Gallery & Review: Lotus @ The Intersection
Words and Photos by Emily Stout (Grand Rapids, Michigan) On just the second night of their month-long winter tour, Lotus headed for the west side of the great Mitten state. They filled the modern warehouse-style venue, The Intersection, with hoards of fans eager to see what the group had in store for them this time. The evening opened with a showcase of Beard-o-Bees, Jesse Miller‘s solo electronica act. As one of the main songwriters for Lotus (with brother Luke Miller), it was nice to hear an even wider display of his many musical talents. The short break that followed was the only downtime of the entire evening – when the full band took the…
Gallery & Review: JJ Grey & Mofro
Images by Erin and Benjamin Slayter (Ferndale, Detroit, Michigan) JJ Grey and Mofro have been bringing their unique blend of backwater sound to concert stages for over ten years. We originally caught them at the Social in Orlando, Florida in November of 2002, playing to a crowd of about 50. Sunday night in Detroit was a different story: over 500 people paid the $20.00 ticket price resulting in a sold-out show. The biggest surprises of the night were the opening acts Daryl Hance and JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound. Â Daryl Hance (guitar) has been with JJ since the beginnings of Mofro and during this recent tour has been playing with Mofro’s Anthony Cole, drums…
Photo Blog: Toubab Krewe at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor
(Photos by Erin Slayter, Text by Benjamin Slayter) E and I caught up with Toubab Krewe on a cold, dark night in Ann Arbor where we arrived early enough to snag a stage-side seat in the classic Michigan bar venue. TK’s setup looked cramped on the small stage. If you’ve never been exposed to TK before, they are as diverse a group as you could imagine. Â Justin Perkins was about ten feet from me across a bar rail, his Kamelngoni (think african banjo – it’s thought to have been the ancestor of the american banjo) and Kora (think blues guitar made with a huge gourd cut in half, covered in cow skin) next to a…
A Night In Treme – and You’re Invited.
The University Musical Society (UMS) of the University of Michigan is hosting an event Friday 11.11.11 that makes regular chances to see these musical greats seem ordinary. Â In a pitch to bring the culture of New Orleans performances straight to Ann Arbor, they’ve assembled a krewe that won’t soon be forgotten. Â Once you see this music performed, you’ll have an entirely new appreciation for the jazz roots of modern jam bands, as well as some of the more exciting aspects of live performance. Clipping directly from the show’s program notes, we find the following lineup: Donald Harrison, Jr. Musical Director, Alto Saxophone, and Vocals Cyril Neville Vocals and Percussion Dr. Michael White Clarinet James Andrews…
24 Hours Until I Interview Keller Williams at the Blind Pig
There’s no one quite like Keller, with his bare feet, jumping around the stage playing one instrument and making it sound like a dozen. I’ll be sitting down to talk with Keller about his music, his upcoming “K-Dubalicious” album and what he’s been listening to on tour. As a service to BTJ fans, I’d love to know what burning questions you may have for Keller. Â Feel free to post responses here, on Facebook, or via twitter and I’ll get them into the interview. Â I last saw Keller at the 2011 Electric Forest Festival, where he played an amazing afternoon show. If you’re in Michigan, there’s still time to pick up tickets for his show at…
Toubab Krewe and Zongo Junction | NYC | 10.15.11
On a last minute photo call this Wednesday 10/5, I went down to (le) Poisson Rouge on Bleeker Street and here is a sample of what went down! There were more musicians, and even more instruments than i could keep track of, as you can see in the photos below. “Worldly” is certainly an understatement in my opinion, categorization cannot be applied. when both bands took stage together for nearly an hour, it was band meets orchestra, pedal to the metal.
A Thank You to the BTJ Fans & Contributors
Bands That Jam was recently acquired by a team of new media specialists, photographers and scene contributors that includes photographer and DocuFest co-founder Benjamin Slayter, his wife photographer Erin Slayter, Docufest Video Lead Dominic Cochran, Production Manager Bo Fallin, Webmaster Jay Miller, Marketing & Advertising Manager Rachel Wells, and photographer Emily Stout. I’ve taken this website as far as I can while balancing my busy personal life and it’s time for me to move on to other interest. I’d like to thank everyone who has helped make the website what is today. Specifically Tammy Wetzel, Benjamin Slayter, McClain Johnson, Adam Hudson, Ryan Maher, Johnny Goff & all the other writers and photographers who have contributed…
BandsThatJam.com Continues to Grow Under New Creative Direction
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 For Immediate Release Bands That Jam Official Press Release BandsThatJam.com Continues to Grow Under New Creative Direction Docufest: Music | Ambiance | Production to Partner with New Site BandsThatJam.com, an internet source for the growing Jam Band industry, was recently acquired by a group of investors dedicated to expanding the website in its ongoing coverage. This initiative will be led by Benjamin Slayter, a long-time contributor and founder of Slayter Creative, and his wife, Erin Slayter, who founded The Sweaty Mouse in 1999. While covering this international market with show and CD reviews and industry news BandsThatJam.com will assume a large role in the community with open discussions, podcasts, and interactive…
Super Ball IX Official FAQ Released
WATKINS GLEN, NY – The official FAQ for Superball IX has been published along with rules & guidelines. Notable topics include no fires, one case of beer per person, and many more camping details. Head over to the official Super Ball IX website for full details.
