merlin Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Featuring: Nero, Fat Cats, Caution Jam, ZEN TRICKSTERS & more; 08.10.02 & 08.11.02 Stevensville, Ontario, CANADA The honest truth about the Can-Am Jam is that we built it and few people came. We built a 7,000 person, bowl-shaped grass amphitheatre, and put together an awesome line-up of Canadian jam bands, PLUS The Zen Tricksters, and then we failed to get the word out in enough time, to enough people. Those who showed up were hard-corp and witnessed some incredible sounds and moments. Check this out: Saturday at noon, groovemeisters “Tin Cup Saloon” opened the festival with a solid rock set, paving the way for 2 + hours of Nero. WOW. 3-piece, jammed out, spaced out porno soundtrack music from Ottawa. WOW. Followed by an outstanding set by the seasoned and professional Fat Cats whose mileage wears well on their infectious original material. From the beginning, the intention of the Can-Am Jam was to celebrate the music of the Grateful Dead with live music from both sides of the Canadian & U.S border. As the promoter, my intention was to maximize the unique and acoustically fine qualities of the amphitheatre built by my cousins with their landscape business, in their newly launched naturepark, Zooz, in Canada, 15-minutes from Buffalo. I envisioned a space that inspired the artists who performed to feed off the energy from the ambience of animals, sculptures, and of course the sound of the venue itself, and create moments of magic in the music much like the Dead could do when they toured. Modern music from the band members is great, but different, and we set out to create music closer to the past. Day 2 of the festival was designed to go in that direction and create the zone we all crave. Blackberry Blossoms stepped up and set the pace with a rousing set of “old & in the way” type material, stretching into JGB and acoustic Dead numbers. They had a hard time ending their set as the audience couldn’t get enough of their energetic music. After a short changeover, Caution Jam pulled out the jams with a U.S. Blues/Shakedown opener, demonstrating their skilled improvisation and crafty sense of doing things differently, weaving many various influences into their 2 + hour set: Set 1 U.S. Blues, Shakedown Street > Down on the corner, Up on Cripple Creek, China Cat Sunflower > I know you rider Set 2 Bertha, Stop that train, Stagger Lee, Alligator > Drums > Caution Jam > Can't judge a book > I just want to make love to you > Sugar Magnolia A 4:20 start time had the Zen Tricksters display their loose, exploratory jams and creative improvisation through a blend of hauntingly accurate, yet fresh and inventive Dead covers, mixed with user-friendly original material. For the first time in 2 days the red deer behind the bandshell moved in closer and appeared to groove with the sounds. The setlist as edited with Klyph: Set 1 Travelin' light > JAM > Night & day, Estimated prophet > Goin' down the road feelin' bad, Watching the river flow, Till the morning comes > JAM > Mother found a gun > JAM > Comes a time > Say that I am Set 2 Terrapin station, The idea > The one > Easy wind, Unbroken chain, Lay your love > JAM > Wharf rat > Summertime blues Encore: Expressway to your heart To emphasize the magic the Zen created, Randi had to slip a note to the band informing them that we had no lights and that when it gets dark, it gets really dark. Being in the Zen-zone, they forgot that the amphitheatre is currently a daytime venue, and that the Zen Tricksters had been playing for close to 4-hours. Fantastic event … truly magical. I’d like to acknowledge that the quality sound had much to do with the equipment supplied by JB Sound, with mixing professionally done by the master, Poncho, who’s skills facilitated a smooth festival turnover for all 6 bands. I’d also like to thank all those in attendance, and congatulate them on being part of a truly magical event. A Zen Tricksters event. Thank you to all the bands, and a heartfelt appreciation for the mythical performance that Zen put out. Peace, Jim P.S. As this is our first year, I’d like to try to spread the word earlier and give everyone time to plan for a 2003 Can-Am Jam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark tonin Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Thanks for the review, Jim, and for organizing this event. I hope that you and your family at the ZooZ are willing to try and make something happen in 2003, even with the disappointing turnout this year. I think with lots of early grassroots promotion we could get many more people out to an event of this nature. All the best to you, and hope to see you out at some shows in the near future. Peace, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Get the word out early enough, and you should do fine. I remember when I first heard of it, I thought "Dang, I wish I knew about this one earlier" Its too bad, cause I have wanted to see the Tricksters for a loooooooong time. Ever since I first read about them in Dupree's Diamond News. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewie Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 quote: Originally posted by Booche: Get the word out early enough, and you should do fine. I remember when I first heard of it, I thought "Dang, I wish I knew about this one earlier" Its too bad, cause I have wanted to see the Tricksters for a loooooooong time. Ever since I first read about them in Dupree's Diamond News. i concur booche. my sentiments exactly...and damn!!! they opened the 2nd set with traveling light!!!! hot damn!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewie Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 sorry..i meant first set Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treyter Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 or andre's stag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Nice one T. Merlin, I was certainly disappointed that i couldn't be there, especially after seeing the photo of the amp.... As T-man said, Andre's stag was scheduled for the same weekend, and if we realized it early enough, I'm sure we could have moved the stage up there I certainly hope you hook it up again for next year. Your review was well read, and I do hope to hear Cautionclown's recordings. mp3 them up and email me man. Could set up a download perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shainhouse Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 I'll have a review of Saturday in October's Revolving Door. It was quite a good time, too bad no one showed up. My buddy and I were treated a private nero and Fat Cats show though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CautionClown Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 I have the whole show! I love being a taper! It may be worth a grovel! Except that guy who just had his birthday! When I hit Ottawa in September come see me! The disks are yours...belated as it may be! Expressway to your heart encore! WOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secondtube Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 said it once, i'll say it again, damn i wish i made it to this one. NOT gonna miss another.....thank you mr. promotor for throwing an excellent event, and have hope that next year it will turn out even better. (just dont deliever it the same weekend as Frontier Town) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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