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

 

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

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.

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

Jamtravaganza feat. Moogatu, Woodwork, and Threesound – 5/24/13

Memorial Day weekend is a time that should be spent with good friends, a plethora of food, cold drinks, and to top it all off, some sweet, sweet music to keep your feet moving. That’s exactly what was provided for the good people of Northern Virginia this past weekend, as our friends at Heady Entertainment put on one helluva dance party, as they have gained the reputation to do so every time.

Calm before the storm at Jammin’ Java

This was a show that we were all extra excited for, as it was the first time in nearly 4 years that we’ve had the whole Wookie Post crew together at the same show, and we also had the great opportunity to meet with one of the night’s headliners, Moogatu, for the second feature in our Artist Spotlight Series. Definitely keep an eye out for that, there is so much talent between all of those guys, and some pretty cool stories behind some of their most popular songs.

Although we were going to the show already knowing that Moogatu was going to bring the heat, we were caught off-guard by the talent from the other two bands on the bill that night.

First up was Threesound, a local band from Winchester, VA, composed of four young bucks looking to make a name for themselves in the live music scene. Coming to the stage in what I would call “business casual” attire, these guys definitely bring a certain presence to the stage, and can take over the room in an instant when they turn it on. Bringing full original songs, as well as a few very well-done covers, this band has range for days. I’ve got to say too, it’s a little refreshing seeing some younger guys take the stage and actually come prepared like they’ve been there before, seeing as they formed together back in 2009. I’d say these guys are definitely on the right path to success, if they keep at it, so keep an eye out for them. They have shows lined up all through the month of June, all over the state of VA. (see Threesound’s full setlist at the bottom of the article)

Threesound at Jammin’ Java

In a night with 3 bands playing full sets, transition from one band to the other happens quick, so next up taking the stage was Woodwork, hailing from the one and only 757, Hampton Roads, Seven Cities, VA Beach area!!! For those unfamiliar with these guys, Woodwork is a four-piece band, complete with guitar, bass, keys, and drums, mixing a variety of genres from island funk to psychedelic jams and 100% original lyrics thrown at you as well. Trying to find that perfect harmonizing sound, Woodwork has been through some lineup changes in the recent years, but they feel like they have it down now, and are super excited to play for all you fans out there, especially at Camp Barefoot 7, this year. They played a great all around set and definitely made me want to look into these guys more, so don’t be surprised if you see more about Woodwork on Wookie Post in the future. Check out our video of them here, to get a lil’ taste of what you could be seeing.

Kyle Folsom (guitar), McGregor Hood (bass),
Woodwork

The first two bands absolutely killed it and set the stage for the last, and most certainly not least, band to play for the night, Moogatu. These guys are really starting to grow on me, and this being only my second time seeing them, I feel that they have that effect on a lot of people. It doesn’t take long to recognize that these guys love what they’re doing and want to put on the best show possible every night for the fans. I was even more pumped since a few people I was with hadn’t had the chance to see Moogatu live, so I knew they were in for a treat and would share my feelings the same. It pretty much goes without saying, that this night was no different.

Coming in hot with their dance starter specialty, “Mary”, right off the bat the floor was covered and people were gettin’ down to the blusey keys of Brian Dodds, and the shredtastic extraordinaires Chris Lee and Brian Raubacher. Let’s not forget the glue holding it all together, Brian Zupruk rocking the funk out on the bass, and Steve Jacyna keeping them all on beat with the drumkit. I was definitely pleaseantly surprised to hear some new songs (new to my ears) as well, during their set. “Bonafide Lovin'” might be up there for my new favorite song from these guys, it has the perfect mix of catchy lyrics and upbeat tempo to keep me movin’ and keep me wanting to come back for more. And really, what Moogatu song would be complete with out a shred fest from at least one, if not both, of the guitar heroes. Closing out their set with “Helium Pt. 2”, this song has just too much energy to leave the people hanging, so you know they’re coming back out for an encore, with their staple back-to-back songs, “Better Company” > “Try Again”.  (see Moogatu’s full setlist at the bottom of the article)

Moogatu, full band

The night ended with nothing but smiles as people cheered for all the great preformances we had just witnessed. I’ve said it before, and this won’t be the last time I’m saying it, Heady Entertainment knows how to put on a ragin’ good time! I forsee some collaborations with Wookie Post and Heady Entertainment coming up in the near future, to try and bring the utmost amount of entertainment and awareness of all the fucking awesome music we have around us. Connecting the fans to the bands is what it’s all about.

