Click here to see the photos.

Cracker played the Abbey Bar located in the Appalachian Brewing Company in Harrisburg, PA on 05-30-2009.  To give back to Appalachian Brewing Company’s customers the show was free and beer was at a discount to celebrate Appalachian Brewing Company’s anniversary.

Cracker has been pounding out great albums for years, after their major success from the album Kerosene Hat their mass popularity had waned. This is not to say they ever went away or stopped making music, they continued to put out great albums and were bought up by their dedicated fans.

The band is far from being a nostalgia act but just like that I was transported back into 1990’s.  But there I found myself watching Cracker and listening to one of the most played songs in 1993 “Low” and it is hard not to think of my formidable teenage years when hearing songs like this.  Songs like “Low” were soundtracks to my summers or soundtracks to my school years and tied along with events you never forget, oh the magic of music.

Many deadheads were in the audience for this show so the whole place erupted as soon as the fantastic cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Loser” started up.  The song ended the show and it mostly stayed true to the original song.  Phil Lesh influenced bass bombs were all over this song as well as some great solos on the guitar.  The crowd tried hard to get the band to come back out for a double encore but the lights and the PA music finally came on signaling the night had officially come to an end.  The Grateful Dead cover was a perfect ending to a great night of music.

I should be getting a complete setlist soon but for now, here are some of the songs I remember:
Loser (Grateful Dead cover)
Low
Another Folk Singer
Eurotrash
Happy Birthday To Me
I Could Be Wrong I Could Be Right
Sunrise In The Land of Milk And Honey

Click here to see the photos.

Backyard Tire Fire opened for Cracker at the Abbey Bar located in the Appalachian Brewing Company in Harrisburg, PA on 05-30-2009.  To give back to Appalachian Brewing Company’s customers the show was free and beer was at a discount to celebrate Appalachian Brewing Company’s anniversary.

Backyard Tire Fire was a 5-piece band this night. In addition to the usual 3, there were was an additional guitar player and a keyboard/accordion player.  The core 3 members of Backyard Tire Fire are Ed Anderson, Matt Anderson, and Tim Kramp.

Their set was pure rock and the nearly capacity crowd at the Abbey Bar were eating it right up.  Their set included a great version of the Traveling Willbury’s hit “Handle With Care” that was true to the original and was an obvious highlight for the entire crowd.

Their style sort of reminds me of Drive By Truckers on some of the songs.  That was ironic because later when Cracker was on stage, they played a song that was co written by Patterson Hood (of Drive by Truckers) and I also got to see and photograph Drive By Truckers less than a week later.

Always a great show when Backyard Tire Fire is playing!

Click here to see the photos.

The Derek Trucks Band played a sold out Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA (outside Philadelphia, PA) on 05-29-2009.  During a break in the middle of a spring/summer tour with the Allman Brothers Band, Derek played a small tour with his band. Derek Trucks is always moving, working, improving, and learning, he is a nonstop musical genius.  In fact, the Keswick Theater show was their second show of the day as they had played the World Cafe that afternoon for a free live at noon concert on Philadelphia’s WXPN.

At this point it is a bit redundant to continue praising the Derek Trucks Band but the Derek Trucks Band has been THE band for me that I have followed around and have seen countless shows since 2001.  It is impossible to ignore their musicianship and their ability to mend without stepping on other’s toes.  And if you have ever met any of them, you know what nice and down to earth each of the guys are.  Class act. All I can say is that you need to go see this band live to see them in their own element. 

The setlist had a similar feel to the last few shows that I had seen but since was the opening show of a new tour, I am sure the it was material that they were most comfortable with.  That said, there were a couple of surprise songs that I have not seen recently like “So Close, So Far Away”, “Sweet Inspiration”, and “Joyful Noise”. “Sweet Inspiration” ended up being one of my highlights for of the night.  This song got a most of the audience on their feet and singing aloud throughout the entire song.

Derek really seemed to step out and take control at this show, I suspect it had something to do with the jazz content in the setlist.  The addition of “So Close, So Far Away” in the setlist along with the recent setlist standard “My Favorite Things” made for lot of jazz influence in the set.  Within the realms of jazz is where Derek is most comfortable and is given the most freedom to improve and cut his teeth on the guitar.

