This tour included: Salt Lake City, Lawrence (KS), Madison, Minneapolis,
Chicago, Richmond (IN), Columbia, Nashville, Memphis, Dallas, Austin, Oxford
(OH), Knoxville, Birmingham, New Orleans, Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, Asheville,
Chapel Hill, Boone (NC), Hampden-Sydney (VA), Washington (DC),
Cincinnatti, State College (PA), Northampton, Portland, Burlington, Boston,
and New York City.
18 out of 21 shows were sold out.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Golly. The sold out shows in SLC were just what I expected...NUTS! Great shows as always." <Mark.Thomas.Wickham@m.cc.utah.edu> "BTW, I was in Salt Lake City last weekend for the LoS shows at the Zephyr. [flew out from California!] And the shows were, of course, out of this world...a treat to behold! The boys showed us a grand ol' time!" <jennifer@ripple.org> "I just got home from my excursion to Chi-town [flew out from DC] to party down with Da boyz and moe (and friends, etc). Yes, it's true folx. In the words of Bob (HI BOB and DENISE!!!): "Gone are the days of walking into a bar and catching a Salmon show." They're selling out BIG venues (the Vic was HUGE to me in comparison to where I have seen them), have a semi-scene (I saw ppl with fingers up in the air) and deserve it all! Don't be upset for not acting sooner - get tix early if you want to be inside." <taz@nowhere.Net> "Here's a band that trully picks up the torch were the Dead left off, someone that looks out for tapers in the same manner as the Dead or possibly better than the Dead, that is still yet to be seen. Anyway I think they are what we have all been looking for to Bridge the Bert of 'Jerry Garcia'" <Tripwize1@aol.com> "saw leftover salmon and moe [obviously for the first time!] at the vic in chicago last night... leftover salmon was simply outstanding. i didn't expect much - and thank gosh - because they knocked my socks off! they're like bela fleck on speed. the highlight (for me) was a killer bluegrass version of "paint it black." great show. plus they played until 1:30 or so in the morning! (long show)" <prbyers@flash.net> "In fact I just saw my first LOS show at the Vic in Chicago. moe. opened! The whole show was AMAZING!" <cshubs@newriders.mcp.com> "LOS came on not too long after moe. left, and they kicked into high gear immediately. Feet were moving, heads. were bobbing, and bodies were rubbing in the packed crowd of the Vic. LOS's sense of humor was not lost on me, and it moved them up a notch in my mind. In fact, they moved up mind notches all night long. After driving home to Indy after the show (bed time: 7 am!!), the show melded together in my mind, which is fine because there wasn't a single song or jam I didn't like. Not one! After the show, I had the same delicious feeling I get after only my favorite live acts: Dead, Phish, Allmans, Buddy Guy, Merle Saunders, Todd Snider, some Mr. Blotto, etc. I leave happy, sweaty, shocked, excited, tired, hungry, thirsty, weak-kneed, and alivealivealive." <cshubs@newriders.mcp.com> "Thanks to those who emailed me about how to get tix for this show. It was my first, but certainly won't be the last. Needless to say to those of you who have seen 'em, these guys are INCREDIBLE." <jsleeva@iquest.net> "Caught Leftover Salmon & moe. this past thursday at the Barrymore Theater in Madison, WI and again on saturday at the Vic in Chicago. Both shows were fine... Saturday marked Leftover Salmon's move from bars to theaters in Chicago. It was also the 1st time they sold out a Chicago show in advance... Judging by the gestures and eye-contact, they were well into improvisation mode and taking all their ques from Drew. They also nested a calypso song in Boo Boo, which was a real treat for me. This was also the 1st 2-set show they performed in Chicago since the epic Bub City show on 9/22/95, and it was welcomed with great enthusiasm. Judging by ticket sales and the reception they received, Salmon could easily sell-out 2 nights at the Vic." <deadshow@well.com> "I caught the LoS/moe. show in Minneapolis on Friday. moe. did an hour opener, which was fantastic, then LoS blew them off the stage for about 2-1/2 hours. It was my first time seeing either band, and I promise it won't be my last." <cct@dgii.com> "Last year at Pearl St.was my first time hearing them. Memories of Drew's slide Mandolin still sends shivers up my spine!" <monjef@mail1.nai.net> "Before I start my little review, let me tell you that it's 20 min to 4 am, I have an 8 am Psych class, I haven't had a thing to drink, and I'm full of that early morning giddiness. I decided I would write my friends on the BT list and my other friends all over the place about the 2nd greatest show I've ever been to. (10/30/95 BT is still the best) Leftover Salmon (LOS) came on around midnight, and didn't finish up until 3:15am. 2 sets and an encore. I could make analogies and comparisions all night long, but I think the band describes themselves pretty well when they talk about their music as "polyethnic cajun slam- grass." (no kidding). They opened up with "Iko Iko", and during the evening played double time versions of Shape I'm In (The Band) and Whipping Post (ABB), as well as a tribute/medley of Bob Marley tunes, this being his birthday, and of course, their own tunes, including a very appropriate song, "4:20 Polka." I don't really know any names of songs, but many were cajun/bluegrass romps, with everybody putting their feet up and down