As promised, FloydFest is on myScoper.com!
Here are some highlights that you don’t want to miss this weekend, July 24-27, 2008!

THURSDAY ::
Donna the Buffalo, a FloydFest favorite, returns as the Thursday night headliner on the Dreaming Creek Main Stage. Funky and danceable with a message of tribal philosophy and celebration, Donna the Buffalo’s music is a unique blend of reggae, rock, country, zydeco, Cajun, and folk traditions. Take a listen here!

Also on Thursday, and recommended by our good friends at The Butter Room, The Kings of Belmont will be playing a late night set on the Pink Floyd Garden Stage. Whether its rock or country or hip-hop or jams, you will find it woven into the sound of The Kings of Belmont. Listen to them here!

FRIDAY ::
Railroad Earth lights up the Dreaming Creek Main Stage from 9 to 11pm. From their first shows back in May 2001, Railroad Earth began carving a path deep and wide throughout the American Roots Music scene. With the support of a legion of incredibly loyal fans, Railroad Earth has become an undeniable force whose superb songwriting, singing and live performances have made them one of the most talked about bands to hit the U.S. Music scene in years. Wanna hear them? Click here!

Friday night also brings Tea Leaf Green to the Streamline Hill Holler Stage for a two hour late night session. Here’s what The Butter Room has to say about them “…very talented musicians with a unique sound; kind of a cross between Traffic and The Allman Brothers.” Take a listen here!

SATURDAY ::
Three Heavy Hitters on One Stage!

The David Grisman Quintet hits the Main Stage for a late afternoon serving of “dawg” music, a blend of many stylistic influences (including swing, bluegrass, Latin, jazz and gypsy) so unique he gave it its own name. Listen here!

Immediately following the Quintet is none other than Amos Lee, a folk, soul, and jazz singer-songwriter out of Philly, who has toured with the likes of Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Paul Simon, and Merle Haggard. Hear him right now!

And topping off the night on the Dreaming Creek stage is Rusted Root, a musical organism of quintessential essence, monumental substance and vast appeal! Wanna hear them now? Click.

SUNDAY ::
Catch an early show with Turbo Pro Project, an eclectic group from North Carolina making their FloydFest debut on the Main Stage at 11:15am. Take a listen!

Also, Stick around for the Avett Brothers, also from NC, at 4:30pm on the Streamline Hill Holler Stage. Their songs are honest: just chords with real voices singing real melodies. But, the heart and the energy with which they are sung, is really why people are talking, and why so many sing along. Listen to them here!

With over 60 musicals acts and performances plus workshops, yoga classes, and even belly dancing and hulahooping, it’s really an everybody’s festival! After all it’s a family affair!

All main stage acts can be found on myScoper.com and all other performance schedules can be downloaded on the FloydFest website. So enjoy and we hope to see you out there!

And just remember… FLOYDFEST IS WAITING! So get out there and [heart] your community!

Brought to you be the number 7 and you friends at myScoper.com.

Last weekend, I caught another solid concert at the Charlottesville Pavilion. The Black Crowes were in town to help celebrate the July 4th weekend.



This was the 6th time that I’ve seen the Crowes, which is hard for me to believe. I am not a hardcore Black Crowes fan, but am probably more of a fan now than I was 18 years ago when I first caught them on the Shake Your Money Maker tour. My enthusiasm for the Crowes waned after their first couple albums, but was refueled when I caught them 2 years ago at the Pavilion. The reason? First off, their live catalog has obviously grown (both originals and covers), and second, all those years sharing the stage with jam bands and Jimmy Page has transformed the bar band sound I heard in 1990-1991 into a unique form of southern hippie rock.

Unfortunately, we missed almost all of Grace Potter & the Nocturnals due to another torrential rain storm. We got in as they were finishing up a cover of the Rolling Stones’ Sweet Virginia. The Crowes came on to only about a half-filled venue, but we were treated to a great set list. Highlights for me were Seeing Things, Wiser Time, Thorn in My Pride, and The Band’s The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.

If you missed the Black Crowes last weekend, you can buy a copy of the show here or catch them in October when they will play a 2 night stand at The National in Richmond.

Setlist: Movin’ On Down The Line, Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution, Hotel Illness, Thick ‘n’ Thin, Walk Believer Walk, Young Man Old Man, There’s Gold In Them Hills, Boomer’s Story, Seeing Things, Welcome to the Goodtimes, The Mighty Quinn, Wiser Time, Thorn In My Pride, Wounded Bird

E: She, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down


Seeing Things For The First Time - The Black Crowes from The Butter Room on Vimeo.

