~ Celebrate New Orleans ~

:: Central Park SummerStage ::
:: Saturday, August 11, 2007 ::

Soul to Soul III
Galactic & special guests


Words by: Rich Lieberman
Photos by: Dino Perrucci

An incredible week of music at New York's Central Park SummerStage culminated with the 3rd annual celebration of the Big Easy. Soul to Soul III, a free show that brought together some good time NOLA sounds for a great party on a beautiful summer day. The lineup this year was solid behind headliners, Galactic and included the The Soul Rebels Brass Band who would take the stage first. Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & The Golden Eagle Mardi Gras Indians would captivate the crowd dressed in full Indian Regalia. There were great special guests as well Donald Harrison Jr, Will Bernard and Jon Cleary who was celebrating a birthday all jammed through out Galactics great set.
The crowd was filled with all ages of music fans. Families brought out their blankets and with plenty of room to enjoy this free afternoon event. Earlier in the week that same area rocked with sold out crowds of hot sweaty bodies for the Beastie Boys and the Black Crowes.
Galactic came out on fire with their trademark jazz-funk-rock-fusion concoction anchored by the seamless rhythm team of bassist Robert Mercurio and drummer Stanton Moore. They ripped through a great set at a fever pitch. As Rich Vogal attacked the Hammond B3, Ben Ellman laid down some tasty sax and Jeff Raines wielded the axe. But it got real interesting with all the guests sit-ins that would make this show special, NOLA style. Will Bernard and Jeff Raines would share some great back and forth on guitars, as did Donald Harrison Jr. and Ben Ellman on some incredible saxaphonics acrobatics.The encore was with out a doubt the fan favorite with all the special guests lead by The Big Chief for a rousing "Hey Pocky Way".











Galactic SetList:
Crazyhorse, Sunday Arag, Chris Cross, Black Talk, Bakers Dozen, Buckit Like A Horse, So Samn Good, When you get back, C'mon seocnd line, Let's Go Get Em, Cabbage Alley, Big Cheies
Encore: Hey Pocky Way

Galactic Confirms Fall Tour Behind From the Corner to the Block

Galactic will celebrate the release of its long awaited studio album, 'From the Corner to the Block, with an intimate gig at New Orleans’ Maple Leaf on August 21.

The Black Crowes ~ North Miss. Allstars

:: Central Park Summer Stage ::
:: New York City :: August 9th, 2007 ::

Words By: Rich Lieberman
Photos by: Dino Perrucci

Central Park was the place to be if you wanted some good old fashioned Rock. "The Most Rock 'n' Roll Rock 'n' Roll Band in the World" would take the stage and the weather couldn't have been better. Compared to last nights hot hot hot Beastie Boys show at this same venue, the cool breeze and deep bluesy guitar drivin rock & roll was a nice way to mix it up on a very busy weekend filled with many great choices to see some of the best bands touring this summer.

The North Mississippi Allstars kicked off the festivities smokin right from the start. The NMAS are Luther Dickinson (Guitars), Cody Dickinson (Drums) and Chris Chew on Bass. A nice treat to see the keyboards rolled out and Kurt Clayton added to the trio for this show. As they always do the NMAS tore it up early with their brand of Mississippi Boogie Blues. Luther was playing it pretty on the slide and the rolled through a nice 75 minute opening set.

North Mississippi AllStars Setlist:

Write Me A Few Little Lines > Drop Down Mama > Sugartown, The Meeting, Some Kind Of Wonderful. Mean Ol' Wind Died Down, Run On > Goin Down South, Georgia Women > Po Black Maddie > Skinny Woman > Po Black Maddie, Stay All Night > Lord Have Mercy > Stay All Night, Love And Happiness, Hear My Train A Comin, Ship

The Black Crowes took the stage with a reckless abandon. The first power chord coming from Rich Robinson's guitar signals the start of what is still one of the best live shows. Chris Robinson is the perfect front man when he's playing with the Crowes he is in his element. Look up Rock Star in the dictionary and you will find a picture of Chris Robinson along side the best. The original lead guitarist Marc Ford is missed from the mix, but we got a nice treat when Luther Dickinson came out and just tore it up on slide for " Downtown Money Waster" into a tight jam which segued into "Thorn In My Pride" where all three guitar slingers traded tasty licks to a crescendo complete with call and answer and Chris Robinson threaded perfect vocal leads through the swirling axe work.

Other major highlights included a very nicely played "Soul Singing" and one of my all time favorites "Wiser Time" and the set closer "Remedy."


The encore was "Oh Well" a cover of an old
Fleetwood Mac song
penned by Peter Green in 1969.

