When did you come up with the idea of the Freaks Ball and who were some of the other music fans you invited to that event? I believe it was initially opened to members of the Galactic and String Cheese mailing lists.

A: Pretty much purely by word of mouth the Freaks list grew pretty quickly in the first year and proved to be a community of real people, not just random email addresses in your inbox every day. As the one-year anniversary came around I thought it would be fun to do a kind of private party and, of course, have some live music as part of it if possible. It was pretty ad hoc, but we did have enough connections and know-how through the list to actually throw together an actual Freaks “gig” at Tribeca Blues. We got The Squad (sort of a Lettuce offshoot) to headline and then were able to secure Robert Randolph.

We definitely invited whomever we could—I saw the party as both a celebration of what we were and as a vehicle for attracting more like-minded people. Definitely they came from the Galactic-NY group and String Cheese and Spreadnet, etc.

I think we just broke even that first time, so thanks to everyone who showed up. That’s been the other obvious reason for spreading the word.

JR: There are a lot of legendary stories about this night. I wasn’t involved in the planning, but I was at the Ball. It had a special feel from the start and the tradition of terrible, snowy weather began that night too. I don’t want to jinx anything, but it looks like we may actually have some decent weather this year.

Can you pinpoint a time when the list developed from a group of friends to a larger community-members of whom first met through the list?

A: Frankly, I think it was almost immediate. The list really started as a bunch of acquaintances who became friends. That initial bunch of us got along quite well, but we added to our numbers quickly as we all brought aboard new friends and so on. There was an interesting balance between the anonymity of the internet—people trash talking and some very explicit banter—and the real-life hanging out at shows.

JR: I would agree that it was immediate. A lot of people were looking for something like the Freaks list. And it helped that most of us were in the Wetlands at least once a week.

Over the years the Freaks Ball has taken place everywhere from tiny clubs to the Bowery Ballroom. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced with booking the event and finding a proper venue for the show?

A: There have been innumerable annoyances and challenges along the way each and every year we have the Freaks Ball no matter where it is and who we are dealing with. Most of them fall under a single heading: we music lovers, we are not in the music business; we want to put on a big party, we do not want to make money. Although it’s not obvious at first, these ideas conflict pretty drastically in the real world and so headaches ensue. In the end, the party is always “best ever” category, but we scratch to break even or, most often, lose money. Of course, you know we are true freaks for this stuff, because we continue to inflict the torture of booking, promoting, dealing every year… but just once a year, thank you.

In the end, sadly, I’ve learned to trust very few people who’ve made a career in the music “business.” Except the people who are actually making the music, the musicians are the best.

JR: It’s a big challenge every year. We always set out with a game plan and by the time that the actual ball happens, it’s totally different. In the end, though, I think that the “right” bands end up playing for that year.

One thing that we have learned is that bigger isn’t always better. It’s tempting to try and do a really big show with a really big band at a really big venue and not worry about money. But it gets away from the point of the thing, which is to have one show and one party where everyone that you randomly see out throughout the year will be gathered in the same spot to hang out.

Do you each have a personal favorite Freaks Ball?

A: I really do love them all, sometimes for different reasons. There was a certain magic to the 2nd Freaks Ball at the old North Six that hasn’t been recreated yet. Robert Randolph starting late and entering a crazy “don’t stop playing/play all night” zone that coupled with some wild energy in the room.

The Ball has been on my birthday three times, and those were some of the most fun times I’ve had seeing live music.

JR: I’ve enjoyed them all for different reasons. For that second one, I was actually back home in New Orleans for Mardi Gras as it was that same weekend. I remember texting Aaron to wish him good luck with it all as we were on a pre-parade Popeye’s run.

My favorite set, though, was Chris Hartford and the Band of Changes with Dean Ween. Hartford had been playing around a bunch that year and his regular Band of Changes at the time was hot: Scott Metzger, Dave Dreiwitz, and Joe Russo. A week before the ball, I got an email from Ween’s manager Greg that Deaner was going to come down. Every year we talk about getting people to sit in and collaborate and do our best to control the forces of nature, but this time, it just happened. I’m not sure who talked Deaner into it as he drove in from PA just for the show. That first set just had a crispy, crackling, bouncy thing that happens when the musicians on stage are gelling perfectly and riding out the music. The music seemed so easy and natural that it was a like a spell had been temporarily cast over the stage at Southpaw.

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