Blending genres of music together into a unique sound that's as much roots as it is contemporary, as much soul as it is rock, Hippie Grenade has found itself a devoted following first in the band's birth-place, Santa Cruz, CA, and now around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Bhi Bhiman's soaring, stretching vocals and jamming guitar are perfectly complemented by the combined energy of bassist Theo Winston and drummer Chris Thalmann. Throw in a little funk from keyboardist Steven Reilly and a little soul from gypsy-saxaphonist Mani Vafaei, and the band comes at its audience with a solid, soaring and engaging sound all of its own.
If comparisons were appropriate for such a unique sound, they would range from Soundgarden to Phish to The Talking Heads to Sam Cooke to Stevie Wonder to Funkadelic in other words, they aren't appropriate.
Hippie Grenade's sound reaches its peak in its rollicking live performances, where the band's energy and ability is on forefront display.
"Like this band’s supercharged, incongruous name, this disc veers wildly. And it’s a propulsive adventure that fits varying contexts – I’ve used it as a wake-up call at work and to set a Saturday afternoon party vibe.
With
in one song, “5:45,” you will find all that is great and unique about Hippie Grenade: a frenetic opening that reminds me of a Bela Fleck and the Flecktones excursion, a solid groove section anch&nsb&nsbored by the wacky refrain “Jesus lives on in John Tesh,” a gospelish blues break … then things really get cooking in the free-for-all jam.
The deep-in-the-groove title cut and the just-barely-in-control jazz-funk beasts “Fire” and “Skytrain” answer a questio00000n that I’m sure has vexed so many of us: What would have happened if Frank Zappa had led James Brown’s Famous Flames?
In the seven or so years I’ve been writing about music, I’ve never heard anything that reminds me of the old Blood, Sweat, and Tears vinyl LP I discovered in m
y parents’ collection … until the rich, soulful “Eye On You,” a showcase for Bhi Bhiman’s powerhouse vocal that builds to a big ensemble ending fueled by Mani Vafaei’s sax. “In the Jungle” and the leave-it-all-on-the-stage album closer “Drunk in Brooklyn” are heavier takes on the same style – think BS&T cutting loose into a Miles Davis “Bitches Brew” frenzy.
The jazz-by-way-of-the-Middle-East “Aggrabah,” is a fascinating workout, as is the gypsy-esque “Interlude” (which reminds me mightily of the Grateful Dead’s “Slipknot!”). Whoever shreds the guitar solo on “Interlude” (either Bhiman or Theo Winston, maybe both) deserves notice.
There’s some metallic weirdness here, too – “Ichiro” (yeah, I think it’s about the baseball player) and “Paper Tiger” pack a powerful wallop courtesy of Chris Thalman’s drums. On “Tiger,” I particularly like the give-and-take between Steven Reilly’s slinky electric piano chords and Bhiman’s full-throttle wailing.
Fix the Roof might be too heavy for your typical hippie, but a jam-band aficionado looking for something edgier than his usual fare will be richly rewarded by this disc."- Chip Withrow, Muses Muse
Hit me up or rsvp for this special First Fridays Event March 7th at Aria Boston The Event will sell out. Reserve Tables Today Check it out mistrie@mistrie.com or text me with number of guests at 617-653-9857 FIRST FRIDAYS BOSTON MARCH MADDNESS
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DON'T LET THE PARTY MAKE YOU Make the party with us tonight Grown and Sexy as U Wanna be at Vertigo Lounge
The Righteous Kind's MLK tribute song. Hear it at our Myspace page.
Show me the day by Charles Ray
The wind has blown this way before When they fought to end that Asian war We thought that peace was here to stay Show me the day I said - show me the day
It seemed the moment had arrived When they marched way back in ‘65 You think Jim Crow has gone away? Show me the day I said - show me the day
Show me a new day dawning End of this long black night Show me we all are brothers I had a dream last night!
The world is such an ugly scene ‘Cause hate is deep inside our genes You say that love will find away Show me the day I said - show me the day
Show me a new day dawning End of this long black night Show me we all are brothers I had a dream last night!
The world is such an ugly scene ‘Cause hate is deep inside our genes But nurture is the other way Teach love today Preach love today Show me the way Teach Charles Ray
Great show Friday night, guys. We finally get four of my favorite local bands on the same stage on the same night and it was a farewell show. Damn it!!Ah well, at least we made it happen. I wish you guys all the best that life has to offer. Cheers, -d
Hi There. Just stopping by to let you know that we're having a very early X-MAS/ukkah pary at the Rickshaw Stop with Port O'Brien and the Cave Singers tomorrow night Dec. 6th. We go on first! Hope to see you there!
--notsohippie section of hippie grenade I just got told by ashkon! jt- "what the fuck is drink?" amber- "i want some juice!" nick: model citizen can't sleep clowns will eat me
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