The trip isn’t the important part, its what you get out of it! Check out The Higgs‘ first time performing at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom (Other Side)!
Coming all the way from sunny Los Angeles, The Higgs made their Cervantes’ debut with a massive late-night set featuring five songs chocked full of jammy goodness. The band wasted no time scratching the improv itch as their set kicked off with the biggest jam of the night, “Freddy”. Easing into both the jam and the crowd, the band settled into an auspiciously bright groove, slowly building their confidence as they felt out their surroundings. The band has an uncanny ability to lock-in to a concept and follow each other with a seemingly effortless stride and this was apparent only five minutes into the set! This ability to easily leap into the improvisational depths of a song’s structure would be a constant theme throughout the evening. After the core song, the band continued the deep-dive they started at the beginning, further navigating the depths of what a full dose of Freddy’s shit can feel like.
Next up was a cover of up-and-coming Nashville act Cordovas‘ “This Town’s A Drag” off their 2017 record “The Santa Fe Channel”. The tune is a folk-rock number steeped in Americana roots but gets the full type-II psychedelic treatment in what would end up being the second biggest jam of the night. Led by whirling keys, the band finds dark-funky territory thus completely transcending the sound of the original. On display again was the band’s remarkable communication as they shifted through each segment with a light sonic touch, crafting each moment with patient and direct playing. These moments set the stage for the lead guitar, which ultimately drives everything home, carving out a path through the thick aural forest and guiding the the landing.
Although The Higgs were new to playing Cervantes’ Other Side that didn’t stop them from making friends quick, inviting up Armchair Boogie banjo player and front-man Augie Dougherty to sit-in for an especially rousing rendition of Bob Dylan‘s “Maggie’s Farm”. The interplay between Augie’s funky banjo tones and The Higg‘s fully established prowess for lead-work and improvisation resulted in a fiery jam executed with the expertise of players you would never realize had only just met that night. Kudos to Augie for the fantastic picking.
Bringing the tempo down to reggae-ballad speeds the band then performed their tune “Road Less Traveled”. However, this would be no less jammy as the band almost immediately found themselves in a dark groove drifting further down into the abstract rabbit hole. The Higgs present such an ease when it comes to layering and building their peak moments, dropping in and out of these moments effortlessly. The ability to ride these moments is the intangible difference between technically masterful musicians and masterful improvisers.
The set closed out with another massive jam in their tune “Rain & Thunder”. An irony of The Higgs seems to be the contrast with their songs and their improv moments. For all the positivity in their lyrics and melodies, their jams are a completely different affair, often times relying on dark textures and foreboding tempos. This contrast helps elevate the feeling of transcendence, the moment you ask “What song is this again?” or catch yourself being introspective because you’ve been getting so deep into the moment. These are moments The Higgs craft in a way that is second nature. After a brief break the band then came out for an encore and played “Change” – a short but sweet way to end a show with a well of highlights. Enjoy!
The Higgs | 2019-01-31 | Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver, CO
-= One Set =-
- (Intro)
- Freddy
- This Town’s A Drag (Cordovas cover)
- Maggie’s Farm (Bob Dylan cover)[1]
- Road Less Traveled
- Rain & Thunder
- (Encore Break)
- Change
Show Notes: This was a late-night set performed as a part of Cervantes’ weekly Thursday-Night Bluegrass residency “Grass For That Ass”. Ponder The Albatross opened the show followed by Armchair Boogie then The Higgs closed out the evening.
[1] “Maggie’s Farm” featured Augie Dougherty (Armchair Boogie) on banjo.
[2] “Rain & Thunder” contained “Hajimemashite” (Umphrey’s McGee) teases.
Taper Notes: Stage right of the soundboard, slightly off-center. Mics raised around 9′ PAS. Board patch thanks to David!
Thank you to The Higgs 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/thehiggs2019-01-31.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix.flac16
LINK: https://archive.org/details/thehiggs2019-01-31.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix.flac16
