Halloween with The Fritz and N.A.R.P!

The Fritz

HALLOWEEN WITH THE FRITZ AND N.A.R.P!

SYCAMORE DELI IN BLACKSBURG, VA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31st

The Fritz is hosting a Halloween celebration at Sycamore Deli on Friday, October 31st with special guests N.A.R.P! The energetic quintet’s sound is rooted in progressive rock but they easily swings from driving funk to gospel-soul, keeping the crowd on their feet. Fans can look forward to new songs The Fritz is experimenting with the moment, plus old favorites like “Oppenheim” off of their 2013 release Bootstrap. Based in Asheville, NC, The Fritz has taking the stage at several of the southeast US’s biggest music festivals including Bear Creek, AURA Music Festival and Purple Hatter’s Ball. They performed at Catskill Chill in New York last month and they will be rocking Suwannee Hulaween in Florida on November 1.

Wookie Post had a chance to catch up with The Fritz and ask them about the Halloween shindig and their upcoming album.

WP: Give us a brief history of the band…

TF: We all met about 6 years ago in Jacksonville, FL while studying music at the University of North Florida. We are lucky to still have all the original members.

WP: You guys are in the process of recording a 3rd studio album…

TF: Yes! The album will be out late spring.

We are a live band for sure. Bringing the music into the studio forces you to take a good look at each song and try and boil it down to it’s essence. Certain things become painfully obvious about an arrangement when you take it out of a live setting. For us, we really enjoy the process and it certainly helps the music.

WP: Is there a specific method for The Fritz when it comes to recording?

TF: Just good ol’ fashion hard work without much sleep!

WP: What are some of the newer influences that we might not have heard on previous albums?

TF: The biggest thing we are focusing on is song choice. We have a lot of music but we are trying to put together an album that really flows together.

WP: Is there a welcomed challenge to incorporate the older songs in with the newer stuff on stage?

TF: In the past we have abandoned old material as we slowly mold our sound. For example, we do not play any music from our first album (Prehistoric Stomp) For us, that album might as well be a different band. A drastically different band actually. The last album (Bootstrap) has some material that has stayed in our repertoire but as each year passes we get better at being ourselves and the songs we play live reflect that. We are all pretty excited about the newer tunes we have written in the past year or so.. I think we have finally started to sound like ourselves.

WP: How would you describe your sound?

TF: We are a rock band that likes to get funky. We have a lot of through composed sections but we improvise every night. We take the instrumental sections very seriously but at the same time we spend just as much time songwriting. We want the songs to work as just simple songs first and then we get to all of the cool arrangement things you can do with a 5 piece rock band. But in the end, hopefully, it is just fun music you can dance to.

WP: Is Hulaween Music Festival your last confirmed tour date?

TF: No, actually, it’s Bear Creek Music Festival! Also located at Spirit of Suwannee Music Park. We have played several festivals at that park and without question it is one of our favorite places on earth. We can not wait to get back there this November.

Let’s talk about Halloween…

WP: Have you guys ever played a Halloween show before?

TF: Yes, we have done several. We always do something weird. My favorite moment would have to be when we played the funk classic “Shining Star” with special guest “Mike Ditka” on vocals. That was quite a sight…

WP: What’s the most memorable Halloween moment for The Fritz?

TF: About 5 years ago we had just started playing shows and we did our first Halloween in Jacksonville, Fl where we all lived at the time. It was a blast and ended up being a very successful show that gave our young band some good momentum to continue. 

WP: Who has had the best costume since you guys have been a band?

TF: That is something we will never agree on.

WP: This may be the most anticipated question of the whole interview…Trick or Treat??

TF: TREAT!

Watch and Listen to The Fritz here:

 AUDIO: 1904 Music Hall 8.24.13
VIDEO: “Robbery” Asheville Music Hall 2.14.14 

WHEN:
Friday, October 31st
Doors 9 pm | 18+ until 11 PM | 21+ after 11 PM

WHERE:
Sycamore Deli
211 Draper Road SW
Blacksburg, VA 24060
540.951.9817 | www.SycamoreDeli.com

TICKETS:
$10 | 18+ before 11 pm | 21+ after midnight

 

New Album Spotlight: Moogatu “Meat”

What’s up everybody?!? As you may or may not already know, everybody’s favorite prog rock jammers, Moogatu, are releasing a brand new, professionally done studio album, titled, “MEAT”. Recently, we actually got the chance to connect with one of the lead guitarists of the band, Chris Lee, to pick his brain a little on how they picked the songs to put on the album, collaborating with a jazz legend and icon, and what is next in the world of Moogatu. Check out what he has to say, and even stream the whole album right here while perusing the interview!

Mark your calendars as well, Saturday, August 2nd at Jammin’ Java, don’t miss out on the dual album release extravaganza, featuring not only the release of Moogatu’s “MEAT”, but also Nicky C and The RSB’s new album, “Much Obliged”.

1. When/how did you all decide that a studio album was going to be your next mountain to climb?

CL: We thought it was about time that we had a really high quality recording out and available. Soundboards and AUDs are nice, but we wanted something crisp and polished.

 

2. Going through your guys’ entire song catalog, how did you pick which ones were going to be on the album?

CL: The majority of the songs on the album are all pretty much live staples that we’ve perfected over the past couple of years. We chose them because they had all matured over time and it felt like the right moment to record them. We also did not want to repeat any songs from our first EP. Musically, the band also felt all of these songs meshed well together as one cohesive piece of work.

