This week’s Alive After Five headliner: Diego’s Umbrella
Go Listen Boise local opener: Desirae Bronson

ABOUT DIEGO’S UMBRELLA

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who love Diego’s Umbrella and those who soon will. Celebrated as San Francisco’s Ambassadors of Gypsy Rock, these world renowned entertainers have created an irresistible cocktail that is entirely their own.

On a planet bombarded with every possible kind of entertainment, a Diego’s Umbrella show is a singular, ecstatic experience; one concert is all it takes to turn you into a believer. Night after night they effortlessly blend marching drums, harmonized shredding and gang choruses with showmanship that has all the fire and unpredictability of youth, coupled with the refinement of years of experience on the road. The group’s uncanny gift for pleasing crowds, from standard clubs to huge festivals such as High Sierra and Outside Lands, has earned them a breathless and ever-expanding following across the United States and Europe, and that connection with other cultures continues to inform their aesthetic. In their music you will hear klezmer, flamenco and punk rock all blended to pop perfection.

Diego’s Umbrella’s fourth album, Proper Cowboy, released in July of 2012, marks a first-time collaboration with San Francisco producers The Rondo Brothers (MC Lars, Foster the People). The union has resulted in a captivating new spin on the world that the band has created; the reverb-soaked guitars and gypsy fiddles have been augmented by an army of tubas, analog synths and soaring vocals in what they are calling a “futuristic Spaghetti-Western soundtrack.” D.U. attributes much of the album’s extraordinary character to their decision to cover a 1972 Sonny and Cher gem, “A Cowboy’s Work is Never Done.” The song’s soundscape of Ennio Morricone guitars, horns and percussion woven with modern electronic beats set the stage for the entire album. Among the other highlights, the single “Big Star” finds the band picking up where they left off with their 2009 Double Panther favorite “Kings of Vibration,” complete with a shared verse vocal and enhanced by a chorus that flies higher than anything they’ve done before. And the exuberant “Bulletproof Shine” finds the group joined by Angelo Moore, legendary leader of Fishbone, who adds his pipes (and his theremin) to the festivities.

Proper Cowboy is Diego’s Umbrella’s most fully realized vision to date, the culmination of years of dedication to the craft of songwriting and to their audience. It tips its hat to the raucous dance parties the band played in their early days in Croatia, but is as quintessentially American as Rock and Roll itself, giving true meaning to album’s namesake.

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This week’s Alive After Five headliner: Trevor Green
Go Listen Boise local opener: HarpersMan

ABOUT TREVOR GREEN

Trevor Green, a California native, grew up on the beaches of Southern California, where he spent as much time riding waves as he did strumming his guitar. For the past five years, Green has toured heavily in the western United States, establishing a loyal and enthusiastic fan base. Fusing world, funk, folk and jam rock into a high-energy performance, Green’s music has a strong universal appeal. The versatile musician who makes use of vocals, guitar (6- and 12-string, lap slide, banjo, mandolin and ukulele), didgeridoo, stompbox and harmonica has been called “a musical breath of fresh air…” by Richard Wellenreiter, Cole Clark Guitars North America. Michael Billings of the Los Angeles Daily Journal remarked, “the skill-set of this finger-style guitarist’s free form artistic ability combined with enthusiasm and apparent love of cultured music is showcased in a raw, live, unedited fashion.” Green’s most recent notable accomplishment was recording three songs for the upcoming major motion picture This Must Be the Place starring Sean Penn and also featuring David Byrne of the Talking Heads. “Being a part of this film with David and Sean was truly an honor. I have the deepest respect for both individuals for not only their amazing artistic accomplishments, but also for the humanitarian work they do as well.” One of the tracks, an eerie and mystical rendition of David Byrne’s “This Must Be the Place” that Green covered for the film, is also featured on the film’s OST.

With the release of Green’s third studio album Sacred Seed, he shows his prolific abilities as a songwriter, releasing his third independent album in the past four years. Sacred Seed proves once again that this multi-instrumentalist is one talented storyteller and songwriter. You can hear it in the lyrics and the sincerity delivered through his vocals. (“Sacred Seed is full of magical music that reflects a natural beauty and splendor” – Mark Johnson, Music Street Journal. “With Sacred Seed Green shows how honed his chops are on guitars, didgeridoo, banjo, ukulele, percussion and stompbox, and if such an array suggests that Green’s musical mind is filled with thoughts well beyond his Southern California upbringing, the sonic journey he takes you on confirms it. Acoustic guitar and didgeridoo are the most recurring elements, and around these are built rhythms and melodies accessible enough for radio airplay yet brimming with accentuated subtleties drawn from indie rock, bluegrass, Manding griot music, Sufi trance states, flamenco, reggae and perhaps American and Australian indigenous peoples joining a front porch jam somewhere in Appalachia.”  – Tom Orr, World Music Central)

Green’s live performance is an uplifting and high energy display of talent, threading together dynamic instrumentation and a diverse rhythmic sound while displaying the depths of his gifted songwriting. Having sold over 5,000 copies independently and performing over 500 shows in the past 7 years, it is clear that Trevor Green is a musical sensation whose talent, discipline and passion are boundless. “With so many instruments…so much sound…it’s hard to believe it’s all coming from one man. Trevor Green masterfully weaves his love of the natural world with his passion for music and his high energy performance leaves the crowd chanting for more every time!” – Nicole Johnson, Director, Sawtooth Music Festival

