Southern Brewers Festival Videos

I had an absolute blast at Southern Brewers Festival this past weekend in Chattanooga! Check out these videos I took from the weekend! Also, stay tuned for my full photo album from the weekend, as well as my review on Grateful Music!

Preview: Crosby, Stills & Nash @ The Orpheum, Memphis, TN (Aug. 20, 2014)

The one and only Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) will be rockin' the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis tomorrow, Wednesday, August 20, 2014! As the story goes, CSN played only their second gig together at the legendary Woodstock. After that show, the trio exploded, spewing hits right and left, while spreading their socially conscious message. Various forms of the trio have taken shape over the years, including the addition of Neil Young to form CSNY, Crosby-Nash and Stills-Young, but the power of this threesome always seems to bring them back together. Seeing as all three members were in famous bands before the formation of CSN, let's take a look at each member's history, followed by a group synopsis.

CSN Album Cover

 Graham Nash was born in England and, before moving to the United States, was a founding member of The Hollies. The Hollies were a pop band, joining The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in the British Invasion. As Nash grew older, he became fascinated with America. While on tour in the States, he began to meet more socially conscious musicians who were not satisfied with the simplicity of pop music (and who experimented with drugs). Slowly, Nash grew apart from The Hollies and longed for something more. Besides his work with The Hollies and the various forms of the CSN trio, Nash has recorded 5 solo albums.

Graham Nash

David Crosby was born in Los Angeles, California and was a founding member of The Byrds. The Byrds was a folk rock band formed in the mid-1960s. Crosby began to grow apart from his bandmates just as Nash had. In short, he refused to conform and began to act out on stage and refuse to show up for practices and interviews. All things considered, however, he was an integral part of the band's sound, and The Byrds was never the same after Crosby left. Aside from his work with The Byrds and the various forms of the CSN trio, Crosby has recorded 4 solo albums.

David Crosby

Stephen Stills was born in Dallas, Texas and was a founding member of Buffalo Springfield, along with Neil Young. After lineup changes, drug-related arrests and fighting for control plagued the band throughout its short career, Buffalo Springfield disbanded after only 2 years. Besides his work with the various forms of the CSN trio, Stills has had the most successful solo career out of the 3 of them. Stills formed Manassas in 1971, which released 2 studio albums, and he has recorded 9 solo studio albums and 2 live albums. Most recently, Stills was a part of the supergroup The Rides, which recorded a studio album in 2013, along with a supporting tour.

Stephen Stills

The beginnings of the CSN trio can be traced back to one night at Joni Mitchell's house in California in July 1968. The 3 of them sang a 3-part harmony together, the vocals jelled beautifully and the rest is history. The band recorded 5 studio and 2 live albums as CSN and 3 studio and 3 live albums as CSNY (with Neil Young). David Crosby and Graham Nash recorded 4 studio and 2 live albums as Crosby & Nash, and Stephen Stills and Neil Young recorded 1 studio album together as the Stills-Young Band.

As a young man myself, Crosby, Stills & Nash is a band I never thought I would be able to see. Their music has influenced me since as far back as I can remember, and I am so glad they are still touring. Gear up for this one Memphis. It's time to take a ride back in time!

Stephen Stills, David Crosby & Graham Nash

Woodstock: 45 Years Later

45 years ago today, perhaps the most iconic event in music history began on a dairy farm owned by Max Yasgur in Bethel, New York. To Millennials like myself, Woodstock is the stuff of legend, a mysterious weekend of music featuring many artists who now also only exist as legends, the likes of which has never been and will never be experienced, while to those who attended the magical festival, its legacy lives on through their memories and ideals. August 15-18, 1969 will forever be etched into the world of music, especially rock & roll, and now let's take a deeper look into the amazing weekend. Also, make sure to check out a special playlist of YouTube videos of performances from the iconic festival!

