Last Saturday, The Brooklyn Bowl played host to the 12th Annual Freaks Ball, a high-energy party hosted by the deeply-rooted, music-loving Yahoo! Group the NYC Freaks. With access to so much music, New Yorkers are privileged to see any act of their choice. In some cases, multiple times a year. However, it’s a show like The Freaks Ball that we wait for as music lovers in New York City.
A wonderful part of NYC’s underground musical culture, the NYC Freaks have been around as long as anyone can remember. After inquiring to a few members, many couldn’t recall when they were invited to join NYC’s hottest music list, but noted that they were happy members and the list was their main access to music knowledge and insight. This party would be for the Freaks. Seeing the collection of hugging friends as the city’s heaviest music-loving hitters entered the Brooklyn Bowl was inspirational. The pockets of positivity around me were wonderful. This wasn’t your typical gathering for a concert at Brooklyn Bowl. Freaks had taken over.
Over the years, this friendly, musical party has included musicians and projects that eventually went on to hit the national jam-band scene, including The Duo (Marco Benevento and Joe Russo), Robert Randolph, Apollo Sunshine, RANA, Bustle in Your Hedgerow, New Mastersounds and members of the extended Daptone family.
Opening the show was a quartet consisting of Eric Deutsch on keys, Joe Russo on drums, Scott Metzger (Wolf!) on guitar and Hagar Ben-Ari (Dap Kings) on bass. They played a tight set consisting of the Beatle’s “Day Tripper,” Grateful Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie,” a ‘Wolf!’ tune called “Get in The Van,” Erik Deutsch’s original “Funky Digits,” Neil Young’s “Don’t Let it Bring You Down” and an Ike Willis tune to close the set called “Funky Mule.” If one didn’t know any better, one might have thought that this was a polished group who rehearsed regularly. In reality, the set exposed four accomplished musicians with great talent coming together for a unique super jam that was solid, full of varying styles of music and fully preparing us for the main event that was about to hit the stage.
After a short intermission, we were delivered a Super Jam of E-P-I-C proportions with the Freaks Ball AllStars that included Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers), Eric Krasno (Soulive), Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds), Joe Russo (Furthur), Marco Benevento (Surprise Me Mr. Davis), Ron Johnson and Alecia Chakour (Warren Haynes Band).
The collection of musical talent on stage was staggering. Over the course of the night, each musician rotated on and off the stage providing for a rare night of music. Each guitarist was distinctly different in sound covering songs like Sly Stone’s “Sing a Simple Song,” Howard Tate’s “You Don’t Know Nothing About Love” and The Meter’s “Funky Miracle.” Bassist Ron Johnson held it down for the entire set with the biggest smile, killing it during “Windjammer.”
The Brooklyn Bowl audience stood in a pile of their own tears as the super group displayed their love for the magnificent Etta James, who died just days earlier. Alecia Chakour’s voice shook the rafter’s as she and Warren Haynes shared a duet on “Little Wings” while Eric Krasno’s guitar gently wept through “I’d Rather Go Blind.”
The lights this evening were above par, complimenting Marco Benevento’s unique sound as he performed his original “Mephisto” and the Benevento/Russo Duo’s “Scratchitti.” Everyone joined the stage to close with “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” A completely wonderful, ripping spectacle.
The Freaks Ball kicked off a trend of many more magical nights at the Brooklyn Bowl and raised the bar so high that it will be a long time before this night of music is topped. I look forward to running into more Freaks when that time comes.
