Dewey Beach Summer Concerts @ Bottle & Cork

The Bottle & Cork has stacked up a superb lineup for the summer of 2009, cheap tickets, beer and a great venue combined with a few great names. You know were you will find me parked this summer. A few of the highlights are Dark Star Orchestra (DSO), Keller Williams, Carbon Leaf, Lez Zepplin & Robert Randolph, however leaving anyone out is a bit of an injustice. 

If I wasn't already seeing Umphrey's McGee & Matisyahu or DSO the following day, I would be at the Lez Zepplin show. It's awesome, I saw them last year at Bonnaroo, a couple of days before Robert Plant would take the stage with Alison Kraus. Just for kicks, here's a clip of Lez Zepplin rocking out to Whole Lotta Love, and they can rock, enjoy.

Here's the complete lineup, tickets can be purchased here.

The Bangles | Friday, May 22, 2009

Carbon Leaf | Friday, May 29, 2009

Pat McGee Band | Friday, June 5, 2009

Citizen Cope | Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Cowboy Mouth/Virginia Coalition | Friday, June 12, 2009

Bruce in the USA | Friday, June 19, 2009

Old 97's | Thursday, June 25, 2009

Lez Zepplin | Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Dark Star Orchestra | Thursday, July 9, 2009

Eric Church | Thursday, July 16, 2009

Robert Randolph & The Family Band | Friday, July 17, 2009

George Clinton & Parliment Funkadelic | Thursday, July 23, 2009

James Otto | Friday, July 24, 2009

Keller Williams | Thursday, August 6, 2009

Umphrey's McGee & Matisyahu to play Electric Factory

Umphrey's Mcgee is headed back again to the Philly region on July 8th, co-headlining a show with Matisyahu at the Electric Factory. Both will play full sets, tickets are $28.50 on sale at Ticketmaster. 

Wilco in Wilmington!

In August when Wilco rocked the Grand Opera House, they promised to return. Who knew that they meant in less than a year they would come back and play another show. This time though at a slightly larger venue, Frawley Stadium, it holds 10,000 people. Tickets will be $35 and go on sale April 24, at either the Grand Opera House Box Office or online.

Ben LeRoy | Live @ the Grand

His show kicked off Friday night a dream 20 years in the making. It was nothing short of grand, set perfectly in Wilmington's Grand Opera House. Ben didn't quite sell out the crowd, however by best guess I would put the venue at about 2/3 full of a 1200 cap. It turns out the ticket proceeds all were donated to Delaware Autism and Light Up The Queen. 

Through two sets in a little under 2 hours, we wound through a mixture of classic covers and new originals. I would best describe his original music as a cross between Peter Gabriel and Cat Stevens, and even a hint of Steve Earle in some sense. Although Ben and his entire cast was musically talented I did feel the show was at times a little over the top. He kicked off his second set with solo violinist joined by a drum line entering from the back of the theatre, until he joined them all on stage with the rest of the band, we're talking like 18 or so people on stage. Directly after the audience was entertained with a pair of professional dancers occupying the typical spot of front row seats and an intricately matched light show.  Entertainment value aside, I prefer to cut right to the music, it's what brought me to the seat in the first place. 

I'll see if I can't find the set list and post that soon, in addition to a few photographs from the night.

Delaware Symphony Covers Led Zeppelin

It's a show that's well traveled, conducted by Brent Havens, accompanied with vocals by Randy Jackson, who although sounded great, looked like a washed up rocker from the 1980's. And frankly that make sense, his claim to fame was "Zebra" released in 1983, that according to his biography sold 75,000 copies in the first week. I only mention him, due to the long crazy hair, slight bald spot and  fashion sense that would have been better left in a closet. Looks aside this tight Zeppelin cover band combined the classic favorites with newly written scores fit for an orchestra. 

Some highlights of the show, was the awe-inspiring drum solo of Powell Randolph during Moby Dick, or ear screeching guitar work of George Cintron. The audience was more than willing to oblige to crowd participation, shouting out lyrics and aaaahhhs at the top of their lungs. Needless to say Jackson worked the crowd, leading up to a standing ovation at the end. Yes, unlike a real hard rock concert, this was better enjoyed from the comforts of your seat. I don't have an actual recording of last night's performance, as it turns out the Delaware Symphony frowns on this.  Here's a clip from a show in Florida:

Umphrey's McGee

So after 11 years of playing, Umphrey's McGee finally stopped off in Wilmington for a show at the Grand Opera House. If you haven't been to the Grand to see a show, you're missing out, it's acoustic euphoria. I last saw UM in a crowd of 35,000 at Bonnaroo, in the hot TN sun, needless to say a 1200 person venue 5 minutes from my house was a welcome change. 

They rocked the house with 2 sets, and an encore, playing for 2.5 hours, here's the set:

Set One

Ocean Billy

Spires

White Man's Moccasins

Morning Song

Last Man Swerving

Words

Ocean Billy Reprise

Set Two

Slacker

Cemetery Walk

Africa

Crazy Fingers

Thin Air

Push the Pig

End of the Road

Much Obliged

Slacker Reprise

Encore

Miss Tinkle's Overture