Concert Review: Lesh And Weir Bring Mohegan Sun Furthur

Former Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir brought their latest spin-off band Further to the Mohegan Sun arena Friday night. Members of other post-Grateful Dead bands (Ratdog & Dark Star Orchestra) completed the line-up that would send the Deadhead community on trip down memory lane.

The evening’s first set, which lasted about 85 minutes, got off to a slow start. Feeling each other out, the band jammed into the mostly instrumental opener, ”The Other Ones” that led into a quick version of “Alligator”. Highlights from the first set included a roaring version of “Tennessee Jed” which finally got the sea of people dancing in the aisles. A reggae beat showed up periodically during their cover of Bob Dylan’s “Stuck inside a Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again.” Bassist Phil Lesh, who will turn 70 in two weeks, performed bass duties like a performer with something to prove. The unexpected addition of “El Paso” gave a little Mexican flair to the set. Bob Weir’s voice sounded strong after a night off especially during the set closer, a cover of Harry Belafonte's “Man Smart (Women Smarter).”

After a 45 minute intermission, the second set started off strong with favorites “Bertha” and “Good Lovin” as fans scoped out their own piece of the arena to dance on. The band slowed things down with a heart-wrenching version of “He’s Gone” as the ghost of Jerry Garcia watched over his band mates. Much of the second set was overstuffed with music as the band wove in and out of the songs “King’s Solomon’s Marbles” and “Standing on the Moon.” The deadhead community would rise again for the set closer “Sugar Magnolia” which found Weir conducting the band through the jam.

Before the band returned for their encore, Phil Lesh grabbed the attention of the audience for a moment for a quick word on benefits of being an organ donor. The band closed the evening with an energetic version of “U.S. Blues”. As fans poured out the arena, one could see that the deadhead community was alive and well.

Set One: Jam > The Other One > Alligator > Tennessee Jed, Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again, Loser, Pride of Cucamonga, El Paso, Foolish Heart, Man Smart (Women Smarter)

Set Two: Bertha > Good Lovin' > He's Gone > Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo > King Solomon’s Marbles, Standing on the Moon > The Other One > The Eleven, Sugar Magnolia

Encore: U.S. Blues

CD Review: Wolves Release Their "Violence"

The new album by Canadian trio We Are Wolves entitled "Invisible Violence" was released earlier this month. Their mix of electro-funk rhythms and pulsating rock beats is what makes We Are Wolves standout among the artists of today.

Beginning with "Paloma" you get a taste of how keyboard friendly We Are Wolves can be. The sound is very experimental, like an overlooked riff from Jack White's songbook. "Holding Hands" drops the keyboards in favor of a great punk sound, but the keyboards return in the atmospheric "Walking Commotion". The band does hit a more mainstream vibe with the songs "Dreams" and "Blue". The combination of keyboards and their signature punk sound come together in the song "Me As Enemy". The song landscape of "Reaching For The Sky" run along the same musical vein as some of Peter Gabriel's experimental pieces.

Comparisons to the group TV on the Radio can be made, but We Are Wolves add elements of punk, pop, dance and funk to their resume. Known for their explosive live shows, We Are Wolves have won numerous Canadian awards including "Artist with the Greatest International Potential". The band will be performing in March at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas before heading over to Europe in May. Their new album is available on Dare To Care Records and is available online. Please visit wearewolves.net for more information.

England's Newest Indie Label Ready For Take-Off

Audio Antihero is one of the premier independent record labels of South East London. Formed in the winter of 2008, the company released its first record in 2009 and currently have only two main artists signed to the label. But, Audio Antihero are also rolling out two new releases.

The first release is the debut album from the duo of brothers from Croydon (the deep south of London) entitled Nosferatu D2. Their sound is a very simplistic punk style similar to the '80's Dead Milkmen and Violent Femmes. The band's unusual way with lyrics shine through on the songs "A Footnote" and "Springsteen."

The second release is an EP by Englishman Benjamin Shaw entitled "I Got The Pox, The Pox Is What I Got". Shaw adds sounds of creaking doors, kittens and clapping as well as keys and percussion to his acoustic songs to give more depth to his music. His talent for storytelling is revealed in the songs "Chocolate Girl" and "When I Fell Over In The City." Please visit Benjamin Shaw's website www.benjaminshaw.net for more songs and videos.