as quick as they could... A blast. Not one depressing or moody song the whole night. LOS had fun playing, and we all had fun dancing and laughing. It really was a great time. I think this is a band that appeals to music crazies and non-crazies alike. So take a friend who may not be into "jam" bands to this show. Chances are, he/she will have so much fun, they won't realize that the band kicked butt for 3 hours... DO NOT MISS Leftover Salmon!!!!!! With many bands, influences can be picked out easily. You can tell somebody "Well, they're kinda like so-and-so meets so-and-so." But not with LoS. I think polyethnic cajun slamgrass and "4:20 Polka" (I LOVED that one) explain it all." <BrianJ102@aol.com> "> 4) Do you guys think i should order tix in advance? YES! Better safe and inside dancin than sad and outside bummin...... Get them tix early, folx!" <taz@nowhere.Net> "The show last night in Memphis was a zany festival featuring the LEFTOVER MOE ORCHESTRA in celebration of Bob Marley's Birthday, the Mardi Gras season, and the incredible festival vibe in the packed club!! WOW!... Salmon blew the roof off the house with two great sets followed by a Wake and Bake with moe... The highlight of second set was a very eerie tribute to Bob Marley, in which they made a moving and grooving medly out of "Lively Up Yourself > One Love > Trenchtown Rock > Kinky Reggae > Stir It Up" and followed that mad jam with an intense "Ask The Fish." There were times where there were 9, 10, even 11 musicians on stage and once. And somehow, in spite of the ear-ringing excess of sound, there was a magical clarity to this concert. The blend of Salmon's polyethnic multi-instrumental eerie grooves plus moe.'s psychedelic funk guitar attack, made a smooth ride with the musical muse... That was really one of the greatest shows I have ever seen, and in a tight-packed small club/bar! The last time I was literally a mindblown dancing fool like this was when Salmon opened for Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit on Salmon's first tour of New England in 1994, and Salmon and ARU jammed together splendidly. This time it was with moe., and it was in Memphis, but it was equally spectacularly zany!" <Daniel_Gold@Brown.edu> "So i went and saw them this past fall, same place. I was boogieing my ass off! I was hooked from then on! Fortunately there's no turning back now!" <gfellman@du.edu> "I had a great time. I'm gonna go out this week and look for Ask the Fish. If I can't find it,(or if it's over $15) I'll just mail order it off the web page. That web page is really cool. One of the best 'official' band pages I've seen." <BrianJ102@aol.com> "Indoor fireworks smoke up (the) Vic Theatre Midway through the second set of last Saturdays show at the Vic Theater, Leftover Salmon's lead banterer and acoustic guitarist, Vince Herman, prefaced the song, Doin' My Time, by remarking, 'We're going to go for the longball here.' During the song, Drew Emmitt began yet another blazing mandolin solo, after already playing the hell out of his mandolins all night. But with this solo, he pulled back a little. His head was not bopping as wildly, nor was he quite as energetic with his legs. Only his hands were moving - but moving in an unintelligible blur. Leftover Salmon seems to have always been about the longball, that English defensive technique in soccer which, while inelegant, often proves to be effective. For years, this quintet from Colorado would pack up into their school bus, Bridgette, and tool around the country, playing their Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass anywhere that would have them. When they would pull into Chicago, they would play bars like the Cubby Bear. But this time around, in their new slick maroon tour bus-liner, they parked on Sheffield, right in front of the Vic and the sign that read Leftover Salmon has sold out. But the band reached maximum capacity crowds in theaters by staying true to their musical roots: bluegrass/newgrass, cajun, and anything that can be fun or silly. Major labels noticed; Leftover Salmon recently signed a standard deal with Disney's Hollywood Records, which is releasing their major-label debut, Euphoria, on March 18. The show opened with an eclectic mix standing outside. There were kids trading their pot for tickets, and there were 40-year old married couples calmly waiting for the doors to open while telling friends about the show two nights before in Madison... As a result, Salmon's ascendance to the stage was much anticipated by their fans, who call themselves LoSers as a pun on LoS. The hour-long first set was rather calm, but with a band that thrives on pyrotechnics, calm is relative. The musicianship was amazingly mature throughout the night, which was an amazingly refreshing contrast to the high school band quality of moe.'s improvisation. Vann and Emmitt would typically trade off solos, while Herman would jump up and down on stage in time. Bassist Tye North, in the meantime, would keep a fundamental bassline in the background unassuming yet crucial while creeping up on Herman from behind and mimicking his movement. Immediately it became clear that Leftover Salmon plays music that cannot be taken very seriously. Clearly out there to have fun and to enjoy themselves, the band dances across the stage, taunting one another and trying to break the concentration during a solo. No instrument overwhelms, no musician is too flashy. As the show