Fela The Musical Shubert Theater New Haven 10/22/10

Original Broadway Cast comes to New Haven for three days. With Aaron Johnson of the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra on trombone and musical direction and Bill T. Jones on choreography, this show packed a punch. A musical biography of Fela Kuti was full of Fela hits. A bevy of wives/dancers completed the visual. After Fela introduced us to the Shrine his famous Lagos nightclub, Fela urged the predominantly white crowd to explore their "clock" of rhythm. Followed Fela's journey to England then LA then back to hostile Nigeria. The ending dance sequence to the orishas was truly memorable.

Harriet Tubman 10/14/11 Firehouse 12

Harriet Tubman a downtown supergroup formed in the nineties and dormant until recently boasts Brandon Ross on guitar, Melvin Gibbs bass, J.T. Lewis drums, Graham Haynes on electronically processed cornet, DJ Val Inc. and DJ Logic on turntables. The new project takes Coltrane's Ascension as a jump off point to futuristic funkjazz. Unfortunately, DJ Logic was stuck in Japan the night of this show. Ross seemed to have some sound issues on set 1 and stomped off momentarily leaving Gibbs to show off some explosive 5-string bass. Haynes always the extraterrestrial coaxed weird sounds from the processed cornet. The highlight was DJ Val Inc. with her Sinead O'connor hairdo offered excellent song-bending percussion which played well with Lewis. Sadly, we are left to imagine this project with DJ Logic in attendance

Erik Friedlander's Bonebridge 10/7/11 Firehouse 12

Friedlander's recent project Bonebridge is an homage to bluegrass camp. Friedlander on cello, Doug Wamble on guitar, Trevor Dunn on bass, and Mike Sarin on drums. The cello plucked and bowed was front and center with Erik looking as comfortable as with John Zorn's atonal Masada projects. Warm song structure with little improv made for an enjoyable listening experience which would have appealed to a wider than F-12 audience. Erik's extensive and varied career is worth digging in to.

Yo La Tengo 9/23/11 Toads Place New Haven

New Jersey skronkmeisters brought their convulsive feedback to Toads Place. Georgia, Ira, and James have been plying their trade since the 80s. Recent success with albums like Popular Songs, and Summer Sun were touched on in this high voltage show. Free to Fall and an excellent rendition of Pass The Hatchet were the highlights. These musicians are true artists and musicologists who have a true vision. Ira chided Toads place for showing a football game during the show. Opening act The Joiner Inners were picked from a letter they wrote YLT.

Deer Tick 8/25/11 Beachcomber Wellfleet MA

Providence band chugged its way out to the Comba for a rocking pre-hurricane Irene set. Known for its boozy live shows, this band lived up to the hype. With cadre of followers who knew every lyric, Deer Tick rocked a packed house. Originals from Black Dirt Sessions, Maybelline, Impromptu Swimmin in a Hurricane were all great. When frontman singer wasn't pouring beer on drummer's cymbals, making out with keyboard player, spraying beer and sandwiches on the crowd, he held it down with straight rock and roll. A fitting exit, the band "escaped" through a window to a show ending wall of feedback. If this band can stay alive, they are certainly worth watching.

Fishtank Ensemble w/ Dr Caterwauls Cadre of Clairvoyant Claptraps 8/11/11 Cafe 9

Its been way to long since the last entry of Cafe 9. DCCCC with cello, accordion, fiddle, banjo, and drums plucked and harmonized their way through world folk songs and chants. The homemade looking banjo came out for a gypsy inflected take on London Calling. Fishtank Ensemble from LA took the stage late. Fiddle, standup bass, flamenco guitar, and female lead vocals with saw. Thats right, this woman played an excellent saw (youtube them). Truly a family affair, the woman's 4-yr old boy hung out on stage as well, gypsy tradition? Folk songs from Turkey, Greece and Romania , and France filled the set. The singer even growled her way through Fever. Mildly revamped Cafe 9 had a great painting of Captain Beefheart which seems fitting of the venue.

Steely Dan 7/29/11 MGM Grand Theater

What do you do if your band had a string of hits in the 70s, never toured, took your name from a William Burroughs-penned sex toy.......tour americas casinos with a top notch band of young jazzbos. Steely Dan does this because they can. After years of non touring in their heyday, the lords of the hipper-than-thow Becker and Fagan hit Ledyard. My Old School, all of the Aja album, Dirty Work, Kid Charlemagne, Bodishattva, Black Friday were highlights. Becker's great spoken word intro to Hey Nineteen was hilarious. Band intros to Papa Don't Take No Mess was a nice touch. I don't frequent this venue but this show was a keeper, thanks to LB.