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Allie’s Adventures in Eating: Snacking in Queens

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My husband had a great idea for how we could spend a sunny Saturday afternoon recently. He suggested that we escape our beloved Brooklyn for an afternoon visit to the borough of Queens. We exited the 7 train two stops from Citi Field–snacking our way through the neighborhood. Our final destination would be the baseball park which has become legendary for good eats in a very short period of time.

Our first stop was a South American taco truck right off the 7. These trucks are well known for cooking up amazing snacks for uber cheap prices.

Queens Taco Truck

Queens Taco Truck Pollo Taco

Queens Taco Truck Gordita

  1. Taco with Chicken, Cilantro, Onion, Radish and Queso Fresco
  2. Gordita with Crispy Pork Skin, Spicy Pork, Lettuce, Crema and Queso Fresco

I believe we paid less than $6.00 for these two handheld delights, and they were delicious. I admittedly played it a bit safe with the chicken taco, but it was tender and seasoned well. Chris went for the gold with the spicy pork gordita and his risk paid off with multiple layers of crunch and spice. I know exactly where I’m going for a snack the next time we go to Queens!

After having such a fun experience eating at the truck, we thought we’d knock it out of the park with tacos at Tortilleria Nixtamal–a food lover’s darling in NYC–for their 100% all-corn tortilla preparation and local ingredients. Unfortunately, this did not turn out to be the case at all.

Tortilleria Nixtamal

Tortilleria Nixtamal Lamb Taco

Tortilleria Nixtamal Al Pastor Taco

  1. Lamb Taco with Cilantro and Onions
  2. Al Pastor (Pork sliced from a spit) Taco with Pineapple, Cilantro and Onions

Words cannot express how disappointed we were with both of these tacos, but especially, the pork taco. Typically, when you order al pastor, the meat has an incredible amount of in depth flavors. In this case, the pork left a “mealy” taste in our mouths which lingered most of the afternoon. The lamb was just okay at best.

It was finally time to play ball! After about two hours and three miles of walking, we made it to the ballpark.

Citi Field

Citi Field

Citi Field Blue Smoke & Shake Shack

Citi Field Box Frites

Citi Field Two Boots Pizza

Citi Field Blue Smoke Pulled Pork

Citi Field Blue Smoke Bologna Sandwich

Citi Field Box Frites Buffalo Dog

Citi Field Box Frites

Citi Field Two Boots Pizza "Meat the Mets"

  1. Blue Smoke Pulled Pork Sandwich with Barbecue Sauce, Pickles and Onions
  2. Blue Smoke Memphis Style All-Beef Bologna Sandwich with Barbecue Sauce, Pickles and Onions
  3. Box Frites Buffalo Hot Dog with Blue Cheese Dressing, Hot Sauce, Pickled Carrots and Celery
  4. Box Frites Fries with Smokey Bacon and Chipotle Barbecue Sauces
  5. Two Boots Pizza “Meat the Mets” Slice

I probably could’ve written an article just about Citi Field eats alone, as we had so much fun in the food court. The ballpark truly lived up to the hype with a wide variety of delectable treats.

Our resounding favorite of all these snacks was the bologna sandwich from Blue Smoke. Wow! The slab of meat must’ve been at least a centimeter thick and full of smoky flavor. We also loved the buffalo dog, which we thought may have been more of a novelty. The weiner had a great snap, and the toppings added value–rather than detracting from the hot dog taste. Having a perfect crisp on the outside, the twice cooked fries were one of the better versions of pommes frites we’ve had. We loved the smokey bacon sauce for a dipper, which resembled a ranch dressing. You couldn’t help but smile while eating a “Meat the Mets” slice of pizza, which was a playful nod to an older Mets slogan.

The only item we thought was a clunker, surprisingly, was the Blue Smoke pulled pork. It lacked in spunk where the other sandwiches brought the fun.

Leaving Citi Field after a lovely day in Queens, I couldn’t help but smile at Chris. I would’ve never thought to head to this borough, but he came up with a great idea. It is filled with neighborhoods rich in old New York City values and diversity, and I suspect I will be writing more about Queens restaurants in the future.



Friday Mix Tape: ’70s One Hit Wonders

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Like many things in this world, they sure don’t make one-hit wonders like they used to. For this week’s Friday Mix Tape, I’ve put together a compilation of nine songs from the ’70s that marked the only major hit for the acts that recorded them. We’re talking nine catchy tunes from the decade that brought us Watergate, VCRs, the good Godfather movies and lava lamps.

We start off with the catchy Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl), a 1972 hit by Looking Glass. From there, we turn to Blues Image for Ride Captain Ride and Carl Douglas for the disco hit Kung Fu Fighting. One-hit wonders from the ’70s also came from the folk-edged King Harvest (Dancing In The Moonlight) and Dutch prog-rockers Focus (Hocus Pocus).

The Disco era brought us many revamped versions of classical tunes, such as Walter Murphy’s A Fifth of Beethoven – a groovy adaption of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. As I was putting this mix together I heard Ram Jam’s jock rock classic Black Betty play over the PA at a Bruins playoff game, so that tune had to make the cut. Next, we turn to KISS guitarist Ace Frehley whose cover of New York Groove by Hello scored him the #13 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. Finally, from the decade’s final year, we’ve got Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles, a tune that kicked off the MTV era.

’70s One Hit Wonders by Scott Bernstein on Grooveshark

Looking Glass – Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)
Blues Image – Ride Captain Ride
Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting
King Harvest – Dancing In The Moonlight
Focus – Hocus Pocus
Walter Murphy – A Fifth of Beethoven
Ram Jam – Black Betty
Ace Frehley – New York Groove
Buggles – Video Killed The Radio Star


Leftovers: New Van Halen Video / Furthur Fall Tour

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One of the surprises found on Van Halen’s impressive A Different Kind of Truth LP was the inclusion of She’s The Woman. This track was originally recorded by the band on their 1976 demo and has resurfaced all these years later. Van Halen has just released a video for the tune…

Van Halen – She’s The Woman

In other news, here’s six stories that caught our interest this week…

Finally, Furthur has turned into the Energizer Bunny of post-Jerry bands. Bob Weir and Phil Lesh’s outfit hasn’t even finished their Spring Tour, and Summer Tour is months away, but they just announced a 13-date Fall Tour that will bring them to Red Rocks for three shows and also includes a three-night stand at Edgefield in Troutdale, Ore. and a pair of gigs at L.A.’s Greek Theatre.

