Tag Archives: Furthur

Wanee Festival – Friday, April 20, 2012

by

I woke up and hung with my camp family while some people trekked up to the Peach Stage for Bruce Hornsby.  Even in camp I could hear Bruce playing a soulful tribute to Levon Helm with “The Night They Drove ‘Ole Dixie Down” and “Ride That Train”.  It gave me the chills and I wasn’t near the stage.  My friends told me it blew them away.

I do finally motivate around 1:30 to go see Buddy Guy.  On a hot afternoon, the sun beams down on the field and my notes go something like this:  playing with one had, keyboardist explosion, deep southern groove, Buddy is BAD.

Yes, Buddy is bad singing “Nobody Loves Me but my Guitar,” and then he stops and banters with the crowd.  “Wait a minute, wait a minute.  Ya’ll brought me here to sing the blues, we will not disappoint!”  He goes into “Hoochie Coochie Man” and then stops again to scream at the crowd.  “I was in India, and even they didn’t f*ck up the words like yall have.”  Yep, Buddy Guy is a character – but can belt the blues like nobody’s business.

Then he does this bit where he leans on the speaker, turns the guitar around and sings this song where he plays a lick with his belly – or more to the point – his man parts.  Uh huh.  Seriously.

Then I move over to the mushroom stage to hear Mickey Hart’s new band that I had been hearing really great things about.  I wanted to hear it for myself.  The crowd goes wild on the first song, Not Fade Away, and the female singer, Crystal Monee Hall, brings a nice feminine voice to the mix.  Dave Schools (Widespread Panic) is on base and then we go into some of Mickey’s new songs from his latest album, Mysterium Tremendum.  I can honestly say this was the set that blew me away with new sounds, great jams and hard hitting percussion and bass.  Some new music that really blew me away with its experimental groovy danceable jams.  The third song began sounding reminiscent of early Pink Floyd with a bit of space and drums mixed in.  The jams were hot and new and fresh.  I can’t wait to see them again.

SET LIST:  Not Fade Away >, Let There Be Light, Time Never Ends > Who Stole The Show?, Starlight Starbright, Cut The Deck > Bertha >, Supersonic > jam >, Fire on the Mountain

photo by: Shelly Smith

I then move back to the Peach Stage to see Tedeschi Trucks Band.  If you know me at all, you know I’m a huge Derek Trucks fan.  No, I was not disappointed at this set.  They are greeted by a loving crowd.  Tedeschi sings the first note of the first song and the audience is captivated.  The sun beams down on the field, Susan Tedeschi banters with Derek Trucks’ guitar.  The horn section is tight and sharp.

A few songs from Trucks’ old band, Derek Trucks Band were dusted off with “I Know” with Matt Mattson singing.  It was a strong rendition, with a B3 keys explosion from Kofi Burbridge, and a just a tiny bit of shredding from Derek Trucks.

“Love Has Something Else to Say” was changed up a bit, there was a sick trumpet groove by DeShawn Ross, Oteil Burbridge, bass, was squirming in the background, hitting the sickest bass groove.

I then found some food while they played “Midnight in Harlem.”  Derek noodled for a bit while I was on the ticket line, and then they began the song. Derek and Kofi start off the song sultry and soft.  It is a beautiful song, Susan sings it perfectly – there is no one else out there with her type of voice.  It was chillingly beautiful.  And it was silent during Trucks’ solo.  A field of 20,000 people, silent.  He shreds that guitar to a silent crowd.  Wow.

The second DTB song was Majoun, with its soft and dreamy bantering flute and guitar also kept me swaying in the crowd.  Full set list below:

Don’t Let Me Slide, I Know, Love Has Something Else To Say, Midnight In Harlem, Down Don’t Bother Me / Band intros, Lord Protect My Child, Nobody’s Free, That Did It, Mahjoun > bass > drums, Darlin’ Be Home Soon >, Bound For Glory

I needed a break after that one; needed some food, more drink, and a rest back at camp.  On the way back to the site I heard Bonerama from the Mushroom stage.  A little bit later I heard Furthur begin to play. I sat in a chair at camp (home), and listened to both bands play. Continue reading →

Gathering of the Vibes, 2011 – Audio Links (torrents incl.)

by

Once again, a heartfelt thanks to Rob Clarke and Scott Bernstein for taping the festival, and being so prompt in putting the out there for us to all relive again.  Mucho gracias!

