MUSICMARAUDERS

Words & Photos By Greg Molitor ( ReMIND Photography ) Sunday: Festival Sundays are relaxing. Signaling the approaching end to a typical festival gathering, these days are often filled with nonsensical jokes, thirst-quenching drinks of water, and growing smiles that remind us why we came. This particular one, August 21st, mimicked the familiar casual form as sunlight, sending everyone in motion for one last celebration, broke over the Hoxeyville horizon. Absorbing the day’s events at a leisurely pace, my morning began with conversations of the previous evening’s Umphrey’s McGee show. Most I spoke with echoed similar sentiments of being awed by the power of the Umphrey’s, a huge act for the size of this festival that clearly came to wow the Hoxeyville faithful the night before. To see Hoxeyville not only raise the bar with talent in 2011 but have said talent be well received is a great sign that points towards continued growth for years to come. I caught random b...

Mishawaka Amphitheatre Bellvue, CO Words & Photos By J-man Video By Nicholas Stock ( www.phatphlogblog.blogspot.com ) Mishawaka is one of the most uniquely beautiful venues in Colorado. Its prime location in the Poudre Canyon sets the background for all of the great music that it hosts. On Saturday, August 27th, The Mish played host to Keller Williams and the Keels. Leading up to the event, my client, Pete Wall (Motet) asked me to make arrangements for a sit-in if possible. That being said, I contacted Keller's management and made the proper arrangements. Driving up to The Mish with Pete and his wife, I knew that it would be a great evening. What I didn't know at the time was how truly special the evening would turn out to be. We made the drive from Denver past Fort Collins up into the canyon. As we approached the venue, cars lined the road. Passing the venue we could see a sizable line of people at the main entrance. We pulled the car into the backstage area ...

Words & Photo By J-man When I hit the scene for the first time in 2001-2002, Signal Path was there. I recall seeing SP at many of my first festivals and thinking "What these guys are doing is unique". They weren't as much a part of the electronic movement that was sweeping over the United States, as much as they were pioneers of a separate movement, the jamtronica movement. A movement of instrumentalists with the ability to create a sound so consistent and so smooth that it came off as if machines and computers were the source of creation. Their subtle notation and danceable intuition created a vibe like none other. They weren't the only band involved in this movement, but they were one of the originals and one of the best. Check out the earliest recording of Signal Path on the Archive... Signal Path Live at Fox Theater on December 7, 2002. The combination of live drums and guitar work made for a unique sound and allowed for more diverse range...

Words By Brandon Picard Photos By Greg Molitor ( ReMIND Photography ) Saturday: We woke up Saturday morning to some light rain. Feeling well refreshed from the great sleeping weather the night before, I was amped to get my Saturday started. Keeping dry in the comforts of our tent, we chatted about our Friday experience and the day to come. The rain let up roughly after 10 AM. and our day had begun. For most of you it will come as a surprise, but before Hoxeyville, I was an Umphrey’s virgin. My Saturday mind couldn’t sway from the fact that on this night I was FINALLY going to see Umphrey's McGee! Hoxeyville people were sharing their many UM stories from years past. Tonight was going to get rowdy! We started our day with a quick breakfast and shot over to the tent stage for an act recommended to us from our lovely neighbor Cord. The day before, scouting the schedule at our camp, we came across the name “Crazy Richard”. Our neighbor overheard the name and asked “Is that...

Words by Brandon Picard Photos by Greg Molitor ( ReMIND Photography ) Friday: In its 9th year, Hoxeyville Music Festival has presented music fans from Michigan and beyond a wonderful August weekend experience. Located in the Manistee National Forest, Hoxeyville represents the simple beauty of Michigan. With a small gathering of roughly 3,000 people, the intimate setting makes it special for everyone involved. This year’s star-studded lineup included many local Michigan acts as well as nationally known talent. Headlining this year’s festival were Chicago’s own Umphrey’s Mcgee, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and The Mickey Hart Band. Accompanied by Phil, my pal of all pals, we took the four hour drive northeast of Detroit to Wellston, Michigan, for what was anticipated to be a solid weekend of friends and music, among other things. Arriving at the gate around noon we were swiftly escorted in and out of line in no time. We gathered our credentials for the weekend and set off t...

Words & Photos By Nicholas Stock ( www.phatphlogblog.blogspot.com ) No band epitomizes Colorado jam more completely than the String Cheese Incident. What began deep in the heart of the Rockies has come full circle, becoming a true jam band tradition. Continuing our discussion of the big bands in jam, this week we take a look at the amazing journey of SCI. Hailing from Crested Butte and Telluride, the original incarnation of String Cheese formed in 1993 and has continued to represent Colorado jam ever since. Playing ski resorts and small private functions, they took to playing in earnest in 1996. The band had a slow start, taking an organic approach to their rise though the jam ranks. Staring SCI Fidelity that same year, they put out their first album Born on the Wrong Planet and hit the road to support. Playing over 500 “Incidents” from 1998 to 2001, touring was never the issue. It was during this era that they solidified their jamgrass sound but also where they began br...

Words By Chris Pandolfi ( The Infamous Stringdusters ) The IBMA has asked me to give a keynote address at the annual business conference this fall in Nashville (Tuesday, Sept 27th, 10:30 AM). Thanks IBMA, for such an amazing opportunity! There’s been much talk this year about the current state of Bluegrass affairs–a rekindling of an old, and important discussion. I hope to add something meaningful, and to move the discussion along in a positive way. Above all else, my hope is for IBMA to be whatever it wants to be–a true reflection of its membership and leaders. For some that means changes, new blood, and an updated idea of what part the organization can play in the acoustic music world. For others the concept of change is not so welcome, for fear that musical integrity will suffer and the intimate bluegrass community will get watered down with bigger, less informed crowds. The conversation is taking place between members, non-members, musicians and fans alike. And in some ca...

Words By J-man Grateful Dead Live at Mosque on May 25, 1977. Set 1: Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, Mexicali Blues, Peggy-O, Cassidy, Loser, Lazy Lightnin'>Supplication, Brown Eyed Women, The Promised Land Set 2: Scarlet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet>He's Gone>Drums>The Other One>Wharf Rat>The Other One>The Wheel>Around And Around Encore: Johnny B. Goode This show comes at a time that many consider the prime of the Grateful Dead. You cannot deny the pure perfection in their sound. In addition to the band's sound, this recording from the Mosque in Richmond, VA reflects a near perfect setlist. This recording boasts some of what many view as the best versions of a handful of songs. The show highlights are too many to name and the show falls under the "listen all of the way through" category. This is the perfect show in which to hit play and enjoy ...

Words By J-man The mid sixties brought James Brown's signature groove that focused it's emphasis on the downbeat or the first beat of every measure. With a little added swing and swagger the music took America by storm. A key contributor to it's national appeal came in the form of a show created and hosted by Don Cornelius, Soul Train. Soul Train was an American variety show that was syndicated from October 1971 to March 2006 and featured R&B, Soul, Funk and Jazz musicians artists. The Soul Train concept originated in Chicago in the form of dance programs featuring predominately African American in-studio dancers. In the program's heyday (1970s & 1980s) it was widely influential among young African Americans who tuned in not only for the latest music, but fashion and dance trends as well. One of those long-lasting trends happened to be funk music. Funk/soul greats such as James Brown and Curtis Mayfield were featured in the shows prime. Check ...