Artscape Festival 7/17/10 Photos and Setlists: Chopteeth, Damn Right, Cold War Kids, Jackie Greene, Gov't Mule

The 29th annual Artscape Festival in Baltimore drew huge crowds that battled mid nineties humid dangerous heat. It was an awesome day of different musical acts of many genre, international food vendors, tropical drinks and a plethora of artist booths and exhibits. Billed as America's largest free arts festival with 350,000 in attendance over a three day period. Make sure to attend Artscape next year as they will celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Some of this years line up are as follows: Chopteeth a 14 piece Afrobeat/Funk band with an infectious horn section out of Baltimore, had the crowd dancing an hooping at the Wachovia stage. Check this band out if you're up for a night of grooving and dancing.

The crowds kept on packing in as the electro/funk band Damn Right out of Baltimore/Philly got set up to rock the stage. "Formed onstage in a Baltimore nightclub, Damn Right! has since cut it's teeth grinding up and down the east coast. Electronic breaks, vocal samples and pop synths define their sound and drives every show to be a dance party- from NYC warehouses to beaches in the Virgin Islands" Read  more bio @ Damn Right MySpace Bio. Damn Right will be holding down a residency at Baltimore's 8 X 10 Club every Thursday in August so head up there and check them out soon.


Jackie Greene and his band Rocked the Wachovia stage next. Jackie a solo recording artist out of Salinas CA. who has toured with the likes of  Phil Lesh and Friend's, Ratdog, Susan Tedeschi, Huey Lewis, Taj Mahal, and Buddy Guy. He puts on a serious show switching from guitar to different guitar, piano/keys, and harmonica. At one point asking the crowd if there are any Grateful Dead fans. After a huge roar of approval they rocked out "New Speedway Boogie". Get a free recording of the show Jackie Green thanks to taper Timothy Brown.

Cold War Kids an Indie rock band out of Long Beach CA totally ripped it to a very large crowd that was very anxious to see them, one man getting taken away by medics from I assume heat exhaustion. Lead singer Nathan Willett very concerned for the mans safety but also thankful that they didn't have their first death at one of their shows. When I asked the girl next to me about them, she said well that's who we're all here to see. I begged to differ with her, saying the crowd was there waiting for headliner Gov't Mule. I'm pretty sure I was wrong  after seeing them play and the way the crowd reacted to them. Cold War Kids had a serious energy about them that fed the crowd. Band members changing instruments, slamming maracas into cymbals and playing keyboards with the neck of the guitar. I'm definitely a new fan of Cold War Kids

The crowds were just as massive when Gov't Mule took the Wachovia stage. No more room for hooping as people filled just about every spot on the grass and pavement. Warren Haynes and the boys making the fifteen song short set count. Joined by very special guests DC's Ron Holloway on Saxophone and also Jackie Greene making and encore appearance for a sweet rendition of  The Grateful Dead's "Sugaree". Here is a free recording of the show thanks again to taper Timothy Brown. Gov't Mule and Jackie Greene will be playing the Loudon Summer Fest at Belmont Country Club in Ashburn VA on Sunday August 8th. I hope to see you out there.

  Jackie Greene Setlist:
  I'm So Gone
  Farewell, So Long, Goodbye
  New Speedway Boogie
  Medicine
  A Moment of Temporary Color
  Tell Me Mama, Tell Me Right
  Hollywood >Tomorrow Never Knows > Taxman
  Scarlet Begonias 

  Cold War Kids Setlist
  I've Seen Enough
  Mexican Dogs
  Audience
  Red Wine Success
  Tell Me In The Morning
  Coffee Spoon
  Dreams Old Men Dream
  Hang me Out To Dry
  Hospital Beds
  We Used to Vacation
   
  Gov't Mule Setlist
  Disc One
  Bad Little Doggie
  Steppin' Lightly *
  Broke Down On The Brazos
  Banks Of The Deep End
  Frozen Fear > D'yer Mak'er >Frozen Fear
  Thorazine Shuffle
  Railroad Boy>
  When Doves Cry>Beautifully Broken>Doves Cry>Beautifully Broken
  32/20 Blues ^
  Mule> Whole Lotta Love > Mule
  Soulshine ^
  E: Sugaree #

  Mule Notes:
  -- * Jorgen (bass) amp problems / PA static intermittent during show
  -- ^ with Ron Holloway, sax
  -- # with Ron Holloway, sax, and Jackie Greene, guitar and vocals
  -- Free festival

Big shout out to 89.7 WTMD the best radio station in Baltimore. Thanks for letting me put my flyers at your booth. See you at the next show.

Photos from all of the bands on the Wachovia stage on Saturday are linked below.

Artscape 2010 : Chopteeth

Artscape 2010 : Damn Right

Artscape 2010 : Cold War Kids

Artscape 2010 : Jackie Greene

Artscape 2010 : Gov't Mule (w/special guest Ron Holloway on saxophone)

Still All Good At All Good Festival 2010

The 14th annual, bigger and better All Good Music Festival took place last weekend 7/8 through 7/11. It all began with a huge line of traffic heading in. The party definitely starting for many right along side the road entering the festival. The usual fingers in the air hoping for that miracle ticket. It was a grueling 4 hour wait to get about 8 miles to the gate. We arrived at our campsite at 4pm. Just in enough time to set up, eat, drink and head down to the main Dragon Stage for the first night of music including Donna Jean Godchaux and Dark Star Orchestra.When we arrived at the main stage for the music, is when we realized there would be record crowds. After being there all weekend I'm pretty sure we were right. It's what happens when they stack the line up with the top bands on the scene.

The music, was amazing as always with eclectic acts from many different genre, including Furthur. Featuring Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead. They played two solid sets lasting almost  four hours (Bobby singing the five hour rain away with a killer "Looks like Rain". Also Widspread Panic, Yonder Mountain String Band, Umphrey's Mcgee, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Railroad Earth, Tea Leaf Green and many more. All good is, was and will always be an incredible time for the jam scene lover. Awesome music, loving friendly people, good causes, mountains and lots of partying. What more could you ask for in a festival?

Speaking of good causes. I would like to mention a great cause that I happened upon while seeing some music at the festival. Rock House Arts Foundation from Baltimore MD. A foundation which donates music instruments to schools and youth organizations. When I walked into the Rock House tent and met Dan Ostrowski, I saw his passion in the way he explained what he was doing with the foundation and it's proceeds. It just made me want to help. After I made a donation, he told me that it would help a little kid get an instrument. It couldn't have felt better. I'm a big believer in starting kids in music at a young age. A lot of schools don't have music programs like we did when we were kids, and a lot of parents don't have money to provide their kids with instruments or lessons. I am passing this along in hopes that you all will support Dan and his mission. He's a great guy. Go by and visit his site and make a donation. I'll keep you posted on any events or auctions that may happen in the future.

I won't be reviewing the festival's musical acts due to missing some of the main events on Saturday night and all of Sunday. Also not being able to get close enough to the stage for pictures after dark with the massive crowds on hand. I will say look out for Greensky Bluegrass and The Macpodz. Two completely different types of  music, both bands played exceptional sets. Please enjoy the moments I was able to capture by clicking the links below. You can follow me @cosmicvibesblog on twitter, I will be posting reviews from other outlets as they are posted. I'll also be posting audio links from the festival in the near future.


AllGood Around Town

Greensky Bluegrass

The Bridge

Tea Leaf Green

Railroad Earth

Dr Didg

The Macpodz

Everyone Orchestra Rex Jam

George Clinton and Parliament Funk Allstars

Baltimore Duo "The Water" on 89.7 WTMD and @ The Wind Up Space

Passed on Via>Mika Smith

Baltimore instrumental duo The Water to play at The Windup Space and for Baltimore Unsigned radio show 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baltimore, MD, 7/12/10--

On the eve of their appearance on 89.7 WTMD's Baltimore Unsigned radio show (7/20/10, 8pm), instrumental rock duo The Water will bring their lush and thunderous live set to The Windup Space on Monday 7/19/10. Joining them will be Night and the City (DC) and We Are Hex (Indianaopolis). The three bands will also play at The Velvet Lounge in DC (7/19/10). In August, The Water heads up to Philadelphia to play at the North Star Bar.
THE WATER
Creating swooping soundscapes from layered synth, guitar, and percussion, Baltimore-based instrumental rock duo The Water (Dan Cohan and James Klink) transport listeners to an otherworldly realm with “elegant simplicity....finding unique ways to transition from soft to loud and back each time” (Baltimore City Paper). Equal parts intensity and optimism, The Water's “immersive and dazzling live show....serves up a strong cut of straight-up post-rock. Technically tight, but not overly complicated, their music works in the realm of nuance with an ear for great arrangements” (Aural States blog). The Water's live set is complemented by a low-tech light show featuring a pulsating, multicolored obelisk.

