By Jim Stanford on July 21, 2010
It’s another BIG week of music in Teton Valley, with Big Sam’s Funky Nation playing Music on Main in Victor on Thursday and Big Head Todd rocking The Spud on Sunday. Rhythm Devils, featuring Grateful Dead skin pounders Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, perform Saturday at The Spud.
Noteworthy opening acts have been added for the Spud twin bill, including reggae artist Don Carlos for Rhythm Devils and Martin Sexton, the guitarist with chops literally and figuratively, for Big Head Todd. Find out more about both events and buy tickets on the newly redesigned Poppa Presents web site.
It’s been about 20 years since Todd Park Mohr and friends piled into a van and first drove up to Jackson Hole to perform at the Mangy Moose, a venue that at least partially inspired this song. Big Head Todd and the Monsters would go on to score a pop hit with “Bittersweet,” become a fixture at Red Rocks and finally, in 2008, return to play the Mangy Moose — proving true the words from another of their songs: “All life is … really just a circle.”
The band’s intensity, however, has never waned, and the musicians continue to reward loyal fans with concerts in special places, like this show in the Caribbean. BHT just released a new album, aptly titled Rocksteady.
We’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to the reader who in the comments below shares his or her best Big Head Todd story, from Jackson Hole or elsewhere. Here’s mine: On the 1993 H.O.R.D.E. tour at Red Rocks, although headliner Blues Traveler wailed beneath the full moon, hometown heroes BHT stole the show as one of Red Rocks’ trademark lightning displays played out behind the stage. Todd’s guitar licks seemed to be perfectly timed with the bolts.
The band ought to send as much of a charge through The Spud on Sunday. Watch out for moose on the way over Teton Pass.
Update 7/25: Congrats to Jeremy, winner of the tickets. Hope the Spud matches up to the Denver Zoo.
Posted under Music
Saw BHTM at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA, an intimate venue at an old winery perched in the hills above San Jose in 2004 or 2005. The special treat, in addition to the great food, spectacular sunset, and smooth, mellow grooves of BHTM, was seeing a young Jackie Greene play a solo acoustic opening set that really stole the show. This was well before he had anything on the radio or had become one of Phil Lesh’s Friends, but it was obvious this skinny scruffy dude from Sacramento was definitely going places.
By the way, gotta love this!! “It’s another BIG week of music in Teton Valley”
I was a soon-to-be freshman growing up in the suburbs of Toledo, OH. I believe it was summer 1989. My family travelled to Denver, CO to visit family and, while there, my older cousins stole me away to a concert at the Denver Zoo to see some local band. Turns out the band was Big Head Todd. I can remember very clearly the feeling of being blown away. Probably my most memorable live music experience.
Those heading over the hill for tonight’s free Music on Main concert by Big Sam’s Funky Nation should consider riding the START bus.
The commuter bus leaves Snow King Center at 5:10, Pearl and Jackson at 5:18 and Hungry Jack’s in Wilson at 5:35 (look under “Summer Essentials” at left for full schedule).
Bus leaves Victor City Park for Jackson at 10:10 p.m. Return fare is $5, or $8 round trip.
The new venue in City Park received rave reviews for last week’s concert by Calle Mambo. Big Sam, formerly trombonist and dance man for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, is New Orleans’ King of the Party these days.