Twiddle Kicks Off Plump Tour In Brooklyn
Last time I saw Twiddle play the Brooklyn Bowl, they were the late night act, booked to hit the stage at 1:00 AM. The Vermont-based jam band’s success has been rapidly increasing this past year or two as they have become one of the premiere names on the scene. It’s amazing to be able to see this band that I’ve grown to love so much become big enough to not only play the prime slot at this venue but also sell out two nights in a row on a weekend when countless other events were going on around Manhattan. Both shows were streamed via Relix for free, showing just how great a demand Twiddle has created for themselves.
On Friday, Frends (there ain’t not I in friends according to Twiddle) filled the Bowl to capacity, and anticipation filled the room. Alphabet Soup, with Kenny Brooks, a popular Twiddle sit-in, got the party started with funky hip-hop beats, but once Mihali and Zednek of Twiddle sat in with them, the anticipation for Twiddle’s set rose even greater. Twiddle took the stage and with a quick thanks fell into track 2 off of the new album “Admyst the Myst,” leading into a long spacey jam that prepared the crowd for what was to come. Twiddle has always been grouped with “jam” bands, but only recently have they really been taking their jams to the next level, jamming out nearly every song they play rather than just the occasional type-II jam throughout a set. The band is growing, and we are all witnessing the beauty. A fan favorite, “Syncopated Healing,” was up next. Also on the new album (track 6), “Syncopated Healing” spread the good vibes throughout the building, and the show was fully underway. I wondered if the band was only going to play songs from the new album or what their plan was for the Plump tour in days leading up to the shows. The next song answered my question as they fell into one of their most popular, most fun songs, a staple in what Twiddle is, “Apples.” Longtime fans and new fans alike went crazy after hearing that first chord knowing just how much fun they were about to have. You gotta like apples, man.
The four-piece then slowed it down, Mihali grabbed the acoustic, and for the first time ever we got a taste of Brook Jordan’s new song “Dusk Till Dawn,” a truly beautiful piece. Staying with the calmed theme, Mihali busted out “Be There,” another slow, moving tune. The place was buzzing, and fans could not wait for the second set as all were in consensus that the first was pretty damn amazing. “Hatti’s Jam > When It Rains, It Poors” started off set number two, and, being Twiddle’s most well-known tune, the crowd fell right back into where we had left off. Without a hiccup, the quartet segued into what was my favorite jam of the night, “Indigo Trigger.” “Indigo,” one of Twiddle’s first songs, finally made its way onto an album, making its debut at track number 10. “Snow” began to fall from the Bowl,s ceiling as Twiddle began their newest favorite, “Lost in the Cold.” White flurries fell as the song slowly built up to its reggae segment, which left no foot still. The flurries were a nice touch as the crowd watched them gracefully fall, in awe of the music and bright lights.
Twiddle ended the night perfectly as the crowd of diehard fans were sent packing with some of their favorite classic Twiddle tunes, a sendoff that had everyone ready as ever to come back for night two. “Cabbageface” followed by “Doinkinbonk” to close the set, two Twiddle songs that have been around just as long as their existence. The crowd rejoiced, danced and took in the last few minutes of night one. Fans begged for just one more, as the foursome returned to the stage to play one more classic before sending fans out for 21 hours or so before doing it all again: “Beethoven and Greene”, a song filled with intricate lyrics before speeding into a fast-paced, intense jam to close out the night. The show was over, but the run not quite as anticipation rose even further for night number two.
When I walked in Saturday a bit early to make sure I caught the Cabinet set I was shocked; the venue was almost full already. Normally, the Bowl gets very crowded during weekend shows but never until the main act is on and sometimes even after. You could feel and hear the excitement in the air; people had traveled from far and wide to be apart of the opening weekend of this tour. Cabinet put on an impressive set; their funky bluegrass sound was the perfect beginning to the night. They played through tracks from their recently released Celebration along with favorites from 2009’s self-titled album and 2012’s Leap.
By the time Twiddle was getting ready to take the stage, the entire venue was filled, and the crowd was more then ready to party. Mihali gave the crowd a scare when he explained that keyboardist Ryan Dempsey had broken his ankle an hour prior to showtime, alluding to the possibility of his absence. Everyone was relieved when Dempsey walked onto stage, and the raging began immediately. The set began with “White Light” from Plump, an infectious song with lyrics filled with what Twiddle encompasses: love, light and kindness. Going into “Dr. Remidi’s Melodium” next brought out the jamming that all Twiddle fans love. The song contained a “Hedwig’s Theme” tease along with a great Gubb Dump in the middle and a “Mary Had a Little Lamb” tease in the outro.
The crowd exploded when they heard the chords from the very popular “Hattibagen McRat” begin, singing along with the story-like lyrics. “Five” was next, another new track with slowed-down ballad feel from Plump that Mihali strummed his acoustic guitar through. The slow vibe didn’t last long, as the band picked up the energy with “Daydream Farmer,” which featured a “Linus & Lucy” prelude from Dempsey, who has a deep attachment to Peanuts. It seemed the first set ended in the blink of an eye, and you could really tell how packed the place was while the audience milled around during set break.
The second set got off to an amazing start, with Todd Stoops sat in on keys during the opening “Subconscious Prelude,” a favorite from their 2007 album Natural Evolution of Consciousness. Another favorite, “Jamflowman,” was up next, which caused an explosion of dancing (and drink-spilling) to ensue. The party kept on rolling as the band teased Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles,” which obviously prompted the crowd to start singing along. The band led that into “Earth Mama.” A personal favorite, “Second Wind,” followed, which had comical vocal jam of “Macarena.” The fun-filled set closed with “Mamunes the Faun,” but the crowd wasn’t going to let them off that easily. After much demand from the audience, the band came back on for an encore of the face-melting track “The Box.”
These shows blew all of the expectations for the Plump tour out of the water. You can tell the boys have been perfecting their show and are truly growing into seasoned performers. You can watch the recorded live stream of both these shows below through Relix. The Plump tour hits Boston this weekend and closes out with a three-night run over New Year’s Eve in their home stomping ground of Burlington, VT; some tickets are still available, but they are expected to sell out quickly, so if you want to experience this incredible show you better grab yours now. Plump is available for streaming through Bandcamp, but we highly encourage you to purchase this album and support a talented and hardworking group.
Set Lists:
Friday:
Set 1- Amydst The Myst, Syncopated Healing, Apples, Dusk ‘Til Dawn, Be There
Set 2- Hatti’s Jam > When It Rains, It Poors > Indigo Trigger, Lost in the Cold, Cabbage Face, Doinkinbonk!!!
Encore: Beethoven & Greene
Saturday:
Set 1- White Light > Dr. Remidi’s Melodium > Hattibagen McRat > Five > Daydream Farmer
Set 2- Subconscious Prelude > Jamflowman > Earth Mama > Second Wind > Mamunes the Faun
Encore: The Box