Harmony Fest | 06.08-06.10 | Santa Rosa, CA

moe. moe. moe. moe. moe. moe. moe. gimme me some mofo'in moe.

1 um and 4 badu????????????

DENNIS!!!

I'm not a STS9 fan, so can someone tell me what PA set means? Other than it looks like they are surfing the web. No disrespect. Just not familiar with them very much.

PA set is when they dont play any of their instruments, they just jam on beats etc. on their macs, its pretty cool they did their first one in the city couple weeks ago at crobar. Different sound, atleast you can dance to it.

um, sts9, moe. not a bad lineup at all, makes me wish i lived in cali

with the exception of the drummer...every sts9 set might as well be considered a PA set...they really do play with their computers more than their instruments...i always figured that they just get their samples going and then murph looks at porn while hunter checks his email

band description on wikipedia (source of all true facts ever): STS9 is: Hunter Brown (guitar/laptop/midi keyboard), Jeffree Lerner (percussion/laptop/handsonic) David Murphy (bass/laptop/midi keyboard), David Phipps (keyboards/laptop), and Zack Velmer (drums)

laptop!

laptop is my favorite instrument...in fact, I play a mean air-laptop.

Tribe is definitely not on their laptops as much as their instruments, ur just a moron adco.

ha. getting information and citing wikipedia! yes. M.O.R.O.N.

also, for someone to say they saw the live pa set in NYC and then says they dont play any of their instruments... where you there?

because there were drums, keys, and guitars at that show.

PA set give me a break If i ever paid to see music and i saw three guys on stage staring at laptops i would shit myself and its no disrespect to sts9 but come on dont book a pa set its supposed to be live music other than that sweet pics what the hell was kucinich doing there

Moe owned this festie. That was one of the best sets I have seen from moe. They played there new cut "Runaway overlude" for the second time. The crowd didn't even no what to think. Sick. The only bad part was when the trumpet player from Kimock's band Willie Waldman came up. That was obviously unrehearsed and did not mesh well. Willie's not that great of a musician and he did not react well when Rob started laughing. He stormed of the stage spitting into the air. Good, he sucks anyway. STS9 was lame, boring, not interesting. They might as well have just played a scratched CD. Many times throughout the set they weren't even synced up with one another. STS9 blows.

Does anyone out there know where to get a recording of Moe.'s set? That Brent Black was unreal.

BADU BADU BADU BADU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
she is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.
super funky!

moe. sucks!!!!!!! go back to 1996 and keep moe. on the east coast. sts9 dosen't suck. u might not be into the pa sets but its 2 different things. i love sts9 but im not that big of a fan of there pa sets, but there trying new things and thats ok. i was at the show and it was fun. all u haters out there keep the hate cuz it just makes bands like sts9 stronger, while bands like moe. have to put there new years eve tickets on sell in the summer so they might sell out the show, lol lol p.s. moe. will be the next band to call it quits. any the harmony moe. show sounded like a bad allman brothers show. with the allman brothers were there!!

Congrats to dantron7 for being the biggest dumbass on jambase. moe. will not be the next band to call it quits. I'd love to know your reasoning behind such an assanine statement. I hate to pull the age card but there is no way you have even grown pubes yet.

how am i the biggest dumbass on jambase? im 26 been to many many shows. i even grew up in ct so moe. never did it for me. if people are going to sit here and say sts9 sucks than i will say moe. sucks. so i guess everyone is a dumbass for posting here.

i hate pulling the age card..... lol how old are u. u should know what god music is its not moe. lol lol

you say lol...

If you are really 26 years old, that is really sad dantron7. I think you need to go back to school. Perhaps you should start with Kindergarden.

Dantron, you're a moron because you can't spell. You used there in place of their and sell in place of sale. If you can't think for your self, let spell checker think for you.

I say it again - moe. moe. moe. moe. moe. moe. moe. gimme me some mofo'in moe. The best live show Today!

