Morsel | 2019-11-08 | Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver, CO [SBD/AUD Matrix]

I don’t have any hiiiiiiiiiiighhhhhh water, but I do have a recording of Morsel opening things up at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom(Other Side)!

Kicking off the 4th annual Corduroy Classic, an annual charity concert hosted by Part & Parcel, Morsel put on a set of mostly original tunes and a few cover classics to get fans warmed up for an epic night of music.

The set started off with a newer original called “High Water”, a tune with an infectious melody and classic, grassy flavor. The band was shot-out-of-a-cannon to start the night, as this tune would blend into the biggest jam of the band’s set, a patient groove based build that locked itself into a melodically blissful jaunt that helped settle the entire crowd into an ethereal rhythm before bringing everything home. Next up, the band performed a debut original, titled “Round Trip”, a song that highlights the band’s penchant for classic bluegrass sensibilities nuanced with a more traditional rock edge. It’s a mix that makes them so enticing to listeners who may not necessarily consider themselves classic bluegrass fans. The band continued to keep the energy high with a take on the New Grass Revival classic “Love Someone”, a nod to some of the pioneers of yesteryear. As if to pay further respect, the band then played one of their more classic bluegrass tunes, “Back Home”, a tale of nostalgia wrapped in a blanket of sweet picking and plucking.

The second half of the set a was just as strong as the first, as the band began dipping into the fan-favorites section of their catalogue, starting with the anthemic “Mountain Song”, a song that feels bigger than its years. This was followed by another trek into more traditional bluegrass territories with a ripping version of Earl Scruggs’ “Smoggy Mountain Breakdown”. It was then back to fan-favorites, as the band played arguably their most popular tune, “How We Met”. It’s a special thing when the crowd for an opening act, which is opening for an event put on by a local band and entirely consisting of local acts, knows the lyrics to your song. The Morsel fanbase always runs thick but I’m convinced this song is a fan-maker. The set then closed with a cover B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone”, a fun interpretation of one of the more popular blues tunes of the 20th century, and another nod to Morsel’s vast appreciation for textures outside of the norm. It’s not a blugerass take on B.B. King, its a Morsel take.

Morsel is truly genre-fluid. They are a bluegrass band down to their soul and core, there is no denying that. But their version of bluegrass manages to bring an accessibility that sometimes is lost by bands trying to imitate artists that came before them. Being an artist is finding a way to evolve from what you love rather than being a simple imitation. This is where Morsel succeeds in spades. I’m not going to lie, I wouldn’t consider myself a bluegrass fan per-se, but I freaking love Morsel.

Morsel | 2019-11-08 | Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver, CO

-= One Set =-
01. High Water[1]
02. Round Trip[2]
03. Love Someone (New Grass Revival cover)
04. Back Home
05. Mountain Song
06. Smoggy Mountain Breakdown (Earl Scruggs cover)
07. How We Met
08. (Banter)
09. The Thrill Is Gone (B.B. King cover)

Show Notes: This show was a part of the 4th annual “Cordury Classic” hosted by Part & Parcel. Morsel opened the show, followed by Flash Mountain Flood and then Part & Parcel closed out the evening.
[1] “High Water” contained a “China Cat Sunflower” (Grateful Dead) tease.
[2] “Round Trip” was a debut original performance.

Taper Notes: Mics setup on-stage, DFC, raised around 2′ DIN. Board feed and mix thanks to FOH Sound Engineer David Tash.

Thank you to Morsel and Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom for being cool with taping/sharing shows. Go see live music and tip your bartenders! #spacetapes

LINK: https://archive.org/details/Morsel2019-11-08.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix.flac16