The Sweet Lillies | 2019-11-21 | Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver, CO [SBD/AUD Matrix]

Can I kick you a recording of The Sweet Lillies headlining Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom(Other Side)? Yes I can.

When you think of Boulder-based act The Sweet Lillies, the first thought that may come to mind when you think of their genre is likely bluegrass… and you wouldn’t be wrong. The band has built a following based on a strong repertoire of traditional bluegrass tunes with a folksy spin that gives them a contemporary flair while feeling classic all the same. But if you were to then think of hip-hop, you also wouldn’t be wrong, as the band has a knack for taking classic 90s hip-hop tunes and re-interpreting them in their own grassy-style. Songs like Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It” and the Beastie Boys’ “Intergalactic Planetary” have been a part of the band’s live show for years. So when the band decided to put on a hip-hop tribute, I–along with a packed house at the Other Sidewas all-in.

Lucky for us, The Sweet Lillies were equally committed. The show was jam-packed with hip-hop classics performed by The Sweet Lillies, accompanied on percussion by none other than Jason Hann of The String Cheese Incident for the entire set. Fans in the building were likely familiar with Hann’s experience with the String Cheese Incident, but what many might not know is just how qualified Jason was for this gig as he played the drums on Dr. Dre groundbreaking “2001” as a member of Isaac Hayes’ band. Needless to say, Jason was a welcome hired-gun for the backing band. Analog Son keyboardist Eric Luba also loaned his skills to the set, providing beautifully nuanced keys work to add vibrancy to each number. The Mercenary Horns also provided key horn-work throughout the set for classic melodies such as the breakdown in “Let Me clear My Throat” or the ominous chorus in Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya”. Front-lady from opener Pixie & The Partygrass Boys, Katia “Pixie” Racine, joined another local talent Grace Clark to help deliver a pointed take on Aaliyah’s hit “Are you That Somebody”. Grace Clark also helped with a bumping version of crowd-favorite “California Love” complete with Jason Hann rapping.

While there were many notable sit-ins, the real MVP of the evening was Sweet Lillies’ violinist Becca Bisque who took on the bulk of vocal duties, delivering a high-energy performance that steered the set. She pretty much nailed every single verse and while she may have done some research and practicing leading up to the show, something tells me this show came from a place of love and Becca probably knew the lyrics to most if not all of these songs for years. This was in addition to her fierce violin work that is such a key element to the Sweet Lillies sound.

The Sweet Lillies put on a truly satisfying bluegrass tribute to hip-hop with a set filled with nostalgia, fast picking, fiddling, and rhymes in all the right places. Its clear that hip-hop will always be a part of The Sweet Lillies sound and as long as the band delivers it with the same enthusiasm and joy as they always have, fans will always be all right with that.

The Sweet Lillies | 2019-11-21 | Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver, CO

-= One Set =-
01. Let Me Clear My Throat (DJ Kool cover)
02. Insane In The Brain (Cypress Hill cover)
03. She’s Crafty (Beastie Boys cover)[1]
04. None Of Your Business (Salt ‘n’ Peppa cover)
05. Intergalactic Planetary (Beastie Boys cover)[2]
06. Love Life (Atmosphere cover)[3]
07. It’s Tricky (Run DMC cover)
08. Can I Kick It? (A Tribe Called Quest cover)[4]
09. Shimmy Shimmy Ya (Ol’ Dirty Bastard cover)
10. California Love (2pac cover)
11. Ladies First (Queen Latifah cover)
12. Freedom (Queen Latifah cover)[5]
13. Are You That Somebody (Aliyah cover)[6]
14. It Takes Two (rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock cover)[6] >
15. Baby Got Back (Sir Mix A lot cover)[6]
16. Iko Iko (Sugar Boy And His Cane Cutters cover)[6]
17. (Banter)
18. Express Yourself (N.W.A. cover)[7]

Show Notes: This show was billed as “Pickin’ On Hip Hop”. Pixie & The Partygrass Boys opened up the show followed by The Sweet Lillies. The entire set featured Jason Hann (The String Cheese Incident) on drums, Eric Luba (Analog Son) on keys and the Mercenary Horns.
[1] “She’s Crafty” featured MJ Ouimette (Tenth Mountain Division) on guitar.
[2] “Intergalactic Planetary” featured Ben Weiss (Pixie & The Partygrass Boys) on mandolin and Grace Clark on additional vocals.
[3] “Lovelife” featured Dan Andre on fiddle.
[4] “Can I Kick It?” featured Jacob Moss (Part & Parcel) on additional guitar and Grace Clark on additional vocals.
[5] “Freedom” featured Grace Clark on vocals.
[6] “Are You That Somebody”, “It Takes Two”, “Baby Got Back” and “Iko Iko” featured Katia “Pixie” Racine (Pixie & The Partygrass Boys) and Grace Clark on additional vocals.
[7] “Express Yourself” featured Katia “Pixie” Racine (Pixie & The Partygrass Boys) and Grace Clark on additional vocals, and Dan Andre on the fiddle.

Taper Notes: Directly stage-right of the soundboard. Mics raised around 7′ PAS. Board patch and mix thanks to Corey Ballentine.

Thank you to The Sweet Lillies 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/TheSweetLillies2019-11-21.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix.flac16