Funkified Friday: Jeremy Dien and the Scott Wiggins Band

Ok, I know I said I was going to take December off from going out to shows so I could afford to buy Christmas presents. However, I did get some new sponsors, so I’ll probably be out a few times this month. Friday I had to go out anyway, to pick up a copy of The Edge Magazine with the article on SA Rocks in it. So, while we were out, we decided to drop by Jack’s, where several bands were playing and Jeremy Dien was recording for a live DVD.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get there in time to catch Slick Dickens or Rockus Circus, but we did hear most of the Scott Wiggins Band’s set, all of Jeremy Dien’s set, and a little of Marty Lat. on the second stage. Great show by all!

Scott Wiggins Band

The Scott Wiggins Band is a 5-piece country/rock band from Corpus Christi, TX (where I grew up...go Corpus!). As we walked in, grabbed a beer and found a table, they were playing a rock ballad and some girls were twirling each other around on the dance floor. Next up, they played Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” and lead guitarist Jason Furjardo jumped down onto the dance floor and played a mean solo, spinning and dancing all over as he played. I thought about trying to get a picture of this, but he was going so fast I think I would have just gotten a blur!


The next song was an original, a southern bluesy rock number. I couldn’t quite catch the name of it, something like “Candle Rock.” It was followed by some Cory Morrow and some Cross Canadian Ragweed. Finally, for their last song, they obliged the crowd, who had been yelling for them to play their original “If You Could Only See,” this song having more of a country sound. You can find it and three other songs on their MySpace page.

While they broke down and Jeremy Dien’s band set up, we were treated to quite a variety of music from Marty Lat. on the second stage. He has a great voice (reminded me a little of Bob Dylan at times) and did everything from folk to reggae to country.

Jeremy Dien

Then Jeremy Dien came on stage and announced that they were recording for a live DVD and he wanted people to get up and dance. So, as they broke into their first song, a lone guy leapt out on the dance floor and began doing a funky dance that went perfectly with the funky jazzy bluesy folksy sound that is Jeremy Dien.

I don’t know the names of all of Jeremy Dien’s songs, so I can’t give you a complete setlist, but I can name some highlights. There was a great song with a bunch of what Staci wrote down as “nodiggity’s.” A funkified version of BTO’s “Taking Care of Business.” Some amazing trumpet solos! A great jazzy bass solo. The ever-popular “Disappearing Blues,” which you can hear on the mp3 jukebox above. The “Bull Blaster Blues,” done while ordering bull blasters to the stage. And a great bluesy number at the end, accompanied by some Pulp Fiction-style dancing on the dance floor.

We had a great time and enjoyed chatting and listening to little more Marty Lat. as we made our way out. Can’t wait to get one of those live DVD’s!