WorkPlay

JUST ANNOUNCED @WORKPLAY!

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:25:27 +0000

On Sale Friday, March 12!

Priscilla Renea – 4.12.10

The Maine w/ Stereo Skyline – 4.16.10

Tony Joe White – 4.22.10

Greg Laswell – 6.2.10

Paul Thorn – 6.4.10

Tickets:

PRISCILLA RENEA – April 12
THE MAINE w/ STEREO SKYLINE – April 16
TONY JOE WHITE – April 22
GREG LASWELL – June 2
PAUL THORN – June 4

Last Night @WorkPlay – Nneka 2.8.10

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:59:52 +0000

There are some shows that are epic…. It’s the concert that everyone is talking about. This show is the one that all your friends are going to. You read about it in the local, hip city newspaper or you hear a promotional commercial on your favorite radio station. You know the one. The day of the show comes and passes and those same friends are telling you how great it was and what a killer show you missed. Yep, that’s the show! Then there is the show that only the chosen few are talking about. The show that has that underground buzz and all the “cool-heads” are attending. NNEKA at Workplay was that kind of concert. The flow of good karma was set aloft with a set of classic hip-hop songs delivered by DJ Rahdu, which the crowd was kindly obliged to move to. The Hip-Hop segued into a warm introduction by Tasha Simone from 107.7 and without further delay NNEKA hit the stage.

Already making plenty of noise worldwide, NNEKA was right smack dab in the midst of her North American tour, dropping into cities all across the states and kicking her style of “Neo-Soulism” to the masses. NNEKA can’t be confined by labels though. Her music offering is a healthy mix of rhythm & blues, reggae and world beat. NNEKA is no stranger to the stage either, having opened for large acts such as The Roots and Lenny Kravitz. Her passion for the music is very apparent to anyone listening. She sings as though her life depends on it, articulating her point through deep soothing vocals that inspire as well as groove you. Her meek and gentle appearance is swiftly contradicted as soon as NNEKA opens her mouth to belt out songs “Heartbeat” and “The Uncomfortable Truth”. Don’t miss NNEKA the next time she performs at Workplay.

Last Night @WorkPlay – Umphrey’s McGee 2.9.10

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:43:24 +0000

Sold Out! No More Tickets. Sorry! That’s beginning to be the sentiment repeated over and over again at Workplay, at least when Umphrey’s McGee rolls into town. “Who is Mr. McGee?” “It’s just the name of one of the band members’ relatives, “an Umphrey’s fan said passing by. Most of the fans attending seemed to be well informed about the band they were there to see, knowing song lyrics by heart and being able to recollect full set-list of the most recent past shows. Brendan, Jake, Joel, Andy, Kris, and Ryan came to the Soundstage and assaulted a room full of admirers with musical bullets that make you dance. A very colorful crowd held tightly to every note as if they were on a virtual jamming sleigh ride. Jumping and writhing to each composition in unison, fans would occasionally “high-five” in celebration as if at a sporting event. This exchange of energy went back and forth between crowd and stage for the entire first set. Special Guest Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove joined the stage as Umphrey’s did their rendition of a Paul Simon tune. “Graceland” was played for the first time ever by Umphrey’s McGee and solidified their partiality towards the Workplay crowd. You know the band is feeling good when they do that!!!

