The Sunday Night Get Down

February 26, 2019 By Molly Buckiewicz

The Sunday Night Get Down - The Motet

Photos by: Molly Buckiewicz (https://www.mojophotography.org/)

Listen to the Motet's Latest album:

<a href="http://themotet.bandcamp.com/album/death-or-devotion">Death Or Devotion by The Motet</a>

Concert Review

Writing by: Greg Powell

Hailing from Colorado, The Motet has gathered a cult following over the last few years and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. I remember seeing them for the first time at their annual, Halloween mountain show and having it be the highlight of my year. I felt like I was in a time warp back to the funk era. It was refreshing to hear such a passionate tribute to old school funk, performed with such energy and raw musicianship. It was obvious at the time that they were in a league of their own, demanding a larger stage and much-deserved recognition. Since then they have released several albums, built a devoted fan base and worked their way up to be Red Rocks headliners.

Sunday’s show at the Midtown Ballroom in Bend, OR was one for the books. The venue was packed early with excited fans ready for a night of shameless dancing. The opener, John Medeski’s Mad Skillet, got things warmed up quickly with their jazz-influenced jams. Medeski was a master on the keyboards and the use of a Sousaphone as their bass instrument really added another element to the performance.

By the time The Motet took the stage the whole crowd was ready to move. They eased into their set with the lights turned low and an instrumental jam. Lead singer Lyle Divinsky jumped on stage and the band dropped into a hard-hitting single from their new album. People of all ages and backgrounds crowded the front, ready to let loose. The band built more energy the longer they played and were able to streamline their set, with minimal downtime between songs. There are not many groups that can start a party with the opening song and keep the crowd dancing hard through their encore.

Their latest release, Death or Devotion, is a 10-track studio album, released via their own music label. It is a well-rounded compilation of catchy singles and badass funk tunes. Make sure to give it a listen and stay up to date on The Motet’s upcoming tour dates, most notably July 12th when they will be back at Red Rocks with Galactic for another rowdy night of music and good times.

For more check out our podcast episode with Dave Watts, the founder of the Motet.

Sonic Bloom Photo Recap 2018

September 2, 2018 By Michael Morahan Leave a Comment

Sonic Bloom 2018 Photo Recap

This year at Sonic Bloom the music was on fire as usual. Three main stages running until 2am and one stage running until sun-rise with music until 6am. The workshops begin at 8 am so there is really only two hours of 'off-time' per day all four days of the festival. The music and grooves transitioned seamlessly as different artists plugged in while others finished out their set. The main stage has a 'tween' stage, which if you are not familiar with the term is a small stage right next to the main stage and features short usually under 30min performances while the main stage undergoes a set change. This is the optimal way to transition on a large stage while maintaining the audience's attention and attendance.

With thee stages going simultaneously for 8 hours (with three stages that is actually 24 hours of live performances compressed in time and space within walking distance), which provides an opportunity for more musicians to be heard and benefit from the cross-pollination of musical audiences. The river ran dry but the music and shaded hammocks at the hummingbird stage provided a welcome mid day napping location. There is no shortage of amazing talent and the careful curation of musical acts that preform ensure a high threshold and a healthy diversity while still being true to the festivals electronic roots.

Photos will never capture sound so seek out good listen to new music. Click here to listen to live tracks from Sonic Bloom 2018.

Some more music the official Sonic Bloom Playlist on Spotify:

Sonic Bloom 2015 – Festival Review & Photos

July 6, 2015 By Molly Buckiewicz Leave a Comment

A Solstice Shakedown

Sonic Bloom continues to push the boundaries of sound and artistic expression, growing each year into something larger and more meaningful.

For the past few years Sonic Bloom has been a leading name in transformational, music and arts festivals. This being its 10 year reunion, organizers and artists alike went above and beyond to make it the best year yet. Reuniting crowd favorites and introducing new talent, the musical lineup was stacked, head to toe with must see performances. With yoga/movement classes, quirky workshops and live visuals, this event is just as much about the art and culture as it is about the music.

This years venue at Hummingbird Ranch was a refreshing new atmosphere of shady trees and creek side camping. The forested labyrinth created great space for exploration between stages. Hundreds of hammocks hung from the canopy above. Art installations and hidden gems could be found behind every corner. Yoga domes, gravity rock sculptures, and a large metal owl on fire were just a few sightings as you walked the grounds. With larger stages and a multitude of vendors, it was great to see how fast this event is growing while at the same time keeping its small festival charm.

Some musical highlights of the festival included: Desert Dweller’s live performance with aerial acrobatics by Tammy FireFly and live vocals by Meagan Chandler. Crowd pleaser STS9 played a four hour set on the main stage, mixing new tunes with old classics. The Funk Hunters brought the heat with a high energy set featuring Chali 2Na. His smooth, hip-hop vocals were a great addition to the duos funk influenced beats. The Submission stage became the place to be Sunday night with a musical journey from Kaminanda during sunset. Later in the night, Kayla Scintilla seemed to conjure a storm with his tribal sounds, while Eve Olution’s elaborate costume blew in the wind. Concluding the long weekend of incredible talent, no Sonic Bloom would be complete without a feel good set from Random Rab.

