On 4/3/21, Southern California jam quartet Universe Peoples (uP) — drummer Garrett Morris, guitarist Nathan Reinert, bassist Paul Hiller and keyboardist Albert Margolis — recognized an opportunity to create something unique. The band was performing at Connect in San Diego, CA on the unique date.. uP’s pro-shot, multi-tracked (with additional audio mixing from Goose’s Peter Anspach) video of the cosmic second set and encore from their 4/3/21 show is available now.
The band would craft their second set at Connect San Diego around this cosmic coincidence, fittingly opening up the second frame with their unique twist on the theme, “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (aka “2001”) from the 1968 Sci-Fi classic, 2001: A Space Odyssey, which is covered by jam band Phish and others. The theme from A Space Odyssey would also be the theme for the entire set, with uP returning to the iconic ascending line throughout as the mood struck them.
“That was completely organic and came just spur of the moment. That was not discussed at all. It interlaced itself so well into the four, three, two, one blast off theme. It was a fun thing that came organically. It was just like, ‘okay, we’re doing this.’”
Paul Hiller
“It was fun because it wasn’t planned,” Morris added. “It was like, ‘okay, here it is again.’ And then we would all go into it and try to catch it. ‘Are we gonna go to the big hit at the end or not?’ We didn’t know. And so every time was kind of like a rollercoaster ride, you’re just hanging on waiting to see what happens.”
Garrett Morris
If “2001” was the first ascent of the rollercoaster, then “Earthling Or Alien?” was the first big drop. Not only is the Goose cover a nod to the Connecticut jam quintet — whose keyboardist/guitarist Peter Anspach helped mix the audio — but it also kept with the spacey theme, the audience encouraged to come dressed as their “headiest Earthling or most exquisite Alien,” an idea formulated by show co-host, none other than Space Traveler Studios.
Also enhancing the otherworldly vibe was the light design of Trip Current and JZEN. Coupled with the cosmic sound and Connect San Diego’s art installments, the projections took the show to another level.
“What was really cool is that he had this psychedelic projection going against the band, which created a 3D kind effect. And then there was also all the things that were in the art gallery, because there were things around us that were movable that were also 3D that stuck out, things on the wall, paintings on the wall. So it all intertwined. It became this really interesting mash of images that was moving all night. And then the music was moving, and the people were moving. It was really a happening.”
Albert Margolis, keyboards
The nearly seamless set also included gems like “Wika Chikana” by space exploring jamtronica pioneers STS9, which encompassed the uP debut of Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang,” uP’s own “Arizona Dawn” and a blazing version of the Grateful Dead’s “Fire On The Mountain” to close out the set. But it was during the encore closer that the cosmic connections came full circle as the band spontaneously fielded an audience request for the Dead’s disco-tinged classic, “Shakedown Street.”
“So we were supposed to hard stop at 11:30. They said we could go later. So we did and rightfully so. ’Shakedown’ was called out and when I sang ‘maybe because it’s midnight,’ a friend in the crowd looked at his phone and it was midnight on the dot. Synchronicity!”
Nathan Reinert
Synchronicity is something Universe Peoples has in spades and that fact is evident in the band’s landmark second set and encore from Connect San Diego on 4/3/21. As Albert said, it was “a happening,” one that is ready to be shared far and wide.
Follow Universe Peoples below:
Upcoming Universe Peoples shows include 6/19 at the Wayfarer in Costa Mesa, CA and 6/26 at the OC Music Fest at Irvine Lake, CA.
