#nycfreaks — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #nycfreaks, aggregated by home.social.
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If you get a chance to see the band Flea is currently touring with, do not, for one second, hesitate to go. Show of the year candidate. Wow!
Doesn't hurt that his band is fucking sick: Jeff Parker, Anna Butterss, Josh Johnson, Deantoni Parks. Killer set of ambient jazz and experimental funk and many points in between.
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An absolutely lovely afternoon...
Got wise to an afternoon show happening in a parlor in Clinton Hill, my favorite Marta Sanchez in duo with Maria Grand. Felt like I was intruding on a secret gathering, but everyone was so kind and generous, plus cheese and wine. I should be so lucky to join the club.
The music matched the loveliness of the hosts and parlor, two sets of standards and originals that opened into conversant exploration. As I joked to the host, this is why you keep the piano tuned and ready in your Brooklyn brownstone.
Was such a pleasant afternoon, I scrapped the rest of my plans for the day and night. I mean, how lucky am I?
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Then finally over to Manhattan for Mark Guiliana at the Vanguard. The dude is just an inhuman drummer. Nothing more to be said. Played all new (unnamed) material with his stellar band, but really just comes down to trying to piece together what MG is doing on drums. I had to give up because it was breaking my brain. Thankfully he also writes a great song. Amazing stuff at the VV.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #nyc #jazz #villagevanguard #markguiliana
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From there, a completely different kind of album release show with my favorite-of-the-moment Yvonne Rogers, playing solo at the intimate Seeds. She said it was only the second time playing solo and I am quite certain it won't be the last. Amazing, occasionally fully mind-boggling, beautiful, challenging... Just wow! all the way through. She seems to get more impressive each time she plays... And she plays a lot!
Can't wait to listen to the album (out today)
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Killer threefer last night, each show was top-tier.
First: earlier in the week caught wind of a free Hiss Golden Messenger album release show happening at one of my favorite rooms in Brooklyn, thankfully early enough to RSVP and conveniently working from home that day so got there in time for a great spot.
Wasn't sure what to expect, could've been solo or just a few songs, but this was just an absolute monster set at Skinny Dennis. New songs, some jams, a very cool cover of Dixie Chicken sandwiched in one, special guest (the fab Stephanie Coleman on fiddle). MC was in high spirits, the band sounded so good. Can't say enough about this one, so glad I made it.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #brooklyn #williamsburg #hissgoldenmessenger
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Last night: it's not often you wake up after a night at the Vanguard and "Killing Me Softly" is stuck in your head. The return trip for another Brad Mehldau set may have topped the mid-week set I caught. Not sure a piano trio can perform at a higher level. Thanks to @Cdirksen for the invite!
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Tonight: Jose Gonzalez at Brooklyn Steel was magic as to be expected. Just a guy with a guitar in a big warehouse like that and there wasn't a moment I wasn't rapt. 90 minutes just flew by, totally mesmerizing.
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Last night I caught a set of Yvonne Rogers at LunÀtico and she may be the best thing going in NYC jazz these days. She is a mesmerizing piano player, a great bandleader regardless of whom she's playing with, and seems to be a fountain of amazing compositions, every time I see her it's great new music played in superlative fashion.
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Tonight:
First stop at the Stone for opening night for Brian Marsella's week. This was a trio with Craig Taborn and Sylvie Courvoisier... Yes, a piano + lots of keys + lots of keys trio. Lots of keys, very little structure. In an only-at-the-Stone kind of way.
Then over for the late Mehldau set at the Vanguard. Holy duck, so damn good. All the structure, flow, and locked-in-ness missing from the first show.
Still Mehldau + Marsella + Taborn + Courvoisier in one night is some top tier pianist action.
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Alright, I've now hit this Tuesday gig 6 times this year and I've seen enough to say it's maybe the best thing going in NYC livemusic right now. Just hasn't been anything short of remarkable. And I'm discovering a lot of great new local talent. Two weeks ago this dude Mike Robinson on pedal steel was a revelation, the improv melodic and ambient. Last night, Ryan Weiner on guitar and it was some serious thick-necked jamprov.
Highest recommendation.
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Tonight: a special night when you get to go Medeski > Mehldau, two of the greatest keys-men of the common era. But that's what I did tonight.