With a recipe of rock roots buried deep within soil of bands like Grateful Dead and Phish, the unseasoned listener might peg them as being just another jam band. Untrue! Umphrey’s serves up an improvisational soup with main ingredients from progressive rock legends such as Pink Floyd, Yes and King Crimson. All of this prompted the creation of the term “Improg”, a term the band themselves coined last year. No matter what you want to call it, they delivered the goods bringing even more energy for the second set. Jeff Waful, Umphrey’s lighting designer, seemed to really shine during the second half of the show. Working closely with lighting crew chief Wade Wilby, lighting continues to be a well synchronized component of the Umphrey’s McGee show. Umphrey’s invited Brock Butler to share the stage once more to perform a beautiful song he composed. Angelic in its approach, “Cold Gold” laid a blanket of gentleness in the venue like a soft rain. Indeed this was a treat for fans of both Umphrey’s and P Groove. Nothing more than a muttering was heard from “Mantis”, the bands newest record. The band instead chose to make the crowd go crazy by playing back to back covers to end the second set with Radiohead’s “Meeting in the Aisle” and Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years.” Looking around you could read the lips of people saying, “I can’t believe they just rocked Steely Dan!” Well, believe it! Check out the set list:
Set One
Spires > “Jimmy Stewart” -> Anchor Drops > Nothing Too Fancy > Got Your Milk (Right Here) > Nothing Too Fancy, Uncle Wally, Graceland, Higgins
Set Two
Mulche’s Odyssey, Cold Gold, Water > Ocean Billy > Eat > “Jimmy Stewart”** > Eat > Ocean Billy, Kabump -> Meeting In the Aisle, Reelin’ In the Years
Encore
Red Tape, Mullet (Over)

Last Night @WorkPlay – Owl City 2.8.10

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:27:19 +0000

Praying that the rain would “go away, and come back another day”, stood hundreds of people awaiting entry into Workplay’s Soundstage on a cold Monday night. I know I am right about the praying part. Subtle light sprinkles would occasionally pelt the legions of Owl City fans, but it never fell down. No real rain was a good thing because the line was long and wrapped around the building for the Owl City show. A maraud of tweens, parents, and all other age groups paraded upon the venue for the big event. All these things led to nothing but the obvious, another sold out show at Workplay.
All ages came to welcome this crew of singers and musicians to the “big stage”. During this tour, Owl City was supported by Lights and Deas Vail, who both have a very respectful following of their own. Led by Adam Young, this band puts together some of the happiest songs ever. “Sing-song-along lyrics, electronic bleeps and a brisk rhythm section are just some of the elements that make up this musical brigade. This is really happy music. Fans singing and hanging on to every word that Adam utters out of his mouth are to be expected at an Owl City show. Armed with an assortment of keyboards and his guitar, Adam guided the band and his fans from song to song of sweet pop goodness. Complimented by the light sounds of a well placed string section, Owl City reproduced all of the radio friendly selections with perfection. The cello and violin give the music its dreamlike sound scape which follow right along with its lullaby innocence. Moving in a trance- like motion, Adam danced with joy as he punched out notes on his Nord Keyboard, driving the screaming fans wild! The stage lights, often dominated by a violet black light display, added to the organized chaotic bliss. LCD displays of cell phones and digital cameras were raised all over the concert floor as folks were compelled to take pictures and record brief moments of the performance. Illuminated screens lit the darkness much like the “Fire Flies” Adam sings about. As the Owl City fans left the Soundstage, their smiles were evidence that they enjoyed the show.

Post and Pics by Andi Rice

Just Announced @WorkPlay!

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:49:18 +0000

On Sale Friday, 2/12

Cross Canadian Ragweed w/ Reckless Kelly – March 10
Keller Williams – April 22
Lotus – April 28
Joshua James – April 29
Monte Montgomery – May 21

Last Night @WorkPlay – The Machine 1.17.10

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:24:19 +0000

“….Oh by the way, which one’s Pink!” Ummm, Neither! It’s “The Machine”, a four piece band devoted to reproducing the flow and beauty of Pink Floyd’s extensive music catalog. Hailing from New York, these goodfellas have been perfectly reconstructing the Pink Floyd Sound for the last twenty years. Playing Pink Floyd music exactly like it was done by the band, all while adding their own creative touch, seems all too easy for The Machine. The Machine, started by guitarist Joe Pascarell and drummer Todd Cohen is not your average rock tribute band. Along with members Scott Chasolen (keyboards) and Ryan Ball (bass), The Machine creates intricate arrangements that the original members of Pink Floyd would be proud of. They bring to the fans a musical explosion that excites the senses of even the most discriminate Pink Floyd fan. Detailed lights add to the whole experience to give the listener everything they would expect if they had seen Pink Floyd during their run as a band. The Machine takes the task of re-creating Pink Floyd music very seriously. It’s a labor of love for them to continue the spirit and legacy of such a great band. The Machine introduces the Pink Floyd sound as a physical being to fans too young to have been able to see them live. Pink Floyd actually played Birmingham back in the early nineties, selling every seat out in Legion Field. For those unfortunate to have missed that event, The Machine represents the most honored and complete recreation of Pink Floyd’s work.

