For those of you that read my last post, I started off by saying what a kickass weekend of music I had lined up. So you ask, Dave, are you so old that Friday is your weekend? NO, but I do need to stretch out the post; so here is the second half of my musical weekend, the first annual Concert in the Park series in beautiful downtown Hanover.
This took place on Aug 13 at Wirt Park in Hanover, PA. Just off the square, it is one of the many green and open spaces within the borough of Hanover. If you include Penn and West Manheim Townships, the Hanover area has over a dozen parks with wide selection of options. I had lived here for 14 years before I discovered a park with horseshoe pits and shuffleboards only 2 blocks from my parent’s house on the alley behind Baer Ave.
All of this was set up by EyeDeal Productions, consisting of Josh Perkins, Sean Wolfe, and a few others helping to highlight what a rich area Hanover is for the arts, specifically music. EyeDeal Productions also put on the Triantafyllo Arts and Music Fest last year and the Halt Hunger Jam this past March. Putting on any event can evolve into a royal pain in the ass, these people do an outstanding job. While the weather was nowhere near as perfect as it was for MMJ, things looked promising as Frank Miller’s Beard kicked off the festivities.
Once again, FMB was augmented by Ian Carroll on fiddle/violin and drumbox and Matt Stambaugh on percussion. Not sure what to call his drumbox contraption, but that’s good as name as any. They opened up with Fearless and it was all soaring acoustical bliss after that. Other highlights include Midnight Moonlight and Sledgehammer. Still looking forward to the day they dip into the Devolver songbook a little bit more. (Hey it’s my soapbox and I’ll shout about what I want). The skies were a little more threatening as Eric “G String” Costello played a short but sweet acoustic set as Redwud set up. The highlight? A version of Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” focusing on the fact that it's a great little tune, made famous by a douchebag from the 80’s.
Next up, 3 guys that put the power back in power trio; Redwud. I’ve seen these guys a few times over the last couple of years and they have really come a long way. A mix of prog-rock with fusion and down right sick tightness- they emphasize Hanover's music scene isn’t all about jambands, though they do jam the fuck out of their tunes. Regretfully, I am unfamiliar with the names of their original songs.They had so much energy that it caused the sky to open up and unload a downpour of rain. Luckily, soundman extrodinaire Slade Gottschaulk was well prepared with tarps. The music was interrupted for 20 minutes but then resumed and Redwud closed it out with a raging instrumental that sounded like Frank Zappa had a baby with Les Claypool. It sounded great but that would be one ugly ass baby. Steph Berlin did a short acoustic tweener, which featured the second best song ever written about Hanover. The first? Edge of Town by Devolver.
Last but not least were Hanover’s own proprietors of funky soulgrass, Boxcar Social. They opened up with 3 Little Birds and it was blissed out improv from there on out. Other first set highlights include Taper’s Section> Memory of Elizabeth Reed and Relativity>Dirty Business. Unfortunately, Mother Nature decided not to cooperate, as it rained for ten minutes, would stop for 20, and then rain again. The boys excell at maintaining a sweet flow throughout their sets and this screwed that up. The whole show featured local drumming legend and president of the Donna Jean Fan club, one Mr. Craig Walker on percussion. They finished up with a tight River Song>Unrest and Franny Mae, a tune that is not about the mortgage giant.
Overall, a good turnout despite the foul weather. This truly shows that not only are there several bands within the scene, there is also a community willing to come out and support them. I am looking forward to this becoming an annual tradition.
Dave Kemp
BA American Studies
PhD Rock and Roll
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
My Morning Jacket, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD 8/12/11
Greetings everyone. I hope your enjoying this nonhumid, beautiful summer weather. I’ve been trying. No post last week because of the dreaded summer cold I picked up from a germ factory, aka my friends’ infants (That was the father’s term, not mine). I’m wrapping up summer in fine form with yet another kick ass weekend of music. First up, My Morning Jacket at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
I absolutely love My Morning Jacket. They are one of the premiere live acts out there today. Lead singer Jim James is a showman extordinaire and always leaves everything he has on the stage. One of my friends from Penn State, who was responsible for turning me on to Widespread Panic way back in the day, called MMJ “postmodern Americana”. I could not think of a more apt description. They play a mix of various genres but have their own unique sound which many other bands have aped. One term I’ve read describing them is “beard rock”. Anyone doubt I’d be a fan of something called beard rock?