First, a stellar set of straight improv from Billy Martin and John Medeski. Absolute mastery and superlative chemistry on display.
Then, a couple blocks away to the Vanguard for Gilad Hekselman who was great, but his band... Even better. Mehldau + Morgan + Gilmore = sickest backing band in jazz. Brad was sublime in everything he did. A great night in Manhattan.
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Caught Go Kurosawa last night, in the round at LPR. First of all, more shows in the round, please! He's got a killer band and it was kind of just a lot of songs opening up into a range of different styles of jamming. Ambient, jazzy, funky, rocking, heavy... Standard instrumentation and then a flute or marimba or sax would break out, not to mention lots of heady percussion. No notes, a fabulous show.
The bummer of Kikagaku Moyo shutting it down has been all but forgotten as the members branch out into uniformly awesome projects. Expecting more and more from these dudes.
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My new favorite regular gig in NYC is the improv jam going on at the Richardson in Williamsburg every Tuesday. Seems mostly organized by Scott Colberg, who's become my seek-at-all-costs bassist in town. Everything he does seems to be fantastic which is how I feel about Jeremy Gustin, who is often on these gigs as well.
Tonight the trio was those two and this new-to-me dude Abe Seiferth on guitar/electronics. Caught the second set and it was holyshit! good.
Amazing jams will always find a place to live in this town. If the last 25+ years have taught me anything, it's that.
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And then, as luck would have it, Bill Frisell! Matinee set back at Appel with totally different band and feel. Petra Haden, Ambrose Akinmusire and Tim Angulo creating more magic, vocals and all... Including the most haunting cover of Where Have All the Flowers Gone? imaginable.
So lucky to be able to catch 3 of his birthday shows. All unique in their own way, three lineups, three side of Frisell as a bandleader. A tryptych of Frisellian magic. Grateful!
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Tonight: completed a trifecta of Newport Folk regulars in one week. Brandi Carlile, then Langhorne Slim, and now Margo Price who absolutely crushed it at Webster Hall tonight. Her band is freakin great, with Sean "Weird Ears" Thompson on guitar. He is something special in 3 completely different bands.
And for those who say there are no protest songs these days, all three of those acts had a current of protest energy flowing through their sets, especially Margo tonight, nearly half her set felt charged with either "fuck em all up!" or "we've got this!" energy, not to mention not one but two Dylan covers.
There are few badasses as badass as Margo Price.
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Taper's Choice once again tonight. I love so many things this band does, I feel like I want to write paragraphs every time I see them. Tonight I was really zeroed in on how there's no standard "leader" in the band, much to their credit, and how it manifests itself in so many ways. The jamming gets almost *beyond* democratic. There was an extended stretch of improv where the keys and guitar were basically soloing simultaneously. Not a back-and-forth, not one complementing the other, but two guys somehow locked in for like ten minutes of build where they were almost indistinguishable from each other. Never seen anything like that and it blew my mind. Lots of moments like that. Last night was sick, tonight was something else. Wowza and more at Brooklyn Bowl.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #brooklyn #williamsburg #brooklynbowl #jams
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Tonight: Taper's Choice opens their tour and I was literally smiling from ear to ear the entire set. They just click for me on multiple layers like few others do. Lots of killer jams woven expertly into their proggy compositions. Zach had a Anderson/Bruford/Wakeman/Howe vintage tshirt on and Chris with not just a Grateful Dead tee but more specifically a *Mars Hotel* tee. I don't think you could sum up their sound any better than that unless Dave had a rainbow PH logo shirt on under his leather jacket. Sick progjams at Ardmore Music Hall. Looking forward to more back home tomorrow night.
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If you're in NYC and want to see jazz played at the highest level, Scott Colley Quartet with Julian Lage, Chris Potter, and Tim Angulo at Dizzy's is a must see. Top of their game, all. And you can't beat that view!
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Tonight: haven't seen anyone over the past 4 years as much as Marta Sanchez and I don't think I've loved anyone more over that period than I've loved Bill Frisell, but I do not believe I'd ever seen them together before tonight. Needless to say, it was sublime. Trio set at the Stone with Ingrid Laubrock. As with everything in that room could've gone a million ways, but was a total lighter-than-air bliss-out. Three musicians in constant, sweet-nothing conversation with each other. Everything I dreamed it could be and then some. Perfection!