 

3. Did you all enjoy the recording process? How soon are you guys looking to get back in the studio?

CL: We loved the recording process! Speaking for only myself, I’ve never been completely satisfied with the recording process until now. The album was recorded at Mystery Ton Studios in Monrovia, MD with Kenny Eaton earlier this year. I had a blast recording there. It was a very relaxed atmosphere and Kenny really has a great ear and is easy to work with. Not to mention, we’re really happy with how the album came out, sonically. I’ve never been so happy recording guitar before. We’re currently brewing up some new ideas too, so stay tuned!

 

4. Ron Holloway, a very well-known and respected jazz musician, has been seen collaborating with you guys live and on the album. How did that relationship start? What’s it like playing with an icon such as himself?

CL: I still pinch myself every time Ron plays with us. Before we even started collaborating, he was one of my favorite horn players. I had first seen him sit in with Gov’t Mule and the Allman Brothers in the early 2000’s and have been following him since. The first time I had the pleasure of meeting Ron was in early 2012. My friend Dan Steele and his band “Covered With Jam” sometimes has Ron sit in and I decided to check them out at a local club. I introduced myself and we kept in contact over the next few months. Eventually, we would cross paths again and he ended up sitting in with us for a few tunes. One musical conversation led to another, and that led to Ron donating his talents and sitting in on a track on our record.

I’m really excited about the track he plays on, “Appreciation”. (check it out right below!) It’s a tune from Brian Raubacher’s old band, “Laidback”, that we sort of Moogafied and made our own. I won’t give too much away but Ron plays some really tasteful solos and there is some gnarly horn layering as well!

Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about Ron. The guy is a total pro and is one of the most humble, down to Earth people I’ve ever met. You can tell just from having a conversation with the guy that he’s the real deal and truly loves playing music. Like I said, I pinch myself every time he plays with us. So hopefully he doesn’t think we’re too bad! Haha. It’s a little intimidating, but we love every minute of it!

 

5. Since the loss of your keyboard wizard, Brian Dodds, are there any plans of getting a new full-time keyboardist?

CL: Actually, yes. We are currently looking for a full-time keyboard player. We have a few people in mind right now, but just haven’t gotten to properly have auditions with the recording and summer schedule. After our CD release party on August 2nd, we’ll have a few weeks off to try out some new people. If there’s anyone out in Internet land reading this right now, send us an email!

 

6. If you guys could create your dream album, and collab with any artists that you’d wish, who would we see featured?

CL: You would get a different answer depending on who in the band you ask, but personally I would love to collaborate with Jimmy Herring, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, and Jake Cinninger. Maybe even all on 1 track? Haha

 

7. Obviously the year is far from over, but what have been some of the highlights for Moogatu over the past year?

CL: There have been so many. Aside from the album, I would say it was an honor playing 3 sets at this year’s Mad Tea Party Jam. I can’t even describe how much fun we had at that festival…it was easily one of the best festivals I’ve ever attended, as a musician or a fan. So props to Taco and Elise, we love those guys! A huge moment was when we raised over $4,000 from a crowd-sourcing campaign to help fund the album. It was overwhelming how many donations came in over 45 days (THANK YOU!). Earlier this year, we also supported EOTO and ELM at the NorVa in Norfolk, VA and we haven’t ever played a room that big. It was a ton of fun hanging out with EOTO and their crew. They were very down to earth dudes. Anytime we play in Baltimore at the 8×10 is a blast too. Supporting Dopapod as well. I’m leaving a ton out, it’s been a great year.

 

8. Where is the album going to be available for the fans?

CL: It will be released August 2, 2014 at Jammin Java. Ron Holloway will be sitting in during our set and Nicky C and the RSB will also be appearing.

 

9. So, after playing multiple festivals the past couple years and now recording a studio album, what’s next for Moogatu?

CL: More festivals and more studio albums! Haha, we’ve been talking about doing some live [albums] and we also have material for 2 new studio albums! The past year has been spent writing a lot of new material, so I’m already ready to record some new tunes. Expect lots and lots of shows too. Expect to hear a lot from us in the next year.

So there you have it folks! After reading that, what more would you need to get excited for a new album, PLUS an awesome album release party! We’ve had the opportunity to work with Moogatu in the past, and I’ve got to say, these guys have what it takes to make a name for themselves, and not just in our local music scene. I’m definitely super excited to see what else they have in store for us in the future.

Don’t forget, Saturday, August 2nd at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, VA, not one, but TWO albums being released. Ron Holloway will be featured with Moogatu as well, and if you don’t know about the man, well it’s about time to learn. Hope to see all of you out there!

Jimkata -Feel in Light EP-

JIMKATA
“Feel In Light” EP

In early March 2014, Jimkata, an electro-rock infused indie jam band, released their third studio recording “Feel in Light” EP and announced a national spring tour. This EP explores a new sound for the band, similar to that of MGMT and Passion Pit. Soothing vocals over simplistic synth loops, mellow but powerful, relaxing yet dance worthy. The band’s website describes the new sound as “exploring themes of love, triumph and appreciating second chances in life.”

Even with the busy tour schedule on hand, Jimkata’s Evan Friedell found some time to answer a couple questions about the recently released EP. We feel they are immensely enthusiastic about the release and hope everyone gets the opportunity to catch them on tour or on the festie circuit.

 

 

How awesome does it feel to be touring nationally behind the new EP, Feel In Light.?! I know this isn’t your first national run, but how does the crowd reception compare to when you first started.

We’ve been touring pretty heavily for the past two years, starting with the tour off of Die Digital and in those two years we are really starting to see what I like to call stickiness.  We’re at a point now where no matter how many people show up, they all seem familiar with who we are and are singing along, dancing, gettin’ down. That all started with just a few people coming out, checking out the music and telling their friends.  It wasn’t always like this. We’ve played a lot to nobody and have racked up some funny stories in the meantime.  

