Members of the one-off band CLE-Zoo rock out onstage at the Grog Shop. Credit: COURTNEY ABBOTT/SCENE

Members of the one-off band CLE-Zoo rock out onstage at the Grog Shop.

  • COURTNEY ABBOTT/SCENE
  • Members of the one-off band CLE-Zoo rock out onstage at the Grog Shop.

With all due deference to, you know, the Civil Rights Movement, it’s worth pointing out that sit-ins hold a special place in jam lore.

Save for the cultural and political revolution, Cumulus Entertainment set out to explore that practice last night during the first “Hybrid Sessions” show at the Grog Shop. The members of C-Level and Wanyama joined forces to create CLE-Zoo, and the members of Broccoli Samurai and Aqueous shared the stage as Brocqueous.

Quadrophonic Desperation opens the show at the Grog Shop.

  • COURTNEY ABBOTT/SCENE
  • Quadrophonic Desperation opens the show at the Grog Shop.

Concocted as a fun experiment for several notable local and regional jam bands, the Hybrid Sessions show explored the art of improv and the revitalization of working with people outside the individual bands these guys have created.

Filling out the stage with nine musicians from C-Level and Wanyama, CLE-Zoo set a funky needle to the vinyl of the night. Emcee Brandyn Lowry’s lightning-fast flow led a wide spectrum of musicianship as the band wound through an early Chili Peppers-style, high-energy set.

Aqueous and Broccoli Samurai each took 20 minutes or so on their own, offering up an abbreviated set of music. The prog influences of Buffalo-based Aqueous presented a great complement to the rowdiness of the first half of the night, and guitarists Dave Loss and Mike Gantzer fused well with the cats from Broccoli.

For those who had seen any of the bands’ live shows before, last night’s gig was a special event. But for the uninitiated, it also served as an enticing primer, helping to urge on new fans of the music. Considering the Grog’s size, the whole evening was fairly intimate and, given the friendly, laid-back nature of jam shows, everyone got a chance to mingle and talk shop as the bands look forward to ongoing touring in and around Cleveland.

Quadrophonic Desperation opened the evening’s festivities. The crowd hadn’t grown much at that point, but the band threw down a seriously impressive set. One thing that really stood out was the band’s penchant for switching the tempo up throughout a jam. Drummer Anthony Payne showed off his chops as he helped lead the band throughout psychedelic waters.

Note: Quadrophonic Desperation, C-Level and Broccoli Samurai will be playing EarthFest tomorrow at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds.

This article appears in Apr 17-23, 2013.

Eric Sandy is an award-winning Cleveland-based journalist. For a while, he was the managing editor of Scene. He now contributes jam band features every now and then.

14 replies on “The Hybrid Sessions at Grog Shop: Concert Review”

  2. Agreed, Grog Shop is a great place to see a show. Grab some all-you-can-eat Mongolian BBQ beforehand too!

  6. Did i need to be there , i was in the band since 2008… Long before hacks like travis and cummulus was around. Im a tool of hate andd a child born from the ashes of greed.
    You stand up, you cant stand down, you got your back up against a wall…
    power and greed

  7. Jeff James, the fact that anyone ever let you play with them is a miracle because you are just as terrible at playing guitar and singing as you are a human being

  8. A tool of hate and a child born from the ashes of greed? Well you got the ‘tool’ part right ’cause you certainly come across as one.

  10. Fabio…. The soul draining, check bouncing owner. Your still checking up on me, I forgot about all your lies and broken promises.

  11. I can see why they got rid of you. What’s your deal man are you really that big of dick or are you just a tough guy when posting on message boards?

  12. I quit the band you dumb fuck. Im so much better than all of u hacks. U r right I am a dick an asshole and a miserable fuck, but at least I aint in that band or reddstones lame duck no more. Travis I fucked your mom while listening to quad, lol she was as bad as quads new sound.

  13. Im guessing travis that your as lame as robs guitar solos, well its the same solo over and over and over and over. Like a long winded conversation with travis mom about his lack of sexuality with women. The fact you talk tough with a guy that will splatter your brains out is amazing. Before I leave for portland come see me and we will see who talks tough and who is tougj you fucking nancy boy dick suck fag!

  14. Your last comment makes no sense. Why don’t you worry about learning correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation instead of “splattering brains”. Obviously the ramblings of a man who still has temper-tantrums like a child or is unhappy with his sex life/penis size. This thread is boring me, peace to you brother.

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