Teresa Suaréz aka. Teri Gender Bender above is the lead singer of Le Butcherettes, a Mexican garage punk band formed in 2007 in Guadalajara. On Saturday, September 17th they opened for the Flaming Lips at the Great Saltair. Her intensity and passion made it impossible not to watch her incredible performance. At once point she stood at the edge of the stage and fell backwards into the crowd with her guitar strapped around her neck, the punk version of a leap of faith. And then another time she dove into the crowd and then surfed back to the stage, when the security guard started to “help” her back on stage she promptly stuck her crotch into his face and pinned him to the stage, see photos below.

I grabbed this wonderful write up form their website;

She walked into the Lollapalooza media compound on a warm August third. Tall and slender, one could only assume that this woman was a performer; someone meant to be on stage. Her hair was long and brown and her skin paler than a lot of the sun-kissed people under the white canvas tents. She had black heels on that hurt; she had the bloody bandages to prove it. Her lips were colored a classic rosy red; her eyes were wide and lined in classic black. Her beige-colored knee length dress complimented her figure.

Teri Gender Bender smiled as she finally got to sit down at the table. With her bottle of water, she kept telling her assistant or public relations representative, or whatever he really was, to find her sun screen to protect her from the Chicago sun. For those of you who live in Chicago during the summer, you know it’s brutal and just plain mean sometimes.

Teri is the lead singer of Le Butcherettes, now a trio originally formed as a duo in Guadalajara, Mexico only a few years ago. Teri, of Mexican descent, moved to Mexico with her mother and brother at 14 when her father died. Born in Denver, Teri’s adolescent life revealed similar experiences to many Latinos in the United States. She explains that not many people around her spoke Spanish, even though she did at home because of her Mexican parents. She was different; strange.

“’We can’t speak a language they can’t understand.’ That’s how I was raised at school,” she said, “learning to be ashamed of myself.”

About half of all Latinos are bilingual, thanks to parents who keep the language alive at home, accounting for the 63 percent of Latinos who were born State side. For Teri, whose parents were both immigrants to the United States, speaking Spanish at home was necessary.

Taking the dramatic experience of losing her father and adding the fact that their mother decided to move them to Guadalajara to be closer to family, Teri found herself in a teenage state of attempting to define who she was. Mexico was no different from Denver, in a sense that she didn’t feel like she belonged very much there either. In fact, she was the gringa, the girl who had a weird accent born State side.

“It was a rude awakening. The poverty everywhere, the rich a block away; just the two extremes,” she explained. “There was a lot of alienation there. People saw me as the gringa.‘What are you doing here? Go back to the States.’ Or why is your Spanish poor?”

Then began her musical exploration, which, she explained thoroughly, she had done as a mode of rebellion. So, firstly, no, the music was not in Spanish. It was sung in English and still is. Secondly, she used her intelligence and philosophical insight to express what she was feeling through her music, focusing on her womanhood but not taking a feminist movement approach. Thirdly, the fact that her music was rough and (what the US would call) garage-band like and punkish called attention to her a little more. At the beginning, it was Teri on guitar and vocals with a female drummer. That was it. The dark underground emo movement that has been alive and well in Mexico was of no interest to Le Butcherettes. In fact, she rebelled against that, too.

“There’s a theme going on; an emo theme that I never related to so that made me want to rebel against it,” she explained moving her hands about. “Some people took it the wrong way because, ‘Oh, how could I not relate to the emo theme?’ That’s how people get started, some people join music just to be like everyone else and then there are artists that join music to do something different. I want to keep changing.”

Teri noticed that her gender said a lot about her without even opening her mouth. The Mexican culture, one that caters more to men than women, was not welcoming to her ways and she felt it. At a young age she decided that whether you were a man or a woman would not be a deciding factor in her judgment of a person. She plays the role of a stereotypical woman because that’s what she was taught to do; but on stage, it all changed for her. Performing with the head of a pig (to represent male chauvinism and drug lords in Mexico) she declared the idea of individuality, independence and a rebellion against the societal standards.

“I consider myself a self-proclaimed feminist but not in the same way that other people would think of a feminist. I’m not a man-hater. To me, being a feminist is living your own life for yourself, be it a man or a woman or whatever you are…” she explained.

With the voice of a strong woman, she’s been compared to Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and has played with them as well as Iggy and the Stooges. From Mexico to Barcelona, Teri, who gave herself the name Gender Bender (formerly Suarez), has displayed a rambunctious and un-ladylike attitude while strumming her guitar with her additional band mates, now both male.

“I realized that ‘Gender Bender’ for me meant that I’m not going to care whether you’re a man or a woman because it’s stupid to think of or keep labeling people by sexes,” she said.

It was a show in Guadalajara where Le Butcherettes were first seen by a strong individual in the mainstream music industry. Teri knew that Omar Rodriguez-Lopez was in the audience and she tried not to freak out. Beginning the show with the lights off, Teri kept telling herself and her drummer to play the show like they would any other night.

“[Before the show] I was like, ‘Don’t stress, he’s here’ and there was something in my gut that was telling me, ‘This guy is special,’” she remembered. “And I wasn’t just thinking about my band, but this guy had the ability to be a good friend. He had a different view on things that many people in that crowd were reserved and small-thinking.”

Rodriguez-Lopez expanded her knowledge and idea of music, if nothing else. She knew that she would learn a lot from working with him and although she hadn’t heard his music, she’d heard of his band The Mars Volta.

“His philosophy is essence is more than music. He gave me examples like Siouxsie and the Banshees,” said Teri. “Like the drums are very minimal but Siouxsie’s voice just overcame it all. He believed in [our music] and not a lot of people did.”

After they went to lunch the day after the show, Rodriguez-Lopez ultimately decided to produce Le Butcherettes’ album, Sin, Sin, Sin, where he played the bass on all 13 tracks.

The performance at Lollapalooza hailed praise from audience members who screamed, “Te queremos!” We love you! In between each song, Teri spoke to the crowd in Spanish, explaining that making music in Spanish is something that she’s now exploring to expand on the audience and those who listen to her music. If anything, Teri has learned to accept and embrace her differences.

“Now I’m so proud of myself. Living in Mexico has made me really proud to be a Mexican, actually challenging myself as an artist,” she said.

In the hot sun, Teri screamed into the microphone, did somersaults, threw her black heels she so painfully wore into the crowd and body surfed, being as rowdy, yet as classically talented as any female performer. She strummed hard, yet never missed a note.

