Umphrey's McGee, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Robin Trower, Bayou Boogaloo

This probably won't be a long one as I must sleep because I am chaperoning at Cub Scout Day Camp tomorrow, then going from there to coaching at t-ball practice so I'll be outside for about 12 hours tomorrow in the 90 degree heat rounding up six-year-olds.  Hopefully, I can hold up.

It will probably also be a shorter blog because we have hit the end of the spring concert season in Richmond.  Now the tents will get put away and everyone (bands included) stays indoors until September. 

Thursday night at Maymont, Groovin' in the Garden brings jam band Umphrey's McGee to Richmond.  Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate.  Doors open at 5:30, music starts around 6.  The Groovin' site says there is an opening guest TBA.  The Umphrey's site makes no mention of an opener.  UMG is a jam band and usually plays two sets so you may want to get there early just in case its just them.  Here they playing "Much Obliged - Bridgeless" at their annual end-of-year run in Chicago in Dec. 2010:


There is an official Umphrey's afterparty at City Dogs with Tiny Boxes.  This is a free show.  It'll start at 10:30 and feature two sets by Tiny Boxes.  Umphrey's keyboardist Joel Cummins plays with Tiny Boxes and here is how their web site describes the band:
"Tiny Boxes is an uncompromising rock group aiming for a sound somewhere between The Band of Gypsys and Jeff Beck. The band was founded by Bon Lozaga whose enduring commitment to fusion and prog-rock has won him a loyal global following. Soaring melodies, epic solos, and funk-infused rhythms have been central to his approach since his days in Gong during the band’s classic late- ’70s Expresso II period—playing alongside Allan Holdsworth—through to Gongzilla and now with Tiny Boxes.


Tiny Boxes has recently ventured into jamband and songwriting territory, with the help from members of moe. and Umphrey’s McGee. Members of both bands frequently guest at TB"s live shows. Lozaga’s forthcoming solo album titled "Tiny Boxes", released under the name Bon, continues those jamband relationships, with the inclusion of Umphrey’s McGee keyboardist Joel Cummins and Kofi Burbridge from the Derek Trucks Band.

Tiny Boxes is rounded out by a group of seasoned musicians; Leo Kishore (Barefoot Manner, Funkuponya) on Bass, Kyle Poehling (Rebus, Modern Robot) on Drums, and multi-instrumentalist Matt Williams (The Ocean, Asheville Jazz All-Stars) on Violin, Guitar, and Mandolin."

Here's Tiny Boxes performing their song "Haniface" live in Raleigh on June 10, 2011:


On Friday night for the last Friday Cheers of the year, its the soul powerhouse Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings.  Tix are $10 for this one.  Show starts at 6:30 with opener New Belgians.  Here is Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings when they were on Austin City Limits in 2008.

Watch the full episode. See more Austin City Limits.

Guitar great Robin Trower will be at The National on Friday night.  Tix are $26.50 and doors open at 7:00 and showtime is 7:30.   Things get underway with opener 3Borne.  Robin Trower still playing and playing well as he was recently nominated for the 2011 British Blues Awards for Best Guitarist.  Here's one of my favorite Robin Trower tunes (thanks to my K-Tel "The Rock Album"), this is "Too Rolling Stoned" as Robin performed it in 2008:


If you're up for some travel to Norfolk, they have a nice lineup for their annual Bayou Boogaloo Festival.  The fest takes place Friday: Noon - 10pm, Saturday: Noon - 10 pm, Sunday: Noon - 6pm at Town Point Park,  in Downtown Norfolk.  Click HERE for a lineup that includes Cowboy Mouth, Rusted Root, Anders Osborne and the Funky Meters.  Tix are only $10 a day or $20 for the whole weekend.

That's it for this week because I've got a long day tomorrow.  Have a great weekend!
 
Tony Jordan