Live From The Lot at Ardmore Music Hall and Electric Factory
May 21st & 22nd
Photos: Alex Buschiazzo / Ashley Guest
Videos: D-Lo of Jambandlotshirts
Rain Shmain. There was no stopping Ardmore Music Hall's Live From The Lot festival this year with two stages both days, packed with awesome talent and great fans too. Stepping up to the plate in time of brotherly love was the the Electric Factory, housing the first night of LFTL due to the impending rain forecast which would have soaked us all completely had they not taken this festival and put a roof on it.
SpotOnTheLot winners The Phonies got the ball to a roll on Saturday afternoon as people filed into the Electric Factory and by the time Charlie Hunter played, joined by Chris Bullock of Snarky Puppy, the party was in full swing. Brooklyn's Pimps of Joytime hit the stage and you could start to feel the electricity in the room jump up a bit. As we all walked in I was anxious to see how this would be pulled off having two stages inside the Electric Factory, a first for the venue, but I quickly realized that this crew (both AMH and EF) know what the hell they're doing. The transition between bands was almost seamless, from the stagehands, ushers, ticket windows, sound/video/light techs to management, the Live From The Lot squad appeared almost as if they'd done this before. Great cooperation and coordination from the cousin venues and we were quite grateful to be invited out to cover this event at both locations.
From Charlie Hunter to Foundations of Funk, the Brooklynites Marco Benevento and Pimps of Joytime to Superhuman Happiness, The Revivalists and Snarky Puppy had their work cut out for them...and disappoint, they did not. Strong sets delivered by both headliners generating a rather active crowd on the floor at the Electric Factory with powerful funky and progressive jazz fusion scores. Revivalist front-man David Shaw engaged fans jumping off the stage and into the photo pit forming a happy connection with young fans nearby. Closing out the night, Everyone Orchestra brought their own form of a powerhouse punch to the after-party with the likes of Galactic bassman Rob Mercurio, a horn section with Natalie Cressman & Jennifer Hartswick of Trey Anastasio Band, and David Shaw of The Revivalists adding flavor on vocals. Meters' drummer Zigaboo Modeliste joined side by side with drummer Johnny Kimock paralleled with Philly's own Tom Hamilton duking it out on guitar with Brian J of Pimps of Joytime. Disco Biscuits' Aron Magner paired up with Marco Benevento (or shall we call him Beetlejuice?) and double-teamed on keys with last but not least Matt Butler at the helm in his standard funky conductor attire and charisma. Dual horns, Dual Drums, Dual Guitars, Dual Keys leaving the certainly capable Mercurio to stand on his own on the bass. The ever-changing lineup of EO is a sure thing that always keeps us coming back with a definite super-group feel to it. As we waited for Everyone Orchestra to take the stage Marco Benevento took over the DJ table in his usual striped suit and top-hat donning a pair of shades and dishing out some old school main ingredients to get down to, or 'get on up' to.
SpotOnTheLot winners The Phonies got the ball to a roll on Saturday afternoon as people filed into the Electric Factory and by the time Charlie Hunter played, joined by Chris Bullock of Snarky Puppy, the party was in full swing. Brooklyn's Pimps of Joytime hit the stage and you could start to feel the electricity in the room jump up a bit. As we all walked in I was anxious to see how this would be pulled off having two stages inside the Electric Factory, a first for the venue, but I quickly realized that this crew (both AMH and EF) know what the hell they're doing. The transition between bands was almost seamless, from the stagehands, ushers, ticket windows, sound/video/light techs to management, the Live From The Lot squad appeared almost as if they'd done this before. Great cooperation and coordination from the cousin venues and we were quite grateful to be invited out to cover this event at both locations.
From Charlie Hunter to Foundations of Funk, the Brooklynites Marco Benevento and Pimps of Joytime to Superhuman Happiness, The Revivalists and Snarky Puppy had their work cut out for them...and disappoint, they did not. Strong sets delivered by both headliners generating a rather active crowd on the floor at the Electric Factory with powerful funky and progressive jazz fusion scores. Revivalist front-man David Shaw engaged fans jumping off the stage and into the photo pit forming a happy connection with young fans nearby. Closing out the night, Everyone Orchestra brought their own form of a powerhouse punch to the after-party with the likes of Galactic bassman Rob Mercurio, a horn section with Natalie Cressman & Jennifer Hartswick of Trey Anastasio Band, and David Shaw of The Revivalists adding flavor on vocals. Meters' drummer Zigaboo Modeliste joined side by side with drummer Johnny Kimock paralleled with Philly's own Tom Hamilton duking it out on guitar with Brian J of Pimps of Joytime. Disco Biscuits' Aron Magner paired up with Marco Benevento (or shall we call him Beetlejuice?) and double-teamed on keys with last but not least Matt Butler at the helm in his standard funky conductor attire and charisma. Dual horns, Dual Drums, Dual Guitars, Dual Keys leaving the certainly capable Mercurio to stand on his own on the bass. The ever-changing lineup of EO is a sure thing that always keeps us coming back with a definite super-group feel to it. As we waited for Everyone Orchestra to take the stage Marco Benevento took over the DJ table in his usual striped suit and top-hat donning a pair of shades and dishing out some old school main ingredients to get down to, or 'get on up' to.