Here’s the full list of dates…

9/21 – 9/23: Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO
9/25: WaMu Theater at CenturyLink Field Events Center Seattle, WA
9/27 – 9/29: Edgefield Troutdale, OR
9/30: Shoreline Amphitheatre Mountain View, CA
10/2: SDSU Open Air Theatre San Diego, CA
10/4: The Joint Las Vegas, NV
10/5 & 10/6: Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA
10/7 Santa Barbara Bowl Santa Barbara, CA

Head to the Tour Page of the band’s website for full ticketing details.


Moe. New York City Beach Party – June 27

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Jam stalwarts moe. have announced a gig at a unique NYC venue set for June 27, when the band will play the Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club in Downtown Manhattan at the South Street Seaport. The show is open to those 18 and older. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, April 17, at 10AM ET.

[via the venue's FB page]

Here’s more on the Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club…

The Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club is New York City’s hottest summer venue for outdoor events. Schmooze with guests along the East River under the stars on the 200-ton sandy beach. Lounge on couches with your feet in the sand, or show off your skills over a game of pool, foosball or ping pong. Enjoy the concert in the 10,000 sq. foot open-air beer tent with the iconic Brooklyn Bridge as your backdrop. Beers on tap include Magic Hat #9-Not Quite Pale Ale, Six Point Crisp Lager, Blue Point Toasted Lager, and Ommegaang Witte Ale.

You can delight in cuisine from a menu with everything from chicken fingers to oysters on the half shell. This is truly a unique space to hear and see live music, with the setting of multiple bridges and the East River beside you.

The venue has hosted a number of rock shows in the past from the likes of Bruce Hornsby.


Jon Fishman Leads World’s Largest Cowbell Ensemble

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In a scene that would make Will Ferrell proud, the Burlington Free Press reports that roughly 1,600 cowbell-playing revelers lined Church Street in Burlington to form what Ben & Jerry’s claims is the World’s Largest Cowbell Ensemble. The ice cream makers put the event together to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Phish Food and to raise funds for Vermont Flood Recovery through the WaterWheel Foundation. Those assembled rang their cowbells along with four tunes performed by a  band fronted by Phish drummer Jon Fishman, one of which was Blue Oyster Cult’s (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, natch.

[Photo via @benandjerrys]

Lead cowbeller Fishman, sporting a “More Cowbell” t-shirt, was backed by Pork Tornado band mates Aaron Hersey on bass and Phil Abair on keys as well as drummer Russ Lawton of TAB, guitarist Bob Wagner and local singer/songwriter Joshua Panda for takes on Time Has Come Today by The Chambers Brothers, BOC’s (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, Takin’ Care of Business by Bachman-Turner Overdrive and an encore of Hang On Sloopy by The McCoys. Meanwhile, Mike Gordon signed his new Steamroller Wheelies: A Restoration Convoy CD earlier in the afternoon at the scoop shop.

As of press time, the new record hasn’t been made official yet…

Whether the roughly 1,600 cowbell-whappers took part in an official world record remains to be determined, according to Beth Montuori Rowles, executive director of the WaterWheel Foundation. She said Ben & Jerry’s documented the event and will send it on to the Guinness World Record people for their review.

[Burlington Free-Press]

Proceeds from the tickets sold, which included a cowbell and t-shirt, went to WaterWheel.

Watch the World Record Breaking Event Band perform and a local news report…

WCAX – The World’s Largest Cowbell Ensemble

[Photo via @benandjerrys]

World Record Breaking Event Band – Time Has Come Today

World Record Breaking Event Band – Takin’ Care of Business


Video: Watch Last Night’s Radiohead Coachella Set

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The first weekend of Coachella wraps up today in Indio, California; where Radiohead headlined yesterday’s festivities. Those checking in on the festival via webcast were in for a treat last night when Radiohead’s set was webcast. If you missed it, we’ve got you covered…

Radiohead – Entire Coachella Set

Setlist:

1. Bloom (1:05)
2. 15 Step (7:30)
3. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi (11:40)
4. Morning Mr Magpie (17:25)
5. Staircase (22:40)
6. The Gloaming (27:20)
7. Pyramid Song (31:10)
8. Daily Mail (36:30)
9. Myxomatosis (40:15)
10. Karma Police (45:15)
11. Identikit (50:30)
12. Lotus Flower (54:30)
13. There There (59:55)
14. Bodysnatchers (1:05:40)
15. Idioteque (1:10:00)

Encore 1

16. Lucky (1:17:20)
17. Reckoner (1:21:50)
18. After the Gold Rush intro, Everything In It’s Right Place (1:27:25)

Encore 2

19. Give Up the Ghost (1:37:20)
20. Paranoid Android (1:43:04)

[via Rock It Out! Blog]


Eighteen Years Ago: Phish @ The Beacon

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[Originally Published: April 15, 2008]

Eighteen years ago today I experienced one of the most life changing events of my existence on this planet. On April 15, 1994, I went to the Beacon Theatre to see a quartet from Vermont. Little did I know that I’d spend the next 18 years following Phish to the ends of the earth, and wind up meeting nearly all of my best friends through a mutual love of this band.

Let’s first start with how I found the band. During the summer of 1993 I attended beautiful Camp Westmont in the hills of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Two of my Westmont bunkmates spent that whole summer turning me onto the Grateful Dead with little success. After a while they finally got sick of all their Dead CD’s and threw on Phish’s Lawn Boy. The minute Reba came on the boombox my interest was immediately piqued. I loved the quirky lyrics, crazy compositions and the intense guitar work of Trey Anastasio.

When I got home from camp I went out and bought myself a copy of Lawn Boy. I’ll never forget the moment I first pressed play and The Squirming Coil hit my ears. I remember the huge smile that spread across my face, as after many years of looking I finally found a band that hit every level of emotion in my soul.