Post and Pics by Andi Rice

Last Night @WorkPlay – Yonder Mtn. String Band 1.31.10

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:43:25 +0000

Yonder Mountain String Band brought Colorado’s earthy, wide-open feel to Birmingham last Sunday night when they took WorkPlay’s SoundStage for hundreds of people from all around Alabama. With Jeff Austin on mandolin, Dave Johnston on banjo, Adam Aijala on guitar, and Ben Kaufman on stand up bass, the quartet filled the large room with well-loved classics and spirited improvisation for a crowd clad in equal parts tie-dye and plaid. Weaving covers of such bluegrass, country, and classic artists as Hot Rize, Vince Gill, and the Grateful Dead, respectively, into their own varied catalog, the band played two sets that showcased their multifarious influences, as well as their ability to master the minute inclinations of each genre. Some songs faded smoothly into others, with only the silence of the audience to pad their passage, while others climaxed only to drop straight into the next tune; between every few songs the band would pitch witty banter that spanned topics from their tour manager Todd’s famed “hot toddies,” to jokes that they would be handing out doctors’ notes to everyone for Monday morning. The lights, less an entertaining addition to the show than an integral part of the bluegrass party, were synced perfectly to the mood of each song: on fast paced, lighthearted tunes, they reflected and enhanced the band’s lively spirit with spinning nebulas of dots and spirals and ever-changing colors, while on slower ballads the lights dimmed to a respectful and somber off-white. The show lasted for almost three hours—a lengthy time commitment for a Sunday night—but one all were happy to make. After an unplugged, acoustic encore that featured the well-known song “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke” and a completely unexpected and unique rendition of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” the band thanked everyone one last time for coming out, shouting breathlessly, “We hope you had a great time tonight; we sure as hell did!” The crowd affirmed this with cheers that were even louder and more excited than when the band had first taken the stage.

The setlist looks as follows, with a recording on archive.org:
Set 1: Jesus On The Mainline, Rag Mama, Night Is Left Behind, Ramblin’ Boy, A Long Time, Winds Of Wyoming, Crow Black Chicken, A Hundred Years From Now, Natchez Whistle, New Horizons > East Nashville Easter > New Horizons

Set Two: Going Where They Do Not Know My Name, Pockets, I’ll Never Love Anybody But You Baby, Life’s Too Short For Me To Worry Over You, Romance Blues, New Deal Train, Fast Ball, Waiting Too Long, If There’s Still Ramblin’ In The Rambler (Let Him Go), After Midnight > If There’s Still Ramblin’ In The Rambler (Let Him Go), Rambler’s Anthem, Get Me Outta This City, Kentucky Mandolin > Snow On The Pines > Morning Dew > Snow On The Pines, Good Hearted Woman