($15-$20) John Kadlecik Band (from Furthur, DSO) @ Sullivan Hall
($20-$25) Roy Hargrove Big Band w/ special guest Roberta Gambarini @ Blue Note Jazz Club
($30) Buster Williams @ Iridium Jazz Club (2 sets)
($35) Rebirth Brass Band: Pre-Mardi Gras Celebration with 2012 Grammy Nominees @ Hiro Ballroom
($50-$330) Barry Manilow @ Radio City Music Hall
Sunday, February 12, 2012
(No Price Yet) Guns N’ Roses @ Terminal 5
($20-$25) Roy Hargrove Big Band w/ special guest Roberta Gambarini @ Blue Note Jazz Club
($30) Ralph Stanley @ B.B. Kings
($40-$100) An Intimate Valentine’s Concert with Jim Brickman @ Best Buy Theater
($50-$330) Barry Manilow @ Radio City Music Hall
Monday, February 13, 2012
($8) Jim Campilongo Electric Trio with Stephan Crump & Tony Mason @ The Living Room
($10) An Evening with: Nigel Hall and Alecia Chakour @ Rockwood Music Hall – Stage 2 (9pm)
($25) Mingus Big Band @ The Jazz Standard
($33-$95) Tibet House Benefit Concert @ Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage
Feat. Laurie Anderson, Antony, James Blake, Tim Fain, Philip Glass, Stephin Merritt, Rahzel, Lou Reed, Dechen Shak-Dagsay
($35) Les Paul Mondays feat. Special Guests Earl Slick (Guitarist with David Bowie) and Lee Rocker (Bassist from Stray Cats) with The Les Paul Trio @ Iridium Jazz Club (2 sets)
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
($35-$55) David Sanborn @ The Blue Note (2 sets)
($40-$60) Richard Thompson – Special All-Request Shows @ City Winery
($50-$330) Barry Manilow @ Radio City Music Hall
($75-$85) Cedric The Entertainer @ The Beacon Theater
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
(Free) Nutritious @ Bembe
(No price yet) Guns N’ Roses @ Webster Hall
($15-$17) Legendary Meters Drummer: Zigaboo Modeliste’s NY Foundation of Funk Revue ft. Andy Hess, Brian Mitchell, Jonathan Batiste & Jamie McLean @ Highline Ballroom
($35-$55) David Sanborn @ The Blue Note (2 sets)
($40-$60) Richard Thompson – Special All-Request Shows @ City Winery
($150-$170) bjork: biophilia live @ New York Hall of Science
Thursday, February 16, 2012
($73) John Hammond & John Mayall @ The Allen Room at Lincoln Center
(Free) Taylor Carson @ Rockwood Music Hall
($5-$8) DJ ?uestlove Presents Bowl Train – Late Night DJ Set @ Brooklyn Bowl
($15) Less Than Jake @ The Brooklyn Bowl (Early Show)
($35-$40) Auktyon featuring John Medeski & Marc Ribot @ le Poisson Rouge
($35-$55) David Sanborn @ The Blue Note (2 sets)
($40-$60) Richard Thompson – Special All-Request Shows @ City Winery
Friday, February 17, 2012
($8) Higher Nebulae @ Sullivan Hall (early show)
($10) Gent Treadly @ Sullivan Hall (part of another band on the bill)
($10-$13) Tall, Tall Trees @ Mercury Lounge
($15) A toga-party with America’s #1 Party Band!: Otis Day & the Knights @ The Brooklyn Bowl
($18-$22) Saul Williams @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
($35-$55) David Sanborn @ The Blue Note (2 sets)
($55-$130) Aretha Franklin @ Radio City Music Hall
Saturday, February 18, 2012
(Free) Hot Peas ‘N Butter @ Carnegie Hall (45 Minute Children’s Performance)
($8-$10) Skatalites @ The Brooklyn Bowl
($10) CEG Presents: MUN’s CD Release Party featuring MUN plus Pigeons Playing Ping Pong @ Sullivan Hall
($13) The Souljazz Orchestra plus Zongo Junction @ The Studio at Webster Hall
($22-$32) Emilie Autumn @ Gramercy Theater
($30) Mingus Big Band @ Jazz Standard
($35-$55) David Sanborn @ The Blue Note (2 sets)
($38-$42) Davy Jones of The Monkees @ B.B Kings
