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New Releases
 Jerry Garcia Band - GarciaLive Vol 2 - Greek Theatre 8.5.1990 (2 CDs) - GarciaLive Volume Two captures the classic latter-era lineup of the Jerry Garcia Band in the very familiar surroundings of the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA. Recorded during a fruitful period for the band, which has resulted in two previous releases (Jerry Garcia Band and How Sweet It Is), this show features a guest appearance by acclaimed banjo player Bela Fleck to kick off the second set with a fiery rendition of "Midnight Moonlight" and an otherworldly adventure on the Jimmy Cliff classic, "The Harder They Come."
 Phish - Ventura (6 CDs) - "Ventura", an all new 6-CD box set featuring two complete shows, recorded July 30, 1997 and July 20, 1998 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura, California, a general admission dirt racetrack between the Pacific Coast Highway and Surfers Point Park, with palm trees and mountains behind the stage and a view of the Pacific Ocean from the bleachers. Bits of the each show's Soundchecks are included at the end of both shows.
The new box set was fully remixed from the band's multitrack masters and mastered for release. July 30, 1997 was Phish's first Ventura stop since Trey learned to surf nearby in 1993. The show featured a number of must-hear performances including a bass-driven, syncopated "Wolfman's Brother" > "Chalk Dust Torture", a deep and spacey "Stash" and "Character Zero" in Set I. A "Free" > "David Bowie" > "Cities" > "David Bowie" combination dominated the show's second half with some of the summer's biggest jams.
 Donna the Buffalo - Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday CD - The follow up to 2008’s acclaimed Silverlined, which reached the Top 10 on the Americana charts, Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday—the group’s 10th studio album—proves the band as a consistent steward of Americana music, their signature sound—traditional mountain music infused with elements of Cajun, rock, folk, reggae and country—an eclectic and extraordinary melting pot of such.
In creating the new album, founding members and songwriter-vocalists Jeb Puryear (vocals, guitar) and Tara Nevins (vocals, guitar, fiddle, accordion, scrubboard)—joined by band members David McCracken (Hammond organ, clavinet), Kyle Spark (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums)—convened in a rustic church in Enfield, New York, along with co-producer Robert Hunter. The building overflowed with vibe, and the music poured out as the group recorded take after live take to old-school analog tape, with as few overdubs as possible. What resulted are the 14 organic and authentic tracks that make up Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday.
 Glastonbury The Movie: In Flashback DVD - Beautifully shot in epic CinemaScope this new film, created from over 100 hours of previously unseen material, spins back the years and drops you into the best of the old-school Glastonburys. Features the Orb, Spiritualized, The Verve, Lemonheads, Porno for Pyros and more. Glastonbury The Movie In Flashback is a must-see for all festival fans.
Coming Soon
 Robert Walter's 20th Congress - Get Thy Bearings CD - Robert Walter performs all his own stunts. For 20 years, the San Diego native has been pulling drawbars and pushing the limits of the Hammond B3 organ. As a founding member of the Greyboy Allstars, he helped usher in the funk-jazz renaissance of the early '90s and has continued to keep one hand comping chords in the instrument's funky past, while the other explores ever-new melodic terrain. His long-standing project, Robert Walter's 20th Congress, returns with, Get Thy Bearings, via The Royal Potato Family. It was a recent move from New Orleans to Los Angeles that jump-started the 20th Congress who hadn't recorded a studio album in ten years. The nine-track effort presents Walter's organ, piano, Rhodes and synthesizer driving an all-star line-up rounded out by guitarist/bassist Elgin Park, drummer Aaron Redfield, sax players Karl Denson and Cochemea Gastelum, and percussionist Chuck Prada.
 Moon Hooch - Moon Hooch CD - The reaction is instantaneous. It doesn't even matter when they're the opening act no one in the room has heard before -- as soon as Moon Hooch starts playing, it's as if the room becomes a living, surging, pulsing thing. They call it 'cave music': like house music, but more primitive and jagged and raw. But there are no DJs or laptops here -- just one drum kit and two saxophones. The 'cave music' sound developed around an organic approach to playing electronic dance music. The looping, frenetic sax melodies and James's furious drumming are fierce and trance-like, as Mike and Wenzl rock back and forth, pushing and pulling each other from across the stage. Sometimes Wenzl switches over to a contrabass clarinet, or inserts a long cardboard tube into the bell of his sax to create the deep, throbbing whomp of a dubstep bassline. It's manic, and thrilling, and perhaps a little bit evil.
Last Week:
 Jason Isbell - Southeastern CD - Southeastern features the most personal songs Isbell has written to date. The 12 tracks emanate self-reflection, repentance and personal growth, while simultaneously making the statement that Jason Isbell has fully arrived as an artist. The striking vocals and compelling lyrics of the haunting opening track “Cover Me Up”, make it immediately apparent that this is coming from some place much deeper. Isbell’s fight for sobriety, life lessons and newfound happiness inspires the music on Southeastern. Southeastern was recorded in Nashville and produced by Dave Cobb (Jamey Johnson, The Secret Sisters). Special guests include Kim Richey and Amanda Shires, Isbell’s new bride.
 Big Daddy Love - Live at Ziggy's CD - Essentially organic in both disposition and composition, Big Daddy Love is a five-piece band with a unique and natural blend of rock, roots and grass that they developed into an eclectic style of self-proclaimed 'Appalachian Rock.' Their new CD Live at Ziggy’s captures the band performing in front of their dedicated and energetic hometown crowd at Ziggy’s in Winston-Salem, NC in the fall of 2012. Showcasing the vigorous songwriting and spirited vocals of new lead singer, Scott Moss, Live At Ziggy’s is proof that Big Daddy Love is at the start of a new journey as a band— a journey that has been taking them regularly from the Green Mountains of Vermont to the Rockies to sunny Florida and all points in between.
Upcoming Events:
June 21-23 - Blueberry Jam - Wakefield, VA
June 21-23 - Savannah Summer Solstice - Savannah, GA
Jue 27-30 - Electric Forest - Rothbury, MI
*July 4-6 - The BIG What? - Possum Holler, NC
July 18-21 - All Good Music Festival - Thornville, OH
July 25-29 - FloydFest - Floyd, VA
July 25-29 - Gathering of the Vibes - Bridgeport, CT
* Look for the HGMN booth at this event!
Video of the Week:
The Broadcast - "Don't Waste It" - Live at Echo Mt Studios
Thanks for reading! Treat yourself to some good music this week.
- Lee Crumpton
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