During “My Favorite Things” I watched Yonrico Scott’s drumming closely because I was particularly stunned by his musicianship on this song.  Too often, the comments about this song are centered around Derek or Kofi’s spectacular improv and riffing that they totally miss the complicated musicianship by Yonrico or Todd Smallie’s bass playing.  I spent half of the song watching Yonrico in complete awe.

After seeing the Derek Trucks Band countless times over the last 10 years and I cannot remember (at least not in recent memory) another show where they did a double encore.  The first encore was the very catchy “Get Out My Life Woman” after which they returned yet again to the stage to perform “Joyful Noise” which was another great highlight for the evening.

For you gear heads, Derek surprisingly unveiled a beautiful vintage Gibson Firebird (see photos) during the show.  It is unclear if that guitar was loaned to him or if he recently acquired the guitar but I hope to find out soon.

If you have not already picked up the latest album “Already Free”, do it.  It is a great album recorded by Derek Trucks himself at his own home studio so it is the most relaxed and the most cohesive of all their albums to date.  Not to mention I contributed photographs in the album liner notes .

The setlist for the night was:

Down In The Flood
Sailing On
Done Got Over
So Close, So Far Away
Blind Cripple & Crazy
Meet Me At The Bottom
Mahjoun>Already Free
Movin On Up
Leavin’ Trunk
Sweet Inspiration
My Favorite Things

Encore 1:
Get Out My Life Woman > Who Knows > Get Out My Life Woman

Encore 2:
Joyful Noise

 Click here to see the photos.

Ruthie Foster played the opening slot for the Derek Trucks Band at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, PA (just outside Philadelphia, PA) on 05-29-2009.

I was excited to hear that Ruthie Foster would be opening for Derek Trucks, I had seen her perform solo and acoustic at the Guitar Blues Show that I photographed earlier this year and I was blown away by her vocals.  I was also happy to find out that she would be performing with a full band.

Ruthie Foster was an exceptional solo performer when I saw before but the backing band added a lot of depth to the music and also allowed her to really belt out her powerful vocals.  One of the songs she played was a reggae song that had a sustained vocal not that gave me that was suspended for probably close to a minute that left jaws hanging wide open.  She has been blessed with incredible singing abilities. 

Ruthie also got several standing ovations from the crowd during her set, she really won this crowd over.  I highly recommend going out and enjoying an evening with Ruthie Foster when you get a chance to see her.

Click here to see the photos.

Dinosaur Jr. shook the foundations of a sold out Chameleon Club in Lancaster, PA on 05-01-2009 with their shredding alternative music at ear piercing volumes.  If there is one thing everyone can agree about Dinosaur Jr. shows it would be that they are one of the LOUDEST bands you will ever see.

J Mascis, the band’s guitar wizard for the 21 years plays through three full stacks of Marshall and Hi-Watt amplifiers that push his overdrive drenched solos past your ears like a jet plane flying overhead. Lou Barlow (also of Sebadoh and Folk Implosion) pounds his bass much like his hero and opener of the show, Mike Watt.  I can imagine the wear and tear that these guys put on their equipment night after night is rough work for their guitar tech.

The show started off with a long delay due to technical difficulties.  There was something wrong with one of J Mascis’ amplifiers.  The ordeal lasted nearly half an hour while they switched out a seemingly endless supply of HI-WATT and Marshall amplifiers.  J Mascis came out several times to change the amps setup and to try them out.  Each time he came out to the stage the crowd cheered as if the show was starting…. only it did not.  Watching them switch out the amplifiers one after another after another it made me curious just how many amplifiers J. Mascis tours with.  They ultimately settled with a larger combo being placed on top of one of the stacks (looked like a safety hazard to me) that looked like a Fender tweed amp.

Their setlist (seen below) consisted of new and old material.  The upcoming “Farm” will be the second time that the original Dinosaur Jr lineup has recorded an album since the bands “Bug” record that was released in 1988.  The oringal lineup got back together in 2005 and came out with the album “Beyond” in 2007.  The band plays well together on stage, there were a few misses but for the most part the band was on point and wiling away to their extensive catalog.