progressed, though, the band seemed to relax even more, to the point of creating almost a humorous schtick... ...this was an evening filled with excitement and canny musicianship. It should dictate a two- night stand the next time around, and encourage young bands playing infectious music to go for the longball and keep having fun; that last part above all." <mpdesape@midway.uchicago.edu> [Comments accompanying a Leftover Salmon tape-tree announcement, the first EVER on rec.music.gdead, rec.music.phish, AND alt.music.blues- traveler!] "If you haven't heard Leftover Salmon, they're pretty cool. They call their music "Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass" which means a whole lotta bluegrass with calypso, zydeco, spacy explorations, Hendrix & Zeppelin covers done Bill Monroe style, and improvised lyrics about their favorite herbs and fungi mixed in for fun. They've appeared on the H.O.R.D.E. tour, opened up for Widespread Panic, they have a record coming out March 18th, and got named one of the top "rebel Country" acts in USA Today a couple weeks back. There wasn't a soundboard patch this particular night [10/26/96 at the Bayou in DC] (usually there is), but this show was hot enough to demand treeage." <Kingfish@voicenet.com> "Hope they come back soon and often. Austin likes em!... Wish they could have played more Texas shows this tour. I'd sure as hell drive a few hundred miles to catch em again. I thanked Mark after the show here Sat. PM and told him I was alertin' my friends across the country to bring some friends and check em out! I hope August can get to see them again soon when they come to Seattle. They seem to be getting better all the time. Looking forward to the new album soon. Whew boy, Howdy! & Hot Diggety Dang Dog." <barryw@io.com> "He's right on w/ this one kids! I was there and can assure you this is one *fun* show! Hot is an understatement! You won't be disappointed. I can't remember when I've had so much fun @ a show." <rshall@richmond.infi.net> "Ditto for the Austin show! Some great NEW tunes too! YOOOUUUU- FOOOOOOOORRRRRR-IIIIAAAAAAAAAA! I really liked their cover of the Gram Parson's song, "Cash on the Barrelhead" and how about that "Brady Bunch" theme in the middle of "Hot Corn, Cold Corn" Wheee dog, Howdy! Is this thing on?" <barryw@austin.ibm.com> "I want to tell you that Leftover Salmon is a group worthy of seeing over and over, for the joy one gets seeing a band do their thing so well... Word is getting around, so the lines will be long. Get your tic's now. You'll see a mix of people in line at the gig; from middle aged businesspeople, to dreads, to students, phishfriends, bluegrass fans, me and bobby magee, anna, and kids who are trying unsuccessfully to enter the club with no ID's; all with one thing on their minds: grooving to some 100% polyethniccajunslamgrass. This high energy band is guaranteed to leave you smiling. Playing their own mix of zydeco, bluegrass, and rock, these five guys play it a little less than straight when the washboard is strummin' and everyone is dancin. We all would like to make a living doing what we love best, and I doubt that these guys would rather be doing anything else. And it shows. They have many original songs written primarily by the mandolin/guitar/fiddle player, (I think *he* wrote 'em ) who is a ferocious player on all his axes. The banjo (yeah, banjo ) player is another major talent who continues to suprise me everytime I see him play, building his own thing on those five strings like no one else I know. Keeping your feeling focused for this three ring circus is another guitar player who reminds me of big kid who can't believe that he's having such a good time. I've seen this band play on a flatbed truck in a small VA town in the summer, at a bar in the city, and at 0 degrees on the streets of Breckenridge CO, and one thing is clear to me. I've never seen a band have as much fun playing as these cats. I guess they've been kicking around the country for more than a few years now, and as such fantastic players they are due the success that they are beginning to experience. You can expect to dance, you can expect to be amazed, you can expect to meet kind folk all around, you can expect to feel like you're living in Green Acres, and you can expect to walk out of the theatre/club thinking, I've got to catch them when they come to town next. For the chance to spread a little good word about the Salmon, I am grateful." <espall@netrix.com> "The boys are growing in leaps and bounds, I hope and am sure that in the not to near future, we will be seeing them in stadium shows and things like that. I can't wait. I have long since missed the Dead for that type of show and have never felt like dancing more not even a Dead show as I have with Salmon, what a great bunch of musicians." <Tripwize1@aol.com> "I trade tapes. About a year ago I received a Phish tape from a friend. He added 4 Leftover Salmon tunes as filler on the tape. "Flying Cloud Cotillion", "Carnival Time", "Reuben's Train", and "Madame Rosin" got me hooked. I caught the 4/19/96 Lake Boone Country Club show and was blown away. I heard about the show late (the morning of the show). There was a long line to get into the venue (which is unusual) and I didn't have a ticket. Luckily it wasn't sold out yet so I did get in. I couldn't say enough good things about the boys or the show after that night. Incredible was an understatement! I danced across the bridge