Andy Miller and myself headed down a little later than normal. We took a back way through Westminster to avoid the rush hour traffic of the Beltway. Andy also had to pick up his contacts. See how much I care about my musicians? (In addition to my full time gig of being me, I am consigliere for Devolver, Frank Miller’s Beard, and Boxcar Social). We ended up getting a little lost. My GPS kept recalculating the route before we even got off the beaten path. It told us to take a left where there used to be a road and at one point claimed I wasn’t even on a road. We eventually made it to I 70 and got into the Lot.
As some of my more faithful readers may remember, I consider Merriweather my own backyard. These shows always bring out the locals. I love the venue despite my unfortunate close encounter of the worst kind way back in 1999 at the Phish show. We pull in and I notice that the Lot looks pretty filled and I don’t want to get buried. So before we even get to the first right, I see an empty space occupied by one of those board-at-an-angle-beanbag-toss games. Andy gets out, asks the guys to move it so we can park there and we are set with a prime spot.
Gretchen Gadzoski (sp) recognized me. I haven’t seen her in maybe 15+ years but she spots me immediately. I had an experience with ESP involving her back in the day. I was doing a balloon on the Spectrum Lot, Spring of 1995 Dead Tour. I flashed to someone talking about giving and receiving presents for Easter. I had never heard of such a tradition so I remembered my hallucination being about that. Later that summer, she was talking about it. What can I say, I’m in tune with the Phlow.
Meet up with Corey O and Ralphie. Chill in the Lot and then head in. It was such a different experience than when Phish plays there. First, no cops in the lot at ALL. The police RV is not there. Second, no security walking around. Inside the venue, no lines for anything. It was maybe a third filled. I actually noticed the contours of the lawn. A rather beautiful place when not overrun by wookies.
I caught the last 3 songs by Neko Case. I’m not familiar with any of her stuff so I can’t comment on it. Half an hour break and then it was on. The lights went down and the minimalist lighting and set design lit up.
My Morning Jacket, 8/12/2011, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD
Victory Dance, Circuital, Off the Record, I’m Amazed, Gideon, Outta My System, Golden, Evil Urges, Mageetah, Slow, Dondante, Smokin From Shootin, First Light, End of Run Thru, Movin Away, Phone, Black Metal, I Will Sing,
Encore: Wordless Chorus, Day Is Coming, Islands in the Stream (w/ Neko Case), Touch Me Prt 2, Highly Suspicious, One Big Holiday
It was all high energy from the get go. Many of their songs have structured jams and they play the hell out of them. Andy Miller pointed out a total Star Wars theme that Jim James had going on. He came out with some type of computer that lit up hanging around his chest. It looked like Darth Vader’s chest plate. He also wore a towel over his head for a few songs. He looked like Emperor Palpatine the way he was lit by the stage lights. But it all looked awesome. No one can doubt that the Force is strong in Jim James. Timcheck once remarked that he looks like a mountain man but sings like an angel. Well said.
I love being on the lawn. There is something special about being out under the stars listening to live music. The full moon was the next night so it was super bright as it rose over the trees. The sound was incredible. The new HD screen adds so much to the lawn experience. There was a guy who had a tie-dyed sheet about 3 feet by 5 feet. He had it attached to a stick and was dancing around with it very intensely. He did this pretty much the whole show. While chilling on the lawn, I ran into a couple that I met last year at the MMJ show. Like I’ve said, this is my house. Alexis talked to the tie dye guy. He was walking around like he was looking for something. She asked him what was up. His reply “Not only did I lose my mind, I lost my car keys as well” He was all over the lawn so who knows where his keys ended up. Probably still looking for them.
The show ended right before curfew. We headed out into the Lot and were on the road within 5 minutes. There weren’t even any cops directing traffic when we left. But once again, My Morning Jacket reaffirmed my belief in the redemptive power of rock and roll.
Dave Kemp
BA American Studies
PhD Rock and Roll
I absolutely love My Morning Jacket. They are one of the premiere live acts out there today. Lead singer Jim James is a showman extordinaire and always leaves everything he has on the stage. One of my friends from Penn State, who was responsible for turning me on to Widespread Panic way back in the day, called MMJ “postmodern Americana”. I could not think of a more apt description. They play a mix of various genres but have their own unique sound which many other bands have aped. One term I’ve read describing them is “beard rock”. Anyone doubt I’d be a fan of something called beard rock?
