Big Island Shindig

Artist Information

Biography

High Five

Big Island Shindig's new album High Five is one huge, dancing, air guitar playing, twirling, making out, smoking, sing-along party in a jewel case. Toe-tapping songs, crisp production and great musicianship make this a top example of the amazing artistry coming out of the Pacific Northwest. - Brad Lee Brenner, KMHD-FM

Released in 2006, the disc sends listeners on a spiraling musical joyride, with a sonic genre-hop of bluegrass, southern rock, world beat, jazz and numerous other influences. Sometimes improvisational, but never random, the band mixes sweet honey jam with tasty rock ‘n’ roll arrangements. Add in lyrics that make you ponder one minute, laugh out loud the next, and never fail to tell a story, Big Island Shindig’s music delights listeners of all kinds with its soul-freeing appeal.

Taking it to the Street

A rising star on the West Coast scene, Big Island Shindig is unstoppable when it comes to getting their groove on. Gigging constantly throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho, the band has shared the stage with legends such as Big Brother and the Holding Company and Melvin Seals and the JGB, as well as bands like Umphrey’s McGee, New Monsoon, Garaj Mahal and countless others. Performances at outdoor festivals, including this year’s Shakedown Festival, Shining Stars Festival and SCI’s Living Dream Experience in 2003 constantly add to an exploding fan base. The band’s club gigs are always a party, with frequent themed shows ranging from the “Underwater Disco Aquarium” to the “Ghostbuster’s Halloween” that transform venues into interactive community celebrations.

Couldn’t make it to the last show? No worries. Big Island Shindig is all about sharing the music, making a vault of live, “unreleased” performances available for free to their fans worldwide.

Bringing the Feeling, Together

Big Island Shindig literally “came out of the woods” in 2002, making their debut as the unofficial house band at Horning’s Hideout. Based in Portland, OR, the band was formed by singer/guitarist Nathan Day who added Noah Bell and his down and dirty lead guitar flavors. Next came powerhouse drummer Justin Fulbright and bassist Josh Casey to form the most dynamic rhythm section around. Finally, Bell recruited fellow Missouri-native and transcendent keys player Jim Montgomery to complete the mix.

In studio and on stage, five individuals melt into an organic unit, trading off vocals, licks, technical brilliance and unstoppable collective energy to transform into a singular behemoth of infectious boogie.

All Who Wander Are Not Lost

Big Island Shindig takes music to a higher ground by creating not only an unparalleled listening experience, but true sense of community, as well. The band’s shows create a special place in time for audience members to forget their troubles and lose themselves in the energy of a shared musical experience. A night with the Big Island Shindig turns strangers into friends and friends into family. And the family just keeps on growing. Thanks for coming along!

Instrumentation

Noah Bell - guitars & vocals
Nathan Day - vocals & guitars
Justin Fulbright - drums & vocals
Jim Montgomery - keyboards & organ
Josh Casey - bass

Discography

Big Island Shindig
High Five
© 2006 Big Island Shindig

Track List:
1. The Top
2. Chemical Nation
3. Mary
4. Smooth Criminal
5. Bubble Popped
6. Gamblin' House
7. Ethan's Song
8. Pinocchio Blues
9. Hope
10. Hair Tonic
11. Another In The Line
12. Sweet Potato Red

Big Island Shindig
Living Like We Love It
© 2004 Big Island Shindig

Track List:
1. Water Song
2. The Bug
3. Drop
4. Catching An Edge
5. The Way The Game Is Played
6. Bacon
7. The Pot Thickens
8. Old Dan Tucker
9. Helplessly Hoping
10. Living

Official Website

http://www.bigislandshindig.com

Audio

• The Top
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• Smooth Criminal
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• Another In The Line
  Listen   Download

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• New Year's Eve '06 - Review - [+ Show ]
  

  Big Island Shindig Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR - 12/31/2005 Jason Gershuny Wednesday, Janu...
  Big Island Shindig
  Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR - 12/31/2005
  Jason Gershuny
  Wednesday, January 25, 2006
  
  Having ventured more than 3000 miles for my last New Year’s extravaganza, I decided a more local approach would suit the bill to ring in 2006. By the night’s end I was in no way disappointed, and in fact I was pleasantly surprised. I live in the heart of a wonderful city (Portland Oregon) and spent my New Years Eve traversing three separate gathering/parties and dancing at one joyous local concert that matched up two local musical staples Asbury Park and Big Island Shindig.
  
  The Hawthorne Theater (formally Conan’s) is located at the heart of the Hawthorne district in South East Portland. This part of town is known for its laid back restaurants, countless bars, a multitude of head shops and various music venues. The new owners have opened the theater by moving the bar to the center of the room instead of it being a clog in the artery of the venue. Before the move it was difficult to circumnavigate the bar because the bar’s location created a human flow issue.
  
