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An Intimate Evening with The Travers Brothership
Having seen, The Travers Brothership for the past two years at FloydFest, I was happy to see that they were playing a local venue here in Virginia, The Golden Pony. While I’ve been to the Golden Pony many times, there usually isn’t a lot of Jam acts coming through the area; this area kind of sucks for live music. To give you an example of some of the other shows the Golden Pony has hosted: rapper, Petey Pablo. I was still hoping that The Travers Brothership would have a bigger turn out but the intimate show setting let me experience a different side of the Brothership. The Brothership covers funk staples like “Its Your Thing” and “Can You Get To That” while adding their own unique style that seems to be cultivated within their gritty southern upbringing. Bassist, Josh Clark is also quite important to their sonic development, as he adds energetic and spastic tonality to their sound. Keyboardist and percussionist, Ian McIsaac seems to be the quiet, laid-back type but who knows what happens off stage. The Travers Brothership is well versed in Jam transitions and crescendos but could continue to configure these into their routine. I was also able to score a copy of the most recent album ‘Let The World Decide’ and it has been playing none stop in my car. The Travers Brothership are still raw and growing but that’s what makes them so much fun to see. The progression and evolution of their growth is right there in front of your eyes. The Travers Brothership are set to launch in this scene and beyond. Their attention to detail and the needs of the musical scene are evident in their consistent pursuit of growth. I encourage my readers to check this band out while they are still evolving, so you can watch these young musicians progress to the top ranks. It’s certainly within their grasp if only they keep up the hard work and never give up. The Brothership will be back in Charlottesville, Virginia this November. I hope to see you there. JBP
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 Marbin Update and Archived Interview: (Playing Through The Changes)
It’s always an extreme pleasure to witness one of my favorite Fusion bands and all all-around great people in the band, Marbin. I met Marbin, consisting of Dani Rabin, Danny Markovitch and Jon Nadel, about three years ago during one of their local gigs in Virginia. We became fast friends after many long nights discussing the ins-and-outs of music today. Any chance I get to see this band, I do it and with the addition of a new drummer Everett, I was pleasantly surprised as he has assimilated nicely into the group adding dynamic playing and accentuation. For this review, I’m gonna go back into my vault of interviews and reviews and give to you my first interview with any band ever. If you haven’t checked Marbin out, do it NOW! They have many great albums out like ‘Israeli Jazz’ that I recommend and are almost ready to release a new one, ‘Strong Thing.’ Check them out here: https://marbinmusic.bandcamp.com/ I would also like to recommend, Jon Nadel (bass) Solo Album, ‘Urraca.’ It has some great rhythmic compositions. I see another interview with these guys around the corner! Enjoy Marbin from 2016- _______________________________________________________________________________ The Interview: Jam Band Purist: How many shows have you guys played now? The band discussed it for a second. Jam Band Purist: Holy hell, that's a lot of shows. I thought you guys would be bigger than you are by now. Dani: “So did we. It just takes a lot of time and effort to get to where we need to be, it's taken us 4-5 years just to break into the music festival scene.” Jam Band Purist: Have you just not found your niche? Dani: “No, we have our fan base but its just having our niche accepted. We do things a little different than other bands.” Jam Band Purist: “If you play that many shows, you must have a lot of crazy experiences, what are some of yours? Jon the Bass Player: “Almost driving into a river.” Dani: “No, not too crazy stuff just the normal incidences when you go on tour you see all kinds of crazy people and when drugs and alcohol are involved...” Danny: “Well, alcohol mostly.” Jam Band Purist: What's the story behind the song “Escape from Hippie Mountain” that's got to be relevant to these crazy experiences? Dani: “We were at a festival called Spring Fling, I think it was there. There were two chicks getting into a fistfight.” Danny: “The one kept introducing herself as Jessiker” Dani: “Her and another girl were fighting but were still trying to be all ‘hippy’ about it and when we first got there, their was the other hippy with blood all over his shirt and when we asked him what happened, he said it wasn't his blood and that made things even worse. Jessiker was eventually banished from Hippie