SEX MASH | WEST COAST TOUR

It all started in San Francisco...
To kick off a tour at Broadway Studios is to kick it off in style. This venue is one of San Francisco's best kept secrets with its high ceilings, large balcony and a spacious dance floor. Sex Mob took the stage first and wasted no time getting things cooking. Steven Berstein, leader and slide trumpet player extraordinaire, was in his normal good spirits. He gave the crowd an initial taste of his humor as he introduced the band, "On drums, the Junior Senator from New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton!"

Sex Mob told it like it was and showed this San Francisco crowd what Downtown NYC sounds like. From the slow lilting sounds that swirled around the crowd to the hard can't-help-but-shake-your-ass grooves, Sex Mob was here to do business. They performed choice numbers off their new album, Solid Sender, and had the whole room feeling the sensuality elicited by the music. All four members of Sex Mob seemed to mesh right from the beginning, not giving a clue that they had just flown in from New York that afternoon.

Towards the end of Sex Mob's set, Bernstein summoned Wayne Horvitz and Tim Young from Zony Mash to the stage. With Bernstein as "The Director", this first incarnation of Sex Mash brought the performance to the next level. The musicians would flow freely with the collective and then, at Bernsteins command, each would soar above the groove to take it that much higher.

After the shortest set break that I can remember the one and only Zony Mash hit the stage running. They eased into their groove with the title track of their new album Upper Egypt. Once the crowd was warmed up they laid right into one of the hottest tracks on the album, "FYI". Splitting his time laying it down with both the Hammond organ and the Nord Lead keyboard, Horvitz showed no mercy with his moves. With the addition of Tim Young screaming on the electric guitar, this band has no comparisons. Keith Lowe proved to be an absolute monster on the bass, and drummer Andy Roth amazed all with his power and grace behind the kit.

The conclusion was near and Wayne Horvitz called upon Steven Bernstein and Briggan Kraus to the stage for some more Sex Mash fun. The group jams were so strong that many in the crowd thought that this was a regular touring band. The banter and solo trading between band members of both groups created a comical yet seductive energy in the room. After a short encore the crowd was left wanting much more than these bands could deliver this night. It was no surprise to see so many of the same faces across the bay the next night at Blake's.

The Sex Mash Heads to the East Bay
What a difference a day makes. One night you are in a beautiful old ballroom and the next your playing a dingy old basement. The bands switched up the order for the second night, but they each continued to shine. Highlights from the Basement at Blake's included Zony Mash's instrumental version of "Whip It" the "Not Boweevil" jam that led the Sex Mob off the stage and through the crowd at the end of the show. While there was still collaboration tonight, it was nothing like joint jams of Broadway Studios.

All in all two great nights of groove in the Bay Area - two and a half if you happened to catch the in store performance by Sex Mob at Rasputin's in Berkeley on Tuesday afternoon. The bands made many new friends as evidenced by the run on CD's at the end of the shows, and promised to return to the Bay Area soon.

Moving on Up
The Sex Mash continued their tour at Cafe Tomo in Arcata, CA and Berbati's Pan in Portland, OR. JamBase has yet to hear word from these shows. We can only assume that Bernstein, Horvitz, et al. were working the crowds as vigorously as they were in the Bay. Were you at these shows? Tell us about it!

Bringing it to a Close in Seattle
A two-night stand at The Rainbow, home to some classic Zony Mash shows, is always a highly anticipated affair. This time was no exception. In fact, this may have been the most anticipated shows there ever, with the imminence of The Rainbow's re-opening. New York brethren, Sex Mob, would be sharing the stage for the last 2 shows of a week long West Coast tour.

The first night got off very strongly with a solid effort from the hometown boys, kicking through some choice tunes. "Snakebite" was especially spirited. Halfway through the set, the horn section -- Sex Mobbers Steven Bernstein on (not slide) trumpet and Briggan Krauss on alto sax, along with locals Steve Moore on trombone and Skerik on baritone sax -- was invited up. Two tunes debuted 2 years earlier at the same venue, "Good King Wenceslas" and "Whip It" were great choices to please the packed house. The set ran about an hour and half, as Zony Mash made way for Sex Mob.

