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Captain Soularcat with Donna Hopkins Band :: 08.12.04 :: Smith's Olde Bar :: Atlanta, GA
The Donna Hopkins Band started the evening out with a serious bang. This was the first time I had seen them and I'm telling you, make sure you go see her if you get the chance! I had the opportunity to meet her before the show. She is so petite, so sweet, and a little quiet but once she got on stage she proceeded to kick my ass! She belted out so much sound, both out of the guitar and her lungs, and she and her boys definitely rocked the place down. She called Benji Shanks (Captain Soularcat) and Murf out to join her on a couple of songs that started out as standard, simple blues riffs but quickly spun out of control and had everyone at Smith's moving closer to the stage. My favorite part of her set was when Murf went off on the organ and Donna walked over and just stared at him, smiling. What a great way to start the night.
Captain Soularcat |
So as the boys of Captain Soularcat are taking their spots onstage I noticed an extra man up there. With no previous announcement (that's why you have to make it out to these shows, you never know who will show up) out walks Reverend Jeff Mosier. Some know him as the man whom Phish credits with teaching them the fundamentals of bluegrass. I also like to think of him as the man who flawlessly captured Captain Soularcat's sound for their debut album Three Rivers Point. He didn't just join them for a song or two, Mosier played the entire show with them. I actually ran into a girl from Philly that was just passing through town who told me she found out about this show on JamBase and decided to stop in and check it out. I told her she hit the lotto with her timing.
They opened up with the title track to their new album. Other favorites of the night included the new Williams original "Sluhtbier," "Gotta Go," "Kickin' it In," "Burnin' Ambers," and the new Warren tune "Soaking Wet," which was written on the road during their High Sierra Fest excursion.
It was such a treat to see Jamie and Murf on stage together on keys and organ. As usual, Travis Kline was making his trademark faces and keeping a solid beat down with tons of nice tricks. To be honest, I spend so much time watching guitar and drums that I often overlook what is going on with the bass. Scott caught me off guard many times that night. What he lacks in Texas Hold 'Em skills he certainly made up for in bass solos. Vocally he was dead on again with his trademark emotion pouring out all over the place. I envy people who can sing like that.
The high point of the evening for me was Gaurav, Travis, and Danny tearing up the percussion solo intro to "Crazy." I definitely know enough to be on Gaurav's side of the stage when that song starts. Absolutely insane percussion work.
One more highlight was when Matt Williams walked up to the mic with his eyes closed to sing the chorus of "Higher Mound." Once the harmony started he looked surprised to hear Mosier belting it out with him and Scott Warren. The smile on his face was one of the biggest I have ever seen on him, and Williams is constantly smiling on stage.
That's one of the reasons that I love watching this band so much--they're great friends and it truly shows as they play. Williams and Warren are always smiling and appear so happy to be up there. Pay attention and you'll see their unspoken attempts at tripping each other up and bringing a little comedy to the mix. The more the crowd gets involved with what is happening, the more they open up and give everything they have.
Patrick Johnson
JamBase | Georgia
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