary of Jerry’s passing, Denver Deadhead bar, Quixote’s brought Robert Hunter to town for their second annual Quixote’s on the Rox phest. The sweet spot of his show was the four song run, New Speedway>Liberty>Loose Lucy>Terrapin. Now that’s what I’m talking about! Then the Rads came out to kick it phunky swampy style. “River Run” was their best song of the night. Surely written about the mighty Mississippi, it works equally well as a reference to the Colorado high country–headwaters for the Platte, Arkansas, and Colorado.
by David Burn | Jul 5, 2002 | Music
String Cheese Incident, Galactic, Widespread Panic, and Blues Traveler
Kansas City’s Starlight Amphitheatre was the scene for The Cheese on Saturday, 6/29 and then again for Galactic>Panic on Friday, July 5th. Great venue! Starlight is located in a huge city park next to the Zoo and the staff has a very tolerant attitude toward the heads. KC itself is a humid, greasy pit of a place for music. Hence, the legendary nights of jazz and blues at 18th and Vine with the likes of KC native Charlie Parker. While the Cheese got it going in the first set, they left me flat in the second. Galactic and Panic on the other hand shredded the place from the get go. Saturday, July 6th brought Blues Traveler to Sioux City’s Grandview Park to headline a free day of music featuring Sonny Landreth, John Hiatt, and others. BT came out (fresh on the heels of two nights at Red Rox) juiced at the size of the crowd or perhaps just enjoying the welcoming Midwestern vibe…whatever the motivation BT proceeded to throw down Black Cat style for the masses. And damn, Popper looks good these days!
by David Burn | Jun 16, 2002 | Music
Allman Brothers Band
Given that it’s been almost four years since I’ve seen Warren Haynes as a member of
the Allmans, it was a treat to see him front and center (center stage) this past weekend at the Fillmore in Denver, a relatively small venue for the Brothers. This was also my first Allmans show minus Dickey Betts. The new front line of Derek Trucks and Warren on guitar, with Oteil on bass produce a vibrant, spacey, almost underwater, sound. Derek wore his “Sun Ra Research” t-shirt on Saturday, tipping his hat to this direction/influence. All I can say is this blend of old and new, jazz with blues, is some “Good Clean Fun.”
by David Burn | May 11, 2002 | Music
Garaj Mahal
After blowing off Jazz Fest this year (horrible form for a phester), I really needed this “spacey” show at the Fox in Boulder. Milt’s been raving about Garaj Mahal for awhile now, so when I woke up with little to do this Saturday and noticed on Pollstar that they were playing in Boulder–a mere eight hour jaunt from Homey–I got in my vehicle and motored West, spur of the moment stylee. It was well worth the effort, as this first encounter with Garaj definitely set the hook. Jamie Janover also sat in with the band and we hung out with him a bit after the show. Super nice guy! As are the gentlemen from Garaj.