Now, I was 16 years old, so I couldn’t exactly run off on Phish tour. I had to bide my time, and wait until April when Phish planned to play a three night run at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. As soon as the shows were announced I told my parents of my plan to hit all three nights. They were absolutely dumbfounded that I wanted to see a band play three nights in a row. I tried explaining to them that Phish switched up the setlist every night, but they explained to me that the first two nights were school nights. It clearly wasn’t happening, so I was content enough to see the final show of the run on a Friday night.

I called the Phish hotline and found out that the tickets went on sale while I had Gym glass. In a move that I’ll never forget, my mother offered to go to the Ticketmaster outlet at the local West Coast Video and pick me up a pair of ducats. Luckily my mom doesn’t fuck around, because she got me tickets even though all of the shows sold out in 35 minutes. I finally had my tickets, and I was prepared to head to New York City.

Of course it wouldn’t be so easy. I got home from school the afternoon of April 15 to find my parents waiting for me at the door. It turns out my journalism teacher called and informed my folks that I hadn’t been turning in assignments. As you can probably tell, I still have problems making deadlines to this day. After reaming me out for a while my parents dropped the bombshell that I was grounded and couldn’t attend the concert. I was absolutely devastated. My parents saw the look of absolute terror in my eyes and just didn’t have it in them to follow through with the punishment they had just dished out. My folks saw how I had spent the last six months learning everything I possibly could and listening to every tape I could find of Phish. So after deciding to table my punishment until after the concert my mensch-y parents sent me on my way.

[Ticket Stub via Joe Madonna]

My buddy Andrew and I walked to the train station and boarded the first train for New York City. We got to the first stop when Andrew asked if I had the tickets. Panic set in as I realized that in all of the confusion I had left the tickets at my house. There weren’t cell phones back then so we had to get off the train at the next stop and call my folks. As if my mom and dad hadn’t done enough to help me make the show, they drove to the train station we were at to bring us the tickets. Do I have the best parents ever or what?

Andrew and I finally got into the city and headed towards the venue. After a brief trip to Central Park’s Sheep’s Meadow we made our way to Manhattan’s Upper West Side. All of the sites and sounds from that day are still firmly embedded in my memory. I remember being extremely confused by a guy with a sign that said “Punch You In The Eye,” and from all of the people offering free hugs and veggie burritos. We quickly met up with the guys from summer camp who introduced me to Phish before making our way inside of the theater. The first thing that stood out to me were the gorgeous Minkin paintings that served as a backdrop.

After what felt like an eternity the lights went down and the members of Phish took the stage. Drummer Jon Fishman started Llama and the place exploded. The energy in that room was absolutely nuts, as the crowd burst into applause after each segment of the song. Of course I hardly knew anything Phish played that night, but luckily I was surrounded by friends who knew the songs and filled me in on the details.

The song Wilson was a revelation. As the song started my friend Brent started yelling “Wilson.” Once again I was confused, but I figured I’d just yell what Brent was yelling. Soon our whole crew was yelling “Wilson,” and everyone around us started joining in. Ten seconds later everyone in the whole venue continued the chant.

A few years ago I went back and listened to the ten versions of Wilson Phish played before my first show, and I confirmed that Brent did indeed start the “Wilson chant.” A chant that would begin every time the band played Wilson for the rest of their career. All I knew that night was that it was fun to yell things at the band. Listen to what went down…

Other highlights from that glorious first set include a nasty Harry Hood, a spirited albeit brief run through Down With Disease and a rockin’ version of Chalkdust Torture. Yet the biggest smile came to my face when the boys gave me my first Bouncin’ Around The Room. The vibe in the Beacon Theater as 2800 people bounced in sync with each other was simply joyous.

Andrew and I had seats towards the back of the orchestra, so we quickly jumped on two empty seats in the tenth row that had opened up near my summer camp friends. Just before the first set ended a beefy security grabbed the two of us by the scruff of our necks and quickly ushered us out of the row. As soon as we were out of the row two older people were directed into our old seats. I noticed they both had laminates that said “Phish Parent.” We crowded in with my camp friends as the band left the stage at the end of the set. I figured I had nothing to lose so I made small talk with these “Phish Parents.” It turns out we were sitting in seats that were reserved for bassist Mike Gordon’s father and stepmother. Both Mr. Gordon and his wife were more than happy to shoot the shit with me.

I was on cloud nine as the band returned to the stage for the second set. During the first set the energy in the room was light and bright, but as soon as drummer Jon Fishman started Maze things took a dark turn. Most of the concerts I had attended up until this point were one set affairs, so it was really crazy to see how different things can be between two sets by the band on the same night.

As Phish wound their way through Maze I started to focus in on what each musician was adding to the mix. I noticed how bassist Mike Gordon would carve a path for guitarist Trey Anastasio to expertly lay down frenetic runs of notes. Next, I watched as Page McConnell summoned intense swirling organ tones out of his setup. But the thing that stuck out to me most was how all four members of Phish communicated with each other without using words. Every member of the band was looking down, but just as Trey’s solo in Maze reached a boiling point the jam stopped on a dime. Up until then I didn’t realize a band could improvise AND be tight.

Towards the middle of the second set Phish started playing the Oh Kee Pa Ceremony, a song that usually segued into Suzy Greenberg. My mother was supportive of my love for Phish, even though she didn’t understand it for a while. The songs she loved were Lizards and Suzy Greenberg, so I was really hoping the band would play the tune. Not only did Phish play Suzy, but they brought out a six-piece horn section to accompany them. The song commenced and as the first verse was sung the Giant Country Horns started strutting onto stage in quite the choreographed manner. The crowd at the Beacon went as crazy as I’d ever seen the place go when the GCH played the horn line in Suzy for the first time. Check out how loud the reaction was…

Luckily, the horns didn’t go anywhere after Suzy, and stayed out for the rest of the set. I wound up seeing a second set jammed packed with songs I wouldn’t see again for years and years. Landlady, Alumni Blues, I Wanna Be Like You and Magilla would all fade into Phish’s massive repertoire in later years. Trey and Page were clearly excited to be playing with the horns, but I certainly couldn’t get a read of Mike Gordon. It took seeing one hundred Phish shows to finally see that guy smile during a show.

