Live Review: Royal Family Ball ft Soulive @ Terminal 5 - New York - Sat, Oct 2, 2010

Featuring Soulive, Lettuce and Nigel Hall along with a myriad of other guests, this night proved to be unbelievable. As I arrived a bit late, I only heard a bit of the last song by soul-revivalist Nigel Hall. While I was bummed I didn't get to see more of his solo set, I knew he'd be back for more in just a bit.

After a grabbing a beer i nestled into a cozy spot near the back of the floor and prepared my mind and feet for one of the world's best funk bands, Lettuce. The band didnt disappoint and got the crowd moving early with "Blast Off", the first cut off their most recent album "Rage!" They followed it up with a few more instrumental tracks before bringing up Talib Kweli. He performed two songs, including a great version of his hit "Get By" along with Nigel Hall. Soon after, out came guitar legend John Scofield. This is where the show really started to heat up. Scofield knocked it out of the park with some wild lines and effects during "The Flu" from Lettuce's 2002 album "Outta Here" (video below). Christian Scott, Big Sam, Maurice Brown, The Shady Horns, and Rashawn Ross all also shined heavy during the hour plus set each taking extended solos. As the set concluded, every one was freaking and I couldnt help but think "that was just the opener".


Lettuce w/ John Scofield

Soulive then played close to an hour and a half set featuring crowd favorites such as a horn charged version of "El Ron" and closer "Too Much". They opened the set however with a medley of Beatles songs found on their new record "Rubber Soulive". Sco came back out and was joined by all the horn players from before, and with the crowd's energy really brought it to the next level. As Big Sam was pumpin out a ferocious solo mid-set, you could see Christian Scott diggin just how amped the crowd was getting. Some were dancing, others nodding their heads and a few high-fiving after each song. Another special guest, guitarist Warren Haynes, came to the stage and killed the classic "Born Under A Bad Sign". Near the end of night Kraz and Sco squared off in the Scofield tune "Hottentot" and produced some of the nights most exciting solos. For an encore they played a James Brown song I believe, with Nigel Hall leading the band through a succession of horn hits and multiple bows, ending the night perfectly.

Really, this show was the most fun Ive had in recent memory. It was full of grooves no one could resist dancing to and incredible and sincere musicianship. A night thatll stay engraved in my mind for quite some time.

10/1/2010 Playlist

Maps & Atlases - Will (Perch Patchwork)
Maps & Atlases - The Charm (Perch Patchwork)
The Walkmen - Juveniles (Libson)

Wilco - Jesus Etc (Live At The Vic Theatre)

The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You (I and Love and You)
Cast Spells - Letters (Split w/ Good Old War)

John Scofield - A Go Go (A Go Go)
Lettuce - Express Yourself (Rage!)

The Black Keys - Tighten Up (Brothers)

Weezer - Tired of Sex (Pinkerton)
The Promise Ring - Is This Thing On (Nothing Feels Good)

Cap'n Jazz - Little League (Analphabetapolothology)

9/24/2010 Playlist

Good Old War - Good (Good Old War)
Good Old War - Here Are My Problems (Good Old War)
Maps & Atlases - Israeli Caves (Perch Patchwork)

The Young Veins - Change (Take A Vacation!)

Yes - Ive Seen All Good People (The Yes Album)

Diego Paulo - California (Cafe Con Leche)

Eli Reed - Found You Out (Come & Get It)
Eli Reed - Tell Me What I Wanna Hear (Come & Get It)
Parliament - Handcuffs (Mothership Connection)

The Books - Beautiful People (The Way Out)

Weezer - Susanne (Blue Album)
Pavement - Cut Your Hair (Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain)

Cast Spells - Potted Plant (Bright Works & Baton)
Sigur Ros - Gobbledigook (Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust)

9/17/2010 Playlist

Sly & The Family stone - Dance To The Music (Dance To The Music)
The Black Keys - Next Girl (Brothers

The Who - Heaven & Hell (Live at Leeds)

Funkadelic - Mommy Whats a Funkadelic (Funkadelic)

King Tubby - Base Dub (From The Palace of Dub)
Portugal. The Man - 1989 (Censored Colors)
Portugal. The Man - Our Way (Censored Colors)

Isley Brothers - Its Your Things
Lettuce - Express Yourself (Rage!)

Euphone - Whers The B (Hashin It Out)
Eli Reed - Young Girl (Come & Get It)
Eli Reed - Name Calling (Come & Get It)

Sly & The Family Stone - I Want To Take You Higher

9/10/2010 Playlist

Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves - Come & Get It (Come & Get It)
Westbound Train - Ain't Gonna Be Easy (Come & Get It)

Westbound Train - Come & Get It (Come & Get It)

Maroon 5 - Misery*
HelloGoodbye - Here In My Arms*

Passion Pit - Little Secrets (Manners)
Portugal. The Man - When The World Ends (American Ghetto)

Wavves - King of the Beach (King of the Beach)
Maps & Atlases - Banished Be Cavalier (Perch Patchwork)

Dirty Projectors + Bjork - Beautiful Mother (Mount Wittenberg Orca)
Dirty Projectors + Bjork - When The World Comes to An End (Mount Wittenberg Orca)

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Window Shopping (I Learned The Hard Way)

*=Requests

9/3/2010 Playlist

My first show of the year! Thanks for listening and the requests. Its gonna be a good year.

Fang Island - Daisy (Fang Island)
Sigur Ros - Inní mér syngur vitleysingur (Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust)

Maps & Atlases - Pigeon (Perch Patchwork)

Dirty Projectors + Bjork - Ocean (Mount Wittenberg Orca)
Dirty Projectors + Bjork - On And Ever Onward (Mount Witeenberg Orca)

Dr Dog -I Only Wear Blue (Shame, Shame)

The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots)
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt 2 (Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots)

The J.B.'s - Pass The Peas
The J.B.'s - Gimme Some More (live)

Good Old War - Thats Some Dream (Good Old War)
The Beatles - Blackbird (The White Album)

The Black Keys - Everlasting Light (Brothers)
The Clash - London Calling (London Calling)

Bright Eyes - At The Bottom of Everything (I'm Wide Awake, Its Morning)

Review: Dirty Projectors + Bjork - Mount Wittenberg Orca

Sometimes I loose my way, and I think we all do. We forget where we come from, we we're going and what things mean to us. I fell like I'm in a constant battle sometimes with remembering why I do the things I do. I listen to music so often and rely on it so heavily that I forget about the magic it can bring. But every once in a while, when I need it most, I hear something that makes me inspired to live. Many albums recently have made me feel this way, including the new Maps & Atlases album, and I hope many will continue to make me feel this way. Currently I just can't help but feel genuinely happy, when I hear the relentless harmonies and aahs radiating from the new Dirty Projectors & Bjork collaboration EP Mount Wittenberg Orca. It is a little weird, especially on first listen, but its the unique qualities that get stuck in my head and make me come back for more. "What was that?" followed by "I need to hear that again" has been my general response.

All this said, I think if you are just getting into the Projectors definitely start with Bitte Orca as its their most accessible. This along with Rise Above make for excellent second steps. All I can hope is that whether its from music, family, friends or another source, I can find the same type of joy and wonderment I get while listening to this EP.