UV Hippo talks about Russell Olmsted’s final show and unveils a new tune for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by The Turnips, Matt Plessner, Bello Spark, Michael Dause and Glass-House.
Farewell Show: Russell Olmsted, seated, plays his final show with Ultraviolet Hippopotamus on Saturday. (Photo/Local Spins)
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Eight years after Ultraviolet Hippopotamus released its second album, “Songs for the Reaper” — the first project featuring guitarist Russell James Olmsted — the Grand Rapids jam band is ready to move ahead with a new group member, guitarist Andy Kirby of The Turnips.
But the band will first bid adieu to Olmsted with a celebratory hippo-sized show at The Intersection on Saturday night that will not only feature a horn section but both Olmsted and Kirby on guitar.
On Stage: UV Hippo performing earlier this year at Bell’s Brewery. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Bassist Brian Samuels said fans can expect “a bunch of old stuff” and some surprises, too.
“It will be kind of a throwback as well as ushering in new stuff,” he said during this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE, which crammed several members of the lovable UV Hippo into the radio studio. (Get more information and tickets for Saturday’s show online here.)
For Olmsted, it’s been a marvelous musical journey but he’s ready to focus on other business and community interests.
“There’s so much that goes into it,” he said of the decision to depart, stressing that UV Hippo is “a family and we’ll always be a family. But as I’ve gotten older there are other things that I want to accomplish.” (Read more about Olmsted and UV Hippo in this May Local Spins story.)
Indeed, UV Hippo has more it wants to accomplish musically as well. In addition to some big shows this fall, the band still has plans to complete another studio album that it considers its masterwork.
In addition, new band guitarist Kirby is still wrapping up work on a new album with fellow members of The Turnips. To give fans a sneak preview, Local Spins on WYCE debuted an unreleased track, “Bon Jon Brovi,” from that upcoming Turnips album. UV Hippo also premiered an untitled track, jokingly dubbed “Ask Dave,” during the radio show.
Listen to those tracks and the entire interview below in the podcast for the 95th episode of Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured the premiere of new music by Matt Plessner, Bello Spark, Boy From School, Diff & Dudley, Glass-House and Michael Dause, as well as a track from the new EP by The Accidentals.
PODCAST: Local Spins Live with Ultraviolet Hippopotamus
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