Nothin' Better than Live

When you think of the best bands or artists, people always talk about what great songwriters they were, how sick they were on their instruments, or how they could belt out the lyrics. However, if you can’t get out on stage and throw an amazing show none of that other stuff really matters. An artist doesn’t need all the elements to be considered a worthy musician, but every single one of them has to be able to show up when it comes to performing live. I mean James Brown wasn’t exactly known for his lyrics; half of what he said weren’t even words. Mick Jaggar didn’t even play an instrument (ok he does some harmonica!) and The Grateful Dead only broke the top twenty charts once with “Truckin” (pretty sure but going only from memory). But when you think about it these artists will go down as legends because of how they made people feel and what they could do on stage. In my experience I believe you can’t truly know a band or performer until you see what they can do on stage. It’s your chance to decide who you’re following and who you’re not paying a dollar to see again. Most if not all the bands that I consider myself a fan of completely thrive in the live setting; in fact most of my favorite bands didn’t reach that plateau until I caught them in a live show. I think that in the live setting you can gain a better grasp of the true character behind the band; in a sense you get to see them for what they really are. It’s a raw experience plain and simple. The funny thing is live music is the only thing where you can cross genres and actually compare bands from different walks of life. Whether it’s Bluegrass or Hip-Hop, the only question is “were they able to give the audience what they wanted?” It doesn’t really matter if its spitting blood or relaxing with a smooth, acoustic set just as long as the audience walks away feeling like the energy and the performance exceeded what they thought it would be. These days, it’s almost essential to make sure you go see shows if you’re going to follow music. All the crap that is produced these days often makes me wonder who is the Real McCoy and who synthesized and studio recorded their way to the top. Technology is great right, but when it helps artists mask what they can or cannot do it actually sucks. So before you decide whether someone has all the qualities that you like in music make sure it’s really them and not the machines Also, I always think downloading live music is a great feature to help one figure all of it out, and it’s a way to hear the show that you might have missed. On the other end, bands that receive the status of great live music get a following that is unmatched by record sales or appearances on television. When you can look in the crowd and recognize people from previous shows as you make your way through a tour, you know you’re doing something right. Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s not like musicians are doing it for free, and you just can’t deny the profits that a band can make through concert sales. So, if you really like a band the best way to support them is catching them when the come to your area or travel to where you can see them. You get the chance to see if they are a band that can play live, you get to show your appreciation, and you can’t deny the good time you’ll have. So, you owe it to yourself and to the music to see as many shows as you can. Later

Bluegrass's New Look and Sound

These days Bluegrass music is no longer your basic picking session, but has revolutionized itself into a combination of Bluegrass principles with a hint of jam band improvisation. This newer movement, often referred to as New Grass, is bringing about a definite change in the industry as well as capturing a whole new, younger demographic. The recipe has always been quite simple. Get a couple of serious pickers to blend their unique sounds into a unified collaboration of bass, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and any other string you can think of. It’s music and sounds that go back generations upon generations, and have always relatively maintained the same characteristics. Even the greats like Bill Monroe, John Hartford, Peter Rowan, and the Del McCoury Band have stayed true to the idea of traditional Bluegrass. New Grass, on the other hand, has taken on a whole new entity altering the traditional sense of Bluegrass through the use of different instruments, bringing in different musical styles, and changing the look of a “Bluegrass band”. Personally, I attribute the initial change to artists like Sam Bush and New Grass Revival, Leftover Salmon, and String Cheese Incident. They show their true character through their music whether they fit the mold or not. Inventive ways of bringing new approaches to their sound have been a staple for these bands by combining such things as percussion, keyboards, and electric guitar which definitely separates them from most Bluegrass. Also, bringing in elements of Rock in Sam Bush’s case, Funk and Cajun in Leftover’s case, and a Jam Band feel in String Cheese’s case just proves my point. You just can’t beat it, and let me say they are some of the most energetic and captivating shows possible to see. So where does it go from there? For me, I have to say Yonder Mountain String Band has taken center stage in the New Grass scene showing new and creative ways of pushing the envelop in Bluegrass. Though they stick mostly to the true Bluegrass instruments, the way members like Jeff Austin (mandolin) and Ben Kaufman (bass) manipulate their sound is truly remarkable. At a show, you never know if they’re going to traditional Bluegrass like Red Bird or an improvisational Two Hits and the Joint Turns Brown or Snow on the Pines. Recently, they’ve brought in legendary drummers like Phishman and Futureman, as well as constantly packing the stage with Bluegrass and New Grass greats (which just shows the respect they get from their peers). I say if you haven’t checked them out buy a ticket now, New Year’s shows at the Fillmore in Denver are always great! When you go to their shows you can’t help but notice the eclectic mix of people that represent all walks of life. Be they the old faithful Bluegrass fans or the younger traveling fanatics, all are looking to hear some great music and have an unforgettable experience. And let me just say our generation represents the majority of those faithful fans. I say if you haven’t checked them out buy a ticket now, YMSB New Year’s shows at the Fillmore in Denver are the shit and Drew Emmitt and Billy Nershi are playing together on Halloween at the Boulder Theatre which you know will be good. If you have already experienced them, well keep going to the shows and supporting them as it is always good for the actual good bands and talent out there. That’s All for Now

"Power to the Peaceful"

Power to the Peaceful

So, I was having a conversation with some friends the other day about political music and all that comes with it. Basically what’s the best generation, best artists, issues tackled and so on (all the normal answers were given 60s, John Lennon, Country Joe, Bobbo).

My first thought was screw it why does there have to be a best generation, and to take it even further why does all music have to have a political tone to be recognized as a monumental song of the times. The reason most people enjoy music, especially live, is that it has an indescribable joy, it’s all about good vibrations. Why mess that up with some political overtone or recognition of some movement. Don’t get me wrong, I love being committed to my political causes and what matters to me. Stand up and fight right, but why can’t songs about good times, crazy adventures, and the old west (I got a thing for songs about ol’ school gunfights) be just important to someone. After all they teach you about life and have a way of setting your day off right too.

Now to my second thought, why can’t our generation of music be known as the Greatest Political Music ever! I know, I know the Vietnam War, social upon social movement, and some of the greatest stuff ever put into music. Then again, we have a crazy, crappy war going on too, huge turmoil throughout the world, and social changes like the green movement occurring daily. Here’s the best part, we have great political music all over the place. The best of them all, bias opinion, is the man that coined the phrase “Power to the Peaceful” Michael Franti and Spearhead. He’s a genius, the blend of high energy rap, smooth reggae, and peace and love can’t help but be addicting. Plus, the downright despise of the government is pretty damn nice too. Check out any of his music, it’s all good.

So, why is only a small portion of the United States listening to the music that has a way of defining our times and huge events of our lives? Too many answers to that question, but something to definitely ponder. That’s all from me, Andrew “You ask me, it’s big corporations!” Michael Franti, Yell Fire! album