Great show in a great theater
by EddieC on 12/17/19Town Hall - New YorkReally enjoyed this unusual and terrific band. I have never seen a percussion device like this before.
No more results on this page
Really enjoyed this unusual and terrific band. I have never seen a percussion device like this before.
The modest stage setup gave no indication of the fireworks to come in a 3-hour(!) musical tour-de-force. About an hour into the show Bela Fleck said their was a special intensity in their playing that night as the 30th Anniversary Tour came to its conclusion. As a modest bassist myself I met Victor almost 20 years ago at a clinic and was touched by his humility and of course, his fantastic command of the bass. He more than delivered on this night! But the rest of the band was soooo good that it just blew the audience away. The playing was very intricate & intense but there was so much soul that it made every song instantly accessible to the audience. Howard Levy's 15-minute harmonica solo was very moving and Future Man set the Drumitar aside for an incredible solo on the drum kit. The State Theater in Portland, ME was the perfect intimate setting for the show.
It was an evening we will remember. We'd seen Bela Fleck alone, with his wife and with other banjo players but never with the Flecktones. The group members are individually very talented and as a whole, even more impressive. We are thankful that they came to Portland and that we took advantage of the opportunity to see them perform together. I could have sat there for much longer to watch and listen.
I have felt for a while that the inner need for top musicians to show off their virtuosity (to each other possibly) has mislead them from what I feel should be their first priority. Create a beautiful, powerful flowing musical experience. For me, the obsessive riffing drags some of their variations on the breaks to a sound place that I dread will show up in EVERY song! We do not go to see a trick pony. We go for the instrumentation, personality, memories, composition and musical genius for sure. Keep in mind that trick ponies smell, bite and need to be cleaned up after. I still absolutely love these amazing people. Back on the rails a bit for me however.. Oh, Play Big Foot!!
This was a fantastic show. So great to see the original band back together. They are so talented and were having a great time performing. The venue was also very nice.
These guys -- the Flecktones are really amazing. That word is tossed around a lot, and casually, but it really applies here. I was amazed, jaw droopingly impressed at the musical chops each one of these musicians has. Felt I should give me own banjo a decent burial and take up crocheting. Gypsy jazz, experimental jazz and bluegrass, melded, blended, and heated up till it sizzled. Bravo! Mr. Bela, Mr. Howard Levy, and the Wooten Brothers, Vincent and Roger. OMG. A once in a lifetime experience.
true masters bring them back again as soon as possible!
I loved seeing these guys for the first time. A great place for the show with great sound and sight lines. They played a long set with an intermission and encore. I loved the crazy handheld drum machine Roy Wooten played. It really freaked me out.
This is music. Bela Fleck has won a Grammy in almost every genre. It is such a shame this music is not played on the radio
Although they had never even heard of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, the whole family enjoyed the show. It was fantastic and opened my kids to alternative musical experiences. Well done!
My girlfriend said let's go see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. I've seen their names on the concert flyers for probably a decade here in Atlanta, but I never looked into their music. So I went to the concert blind. What a great surprise. A guy with a banjo playing jazz. A guy with a guitar playing drums or a drumitar if you will. Can't really categorize their music. I'd hate to be the guy at the record store trying to figure out which bin to put their albums in. Bluegrass jazz? Anyhow, was a great show. Howard Levy on the harmonica and piano was genius. If you like true music, and great musicianship, you should check these dudes out.
This show was incredible from the first note to the last! We desperately hope Bella Fleck & The Flecktones come back to Indy SOON! We will definitely be there and bring friends with us!!! Worth every penny!!!!
Always a pleasure to be at the Fox theatre in Oakland and to enjoy Bela, Howard, Victor and Future Man together again! Great combination!! They can play anything and make it an absolute joy to hear. The Flecktones rock/bluegrass/jazz is a wonderful blend of music played with amazing proficiency. Wish they were in the Bay Area/CA more often but when they’re here I’m sure not to miss their incredible and fun performances.
We saw the last show of the tour in Ann Arbor. Neither the band or the audience wanted the show to end. Man, the musicianship is so freaking high in this band.. And the compositions are amazingly inventive and intricate... but with such strong grooves and accessible melodies. Along with the constantly changing time signatures, the number of musical ideas per minute (MIPM) was off the charts! Every time someone took a solo (which was ever few seconds!), I thought, "No THIS ONE is the best musician on stage." AMAZING.
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones were wonderful. Everyone around us had a good time. The music involves the audience into a flowing of notes that put together are astounding. Thank for a great night out, in a very assessable town for both handicapped and older individuals.
A different group of music but very talented group. The Banjo was great. The Jaws harp on the opening number was a great surprise. My grandfather used to play one.
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones are a unique blend of influences. Bela Fleck on banjo plays banjo like nothing you have ever heard before, Howard Levy is great on harmonica, Futureman plays percussion in a manner all his own, and Victor Wooten is a world-class bass player. To describe what they do is hard, but think of it as a differently-instrumented jazz fusion with a touch of bluegrass. This concert was about 2.5 hours of music, all of it great.
Flecktones never disappoint. Musicianship, virtuosity, talent And pure music. Excellent evening at the end of their tour. I will travel to see them again
Great evening - loved my first time hearing Bela Fleck and the Flecktones for the first time. I’m not really a Jazz lover, but loved their Blues infused material. Great balance of all the instruments. Particular to the Bass and Banjo. All 4 members of The Flectones (including Bela) are incredible musicians on their own. The second part of the show picked up great tempo. Was holding out for “Jed Clampet” but “Sinister Minister” brought the crowd to its feet. There were several seats unfilled at the Michigan Theater the night before the 4th of July. We moved to more open area during intermission for more leg room. Great evening leading into a long holiday weekend. They even played a awesome “God Bless America” and “Star Spangled Banner,” with red, white and blue back lights.
This group of musicians are the ultimate entertainers. They did minimum introductions and maximum music including fantastic solos. Would not hesitate to see them again.