Q & A with New Orelans’ Garage A Tois
SaY caught up with New Orleans jazz improv group Garage A Tois for a Q & A. Photo by Greg Aiello
Garage A Tois is a group of highly talented and professional musicians. On their résumés are reference names like Roger Walters (Pink Floyd), Fred Wesley, Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Matt Chamberlain (Wallflowers) and the main-brain behind Primus, Les Claypool. SaY caught up with Mike Dillon of the group in between shows for a Q and A with one of the most creative jazz improv groups out there.
SaY: Can you guys explain why you don’t like the word jam as a description of your music? I’m just curious for your take.
Garage A Tois: Truthfully, I could care less about the term jam. When my band, Billy Goat, had a record deal in ‘92, we were always being compared to the Red Hot Chili Peppers by critics. Our fans new what we were about and more importantly, I knew what we were about.
[Garage A Tois' Les Claypool experiences, how they write songs, click more]
Heavy Pets scare up good vibrations at Scarendipity
The Heavy Pets has the Halloween show down. Click more to see where the group is jamming this year.
With his face aglow from the glare of a plastic jack-o’-lantern, Jeff Lloyd fingered the neck of the guitar as his right arm lay limp by his side. His mouth agape and eyes half opened, Lloyd stood surrounded by his friends, known as The Heavy Pets.
Out of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., this group of five friends is hitting it big on the jam band circuit as they combine elements of jazz, funk, rock and reggae into an energetic blended sound. For the past few years, they have hit up some of the biggest festivals including Moe.Down, Langerado, SXSW and Bonnaroo where they played a pre-Phish set. They have played over 440 shows since forming in 2006.
[Tour info, listen to Heavy Pets, click more]