Andy Miller and myself headed down a little later than normal. We took a back way through Westminster to avoid the rush hour traffic of the Beltway. Andy also had to pick up his contacts. See how much I care about my musicians? (In addition to my full time gig of being me, I am consigliere for Devolver, Frank Miller’s Beard, and Boxcar Social). We ended up getting a little lost. My GPS kept recalculating the route before we even got off the beaten path. It told us to take a left where there used to be a road and at one point claimed I wasn’t even on a road. We eventually made it to I 70 and got into the Lot.
As some of my more faithful readers may remember, I consider Merriweather my own backyard. These shows always bring out the locals. I love the venue despite my unfortunate close encounter of the worst kind way back in 1999 at the Phish show. We pull in and I notice that the Lot looks pretty filled and I don’t want to get buried. So before we even get to the first right, I see an empty space occupied by one of those board-at-an-angle-beanbag-toss games. Andy gets out, asks the guys to move it so we can park there and we are set with a prime spot.
Gretchen Gadzoski (sp) recognized me. I haven’t seen her in maybe 15+ years but she spots me immediately. I had an experience with ESP involving her back in the day. I was doing a balloon on the Spectrum Lot, Spring of 1995 Dead Tour. I flashed to someone talking about giving and receiving presents for Easter. I had never heard of such a tradition so I remembered my hallucination being about that. Later that summer, she was talking about it. What can I say, I’m in tune with the Phlow.
Meet up with Corey O and Ralphie. Chill in the Lot and then head in. It was such a different experience than when Phish plays there. First, no cops in the lot at ALL. The police RV is not there. Second, no security walking around. Inside the venue, no lines for anything. It was maybe a third filled. I actually noticed the contours of the lawn. A rather beautiful place when not overrun by wookies.
I caught the last 3 songs by Neko Case. I’m not familiar with any of her stuff so I can’t comment on it. Half an hour break and then it was on. The lights went down and the minimalist lighting and set design lit up.
My Morning Jacket, 8/12/2011, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD
Victory Dance, Circuital, Off the Record, I’m Amazed, Gideon, Outta My System, Golden, Evil Urges, Mageetah, Slow, Dondante, Smokin From Shootin, First Light, End of Run Thru, Movin Away, Phone, Black Metal, I Will Sing,
Encore: Wordless Chorus, Day Is Coming, Islands in the Stream (w/ Neko Case), Touch Me Prt 2, Highly Suspicious, One Big Holiday
It was all high energy from the get go. Many of their songs have structured jams and they play the hell out of them. Andy Miller pointed out a total Star Wars theme that Jim James had going on. He came out with some type of computer that lit up hanging around his chest. It looked like Darth Vader’s chest plate. He also wore a towel over his head for a few songs. He looked like Emperor Palpatine the way he was lit by the stage lights. But it all looked awesome. No one can doubt that the Force is strong in Jim James. Timcheck once remarked that he looks like a mountain man but sings like an angel. Well said.
I love being on the lawn. There is something special about being out under the stars listening to live music. The full moon was the next night so it was super bright as it rose over the trees. The sound was incredible. The new HD screen adds so much to the lawn experience. There was a guy who had a tie-dyed sheet about 3 feet by 5 feet. He had it attached to a stick and was dancing around with it very intensely. He did this pretty much the whole show. While chilling on the lawn, I ran into a couple that I met last year at the MMJ show. Like I’ve said, this is my house. Alexis talked to the tie dye guy. He was walking around like he was looking for something. She asked him what was up. His reply “Not only did I lose my mind, I lost my car keys as well” He was all over the lawn so who knows where his keys ended up. Probably still looking for them.
The show ended right before curfew. We headed out into the Lot and were on the road within 5 minutes. There weren’t even any cops directing traffic when we left. But once again, My Morning Jacket reaffirmed my belief in the redemptive power of rock and roll.