Crowd Photo - Woodstock 1969

Woodstock was the brainchild of four entrepreneurs: Michael Lang (promoter, Miami Pop Festival); John Roberts; Joel Rosenman; and Artie Kornfield. While an outdoor music festival, especially one as large as the final result, was not in the initial plan for the venture, the idea slowly built from a recording session into a festival. The first act to sign was Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), and after that, all the big names of the time jumped on board the venture. 

Crosby, Stills & Nash - Woodstock 1969

The venture also had some issues with the location of the festival. Originally, the event was planned to take place at Mills Industrial Park in Wallkill, New York, and town officials were assured that no more than 50,000 would be in attendance. Town residents vehemently opposed the festival and enacted laws which eventually banned the festival from the location. Eventually, the event was moved to Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel, although the promoters still promised under 50,000 in attendance, despite backlash from other town residents.

Janis Joplin - Woodstock 1969

Despite many logistical catastrophes, such as massive traffic jams, way more attendees than expected resulting in insufficient first aid and sanitation, rain delays causing the festival to extend into Monday morning, and two deaths, most people in attendance, including Mr. Yasgur, saw the weekend as a success and a "victory for peace and love." The sound engineer Bill Hanley is quoted saying that the sound system "...worked very well." And, of course, the music was unbelievable.

Stage Photo - Woodstock 1969

Friday, August 15, 1969 performers included:

• Richie Havens
• Ravi Shankar
• Arlo Guthrie
• Joan Baez

Joe Cocker - Woodstock 1969

Saturday August 16, 1969 (into Sunday morning) performers included:

• Country Joe McDonald
• Santana
• Canned Heat
• Mountain
• Grateful Dead
• CCR
• Janis Joplin w/The Kozmic Blues Band
• Sly & The Family Stone
• The Who
• Jefferson Airplane

Jefferson Airplane - Woodstock 1969

Sunday August 17 (into Monday morning) performers included:

• Joe Cocker and The Grease Band
• Country Joe and The Fish
• Ten Years After
• The Band
• Johnny Winter
• Blood, Sweat & Tears
• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• Paul Butterfield Blues Band
• Jimi Hendrix/Gypsy Sun and Rainbows

Jimi Hendrix - Woodstock 1969

Many of these performances are considered to be some of the best in rock & roll history. While the music was a huge success, Woodstock Ventures incurred $1.4 million in debt and faced approximately 80 lawsuits following the festival. Mr. Yasgur turned down the offer to host the festival again in 1970 to resume his life as a dairy farmer, while Bethel residents voted out their supervisor in a November 1969 election because of his part in bringing Woodstock to their town, and New York state and Bethel passed mass gathering laws in order to prevent future festivals. Fortunately for Woodstock Ventures, profits from the Woodstock movie, released in 1970, financed legal settlements and debt.

Santana - Woodstock 1969

Today, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts sits on the original site of Woodstock, which opened in 2006, as well as the Museum at Bethel Woods, which opened in 2008. There is also a plaque on the site, set there in 1984, commemorating the festival. A 40th Anniversary event was held in 2009, featuring the largest gathering of Woodstock alumni since the festival itself, and there is talk of a big 50th Anniversary celebration in the works for 2019.

Current Site - Woodstock Music Festival

Ragin' Randy At M.E.M.Fest

I am very excited to announce that I will be playing a DJ set for the silent disco at M.E.M.Fest! Here is the full lineup, featuring lots of local Memphis acts, as well as some big names from around the country. I can't wait to see you all out on the dancefloor! Get ready for the true Ragin' Randy experience! Also, check out the playlist of M.E.M.Fest artists below, compiled by one of the festival's founders, Nolan Leake (aka Gutta Kick)

New Logo

Thanks to everyone who voted for my new logo on my Facebook page! The large photo below is the winner, and the three smaller ones will also be used here and there. Here's to lots more from Ragin' Randy!

 

Remembering Jerry Garcia

Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, passed away from a heart attack on this day in 1995. Known for his impeccable songwriting skills, alongside collaborating lyricist Robert Hunter, Mr. Garcia and the rest of the Dead were at the forefront of a massive revolution of sound. The Grateful Dead was the first real "jamband," and any band that fits under the genre today cites them as an influence.

