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Photos by Dino Perrucci
What a night of music, kicking off a week already filled with highlights
and it’s only the end of Tuesday. The early show at NYC’s Mercury
Lounge was a record label showcase for RCA/Victor Group
and their forthcoming
album release this Tuesday by the dynamic duo of Phish’s
Mike Gordon and guitar guru Leo
Kottke, entitled Clone. Most would have come to see that debut
alone, but there was a late show, which was another story entirely. But
first, the Mike and Leo show...
“This seems like a great way to get your act together, playing for
the first time in front of the label,” began Leo Kottke, in his first
public performance with his new partner in Clone, Mike Gordon.
The steely glare and six-string mastery of Kottke played well off of the
quirky, yet extremely talented five string bass lines from Gordon. “This
song will be equally out of time” said Gordon. “But it doesn’t really
matter,” added Kottke, whose wit made itself known between almost every
song. Kottke told the story of a former record label release party in
Los Angeles where he deliberately didn’t play a single song off of his
release. Tonight they covered at least half of the album in a scant but
pleasing hour-long set.
"Clone," the title track, has an extremely catchy melody, and tells
a great story of a typical Gordon out of body experience, here visualizing
himself cloned. The next tune was referred to as “deeply disturbing” by
Kottke, as he couldn’t for the life of him figure out what the time signature
was. Mike promised to tell him in a few months, and later let him know
that it was 4½ 4. Leo told Mike there are people now in asylums because
they tried too hard to play 24 beats in a measure. Not only was the set
well played, but the interplay between the two guys was quite amusing
too. Groovetographer
Michael Weintrob noted that, “Even with only two instruments, there was
a lot going on there.”
 So
when they had enough, Mike and Leo bowed out on the early side, making
a vague departing reference to the explosiveness to come. The Ropeadope
New Music Seminar took the record release party to another plane of
existence almost immediately. The Mercury rose and rose with back to back
sets by two of the many ropeadope
recording artists, the phenomenal Tin
Hat Trio and a set by the incomparable Sex
Mob.
 After
the stroke of midnight, the main course had finally arrived. Assembled
on stage were playas, in order, Warren Haynes, Vernon Reid, Mike Gordon,
Skerik, Casey Benjamin, Deantoni Parks, and DJ Logic. They patiently spoke
to each other in the complex language of music and as time passed, the
discussions became heated as crowd reaction got louder. Warren Haynes
played sharp as always, tucked away in the back of the stage, straight
off his reported visit to TRL this afternoon, which featured Stefan Lessard
(Dave Matthews Band) on bass.
 After
a few warm up jams, Vernon didn’t seem to be feeling it with all the players
on stage, and left the stage for Haynes to step out of the shadows and
be the man in black, shredding the red guitar mercilessly to get the sounds
from his brain to ours. At the same point, Cactus Gordon passed the bass
playing responsibilities onto Stefan. Through Stefan the group was able
to find a more subtle and smooth groove, it is agreed that this kid has
grown up. He really knows how to listen and play the bass guitar, and
fit in with the jammiest jammers around. Vernon’s departure also opened
the door for Casey Benjamin (Project Logic) to swap moves with the always
unpredictable Skerik, one minute embedded in gorgeous gospel and the next
screaming Satan’s wishes. The boy can play, whatever he chooses.
 The
next phase of the evening featured a tight spontaneous horn section, comprised
of Sam Kininger (Soulive), Jessica
Lurie (Living Daylights), Bryan
Smith (Deep Banana Blackout). As
well, Charlie Hunter showed up, Stanton Moore took over on the drums,
and the first full NYC showing of Garage
A Trois led the extended rock and roll finale of “Cissy Strut -> Back
in Black,” for sure complete with Skerik yelling into the mic, bent over
at the waist. Ropeadope Records chief Andy Hurwitz stood beaming at the
bar afterwards, like the proud father he is. He likened it to a winning
Eagles game, when all the fumbles just seem to go your way and turn into
scores.
The Mike & Leo show was like a really tasty appetizer that doesn’t hurt
your appetite for a full main course, which was superbly sautéed by Ropeadope.
All in all it was amazing to see so many talented musicians bands large
and small come together and show respect for one another’s abilities.
There were no egos on the stage, just a group of musicians serving the
music, showing the excitement of to be playing a small club gig in NYC.
The surprisingly quirky and jammy night set the tone for the surprises
to come at the Jammys
awards and performances tonight. See you there.
Ted Kartzman & Don Buri
Walking The Streets Of NYC
Go See Live Music
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