Exclusive Interview with Matt McDonald of Perpetual Groove

I’ve been privileged enough to have two recent conversations with Matthew McDonald, one by phone and another by email, amidst the whirlwind surrounding the announcement of his return to Perpetual Groove, a band he helped start a decade ago but left for personal reasons in June of 2008. Our last interaction being a loose night in an old synagogue, better known in BLP lore as the Art Temple, when Matt supported and joined Brother Bean for a long night of musical mayhem in October of that same year; we spent a few minutes catching up before digging in to what transpired to spark their current evolution, his return to the public realm and what us Perps can expect out of PGoove 2.012.

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ART BASEL MIAMI 2011 – PREVIEW

Absolutely the most hip happening of the year – anywhere – Art Basel Miami is a spectacle that can only be witnessed in person. The City of Miami turns into a living, breathing work of art. There is way more going on than we could possibly mention here, and the truth is no one knows exactly what’s gonna happen, but here’s our modest attempt at sharing some “inside” knowledge…and obviously it’s weighted toward the musical mayhem. Enjoy and hope to see you out! (more…)

BEAR CREEK MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL 2011 – PREVIEW

It is hard to believe that it’s already the 5^th year of the autumnal Bear Creek Music & Arts Festival, but time flies when you’re gettin’ funky. Seems like yesterday when the inaugural year was announced and then moved last minute to the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, laying the ground work for what has become the funkiest way to close out festy season.

Of course, there are BC mainstays making their annual appearance(s) like Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, the boys from across the pond, The New Mastersounds, NOLA elite Galactic and Dumpstaphunk, Royal Family’s Soulive and Lettuce (RAGE!), Royal Potato’s Skerik and Mike D and the Bear himself, Zach Deputy; but the BIG buzz this year involves (more…)

Conspirator 2011.10.08 Culture Room Fort Laudedale, FL

Words and Photos by Adam E. Smith
Videos by Adam at Cheesehead Productions.

The rain was relentless in East Fort Lauderdale as the midnight hour approached. A line of lively youth wrapped around under a small overhang at the entrance of the Culture Room. Mostly an attempt to stay dry, but more importantly, a last minute move of haste to get inside before the band came on stage. Hours previous, the same venue played host to (more…)

The Heavy Pets Tour Report – 9/28/2011

Words by Jeff Lloyd

“Immediately following the Catskill Chill Festival, most of us headed to Philly for a few days off.  I caught up with the boys from Dopapod on Wednesday the 14th at the Blockley and was invited to sit in.  They are a smoking band and we played a raucous jam – one of the most fun sit-ins of my career.  We will be announcing a few Southeast dates with them soon.  The Pets reconvened the next evening for another throw-down at the 8X10 in Baltimore.  We have a long history with them – they gave us a chance on our very first tour (2006) and we are always pumped to get back in there.  After a particularly fiery set, we were joined by the legendary Tab Benoit and his band, who had played in town earlier that night and caught the end of our show.  They weren’t ready to stop playing for the night and neither were we, so the 8X10 graciously allowed the music to continue and kept the place open.  A mega-jam ensued, followed by a mega-hang including many drinks, and a passionate, mouthwatering discussion of New Orleans cuisine.  We drove through the night to Massachusetts, in time to get to our hotel and catch some shut-eye before our evening performance at the (more…)

Blackwater Music Festival – Preview

Blackwater Music Festival is back at the Southeast’s favorite festival venue, the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. Moving to the last weekend in September (9/22-24) from last year’s mid-August dates should bode well for the body as the soul searches for musical enlightenment.

Although it’s been a longtime home to great gatherings like (more…)