This week’s Archive focus goes to not one, but two of my favorite concert recordings ever: KVHW at the Wetlands, 10/16/98 and 10/17/98. KVHW (that’s Kimock, Vega, Hertz, and White) formed in the Bay Area in the Fall of 1998 when longtime Zero collaborators Bobby Vega (Fender bass) and Steve Kimock (various guitars) joined forces with Ray White (former Zappa sideman on guitar and vocals). They grabbed the young and prodigious Alan Hertz (now the drummer for Garaj Mahal) and rocked a few dates on the West Coast. Later that Fall, they ventured to New York’s old live music haven (and jamband incubator), the Wetlands, for a two-night run that opened a ton of eyes and ears to Kimock’s guitar prowess and a really unique sound.

Steve Kimock has been involved in a variety of musical projects, including stints with ex-Grateful Dead members in the Other Ones, on the Furthur Festival tour, and most recently with the Rhythm Devils. Since 2000, he’s also created various formations of the Steve Kimock Band, usually involving Rodney Holmes on drums and with a revolving cast of other musicians on rhythm guitar or keys.

But there’s something special about the sound of KVHW during their first few months as a band in Fall of 1998, and this Wetlands run seems to capture an almost perfect blend of psychedelia rock, blues, and funk. Plenty of jam-friendly fans and guitar-geeks know the music of Steve Kimock, but considering how long he’s been around, I feel like the eternal tonemaster rarely gets his due. And while I definitely still enjoy Kimock in all his formations, I don’t think he has ever played with as funky a bassist as Bobby Vega or such a soulful (and garrulous) frontman as Ray White. And, amazingly, Alan Hertz was only in his early 20s when he played drums with these guys, but he realy held his own keeping the beats tight and funky.

Unfortunately, because it’s an old listing, the Live Music Archive only has the shows available in SHN format, and does not include a streaming function. So, I’ve decided to try something new by creating a compilation of my favorite highlights from the two-night run as a zip file of MP3s.

Here’s what the ZIP includes (with some especially solid segments in bold):

10/16/98:

1. Samba
2. Spring Water
3. Slumber
4. It’s Not Impossible (w/ Grant Green Jr.)
5. Poonk >
6. Cissy Strut (Meters cover) >
7. Poonk
8. Bad Hair

10/17/98:

1. Tangled Hangers
2. It’s Your Thing (Isley Bros. cover) >
3. It’s Not Impossible
4. Spring Water (yes, a 2nd time; the solo is a must-listen, esp. when compared to the version from the night before)
5. Express Yourself (Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd cover)
6. Rocco >
7. Whipping Post jam
8. It’s Up to You

Download: KVHW Fall 1998.zip

And don’t forgot you can let me know what you think in the comments below!

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