Thursday:
The Infamous Stringdusters: http://www.archive.org/details/stringdusters2011-07-21
Roots of Creation: http://www.archive.org/details/roc2011-07-21.jz-bt201.flac16
New Mastersounds: http://www.archive.org/details/nms2011-07-21.v2KM184
Dumpstaphunk: http://www.archive.org/details/dumpstaphunk2011-07-21
The Mother Hips (torrent): http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=547058

Friday:
Ryan Montbleau: http://www.archive.org/details/montbleau2011-07-22
God Street Wine (Lo Faber, Aaron Maxwell, Jon Bevo, Dan Pifer) with special guests Jason Crosby and Joe Russo:  http://www.archive.org/details/gsw2011-07-22
Kung Fu: http://www.archive.org/details/kungfu2011-07-22
Big Sam’s Funky Nation (torrent): http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=547156
Furthur: http://www.archive.org/detail/furthur2011-07-22.v2km184.clarke.115050.flac16
The Bridge: http://www.archive.org/details/bridge2011-07-22
Tedeschi Trucks Band (torrent): http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=547111
Taj Mahal (torrent): http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=547047

Continue reading →

2010 Top Ten Shows

by

It was an exceptional year for live music. I am lucky enough to live in a city where music is a part of the lifeline, like matzoh ball soup and a good reuben, as much as we love to hate our mayor, and collective groans when the MTA hikes their fares. Here is to 2010. May we all have a healthy, prosperous and musically exceptional new year!

photo by: Karen Dugan

10.  Scofield, w/ Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez, Blue Note,  May 2010

9.  Jorma Kaukonen, Iridium, May 2010

8.  Wanee Funk Jam w/ Dumpstaphunk and The Funky Meters George Porter Jr, Russell Batiste, Cody and Luther Dickinson, Oteil and Kofi Burbridge, JoJo Herman, Bobby Lee Rodgers, Matt Grondin.

7.  Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble – birthday evening, August 2010

6.  Gov’t Mule, PC Richards Theater, August 2010

photo by: Robyn Gould

5.  Roger Waters, The Wall, MSG October 2010

4.  The Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band, Wanee April 2010

3.  Jimmy Herring, Lenny White, Richie Goods Iridium, August 2010

2.  Pat Metheny Orchestrion, May 2010

photo by: Allison Murphy

1.  Another One for Woody, November 2010

Runners Up (I couldn’t fit them all in the Top 10):

  1. Deep Banana Blackout, Late Night, Gathering of the Vibes 2010
  2. Phish, New Years Eve 2010, MSG
  3. Les Claypool, Vibes 2010
  4. New Mastersounds, Mountain Jam, June 2010
  5. Furthur, Radio City Music Hall, February 2010
  6. Xmas Jam:  Warren Hayne’s Band and John Bell Acoustic, December 2010

Gathering of the Vibes, Day 2, July 30

by

Remember folks, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Pace yourselves.  Day 2.

Up and Getting Ready: I jumped out of the tent at 8:30.  Considering I had passed out before midnight, that was a good night’s sleep and I was ready to go.  It was already scorching by 8:30 and my ladies had coffee ready for me.  (Thank you Theresa) Breakfast consisted of a cheesy omelet, coffee and bacon.  I decided to take a shower in the L. I. Sound, please don’t judge me-I know exactly how nasty the Bridgeport Sound is, yet – I still did it.  Met more friendly people on the way as I walked towards the beach.

With soap and shampoo in hand, I proceeded to bathe myself in the water.  As things normally go for me at festivals, I lost the soap and my sunglasses.  (what is with the sunglasses, seriously!  Every festival I have lost sunglasses (Wanee, Mountain Jam, Nateva and now Vibes).  By this point, I don’t get upset anymore, I just go to a vendor and spend my $10 and get another pair.  But, sheesh.

photo by: Gigi

Radiators: We went down to the main stage to check out The Radiators, I got there to catch their last few songs.  Walked through the crowd and met up with more local friends before Jackie Greene came on.  Boppin’ through the crowd I stopped at The Karma Wash and planted flowers around the red carpet to brighten up the place and make it welcoming for all the people who needed their Karma Washed.