Also, be on the lookout for our second exclusive Artist Spotlight Series with Moogatu, where we sit down with all five members of the band and see where they all came from, how they came together, and how they create the material that we all can’t wait to hear whenever we get the chance. Which, with a full festival lineup for the summer coming up, there should be no shortage of chances to see Moogatu. So get your asses up and start planning!

That’s it for now wooks. Go take a shower and get ready for the day. Much love!!!

Threesound – 5/24/2013 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java

MFV, Clockwork, Eleanor Rigby*, Guilty by Association, The Psychologist, From Sunlight to Moonlight, Pick Up the Pieces*, Tolerance, Tantra

* = Beatles cover, Average White Band cover (respectively)

Woodwork – 5/24/2013 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java

(setlist pending)

Moogatu – 5/24/2013 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java

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

E: Better Company > Try Again

Electron w/ Pigeons Playing Ping Pong – 5/8/13 – Baltimore Soundstage

Well, well, well, where to begin with this one…

First, a little background of Electron’s origins.

The year was 2000. Things were changing, things were happening fast, no one knew what the hell was going on.

For whatever reason you want to believe, Marc Brownstein just wasn’t getting along with the rest of The Disco Biscuits, so they needed a little break from each other. A little time apart never hurt anyone, and thankfully it did happen, otherwise we wouldn’t be writing this, and we wouldn’t have some CLASSIC songs to sing along to (i.e. CWB opera, House Dog Party Favor, Grass is Green, etc.).

Brownie almost did away with the music biz all together, but luckily, he had a spark of inspiration and decided to call up some friends to get something going.

Electron began as Brownie (bass), Tom Hamilton of Brother’s Past (guitar), Aron Magner (keys, they still stayed friends), Joe Russo of Further (drums), and DJ Stitch on the 1’s and 2’s. They had been writing music for a few months, however, when they were ready to play their first show, Brownie had already reconciled with The Disco Biscuits. Fortunate, yes…but unfortunate for Electron, which many might consider as a legendary group now.

Marc Brownstein, Bass, Electron

There was just too much good material to not go through with it. So Electron played their first show and played a handful of shows after that, but everyone kind of had their own things going on, so they never really got back together. Some people had coined Electron, “The best band that never was”.

Fast forward about a decade, and here we are today. First Electron show all over again.

Probably the most anticipated show that we’ve had in a long while. Ever since April 17th, when Marc Brownstein dropped the word on his Facebook, “Who else thinks it’s time for a couple Electron shows?”, every person with even a pinch of Disco Biscuit fandom knew something special was going down.

Although there were some minor tweaks from the original group members, they still did a fine job of putting the pieces together. Still with Brownie, Magner, and Tom Hamilton, but throw in Lotus’ drummer Mike Greenfield, and you’ve got the ingredients for a modern day super group.

The time for the show couldn’t come soon enough, and to make the night even better, we had learned a few days before that Baltimore locals, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, were going to be opening up for them. I personally had never been able to see these birds in flight, but I can honestly say I only ever hear great things about their shows. They proved that right once again. Coming out in all matching striped pajama pants, these guys brought an amazing energy to the stage and got the party groovin’ as the dance floor continued to fill up.

Aaron Magner, Keys, Electron

Pigeons played a full hour set, and were able to squeeze in some fan favorites, closing out their set with F.U. (definitely had me singing along), into an amazing Talking Heads cover of “Crosseyed and Painless”, and back into F.U.!!! We were able to chat with these guys a little after their set, and they just couldn’t have been more humbled to be playing. You’ll be seeing more of these guys for sure, as they announced their new residency at The 8×10 in Baltimore every Wednesday night this July, and look out for our first ever exclusive artist profile of them coming soon…

10pm was the cut off time for their set, which left about 30 minutes before the kick-off to the reunion party. One by one they took their places, Brownie welcoming the crowd and even saying how great he thought Pigeons had just played, he was blown away just as I was.

Leading up to the show, one could only guess at what songs would be played. Rumors had it that they were digging deep into their repertoire, and putting “everything on the table”, so we were truly excited in every sense of the word. We all had our predicitons, and I just so happened to nail the opening song, with “Home Again”. I know, I know pretty fuckin’ amazing, but really no other song seems more appropriate.