Like the first time we played Iowa City a few years ago no one showed up.  We played our set, drank a few beers, left the venue and proceeded to get egged on our drive to whatever floor we were sleeping on that night.  I remember how much it sucked to not only play a lot of shows to nobody but to get egged too!  It was a random egging, cause I mean nobody knew us enough to hate us.  But anyways, the next time there were like 7 people and the time after that it was like 150 people who all knew our music!  So it’s a truly humbling experience to put yourself out there to little or no reception and then start to steadily gain fans.  It makes you grateful and respectful of the idea that music is something far more powerful than ourselves as individuals.

 

Where is the farthest from home the tour will be taking you?

We’ll be heading out to Colorado to play Snowball and Breckenridge Beer Festival.

 

JIMKATA

 

 

When did the band decide to change it up and go with a mellower almost alternative feel?

We’ve never made a conscious decision as to which way our sound should go.  It’s always been a natural evolution rather than a decision to make an abrupt change.  And actually I think there are elements in Feel In Light and Die Digital that are present in everything we’ve done going all the way back to our very first demo EP.  You can sort of hear the progression through all our work.  I think gradually throughout the years we’ve been exploring different new sounds via analog synths and samples and that’s led to where we are now.

 

Talk about some of your influences for this EP and how they differ or have grown over the years that you guys have been together.

I think all of us have gotten into the production aspect of making music.  Creating a good song with finely tuned sounds that make you wanna listen again and again.  Aaron has been composing a lot with the Prophet synth and Ableton, I’ve been composing through Logic, Packy has become a master at Ableton especially live performance, and Rossi exploring the Bass synth.  I think with all these new avenues of making music we’ve reached a point where we’ve got a wide palette and now we can choose exactly the colors we want.  For example, maybe I’ll write a demo on my computer but we crack it open in the band room and decide that it would just sound way better with a live picked bass or with some guitars instead of whatever synth sound I created.  Basically we’re utilizing electronic elements but always trying to keep in mind the sounds that really hit the gut emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  And of course the end goal being that the lyrics and the song as a whole will make that impact.   

 

“New Chapter, Second Verse…” Does this describe what Jimkata is right now, not necessarily a whole new sound but more exploring different paths in music production and encompassing all sounds into one?

Well originally that lyric came to me as a result of just feeling good in my own life.  Falling in love, feeling content with where I was headed in life.  I suppose it could relate to Jimkata as a whole but really I think every day is a new chapter, a second verse for all of us as individuals and as a collective.  With every show, every new song, every new studio work we’ll be chasing after the sound that’s in our heads.  

 

I’m curious to see how you guys will infuse Feel in Light EP with your past work in a live setting.

Its been fitting in quite nicely with all of our other stuff.  We’re at a point where we have a lot of songs to choose from in writing a set.  We try to play the new stuff but also try to always play something from every album because people are always requesting it.  Its been cool to see how older songs can flow into new ones live.

 

JIMKATA
“Feel In Light” EP

Talk about being in the studio, only the third time recording.

We went back to More Sound Studios in Syracuse again with Jason ‘Jocko’ Randall and had a blast once again.  It’s actually our fifth time recording at this point and our second with Jocko. So we’ve become pretty accustomed to the process but always excited by the possibilities and the outcome.  This time it was sandwiched in between a lot of touring and the songs were mostly ones we’ve never played live before.  That was new for us.  So there was a lot of listening back to the recordings while we were on the road, then coming back to the studio to change things, make edits, write new parts, etc.  

 

Do you guys prefer the studio recording over the live recordings?

They’re just different mediums each with their own magic.  I love being in the studio because it really feels like you’re creating something fresh and new.  Its fun to see something that started as an idea in my head bloom into a whole song with each new layer.  Sometimes you might write a part in the studio that you didn’t have before that just clicks. There’s nothing like the feeling of hearing a new layer that just clicks with the song and ties it all together.  I’ll never forget when Aaron, Jocko, and I discovered the vocal chant for “Beat the Curse”.  We all were laughing and giggling like idiots.  It was perfect.  With live recordings its just capturing whatever happens in the moment and its fun when you hear something that went really well.  Some nights there’s just an energy in the air and we all feel really connected with each other and the crowd.  Other nights, complete and total chaos (at least in our eyes or ears).  Both mediums have an element of not exactly knowing how its gonna go which makes it thrilling and keeps us coming back for more.

 

What festivals can we expect to see Jimkata at this summer?

So far we’ve only got a few announced but there’s much more on the way. Summer Camp, Snow Ball, Great Blue Heron, Buffalove, to name a few.  Hope to see you out there!

Mad Tea Party Jam Announces Final Lineup

Mad Tea Party Jam Announces Final Lineup

June 19-22, 2014 in Hedgesville, WV

The third annual The Mad Tea Party Jam, presented by Appalachian Jamwich, takes place June 19-22 in Hedgesville, WV.  The music and arts festival will be headlined by Papadosio, two nights of The Werks, two nights of Dopapod, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Mantras and more.

The event will host multiple stages, an electronic dance tent, and late night music to 5AM and later.  The arts will also be a prevalent component to the experience and patrons can enjoy looking through a transformative art gallery, exploring art installations, and watching live art being created before their eyes at the main stage.  The optical delights don’t end there, because each night the crowd will transform into outlandish characters for our nightly costume contests and Friday night’s Futuristic Burlesque Fashion Show.  Fire performers will be lighting up the night sky, hoop troupe performers will make LED lights melt before your eyes, and aerial performers will hang gracefully from the stage. Workshops teaching how to hoop, do yoga, play guitar and more will also be available to enhance your experience at the festival.