I may not have known many of the songs I heard at my first Phish show, but I knew I liked what I saw. From that night forward I always wanted to be there when Phish was playing. I felt so lucky to find a band that spoke to me like Phish did. If I could be anyplace in the world I’d be at a Phish show. I didn’t want to spend my vacations on a beautiful Caribbean beach or traveling to distant locales, I wanted to be stuck in a rundown arena watching my favorite band in the world with my best friends.

I left the show that night, and took a train home to Central Jersey. As I lied in bed I pondered what had happened that night. I thought about waking my parents up to drive me to the Amtrak station so that I could catch the next show in Amherst. While I decided that wasn’t such a good idea, I did make it to 159 more shows before the band called it quits in 2004 [Ed Note 4/15/10: Yes, Phish did get back together in 2009]. Tax day may not be a happy day for many people, but it will always be a joyous day for me.


Televised Tune: On the Tube This Week

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Sensitive act Bon Iver will visit senitive talk-show host/actress Ellen DeGeneres on Thursday for the first time. Bon Iver, who has been upping their TV profile recently, also served as musical guest for the February 18 episode of SNL and will appear on Austin City Limits later this year.

Monday, April 16 [All Times ET]

  • Pat Benatar: Behind the Music Remastered [VH1 Classic 6PM]
  • My Morning Jacket: Storytellers [Palladia 10:30PM]
  • First Aid Kit on Conan [TBS 11PM]
  • White Rabbits on David Letterman [CBS 11:35PM]
  • Noel Gallagher on Jimmy Kimmel [ABC 12:05AM]

Tuesday, April 17

  • Neon Trees on Ellen [syndicated - check listings]
  • Bush on The View [syndicated - check listings]
  • Franz Ferdinand: Live in London [HDNet 1PM]
  • Esperanza Spalding on David Letterman [CBS 11:35PM]
  • Ashanti on Jimmy Kimmel [ABC 12:05AM]

Wednesday, April 18

  • Squeeze on Ellen [syndicated - check listings]
  • Nirvana: Live at the Paramount [Palladia 3PM]
  • Girls on Conan [TBS 11PM]
  • The Shins on David Letterman (R) [CBS 11:35PM]
  • Jason Mraz on Jimmy Kimmel [ABC 12:05AM]

Thursday, April 19

  • Bon Iver on Ellen [syndicated - check listings]
  • Emeli Sande on Conan [TBS 11PM]
  • Biz Markie on Celebrity  House Hunting [BIO 11:30PM]
  • Experience Hendrix Project on Jay Leno (R) [NBC 11:35PM]
  • Kasabian on Jimmy Kimmel [ABC 12:05AM]



Video: M. Ward – Primitive Girl

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After focusing his efforts on a variety of collaborative projects over the last few years, both as an artist and producer, M. Ward has finally returned to being a solo act with the release of A Wasteland Companion. The Portland-based singer-songwriter recorded the 12-track record at eight different studios, and received a helping hand from the likes of Toby Leaman (Dr. Dog), Howie Gelb (Giant Sand), Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monster Of Folk) and Zooey Deschanel (She & Him). Last week Matt stopped by Conan O’Brien’s TBS show with a full backing band to perform Primitive Girl, which includes a fiery guitar solo about two-thirds of the way through. Let’s check it out…

M. WardPrimitive Girl


Grateful Dead – Europe ’72 40 Years Later: Stuck Inside of Copenhagen With The Aarhus Blues Again

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In honor of the 40th anniversary of Europe ’72, a legendary Grateful Dead tour now available in all its 16-track glory, we enlisted the help of Joe Kolbenschlag and the Steel Cut Oats team to break down a handful of the most memorable shows from the run. Today, they continue with a look at a performance that took place 40 years ago today at Aarhus University in Denmark.

Grateful Dead, April 16th, 1972, Stakladen, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark:

When the “Euro Box” (Europe ’72: The Complete Recordings) was announced in January 2011, the first thing I thought about was being able to hear the 16-track upgrades to some of the shows that circulated with less-than-perfect quality in the past. My short list included the performances from Newcastle, Hamburg and the Bickershaw Festival set. I was much more familiar with April’s half of the tour (England, Denmark, West Germany), and although most were available in at least decent to very good quality, I figured I probably hadn’t missed out on too many of its offerings, although there was one show that never really caught my attention – until now…

Two of April’s classics happen to come from the same venue in Copenhagen, Denmark. On April 14th and 17th, 1972, the Grateful Dead played the Tivoli Concert Hall – a venue built in the 1950′s, designed to host classical music concerts. With its excellent acoustics, and seating for just under 1700, it was a perfect venue to begin the journey through “The Continent.” It’s important to note that this was the first time the band had performed to a ticketed non-English speaking audience. They had played once before in France (June 21st, 1971), but that was more of a special invitation after the festival they were booked to play was rained out. Instead, the group retreated to the famed Chateau d’Herouville near Paris, and performed to mostly unknowing local townsfolk. Garcia recalled, “It was an event and everybody just had a hell of a time — got drunk, fell in the pool. It was great.”

The first night’s gig from Copenhagen is the quintessential Europe ’72 party tape – a giddy affair that opens with my favorite Bertha of the tour, and is book-ended by some classic Pigpen in the knockout Good Lovin’ > Caution > Who Do You Love? > Caution > Good Lovin’ combo. The second Copenhagen show was also already well-known partly due to its widely bootlegged video of about eighty minutes of the three hour performance. Highlights of the pro-shot color footage include a beautiful China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider preceding the very first reading of the soon-to-be Dead staple, He’s Gone. This is as formal of a long-form video document that we will probably ever see from this tour, so make a point to view a copy if you have not already. The initial three-set show of the run was extremely popular in trading circles way back when as I’ve heard tapes of it as far back as twenty years ago, so I’m guessing this one has been circulating much longer than most.