($50-$65) Mardi Gras Ball with Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers plus Bonerama w/ special guest Marco Benevento, DJ Cochon de Lait and special guests Outer Borough Brass Band @ Hiro Ballroom
($50-$100) Peter Frampton: Back by Popular Demand! The Frampton Comes Alive 35 Tour @ The Beacon Theater
($55-$130) Aretha Franklin @ Radio City Music Hall
($150-$170) bjork: biophilia live @ New York Hall of Science
Sunday, February 19, 2012
($18-$23) Big Gigantic @ Webster Hall
($25) Mingus Big Band @ Jazz Standard
($30) Arturo O’Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra @ Birdland NYC
($35-$55) David Sanborn @ The Blue Note (2 sets)
($50-$65) Mardi Gras Ball with Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers and Bonerama @ Hiro Ballroom
Monday, February 20, 2012
($8) Jim Campilongo Electric Trio with Stephan Crump & Tony Mason @ The Living Room
($15-$18) Jenny Scheinman’s Mischief & Mayhem w/ Nels Cline, Jim Black, and Todd Sickafoose @ le Poission Rouge
($25) Mingus Big Band @ The Jazz Standard
($32-$38) Marcia Ball and BeauSoleil @ City Winery
($30) Les Paul Mondays: The Jon Herington Band (lead guitarist of Steely Dan) and the Les Paul Trio @ Iridium Jazz Club
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
($15) Less Than Jake @ The Brooklyn Bowl
($20-$30) Monty Alexander: 50 Years in Music & 50 Years in Jamaica: UPLIFT! With Special Guest Christian McBride & Russell Malone @ The Blue Note (2 sets)
($25) Tigran Hamasyan & Jason Lindner/Mark Guiliana Duo @ Highline Ballroom
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
(Free) Nutritious @ Bembe
(Free) Cabinet @ Rodeo Bar
($20-$30) Monty Alexander: 50 Years in Music & 50 Years in Jamaica: UPLIFT! With Special Guest Christian McBride & Russell Malone @ The Blue Note (2 sets)
($50-$60) Flogging Molly, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears and The Devil Makes Three @ Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom
($150-$170) bjork: biophilia live @ Roseland Ballroom
Thursday, February 23, 2012
(Free?) Gent Treadly @ East Side Billiards
($5-$8) DJ ?uestlove Presents Bowl Train – Late Night DJ Set @ Brooklyn Bowl
($20) Phife Dawg (of Tribe Called Quest) and Friends @ B.B. Kings
($25-$40) Monty Alexander: 50 Years in Music & 50 Years in Jamaica: UPLIFT! With Special Guest Dr. Lonnie Smith @ The Blue Note (2 sets)
($25-$45) In-Tune Music Festival: Philip Glass performing Kaddish (7pm)
One of the greatest works to emerge from the Beat Generation was Allen Ginsberg’sKaddish, a sprawling, propulsive poem about the poet’s estrangement from Judaism. The 2012 Tune-In Music Festival will begin with a world premiere, commissioned by the Park Avenue Armory from jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, to be performed by the composer and an eight-piece ensemble accompanying a reading of Kaddish by Ginsberg collaborator Hal Willner and artist Ralph Steadman, who will create the visual design and staging to accompany the piece. (Runs 75 minutes with no intermission)
($30-$35) Sinead O’Connor @ Highline Ballroom
($55-$250) HIAS Regina Spektor Benefit Concert @ Rose Theater at Lincoln Center
Friday, February 24, 2012
($12) Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad @ Rockwood Music Hall – Stage 2 (10pm)
($12-$15) Twiddle / FiKus with Psychedelphia and The Fundimensionals @ Sullivan Hall
($15) Wyllys ft. Jennifer Hartswick w/ Special Guests @ The Blue Note (Late Night Series)
($15) An Evening With The Cast and Crew of: The Adventures of Pete and Pete @ Bowery Ballroom
