The Philly Music Scene!

If you stopped onto this site in mid-December, Grassrootsy reference an article by successful musician Danny Barnes: How To Make a Living Playing Music. Great article that I recommend everyone read from top to bottom. ...

Captain Zig is a group of guys whose desire is to make the best music they can. Combining an eclectic and sometimes eccentric mix of music with a sense of humor, Zig attempts to capture the crowd from the first song of the set. Captain Zig brings it all to the table for... the folks who care to listen. Born from the ashes of earlier bands The Need, Funk and Wagnals Family, and Tree Climbers Guild, Captain Zig formed in Easton, PA in spring 1999 by founding members Joe Makowski (keyboards & vocals), Bill Haberer (vocals & guitar), Chris Condel (drums & vocals), and Keith McCrary (bass & vocals). Captain Zig formed with a common love for bands like Phish, Rush, The Beatles, Jethro Tull, Ween, Grand Funk Railroad, Metallica, Dave Matthews Band, and The Meters. Zig's musical abilities span beyond jamband to include funk, bluegrass, reggae, hard rock, and progressive rock. Zig treats their audience to a relentless comedic style that is also musically and lyrically intelligent and challenging. Captain Zig recorded all four of their albums exclusively at SI Studios, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Their classic sophmore album Captain Zig II (Force Fed) earned them a slot opening for Phish lyricist The Dude of Life. With the release of Force Fed, Captain Zig received ample air time in many cities across the United States. On December 30, 2001, radio DJ Bill Wright (Annapolis, Maryland) listed Captain Zig's Force Fed album at 19 on WRNR's "Roadtrippin'Top 30 CD's of 2001" chosen over bands like the Disco Biscuits and the North Mississippi Allstars. Furthermore, WRNR and WZZO 95.1 FM Allentown, PA regularly spun "Timmy's Got a Beaver" , turning it into a minor radio hit. In 2002, Captain Zig recorded their acclaimed concept album The Adventures of Stephen and Eunice and continued playing many high profile shows throughout Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey - including a gig opening for ex-Monkee Peter Tork. After the recording of their Let the Air Out Slowly album in 2004, founding member and Captain Zig keyboardist Joe Makowski had passed away in August 2005. Between 2006 and 2008, Bill Haberer and Keith McCrary began writing material for a brand new Captain Zig CD. The band is set to record a new album in February 2010. Also in 2010, Captain Zig will be re-releasing early studio albums on CDBaby.

grunge / psychedelia