#nycfreaks #livemusic #nyc #thestone #jazz #martasanchez #billfrisell
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Hey, got offered a ticket to the Cap so I went and I'd do it again, goddammit!
JRAD JRAD'd JRAD'ingly...
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It's Winter Jazzfest season in NYC. I used to pooh pooh the idea of a jazz festival in a city where every single day is literally the best jazz festival in the world (which remains true while WJF is going on!), but I've come around to its creative booking and programming.
Started last night with the Psychic Hotline showcase show at LPR. 5 short sets each with their own charm, dug em all. Joe Westerlund's rhythmic dreamscape probably my favorite, although William Tyler, Sam Gendel, et al were all pretty great too.
Looking forward to the WJF Brooklyn marathon tomorrow...
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5 days into 2026, I've already been to The Stone, Barbès, Village Vanguard and Lowlands Bar. Which is to say, same old same old.
Best set by far was Saturday night late set at the Vanguard, Chris Potter with Craig Taborn, Scott Colley, and Marcus Gilmore. Holy fuck that was some next level jazz, Taborn especially wtf! about as good as I've ever seen anyone solo on the piano.
Catching Nels Cline's last gig of his 60's, appropriately an hour of almost pure noise at the Stone with Celine Kang and Josh Mathews, was also a nice "treat."
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Really enjoyed last night's Phish show! The Tube > Reba > Melt to end the first set was basically the yin + yang + dang! of the band in three pieces. Especially enjoyed the good vs evil dichotomy of the last two.
Second set was a nice freeflow of jam. Ghost! , Ruby Waves!, and Crosseyed!
Went with my son and he thought it was the best he'd seen in a very limited sample size. Can't argue!
Not quite in the 12/30 pantheon, but a solid B+/A- night at the Garden.
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Finally down to LPR for Medeski, Martin, Metzger, and Cline for a full 2ish hours of non-stop improv. This one hit all the buttons! Formless morass of noise to tight-as-fuck dance jams and almost every point in between. All four dudes got a chance to shine individually and were a formidable force when they locked in, which was more often than not. Love it when a show like this is just weird enough to thin out the crowd a bit. Went from comfortably crowded to perfect crowd size in good time. A great, great set. Glad I finally hit one of these and glad they moved it to LPR.
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Tonight to close out a pretty darn swell run was a YLT Hanukkah that was almost literally a little bit of everything. Going both big and small horns, creaky Michael Hurley folk with Peter Stampfel and Stephanie Coleman, delicate meandering, over-the-top rock outs, and an encore of super fun covers led by former Bangle Susanna Hoffs. All the Yo La Tengos and then some and all of it pretty darn swell.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #nyc #ylt #hanukkah #ylthanunakkah #boweryballroom #yolatengo
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Well, tonight's show was an A+, definitely my favorite of the ones I've caught so far. This guy David Mansfield out the entire show on violin and pedal steel made every song better with his presence. First hour was a psychedelic bliss-out, ambient YLT perfection with lots of oozy exploration. Second phase was a full-throttle ass-kicking. Everyone sounded amazing and the flow was exquisite. Then opener Lucinda f'in Williams (!) out for an extra poignant encore. Hanukkah Yo La Tengo at its finest.
Coincidentally, my YLT.50 according to NedBase™, which is absolutely bonkers to me. Looking forward to night #8.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #nyc #ylt #hanukkah #ylthanunakkah #boweryballroom #lucindawilliams
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And some other phenomenal jazz over the past couple nights before and after the other stuff...
Miles Okazaki playing Monk fabulously at Close Up late Thursday; Noriega doing his early Friday thing; late set at Ornithology with Mike Troy et al channeling Coltrane at times.
NYC is hoppin'!
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And the perfect lead-in for the Bajas was Bill Frisell playing at Jazz Gallery. Early set that was like a weird jazz Jeckyll and Hyde. They'd play this relatively "straight" material at an incredibly best-ever level and then in between, they filled the gaps and cracks with oozy, ambient improvisation that only Frisell can do. Fucking incredible. With Jaleel Shaw, Cameron Campbell and Johnathan Blake.