that night!! I'm really looking forward to the 2/18 show in Carrboro, N.C... I've been spreading the word around and adding filler to tapes (I've got about 25 LoS tapes now and am always looking for more). I've got several friends who will be seeing the boys for the first time on 2/18. I can't wait!!" <smang@concentric.net> "I'm planning on buying tickets to all of the NW Leftover shows starting here in my lovely hometown of Bozeman (Montana)!!" <PKJF01B@prodigy.com> "Salmon came on about 12 and played until 3:20 (shoulda gone another hour, but we might of collapsed from exhaustion). This is the most fun I have had a Salmon show, we danced our butts off, especially during the second set. There was this really short black guy dancing near us and he was getting DOWN! He eventually busted out with some classic break- dancing moves and we all got in a circle around him and watched him go. He got up and gave high-fives all around and I would say he definitely bridged the Bert!" <DRITCHE1@UA1VM.UA.EDU> "Just got back to Chapel Hill from Hotlanta where the temp last night in the Variety Playhouse was quite high due to excessive dancing!:) Am bummed I couldn't hang out there another night, but I'll just have to wait 'til Tuesday. Quickly about 2/15... GREAT SHOW! ...Funky Mtn. was HOT! Mark was soooo good." <pagey@email.unc.edu> "I enjoy the atmosphere (figurative & literal!) at LoS shows more than just about anywhere else I'd be." <smb@email.unc.edu> "I met a girl who is a junior in high school through another friend of mine. They came over because I said I would spin some blanks for them and the junior (Jill is her name) said she would bring over the eight tapes that she had, just in case she had some I didn't. She looked at my collection, gasped (newbies!), and handed me her blanks. Then she took out the tapes that she did have. There were 2 Phish sets, 1 Dead set, and 5 LoS sets! I couldn't believe it! So there are suburban Ohio high school kids that know words to their songs! Now that is Bridging the Bert!" <eric@multiverse.com> "I have two friends who have done Phish tour (both did Summer '96, US Tour), both say they will never do it again, too many bad vibes. Now, think about what it's going to be like when Salmon get's its own tour rats (it's already starting to happen ;). I tell you, life will be good and I'll be taking a month off of work every summer for a little tour ;) Hmm, a month of Salmon shows... I'm going to sit here with this perma- grin for awhile, bye bye ;)" <barett@erols.com> "one of the highlights of '96 for me was watching Drew get to jam with both Sam Bush AND Dave Grisman, while right next to the three of them Mark was jamming with Bela and Tony Furtado on stage in Telluride. my six favortie musicians all on stage together...." <jeff.stampes@Xilinx.COM> "The band must be proud to have such a loyal, knowledgeable, and appreciative core of fans (growing exponentially)." <oakley@fls.infi.net> ">I am hoping to go, since Cincy's only 2 hours or so from Indy.< I'll be there! I'm force-feeding the Salmon to at least 5 others ;) I know they'll love it!" <rmcarb0@pop.uky.edu> "It was good to see another packed house [in Atlanta]. I had after show pass, but it was hard to talk to the guys b/c so many fans would not leave. How can I be upset about that?! It's better than nobody wanting to talk to them. I listened to Tye give a young (maybe 16 yrs old), aspiring bass player some tips that, by the look on his face & the signed Relix in his hands, he will not soon forget. I think that's pretty much what it's all about. The music touching people in different ways. Some people danced til they couldn't leave,and others were first time LoSers that couldn't be torn away from this new experience. We all know that first time perma grin. You gotta tell everyone you know about this thing, this music, this scene, this band. I still try to turn on as many people as I can to Salmon. I love to see people after they listen to a tape or see a show for the first time. Sorry this is long, but I had a jalmon weekend & had some things on my mind." <JWeldon@harbinger.com> "leftover salmon was nothing short of incredible at the variety playhouse this last weekend! it was my first time to see the band up close for two shows (heard them from way back in the crowd at music midtown last year). i was so impressed with the talent and energy of everyone in the band. they just kept on jamming! drew is an amazing guitarist! mark picked a banjo like i had never heard before. i also thought the rubboard? that vince played at times was very cool. i enjoyed every minute they played... LoS, i thank you for the excellent music!!" <kenmoe@cyberatl.net> "[re Atlanta] ...I finally got my wish to see Tye step up into the light and have some fun. Last time they were here he held back, but he even had a (albeit too small) solo spot or two. What a treat! And Drew.. Drew just rocks my world." <gt5685d@prism.gatech.edu> "[re Asheville] The place was so packed that you couldn't find a place to stand without people bumping into you. I overheard some people talking saying that at 5 pm they had sold all but 50 tickets, The place officially holds 555 people but they think that there was more like 600- 650 there last night." <Disco26356@aol.com> "I know I am probably the 10,000th person to say this but I must say that you LoSers are the nicest fans on the Web. You have nurtured me from an occasional listener to a semi-hardcore