After that it really was just pure bliss for the rest of the first set. Home Again > Little Lai, it was apparent we weren’t going to get a full performance of the “Chemical Warfare Brigade” rock opera, written specifically for Electron, but that was far from a disappointment. Plan B came after Little Lai, and even threw in the classic Sound of Music, “These are a few of my favorite things”, teases. The contrast of those songs comes together amazingly well.

Tom Hamilton, Guitar, Electron (Brother’s Past)

Second set was a straight up dance party in a can. There really can’t be enough good things to say about the cohesiveness of these guys playing together. Even though Magner and Brownie have had a little more practice with these songs, Tommy and Greenie came in and didn’t even miss a beat. You could really tell both these guys were having so much fun playing all the old songs and jamming off of each other’s energy. Who knows, maybe this won’t be the last chance to see this epic coming together of the guys we know and love from their already successful projects.

Electron put on a hell of a Wednesday night party for the city of Baltimore, with the help of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and the hospitality of the Baltimore Soundstage. I can tell ya no one left that venue that night without a smile on their face.

As mentioned before, getting to catch up with our new friends from Pigeons was a highlight of the night, good people just all around, so BE SURE to check out our first exclusive artist profile that will be coming this week.

Also, Brownie did mention that none of these shows were being recorded for soundboards, so if anyone has recordings or videos from any of the shows, share with the world. They play their last show of the run tonight, May 11, at Toad’s Place in New Haven, CT, so if you haven’t been to a show yet and you got nothing to do tonight, I’d highly suggest doing what you can to make sure you can be there.

Peace and love to the world! Wook out!

PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG : BALTIMORE SOUNDSTAGE – MAY 8, 2013

Horizon, Drunk People, Pop Off, This is That,
Time to Ride>Jam>The Hop>F.U.>Crosseyed and Painless*>F.U.

* Talking Heads

ELECTRON : BALTIMORE SOUNDSTAGE – MAY 8,2013

Set I: Home Again, Little Lai, Plan B#,
Grass Is Green, Shelby Rose

Set II: Floodlights, Fearless*, Kameole Sands >
Ladies were the Rest of The Night > Kameole Sands, Confrontation

E: Brain Damage* > Eclipse*

# with “These are a Few of my Favorite Things” teases
* Pink Floyd

Bassnectar – Las Vegas – 4/20/13

So let’s just cut straight to the point. Myself, an astute member of The Wookie Post, fell into a BIG ol’ bowl of luck when my brother earned himself, plus one, a trip to the magical, wondrous place known as, Las Vegas. Now certainly, going to Las Vegas is a spectacle all in itself, with the lights and sounds that no other city in the WORLD can even stand up to, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.

As we found out that this trip was actually going to take place, we said to ourselves, “I wonder if there is going to be any cool artists to go see while we’re there?”. A rookie question to say the least, as we quickly learned that each hotel loads up their DJ booth’s with the biggest names on the EDM scene. Avicii, Tommy Trash, Dillon Francis, Lil’ Jon (apparently doing DJ sets now?), Sir Elton fucking John was even playing shows there, and these were just the people playing shows in the three days that we were there! (no, Elton John wasn’t doing a DJ set, but he was doing his own show nearby)

We definitely had our options laid out, but one name grabbed our attention, and there was just no looking back. Bassnectar, 4/20, Surrender Nightclub, tickets bought, game on. This couldn’t have worked out better. I am no EDM aficionado, but if there is one DJ/producer I will always have love for, it’s definitely Mr. Lorin Ashton, aka Bassnectar. His style is just that, HIS own style. No matter how many DJ’s, producers, or play pushers come out on to a stage, this man puts on a show like no other. It seems that he has an unlimited amount of energy, and wants every show to top his last one, and you just have to respect that. RESPECT!

Opener’s DJ Booth

So, the show wasn’t until the last night that we were there. Which meant we had to make it through the first 3 days alive and ready to rage Bassnectar into the early morning. A tough task indeed, but a challenge worthy for the taking. I’ll skip over most of the actual vacation details, ya know, since this isn’t really a personal blog, but let’s just say, reality itself really is too twisted.

Now for the good stuff. This really wasn’t set up to be any ordinary Bassnectar show. First off, there was a strict dress code enforced, button ups and no sneakers for the guys, ladies dress to impress. Anyone who’s been to a Nectar show before knows this sounds like it just shouldn’t and wouldn’t work, with people usually decked out in neon tank-tops and bear suits, but it turned out to be pretty cool with everyone in the club looking fresh, fly and sexy.