The Mad Tea Party Jam takes place on beautiful land with two ponds, a stream and swimming hole. Also on the property is a Bavarian style villa and stone courtyard that hosts the VIP/Artist area.  The intimate environment allows musicians to roam the property and rub shoulders with attendees.  The magical venue and kind vibes bring us together to love one another and transform our energies into a single creative collective.

General admission tickets are currently at their 2nd tier price of $85 and VIP tickets are available for $185.  A limited amount of tickets at this tier are available and may sell out.  VIP tickets include preferred camping with the bands, VIP hospitality area, 3 private acoustic sets by bands T.B.A., T-shirt, poster, and laminate.

The official lineup includes some of the most talented, fastest growing bands in the Northeast Jam Scene:

Papadosio The Werks – TWO NIGHTS Dopapod – TWO NIGHTS Pigeons Playing Ping Pong The Mantras – TWO NIGHTS Consider the Source – TWO NIGHTS Big Daddy Love – TWO NIGHT Turkuaz – TWO NIGHTS TAUK -TWO NIGHTS Ron Holloway Band E.L.M. – TWO NIGHTS Moogatu – THREE NIGHTS The Shack Band – TWO NIGHTS Manitoa Vagabond Swing Fletcher’s Grove Broccoli Samurai Deaf Scene DELTAnine People’s Blues of Richmond King of Belmont Galaxy Dynamite KR-3 B Side Shuffle Threesound The Brummy Brothers Plaeground LITZ Heady Ruxpin Tweed Aarodynamics Bunk Buddha Bat’s Dynamic Strings Band Supersylum Wicked Sway Lee Turley Sol Frequency The Braes Jordan August Band YPSET Interstellar Soul Noetic Pull Betty & the Badasses Annexation of Puerto Rico

ARTISTS AT LARGE: Ron Holloway Fareed Haque

 

Fans can find more information and order tickets at www.themadteapartyjam.com.

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Promotional/Press Contact: Elise Olmstead elise@appalachianjamwich.com

City Bisco II

City Bisco II

It was that time of the year once again. Fall is among us and the nights have become brisk. The last weekend of September brought The Disco Biscuits to the Mann Center in Philadelphia, PA for the second ever City Bisco; a relatively small music festival featuring four sets of The Disco Biscuits, among other performing artists such as Method Man & Redman, Shpongle, Emancipator, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and others. Needless-to-say it was a much anticipated weekend.

City Bisco Lasers

The weekend would start early for us as The Disco Biscuits had announced they would be playing the Thursday night before City Bisco at Baltimore Soundstage in Maryland. As you could imagine, most everyone at the venue would be making the short trek up I-95 North to settle in for the next two days and nights. The pre-party had great energy through and through. So much excitement for the moment at hand, while also so much anticipation for the coming days.

September 26, 2013 – Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD

Set 1:  Little Lai > Wet > Little Lai, Minions > Therapy, Strobelights and Martinis > Spacebirdmatingcall

Set 2:  Little Shimmy In A Conga Line > Bernstein and Chasnoff * > Bombs > Little Shimmy In A Conga Line, House Dog Party Favor

E:  Spy

*Inverted

 

We awoke to Friday. This was it. Today is the day. Check out is 11am which is perfect for us as we wanted to hit the road early in hopes of beating any kind of traffic. The drive seemed to take longer than we thought, but in reality it was just the anxious butterflies churning up the stomach. We arrived at the Hilton on City Ave only about two miles away from the Mann Center. Our Philadelphia correspondents had already checked in and moved their bags to the room. Let the party commence!

City Bisco Lights

Time flew by and before we knew it the Biscuits were about to come on and we hadn’t left the hotel yet. We arrived about 30 minutes before set time and the line to get in was ridiculous. No one was moving, everybody was complaining, and security was making just about everyone take their shoes off. I will however give security the benefit of the doubt for the first night as a lot of people showed up right as the Biscuits were about to come on.

We got in with just enough time to gather beers for the group and grab awesome seats smack dab in the middle lower section. We couldn’t ask for a much better situation. The weather was exceptional and so too were the people around us. Other than $8 beers and the security to get in, I’d say it was a damn near perfect night. The first song of the weekend would be a 47 minute long version of “Basis For A Day”…WOW! An epic four song first set laid down a reoccurring theme; The Disco Biscuits were here to jam.

This night had an interesting set break on the schedule. Method Man & Redman would perform in between The Biscuit’s sets. Event Staff had moved a catwalk/extended stage to about the fifth row so Method and Red could get closer to their fans. Praise Jah himself I wasn’t up in that crowd because these dudes were flinging around so much water it looked like the splash zone at Seaworld. I’ll give it to them though. They brought major energy to the stage even if the crowd wasn’t their typical target audience.

September 27, 2013 – Mann Center for the Performing Arts – Philadelphia, PA 

Set 1:  Basis For A Day, Story of the World > Cyclone > Story of the World

Set Break: Method Man & Redman

Set 2:  Confrontation > Tricycle > Theme from Shaft * > Confrontation, Reactor > Floes > Reactor

*First time played

Saturday would start with a good old fashion Bloody Mary mixed with West Virginia University football. Unfortunately no cheesesteaks would be enjoyed by the WookiePost team this trip; a decision that could come back to haunt us later. After an unbelievable WVU victory I had to take a power nap to refuel myself before the last night of the three show run. Unfortunately I did not wake up in time to catch any of the earlier acts but was able to get there just in time for The Biscuits. This time however our seats would be back and to the right. Rumors had it that not enough tickets were sold for The Mann Center to open up the balcony. Just from a rough headcount, I inferred there were definitely less people this year than last year. That being said, the second night did not disappoint.

Hope then caterpillar with dub version of floodlights was bonkers. I had never seen these songs live before so it was a little extra special for me. Shpongle was a little more relative, to say the least. Although it was only a DJ set, he turned it on towards the end of his set and did a great job bringing in the last set of the weekend.

Disco Ball

The Disco Biscuits along with their lights crew did a more than a fantastic job putting on a spectacular show, or weekend for that matter. Unanimous across the board, the WookiePost team agreed on another successful weekend and another successful City Bisco. We look forward to seeing them again at what will be our first ever Mayan Holidze.

September 28, 2013 – Mann Center for the Performing Arts – Philadelphia, PA 

Set 1:  Hope, Caterpillar > Svenghali > Floodlights 1 > Caterpillar

Set Break: Shpongle

Set 2:  Mindless Dribble > Disco Inferno 2 > Tempest > Crickets 3 > King of the World

E:  Frog Legs > Run Like Hell 4

1 Dub version, with Tom Sawyer (Rush) tease 2 w/ Get Lucky (Daft Punk) teases 3 middle section only 4 ending only

Kloc

Camp Barefoot 7 The Last of a Dying Breed

Main Stage

Over the past 5 years the music festival “scene” has grown exponentially. Whether you think this is good or bad for “the scene” it is happening right in front of our faces. Ultra Music Festival, Camp Bisco, Gathering of the Vibes and Wakarusa just to name a few, dominate the east coast with 10,000+ in attendance. These festivals are amazing, and I encourage anyone and everyone to attend, but they didn’t just start out harboring thousands of crazy festival goers. They all started out small, under 1,000 people. These smaller festivals fly under the radar for the most part. As a member of Wookie Post I had the opportunity to attend the smaller, first year start up festivals, along with the enormous large scale ones too. As a journalist I take interest in the different cultures of each and every festival as they all have their own unique atmosphere. CampBarefoot was no different.

August had finally come around, and summer was slowly beginning to end. The Summer of 2013 would never be forgotten. The second to last stop on the Wookie Post festie tour had taken us to the wild and wonderful world of West Virginia. Camp Barefoot 7 was the destination, located deep in the mountains of the Appalachia, outside a petite little town called Bartow. Little did I know this would be an unforgettable experience filled with colorful memories and overwhelming good times.

Late Night Stage

The sun was shinning bright with not a cloud in the sky as we arrived early Thursday afternoon. I took this as a sign that the weekend would be as close to perfect as one could get. Right from the start people were introducing themselves and asking if we needed help setting up our camp or if we wanted to chat over a frosty brewed beverage when we finished. From the moment we entered the festival you could feel the positive energy sweeping over your body like a drug, instantly high, pupils dilated, and of course that euphoric sensation we all pursue. The smell of the fresh mountain air along with the feeling of soft, healthy earth beneath your feet was enough to make even the most heartless person affectionate. Embracing this mood was subconscious. You became part of the festival as it had already, unknowingly, become part of you. This feeling would last the whole weekend.

For those who have not had the chance to experience a small scale festival, your time is running out. These festivals are “a last of a dying breed” according to an original CampBarefoot attendee. He claims, at Barefoot especially, the culture of the smaller festival is bound to become extinct…but how and why? Who would want to destroy such a beautiful and peaceful experience? The answer is us. All of us. We help create the environment and the atmosphere. We pay for the tickets to get the bands and help recruit staff to make the festival function. So why do we abuse it? The simple belief that someone else will take care of it for us. We the patrons have to be accountable just as much as the staff. Take control of YOUR festival. Spread the good vibes and help others reach the same enlightenment that kept you coming back year after year.

CampBarefoot was the first time I felt at home with my surroundings and with the people I was with, whether I knew them or not. That weekend turned everyone into family, Camp Barefoot 7 family. The experiences I shared with friends and acquaintances will not be matched again for the rest of my time here on earth. Not only was the music incredible but so too were the people, the staff, the vendors, and the venue.

General Camping in the valley

I write this as a warning and I write this to encourage the positive outlook I acquired through my time at Camp Barefoot. An outlook I will apply for the rest of my life. I believe every festival has the opportunity and the ability to be as intimate and as passionate as Camp Barefoot, it’s up to the attendees to believe and pursue this outcome. “Too weird to live, yet too rare to die.”

Kloc

Cosmic Campout Day 2 & 3 Highlights

Sunrise Day Two at Quail Ridge Lake in Aldie, VA

Day 2 was upon us. The sun was up bright and early and so was the Wookie Post crew that morning. We had set up the Grassroots vending station and got our Bloody Mary’s. Yoga was taking place at the main stage, breakfast burritos were being served at concessions, the birds were chirping and people were getting their early morning swim in at the lake all while music was being set up.

The second day of festivals always seems to be a big shopping day for campers. Shakedown was popping early. Everyone was trying to get their shopping in before the music. Unfortunately, the music schedule had to be rearranged because of the ordeal from the previous night. There was also no hard copy of the schedule so it was tough to decipher who was playing and who was suppose to come on next. The festival wanted to have the “louder” more electronic acts perform during the day and save acoustic sets for later that night as to not disturb the neighbors across the lake.

Shakedown Street

Yea it was kind of confusing but  it was for the good of the festival. This was only Cosmic Campout’s second year in existence and being shut down on the second day of the second year is not a good look. No one really complained though. Everyone accepted the situation and the party raged on.

Unfortunately we did not get a chance to cover every act on the second day of the festival but we can tell you about some of our favorite acts that we did get a chance to catch.