Your logic is retarded. Just because a few people think STS9 suck that makes you say moe. sucks? Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I happen to like both bands. I'm just telling you that moe. isn't going anywhere anytime soon and they sure as hell are kicking all kinds of ass everywhere these days.

I love Erykah, she's my favorite vocalist, but I was bummed out that she didn't quench my thirst for some new material. I've been wanting to see her live for almost a decade and was stoked to finally be in her powerful presence. The Roots were awesome too! They have a clear, bumpin' sound, without so much bass that drowns it all out. Love the east coast flavors that came to the fest.

And by the way, my friends and I fell the fuck asleep at the last sts9 show we went to in SF last summer (hence why I skipped their set at Harmony). I love their sound, but for cryin' out loud, get off the computers! Who wants to feel like they're jammin' out in an office? There should be a ONE LAPTOP RULE at any LIVE show.

laptop laptop laptop i gotta poop

Ok I was not at the shows. I can't say anything about the quality of the music. But All ya'll who are knocking laptops should think for a second about this:

Computers are without a doubt instruments, just like a guitar, a synthesizer or an fx pedal (yes I consider fx to be instruments in themselves, if you know how to play them). In fact a computer CAN BE a synthesizer, an fx pedal, and nearly anything else you can imagine (to an extent of course)! Computers are here to stay, so you might do well to get used to seeing them sometimes used live.
Similar things were being said about synthesizers and electric guitars when they came out that you people are saying about laptops. Look where the synthesizer, among so much other music technology, has brought us. The computer merely adds more colors to that palate, more ways to explore music and sound to its depths.

MANY instruments these days are in some way digital, AKA: computer-based, but you don't knock on a guitar player or synth player or any "real musician" who uses computers to their advantage. And I admit, perhaps it's not quite as exciting to watch someone using a computer instead of running around with a guitar. But you have to realize that there are some SERIOUSLY deep ways to interact, create and improvise with music using computers these days. Plus, with a couple of midi controllers set up, the laptop doesn't even have to be right in front of the musician, but TRUST ME, it's there and it's doing it's thing. (But really, what's the difference to the audience between someone playing a keyboard connected to a laptop or a keyboard on a standalone synth?) I also admit that computers offer a crutch to the more lazy musician, and SOME people might be satisfied with just pushing play on iTunes and dancing around for an hour. But there are also those who clearly do more; just like there are good and bad guitarists, there are also good and bad electronic/laptop musicians. It's not the instrument that makes the music, it's the musician. Don't forget that.

grown pubes? i remeber my first pubes...what a relief

moe. schmoe. oh and widespread buttcheeks.

I guess everyone has forgotten about what this scene is really about. It is ok to post your opinions but don't rip on bands because they aren't doing the same thing every other band is doing or isn't doing what you want them to do. If you feel that strongly about it why not start a band yourself. Just really makes me sad to see it come to this my band is king of the mountain bullshit. Stereotpyes, Racism, all prevelant in many articles comments on jambase. Why can't we wake up and evolve to something better people. Come on it's not all about you...you...you...you...you ever heard of preferences and idividuality or is that what we call stereotypes and racism. GREAT PICS wish i was there

Much respect for STS9, but I thought the PA set was garbage.

Harmony was beatiful, as always. The experience is about a whole lot more than just the music ... it was a perfect weekend. GREAT PICS!

Had an amazing time at harmony this year.

this year it was all about Umphreys, Moe, and late night tribal jizm.

Moe's 32 things was absolutely sizzlin and umphreys had a shitty day slot but raged as hard as ever nonetheless (did a fantastic steely D cover, too)

im a big STS9 fan but i completely agree with Pabsty that their PA set is pretty worthless.