Secondly, the club isn’t exactly optimally set up for a Bassnectar show. The venue itself is UNREAL. A huge outside club with pools set up like moats around these floating islands, some with dancer’s poles and some with couches for lounging. The stage itself was in an enclosed area, no bigger than a regular-to small sized bar. The only problem was the front was way too packed, unless you got there hours earlier and stood there the whole time until the show. If you were outside the enclosed area (which fit probably ~150 people) than it was extremely difficult to hear the show.

Surrender Nightclub

1:00am starts to creep up, almost show time. The opening DJ (apparently just the club’s house DJ, didn’t catch a name) had been progressively getting the crowd more and more amped, bumpin’ some remixes and mash-ups on the sick sound system they had set up on the outside. Worth to note that the opening DJ had been playing in the outside part, and the sound was perfect, which led us to believe that even standing on the outside they would probably have the music playing on the inside and out. Sadly, this was not the case…..

Lorin comes on the stage. The crowd goes nuts. People have been waiting close to 3 hours now, and with $15 drinks, it’s tough to keep the booze flowing, so we were ready for the intoxicating BASS to take over. The music starts, and since we’re on the outside at this point, we can’t hear shit. We look for a path to try to get through to the inside, and it’s just not looking promising. We weren’t about to have this night ruined though. My bro, being Mr. Joe Smooth, as he always is, finds the closest guy to us that looks like he’s running things. After a few words with him, our group was quickly being escorted to the front of the stage area, to an open space with #IllTight acoustics. I’m pretty sure he just told him we were with Wookie Post, and he hooked us up. I’ll never know for sure, so we’ll just leave it at that.

That Dude

Being inside the stage area was a whole new ballgame. Intimate Bassnectar shows are ALWAYS the best ones, and this felt just like that. A smaller crowd, a smaller venue, you feel like he’s just playing to you and a private party. The visuals were on point the whole time, especially when they made it look like you were flying through the Vegas strip with all the crazy lights and colors, and then at the end, BOOOOM he drops the bass and the crowd jumps up in complete synchronization. Truly spine-tingling moments. Something only achievable at live shows like these. That’s what keeps us all coming back for more, whatever your musical tastes may be.

On top of the visuals, there were also live visuals throughout the stage area, as they had 6 poles set up with sexxxy, scantily dressed ladies GETTIN’ DOWN to the music. I’m talking booty droppin’, elbows to the knees type shit. Not exactly a bad obstruction of view if there had to be one.

And The Ladies Were The Rest Of The Night

Highlights of the show for me were definitely the visuals, the beautiful people around me, and he did drop that Blur – Song 2 remix that I love oh so much. Some things that did disappoint me A LITTLE bit, was the fact that he’d build up a beat, everything seems to be coming together perfect, and then he’d drop some trap sounding remix that seems to be popular as of late. Definitely something I’m not used to hearing from Lorin, especially multiple times throughout a show, but just left me with a little something more to be desired. But, it is what it is. (Check out the video at the top of the page.)

Overall, just an amazing experience to see one of my favorite DJ’s in one of the most amazing cities on Earth. After the show, we stumbled back to our hotel, and capped off the night in the most appropriate of ways, considering it was 4/20.

Blaze on peoples, and remember, what happens in Vegas, you better tell everyone that shit.

Conspirator

Conspirator 4-16-13

Right off the bat, some huge issues need to be addressed as far as how this band is perceived on scene. Regardless of the original intent or initial manifest, these guys shred. Conspirator, unfortunately, happens to be constantly dismissed by a lot of old heads and biscuits fans alike because of the way they view this band.

Many on scene see Conspirator as a “side-project” that consumes Magner’s and Brownie’s attention with what’s now a heavy Fall/Winter/Spring tour and even huge summer appearances at festivals like Hangout Fest, Bonaroo, Mountain Jam, and Summer Camp.

Many point to the fact that their beloved Biscuits aren’t touring regularly in response to the recent success and the buzz Conspirator is creating. This is purely asinine.

The Biscuits are at a different stage in their career. Touring every night playing similar shows from city to city is no longer suiting for such an iconic jam band.

Not constantly touring keeps the Disco Biscuits fresh and allows them to invite fans to a world they have set up at specific venues for extremely significant explosions of a unique style of showmanship and exhilarating entertainment.

