I am a Fred Head

Saturday night arrived and it was either Woodbelly @ Club Dada down in Deep Elum or a drive up to Hailey's in Denton for Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey round 2. This would have been my third opportunity to see JFJO in 4 nights had I felt up to the drive to Austin and back (about a 400 mile round trip) to see them with Lymbyc Systym @ Stubbs BBQ, but I nixed that due to the distance. So, rested from a low intensity Friday night chilling at home, it was I-35 North to Denton for another Jacob Fred show.

I'm not knocking Woodbelly, they're very good. I saw them open for Rebirth Brass Band @ The Gypsy Tea Room and I was chatting with Cass (guitar & vocals) just before the Nickel Creek show in the GTR's Ballroom. I really like their origional sound. But they are not Jacob Fred.

I arrived at Hailey's around 9 since their website (and Jambase and JFJO's website) said that 9 was when the doors would open for a 9:30 show. Parking was easy since Hailey's shares a lot with Hannah's (next to Hannah's, just across Mulberry from Hailey's). I got up to the door to find out that we would not be allowed in unitl after Spoonfed Tribe had a chance to finish their soundcheck. I killed time for a while and chatted with some others who had arrived when I did. This one dud (Chris, I think) was from an area near mine in Houston and had gone to Memorial High with a cousin of mine (small world). With Reed at the wheel, JFJO's van pulled up around 9:20 and unloaded their gear. I shared some quick small talk with Jason Smart in front of the door as the guys walked around as they put their stuff in. (I didn't see anything when Reed set off the fire alarm either)

They finally opened the doors around 9:45, just before Spoonfed Tribe started their soundcheck. I grabbed an empty chair near the soundboard to listen, drink my diet coke and then chew my ice (relatively new concert tradition). They sucked, no decision on whether to stay for them after JFJO needed to be made. After they finished, Jacob Fred did their soundcheck while I chatted it up with Cliff, the taper. Cliff had previously taped the JFJO/Lymbyc Systym show at the GTR on Wednesday night, so I got his e-mail address to trade shows later on.


Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey started their set just before 10:30. Another sick show, I am really glad I made the drive. They played "Happiness is a Warm Gun" again, which was the only song I went into the show hoping to hear, everything else was gravy. They played until about 11:25, at which point I went over to talk with the girl at the Merch table (who I think is Reed's girlfriend). She told me that a show they did earlier that week (she thought it was the GTR show) was one that Reed called one of his favorite shows (musicwise) that he had played with JFJO, EVER! I have to agree, it was ridiculous! I grabbed a couple more stickers and hit the road after the rest of my goodbyes.

Before I left my apartment, I grabbed the 2 discs of the 8/25/05 JFJO show from Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco. I listened to some of the first set on the way up, but I really was focused more on the road (since I had no idea where I was going), having never been to Denton. I listened to the whole first set on my way home and it was great, I highly recommend it. Click on the link in this paragraph if you want to check out that show.

I made my customary Whataburger stop after a concert (an old tradition), and was home in time to catch some of Clerks on Comedy Central. I've only seen Clerks about 150 times, so it was time to call it a night. I always have a tough time falling asleep after a good show (actually, I just always have a tough time falling asleep) cus they get me all pumped up, so I considered my self lucky to see a great show and get to sleep before 2.

Hugely successful night! I hope you've enjoyed reading. If so or if not, leave me comments. Stay classy Planet Earth!

Happiness is a Great Show!

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey & The Lymbyc Systym both played great shows 11/30/05 at the Gypsy Tea Room. The crowd wasn't that big but everyone was pretty into it. I'll update this post with more setlist info when I can find it.

I had never heard of The Lymbyc Systym before, but my buddy Cory had received a tip from Johnny Blaze to check these guys out and the tip was spot on. I bought their new CD, Carved By Glaciers, at the merch table (I also picked up a pretty cool JFJO t-shirt) and listened to it when I got home. Its a short one (25 min), but its very good. I can guarantee that I won't miss the chance to see their show again. Its truly amazing the fullness of sound that comes from just 2 people (and a butt-load of electronics).

The Lymbyc Systym setlist from this 11/30/05 show at the Gypsy Tea Room is as follows: Invocation, Selamat Pagl (Donna's Song), Untitled #1, Untitled #2, Lotan Baba, 1000 Arms, Carved By Glaciers. (the bold songs appear on the album) I really enjoyed the show and look forward to my next chance to see the band.

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey hit the stage around 11:25 pm and played till just before 1:00 am. I have been truly lucky beyond description to be present (and in some cases front and center) for some awe-inspiring performances within the past year. JFJO was just the most recent. (UPDATE 12/2 - I MIGHT DRIVE DOWN TO AUSTIN FOR THE FRIDAY NIGHT SHOW @ STUBBS!) I am trying to get a group together to drive to Denton, TX for their Saturday (12/3/05) show at Hailey's, but if I can't, I'm going anyway. These are just 3 virtuosos playing their instruments (keys, drums, bass) at an extremely high level. Reed Mathis (pictured) is not of this planet. Brian Haas is as good as anyone I have ever seen on the keys. Jason Smart paints (figuratively) with his drums and played an outstanding solo at this show. (I think I stole that "paints with drums" image from some old Dave Matthews Band review I once read, oh well.) At this show, I stood closer to the stage, in front of the drums, than I am to my computer screen right now (in my yellow Michigan Football t-shirt if you were at the show).

All in all a tremendous evening at the Gypsy Tea Room. That was my 2nd show in the Tea Room (Rebirth Brass Band w/ Woodbelly was the other) and I really like that venue. I have seen 3 shows (I think) in the GTR's Ballroom (Galactic w/ Papa Mali, Keller Williams & Nickel Creek), but I much prefer the intimacy of the smaller Tea Room.

For this post (and all future posts) I will put up an initial review/description of the show as soon as I can following the show so it is fresh in my mind, then I will go back and fill in setlist and individual song details later. If you have soundboard (or any other recording) of any of these shows you see here or on the list I will soon post, please let me know because I try to keep a library and would LOVE TO GET A COPY!

Well, for all of me here at Michael's World, I'm Michael. You stay classy, planet earth. And thanks for stopping by. But mainly stay classy.