The music from the lot grew louder and our anticipation built as we walked amongst the crowds descending on the Roanoke Coliseum, destined to see what has been dubbed the perfect blend of two of music’s most powerful forces… That’s right, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss visited Roanoke, VA last night, June 2nd, for one spectacular and very special evening of bluegrass, rock, and a little bit of everything else in between.

It was a special night for my family too. We don’t always get together as often as we’d like but last night we were celebrating my mom’s 60th birthday so all six of us grabbed our seats and excitedly watched the night unfold, and did it ever…

The opener, Sharon Little, got the crowd warmed up with her resonating and soulful vocals. Little was hand picked from hundreds of others to open the legendary show, and it’s amazing to see just where true talent can show up. According to her site, she was waiting tables at the beginning of 2008 and within just a few short months she’s now touring internationally with some the best-known names in music. I think it is definitely only a matter of time until the world catches on, just as Alison Krauss and Robert Plant did, to her uniquely powerful voice! For more about Sharon Little or to take a listen, click here!

After the opening act, the energy in the coliseum continued to build as the stage crew quickly changed and tested the instruments. The lights dimmed again and this time from either side of the stage the two people that everyone had come to see appeared. Alison looked just like the delicate and rare flower that she is and Robert Plant arrived in true rocker style, hair askew, in jeans. They wasted no time getting comfortable on the stage, singing, in impeccable harmony, everything from Townes Van Zandt’s “Nothin,” where Plant was able to stretch his lungs and soar, to revitalized Zeppelin classics including “The Battle of Evermore” and “When the Levee Breaks.” They even managed to squeeze in, last minute I’m sure, a version of “Who Do You Love?” as a tribute to Bo Diddley who sadly died yesterday at the age of 79.

Two songs during the show that I will not soon forget and are still resonating with me today are an a cappella “Down To The River To Pray” that literally brought the house to a hushed and peaceful silence and Alison’s “Trampled Rose” from their Raising Sand record. Her voice and stage presence during this song can only be described as simply angelic.

And not to be forgotten, the acclaimed writer/composer and producer of the “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack (just to name one), T Bone Burnette, did his own wailing on the guitar and even interjected a few of his original tunes in between Krauss and Plant’s songs. As Plant mentioned about halfway through the show it was, after all, Burnette, who scheduled the meeting between, Krauss, Plant, and destiny.

And fortune it was to see the two of them at their best, without any ego attached. Numerous times throughout the show the humble and generous pair would simply step out of the light to let the band shine and Krauss applauded the band almost as much as the audience did. There was a polite, yet playful energy between the entire group that seemed to reverberate through the show so you just knew that these folks weren’t playing for the fame or the money but for the music itself, a true appreciation for the art of collaboration to which the audience responded with several standing ovations and awe.

I feel honored to have seen such musical luminaries perform together. And I look forward to seeing what future collaborations they may have in store! This is one birthday that I doubt my mom will soon forget! Thanks Robert Plant and Alison Krauss for one amazing date with destiny.

There are tour dates left… some as close as DC (the Merriweather pavilion, a wonderful outdoor space), as well as Asheville and Raleigh, NC. For more information, check out robertplantalisonkrauss.com

The Butter Room is thrilled to interview Ann McDaniel, the Director of the Warehouse, the official Dave Matthews Band fan association that is celebrating it’s tenth year at the end of 08! With Dave Matthews Band’s summer tour kicking off today at Post Gazette Pavilion in Burgettstown, PA, we felt it apropos to interview the person who runs the best fan club around. Ann moved to Charlottesville for her position as Director of the Warehouse in the fall of 2001. Originally from Birmingham, AL and a graduate of the University of the South (Sewanee) with a BS in Natural Resources, she loves calling Charlottesville home and admits to feeling blessed to have a job she loves!


You’ve been the Director of the DMB Warehouse since 2001. How did the opportunity come about?

Ann McDaniel: It was very serendipitous; I had been working in Athens, GA as Executive Director of an environmental nonprofit and was looking to move and for a change. I sent my resume to Coran Capshaw through mutual friends and the fan club director position had just become available. It was perfect timing, I flew up for the interview and moved to Charlottesville a month later.


The Warehouse has a pretty sizeable membership. What has been the secret to its success?