fan. I am only 16, and have only been a fan for about 6 months but you guys treated me like a freakin' fan from the beginning." <braggin@ix.netcom.com> "[re Atlanta] Sittin' on top of the World, Drew's jam, rocked! His hands were the usual blur, and the rest of the band stopped what they were doing and just watched, like the rest of us, in awe. Green Thing followed by Tore Up Over You really got me moving. Outta This City always hits home for me. Big Chief & Big Mamou both also hit above their marks. Great, great times!!! Thank you Leftover Salmon for a great weekend. Post-salmon depression now setting in..." <JWeldon@harbinger.com> "Just thought that you might like to know that we've made 6 new converts over the weekend. Over the 3 shows I went to (2/12 -Birmingham, AL ; 2/14 - Tuscaloosa, AL ; & 2/15 - Atlanta, GA). I took 6 people who had never seen LoS before (4 of them had never even hear a single note of their music before.) I begged and pleaded with them to go, and they all agreed on the condition that if they didn't have fun, that I'd pay all of them back for the tickets. Well, let's just say I still have money in my pocket. LoS has created 6 monsters from Birmingham, AL that can't get enough. Of those that saw the first show, 3 went on to some of the others I went to (and the others wanted to, but had prior commitements.) So thanks to LoS, and thanks to all of you Salmonheads & LoSers out there that made their first shows enjoyable (they said half the fun was all the wonderful people they met!) These boys are doing amazing things!! I've never seen people getting down like that in my life. Tuscaloosa was fully Salmonized. I've never seen such energy deliverd out of the boys. Maybe it was just because I was having so much fun.......but then again.....eveyone else was jamming/salmonizing too!!" <ZU03570@UABDPO.DPO.UAB.EDU> "I converted 4 more at the Knoxville show, and they just keep going and going and going... I think they're all energizer batteries!" <Tripwize1@aol.com> "Well, my dad and I have been listening to bluegrass for a long time, so when fellow tapers started talking about this Leftover Salmon band describing them as "Cajun Bluegrass on acid!" We were intrigued. Then a short while later (Winter 95-96), I was goin through cd's at the local Used CD shop when I stumbled across Ask the Fish and bought it. I liked it alot, but I wasn't really blown away. So about a month later, I heard that Salmon would be playin at Bogart's in Cincinnati, a place that my band has played and I was very familiar with. So we decided since tickets were cheap, that we'd go. Let me tell you, when they opened with "The Shape I'm In" and Vince sang "Goin down to Bogarts, buds in your pocket, try to get through the front door, you know you've got to watch it!!!!!!" I just rolled!!!! I never danced like that in my life!!!! Well, from that point on (4-6-96) I was HOOKED!!!!! I have also "Hooked" about 12 of my friends on LoS too!!!!" <Ke8ug@aol.com> "[re Earlam College in Richmond, IN] I went up with 7 friends, 3 were already LoSt, but now the epedimic has hit the other 4 people!!!!! They are now considered Salmonytes......they danced in circles, HUGE grins, and spontaneous YEEEHHHAAWWWW's were hollered! This Saturday in Cincinnati, there is a very good chance that there will be up to 10 more Salmonytes!!!!! I'm bringing 7-10 more newbies along with the 7 who went to Earlam!!!!" <Ke8ug@aol.com> "[re Cat's Cradle] i agree with steve...it was a very tasty gig....enjoyed by all -- even the los virgin i sponsored totally loved it." <ajsedel@gamewood.net> "I think word of mouth has alot to do with the rise in LoS' popularity. Let me offer my first Salmon experience for example. I think it was around Fall 94. I was at school in Athens, GA & my brother was in school in Charleston, SC. I was going to see ARU on Friday night. My brother calls me Friday morning and says that he saw Col. Bruce the night before & had a great time. But, he said the real reason he was calling was tell me, no he ordered me, to make sure I got there to the opening band. "I've never seen anything like them before. I can't describe it. All I can say is they have a banjo, a mandolin, & a washboard and they sing Fire on the Mountain, but it's about pasta. You MUST see them." He guaranteed me a great time. I must say he was right on!! A friend & I got there early and were 2 of about 15 people that got to see THE opening band. Then members of Aquarium Rescue Unit came out with them. Then during ARU's set Drew & Mark came out & got everyone, even the Colonel , playing behind their head. It was definitely a sight. Since then, I have made that same promise my brother made to me to many, many people. I guarantee a great time or your money back out of my pocket. I have never once had to pay up. Usually, people are willing to pay me for introducing them to this festival. I thinks tapes also get the music in people's hands. But, such solid conviction and a guarantee get people really interested. 