Jackie Greene: I was still wandering through the crowd, sayin hi to those I knew, and hello to those I met.  Jackie Greene is a hottie up there and I didn’t really notice much difference until John Molo joined in on drums for Scarlett.  Yay, when I heard Scarlett at all, I so tarted to bounce, but I didn’t realize Molo was on drums until after the set.  Molo wailed it, Jackie sang in true form and we slid into Ball and Chain.  Great last song.  Smile wide on my face.

Lunch Break:  Back to camp, hotdogs for lunch.  Yeah, that’ll do.

Steve Kimock and Crazy Engine: So, we sacrificed Steve’s set for hotdogs but I wanted to get back up there for Robert Randolph so I got the DeadVids crew together and we wandered up to the main stage.  As we were walking I heard my favorite P-Funk song Red Hot Mama and before I even got into the venue I knew Bernie Worrell was on stage.  I almost left my buddies behind me and I tried to sprint up to the stage to see Bernie.  And Red Hot Mama… ummmm, whooo.  You can’t go wrong with that song, and I was so glad I made it to hear that song.  But, as it goes, by the time I got up to the field, I heard, “Thank you Vibes, good night.”  Sigh.  Dagnabit.  Take a listen to what I missed…. dagnabit.

Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings: I have not seen Sharon Jones before and I knew I was in for a treat.  I was blown away by them.  Sharon Jones’ voice is incredible.  Like, Aretha+Grace Potter+Jen Durkin wailing.  The energy of this group was way high.  The beats?  Think funk with a huge entourage, horns, backup singers, Sharon’s incredible voice.  She’s my new favorite.  Loved this so much.  Can’t wait to see her again.  PLEASE PLEASE go see her if you haven’t already.  You wont be able to stop yourself from dancing.

Robert Randolph: Fun fun stuff.  Love Robert.  Love the steel pedal guitar he masterfully wails.  Love the band.  He raged it hard for the first couple of songs, then the middle of the set was some of his new stuff.  I wasn’t immediately hooked by it, but I wanted to try to assess the music.  I figured, it may not be my style of music, but it is now Robert’s new stuff, stuff he’s psyched about, and I wanted to give it a fair shot.  I’m still 50/50 on the new stuff, was very happy he bookended the set with his older style, but I want to hear more.  I want to listen again to the new stuff so I can be sure I can make a true assessment.  So, assessment on Robert’s new stuff:  unknown.  One last note – he had this schmata on his head, and I couldn’t figure out what the heck it was.  Scarf?  Bandana?  Shirt with a knot in it?  Again:  unknown.

The YouTubes are lacking, so for a giggle:

photo by: Doug Buckley

Furthur: Yep, we were all rollin in for the first major headliner of the weekend.  The boys.  My girls and I set up our chairs on the left of the soundboard and we had our space to dance.  The rumor mill had been spreading all day, and I had gotten a series of texts from friends telling me that Bobby had gotten dosed at Nokia a few days earlier, confirmed by PhilZone.  I had also heard that the whole backstage area at Vibes was in lockdown when Furthur came into the venue.  Lockdown as in even those with all access passes were having issues getting back there.  Serious stuff.  I looked up and was able to see stars (coming from NYC, this is a rare occurrence).  I looked around and I saw my tribe.  I felt the CT vibe, knowing I was in my local home territory.  It felt right.  I was shining.

Furthur Highlights: Jack Straw (we can share the women we can share the wiiiine).  Friend of the Devil was rockin – someone said to me, this is a rare one, and indeed it was, because I have not heard a FOTD in a long time.  FOTD was smokin’, Kadlecik shredded his guitar and it was truly a great song. The star, besides Phil is really John K. and Jeff Chimenti on keys.  I can’t say it enough, Jeff plays those keys and it makes the songs shine on a different level.  They sparkle.  Twinkle.  It is like Jeff puts another layer on top of the already incredible music being played by the band.  I do believe Jeff could be my favorite member of Furthur.

Then there was Help.  Yep.  Help on the Way into an incredible Slipknot with an amazing funky fun little jam in the Slipknot.  Into Franklin’s Tower.  Uh huh.  Donor Rap into Terrapin.  TERRAPIN.  Oh yeah, I danced, I sang with the crowd.  I partied and I swayed with the Vibe Tribe.  That was the highlight for me.  Help>Slip into Terrapin.  Thank you Furthur, Thank you.  For a real good time.