The future of Le Butcherettes is bright and ever changing. Music, for Teri, is about self-expression and the ability to communicate a message to her audience. In the future, Teri is willing to explore the different mediums of making music, whether it’s her on her own or bringing in a 10-piece band.

“It might just be me playing a bass drum and singing with my two guys doing yoga in the background,” she said. “You never know.”

First known as a girl band, Le Butcherettes was created by vocalist/guitarist Teri Gender Bender who later recruited drummer Auryn Jolene to complete the duo. Quick acclaim was achieved in the Mexican underground scene for their live act which included both of them dressed in a 50′s women fashion referring to women being slaves in home chores, using brooms, feather dusters and bloody aprons.^[2] Teri Gender Bender would also use artificial blood, flour, eggs, meat and a real pig head all over the stage, interacting with the public most of the time.

The quick recognition of the band led them to win the award for "Best New Artist" and "Best Punk Record" in the Indie-O Awards 2009.^[4] A difference on the band’s direction led Auryn Jolene to abruptly leave the band claiming the end of it leading to media confusion. Teri Gender Bender later denied this. She moved the band to Los Angeles recruiting drummer Normandi Heuxdalfo. Le Butcherettes played in a number of events, notably Hellow Fest 2009 in Monterrey and being asked to be the opening act for The Dead Weather in their Mexico City and Guadalajara shows. In January 2010, Le Butcherettes were invited by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as their opening act for their Mexican shows in Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City.

Omar Rodríguez-López of The Mars Volta produced (as well as contributed bass guitar to) Le Butcherettes’ first LP Sin Sin Sin. "Henry Don’t Got Love", the first single from the upcoming album, was released in 2010 as a free download from Le Butcherettes’ Bandcamp page. The album was released in May 2011 on Omar’s label Rodriguez-Lopez Productions. They began touring the U.S. with Deftones and The Dillinger Escape Plan this summer, with the new line-up of Teri, drummer Gabe Serbian (of The Locust) and bassist Jonathan Hischke.

• Teri Gender Bender – lead vocals, lyrics, guitar, keyboards

• Gabe Serbian – drums

• Jonathan Hischke – bass, keyboards

I’m not going to pretend to be a diehard Flaming Lips fan; in fact what little I had heard didn’t particularly resonate with me, although I loved their documentary “The Fearless Freaks” and credit the movie for me gaining an appreciation of the true brilliance of Wayne Coyne.



Later I learned that Q magazine named The Flaming Lips one of the “50 Bands to See Before You Die”, it was then I began worrying about dying before getting to see them play live. For weeks I worried about my premature death while frantically trying to locate their publicist, little did know that if I’d just Tweet Wayne he’d probably reply.



Below is a photo story I created using nearly 400 photos from this show, the audio file was recorded at a Lips show in Alabama earlier this year.

•  



To my amazement I read where The Lips had just added Salt Lake City Utah to the end of their 2011 tour; Salt Lake doesn’t even appear on the Official 2011 tour T-Shirt. I contacted their publicist who checked out my portfolio and said I could shoot if I had a formal media assignment, enter UncommonMusic.com, they “assigned” me to shoot the show. Weeks passed and no word in regards to my photo pass request.



Somewhere along the way I read a review by a fan at a recent show who complained about Wayne’s voice being gone. So I talked myself out of shooting the show, after all we are talking about a 6 hour round-trip drive and the cost of gas and then hours of processing just to get a few photos of a washed out has been milking another show out of a nearly 30 year old cash cow.



Finally, the day before the show I received an email stating that I was on the photo pass list, wow another decision, I was worn out by the hectic week and really just wanted to relax, do some overdue photo processing, the last thing I needed was more photos to process. Again I decided not to go and went to bed.



Saturday morning started like many other weekends, a bit of photo processing while listening to music and strong coffee. Later in the day I took my daughter to a Tennis match and took a few photos. The match ended early and 4 hours from show time I thought, damn I could still make it.. it’s only a two hour drive ”What the hell, just do it” I said to myself.



Now you can call it a premonition or dumb luck or good karma, or maybe Wayne Coyne used thought control on me, I don’t care, the point is there was a shift in the universe, the tiny one inside my head, and I made a decision that would change me forever.



You see I live my life without regret, but now, thanks to Wayne Coyne and crew aka. The Flaming Lips I had my first true regret in life, actually more than one;

Regret #1 – Why did I not know and have more Lips music? Just think of all the years wasted not having it in my head, how many roadtrips I could have sung at the top of my lungs to “Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles”



Regret #2 – Why didn’t I take my 17 year old daughter? She would have loved every second of this sonic and visual slice of musical heaven, it would be like if someone had taken me to Zepplin or Cream concert when I was too young and poor to take myself.



Regret # 3 – Why didn’t I have more memory cards available for photos? I could have filled twice as many memory cards if I had the space but I had left in a hurry and did not even have my second camera. You see I was going to just shoot the first few songs and then bail. Just get my photos for posterity and boogie. Wow, talk about ignorant and myopic behavior.



Jesus can you just get to the review.. please.. OK, ok here’s my “formal” review.

Formal Review

The Flaming Lips brought their brilliant, passionate and visually stunning show to Salt Lake City on September 17, 2011, near the end of their In Our Bodies Out of Our Heads 2011 tour. Reviewing a show is always subjective but this show was off the chart, seriously it may well have been the most amazing show I have ever seen, the energy was so intense and beautiful.



I make that last statement with careful consideration of the many, many great shows I have seen including U2, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jeff Beck, Jackson Browne, Neil Young, R.E.M., Dave Matthews, and on and on.



Wayne Coyne the leader of the band is a genius, and so deeply genuine, that he draws you in quickly and then holds you and your sensory hostage for the duration of the show, it was like watching a 5 year old on stage, sheer joy, love and exuberance while doing something you were made to do, make music and perform.

 

It is hard to explain why this band is so good, especially live, how do you explain a vibe that imprints a smile so hard on your face that even the next day you can’t get rid of it. Wayne’s enthusiasm is so contagious; he hits the first song running and leaping and never slows down for second, except for brief wise discourses in life, love and music between songs.



I read a review by a disgruntled fan that talked about Wayne’s voice not being what it used to be, I let that review nearly keep me from going to this show, I cannot imagine what a mistake that would have been.



