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12/08/2003 Fox Theatre – Redwood City, CA

Logo courtesy of Nayr Nagirrek

Since 2008, String Cheese Radio has streamed String Cheese Incident relentlessly. Day and night with few breaks. Today you are witnessing a transformation. We are diving a bit deeper into the legacy of this Colorado jam band. You may be aware of a certain band which has been SCI’s greatest influence. This band is also known for their live show spectacles and unique history. Just like SCI, they’ve taken some time off but they’re back and reminding music lovers what a festivallllll is all about! They can put a smile on your face in an instant and they can keep it there all night long. They have a serious silly side that I think you will love. You may be asking yourself…. who is this incredible band? Well then I say to you: You. Must. Ask. The FISH!

Tune in to Salmon Stream: Streaming Live Leftover Salmon 24/7! Right here on salmonstream.com

I look forward to hearing feedback about the new site in the comments area below.

It’s always a nice surprise to show up to a bluegrass show and see a packed house, especially in an urban east coast venue.  The intimate Church of Boston holds 225 people but it was near capacity this past Thursday night.  Chasing Blue started things off with Scranton, Pennsylvania’s Cabinet playing second.  San Francisco based bluegrass rockers, Hot Buttered Rum headlined the night.

Cabinet is a 6 piece band with a lively bluegrass sound and a skilled drummer that kept my feet moving.  They were the perfect way to get pumped for the main event, Hot Buttered Rum.  Somehow this lovable bluegrass band makes it 3000 miles across the country twice a year to do a handful of shows in tiny bars and clubs around the east coast.  We sure are grateful!

Hot Buttered Rum has been around for just over 10 years and in that time they have amassed a serious fanbase.  They have nearly 600 live recorded shows on archive.org and even have their own fan site, morebutter.net full of setlists, lyrics, statistics, and other fun info.  The band is: Aaron Redner (fiddle/mandolin), Bryan Horne (upright bass), Erik Yates (banjo, flute, mandolin), Nat Keefe (guitar), Lucas Carlton (drums, washboard).

The band played a single set which seemed to get better and better every song.  Original songs and some not so typical covers created the canvas for back and forth solos which were played with skill and style.  There was so much energy bouncing around the stage, into the crowd, and back again it was hard to focus on one band member for too long.  Despite facing some serious feedback sound problems, Aaron kept his composure with his fiddle and played his heart out the whole time.

The middle of the set featured Lucas on the washboard which was great fun to watch.  The music seemed to continue on and on in one joyous stream with many songs jamming into the next.  Towards the end of the set, a guest bongo player named Brian got up on the stage and accompanied the band for the remainder.  His playing beautifully added to the mix and kept the crowd on their toes till the very last notes.  The band closed their set with an extremely soulful version of Turn On Your Lovelight.

After a brief break, the band came back out for a single song encore.  Then, to the crowd’s delight they hopped off the stage and played a final song, totally acoustic in the midst of the crowd.  One thing’s for sure, this band was having just as much fun playing as the crowd was, watching and dancing.

Review by: Jeremy Lach
Photos by: Brett Witten

03/08/13 (Fri)  Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun – Uncasville, CT 
Set 1: The Jupiter and the 119 – > Jerusalem Ridge, Elko, Bread and Water, Old Man and the Land, Walk Beside Me, Lovin’ You, The Hunting Song, Potter’s Field – > Head, Hard Livin’, E: RV

Comment: Free Event

Photos by: CJohansen Photography

I’m a lucky girl. Living in Boston, one of the few cities in New England, I am guaranteed a visit by nearly every one of my favorite musicians. Moreover, I have an array of venues where I can see them – from the Orpheum to the Middle East, there are large and small venues located throughout the city and its surrounding suburbs. Few, however, offer the intimacy and history of Club Passim. 

This tiny venue, which doubles a vegetarian pizza restaurant, was originally founded in 1958 as Club 47. Although the club has relocated from its original location a few streets over, it remains a cornerstone in the history of Harvard Square and folk music, with landmark artists such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell having graced the stage. Today, Passim is a non-profit organization providing music education and encouraging grassroots music in the community. Follow this link to their website to learn more about Passim’s history, performances, and membership benefits: http://www.clubpassim.org/ .