While Garcia consistently denied it, insisting that the band was one unit with no leader, he truly was the spokesman of the group, both on the stage and off. He certainly could not have had the same impact on the world without the rest of the Grateful Dead behind him, but he was definitely the fan favorite, and there would not have been a Grateful Dead without Jerry Garcia.

After the mind expanding, LSD driven days of peace and love in the 1960s, many musicians struggled with drug addiction, specifically with cocaine and heroine. Garcia was no exception, and in his last few years of life, he was checked in and out of rehab multiple times to help kick his habit. However, I, like so many others, prefer to remember him for his incredible musical abilities. He was a multi-instrumentalist with the uncanny ability to play any instrument with strings. His ability to write lyrics improved significantly after working so closely with Hunter, and all of his side projects were extremely successful.

Aside from an unrivaled discography with the Grateful Dead, Garcia's personal discography includes 4 solo studio albums, 1 studio and 18 live albums as the Jerry Garcia Band, 2 live albums as the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, 2 studio and 1 live album as New Riders of the Purple Sage, 4 live albums as Old and in the Way, 2 live albums as Legion of Mary, 2 studio and 9 live albums with Merl Saunders, 7 studio albums with David Grisman and 1 live album with John Kahn. More archival releases of Garcia's live performances and rare studio works are being released every year. Garcia was also featured on several well known albums, such as Surrealistic Pillow and Volunteers by Jefferson Airplane, Deja Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Ace by fellow Grateful Dead member Bob Weir, Transverse City by Warren Zevon, A Night on the Town by Bruce Hornsby and many others. Rest in peace Jerry!

Photo Gallery: Phish @ Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, Pelham, AL (08-02-2014)

Photo Gallery: The Groove Orient w/The Chinese Connection Dub Embassy & Agori Tribe

So, I tried out my new camera on Agori Tribe, and I still have some work to do before I can get this concert photography thing down. However, a few turned out pretty cool, plus I got some pre-show footage, as well as an interview with The Groove Orient! All of the photos of The Chinese Connection Dub Embassy and The Groove Orient were taken with my phone. Also, make sure to scroll all the way down and check out my video of The Groove Orient's cover of Frank Zappa's "I'm The Slime"!

Agori Tribe - Hi-Tone (07-31-14) Setting Up

Pre-Show Merch Table Shenanigans

Agori Tribe - Hi-Tone (07-31-14) Soundcheck

Sean Naughton, Dave Hash & Jeffrey Naylor of Agori Tribe - Soundcheck

David Collins of Agori Tribe - Soundcheck

Jeffrey Naylor of Agori Tribe - Pre-Show Shenanigans

Sean Naughton of Agori Tribe

Sean Naughton of Agori Tribe

Agori Tribe - Hi-Tone (07-31-14)

Will Nicholls & Jeffrey Naylor of Agori Tribe - Hi-Tone (07-31-14)

Will Nicholls & Jeffrey Naylor of Agori Tribe - Hi-Tone (07-31-14)

David Collins, Will Nicholls & Sean Naughton of Agori Tribe

Agori Tribe - H-Tone (07-31-14)

Will Nicholls of Agori Tribe - Hi-Tone (07-31-14)

The Chinese Connection Dub Embassy - Hi-Tone 7/31/14

The Chinese Connection Dub Embassy - Hi-Tone 7/31/14

The Groove Orient - Hi-Tone 7/31/14

The Groove Orient - Hi-Tone 7/31/14

Chuck Magid, Harry Ong and David "Drillbit" Incorvaia of The Groove Orient

Chuck Magid, Harry Ong and David "Drillbit" Incorvaia of The Groove Orient

Tommy Shugart of The Groove Orient on the Hammond B3

Tommy Shugart of The Groove Orient on the Hammond B3

Paul Terry & David Vanegas of The Groove Orient