E: Dim Lights Thick Smoke, Crazy Train

Post courtesy of Jessica Francavilla
Pictures courtesy of Elizabeth Cotter

Last Night @WorkPlay – Perpetual Groove 1.8.10

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:27:48 +0000

Perpetual – Pronunciation: \pər-ˈpe-chə-wəl, -chəl; -ˈpech-wəl\ ….to continue forever. Groove- Pronunciation: \ˈgrüv\….an enjoyable and exciting experience.
At least that is what it means to George Webster and the Merriam Brothers. Whatever your perspective, Perpetual Groove wore the meanings of their namesake sonically when they played for a sold-out crowd at Workplay. Often referred to as “P Groove” by the true blue fans of the outfit, the band has been on a non-stop touring regimen taking them far far away from their home roots of Savannah, Georgia. It can be assumed loudly that Workplay is becoming P Groove’s home away from home since they often play the venue twice per year, always bringing the momentum and excitement to the theater’s fans. Stirring up a soup of musical genres ranging from jazz, funk and improvisational southern rock, these lads know how to give the crowd what they came for. Brock Butler, armed with both guitar and a lap steel, escorted the rest of band and all the “Perps” through fits of musical joy. By the way, “Perps”, are what the fans call themselves and this last show would have been a perfect place for new member induction. P Groove often fits well in the genre of music called Jam Band, but brings a unique recipe of funk and southern rock to the mix. The jams start with ambient spacey undertones, quiet and gentle, gradually reaching a frenzied rockin’ apex.Each time Perpetual Groove has played Workplay, the show has sold out transforming the place into a mini “Arena Rock” cauldron. This most recent showing for P Groove was no different. Every inch of the theater was filled with loyal fans dancing like there was no tomorrow. P Groove performed at Workplay just a few days before the release of their new album “Heal”. “Up Again” was the only song from that release that the band played, opting to perform songs from their deeper catalog. “Playground” and the encored “Perihelion” were musical treats based on the crowd’s reaction, everybody jammin’ out and singing along. If you were there, you experienced something! If you were not, check out the set list that you missed.

Set I: Green Tea, Up Again, Stealy Man, Naive Melody, Playground

Set II: Gibbles, Overt, Robot Waltz, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, Mr. Transistor

E1: Perihelion, Walking in Place

Post and Pics by Andi Rice

Last Night @WorkPlay – Bama Rolls. 1.7.10

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:36:27 +0000

25 feet of screen, beer & wings and a National Championship.

There were only two real places to watch the game. Since I wasn’t in Pasadena, I chose WorkPlay. Glad I did. The place was packed and loud and, thanks to the giant movie screen, there was not a bad seat in the house. After a well-played game, as Alabama claimed the National Championship, I got to celebrate with 200 of my friends.

Last night @WorkPlay – Bonerama! 1.2.10

andyrice — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:20:57 +0000

Have you ever been to New Orleans? Tasted the food, smelled the smells, listened to the music? Don’t bother answering that question. The vibe and sounds of New Orleans ripped thru the Workplay Theatre as Bonerama slid on and around the stage. This six headed monster came and delighted an energetic crowd with saucy selections which took all the listeners to their native streets of New Orleans. Bonerama brought the magic that makes “The Big Easy” such a festive place right to the ears and hearts of everyone in attendance.

Even though some of the members change from time to time, the core of this amazing troupe is lead by trombonists Craig Klein and Mark Mullins. These two brass soldiers worked out some of their chops blasting tunes in Harry Connick’s Big Band. They are usually joined by other veteran members Greg Hicks (trombonist), Eric Bolivar (drums), Bert Cotton (guitar), Joe Ashlar (keyboards) and Nori Naraoka (bass). Bonerama asked special guest Danny Rubio to sit in and hold down the duties of the sousaphone, a unique looking brass instrument that lays down some mean bass notes. This was quite fitting since Nori Naraoka was missing from the bunch and plays bass for Bonerama. Bonerama has been enjoying the fruits of their newest EP “Hard Times” and they performed almost all of the selections from that release during their Workplay showing. Lots of the brass bands that come of New Orleans concentrate on the hymns and dirges that are common to sounds that come out of the region. Bonerama performs the standards, but branch out into a fever of Funk, Soul and Rock N Roll hits that keep the feet of their fans dancing. They play the songs that brass bands thought they weren’t supposed to play and add their own virbrato to the mix. The Bonerama boys incorporate unconventional elements like Wah Wah and other pedal effects to their thunderous trombone rampage. “Turn on Your Love Light” ended the first set strong. “I’m Walkin”, by New Orleans native Fats Domino, was definitely a highlight of the second set. Seriously! When was the last time you heard a brass band rip thru Led Zeppelin tracks like “The Ocean”, all while interpolating Robert Plant’s vocals with perfect instrumentation? “Whippin’ Post” kept the crowd happy and Mark Mullins encored the Bonerama fans with an amazing “Helter Skelter” to close down the show. Workplay served as a homecoming for Birmingham native Bert Cotton, and since this appearance was the last show before heading back to New Orleans, it is evident that it was a culmination of the best moments of the tour. They will be back…

Until then:

War Pigs – Live from New York Sample

iTunes

Official Site

Post and Pics by Andi Rice

Gallery: