Band Members
JASON STENGER- GUITAR
MATT ANDERSON- BASS
CHUCK LAND- KEYBOARDS
CHRISTIAN BUCHOLTZ- DRUMS
AARON HEDRICK- LEAD VOCALS, GUITAR, HARMONICA
Upcoming Shows
Eastside Vibe Review
There has been a lot of jam band funkedelic music here on the Eastside lately. In this issue alone we’ve seen Darkstar (the best Grateful Dead Tribute band around) and Working Class Villain. The WCV show at Latitudes also featured an awesome national act, Oakhurst. Oakhurst is a national act from Denver. They jam out on an upright bass and acoustic instruments with their fusing roots/ bluegrass stylings. They complimented the WCV show excellently.
WCV is not exactly a Dead tribute band like Darkstar but your likely to hear some of the Dead tunes in their set list. Your also likely to hear Bob Marley, Sublime and many other jam band songs. They have a gut shot groove you can glide into created by a smoky set list and a talented team of musicians.
The crowd at Latitudes didn’t seem like the average type, dyed tokers you’d see at a show like this... in fact, the diverse selection of patrons was not quite what you’d see at any show for that matter. I wondered how it was all going to go when I first walked in and surveyed the surrounding patrons. It was a mix of GA/ Anderson PTA parents, regulars, not so regulars and a bushel of hippies thrown in for good measure. Eclectic to say the least.
Soon as the band fired up the first song I could tell it was coming together just fine. The show kept everyone’s attention and the crown seemed amply pleased regardless of their different individualities. You might say a perfect “potpourri” of people in one pot. I guess that’s what made the Dead so famous, they had the ability to be loved by all regardless of who “all” turned out to be.
The boys in the band got it on right proper. The tiny stage kept them rubbing shoulders and the dancing girls were soon rubbing right along with them. It was casual and cool to say the least. I was sort of proud as the slicked up suburbanites started to get kicked back and groovin’ with their girlfriends. After all, that is what a great jam band is all about... relax, let go and feel the flow.
There was a lot of flow going around that’s for sure. Much like a magicians potion it was melodic magnetism in motion. Looking back I dug Oakhurst but I’d have been happy just diggin’ on my gin & juice and the WCV.
I’ve been missing out on previous shows but I’ll be in more regular attendance from now on. I would really like to see WCV share the stage one night with their partners in crime The Rusty Van Band. A little bit of incense, a few dozen candles and a couple hundred Eastsiders and I think we’d have a real gem of a jam on our hands. Who knows, maybe I can pull it off (with a little help from friends of course).
Keep reading EV and checking out the web site (eastsidevibe.com) for an upcoming jam band jamboree. We’ll try to put one together before fall. One things for sure when we do put one on the admission will be cheap.
If you would like to see a show with bands like Working Class Villains, The Rusty Van Band, Right Turn Clyde, Rumpke Mountain Boys and other great local jam bands e-mail us at contactus@eastsidevibe. The bigger the response the sooner we’ll get it together. After all, these bands shouldn’t have to play for free and the bigger the crowd, the cheaper we can make the admission. I’m thinking an outdoor venue where smoking is still legal. Until then you’ll have to puff puff pass on your own. Just don’t pass up the chance to see these guys the next time they play.
