2020/8/14 Cosmic @ Woodbridge HS
Mayor John McCormack and Cosmic seem to have figured out what Live Nation and the rest of the live music world has yet to do … how to put on live shows that prioritize safety and maximize good times. Granted, the formula applies differently for bands that draw hundreds (as opposed to those for whom the demand reaches five and even six figures), but with Woodbridge Township’s blessing, booking bands that draw hundreds to play a field that could easily hold five thousand or more has been a winning formula. As Mayor John will host over fifty free concerts (!) this summer to buoy the spirit of his constituents and those in surrounding areas, Cosmic has now been tapped for two shows in the same locale utilizing gaps in Woodbridge’s five-nights-a-week schedule. Notably, those are the only two shows in which money has changed hands and all of the proceeds were utilized to benefit Woodbridge Addiction Services. On that note, thank you to Chris Powers for facilitating the relationship between Cosmic and Woodbridge Township and making these shows possible for local fans. As Powers would say after the show, “Helping people makes me happy.” Music and charity, huh? Heady stuff and a marriage made in heaven, to be sure. {See the Freaks Action Network as a model for music/charity that’s near and dear to my heart.}
So for the second time since July 15th, Cosmic played behind Woodbridge High School, this time with a professional sound company, concert engineers, and a lighting director in tow, giving them the sound and appearance of a band on the Stone Pony Summer Stage rather than a local band playing a trailer stage behind a neighborhood school. More needs to be said about the stage setup, the most professional I’ve seen since The Brothers at MSG on March 10. Line arrays of speakers filled the vast field with crystal clear sound at an impressive decibel level, still concert volume at the back of the field and slightly more mind altering from my spot next to the soundboard. On more than one occasion, I noted that a lesser configuration would probably have fallen short, especially on some of the more tender moments that required maximum clarity and fullness of sound without stressing the system. Even “Space” was enjoyable, a tribute to the sound team as much as the band and its brevity.
“Jack Straw” took the lead slot, with alternating verses and beautiful harmonies from guitarist Michael Jaskewicz and bassist John “Jelly Roll” Nemeth. After a couple of originals including a debut of “Restless Heart”, the band exploded with a duo of covers from Phish and The Talking Heads, “Sand” and “Cities”, respectively, that took the crowd’s energy levels to a fever pitch. Having officially sweat through the shirt that I no longer wore, I settled down for another original before a glorious cover of Robert Hunter’s “Promontory Rider”, perhaps realizing that this may in fact be the first time I’ve ever seen this song live, enjoying every last second of it. Circling back to their own catalog which is formidable, mind you, I was temporarily fooled as the first of the next two debut originals sounded a little like The Velvet Underground’s “Oh! Sweet Nuthin” before veering off in a different direction.
Keyboardist Billy Siegel continues to wow in a voice hauntingly similar to Brent Mydland’s as the band next covered “Far From Me”. “Cumberland Blues” closed the set with an exclamation point, leaving me in need of the impending set break to catch my breath.
So much love and praise to Cosmic for being at the center of such a loving and tight knit community. I’ve seen so many of the same faces from show to show, many of whom have become friends and it’s a beautiful thing to be a part of (#cosmicnaut for life). In the same spirit, the vending they encourage and the variety of incredible talent and local homemade crafts really completes the scene. Buy local 🙂
The second set was a master class in psychedelic Grateful Dead, with gorgeous covers of “Uncle John’s Band” > “St. Stephen” complete with the “William Tell Bridge” > “The Eleven”. Truly cosmic and another opportunity to appreciate not just the massive soundscape coming from the stage but the light show that accompanied it. “Crooked Tree” occupied a big spot in the setlist and Jaskewicz delivered with particularly stirring and heartfelt vocals to accompany Nemeth’s rolling bass lines. A pair of debut originals sandwiched a cover of Ween’s “Roses Are Free” before Dan Donovan got to work for a seriously energetic “Drums” whose vibe was more Burning Man than Grateful Dead.
Just as the air was heavy with lavender and Nag Chompa, I was again taken by the enormity of the sound, without which this portion of the show may have fallen flat, as the rest of Cosmic returned to the stage one by one for “Space”. Nowhere was that more true than in the complex “Dark Star” that followed, so full and perfect and predictable, even if I somehow failed to see it coming after a setlist that teed it up perfectly.
“The Other One” rainbow spiralled round and round before the band found complete silence in a dead stop, then trembled and exploded, captained by Cowboy Neal at the wheel of the bus to never ever land. A Cosmic affirmation of life, this song was worth the price of admission all its own, at least the fifth or sixth such moment to this point in the show. There would be more, not least of all “We Are Divine”, an original that has knocked me on my ass each of the three times I’ve seen it.
Cosmic has the encore thing down to a science and Friday night was no exception. “China Doll”, emotionally stirring and delicate while simultaneously big and powerful, gave the crowd its last fix of all things Jerry Garcia. I’d have gone home happy right then and there but that would’ve robbed me of the icing on the cake … the funkiest version of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (2001) that I can remember with a dance party to match. While the rhythm drove the funk, as it is always wont to do, Siegel and Jaskewicz have shown a propensity for funk that just lights me up.
These nights with these people have brought so much joy and community. To bring it back full circle, if you share in my appreciation, let it show in some way. Tip the band. Donate to Woodbridge Addiction Services or any other cause that is near and dear to you. If you desire a suggestion, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) could use our help as I’m sure Cosmic and others would love to play the Stone Pony or Garcia’s at some point in the near future instead of Woodbridge HS or the Asbury Elks Lodge. #saveourstages
16,006 steps of scarf waving exuberance.
Setlist …
Set One: Jack Straw, *Salad Days, *^Restless Heart, Sand > Cities, *War That Can’t Be Won, Promontory Rider, *^Where Are The Angels, *^Raised Upon a Fire, Far From Me > Cumberland Blues
Set Two: *Bloom, Uncle John’s Band > St. Stephen > WIlliam Tell Bridge > The Eleven > *Crooked Tree, *^Birds of a Feather, Roses Are Free, *^Butterflies > Drums > Space > Dark Star > The Other One > *We Are Divine
Encore: China Doll > Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)