Day 1: The Phonies - Pimps of Joytime - Charlie Hunter - Foundation of Funk - Superhuman Happiness - The Revivalists - Marco Benevento - Snarky Puppy - Everyone Orchestra
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Pimps of Joytime
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Foundation of Funk |
Superhuman Happines |
Charlie Hunter with Snarky Puppy horns |
The Phonies |
Live From the Lot dance contest |
Day 2 of Live From The Lot launched back on home turf in Ardmore without a hitch and took us on a bit of a jazz/funk see-saw throughout the day between stages. Philly's own funky brassers Darla got feet moving as Live From The Lotters filed in and got the lay of the land. And if you didn't try the cheese curds from The Cow and the Curd you missed out! Repeated on the second day's events, stage transitions and sound were right from the get-go in the lot which had plenty of activity from the VIP section, the kids' corner, multiple beer and food vendors and not to mention some seriously good tunes. This time around Snarky Puppy had the earlier slot and played around 2pm to a growing lot with more jazz fusion and funky tones coming at us. Bouncing back to the 2nd stage at 3:15 we caught one of our Philly favorites, Swift Technique, throw down like nobody else with front-man-&-woman team Nik Greeley and Chelsea ViaCava hyping the crowd up and keeping up the energy. Midway through the Swift set Philly jazz bassist Gerald Veasley joined in to duel it out with Swift Technique's bassman Jake Leschinsky, who proves himself a master on the frets.
Karl Denson and The Greyboy Allstars took us down a notch with chill acid jazz and a touch of funk. But then came Brooklyn's High & Mighty Brass Band, chock full of energy to bring the crowd right back to the 2nd stage with a youthful cast of gents from the borough led by the energetic front-man on trumpet, Ivan Jackson. Headlining day two was Soulive to close out the festival, putting on an impressive performance joined by the horn section of Snarky Puppy, Nigel Hall with Karl Denson returned to the stage to help close out the festival with a slightly worn-out but joyous crowd doing a soulful rendition of the Tears for Fears hit "Everybody Wants to Rule The World." Live From The Lot exceeded expectations this year with the organization and coordination of both venues and with the superb music talent brought into town. A truly special event delivered to us by two special iconic Philly venues. This is a cherry on top to our city...the unmatched display of amazing talent that comes through the Philadelphia area and specifically The Electric Factory and The Ardmore Music Hall. We can't wait for Live From The Lot 2017. Book it!
Karl Denson and The Greyboy Allstars took us down a notch with chill acid jazz and a touch of funk. But then came Brooklyn's High & Mighty Brass Band, chock full of energy to bring the crowd right back to the 2nd stage with a youthful cast of gents from the borough led by the energetic front-man on trumpet, Ivan Jackson. Headlining day two was Soulive to close out the festival, putting on an impressive performance joined by the horn section of Snarky Puppy, Nigel Hall with Karl Denson returned to the stage to help close out the festival with a slightly worn-out but joyous crowd doing a soulful rendition of the Tears for Fears hit "Everybody Wants to Rule The World." Live From The Lot exceeded expectations this year with the organization and coordination of both venues and with the superb music talent brought into town. A truly special event delivered to us by two special iconic Philly venues. This is a cherry on top to our city...the unmatched display of amazing talent that comes through the Philadelphia area and specifically The Electric Factory and The Ardmore Music Hall. We can't wait for Live From The Lot 2017. Book it!
Day 2: Darla - Snarky Puppy - Swift Technique - The Greyboy Allstars - High & Mighty Brass Band - Soulive & Friends ( with Snarky Puppy horns, Karl Denson and Nigel Hall)
Soulive w/Nigel Hall, Karl Denson and Snarky Puppy Horns Snarky Puppy with Eric Krasno
Videos captured by D-Lo of Jambandlotshirts
Videos captured by D-Lo of Jambandlotshirts
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High and Mighty Brass Band
Swift Technique
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Soulive
Snarky Puppy
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Friday Kickoff Party 5/20/2016: Electron & Tom Hamilton's American Babies
Tom Hamilton's American Babies 5/20/2016
Saturday Dead Brunch 5/22/2016: with Steve Kimock & Leslie Mendelson
Photos and video by D-Lo of Jambandlotshirts
Saturday After-party 5/22/2016: Pink Talking Fish
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