Government Grown
Live on the Coast Again
review=B

Government Grown smokes concert stages like Cheech and Chong suck down bong hits - with a smile. The buzz is infectious. They know it and so do their fans. Releasing a live album was a no-brainer. Now everybody can burn some fresh GG in the privacy of their own headphones.

-Live on the Coast Again-, was recorded at a show last July in San Diego, GG’s original hometown. No overdubs. No mixing and matching the best versions of songs from as many shows. Nope. -Live- is just one random night’s worth of uncut, high grade sonic stimuli from a jam happy quartet. It was a good night. For starters, GG’s music is danceable. Drummer/lead vocalist Jeremy Moss is a one man, four piston rhythm engine. Bass player Harley Orion rumbles low end grooves with melodic, rock phrases that perfectly compliment guitarist Tyler Hardwick, and keyboard player Rob Lamonic’s psychedelic-Afro-Caribbean textural interplay. There’s lots of energy here. Plenty of dynamics too. Although big on improv, the G-men’s extended jams are adventures, more compelling than most cut-loose-and-noodle outfits currently blowing smoke up the jamband scene’s tie-dyed peasant skirt. Toss in a little sound tribe spirituality, lyrics with substance and a focus on fun, and it’s easy to see why GG decided to do it, -Live On the Coast Again-.