Curiously tucked in between these two shows was a concert performed in the port city of Aarhus, Denmark on April 16th. Played at an on-campus cafeteria/canteen at Aarhus University called Stakladen, the tables and chairs were cleared away as best they could, leaving room for what appears to have been no more than 700 students. Upon arrival, the band didn’t have an adjacent practice space or much of an official dressing room, so the ‘fly by night’ vibe for both the group and audience was set well before the concert was to kick off. The previously existing copies of the Aarhus show were not complete – full tracks and portions of jams were missing, and the quality also left a little more to be desired. Compared to the balance of the April shows pre-”Euro Box,” this one ranked at the very bottom in terms of its sound – very hissy with an odd mix at times. Thankfully, we can now enjoy this show in top notch audio quality.

[Venue Photo via Music Marauders]

Falling out of the rotation as a consistent opener after this show, Greatest Story Ever Told allowed the band to flex some early muscle. As Weir spins a wild tale of Moses, Abraham and Isaac, one can detect something missing compared to any other night of the tour – where’s Donna? According to the liner notes, Mrs. Godchaux was “absent from this show for unknown reasons.” Either way, for some ears, it may be the deal-maker to pick this show up, but in her defense, it does feel as if there’s a lack of direction as the band closes out the introductory tune without her patented shrieks of joy. The next few numbers also fail to register – similar to the first sets from April 8th (London) and April 11th (Newcastle), Jerry’s wires are crossed early on – in fact, Garcia tunes his guitar during Chinatown Shuffle and Black-Throated Wind adding to the strange start.

Continuing to forge a bumpy and inconsistent path (Tennessee Jed, Mr. Charlie, BIODTL), the first watershed moments of the set inevitably occur during the jams inside of China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider. Finally, a musical comfort level begins to develop – and although this version will not be confused with some of the true standouts from April and May, the band members begin to display one of their strongest attributes – listening to each other. These twelve minutes serve as the prelude to the balance of the show, as the tone changes considerably afterwards. The transition jams offer Bobby space to create a slashing solo that the rest of the band picks up on – Jerry and Phil show patience by allowing this portion to breathe a bit. Keith drops these odd rolls as they move into I Know You Rider, and the group settles into a mellow decent towards the verses where everything aligns. The even tempos are very pleasing throughout the track, and the warmth of the recording shines here big time – this version doesn’t reach major peaks, but simmers consistently until the end.

Taking advantage of this new footing, Weir pitches the first Mexicali Blues of the tour and it’s played as if it had never left the set list. Closing out Disc #1, Loser is the tops of the tour up to that point, and Pigpen delivers his best performance of the evening (so far) with Next Time You See Me – Pig, Jerry, and Keith carry the torch, and are spot-on with all of their solos.

Disc #2 features a couple of significant highlights – the Garcia-led Playin’ In The Band and a filthy Good Lovin’ ushered by Mr. Ron McKernan, who reestablishes why he’s called Pigpen. Up to this point – with Playin’ in the set list for 14 months – I’d have to say that the ‘best version of all time’ came from the first Copenhagen show. It’s a complete departure from the initial three interpretations of the tune from England, as it possesses an extremely aggressive attitude as compared to all that precede it. As if Garcia was using the rest of the band to play a cruel trick on, he returned to the theme several times pulling the band back from their intentional drifts.

Two nights later in Aarhus, Jerry runs the table a minute outside of the verses concluding and doesn’t look back – the band recognizes this early on, and follows his path with an unbridled allegiance. As close to a ‘Tiger’ jam meltdown as we’ve heard on the tour in this context, the next few minutes sprawl with a hostile energy where all players keep the pedal down – classic 1972. Now, Pigpen led some lengthy Good Lovin’ narrations during his tenure – Princeton ’71, Fillmore East ’71, and, of course, Copenhagen ’72 are all-timers. Typically raunchy, each spun its own salacious tale – but this one would make a Hell’s Angel blush. The Aarhus Good Lovin’ is the dirtiest of them all – and you can’t help but wonder if Donna’s absence had something to do with it. So did that make him a sinner or a saint? Give this 20 minute romp a spin and judge for yourself – one of the last great Pig-infused jams.

A ragged Truckin’ opens the final disc. Considering they’ve played this every night of the tour, I would have expected some sort of larger fanfare or better synergy – boredom may have set in temporarily, I suppose. The track quickly dissipates into a Phil-led jam with the balance of the band in tow. Immediately different than most post-Truckin’ jams up to here, you can sense some real magic is about to unfold, and what happens next is what makes this show so special. Jerry hints at The Other One for a moment, but pulls back…drums and keys disappear…a simple pattern develops between Jerry, Bobby, and Phil…Billy chimes in very quietly, Keith begins to reintroduce himself as Billy adds more toms to the mix. Thumbing unfiltered chords, Phil continues to lead the jam…Pig makes himself known on organ, and Jerry cues The Other One for a second time quickly shelving the idea while moving into a new direction. Billy and Keith are excellent here as they add delicate color to what might be considered one of the first full-on Phil/Jerry space jams – as the intensity of the jam elevates, the band jumps in perfectly matching the sinister mood that Garcia and Lesh are portraying. Highs and lows are met…again, Jerry concedes while playing an almost perfect note for note compliment to Phil who has now taken full ownership of this space.

The unusual and welcomed bass rumblings dominate leaving Jer and Keith as the only ones left in Lesh’s diabolical game – scary beautiful. Jerry’s brighter tones contrast against Phil’s spiraling madness as the notes must have been bouncing off the walls of the tiny venue like crazy. This passage sounds more like something from Summer 1974 – awesome musical foreshadowing. The last few minutes of this spontaneous and incredible burst transcend a Dark Star or an Other One – this is jam personified, and quite possibly the best improvisational piece of the entire Europe ’72 tour – amazing and polarizing. I’ve listened to this section more than any other from the “Euro Box.” Afterwards, we lose Jerry for about four minutes, as the band closes the show with a 25 minute The Other One > Me and My Uncle > The Other One > Not Fade Away > Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad > Not Fade Away campaign. The NFA suite is unbelievably good, prompting the decision to skip out on an encore this night – time to get back on the bus and head back to Copenhagen.