I can think of no better place to see one of my favorite roots-folk artists, Elephant Revival, for the first time. Elephant Revival was formed in 2006 in Nederland, “Ned”, Colorado, home to none other than the String Cheese Incident and other bluegrass and jam staples like Leftover Salmon. Elephant Revival may not be quite as well known as their peers, but they are growing increasingly popular, hitting the festival circuit this summer and, best of all, making a stop at Horning’s Hideout (See you there!).

The band consists of Bonnie Paine (vocals, washboard, djembe, musical saw), Sage Cook (electric banjo/guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, viola, vocals), Dango Rose (double-bass, mandolin, banjo, vocals), Daniel Rodriguez (acoustic guitar, electric banjo/guitar vocals) and Bridget Law (fiddle and vocals). The first thing I noticed during this sold out show was what dynamic musicians these are. I was consistently surprised throughout the show at how they switched places, traded instruments, and chimed in vocals. Everyone seemed to play every part, and it created a joyful atmosphere as you watched them experiment with sound and emotion right before my eyes.

They played a great range of songs from all three of their albums: Elephant Revival (2008), Break in the Clouds (2010), and their recent EP It’s Alive. (They may have played some other songs as, well, I just don’t recall.) They sometimes moved right from song to song, but more often took a break to tell us a story or make an advertisement or even drop an instrument! Their personalities and personability during these brief intermissions were only shown up by their emotion as they sang and played. I found myself, and watched other in the room as well, become hypnotized by Bonnie and Bridget’s ethereal voices, occasionally backed by a psychedelic electric banjo.

Yet at other times, I was stifled by the sit-down nature of the venue and wanted to dance! Bridget’s violin soars and it is hard to believe how Bonnie excels so well as washboard. I thought I would flip over the table, I was bouncing in my seat so enthusiastically. The chemistry between these two, as well as the group in general, was palpable. Especially in such an intimate venue, this chemistry overflowed into the audience into the audience from start to finish.

I bought my tickets for this show three months ahead of time, right after it was announced.  I have been listening to Elephant Revival’s recorded music for quite some time and they are honestly one of my favorites. It was no surprise then, that this show was a wonderful experience. Jeremy and I can’t wait to see another show at this venue and especially can’t wait to see Elephant Revival again – hopefully sooner than Horning’s! I the meantime, I encourage you to go see the band if they are coming near you soon!  Here are the remaining stops in their tour: http://elephantrevival.com/tour.html .

Review by: Carolyn Willander
Photos by: CJohansen Photography

June 21 – Telluride, CO – Telluride Bluegrass Festival
June 28-30 – Rothbury, MI – Electric Forest Festival
July 4-6 – Austin TX – The Backyard
July 12-13 – Louisville, KY – Forecastle Festival
July 26-27 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
August 2-4 – North Plains, OR – Horning’s Hideout

More details here

Photos by: Brett Witten

They’ll be returning with an upgraded Lotus stage complete with custom lasers.

Catch Zebbler Encanti Experience and Crizzly opening for the one and only EOTO @ House of Blues in Boston on 1/31/2012.  Tickets here

See photos from EOTO’s debut of the Lotus Stage last year in Boston here

FIRE THE LAZERS!!!

Set 1: 420, Potter’s Field, Head, Happy Song, Old Man and the Land, The Cuckoo, Bread and Water, Elko (1)

Set 2: Goat (2), Too Much Information, Daddy-O, Cats (3), RV (1), The Forecast – > Mighty River – > The Jupiter and the 119 > Cuckoo Medley (1), I am a Mess (2), E: Storms, Bringin’ My Baby Back Home (1)

Comment: (1) with Bill Nershi on acoustic guitar, and vocal on the “Dress … in Colorado” verse from “I am a Mess”
(2) With Dan Sears on flugelhorn and with Bill Nershi on acoustic guitar
(3) First time played, written by Bill Nershi, Jilian Nershi and Scott Law. with Bill Nershi on acoustic guitar, lead vocals

Photos by Elizabeth Drews

Photos by John Bergman