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This week’s Alive After Five headliner: Acorn Project
Go Listen Boise local opener: Edmond Dantes

ABOUT ACORN PROJECT

Deep electro-funk grooves and sonic instrumental exploration interlaced with a provocative indie-rock songwriting ability have become the signatures of Bellingham, Washington’s Acorn Project. As a long-time staple on the touring circuit of the Pacific Northwest, the sextet has spent the past three years expanding their region and is a recognizable touring machine on the West Coast, British Columbia, and out through Colorado and the Southwestern United States.

Formed in 2002 from basement jam-session beginnings, original members Andy Pritiken (guitar/lead vocals), Sam Lax (Saxophone/Percussion/Vocals), Todd Benedict (Drums), and former member Kale McGuinness (Bass) came together in the most incubescent way. Not one member had played in any organized musical group. For this reason they chose the name Acorn Project in 2004, symbolizing their collective effort to grow as a musical entity with focus and dedication for their passion for live music.

Additions were made, including Oskar Kollen (Keys/Vocals 2005) and long-time guest musician and virtuoso Tristan Curran (Lead Guitar/Vocals 2006), bringing the band’s sound to new heights. Scott Vaillancourt (Bass 2010) recently replaced McGuinness and has efficiently adopted Acorn’s repertoire with over fifteen years experience under his belt as a professional musician. Vaillancourt rounds out the current six-piece ensemble as they continue to produce an irresistibly unique sound with the same focus, dedication, and dream-worthy energy of their beginnings, and current aspirations of becoming an established national touring act.

“Acorn Project, who conjures up the appealing marriage of mid-period Pink Floyd, early Radiohead and the blues-jazz-dub whap of Morphine… cuts a broad cloth that could fit classic rockers, jam fans, and jazz heads with taste for prog. Often mélanges of this kind come out mushy and indistinct, too many ingredients dulling the sharpness of individual elements, but Acorn’s production and arrangement savvy keep things bright and together throughout. A hard touring bunch… unlike many road dogs, they clearly know their way around a studio, too.” — Dennis Cook, Jambase (Editor)

Acorn Project’s debut album We’ll Be Fine, released in May of 2006, quickly spread their music around the nation. The album charted as high as #5 on the jambands.com national index, and #4 on CMJ charts throughout the country. Eartaste.com rated it one of the top 12 albums of the year, and great reviews flooded in from all parts of the U.S. and Europe. We’ll Be Fine took home the album of the year award in the 2008 What’s Up Awards sponsored by What’s Up Magazine.

Their sophomore studio effort Generation Debt, was released in September 2010 and improves where We’ll Be Fine left off. Debuting at #1 on jambands.com national radio chart and holding in the top 25 for nearly three months, Debt has escalated Acorn Project’s national recognition and impressed critics with “a swinging, sensual mood prevailing in a darkly thoughtful set of songs.” Generation Debt is an intricately written and cohesively designed album that is simply perfect for its time.

Boasting an impressive resume, high profile performances are common for Acorn Project. Since fall of 2007 the band has performed with seasoned professionals such as Widespread Panic, Tea Leaf Green, EOTO, RAQ, Zilla, BLVD, Hot Buttered Rum, The Bridge, Blue Turtle Seduction, Izabella, Flowmotion, The Everyone Orchestra, Kyle Hollingsworth, Steve Kimock, David Grisman and The Motet. Acorn has been welcomed to world-renowned festivals and premier venues alike.

The Santa Cruz Metro perhaps stated it best in their show preview from 2008:

“While classic jam bands are a dime a dozen; indie rock jam bands are slightly more expensive. Bellingham, Washington’s Acorn Project gives listeners their money’s worth with funky epics that rock enough to make a good Christmas present for your Deadhead uncle but are jazzy enough to play for your hipster friends… Constantly changing and seldom boring, this is a show not to be missed.”

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This week’s Alive After Five headliner: Hot Club Sandwich
Go Listen Boise local opener: Dada Sol

ABOUT HOT CLUB SANDWICH

Hot Club Sandwich captures the spirit of hot jazz bands from the early 20th Century. Featuring the instrumentation of guitars, upright bass, mandolin and violin, HCS brings its unique character to the acoustic swing and Gypsy jazz pioneered by Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.

Springing from Seattle’s thriving Gypsy jazz scene, Hot Club Sandwich cultivates innovation in its own fashion. Adding original compositions, light-hearted vocal numbers, creative arrangements and elements of Latin American string band music, Hot Club Sandwich creates its own voice. The addition of Northwest legend Ray Wood on guitar makes Hot Club Sandwich one of the hottest acoustic bands on the West Coast.

Hot Club Sandwich offers diverse options to educators, adapting programs to suit the needs of varied age groups and abilities. Whether arranging for a string quartet, inspiring a high school band to improvise or simply instilling enthusiasm for music in young children.

Tags: Alive After FiveConcertsstuff to do