Mountain, people yelled ‘Go West’ it was cold and freezing and we left as soon as we could. We saw her hitchhiking on the way out.” Jam Band Purist: Sounds like quite the escape. You use a lot of interesting scales and modes within your music, what are some of your favorite scales and why? Dani: “We like all scales equally, our music changes scales so quickly that we have to understand them all equally. For us as a band, it's more about the melodic statement.” Jam Band Purist: So, what's up with the rotating cast of band members? Are you just trying to keep things new/fresh and interesting? Or are there other reasons? Dani: “There have been all kinds of reasons for us to have different members but mostly musical differences.” Danny: “We can put up with a lot of personal stuff but musically we can’t have it. Those guys are dead to us.” Jam Band Purist: So, part of why I love music is lyrics, you guys are great but any thoughts on lyrics or are you strictly instrumental? Dani: “We are strictly instrumental. We have no thoughts on changing that.” (Later, Dani would sing me a few of the songs he wrote which I really liked.) Jam Band Purist: There are a lot of bands using social media to gain fans and followers, for me you guys helped pioneer or start that whole trend but you have played over 1200 shows, while most of these bands have barely played out of their basement. What can you say to that and to the bands that are up-and-coming using that model? Dani: “We are just now getting to the point where we can use social media to gain hundreds or thousands of followers/likes but that took a long time. I say good for them, if they get likes and can get big off just social media that's their prerogative, some bands just can't tour and they aren't meant to tour like we do.” Jon Bass Player: “I think the promotional videos that were are putting out have really helped gain access to the music.” Jam Band Purist: Anything planned for tonight, maybe set-list wise? Dani: “The band has never made a set list, we play what we are feeling.” Jam Band Purist: Ok, final question but a serious one; any musical guilty pleasures? Dani: “You should ask the bass player.” Jon Bass Player: “Oh Here we go.” Dani: “The problem is that he doesn’t feel guilty about them” Danny: “He likes Linkin Park and bands like that, haha” We all laughed at him for a moment. Jam Band Purist: I would make fun of you too. Thank you guys so much.  Short Review: Jazz is Phish at The Broadberry
It’s been impossible for me to keep up with all the musical reviews and shows that I have recently attended. As many of you may know, this site is free to you but for me, it’s becoming increasingly hard to find paying Freelance Writing gigs. I work hard to try and find my voice here at Jam Band Purist and I feel one of my greatest attributes is my honesty. I hope that readers enjoy my candor and my overall view of the shows I’ve experienced. If you are reading this and enjoy it, please like, share, comment or, whatever you do but just let me know you are still here. I want to touch on Jazz Is Phish and what they are doing with the Phish cannon of music. Their attention to detail and song composition is, on par with bands like Snarky Puppy. I always find myself impressed with not only the musical abilities of the revolving members but the attitude in which the music is presented. Phish is still one of my favorite bands and I have seen numerous cover acts and tribute bands. Jazz Is Phish is much more than a tribute act; it is an extension of the Phish essence and catalogue. I implore my readers to see this band any opportunity you get. If you like Phish but would like to hear their songs delivered in a different manor then this band is for you. More coming soon! Thank you for reading! JBP LOCKN’ Music Festival 2019 (Lets Do The Time Warp Again and Other Shifts In Energy)
There’s always so much for me to say about LOCKN’ Music Festival here in Virginia. This festival has truly been a godsend for me and feels like my home festival. From its inception, LOCKN’ has always held a special place in my heart. As things change and evolve, LOCKN’ seems to have shifted direction and the winds of change have come to call. This year’s annual festival known as Interlocken, once upon a time, seemed much smaller in attendance size. I’m not entirely sure of the numbers but it felt more intimate and those who have been to all 7 years, felt at home and in good company. This was as much a family reunion for me, as it was a premier festival. It was unfortunate that many of my friends just couldn’t make the trip back to LOCKN’ due to funds or lack of interest in the lineup. I couldn’t miss this festival and am proud to have been to all 7. Having officially covered this festival as a Music Journalist for 4 years now, I feel like I know the ins-and-outs of LOCKN’ from the people like, Jam Band Jimmy to all my friends in the