I'm not very familiar with many of Sex Mob's tunes, except the covers, but they were their typically powerful selves. Steven Bernstein is the leader of this group, there's no doubt about it. He is constantly pushing the band to play harder and harder with hand motions and shouts. And the band is always up the task. The terrific rhythm section of Kenny Wollesen on drums and Tony Scherr on string bass, round out the band perfectly. As the clock neared 12:45, Bernstein invited up just about everyone who had played that night that would fit on the stage, including Wayne and Tim from Zony Mash, as Sex Mob was transformed into Sex Mash for the proverbial "third set" of the night. The rest of the night was full of mostly jamming and was quite good. They played until the management flipped on the lights before closing.

The buzz was in the air all night long that local legend Bill Frisell would be playing the next night, thus making the anticipation even greater. Though, as much as we were anticipating the possible greatness, I don't think we ever could have imagined really how great it really would be.

Sex Mob took the opening slot this time out, once again, playing a very spirited set led by Bernstein. Drummer Kenny Wollesen was particularly on, which just ignites Bernstein even more to fire up the troops. About 45 minutes into the set, Frisell was invited up. They started with a blues with Bernstein yelling at Bill for "more notes! not chords! notes!" I sensed Bill didn't quite know how to react to Bernstein's direction, but he kept at it, and playing some great accompaniment. What a fantastic addition to this band! They played another slower blues, a standard I can't recall the name of, that was just as good, if not better. So far, this was shaping up to be the best Sex Mob set I've ever heard.

Next, another local was invited up, Artis the Spoonman, playing his collection of wooden spoons and spatulas among other small devices. He sent this set over the top. Never had I ever imagined that I would see such a line-up. After doing a jam with Artis leading the way, the band closed the set with the highlight, a Sex Mob's cover of "For What It's Worth." The energy was electric in the room and Bill and Artis played tremendously, with the rest of players backing up these 2. To say this set was perfect is no understatement. It was exactly as I would have wanted it.

How to follow the perfect set? With another mind-blowing Zony Mash set, of course! Again, "Snakebite" was particularly good and another nice short "Whip It", and a "Sex Fiend" that featured Tim Young raising the bar. Tim had a great night. The highlight, however, had to be the "Stompin' at the Cranium", that was played solidly, with Andy Roth holding down the fort terrifically. Then came time for the bass solo. Keith Lowe dropped several bombs on the crowd, and played one of the best solos I've heard him play. It would go down as being referred to as "The Nitrous Solo," for reason that can only be imagined.

With the clock nearing 1:30, Wayne Horvitz, invited the entire Sex Mob crew up, and everything was as Nature intended it, a true Sex Mash. Bernstein and Krauss took the front line with their horns, Kenny played his snare on the ground next to Andy, and Tony played Tim's 12-string guitar.

The jam started with Andy and Kenny laying down a New Orleans shuffle, and the rest of the band jumped right on a jam that sound very much like "Lovelight," until Wayne introduced the "With the Space on Top" riff. After a couple of times through the riff, the jam continued on the "With the Space on Top" theme. Everyone was just tearing it up. After about 10 minutes of some very exciting music, Wayne wrapped it up by reintroducing the main melody again. As the band members left the stage, there was love in the air, and hugs all around. What an ending to a great 2-night stand an amazing tour.

The Aftermash
The tour ends and both bands land on their respective coasts. Keep on the lookout for members of Sex Mob and Zony Mash to show up on a stage near you! Zony Mash performs at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle on January 6 for an acoustic performance with guests Bill Frisell and Robin Holcomb. These guys don't just Mash exclusively either. Look for Wayne Horvitz to perform with Ponga or Bobby Previte's Bump the Renaissance Band. Tim Young can be found on stage with Very Special Forces. Keith Lowe keeps himself busy playing with Thee Old Codgers, The Heathen (also featuring Andy Roth) and Crack Sabbath.

Signing off from the Sex Mash,
F. Ball in San Francisco
Jonathan Epstein in Seattle