Set 1
1. Railroad Boy
2. Mule
3. Thorazine Shuffle>Live And Let Die tease>Thorazine Shuffle
4. Brighter Days
5. Like Flies>Les Brers tease>Like Flies
6. Lay Your Burden Down
7. About To Rage
8. Slackjaw Jezebel
9. King’s Highway
10. St. Stephen Jam> Eternity’s Breath Jam>Trane>Norwegian Wood tease
Set 2
1. Tuning
2. Intro
3. Honky Tonk Woman
4. Sticks And Stones
5. Cry Me A River
6. Bird On A Wire>Auld Lang Syne
7. Feelin’ Alright
8. Intros
9. Superstar
10. Let’s Go Get Stoned
11. Medley: Drown In My Own Tears>
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby>
I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
12. Girl From The North Country (Matt Vocals)
13. Give Peace A Chance
14. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
15. Space Captain
16. The Letter
17. Delta Lady
Set 3
1. Sco-Mule w/Oz Noy
2. I Believe To My Soul
3. Soulshine w/Alecia Chakour, Nigel Hall, and Ron Johnson
Encore
4. I Shall Be Released w/everyone
Maggot Brain >
Gameface >
Fool’s Moon
Little Toy Brain
Lively Up Yourself
Brand New Angel
Kind Of Bird
Set 2
Jam >
One Of These Days >
Fearless
Since I’ve Been Loving You with Paul Ill, without Jorgen Carlsson
Blind Man In The Dark
32/20 Blues with Hook Herrera, Jimmy Vivino & Nigel Hall
Working Class Hero with Hook Herrera & Jimmy Vivino
Smokestack Lightning > with Hook Herrera, Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo
John The Revelator with Hook Herrera, Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo
Encore
Politician > with Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo
Dear Mr. Fantasy with Jimmy Vivino & David Hidalgo, with For What It’s Worth Outro
Whatever you’re doing tonight, have a blast, be safe, and dance your booty off. A new year: a celebration of freeing yourself from the old, setting new and improved intentions for the new. Tonight I celebrate with my loved one, Gov’t Mule, and a bunch of like minded Muleheads in the Beautiful Beacon Theatre. Many of my Posse are Phishing tonight at Madison Square Garden, and I am thankful that we are representing around the city.
Much love to those who read this blog, I appreciate your support and your comments, and I love to write my skewed views down on “paper.” My new intention for next year: Get better about writing the shows down. I admittedly was lacking the latter part of this year, and I will try hard to stay on track for next year.
Here’s to a great 2012, may it be prosperous, healthy and happy for us all!
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!
People ask me why I don’t write about the Phish shows I see, and I think I can verbalize why…
Phish is a full on experience – I can’t really write notes while Chris Kuroda and his lightshow extraordinaire is flashing infront of me. I can’t really try to analyze what Trey, Mike, Fishman and Page are doing up there, because it is just to much stimuli to process.
Between the incredible talented jams, the light show you must see at least once in your life, the energy of the crowd (usually on overdrive) and that beautiful circle of exchanges between band and their adoring fans…. no, there is no way I can write it down.
And, yes, I’ll be spending New Years Eve with Phish… but not before one last evening with my beloved Mule – as they take a hiatus on tour for a while.
Ed note: Do not be mistaken, Phish can never take the place of Mule, nor should they really ever cross….
This show could easily have been the best show of the year.
After almost a week, I believe I have processed this show enough to write my own notes. I have floated all week from this gig, and many of my friends have also experienced the same. Chad Berndtson has written two great write-ups for Glide Magazine, and Jambands also has reviewed the show. I will try not to replicate, but put my own skewed view on it.
For a Southern Rock lover, this whole show was bliss. From Warren’s first line, “Thanks for being part of this special night, we really appreciate it.” to the ending song by the Allman’s (Wish You Were Here), the place stood on their feet for six hours and we all lifted off the ground a few feet. The ticket was pricey ($117 from Ticketmaster), but it was worth it. Here are my own personal highlights, and why…
The line up consisted of:
7:45 pm Set 1: Warren Haynes Acoustic(Warren Haynes, Edwin McCain & Kevin Kinney):
Edwin McCain on vocals during the second song, The Lucky One, literally made tears form in my eyes, the lyrics tugged at my heartstrings… seriously. I knew we were in for a show, we were no more than 10 minutes in and here I was… moved to tears and goosebumps already. They end with I Shall Be Released which was àpropos since Edwin McCain sounded (to my ears) very Dylan-esque. What a beautiful acoustic way to slide into this night’s magical soundtrack.
photo by: Dino Perrucci
8:15/8:30 pm Set 2: The North Mississippi Allstars(Luther Dickinson (guitar, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, electric washboard) with special guests: Gordie Johnson)
They came out like a bat outta hell, raging on those guitars. They sounded crisp and clear, and they looked like they were having a blast. These guys are so fun, they have that beautiful twang of the guitar that makes me melt. Slowing down for a second after the first 3 or 4 songs with Glory Glory, then bringing up Gordie Johnson for Po Black Maddie, this set really set the tone. Shake up the audience a bit with nice lookin’ men up there with their twangy, slidy, southern guitars. Mmhmm… The Roseland was lifting higher to the stratosphere…
photo by Allison Murphy
9ish Set 3: Gov’t Mule (Warren Haynes (guitar), Matt Abts (drums), Jorgen Carlsson (bass), Danny Louis (keys, trumpet) with special guests: Gordie Johnson, Jim Loughlin, Vinnie Amico, Chuck Garvey, Hook Herrera, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Artemis Pyle, Rich Robinson, Robert Kearns, Audley Freed, Savannah Woody
If you know me at all, you know I’m a Mulehead. So, obviously, I was in heaven the minute these guys took the stage. But a few songs standout to me, and the only way I know this is because I’ve put these selects on repeat on my iPod since the show ended.
Gov’t Mule Highlights: Simple Man, Soulshine, Dear Prudence, 32/20 Blues
Um, 32/20 was incredible, harmonica by Hook Herrera, Luther Dickinson on guitar, Cody Dickinson on some sort of washboard instrument around his neck. The music was coming at you in 100 mph speeds…
Dear Prudence was killer with moe. guitarist Chuck Garvey joining in on the fun.
But for me, the one that blew me away…. Simple Man with Skynyrd’s Artemis Pyle and Robert Kearns … holy hell, my head exploded, heaven…seriously…no words. Look below for the video. Good lord.
Then Soulshine with Woody’s beautiful daughter singing with Warren. