One of the big stories of the year in the jamband world has been Connecticut’s Goose. Simply put, the band is on a tear and are drawing sold-out crowds across the country. Is the hype justified?
The party was on at Cervantes’ last Friday night as lovers and those looking for love packed the Ballroom for the second installment of J2G Live’s “Love Shack” event. To celebrate the holiday you love to hate, The Love Shack puts a cheerful spin on things regardless of your status. Whether you went with your significant other, a group of couples or friends, Friday night was a blast. It was a show for the ages, and we can only hope that J2G keeps putting together this high octane parties for years to come.
Last Tuesday saw a bill at The Pepsi Center that made Baby Boomers for miles around weak in the knees with excitement as legendary musicians Paul Simon and Sting joined forces for the first time in their illustrious careers. Grey haired couples who held hands and closed their eyes as they sang along with Simon’s early hits and groups of women in their mid-forties coo’d at Sting’s ripped physique and Reggae inflected melodies.
The sidewalks leading to The Ogden Theatre were packed this past weekend, not only because moe. was in town for a two-night run, but because a pair of Colorado’s favorite bands were opening the shows. The lines to get in the door started early and, on both nights, the theater was packed from the pit to the balcony for the duration. It’s not easy task to win over a room full of inpatient jamband fans, but both these bands did it by playing their hearts out and we are proud they call Denver home!
Umphrey’s McGee show at The Fillmore proved that these guys are without a doubt one of the tightest and most cohesive Jam bands playing today. They seem to think with one brain as they deftly transition from an intricate prog jam, to a deep funk pocket, and out into an intense metal climax. While that’s amazing on it’s own, Jeff Waful makes it a true thing of beauty as he uses the air around the stage as a canvas to create one of the most beautiful lighting displays around. Paired with Waful, Umphrey’s McGee really is the whole package
Last Thursday was Reggae night at The Ogden and it featured Cas Haley and Trevor Hall. These are guys putting their all into music and bringing Reggae to a crowd that wouldn’t typically listen to it. Trevor’s Reggae is radio friendly and strewn with pop; not really roots Reggae, but Reggae that appeals to kids who have no idea who Jimmy Cliff is. That said, the music was full of energy and they had the whole place jumping all night.
Jason Bonham has been a part of several notable bands over the course of his career, but some things loom larger than life and in his case, the specter of his father, the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, will always be following one step behind him. Over the past year, Bonham has decided to face this reality head-on and stage an ambitious project that aims to pay tribute to the man he called “Dad.”
