Date: Tue, 3 Feb 1998 01:21:11 -0500 (EST)
From: Spaceless Gnome (by way of dgold@anhonesttune.com
(Daniel Gold))
To: leftover@lists.colorado.edu
Subject: my.book.about: A.R.U. with L.S. 3/8/94 and 3/9/94...
Surfing through some old school HORDEnet archives from early 1994 (before there was
a Leftover List, a Spreadnet, etc...), I found an old post by me reviewing ARU/LOS
shows from 3/8/94 and 3/9/94. Since these have not been seen on Leftover List I
thought I would forward it over for fond memories of younger days and initial
discoveries. Love, daniel
To: HORDEnet
Date: 5:55 PM March 10, 1994
From:
Subject: my.book.about: A.R.U. with L.S. 3/8/94 and 3/9/94...
This is a very very long post regarding the bands I saw the last two nights ---
Aquarium Rescue Unit and Leftover Salmon. There is a lot of info that would be
useful to ARU and LoS fans, and some general description for everyone, but I imagine
that most of you will just want to skim over it. But I went ahead and included all
the details for those who want to know.
3/8/94
Before I went into Club Babyhead, I spotted a big yellow schoolbus with Leftover
Salmon and Jambay stickers. I went up to the door and met Michael, the drummer for
LoS, and Mark, the banjo player. Both were very nice, they invited me onto the bus
and we talked for a few minutes. (At this point I had not even ever heard them
play.) They told me their instruments (which I love) and so we started talking
about cajun and bluegrass. They described their sound as "Polyethnic Cajun
Slamgrass."
Next, inside, I talked to Leftover Salmon's soundman, Doug. He was very personable
and helpful getting me set up to tape the show on the soundboard's (club's) deck
unfortunately, one of the wires to the deck was screwed up, and the tape didn't
record anything but fuzz. Part of my tape of ARU was similarly blitzed, but after
20 mins, I saw the problem and changed the wires, so the remaining 40 mins came out
okay (ARUs set was short, notice).
Okay, so finally Leftover Salmon took the stage, they were wonderful. Finally, a
band that meshed my favorite instruments and styles into an improvisional context!!!
now, some people didn't care for them, primarily because they didn't care for the
musical style, which is closest to bluegrass, IMO, but also sounds of reggae, cajun,
zydeco, blues, jazz, country, and psychedelic rock. If you think that much
folk/ethnic influence is for you, I heartily advise you to check out this band
and if that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, then I still advise you to check
them out to see if you don't like the sound. For me, they were practically a band
out of my dreams and hallucinations. Almost like, if I could throw together all the
intruments and sounds that I love most into one band, it would come out to be LoS
it would be impossible for me to name a "favorite band," but I must say that LoS
ranks up there pretty high (pun intended).
Here's what LeftoverSalmon consists of:
Vince: vocals, acoustic guitar, washboard, flute
Mark: vocs, elctric&acoustic banjos
Rob: bass
Drew: vocs, electric guitar, electric mandolin, electric fiddle
Joe: acordian and keys
Michael: drums
Here is most of the setlist for LS in Providence, 3/8:
Ruebens
Bosco Stumble
Zombie Jamboree
Head Bag
Corn
Fog
Highway
Tuna (aka Tu n'as pas aller[?])
Booboo
Another tidbit: I found out that Leftover Salmon includes members of two Colorado
bands, something like "The Left-Handed Bluegrass Band" and "The Salmonheads." So
that's where their name comes from. Maybe there should be an Aqua-Tour with
Aquarium Rescue Unit, Phish, Leftover Salmon, and Water (also from colorado). 8-)
LoS ended their set later than scheduled, but the club was strict about closing at 1
a.m., so ARU's set was cut a little short. Also, the Col did not seem to be in
top-form. Nevertheless, ARU put on a good show, and Jimmy was really grooving. I
missed a couple of songs when I went backstage with Leftover Salmon. We could still
hear the show, plus my tape was going, so I didn't at all mind missing part of the
ARU set in order to talk to the LoS guys. They continued to be very kind (punny,
again).
Both LoS and ARU were very supportive of tapers, and lots of folks got soundboard
feeds (at least 4 in Brovidence, and 7 in Boston)(plus several audience tapers).
3/9/94
Fortunately for me, a fellow netter offered me a place to stay in boston, so I was
able to make it to the 3/9 show as well (thanks!)
