SITP vs. SF Jazzfest, a drub match...by Robert Morast
BELOW IS AN ARTICLE FROM THE SIOUX FALLS ARGUS LEADER LAST WEEK, WRITTEN BY ROBERT MORAST. ROBERT'S A GOOD GUY, HOWEVER I AM GUESSING SINCE HE WROTE IT AROUND HIS BIRTHDAY, HE MAY HAVE BEEN TOO FAR IN TO THE CELEBRATION WHEN HE PUT THE PEN TO THE PAPER. WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOUR COMMENTS, AND ARE HAPPY TO SEND THE BEST ONES ALONG TO ROBERT. OR YOU COULD CC HIM ALSO AS HIS EMAIL APPEARS BELOW:
Blow by blow, JazzFest drubs Saturday in the Park
By Robert Morast
rmorast@argusleader.com
June 22, 2006
Sioux City's Saturday in the Park outdoor concert bills itself as "the upper midwest's premier music festival."
And while that's far from being true - Minnesota's WeFest and the 10,000 Lakes Festival both put it to shame - the annual event has been the best music festival in our Sioux-centric part of the world.
Compared to its closest competition, Sioux Falls' JazzFest, Saturday in the Park has a history of scooping up the talent before JazzFest could book it (Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland, etc.) and has brought in acts that appeal to people outside the blues and jazz mafia (The Black Crowes, Michelle Branch, Brian Setzer).
Basically, if these two free festivals charged for tickets, Saturday in the Park has been the one worth spending your scratch on. That changes this year because JazzFest is finally better than its Sioux City counterpart.
The power shift isn't parade-worthy. But it's worth noting simply because JazzFest has been such an easy target for criticism in recent years with repeat acts (the Neville Brothers, Tommy Castro) and names that didn't inspire excitement (the Neville Brothers, Tommy Castro).
But is it really better than what Saturday in the Park will offer on July 1? Yes. When JazzFest fills Yankton Trail Park on July 14-15, the talent level will be impressive.
You don't believe me? Check this out, a blow-by-blow grudge match between the two festival's top six acts. The first artist in each battle is fighting for Sioux City, the second for Sioux Falls. Let the guitar picks fly:
The Neville brothers vs. Medeski, Martin and Wood
The Nevilles have the name recognition, and they're built like football players. But this battle isn't about reputations or fist fights, it's a face-off between MMW's funky, white-boy jazz and the soulful, spicy R&B that the Neville's have been peddlin' for years. In the end, MMW's layered, faux-'70s groove displaces the tired Nevilles' act.
Winner: MMW
Chuck Berry vs. Mavis Staples
Mavis, I love that you can belt out a spiritual with more emotion than all the Lutherans in Minnesota combined, but you have nothing on Mr. Chuck Berry. Let's put it this way: A world that never witnessed the magic of Berry's duck walk or his monster rock classics like "Maybeline" and "Johnny B Goode" is probably a world where every rocker packs the punch of Pat Boone.
Winner: Chuck Berry
Carbon Leaf vs. Buckwheat Zydeco
In the battle of zany names, Buckwheat's zydeco-flavored accordion music has more snap than anything Carbon Leaf can hurl our way. And, "hurl" is the operative word, as most of the Leaf's material sounds like regurgitated dude rock.
Winner: Buckwheat Zydeco
New Monsoon vs. Hubert Sumlin and the G.E. Smith Band
Pitting New Monsoon's hodgepodge of world music against Sumlin's visceral acoustic folk blues is like comparing styrofoam to dirt. One is essential to life, the other is synthetic filler for suburbanites. Though, this is only a blowout matchup if Sumlin plays his acoustic guitar. On the electric, he's not as compelling or moving.
Winner: Hubert Sumlin
Devon Allman's Honeytribe vs. Albert Cummings
Initially, Honeytribe's live album sounds stilted and stale - or like every other blues rock band formed in the past decade. But at times, Allman blows fire like Nickelback's Chad Kroeger high on the blues. Meanwhile, Cummings is choppy, but occasionally comes off like a cross between ZZ Top and David Coverdale. In the battle of rock-influenced blues guys, Cummings' borrowed edge cuts deeper.
Winner: Albert Cummings
Cowboy Mouth vs. Shemekia Copeland
Copeland can blow fiery, soulful blues like few others and she has enough range to knock you back or put a mellow mood in your mind. Still, Cowboy Mouth's alt-rock intensity is overpowering. It knocks the Copeland and her belt-it-out style to the ground
Winner: Cowboy Mouth
If you're counting, that's four of six battles won by JazzFest. People reading this in Sioux City, might assume I'm biased. That's not the case. The truth is,
JazzFest finally stepped up and gave us its best lineup in years. Let's hope it gets better in 2007.
