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Leftover Salmon: Celebrating 20 Years Part 4

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By: Michael 'Jersey' Gerity



Download the final part of our Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years sampler here.





Every once in a blue moon, a group of musicians will get together and find that they have unleashed a spark of musical and personal compatibility that will not only change their lives but the many lives of the people around them as well. They might not see the longevity of what they are creating at that point, but as the years roll by and the band endures, the magic shines through in their music and amongst the troupe of fans that returns their energy.



If you've been following the first three parts of this series (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) then you have come to realize that Leftover Salmon is a band of this ilk. And like Salmon instinctively do, the band recently returned to the exact site of their spawning some 20 years ago. It was at The Eldo in Crested Butte, Colorado in December of 1989 where the journey began, so it was only natural for the band to kick off their four-show holiday anniversary run back where it all got started.



Here in part four of “Celebrating 20 Years" it seemed fitting to have Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt recall the recent run of shows and what it meant to the both of them.



“It was taking it all the way back to the beginning," explains Emmitt. “There was a lot of intense energy in that little room. I don't think I've seen that many people in The Eldo before. It was a wall of sound in a very small space."



Vince Herman :: 12.28 :: The Eldo by Jackson Photo




“For me, it was huge personally. I've been here now in Crested Butte for almost ten years. So for me to be able to play with Salmon in my hometown for all my friends and give that to my community was huge. I was so psyched we were doing it here," adds Emmitt. “It was incredibly significant and really fun."



For a band that has nearly 375 songs in their repertoire, it was any one's guess what they might play that first night in Crested Butte.



“Vince just really wanted to be old school and he said, 'You know what? Let's play everything that really slams.' Because he really wanted people to slam dance," Emmitt says. “And I agreed with that."



The band brought out many of those early slam-grass zingers to get things going down in Crested Butte, saving their ballads and long epic jams for the Boulder and Denver shows.



“For me, it did reveal what's happened over the years," says Herman. “It was like, 'Mission accomplished!' And it was so cool to see a lot of the same people that were at that first show and what's become of their lives and you know, up to the same tricks kinda thing - in brand new ways."



“One of the things that was a revelation to me was thinking about getting there in the beginning and not having a repertoire. You think twenty years later there is this whole repertoire of tunes and all this stuff. But we had absolutely nothing when we rolled into there that we had played together," Herman recalls. “Lefthand [String Band], at that point, had been playing really fast and the Salmonheads were playing fast but with a drummer and an accordion player, so we just figured out what it was we could pull off. It turned out the more bluegrassy, rowdier stuff caused slam dancing; and probably to the crowd's surprise and to ours. But slam dancing was kind of a thing at the time. It didn't have any intention, but it was obvious where to go once those people showed up. And then they showed up again."



Leftover Salmon & Friends :: 12.30 :: Boulder Theater
By Jackson Photo


Of course what Herman is talking about is the birth of their sound, an amalgamation of music that they coined Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass, which would ultimately go on to help pioneer the jam band scene.



After the Crested Butte show, the band returned to Boulder, their other Colorado home, where they played two nights leading up to New Year's Eve at the historic Boulder Theater. It was a family gathering and the vibe was one of optimism and hope as the Emmitt-Nershi Band took to the stage to open things up.



As we awaited Salmon's arrival, it seemed appropriate that just Herman and Emmitt appeared first on the stage for an acoustic rendition of a Woody Guthrie tune and a heartfelt welcome and thanks for twenty wonderful years.



“Everybody came out of the woodwork, all the old friends. It was wonderful," says Emmitt. “To be honest with you it was a little more overwhelming when we did our last shows at the Fox before the hiatus. That was intense, with a lot of emotion. This was more relaxed and happy. I think this was more of a beginning, with a sense of something we are going to keep doing, and finally after twenty years we have figured out how to do it and have it make sense and have everybody still be able to do their other projects. And it's great. It was a real nice way to kick off a new era for us."