'Its gotta be good if he feels so strongly about it.' Try it, it works" <JWeldon@harbinger.com> "Well, they played the Fillmore out here in San Fran in March of 1995. I had to go, I said. So I went. I went to Friday's show (they were playing both Friday and Saturday, the 15th and 16th). I was only planning to go to Friday's show, being a poor law student, but it was SO INCREDIBLE that I had to go to Saturday's show. Good thing I did. Not only was Saturday's show EVEN MORE amazing, but DAVID GRISMAN showed up and JAMMED WITH THEM for several songs to close out the FIRST set!!!!! It honestly is up there with many of my favorite musical experiences. I was basically front row in front of Drew (he was stage right next to Pete Sears on keyboards for this gig), and of course Grisman came out and jammed next to Drew. You should have seen the look on Grisman's face. You could tell he was sincerely and genuinely and unbelievably impressed. Drew honestly was COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY UP TO SPEED jamming with Grisman, and was clearly having one of The Times of His Life." <dirkch00@dons.ac.usfca.edu> "We are some of those older bridgers. Our 3 kids, ages 20, 23, and 24 were raised on New Grass Revival (we saw them at a bluegrass festival, in Stafford Va. in 1976---and were blown away in a Salmonlike manner!) Grateful Dead, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Incredible String Band, various Celtic and Van Morrison, and folk and Blues...and the Beatles, of course. We used to have spontaneous "dances" around the house. The kids' tastes have branched off in different directions, but LOS does give us a common thread. Anyway the first time I head LOS was on an NPR station, WFDD in Winston Salem, NC. One of their deejays just played a whole live tape of a recent show. This was probably right after the Merlefest in 1995. It was unbelievable. Folky, bluegrassy, acoustic music but with an edge and sense of humor. We immediately bought CD's, and started hearing of others who had caught them at Merlefest and other NC sites. Went to ROAM with one of our kids, and also saw them at Ziggy's last fall, with a friend. Usually avoid crowds and haven't boogied to a band before that in ages. Shows that there's a thread in good music over time, but also there's something so "kind" about the whole thing---no meaness of being "cooler than thou"." <Paula.Gardner@mail.rowan.k12.nc.us> "I can't help to think that this to will grow into something as large as the Grateful Dead... I think Red Rocks would be fitting for the Boys!" <Tripwize1@aol.com> "I think that tour is all about traveling, having a good time, and seeing great music. If I could get enough money to do it with LoS in the future, I would. It would be my vacation -- I can't think of anything better :) I have met some of the greatest people at LoS shows, and I would personally love to see them every day. With my perma-grin from last night [at the Bayou], Jenny" <evansrl@mnsinc.com> "In a Salmon community where the crowd-dynamics are based on gleeful dancing, sharing, bewilderment, laughter, meeting strangers, and smiling -- the fact that liquor laws determine who is in that community seems so strange. Like, what does that have to do with it?? I have seen many amazing shows in bars, but it was always becuase of the band, not the beer. In contrast, venues such as Red Rocks and the High Sierra site seem to add to the incredible vibe. I hope Salmon puts on their outdoor Salmonchanted Evenings all over the country this summer, so we can let in the whole big extended family and be a happy one at that!" <Daniel_Gold@Brown.edu> "The Bayou show was the Bert! I danced my ass off... It's been so long since I saw a good show at a bar. Probably not since I saw Bela Fleck & the Flecktones here in Norfolk at the Bait Shack." <lgtsotr@earthlink.net> "WHAT A SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SMOKED FROM START TO FINISH!!!!!!!! Sycamore Gardens is a VERY nice place, I love seeing shows there. The Gardens was PACKED last night.....we're talkin 1200+ people!!!!!!!!! Its a pretty big club, and I couldn't move in there! .......just think, if it were an all ages show, there may have been 1500 people crammed in there like Salmon!!!!!!!!!! GREAT SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! My legs are VERY sore from dancin'. Well, I'm gonna go to sleep now, will have pleasant dreams of Pasta, Berts, Mama Boulet's, and Mayor McCheeses!!!!" <Ke8ug@aol.com> "After the show [at the Bayou] though, I think we got a chance to see what the future brings. The crowd had spilled out of the club and into the street. They actually blocked about half the road, but this is kinda usual for packed Bayou shows. The diffrence was the kids with the stickers and the guy with the suitcase of glass and the guy selling the shirts. You had the whole atmosphere of something like a Dead show or something, but then you looked closer and you saw the bluegrass fans and other people who most likely weren't heads, and weren't into the groove scene at all, instead they came to hear a great band rip through some great songs. This is the magic of Salmon. Their ability to bridge gaps no one else can bridge. I don't even think the Dead were pulling in this many different kinds of people. There is a unity at shows that is completly beyond words. For those three hours we are all friends and family to the nth degree. I have no doubt that if T needed assistance in someway at a Salmon show that I would get it immediately. And the care would be given to me in the same manner as if the person was caring for someone they had a blood relation to. I'm not to sure of what i'm trying to say here, but take what you will and enjoy." <barett@erols.com> "The place [the Bayou] was oversold (imagine that) and there were HUNDREDS of people outside without tickets. The last time I saw that many