Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers @ Tupelo Music Hall

So I just got home from a great show at Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry New Hampshire. Here's my take on the SK6ers show.

Packed into a crowded Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, New Hampshire, over one hundred people enjoyed an intimate evening with Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers. Sk6ers are a band from Massachusetts that have toured tirelessly over the past five plus years getting their name out there and connecting with the ears of thousands. They are made up of vocalist/guitarist Stephen Kellogg, Bassist/Keyboardist and occasional tuba player Kit Karlson, drummer Brian "Boots" Factor, and guitarist Sam "Steamer" Getz. Their sound is rock, with a country twist and a few change-ups thrown in here and there. The evening started with opening act Mark Erelli, who played acoustically with his guitar and mandolin and his voice. Erelli showed a lot of emotion and soul during his set, singing songs that held deep personal meaning to him. After Erelli played five songs to warm the crowd up, we were now ready for Sk6ers. The band took the stage for their typical holiday set. The stage was set up with Christmas lights and decorations. Contrary to their usual set, the band took to sitting down on chairs playing rather than standing on their feet. The band started out on a fast note playing a mix of old songs and new ones, including the upbeat "Start The Day Early." The energy the band showed was infectious as the crowd immediately was engulfed into the performance. Kellogg got into the songs with captivating harmonica solo's and soulful singing. The name of the current tour that SK6ers is on is "Under the Influence," no it's not about alcohol or drugs, but rather the musicians that have influenced the band. Going along with this theme, in the middle of the set the band explained who had influence them and performed the songs of those who had. SK6ers first played the song "3 am" by the band O.A.R., who they had toured with early in their career. SK6ers then brought Mark Erelli back on stage to perform another song that influenced the band, one of Erelli's own "Basement Days" Next Kellogg described the impact that The Grateful Dead, and specifically front man Jerry Garcia had on his life and his musical career. The band then played the legendary Grateful Dead song "Friend of the Devil." After the influence part was over Sk6ers got into the holiday mood and performed the classic "Winter Wonderland." As their set rounded the final turn the band played their new single "Shady Esperanto and the Young Hearts" and the title track to their new album "The Bear". The band ended their set with a song that Stephen calls and autobiographical look at his life "4th of July." The band left the stage to a standing ovation, but they were not done. They came on for an encore and again got into the Christmas mood playing a comical version of "Dominick the Donkey." The band then played their hit "Milwaukee" and expelled their last bit of energy with Stephen taking the song in another direction at the end describing his band mates. Stephen described the band as parts of the body, Boots taking on the heart, Stephen the voice, Kit the mind, and Steamer being the ability to shout the music out loud. Before leaving the stage for the final time the band shed their instruments and sang what has become their closing anthem "Curtain Call." As Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers left the stage they again were sent off with yet another standing Ovation. As the house lights went back on and people shuffled out, smiles were on the faces of all who attended because of the amazing show they had just witnessed.

Set List-
Dec 06 '09
December 2009

12/28/09 Tupelo Music Hall-Londonderry, NH SOLD OUT
plus Mark Erelli

A (with love)
Sweet Sophia
Start the Day Early
Diamond
My Old Man
Howl at the Moon
Night Shift
*Basement Days
*Friend of the Devil
Oh Adeline
Winter Wonderland
Shady Esperanto and the Young Hearts
The Bear
Now I'm not so lost
4th of July

E: Dominick the Donkey
Milwaukee
Curtain Call

*w/Mark Erelli

Welcome....Battle Studies

Hey all! This is my first post on the blog and I am still getting acclimated to the whole blog thing so bear with me. I think with my first post I am going to shell out a music review. Last month I purchased John Mayer's new album "Battle Studies" and all I have to say about the album is WOW! Top to bottom the entire CD is incredible. John explores a lot of different sounds on the album from the slow acoustic picked songs like the albums first single "who say's" all the way up to his heavy version of an old Robert Johnson song "Crossroads" which has been done by the likes of Eric Clapton and many others, however John takes it in his own direction and really nails it. The album starts out with the second single off the album "Heartbreak Warfare" This is my personal favorite on the album. It gives a sort of U2 feel but with Mayer's incredible guitar playing and his use of a delay effect makes this song flow well. The second song "All we ever do is say goodbye" Mayer tones it down a little bit and delves deep into his lyrical genius. The third song "Half of My heart" is a song that is a deep meaningful song and it also features Taylor Swift. The rest of the album switches between upbeat and slow songs all that are lyrically genius and the guitar playing just cannot be beat.

Album Recommendations:
Buy the whole thing! or,

Heartbreak Warfare
Perfectly Lonely
War of My Life
Half of My Heart