Dave Kemp
BA American Studies
PhD Rock and Roll
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tales from the Devolver Side 4/6 Bloomsburg, PA and 4/7 New Oxford, PA 2001
Greetings everyone. Hope you survived the heatwave. Nothing going on for the next few weeks. Going to my brother’s this weekend but the weekend after that is huge. Eyedeal Productions is pleased to announce that on Aug 13th, A Concert in the Park, featuring Frank Miller's Beard, Redwud, and Boxcar Social will be kicking out the jams from noon until 8 PM at Wirt Park in beautiful downtown Hanover, PA. There will be vendors of food and arts and crafts. Fun for the entire family and your brain. So come on out and help us make the scene what it is in Hanover. But today it’s all about going back to the beginning of the scene with a little band I like to call Devolver. Today’s Tales from the Devolver Side focuses on the first weekend in April, April 6 and 7th, 2001.
This was a typical weekend during the golden age of Devolver. A show on the road one night and a local show the next. This was my life for about 2 years and they were some of the craziest times of my existence. The Friday show was up in Bloomsburg, PA. It was at someone’s house. I had to work and most of the crew left town before I got off of work. Flick and myself rolled up in the early evening. Now this was well before everyone had a cellphone and GPS so we had an address and somewhat of an idea of where we were going.
We ended up at a frat house that wasn’t like any of the frat houses up at Penn State. It looked like a normal house until you walked inside. Then it was all old broken furniture…. and a nitrous tank. Those guys were getting down but it was obvious Devolver was not playing there. They pointed us in the general direction so we headed back out. Yes, that’s right. I bailed on a tank to see the boys.
We drove a few blocks, hoping to recognize someone’s car with the classic D Devolver sticker, as designed by graphic artist extrodinaire Andy Miller. We didn’t see anyone’s car but we could hear them. We parked by the railroad tracks and walked towards the sound. We found someone and were led into the basement of a house.
The basement was split in half by 2 by 4’s that you would use to frame a room. Devolver and their full light rig were on one side and the audience was on the other side. It was like a low rent barrier that worked really well, almost framing the band. Got my tape deck set up but had some power issues. Luckily, someone noticed my deck kept going off and we were able to fix the problem.
Devovler 4/6/01 Bloomsburg, PA
Set 1
Edge, Surprise Surprise >Looking Blind, Side of a Mountain, Everything Comes Around, Bogey>White Room, Highway 29> Psycho Killer> Highway 29
Set 2
Bubblespeak, Turnaround, Pedalic Sax, Funk II, Miss You.
Nice mix of covers and originals and pretty good sized crowd. We tore down and loaded everything back up. Flick and myself headed out rather late. We stopped at a Sheetz to get some grub. While we were there, a whole crew of younger girls came in. Given what my state of mind was during that era, I just assumed they were all on rolls. Flick ordered a chicken sub, which he identified, to the employee as “the chicken sub with all the shit on it”.
We get back to Hanover very late, probably around 3 or 4 in the morning. All I wanted to do was drop Flick off at his house and go and crash. Ahh if only things were that easy. Flick was passed out and was not in any mood to be woken up. I tried to pull him out from the car and he resisted. He would open one eye, glare at me, and return to unconscieceness. This went on for a good half an hour. I finally somehow got him out and made it back home to beat the sunrise.
So I got some shut eye and then got up to do it all over again. They were playing at the Old Mill Inn up in New Oxford so no long distance driving required. Devolver had played many times before and always drew a good crowd. With a big dance floor and Bucket’s light rig, it was the perfect place for an Acid Testesque throw down.
April 7, 2001 Old Mill Inn, New Oxford, PA
Set 1
Soundcheck: Surprise Surprise
Soul Shakedown Party, Glasshawk, Strange Red Afternoon>Taps>Edge of Town>Looking Blind>Edge Reprise, Highway 29, Bubblespeak, Tumbleweeds and Mailboxes, El Nino, Pedalic Sax
Set 2
Happy Birthday Song (for Jake), Marina, Applecart>Old Man and his Beer, Drumz>Serve Me up Another, Bogey>Everything Comes Around>Bogey, Comfortably Numb, A Day Gone By, Waiting By the Sand*, Funk II, Turnaround>Looking Blind>Turnaround>Taps>Turnaround
* With Jake Herman on vocals
Very lengthy and solid show. Jake was Devolver sound guy and someone who’s been around the scene as long as I have. His birthday was April 2nd and he wanted to sing something with the band. I admire his balls, as there is no way I would have the guts to get up and sing with the boys. After a hesitant start, he finished in strong form.