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And the perfect lead-in to last night's SML show was Bitchin Bajas at Union Pool Thursday. Somehow the same vibe but different. Analog synth architectures that consumed the room, percolating synapses. Incredible set coupled with the Macrodose visuals for a full sensory delight.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #brooklyn #williamsburg #unionpool #bitchinbajas
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So, back in January, SML was one of the bands I wanted to catch at Winter Jazzfest, had been enjoying their album. Walked into their post-midnight set and immediately had my expectations rearranged. Serious *what the fuck is happening?* kind of set to a quarter-filled room. In March, a work trip to LA overlapped with an in-the-round SML show that both confirmed and exceeded my WJF experience. Two mindblowing sets of improvisation.
Last night at Sultan Room, they passed the all-important third-times-a-charm test. These guys are legitimately making the most interesting, brain-and-body music. A set that seemed like a singularity of my musical sweetspots of the moment. Deep collectivist playing, serious listening, serious grooves. Like your favorite jam stretched to its blissed-out extremes.
I'd put them up there high on my best-thing-going list.
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Home from a third night in Port Chester. My 16th and final Widespread Panic show of 2025 was a solid B+. Two very solid sets, a monster Machine > Barstools (my favorite!) and Tie Your Shoes > Heaven, a Todd Snider tribute, and a seriously packed house. I don't know that I have 3 shows in me, but no way I wasn't gonna make it tonight and glad I did. Quite a year, don't regret a single penny or minute spent on the band this year. We'll see what 2026 brings.
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Last night: LCD Soundsystem at Knockdown Center. I mean, what else can you say? Still the best at what they do. Opening night of 12 and they crushed it. Feel like sometimes there are lulls, but this was just nonstop awesome. Great setlist, great flow, great energy. First time seeing them at Knockdown and it definitely works.
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Another holyshit! psychedelic dance marathon. Not sure how I made it. Maybe better than last night? As much as I love it, I don't think I could do more than 2 nights of em in a row.
Not sure I can do more than 2 nights of anything anymore. 2 is my sweet spot.
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Another holyshit! psychedelic dance marathon. Not sure how I made it. Maybe better than last night? As much as I love it, I don't think I could do more than 2 nights of em in a row.
Not sure I can do more than 2 nights of anything anymore. 2 is my sweet spot.
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Another holyshit! psychedelic dance marathon. Not sure how I made it. Maybe better than last night? As much as I love it, I don't think I could do more than 2 nights of em in a row.
Not sure I can do more than 2 nights of anything anymore. 2 is my sweet spot.
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Another holyshit! psychedelic dance marathon. Not sure how I made it. Maybe better than last night? As much as I love it, I don't think I could do more than 2 nights of em in a row.
Not sure I can do more than 2 nights of anything anymore. 2 is my sweet spot.
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Tonight: you bet your ass I went back on a Sunday night for Osees round 2. There were a zillion amazing options in NYC this weekend, seems silly to see these guys twice, but also the number if bands I'd rather see play live is less than the number of fingers on my left hand, so...
Wasn't sure they'd be anywhere as good as last night and yet they somehow surpassed it. I'll have to go check but I think minimal repeats which is a very new development. As such, a very different show. Few nifty segue, some extended psychedelia, lots of rocking the fuck out, and one more sweaty t-shirt.
Shame they only come round once a year. I freakin love seeing this band play.
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Tonight: you bet your ass I went back on a Sunday night for Osees round 2. There were a zillion amazing options in NYC this weekend, seems silly to see these guys twice, but also the number if bands I'd rather see play live is less than the number of fingers on my left hand, so...
Wasn't sure they'd be anywhere as good as last night and yet they somehow surpassed it. I'll have to go check but I think minimal repeats which is a very new development. As such, a very different show. Few nifty segue, some extended psychedelia, lots of rocking the fuck out, and one more sweaty t-shirt.
Shame they only come round once a year. I freakin love seeing this band play.
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Tonight: you bet your ass I went back on a Sunday night for Osees round 2. There were a zillion amazing options in NYC this weekend, seems silly to see these guys twice, but also the number if bands I'd rather see play live is less than the number of fingers on my left hand, so...
Wasn't sure they'd be anywhere as good as last night and yet they somehow surpassed it. I'll have to go check but I think minimal repeats which is a very new development. As such, a very different show. Few nifty segue, some extended psychedelia, lots of rocking the fuck out, and one more sweaty t-shirt.