Leftover Salmon & Friends :: NYE :: Boulder Theater
By Jackson Photo


Like many New Year's shows, the anticipation began building early and the room was charged with a special glow. It is said in Salmon folklore that it was a blue moon the night of their first show in 1989. So, it was only appropriate to celebrate twenty years of this band in a special, surreal way on the night of another blue moon. It seems with these fish, things really get done, well, twice in a blue moon.



Salmon was scheduled to play three sets with no opener. When the lights dimmed, we were off. There are many simultaneous things happening to make this sound called Leftover Salmon and if you have been to a Salmon show, you know the carnival atmosphere I'm speaking of. So, peruse the setlist (at the end of the story) and use your imagination to envision how this band rejoiced in their rebirth at twenty years and how this following of LoSers helped bring in the New Year.



To commemorate this historic four-night run, the band and their management went the extra mile to accommodate the fans. The Eldo show in Crested Butte was broadcast on KBUT and streamed live on their website. It was a great way for all the folks that didn't get tickets to this intimate show or just couldn't make it out to Colorado to listen. Likewise, the Boulder shows were streamed in High Definition and will be available through the On Demand stream throughout the month of January. Both shows were also filmed for a possible future DVD.



Continue reading for more on Leftover Salmon's 20 Year Celebration...





Leftover Salmon & Friends :: NYE :: Boulder Theater
By Jackson Photo


“The Millennium Hotel was Salmon headquarters over the New Year's run in Boulder. Most of the band and many fans were staying there," explains John Joy of Salmon's management team. “An organized poster signing on New Year's Day took place at the hotel bar and it was dubbed 'Bloodys with the Band.' Longtime Leftover Salmon artists Jason Rizzi and Scramble Campbell, who collaborated on the poster art and the set design that went with the 20th celebration run, where both on hand displaying their work. It was a fantastic event where the entire band was there signing posters for over three hours straight with a constant flow of fans, some great storytelling, and even some picking going on in the hotel lobby with some of the members of Elephant Revival along with Vince Herman's two sons, Colin and Silas. It was the perfect way to erase the hangover from the night before and to reminisce on what a great twenty years it has been."



“Painting with Leftover this New Year's was like riding a roller coaster into a new decade," says Scramble Campbell. “There were plenty of friendly, familiar faces with the music, which simply made my brushes dance. Friday's gathering was the perfect way to start the year off smooth. It was an honor to be invited to be in their historic 20th anniversary."



Emmitt & Herman :: 01.02.10
Ogden Theatre by Jackson Photo


“Needless to say it was a trip to work with Scramble to commemorate twenty years of LoS," says Jason Rizzi. “Scramble has a deep respect for music, art and culture; I appreciate that about him. It's a blast just to be around him. He's got amazing intuition, a big heart, and a swell sense of humor if you catch him at the right moments. This three piece project was a joy to work on and has certainly 'Scrambled' my mind up real good in the process."



“I feel this 20 Year Celebration undoubted marks a new era for Leftover Salmon and their Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass following family," adds Rizzi. “The band is really playing at the edge of magic, and honestly embodies the spirit of renewal and celebration."



But just when you think it can't get no better, it does! The final show at the Ogden Theatre in Denver on January 2 was billed as “Salmon and Friends" with Herman and his Great American Taxi opening.



“From the twenty year perspective, it was really cool to be able to do that, because that is where my focus is now, [with] Salmon being a thing we revisit at times," says Herman. “It's a great repertoire of tunes that I would hate to see go away because it's really fun to play them and share them with the family we've had listening to those tunes. But, the focus of my writing now is in Taxi."



“I think we might start integrating some of our newer stuff since Salmon stopped touring and there might be the possibility of introducing some other stuff, here and there. I think as we get more in the groove with this that will begin to happen," says Emmitt. “In my opinion, I think it's still okay to put this thing back together as it is and as it was. By in large, that's what people really want to hear anyway. I think we are playing some of these songs better than we ever have. There is always the possibility for something new. Just let things unfold. I think at this point with this band we don't need to push it, just let it all happen - just see what happens and what develops and go from there."