Feed the Rocks and the few nights leading up to it would not be feasible with a constant touring schedule circa 2009. Road to Bisco, City Bisco, Camp Bisco, Bisco Inferno, Mayan Holidaze, and Winter Inferno are all the most unique settings and environments and you just cant bottle up that magic and recreate it in a venue every night. Its time to come to terms and grasp the idea that days of Peter Shapiro’s Wetlands managers charging stage and cursing Brownie for playing one more 30 minute song at 4am are over.

That being said, Conspirator is a perfect way to catch 2/4’s of tDB in a smaller venue amongst a more personal atmosphere.

Side projects happen all the time and are a necessary part of most major jam bands. The original side projects like The Jerry Garcia Band, Eric Clapton doing things outside of Crème, and the Allman brothers playing with everyone who would share the stage, are all setting the tone as an example for today’s bands to keep it fresh.

Projects like Beard-O-Bees from Lotus, Murph playing with Up Until Now, Pigs on the Wing, Digital Tape Machine, Cosby Sweater, and Kung Fu are all great examples of how artists can mix it up with dudes that may approach their instruments with various styles differing from how the band those artists originated from play.

Conspirator isn’t even the only side projects the Biscuits dabble in. All members have had their hand in various side projects such as Elecrton, Dr. Fameus, Kick Rocks, Up Until Now, or SUCKERPUNCH. Still Conspirator is stead fast in being linked to tDB the way EOTO will forever be connected with SCI.

Conspirator came to life during a down period in 2004 while the Biscuits were between drummers. With Marc Brownstein slapping out funky baselines, Arron Magner running the world using a keyboard, and Dj Omen on the 1’s and 2’s, this band was created for the EDM scene, yet something was still missing.

One of the Aspects that set Conspirator apart from all other electronic acts, is the way they utilize the heavy yet precise guitar rifts. Locking up Chris Michetti, or as Brownie knows him, “The guy from RAQ?!?!?!” as a permanentt member brought that one of a kind sound to the table. This is the sound that lets you know “Ey, This can ONLY be Conspirator.” Similar to the way Dom and Jeremy utilize that saxophone over in “SOLD OUTsville”(don’t sleep on Rowdy Town tix) those sick nasty rifts give Conspirator an arsenal of trax to get any crowd on their feet.

After a musical chairs of drummers and other special guests playing in, to the likes of Murph(tribe), Lane Shaw(Pnuma Trio, Mansions On The Moon), Jeremy Salken(Big G), and Mike Greenfield(Lotus), the spot behind the kit was locked up by none other than KJ Sawka. This man banged sticks in Pendulum while playing stages like Glastonbury.

Sawka is also a beast when it comes to mixing down and mastering and had a huge hand in putting out the first two Live Albums Unlocked: Live from the GA Theatre and Conspirator: Unleashed.

The two albums really pulled this band away from their original Project The Key and allowed them to grow into an identity of it’s own. The Key was mostly tweaking select Biscuit songs and adding in random original Conspirator pieces.

Fans were a bit turned off by this approach and were a bit uneasy to hear the recycling and mutations of their favorite tunes. Conspirator needed a complete 180 to nurture a new and more open fan base to appease instead of just catering to the Biscuit faithful.

The Turntable FM release party for Unlocked was the perfect storm to open up to a different genre of EDM. Seeking Bromance and Retrograde are the two tracks that really skyrocketed everything.

I have seen this band shred huge crowds at Camp and Gnarnia, and still brought the same energy to venues like the Howard and State Theatre, yet nothing came close to the show they put on last week in Morgantown, at 123 Pleasant.

An atmosphere generated in a super tiny super intimate venue like this is something that cannot be faked.

Motown was alive and buzzing on this warm spring day. The massive campus was crawling with kids soaking up the weather and exposing themselves to what most would consider sensory overload (“Sup, Sup, Sup, Sup”).

After scoring sweet grabs from one of the best head shops I have had the chance to scope out on the East Coast (of course the name of the shop is Brownie’s), we got together for a grueling pre-game of power hour and headed out right when the sky opened up and released the onslaught of rain to enhance our voyage downtown.

Conspirator packed the dance floor and had both bars taken over by beat fiends wall to wall, bar to bar. Flooded mountain streets didn’t even phase the kids filling in early to seek shelter in the club, to escape the torrential down poor.

Frantically awaiting for the set to start, the kandi kids lost their mind when Conspirator graced the stage in a dramatic fashion; no openers necessary. I took a tumble in a mad rush to the stage but luckily I was able to catch up with the #IllTightSquad front row.