Late Night Show:  Mix Master Mike: I went and checked this out – Beastie Boys lover inside of me pulling me towards the Green Vibes stage.  I must be too old, but it wasn’t my thing.  Or maybe I couldn’t move anymore.  I wandered back to camp, walking near the water all the way home.  The camp family were already sleeping when I got there, so I chilled out and put myself to bed.  All for Day 3 tomorrow.

Gathering of the Vibes, Day 2, Audio Links (torrents incl.)

by

Audio Links, Main Stage:

The Radiators

Jackie Greene

Steve Kimock Crazy Engine

Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings

Robert Randolph and The Family Band

Furthur

Nateva Festival-Day 3, Saturday, July 4

by

It was like the circus… Filled with gypsies… And they all liked to dance… Alot.

photo by: Andrew Bruss, Jambase

It was overcast.  I thought to myself, wow, I’m glad the sun is not out.   It was a hot, sunny, sweltering few days and I was pleased for the clouds.  We needed a break from the sun.

photo by: Andrew Bruss, Jambase

After dealing with “The Incident”, I took my last spigot shower of the festival, ate delicious blueberry pancakes from our new camp family and we all rolled in to hear the Nate Wilson Group from the Port City Music Hall.  Um, wow.  He shredded his guitar.  There were five guys up there, and they just crushed it.  It was great energy, great music, tight jams and it just went DOWN in that barn.  I will see them again to relive the experience, because, truth be told, I think I needed another cup of coffee.  It was Day 3, after all, and I was feeling very fuzzy by this point.

photo by: Phrazz

photo by: Phrazz

Moonalice was next, and had to leave Nate Wilson early to catch their set.  (Music Schizophrenia Mode in full force.)  By the time I got there, Barry Sless and Pete Sears were SHREDDING the heck out of Cold Rain & Snow. Oh wow, it was on.  The main field wasn’t packed so I got myself up to the rail and had a great time.  I watched the crowd around me, and everyone had such wide smiles, dancing along, havin’ just as much fun as I was.  John Molo on drums was just sick, Barry Sless goes nuts on the pedal steel, and then Roger “Chubby Wombat Moonalice” McNamee tells us that they finished their encore early and we’re treated to more.  Oh yeah, that was fun.  Always a fun time with Moonalice.  Afterwards, I got my free posters, Chubby and I chatted for a bit and he signed them for me.  I love this band for their incredible music, the talent on stage and their friendliness.

Then Max Creek comes on the other stage.  I haven’t seen these guys in about 100 years, I grew up with them playing all around Connecticut in the 80s.  Fabulous time, fabulous music, love them.

photo by: Phrazz

But, as my music schizophrenia continues, I ran out and caught The Alchemystics.

And, holy hell.  I have no words.  I walked into the Port City Music Hall and it was going wild in there.  The place was packed, jamming reggae jam crazy dance party was going on.  I caught the last two songs and the encore.  It was out of control, great beats, high high energy…. they literally blew my head off. I was dumbfounded.  My friend asked me what I thought of them, and I had no words.  I could not speak.  I was processing the crazy hip-hop reggae rage that just went down and I couldn’t speak.  Wow.  The Alchemystics.  Yeah, these guys are on my radar up near The New Mastersounds, who I saw at Mountain Jam.  Phewwwwwww.

photo by: Andrew Bruss, Jambase

Finally, a chance to breathe.  Zappa Plays Zappa comes on the stage and by this point I’m in need of a sit-down.  I sit on my chair and think, “Ah, I can relax now, and listen to this band play finally.”  I’ve never seen Zappa Plays Zappa, but I do know who Dweezil is and had a girl-crush on him years ago.  Now here he is, shirtless, on stage, playing great great music.  Unfortunately for me, I was pulled away from the music for the rest of the set by my buddy.  So, I still haven’t truly heard them play.  I will catch them when they come to NYC for sure.

photo by: Andrew Bruss, Jambase

photo by: Phrazz

Crowd: What I forgot to mention was how cool the vibe and the crowd were.  We had Aliens, and crazy monsters dancing, fire twirler beauties, and fire lanterns launched into the evening sky.  We had lobster rolls (which I never had but heard was amazing), and local beloved vendors like Wormtown Trading.  There was a ferris wheel.  There were children playing.  There were smiling strangers.  Click below for more with DTST and Furthur.

