Ten years ago tonight, we were smokin hot in a cold Amsterdam with Darren, Matt Hubbard, Scott Daniels, The Austin Volunteer Orchestra, Wayne Sutton, carolyn wonderland and her band including Cole El-Saleh, Lefty Lefkowitz, Bobby Perkins, and several New Jack Hippies including, Patrick Brink, Roger Tausz, Leesa Harrington-Squyres, Carlos Johnson, and Marlo Blue. From that first night, a few nights earlier, ten years ago, I wrote - -------------------------------------------------------- REPORT FROM THE FIELD New Jack Hippies In Amsterdam ---------- Getting the band to Europe has always been one of my goals. Ive always felt that the wide array of American styles we do would go over great (to that segment of European music fans who love all types of music). Theres a great appreciation of all types of American music over there, and thats what we do. All types of American music. You see - the music listeners in America have been severely segregated during the past 20 - 25 years. Radio playlists have not only shrunk, but the diversity of styles played on any one station which began on the sixties has been replaced with a seperate station for the rocker, and another for the classic rocker. Theres another radio station for the alternative rocker and three more for the listeners of the various strengths of country music. Theres another station or two for hip hop and those who mix their hiphop with older school R&B - but not TOO old-school! Roots rock, soul music and and classic blues receive no play at all in most markets (thank goodness for kpft & satellite radio). Most folks get to hear no more than 20 songs.... In Europe, things are different. One station we listened to follows a Tom Petty song with some euro-disco trash. That might be followed by Bob Marley or anything else in the world - and people like it that way. Thats what I thought theyd like about the New Jack Hippies. And they did. On the first night of WonderJam In Amsterdam, a night we were videotaping others, I saw the crowd applaude for DBrown Fisher and his unique lyrical phrasing, and then turn around and dig Scotty Daniels jazz influenced solo set, too. When Wayne Sutton came onstage with his heavy lyrics and brilliant guitar work, a few of us just grabbed instruments and fell in. It felt good. Carolyn grabbed a guitar, while I grabbed Rogers bass. Mike (didnt get his last name) from The Austin Volunteer Orchestra gave us the beat on the drums. The crowd was right there with us. The audiences willingness to go wherever the music went was refreshing and exciting. At home, its easy to lose a rock crowd by playing a blues song (AND vice-versa). Matt Hubbard played his jelly-rolling honky tonkin piano and sang some crazy songs - and the crowd at Maloe Melo responded as if it was the only music they had come for. The Carolyn Wonderland Trio took over the stage and the crowd kept growing. Going through a number of Texas styles themselves, Carolyn, Scott and Cole wowed those lucky enough to be in attendance. It was a highly charged performance from a bunch of jet-lagged Texans with newly legal high quality intoxicants in their systems. All of the New Jack Hippies in attendance were grinning at each other, and it wasnt just the treats from the coffee shops. We knew that if they loved the diverse styles of music that Carolyn was playing, theyd be able to love us, too. We went back to the boat tired and exhilarated, ready for sleep and tomorrows show. But first, uncontrollable group laughter... CONTINUED SOON.... --------------------------------------------------------- Yep. Thats what I wrote.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 21:02:58 +0000
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