($25-$45) Tune-In Music Festival: Philip Glass and Patti Smith: The Poet Speaks @ Park Avenue Armory (7pm)
Longtime Glass collaborator Patti Smith and her band join Glass for the second concert, “The Poet Speaks,” performing music and readings celebrating their favorite poets, including Ginsberg and William Blake, which will be the first New York performance for the pair. (Runs approx. 90 Minutes with no intermission)
($30) Hit Squad – Reunion Show: Redman, Epmd, Das Efx, Keith Murray @ Best Buy Theater
($30-$35) Sinead O’Connor @ Highline Ballroom
Saturday, February 25, 2012
($10) Dopapod / Turbine with The Mantras , MiZ , XVSK @ Sullivan Hall
($15) Kung Fu @ The Blue Note (Late Night Series)
($20) Eric Lindell with special guest Otis Taylor @ Hiro Ballroom
($22-$26) Buckwheat Zydeco @ B.B. Kings (Grammy Winning King Of New Orleans Zydeco)
($25) Railroad Earth and Cornmeal @ Best Buy Theater
($30-$50) Tune-In Music Festival: The Philip Glass Ensemble performs his Music in 12 Parts @ Park Avenue Armory (5pm)
For the third concert, The Philip Glass Ensemble will offer a rare performance of the entire Music in Twelve Parts, Glass’s epic minimalist composition which he considers his “breakthrough” work. (Runs a total of 5 hours including two short intermissions and one hour long dinner break)
($150-$170) bjork: biophilia live @ Roseland Ballroom
Sunday, February 26, 2012
($15) Chris Rob: Game Rebellion @ Highline Ballroom
($15-$35) Tune-In Music Festival: Philip Glass performs Afternoon Concert @ Park Avenue Armory (2pm)
The final day of the Festival will begin with compilation of unique artists that Philip Glass has assembled and represent the forward momentum of contemporary music. (Runs a total of 2 hours 15 minutes with one Intermission)
($15-$35) Tune-In Music Festival: Philip Glass’s Another Look at Harmony – Part IV @ Park Avenue Armory (7pm)
The Festival concludes with Glass’s Another Look at Harmony, a choral work Glass started in 1975 for organ and 100 voices, performed by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, the Collegiate Chorale, and organist Michael Riesman, music director and keyboardist of The Philip Glass Ensemble. (Runs 62 minutes with no intermission)
($25-$40) Monty Alexander: 50 Years in Music & 50 Years in Jamaica: A Night at Jillys ft Dee Dee Bridgewater & Freddy Cole @ The Blue Note
($27.50) Marc Ribot’s ” Really The Blues” @ Iridium Jazz Club (2 sets)
($30) Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra @ Birdland NYC
($50-$75) An Unpredictable Evening With Todd Rundgren@ City Winery
Monday, February 27, 2012
($8) Jim Campilongo Electric Trio with Stephan Crump & Tony Mason @ The Living Room
($10) Erik Deutsch Demonio Teclado CD Release Party @ Rockwood Music Hall – Stage 2
($25) Mingus Big Band @ The Jazz Standard
($27.50) Marc Ribot’s ” Really The Blues” @ Iridium Jazz Club (2 sets)
($50-$75) An Unpredictable Evening With Todd Rundgren@ City Winery
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
(Free) Dred Scott Trio @ Rockwood Music Hall
($15) Bowlive III @ The Brooklyn Bowl: Special Guests: John Scofield & Luther Dickinson
($30-$40) Leo Kottke @ City Winery
($35-$40) Robert Glasper Experiment:With Special Guests Yasiin Bey, Chrisette Michele, Lalah Hathaway & More @ Highline Ballroom
($50-$150) Van Halen with Kool & The Gang @ Madison Square Garden
($150-$170) bjork: biophilia live @ Roseland Ballroom
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
(Free) Nutritious @ Bembe
($15) Bowlive III @ The Brooklyn Bowl: Special Guests: John Scofield & Luther Dickinson