By Alan Crandall, previously published at dailycamera.com
Boulder Theater was host to the 9th Annual Mark Vann Foundation benefit concert, Friday Dec. 16. Many local artists were on hand to help celebrate the life of former Leftover Salmon banjo player Mark Vann who succumbed to cancer in 2002 at the age of 39. The event offered a silent auction, collectables for sale and a showcase of some of the best local musicians on the Jam grass circuit.
Lefover Salmon’s Vince Herman was the master of ceremonies and joined in in many of the evenings bands that featured The Contribution and the Great American Taxi and friends.
Drunken Hearts with Yarmony Grass Founder Andrew McConathy kicked off the event followed by the Bill McKay Band. The whole evening had musicians from various bands joining each other on stage for some great improvised jams.
Next up was a surprise 5 song set from Vince Herman and sons called The Herman Clan (THC) including Sean LeFoil, Colin Huff, Silas Herman, and Sebulon Bowles with Vince Herman and Chris Sheldon of Great
American Taxi. The band had the Boulder Theater jumping. I especially enjoyed when they performed a Jim Page song “Over My Dead Body” that Vince said is being considered for the anthem of the Occupy movement.
Next up The Contribution with Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth, Keith Moseley of String Cheese Incident, Phil Ferlino and Jeff Miller of New Monsoon, Sheryl Renee of Black Swan and Matt Butler of Everyone Orchestra. This band was amazing and kicked the audience energy up a notch to eleven.
Great American Taxi took the stage next with many
different artists joining the band. GAT played a good number of songs off of their latest album “Paradise Lost.”
The venue was full but not packed, which made for a wonderful groove where folks were shaking a leg in most every part of the Boulder Theater.
It should be noted that artist Scramble Campbell was there with brush in hand and in usual fashion created multiple wonderful performance artworks of the bands as the music played.
The evening kicked into overdrive when Matt Butler brought everyone on stage for the Everyone Orchestra. Well over twenty musicians joined in the jam with artists sharing the stage, microphones and instruments for a great jam and a good cause. Everyone was smiling and having a good time. These types of celebrations are a joy to attend.
Fun was had by all, the auction and donations were a success, many folks wrote out checks to donate to the causes that brought everyone together for the evening. For more information or to donate please visit There With Care, CareConnect of Boulder County and the benefits namesake, The Mark Vann Foundation.
Enjoy this video of The Herman Clan performing “Over My Dead Body.”
]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDRv1XJTJyk
Video by my friend Evenstev.