Big Meat Energetic At Tequila Cove

Tequila Cove patrons got a taste of some Big Meat Friday night. Big Meat, the jam band from northeast Connecticut, rocked on for more than two hours to a small crowd. Friday was quite the frigid night and few people made the journey to the Cove, but those people who did show up at the bar received quite the show.

Big Meat, a band full of energy and spunk, were an all-around good time. Big Meat consisted of a foursome whose unique sound kept heads bobbing throughout the night.

Bass player Ryan Marks explained that Big Meat's music is everything good combined into one, "like a hot dog." Marks went on to explain that every show they play is never the same.

"We might play the same exact set two nights in a row, but it's still completely different," Marks said.

The band will start playing one song but then transition into another. Big Meat showed this when they started their show with their own song "Lost My Head" then proceeded into David Bowie's "Fame" and then switched back into "Lost My Head."

Big Meat has been compared to bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish. They, however, continually break these comparisons by playing songs with other influences such as Latin in their tune "Amigos, Amigos, Amigos." The catchy tune had some bar-goers getting up and dancing like the threesome from Steve Martin's movie "The Three Amigos."

Big Meat's name is a mystery to not only their fans, but to themselves as well.

"One day it just happened. We can't change it, it just became a part of us," said guitarist Kevin Rees.

Big Meat plays up to two or three shows a week and is going on a mini-tour in Vermont next weekend. They don't have a new CD out yet but are planning to have one out later this year.

"There is no rush, we'll take a long time to do it well," said guitarist Dan Griffith.

Along with playing their own tunes, Big Meat covered Van Halen's "Running with the Devil" and Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre's "Gin n' Juice," which was received with much praise from the audience.

The band loves to play for college students. "They're always ready to go," Griffith said. The crowd accepted and enjoyed what the band had to offer. Lauren Kallimem, a 6th- semester elementary education major, usually comes to Tequila Cove when bands play.

"They are really good and entertaining," said Kallimem.

"We want to create something powerful to get people up and dance," said Griffith.

Throughout the night Big Meat kept the energy high and played on for two intense sets. They were very personable with their viewers, taking shots with them and encouraging them to get up and dance.

Big Meat surprised its audience with a medley of songs from Nintendo's Super Mario Brothers, which was fun for both the band and its listeners.

The band's unique lyrics like, "I can't sleep even with a glass of wine in Rome" followed by Big Meat's funky chords and riffs made this jam worth a viewing.

"The weirder the better," said Griffith as he described Big Meat and their antics.

The band is all about having fun and improvisation. In recent performances the band has worn crazy outfits consisting of Mario Brothers' attire, hot dog hats, and much more.

To hear, watch and learn more about Big Meat, check out their web site at www.bigmeatmusic.com.