  The theme for the night was the “Alice in Electric Ladyland” which combined aspects of the classic Lewis Carroll story Alice in Wonderland, with the psychedelic insanity of Jimi Hendrix’s classic album Electric Ladyland. As we walked into the venue we had to step through the looking glass (or mylar curtain) to enter the festivities. The whole stage and hall was elaborately decorated, to create this thematic mirage. Mad hatters, Cheshire Cats and Alices of all proportions filled the room. There were false doors pasted to the walls that led to nowhere yet contained some written hidden truth. There was also a well constructed shrinking hallway that gave the illusion that the room was closing in around you as you moved forward.
  
  Any quality production like this would also need a good light show for the concert, and the liquid light show that was projected on the wall was quite impressive. It was as if we stepped back into a psychedelic Pink Floyd concert from the sixties. The coup de gra was the giant glow in the dark mushroom on stage that had the caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland sitting atop with hookah in hand. There was even rumors of a tea party floating about. The artistic display that adorns the theater was obviously made with a lot of love and care, and the creators of the livable art deserve recognition for their efforts.
  
  We arrived just in time for the Big Island Shindig show opener of The Top. The Shindig’s set was full of energetic positive songs that also featured a splattering of Jimi Hendrix staples throughout the show including fun versions of "3rd Stone from the Sun" and "Crosstown Traffic." The Shindig did a great job of emulating Jimi Hendrix as we danced, laughed, and celebrated life.
  
  A high energy Shindig original "Disco Mary," or on this night "Disco Alice," rung in the New Year on a seriously grooving note. As the countdown was going on the human Alice stepped behind a curtain with her drink me potion, and as the New Year struck, a giant Alice stepped from behind the curtain to dance with all of us. It was these little touches that made the evening all the more enjoyable. Hugs, smiles, cheers were all abound, as Portland welcomed in 2006 in style.

• Shindig Experience [+ Show ]
  

  Big Island Shindig On Saturday, November 12, the Connecticut Yankee in San Francisco will expe...Big Island Shindig
  
  On Saturday, November 12, the Connecticut Yankee in San Francisco will experience a little added flavor. The Big Island Shindig is coming to town and pulling out all the stops and whistles along the way.
  
  Nov. 12th
  Connecticut Yankee
  100 Connecticut St.
  San Francisco, CA 94107
  9 pm
  
  Not only will the Big Island Shindig bring their grooves to the Connecticut Yankee, they will be bringing special guest opener David Gans with them. Along side their performance in San Francisco, the band will also be appearing on Gans' radio show, "Dead to the World," on Wednesday Nov. 9th from 9-10 pm.
  
  Featuring a wide variety of music style, the Big Island Shindig is an infusion of funk and southern/psychedelic rock with a subtle bluegrass influence. No matter the song, Big Island Shindig has a way of making their audiences move to the music and become part of the show.
  
  The Big Island Shindig is gaining ground fast in the Pacific Northwest having shared the stage with jamband favorites Melvin Seals & JGB, New Monsoon, Umphrey’s McGee, Garaj Mahal, ALO, Global Funk, Railroad Earth as well as Big Brother and the Holding Company.
  
  Their thought provoking lyrics and story-telling ability make them a crowd favorite. They will leave you pondering one moment and laughing out loud the next.
  
  The Big Island Shindig live experience is just that- an experience. They have been known to frequently theme their shows, transforming venues into a whole new scene ranging from an "Underwater Disco" to a "Ghostbusters Halloween" extravaganza.
  
  With San Francisco in mind, KyndMusic.com raved about The Big Island Shindig saying, "They'll make you so happy that you'll want to move to 'Big Island' the way the Grateful Dead made you want to move to San Francisco."
  
  
  
  Additional tour dates for the Big Island Shindig include:
  11.08 | Six Rivers Brewery - McKinleyville, CA
  11.09 | Dead to the World - 94.1 KPFA - Hosted by David Gans
  11.10 | Pioneer Saloon - Woodside, CA
  11.11 | Brookdale Lodge - Brookdale, CA (w/ Dave Stein Band)
  11.12 | Connecticut Yankee - San Francisco, CA (w/ David Gans)
  11.13 | The Sweetwater - Mill Valley, CA (w/David Gans)
  
  http://www.bigislandshindig.com
  
  [Published on 11/3/2005]
  

• "Living Like We Love It" - Review - Kyndmusic 05/05 [+ Show ]
  

  By Dave Terpeny There have been multiple studies of music’s effect on the brain. And, fascinatin...By Dave Terpeny
  
  There have been multiple studies of music’s effect on the brain. And, fascinatingly, studies on children, adults, seniors, college students and even monkeys have shown improved memory, learning skills and spatial relation skills.
  
  In addition, as Mickey Hart discussed in our recent interview (see below), music therapy has shown promising results in treating the affliction of Alzheimer's, depression, Parkinson's and autism. Again, amazingly, the Society for Neuroscience in Los Angeles has discovered direct evidence that music stimulates specific regions of the brain responsible for memory, motor control, timing, language and even emotional response.
  
  Of course, music aficionados don’t need to be told about music’s effects, especially regarding emotional response and especially here in the Jam scene, where there are so many bands that create music that is positive and uplifting.
  
