Rumors as to the demise of The Aquarium Rescue Unit have been greatly exaggerated.  I was fortunate enough to catch Saturday night of the ARU’s two night stand in Boulder this past weekend.  What I witnessed was nothing short of amazing.  From the first notes of ‘Yield Not To Temptation,’ Jimmy Herring’s guitar lit up the Fox like a Christmas tree.   His relentless licks coupled with the thunderous bass slaps of Oteil Burbridge brought roars from the crowd the entire evening.  After a stellar ‘Workin’ On A Building’, featuring the vocals and harmonization of Oteil, Bobby Lee Rogers took us all into ‘Outerspace.’  This high speed number was a first for me and shook the entire joint.  Col. Bruce Hampton (Ret.) then took a moment to sing happy birthday to Herring, who turned 44 on Saturday.  Later in the evening a member of the crew brought a birthday cake out for Jimmy and the Col. refered to him as “The #1 44-year-old in the world.”

After coming out of the gate hot, the mood came down a few pegs in order for the Col. to slip into his lounge mode.  ARU staples such as ‘Shoeless Joe’ are a great change of pace, which allows the jazz stylings of drummer Apt. Q258 to shine through.  The Zambiland backdrop, which included the Col. hovering overhead in a flying saucer, says it all.  This collaboration operates in the stratosphere, with a level of talent that is rivaled by few acts.  When Oteil starts the intro to ‘Time Is Free’ the entire place is dizzy with anticipation.  This is fitting for the eruption that is forthcoming.  The effort culminates into its pinnacle and I understand what it is to be in Zambiland.  Zambi was a former sound guy for the Col.  Rumor has it he went 250-thousand miles an hour in the Skylab program…backwards.  Zambi broke every bone in his body and became the inspiration and mascot of the ARU. Some may refer to Zambiland as a state of mind, but I choose to think of it as a sound.  A sound that any music junkie must experience to fully understand.

The ARU continued to go about business as usual, playing like a band that tours regularly.  The chemistry on stage is electric and with the grand talent in this band, it is as though they have been together for the last ten years.  The Col. alternates between his stage left microphone and the peddle steel guitar throughout the evening.  This is a different look for the ARU, as I remember the days of the Col.’s Chazoid.  Although I miss the joyful sounds of that little guitar, the Col.’s raunchy, yet fluid strokes on the peddle steel bring a delicious new flavor to the stage.

With Herring and Burbridge passing intense exchanges back and forth across the stage, Bobby Lee showed no problem filling the spot Matt Mundy used to man.  Rogers’ extensive picking on ‘Salty Dog’ left most of us saying “Matt who?” by the end of the evening.  The two hour set came to an end with ‘Compared To What.’  Rogers capped of the tune with a mock trombone solo before the band brought it to a close with a rich jam worthy of a final song.  This of course was not the end.  The Col. doesn’t go anywhere without bellowing out “Turn on Your Lovelight,” and tonight was no different.  The encore would last another ten minutes or so and I am sure the ARU left it all on stage.  I had only seen these guys two other times before in 1992-93 and as I stated before, they have not missed a beat.

It is important to consider what was going on this weekend.  The ARU comes to Boulder to do two nights, with no other shows or tour.  With the huge success of Herring and Burbridge in particular, it must be near impossible to even arrange a tour.  Yet still they all come back to play with “daddy,” Col. Bruce Hampton (Ret.).  The Col. would never claim to have formed this band, in fact I read that Jeff Sipe (Apt. Q258.) is mostly responsible for bringing them together.  The Col.’s ‘Out’ philosophy on music is something that no one could duplicate if they tried.  Since the 60s he has been a unique character in the world of jambands.  Whether he is standing on a pizza (Yes, he did) or starring in “Slingblade,” the Col. has always been the Col.  I have never seen a more engaging presence on stage and a man that personifies everything that we love about music. The Col. has been a mentor and spiritual leader to so many young musicians and that speaks volumes of his character.  No one else has meant more to jambands in the south than Bruce Hampton, and his long relationships with all who come into contact with him testify to that.  I only wish I had gone on Friday night to.   

-- John Greenley for the Grateful Web

Photo Credit: John Greenley

Thumbnail: www.aquariumrescueunit.com/