Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Quixote's True Blue Jan 1st Stanky Pockets/Dead Phish Orchestra/Shakedown Street/Kaiser Sunshine

So everything old is new again. The years go by and after 13 wonderful years we are back to where we started and yes, i say yes, it is such a wonderful life afterall. There is so much perhaps and hope left in this world and so much transformation, everyday leads to a new adventure and the merchants of greed have been vanquished at least for a little bit longer. Never has it felt so refreshing as now.

Stanky Pockets is grooving in the gallery, Dead Phish is tearing us limb from limb in the main room, lasers are cutting through the fog, life could be sweeter, for this I don't know, see how it feels in the end. and Shakedown Street is about to play a early morning set.
The transformation is very evident, everyone notices, the notice physically that the palce has changed and they notice the vibe has changed, most importantly they notice that I am happy. The fiuture looks bright, the people are wonderful and even as the lysergics fade happiness remains. Creativity is at an all time high.

Shakedown Start is delayed, so we get some ballons out and we start kicking them around, everyone is having fun. Does it matter matter when the band starts, not really no one is going anywhere, we are just having fun. But Shakedown does evntually start and they rip it, it is a beautiful morning and Shakedown has everyone dancing and grooving. Rachel kennedy is about to faint, but she does that every year here, slowly everyone gears down into complete and utter sillinous. It was a perfect start to 2010, one of the best starts in a long time, alth0ugh last year wasn't a bad start either, now that I think about it.

Stay True Blue
Jay Bianchi

JERRY GARCIA BAND/DEAD AHEAD Dec 30th and 31st

Serendipity--that is what we shall call it, serendipitous that I left Cervantes and found Owsley's which becomes Quixote's in only a few moments. Why did I need Owsley's Golden Road? Why indeed? Because the Golden Road led me right back to where I started, it led me back to that magical place that was always in my heart, it led me to the Real Quixote's True Blue and this place which is being transformed into Quixote's feels more like home then it ever has before. Each successive Quixote's represented a desire to get to where I started, but the trip was not to be straightforward, it was circuitous and tangled. It was an virtually Odyssey and my dear Penelope lay 13 years away. The trip was always about music and being true to what I believed, but along the things got diverted and I was courted by all types of sirens who caused me to stray from my path. What i found as we were transforming Owsley's into Quixote's was how much love was put in every step of the way and the amount of history that comprises 13 years of hard work. Somehow every sign that I made for Quixote's somehow fit into Owsley's perfectly, it was as if the place was always waiting for Quixote's to arrive. Owsley's/Quixote's felt more complete then any of the previous incarnations, it even felt better then the first and what this transformation so magical was the fact that the Jerry Garcia Band created the soundtrack for this event. It was today after midnight that Quixote's was finally fully realized.

Fresh Produce Dec 26th

OK, do you have cabbages, do you have spinach, that was the calls I was getting today, and although i did not have any of that we did have FRESH PRODUCE which brought with it a combination of hip hop folk and funk. This was something we have not seen in awhile some of it worked and other parts of it did not. It was good and we will try it again because it was fresh.

Grown Ass man Band Christmas 2009

This has been about 10 years that we have spent Christmas with the Medicine Man and everyone of them has been a pleasure. The Grown Ass Man band comes from the ashes of Askimbo, but they still produce a the same urban funk that makes from a very great party. Wherever the Medicine man is makes the place feel like hime.

Whiskey Tango dec 21st

Another day conquered by the bluegrass demons from Colorado. Sounding better every time.

Jack Douglas Trio/Courtesy Bandits Dec 20th

Jack Douglas Trio is tan awesome band, that just needs to collect a following. They create great folky drinky tunes which entice whoever is there, but they do need someone there and that is the crux of the problem with them. They are a perfect opener, maybe not the perfect main act. The Courtesy Bandits are a young talented kids that need to keep gigging as they grow into their shoes. Too old and to young was the tale of the day.

The Big Motif/Harmonious Junk Dec 19th

The Big Motif is one of the best bands going right now, nice sharp jams that get you dancing and grooving no matter what your mood is. These kids are great. Harmonious Junk also creates a some snappy jams and Damon Wood has a great vibe. A little work from both camps and this show becomes a monster.

Disco Floyd/Acoustic Dead /Ruins of Ooah Dec 18th

The Acoustic Disco, feat Disco Floyd and spoome Acoustic Dead, another fine mix that i got us into. We spent the evening grooving to floyd at the Disco and the Dead in a Acoustic setting with Rob eaton and some very Special Guest of Rob Eaton from DSO. This was really an incredible night where anywhere you walked you heard good tunes and one of the best surprises was the didgereedoo of Ruins of ooah. This band is just plain amazing. Disco Floyd is a triumphant production and Rob Eaton and Jim Allard of Acoustic Dead are actually quite spellbinding. The acoustic versions of Classic dead songs felt quite invigorating. This was a splendid show all around and any of the bands are capable of mesmerizing and audience by themselves, but this combination of sounds was just awesome.

Bigga Digga/Last Bus Dec 17th

Bigga Digga is truly a fun band as is The last Bus, both these bands sent harmonious notes through the room. But alas the room was not quite full which makes those notes fall to the ground unsatisfied which is disappointing for everybody.

Whiskey Tango Dec 15th

Wait I just reviewed these guys last week and they are back again, uh, maybe because they are good, rollicking fun.

Eric Mcfadden Trio/Dead Phish Orchestra Dec 12th

A double header tonight was well worth the money. Eric Mcfadden trio launched into to some raunchy voodo rock, but the story was in the gallery where Dead Phish Orchestra demonstrated the power that they have. This band is the Reeses's Peanut Butter of the scene, two great tastes that taste great together. if you could imagine how much I like Reeses's peanut Butter Cups you will be able to grasp how good this band is. The Cups, i really really think I could live on them. Just the right amount of chocolate and just the right amount of peanut butter. Phish is great, but they get a little too much at times and a the mixing of the Dead with Phish makes the Phish that much better. This is a great idea and contrary to popular opinion the two work splendid together. Franklin> Frankenstien is just the beginning. These guys create impeccable transitions to droll over that work even well beyond their alliterative names and catchy allusions.

DPO is one for the future.

Yamn/Home/Mason's Children/Ground Up

What a night! Yamn headlined this festival in the city and created the backdrop for a very wonderful night. Kind tunes emanated from every corner of the place and a spectacular light show to boot. Always a good time.

Dyrty Byrds feat Sam Holt Dec 10th

Eric Martinez, Sam Holt and Tori Pater make a pretty powerful team. Moving from Marshall Tucker to homespun American this band creates an inspirational portrait of life. There is something about these guys that transport you to that place you call now, but bringing with just a little light. Life seems a little more bearable every time these guys stop by.

Gristle Gals and Whiskey Tango Dec 8th

Bluegrass night is hsping up to be an event and Whiskey Tango is the main attraction. These guys are good and getting much better and the Gristle Gals threw in some nice even paced drinking songs to make the a tandem tango.