Today we look back to November 8, 2006…

The Omega Moos: Delivering a New Deal of Umph

The New Deal will return to the United States for a few more of its increasingly rare performances in December. The band will appear in Cambridge, MA at the Middle East (December 14), at New York Citys Bowery Ballroom (December 15) and the TLA in Philadelphia (December 16). In addition, keyboardist Jamie Shields and drummer Darren Shearer will cross the border to join two members of Umphreys McGee for a pair of performances at Martyr’s in Chicago on Dec 8th and 9th. UM bassist Ryan Stasik and guitarist Brendan Bayliss have signed on for the new collective which has dubbed itself The Omega Moos.

Guster Seeking Scooter For A Day

Guster is giving fans an opportunity to win airfare and a cabin for two to the Ships and Dips Cruise which will depart from Ft. Lauderdale on January 15. As if that werent enough, the individual selected will serve alongside Guster drum tech Andrew Scooter Laubaucher and make an on stage appearance. Gusters Scooter For A Day Contest asks fans to submit a video explaining why they should be so honored. The contest will be hosted by YouTube, with an entry deadline of November 25 and the full details up at the Guster website.

Solo Dave in Europe

After wrapping up its summer tour at the new John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA, the Dave Matthews Band performed a few additional dates over the following weeks at Farm Aid, with the Rolling Stones and for the Bridge School Benefit. The group has not confirmed any 2007 shows as yet, however, the bands namesake has announced a series of European dates to begin in late February. The Dave Matthews solo tour will begin on February 24 at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow and continue through March 13 at E-Werk in Cologne, Germany. Over those three weeks Mathews also will make stops in Belgium, France, Italy, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Holland.

Stanton Moore’s III Plus II (and the Midnite Disturbers Debut)

Next weekend Stanton Moore will mark the recent release of his new album III with a performance at Tipitinas. Joining the Stanton Moore Trio for the November 18 gig will be Will Bernard and Brian Coogan, who will go on to tour the west coast with Moore in December. Also appearing during the set will be Skerik (sax) and Mark Mullins (trombone), who will take the stage following their opening set with another new group assembled by Moore, entitled the Midnite Disturbers. This roster of players also is said to include: Troy Andrews and Jamelle Williams on trumpet, Big Sam on trombones, Ben Ellman on sax, Jeffery Hills on Sousaphone and Kevin ODay on drums.