Photo by
Pamela Rody |
As we approach the last days of the year, we think back
on the great times that were had in 2002. From the first notes of the
new year, through the summer festival season and fall's numerous cross-country
runs, it has been a year of soaring highs and excruciating lows. Many
bands emerged as forces on the scene and festivals defined the world in
which we live with a wide array of talent. With birth you must have death,
and the music world lost some of its most beloved brothers and sisters
in 2002. While we will never forget them, now is the time to celebrate
their lives and the good times that were had this past year. Try to keep
up as we roll through the standout New Year's Eve shows of 2002-2003.
Also keep checking the New
Year's Eve page on JamBase for up to date show information for
this year's festivities!
RANA will
rock CBGB's |
Northeast
In the Northeast expect to see the sun rise and possibly
set on New Year's Day, as the big names drop in on the big cities and play
through the night and into the next day. The lineup in the Big Apple is
strong from start to finish. Gov't
Mule hit the Beacon Theater for two shows on the 30th and 31st
while Karl
Denson's Tiny Universe, Robert
Walter's 20th Congress, DJ
Z-Trip and the Marco
Benevento & Joe Russo Duo play a pair of shows (evening and late)
at B.B. Kings Blues Club on 42nd St. Also in NYC are four bands playing
post-Phish
sets. Particle,
being late night troubadours, have a 2:00am door time for their show at
the Bowery Ballroom, as do Bay Area hipsters OM
Trio at Tribeca Rock Club. Psychedelic
Breakfast tears up Tobacco Road and Addison
Groove Project headline the Mercury Lounge. Down on the Lower
East Side at the legendary CBGB's, rock revivalists RANA
will be throwin' down the hard-edged licks for the purists of the music
scene. Can you say rad? In the other cities around the region, there are
more than a few reasons why not to be in NYC. In Providence, RI
The
Slip make moves for Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel with an all ages show
that is sure to bring out the best of this energy-driven trio. In the
City of Brotherly Love (Philly), high-octane groovemasters The
Disco Biscuits head back to the Electric Factory for one night
of mind-bending jams, while ulu
and Uncle
Sammy play Wilkes-Barre, PA at Murray's Inn.
Photo By
Pamela Rody |
South
Down the coast and along the Gulf of Mexico, def jams
are a given. This year things are looking to be taken to the next level
as several bands have announced their plans to bring in the New Year.
As always, Widespread
Panic will be feelin' good and makin' you shake at Phillips Arena
in Atlanta on the 30th and 31st, while Moonshine
Still and Perpetual
Groove will leave you screaming for more at the Georgia Theatre
in Athens. At The Tabernacle, New England jam rockers Strangefolk
play to the Southern faithful. Southward in Florida, Donna
the Buffalo and their free-range fans (The Herd) will be spreading
the love in St. Petersburg at The Coliseum. Over in Jacksonville Beach,
hometown boys MOFRO
will play an all ages show at the Freebird Café. We cross the bayou
to the usually raucous setting of New Orleans, LA where things are a little
quieter than normal this year, save for the corner of Tchoupitoulas and
Napoleon (Tipitina's Uptown) which will be going off, to say the least,
with Robert
Randolph & the Family Band offering up the sweet sound of the
pedal steel guitar.
moe. havin'
a ball! |
Midwest
The heartland of America will see its share of New Years
Eve shows in 2002, as many bands return home to the familiar venues and
supportive fans who have helped them along the way. In Tulsa, OK the Jacob
Fred Jazz Odyssey will host a New Years event with Life
on Earth and Harmonious Monk at Curly's. At the Murat Theater
in Indianapolis, IN the Dark
Star Orchestra recreate Grateful Dead setlists to an uncanny perfection.