Ann: We have a steady loyal base of fans in the Warehouse fan association. We offer Warehouse members a nice allotment of tickets prior to public on sales; we send them a live fan club only release of songs each year and provide great customer service plus opportunities for meet and greets and ticket upgrades. All for the reasonable annual fee of $35.


What is a “day in the life” of running the Warehouse?

Ann: My day varies based on projects and the time of year. I run the Bama charity auctions, post updates to all sites: DMB, Warehouse, Facebook, MySpace, write and coordinate email blasts, assist with ticketing projects, respond to Warehouse emails and phone calls. The list goes on but those are the top activities that keep me plenty busy.


What are the favorite parts of your job, and how does it feel to have a job that tens of thousands would love to have?

Ann: My favorite part of the job is working with such a great, dedicated team and for such an amazing band of philanthropic artists. We work hard for DMB and we accomplish a lot. When I go to a Dave Matthews Band show and look around at the tens of thousands of fans enjoying themselves, it is a very proud moment as thousands of those fans are Warehouse members! I do not really ever think about having a job that others covet; my job may seem glamorous to those on the outside but trust me, it’s a lot of work!


DMB performing at The Concert for Virginia Tech on 9/6/07; photo by Todd Wickersty

The summer tour kicks off this week. Is there anything new and/or different that fans can expect this year?

Ann: Well, sadly, Butch Taylor is leaving DMB and he will be missed. On the bright side, DMB has been working in the studio with longtime friend Tim Reynolds, who will be joining the band on tour this summer. We are all hoping for a taste of some new material from the studio.


Approximately how many DMB shows had you seen before becoming Director of the Warehouse, and how many have you seen since? What have been your favorites and why?

Ann: My first DMB shows were right out of college in the mid 90s, the Georgia Theatre in Athens, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. I truly do not know how many I’ve been to - I probably need to sit down and figure the total for posterity’s sake (ha ha). My favorite moments have occurred at the shows at Red Rocks, the Roseland Ballroom, Central Park and with friends at VA Beach and Shoreline. This summer I am greatly looking forward to the Greek Theatre shows, the last one is my birthday (and LeRoi’s :)


What other music have you been listening to lately and would recommend to our readers?

Ann: I LOVE In Rainbows by Radiohead, it’s been in heavy rotation for some time now (saw Radiohead in northern VA recently and it was 2 hours of perfection in spite of the chilly temps and incessant rain). I have also been listening to Frank by Amy Winehouse, KT Tunstall, My Morning Jacket (looking forward to the June 10th ATO release: Evil Urges). I listen to Radio Paradise at work almost daily and love their playlists which have introduced me to lots of artists.


DMB performing at The Concert for Virginia Tech on 9/6/07; photo by Todd Wickersty

I understand you are heavily involved with Bama Works, DMB’s charitable program in the Charlottesville area. What are some of the activities and charities that Bama Works supports?

Ann: There are way too many to list so I invite readers to check http://www.davematthewsband.com/bama/charities/. The most recent is the Bama Green project which encompasses all of the environmental efforts undertaken by the band while on the road, in the studio or at home. In addition to working with the band, the Bama Green Project is also dedicated to educating DMB fans around the world about how to take simple & positive environmental actions. More info may be found at www.reverbrock.org/dmb.

Dave Matthews Band should be highly commended for their work through Bama Works. They started a Village Recovery Fund after the terrible tsunami in Sri Lanka, they began the Bama Works Youth Initiative to educate high school children about philanthropy through hands-on education and execution of charitable projects, they supported and issued a challenge grant for the Habitat for Humanity Musician’s Village in New Orleans as well as distributed monies raised at the Red Rocks show for Katrina Relief to various relief charities. I could go on and on…


When you are not working, you are …

Ann: Working in my flower and vegetable gardens, taking photographs, seeing live music, enjoying delicious food and wine with my beau and friends! I also do a lot of volunteer work. I am court appointed special advocate with Piedmont CASA and work with children that are involved in abuse, neglect or custody cases. I have been involved with the Junior League of Charlottesville since ‘01 and recently completed my Charlottesville Albemarle Tree Steward training. Next on my list is becoming a certified Master Naturalist.

The Butter Room was well represented at the Radiohead show from Nissan Pavilion last night (5/11/08). So much so that we decided to do two reviews. Cheers.