photography pit. There is something about LOCKN’ that is undeniable communal; a community coming together and bonding through music. The music is always top notch and filled with rare sit-ins and collaborations. This year was much the same but with a few minor changes. The loss of big name acts like, Widespread Panic, String Cheese and even, Umphreys McGee was evident and there were at times, lulls in the festivals overall musical excitement level. But still the thought of Trey Anastasio and Derek Trucks playing together keeps you going and there are also plenty of distractions. I would wander to the media tent, which for some reason is not even close to the main stage; it is perhaps the furthest away from any stage I have ever been while trying to write about an event. These accommodations meant that, I spent more time in the crowd than worrying about overall coverage. With that in mind, I will share some of the musical moments that stood out to me. I will leave out the ones that didn’t quite get me there or, the ones that left me saying, “mehhh.” I will start with Khruangbin, which I have reviewed here before. In my previous review, I have louted Khruangbin as, not my favorite live act but with the addition of Trey Anastasio, this took their performance to another stimulating and exciting level. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard from friends and others this year that Khruangbin is their favorite band right now and it befuddled me until I saw this show with the addition of Trey. I must eat my words but still would love to see more passion in their stage performance. This was probably the best show besides JRAD on Thursday but that’s only because Andy Frasco was cancelled due to another micro burst on the festival grounds. One of the highlights was catching a glimpse of Paul Simon on the sound stage watching his wife, Edie Brickell. I had never seen him in person and although, I love some of his music, he looked liked he might have had some work done. There were many acts during Friday’s daytime schedule but it was really all about the Derek Truck sit-in with Trey Anastasio Band. Wasting no time here, I’ll just jump right in and discuss the song choices and jams of Friday. This was honestly one of the best sets I have ever seen at LOCKN’. Trey and his band were so gracious and excepting of Derek and allowed him to really shine, something I’m not sure I can say for Saturday nights reverse sit-in. Trey was much more comfortable, relaxed and his band really know how to accommodate another powerful musician. The song choice was fine but I feel some of the slower acoustics songs could have been literally anything; they could have covered any number of tunes that would have compared to “Layla” or, “Little Wing” but instead played, “More.” Watching Trey and Derek trade licks it becomes immediately apparent that Derek is quite literally the best guitarist in the world; his caliber of musicianship is rivaled only by the great blues musicians. Going right into my thoughts on Tedeschi Trucks Band with Trey, to me it felt a little uneven. Trey seemed tired and was given many opportunities to solo but would always pass it back to Derek. Don’t get me wrong these dudes are professional but perhaps their styles didn’t match up, as well as, we all had hoped. That being said, I have re-watched both shows and the music is still top-notch and phenomenal but watch the interaction, body language says it all. I know that many who read this might disagree with me so, comment and tell me about it! I’m always willing to have my mind changed. Ok, ok, I’ll have to admit Vulfpeck might have been the best performance of the weekend and deserve respect. They have come a long way since their first appearance at LOCKN’ and can put on a thrilling performance. Although some of the crowd participation stunts fell flat, the crowd was still excited and everyone around me had fun. I don’t listen to much Vulfpeck anymore, their catalogue is a little small but they are definitely back on rotation now. I don’t feel like I really need to comment much on Sunday. The day was laid back and at times even a lull. Marcus King would sit in with moe. for “opium.” This was an awesome rendition and basically made the whole day worthwhile. I did enjoy just spending time at Infinity Downs with friends and checking out Participation Row and the many vendors LOCKN’ has to offer. Some notable mentions for this review are St. Paul and The Broken Bones, who had an outstanding onstage, or should I say, offstage performance. I was riveted by their front mans persona and shiny cape. JRAD of course impressed but I was pleasantly surprised as they played numerous Non Grateful Dead covers. This review would be remiss not to mention Neal Casal and the tragic news of his passing after his stellar performances at LOCKN’ 2019. I was unable to make the Circles Around The Sun