In a town full of established bluegrass bands and old favorites passing through town regulary, the Jazzhaus enjoyed a breeze of fresh air, full of the harmony and vitality of roots music when Ashes to Immortality took the stage Saturday night. The relatively new acoustic band has been rising in Lawrence like a phoenix, appropriate, considering their name comes from our town's motto: "From ashes to immortality."
Opener Leaf - host of Festy Fest and the upcoming Iphyonna show on July 22nd - warmed up the Jazzhaus with a great set of jams featuring an electric bassist and drums backing up Leaf, who sang and played guitar for an appreciative early audience. Leaf is not on stage enough, but hopefully he will play more in the near future!
The musicians of Ashes to Immortality are reviving acoustic music, bringing together the sounds of blues and bluegrass with old-fashion good instrumentals teamed up with the beautiful vocals of Bayley Kate Hartman and getting better all the time. Since this writers' first glimpse of the band at the Waka Winter Classic, they have only improved their group dynamics and musical diversity.
Fast, driving bass and drums lay the foundation for dancers to take to the floor, where fiddle-magic, mandolin mastery and guitar skills pluck at listener's hearts, leading the crowd through the set of fun, energetic tunes. Two sets gave the Jazzhaus a full night of sumptuous roots music, but the extra bonus was a free demo CD for anyone who asked.
The first set had the crowd filling up the bar to a healthy flow, with all eyes on the stage. Ashes to Immortality has a way of demanding attention with quality music that cannot be ignored. Before set break a sizable pack of dancers was up by the stage, cheering the band on and rocking along to the music.
For their second set, the band had a full dance floor and things got quite hot in the small venue. Ashes to Immortality has a good following of passionate fans and conjured a crowd of eager listeners to the front of the bar for their show. The combination of hoedown bluegrass and swinging blues is a balance that suits the Jazzhaus crowd perfectly. Folks were packed in tight for the finale and undoubtedly look forward the bands' next show. The bar nearly burned down with all the fire the band brought to the stage this weekend, so be there next time and catch some
Now for Previews:
Do NOT miss the double-dose of Sonic Sutra goodness coming to the Jazzhaus this Friday and Saturday. The psychedellic jams this band has put out are beyond compare and keep getting better! If you can make it both nights, take advantage of the opportunity to get as much great music you can for just $5 each night!
The following Friday and Saturday, the Jazzhaus doubles-down again with two nights of The Floozies! Friday the 22nd, The Floozies' side-project FUTURE SHOCK will take the stage, a five-piece no-loops, live band playing impovisational jams that will rock your socks. Saturday, Mark and Matt Hill will play after MONTU opens for them. The four-piece Oklahoma jam band will show Lawrence how they wowed folks across California, at Wakarusa, and with Umphrey's McGee before The Floozies duo takes the stage. Each night is $5 and a guaranteed party of epic proportions.
Lastly, do not forget that Mouth will be playing with Somasphere and the EZ brothers at the Bottleneck on Friday the 29th. Get your tickets before they sell out!
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