Instrumental Magic: A Recap of Maz Festival
-By Chadbyrne R. Dickens
Shhhh! I’m going to let you in on a secret! Once the secret is out, then there is the possibility it may lose much of its special appeal and allure, so get in on the fun while it’s hot! For those lucky few, like myself, who saw Phish play in a bar for 10 people for free in the late 80’s, we knew that it was magic to be bottled and probably never able to be captured again as they grew. Much of the same can be said for the 3rd annual Maz Festival, the euphoric and enthralling musical weekend soiree set in Roscoe, NY in the Catskill Mountains over August 1st-4th. Tickets cost $80 for the entire weekend, including camping. Roscoe, NY located a mere 2 hours North of New York City, 4 hours from Boston and 200 miles from Philadelphia.
With most of the sets scheduled with allotments as short as 40 minutes, this allowed for many more and varied artists to grace the stage when juxtaposed to other festivals. Over 60 different musical artists performed over the weekend, covering music genres including but not limited to jam, rock, funk, bluegrass and electronica on multiple stages, with an unintentional focus on some of the great instrumental artists in the music sphere. The Fest host and promoter, Jordan DuMond (Taste Da Thumb), along with his staff and volunteers, prepared an ideal music adventure. It was intensely personal due to its intimate size and presentation. One would make a new friend and see them over and over, like the first day at a small new school. There was only one place to get food, minimal vending and it provided a feel of personal “ownness” and comfort inherent in such a small setting – something innocent and free that gets lost in a larger more commercial festival setting. There were random people sporadically spinning fire and a troupe of girls swirling hips, including Vestopia Hoops, and strutting their ware with the hoop. Sometimes when at one of the endless quality shows, one couldn’t help but feel that one was very fortunate, as if it was a private show just for you and your friends. The entire experience is so peaceful and therapeutic – the ideal feeling we all seek from a festival experience.
Many festivals claim to be about “family” when really it’s an excuse for narcissism and self-destruction. Maz Fest was so small that you met so many friends and spent real time with them over a 3 night weekend, it was like bonding at an Outward Bound Course complete with indelible memories from a camping trip with like-minded strangers. Maz Fest is a festival the way we wish it always could be – innocent, without crowds, without assholes, with no lines, and with friendly folks languishing in the language of imagery through music.
Thursday, August 1st
Some of the music on Day 1 included the local trippy dance band Squid Parade; the stimulating heavy rock of Maz Myth; the jazzy psychedelic rock from The Mushroom Cloud; the late night exploratory noodling from Cosmal; and a rare and exquisite and intimate acoustic set from Consider the Source.
Friday, August 2nd
Some of the bands that performed included the soulful rock funk fusion of The Kollectiv; the progressive rockers Avente; the brass heavy psychedelic Dixieland ragers Primate Fiasco; and the full frontal funk assault from Providence’s Resin Ed.
Highlights:
Mother’s Wine :: 7:00pm – 8:10pm : Main Stage
From the exploratory noodling commencing the beginning of “Vector” to start the show, reminiscent of the band YES, the ascending band consisting of Eric Marcazo (bass), Joe Harris (guitar), Jordan Simms (keys), Mark “Mook” Mammano (guitar) and Nick Salgo (drums) quickly warmed up a blossoming crowd on a Friday evening to start of the weekend festivities at Maz Fest. With tight transitions and jams one would never have known it was the live debut of two songs, “Curveball” and “Full Circle.” However, the band didn’t always have to jam to be effective as “Blue Moon’s” opening melody is reminiscent of the floating guitar work of Phish’s “Esther” with Mook’s strumming proving pleasantly addictive, “Tweedle Dee Right” has a “Scarlet Begonias” style hook that allows Mook’s uber talent on the axe to shine through. His stellar finger work and overall play trumps his skills (and jokes) behind the mic, but his groove more than impresses those in ear shot as he rips solos in “Curveball” that inspired many to dance. Jeff Mann of Consider the Source added some bombastic beats on the final two songs, “Full Circle” and the cover of Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” which saw vocals by drummer, Nick Salgo.