Chicago's own Umphrey's
McGee will be playing its last two shows with original drummer
Mike Mirro on the 30th and 31st at The Vic, before auditioning prospects
for the vacant seat. Also in Chicago are jam-scene stalwarts moe.,
who will be performing at the Aragon Ballroom along with The
Big Wu. In recent years moe. has gained a newfound respect for
their tireless journey on the road of life. Led by guitar shredder Al
Schnier, these boys will have the Aragon on fire this New Year. They start
out their New Year's run with two shows with Particle
on the 27th and 28th at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA. Back in
Ohio, the PromoWest Pavilion hosts a double bill with local rockers ekoostik
hookah, and the not-so-local reggae legends The
Wailers. If you're North of the border, Canadian trio The
New Deal are playing on home soil at The Opera House in Toronto,
Ontario. Down in Newport, KY at the Southgate House, Ray's
Music Exchange has the historic room all set for their last show
of the year.
Photo by
Brent Stevens |
Mountain
You can pray for snow and gods may appease, but these
shows are locked in. New Years in the mountain states is a pretty special
place to be, from Idaho to Colorado with a few secret stashes in between,
the crowds are small and the bands are pumped. In scenic Idaho, just South
of the famous skiing hamlet of Sun Valley, lies the small town of Hailey,
ID and the Mint Bar. This year, the 300-person venue will be the sacred
turf of Jerry
Joseph and the Jackmormons as they turn the volume to 11 and blow
minds with the powerful sermons delivered at each show. About two or three
ranges over lie the Teton Mountains and the town of Jackson, WY. On December
31st, the powder hounds can either sleep or go see Carlos
Washington & the Amazing Giant People. Judging from past trips
to the Hole, I think you can guarantee a sold-out show at the Mangy Moose.
In Colorado the local theaters are booked with acts that are ready to
rock the heavily populated Boulder/Denver area. Starting off in Denver,
the Paramount hosts the Yonder
Mountain String Band while the Fillmore make way for Big
Head Todd and the Monsters. Also in Denver are Cabaret
Diosa at the Sherman Events Center and the all-star players that
make up Garaj
Mahal, who will join forces with the Global
Funk Council at Quixote's True Blue. In Englewood, CO our winner
of "Halloween Show of the Year," Steve
Kimock, goes for two in a row with a NYE performance at the beloved
Gothic Theatre. Up the Boulder expressway, stop in on Tulagi's and catch
the local flavor of The
Motet or head on over to the Boulder Theater to see local boys
Leftover
Salmon play their Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass. Also in Boulder
are the North
Mississippi Allstars at the Fox Theatre.
Photo by
Liz O'Keeffe |
West Coast
The West Coast is quickly becoming the place to be on
New Year's Eve. The weather is almost nice and, well… it's the West
Coast! This year San Francisco is once again going head to head with New
York for the New Year's crown. First lets head to the Pacific Northwest,
and the city of Seattle. The Living
Daylights are sure to ring in the year firing on all cylinders
with their show at the Tractor Tavern. If you're feeling stylie, and I
wouldn't blame you, Maceo
Parker is cruising in style through the New Year at Pier 66. Down
the coast we catch up with the Bay Area's own Kooken
& Hoomen when they'll tune in to 2003 at the Goodfoot Lounge in
Portland, OR. Then we arrive in San Francisco, home to the Grateful Dead,
not to mention several transplanted East Coast bands. With the list of
usual suspects heading back to the Bay and a few solid newcomers, this
is the year to be in the small town that's dressed up as a big city. At
the legendary Fillmore, Colonel Les
Claypool gathers the Frog Brigade for the annual New Year's Eve
Frogout, while Galactic
are taking over the Warfield on Market St. once again for their New Orleans-style
blowout. Over in SOMA, Soulive
are getting involved at the DNA Lounge while the String
Cheese Incident drop the ball with Keller
Williams at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. At the seldom used
but historic Regency Ballroom, Anon Salon Presents the Sound
Tribe Sector 9 in an event that has to be seen to be believed.
Last but certainly first in this scene, The
Other Ones mark their first New Year's engagement since the end
of the Grateful Dead's 30-year run at the Oakland Coliseum with Medeski
Martin & Wood and Hot
Tuna Acoustic in support. The strange trip takes yet another turn!
Happy New Year!
Andrew J. Warren
JamBase | Mill Valley
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