Continue reading →

Furthur Night 1, MCU Park, Brooklyn, 6.26.10

by

Download this show from Archive here.

Pre-show: An hour long subway ride to Coney Island from the City.  Approximately 20 stops.  Yeah, that how it goes.  Got off right on Surf Ave, one block from the boardwalk and the beach.  Nathan’s welcomed me to Brooklyn.  The venue was a ways down where I passed a band playin’ Sugaree.  I love it when deadheads are in droves, wearin’ our colors proudly.  Shakedown Street was next to the venue, but there were others near by on the other side of the street.  It has been a long time since I’ve been on a Shakedown in the city.  (Radio City and MSG don’t have lots to play in, funny enough.)  Found my friends in one of the adjacent lots and started our way in to Shakedown because it was beginning to drizzle and I was worried that I’d be cold.  (A totally unwarranted fear, by the way, since it was hot, humid, sticky and smelly.)  Found a beautiful shawl from some very kind folks and I was on my way.  We went in, we were on the field and I stayed to John K’s side.

First Set: Set 1:  China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Black Throated Wind, Muly Guly, High Time, Loose Lucy > Throwing Stones > One More Saturday Night

First Set Highlights: Jeff Chimenti kills those keys.  Good lordy lordy lord.  Right out of the gate with China Cat he played for us to be at attention.  Jeff and John Kadlecik are a great duo, they banter off each other.  Bobby was wearing his glasses, and was sans manpris.  Phil looked so happy, so wonderfully happy.  I have to admit, I didn’t know Muly Guly, but I didn’t feel too bad since my crew didn’t know that song off the top of their head (like the first 3 notes like they always do).  Loose Lucy always a fun time but I had not really felt the feeling yet.  First set was somewhat slow and what I really remember is how they actually slow down the songs to end.  After they would do a small jam they would consciously slow it down, beat by beat, until there was no more music.  I don’t like that, I want a long jam.  I guess I’m picky.  However, Throwing Stones was a foot stompin’ good ole time into One More Saturday Night. Funny, I had forgotten it was Saturday.

Set Break: Bathroom run. Seriously.  It was hot and sticky, I had gotten slimed by some sweaty wook and I was still smiling.  The sun was setting and it felt like we were all waiting for the lights to go down.  Indeed, we were waiting for the evening sky.

Second Set:  Shakedown Street > Caution (Do Not Step On Tracks) > Jack Straw > Playing In The Band > Dark Star (v1) > St. Stephen > The Eleven > Dark Star(v2)> Lady with a Fan* > Terrapin Station* > At a Siding* > Terrapin Flyer*, Donor Rap, E: Brokedown Palace

Second Set Highlights: Caution was phenomenal.  John Kadlecik on guitar wails it… shredding had taken place.  I was psyched, it felt like the boys had just kicked it up a couple of notches.  Happy to say we were in for a different speed this second set.  I danced my little ass off in that jumpy hippie jig that comes out in places where Family comes together.  Jeff Chimenti on those keys made it sparkly, he raged out on those keys, holy smokes it was like fireworks on the stage.  We were on that train and we slid right into a Jack Straw. It’s fun to watch all the men in the crowd belt it, We can share the women, we can share the wine… Explosion jam at the end with Kadlecik going off, Chimenti off the hook with the keys.  Oh yeah.

Went off in search of a drink during Playing in the Band and I have to note that the beer situation on the field was RIDICULOUS at MCU.  The vendors walking through the crowd with $7.50 Bud Lights were far and few between.  You couldn’t find the food areas, but I found out later that they were in the 1st and 3rd dugouts. Found some new friends though, in the crowd.  Love that.

Dark Star.  St. Stephen.  The Eleven.  Dark Star into the whole Terrapin Suite. Oh my good lord really?  Seriously?  Um yeah.  Wow.  I have no notes.  Nope.  Danced my frikkin butt off.  Sang every song with my new stranger friends around me.  Smiles throughout the whole venue.  The place swayed together.  It was beautiful.  I could feel everyone shining.  Phil sang it nice this time – he extended some words in it, giving it another odd beat in the beautiful oddity that Dark Star is. 

