Phestivallllllll!

by | May 4, 2001 | Music

Jazz Phest

This year I attended my 4th Jazz Phest and for a variety of reasons I must count this one as the best, so phar. Reason numero uno has to go to New School Goverment Mule. Mule played the beautiful Orpheum Theater on Saturday night, and it was my first time seeing the band following the loss of bass player, Allen Woody. Dave Schools from Panic did a sick job of philling in and with Chuck Leavell on keys the new band truly cooks. Another silky show at this year’s phest–Mike Clark’s Prescription Refill, Friday night at Howlin’ Wolf. We had VIP passes across town at String Cheese, but left them at the window in order to see George Porter Jr., Karl Denson, and Robert Walter kick it the phuck on down with Herbie Hancock’s drummer, Mike Clark. More highlights included George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners’ private Fesshead party and Wednesday night’s Monkey Ranch, both at Contemporary Arts Center. Monkey Ranch, like Mike Clark’s, is a band that only gigs at Phest. Monkey Ranch features Dave Malone of Radiators phame on guitar and vocals, the incredibly hot and talented Theresa Andersson on vocals and percussion, Mean Willie Green of the Neville’s on drums, and other notables from the NOLA scene.

March Madness

by | Mar 31, 2001 | Music

Jazz Mandolin Project, moe., and Galactic

I’m back in Nebraska for the first winter since 1975 and it’s wicked cold outside. It has been since last November. Unrelenting Great Plains wind, blowing cold in my face. But, I like it too. It’s fresh. Kinda like these bands…On 3/10, I went to my cousin’s wedding, then ditched out of there and drove to Lincoln for Jazz Mandolin Project. The acoustic and very phishy Vermonters were playing in Knickerbocker’s, a pretty sweet spot for a band this big. On 3/15–the Ides of March–moe. appeared at the Ranch Bowl. It was packed and I could barely move, but other than that it was ripping. On 3/30, Galactic came to town for the first time. Galactic’s keyboard player, Eric Vogel is a native Omahan, so it was a date long overdue. But let me say, THIS SHOW TORE THE ROOF OFF THE MUTHA!