Review #1 by Brian Chenault
Exactly how do you measure the dedication of a band’s fans? Is it by the number of bootlegs or import versions of albums they own? Is it by the amount of merchandise they purchase? Their willingness to shell out top dollar for anything related to the band, tickets or otherwise? If dedication is measured by fans literally enduring the elements for a concert, then you’d have to give Radiohead fans an A+. It rained nonstop yesterday, from morning through the night, and as I was driving 29 North to the concert I wondered to myself if the concert would even happen, and if so how many ticket holders would even bother to come out? Judging from a scan back from my very fortunate spot in the general admission pit, I’d say that that it barely hurt the turnout at all. I have to admit, had I not been so fortunate, and had been stuck with a lawn ticket, I probably would have stayed home. Not only was it windy and the rain torrential, but the temperature was in the lower 50s, which made for some serious cold or even pneumonia-inducing weather.



After staying in the car and hoping for the rain to subside a little before entering the venue, I finally made my way inside around 8 pm, in time to catch the last few songs by the opener, Liars. I am not familiar with the band so am in no position to give a fair critique, but I thought the sound was pretty muddy and it was hard to make out what was going on on stage. Otherwise, they seemed interesting enough and it sparked enough interest for me to want to check them out further.

After what must have seemed like an eternal break between bands to the people on the lawn, the roadies dispersed and Radiohead took the stage. The lighting set for this tour is absolutely the coolest I have ever seen for any show. It consists of rows of thin white lighting strips 6 deep and 12 wide that effectively turn the stage into a cave surrounded by these things. At the rear of the stage is a row of video displays that throughout the show displayed candid closeup shots of the band members. These shots were also unlike any I have seen at any concert. They were less your typical concert shot views of the band and more like you were spying on the band members, seeing their inner thoughts as the show progressed. I never could figure out where the cameras were set, and sometimes there would be angles that seemed impossible without invisible cameras. My favorite shot of the night was seeing a closeup of Johnny Greenwood at his laptop, peering from underneath his locks back at Thom Yorke. Video screens at most concerts are there to let the audience better see the band. These screens seemed more designed for a glimpse into the psyche of the band. Throwaway footage it was not. It’s telling that the band requested that the venue not use the screens available for people on the lawn to better see the band.



Despite a somewhat muddy mix for the first few songs (the bass on “All I Need” was practically indiscernable), it all came together by the third song of the night, the gorgeous “Lucky” from OK Computer. They gave fair play to their entire catalog, with the exception of Pablo Honey, which I doubt anyone missed, and Hail To The Thief, which only got one visit for the night, with the schizophrenic “Myxomatosis”. The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A, and Amnesiac were all represented, with 3 or 4 great choices off of each. When the achingly beautiful “The Pyramid Song” was over, I decided that if I ended up catching pneumonia after the show, it would have been worth it to hear that song alone. Thom Yorke not only seemed in high spirits, joking with the crowd, but his voice was in incredible shape. He hit all of his high falsetto notes with what seemed like no effort at all. There is no question that his voice has strengthened and improved over the years. I never thought I’d say this, but in my mind he’s one of rock’s great singers in the prime of his career and his abilities.

As I left the venue, and waded through the muddy pond that the concession area had become (ankle high in some places), I had to marvel that in a world that seems increasingly complicated and fragmented, music still has the power to not only bring people together, but also to do so under the worst of conditions.


Weird Fishes/Arpeggi - Radiohead from The Butter Room on Vimeo.

Review #2 by Todd Wickersty
Expectation is the seed of disappointment. These 6 words comprise one of my favorite sayings because it’s true 99% of the time. My expectations for Radiohead at Nissan Pavilion last night were extremely high. I knew that they were too high. Couple that with the fact that Nissan Pavilion is the WORST venue in Virginia (more on that later) and last night had the makings for an enormous letdown.

After some food and spirits in the armpit of the Commonwealth, also known as the Virginia Gateway Center, we arrived at the venue in a torrential rainstorm. At least we made it. After sitting in hours of traffic, many people could not get to the venue due to flash floods. I’ve been there before. After traveling hundreds of miles from Virginia to Vermont to see Phish’s final live performance, we were denied access 5 miles from the gate due to a similar weather related incident. It sucks. Unfortunately, those of you who couldn’t make it last night missed a much much better show than I did at Coventry.

We got inside in between the opening act, Liars, and Radiohead. Good timing considering the traffic and rain. It took us 45 minutes to get in, which is really nothing compared to the thousands who traveled west on I-66. However, we only had 4 miles to go! The rain continued to pour from the sky. We needed cash. The ATM line was 15 deep and only one of the two machines was working. Then that one broke down. Luckily, one of the guys in line just happened to work for the venue and was able to fix the problem. Whew. Withdrawl made. A round of $10 Tecates followed (are you kidding me?!?!).