A final discussion point to consider is if this show comprised of one or two sets. A generally accepted set break occurs prior to the Good Lovin’, but as I reviewed the old hissy tapes against the new shiny official version, I found that both copies fade in at the same time prior to Good Lovin’ starting. The song before is Dire Wolf, and it seems unlikely that they would close the set with that, as Casey Jones was the overwhelming closer of most first frames of the tour. I think what happened here is Betty and Dennis took advantage after Dire Wolf to simply replace the current reels with fresh ones (Dire Wolf fades out unprofessionally fast on the “Euro Box,” indicating a quick reel flip in the truck after the track’s conclusion) also being unaware of the band’s intentions for the evening. It would also make sense, since the band didn’t have a legitimate dressing room, to skip an intermission and just keep playing. It is the Grateful Dead after all, and something to think about.

Overcoming a slow start in Aarhus, the band came back strong putting together some of the finer moments from the Denmark run. This show has a little bit of everything, and as they complete the Danish experience the following night, they continued to gel as they play some of their best European shows in West Germany and Paris next. With the combination of a one-of-a-kind jam, superior group dynamics, and some of Pigpen’s raunchiest raps – the now officially complete Aarhus show certainly fits the criteria as one of the better gigs from Europe ’72.

Grateful Dead, April 16th, 1972, Stakladen, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark:

Greatest Story Ever Told, Sugaree, Chinatown Shuffle, Black-Throated Wind, Tennessee Jed, Mr. Charlie, Beat It On Down The Line, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Mexicali Blues, Loser, Next Time You See Me, Playin’ In The Band, Dire Wolf, Good Lovin’, Cumberland Blues, El Paso, Deal, Truckin’ > Jam > The Other One > Me and My Uncle > The Other One > Not Fade Away > Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad > Not Fade Away


Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers @ HOB Cleveland

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Red Hot Chili Peppers @ House of Blues, Cleveland – April 15

Words: Zach Bloom
Photos: Michael Stein

In a triumphant finale less than 12 hours after leaving the stage of their own Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Red Hot Chili Peppers capped their victory parade with an intimate free concert at Cleveland’s House of Blues yesterday to support President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.

[All Photos by Michael Stein]

Tickets were made available to roughly 1,500 volunteers at several Northeast Ohio Organize for America offices – The President’s grassroots campaign organization. All attendees were supporters of the President’s bid for re-election, offering their time and effort to pitch in and get people “fired up” and “ready to go” as we enter the election season here in Ohio.

For those who came to support the President, there were plenty of opportunities to join in chant’s of “four more years” and “Oh-Ba-Ma” as campaign leaders shared short video history lessons casting the President’s first four years of leadership into perspective through social media storytelling that exemplifies the hip and savvy capabilities of Mr. Obama’s campaigns. Finally taking the stage just a hair past high noon, Red Hot Chili Peppers tore into their chart topping hit, Can’t Stop.

The packed audience of diverse fans and Obama supporters were immediately charged as the band delivered a whirlwind of energy despite what was surely a celebratory night for the band that preceded this showing. Fronting the charge as usual, bassist Flea led the head-bobbing while driving the bottom of the beat in his customary shirtless disposition and riling up everyone in the room.

Singer Anthony Kiedis showed off the extensive repertoire of sing-a-long hits at his band’s disposal ensuring that all the Obama folks in the audience knew that they were being treated to a very rare jam session with true rock and roll legends. Many in the crowd who have seen this band before would have to remember far back to recall a time when Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in Cleveland contained less than several thousand people.

The band followed their opener with the 2009 hit Dani California followed by Look Around and The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie, each singles off their 2011 album I’m With You.

With the crowd energy sufficiently high, and the sound dialed in at the House of Blues, Kiedis led the band into arguably their biggest hit of the 90’s, the crowd-pleasing Under the Bridge. At this high point of the show the band propelled the rock off the ground tossing Flea the lead to deliver the knockout punch on the bass-driven anthem Around the World off of the 1999 album, Californication.

The full capacity crowd cheered the band back on stage for an encore of down and dirty funk-rock that the notorious rockers from L.A. built their following on in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

After paying respects to to Dr. Funkenstein himself, George Clinton, whose presence on stages was dominant in Cleveland during the Rock Hall festivities, the Chili Peppers laid down their iconic Sir Psycho Sexy off of Blood Sugar Sex Magik including the upbeat bonus cover of Robert Johnson’s They’re Red Hot to fully bring this weekend of steamy rock and roll history to a close.


Warren Haynes Band to Replace Levon at Jazz Fest

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One of the more intriguing performances planned for this year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival was Mavis Staples joining the Levon Helm Band for their set. The Band drummer has pulled out of the event as rumors swirl about his health. Warren Haynes has stepped up to fill Levon’s slot with the Warren Haynes Band at Jazz Fest on May 5 in the Blues Tent.

Helm’s Jazz Fest cancellation follows word that the status of his planned April 6th concert at the Wellmont Theatre, which was postponed, won’t be rescheduled. Also, Levon’s planned July 17th performance at the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire has been cancelled. Our thoughts and prayers are with Levon, who was thought to be dealing with a slipped disc in his back. There’s been no official word from Levon or his staff since the April 6th announcement regarding the Wellmont postponement.

In other Jazz Fest news, Ziggy Marley will replace Bunny Wailer at the event.


Details on Phish’s Junta Record Store Day Release

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On Saturday Phish will issue Junta on vinyl for the first time as part of Record Store Day 2012. This will be the second year the band has participated in Record Store Day after releasing their only live recording on vinyl, Phish: Two Soundchecks, as part of last year’s event. That 7-inch was limited to 2,000 copies and featured just two tracks taped during summer 2010, while the Junta package sees the band going much bigger with this year’s release.

The 5,000 individually numbered, limited edition 3-LP Junta packages will be available at independent record stores across the country. Of those, 2,500 will be randomly distributed with a limited edition Jim Pollock poster designed specifically for the Record Store Day set. We checked in with the staff of JEMP Records and were able to get some details about the extensive Junta release and their participation in Record Store Day.

HT:  This will be the second consecutive year that Phish will partake in Record Store Day, what is it about Record Store Day that makes Phish want to be involved with the event?

JEMP: The spirit of JEMP Records is independence and the stores that participate in RSD mirror this sentiment.