There were many guests and friends that sat in with the band in Boulder and that began right from the start of the final night. Just sighting two drum kits onstage, the crowd knew we were in for a rousing treat. It was an underlying tribute and benefit for Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward, who is suffering from severe liver disease. With both longtime Salmon drummers, Jeff Sipe and Jose Martinez, behind the kits, the band sounded better than ever.



“It was like a monster - powerful, with a light laughter thing over the top of it," remarks Herman about the two-drummer set-up.



Leftover Salmon & Friends :: 01.02.10
Ogden Theatre by Joe Belinky


Guests kept filling up the setlist, with Bonnie Paine of Elephant Revival on washboard, the Peak To Freak horns (Danny Sears and Justin Jones), Joe Jogerst on accordion, and Yonder Mountain String Band's Jeff Austin on mandolin as well as Sally Van Meter, who played a big role in the evening, ripping through many tunes on the pedal steel.



“It had been so long since we played with Sally. You hear her play the acoustic stuff and you kinda forget she gets absolutely raunchy on that thing," says Herman. “Her and Drew definitely had a great dueling, slippy-slidey thing going on."



Pete “Dr. Banjo" Wernick was also a friend that sat in on a number of songs, bringing a real full circle moment for Herman.



“It had been way to long since I had seen Pete," says Herman. “Hot Rize is the reason I moved to Colorado, wanting to get out of West Virginia and get into some new bluegrass scene. And Hot Rize was the center of that. I thought it was incredibly poignant to have Pete there."



But, the bulk of the evening was dedicated to the numerous rousing renditions with Cracker's David Lowery and Johnny Hickman, who'd once played a New Year's gig in Denver with Leftover, then stayed on to recreate some of the magic found on the collaborative 2003 O' Cracker Where Art Thou? album. Herman sums it up, “The Cracker stuff was just so fuckin' fun."



As the Ogden show wound down four magical nights, you could see the infectious joy across the faces of everyone on the stage and in the crowd. The music spoke for itself and now after twenty years of ups and downs, it might be said that Leftover Salmon may have found a new niche.



The LOS family has now grown to encompass a number of side projects, and the delicate balance of these influences has set a new direction. Salmon has always been a unique and special sound and gathering, so it should be no surprise that when this bunch assembles the magic is sure to follow.



They are bringing the goods and are once again throwing the special kind of party that they've become famous for. So, when the call comes, both band and fans will be ready to reconvene and come together in the church of Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass.





Download the entire Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years
free double album sampler here:

Part 1 / Part 3 / Part 4





Collaborative Art by Scramble Campbell & Jason Rizzi - Celebrating 20 Years of Leftover Salmon



12.28.09 :: The Eldo :: Crested Butte, CO
Set I: Intro, Ain't Gonna Work, Zombie Jamboree, Whiskey Before Breakfast > Over The Waterfall, Rabbit In Log, Tu N'as Pas Aller, Gold Hill Line, Soul Shakedown Party > Hot Corn/Cold Corn, Squirrel Heads And Gravy, Almost Cut My Hair, Bosco Stomp > Rocky Road Blues > The Shape I'm In > Hell Yea I Drink > Rocky Road Blues
Set II: Tangled up in Blue > Sing the Blues > Funky Town > God Save The Queen > Sing the Blues > Tangled up in Blue, Jugband Son, Bill's Boogie, Other Side, Dear Ole Dixie, Lovin' In My Baby's Eyes, Down In The Hollow
E: Band Introduction, Steam powered Airplane, Rise Up





