It’s always a special moment when a band returns to the scene of
one their greatest triumphs to revel in the resonation of that vibe
while also seeking to push that energy further.
It’s always a special moment when a band returns to the scene of
one their greatest triumphs to revel in the resonation of that vibe
while also seeking to push that energy further. Blue Turtle Seduction
are in such a position when they find themselves back at 12 Galaxies
in San Francisco’s Mission District—the very same venue
where the band saved last New Year’s Eve for many local music
fans.
It wasn’t long ago when the Bay Area was THE New Year’s
destination for jam rock fans, with multiple headliners at so many
shows around town that fans wished they could clone themselves. But
this past year was different. Heading into December, the only New
Year’s rock show of note was Les Claypool at the Fillmore. The
show didn’t take long to sell out and folks that had waffled for
whatever reason found themselves scrambling to find alternate
entertainment.
Then an ad appeared for Blue Turtle Seduction’s
“Hitchhiker’s Guide to the 12 Galaxies” show, rife
with imagery from Douglas Adams’ classic sci-fi novels and
heralding a cosmic good time. The eclectic band drew a colorful crowd
and threw down a supremely festive show that went deep into the
morning, ringing in the New Year with maximum style.
The South Lake Tahoe band used the show as a launch pad to a much
higher local profile, making San Francisco their second home in 2008.
They opened for local favorites Tea Leaf Green at the Fillmore in
March, and then returned to the city later that month for a free
afternoon show at Dolores Park, followed by a raucously packed affair
that same evening at the Connecticut Yankee. The CD release party for
13 Floors, their stellar new album, followed at The Independent at the
end of May, all winding toward this New Year’s Eve flashback.
Tea Leaf Green keyboardist Trevor Garrod opens the evening with a solo
set that draws a bigger than normal crowd for 9 p.m. on a Friday
night. It’s always refreshing to see a rising star back in a
more intimate setting and Garrod doesn’t disappoint. It’s
a tough task playing solo in such a slot, amid early evening barroom
chatter. But Garrod rises above it, delivering a set that at times
conjures the soulfully bluesy vibe of Eric Clapton’s Derek and
the Dominoes, as well as a bravura piano solo recalling the outro by
Phish’s Page McConnell on “The Squirming Coil”.
The breakout surprise of the night is Five Eyed Hand. The local
quartet hits the stage with a powerful jam that instantly grabs the
audience’s attention. When drummer Derek Bodkin throws in a
whistling solo, it’s clear this is not your average band. Bodkin
later sings and plays acoustic guitar, demonstrating wide skills.
Bassist Jeb Taylor is a groove monster, while guitarist Chris Zanardi
and mandolinist/fiddler Mikey Henderson both demonstrate virtuoso
skill on a spacey funk jam that conjures the Jerry Garcia Band in an
extended workout on “After Midnight”.
You know you’re doing something right when you attract members
of more established bands to sit in with you, and so it is when both
Garrod and BTS mandolinist Christian Zupancic join Five Eyed Hand for
a stellar take on the Beatles’ “It’s All Too
Much”. Melodic psychedelia reigns supreme in a greatly extended
jam version of the classic George Harrison tune.
BTS hits the stage with “What’s My Name”, the
rousing opener from their new album that somehow blends Irish folk
with punk and funk. “El Camino” features Zupancic on
fiddle and guitarist Jay Seals on lead vocals for another groovy
funk/punk/folk rave-up that evolves into a deep space rock jam that
gets the room really grooving. Drummer Adam Navone and bassist Stephen
Seals aren’t flashy, but provide a rock solid rhythm section
that enables Zupancic to improvise freely throughout the night.
The show really takes off with “Roses>Belt Buckle”, the
closer from 13 Floors. Zupancic and Seals both throw down super funky
riffs that set the stage for singer Glenn Stewart to deliver some
soulful, upbeat vocals that strike a chord. From his earthy demeanor
to the tall boy cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon he quaffs throughout the
night, Stewart evokes a man of the people vibe. The band riffs on the
main theme from Star Wars during the jam, sending the positive vibe
higher still. Stewart, Zupancic, and Jay Seals blend their voices for
rich three-part harmonies in the final section, adding yet another
element to the band’s sound.
“Steady Unease” cools things off with a mellower vibe,
which is just as well with the poorly ventilated room quickly turning
into a hot box. The band rocks it at the end though, raising the
energy high enough to launch into “Antidote”, one of a
handful of tunes on 13 Floors that sound as though they could become
classics. There’s a catchy, feel good vibe in both the harmony
vocals and instrumental lines that gets the entire crowd going for
another peak moment.
The Turtles are riding a powerful wave now as they roll into
“Government”, their funky call-to-arms for a
people’s revolution. Bassist Seals lays down a thick groove
while Zupancic fiddles in a compellingly blues-y key behind
Stewart’s gritty vocals. The chorus turns upbeat when the vocal
trio sings “It’s time for the leaders to hear / The golden
rule must replace the fear / What’s done to you is also done to
me / The people must lead for the leaders to see.” The socially
conscious lyrics and big groove energize the crowd further as
Zupancic’s fiddle leads the band in a monster jam recalling the
String Cheese Incident on their epic crowd pleaser
“Rivertrance”. The huge jam seems as though it will end
the set but the band throw a cherry on top of the sundae with a
raucous cover of the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated”.
The second set builds on the energy of the first and features more of
the band’s older tunes. But the clear highlight is “Foot
by Foot” (another new song that already sounds like a classic)
from 13 Floors that takes the listener through an impressively diverse
sonic landscape. It’s already a sure-fire crowd pleaser, sending
fans into a dance frenzy. Guitarist Seals takes the lead vocal, with
the band artfully mixing in a variety of elements to build the song.
The infectious chorus explodes with energy as Zupancic adds a harmony
and Stewart a counterpoint vocal.
The band interaction that’s a hallmark of the jam scene’s
community vibe appears again when Five Eyed Hand’s Mikey
Henderson joins in for “Changing Lanes”, as the 2 a.m.
hour passes and patrons are forced to down their drinks or give them
up. But the band plays on before wrapping the set with another rocking
jam. The return to the scene of their New Year’s triumph has
been blessed with a special vibe and thereby seems to call for a
special encore. Tea Leaf Green’s Garrod reappears on keyboards
and vocals to join the band for a triumphant rendition of the
Traveling Wilburys’ “Handle with Care”, an
appropriately sentimental flashback on a night full of them.
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