Shame they only come round once a year. I freakin love seeing this band play.
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Tonight: you bet your ass I went back on a Sunday night for Osees round 2. There were a zillion amazing options in NYC this weekend, seems silly to see these guys twice, but also the number if bands I'd rather see play live is less than the number of fingers on my left hand, so...
Wasn't sure they'd be anywhere as good as last night and yet they somehow surpassed it. I'll have to go check but I think minimal repeats which is a very new development. As such, a very different show. Few nifty segue, some extended psychedelia, lots of rocking the fuck out, and one more sweaty t-shirt.
Shame they only come round once a year. I freakin love seeing this band play.
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Tonight: when a friend asks you to be their dance partner at the Parcels show, hard to say no. Very fun show, actually! Band was quite good, lots of good songs, bordered on the serious cheese at times, a few too many "make some noise, NYC!" for my taste, but I think the enthusiasm was genuine. Sound was all over the place, at various times evoking Daft Punk, The Slip (seriously!), Backstreet Boys, and more. Gorgeous mid-autumn night for outdoors music in Queens.
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Tonight: well, MMJ crushed it again. Maybe the best complete show of the weekend. Another A+ sit-in from Ms Rykman taboot. Tears for Fears in the encore? Sweet!
Would be great to see a three-nighter at the Paramount become a tradition.
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Tonight: well, MMJ crushed it again. Maybe the best complete show of the weekend. Another A+ sit-in from Ms Rykman taboot. Tears for Fears in the encore? Sweet!
Would be great to see a three-nighter at the Paramount become a tradition.
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Tonight: well, MMJ crushed it again. Maybe the best complete show of the weekend. Another A+ sit-in from Ms Rykman taboot. Tears for Fears in the encore? Sweet!
Would be great to see a three-nighter at the Paramount become a tradition.
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Tonight: well, MMJ crushed it again. Maybe the best complete show of the weekend. Another A+ sit-in from Ms Rykman taboot. Tears for Fears in the encore? Sweet!
Would be great to see a three-nighter at the Paramount become a tradition.
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Tonight: well, MMJ crushed it again. Maybe the best complete show of the weekend. Another A+ sit-in from Ms Rykman taboot. Tears for Fears in the encore? Sweet!
Would be great to see a three-nighter at the Paramount become a tradition.
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Night 2 of MMJ at the BK Paramount. Pretty fascinating setlist, very few songs I would have asked for, but they kind of crushed the B and C level material. Like they were out to prove the depth of their catalog... and succeeded mightily. Of course, a couple favorites sprinkled in and then a monster close (including another sick Karina Rykman sit-in/bass duel) and A++ encore. This band has been performing at an incredibly high level the last couple years, even higher than usual. Not sure many are doing it better these days. Looking forward to getting loopy tomorrow.
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Night 2 of MMJ at the BK Paramount. Pretty fascinating setlist, very few songs I would have asked for, but they kind of crushed the B and C level material. Like they were out to prove the depth of their catalog... and succeeded mightily. Of course, a couple favorites sprinkled in and then a monster close (including another sick Karina Rykman sit-in/bass duel) and A++ encore. This band has been performing at an incredibly high level the last couple years, even higher than usual. Not sure many are doing it better these days. Looking forward to getting loopy tomorrow.
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Night 2 of MMJ at the BK Paramount. Pretty fascinating setlist, very few songs I would have asked for, but they kind of crushed the B and C level material. Like they were out to prove the depth of their catalog... and succeeded mightily. Of course, a couple favorites sprinkled in and then a monster close (including another sick Karina Rykman sit-in/bass duel) and A++ encore. This band has been performing at an incredibly high level the last couple years, even higher than usual. Not sure many are doing it better these days. Looking forward to getting loopy tomorrow.
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Night 2 of MMJ at the BK Paramount. Pretty fascinating setlist, very few songs I would have asked for, but they kind of crushed the B and C level material. Like they were out to prove the depth of their catalog... and succeeded mightily. Of course, a couple favorites sprinkled in and then a monster close (including another sick Karina Rykman sit-in/bass duel) and A++ encore. This band has been performing at an incredibly high level the last couple years, even higher than usual. Not sure many are doing it better these days. Looking forward to getting loopy tomorrow.