12.30.09 :: Boulder Theater :: Boulder, CO
Set I: Woody Guthrie (acoustic w/ only Drew and Vince), Voodoo Queen Marie (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Look Mama A Boo Boo (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Get Me Outta This City, Hot Burrito Breakdown, Get 'er Rolling (w/ Tyler Grant & Joe Jogerst), Zydeco Boogaloo (w/ Joe Jogerst), Blue House (w/ Joe Jogerst), Let's Give A Party (w/ Joe Jogerst), Delta Queen (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Hard To Handle (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Doing My Time > Danger Man > Doing My Time (w/ Andy Thorn), Y'all Come (w/ Guests)
Set II: Riding On The L&N, Midnight Blues, Tu N'as Pas Aller, Railroad Highway, Wild Bill Joes (w/ Silas Herman, Eric Torin, Eli Emmitt) Alfalfa's, Whipping Post, Head Bag (w/ Joe Jogerst), She Caught the Katy (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Oklahoma (w/ Glenn Keefe, Gerry Cavagnaro, Joe Jogerst), Quinn the Eskimo (w/ Billy Nershi)
E: Iko Iko > Rise Up (w/ all guests in the house)



12.31.09 :: Boulder Theater :: Boulder, CO
Set I (Acoustic): Rocky Road Blues, Come On In My Kitchen, Molly and Tembrooks, Lovin In My Baby's Eyes, Shuckin The Corn (w/ Bonnie Payne), Blue Moon of Kentucky (w/ Bonnie Payne), Just Before The Evening, Blue Night
Set II: I Know your Mother > I Know You Rider > Jack London > Honkey Tonk Woman > Jack London > Honkey Tonk Woman > I Know Your Mother> I Know You Rider, Dance on your Head, 99 Years (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Washington at Valley Forge (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Just Keep Walkin, Breakin Thru, Carnival Time, Troubled Times, Rodeo Geek, Whispering Waters, Euphoria


Set III: Just when you think it can't get no better (w/ Joe Jogerst), New Year's Countdown > Auld Lang Syne, This Is The Time, Up On The Hill Where They Do The Boogie, Mama Boulet, River's Risin, Two Trains (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Ooh Las Vegas (w/ Gerry Cavagnaro), Wheel Hoss (w/ Silas Herman), Going around the World (w/ Silas Herman), Madam Rosin (w/ Joe Jogerst & Gerry Cavagnaro), Big Mamou (w/ Joe Jogerst & Gerry Cavagnaro)
E: Let it Bleed (w/ Joe Jogerst & Gerry Cavagnaro), White Freightliner



01.02.10 :: Ogden Theatre :: Denver, CO
Set I: Zombie Jamboree, Down In The Hollow, Steamboat Whistle Blues (w/ Pete Wernick), Day Break in Dixie (w/ Pete Wernick), High On A Mountain Top (w/ Pete Wernick), On The Road (w/ Pete Wernick), Gimme Da Ting (w/ Sally Van Meter & Bonnie Payne), Bend In The River (w/ Joe Jogerst, Bonnie Payne & Sally Van Meter), Get Off This (w/ David Lowery & Johnny Hickman / Horns - Danny Sears & Justin Jones), Mr. Wrong (w/ David Lowery & Johnny Hickman / Horns - Danny Sears & Justin Jones), Teen Angst (w/ David Lowery & Johnny Hickman), 44 Blues (w/ Sally Van Meter / Horns - Danny Sears & Justin Jones), Better (w/ Sally Van Meter / Horns - Danny Sears & Justin Jones)
Set II: Let's Give A Party (w/ Sally Van Meter / Horns - Danny Sears & Justin Jones), Lonesome Road (w/ Sally Van Meter), Who Put The Pepper In The Vaseline (w/ Pete Wernick, Sally Van Meter & Bonnie Payne), Out In The Woods (w/ Sally Van Meter), Little Maggie (w/ Sally Van Meter & Pete Wernick), Bosco Stomp (w/ Sally Van Meter & Joe Jogerst), Can't You Hear Me Calling (w/ Jeff Austin & Sally Van Meter), Bill's Boogie (w/ Jeff Austin & Sally Van Meter / Horns - Danny Sears, Justin Jones), Sweet Potato (w/ David Lowey, Johnny Hickmen & Sally Van Meter / Horns- Danny Sears, Justin Jones), Eurotrash Girl (w/ David Lowery, Johnny Hickman, Sally Van Meter & Jeff Austin), Lonesome Johnny Blues (w/ David Lowery, Johnny Hickman, Sally Van Meter & Jeff Austin)
E: Pasta On The Mountain (w/ all guest)



Continue reading for Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years track list...