The crowd was a pretty good mix of older and younger fans, Dinosaur Jr has the draw of 30-somethings since their career gegan in the 80’s but it was also one of the last Fridays of class for the nearby Franklin and Marshall College which drew out an unexpected amount of younger fans.   For the hit songs “Feel The Pain” (also a guitar hero hit), Freakscene, and Back To The Heart the fans got into a frenzy on the floor. 

In between the set and encore I stood just a few feet from the band backstage while they were cooling off and hanging out….. Dumb founded I did not say a word to J Mascis and crew just gave them a head nod approving of the show so far and went on my way.   Another great night of music at the Chameleon Club! 

The setlist for the night was:

Tarpit
The Wagon
Been There All The Time
Back To The Heart
Feel The Pain
Crumble
Pick Me Up
Budge
The Lung
Freak Scene
Forget The Swan

Click here to see the photos.

Mike Watt (formerly of the Minutemen and fIREHOSE) and the Missingmen opened up for Dinosaur Jr. for a sold out show at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, PA on 05-01-2009 with his legendary bass playing in the forefront.

If Neil Young is supposedly the godfather of grunge, I nominate Mike Watt the godfather of alternative/punk.  Mike Watt started off his legendary career playing with his band the Minutemen in Pedro, California and then later fIREHOSE.  His career boomed in the 90’s with his solo album “Ballhog Or Tugboat” which culled a who’s who list of the early 90’s alternative era including: Eddie Vedder, Flea, Henry Rollins, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Thurston Moore, and J. Mascis as well as many others.

His iconic knee shake and thunderous bass licks are something for all to see live in person. His knees shake in double time like a kid on his first date throughout all the songs and his bass playing is absolutely thunderous.

Much like Dinosaur Jr., Mike Watt’s band was set up as a trio consisting of guitar, bass, and drums.  They hammered through songs of old as well as new.

I was secretly hoping that J. Mascis would come out and play their cover of “Maggot Brain” with Mike Watt as recorded on Ballhog Or Tugboat but it did not happen.  That 12-minute rendition of the song is the peak of the CD for me.  It is one long and scorching guitar solo by J Mascis that can not be missed.

It is always great to see the legendary Mike Watt.

Click here to see the photos.

Dr. Dog played a sold out Chameleon Club on 04-14-2009 in Lancaster, PA.  Again, the Chameleon Club was packed with fans to see their favorite Philly band.  The openers were two other Philadelphia native bands, Da Comrade and Drink Up Buttercup.

Dr. Dog subjected Lancaster to their infectious psychedelic sounds of the second coming of The Beatles.  I am not saying that they are the next Beatles but rather they have been musically picking up right where the Beatles left off with three and four part harmonies and addictive hooks and melodies.

Dr. Dog hit the stage pretty late for a Wednesday but their energy instantly rubed off and got the audience moving right away.  About half-way through the set, I finally peeled my eyes from the stage and I turned around to see hundreds of people singing and dancing.

Dr. Dog is starting to become a household name, the secret is spreading out about this band.  I started to see Dr. Dog articles and mentions of them on websites on a regular basis once the album “Fate” was released.  They are now playing some of the biggest festivals in the country which allows them maximum exposure.  If their next album is as good as their previous work, this band will be hugely popular very soon.

Go see this band as soon as you can!

THe setlist for the night was as follows :
The Way The Lazy Do
The Ark
The Old Days
The Pretender
The Breeze
My Friend
Fate
Oh No
Hang On
Fat Dog
Army of Ancients
The Girl
Fools Life
From
Worst Trip
The Rabbit, The Bat, And the Reindeer

Encore:
Alaska (With Toby’s Dad adding vocals)
My Old Ways
Ain’t It Strange

Click here to see the photos.

The legendary Buddy Guy played The Forum in Harrisburg, PA on 04-16-2009.  He is a five time Grammy winner and has inspired thousands of guitarists including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan to name an impressive and abbreviated list

Buddy Guy shows are a night full of entertainment complete with stories of the olden days such as meeting and playing with Hendrix or touring in the old days in the area traveling between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.  Buddy Guy also does a great job with crowd interaction, at one point Buddy Guy walked off stage while still playing guitar and walked to the last row in the auditorium and jammed on his guitar as well as met and shook hands with many of the fans.  On the way back to the stage, he invited a 16 year old on stage and let the kid play Buddy Guy’s guitar.

