Nikon D7100-
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d7100/spec.htm

Special Thanks to:<br />RobbieJam, Beth D., Jason H,, Todd Anderson,Doug DangerMon,Dana Price,Sarah Shepherd and Noah Galembo….plus the Anonymous Contributors….

Flipper Dave-
http://www.flipperdave.com/

Get more art from David at <a href=”http://anythingnapkin.com/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>http://anythingnapkin.com/

Event-SHOCK AND AWE SPRING FLING 2013

Band lineup: Off the Dome ( http://www.facebook.com/offthedomeband )

String Band (http://www.reverbnation.com/stringband )

Iron Fudge ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Iron-Fudge )

Venue- Shock and Awe ( http://shockandawesmokeshop.com )

Date- Sat. March 2nd, 2013

Time- 8:00 pm

City/State- New Haven, CT

Sunday afternoons most people are relaxing at home, maybe doing laundry, or some random thing you couldn’t get to during the week. However, on this Sunday those in the greater Waterbury area all drove down to the Shock and Awe Curio and Art Shop for the Shock and Awe Spring Fling of 2013. Doug Dangermon has been putting on these events for the past several years along with Congagirl and the other owners of the Shock and Awe Smoke Shop. There is an fantastic art gallery inside the shop from a large variety of Artists in the CT area. Last year I was able to pick a beautiful necklace here. So I decided before I even arrived I would purchase another one. When I arrived I realized that everything was 20% off and so I was able get this beautiful piece for only $8.51.

There was an incredible amount of entertainment scheduled for this day.

Now obviously there was 3 bands playing which were Off The Dome (http://www.facebook.com/offthedomeband ),

String Band ( http://www.reverbnation.com/stringband ),

and Iron Fudge (  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Iron-Fudge ). With these types of jambands one might think that’s awesome and you are absolutely gonna head down and see that. However, it was much more and a bit of mini festival with several community groups involved in good causes. These included the Connecticut Roller Girls ( http://www.ctrollerderby.com )  , The Naugatuck River Revival Group ( http://www.waterburyobserver.org/taxonomy/term/116 ) and Walk Now for Autism Speaks raising awareness for those with Autism.   (http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/greaterwaterbury/racheldavinotribute ). For more info on what went on with these organizations check out this link…….

http://www.livebandstouring.com/2013/04/29/shock-and-awe-a-pictoral-collection-042813-waterbury-ct/

Alright so by now you are probably saying to yourself what about the MUSIC!!!!!!!! The first band was called Off the Dome as I mentioned earlier. They opened with a fantastic version of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” which seems to be ever so repeating history today as it did when the song was first released. Now I could talk to you about how great this band was and how they brought their own unique sound and yada, yada, yada. Or I could just prove it to you by posting one of their original songs called Waves of the Sea …….

How refreshing was that? They even added Doug Dangermon on percussion which was a sweet treat. So often today there are bands who make their living off covering tunes. This is a noble way to make a living no doubt. But when your band is trying so hard to make your sound exactly like it is on the album, live recording, or radio you can loose sight of what is most important which is to create your own version of the songs. This is why I think it is important to add your own compositions into your repitore for your set to be a finely tuned piece of artwork. So I was glad to see Off The Dome had done that with this song and a few others. However, with a crowd as eclectic as this and the fact that Furthur tour had just done it’s swing of the Northeast it was essential that some Grateful Dead songs be played. Especially for those who were shut out of the sold out shows in New York and New Jersey. Therefore, next up was a song composed by the great Mickey Hart and and written by Robert Hunter known as Fire on the Mountain.

Off The Dome played a bunch of other originals ( and I apologize for not being more familiar with the song titles) which were really toasty jammy on this beautiful Sunday with the sun shinning down like a tanning bed. Off the Dome has some upcoming shows at Anna Liffey’s in New Haven, CT May 10th, Side Street Bar and Girlle in Hamden, CT on May 17th, and Cafe 9 in New Haven, CT on June 20th.  I do believe there was dozens who came unprepared and received the Shock and Awe sunburn expierence.

The Lovelaces ( David and Lee-Ann) of Bad Rooster and The Royal Din enjoying the events at Shock and Awe.

So Off the Dome finished up their set and next up was String Band. String Band ( http://www.reverbnation.com/stringband ) opened with their typical Psychedelic Soup and then went right into Mr.Charlie by the Grateful Dead. String Band then dedicated their set to the late great Richie Havens who passed away this week. The band then went into Cryptical Envelopment by the Grateful Dead.

Michael Franti & Spearhead recently came out with a new song called “I’m Alive” which seems to more on the mainstream side of things. Several fans over the past few years have been making it known of their distaste for what they believe is a “sell out” or “sponsorship” of his music and message. While his music may be changing a bit I don’t think it’s gone anywhere near having his shows presented by “Coke” or “Pepsi” although the playstation ad two years ago had fans asking these questions. As an alternative, if you are looking for a local Michael Franti & Spearhead fix with this old songs you can certainly get that from String Band. The next song they played was the old school Franti tune  ”Ganja Babe”.

It was mid-afternoon at this point and the CT Roller Girls ( http://www.ctrollerderby.com ) were doing their thing, looking beautiful in both looks and actions and providing just as much entertainment as the bands around the parking lot.

