Wetlands Preserved
March 9th, 2008
From 1989 to 2001, the Wetlands Preserve flourished just off of New York’s Houston Street. Founded by a Deadhead, the club attracted rising bands in the burgeoning “jam bands” scene, along with ska and hip-hop acts, while maintaining an activism center that held “eco-saloons” and launched inventive street theater protests. Dean Budnick’s Wetlands Preserved, produced by second and final owner Peter Shapiro, is a heartfelt tribute to a joyous anomaly in New York’s nightlife scene that eventually surrendered to Tribeca’s increasing gentrification in the days following September 11.
Continue reading my review of Wetlands Preserved, opening March 14, on About.com.
Wetlands Preserved: The Story of an Activist Nightclub. Dean Budnick, 2006. ***
And here’s a video to go along with it: Ann Marie Calhoun and her brother Joe cover Phish’s “Stash” [via Andy Gadiel]:
Tea Leaf Green @ Rocks Off Cruise
June 7th, 2007
The storm that lashed New York last Sunday was wicked enough to merit its own name, but the Rocks Off cruise featuring San Francisco jam band Tea Leaf Green went full steam ahead anyway. The cheerful music made the downpour appear festive, fun was had on the rolling dance floor, and not until the Temptress was docked again did the weather get its due: swimming home would have been easier than trying to catch a cab on the West Side Highway–and just as wet.
See flickr for the rest of my photos and the fan forum for the setlist and reviews. There are a number of videos and a podcast on the official site; Live Music Archive has lots more. Here’s a catchy tune:
Ratdog 3/8/07
March 11th, 2007
Only caught one of three Ratdog shows at the Beacon this weekend; the weather had me down, tickets were tight, and my old friend Dirk was in town and invited me for steak. What can I say? Estimated> Other One went places, and I wish there had been more DJ Logic. I missed Donna and the Mighty Quinn last night, but Bobby’s still a rock star.
Set I: Jam > The Music Never Stopped > Mama Tried > Baby Blue > Money for Gasoline > They Love Each Other > Loose Lucy > Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance > GDTRFB*
Set II: Stack O’Lee@, Mexicali Blues@ > Looks Like Rain@ > Jus’ Like Mama Said > Estimated Prophet > The Other One+ > Stuff*+#% > Black Muddy River > Sugar Magnolia
Encore: Uncle John’s Band
*-with Dred Scott (Keys); +-with Chuck MacKinnon (Trumpet); #-with DJ Logic (Turntables); %-with Tom Pope (Drums) - Only “Stack O’Lee”
- Photos
- Video clips: Sailor>Saint, Estimated