It makes no difference if your voice can still hit every note the same way you did when you were in your twenties when your adoring fans are singing every word at the top of their lungs.



The Flaming Lips owned this venue and the crowd this evening by playing intensely from their hearts and then adding a healthy dose of visual stimuli. Sure the show takes the use of smoke machines, portable video cameras, lasers and confetti to the tsunami level but this is 2011.





I got a kick out the warning signs that were posted everywhere warning patrons about the strong lighting and strobes used during the performance, Wayne even came out before the show and personally warned people about the lights but went on to say in a great deadpan delivery “But the good news is there is a very easy remedy… just don’t look at the lights”.





As I write this review I can hardly talk from cheering so much, I just can’t stop grinning when I think about how Wayne would yell “Come on, come on you motherfuckers” whenever there was a lull in the intensity and instantly the entire venue would comply and erupt in cascading cheers that rose until it was back to the default deafening roar.



On several occasions mascot like beings would make unscripted entrances to the show, each would crowd surf to the front of the stage for a hug, first there was the huge bunny, then a dog and then a young woman. Wayne would stop the show and carefully help them onto the stage, then give them a big long hug and then they would leave the same way they came in, a little stage dive back into the crowd and off they would go.





Wayne explained that one of the greatest things about music is how it can help someone who is struggling with life’s hard times to laugh, love and relax for a while and for several hours on this Saturday night.



If you ever have a chance to see the Flaming Lips live do it, you will not be disappointed, you will be amazed, gratified, uplifted, thrilled and romanced back into a deep and profound love for live music.



And when Wayne looks at you with a huge smile on his face and implores you to cheer by saying “Come on, come opn you motherfuckers”, you will comply, you will cheer, you will dance and you will, for once in your life be fully present in the now. For this is Wayne’s blessing to you and you will receive it motherfucker!



To see hi res photos of this show see gonzoshots.com or my Flickr set here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gonzoshots/sets/72157627705536980/



Set List from the Salt Lake City show:

The Fear Worm Mountain

She Don’t Use Jelly

The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song

See the Leaves

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1 (Acoustic)

Vein Of Stars/The Firebird Suite Is David Bowie Dying? Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung

What is the Light?

The Observer Encore:Race for the Prize.

2nd encore. Do you realize?

——- Formal Review ——-

 



The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.

Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as “Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles”, “Free Radicals (A Hallucination of the Christmas Skeleton Pleading with a Suicide Bomber)”, “What Is the Light?” (An Untested Hypothesis Suggesting That the Chemical [In Our Brains] by Which We Are Able to Experience the Sensation of Being in Love Is the Same Chemical That Caused the “Big Bang” That Was the Birth of the Accelerating Universe)” and “Yeah, I Know It’s a Drag… But Wastin’ Pigs Is Still Radical”. They are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which feature costumes, balloons, puppets, video projections, complex stage light configurations, giant hands, large amounts of confetti, and frontman Wayne Coyne‘s signature man-sized plastic bubble, in which he traverses the audience. In 2002, Q magazine named The Flaming Lips one of the “50 Bands to See Before You Die”.



The group recorded several albums and EPs on an indie label, Restless, in the 1980s and early 1990s. After signing to Warner Brothers, they scored a hit in 1993 with “She Don’t Use Jelly“. Although it has been their only hit single in the U.S., the band has maintained critical respect and, to a lesser extent, commercial viability through albums such as 1999′s The Soft Bulletin (which was NME magazine’s Album of the Year) and 2002′s Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. They have had more hit singles in the UK and Europe than in the U.S. In February 2007, they were nominated for a 2007 BRIT Award in the “Best International Act” category. By 2007, the group garnered three Grammy Awards, including two for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.



On October 13, 2009 the group released their latest studio album, titled Embryonic. On December 22, 2009, the Flaming Lips released a remake of the 1973 Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon. In 2011, the band announced plans to release new songs in every month of the year, with the entire process filmed.



History

Early history and releases (Debut EP to In a Priest Driven Ambulance)

The Flaming Lips formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983 with Wayne Coyne’s brother Mark singing lead vocals and Michael Ivins on bass guitar. The band debuted at Oklahoma City’s Blue Note Lounge. After going through a host of different drummers, Richard English joined the band in 1984. That same year they recorded their only release with Mark Coyne singing lead vocals–The Flaming Lips.



After his brother’s departure, Wayne assumed the vocal duties and the band released their first full-length album, Hear It Is, on Pink Dust Records (the psychedelic-rock imprint of Enigma Records) in 1986. This line-up recorded two more albums; 1987′s Oh My Gawd!!! and 1989′s Telepathic Surgery, the latter originally planned to be a thirty minute sound collage.



Nathan Roberts replaced English and Jonathan Donahue (also a member of the alternative rock band Mercury Rev) joined in 1989. In a Priest Driven Ambulance, their first album with producer Dave Fridmann, was recorded at the State University of New York in Fredonia for $5 an hour on a $10,000 budget.^[1] The album was host to a marked expansion in the band’s sound and their previous experiments in tape loops and effects were given a more prominent role. During this period, Coyne made his transition to a higher, more strained vocal style akin to Neil Young, which he first used on Telepathic Surgery‘s “Chrome Plated Suicide” and has employed ever since.



In 1990 the band caught the attention of Warner Bros. Records and were signed promptly after a representative of the label witnessed a show at which the band almost burned down the venue (American Legion Hall in Norman, Oklahoma) with the use of pyrotechnics.



Signed to Warner Bros. (Hit to Death in the Future Head to Clouds Taste Metallic)

In 1992, the band released their major label debut Hit to Death in the Future Head after the recording of which Donahue left the band to concentrate on Mercury Rev. Roberts left the band as well, citing creative differences. They were replaced by Ronald Jones and Steven Drozd respectively.



In 1993, they released Transmissions from the Satellite Heart. This was the only studio album since In a Priest Driven Ambulance to date in which Dave Fridmann has not been involved. Because of the success of the album and the single “She Don’t Use Jelly“, the band was featured on three popular television series: Beverly Hills, 90210, The Late Show with David Letterman and Beavis and Butt-head. The success of this record led to long stints of touring, opening for bands including the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Candlebox.



Clouds Taste Metallic was released to much critical fanfare in late 1995, though it did not achieve the commercial success of its predecessor. The strain of the year-long Clouds tour added to the stress from the three years touring in support of Transmissions was a major factor in the departure of Ronald Jones in late 1996. He was said to be suffering from a severe case of agoraphobia, although the documentary Fearless Freaks states that he left because of his growing concerns over Drozd’s drug use.