  Big Island Shindig is one of those bands. Their debut album, Living Like We Love It, is surprisingly taut and complete. The sound is crisp, the production is vibrant and the songs are, bar none, well-crafted and vibe-creating.
  
  Whether they are twisting the instrumental jazz jam “Catching An Edge” around your head, rocking you real old school style with a rousing rendition of the traditional “Old Dan Tucker” or throwing some island vibes at you with the semi-title track “Living,” these Portland, OR natives will make you happy.
  
  And they’ll make you so happy that you’ll want to move to ‘Big Island’ the way the Grateful Dead made you want to move to San Francisco. I can see it now; a beachside shack, selling baubles to tourists and cranking Big Island Shindig.
  

• New Year's Eve '04 Preview [+ Show ]
  

  The high-rolling hippies will be grooving to Stieve Kimock at the Crystal tonight, but the rank- (no...The high-rolling hippies will be grooving to Stieve Kimock at the Crystal tonight, but the rank- (no pun intended, I swear) and-file freaks will doubtless congregate at this Hawthore standby. Two trusty local outfits, up-and-coming jam-band faves Big Island Shindig and seasoned boogiers Buds of May, will shake off the past year's bum trips. Start the new year with a bon-I mean bang! (JR)

• 03/26/05 A&E Preview [+ Show ]
  

  Popular jam-band, Big Island Shindig returns to Conan's where the group performed a successful New Y...Popular jam-band, Big Island Shindig returns to Conan's where the group performed a successful New Year's Eve show. Jujuba also performs.

Setlist

Big Island Shindig - ORIGINAL TUNES

1. AM Escape – Nathan Day
2. Another In The Line – Nathan Day
3. Are You Ready – Noah Bell
4. Bacon – Noah Bell
5. Beauty of a Beast – Nathan Day
6. Bubble Popped – Noah Bell
7. Catching An Edge – Jim Montgomery
8. Chocolate Kind – Nathan Day
9. Chuggin’ – Nathan Day
10. Daddy’s Gun – Noah Bell
11. Dropdemedley – Nathan Day
12. Ethan’s Song – Nathan Day
13. Gunfighter’s Lament – Noah Bell
14. Hair Tonic – Noah Bell
15. Helplessly Hoping – Nathan Day
16. Hideout – Tyler Stauss
17. Hope – Nathan Day
18. I’ll Guide You – Noah Bell
19. Living – Nathan Day
20. Lovespell – Noah Bell
21. Mary – Noah Bell
22. Missing Link – Nathan Day
23. More Time – Nathan Day
24. My Back Stairs – Noah Bell
25. My Friend – Noah Bell
26. Never Call Him Daddy – Noah Bell
27. Northbound – Nathan Day
28. Old Dan Tucker – Trad. Arrg. Noah Bell
29. On The Way – Tyler Stauss
30. Paris – Noah Bell
31. Pinnochio Blues – Noah Bell
32. Rumprash – Nathan Day
33. Seven – Noah Bell
34. Sing Your Hiss – Nathan Day
35. Sooner or Later – Noah Bell
36. Sweet Potato Red – Jim Montgomery
37. The Bug – Noah Bell
38. The Picker – Noah Bell
39. The Pot Thickens – Jim Montgomery
40. The Way The Game Is Played – Noah Bell
41. These Words – Nathan Day
42. Water Song – Nathan Day
43. Widow’s Hive – Nathan Day

Big Island Shindig * TUNES WE LIKE TO COVER

1. American Flyer – Bob Dylan
2. Anthony’s Song (Moving Out) – Billy Joel
3. Battle Of New Orleans – Traditional Arrg. Noah Bell
4. Bye, Bye, Blues – Doc Watson
5. Can’t Be Satisfied – Muddy Waters
6. Catfish John – Old and In The Way
7. Celebration – Kool & The Gang
8. Crawdad Song – Traditional
9. Don’t Think Twice – Bob Dylan
10. Drunken Sailor – Traditional
11. Fragglerock
12. Franklin’s Tower – GD
13. Good Hearted Woman – Willie Nelson
14. Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
15. I Know You Ryder – Traditonal GD
16. Jungle Boogie – Kool & The Gang
17. Keep Me Wondering – Allman Brothers
18. Kingston Kuties – Barney Kessel
19. Kissing My Love – Bill Withers
20. Lonesome Fiddle Blues – Old and In The Way
21. Love, Please Come Home – Old and In The Way
22. Make Me Down A Pallet – Doc Watson
23. More Pretty Girls – Doc Watson
24. Old Home Place – Old and In The Way
25. On The Road – Willie Nelson
26. POW – Beastie Boys
27. Rain and Snow – GD
28. Rumpshaker – Karl Denson
29. Shady Grove – David Grisman/Jerry Garcia
30. Soul Island – The Meters
31. Southern Lady – Doc Watson
32. Theme from Ghostbuster
33. Theme from Hawaii 5-0
34. Theme from Star Wars
35. Things Ain’t The Same – Mercer Ellington
36. Wear It Well – Rod Stewart
37. Wind and Rain – David Grisman/Jerry Garcia

Basic Requirements

Calendar