06/13/07 Booker T. & the MGs w/Sharon Jones @ Rockefeller Park, New York, NY

This free show took place in a picturesque riverside park in Battery City, the affluent enclave built atop the soil displaced by the construction of the World Trade Center towers.

Fittingly attuned to the bucolic (by NYC standards) setting, it featured the sweet sounds of funk soul organ ingenue Booker T with his long time band. Thrown into the mix was the feisty, rising funk revivalist Sharon Jones. The highlight was a heartfelt rendition of Otis Redding's "(Sitting n) The Dock of The Bay."

06/01/07 Simple (Phish tribute) @ Lion's Den, New York, NY

After Phish and Phix called it quits, this helping friendly band filled the void.

05/18/07 Riders on the Storm (ex-Doors) @ Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

Following charges of copyright infringement after performing under the moniker Doors of the 21st Century, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger, original keyboardist and guitarist for The Doors respectively, headed out on another tour, this time borrowing a name from one of their best songs, Riders of The Storm. This incarnation included Fuel lead singer Brett Scallions.

No one, much less Scallions, could ever hope to replicate the stage presence of the legendary original front man Jim Morrison, but the show was an enjoyable, if predictable string of faithful renditions of classic Doors hits.

The real thrill of the night came later at the Hotel QT's swim-up bar. The pool area also featured a steam room and a sauna. A DJ and projectionist added to the ambiance. The whole set-up was simultaneously relaxing and liberating, inspiring various random acts of nudity.

05/11/07 Reckoning @ Lion's Den, New York, NY

Before their guitarist defected to U-Melt, Reckoning balanced their Dead-centric sets with a larger percentage of Phish tunes and other assorted covers, as was the case here. They even took on the often ironically requested Skynyrd anthem "Free Bird."

05/05/07 Antibalas @ Irving Plaza, New York, NY

Nowadays, Antibalas can be found providing the live accompaniment for the Broadway hit Fela!, but once upon a time, they were merely the best afrobeat orchestra in the land, carrying the torch of Fela Kuti's considerable musical legacy.

04/27/07 Disco Biscuits (TractorBeam) @ Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY

Set 1: Strobelights and Martinis1 > Pygmy Twylyte > Morph Dusseldorf > Spaga > Crickets > Sweating Bullets, Munchkin Invasion > The Great Abyss > Astronaut > Munchkin Invasion > Astronaut
1with "Cyclone" fake-out

This under-the-radar gig announced just several days prior and billed under a pseudonym, saw The Disco Biscuits eschewing vocals, never their strong suit, for an all instrumental set.

Not having seen the Biscuits in a couple years at that point, I rediscovered their trancefusion sound, fell in love and haven't looked back since.

04/23/07 The Motet w/Fareed Haque @ SOB's, New York, NY

This show paired the Middle Eastern influenced guitarist of Garaj Mahal with the funkier jazz grooves of The Motet.