HT:  Starting with last year’s Record Store Day 7-inch Two Soundchecks, and the Party Time, White Tape SBIX and Black Friday Record Store Day releases, now a 3-LP Junta set, Phish has ramped up its vinyl output over the past year. What can you say about the quality of a vinyl pressing that sets it apart from other media?

JEMP: There’s a certain tactile nature to vinyl that’s wholly appealing as a medium and the ability to dig back into the archives to showcase some tucked away content — artwork, photographs – fits well with the dimension of a vinyl release.  In the case of “Junta” we were able to do a pure analog transfer from the original master reels by working with Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering. They built their own system that is unique in that there is no digital conversion in the process. So the audio result is as close as you can get to listening to the master reels.

HT:  What made Junta the choice for this year’s Record Store Day?

JEMP:  Last year we started with The White Tape, this year we went with Junta…

HT:  Half of the packages will be randomly distributed containing a new Jim Pollock hand-carved, hand-printed linoleum block poster.  What can you tell us about the Pollock print, does it incorporate the original artwork?

JEMP:  Yes, it does incorporate the original artwork and the packing also includes Jim’s original art from the CD Long Box.

HT:  For many this will be their first time hearing Junta pre-remastering, and for everyone it will be the first time listening on vinyl, what can listeners expect to notice when listening to the record?

JEMP:  Technically it was mastered for vinyl using the original CD master as a reference.  Chris listened to the CD version first as part of his process.  Of course, the vinyl version does have a different audio span – higher highs and lower lows.  It’s a difference listening experience.  And the pressing by Furnace MFG is as clean as it can get from a vinyl master. We consciously did our research and went with the best of the best for this release: from the paper stock, the finishes, the weight of the vinyl to the mastering engineer and the manufacturer of the pressing.

HT:  The live songs were left off the vinyl pressing, was that to stay true to the original release or a restraint due to the nature of vinyl?

JEMP:  We were staying true to the original studio release as the band recorded it.


Stormy Mondays: Santana’s 20th Anniversary Gig

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This week we turn our attention to Santana. I have a bunch of fond memories of seeing the band in the very early nineties, one night in particular deciding to go at the absolute last minute and being treated to a spectacular performance under a starry summer sky. But to be fair, as much as Santana can offer up soul satisfying sets, they can also dish out some cheesier fare as well, especially since the pop star collaboration days started in the late nineties.

With that in mind here’s a big dose of the former, not the latter: the closing, greatest hits filled set from Carlos Santana’s twentieth anniversary gig, complete with a full band intro from Bill Graham, a monster Soul Sacrifice, and rhythm, rhythm, rhythm. As always, enjoy!


Pullin’ ‘Tubes: Trampled By Turtles Go At It Alone

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We’ve been fans of the bluegrass stylings of Trampled By Turtles since Ryan first wrote about the Duluth, Minn.-based act all the way back in December of 2009, as they were gearing up to release their “breakthrough” studio album, Palomino. The record debuted at number one on Billboard’s bluegrass charts, and remained in their top ten for well over a year, while also charting not only on the industry reporting rag’s Heatseekers’ chart, but also on their Indie one as well, peaking at number 11 and 46, respectively. That’s quite a feat for any band, let alone one that plays bluegrass music.

The origins of Trampled By Turtles goes back to 2003, when after most of his gear was stolen while playing a gig, Dave Simonett decided to put together a band that could play live with little or no amplification, drawing inspiration from the acoustic traditions of folk and bluegrass music. With a background in the rock , Simonett’s  new band mates were also relative newcomers to the genre, with a fiddle player who logged time as a drummer in a speed metal band and a bassist who came from the jamband world. All those factors helped Trampled By Turtles find their own take on bluegrass that they have fine tuned over the course of nearly a decade. Last week, the five-piece band released their sixth studio album, Stars and Satellites, which features some stunning plaintive ballads that showcase the band’s fantastic vocal harmonies as well as high quality breakneck picking that would have made Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys proud. Let’s check out the music video for the record’s lead single, Alone…

Trampled By Turtles are currently on the road, and will hit the music festival circuit this summer in a major way, making high profile appearances at Sasquatch, Bonnaroo, All Good, Firefly, RockyGrass, Newport Folk and Lollapalooza.



Pearl Jam to Play DeLuna, Additional Announcement Soon

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Over the past few years Pearl Jam has catered to their international audience by touring through Europe, South America, Canada and Australia. American gigs have become more rare, with last summer’s PJ20 concerts at Alpine Valley marking the band’s only U.S. performances of 2011. So far in 2012, Pearl Jam has announced an extensive European Tour, but until today haven’t set any U.S. dates. This morning the Eddie Vedder-led group revealed their participation in the third annual DeLuna Fest, which takes place from September 21 – 23 in Pensacola Beach, Florida.

DeLuna, the “other” festival on the Gulf Coast, has rebounded from a sophomore slump in which headliner Linkin Park canceled their appearance shortly before the 2011 edition of the fest, by presenting a varied lineup headlined by major draws Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters in 2012. Florence and the Machine, Band of Horses, Ben Folds Five, Guided By Voices, Dumpstaphunk, Anders Osborne, The Wood Brothers and Bad Brains are handful of the many other acts set to play DeLuna 2012, with a third headliner to be announced soon. Tickets for DeLuna are on sale now.

But let’s get back to Pearl Jam and the small print within the DeLuna item on the band’s website

As a head’s up to Ten Club members — we expect to make an additional concert announcement in the next week. Due to embargoes, we can’t say much more just yet.

Sure looks like DeLuna won’t be the only U.S. festival Pearl Jam will play this year. Another clue comes from DeLuna booking manager Gus Brandt, who told al.com, “Pearl Jam is a band that doesn’t do anything that they don’t want to do, I think they’re only doing two shows in America this year, so for DeLuna Fest to be one of them is a big deal.” Stay tuned!


