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Entries in Jjazz aspen snowmass (4)

Saturday
Sep012012

The V.I.P.-ness. Jazz Aspen / Snowmass 2012

KID ROCK kicked A$$. Click 4 pix.It was another beautiful Labor Day Weekend in Snowmass for the 22nd annual Jazz Aspen / Snowmass Music Festival. 

This is based on a true story.

SECURITY GUARD: Hold up.

ASPEN SPIN:  do you know who I am?

SECURITY GUARD:   yeah..you're Aspen Spin.  You have the wrong wrist band.

ASPEN SPIN:  do you see this big-time sticker on my chest?  it says "Press".

SECURITY GUARD:  Sorry son,  not tonight.

ASPEN SPIN:  you're kidding...right?

SECURITY GUARD:  no...I'm not.

Despite having improper credentials Andy Party got some pretty siiiiiiiiiick shots.  Click the links below to see the best ones.

Jazz Aspen/Snowmass is a great event.  It's a well-oiled machine.  The outdoor venue is fantastic. It's a wide open expanse (except for tons of barricades and storm fences) in the shadow of Snowmass Mountain.  The festival experience still lives in Snowmass. 

I could write a dissertation about the 5 levels of VIP lounges,  the 15 types of wrist bands and the hierarchical social status of the fest...but that's already been done by Lorenzo Semple in the Aspen Daily News.  I could type glowing and effusive reviews of the all the artists like Stewy the music guru at The Aspen Times.   I could drink my face off and stumble home on the bus and leave my car in the rodeo lot... but that's Aspen Magazine's niche (R.I.P.).

But, I'm AspenSpin.

I'm a tweeter, I'm a greeter, I'm a midnight breeder.  I get my sushi on the run.

Here's the 140 character version (sorta) of the 22nd annual Jazz Aspen / Snowmass Labor Day Festival.

DAY 1 (Click for Pix)

STEVE MILLER BAND:   I love Steve Miller.  I've seen him like 40 times.  He's got a great catalogue of hits that everyone in the 50 and over demo loves.  The Joker, Space Cowboy, Livin' in the USA, Take the Money and Run...etc,etc.  He played the best of list... in his work-man like style.  Steve seemed a little confused...on his right...the VIP section was fairly empty and mostly oblivious to his musical offerings.  On his left ...the general admission section...was packed and rowdy with people staking out their spaces with blankets and lawn chairs hours before the show.  It was a good show, not a great show.  You pretty much know what you're getting with the gangster of love.

SUGARLAND:  She's a little bit country...she's a little bit pregnant.   I was not familiar with Sugarland prior to JAS.  I was aware that they had experienced some robust success on the pop and country charts.  I can see why people might like and enjoy their music...I'm just not one of them.   Plenty of tattered straw cowboy hats in the G.A. section.  Fancy "country" outfits in the VIP.  Lots of Texans and Miami types in the V.VIP and I'm not sure who was in the V.V.VIP, it's a secret.

The Steve Miller Band "talked about the pompetus of love" Click 4 pix.

 Sugarland: She's a little bit Country, she's a little bit pregnant. click 4 pix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  DAY 2 (click 4 pix)

SAINTS of VALORY:  I met these guys, they seem like nice young men.  Caught the last few songs.  This multi-national rock quartet has a BIG future.  A.E.G. digs 'em.

TROMBONE SHORTY:  Been there done that.   This horn infused New Orleans ensemble is awesome but they've been to Aspen like 15 times.

MUMFORD & SONS:  They are a group of talented musicians.  I can truly see why people get into Mumford & Sons., a "Brittish Folk Band".  Not a bad show in my opinion... (some people raved)...but not really my thang.

The Brittish Folk rock band Mumford & Sons made their Aspen debut. Click 4 pix.

The Saints of Valory hail from all over the world. Their set ripped in Aspen. Click 4 Pix. Trombone Shorty...always a great show. Click 4 pix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Day 3 (Click 4 pix)

MICHAEL FRANTI:  "how you feelin'?"   I'm feeling good Michael.  Every time Franti utters his go-to catch phrase "how you feelin'?" you're supposed to drink a shot.  Let's just say there were a lot of drunk people in the house.  Franti has tremendous energy and he works the crowd into a feel-good frenzy...but he comes to Aspen twice a year (at least).  Fun show, but nothing new.

KID ROCK:   Kid Rock made a lot of new fans tonight in Aspen.  Being from Detroit, I've seen Bob Ritchie and his Michigan based band several times and they always impress.   Many people in the audience (especially the VIP side) had no idea what to expect from a Kid Rock show.  Well they got their faces blown off by a consummate showman who uses all the tricks in his bag.   He raps, he rocks, he sings ballads, he's country, he's metal,  he scratches, he smokes and cusses and drinks and even plays the drums.  He's the BIG Tipper with the BIG Dipper.  Kid Rock is clearly a baller.  He rides it full throttle, "with the top let back and the sunshine shinnin'" for 2 hours.   Kid Rock does it all.  If you were there, you know what I mean...if not...get there next time.

Kid Rock was ballin' (as always ) in Aspen. Clcik for pix.

 "How you feelin ?" (drink a shot). Michael Franti never disappoints.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  It was 3 days of fun and music...and nothing but fun and music. Click the pix, they tell the story.

