Mountain Jam Announces Initial Lineup

Warren Haynes' Mountain Jam will return once again to Hunter Mountain Ski Resort in Hunter, New York. This year's dates have been moved to June 4th-6th, so hopefully the weather will be a bit warmer. Gov't Mule will once again headline two nights and so far, it seems like the second headliner has not been announced (although I've heard rumors of Furthur, My Morning Jacket, or the Black Crowes). Some of the heavy hitters to join Mule this year include the Avett Brothers, Yonder Mountain String Band, Les Claypool, and the introduction of a new band featuring Derek Trucks and his wife Susan Tedeschi.
Having attended this fest, I will say that while it doesn't attract the names of Bonnaroo or Rothbury, it is diverse, well-scheduled, a modest size, and security is almost non-existent. Many more bands are to be announced, but if you live in the northeast, start making plans now, because it is a great start to the summer.

Mountain Jam 2010 Initial Lineup:
Gov't Mule
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band
Michael Franti & Spearhead
The Avett Brothers
Les Claypool
Toots & The Maytals
Yonder Mountain String Band
Matisyahu
Dark Star Orchestra
Dave Mason
Lettuce
ALO
Jonathan Taylor & The Northern Lights
Elmwood
The London Souls

mountainjam.com

Gregg Allman Winter Tour

The Allman Brothers 40th Anniversary Tour just ended last week to an overwhelmingly strong reception. The tour was one of the best of 2009, but now with time between summer tour and hopefully another Beacon run in the spring, Gregg Allman will be doing a number of dates with a solo band. I had the pleasure of seeing Gregg Allman and Friends (not sure if they will be touring under that name this time) a few years ago and it was both intimate and memorable. Allman chooses some great covers to play and really allows his terrific singing voice to lead the way rather than the dueling guitars of Haynes and Trucks. Allman is quoted as saying, "The Brothers had a great run this summer. I'm gonna stretch these solo shows out a bit, try some new material and just do what I do." It will be interesting to hear what these sets are like. In Gregg Allman's band is keyboardist Bruce Katz, bassist Jerry Jemmott, drummer Steve Pottz, guitarist Scott Sharrard, saxophonist Jay Collins, and percussionist Floyd Miles. I wouldn't be surprised to see a handful of special guests throughout this tour as well. If you have the chance, please go see this man. He's a legend and he always puts on a memorable performance.

Gregg Allman Winter Tour 2009:
11/11 Salamanca, NY Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel
11/12 Verona, NY Turning Stone Casino
11/14 Peekskill, NY Paramount Center for the Arts
11/19 Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts Center
11/21 New York, NY Michael J Fox Foundation Benefit
12/30 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak
12/31 Lincoln, RI Twin River Casino
1/2 Westhampton Beach, NY Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center
1/3 Albany, NY Empire State Plaza Performing Arts
Center
1/5 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre
1/6 Annapolis, MD Rams Head On Stage
1/8 Richmond, VA The National
1/9 Atlantic City, NJ Harrah’s Atlantic City
1/12 Fairfield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
1/13 Fairfield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse

www.greggallman.com

Tuesday Tribute: Chris Robinson

This week, we take a look at one of the best lead singers of the 1990's who is still going strong. Chris Robinson, along with his brother Rich, started Mr. Crowe's Garden back in the mid-1980's, which is a band we know today as the Black Crowes. One of the immediate draws about the Crowes and more specifically Chris' voice is its strong resemblance to a classic rock sound. Bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Faces, and Humble Pie clearly shine through in Robinson's soulful wail, which has gained the Crowes quite a diverse fan base. Few bands have been able to achieve such a vintage sound and still have so much success on American popular radio. Despite achieving early success with albums like Amorica and Shake Your Money Maker, however, the Crowes have never experienced the fame of other pop, rock, and alternative groups of the 90's and 00's. Many have written them off as just a "stoner band" because they happen to play guitar solos that exceed one minute long. While some can't quite comprehend the appeal of such a characteristic, others eat up the fact that not only Chris's brother Rich can tear through guitar solos, but also that Chris himself can have his presence felt on stage the whole time as well. Many also do not recognize Robinson's extraordinary songwriting talent, but his lyrics and progressions have gained him praise from the likes of Phil Lesh, Levon Helm, and the Dickinson brothers of North Mississippi Allstars, one of whom, Luther, now plays with the Crowes. This week, I've found some clips dedicated to Chris Robinson.

The first clip is of Chris doing his best Rod Stewart-circa-The Faces impression. "Jealous Again" was one of the Crowes' first hits of off Shake Your Money Maker. Here they are on Letterman making their network television debut.



Here's a clip of one of Robinson's solo groups, New Earth Mud, doing a cover of the tune "Boney Maroney." Sitting in for this take is one of the hardest working men in rock, axemaster Warren Haynes.



Some remember a few years ago when the legendary Jimmy Page decided to go on tour and chose the Black Crowes as his backing band. Here's Chris doing his best Robert Plant on "What Is and What Should Never Be."



Lastly, I bring you a beautiful cut of the Crowes performing an unplugged version of a later tune called "Soul Singing." This was filmed for part of a television special and features Luther Dickinson on slide and Rich Robinson on a 12-string guitar. Enjoy!