Garage A Trois 12-15-11

-

The Aggie Theatre
Fort Collins, CO


Words & Photos By Nicholas Stock (phatphlogblog.blogspot.com)

Garage A Trois is a super group of epic proportions. Skerik, Mike Dillon, Stanton Moore, and Marco Benevento come together as an all out audio assault on any music fan brave enough to witness them live. What began by Moore as a side project to his main gig with Galactic has truly transformed over the years. Originally created with Charlie Hunter on guitar playing a few dates a year has continued with Benevento as a still somewhat rare live experience. Mainly because of a solid relationship between Scoo, the owner of The Aggie, and Skerik, we are lucky enough to get to see this project on a somewhat regular basis. I caught them last year with Zobomaze opening at Cervantes but saw the original lineup many years ago at the inaugural Bonnaroo.

The show began with Scoo giving an introduction that sounded like an extended inside joke with the members of GAT taking the stage in their signature tracksuits. What followed was some of the most aggressive and sometimes scary music I have seen in a long time. Individually they are so good, but together they use their powers for evil. By that I mean it really is such high-energy attack on the senses. Musically ranging from jazz infused funk to dissident smash jam, the range of what’s going on with each musician is absolutely mind boggling. Skerik blasted off in between some of his signature facial expressions and the combination of Dillon and Moore's percussive talents was something that falls into the “have to experience live” category. Focusing mainly on instrumental jams that even the most stalwart metal head would find impressive, Garage A Trios literally slayed the audience with sound. Other than one Scoo-led rendition of what can only be lightly described as Zeppelin’s "Immigrant Song" and some guttural chants from Skerik and Dillon GAT maintained their instrumental approach.

With powerful bowel shaking bass coming from the percussion and Benevento’s keyboard at times both Amy and I had to retreat to the back of the venue. The onslaught was nonstop throughout the two sets we were treated to at The Aggie. It was one of the most enjoyable live experiences I’ve had since moving to Fort Collins. The main reason has to do with the fact that seeing GAT puts you out of your comfort zone. It’s such a powerful live experience that it can’t help but leave an impression and shift your expectations of what constitutes seeing live music. I look forward to their inevitable return to the Front Range.

www.garageatrois.net

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

André 3000 | New Blue Sun | Album Review & First Listen

-
Image
Words by J. Picard André 3000, half of the defunct hip-hop duo Outkast, makes his triumphant return to the musical foreground with his new album, New Blue Sun . Contrary to his past output, the album features André in a beautifully different context; experimental flute jazz. As a kid I saw Outkast at the Area 1 festival just north of Detroit. The event featured Moby, The Roots, Paul Oakenfold, Carl Cox and more. During that festival, Outkast stole the show with a heavy-hitting funk band to back their lyrical prowess. What was clear to me then and is clear to me now is the value that André 3000 puts on the music itself. For many who were caught off guard by the coming release of New Blue Sun , rest assured, it was always about the instrumentation. "I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a 'Rap' Album but This is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time," is the twelve minute plus opening track on the album and sets the pace for what will follow. André's wooden flute,
Read more

Buckethead: Gimmick or Guitar God?

-
Image
Words & Photos By Nicholas Stock ( phatphlogblog.blogspot.com ) At what point does the gimmick overshadow the performance? The obvious answer is Buckethead. The man is an amazing guitarist but something is not right in this world. The idea a performer who dons a KFC chicken bucket on his head for a concert has always intrigued me, and some of his side projects such as Colonel Claypool’s Bernie Bucket of Brains have been huge successes. However his performance last weekend in Fort Collins simply left me perplexed. From his robotic dancing, to his nunchuck display, to the fact the he performed with an iPod rather than a band all added to my confusion. Going into the show I was ready to be blown away, despite rumblings of disgruntled fans from the previous night’s show at The Gothic. Buckethead had had some sound issues and some missed cues in Denver but I was still trying to be positive for the show in Fort Collins. It did go off without a hitch technically but that was the least
Read more

The John Fogerty Incident 7.14.23

-
Image
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre Morrison, CO Words by J. Picard Photos by Nancy Isaac Photography "Early in the evening, just about supper time," over at Red Rocks, sound check started to unwind. I walked along the main road through the sprawling complex from the lower north lot to the trading post where I would meet MusicMarauders photographer, Nancy Isaac, for my media pass. It's been decades since Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman and guitarist owned the rights to his music. After fifty years, all of that changed. Around 5:30 PM I scurried past the lower entrances to the fable venue where I could hear The String Cheese Incident and John Fogerty running through classic Creedence material and Fogerty sounded incredible! Leading up to the show, I resisted listening to any recent Fogerty as I wanted to go into the experience without expectation. On too many occasions I've wandered into a show to hear one of my favorites from the past, only to be disappointed by y
Read more