One reason for my sky high expectations was our tickets. We were fortunate to be in the general admission pit and after looking at Brian’s photos, I think he and I were right near each other and didn’t even know it. We settled in during “15 Step” after listening to the first three songs from the ATM and beer lines.

The stage set up was unlike any other I’ve seen before. The band played beneath what looked like lighted icicles. The sound was crystal clear and at the perfect volume. Then I looked back in amazement at the lawn. It was full. Five inches of cold, steady rain couldn’t stop the thousands of concert goers with lawn tickets. Radiohead did not disappoint and delivered a memorable 2 hour plus, 25 song performance that might be the best show I’ve seen this decade. I can’t declare it the best quite yet, not until the afterglow wears off.



My favorite musical moment of the night (although it was all fantastic) was towards the end of the set. After the mellow In Rainbows duo of “Faust Arp” and “Videotape”, Radiohead launched into “Paranoid Android”, which provided a much needed energy boost. Thankfully, the band let the crowd frenzy continue with “Just”. The hypnotic “Reckoner” followed, probably my favorite track from In Rainbows, which was a perfect way to cool down the crowd.

The show concluded at the House of Horrors with “House of Cards”. Nissan Pavilion is by far the worst venue I’ve ever been to. I swore it off 8 years ago because of it’s location, the traffic, and the lack of character. All music venues have character, just like ballparks. While Red Rocks might be the Fenway Park of music venues or MSG the Yankee Stadium, Nissan Pavilion is the Vet or any of the vanilla ballparks built in the 60s and 70s that were perfectly symmetrical in shape and artificial in experience. Still, that’s not a reason alone to boycott the place. However, the traffic is. It took us almost as long to get from the Pavilion lot to our place in nearby Gainesville (total trip distance about 5 miles) as it did friends who parked outside the lot driving to Charlottesville (total trip distance about 100 miles).

Even with the traffic, the weather, and the venue, I would do it all again in a heartbeat. It was the best concert I’ve seen in years from a band that has amazingly been in its prime for quite a while now. From the comments and reviews I’ve read online today, it’s clear that no one in the venue last night was disappointed. Only Radiohead could deliver such a performance that would lift up thousands of fans after dealing with the wrath of Mother Nature, the wrath of impatient D.C. area drivers (I am not sure which wrath is worse), and the sh*thole known as Nissan Pavilion.

BTW, my new favorite 6 word saying is “See Radiohead as soon as possible.”


SET LIST:

I: All I Need, Jigsaw Falling Into Place, Lucky, 15 Step, Nude, Pyramid Song, Weird Fishes/Arpeggi, Myxomatosis, Idioteque, Faust Arp, Videotape, Paranoid Android, Just, Reckoner, Everything In Its Right Place, Bangers and Mash, Bodysnatchers
E1: Like Spinning Plates, Optimistic, Karma Police, Go Slowly, Planet Telex
E2: Fake Plastic Trees, The National Anthem, House of Cards


Karma Police - Radiohead from The Butter Room on Vimeo.

More Photos from Radiohead at Nissan Pavilion on 5/11/08:
  

Trees on Fire are set to play their second show in as many years at Charlottesville’s Fridays After Five tomorrow, 5/9/08. The Butter Room was lucky enough to catch up with Trees’ drummer, Paul Rosner, before the show for some question and answer time.


What’s the songwriting process like? Do lyrics come first and then music or the other way around? Is there a primary lyricist in the group?

Paul Rosner: Generally, Rob or Blake will bring the skeleton of a song to the group first. The skeleton includes melody, lyrics, and a basic chord progression, though things can and do change once the band has gotten ahold of the song. At that point, we spend a lot of time working on the basic grooves/feel of the different parts, as well as figuring out what instruments to use. That often means Justin has to decide which of his many toys to pull out, but Rob has been playing less guitar in the group lately, so he also has decisions to make. Sometimes, those decisions come about after we’ve tried a few different arrangements, and other times, songs evolve after we’ve played them live a few times.


What’s been the most successful show you’ve had both in terms of turnout and performance? Were they the same show?

Paul: In terms of turnout, the most successful shows we’ve had were 3/13/08 at Satellite Ballroom here in Cville and last April’s CD release party for The Green Room, which took place at Starr Hill. We had the room completely packed and sold out at the latter, and had a big, raucous crowd at the former that was singing along loudly, dancing like mad, and generally giving out amazingly strong energy. I would say this last show at Satellite was also one of our best, though we’re never completely happy with a performance. I guess that’s pretty normal.


