05/??/06 DJ Le Spam and The Spam Allstars @ SOB's

DJ Le Spam and The Spam All Stars are a collective best known for being the illustration in Vida Blue's The Illustrated Band, one of the best of the Phish side project releases. Their Cuban-tinged funk fusion fit in perfectly at the world music enclave of SOB's.

05/20/06 Daptone Super Soul Revue @ Irving Plaza, New York, NY

At the time, this show seemed like the penultimate celebration of the soul revival spearheaded by the Daptone label intent on vintage analog equipment and a decidedly retro, yet fresh take on the genre. The showcase doubled as a 50th birthday celebration for the former corrections officer turned neo-soul superstar, the inimitable Sharon Jones. It featured nearly every artist on the label, from Jones' backing band The Dap Kings to funksters The Budos Band to gospel revivalist Naomi Davis. Several years later, however, the soul revival has burgeoned even further with the success of acts like Amy Winehouse. Sharon herself has reached higher plateaus with headlining gigs at The Apollo Theater and a much-ballyhooed stint as back-up vocalist for Phish's 2009 Halloween interpretation of The Rolling Stones' Exile On Main Street that also featured several members of the Dap-Kings horn section.

05/13/06 Dark Star Orchestra @ Nokia Theater, New York, NY

1: WRS Prelude@> WRS Part 1@> Let It Grow, Half Step, Jack Straw, West LA Fadeaway, Cassidy, Run for the Roses, Esau, Hey Pockey Way> Deal
2: China Cat> I Know You Rider, Dancin', Liberty@ , Sailor@> Saint@> Drums> Space> Other One> Stella Blue> Lovelight
Encore: Box of Rain> Saturday Night
Notes: Special guest keyboardist Dan Klepinger - @Eaton on acoustic

This show holds a special place in my heart since it was the night I met my girlfriend. We were both working at the Lifebeat table and we hit it off immediately. Curiously, she knew nothing of the Grateful Dead prior to that fateful night.

Several years later, we are still happily together and she is now a converted 'head.

05/12/06 Dark Star Orchestra @ Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

10-08-1989 Coliseum, Hampton, VA
Set 1: Foolish Heart> Walking Blues, Candyman, Me & My Uncle> Big River,Stagger Lee, Queen Jane, Bird Song> Promised
Set 2: Help> Slipknot> Franklin's, Victim> Eyes> Drumz>Miracle> Wheel> Gimme Some Lovin> Morning Dew
Encore: We Bid You Goodnight
Filler: Marriage Proposal, TLEO, Good Lovin'
Notes: Special guest keyboardist Dan Klepinger

This was a reinterpretation of one of the legendary Hampton '89 shows, during which the Dead were billed as Formerly The Warlocks. Unfortunately, DSO did not choose the show that included the Dark Star bust out.

The most memorable part of this show was the post-encore marriage proposal. She said yes.

04/22/06 Bela Fleck & The Flecktones @ Irving Plaza, New York, NY

04/22/06 Bela Fleck & The Flecktones @ Irving Plaza, New York, NY
Next, Frontiers, Hurricane Camille, Throwdown at the Hoedown, Weed Whacker, Couch Potato, Whistle Tune, Victor/Bela, Kaleidoscope, Kalied1, Futureman/Jeff, Africa Jam1, New South Africa, Sojourn of Arjuna, Bela Solo, Sinister Minister
1 w/Baaba Maal

The Flecktones are one of the most virtuosic group of musicians ever assembled. Each of them are among the best at their individual instruments. It helps that the aptly names Future Man plays an synth-axe drumitar of his own design, but from Jeff Coffin's dual sax attacks to Vic Wooten's light speed bass slapping, these guys are truly in a league of their own. Leading the jazzy, funky nu-grass is banjoist extraordinaire, Bela Fleck.

This was my first and only live Flecktones experience and it was everything I hoped it would be, even though they didn't play one of my all-time favorite songs, Stomping Grounds. It definitely ranks up there as one of my most memorable musical experiences.

In the international and collaborative spirit of the Green Apple Fest, Senegalese singer Baaba Maal guested on vocals for a couple tunes.

04/21/06 Toots & The Maytals/Soulive @ Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

This was a stellar pairing of my favorite jazz funk trio and one of the founding fathers of reggae, who actually coined the term in his 1968 single, "Do the Reggay."

Soulive's set was highlighted by the predictable, yet effective Zeppelin cover and voice box "California" jam. "New York city knows how to party!"

04/21/06 Mickey Hart/Umphrey's McGee/Grace Potter & The Nocturnals @ Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY

04/21/06 EarthFair, New York, NY
free, outdoor event, as part of Earth Day New York and the Green Apple Music Festival
Set I: In the Kitchen, Utopian Fir> Higgins, Bridgeless

This was a free show in conjunction with the first year of Peter Shapiro's Green Apple Music Festival, an environmentally conscious series of performances that would suffer in later years due to its expansion to other cities. Lately, the climactic event has been a concert on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. featuring acts such as The Roots and Ratdog.

There was a full slate of music set up on Vanderbilt Avenue just outside of the magnificent edifice of Grand Central Terminal. I caught the last few songs of Grace Potter, the sexiest lady in the jam scene since Tal Wilkenfeld.

Umphrey's was up next with a mini-set that served as a warm-up for their later night set at CBGB's. They opened with the catchiest track off their best release, Anchor Drops. Everything else was gravy. There was even a lady who brought her parrots.

I linked up with some random hippies and went on a mini adventure in Manhattan before swinging back around Grand Central for a little bit of The Mutaytor with special guest Mickey Hart. I believe he was leading a percussion ensemble which at one point included Walter Cronkite. Then it was off to the next show at Nokia.