+front+ +bands+ +the crawl+ +c.d.'s+ +b.s.+ +dissent+ +venues+ +info+
Relax, It's Just Trax
by Cripsy Duck 11-28-00
(printed in C-VILLE Vol.12, No.49)
STONED WHEAT THINGS - FRIENDS OF JAMAL MILLNER
MEGAN HUDDLESTON AND JIM WAIVE
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
|
Perhaps I err. Last week's reactionary tirade against violence in Trax came too soon for staffers eager to let me know that there was more to the tale than the blow I witnessed onstage. Their story involves a member of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones/Floggin' Molly road entourage (a notoriously rough crew by the admission of the Bosstones' own website) making noises about "starting a riot"on this, the last night of their tour. Apparently said roughneck was down in the pit in front of the stage helping people over the crowd barriers, exchanging strong words with Trax staffers and lobbying threats when the fight I referred to broke out. Events that followed are cloudy, but if I misrepresented the actions of the bouncer who jumped on stage and decked the dude in the mouth, then I apologize. If you saw something different, please let me know. On top of this, I have also been informed that the large fans in the main room of Trax are the sole domain of the visiting band's management and that Trax' staff has no authority over whether or not they are turned on. This has something to do with the fans' tremendously noisy whirr, so the venue is contractually bound to allow major acts to choose whether they want the breeze or the quiet. Also, Trax's fabled no re-entry-when-sold-out policy apparently only applies to underagers. If you are 21 or older, you're free to get a breather-- unless there's a long line at the door. (Definitely check with the staff before you leave.) Whew! It gets hot in there sometimes. And on a different note: for clarity's sake I feel it important to tell you that the L.S.D. I spoke of in this column a couple weeks' back was not purchased in Trax, nor would I suggest that this or any illegal drug can be found there with any regularity. Trax is a relatively normal bar-- not a drug haven-- and the crowds in attendance vary dramatically from night to night. Very rarely are people walking around with bottles of potentially dangerous psycho-active chemicals on them. (I guess I just lucked out.) As I said before, Trax has always been kind to me, allowing me to review shows in their main room no matter what I say about them, and it is still the largest club in town and the only one equipped to handle concerts the size of a Mighty Mighty Bosstones-style free-for-all. It's an uphill struggle keeping order in a big nutty scene like that, and occasionally things can get out of hand. I can dig it. I just hate seeing people get hurt. Again, my apologies for not allowing Trax the opportunity to give their side of the story. 'Nuff said.
11/24/00 Sure, I was there to review the show. Sure I was. No, I wasn't there just to get silly trashed and soak up some old-school Dead-ified rock and roll with my old buddy Barndoor Cowlegs. No, not me, baby. I'm a responsible duck. I swear.
But soon enough, while standing around accidently dumping portions of the second of what would soon be three pitchers of beer on my booted feet, I realized I wasn't doing such a good job. In fact, I was screwing up rather royally, thank you. I was in good company. The thrilling partiers of yesteryear were out en force to cheer on their old heroes the Stoned Wheat Things, and I couldn't help but join in. I'm a sucker for good ol' Grateful Dead-style rock 'n roll, especially when it's well played, and the presence of Sandy Grey and Spencer Lathrop on guitar and drums respectively (now both with the Hogwaller Ramblers) and Dan Sebring on bass pretty much guarantee that the jams will get juicy. Of course, once my boot filled up with beer, I was no longer equipped to do the band critical justice. So I kept drinking. That usually helps... something.
11/27/00
Big fun was had despite the absence of notorious funkster/Corey Harris sideman Jamal Millner. With Millner gone, former Secret guitar superfreak Joe Lawlor was pushed to the forefront of the very heavy jam crew (Johnny Gilmore-- drums, Vick Brown-- bass, and Ivan Orr-- keyboards), and allowed to stretch out on this, the anniversary of the births of both Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Lee. These are two formidable superheroes to pay tribute to, but the crew did them fair justice with the help of former Secret frontman Matt Furgeson on trumpet and Man Mountain, Jr.'s Tucker Rogers on guitar. Heavy duty.
11/28/00
The chick with the wackiest tattoos in town has teamed up with the former Echo's Farm guitarist for a sweet little country/folk duo that lays out a fresh heap of offbeat harmonies and cool Americana every Tuesday upstairs at the Rose. Both sing a pretty batch of old-time reneck goodies, and mix it up with guitars and the occasional bit of washboard scratchin'. A refreshingly low-key Americana combo.
|