A change in direction with Zaireeka

The departure of Jones and a general dissatisfaction with standard “rock” music led to the three remaining members of the group to redefine the direction of the band with the experimental Zaireeka (1997), a four-CD album which is intended to be heard by playing all four CDs in four separate CD players simultaneously. The music incorporated both traditional musical elements and “found” sounds (as in musique concrète), often heavily manipulated with recording studio electronics.



As part of the development of this project, the band conducted a series of “parking lot experiments” and then later, “boombox experiments”. In the parking lot experiments up to 40 volunteers were given cassettes created by the band to be played at a parking lot in their cars’ stereo systems simultaneously. In the “boom box experiments” an orchestra composed of up to 40 volunteers with modified “boombox”-type tape players was “conducted” – directed to vary the volume, speed or tone of the tape they were playing (again composed by the band) – by Wayne Coyne.



In the meanwhile, a series of unfortunate incidents (recounted in the 1999 song “The Spiderbite Song”) beset the band. Drozd’s arm was almost amputated needlessly because of what he claimed was a spider bite (it turned out to be abscessed as a result of Drozd’s heroin use^[4]), Ivins was trapped in his car for several hours after a wheel spun off of another vehicle into his windshield, and Coyne’s father died after a long battle with cancer.



Artistic breakthrough (The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi)

Though their experimental endeavors received some press coverage, their real breakthrough came with the 1999 release, The Soft Bulletin. Marrying more traditional catchy melodies with synthetic strings, hypnotic, carefully manipulated beats, booming cymbals and oddball but philosophical lyrics (sung much more strongly than on earlier releases), the album quickly became one of the underground hits of the year, even widely considered to be one of the best albums of the entire decade.



Compared by many music critics to The Beach Boys‘ Pet Sounds because of its inclusion of harmonies and orchestrated sounds, The Soft Bulletin also featured greater use of synthesizers, drum machines, sound effects and more studio manipulation. After this album was released, Coyne stated that, “if someone was to ask me what instrument do I play, I would say the recording studio.”^{[citation needed]} The band considered an attempt to recreate this complex album live solely with additional musicians to be complex and expensive, the group decided to tour as a three-piece and make extensive use of pre-recorded music to fill out those parts that were not performed live by the members of the band. Perhaps most notably, this led to the decision to have the drummer Drozd play primarily keyboards and guitar live instead of the drums. This, in turn, led to a decision to utilize video recordings and projections of Steven playing the drums for some of the band’s older songs.



To enhance the live experience for their audience and to accurately reproduce the sound of The Soft Bulletin live, the Lips devised the concept of the “Headphone Concert”. A low-powered FM transmitter was set up at shows, and the concert was simultaneously broadcast to small Walkman-style receivers and headphones made available for free to audience members. This would, in theory, allow the audiences greater sonic clarity while still feeling the power of a full live P.A.. This concept was debuted in Dallas, Texas and at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas in March 1999, and was subsequently used on the International Music Against Brain Degeneration Revue tour. This tour featured Japanese band Cornelius, Sebadoh, Robyn Hitchcock, Sonic Boom’s E.A.R. and IQU.



Three years later, in the summer of 2002, The Flaming Lips joined bands Cake and Modest Mouse on the Unlimited Sunshine Tour. They also released the full-length Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots to much critical acclaim. Featuring guest musician Yoshimi P-We and demonstrating more use of electronic instruments and computer manipulation than The Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi is widely considered to be The Flaming Lips’ first critical and commercial success after nearly twenty years as a band. The final track on the album, “Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)” earned a 2003 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, and the album was certified gold on April 10, 2006. In March 2007, the band revealed that they have recently teamed up with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin to produce a Broadway musical based on the album.



Both The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots have been released on DVD-Audio.

Following the success of “Yoshimi”, Steven Drozd completed rehab for heroin addiction. This decision was spurred by a physical altercation between Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd.



Continued success (At War with the Mystics)

Shortly after Yoshimi, The Soft Bulletin was estimated to have sold 300,000 copies in the United States, and later went gold in May 2007.^[5] The Flaming Lips released two EPs in the same vein of their previous album’s robotic theme and containing remixed songs from Yoshimi, Fight Test and Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell. They also appeared on the track “Marching the Hate Machines (Into the Sun)” on the Thievery Corporation album The Cosmic Game. In 2002 they were invited to work in the studio with The Chemical Brothers, they produce together the single called The Golden Path, included in Chemical Brothers compilation album Singles 93-03. In this song, the lead vocals were performed by Wayne Coyne with Steven Drozd performing harmony vocals. In addition to their EPs, The Lips had been working for several years on a feature film entitled Christmas on Mars. Filming for the movie ended in late September 2005 and premiered on May 25, 2008 at the Sasquatch! Music Festival.^[6]



In 2002, they performed as the opening act, as well as the backup band for singer Beck on his Sea Change tour. In the summer of 2004, it was announced that The Flaming Lips would appear among the headliners on the 2004 Lollapalooza tour, alongside such artists as Sonic Youth and Morrissey; however, the tour was canceled because of lack of revenue.^{[citation needed]} Following the concerts’ cancellation, the band entered Tarbox Road Studio with producer Dave Fridmann and began work on their eleventh album, the more organic-sounding At War with the Mystics. The record, aimed to be a more guitar-based and heavier effort than recent albums, featured more politically conscious lyrics than any of their previous releases, and was released in April 2006 to a mixed yet mostly positive reception. Also in 2004, the band recorded the song “SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy” for the soundtrack of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.



In 2005 the band was the subject of a documentary called Fearless Freaks, featuring appearances by other artists and celebrities such as Gibby Haynes, The White Stripes, Beck, Christina Ricci, Liz Phair, Juliette Lewis, Steve Burns, Starlight Mints, and Adam Goldberg. In that same year, The Flaming Lips contributed a version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” to the album Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen. Also in this year, The Flaming Lips released the DVD VOID (Video Overview in Deceleration), which chronicles all of their ventures into music video that have been produced since they signed with Warner Bros in 1991. In October 2005, The Flaming Lips recorded a cover of “If I Only Had a Brain” for the soundtrack of the video game Stubbs the Zombie, which features modern rock bands covering songs from the 1950s and 1960s. Additionally, the band released one new song, “Mr. Ambulance Driver“, for the soundtrack of the 2005 film Wedding Crashers (a slightly edited version of the song found its way on the new record).



The band released two singles from At War With the Mystics: “The W.A.N.D.”, which was featured in a Dell commercial and which was originally put out as a download-only single in early 2006, and “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song”, which became their highest-charting single on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #16. A 4-track EP, entitled It Overtakes Me, was released later in the UK that year. The only instrumental on the album, “The Wizard Turns On… The Giant Silver Flashlight and Puts on His Werewolf Moccasins”, earned a 2006 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance,^[7] making it twice in a row the Lips have been nominated in that category and won.



Following the April 4, 2006 release of At War with the Mystics, the band began a tour to support the album in the United Kingdom, including a finale at the Royal Albert Hall and performances at the O2 Wireless Festival. At the Leeds England date of the festival, the band opened for The Who, of whom they are long standing fans.



The band continued to tour throughout the fall of 2006 stopping in Montreal, the Virgin Festival on the Toronto Islands, Atlantic City‘s House of Blues, The University of Vermont in Burlington, their hometown Oklahoma City, the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas, and New York City, NY as well as several other cities. The homecoming show in Oklahoma City was performed at the Zoo Amphitheater and included the unveiling of a new UFO stage prop, and would provide footage for the U.F.O.s at the Zoo concert DVD.



On December 5, 2006, Oklahoma City honored the band with a downtown alley named after the band. Vince Gill and Charlie Christian were also given street names by the city. Flaming Lips Alley is at the center of Oklahoma City’s entertainment district, Bricktown. At the official dedication in 2007, Coyne said of Oklahoma City, “…We’re on the way to becoming, I think, the fucking coolest city in America.”^{[citation needed]}



Christmas On Mars

In 2001, The Flaming Lips began filming a low-budget indie film entitled Christmas on Mars. Completed in 2008, the film tells the story of the first Christmas of a colony set-up on the surface of Mars. Christmas On Mars was written by Wayne Coyne, and co-directed by Wayne Coyne, Bradley Beesley and George Salisbury. The band and their friends act in the movie.



The band brought the film to rock festivals across America during the summer of 2008 and screened it in a large circus tent they had bought for that purpose.

The film was released on DVD on November 11, 2008, along with a soundtrack written and performed by The Flaming Lips.



Recent activity (Embryonic and Dark Side of the Moon)

The band released their first live concert DVD, UFO’s at the Zoo: The Legendary Concert in Oklahoma City, on August 7, 2007. The band also contributed original songs to the soundtracks of several 2007 films, including “The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How to be in Love” for Spider-Man 3, “I Was Zapped by the Super Lucky Rainbow” for Good Luck Chuck, “Love the World You Find” for Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, and “Maybe I’m Not the One” and “Tale of the Horny Frog” for The Heartbreak Kid.



In 2009, the band released their twelfth studio album and first double album, Embryonic. The album, which was the band’s first to open in the Billboard top 10, was widely critically acclaimed for its bold new direction. In December of the same year, the band released their second album of the year and thirteenth overall, a track-for-track cover of Pink Floyd‘s The Dark Side of the Moon, which was recorded with Stardeath and White Dwarfs and features guest appearances from Henry Rollins and Peaches. The album was released physically on vinyl and CD in 2010.



In January 2011 the Lips announced their intention of releasing a new song every month of the year. In February they released the first track titled “Two Blobs Fucking”. The song exists as 12 separate pieces on YouTube and must be played simultaneously to be heard as intended.^{[citation needed]} In March 2011, the Lips released the EP Flaming Lips 2011: The Flaming Lips with Neon Indian. In April, the band released the “Gummy Song Skull” EP,a seven pound skull made of gummy bear material with a gummy brain,which contains a flashdrive with 4 songs on them. This release was extremely limited,but was soon leaked on the internet shortly after it’s release. In May the band released it’s second collaboration EP entitled “The Flaming Lips with Prefuse 73“. It contains four songs and was released in a similar way to the earlier neon indian ep, in that the run was extremely limited and consisted of randomly colored, one of a kind colored discs. This ep was briefly available on the band’s official website but sold out shortly after it was put up for sale. June saw several releases by the band. The first being “The Soft Bulletin:Live la Fantastique de Institution 2011” a live-in-studio recording of the band’s 1999 album “The Soft Bulletin” which was on a flashdrive embedded in a marijuana-flavored brain inside a strawberry flavored gummy skull. This was only released at the band’s two night show at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary on June 14th and 15th. This show was a special two-night, one morning event in which they played the entirety of The Soft Bulletin one night and a new revamped version of Pink Floyd’s 1973 album “The Dark Side of the Moon“. And collaborated with “Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros” for a performance of “Do You Realize??” at dawn of the second day. Also included on this flashdrive was a best-of compilation entitled “Everyone You Know Someday Will Die” put together especially for the occasion by the band’s drummer Kliph Scurlock. It included songs from every portion of the band’s career as well as a newly recorded intro. The final June release was the “Gummy Song Fetus” EP, it consisted of three songs on a flashdrive embedded in a bubblegum flavored fetus made of gummy bear material. This release as with the rest was extremely limited, although the songs did leak on the internet several weeks after it was released. In July, the band released “The Flaming Lips with Lightning Bolt”, a collaborative ep with experimental rock group “Lightning Bolt“. Although called a collaboration,this release(consisting of four tracks) is actually just the Flaming Lips’ versions of two songs(found on side A) and Lightning Bolt’s versions(on side B). This ep was released on randomly colored vinyl as with the previous two collaborative ep’s. Future plans for 2011 releases include the “Strobo Trip Light Toy”, a gummy frog, an artistic collaboration with Oklahoma City based Clothing company Warpaint, and a guitar pedal that will amongst many other things, play new Flaming Lips music. Future collaborations have been referenced in interviews by members of the band, among these are collaborations with Panda Bear, Black Moth Super Rainbow and Ghostland Observatory.

Awards

• Grammys

• Won: (2003) Best Rock Instrumental Performance for “Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)”
• Nominated: (2004) Best Alternative Album for Fight Test EP.
• Nominated: (2007) Best Alternative Album for At War With the Mystics.
• Won: (2007) Best Rock Instrumental Performance for “The Wizard Turns On…”
• Won: (2007) Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for At War with the Mystics.
• Nominated: (2008) Best Surround Sound Album for At War With the Mystics 5.1.

• BRITs

• Nominated: (2007) for Best International Act.

•  

Official rock song of Oklahoma

In March 2009 “Do You Realize??” was announced as the official rock song of Oklahoma. Ten choices were put to a public vote, and out of 21,000 votes cast nearly 51% were for “Do You Realize??”^[9][10][11] The Oklahoma Senate approved this choice unanimously. The Oklahoma House of Representatives failed to confirm the choice after Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City attacked the band for its use of offensive language, and Rep. Corey Holland, R-Marlow said he had been “really offended” when Michael Ivins came to the announcement ceremony in March wearing a red T-shirt with a yellow hammer and sickle. However, that evening Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry announced he would sign an executive order naming the song the official rock song. Henry said that for more than 20 years the Flaming Lips have produced “creative, fun and provocative rock music.” “The music of the Flaming Lips has earned Grammys, glowing critical acclaim and fans all over the world”, the governor said. “A truly iconic rock n’ roll band, they are proud ambassadors of their home state.” “They were clearly the people’s choice, and I intend to honor that vote.”^[12]

Members

• Current

• Wayne Coyne – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, theremin, bass guitar (1983–present)
• Michael Ivins – bass, keyboards, backing vocals (1983–present)
• Steven Drozd – drums, guitar, lead vocals, keyboards, bass, backing vocals (1991–present)
• Kliph Scurlock – drums, percussion (2002–present)
• Derek Brown – guitar, keyboards, percussion (2009-present)

• Former

• Mark Coyne – vocals (1983–1985)
• Dave Kostka – drums (1983–1984)
• Richard English – drums, vocals, piano (1984–1988)
• Jonathan Donahue – guitar (1988–1991)
• Nathan Roberts – drums (1988–1991)
• Jon Mooneyham – guitar (one month in 1991)
• Ronald Jones – guitar, backing vocals (1991–1996)

Zac Brown Band is an American country music, southern rock, and folk band based in Atlanta, Georgia, I was fortunate enough to see them headlining the 2011 Aspen Jazz Festival. I will admit to not having been familiar with their music and was a bit hesitant about having a “country” band headline this fantastic Jazz Festival, but after the first two songs of his set I knew this was one incredibly talented and passionate young man that will not be limited to any one genre. For a complete set of photos see my Flickr set here.

The Zac Brown Band has toured throughout the United States, including a slot on the 2009 and 2010 Bonnaroo Music Festival. They have also recorded four studio albums, and charted seven Number One singles on the Billboard country charts: "Chicken Fried", "Toes", "Highway 20 Ride", "Free", "As She’s Walking Away", "Colder Weather", and "Knee Deep" in addition to the single "Whatever It Is," which peaked at number 2 on the same chart.

The Zac Brown Band is:

Zac Brown (vocals, guitar, bass guitar, percussion)

Jimmy De Martini (fiddle, vocals)

John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, guitar, vocals)

Coy Bowles (guitar, keyboards)

Real sorry I have no photos, he was took hidden on stage.

Chris Fryar (drums)

Clay Cook (guitar, keyboards, mandolin, steel guitar, vocals)

Early life

Zac Brown was born July 31, 1978 in Cumming, Georgia. He was raised in Cumming,Georgia by his mom and step-dad, a Cumming dentist on Lake Lanier. He is the 11th of 12 children. He attended Mashburn Elementary School in Cumming, Ga., Lakeview Academy in Gainesville, Ga., and South Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga. He later moved to Dahlonega, Ga. where he graduated from Lumpkin Co. High School. He learned to play classical guitar at age 7. As a teenager, he played solo gigs in local venues, doing country and pop cover songs.

College

Zac attended the University of West Georgia, where he was a member of the Zeta Kappa chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. He was also a camp counselor at Camp Mikell in Tocoa, Ga. & Camp Glisson, a United Methodist summer camp located in Dahlonega, GA.^[1] While in college, he started a band, and he played dates in local restaurants with the band, and solo as well, to earn money to pay for school.

During this time, the band recorded a CD to sell at their gigs, but broke up during recording sessions. On September 11, 2001, after the terrorist attacks occurred, Zac decided that life was too short doing something he didn’t love, so he quit school that day and decided to perform music full-time.

The Zac Brown Band Forms

In 2002, the Zac Brown Band was formed, and they hit the road with a heavy tour schedule of about 200 dates a year. In 2003, Zac started his own label, called Home Grown (today, it’s called Southern Ground for legal reasons).

In 2004, Brown opened a music club and restaurant with his father in the Lake Oconee area of Georgia called "Zac’s Place" where the fare was southern-style cooking. The Zac Brown Band was happy when they played in the club on weekends, and continued playing gigs on the road as well. A developer bought the restaurant, and Zac and the band bought a tour bus, and hit the road full-time, playing rock and country clubs as well as folk and jam band festivals.

The Zac Brown Band released its first album, Far from Einstyne, in 2004, followed by Home Grown a year later. A live album titled Live from the Rock Bus Tour followed in 2007 on the Home Grown label.

In 2006, the band cut The Foundation with producer Keith Stegall. The album was picked up by Live Nation for their new record label. When the label folded, Atlantic picked it up and released the album nationally.

Commercial Success

The Zac Brown Band then signed to Live Nation Records in 2008. Their first single, "Chicken Fried", was originally recorded in 2003 and included on the Home Grown album, but later re-recorded and released to country radio in 2008. This song was also recorded by The Lost Trailers, whose 2006 recording was released as a single but withdrawn after Brown decided that he wanted to release it himself.^[3] Brown also co-wrote "Simple Life", a song recorded by The Lost Trailers on their 2006 self-titled album.

In October 2008, Atlantic Records took over distribution of "Chicken Fried." The band’s album The Foundation was released under Atlantic Records’ newly re-established country division in association with the Home Grown/Big Picture label on November 18, 2008. The group had been previously signed with Live Nation Artists Records.

"Chicken Fried" reached #1 on the country charts in November 2008, making them the first country band to reach #1 with a debut single since Heartland did so in 2006 with "I Loved Her First."^[5] In January 2009, Clay Cook joined as a multi-instrumentalist, and the band released its second single, "Whatever It Is," which went to number two. In July 2009, a third single, "Toes," became the band’s second Number One. The album’s fourth single, and third #1, was "Highway 20 Ride". On July 16 and 17, 2010, they performed at Citi Field as the opening act for the Dave Matthews Band. "Free" is the album’s fifth single and on the week of August 21, 2010, it hit Number One.

In 2011, Zac Brown Band and Blackberry Smoke did a tour of sold out concerts at venues and amphitheaters including Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA.^[6]

Awards

Zac Brown Band received four nominations for the 2009 CMA Awards: New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year, and Music Video of the Year for their #1 single, "Chicken Fried". that same year, they received three Grammy nominations for Best Country Album, Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals and Best New Artist. On January 31, 2010, the band won the Grammy award for Best New Artist.

The group was also nominated in 2009 for three ACM awards, "Album of the Year", "Top Vocal Group", and was one of eight contenders for "Entertainer of the Year"^{[citation needed]}.

The Zac Brown Band lead the nominees for the 46th annual Academy of Country Music Awards 2011, with a total of nine nominations including: Top Vocal Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Vocal Event of the Year^.

Collaborations and Appearances

The band is known to cover songs by their major musical influences in concert, with notable songs including Come Pick Me Up by Ryan Adams, The Devil Went Down To Georgia by Charlie Daniels, I Shall Be Released by Bob Dylan, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by The Band, Blackbird by The Beatles, Into The Mystic by Van Morrison, One Love by Bob Marley, Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine and Can’t You See by The Marshall Tucker Band. On their 2010 Live benefit album Pass the Jar, these songs were included in their setlist.

Along with recent commercial success, the band has made appearances at The Hangout Music Festival, Hullabalou Music Festival and the Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2006, 2009, and 2010 along with an opening slot for the Dave Matthews Band during their 2010 Summer Tour. Also, after several years as perennial favorites on the annual The Rock Boat theme-cruise, the Zac Brown Band has been elevated to hosting their own theme-cruise, Sailing Southern Ground, in September 2010.

Zac Brown Band was also a headliner at the 2010 Detroit Hoedown.

Jimmy Buffett, Duane Cahill, Aaron Carman and guitar virtuoso Tony Rice join Alan Jackson as special guests on the new Zac Brown Band album, "You Get What You Give," which was released on September 21, 2010.

Zac Brown Band appeared at the Country Music Association Awards on Nov 10, 2010, performing As She’s Walking Away.

Zac Brown Band appeared as special guests for Kings of Leon at London’s Hyde Park on June 22, 23 and at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium on June 26.

Zac Brown Band appeared at Ft. Stewart, Georgia and played a free concert for soldiers and family members on July 4, 2011 to a crowd of over 24,000 people.

After an eventful year on the charts and on the road, GRAMMY-Award winning Zac Brown Band has proven that "overnight success" can be years in the making. New fans drawn by the irresistible hit singles, the awe-inspiring musicianship and dynamic live shows might have thought the Zac Brown Band emerged from nowhere. In fact, the band has paid its dues for years and put in its time for just this moment, it may have happened quickly, but it’s definitely built to last.

Zac Brown Band’s second major label studio album ‘You Get What You Give’ (Atlantic/Southern Ground Artists, Inc.) was released on September 21st, 2010 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album features guest appearances by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett and as Zac explained to Associated Press, "It’s a defining record…Every step of it’s done the right way and I expect people are really going to love this record and see the depth of our musicianship, we’re always growing. Not that we’ve arrived at any grand finale or anything, but the progress from this last record to this one, it’s tremendous and I’m proud of it."

On the eve of the release from the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Zac Brown Band streamed their live show – dubbed "Best. Concert. Ever." (Cleveland Plain Dealer) – to fans everywhere via ZacBrownBand.com powered by Ustream. Touting nearly a half-million live views, the concert was among the most-viewed on Ustream. The band also recently earned four GRAMMY nominations including "Best Country Album" for ‘You Get What You Give’ and five CMA Awards nominations including "Entertainer of the Year." Previous honors and accolades include their 2010 GRAMMY win for "Best New Artist," 2010 CMA win for "Best New Artist," 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards win for "Top New Vocal Group" and the 2009 "Breakthrough Video of the Year" from CMT and USA Weekend for "Chicken Fried."

No question, the past year has been dizzying for the hardworking act. The band’s first major label release, ‘The Foundation’ was one of Billboard’s Top 20 albums of 2009, and was the first major label debut album in 18 years to yield five No. 1s including "Chicken Fried" and "Free." Released on November 18, 2008 on Atlantic Records, ‘The Foundation’ debuted at #17 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart and #3 on the Top Country Albums Chart. It’s now certified double platinum by the RIAA, which Brown says, "solidifies an achievement that has been more than a decade in the making."

"There’s no way to predict how fast everything is going to come together," adds the down-to-earth Georgian. "Or that it took 13 years to get to the beginning of it."

In 2009 and 2010 Zac Brown Band successfully headlined the Breaking Ground Tour. "For us to come into our own, we had to make it happen as a headliner," notes the Dahlonega, Ga.-raised Brown. There’s no question that the road-tested band had the chops to pull it off. In addition to bassist John Hopkins, violinist Jimmy De Martini, guitarist/organist Coy Bowles and drummer Chris Fryar, this year the band has added multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Clay Cook, well respected as a musician’s musician and an MVP-caliber performer on the Georgia music scene. Cook, perhaps best known for his co-writes with Grammy-winner (and former Lo-Fi Masters bandmate) John Mayer, rounds out the ZBB sound on guitar, vocals, organ, mandolin and pedal steel.

"We’ve got a great following," Brown affirms. And while the band strongly identifies with country music and country radio and, of course, continues to have great success there, it’s not an easily pigeonholed crowd; while loyal country fans show up in droves, the band also appeals to lovers of bluegrass, jam bands, reggae and seemingly everyone in between. It’s no wonder that another famous genre-hopper, Michigan’s Kid Rock, has performed with the band and given them his strong endorsement. Zac Brown Band also shared the bill for several Dave Matthews Band dates on their summer 2010 stadium tour, including NYC’s Citi Field and will make their Meadowlands debut as well as several stadium stops across the country in 2011 as part of Kenny Chesney’s "Goin’ Coastal Tour" starring Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band.

In fact, the Zac Brown Band’s rehearsal space provides strong clues that the unit puts no artificial limits on itself. While one wall sports a whiteboard chock full of upcoming coast-to-coast tour dates, the other is graffitied with hundreds of song titles-sharing space on a wall that also includes a Bob Marley banner and a framed portrait of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. "Everything has to do with the song," Brown observes. "Every song is born and wants to go its own direction. When audiences hear a new song for the first time, if at the end of it they’re going crazy and cheering, you know you’ve pulled it off."

Brown launched his Southern Ground Artists, Inc. record label in 2009 and signed Atlanta-based artists Sonia Leigh, Levi Lowrey and Nic Cowan. In addition to the music, Brown has also launched a line of steak rubs and barbecue sauces under the Southern Ground label, and in collaboration with photographer Jeffrey Skillings and writer/bandmate Coy Bowles, released his first cookbook ‘Southern Ground’ in 2010. As Brown notes, these projects have their roots in Zac’s Place, a lakeside restaurant he used to co-own and run. "For me it’s about creating something that’s really excellent," he says. "People are going to be blown away by how good the products are."

As if all this weren’t enough, Brown is developing a charitable foundation to run a children’s camp, which recently began clearing land for its planned site. Despite all the irons in the fire, Brown nonetheless calls his foundation and camp plans his "life’s work." "Having the camp and giving back is important for me," he says. "I’m very blessed to have what I have, and I know a lot of that’s on credit for what I do down the road. It’s very important for me to keep that in mind. I want to leave something behind that does some good after I’m gone."
While Brown focuses on doing good, his audiences will continue to focus on feeling good, as the band builds upon its grassroots following with media exposure and gigs in larger venues, such as the recent high-profile gig at the Bonnaroo festival that Brown calls "electric" in both the performance and the response. (Performances on the late-night television circuit-David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Craig Ferguson and Jimmy Kimmel and cover features on American Songwriter and Billboard have only accelerated the momentum.)

And while audiences party, they’ll be doing well to keep up with the musicians onstage. "We laugh all the time," Brown notes. "You’re either sleeping or up laughing and having a good time. Or we’re playing music. It’s better than I could have dreamed of."

Its that time of year, a cooler feel in the air and a groovy vibe in my car as I am heading to Snowmass Village Colorado to shoot the 3 day Aspen Jazz Festival. Every year is better than the last and this year is no exception, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Franti, Steely Dan, Zac Brown, Thievery Corp, Girl Talk, Fitz and the Tantrums, oh my… and so many more. Check back frequently for photos and reviews.

Some of the scheduled acts include;

09.02.11 Aspen Jazz Festival09.02.11 Thievery Corp.09.02.11 Girl Talk09.03.11 Ryan Bingham09.03.11 Rodrigo y Gabriela09.03.11 Steely Dan09.04.11 Fitz and The Tantrums09.04.11 Michael Franti09.04.11 Jac Brown

Check back soon for photos and reviews of this years show.

Much love.

LCC

Jackson Browne finished off the 21st Annual Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Lyons Colorado at one of the most beautiful venues in the world, Plant Bluegrass. Accompanied by the St. Vrain river and a chorus of crickets it was truly a night to remember. Planet Bluegrass always creates a stellar line up but this year may have been the best ever. Many thanks to Craig Ferguson and crew for creating a magical musical experience for the 3,500+ fans that made the trek to Planet Bluegrass.

Three days of music by the best singer songwriters in the world, below is a short recap of each performance. For a complete set of photos see my Flickr set here.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Vance Gilbert

Anais Mitchell

Livingston Taylor

Sweet Honey in the Rock

Martin Sexton

Brandi Carlile

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Megan Burtt

Mama Kin

Mary Gauthier and Tania Elizabeth

Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion

Red Horse: Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka & Lucy Kaplansky

Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band

Bob Weir, Chris Robinson & Jackie Greene

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Tim Eriksen

Danielle Ate the Sandwich

Dan Mangan

The Civil Wars

Carolina Chocolate Drops

Missy Higgins

Jackson Browne

One week away form the 21st Annual Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, I making the six hour drive from Utah to shoot this one of a kind festival in Lyons, Colorado located just North of Denver in the Rocky Mountain National Park. The entire festival is now completely sold-out. This is the earliest sell-out in the festival’s 21 year history. For more details see their website http://www.bluegrass.com/folks/

Twenty-one years! Twenty-one years since the organizers started our modest "summit on the song" in Estes Park. During that time the festival has moved (to the Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons), grown, and created its own culture and spirit, while remaining true to our initial vision for spending a glorious Colorado summer weekend celebrating stories and songs – from around the musical and geographic world. This year’s 21st Anniversary celebration, August 19-21, promises to be another magical late summer celebration of songs, stories, and sunshine with with some of our favorite musical storytellers from around the world – including Jackson Browne; Brandi Carlile; Sweet Honey in the Rock; the trio of Bob Weir, Chris Robinson & Jackie Greene; and many more. See the entire lineup below.

I will post a few photos everyday and have a huge wrap-up and summary about a week later. If I meet you there and you come to this site and don’t see a photo you want just shoot me an email at lewis@gonzoshots.com. In the mean time you can check out my photos of previous years here.

See ya there!

Lewis

PS. One more off the bucket list :} Jackson Browne …. oh yes

• Friday, August 19, 2011
• 10:00am — Gates Open
• 11:00 – 12:45pm — Songwriter Showcase
• 1:00 – 2:00pm — Vance Gilbert
• 2:15 – 3:30pm — Anais Mitchell
• 3:45 – 5:00pm — Livingston Taylor
• 5:30 – 6:45pm — Sweet Honey in the Rock
• 7:15 – 8:30pm — Martin Sexton
• 9:00 – 10:30pm — Brandi Carlile

• Saturday, August 20, 2011
• 10:00am — Gates Open
• 10:45 – 11:45am — Megan Burtt
• 12:15 – 1:30pm — Mama Kin
• 2:00 – 3:15pm — Mary Gauthier
• 3:45 – 5:00pm — Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
• 5:30 – 6:45pm — Red Horse: Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka & Lucy Kaplansky
• 7:15 – 8:30pm — Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band
• 9:00 – 10:30pm — Bob Weir, Chris Robinson & Jackie Greene

• Sunday, August 21, 2011
• 10:00am — Gates Open
• 10:45am – 11:45pm — Tim Eriksen
• 12:00 – 1:00pm — Danielle Ate the Sandwich
• 1:30 – 2:45pm — Dan Mangan
• 3:15 – 4:30pm — The Civil Wars
• 5:00 – 6:15pm — Carolina Chocolate Drops
• 6:45 – 8:00pm — Missy Higgins
• 8:30 – 10:00pm — Jackson Browne
•