The one thing i didnt like about the fest is that it was a whole lot more than the music to too many people...it was like um (or any band there for that matter) was layin down this complete shredfest and most people were walking around outside the venue getting stoned and looking at the merch tables. WTF, people??? I mean, im all about some peace, love, happyness, and saving the earth, but comon LETS FUCKING ROCK OUT HERE!!!!

oh, and HUGE props to the people who set up the late night venue - that was easily the coolest place to rage ive seen

eric and dicky - you fools. i thought prefacing my "citation" from wikipedia by saying that it's "the source of all true facts ever" would clearly indicate to a reasonably intelligent person (which neither of you are)that i recognize its not actually a legit source. it was a joke and just the quickest way to get the info to make my point. but yeah, im the "m.o.r.o.n"...

Savitri - i agree with you that computers add a great new dimension to music. this fact is undeniable. i'm just a purist - i think laptop use should be kept to a minimum on stage, and that a proper place for computers is in the studio. i guess for me it just gives an unauthentic vibe - the whole idea of a live show is seeing talented musicians play their instruments. i go to shows to listen, dance, and watch people do cool shit with their musical instruments. its just not fun to watch someone play with a computer on stage. actually, it really bores me. just my opinion tho.

Cool pics. I saw the sts9 pa set at Sonic Bloom. Boring and insulting to live music fans. My favorite new t-shirt reads "look now I'm a dj too!" I would much rather see the direction that EOTO is taking their music.

how about Badu schooling us during the Other Side of the Game? how did youall like that shit?

moe. owns everywhere they play. Best band out there, period!!!

However I agree with larrydurango... thumbs up for any positive comment on jambase from now on!! Open your minds.

AdCo: I can totally understand and agree how it's boring to watch a laptop musician perform. It's just not as dynamic as watching a guitar player, drummer, etc. But sometimes it's more about listening than watching, even if it's a live situation. Especially when it comes to computer-based music, which can be very intricate, interesting and even completely improvised. And sure, this was a live music festival, not a dj-type party/festival, but you might expect this community to be pretty open to new stuff onstage. ALSO I agree that groups like EOTO among others are more exciting to watch, and are taking the electronic thing in new and exciting directions. But they too are using laptops, and technology in general. By the way, a DJ is a different type of musician than a laptop musician (not only in my opinion, but in the vast electronic music community at large), and both are different than folks like EOTO, dosh (check him out he kicks ass), and others who have all different kinds of influences kicking around. I just don't think it is the instrument, but the way you use it. By no means do I believe that laptops are better or worse or belong one place or another. I am simply suggesting that we open our ears and our minds to new possibilities in music. I mean come on folks, we should be predisposed to appreciate new music, like listeners, rather than rejecting it like critics.

Tell me this: do you like the synthesizer? do you like dylan's 'Highway 61 Revisited'? Do you like Hendrix? Do you like miles davis?

Well guess what: "switched on bach", the early 60's album that reinterpreted bach on synth was considered by many as an 'insult' classical music listeners. it also paved the way for the use of synthesizers in more than just academic and experimental ways. "Highway 61" and the ensuing tours were an "insult" to folk music fans. Hendrix and his blazing guitar work were to some an "insult" to the way the guitar was meant to be played. And miles davis' explorations into jazz-rock fusion were lambasted by critics and fans alike as an "insult" to both jazz and rock music. All of these examples made an undeniably great impact upon the music we all appreciate today. By no means are STS9 as influential as all the above examples, but I truly believe that computers are. Once again, to me it is the musician who makes the music, not the instrument. If the musician is boring (like some say of sts9's PA set), don't blast on the gear they use.

I like it all.
Moe. kicks ass. STS9 kick ass. Brian Wilson, anyone? He kicks ass too. And so do all of you for appreciating music.

Hmmm, don't quite agree with the idea that a laptop is an instrument. Sorry, just don't, but that's just one man's opinion. I had never liked hip-hop because the use of samples and turntables and MIDI and all that. But once I saw bands like Wisdom, The Coup, etc. playing hip-hop with an actual band playing, I dug it. If there isn't a set of drums, a bass (with strings!), and other instrumentalists on stage, it's worthless garbage, IN MY OPINION.

Drum machines have no soul....

