One and One and One Make Three

Tue, 15 May 2012 05:27:00 GMT

Yesterday, after expecting a Sunday afternoon practice, I resigned myself to the
fact that for one reason or another, it had fallen through. Later in the evening I
was getting some work done, and checking in with Facebook and anything else
that would help keep me from accomplishing anything productive, and then up
on the McLovins page popped a new cover video. Not just a new cover, but a
cover of "Ripple," easily my favorite song off of The Grateful Dead's
"American Beauty,? arguably the band's best studio effort. I was blown away
when I read that this was in fact for Mother's Day and as a birthday
gift for me. My daughter Kayla had been speaking to Justin and he and
Atticus thought this up. I thank Kayla and all the guys for such a moving tribute
and in my typical fashion, I will now take a sweet and simple gesture and make
it much more complicated and deeper than it probably is, but it's my job;
another stab at declarative writing 101.

The "American Beauty" album followed hot on the heels of "Workingman's Dead"
itself a reaction to The Grateful Dead moving away from their more psychedelic
experimentation phase, to the reality of their loss of their San Francisco innocence
and their job as a full-time touring and working band. A conscious decision was
made on band's part in focusing a little more closely on their vocals and working
with a more spare instrumental sound was a result of working collaboratively with members of The Jefferson Airplane and David Crosby in Wally Heider's studio.

The late '60's were the true start of the alt-country movement. The Byrd's had
paved the way with their "Sweetheart of the Rodeo," The Dead chimed in with
"Workingman's Dead" and American Beauty" while the influence of Gram
Parsons had been cutting a swath through recording sessions all over America.
Psychadelia had given way to roots rock/americana and this sound would come
to rule the airwaves for the next half-decade. This change in style had occurred
rapidly for The Dead, less than 2 years before they were still ensconced in the
middle of the San Francisco hippie scene, and this musical change seemed very
much in step with what was happening in the modern music scene.

There is a legendary story told by Robert Hunter. He was able to take a rare
tour day off sitting in an apartment room in London. Receiving a case of retsinsa,
he went walking about and spent the ensuing afternoon writing the lyrics to
"Brokedown Palace" and "Ripple" as he polished an entire bottle of wine off.
These songs, along with his "Box of Rain", "Friend of the Devil" and "Truckin''"
provide the backbone to an insanely well polished and musically diverse album. For
me the gem of this album and this renaissance of the Grateful Dead is and will
always be "Ripple".

For those who are interested in a deeper essay on the magic that is "Ripple",
please check this out.

Happy Mother's Day.. McMoms all.....

Mon, 14 May 2012 07:05:00 GMT

Thank you all so much for all you've done..

Look out of any window
any morning, any evening, any day

Maybe the sun is shining
birds are winging or
rain is falling from a heavy sky -

What do you want me to do, to do for you to see you through?

Walk out of any doorway feel your way, feel your way like the day before

Maybe you'll find direction around some corner where it's been waiting to meet you -

What do you want me to do,
to watch for you while you're sleeping?
Well please don't be surprised
when you find me dreaming too

Beardlovin or is it Keylovin...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:34:00 GMT

Birthday wishes go out to our very own Beardlovin, Atticus Kelly. Atticus works as hard as anyone I know and his drive and desire is a big part of The McLovins success. His decision to play keyboards as well as guitar has added musical texture and allowed the band to really grow. Happy Birthday Keylovin!

"Happy, happy oh my friend.. blow out candles once again.."

Turning a Corner...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:47:00 GMT

The first show with the new 4 member configuration of The McLovins was on New Years Eve, at Arch Street Tavern. We now have a band who in a little over 100 days has turned a corner, actually they're sprinting at the moment, piling on technique and expansive jamming with their new compositions while at the same time having a healthy respect for their back catalogue. They are adding new songs to their repetoire at a prodigous rate, tightening up and loosening at the same time. I knew this time was coming, I had seen it before with this band where in a matter of weeks they took giant leaps forward, and the first inkling of this new growth spurt was at their show last month at Keene State. The addition of Atticus alternating between keys and guitar has just caused the band to explode as each member is locked into the band as a whole; at the same time a bit more free to improvise but also aware of their place in this musical stew. So free up a couple hours to listen to this Main Pub show, easily the best show so far in this 2.0 era of The McLovins.. through hard work and tireless practice, they are now in a perfect position to roar through a solid summer of festival and main stage performance, taking no prisoners and leaving audiences stunned and satisfied in their wake.. if there was any question about hopping onto the bus, do it now; it's a brand new day.

The McLovins Live @ The Main Pub 04/13/12

In loving memory of Levon...

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 01:56:00 GMT

So as the word came out yesterday that Levon Helm, longtime singer and drummer for The Band had lost his battle with cancer, The McLovins gathered last night to pay homage to this incredible man and his music. Since the addition of Atticus Kelly and Justin Berger at the beginning of the year, a Cripple Creek->Jessica double had become a staple of most McLovins sets. The guys felt a perfect way to honor Levon Helm was to record one of their performances of The Band's classic Cripple Creek. After a couple practice runs, they final recorded version was perfect in tone and tenor, the legacy of this mans music and his spirit lives on, as long as his music is being played, he will live on.

I don't have to speak, as she defends me

A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one

?

Here's some photos from the night's set-up.. so nice to see the band was able to honor such an important influence on their music in such a respectful way...

Three from last summer's Main Stage

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 06:35:00 GMT

On one of the hottest days of the summer last year, The McLovins opened Saturday's "Gathering Of The Vibes" with the first main stage set of the day. "Gatheirng Of The Vibes" put up these three videos today, a couple weeks in advance of this year's line-up announcement, just to remind folks of what happened last year. A couple of the faces have changed, but the excitement is still here, and the band and the fans are waiting for this year's set.

The set starts off with a bang, insane energy and excitement from Jeff, Jason and Jake.

This next one had only been part of the McLovins repertoire for a couple months, Jason just kills it with some thick bass funk.

This a classic version of Virtual Circle, Jeff and Jake just tear this up.

So we should have a couple weeks, probably three until Vibes makes it's line-up announcement and we get to see when The McLovins will play this year!

Making of the "Man In A Blue Coat video..

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:51:00 GMT

Some shots I took during the recording of the Man In A Blue Coat video. This is the 2nd video the band has released since the addition of Atticus and Justin.

You can see the finished product HERE

No we got nothing in common.. no we can't talk at all ..

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:15:00 GMT

Just a quick shout out forJustlovin,
Happy Birthday on your 19 year.. livin' the dream.

Sounds Good To Me 2011

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:01:00 GMT

To close out 2011 on a high note, I give you Sounds Good To Me 2011, a few of the bands and songs that struck a tone with me this year. Seeing as musical tastes are a fickle beast, I liked it but your mileage may vary.

The full mix is available here.

Rehearsal pictures....

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:05:00 GMT

The "Day to Day" sessions...practice makes perfect....

"Day to Day" here

"It May Stop, But It Never Ends..."

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:24:00 GMT

The only thing that is constant in life is change. Growth and change are part of all our lives and an integral part of the musical odyssey that The McLovins have shared with us. Due to the demands of an increasingly rigorous touring schedule and faced with an added workload in preparation for his future education, Jeffrey Howard has decided that now is the time for him to step back from the band. Jeff?s departure will bring to a close an amazing journey that started three years ago with their first practices and that continued through all the victories and setbacks they've shared as both a band and a family.

I'm so thankful for that the love and support that have been given Jeff and for the rewards of the music itself; all which have come through the band's hard work, persistence and practice. As a band they've evolved both musically and individually and in these past years they have literally grown-up together. We will always have memories of the good times and the trials that we shared together and all the friends that we have made along the way. Whatever comes next we can look forward to the challenges and triumphs that will come from the next phase in The McLovin's evolution.

Many times a change like this may be viewed as a loss, but I look forward to the future and we should all be very excited for the evolution of this band. The McLovins will perform together with Jeffrey through the end of December and though I'm a bit sad, I still remain excited for the changes that the coming year will bring us with some new faces and new sounds. Jeff?s retirement will ring in a new era for the band and tho Jason and Jake will continue on without him, the addition of new members will bring vitality and a new period of growth for the band. I wish him the best and he will still remain a part of this family, always their brother and always a McLovin.

� and Thanks to Karl MacWcWerter for the use of this photo

Leave all your love and your longing behind, you can't carry it with you if you want to survive...

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:57:00 GMT

Again and unfortunately much too soon, the McLovins have suffered a loss, as a member of this ad hoc family has passed. This loss happened just as this extended brood was again gathering for a holiday performance and the event has rocked us all; nothing could have prepared anyone for this and it still seems almost inconceivable, an insane mistake that is just so very wrong. Ashley Kozlosky cut a path through this scene, touching countless lives while leaving a vivacious spirit and an infectious smile in her wake. Life is at times joyous but viscous, completely arbitrary and immovable, things may happen for a reason, but that doesn?t make it right.

The loss of a younger person is a doubly tragic event, not only is there the physical loss, but also the potential that will never be realized. The departed become as frozen in time; a snapshot of what was and what could have been, forever green in the bloom of youth. Ashley and her best friend Eve were both in the midst of this bloom; just starting to live their lives, the path ahead was laid out for both of them, now it?s become a solitary journey.

Ashley was a soft-spoken, thoughtful soul; incredibly talented and a fiercely loyal friend. She and Eve would spend hours working on their craft, designing and baking together, though Eve would insist that Ashley was the true baker of the duo. You could always count on her and her partner in crime to show up at a show with an amazing batch of cupcakes, inspired either the season or by the band. It was so appropriate that Eve came to the show just hours after hearing of her friend, bringing with her the unfinished cupcakes that she and Ashley had worked on the night before, I couldn't have imagined a more fitting way to honor her memory. I?ve known Ashley for 2 years and we?d become unlikely friends over a shared love of music and a kindred spirit due to the joy of this band. She?s leaving behind a wealth of memories but she?s also left us with a hole in the center of this family that time will help to fill, but along with the love and the memories, a dull ache of pain that will diminish but never disappear.

You can choose what stays and what fades away

And I'd do anything to make you stay

3 Faces of Close to the Line...

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:15:00 GMT

This summer has been a hectic and fantic time for The McLovins. After a nearly 6 week layover, the band has stormed back with a series of concerts that has cemented their position as a band to watch. As if there's any proof needed that The McLovins have really turned a corner and aren't looking back; I offer up for your perusal, 3 performances of Close To The Line. These 3 versions were performed during three consecutive shows in a span of 4 days earlier this month. Each performance is unique, each has it's own musical arc and the jamming in each is fiercely singular. Turn these up, there is something special happening this summer.

The Mclovins Live at Mills Pond (August 4 2011)

Close to the Line, middle of the 1st set

Dropped right in the middle of the first set, wonderfuly interaction between Jason and Jeff, funky and breezy, perfect for a calm summer eve.

The McLovins at Camp Creek (August 6 2011)

Close to the Line, the set opener

Fierce and assertive, an attention grabber and a kick in the teeth. Jake sets the table and Jeff and Jason serve it up, hot and tasty.

The McLovins Live at SoNo Arts Festival (August 7, 2011)

Close To The Line, 2nd set opener

This rendition sets the tone for the entire set, an aural assault, wonderfully funky and loose. A thick jam helps lead off this set off with bang.

Newport Folk Festival - The Cave Singers

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:36:00 GMT

Ohdarlingdear and I traveled down to the Newport Folk Festival this past Sunday primarily to catch sets from the Civil Wars and The Head and the Heart. A few of the other acts were guaranteed pleasers; Thile & Daves, Justin Townes Earle and Brown Bird, but we were so pleasantly surprised by this intense trio of Northwesterners, The Cave Singers.

Their set was positioned smack dab in the middle of the day's Harbor Stage performances and the only thing I knew about the band was an anecdote that had been related by the day's first act Brown Bird. The story recounted a chance meeting between Brown Bird and The Cave Singers at a rest area in North or South Carolina a few years before where a small leather jacket was exchanged. The jacket was to have been signed and passed on to other bands to eventually work it's way back to Brown Bird, and earlier in the day, the jacket worked its way back to Brown Bird at Newport.

Their music is born of rust-belt americana, a darkly hypnotic roots rock stew; stomp and roll. A deep woods sound that's perfectly suited as the soundtrack for an episode of Twin Peaks.. there's something here that I can't put my finger on but oh how it works; achingly familiar fuzz guitar and sledgehammer drum rhythms focused through the lens of blast furnace vocals. This melange yields a powerfully earnest blend, equal parts folk, punk and rock; a potent potion best experienced hot and live. They played a blistering 46 minute set that had the crowd equally mesmerized and exhilarated, shock and awe indeed.

Luckily for me Ohdarlingdear had the sense to take some pictures because I was just sitting there jaw-dropped and totally into this band. NRP and Folk Alley were kind enough to make this performance available to stream or download. I can't wait to being able to see this band again.

Check their set out here, NPR, Folk Alley
and stop by their website Here

Run-up to Vibes..

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:45:00 GMT

So if you find yourself still on the fence about going to Gathering Of The Vibes this weekend, here's some recent McLovins media to hopefully help you make that decision a bit easier. The following photos are from the Farmington Patch Viewfinder coverage of last night's Blue Back Square performance in West Hartford. All photos are � Arthur Nazaryan of The Patch

click for The Patch article

To wet your whistle, here's a taste of what's in store for the Wake 'n Rage on Saturday morning during the McLovins Main Stage Mayhem... this is from Wednesday night's Blue Back Square performance.

Check out the audio recording from the band's last Saturdays Main Pub show

okay, now it's time to get excited...

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:19:00 GMT

It's a little over a week until Saturday's performance down in Bridgeport, so here's a nice article from Connecticut Magazine, Ken Hayes talks about Vibes and the memory of Jerry Garcia. The magazine was kind enough to run a feature on the break-out starts of the past couple years and their feelings on their first main-stage performance.

click on image to McLovinize

Vote for The McLovins - Grand Band Slam 2011

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 05:05:00 GMT

Now is the time to get this campaign on it's way, let's vote The McLovins as the best band in the Hartford Advocate Grand Band Slam 2011. All you have to do is click on the link, give a name and an e-mail address and vote for The McLovins as Best Band. They don't really seem to fit into any of the genres they offer, so going with Best Band category give them the best shot.

the terrible twos...

Mon, 23 May 2011 15:25:00 GMT

It's been two years and 80 something shows later and this train just keeps rolling on. 2 years ago I wandered into Granby Memorial High School to catch The Concert For Hope and see a band who had kept popping up on my radar for weeks. This was my review of that first show and everything I said back then still holds true, this band is lightning in a bottle. We're now just days away from the start of the summer tour season and another whirlwind run through New England, the band is hitting a number of local stops this summer as well as the usual festival stops. Catch this band while you can, they are on an upward arc, and this scene is about to blow up.

I feel it cold and warm...the shadows start to fall.

Fri, 20 May 2011 19:21:00 GMT

I was talking to my daughter the other day and the inevitable subject of new music came up, I find we're constantly trying to turn each other onto the new, the odd, and the different.. the more underground, the better. This time of year I always reflect back on Ian Curtis and the lost promise of Joy Division. By my junior year in high school my musical palette was fairly well formed, always catching the local monsters Max Creek, I was a huge Deadhead, though the typical '70s era band were well represented. Led Zep, Jeff Beck, Floyd, Deep Purple, Hendrix, The Who and their ilk made up the remainder of my listening, though by 1979 there came a siren call from across the Atlantic.

In 1979 the post-punk revolution had thundered in; full force along with the new-wave/no wave sound. The Clash, The Jam and Gen-X and were its kings, but none held the fascination for me that Joy Division did. Here was a band mentioned in whispers and scant notices, an anomaly; their album art was stark and moody as was their music. At the center of this mysterious group was guitarist and vocalist, Ian Curtis, an ex-navy family man, prone to epileptic seizures who would dance like a broken dervish, arms and legs akimbo as he poured out tortured lyrics backed up by the most amazing band.