String Band is another musical act which mixes covers with originals. Some of these originals include Astro Projecto (which currently has a beer in development named after this song ), Mary Sunshine, Pictures, and many others. One of the originals they played at Shock and Awe was “Green is the Color” which gives you that feel of Spring, the sprouting of the leaves, and ever changing colors as you drive along the highways like Route 8 or I-95 in the great state of Connecticut.

String Band played a few more covers which included a tribute to the CT Local Band Flipper Dave’s song “Dont Pass Me By”. String Band has upcoming shows on May 4th at Arch Street Tavern, in Hartford, CT  and May 17th at Toads Place in New Haven, CT.

The main event was coming and if you’ve been to Larry’s Farm in Morris, CT you may have seen this subsequent act. You may have even bought chocolate fudge pudding before and thought about putting some whip cream on it and throwing it in the microwave. In which case then you’d have steamy chocolate pudding. And if you went ahead and froze it for a few hours you’d have the name of the main act………Iron Fudge ( http://www.facebook.com/The-Iron-Fudge )

Iron Fudge to me is like a mix of a Seattle grunge band, Twisted Sister, with Phish and the Grateful Dead as their parents. I mean these compositions just aren’t done anywhere else on the local level in Connecticut. Iron Fudge is unequivocally a jam rock act that mixes styles like it’s fans mix drinks. I can think of tons of local bands I saw from 2002 to about 2006 that played the typical hard rock songs……..but have you ever heard a rock, metal- jamband cover George Benson’s “Broadway”? This is what took place with Iron Fudge at the Shock and Awe Spring Fling.

Iron Fudge ( http://www.facebook.com/The-Iron-Fudge ) opened their set with Scarlet Begonia’s and this tunes lyrics were also written by Robert Hunter.

The Fudge ( a nickname sometimes heard at shows ) rocked out to several originals which included “Iron Fudge Cake”. The people of Waterbury were enjoying themselves, coloring with Sidewalk Chalk on the pavement, listening to motorcycles and emergency vehicles drive by the busy street of Huntingdon Ave., and putting their laundry off for phenominal local bands.

Iron Fudge went ahead and talked about what was perhaps the most talked about issue in the Grateful Dead community this past week. Furthur was playing a show at the Capitol Theater during their extended stay at the venue. Bob Weir (guitarist) had a issue on stage. I won’t speculate or add info to what is or isn’t happening to our beloved Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. I’ll just say our hearts, minds, and spirit are all with you know. Iron Fudge had a few words to say with their song dedicated to him known as “Bobby Weir”.

Byl Cote of Iron Fudge wearing his “GodFurthur” shirt.

The festivies began to wind down at this point……..and I must say there was a great deal of media people who contributed to covering this event. Specifically, David Malloy (taping), Kevin & Sandra of NRRG (video/pics), Paul Clough, Linda Richmond, and of course the Dangermon himself. Also thanks to all who took out their smart phones and posted pictures on facebook. Please do that more often at shows were it’s accepted. Thank you for making this event well covered by the masses and what was a bit of a small camera and video/audio festival as well.

Iron Fudge had one last song in them……..and with the rush hour traffic driving by Huntingdon Ave. they gave us a final sendoff to the Spring Fling 2013 with “Shakedown Street”. Iron Fudge has upcoming shows posted on their facebook page here.

Special thanks to Doug and Flo and the staff of Shock and Awe, the city of Waterbury, and all of you great people who came out and supported a wonderful Sunday afternoon and evening. Gracias!!!

Off the Dome-
http://www.facebook.com/offthedomeband

Off The Dome-
http://wwwfacebook.com/offthedomeband

I know you all enjoyed the bands on Sunday……but here’s a few things you may not have noticed that took place on Sunday……..

AMATEUR BARTENDING NIGHT
Friday May 24,2103
7:00pm-1:00am
Torrington Elks Lodge #372
70 Litchfield Street Torrington, CT 06790

All bartending tips will go to Autism Speaks

LIVE MUSIC, PRIZE DRAWINGS, APPETIZERS, CUPCAKE TRUCK

For more info email Teamrachel2013@gmail.com

WALK NOW FOR AUTISM SPEAKS
Research, Awareness, Compassion.

2013 Greater Waterbury
Walk Now for Autism Speaks
Saturday June 1st, 2013
Library Park

http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/greaterwaterbury/racheldavinotribute

NAUGATUCK RIVER REVIVAL GROUP
The Naugatuck Revival Group is dedicated to the eradication of trash and debris in & along the Naugatuck River;
to reviving the river’s beauty;
to improving conditions for the wildlife that live in & around the river;
to educating the public about safe recreational use of the river;
to inform its border communities how the river has and is being used as a land fill and how to reverse this use;
to connecting these communities;
and to the improvement of the quality of life for these communities & uniting them in this effort

For more info Visit
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naugatuck-River-Revival-Group

CONNECTICUT ROLLER GIRLS

http://www.ctrollergirls.com

More info-
http://www.ctrollerderby.com

The Naugatuck Revival Group is dedicated to the eradication of trash and debris in &amp; along the Naugatuck River;
to reviving the river’s beauty;
to improving conditions for the wildlife that live in &amp; around the river;
to educating the public about safe recreational use of the river;
to inform its border communities how the river has and is being used as a land fill and how to reverse this use;
to connecting these communities;
and to the improvement of the quality of life for these communities &amp; uniting them in this effort

For more info Visit
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Naugatuck-River-Revival-Group