The kid invited on stage had trouble playing the guitar because Buddy’s strap was set up too low so he was bending over to put the guitar on his knee.  Buddy let the teenager play with the band for a while and then came out and commented on how he was holding the guitar and said “Get it done any way you can get it done” and then emphasized the importance of passing on the blues music to younger kids so that the blues live on.

Buddy Guy also showed off a few guitar skills that many including Hendrix have stolen from him.  Buddy throughout the show muted or nearly muted his band while he played guitar with only his left hand by tapping (hammer-on and hammer-offs) the notes on the fretboard making the string resonate and make a tune.  The other moves that Jimi Hendrix borrowed from the great Buddy guy are showmanship skills such as playing the guitar with his teeth and playing behind his head.

In addition to all this, Buddy Guy also carries along a great sense of humor and had a great outlook on everything especially the bluesman that came before him.  He spoke very highly about the legends as well as the unknown blues players that never made a dime on hit songs they wrote for other people.  He spoke about blues music preservation and how important it was for him to open the Buddy Guy club in Chicago not to make money but to make sure the word of blues music continues into the future.

Buddy Guy does not use a setlist on stage, and plays a lot of short snippets of songs before he goes into the next so it makes it harder to remember what all was played….  Here are just some of the songs that I recall him playing:

Hoochie Coochie Man
Voodoo Child (Jimi Hendrix Cover)
Feels Like Rain
Crazy
Hoodoo Man Blues
Feels Like Rain
Politician (Cream Cover)

Click here to see the photos.

Indigenous opened for the legendary Buddy Guy at The Forum in Harrisburg, PA on 04-16-2009. 

Indigenous is a five piece blues rock band that I had heard on the WXPN radio station many of times and this was a great opportunity to finally see them play live.  For this tour, Indigenous was supporting their upcoming Long Way Home EP which has since been released.

This was my first time seeing the band so I am not really familiar with their material other than what has been played on the radio.  Their set was solid and the lead singer was perfectly on the money with his vocal deliveries and guitar solos.  I look forward to seeing them again.

Click here to see the photos.

Toubab Krewe played the Abbey Bar at the Appalachian Brewing Company on 04-15-2008.  Round Table Presents brought this amazing band back to the dedicated fans at ABC once again for some intergalactic travels.

The crowd was really into this show, they were continually calling out for the band to “Go deep! Go deeper (into the jams)!” in between songs.  At one point the bass player, David, asked “How deep?” to which they replied “Into outer space”.  David quickly replied, “Outer space on a Tuesday night?”.  Of course the crowd ruptured in an affirmative approval.  I am not sure if any space traveling was done that night but some dense jams and improv exploration was executed.

Toubab Krewe play a complex set of music thanks in part to percussionists Luke Quaranta and Teal Brown.  Their rythmic changes and synchronicity really keep this band moving all together as one and the fans really feed off that.  There are no vocals in Toubab Krewe songs they are all instrumentals and their instrumentation speaks for themselves.

Prior to Toubab Krewe taking the stage, I noticed that the guitarist’s pedalboard seemed very empty.  I mentioned it a guy that travels with Toubab Krewe and he said that guitarist, Drew, simplified his pedal board to 4 pedals from the typical pedalboard full that I normally see him travel with.  He said they have been having problems with a few of the pedals so they took a bunch of them out of the signal to simplify it.  While talking to him, he also mentioned that they drove into Harrisburg that day from New York City where they were spending time recording an EP of studio material that is hoped to be released during the summer.

I walked through the venue a few times looking for audio tapers and I was bummed to not find any tapers at this show.  Unless I missed someone, this will be the first Toubab Krewe show there in a long time that has not been taped.  I’ve said it many of times…. Thank your tapers they do a lot of work for everyone to enjoy music.

The band is from Asheville, NC and is comprised of:
David Pransky – Bass
Luke Quaranta – Percussion
Teal Brown – Drums
Drew Heller – Electric Guitar and Cigarbox Guitar
Justin Perkins – Kora, Kamelengoni, Electric Guitar, and percussion this night