First up on out list is Galaxy Dynamite, good friends of Wookie Post, this was actually the first time I got to catch a live show. Not to disappoint, this three piece psychedelic trance rock band brings groovy electro dance beats straight from outer space right to your inner ear. Originating in the 757, Norfolk, VA Galaxy Dynamite started in 2010 and hasn’t looked back yet. Baker Cunningham – Guitar, Synth, brings the soothing melodies that will melt even the headiest wook in the crowd. Sam Wolffe – Bass, utilizes a progressive driving lead bass-line that seamlessly merges the guitar and drums as one. And then there’s Michael Mahgerefteh – Drums, this psycho is ill with the skills with drum sticks in his hands. King of the throne, Mike brings an unbelievable energy to the stage and it shows in the music. Catch Galaxy Dynamite on tour this summer. We will be seeing them again at Pasture Palooza and Under the Stars Festival. Here’s the full set list from Cosmic Campout:

Nothing Says Beach Like a Highway, Action Jackson > Hero Status, Stargazing, Snake in the Grass, Something With Apples, Timezones, Moment of Impact > Rocket Smash, Hide and Sneek

Sam Wolffe – Bass Guitar, Galaxy Dynamite

Next on our list is Moogatu, a Wookie Post favorite. Head over to our Artist Spotlight Series and check out our interview with them. If you haven’t heard of Moogatu yet, you must not be reading Wookie Post. This five piece band features two dueling lead guitars that bring a unique sound that can only be recognized as Moogatu. Progressive and funky, heavy and harmonious, this band is making a name for themselves, etching their sound into the brains of who ever is willing to listen.  Catch them this weekend (June 29th) at Lunar Bay Festival and late night at Family Roots Festival. Here’s the full set list from Cosmic Campout:

Try Again* > Nothing Too Fancy* > Appreciation, Mary > Dance Party > Bonafide Lovin’, Better Batter > Helium Pt. 2, Better Company

* unfinished

Brian Raughbacker (Left) and Chris Lee (Right) duel lead guitar, Moogatu

Switching gears, The Archives took the stage. They grabbed our attention as awesome reggae bands tend to do. This old school style roots rock band is comprised of an all star cast that consists of vocalists Ras Puma, the charismatic singer on Thievery Corporation’s Culture of Fear, Lenny Kurlou (S.T.O.R.M.), Mateo Monk (Sankofa Blackstar) plays guitar, flute and melodica, Burke (Moja Nya, Eek- A-Mouse, Gregory Isaacs) is on keyboards, Leslie “Black Seed” James Jr. (Culture, Eek-A-Mouse) dummer, and bass player Justin “Relentless” Parrott (Claudius Linton). Not to be confused, The Archives play totally original songs that have a “really deep roots” feel. Their mission is to contribute to the evolution of reggae in the 21st century. “Same tree, new leaves.” If you have a chance to check these guys out we highly recommend you go see them perform. Check to see if they come around your town on their tour schedule. Also listen to their music free on soundcloud. 

Consider the Source was another head turner for us here at Wookie Post. It was the first time we were exposed to Consider the Source and as our good friend, Chris Lee, over at Moogatu put it, “They have to warn people before they just get up there and start shredding metal solo’s!” No doubt Consider the Source had kicked it up a notch. The three piece band from non other than the Big Apple, New York, New York is composed of Gabriel Marin- Guitars, John Ferrara- Bass, and Jeff Mann – Drums and Percussion. CTS’s style spans over a plethora of genres from metal to psychedelic jam and everything in-between. According to their facebook however, they dub themselves “Sci-fi Middle Easter Fusion” definitely a one of a kind genre. CTS formed in 2004 and have been touring ever since, from California all the way to Israel.  You can catch Consider the Source this weekend (June 28) in Rockingham, VT at the Rocking Hill Music Festival and (June 29) at Kittenfest Music Festival in Augusta, NJ. You can listen to their music for free on their website.

Gabriel Marin – Guitar, Consider the Source

Finally to end our list is Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. Another Wookie Post favorite, theses guys have also been featured in our Artist Spotlight Series. The last big act for the night, Pigeons’ set was actually push forward to accommodate for the noise complaint the night before. We had a couple friends trying to make it that night after work but unfortunately, they didn’t arrive until after Pigeons had finished. Started in 2007 Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and stormed onto the scene in funk-a-delic style. The highly anticipated set did not disappoint. As the sun began to dissipate and the night grew darker, Pigeons threw down an awesome version of their take on the Ghostbuster’s Theme Song. Everyone was talking about that for the rest of the night. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will be at Pasture Palooza this weeekend (June 29), check out their tour dates for more information on up coming shows.  You can download live set on their website and also check them out on soundcloud.

Day two was in the books and we awoke on day three, tired and exhausted. The clouds had rolled in and were threatening to rain. We thought it was best to break down camp early that morning in anticipation of a storm. Many other campers had the same idea and slowly the festival began to die down. Day three music started around noon and was suppose to continue til 6pm. We left Cosmic Campout with Mateo Monk playing in the background.

Ben Carrey – Bass Guitar, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

All in all the weekend was just plain fun. Great music, great weather, and great people make for one spectacular time. We hope to attend the next Cosmic Campout and we hope they can continue to hold it at the lovely Quail Ridge Lake. We apologize if your act did not get mentioned in this article. If you have any questions feel free to email us at wookiepost.com@gmail.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter.

Cosmic Campout Day 1

Cosmic Camp Out Day 1

And so it begins…

Where do I begin? What a wonderful weekend.

Friday had finally come. Wookie Post was attending Cosmic Campout for full festival coverage. Our first festie gig. We were supposed to arrive at 10am Friday morning to set up our vending station on shakedown street. One of our correspondents (RONDO) slangs Grassroots hats and had a vendor’s pass for the weekend.

It was just us two, Rondo and Kloc. We awoke that morning only to realize it was 10 am and we were going to be late. Luckily, Cosmic Campout was located only 15 minutes away from our house, in Aldie, VA. Little did I know that Rondo wasn’t even packed yet. Needless-to-say we were 3 hours late to a festival that was right around the corner. But we did finally get there and started setting up our vending station and our camp site.