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3  / American Bad A$$

CASA TUA

BUDDY GUY at Belly Up.

Casa Tua threw a raging late night after party during Jazz Aspen. Buddy Guy capped the weekend off with a killer set at Belly Up. Click for pix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday
Aug312012

Workin' it on Labor Day in Aspen.

Labor Day is a national holiday that pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of America's workers.  So wherever you are...take the day off.  It's considered the last day of the Summer and for the fashion conscious it's the last day of the season to wear white or seersucker.

Aspen, Colorado historically gets down for Labor Day.   This year Jazz Aspen/Snowmass presents their 22nd annual Labor Day Music Festival.  This years 3 -Day jam includes headliners SUGARLAND, STEVE MILLER BAND, MUMFORD & SONS, TROMBONE SHORTY, MICHAEL FRANTI and KID ROCK.  The lineup is diverse and appears to include something for everyone.  We'll be out there takin' pix of both the artists and the attendees....so if you want to go viral?...or if you want your own reality show?...put your make-up on, say please, smile and give me your best 3/4 angle pose with your hand on your hip...and maybe you'll make the BIG Time.

Also this weekend Aspen hosts the 40th Annual Motherlode Volleyball Classic.   More than 600 doubles teams will compete in Aspen making the Motherlode the largest doubles Volleyball tournament in the world.   So if you see an unusual number of long, lean athletic looking people walking around town...you'll know why.

So fire-up for a HUGE holiday weekend.  The pix will be flying so ...smile.

Detroit's own KID ROCK will blow your face off at Jazz Aspen / Snowmass' Labor Day Music.

The 40th Annual Motherlode Volleyball Classic, Labor Day in Aspen. Photo: Robert Fullerton

Monday
Sep052011

Aspen / Snowmass BLOWS up for Jazz Fest

Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival, 2011Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) found the right formula for all ages at the 2011 Labor Day Festival.  JAS presented 3 days of fun and music to a large and well behaved audience at Snowmass Village Park over the holiday weekend.  Over 23,000 music fans, spanning generations took in an extremely diverse line-up of performers (see entire line-up below) on 3 stages in Snowmass.

Aspen's beautiful (and usually unpredictable) mountain weather provided a glorious backdrop for this years JAS Labor Day Festival.  JAS in it's 21st year partnered up with entertainment and  music powerhouse AEG to book a vast array of musical talent that had something for everyone. Friday night's kick-off show appealed to a younger demographic featuring progressive trip hoppers THIEVERY CORPORATION and mash-up artist GIRL TALK.  There was a mellow but upbeat vibe throughout the park with plenty of room for dancing and chillin'.  The few raindrops that fell didn't inhibit anyone from having a blast...and the sick rainbow was an added feature.

CLICK for PIX  JAS DAY 1

Good times at JAS. Michael FrantiSaturday's main stage featured RODRIGO y GABRIELA, an acoustic guitar duo who set the place on fire.  While they really don't fit into a particular genre, Rodrigo y Gabriela are quickly becoming a force in world music and the Aspen audience responded to their set with fervor.  70's rock icons STEELY DAN took the headline spot on Saturday beinging their A-game to Aspen/Snowmass.  Walter Becker and Donald Fagen displayed their eclectic, sophisticated and distinctive sound flashing the audience back to the late 1970's.  Steely Dan attracted lots of parents (and grandparents) to JAS.  The almost sold-out show got a rave reviews from the Aspen / Snowmass faithful.  AspenSpin had one pet peeve...no Rikki don't lose that number??  C'mon, son??  Saturday night included an awesome and very exclusive after party in the JAS VIP tent that allowed some of the geezers and their trophy wives to "shake it" until midnight....and they did.   

CLICK for PIX   JAS DAY 2 (VIPs gone WILD)

Sunday's show was SOLD OUT.  11,000 people, man Brush Creek Road is closed.  Sunday's musical offerings appealed to everyone.   MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD performed their brand of good-time music and got the capacity crowd into that good-time zone.  Franti and his band mates spread their love, peace and social justice throughout the fest.   ZAC BROWN BAND is simply the hottest group in Country Music today.  Brown and his band of country rockers based in Georgia have paid their dues and are finally getting their just rewards...including a Grammy for best new artist in 2010.   There was not an empty swatch of grass in Snowmass, as every inch was packed. 

CLICK for PIX   JAS DAY 3 (Git 'er Done)

The 2011 JAZZ ASPEN SNOWMASS LABOR DAY FESTIVAL was a huge success.  Measure it any way you want to... BIG Fun, BIG Fans, a lively but well behaved crowd and no DUI's recorded.  Congratulations to JAS, AEG, the musicians, the Town of Snowmass and RFTA  for doing a great job presenting top flight entertainment in a festive, grooving holiday atmosphere.   TIA/S.  This is Aspen / Snowmass.

Donald Fagen of Steely Dan at Jazz Aspen Snowmass

Zac Brown Band sold out show Jazz Aspen Snowmass 2011Zac Brown Band members kicking it out in Aspen

 

Saturday
Sep032011

Day 1 at Jazz Aspen

Day 1, Jazz Aspen Snowmass   9/2/11 

THIEVERY CORPORATION / GIRL TALK / SOMETHING UNDERGROUND / SORRY for PARTYING

Click for Pix  JAS DAY 1

Jazz Aspen Snowmass / Day 1 / Click for pix.