Concert Sutra Admiring The Critters Buggin Ambiance

by terri sapp

Photographs by Leah Yetter

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

            When Critters Buggin teamed up with the Benevento Russo Duo for an East Coast Tour in support of their latest release, “Stampede,” Leah and I were spiritually tickled to have been in the presence of four of the most talented men in the world right now two nights in a row.  Critters Buggin is comprised of the following giants of rock and roll:  Matt Chamberlain (on drums among many other drum machine type instruments and synthesizers), has performed for many years with Tori Amos, and has been musically associated with the likes of Edie Brickell and New Bohemians (founding member), David Bowie, Fiona Apple, Pearl Jam, Garbage, Elton John, Natalie Merchant, and Martina McBride, among many others; Skerik (saxophone GOD, keyboardist and sound effects extraordinaire) is one of the members of Les Claypool’s Flying Frog Brigade, as well has played with Garage-A-Trois, Crack Sabbath, and Skerik’s Syncopated Taint Septet, et. al.; Brad Houser (four string, five string, and upright bass, and Moroccan Qarqaba) who was also a founding member of New Bohemians, plays with John Doe as well; and Mike Dillon (all kinds of percussion and vibraphone) has also played with Les Claypool’s Flying Frog Brigade, Garage-A-Trois, Hairy Apes BMX some, and many others. 

          Friday, October 15, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Smith’s Olde Bar, Critters Buggin won my heart immediately and forever, as this was my first live show with these “Critters” in this form. Read More »

Leftover Salmon, catch ‘em while you can!! 

Written by terri sapp

with special thanks to “Downtown” Dave Erickson

Photographs by Leah Yetter

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

            Sadly enough, after many years of touring together, since their formation in 1990, Leftover Salmon has announced that they will be on a sabbatical of sorts after this most recent tour is over.  This six piece “polyethnic-cajun-slamgrass” band has been through a lot together, good and bad as it goes, with losing one of their most revered banjo players, Mark Vann, in 2002, and adding (formerly with “Derek Trucks Band”) keyboardist Bill McKay, and banjo (among other instruments) player, Matt Flinner, and playing with a myriad number of guests such as John Cowan, Sam Bush, and Count M’butu, who is one of the best percussionists around.  A sign of a great band is their ability to roll with the changes, and Leftover Salmon is always changing.  Even with a break in the near future, most (if not all) of these guys already have their own projects formed and ready to take you on with their own force.

            On Friday, November 19, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Variety Playhouse, which is Salmon’s most frequented Atlanta venue, Drew Emmitt (vocals, guitar, mandolin, fiddle), Greg Garrison (vocals, bass), Vince Herman (vocals, guitar, washboard), Bill Kay (vocals, keyboards), Jeff Sipe (drums), and Matt Flinner (vocals, banjo), with special guest Count M’butu (percussion) came, saw, and conquered their final Atlanta show for an undetermined amount of time.  Their energy and style of music really meshed well together for plenty of ass shaking.  I must say that the crowd that congregated in the Variety Playhouse for this farewell-for-now tour was by far the largest I have ever seen in my years of going to shows there.  I was amazed.  Read More »

Hollywood, Music, Politics, Slackers, & Michael Moore

by terri sapp

Michael Moore’s “The Slacker Uprising Tour 2004” is another forum set out to get the voters to the polls in the upcoming election.  As we all know, the goal of such tours hitting primarily the “swing states,” whether you like it or not, is to get all of the eligible voters possible to the polls on November 2, 2004.  So many different types of people from all walks of life are sojourning for truth and change in America through the outcome of the vote happening in less than a month.  After hearing about the Tour from the recent headlines, I was able to catch the Nashville stop.  As everyone already knows, just by reputation, that Michael Moore is not one to keep quiet when he feels strongly about something.  “The Slacker Uprising Tour 2004” exceeded any and every expectation I might have had for a night with Michael Moore and friends. Read More »

Concert Sutra & Ani Difranco Say “Vote Dammit!”

by terri sapp

Photographs by Leah Yetter

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

                There has never been a more important time in American history to put your civil liberties to good use and get to the polls and VOTE!  In the past, many people have fought and struggled so that women, African Americans, Native Americans, and young adults could make a choice and have a voice in time of Election.  The “Vote Dammit!” tour with Ani Difranco has made it their business to encourage each and every eligible American to be heard in the most crucial election of our generation’s lifetime so far.  Ani Difranco has even enlisted her own Army to walk the non-registered masses through the process of registering to vote, including sending their registration off in the mail for them, so they can be eligible by November 2, 2004!