Just unzip the folder and play. If you drag in to iTunes, all show information, comments, and even album art will be imported and displayed. Download and add each part to your iTunes or burn to CDs as they become available to complete the double album set!



Track Listing for Part 1 of the Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years Sampler



1. Blister in the Sun 3:59 - 05/04/1991 McCabe's Boulder, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Gerry Cavagnaro, Michael Wooten, Rob Galloway
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Violent Femmes



2. Just Before The Evening 4:02 - 05/04/1991 McCabe's Boulder, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Gerry Cavagnaro, Michael Wooten, Rob Galloway Songwriter/Composer Credits: Drew Emmitt - Leftover Salmon



3. Whiskey Before Breakfast/Over The Waterfall 3:47 - 05/04/1991 McCabe's - Boulder, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Gerry Cavagnaro, Michael Wooten, Rob Galloway
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Traditionally arranged by Leftover Salmon



4. Who Stole My Monkey 4:42 - 05/25/1991 Stage Stop - Rollinsville, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Gerry Cavagnaro, Michael Wooten, Rob Galloway
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Zachary Richard



5. Mystery 4:19 - 10/02/1993 - Fox Theater - Boulder, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Michael Wooten, Tye North, Joe Jogerst
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Mark Hallman



6. Weights 3:53 10/02/1993 - Fox Theater - Boulder, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Michael Wooten, Tye North, Joe Jogerst
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Drew Emmitt - Leftover Salmon



7. Dance On Your Head 4:12 - 10/19/1994 Music Farm - Charleston, SC
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Michael Wooten, Tye North
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Vince Herman / Mark Vann - Leftover Salmon



8. Head Bag 5:34 10/19/1994 Music Farm - Charleston, SC
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Michael Wooten, Tye North
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Vince Herman - Leftover Salmon






Track Listing for Part 3 of the Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years sampler:





17. Austin Five (Mark Vann Original, Never Released) 5:53
03/26/2001 The Canopy - Urbana, IL
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Mark Vann, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Mark Vann



18. Teen Angst (with David Lowery) 5:12
09/24 & 09/25/2002 David Lowery's Studio - Richmond, VA
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez
Songwriter/Composer Credits: David Faragher/David Lowery/John Hickman - Cracker



19. Dark Hollow (with Del McCoury) 4:09
11/09/2002 The NorVa - Norfolk, VA
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Bill Browning



20. Rocky Road Blues (with Mike Gordon) 4:30
12/04/2002 Higher Ground - Winooski, VT
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Bill Monroe



21. Ain't No Use (with David Grisman) 7:28
01/29/2003 McNear's Mystic Theatre - Petaluma, CA
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Joseph Modeliste/Arthur L Neville/Leo Nocentelli/George Porter Jr.



22. Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow (with Sam Bush and Ross Martin) 6:47
02/20/2003 Fox Theater - Boulder, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Traditionally arranged by Leftover Salmon






Track Listing for Part 4 of the Leftover Salmon Celebrating 20 Years sampler:



23. Breakin Thru 7:36
12/31/2004 Fox Theater - Boulder, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Drew Emmitt - Leftover Salmon



24. Catfish John (with Michael Wooten) 7:55
12/31/2004 Fox Theater - Boulder, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Bob McDill / Allen Reynolds



25. Valley Of The Full Moon 4:02
07/28/2007 Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jeff Sipe
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Drew Emmitt - Leftover Salmon



26. Ask The Fish 11:00
07/28/2007 Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jeff Sipe
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Vince Herman - Leftover Salmon



27. Vampire Blues 7:04
10/31/2008 Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jeff Sipe
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Neil Young



28. Rise Up, Wake and Bake 3:19
07/03/2009 High Sierra Music Festival - Quincy, CA
Band: Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Noam Pikelny, Bill McKay, Greg Garrison, Jose Martinez
Songwriter/Composer Credits: Drew Emmitt/Vince Herman - Leftover Salmon

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