Picture Show: Andrew Bird @ Oakland’s Fox Theater

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Andrew Bird @ Fox Theater, April 13

Photos: Lee Fenyves

Last week multi-instrumentalist, and longtime HT favorite, Andrew Bird performed before a sold-out crowd at Oakland’s Fox Theater, where photographer Lee Fenyves was on hand and has contributed a batch of stunning photos from the evening. Bird was backed by a full band as he was for his new studio album, Break It Yourself, from which most of the set was culled.

[All Photos by Lee Fenyves]

Andrew Bird Setlist The Fox Theater, Oakland, CA, USA 2012

Here’s a full gallery of Lee Fenyves’s snaps from Andrew Bird at the Fox…

ab_015 ab_014 ab_013 ab_012 ab_011 ab_010 ab_009 ab_008 ab_007 ab_006 ab_005 ab_004 ab_003 ab_002 ab_001

 


Outside Lands 2012: Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Metallica, Stevie Wonder, Beck, Jack White, Foo Fighters,

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The lineup for this year’s Outside Lands festival has been announced and it looks fantastic. Not only will Neil Young & Crazy Horse make their long-awaited return to the stage as part of the fest, but other headliners include Metallica, Stevie Wonder, Jack White, Foo Fighters and Beck. Outside Lands will take place in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park from August 10 – 12.

Other HT faves making the bill include Sigur Ros, Norah Jones, Portugal. The Man, Alabama Shakes, Andrew Bird, Dr. Dog, Trampled By Turtles, Sharon Van Etten and White Denim. Event organizers have enlisted the help of M.C. Hammer for an announcement video…

Outside Lands 2012 Video

Tickets will go on sale Thursday April 19 at 12 noon PDT via www.sfoutsidelands.com.

Here’s a look at the complete initial lineup…

Stevie Wonder

Metallica

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Jack White

Foo Fighters

Beck

Skrillex

Sigur Ros

Justice

Norah Jones

Dispatch

The Kills

Regina Spektor

Passion Pit

Andrew Bird

Grandaddy

Big Boi

Bloc Party

Explosions In The Sky

Franz Ferdinand

Mstrkrft

Rebelution

Die Antwoord

Fitz and The Tantrums

Portugal. The Man

Amadou & Mariam

Wolfgang Gartner

Fun.

Dr. Dog

The Walkmen

Washed Out

City and Colour

Two Gallants

Of Monsters and Men

Mimosa

Alabama Shakes

Reggie Watts

Trampled By Turtles

Tame Impala

Jovanotti

The Be Good Tanyas

Geographer

Sharon Van Etten

Yacht

Sean Hayes

Bomba Estereo

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Big Gigantic

Thee Oh Sees

Wallpaper

Tennis

Zola Jesus

White Denim

Allen Stone

The M Machine

Michael Kiwanuka

Tanlines

Father John Misty

Electric Guest

Caveman

Yellow Ostrich

Papa

Honey Island Swamp Band

Animal Kingdom


Allman Brothers Band Announce Boston Shows – Wanee Simulcast on SiriusXM Radio This Weekend

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The Allman Brothers Band’s annual March Madness run at the Beacon ended on a somber note last month, with Gregg Allman sitting out the last show and a half with health issues. However, the legendary jam act will return to the stage this weekend at Wanee and have just announced a pair of Boston shows at the Bank of America Pavilion on August 7 and 8.

The group’s return to Boston will take place just before the kick off of the inaugural Peach Music Festival on August 10 – 12 in Scranton, Penn. Tickets for both Boston shows go on sale Monday, May 7 at 10AM ET through LiveNation.com.

As far as Wanee, for those who can’t make it down to Live Oak this weekend, SiriusXM will simulcast a number of sets live from Spirit of Suwanee Music Park on Saturday. Here’s a look at which sets will be broadcast and which stations will air the performances…

 Saturday April 21st:

· 3:15-4:45 Gov’t Mule LIVE on Jam On (Channel 29)

· 5:30-8:30 Furthur LIVE on the Grateful Dead Channel (Channel 23)

· 9:30-12:00 The Allman Brothers Band LIVE on Deep Tracks (Channel 27)

Expect more Allman Brothers Band summer dates to be announced soon.

UPDATE: Another bit of Allman-related and SiriusXM news courtesy of our pal Jon Hochstat. Deep Tracks, Channel 27, will air Town Hall with Gregg Allman on May 3 at 2PM ET. The show will feature Gregg answering questions about his career from an intimate audience moderated by legendary DJ Meg Griffin. We’re hoping fans ask about some of the more controversial aspects of Allman’s career, since this is basically a promotion for his new book, My Cross to Bear, which addresses such topics as his relationship with Dickey Betts and the circumstances of the group’s mid ’70s breakup.


Catskill Chill 2012: YMSB, Lotus, Conspirator, Soulive

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The Catskill Chill Music Festival will return to Hancock, New York’s Camp Minglewood on September 7 – 9 featuring a lineup that includes HT faves Soulive, Lettuce, Yonder Mountain String Band, Rubblebucket, Cornmeal, Wyllys and the Jennifer Hartswick Band. Lotus, Conspirator, JGB featuring Melvin Seals, Kung Fu, EOTO, Particle and Cornmeal are among the other acts set for CC ’12.

Now in its third year, Catskill Chill features three stages with jam/jamtronica and funk acts at an intimate setting. There’s on-site cabin rentals with hot showers and electricity for those looking for creature comforts. Here’s a look at the complete Catskill Chill 2012 lineup…

Yonder Mountain String Band • Lotus • Conspirator • Soulive • Lettuce • EOTO • JGB with Melvin Seals •  Rubblebucket • Cornmeal • Particle • Break Science • The Heavy Pets • Headtronics • Kung Fu • Zoogma DrFameus • DJ Logic • Yarn + Yarn Plays Dead Set • Jennifer Hartswick Band • Dopapod • KRAZ • Wyllys • The McLovins • Caravan of Thieves • The Alan Evans Trio • DAMN RIGHT! • The Indobox Consider the Source • Jeff Bujak • On The Spot Trio • Timbre Coup • The Alchemystics • lespecial FiKus • Shwizz • Twiddle • Turbine •  Horizon Wireless • Derek VanScoten (D.V.S*) Pigeons Playing Ping Pong • The Folkadelics

Tickets are currently on sale through Music Today for $115.


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