"You can't mess with people's heads, that's for sure. But that's what music's all about, messing with people's heads." -- Jimi Hendrix
Sounds Like
"Inspired, mercurial soundscapes... a head-bobbing, hippie-dancing good time to be had by all" -- Smoky Mountain News
"They're talented players with precise and articulate techniques, armed with improvisational skills that range from the classic jam, to funk, to jazz, all enveloping both a positive vibe and message.... Their respect for the craft results in a controlled sonic vision, even in improvisation. It also lays the groundwork that shows both restraint and freedom in making great beats, all the while respecting and honoring the bands that came before them." -- Encore Magazine
We keep the element of surprise. Our sets consist of original songs and jams, usually lasting 1-4 hours. Occasionally or by request, we will play our arrangement of a cover song (usually 1-2 per show). We have performed select covers by the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Talking Heads, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Miles Davis, Steve Kimock, STS9, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Robert Walters, Grant Green, Medeski Martin & Wood, and Bob Marley, among others. We have also performed various traditional songs. Our sets can be adapted to meet the needs of the venue.
Basic Requirements
Detailed Requirements are available upon request.
Ideal Way will provide PA for small and medium-sized venues. For large venues we require a professional sound system and sound technician(s).
Calendar
Past Dates | Upcoming Dates
Date Time Venue City
(Not a complete list)
Nov 15, 2008 Saturday
10:00 PM
Guadalupe
Sylva, NC
w/ Matt Woods
$5 cover
Sep 6, 2008 Saturday
10:00 PM
Guadalupe
Sylva, NC
w/DJ Slim Pikins
$6 cover
Jul 26, 2008
Saturday 10:00 PM Jeff's Bucket Shop Charlotte, NC
Jun 7, 2008 Saturday
10:00 PM
Guadalupe
Sylva, NC
w/ Jim Seem
May 3, 2008 Saturday
10:00 PM
Guadalupe
Sylva, NC
feat. Kelly Horne vocals
w/ DJ Kenny Styles
Apr 18, 2008
Friday 9:00 PM Soul Infusion Sylva, NC
Apr 5, 2008 Saturday
10:00 PM
Guadalupe
Sylva, NC
TriggerFish opens
Mar 22, 2008
Saturday 10:00 PM Jeff's Bucket Shop Charlotte, NC
Mar 1, 2008 Saturday
11:00 PM
Guadalupe
Sylva, NC
w/ Triggerfish
Feb 8, 2008
Friday 9:00 PM Soul Infusion Sylva, NC
Feb 2, 2008 Saturday
11:00 PM
Guadalupe
Sylva, NC
$5 cover
Jan 18, 2008
Friday 10:00 PM Port City Pub Wilmington, NC
Jan 5, 2008 Saturday
11:00 PM
Guadalupe
Sylva, NC
(Caleb solo w/ friends)
anything can happen...
Dec 23, 2007 Sunday
All Day
Dec 22, 2007
Saturday 10:00 PM Jeff's Bucket Shop Charlotte, NC
Nov 30, 2007 Friday
11:30 PM
Guadalupe
Sylva, NC
Duende Mountain Duo opens $3 cover
Nov 3, 2007
Saturday 11:00 PM Guadalupe Cafe Sylva, NC
Oct 6, 2007
Saturday 11:00 PM Guadalupe Cafe Sylva, NC
Sep 8, 2007
Saturday 11:00 PM Guadalupe Cafe Sylva, NC
Aug 18, 2007
Saturday TBA The Library Cashiers, NC (@ Sapphire Valley Country Club)
Jun 16, 2007 Saturday
10:00 PM
Guadalupe Cafe
Sylva, NC
An Evening with Ideal Way
May 19, 2007
Saturday All Day The farm Charlotte, NC
May 12, 2007 Saturday
10:00 PM
Westville Pub
Asheville, NC
supporting The Mantras
Apr 20, 2007 Friday
5:00 PM
Mill & Main
Sylva, NC
Play for Peace event
Mar 31, 2007 Saturday
10:00 PM
Guadalupe Cafe
Sylva, NC
An Evening with Ideal Way
Dec 16, 2006 Saturday
9:00 PM
Soul Infusion
Sylva, NC
private party
Oct 31, 2006 Tuesday
9:00 PM
Mill & Main
Sylva, NC
Halloween costume-party sponsored by Terrapin Beer!
10/07/2006 02:00 AM - Undisclosed location
???
Asheville,
US
Cost:your sanity
Description:SCI Afterparty
Sep 23, 2006 Saturday
All Day
Gorges Music Park
Lake Toxaway, NC
Roxaway Music Festival 2
(w/ Afromotive, Seepeoples, Dirty 5 Thirty)
Aug 25, 2006 Friday
All Day
Deerfields
Asheville, NC
1st Annual Incognito Birthday Bash!
(w/ Larry Keel, Barefoot Manner, Yo Mamma's Big Fat Booty Band, CX-1, GFE, Hope Massive, The Mantras, Incognito Mosquito)
Press Reviews
From Mountains to Shore: An ‘ideal way’ to travel with song
Encore Magazine
[encore music]
From Mountains to Shore:
An ‘ideal way’ to travel with song
BY: ADRIAN VARNAM
" The mountains of North Carolina can offer so much: breathtaking views from the Blue Ridge Parkway, beautiful foliage in the fall, inspiring hikes and lazy rivers, and an academic haven for granola-centered youth and the bands that love them.