Please don't get me wrong. Like I said, I like it all. A capella, electric, acoustic, as long as it sounds good. And once again, I agree with you, in part, about the live band thing. When I go to see a live band, I want to see them playing like a real band, with drums, bass, keys, guitar, etc. I also much prefer hip-hop with a live band. And so I can totally understand the disappointment of those who were expecting STS9 and got three guys with laptops. And maybe the music sucked, but maybe it was great. I don't know, I wasn't there.
I also understand and agree with, in some sense, the old cliche that 'drum machines have no soul'. But it seems like merely a lack of understanding to state that a laptop is not in any way an instrument. Furthermore I just don't understand or agree with all of the hard-lined rejection of certain instruments in music, in this case the laptop.

savitri, trust me, i was there and it wasnt good. i def went with an open mind and def like most types of electo music and have nothing against a musician whipping out thier laptop and jerking off on it as long as it gets the feet a' tappin' and the ass a' movin'.

I wasnt expectin STS9, and I was aware of what "PA set" meant. I just expected them to go a lot more Bear Grylls on that ish.

but i do agree that a laptop/computer programs can be used as an instrument...for argument's sake

Well, regardless of what instruments they were using, it's too bad the set sucked. For the record, I wholeheartedly support everyone's opinions on whether or not they enjoyed the music. And based on what I'm hearing, I guess I'm glad I wasn't there.

For the record, the Harmony folks sought out the Clear Channel LiveNation people to help them put this on, and the end result was a line-up that was kind of weird. As a result they did not sell near the tix they wanted to sell.

someone give me a recording of the moe.set??? who's got it. Someone has to. I saw mics. ppppllllleeeeeaaaaassssseeeeee????!!!!!!!!

I'm with ya buttrock. For me, the moe. set was not only the high point of the festival, but bar-none one of the best and most psychedelic shows I've seen in a long time. I'd easily put it against some of my favorite High Sierra karl d. late- night moments.
I could be way off here, but it felt like the show was packed with a ton of rural sonoma/mendo/humboldt kids who were clueless to moe., and expecting to see a ho-hum warm-up for the STS9 PA gig. What they got was a sharp stick in the eye from good ol' moe., who were at their most technically gritty.
When we walked in, which was a little late, they were raging 32 Things. Chuck sounded dark and coarse, and he instantly bore into our heads with his screeching tone. Al, as he would throughout the night, was playing guitar hero. Picking his spots to sprinkle trademark, high-pitched melodies at just the right moment. Rob and the drummers bulged with high intensity rhythms. I was having such a good time, dancing so hard, I musta dumped a half a gallon of sweat. (embellishment) "George." There, I said it.
When the Sound Tribe guys came on with their improvised segments for the PA set, layering beats on the the crowd for a few minutes, only to abruptly tear them down and start over again, it seemed like people were too stunned by moe.'s set to stop talking and get into the music. My girlfriend, who is a newbie to the festival/jamband scene, and comes from a techno/tribal/drum and bass background, couldn't seem to get into either. We actually did cut some rug for a bit, but the intentional lack of cohesion in the music, and the constant death of good rythms they'd find for a few minutes, eventually wore thin. So, we tooteled. (As an aside, we just saw STS9 open for the Cheese last week and thought they stole the show. They were really fun, and I think it was just our mood that didn't help us to get into the PA set. But I felt like we weren't alone there either.)
I too have been scouring the usual live music sources for the Santa Rosa moe. show, Mr. Buttrock. I also remember seeing at least two sets of mics in front of the sbd. I just checked moe.'s site, and they aren't selling the show.

