Monday, June 11, 2012

Current Distraction Part One: Trigger Hippy


As I continue to try (but not succeed) in enjoying the new Chris Robinson Brotherhood record, another Black Crowes side project has made its way into my life. Trigger Hippy, featuring one of my favorite drummers, Black Crowes pounder Steve Gorman and one-time Crowes guitarist Audley Freed have apparently been together long enough to lose Freed and replace him with Will Kimbrough. This would still be enough to pique my interest. But having both Joan Osborne and Jackie Greene as leaders makes this project something of a sortasupergroup.

I stumbled upon a live show from April and loved the set list, a mix of originals and covers that included "Snatching It Back" by Clarence Carter, Delaney & Bonnie's "When The Battle Is Over" and Ann Peebles' "99 LBS." The band covers a lot of a musical ground. From the one live show I listened to I think they can jam with the best of them, keep it tight with the funk, and thanks to Miss Osborne's always fiery vocals, deliver the soul.

Their website http://triggerhippy.net/ doesn't offer much info, but there is plenty to listen to. I'm feeling like I might be late to the party on this one, but at the moment, I'm really digging it. Plenty on YouTube as well. I'm partial to the Gary Wright cover below.





15 comments:

buzzbabyjesus said...

Real instruments? No beat box? Where's the autotune and guest rapper?

jeff k said...

I'm pretty much of the opinion that anything Jackie Greene touches is gold. I buy his albums the minute they're released and am never disappointed. His live shows are terrific, and his side projects as evidenced by Trigger Happy are also wonderful. If you don't have it already, check out "Skinny Singers," an album he did with a fellow named Tim Bluhm. Fantastic! We were singing "Baby's Got a Mustache" for months.

kevin m said...

Apparently, they have an ablum coming out later this year and plan to do some heavy touring to support it. Fingers crossed!

jeff k said...

Trigger "Hippy", sorry.

powerpopster said...

awesome! thanks sal; any joan is great to hear....that version smokes her cover on "Righteous Love"...

Rob said...

Joan Osborne and Jackie Greene playing together? Those are magic words to me. Got much love for both people and to think I might have missed out on celebrating this musical marriage if not for you putting the word out. Damn, I love coming to this place! Thanks, Sal!

Sal Nunziato said...

Trigger Hippy
Greenville, 4/26/12

Disc One
http://memra.lunarbreeze.com/~burnw0/th1.zip

Disc Two
http://memra.lunarbreeze.com/~burnw0/th2.zip

Rob said...

For those interested, the Internet Archive has a couple of Trigger Hippy shows from last November filed under Jackie Greene.

http://archive.org/details/jackiegreene2011-11-28.with_trigger_hippy_zosofan_at933_24bit
http://archive.org/details/jackiegreene2011-11-29.with_trigger_hippy_zosofan_at933_24bit

And there's this one, which is something of a Phil and Friends, Skinny Singers, Trigger Hippy, Jackie-jamboree.
http://archive.org/details/jackiegreene2011-11-26.the_fillmore_zosofan_at933_24bit_source

Sal Nunziato said...

That's great, Rob! Thanks. I looked over there, but didn't think of looking for Jackie. I just searched for Trigger. Great!

Rob said...

You're most welcome, Sal. Glad I could put a little something back your way!

The IA is well worth a browse every now and then; just the other day I discovered to my great delight that they have a number of Joe Pug shows on offer. I think that young fella is one very talented songwriter.

Sal Nunziato said...

Rob,

I do check it out often, but I find it to be overwhelming at times. There's just sooo much.

Rob said...

Oh I'm right with you on the overwhelming, and not just the IA. It's just too easy to succumb to digital overload - what should I listen to? what should I watch? what should I read? what am I missing? I recall a little while back you saying something like sometimes you have to make yourself stop listening to the things you think you ought to listen to and get back to the things you want to listen to. That had resonance right here.

Anonymous said...

Will Kimbrough's solo records are most definitely worth checking out. He is an even better singer-songwriter than guitarist, And he's an excellent axeman.
Americanitis is fine starting point.

hpunch

Anonymous said...

Will Kimbrough's solo records are most definitely worth checking out. He is an even better singer-songwriter than guitarist, And he's an excellent axeman.
Americanitis is fine starting point.

hpunch

Anonymous said...

I am not "on the Joan Osborne train" like you are Sal, but I have to say, after a too-long day at work here, that clip did it for me - right on!!