We rolled up to the festival entrance and were greeted by our new beloved friend, Rebecca Souther aka REB SOUTH. She’s the bomb diggidy and hooked it up all weekend. She gave us our passes and directed us to our camp site for the weekend, “All the way down and to the right.” It was prime time location. We were closest to the stage, the last vendor people see walking to the concert area and first vendor they see when leaving. Couldn’t have asked for a better spot!

Rebecca Souther aka Reb South

After we finished setting up I decided to walk around the grounds with my camera and introduce myself and Wookie Post to everyone who was going to be there for the next three days.

The music kicked off with an awesome 5 piece band from Washington D.C. called Satro. I don’t really know what to say other than they killed it. Liora Valero, lead vocals, spilled her heart out on stage as she laid into the microphone, catching everyone off guard. For a small girl she has a very powerful voice. Hope to catch them again this summer. Check out more from Satro on their facebook.

Next on the set list was Chef Kreffington aka Stefan Ilie. This dude was awesome. Rocking out solo with his beat maker and guitar, the Chef threw down some tasty tunes. I ran into a couple of his buddies in the crowd, one of which ended up on stage jamming with him. This guy is on the up and up, and even though there was a couple technical difficulties during his set, it’s safe to say the Chef is cooking up some mean dishes for future audiences. Check out Chef Kreffington’s entire menu on his soundcloud.

To keep the solo acts rolling, Aarodynamics aka Aaron Malander took the stage to bring us “Sexy music to get slutty to.” Seriously though, this guy was talented. Laying down a smooth bass line, looping it, and then jamming on his sleek Jackson WRXT Warrior. On top of all that, this dude was spitting fire! Rapping the entire “Real Slim Shady” had the Wookie Post crew geeking out. We are looking forward to catching Aarodynamics again at Jammin’ Java Aug 8 and also at Mantrabash. Until then you can listen to his music for free on his soundcloud. Check out the only video we managed to grab all weekend! “Stupid Heady Jams”

Satro

The fourth act for the day was called Black Masala. A gypsy brass band from Washington D.C. Their style music was unmatched all weekend. A 9-piece band featuring instruments such as an accordion, tuba, two trombones, saxophone, banjo, and even a washboard. These guys are extremely energetic and brought the campers to the front of the stage for the first real dance party of the weekend. The band is comprised of members from Thievery Corporation, See-I, Yamamonem Jazz Band, Yellow Dubmarine, and Bellflur. According to thier facebook, Black Masala draws inspiration from the melodies of Eastern European brass bands, New Orleans jazz, Latin grooves, Ambient/Experimental Indie rock riffs, and even a hint of Appalachian twang. Listen to more Black Masala here

As the day carried on, Operation Dankstar took the stage. Another solo act, guitar and mixer. This guy has “it”. Shredding on the guitar, Michael Klicos was overwhelmed with excitment to be performing at Cosmic Campout. Hailing from Baltimore, MD, Operation Dankstar describes his music as “a dinosaur bodyslamming an oil tanker into a volcano”, “rage music”, “the bastard child of bass music and ripping guitar with influences from all walks of life.” Which is pretty much spot on. Although he is usually a solo artist, the drummer of DELTAnine, Chris Beck, sat in on his performance. Great vibes all around camp as this was the second time we have seen a guest performer on stage. Check out Operation Dankstar on soundcloud. Wookie Post will definitely be reaching out to him for an Artist Spotlight feature in the near future.

Operation Dankstar with special guest Chris Beck on drums

Segway was up next, or should we say ELM. The band recently had a name change in wake of a total make over. These guys always throw down hard. Jamtronica infused with funk and soul, their music is difficult to describe so definitely check them out next time they in your area. They love to party.

Segway had turned day into night, and it was now time for the much anticipated Mantras set. By this time the sun had set and the freaks were beginning to emerge from their tents. The lights were in full force and the visuals were of trippy space kittens (of course). The Mantras have a very interesting sound. Powerful, subtle, deep, epic, all blended together into one awe-inspiring performance. Based in Greenboro, NC, The Mantras recently released their fourth studio album entitled “Jam Bands Ruined My Life”. They will be touring up and down the east coast including shows in Ohio, Kentucky, and as far north as Vermont. Check out their entire tour schedule  and steam their music for free. Also don’t forget to get you MantraBash tickets! Festival begins Aug. 29 – Sept 1.

The Mantras

The Mantras had finished one of the best sets of the day and now it was time for DELTAnine to shine. This three piece band out of Baltimore, MD started their journey in 2011 and have already opened for big names such as Dopapod, D.V.S* and Conspirator, just to name a few. These guys absolutely killed it, period. I had never seen a performance by them and I was blown away. Unfortunately during their set, the neighbors across the lake thought this party was becoming way too epic and couldn’t handle the stellar line up. They called the police and placed a noise complaint. The cops did show up and there were rumors going around that under covers had made their way into the festival grounds. The music was shut down for about an hour or so but only to come back on around 1-130 in the morning.

The staff did a great job of informing the campers of the situation and not to worry music would return just at a lower decibel level than before. At first, this was quite the debbie downer but soon Mateo Monk came to the rescue.

Wookie Post was oblivious to Mateo Monk before this weekend, but let us be the first to tell you that this guy is truly talented. Our buddy from Moogatu, Chris Lee, pointed us in the right direction for sure on this one. This “one-man-band” loops melodic guitar rhythms all the while murdering it on his flute. Ron Burgandy would stand no chance in a jazz (soft j) flute competition. This man’s life story is amazing and his music reflects it. Read his entire bio on his website http://www.mateomonkmusic.com/bio.html

DELTAnine

Night number one ended on a soft note, but no one could really complain about it. Yea the music was turned down, but so what? Now we could converse with each other around the camp fire and listen to the soothing harmonies of Mateo Monk.