Set List: Vector, Blue Moon, Tweedle Dee Right, Curveball, Pharmland, Full Circle*, For Whom the Bell Tolls* > You and All You See (reprise) *with Jeff Mann
Consider the Source :: 10:30pm – 12:30am :: Main Stage
Writers keep repeating the band’s tagline for themselves ad nauseam, as if everyone needs to be pigeon holed with a specific “label” and for Consider the Source the mantra is, “Sci-Fi Middle Eastern Fusion.” However, what does it mean? The reality is that Consider the Source defies logic, barriers and traditional boundaries of genre setting. Three extraordinarily talented musicians, Gabriel Marin (guitar), John Ferrera (bass) and Jeff Mann (drums) take us down an exciting path to the unknown. Although personable and music-savvy gentlemen off the stage, they turn into face-melting powerhouses of instrumental psychedelic rock on it. Unlike their peers, fans are guaranteed to be literally jaw-dropping in awe at the masterful musicianship at hand and the carnage left in its path. Led by the double-necked fretless guitar wizardry of Guru Gabe Marin, the band forages new galaxies with a palette of unique time signatures and funky chord progressions over a bed of strict over-the-top relentless energy. The trio, dressed in all-white, similar to the Droogs, continues to rapidly build a fan following and act unwittingly as trailblazers as progressive players making their own indelible mark. It is refreshing to see a talented band continue to improve and one can credit their legendary practice habits for that. They will continue to bend minds and impress new audiences next weekend at The Big Up where they will be performing an acoustic and electric set as well as teach a class.
Set List: Moisturize the Situation, Up to But Not to Exceed Whoa, The Great Circuiting, Tihai for the Straight Guy, Abesense of a Prominent tooth, This Dubious Honor, ./, Paranoid Android, Keep Your Pimp Hand Strong, Good Point Wandering Bear, You Go Squish Now
Saturday, August 3rd
Some of the acts that performed on Saturday include New Jersey’s progressive Jam/jazz rock act Cocktail Party Phenomenon, Nyack’s Mr. Breakdown playing in support of their Shake Daddy Jupiter record, the intense jam that is Blendmode, the funky improvisational quartet called Tigerman, and a late night jamtronica/trance set by Duntzcap. Educating more than a few festival-goers in music, The Stick Men (Tony Levin, Markus Reuter, Pat Mastelotto) delivered a heavy set of songs written with the rare instrument, the Chapman Stick. Having released their 2nd album, Deep in February, Levin (from nearby Kingston, NY) and Mastelotto formerly worked together as part of King Crimson and their presence added professional credibility and experience to the weekend’s festivities.
Highlights:
Brummy Brothers :: 4:00pm – 4:40pm :: Electric Love Stage
Dave Brumberg (bass), Eric Brumberg (mandolin), Russ Gottlieb (banjo) and Andrew Morris (guitar) brought the banging bluegrass that left many breathless after a bout of bouncing to their bombardment of beats. The only bluegrass act on the bill, the tight group of young men from New Jersey utilized the opportunity to dominate the groove. Just like CSN, who found each other accidently at a party, BB also provide luscious harmonies and some of the players were found using Craigslist! Each performer alternates taking lead vocals and each contributes equally to quality songwriting. Having been busy touring throughout the northeast and at festivals all summer, the quickly-ascending band has only just begun their voyage, the night before Maz Fest marked their 100th show and recently a local NJ news television program shared a detailed expose on the bluegrass outfit. Gottlieb’s penned “Cell Phone Blues” is traditional bluegrass with 4-part harmony, “cry cry cry” but with modern lyrics about a relationship gone wrong and a man avoiding the answering of his cell phone when his girl calls – its up-tempo, toe-tappin’, hootin’ and hollerin’ fun! Dave Brumberg’s “Bat Shit Crazy” resonates with many men as a song about an insane woman and it has a chorus that won’t escape your soul for days. “Shaking Your Brum” at a Brummy Brothers show is a wonderful excuse to just act care-free and enjoy the simple things in life like dancing, smiling and an everlasting feeling of pure exalted joy.
