HeadCount | 11.03.08 | NYC

This was a fantastic show all around, and the excitement was palpable all night long at Highline in NYC. However, this is probably the worst written article/review I have ever read on jambase. The heavy-handed comments about the "tang of patchouli" and "world class doobie" made this hard to read and did not do justice to what was truly a great assembly of talent and an amazing night of music. Is this really the best review Jambase could get more than a full week after the show?

^^ Agreed. This reviewer obiously had the "I'm too good for this show" syndrome. And that's too bad...

Glad to see that Jon the Barber shed some kilos, and brought back the hollowbody (hence the '01 sound review man) sounds like an epic even for an epic cause

I wonder if barber was yipped up.

I'm generally not huge on chick singers in a jam-ish context but it sure does help when they look like this lovely young lady.

really? yikes - my "Chick" would have left me for that comment.

i was the photographer for the show and this was definitely a fun night...wish there were more shows like this with different styles of artists and fans....

good times! thanks jambase and headcount!

sounds like a nice gathering...lots of talent out there.

great show..great cause..shit review..what a hack

I bet this was a heck of a show and it was a lot of fun, but this is a horrible review.

toestothenose,

I fully agree. I expect the shallowly sexist comments from some of the readers on this site (i.e. cannot read an article on the talents of jam scene ladies like Allie Krall or Grace Potter without the obligatory "I'd fuck her" comments), but it's different when it comes from the reviewer. Jambase shouldn't endorse this shit.

As for the "Amazingly, he sang the song better than Magner does" comment: Really? Is it amazing. I haven't seen Bisco in some time, but if my memory serves me, none of them can sing worth a shit. I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled a bum off the street and he sounded better than any of these guys. Not to knock Bisco's overall musicianship, but their vocals are inarguably shite.

Anyways, seems like it was a great event. I wish we could have gotten a better review. It seems like the reviewer himself might have been a little spun for this one.

i thought the review was good. the into outro's i thought were well thought out considering the monumental changes upon us. the review overll could have been a little less anecdotal. but i think it was fair overall... i bet the music was more of a mish mash. but who can complain with all of the musical genius' present?

Hmmm, as a sometime contributor to JamBase and a volunteer with HeadCount, I really don't get this review. At all. And did nobody proof read or edit this thing??

The content doesn't really give the reader any idea of what it was like at the show, other than the palpable energy comment. This was a fantastic chance to talk about the terrific, important work HeadCount has done this year and in the past, about how these artists and volunteers have been a part of that and how the show was a celebration of all their efforts. It was an opportunity to write about how unique a gathering/jam it was at a time in our country with many other unique events. Enh, I suppose that was at the very end, but really - tie that together, mang! It was a time to share personal reflections about what lead up to this show rather than make snarky comments. And if you must make them, for god's sake, back them up with balanced reason. I mean, hell, I am not a huge fan of Holmes from the Spin Doctors, but writing about a show isn't necessarily writing about YOUR tastes. It is about sharing your impressions, reactions, and feelings while at the same time explaining WHY you felt that way. What was written here wasn't a review, but a boring play-by-play. We can get that by looking at a setlist.

Oh, and if you are going to write about a show, you absolutely should NOT say "this is where things get blurry." Why bother to pitch a story if you can't remember or don't have the courtesy to keep track of what was happening? Christ, that's what you're there for!! You are a record for those unable or unwilling to attend. Yikes.

these are some of the best pictures Ive seen on here. especially the ones of Joss Stone... hehe

anyone have a recording of this? i'd like to hear the phil/warren/medeski/moore stuff.

review was definitely lacking....not one of the better ones

however the photos are fantastic....great job to the photographer

Just search "headcount benefit" on the archive...most of the sets are there, including Bustle, American Babies, Disco, Phil/Haynes, and the Randolph jam at the end.

All sound pretty good...one would think this reviewer had a bit more enthusiasm and spark in his writing, considering the quality of the music.

as a frequent reader of this site, I must say that this article was the most tasteless and poorly written of any that I have read.

Not only is the reviewer clueless about the music being played, but he appears bumbling, ignorant, and generally misinformed.

This guy has not idea what he's talking about. Maybe next time he and jambase could spare us the idiocy.

horrible, horrible article.

Lol Bisco Kids can't vote! 3/4 of them are like 17

HeadCount impact over the last couple of years unfortunately got trumped by this guy's review. This article should of highlighted the cause and how they truly did accomplish many great achievements through HeadCount and brought people together from all levels of the scene. Unfortunately, I think JamBase is trying to grow too quickly and cover too much "non-jamband" music. I love and listen to all music before anyone gets on my case. But the name of this site is JamBase. Why doesn't someone create Indi-Base and that way everyone can maintain the quality content for their tastes as necessary. Please reconsider your goals JamBase. Adding every kind of music content to this site and adding lot of advertising in the past 6 months is not winning readers over. I never used to see such negative comments to articles then in the past 6months-1 year. HeadCount benefit was special, especially for the mere 250 people left when Phil and Warren were belting For What It's Worth. That is a moment that should be explicitly described. I felt energy of change for this country and sure enough I got out of the venue to learn Obama was our change to be. Laters

as a contributor, I too am ashamed. great nite of music and precursor to the change we believe in. Dont let this piece overshadow the event or its importance

Worst article ever written on this site. Guy was definitely spun. "Spun Biscuits". What a douche.

hahaha it does look like Barber's lost some weight. And it's good to see him playing the gibson as well

Also, what the fuck is the guy from the spin doctors doing? Why did they even invite him to sit in? God, what a dumbass decision. Good= ?uestlove, phil, warren, randolph, medeski, moore. bad= disco biscuits, dude from spin doctors and "spun biscuits"

did ?uest get behind the kit at all? I know he used to lay down the beats for Joss Stone in the past, but he delivers in the uber jam department. I was front row center for 05 ROOsuperjam with ?uestion, Herbie Hancock, and an incredible guitar player from the headhunters (no, not jaohn mayer). I loved how ?uest led the jams around.

Headcount rocks! Enjoyed working with them on 6 or so shows this past summer. Maybe again for a Mid-Terms Matter in 2010!

i wrote my own review of this show.