                Having seen Ani Difranco on several occasions, I knew that she was not shy at all about voicing her opinions (through her music, guest speakers, and opening acts).  Also having heard that her latest tour was titled “Vote Dammit!” I was sure she would have plenty to say about the upcoming Election!  Much to my surprise, her message was fairly nonpartisan, Read More »

Concert Sutra’s 2004 Ode To 311

by terri sapp

Photographs by terri sapp

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

            Oh, how I love 311, let me count the ways!  If I had the choice of ANY concert to attend with any living artist, I would choose 311 with NO hesitation.  One sign of a great band is that they sound just as good, if not better, live as they do on their studio albums, which you would think to be unbeatable.  Since the first time I saw 311’s perfect ensemble of musicians play their music live, I have made every effort to catch as many of their shows as physically and financially possible, because they have everything that makes a great band (including great fans)! 

July 31, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheatre was a true 311 “Unity Tour” Atlanta show.  For those of us fortunate enough to have caught the 311 shows in Atlanta understand the love and positivity that flows between the two.  Sometimes, like July 31^st, they seem to make excuses and reasons to play extra special shows when cruising through Atlanta.  This night was deemed the “anniversary of the first sold out show they ever played, 10 years ago here in Atlanta.”  Because of this fact, we got “the longest set list of this entire tour!” I LOVE that!  I later found that I had my own anniversary to celebrate…this night turned out to be approximately my 40^th 311 concert over the past ten years!  No doubt, a reggae filled night worth writing home about… Read More »

Concert Sutra Camping Out At High Sierra

by terri sapp

Photographs by Leah Yetter

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

            From the time I got on the plane in Atlanta, Georgia (even through the extended overnight Vegas layover…thanks America West for the hotel, cab, hot bath, bed, and breakfast), to the time I saw my girls in the family filled Reno Airport, my stomach was in knots with anticipation (and motion sickness) for the good times about to ensue.  As we made our way to the campsite, we could automatically feel the tension melting off of our stress filled shoulders.

            High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, California (this year on July 1-4, 2004) at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds is the most laidback camping/music festival I had ever attended.  The Northeast California mountain air must really work as an opiate to all that enter.  First thing Thursday evening upon arrival, the first order of business was to catch Tea Leaf Green.  However, much to our dismay, our time limits kept us creating our campsite, since our delays at the airport.  Sorry Plateface…The beauty of High Sierra Music Festival is that we were camping right in front of the Grandstand Stage on the artists row, so we could hear everything from the Grandstand.  So, we got to hear a good deal of Tea Leaf Green, anyway. Read More »

Concert Sutra Smokin’ With Chris Robinson & New Earth Mud

by terri sapp

Photographs by Leah Yetter

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

After many delays and layovers in the journey between Atlanta, Georgia and Quincy, California, Chris Robinson and the New Earth Mud was the perfect show to get Leah and I relaxed and in the High Sierra mood.  My first experience with High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, California was full of good times from start to finish.  I could not have asked for a better start to our 2004 High Sierra than the New Earth Mud late night show on Thursday night.  I do believe I have a new forth of July tradition in this wonderfully laid-back fest!

Once I got my first taste of Chris Robinson and New Earth Mud at Music Midtown in Atlanta, I took notice to the fact that these guys would be offering a late night performance at High Sierra on Thursday, July 1, 2004.  These tickets were sold separately from the general festival ticket, so the number of tickets sold was significantly less than the over all tickets.  This made for a truly intimate feel that comes once in a lifetime.  I can’t say enough how special this show felt.  We were lucky to have been a part of the fun(k) (all up in Mr. Robinson’s and Mr. Reiff’s grill)! Other than the obviously fantastic Georgia boy, Chris Robinson, on guitar, lead vocals, among other instruments, there were four extremely talented musicians.  Audley Freed on guitar, George Reiff on bass, Steve Distanislao on drums, and Rob Barraco on keyboards rocked and rolled all over the Funk’n’Jamhouse. Read More »

Concert Sutra’s Music Midtown 2004

by terri sapp

Photo Credits:     Ween and George Clinton photos taken by Ben Rose; Joss Stone photo taken by Chris McKay; Dave Grohl  and crowd surfer photos taken by Frank Mullen; and brought to you courtesy of The Wicked Group.

