Groovin Ground

When you stick this CD in and press play- giant buckets of FUNK will immediately start pouring out of your speakers- and all over the floor of your pad. Your roof will rip open, the Mothership will land in your livingroom- and George Clinton and Bootsy Collins will come groovin on out. But right when you put your rainbow afro wig and platform boots on- it all takes a sharp turn. Who’s that stepping out of the giant saucer too? Frank Zappa and Jerry Garcia.

That’s what you can expect here. These guys have a groove-oriented thing going on that’s constantly unpredictable and always changing direction. More than a few times you’ll hear something and wonder how they did what just came out of your speakers. I think from time to time there must be something computerized happening, but most of the instrumentation is obviously real. (I’d like to see these guys live to see if they can really do what’s on this CD.)


This music gives me faith in our musical future. Its proof positive that risk taking and creativity is still being done, and all "hippie jam bands" weren’t created equal. It’s also a testament to Bill Hick’s rant about how pot has done some good things in our lives. (If only I could get hooked up to the fine stuff they’re getting…)


All the musicians involved are obviously good- but keyboardist Dustin Bozarth seems to be the center. With a 70’s soaked sound that bounces from P-funk to YES era art rock, you can visualize the Leslie speaker cabinet whirring away at breakneck speeds just over his head. Sure a lot of what’s going down here is a tribute to what’s already been done, and originality might not be their strong suit. But that doesn’t matter much when you’re seriously groovin, does it? (I might also say that the vocals are sometimes marginal, but not so much that you forget how much fun you’re having.)


Merging old school funk with old school art rock in a jam band format is a pretty monumental task. One takes one head, and the other requires the other- if you know what I mean. How they keep all that libido and intellect under control is something I can’t figure out. What I do know is, these guys experiment and take some serious risks in an age when hardly anyone else is- so this CD gets a high score from me. I can’t wait to hear what these guys do next. Is it really possible to please the deadheads, the funksters and the art rockers all at the same time? Apparently it is- if you’re lucky enough to live in Atown.


-Maria Mesa,
Atown Records - Austin Daze Magazine

There was a time, back in the early nineties, when a group of proto-jambands all pushed their way up through the clubs and concert halls at the same time. Such was the soup from which the original HORDE tour emerged. Looking back, at Dave Mathew’s Band, Phish and even a much fatter John Popper, it seems like it was the golden age of jam style music. Now that Dave Mathews is a huge corporation, Phish is dead and Popper is thin, perhaps it’s time for some new jambands to grow up for the next crowd of college age kids looking for more challenging music.


Groovin' Ground has the potential to rise to the lofty heights of those past giants, as all of the important qualities are present in their magical music. They are extremely accomplished musicians, playing complicated passages with joy and grace. They’re masters of many different styles of roots music, from jazz and funk to folk, and they mix it up well with modern beats and breaks to produce a tasty shake. The lyrics are sharp and poignant in places, complete nonsense in others. There are just enough horns to keep it popping, but not enough to be over powering. As a jam experience, Groovin’ Ground is pretty flawless.


Their new album, Dome, is a monument to Jam culture. Every song is different and interesting, and they’re all tied together exquisitely. Some songs are pretty: “Arrow” and “Prisms” are beautiful and delicate on multiple levels. Some, like “Wiggin’” for instance, cook so hard they make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. But the best songs are elaborate compositions, filled with intricate rhythms followed by scorching improvisation. “Marmaduke Surfaceblow” is one of those; it’s a powerhouse of a song, a real joy.


What amazing, delightful music this is. It’s not too heavy or sweet. It makes you think, and it gets deeper with every listen. As a stand alone album, Dome works well: The pacing is outstanding and there are lots of cool cues from song to song. Making a solid album is a difficult task for most jambands - Groovin’ Ground did it on their first try. Maybe it’s beginner’s luck, but somehow I doubt it. It just works so well on so many levels.


It really does get better after every listen. That is such an important quality in improvisational music. If you like jam bands, here’s the heads up - this has the potential to be big. The time is ripe for a new crop of jambands to take off, and if Groovin' Ground is any indication of the freshman class there’s a lot to be excited about. They’re every bit as good as their predecessors. Jam music has a bright future in this band - Glide Magazine