set in Garcia’s Forest and I truly regret it. Neal’s sit-ins with Oteil And Friends were standout and his guitar playing was always original and prominent whenever I saw him in various projects. With the loss of Neal and Jeff this year, I want to extend my sincerest condolences to all who have been affected by this. For those struggling with any issues, may it be depression, anxiety, stress or, all around mental health, just know there are so many people out there that would love to help. All you have to do is reach out and to anyone reading this; feel free to reach out to me about anything! Never hesitate. We are all alive together. Let’s keep it that way. This years LOCKN’ felt like a shift in energy; the rift has opened and there are changes occurring. I didn’t mind the relaxed spacious atmosphere this year. It felt more family friendly and the lineup was still solid although, LOCKN’ has set the bar fairly high in the past years. Having been to every LOCKN’ I have witnessed the changes, the good and the bad but one thing remains, the spirit of community and collaboration that makes this scene turn like the main stage. LOCKN’ is still the Mecca for Jam and a place where artists can feel at home, as much as, the audience. The local area seems to support this festival and the grounds themselves are perfect for this continued musical adventure. I hope to see you all again next year for year number 8! JBP Thanks to Ron Adelberg Photography and Grateful Music LLC for the photos!  The Rolling Stones Invade Philly (“We’ve Been Playing Here For 50 Fucking Years”) I have always wanted to see The Rolling Stones, the seminal 60’s Rock Band, the original “Bad Boys”. They have been playing for over 50 years and I still love many of their songs. The Stones are a staple in the Classic Rock catalogue. They may be only second to The Beatles but that’s another story altogether. I remember first listening to The Stones songs in my seminal youth. As a teenager, I seemed to desire the revelations of the 1960s and the “Hippie” culture. The Rolling Stones have stayed with me and have become part of my life’s soundtrack. So when I had the opportunity to see them in Philadelphia with one of my closest friends, I had to make the trek up north. The lot scene in Philly for The Rolling Stones was insane. It may have been crazier than any Phish or Dead lot I have been to. Every car in each lot I walked through would play the local radio station, which was playing Stones songs for 24 hours. I have honestly never seen so many people singing songs in unison. The average age of concertgoers was about 50 but the energy of their fans is undeniable. The 200$ ticket price was a big fucking deterrent and I was hoping to have better seats; climbing into the nose bleeds of the stadium, even I had a little vertigo. On the stage were giant megalithic screens that the band would be projected on. They seemed like a prop from the wizard of oz or even like the monolith in 2001 (A space odyssey). The Stones would roll through their classic songs and when I say classics, I mean CLASSIC like “Paint It Black.” I was impressed with the band and their exuberant amount of energy. Mick can still command the stage, dancing like no one has ever danced before and never will. I can’t say his dancing is good but is certainly original and entertaining. It’s strange to see people my grandparent’s age getting down like that. Keif looks like some half-ogre, half-pirate but his guitar tone cuts through everything. Charlie Watts looks rough in the back but still keeps a solid rhythm. Ronnie Wood is probably the best thing that ever happened to The Stones and you can tell he still invigorate the band especially Keif. It was great to see the one and only, Karl Denson onstage with these legends, cementing himself as a true legend himself. While this band doesn’t necessarily “Jam” they do Rock the fuck out and have inspired every single band today. I can honestly say that this show was well worth the money but I don’t know if I’d ever do it again. I’m not sure there ever will be another chance for me to see this group. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see one of the greatest acts and all of Rock music. I have a new respect for these musicians that constantly tour around the world. The Rolling Stones can travel in complete comfort but at 70 some years old, it still must be extremely difficult. I hope that if you have the money and the opportunity to see the Rolling Stones that you take the leap and forget about the ticket price. Money comes and goes but this musical experience will last a lifetime.  |
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Editor: Robert (R.A.) FadleyFreelance Writer, Musicologist, Music Journalist, Music Critic, Music Writer, Author, Musician, Singer-songwriter, Composer, Guitarist. Categories
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