I got to meet two members of the band "yeP!", and they were very nice fellows. I
really want to see them play, does anyone have any tapes of them? And, I met a
fellow who is old-friends with Col Bruce; he told me that there were very few live
tapes of Hamton Grease Band made (which confirms my suspicion. I know of only two
Grease Band tapes.) I also learned that the Col still has extra copies of some of
his old LP's, and that it would be possible to obtain a copy from him. I think they
might be purchaseable through _View From The Tank_, which now costs $3 for a
subscription, up from the previously advertised $2.
Again, I was allowed backstage, which was really nice. I hung out with the Leftover
Salmon people for a while, and Oteil even came in for a while. I got to talk to
Oteil for about a half an hour, with a circle of people backstage. He told me about
West African symbols that he was studying (I think one of them appears on the new
ARU bumperstickers), he also described the African shirts he wears onstage sometime
(the one with the birds is worn by shamens, and the orange and green one is a
traditional pattern). Oteil expressed dismay that LoS was opening for ARU intead of
the other way around, then we discussed the fact that both Phish and WSP have also
opened for ARU. And, we talked about my home-state, Arkansas (we were discussing
bluegrass, and the ozarks) The cool thing is, an hour later, during ARU's set, they
played a song called "Arkansas" that they haven't played in a "long time." It's a
song of an old Hampton LP called "Arkansas." I never did find out if they played it
because we talked about Arkansas or if it was unrelated, but it really got me
psyched to hear it anyway!!!
The Leftover Salmon set was even better than the night before. They did a little
more improvisional stuff, and really sounded good. The crowd was like "what's
this?" at first, but after 2 or 3 songs, the place was hoppin' and people were
obviously getting into it.
Between bands, I was backstage again, where I said hello Mike Gordan I didn't see
Trey, but I believe he was there, as was Jon. Mike was wearing a nametag that said
"Pracilla" (spell). Apparently, Mike played a song or two with ARU, but it was at
the beginning of the set when I was still chilling backstage with LoS and crew.
(also, just before ARU went on, I got to see Mark from LoS jam on Banjo with Col
Bruce warming up on his Chazoid, both unplugged and jamming hard!!!) (Can someone who
is on Phish net please pass on the info regarding Mike's+ appearance?)
As for ARU, they were also in better form in Boston, which is probably attributable
to several things: better sound in the club, a bigger stage, a better backstage, and
a somewhat better crowd. The Col was ON!!!! Also, Apt Q258 was really jamming,
especially during Space is the Place. Mark guested w/ARU on banjo for a song, and
Drew also played on a song or two. Of course, their instrumentation sounded perfect
with ARU
Tonight, both bands supposedly have offers to play on radio stations in Boston, but
nothing was finalized as of last night. I also heard that LoS has unfinalized
offers from a few record labels, including Capricorn.
Friday night, LoS and ARU will play in Burlington, VT. Then Saturday night, ARU
will be playing with WSP at Castleton, VT. (LoS will be there, although they are not
scheduled to play ---- maybe we will see some of them guest with ARU, or with WSP.
[maybe Drew on the fiddle, or a lovely Takeout-->PorchSong with Mark on banjo?!?!?]
or MAYBE even members from all three groups will manage to hop on stage together
who knows?) In fact, there is also a possibility that members of Phish will be at
those Vermont shows. Wow, this could be one serious historic jam in the making!!!!!
At any rate, I would LOVE to be there, but I doubt I can get a ride up there. So
those of you who are lucky enough to make it, please report how it goes, and have a
great time!
Okay,anyone who read that whole damn post and made it to the bottom of my long-
winded description deserves praise for their patience. Sorry to type so much, but I
had to get my thoughts in order and recorded about this most-fabulous two-day-tour I
hve been priveledged to witness!
And one last thing: thank you ARU for introducing me to two awesome bands -- the
Dave Matthews Band and Leftover Salmon. I first heard about both bands through
netting (pun intended, once again), but I first saw both bands perform opening for
ARU, who had the good sense to bring this great music up to New England. May they
bring them your way, too!
Love,Daniel------gnome boy------greenfling--->>>>
Subject: one more thing re: LoSalmon
Leftover Salmon said thay have had great success on their first tour out this way,
and they plan to come back in a couple of months(May?) if all continues to go well.