It makes sense with all of the artistic-minded communities, nestled within inspiring surroundings, to give support to enviro-centric private colleges and liberal arts state schools. Of course the kids are surely going to migrate there—and quite often, as seen by the diversity in the age demographic of Asheville, they stay. But it’s usually the schools that draw them in the first place.
The story holds true for the three members of Asheville-based jam band Ideal Way. Bassist Christian Ferri was studying music at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and playing with percussionist Caleb Beissert when he met guitarist Brett Dumsha, both students at Western Carolina University in 2005. After some time testing the waters, the trio became a permanent fixture and full-time band a year later.
Since its inception, Ideal Way has continued the tradition of all great jam bands from the last forty years or so. They’re talented players with precise and articulate techniques, armed with improvisational skills that range from the classic jam, to funk, to jazz, all enveloping both a positive vibe and message. It’s what one comes to expect with this genre of music.
While Ideal Way doesn’t break any new ground, they do build their house on that same soil that bears an extremely strong foundation. They’re educated in music theory and dedicated to creating their won great music. Their respect for the craft results in a controlled sonic vision, even in improvisation. It also lays the groundwork that shows both restraint and freedom in making great beats, all the while respecting and honoring the bands that came before them. Experiencing this style of music requires a backbone of danceable, twirl-able, get-lost-in-the-moment sound that fills the air. And Ideal Way delivers and gives the audience what it needs.
Since featured at the Roxaway Music Festival at Lake Toxaway and the Incognito Birthday Bash at Deerfields, Ideal Way had stepped out in the public spotlight and continues to bring their songs from the mountains to whomever wants to listen. Whether it’s a club, house party, festival, or street corner, the trio is happy to share its message with all: it may not be the “ideal” way, but it’s definitely “a” way that’s worth trying out and soaking up.
This weekend the way leads from the mountains to the shore, as the boys from Asheville bring their jam to downtown Wilmington. If crunchy and funky is the music preferred, don’t miss them as they take on Port City Pub, Friday, January 18th. The jam begins at 10 pm. "
-- Varnam, Adrian. Encore Magazine. 16-21 January 2008. Page 24.
The rhythm method weekend
Smoky Mountain News
"Back to the rhythm section thing — Ideal Way has a great one. As if it wasn’t difficult enough to basically improvise an entire set of music (in this case, an hour or two) it’s even tougher to make the majority of it actually work, and it’s that quality that may eventually separate Ideal Way from much of the tie-dyed jam band pack. There are bassists that groove, and there are bassists that noodle, but in Christian Ferri you get the better elements of both. Positively super-glued to Caleb Beissert’s bass drum, the duo struck the just the right balance of busyness and dynamic interplay in order to give Brett Dumsha’s guitar enough space to cluck, squawk and squeal as needed."
*Ideal Way is on indefinite hiatus. Thank you to all who have supported us through the years. It has been an honor and a joy to share the music with you.
Artist Information
Ideal Way is an evolved jam band who bring good energy and sound with every beat, whether performing funky originals, constructive jams, or the occasional cover song. The band incorporates a highly eclectic mix of styles into its music, along with a dose of precise improvisation.
Biography
Ideal Way promotes peaceful celebration through egoless music. The band focuses endorphin-stimulating sound, while cultivating musical consciousness. This unique concoction of "homegrown space-funk" and positive mindset is what makes Ideal Way the ideal way.
In fact, Ideal Way derives its name from the location where the band first collaborated. By no means do they consider themselves "the ideal way" or even necessarily acknowledge that there is an "ideal way." But then again, one can never be certain . . . .
Ideal Way has been intoxicating ears and motivating feet across North Carolina. The band performs at bars and private parties, music festivals and gatherings. Roxaway Music Festival at Lake Toxaway and Incognito Birthday Bash at Deerfields, both in North Carolina, featured Ideal Way in 2006. The band continues to evolve its sound and expand its family, still staying true to that original good vibe.
Hi Ideal Way! Thanks for the friendship. We have a show coming up in Raleigh, NC May 30th. Check the event link below for details. Hope to see you there! Click Here To View Event <>>> <>>>
Hi Ideal Way! We have a several shows coming up in the near future. Please, support underground music; come out and party with us! We'd love it and bet you would too! Hope to see you at a show! Take Care. <>>> Click Here To View This Event <>>> Click Here To View This Event <>>>
We are thrilled to announce Midnite will be playing their only two east-coast shows in the month of April at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC. Arguably the best live reggae band around, Midnite has sold out every show they've played in Asheville since 2005. We strongly encourage you to pick up your tickets in advance so you can be a part of the festivities.
Click the below poster for additional information about Midnite's back-to-back nights at The Grey Eagle.
Greetings! We have a very cool show coming up which features The EGG, live and direct from Oxford, England! The EGG was considered one of the highlights of CAMP BISCO 7 and can be found at Stella Blue in Asheville on Wednesday, March 11th, with special guests The Malah ...