Getting lost in a show impressive as this is literally the definition of bliss.

Thankfully Conspirator hooked up our home girl Megs with a last minute ticket via twitter. That worked out well as she in turn snapped some crazy pics.

The way they played some of my favorites; Right/Wrong, Hammerdown, Retrograde and Proper Education and a couple new ones that I didn’t recognize, was just too good to be true.

We scanned the set list after the show to figure out which ones we did not recognize and we came up with this. Struts; Ja Me No Partial; KMF; What They Want; Dirty Work; Brookyln Bridge; and Hellsling

It’s a show of it’s own just watching these guys communicate and react to the changes so fast and so smoothly all while just straight slaying and letting Mishreddi shred the way he does best is crazy impressive. 19 songs with no set break equals two hours of hardcore jamming. Funny thing is…you end up craving more when it’s all over.

I couldn’t be more grateful for the way these guys gave us a few minutes after a tiring show to let us catch up with them and allow us to get to see what they are truly about.

These guy’s finished out the tour with their first arena show ever on, no more fitting a date than April 20^th. They sold the event out proper, way in advance for a night of Aarab Music, Alvin Risk, Conspirator, and Rusko taking it home.

If you haven’t already, please give Conspirator a chance. These guys are on their way with something extremely special and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Jimkata/Moogatu at Ned Devine’s 4/11/13

It’s always a treat being able to see bands that you’ve never seen before, let alone 2 new bands?? For the price of $5??? Well sure, why not? Heady Entertainment FTW once more.

This night just so happened to feature two up and coming bands, Moogatu and Jimkata. Maybe not brand new to the scene, but definitely still trying to make a name for themselves in this ever expanding world of jam-rock-tronica (and everything in between) music. It can be tough for bands to stick out nowadays, but both these bands offer something a little unique, that adds some flavor and keeps them fresh in your mind long after you see them.

We arrived at the bar, Ned Devine’s, right at about 10pm, as Moogatu was finishing up getting their sound just right. With a drink in hand and space on the dance floor, we were now ready to get the party started. Moogatu is a 5-piece band consisting of Brian Raubacher (guitar/vocals), Chris Lee (guitar), Steve Jacyna (drums), Brian Zupruk (bass), and Brian Dodds (keyboards). They came in firing on all cylinders with their first song, Mary, which starts off as an uptempo jam and keeps you dancing the whole time throuh, really highlighting Dodds’ skills on the blacks and whites.

The highlight of this band though (and I mean that in the BEST way possible) are the dueling guitars of Raubacher and Lee. These dudes just absolutely SHRED when they get it going, and you can really see them feeding off the energy of one another. The back-to-back combo of their songs Helium and Catalyst just left them right in the spotlight, either syncing it up with the same notes, or battling back and forth like two medevial knights with their battle axes. True talent at it’s best.

Moogatu finished up their set with a straight rock out jam, Anniversary Dinner, and in what felt like no time Jimkata was up and ready to go. Hailing from the mean streets of New York (actually more round the parts of Syracuse but either way, NY love) they’ve been on their tour grind for the past year straight. Featuring Evan Freidell (vocals/guitar), Aaron Gorsch (guitar/keyboard), Dave Rossi (bass), and Packy Lunn (drums) they set themselves apart with the strong vocals from Freidell and the ON POINT drumming skills from Mr. Packy Lunn. Oh ya, those other guys (Gorsch and Rossi) are pretty sick nasty at what they do too. They’re the definition of a good, cohesive band.

Before any kind of introduction even, they started in with a song off their newest album, Die Digital (available on their website), called Intro/Sweet Glory. Great song for them to start off with (song title does not lie) as they let you know who they are and what they’re here to do…fuck shit up. The set seemed to flow seamlessly as they incorporated a good mix of new and older songs.

Being as this was the first time I’ve ever been introduced to Jimkata’s music, I was pleasently surprised by their distinguishing style of more rock based jams then your typical jamband. Strong guitar riffs mixed with hard-pounding, yet perfectly timed drums. A mix like that can definitely take you places, places that many of us have only dreamed of.

For a Thursday night show, these bands definitely took the worries of the work week away from all the attendees, and were able to introduce themselves to a few new fans for sure. Be sure to check out these bands, as both are in the thick of their tour schedules, at festivals such as Cosmic Campout, Domefest, and Jimkata at the one and only….Camp Bisco.