St. Stephen brought the crowd back to their hippie jigs and John plays it solid.  Phil forgets a few lines and we all sing it for him, laughing.   During the jam, I felt the Fat Man around while John was playing.  There are times when John plucks that all I can think of is Jerry’s playing.  And the memories of the days on tour, the shows I’ve seen, the shows I don’t remember.  I smile and send love to the heavens.  I miss him too.

The Eleven came up and slapped me upside my head.  Woo boy, here we go.  Jammin front intro into Bobby belting This is the Season of… What Now? What Now???? 

Terrapin is What Now…  Kenny Brooks, from Ratdog, joins the stage with sax in hand.  So sweet!  He joins in on the end of Dark Star making it into a nice little jazz ditty before they went into Terrapin.  I couldn’t recognize the top of the song because it was so jazzy and musical firework-esque on the stage but I have to say that Terrapin with a sax sounds nice.  The sax with Bobby’s voice.  Really sweet.  The back up singers brought another level to the song, with the singers and the sax.  My one and only critique of this was that it wasn’t deep enough.  Maybe I wanted to hear Phil’s bass more, maybe Kenny’s sax made it lighter.  By deep I mean where it goes so low it hits you in the gut.  It was still beautiful, it was still an amazing treat to hear the whole Terrapin Suite.

Brokedown Palace was a nice cooler.  Couples arm in arm.  Man love all around me.  We were happy, we were sticky and we were psyched for tomorrow’s show.

Yep, sorry for the shaky photo, but you get the idea

We were treated to fireworks at the end of the show, about 11:30.  I thought it would be nice to forgo the fireworks for maybe another song.  But, alas… I had to deal with the fireworks.  Not so bad.  After the crowd I was ended up getting a ride into the city so no Shakedown Street for me.  I’d get more trinkets the next night, I justified it and I went home with Terrapin in my head, and slept like a baby.

The next night’s show blew my head off.  Stay tuned!

Furthur takeaways and Future shows

by

My notations from conversations I have had with other people on the latest Furthur shows.

  1. The jams are too short.
  2. They seem to rush from song to song.
  3. Phil Lesh sounds great.  First night Radio City I heard a great banter between he and John, but I’ve missed seeing the red, white and blue armband.  Did I miss it?
  4. John Kadlecik is spot on.
  5. Jeff Chimenti is twinkle fingers on those keys.
  6. Bobby (even with his man-pris) still can belt.
  7. Bobby’s beard reminds some people of a cat and it’s whiskers. Continue reading →

Furthur, Mohegan Sun, 2.26.10

by

Disclaimer: I grew up within 40 minutes of the Connecticut casinos.  I like to gamble (craps, preferred).  I know Mohegan Sun well, but I never have seen a show there.  To see my hometown casino filled with deadheads was, as my friend so eloquently put it, “like two worlds colliding”.  Yes, it was, to say the least.

Preshow: Gamble (video poker, craps, up $57 bucks). My friends and I split up, they go off to section 16, I’m in 112– nosebleeds. Had a full on view of the stage, reminding me Radio City, but… not quite.  Mohegan Sun holds about 9500 people, compared to about 6,000 at Radio City.

Set 1: I was wandering around, seat jumping, wanting to get down to my buddies.  Did the side-step with the security guards for most of the first set.  My friends were seated down where a Security-Nazi was on the loose, and kinda killin’ the vibe for me a bit.

They teased the Other One again.  I’m sensing a theme here.  Tennessee Jed was fun, good, solid, but Memphis Blues twisted into some sweet reggae grooves.  It was nice to hear them expand the jam repertoire.  Pride of Cucamonga, I love that song, makes me do a little jig with a smile on my face.  It was a good one, nicely done Phil.

Set Break: My friend told me we could go out and gamble if we brought our ticket out to get scanned.  Um, gamble? Me? Heh, I led us out the doors.  Walked through the maze that is Mohegan to find a craps table.  Once we found it, it proceeded to suck us dry and fast.  Said “enough, mercy!”, and we went back into the arena.

Assessment: First set was ok.  I feel a bit biased from RCMH but the first set was solid.  Felt like they could’ve picked up the pace more for my tastes, but a great time was had by all.  The crowd was happy, smiling, dancing and singing.  The place was packed, considering the weather and the snow.

Author’s note: Bobby wore his man-pris again.  Continue reading →