Robert Morast turns 30 today. He is accepting gifts from strangers. Reach him at 331-2313 or rmorast@argusleader.com.
Blow by blow, JazzFest drubs Saturday in the Park
By Robert Morast
rmorast@argusleader.com
June 22, 2006
Sioux City's Saturday in the Park outdoor concert bills itself as "the upper midwest's premier music festival."
And while that's far from being true - Minnesota's WeFest and the 10,000 Lakes Festival both put it to shame - the annual event has been the best music festival in our Sioux-centric part of the world.
Compared to its closest competition, Sioux Falls' JazzFest, Saturday in the Park has a history of scooping up the talent before JazzFest could book it (Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland, etc.) and has brought in acts that appeal to people outside the blues and jazz mafia (The Black Crowes, Michelle Branch, Brian Setzer).
Basically, if these two free festivals charged for tickets, Saturday in the Park has been the one worth spending your scratch on. That changes this year because JazzFest is finally better than its Sioux City counterpart.
The power shift isn't parade-worthy. But it's worth noting simply because JazzFest has been such an easy target for criticism in recent years with repeat acts (the Neville Brothers, Tommy Castro) and names that didn't inspire excitement (the Neville Brothers, Tommy Castro).
But is it really better than what Saturday in the Park will offer on July 1? Yes. When JazzFest fills Yankton Trail Park on July 14-15, the talent level will be impressive.
You don't believe me? Check this out, a blow-by-blow grudge match between the two festival's top six acts. The first artist in each battle is fighting for Sioux City, the second for Sioux Falls. Let the guitar picks fly:
The Neville brothers vs. Medeski, Martin and Wood
The Nevilles have the name recognition, and they're built like football players. But this battle isn't about reputations or fist fights, it's a face-off between MMW's funky, white-boy jazz and the soulful, spicy R&B that the Neville's have been peddlin' for years. In the end, MMW's layered, faux-'70s groove displaces the tired Nevilles' act.
Winner: MMW
Chuck Berry vs. Mavis Staples
Mavis, I love that you can belt out a spiritual with more emotion than all the Lutherans in Minnesota combined, but you have nothing on Mr. Chuck Berry. Let's put it this way: A world that never witnessed the magic of Berry's duck walk or his monster rock classics like "Maybeline" and "Johnny B Goode" is probably a world where every rocker packs the punch of Pat Boone.
Winner: Chuck Berry
Carbon Leaf vs. Buckwheat Zydeco
In the battle of zany names, Buckwheat's zydeco-flavored accordion music has more snap than anything Carbon Leaf can hurl our way. And, "hurl" is the operative word, as most of the Leaf's material sounds like regurgitated dude rock.
Winner: Buckwheat Zydeco
New Monsoon vs. Hubert Sumlin and the G.E. Smith Band
Pitting New Monsoon's hodgepodge of world music against Sumlin's visceral acoustic folk blues is like comparing styrofoam to dirt. One is essential to life, the other is synthetic filler for suburbanites. Though, this is only a blowout matchup if Sumlin plays his acoustic guitar. On the electric, he's not as compelling or moving.
Winner: Hubert Sumlin
Devon Allman's Honeytribe vs. Albert Cummings
Initially, Honeytribe's live album sounds stilted and stale - or like every other blues rock band formed in the past decade. But at times, Allman blows fire like Nickelback's Chad Kroeger high on the blues. Meanwhile, Cummings is choppy, but occasionally comes off like a cross between ZZ Top and David Coverdale. In the battle of rock-influenced blues guys, Cummings' borrowed edge cuts deeper.
Winner: Albert Cummings
Cowboy Mouth vs. Shemekia Copeland
Copeland can blow fiery, soulful blues like few others and she has enough range to knock you back or put a mellow mood in your mind. Still, Cowboy Mouth's alt-rock intensity is overpowering. It knocks the Copeland and her belt-it-out style to the ground
Winner: Cowboy Mouth
If you're counting, that's four of six battles won by JazzFest. People reading this in Sioux City, might assume I'm biased. That's not the case. The truth is,
JazzFest finally stepped up and gave us its best lineup in years. Let's hope it gets better in 2007.
Robert Morast turns 30 today. He is accepting gifts from strangers. Reach him at 331-2313 or rmorast@argusleader.com.
posted by Dave at 3:12 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home