For more information on this new independent London label along with information on these two new releases, check out www.audioantihero.com.

Concert Review: John Mayer Comes Home To Mohegan Sun

Thirteen years ago, John Mayer left Connecticut to pursue a career in music. Friday night the Mohegan Sun audience saw a full display of the talents of this Fairfield native. With a new album to promote, Mayer returned to his home state after an 18 month hiatus.

The evening began with an hour long performance by Michael Franti & Spearhead immediately getting the audience on their feet and dancing right from the first notes of “A Little Bit A Riddim”. Franti was very interactive with the audience performing “Yell Fire” and “Hey, Hey Hey” from out in the seats. The arena was at full capacity for the band’s Top 20 hit “Say Hey (I Love You).” Franti invited the younger members of the audience onstage to dance along to the reggae pop hit.

The white nylon curtain displayed images of John Mayer to the delight of his female fans, but as the curtain opened to reveal the real thing, the screams reached an all-time high. He wasted no time diving into his new songs beginning with “Heartbreak Warfare” and a cover of Robert Johnson’s, “Crossroads.” Mayer was very talkative with his audience, especially shouting out names of Connecticut towns to receive a roar from the audience. Showing off his knowledge of music, Mayer would tease parts of classic songs into his own songs, performing a tease of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Homeward Bound” before “Bigger Than My Body” and adding lines of Fleetwood Mac’s ”Dreams” during “Half Of My Heart.”

Mayer’s solo performances of Jim Hendrix’s “Wait Til Tomorrow” and “Who Did You Think I Was” showcased his talents as Mayer took every opportunity to rip into an extended guitar solo. John Mayer Trio and current drummer Steve Jordan took the spotlight for a moment with a solo of his own with all eyes focused on him. Mayer would go on to say how great Connecticut was dedicating the song “Waiting On The World To Change” to his fans at home. “Say” began with the introduction of famed session guitarist Robbie McIntosh on the dobro as Mayer explains the song’s origin written for the movie “The Bucket List”. His set ended with the 2007 single “Gravity” which he dedicated to his Connecticut family as well as his touring band family.

With the curtain drawn, Mayer returned for the encore performing an acoustic performance of “Who Says” with the audience singing duet along with John Mayer. The curtain opened for an epic performance of Mayer’s “Friends, Lovers or Nothing” which sent the sell-out crowd home with a smile on their faces.

Michael Franti & Spearhead Set List
A Little Bit A Riddim
Nobody Right Nobody Wrong
Rude Boys Back In Town
Shake It
Sound Of Sunshine
Everybody Ona Move (Billie Jean tease)
Yell Fire
Hey, Hey, Hey
I’ll Be Waiting For You
I Got Love For Ya
Say Hey (I Love You)

John Mayer Set List
Heartbreak Warfare
Crossroads
Vultures
Bigger Than My Body (Homeward Bound tease)
Perfectly Lonely
Assassin (Message in a Bottle tease)
Wait Til Tomorrow
Who Did You Think I Was
Waiting on the World to Change
Half of My Heart (Dreams tease)
Why Georgia
Say
Gravity
Who Says
Friends, Lovers or Nothing

CD Review: Ryan States Invites Us To "Strange Town"

Although Ryan States just released his full-length debut album, I'm sure you've heard him perform before and just did not know it. Ryan States is a musician with the Ringling Brothers' Circus. He performs to over 100,000 circus fans a week, 48 weeks a year. His debut album entitled "Strange Town" was recorded almost entirely on the train at a train yard near you.

"Strange Town" begins with just Ryan and a piano before the ballad grows in music and meaning. "I Will Find My Way" is a blues sounding pop-ballad that finds oneself singing along to the chorus. The song structure of Ryan's songs start out simple with just himself and an instrument and by the end of the song, it sounds like an orchestra was invited to join in. Songs like "In The Game" and "Planet Earth" display Ryan's wonderful talent of song-writing. Others like "Under The River" and "Better (When You're Older)" has a very Beastlesque feel to the music and lyrics. The album closes with the inspirational "I Won't Walk Away".

While almost all of the instruments were performed by Ryan himself, he did receive help from nearly two dozen friends and strangers throughout the country. Ryan also hosts a podcast (www.ryanstatespodcast.com) of his musical adventures on the road. Check out Ryan's website (www.ryanstates.com) for information on obtaining a copy of his newly released album.