Something I had never seen before at a festival which I will never forget was the scene right in front of the stage for the last act of the night. Mateo Monk was still grooving, til the wee hours of 3am, and there was a crowd of campers sitting in front of him perched on a stool. They were all sitting cross legged, listening attentively, as if they were elementary kids during story time. I don’t know why this image is forever stuck in my head. Maybe because it was so peacefully perfect, so…right.

When the music shut off for the night, people made their way back to their tents to unwind from the adventures of the first day of Cosmic Campout. Others stayed huddled around the camp fire, sharing tales of previous festival experiences and fooling around on some acoustic guitar and hand drums. All in all you couldn’t have asked for a better day for a festival. The weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold, slight breeze and mostly sunny. The bands were amazing. Every act seemed to lay it all out there and I for one really appreciate the effort.

Mateo Monk

The sky had started to turn from black to a deep blue and that’s when I knew it was time for bed. Some rest was needed, for day two music starts in only a couple hours…

Blueberry Jam Festival Preview

Well, the time has come people! It’s just about the beginning of the Summer season, so you know what that means, right? It’s the kick-off of fresh blueberry season, duhh!!! One of the many great times of the year, I, for one, am extra excited about this particular blueberry season, because we get to bring it in on the grounds of none other than Drewery Farms, Virginia’s premier Blueberry and Berry Picking farm. The Drewery family has been farming in Southeastern Virginia for about 5 centuries now, so when it comes to providing the freshest produce and berries around, I’d say they have a hell of a lot more knowledge and experience than anyone I know, so you know you will be in for a tasty treat.

Now, as much fun as just a good ol’ fashioned blueberry pickin’ party would be, that is not the only reason behind this festival preview. From June 21st-June 23rd, people will be flocking from all over the Mid-Atlantic and beyond, to participate in the 2nd Annual Blueberry Jam Festival, a charity driven festival that supports all local musicians, food/drink vendors, and a variety of artisans. So besides the obvious berries on site, we will be joined by such bands as:

The Mantras (progressive rock/jam)
Dopapod (experimental funk-rock)
BIG Something (alternative rock with a BIG groove)
Galaxy Dynamite (surf/trance/rock/psychedelic)
Session Rockers (roots reggae)
The Dharma Initiative (indie/funk/soul/world)
Silo Effect (electronic space-rock)

as well as an eclectic mix of other bands and DJ’s that will surely keep us groovin’ through the day and night…
full lineup listed here.

As I’m sure we all know, all of these bands are extremely well-versed in the “party starting” category, so no need to worry about there being a lack of good music or entertainment.

Dopapod

One of my favorite parts about festival season, is the coming together of so many different bands and artists, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see/hear something you’ve never seen/heard before. For me, I’m super excited to see Dopapod for the first time, as I’ve heard they have been on an absolute tear recently, just finishing blowing minds as a headliner at Disc Jam in Massachusetts, and making a few stops on their way down to Drewery Farms for this weekend.

And then of course there’s Galaxy Dynamite, who never once in the history of their band has put on a bad show, and that’s just a fact; The Mantras, who are just about as consistent as Lindsay Lohan’s criminal record; Silo Effect, who has been killing and keeping the VA jam scene alive (how do they do that?) for about 6 years straight; and keep this on the hush, but rumor has it that our friends from Hubble Bash will be making an apperance at some point over the weekend, so definitely keep an eye out for them!

Apart from the fantastic music that we’ll have on site this year, there will be a large variety of craft beers on tap for your enjoyment, a wonderful addition that unfortunately gets over-looked at some festivals, as well as fresh, farm raised food. And when I say fresh, I mean that last year there was a guy selling grilled hot dogs that he literally made himself that same morning. If that’s not fresh enough for you then I don’t know what would be.

Also be sure to check out the “Jam Stage” that will be set up. They have a full schedule of workshops and special guests that will take this stage to share such information as Raw/Vegan Nutrition, yoga sessions, composting, natural healthy living, coiled pottery making, and my favorite, mushroom growing!!! Really a ton of cool stuff that will be going on throughout the day, so I’m sure you all will find your way over there.

I mean, what else could you ask for in a festival? Good people, good music, good beer, good food, blueberries, and jam, just GOOD all around. Plus, as mentioned earlier, this is a charity driven festival, so all the proceeds go towards the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank, Buy Fresh, Buy Local of Hampton Roads, and the Five Points Community Market. Three wonderful organizations all working towards the same goal of providing fresh, natural food and produce to local residents.

If you don’t have plans already, it is certainly not too late to make plans to be at the Blueberry Jam Festival this weekend, and if you do have plans, cancel them and make new ones. For only $30, it really is a helluva bargain considering everything you get to enjoy for a couple days. Those dates again are this Friday, June 21st-Sunday, June 23. Camping goes until noon on Sunday, so they want everyone to be packed up and ready to go by then. A small request for the hospitality being provided already.

Well that should do it, we can’t wait to see you all on the farm this weekend!!! Drewery Farms is located in Wakefield, VA, about an hour south of Richmond and about an hour outside of Hampton Roads. For directions, further information about the farms, and tickets, please visit the Official Blueberry Jam Festival website. Peace, love, and blueberries!!!

Cosmic Camp Out Day 2 & 3

Yoga at the Main Stage

Shakedown Street

Sam Wolffe – Bass Guitar, Galaxy Dynamite

Brian Raughbacker (Left) and Chris Lee (Right) duel lead guitar, Moogatu

Gabriel Marin – Guitar, Consider the Source

Ben Carrey – Bass Guitar, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong