The thirteen night Phish Baker’s Dozen run is coming in hot, turning NYC into the ultimate mecca of music from late July through early August. With dozens of late night shenanigans surrounding the marathon Phish run, we want to make sure you don’t miss a beat. Presenting: L4LM’s official guide to Baker’s Dozen after dark!
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7.20-7.22: Twiddle @ Irving Plaza* [Tickets]
With roots at Vermont’s Castleton State University, Twiddle began their extensive touring career in 2005. Over a decade later, the foursome has composed an eclectic catalogue spanning three studio albums of originals, in addition to many live releases. Currently the band is digging in at the studio composing PLUMP Chapter Two, the second half of their acclaimed third album. Having performed at a multitude of international festivals, Twiddle’s trajectory shows zero sign of slowing. Look for them to pack prominent theaters throughout 2017, as they truly break through to the next level.
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7.21-7.22: The Werks @ American Beauty NYC [Tickets]
With the recent release of their latest LP, Magic, The Werks have continued to evolve their sound, both sonically and from a songwriting perspective. With a devoted fanbase, countless live recordings, their own successful Werk Out Music Festival in Ohio, and the will to tour the country year-round, The Werks have established themselves as a staple in the jam world over the last decade. These shows will begin the three-week long marathon of late-night shows to complement Phish’s historic run at MSG.
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7.21: The Motet @ BB King Blues Club [Tickets]
Colorado funksters The Motet have been coming strong with the funk force since 1998, led by founder and drummer Dave Watts. With Joey Porter (keys), Garrett Sayers (bass), Ryan Jalbert (guitar), Gabe Mervine (trumpet), Drew Sayers (sax), and the fairly recent addition of singer Lyle Divinsky in early 2016, The Motet comes at you with a complete and unified sound, digging extra deep into the world of funk with flourishes of afrobeat and jazz throughout. If you want to shake your tailfeather to some straight up grooves, The Motet at BB King’s is the first stop on the F-Train from MSG (the “F” is for Funk).
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7.22: Circles Around the Sun @ Gramercy Theatre [SOLD OUT]
Chris Robinson Brotherhood guitarist Neal Casal is bringing his marveled Circles Around The Sun project to the Gramercy Theater on Saturday, July 22nd. The history of the group is beyond fitting, as the band’s first introduction was at the Grateful Dead’s 50th Anniversary Fare Thee Well shows. Casal, the frequent Phil Lesh & Friends collaborator, was tapped to create the setbreak music, eventually giving birth to a band that would fittingly be called Circles Around The Sun. The psychedelic rock grooves that Casal, along with the help of keyboardist Adam MacDougall, bassist Dan Horne, and drummer Mark Levy create will be the perfect concoction to help fans “Hallucinate a Solution” late into the night.
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7.23: Circles Around the Sun @ Brooklyn Bowl (Pre-Party) [Tickets]
Few albums have the creation myth of Interludes For The Dead by Neal Casal’s Circles Around The Sun. The 10 instrumental jams that encompass the release were commissioned by Justin Kreutzmann, the filmmaker son of Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann, to accompany the biographical visuals he was compiling to be shown during set break at the “Fare Thee Well” concerts the living members of the Dead played in the summer of 2015.
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7.25: Turkuaz @ Irving Plaza* [Tickets]
Brooklyn power-funk masters Turkuaz will perform a very special Phish Baker’s Dozen late night show at Irving Plaza on Tuesday, July 25th. The band has been rising through the ranks over the past few years, making a name for themselves as they’ve crisscrossed the country, bringing their tight and polished sound to clubs and festivals nationwide. The band, who spent their early years making a name for themselves at the beloved venue Brooklyn Bowl, have already made a huge impact in 2017, having crushed a national tour with support from Organ Freeman, dominated Jazz Fest with two shows with moe., and turned in an incredible performance at the beloved venue Red Rocks as part of Lettuce’s Rage Rocks event. Now, the band will bring their tour-tested live show back to NYC for an intimate post-Phish late night performance for the ages. See below for full info on this funky late night show with Turkuaz!
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7.25: Tom Marshall Presents: The Amfibian All-Stars with Cal Kehoe and Anthony Krizan [Tickets]
Tom Marshall will bring together some of the best players from his band “Amfibian” to create the “Amfibian All-Stars.” Joining the band on this evening will be rising guitar star Cal Kehoe and Anthony Krizan, founding member of the Spin Doctors, plus John Korba, John Hummel, Ed Wilson, Chris Fitzgerald, and Benjamin Clap. Tom plans to join the band for a few tunes, and has promised to bring a few surprise special guests along for the ride.
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7.26: Strange Machines with Eggy @ DROM* [Tickets]
Boston-born quartet Strange Machines have been steadily making a name for themselves in the Northeast jam scene. What started as a band focused on reggae has slowly melded into a true melting pot of musical fusion, with sounds catering to heavy rock, funk, livetronica and a multitude of other genre’s, all while stringing them together seamlessly to create a fluid and captivating live performance. They have shared the stage with national-touring acts such as Dopapod, Twiddle, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Turkuaz, Kung Fu, TAUK, Deep Banana Blackout, John Brown’s Body, and more. Strange Machines have carved out their own niche in the northeast music scene and show no signs of slowing down.
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7.28-7.29: Dopapod @ Gramercy Theatre* [Tickets]
Live For Live Music is teaming up with CEG Presents to bring Boston jam quartet Dopapod to New York for two Baker’s Dozen after-parties at the Gramercy Theatre on Friday, July 28th and Saturday, July 29th. The adventurous quartet has been on a tear this year after band members Eli Winderman, Rob Compa, and Chuck Jones reunited with their original drummer Neal “Fro” Evans to bring their exciting live show to increasingly rabid crowds of fans at venues up and down the northeast. With two nights of post-Phish throw downs lined up in NYC, fans can expect their patented mix of funky originals, impressive jams, and precise musicianship as they descend on the Gramercy Theater during the second weekend of Phish’s run.
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7.28 (2 shows): The James Brown Dance Party @ Highline Ballroom* – Early Show [Tickets] / Late Show [Tickets]
On Friday, July 28th, CEG & Live For Live Music are excited to present The James Brown Dance Party, a star-studded tribute to the king of funk. Happening at the Highline Ballroom, there will be two shows: an early performance starting at 8PM and a Phish After-Party set beginning at 11:59PM. The James Brown Dance Party is a rotating All-Star cast of musicians, led by The Chase Brothers, Adam and Matthew Chase (Jazz Is Phish). The July 28th presentation will feature, Fred Wesley (James Brown, The JB’s), Fred Thomas (James Brown), Antwaun Stanley (Vulfpeck), Binky Griptite (The Dap Kings), Justin Stanton (Snarky Puppy), James Casey (Trey Anastasio Band), Chris Rob (Talib Kweli) and Adam Dotson (Rubblebucket), alongside The Chase Brothers. Special guests from the Knicks City Dancers will also be in attendance. When a group of all-stars like this gets together, there’s no saying what’s going to happen but this show is sure to be the funkiest all-star tribute in show business!
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7.29: Perpetual Groove @ BB King Blues Club [Tickets]
Since the group came off a two year hiatus back in mid-2015, Brock Butler (guitar, vocals), Adam Perry (bass, vocals), Matt McDonald (keys, vocals), and Albert Suttle (drums) have been putting together some of the strongest and most inspiring shows of the bands now twenty year career. To add to that, P-Groove released the EP Familiar Stare this past August, which witnessed a new chapter of creativity, maturation, and an evolution of sound for the quartet. The future looks very bright for Perpetual Groove.
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7.29: Live For Live Music & PhanArt Present Space Carnival
PhanArt will hold an intimate art show at American Beauty NYC before Phish hits the stage on Saturday, July 29th. The event will feature Space Carnival performing 2 sets on the first floor while PhanArt takes over the top floor of the venue from 3-7pm.
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8.2: Matisyahu @ The Cutting Room* [Tickets]
Matisyahu found himself on stage at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival with the de facto leader of improvisational rock-n-roll; Phish’s front man Trey Anastasio. Many early fans of Matisyahu remember that moment clearly not because of the songs he played in front of the 80,000 person crowd, but because of his seemingly unfettered confidence (or perhaps naivete) in helping lead Trey and his band through an improvisational display of beat boxing and lyrical gymnastics during the two songs performed. It may have been unrefined, but Matisyahu’s passion for full band improvisation was laid bare.
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8.3: Greensky Bluegrass w/ Marco Benevento @ Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk^ [Tickets]
For more than a decade and a half, the members of Greensky Bluegrass have created their own version of bluegrass music, mixing the acoustic stomp of a stringband with the rule-breaking spirit of rock & roll. This show will celebrate 20 years of Phish’s Waterwheel Foundation with special guest Marco Benevento.
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8.4: Kraz & Taz: Eric Krasno Band with Brandon “Taz” Niederauer Band @ The Cutting Room [Tickets]
The Eric Krasno Band will perform a special late night concert at The Cutting Room on Friday, August 4th, joined by the Brandon Niederauer “TAZ” Band. Krasno needs no introduction, as he has been essentially running NYC for years, making his name as a founding member of Soulive and Lettuce while developing himself into one of the most in-demand guitar players in the city. His solo band has been on the road for some time now, delivering material from his solo album Blood From a Stone alongside a few choice Grateful Dead covers that have allowed he and his band to stretch out into the improvisational space where he shines the brightest. Brandon “Taz” Niederauer should be no stranger, since, at this point, he has cemented himself as a rising star. Niederauer, still only 14 years old, was discovered by Butch Trucks, mentored by Col. Bruce Hampton, and has been cutting his teeth the past two years as one of the stars of the smash hit Broadway musical School of Rock.
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8.5: Spafford @ BB King Blues Club [SOLD OUT]
There is no denying the incredible year that AZ-based jammers Spafford have experienced. Whether headlining their own shows, or opening for scene stalwarts such as Umphrey’s McGee or Lotus, Spafford has quickly ascended the scene. The band recently wrapped up a mostly sold out tour, and blew out Music Hall of Williamsburg with Mungion earlier this year. They have announced their return to New York City for a late-night performance at BB King Blues Club & Grill on Saturday, August 5th after Phish plays Madison Square Garden.
*= CEG & L4LM Present
^=Live Nation & L4LM Present
