Schmooey

Zero Chester's '98

Eleven years ago...

http://www.archive.org/details/zero1998-03-20
http://www.archive.org/details/zero1998-03-21
http://www.archive.org/details/zero1998-03-22

I honor the anniversary of these legendary shows every year by dipping back into the archive and replanting myself in that tiny shotgun bar in the northwest corner of Arkansas.

My brother, friends and I made the 10+ hour journey from Chicago, drawing on our experience traveling the country for Dead & Phish shows. While Zero was not quite packing the same amphitheaters as our aforementioned rock gods, they were still commanding the attention of our musical receptors, and what better way to honor the potential than with a three night run road trip!

The band played what amounted to 3 sets per night, pouring through their repertoire of blues, funk, covers and of course the epic melodic peaks of glory.

My personal highlights include:
3/20: Sun Sun Sun opener, Running on Faith, Anorexia, Tangled Hangers!!!!, Nancy Germany, Golden Road, Horses.

3/21: Into the Mystic > Chance in a Million, Kissin' the Boo Boo, the ENTIRE second & third sets + encore.

3/22: Cole's Law, Gregg's Eggs, High & Lonesome, Up on Cripple Creek, Catalina

Cripple Creek reaches true escape velocity, one for the ages.

Catalina experiences a complete and total musical convergence, producing light energy drawn forth from the ground. "Pumping Oil"

These shows also had a special significance to me as it was one of the first overnight musical adventures I'd taken with my brother, who had turned me onto live music years earlier. It was also here that I would meet one of my best friends and future room mates, as well as have the honor of interviewing Meester Martin Fierro in his hotel room before the third show. One of these days I must get around to transcribing it and posting it along with the video online.

I can also unequivocally say that these shows validated the power of live music and provided true inspiration to take my burgeoning musical hobbies and turn them into a real life devotion, and exactly a year later launch JamBase.com.

Enjoy.

"Catalina, seek and you shall find."

The Mothership

Perfect Guitar Solos

Perfect Guitar Solos

Compiled by my Twitter and Facebook Friends :)

Alex 5 Months

Dog vs. Feather Pillow

Schmooey

Bear Down!

Alex's First Flight

Wednesday December 17th, SFO > MDW, Southwest Flt 225

He did great! Ate during takeoff and landing, slept for a couple of hours in the middle and didn't cry too much. The people around us were generally pleased that they didn't have a screaming kid in their row. Thank you! :)

Note: Soothie pictured above is the only style pacifier he'll take, and he loves 'em.

You Enjoy McLovins

Been sent around a lot so you've probably already seen it, but saving it here for posterity.

2008 Mix

Some songs I couldn't get out of my head this year, and others I discovered for the first time

Your Mama's Mama's Mama's Band

Rex Foundation: Sweet Music Everywhere - December 13th

On December 13, The Rex Foundation will once again fill San Francisco's Warfield for an evening of music, connection and helping. Bring your friends and family for some dancing in the streets to celebrate what the Grateful Dead started 25 years ago and all that we can do together in the next 25 years.
Billed as "Sweet Music Everywhere," this festive evening features Peter Rowan Family & Friends, Jackie Greene, Michael Kang with Panjea, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, The Brass Mafia and more.

Sweet Music Everywhere will be another special gathering in the tradition of Rex Foundation Warfield events that started on December 1, 2001 with the benefit concert, The Healing Power of Music, to launch the Rex Foundation's renewal.

For more event details and to purchase special pre-concert party and premium concert seating tickets call 415-561-3135 or visit www.rexfoundation.org.

Concert Words

Tonight on the bus ride home my mind began to wander, as it's often known to do, to words associated with Concerts.

I put out a note on Twitter:

Thinking about concert words: soundcheck, setlist, setbreak, encore, house lights, stage, crowd, PA, mics, monitors, soundboard, what else?

Quickly the responses started coming in through the various communication channels:

band, fans, dancing, spinning, venue, tapers, backstage, green room, amps, pedals, guitars, gear, front of house, crew, roadies, stage right, stage left, feedback, front of house, laminate, load in, lout out, backline manager, house mix, escotr, backstage, ticket, bouncer, gear, load-in, roadies, fans, scalper, taper, VIP, beer, lyrics, opener, closer, segue, jam, cover, first time played, special guest, floor, seats, band, green room, roadcase, craft services, house music, stage call, tuning, venue, glowstick war, Load in, load out, catering, hospitality, backstage, guest list, shore power, bus parking, settlement, backline, local crew, loaders, stage left, stage right, upstage, downstage, setlist, PAGESIDE!, stage right, stage left, upstage, downstage, center stage... load-in, load-out, doors, support act, headliner, B Stage, spotlights, spotlight operators, stagehands..., doors...curfew...load-in...load-out..., aisle, gobo, scaffold, points, truss, skrim, Jerry's side, Phil's side....Shakedown Street...,cattle, front of board (fob) , back to paul (btp), official taper section (ots), rail, TAPER'S SECTION!!, groupies, GAFF Tape!!!, Zip ties, Load In, MORE COWBELL!, taper, afterparty, rider, opener, closer, rodie, rail rider...,segue, Vendors!, um, don't forget your Ticket! ticket stub, tickets, Front Gate, Backstage, Staging, Tomcat roof, Amplifier, Guitars!, monitors, front of house, backstage, drum riser, roadies, soundboard, laminate, crew bus, merch table, smoke.

neat