Set List: Weed, Whiskey, Women, Batshit Crazy, Cell Phone Blues, Money, Comin’ Home, Sins & Lies, 60 Miles to Boston
Mun :: 4:30pm – 5:20pm :: Main Stage
Wiley Griffin (guitar) is a pretty cool cat and his on stage performances exude a calm confidence. Backed by the heavy frenetic rhythms of Hershkowitz behind the kit, Andrew Ostenfeld (keys), and Doug Gresh (bass), funky transitory grooves ensue on the delightful track “Ufunko”, with call and response between Griffin and Ostenfeld. Griffin’s guitar possesses an alluring tone which subtly mesmerizing one into a euphoric groove that slowly builds to a crescendo that cascades over the audience like a glowing waterfall. These musicians create a brand of sound that forces one to get so caught up dancing that the set is over before one takes a breathe – 50 minutes of constant spinning. While rooted in jam structure, they pull of a hybrid of multiple genres well. They invited Plutonian Ode’s Kyle Ryan onstage for a rare vocal track, a cover of The Doors’ “Peace Frog”, as practice for their live karaoke set next weekend at the Big Up which should be a treat for all and one that Mun themselves are very excited about!
Set List: Alchemy, Ufunko, Celestia, Peace frog (feat. Kyle Ryan of plutonian ode), Ayo
Tauk :: 5:40pm – 6:40pm :: Main Stage
An instrumental outfit named after the most Eastern town on Long Island, Montauk, The Beatles cover “She’s So Heavy” is an ideal vehicle to showcase the diverse skillsets of this talented NYC band. At times heavy handed and at times played with subtle nuance, Tauk, Matt Jalbert (guitar), Charlie Dolan (bass), Alric “A.C.” Carter (keys), Isaac Teel (drums) knows how to properly gel and fill up space. The tight jam showcases each member’s prowess on their instrument as it builds to payoff. As a band that was once lauded by this writer as “Phish meets Lotus” they continue to improve, as evidenced by the reggae-tinged rhythms of “Dead Signal” which contagiously pulls one into its sphere like a tractor beam. Playing in support of their Homunculus CD, they are currently opening a few dates for Robert Randolph and are slated to do the same for Dopapod in NYC this fall. You can catch them at Peach Fest on August 16th.
Set List: She’s So Heavy (I Want You), Sweet Revenge, Mindshift, Carpentinos Rebirth, Dead Signal, Energy Muff, The Chemist, In the Basement of the Alamo
Shwizz :: 7:00pm – 8:10pm :: Main Stage
Founded in 2009, Ryan “Shwizz” Liatsis (guitar/vocals), Frank Coda (bass/vocals), Billy Schmidt (guitar), Gianluca Trombetta (keys), Paul Hollands (percussion), and Andy Boxer (drums) are a hard-working band currently a fixture at Olives and the Nyack area, and currently performing another residency at the famed Bitter End in NYC as they prepare for The Big Up next weekend and yet another throw down session at Catskill Chill soon thereafter. The soulful jam outfit, heavily influenced by Frank Zappa and James Brown, delivers an abundance of fresh frenetic energy led by Coda who drops bombs on his bass with authority. The gyrating groove and pulsating rhythms of the funk explosion “Doorbell” enlists the audience to participate in the rambunctious romp while showcasing the stellar slide work of Liatsis before Coda delivers deeper funkier beats as the song becomes more infectious as layers are added, including an impressive keys solo by Trombetta. The more introspective “Dreamdrop” allowed fans to kick back and enjoy the dance-athon before the vocals of “Slow Down” hurriedly picked the tempo up and offered a frenetic stage jam led by Coda’s fast thumping. The show concluded with the thicker and denser jam material of “Orange Wreck” and “#12”, leaving the audience satiated with delight from the non-stop barrage of sound.
Set List: My Bad Side, Doorbell, Dreamdrop, Slow Down–> My Good Side, Duggan, Orange Wreck, Du Hast Annie–> #12
Sunday, August 4th
High-energy jazz and funk fusion act, UZO, played in support of their recent release, Demolition of Pluto; the sounds and style of Miles Davis meets Pink Floyd in the incarnation known as Jazzmosis; Taste Da Thumb’s Symphony was composer/arranger Jordan DuMond’s funk/rock fusion leadership of eight talented musicians; and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Bernie Worrell, former keyboard player for Parliament Funkadelic and Talking Heads closed the festival with an intimate show-stopping performance with his Orchestra.
Check out a full gallery of pictures from Maz Fest here. Thanks to Jill Smith, Nick Irving, and Paul Holland for the pictures.