So there you have it, just another typical weekend of sick jams, crazy times, and overindulgence of substances. Everyone have a good next few weeks and I’ll see you all at the Concert in the Park.
This was a typical weekend during the golden age of Devolver. A show on the road one night and a local show the next. This was my life for about 2 years and they were some of the craziest times of my existence. The Friday show was up in Bloomsburg, PA. It was at someone’s house. I had to work and most of the crew left town before I got off of work. Flick and myself rolled up in the early evening. Now this was well before everyone had a cellphone and GPS so we had an address and somewhat of an idea of where we were going.
We ended up at a frat house that wasn’t like any of the frat houses up at Penn State. It looked like a normal house until you walked inside. Then it was all old broken furniture…. and a nitrous tank. Those guys were getting down but it was obvious Devolver was not playing there. They pointed us in the general direction so we headed back out. Yes, that’s right. I bailed on a tank to see the boys.
We drove a few blocks, hoping to recognize someone’s car with the classic D Devolver sticker, as designed by graphic artist extrodinaire Andy Miller. We didn’t see anyone’s car but we could hear them. We parked by the railroad tracks and walked towards the sound. We found someone and were led into the basement of a house.
The basement was split in half by 2 by 4’s that you would use to frame a room. Devolver and their full light rig were on one side and the audience was on the other side. It was like a low rent barrier that worked really well, almost framing the band. Got my tape deck set up but had some power issues. Luckily, someone noticed my deck kept going off and we were able to fix the problem.
Devovler 4/6/01 Bloomsburg, PA
Set 1
Edge, Surprise Surprise >Looking Blind, Side of a Mountain, Everything Comes Around, Bogey>White Room, Highway 29> Psycho Killer> Highway 29
Set 2
Bubblespeak, Turnaround, Pedalic Sax, Funk II, Miss You.
You can stream it here
Nice mix of covers and originals and pretty good sized crowd. We tore down and loaded everything back up. Flick and myself headed out rather late. We stopped at a Sheetz to get some grub. While we were there, a whole crew of younger girls came in. Given what my state of mind was during that era, I just assumed they were all on rolls. Flick ordered a chicken sub, which he identified, to the employee as “the chicken sub with all the shit on it”.
We get back to Hanover very late, probably around 3 or 4 in the morning. All I wanted to do was drop Flick off at his house and go and crash. Ahh if only things were that easy. Flick was passed out and was not in any mood to be woken up. I tried to pull him out from the car and he resisted. He would open one eye, glare at me, and return to unconscieceness. This went on for a good half an hour. I finally somehow got him out and made it back home to beat the sunrise.
So I got some shut eye and then got up to do it all over again. They were playing at the Old Mill Inn up in New Oxford so no long distance driving required. Devolver had played many times before and always drew a good crowd. With a big dance floor and Bucket’s light rig, it was the perfect place for an Acid Testesque throw down.
April 7, 2001 Old Mill Inn, New Oxford, PA
Set 1
Soundcheck: Surprise Surprise
Soul Shakedown Party, Glasshawk, Strange Red Afternoon>Taps>Edge of Town>Looking Blind>Edge Reprise, Highway 29, Bubblespeak, Tumbleweeds and Mailboxes, El Nino, Pedalic Sax
Set 2
Happy Birthday Song (for Jake), Marina, Applecart>Old Man and his Beer, Drumz>Serve Me up Another, Bogey>Everything Comes Around>Bogey, Comfortably Numb, A Day Gone By, Waiting By the Sand*, Funk II, Turnaround>Looking Blind>Turnaround>Taps>Turnaround
* With Jake Herman on vocals
Very lengthy and solid show. Jake was Devolver sound guy and someone who’s been around the scene as long as I have. His birthday was April 2nd and he wanted to sing something with the band. I admire his balls, as there is no way I would have the guts to get up and sing with the boys. After a hesitant start, he finished in strong form.
So there you have it, just another typical weekend of sick jams, crazy times, and overindulgence of substances. Everyone have a good next few weeks and I’ll see you all at the Concert in the Park.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)