J Neo Marvin & the Content Providers Hotel Utah (June 16, 2003) After the successful CD release party performances, it was time for the Content Providers to expand their repertoire as a live band. Next up on the list was an open mic feature at the Hotel Utah. Now the Hotel Utah is no normal open mic however. It is one of the most well reknown open mics in the country and widely regarded as the best open mic in San Francisco. It is not just the orthodox singer / songwriter plebeians on display at the Utah: it is a place frequented by beatniks, poets, musician, comedians and god knows what else. Left: Sound checking with Hotel Utah host Bob. Every Monday night is Open Mic at the Utah and this includes a 30-45 minute performance by a feature artist. Neo has done several feature performances as a solo artist however this was his first time with a full band. The affixed lineup included the return of Franco Reguzzoni (keys), Davis Jones (keyboards, vox, avocado), Pam Davis (rhythm guitar, vox), Alan Korn (bass) and Mike Walsh (percussion) while being joined by new Content Providers Frank Luv (woodwind) and Cynthia wigginton (violin). The set list was definitely a personal favorite for me as I got to play all three of my instruments; including the cumbus on "Fiscal Year Zero" and the organ on "Primate House" and of course the guitar on the rest of the songs. But this was definitely a collective effort as the Providers roared through a sensational 45 minute six song set which had the crowd fully entranced. Gone was the volatile synchronicity that was conspicuously apparent at the Make Out Room show the previous month. While there was nothing palpably wrong with the Make Out Room gig, this was just a better performance all round as the Content Providers had, in that short month in between, grown tighter as a live unit. Each Provider played with an, erm should I say, exalted vigor and confidence unseen before. The rhythm section, compromising of Alan and Mike, were as tight as could be. Cynthia "spread butter all over everything", as one member of the audience put it, with her majestic violin playing- while yours truly acquitted avant-garde monkey noises from his amplifier and an out of tune cumbus. The band soaked up a psychedelic lather that buttressed Neo's incandescent songs. The songs were all off of the recently released What is Truth?, starting off with the mellow "Are You A Good Witch...." before breaking into the punkish "Dear Emma" .... a track originally written in honor of the late anarchist Emma Goldman, however dedicated to Patty Smith this time around, whom we had just seen perform for free in a Berkeley Park, as well as "all other unruly women".... Nevertheless, both would have un-doubtfully agreed with Neo on this one, who shouts, ".... we keep on talking about how free we are, while kings and bosses get their way as always...." We ended with the epic "Primate House" before breaking into a cover of Donovan's "Sunshine Superman", in which Mike Walsh took over as lead vocals. We left to a standing ovation from a fully satisfied audience and there was even some talk of "best feature performance ever..." I'm not sure about that but the Content Providers have definitely done their reputation as a live band no harm whatsoever. Questions or comments: e-mail @ glennaldo_sf@hotmail.com UR# Back to Content Providers Page