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

            Each and every year on the first weekend of May in Midtown Atlanta, the biggest and best festival in the Southeast takes over!  The most special aspect of Music Midtown is that no matter what acts are booked to play, this weekend is nothing but fun.  2004 is no different.  I have attended this festival for the last several years, and have found that even if there don’t seem to be any artists that you aren’t interested in experiencing, you can always find something new that will catch your attention.  Not only are there several different stages set up in the middle of the city, but the price of the weekend three-day pass is truly noteworthy.  This year, I was able to catch a total of fourteen bands over the course of the weekend, and the ticket price is under fifty dollars!  Read More »

Concert Sutra Getting Wet With Outkast’s Big Boi

by terri sapp

photo credits: shots of Big Boi taken by Ben Rose, and brought to you courtesy of http://www.wickedgroup.com;  cover shot courtesy of http://www.outkast.com/; and crowd shot courtesy of http://www.leahyetter.com/

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

Saturday night at Music Midtown (Atlanta, Georgia’s largest annual inner-city festival) is always a night full of wandering around between stages trying to catch a bit of all of your favorite shows.  This year was the best, as I found myself running from stage to stage trying to catch George Clinton and the P-Funk, The Doors of the 21st Century, The Foo Fighters, and Big Boi of Outkast.  Surprisingly enough, I made them all!  However, due to the nature of the festival, it is nearly impossible to experience one entire show, in order to get a glimpse of several.  This year, though, Big Boi was scheduled as the grand finale, and I knew I had to make it to his stage from beginning to end.

May 2, 2004 was one of the most voluminous crowds I have ever seen at Music Midtown, and I have seen some pretty big ones.  With every stages’ headliner (listed above), I thought, “Damn, this is the biggest crowd I have ever seen here.”  Then, at one point, I realized that around 11:00 p.m. (start of Big Boi), at least half of the crowd at every stage was headed to join the already large crowd at the Q100 stage to warm up to the Speakerboxxx (I know, because I was right there with them)!  This was my 2004 DON’T MISS, and I am sure glad, because it was hands down the best show of the year!

Big Boi has always been in my top five favorite rappers list, along with his Outkast counterpart, Andre 3000.  Before their newest amazing Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, I always thought of them as Outkast, only together, not apart.  Read More »

Concert Sutra Satisfied Our Souls With The Legendary Wailers

by terri sapp

Photographs by Leah Yetter

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

            “Them belly full but we hungry, a hungry mob is a angry mob…” This mob was definitely hungry for the rich thick smooth reggae that continues still after years and years with the Legendary Wailers.  April 21, 2004 at the Georgia Theatre in Athens, Georgia is a night to go down in history as a few of the best spent hours, so far, of 2004.   I have had the pleasure of seeing several Wailers shows in the past, and one commonality is that the line-up of musicians is always different.  There are a couple guys that seem to be steady, but the rest shift around.  The few that I have noticed who are consistently touring with this truly historical reggae band is Aston “Family man” Barrett, who played with Bob Marley and was in the original Wailers line up, on bass; Zeb Williams on drums; Glenn Decasta, who also played with Bob Marley and has been with the Wailers for a very long time, on saxophone; and Gary Pine on lead vocals.  The others that I had the honor of experiencing (I believe) for the first time this show included, Junior Marvin, who played with Bob Marley and has been with the Wailers for a very long time, on lead guitar; Rasmel Glover, who has the longest head of dreads I have ever laid eyes on, on rhythm guitar; Arnold Rockenridge on trumpet; Keith Sterling, who has played with Peter Tosh, on keyboard; and of course, the background singers, Katian Frasier and Roleta Dixon (spelling unsure). There were so many old favorites performed this night, that it will be difficult to cover them all, but I will give it a shot.  The first of my beloved pieces of music came from the creative mind of Carlton Barrett, “Them Belly Full” from the 1974 classic post-Bunny Wailer/Peter Tosh “Bob Marley and The Wailers” album, “Natty Dread.”    Read More »