ALO :: 12.31.05
THE DIVINE BALL :: SANTA BARBARA, CA
Words by Tanner Wyer :: Images by Casey Flanigan
ALO :: 12.31.05 :: Santa Barbara, CA |
2005 has most certainly been a milestone year for the Animal Liberation Orchestra. The California-based quartet played almost every major festival, went on a nation-wide summer tour with Jack Johnson, signed a deal with Johnson's Brushfire Records, and picked up a considerable amount of momentum and buzz. It would seem that the fates were pushing ALO to play their best show ever for NYE 2005, and they did. Just not in the way you'd think.
Throwing all conventional methods of tradition to the side, ALO (and some of their closest friends/fans) took celebrating the New Year to an entirely different level. After playing two smokin' sold out shows on the 29th and 30th at the SoHo in downtown Santa Barbara, the party got mobile and went to the top of the mountain. The band gave permission to throw a private event at the acclaimed 'Mountain House' (graciously hosted by Mike Summers and Sean Marnane) in Los Padres National Forest. Dubbed 'A Divine Ball,' this masquerade event was to be a "Liberation of Gods and Goddesses" and ended up being a full-on costume frenzy that created a lifetime of memories in one night.
ALO :: 12.31.05 :: Santa Barbara, CA |
I can say with 100% conviction that there was nothing like this any other place in the country. The SB Music Phreaks were the hosts and organizers for the evening, and they put MONTHS into planning and preparation to ensure that the night was everything that it could have been. Aside from proceeds for the band, there was no profit gained from this event. This was a crazy, albeit conscious group of music lovers. A portion of money gathered from each ticket was donated to the Los Padres Forest Watch in an effort to give back to the land that was giving us this ultimate celebratory experience. And celebrate, we did.
Steve Molitz with ALO :: 12.31.05 :: Santa Barbara, CA |
Musically speaking, the band was at the top of their game. Starting around 10 p.m. and carrying on until the golden and pink rays of the sun started to shine over the Pacific Ocean the next morning, ALO delivered the most amazing performance I've ever seen them give. Playing each song with massive amounts of intent, their song selections flowed seamlessly into each other, creating sonic explosions of funk, elating the attentive crowd to new heights. ALO heavy-hitters like "Walls of Jericho," "Time is of the Essence," and "Animal Liberation" were mixed in with choice covers of Bill Withers' "Lovely Day," Barry White's "Never Gonna Give You Up," and Jimmy Smith's "Root Down." The musical highlight of the evening occurred somewhere during the middle of the third set when Particle keyboardist Steve Molitz joined the band for an absolutely jaw-dropping rendition of "Sneaking a Peek," which included ALO singer/keyboardist Zach Gill demonstrating that his Hand Sonic abilities are just as developed as his colorful key work. To sum up ALO's performance, it was mesmerizing - everything you'd want in a band for an evening, rife with spontaneity and focus, and ready to play till the sun came up.
Steve Adams :: ALO
12.31.05 :: Santa Barbara, CA |
What would it take to make the ultimate party? A shuttle from your car to the event? Unlimited beer and wine with admission? Food as well? No curfew on the music? Ice luges? 260 stoked attendees in full-on god/goddess garb? Four sets of mind-blowing, experimental funk music? A picturesque sunrise overlooking the Pacific Ocean? A huge breakfast to replenish the marbles you lost the night before? A shuttle back to your car?
The Divine Ball had all of these elements, but the one thing that took it truly over-the-top was how special each person felt by being there. The love that went into this party was equally dispersed back throughout the night. This event was made possible because the fans of ALO wanted to make it happen and because ALO wanted to give their most loyal fans the opportunity to celebrate in the appropriate manner.
As I read the words that I've just written, I realize that there is no way anyone could capture the magic evoked on top of that mountain. H.L. Mencken himself would be at a loss for words. As simply as I can state it, there will probably never be another party like this.
But if there is, you'd better make sure you're there.
Listen to ALO's NYE Show HERE.
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