Particle and Shwizz @ Mexicali Live – 9/22/2011

Mexicali Live – Teaneck NJ This past Thursday, Particle and Shwizz co-headlined Mexicali Live in a two team tutorial on everything jazz and funk. Shwizz is a young six piece featuring Gerson Rosen on trumpet, Brad Pfiefer on trombone and 2 percussionists- Andy Boxer and Paul Hollands,  along with Ryan Liatsis AKA Shwizz on guitar,and  lead bass. Their bass player, Frankie Coda, is one of the most dynamic players in the tri-state area,and primed to be the next Bootsy Collins. For their last tune at Mexicali, Shwizz was joined by Particle’s Steve Molitz for a heavy jazz rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar” (see video below). Shwizz has been quickly rising from side stage…

Picture Show: Umphrey’s McGee | Rochester | 9.13.11

ROCHESTER, NY – Last Tuesday Umphrey’s McGee celebrated the release day of their new album “Death By Stereo” with two performances in Rochester, NY. In the late afternoon they played an acoustic show at Record Archive and then a headlining show later that night at Water Street Music Hall. Umphrey’s McGee is currently on tour in support of their 6th studio album “Death By Stereo.” Visit the Umphrey’s McGee website for full list of tour dates. http://umphreys.com   SETLIST: Set One Domino Theory > “Jimmy Stewart” > Domino Theory, In the Kitchen > Mullet (Over), Hourglass, Steppin’ Razor > Go to Hell, Last Man Swerving > In the Kitchen Set Two Slacker, Mail Package*, Utopian…

Review: North Coast Music Festival 2011

Words by Erica Treais, Photos by Erica Treais, Eric Rademacher & Chris Monaghan In it’s second year as the end of summer Labor Day blow out, Chicago’s North Coast Music Festival played host to more than 60 acts over the three days, with Saturday and Sunday both selling out according to promoters. Located on the west side of Chicago at Union Square Park (also the home to Pitchfork), North Coast featured electronic headliners straddling sets between jam band faithful and everything in between with a hip-hop “it” boy and indie heartthrobs making appearances. The lineup again showcased up and coming Chicago artists like Van Ghost, Future Rock, Orchard Lounge, Midnight Conspiracy and Mario Florek alongside…

UM @ Brooklyn Bowl 09.08.11

Words by Nicole Perskie, Photos by Nick Irving If you thought Umphrey’s McGee would take it easy after a sit in from Bob Weir, then you would be sorely mistaken. They have made steady gains in the northeast in the past few years and have amassed a loyal and large following away from their home turf of the mid-west. Starting the third of four nights at Brooklyn Bowl right on schedule at about 8: 30 p.m, they made it easy for the local worker bees to come out and still make the morning shift.When the lights went down lighting director Jeff Waful lit up the stage for a kaleidoscope jam with punchy vocals set off…

Rubblebucket | Brooklyn Bowl | 8.19.11

Words by Frankie Coda NEW YORK, NY – With shows like the one they put on at The Brooklyn Bowl this last Friday, it’s no big surprise why Rubblebucket is on the rise, making a ruckus across the country. It’s like The Talking Heads and Fela Kuti had a love child. They just might be the most sonically captivating and uniquely entertaining groups touring right now. Rubblebucket kicked the show off with “Breatherz” and did not look back. Coming off their second studio release, Omega La La, the group had a fine mix of the older and new catalog. “Came Out of A Lady” had the venue erupt into harmonious chaos. From start to finish, …

Gallery: UV Hippo

Ultraviolet Hippopotamus is a five piece rock band from Grand Rapids, Michigan whose strength in original compositions and ability in effortlessly flowing from one genre to another has made them a captivating force in the midwest music scene.  The energy, crowd banter and light show make this band hard to ignore.  It started in the summer of ’04 when a few friends from Big Rapids, Michigan got together for a few low-key jam sessions.  Before they knew it, they had established a couple of sets of music containing fun covers and even some original musings.  As they tried to settle on a name for their new group, they stumbled across a story containing a fictional…

Gallery: Gathering of the Vibes

This past weekend nearly 25,000 eager festival goers descended on Seaside Park in Bridgeport CT for Gathering of the Vibes. Despite record heat in the 100′s for the first of the festival’s four days, it was a 1st class rage fest. The crowds were some of the more experienced i have seen, as the musical acts were as well. The Main stage hosted every living member of the Grateful Dead, The band who’s spirit is the essence of GOTV itself. Here are some photos in and around the festival grounds.

Gallery: Pimps of Joytime at Wicker Park Fest

Many thanks to Chicago-based Chris Monaghan for capturing the essence of the phenomenal conjurers of shivers as they played at Chicago’s Wicker Park Festival last weekend. Looks like a great time! Find & Follow the Pimps of Joytime on Twitter, Facebook, or on their web site.

Gallery & Review: Umphrey’s McGee @ Orbit Room | 2011

(Please allow us to introduce a new contributing member of the BTJ team, Victoria Zegler. Zegler is a student at CMU and recently worked with us documenting the Electric Forest Festival for Docufest: Music | Ambiance | Production.) I have a confession to make: This is my first time seeing Umphrey’s McGee live and I am now hooked. Once I was given the opportunity to capture the Chicago based jam band, I was interested to see what all the noise was about. Little did I know you don’t go to an Umphrey’s concert for the madness; you go to witness larger than life improvisation by an incredible group of musicians. When Umphrey’s played the Orbit…

Picture Show: Umphrey’s McGee @ Artpark 2011

June 29th 2011 :: Lewiston, NY :: Artpark Outdoor Stage Stream Wappy Sprayberry from this show: [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Set One The Crooked One > Passing, Mullet (Over) > Sweetness > Wife Soup, Rastaman Chant > Andy’s Last Beer, Go to Hell Set Two Nothing Too Fancy > Push the Pig, Forks, Wappy Sprayberry > Out of Order > Can’t Find My Way Home, Got Your Milk (Right Here) > Nothing Too Fancy Encore The Floor > Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’ To download the lossless files head over to The Archive. To purchase the soundboard recording of this show head over to UMLIVE.NET