With such a great lineup it was almost hard work to catch all the action. Each stage had it’s own special ambiance and unique features to set them apart. Geometric installations overhead provided shade during the warmer parts of the day. At night LED backdrops and visuals illuminated the performers. Each night offered a fresh palette of musical influences, from deep funk to the ultra psychedelic. Sonic Bloom is truly a platform for refined music production and a cultivated cultural underground. With a sold out festival and a promising new venue the unified field may have finally found it’s home at Hummingbird Ranch.

Written by: Greg Powell

Photography by: Molly Buckiewicz

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/104542719″]

Envision Festival 2015

October 29, 2014 By Molly Buckiewicz Leave a Comment

Envision Festival 2015

Vive La Experiencia!!

The fifth annual Envision Festival returns to the breathtaking shores of Uvita, Costa Rica,

February 26 through March 1, 2015 with the release of their Official 2015 Video and first music headliner announcement.

Get inspired. Watch the video here.

The festival just announced the first musical headliner, The Polish Ambassador, the world’s funkiest diplomat, with the rest of the lineup to be released soon. Past Envision headliners include Beats Antique, Tipper, Alex Grey, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Emancipator, Rising Appalachia, Papadosio, Rootz Underground, Midnite, The Lucent Dossier Experience, Quixotic, Random Rab, and Costa Rican favorite Sonámbulo.

Now in its fifth year, the magic of previous incarnations of Envision Festival has driven travelers of all types to the scenic beaches and exotic jungles of Costa Rica each February for world-class music, adventure tours, stimulating education, meeting new friends — and one epic party. In this little slice of paradise, explorers find more than a music and art festival, with an abundance of life-changing experiences that enrich the senses and open the mind. Globally-renowned performance artists create whimsical environments, along with interactive art installations and live painters. Yoga teachers from around the world teach rapturous classes for all levels, from those looking to expand their existing master practice to those stepping onto the mat for the first time.

Dance under the stars all night and play all day — swimming, surfing, cliff diving and more. Hike to an enchanted waterfall and make lifelong connections in the Village. As the sun dips below the rim of the Pacific, hundreds of beautiful smiling faces glow in the remaining crimson rays on the beach, gathering to grow, celebrate and create together, to implement permaculture principles, and manifest plans that have been years in the works.

Keep your eyes peeled for the initial lineup coming soon. Discount Early Bird tickets are on sale now. Please sign up for the newsletter, read more about previous Envision Festivals on the website, and visit the links below. Pura Vida!

Envision Media Links:

About Envision Festival:

Envision festival is an annual gathering in Costa Rica that seeks to provide a platform for different cultures to inspire one another to co-create sustainable community and practice yoga, spirituality, art, music, dance performance, education, and acknowledge our fundamental connection with nature.
At the festival’s core, the Envision organizers are leaders of a sustainable permaculture movement that is blossoming throughout Costa Rica. With initiatives such as banning single use tableware in lieu of bamboo and banana leaf alternatives, a festival wide composting system, green building and multiple spaces dedicated entirely to environmental education, it is clear that the intention runs deep. Costa Rica, a world leader in eco-local awareness, serves as the perfect backdrop for such initiatives and the festival itself is designed to provide an example of a style of communal living that is more attainable than ever in an impressively hospitable and lush growing environment.

The Confluence – TheConfluenceGroup.com

If you’re not convinced on going…check out these shots from the amazing photographers who attended previous Envision Festivals.

He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister

October 17, 2012 By Michael Leave a Comment

He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister

A rocking band traveling the West-coast & Mid-west USA.

He’s my Brother She’s my Sister, aka HMBSMS, is a band with flare, touch, tap, and style. A unique approach to music and crowd participation. In fact they invited some of the wildest and bravest crowd members to sing with them on stage. HMBSMS has a very heavy tour schedule, and is constantly on the move. After seeing He is my brother she is my sister in Eugene, Oregon, I had to talk with them. The band members were kind enough to agree to a phone interview (click here). The night was clear, the flow of beer, and the music was here at Sam Bond’s Garage. The sibling vocal harmonies were noticeable in the incredibly cohesive sound despite the Rob having the flue, and sweating profusely during the entire show. The percussionist Lauren, standing on a kick drum tap-dancing, danced with enthusiasm and a purpose. Rachel’s beautiful vocals and occasional tambourine shakes kept the flare alive. With walking bass lines and sliding lap-steal guitar, the sound was keyed in. HMBSMS opened up the microphone up to other members of the audience, who gratefully grabbed the mic to scat and howl the night away. With a taste of Eugene, this band wanted a little more, entertaining an encore to the fans delight. To read more about the show & hear from three members of the band in an interview found only hear on FreioMusic

With an extremely heavy tour schedule, the band will likely be within a couple hours away (if you are in the USA) from your home town. Check out their tour schedule here:

To read the full interview with HMBSMS click here

For more info & music please visit:

hesmybrothershesmysister.com

hesmybrothershesmysister.bandcamp.com

HMBSMS-Interview-with-FreioMusic.pdf

Want to purchase some music?

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/hes-my-brother-shes-my-sister/

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