Keeping track of this UK band meant trips down to Capitol Records in Hartford to pick up the newest import singe and perusing copies of The Trouser Press. This band was the first that I could claim as my own.. I felt I had discovered this dark jewel, an unknown pleasure as it were. On May 18 1980, the flight of Joy Division crashed to earth with the suicide of Ian Curtis, though like a phoenix, the surviving members of the band rose again as New Order, we had lost something great and something special. In this era of youtube and facebook, it's so easy to familiarize yourself with a band and even I take this ease for granted, but back then it was much harder to do. The death of the rock idol had become almost a parody of itself in the late 1960's and '70's, Hendrix, Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, the list went on and on, but to me, here was a contemporary, in a sense a loss I couldn't help but take a little more personally.

As I type this I can't help but feel a bit anachronistic, as though trying to recapture a lost time, a time that really didn't exist even back then, a flimsy bubble of life in motion. We can't take any of this for granted, for the future is a propellant, pushing us forward and whether we notice it or not, we have to stop and take a breath..

..this is the way, step inside....

They've created a devastating masterpiece..

Tue, 17 May 2011 07:21:00 GMT

Saturday night saw The McLovins pull into Albany and in what has been their theme all year; it was a take no prisoners throw down. Co-headlining with the Albany collective COUNCIL FIRE, The band turned in a forceful 85 minute set, including a wild 23 minute opus that stands alongside the ?TWEEZER REPRISE? of Nateva as the finest encores ever played by the band.

The first set started off on a high note with the band?s newest composition, the heady CLOSE TO THE LINE, featuring some awe inspiring bass pedal work from Jason. This number leads right into SEA OF WISDOM which has re-entered the bands repertoire and emerged as a first-set stunner, lyrical and blithe while still retaining a visceral intensity, a nice bridge between the more raucous tunes and the band?s melodic ballads. 357 has been used as a spicy bridge leading into QUIET KINGS but here it?s a stand-alone instrumental and sets up an incendiary version of TOKYO TEA. CARAVAN follows with a snaky and loose intro jam, again a nice balance of force and melody, leading right into the always welcome DEEP MONSTER TRANCE.

For me, the real strength of the band since the first of the year has been the set-list construction. Whether playing a 2 set gig, or a 60 to 90 minute set, the set lists have to be the x-factor of 2011. The balance of dynamics within the set has been flawless this year, sometimes it?s a slow build to a final knockout punch, or a series of plateaus before a final climax; this year?s show share a common consistency. The slower ballads or more patient songs balance the frenetic moments leaving the audience with a much richer experience; sometimes less is more and the band has learned this. It?s a testament to the growth of The McLovins that they have learned to harness their catalog and realize that song placement is now more important than ever.

DEEP MONSTER TRANCE set the table for the second half of this epic set, a mammoth 15 minute funk journey bringing the energy level right back up and leading into the cooling chill down of MON AMI. This song is a twisty romping, rollicking number with signature Mclovins tempo and tone changes; a true delight. TETOP showcases Jason and Jake?s vocals, and the closing number BEAD HEAD CRYSTAL BUGGER was a prog masterpiece highlighted by some insane Jeff Howard guitar pyrotechnics.

This was an above average show that was quickly tipped over into the legendary category when the band was given another half-hour stage time, and as usual, they made the most of it. All that had happened so far during the show was to be eclipsed by the next 23 minutes as the band unleashed without a doubt their finest jamming piece in the past year. You have to go back to the Barn Show in October of ?09 to find another example of the kind of fearless and bold improvisation backed up with rock solid pocket jamming.

I?ve listened to the show 3 times now, and each time the TWEEZER REPRISE transitions into SHAKEDOWN I get chills... it doesn?t get any better than this, this band is weaponized right now, they?re focused, hungry and on point. I can?t believe it?s just May and the summer is barely here and they?re in this mode this early... Saturday night at Infinity Hall should be a superb show... but for now, listen to this one until your ears ring... it?s a devastating masterpiece indeed.

The McLovins - Jilians Of Albany 05/14/11