I can't help about the shape I'm in
I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin
But don't ask me what I think of you
I might not give the answer that you want me to

Oh well

Black Crowes Set List:

No Speak No Slave, Gone, Sting Me, My Morning Song > Good Morning Little School Girl > My Morning Song, Sister Luck, Jealous Again, Hotel Illness, Downtown Money Waster (w/Luther) > Jam (w/Luther) > Thorn In My Pride (w/Luther), Soul Singing, Sometimes Salvation, Wiser Time, Remedy, E: Oh Well

The Black Crowes are the latest group to confirm their Halloween plans. The band will appear at New York’s United Palace Theatre on October 30 and 31 at the tail end of a national tour scheduled to begin September 28 at Bend, OR’s Les Schwab Amphitheater. Traditionally, the Crowes have dressed up as artists ranging from Elvis Presley to AC/DC and opened for themselves on Halloween.

:: Central Park SummerStage::

Levon Helm Band Review ~ JamBase

Levon Helm Band | 06.28.07 | NYC
Central Park SummerStage :: New York, NY
Words By: Rich Lieberman ::


The forecast called for heavy thunderstorms, but that couldn't keep fans away from Central Park for legendary music icon and founding member of The Band, Levon Helm and his all-star band. On this special night, Helm's constant ear-to-ear smile was contagious as the rain fell. The wet, mainly older crowd sang along nostalgically with one of the most recognizable voices from the soundtrack of their youth. It was a great privilege to witness Helm playing his drums and mandolin again, singing the verses from such classics as "Rag Mama Rag," "Ophelia" and "The Weight."
click here to read entire article...

Images by: Allison Murphy

Mountain Jam Festival ~ Official Blog

The Official Mountain Jam Festival Blog
Real-time, on-site updates from The Third Annual Mountain Jam! This blog offered up real time updates leading up until and all during The Mountain Jam. Exclusive access from on-stage, backstage and all through the concert field and campgrounds. check out pictures, setlists and reviews from this epic weekend.
Check out how it all went down!

Words By: Rich Lieberman

Images by: Dino Perrucci & Allison Murphy

Rose Hill Drive Review ~ Jambase

ROSE HILL DRIVE | 04.28.07 | NYC
:: Mercury Lounge :: New York, NY

Words By: Rich Lieberman

It's Saturday night, downtown NYC, and Houston Street bustled with New Yorkers who knew where the party was happening. The buzz for this highly anticipated show was undeniable. I recognized Daniel Sproul, guitarist extraordinaire of Rose Hill Drive, out front having a smoke. RHD has taken a grassroots approach, gaining the respect of its fans through their live performances. Along the way, they've garnered considerable critical acclaim, which seems to grow all the time. Tonight, they returned to NYC and a sold out Mercury Lounge... Click here to read the entire article

Images © Candise Kola 2007

The Allman Brothers Band Review ~ JamBase

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND | 04.07 | NYC
:: Beacon Theatre :: New York, NY ::
Words by: Rich Lieberman

When the Fillmore East closed its doors in June 1971, the Allman Brothers Band was the last band to perform. The recording of these shows, At Fillmore East, is one of the greatest live albums to ever be released. For the past 13 years the Allman Brothers have returned to NYC for an annual residency at the Beacon Theatre, a fantastic, art-deco treasure on the upper West Side. Fans from around the world come each March to experience improvisational rock & roll like what the Brothers played in 1971. Step inside the three-tiered 2,300-capacity Beacon's huge bronze doors and you find incredible murals, 30-foot Greek statues, marble floors, and ornate moldings.

This was the 15th show of 16 sold out nights... Click here to read the entire article.

Images by: Robert Chapman

The Allman Brothers Band Review ~ MoBoogie.net

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND | 04.06 | NYC
:: Beacon Theatre :: New York, NY ::

Words By: Rich Lieberman
Images By: Dino Perrucci

This past Friday night’s show may have been one of the best of the run. April 6th also happens to be Warren Haynes’ birthday, so the night definitely felt like one great big party. The band was on fire from the first note on.

The 13th annual Allman Brothers Beacon Theatre run came to a close with its 16th show in New York City on Sunday, April 8th. The run included 15 shows at the Beacon Theatre and one very special Warren & Friends show at Irving Plaza. Call it March Madness, Peakin’ at the Beacon, or just “The Beacon Run”, the Allman’s annual residency at the Beacon Theatre has become a NYC institution. The yearly gathering is The Allman Brothers’ chance to reunite and share the stage after recording and touring with all of their other amazing bands and side projects.
This past Friday night’s show may have been one of the best of the run. April 6th also happens to be Warren Haynes’ birthday, so the night definitely felt like one great big party. The band was on fire from the first note on. ...Click here to read the entire article.


Peter Frampton / Derek Trucks - Photo ©Dino Perrucci