Beyond my excitement for the moe. show, I have to say I felt that the Harmony festival was pretty grand. And at a damn fair price. The fairgrounds are small, and the venues, intimate. Like someone before me mentioned, the "Live Nation" influence might have scared some folks away due to it's corporate reputation. But I haveta say, once inside the fairgrounds, it couldn't have felt any less corporate. The place teemed with booths and speakers, encouraging environmental & social responsibility in all directions. (although I always marvel at how many stupid flyers get passed out at these things, and how many end up on the ground.) With the likes of Amy Goodman, Dennis Kucinich & Ariana Huffington headlining the main stage between big music acts, it was pretty impressive, and even the headier kids were listening. This was not just a music festival, and thus many people chose to walk around all day, visiting booths and seeing speakers, neglecting to take in music at all.
In talking to urban bay area folk, who like me, were at the Harmony festival for their first time and came with no expectation, it was as if we'd discovered a gem in our backyard. An excellent warm-up for the far away adventures in Quincy.
Those who have been complaining about paranoia regarding added police presence in Quincy the last few years will be glad to know how hands off law enforcement during this festival. It was a very free environment, with lots of local Sonoma families making out for a day trip, and many of the younger local set sticking around for the great late-night schedule. And maybe it wasn't a Quincy late-night line-up, but let's say it was pretty damn fair for having to pay NO EXTRA ADMISSION. Yup, late-nights were included in the 3-day pass, which I think went for $170 if you bought them at the fairgrounds, and less if you purchased ahead of time.
And the line-up? Besides moe. and the STS9 PA set, here's a few things I found memorable.
1. Erykah Badu - She's a goddess. Her set was definitely one of my favorite things about the festival. The lady has killer charisma to match lyrical depth and physical beauty, and her voice is completely outrageous. She had the tightest big-crowd control of perhaps any performer I've ever seen. She made you afraid to look away from stage while she was speaking to you, and I don't think anyone wanted to anyway.
2. On Sunday night, the main stage area, and the fairgrounds in general, were jammed for "The Roots." And while they were not one of my favorites, they kept a very racous audience rapt with their heavy rocking, hip-hop versatility. Hendrix's "Machine Gun" shut up for a few minutes.
3. It was billed as a "Steve Kimock" show, but Steve actually brought "Banyan" back together for his time slot, with Melvin Seals joining on the keys. The tribal rhythms of Stephen Perkins and Rob Wasserman were so dance friendly that Steve hardly touched his guitar.
4. Umphrey's McGee had some high "Jimmy Stewart" moments during their two-set show in the late afternoon on Saturday, and yet there were plenty of moments where it seemed like they were also kinda kickin' it into festie cruise control. I'm only hard on the boys 'cuz they're one of my faves.
5. On Sunday it became hard to pick between bands in the middle of the day. The hardest moments were having to run back and forth between the booty-shaking funk of "New Orleans Social Club" on the main stage, and the sweet, bubblier funk of ALO, who played to a packed crowd at the smaller Redwood theater. Preceding the ALO/NOSC time slot, it was the same kind of delimna. I went back and forth between a Kinky set, which whipped the crowd into a frenzy, and the Hot Buttered Rum guys at the smaller Redwood theater, who had everyone smiling and stomping to sunny, Sunday afternoon bluegrass.
6. Mike Stern was kind of the Skerik of the Harmony festival. That is, he kept popping up to play with everyone. I only saw a little piece of his big set, featuring Victor Wooten and Dennis Chambers, but caught him with ALO and New Monsoon. I'd read about Stern and his prog-rock pedigree before coming to the festie, and in the flesh, he did not disappoint. He consistently delivered an interesting tone that sounded completely unique among the many jam-band lead. I was too beat on Saturday night to get over and see the epic late-night battle of virtuoso guitar players Stern and Steve Kimock. Still sore about that. Shouldn't have.. er whatever.
7. New Monsoon gets better every time I see them. This was the first time I'd seen Ron Johnson play with the band, and he brings big backbone. They were the first thing I saw when I got to the fairgrounds on Friday. "Let's get down to the greenhouse.."
8. What accolades can I add to the all the positive feedback thrown around these days at The New Mastersounds. these days. Sometimes, I like to say "wowsers," as a nod to Inspector Gadget. Anyway, Mike Stern played a few songs with them and sounded good, albeit a tad out of place in the throws of James Brown funk.

God bless Casey Flanigan and his stellar photography