Garaj Who? Garaj What? Garaj Mahal!
Feature image from Garaj Mahal Facebook page by Susan J. Weiand Photography
By this point, everybody attending Suwannee Hulaween has made a list: the must-sees, the split sets, the how-do-I-clone-myself conflicts, and more.
I have my list, too. And there’s no question that Jamiroquai is number one on my list. I cannot wait to have him blow my mind. He may or may not be at the top of your list.
So how about number two on my list? Hands down, that would be Garaj Mahal. If your response is “Who the heck is Garaj Mahal,” I would fully understand. Allow me to explain.
The quartet Garaj Mahal was formed in 2000. I saw them for the first time in 2005 — by mistake. Thought I was going to see Garage A Trois (another brilliant band). I was totally blown away at that show and at a subsequent performance a couple years later. Faster-forward to the Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival (of blessed memory) in 2010. The lineup was, as always, amazing, curated by Paul Levine and his compatriots. And Garaj Mahal had two sets that year.
The first was in the Music Hall ’round about midnight on November 11th. That show was a monster, but it was the set the next day in the huge tent out in the meadow that spindled, folded, and mutilated my brain. Fareed Haque was unveiling his new Moog guitar, and start to finish the set was blistering. Bassist Kai Eckhardt served as MC, with Eric Levy tearing it up on keyboards and Sean Rickman on drums and occasional vocals.
Here is the archive.org recording by Steve Bazley, one of the most prominent tapers and archivists on our scene. Let the music speak for itself.
After the show, I was able to corral Haque and Eckhardt as a fanboy and have them autograph Garal Mahal CDs (and a Flat Earth Ensemble CD). I gushed about the performances and how I hoped they would return to Florida soon. They both said they would.
And then Garaj Mahal went on hiatus sometime early in 2011.
They had not performed until last year at the Element Festival in Canada and then last May in Colorado. So it is impossible for me to contain my excitement about them returning to the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park for Hulaween. Silver Wrapper also has listed a two-day run at the Chop Shop in Chicago (January 11 & 12).
Here are links to the Garaj Mahal shows May 10th, May 11th, and May 12th.
Garaj Mahal, with original drummer Alan Hertz back at kit, play the Spirit Lake Stage Friday night at 12:30 AM, and, yes, that conflicts directly with Odesza.
You’ll know where to find me.
GARAJ MAHAL
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