people ticketless at the Bayou was in '91 for a little band out of Burlington called Phish (trust me...they don't hold a candle to OUR fishhhh). It was a very cool scene...hope they come back soon...perhaps to the 9:30 Club or the newly renovated Bohager's in Baltimore." <smogol@intr.net> "This show was incredible -- although i must add that it was my first full plate of Salmon -- my first taste of Salmon was as appeteaser before Widespread last Fall. ...highlights of the night were the AMAZING "Whispering Waters" when Drew just WENT OFF on the mandolin, "Better" was so much fun with all the boys bouncin' round the stage, and the encore "Zombie Jamboree" and "Wake n Bake". I took four Salmonytes for their first experience and they were all blown away. Three were musicians themselves and couldn't believe Drew's playing -- sounding like steel drums at times and playing slide on the mando that had them all looking for an electric guitar. A note of caution on taking people to their first LoS show: don't take more Salmonytes than the number of bootlegs you have -- they will come for them!! ;)" <rmcarb0@pop.uky.edu> "I had so much fun - my first two shows, and they came back to back on Thursday and Friday. I'm totally hooked - you can count on seeing me shake my booty at many more Salmon shows in the future." <rcb4d@faraday.clas.virginia.edu> "They all are very skilled individuals, yet they play very well together. Not that this is unusual, but sometimes one or two members have a tendency to dominate the band. This isn't the case with LoS, though. You might think it is Vince's band because he is the main "jokester", but then you see and hear Drew and his contributions, and then Mark and his amazing banjo work. To a degree, LoS in an ensemble in that same style. They enjoy what they are doing and they convey that to their audience. As in The Band, arrangments are off the wall. Where else could you hear a double time Whipping Post. (that still blows my mind)" <BrianJ102@aol.com> "Just saw Leftover Salmon at Penn State last night, and they completely blew me away. What a great show. If anyone is getting a copy of this show, please let me know and I'll send you my list to set up a trade. If any of you haven't seen this band, go and check them out. You definitely won't be disappointed." <TML110@psuvm.psu.edu> "Just saw Leftover Salmon at Penn State last night, and they completely blew me away. What a great show. If any of you haven't seen this band, go and check them out. You definitely won't be disappointed." <TML110@psuvm.psu.edu> "I would love to see Leftover at Chastain Park in Atlanta. I think that they've outgrown the Variety. The last few times through, its been standing room only at the Variety Playhouse. I think the next logical step is to Spring/Summer shows at Chastain." <JWeldon@harbinger.com> "Well, as one who is finally recuperated enough to finally comment on the show [at the Bayou], let me say that it was: great as usual and more crowded than the bathroom at a frat party. It was great... to dance my fool head off... LoS makes a great hangover cure. I went to that show hurting so bad I could hardly see straight, and within half a set I had sweated out the entire hangover. Crowded! Waaaay too crowded. I was talking to Drew about it and he mentioned the show in Chicago, I believe, where fans were actually banging on the side of the bus, begging for tickets. They were blown away by the whole thing." <hlcoburn@mindspring.com> "First of all, I wasn't planning on going [to the Crowbar] until about 1 pm that day (It's a six hour drive from me... Needless to say, by the time we got up there, I was tired already)... Anyway, the show was wonderful...Luke and I drove all night to get home (Luke had a test at 9:30 the next morning), and we finally got home at 7 am. It was rather crazy, but well worth it. Sorry it took so long for the post, but I've been recuperating.... :)" <evansrl@mnsinc.com> "Skip here (Sean's dad)... [Sean is the one usually writing from this email address] I have been a music hound for a long time (first paying gig in 1964, never quit the day job though) and have never found more creative or innovative music than LOS..... I have been to three shows and they are better each time. The only experience I have had that has come close to the unbridled, on the edge of control of music is possibly some Commander Cody shows in the early 70s." <Ke8ug@aol.com. "The Metronome show was, of course, incredible! ...like last time, the band completely kicked my ass - I was pooped by the end of the evening... What a great show... Craziness all around and a good time was had by all." <negev@sover.net> "It was really refreshing to discover this band out of all the same old stuff, so much toe tapping high energy but you all know that by now." <cbayr@selway.umt.edu> "The Metronome show was, of course, incredible! I don't have the setlist because I couldn't lift my arms up from my side to write anything down, plus I was in no condition. Stand outs of the evening (for me) included Euphoria (first time I heard it - I like, I like), Hey Joe, and many others which are eluding me at this point. Again, like last time, the band completely kicked my ass - I was pooped by the end of the evening. What a great show... I wanted to tell Mark that his dad got me onto the slamon salmon list and that you say hi to him - in between sets Vince sat down on the stage and a bunch of my friends started