Karl Denson's Tiny Universe May 31st 2003 Smilefest

          I 'm just gonna have to say that this show is in my top ten shows that I have seen. They gave us everything you could ask for in a show, lots of banter, solos, special guests and you couldn't stop dancing if you tried!

      
          They opened with "Chicago", a classic Meters inspired funk cut featuring some nice guitar soloing, and Karl really shining with his sax. Fareed Haque from Garaj Mahal joins on "Because" and things really start to get interesting. The band flies through a cover of "Manic Depression" and then sticking with the manic pace with a speedy trip through "New York City". Fareed comes back out for good on a 25 minute version "Hopscotch" and it's almost like Fareed has been playing in the band forever. The band really takes the music out there and they don't come back around until they are finished with "Satisfied" some 45 minutes later. We get a killer psychedelic version of "Check Out Your Mind" followed by your not so standard  drum solo. "Reality" brings us back to Earth and I find myself completely satisfied, which is rare for me with one set shows.

         This is a great sounding recording, with an almost perfect sound stage. I hope you get as much enjoyment out of this as I do. Once again turn it up, not down!

KDTU 2003-05-31 Smilefest, Union Grove, NC

Source: soundboard>analog patchbay> Roland UA5 (Oade Mod 1)>Nomad Jukebox 3 optical input
Transfer: Nomad firewire>Wave Labs 5.0 (normalize&fades)>cdwav>mkw

  disc one
01. Intro
02. Chicago
03. Bourgainvillea
04. Because*
05. Nasty Disposition >
06. Manic Depression
07. New York City
08. Chance
09. banter/band intro
10. Karl's sax solo > Mighty Mouse
11. Keep Your Head Up

  disc two
12. Hopscotch* >
13. Satisfied* >
14. banter
15. Bunny Playa*
16. Check Out Your Mind*
17. drum solo >
18. Reality*
19. Goldmine*

With Fareed Haque