You are all very skilled musicians and performers - do you take requests at shows?

Paul: We don’t really take requests, mostly because we spend a lot of time working on highly specified arrangements of our original songs, and obviously we’re anxious to play them for people. The songs keep evolving, growing, and getting stronger each time we perform, so I think they stay pretty fresh. In the past, however, we have taken a few requests of our own songs (and the occasional cover).


What’s your favorite cover that you play live?

Paul: I really enjoy playing “Walking on the Moon” by the Police and “If You Want Me to Stay” by Sly and the Family Stone. The Police have always been one of my all-time favorite bands (I got to see them at Bonnaroo last summer), and they are a big influence on Trees on Fire, particularly when we first formed. The Sly song has been a favorite of mine for a while, and it’s one of the few songs I sing lead on, so that’s fun for me.


How do you try to manage the balance between socially responsible/political lyrics without sounding preachy and potentially turning people off from the music?

Paul: That’s a great question and one that we wrestle with when considering what causes to support. There’s no denying that each of us are very concerned with social responsibility, but we want to show people the folly of our ways in an uplifting and non-judgemental way. We are very very lucky to have lyricists who seem to be able to find this balance naturally and don’t have to force it. “Take a Seat” is a good example of that balance. The lyrics observe: “we take a seat, take a seat in our cars. We drive around making everything ours, but as we get to the end of our road, we realize there’s something else than gold. Don’t wait around.” Clearly, there’s a problem presented in this verse, but the author includes himself as part of the problem and basically concludes that we should all begin looking for solutions right away. It also helps that this song is musically uplifting and hopeful, which fits well with the lyrics.


When is the new record coming out and what can Trees on Fire fans expect compared to last year’s “The Green Room”?

Paul: We are hard at work recording the new album as we speak (tentatively titled “Organica”) and expect it to be done around the end of summer. The new songs tend toward a little darker sound with more dance beats and influence than The Green Room. We’re getting better at figuring out our sound as we go, and I think we have a collection of 12-15 songs that not only continue to show all aspects of our musicianship but also have a true Trees on Fire “sound.” Defining that sound is always difficult, but we’re creating what we like to think of our own sub-genre, Organica.


What/Who are Trees on Fire greatest influences?

Paul: We have many, but some of the biggest are Bob Marley, Radiohead, Bach, The Roots, and Stevie Wonder, among others. These vocal artists all combine inspiration in music and words like prophets, and Bach is just genius personified. Other styles influence our sound as well, including jazz, ska, soul (new and old), klezmer, baroque, and hard rock.


I caught you guys at the Satellite Ballroom in March. What’s the story behind the belly dancers? Do they make regular appearances at your shows?

Paul: The belly dancers are a semi-regular part of our performances, partly because we love the energy they bring to our music. Their dancing adds an exotic element to what we do, which we consider somewhat exotic by itself. It’s a pretty potent combination. At the Satellite show, Shaheen and Lindsay worked out involved routines for a couple songs, so we couldn’t resist getting them up on stage to add to the madness. We look at ourselves as kind of a living circus on stage, so it seems natural for belly dancers to be a part of it.


What is the best live performance you have ever seen in person?

Paul: That is a tough question. I am going to see Radiohead for the first time this Sunday - my birthday - so I may have to wait on a definite answer, but I will give you a couple of my highlights.

R.E.M. in 1984 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta along with the Minutemen; Fishbone in 1991 at Trax in Charlottesville (such ridiculously high energy); U2 in 1985 at the Omni in Atlanta (touring to support The Unforgettable Fire, which is my favorite U2 album); Herbie Hancock in 2002 at 9:30 Club in DC.


What do you think of the current music scene in Charlottesville? Who do you recommend catching live?

Paul: The music scene is Cville is hopping right now. Ten years ago, it seemed like there wasn’t much orignial music going on in town, but I am constantly amazed by the talent on display these days: Birdlips, Beetnix, Kings of Belmont, and Acoustic Groove Trio, just to name a few. You can even catch Beetnix playing with Trees on Fire at Satellite Ballroom on May 23. It’s sure to be one of the last ever shows at Satellite, so it will be a special night that’s full of surprises.



Into the Fire - Trees on Fire from The Butter Room on Vimeo.



Birds & the Bees - Trees on Fire from The Butter Room on Vimeo.