This review is a little delayed, but the amazing music by The Werks and Friends was immediately found both nights in Columbus Dec. 30-31.
I caught the tail end of a great set of Phish music by tribute band Oh Kee Pa that got me shaking and missing my School of Phish friends in New York.
That yearning didn’t last too long as Cosby Sweater took the stage. To be honest, I had heard of the band, but had not heard their sound. I loved their set and was seriously mesmerized by the saxophone in the trio. I will certainly be seeing the Indianapolis-based band again soon.
The great tunes kept on coming when Cincinnati-based band SassafraZ threw down the funk. If you haven’t checked them out yet, you need to venture down to the Cincinnati area on Jan. 25. Say hi to me while you’re there.
All of these great openers just built up the energy for when headliner The Werks stormed the stage. The Dayton-based band did not disappoint. Their beautifully woven jams filled the great room at the Newport Music Hall, and the band has never sounded better.
The highlight for me was when John Arthur Gentry Jr. joined the band on-stage and he and Chris Houser’s dueling guitars exploded into Umphrey McGee’s Mulches Odyssey.
Even after the Onslaught (closing tune), The Werks and Friends weren’t finished. They encored with a full set of improvised music conducted by Matt Butler of the Everyone Orchestra. Joined by members of SassafraZ, Jahman Brahman, Gentry Jr., Oh Kee Pa and others, Butler took the talented musicians (and crowd) on an emotional trip – including laughter. A great end to a great first night.
For more pictures from night one, click here!
The Werks
The Newport Music Hall, Columbus, Ohio
12-30-12
Galactic Passport,
Burnin’ Groove,*
Cloudhopper,#
Mulches Odyssey,$
Hard To Find,
Better Half,
Onslaught.
E: THE EVERYONE ORCHESTRA.
* with Jack Gould on sax.
# For Whom The Bell Tolls teases.
$ with John Gentry on guitar. First time played
Rhythm of the Region 