talking to him. I asked him to pass the message on the Mark who was backstage and Vince said "why don't you go back there and tell him yourself?" so I did! I went backstage and hung out there for about 10 minutes - chit chatting with Mark (who says his Dad is a very cool guy!), I thanked him and everyone else for fighting so hard to allow fans to continue taping, and Vince stole my lighter! Then the second set, of course, rocked, and I went home exhausted and satiated. Ahh, yeah, that show was exactly what I needed! Oh, one more thing to mention - the crazy crazy encore - went like this...Violent Femmes into Jethro Tull Locomotive Breath into Whiskey, into Joe Walsh and then back into the Femmes - followed by a Wake and Bake. Craziness all around and a good time was had by all." <negev@sover.net> "Now I remember why this band is so much fun - their albums don't even come close to revealing their excitement and goofyness - live is where its at! Vince was on the money in the first set - his intereplay with the crowd, his rolling eyeballs and his phony cajun lyrix kept everyone smiling and dancing in the PACKED/SOLD OUT/PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE AT 1:30AM TO GET IN THE venue [The Wetlands in NYC] (take your pick they all fit). They played two new songs on Euphoria - River's Rising and something with no title announced but it was a Drew Tune. River's Rising was definitely a show kicker. That stuff is good afterburner music." <anthony.howell@srz.com> "The show was VERY fun, as always. This was my first show in a while, the last show I caught was in NYC at the Irving plaza, so I was primed for this one. They seem to get better every time I see them. The Wetlands was, as usual, overcrowded and hot." <sarini38@matrix.newpaltz.edu> "Went up to NYC for the show at Wetlands this past Saturday night and it was a blast. The boys started up around midnight and played two great set's. I don't know what's been happening lately but every city show they do seems to get sold out in a hurry...and I think that's a really positive sign that things are going the right way for them...As a fan I will really miss the smaller venues but I know that's just the way it's got to be for them to keep on truckin' round our country. I guess the next step will be bigger venues or longer runs at one venue or playing a few shows in a row in one area at different venues...A majority of the people I talked to had never seen LoS play and I think they were all impressed...there was a super amount of Bert being Bridged all night long..." <robkatz@erols.com> "I am new to this list and to LOS generally speaking. Saturday's show was my 2nd, my first being Aug 2, 1996 at Wetlands. I wish I knew all the song names so I could post the setlist. The show was a fantastic event! As I got home early Sunday morning, around 4:30 am, it was exactly 7 months to the day from my first Salmon show and from the day I met the woman I am going to marry. Now I didn't know I was going go marry her that August night but we did spend the entire night together, talking, dancing, drinking, and thoroughly enjoying the show (which BTW ended at 4:20 am) So here I am 7 months later, revcovering from another astounding show, and spending all my time with the woman I love, who I met at a LOS show. The show itself this past saturday was quite good. The first set lasted approx. 90 min and included two special guests, whose names I can't remember. The set was high energy and fun all the way. The second set was a solid two hours with the encore. whew...I was pretty tired at the end but boy was it fun. "couldn't be better" (sp?) was a highlight as was the Bill Monroe tune?...I apologize for my lack of specific info...In general the place was very hot and crowded, but I don't think that stopped the band from really getting into it!!" <dak3203@is3.nyu.edu> "I'll keep this [Wetlands review] short, since it's old news. In a word: WOW!! Unbelievable as always!! Wetlands was, of course, packed. But I've seen it worse, and it actually wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I managed to get around 4th row for the first set and second row for the second. The sound was awesome. The first hour was unexceptional, for a LoS show that is. Which is to say, they played all common songs the way they usually do (Great!). But things really kicked into gear when the guests came on. Man, can Tony Trischka play!! I really enjoyed the effects he put on that axe. The other guy was a wacko! I've never seen anyone look like he was having so much fun!! The second set was a monster - including the encore, a solid two hours! Ruben's was incredibly intense, plus great versions of Breakin' Thru and Highway Song. The whole Treat Your Daddy Mean >Rock Mtn Way part was amazing. The set ended with a smokin' Ask The Fish. The only complaint I have is that the boyz don't come back to NYC more often!!" <stighe@ix.netcom.com> "I am Shelia's partner (the other half of Tony[Trischka!]'s management team). I was at Wetlands and LOVED the show!. What a sensational group Leftover Salmon is!" <grid7@pop.mindspring.com> "BTW, I got turned on to LoS about a year and a half ago, and managed to catch my first show about a month ago at Pearl Street in Northampon Mass. I have been spreading the word about the best damn band on earth constantly since that show, and its very comforting to know that there are so many other people who feel that way!" <tdsmith@colby.edu>