In 2010, The Water released their second self-titled EP, produced and mastered at by Woody Ranere and Steve Wright at Wrightway Studios in Baltimore, Maryland. Their first self-titled EP (2009) was produced by Matthew Leffler-Schulman at Mobtown Studios, who described them as “quite possibly the loudest band I’ve ever worked with, and most definitely the most emotional. And not cry-baby emo. Emotional in all the best of ways."

The Water has played shows and/or toured with with Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, Max Tundra, Lake Trout, Big In Japan, and Screen Vinyl Image, and many others. In 2009, The Water played alongside The Dirty Projectors, A Place to Bury Strangers, Wye Oak, Chairlift, and Thrushes at Rufustival, a music festival in Baltimore.

NIGHT AND THE CITY (DC)
Night and the City is a band from Washington, D.C.  Night and the City is the sum of Christin Durham, Christopher Goett, S.L. Noon, and Greg Svitil. They have formerly played in The Antiques, Girl Loves Distortion, and Victor Victoria. They played their first show in the spring of 2010. The band is self-managed and operates under the umbrella of Etxe Records, an independent label founded by Christopher Goett and partner Jenn Thomas in 2007. The band maintains a preference to engage in activities that enhance community.
WE ARE HEX (Indianapolis)
This August 3rd, Roaring Colonel Records (MyOldKentuckyBlog.com) will release We Are Hex's sophomore LP, Hail The Goer. The music of We Are Hex recalls classic Joy Division, the Cure, Gang of Four, PJ Harvey and the Jesus and Mary Chain, but combines those sounds with the modern ferocity of Nashville Pussy or Ponytail, and yet accomplishes all of that without losing the pop sensibilities of the 50s and 60s, or the urgency of classic punk.

We Are Hex came together in 2008 and moved into a foul Indianapolis neighborhood where they locked themselves away in their studio space, dubbed the Hex Haus.  In the spring of 2009, the band released their self-recorded debut full-length, Gloom Bloom, to positive reviews.  After a summer of touring, they returned to the Hex Haus to create a new, very different record.

Stripped of the auxiliary instruments and melodies that crowded arrangements on previous releases, the eight tracks on Hail The Goer are provided room to breathe.  With delicate flute floating over powerful drums, or dry vocals thrown against a wall of noise, We Are Hex carefully select sonic elements that display their range, without sacrificing the dark, cohesiveness of the record.

We Are Hex will be touring in support of Hail The Goer throughout 2010 and regularly releasing experimental sessions, remixes, video, and new tracks at: hexhaus.blogspot.com and roaringcolonel.com.

THE WINDUP SPACE
The Windup Space (12 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210; 410-244-8855) is a performance space/art gallery/bar located in the Station North Arts District and in 2008 was named Baltimore City Paper's Best of Baltimore pick for Best New Bar.

SHOW INFO
Baltimore
Monday 7/19/10 at The Windup Space:
The Water
Night and the CityWe Are Hex
Doors 9pm, Show 9:30pm, $5, 21+

Washington, DC
Sunday 7/18/10 at The Velvet Lounge:
The Water
Night and the CityWe Are Hex
Doors 7:30pm, Show 9pm, $8, 21+
Philadelphia
Wednesday 8/4/10 at North Star Bar:
Cloudminder
Pilot Cloud
The Water
Controlled Storms
Doors 8pm, Show 9pm, $8, 21+

Please go out and support local Live Music 

Rocky Gorge Reservoir: Hide and Seek With Blue Heron

Rocky Gorge Reservoir at Scotts Cove is a great place to hike, kayak, canoe, fish and find lots of Great Blue Heron. The Scotts Cove boat ramp is on Harding rd. just off of route 29 and Old Columbia Rd, north of the Montgomery County line. Close enough for a short 20 minute drive from the Baltimore or DC beltways. Tucked away far enough to feel as if you've driven out to the countryside. In order to use the facilities at Scotts Cove you must first head over to WSSC and get a  $5 day permit or $60 for a year permit. The Brighton Dam Visitors Information Center where these passes can be purchased is located at GPS coordinates (N 39° 11.471' W 077° 0.424'). A map to this point can be found here. At the visitor center you can pick up a map of the reservoir. After you've picked up your passes,  head on over to the boat ramp and drop your boat in (no gas motors). We headed out to the right and followed it around to the route 29 over pass making it a 3 hour paddle round trip. Including a stop along the way for a little lunch on the banks with the mighty Blue Heron in our sights. Enjoy some photos of these beautiful birds we followed by clicking on the link below

Rocky gorge Blue Herron photo album.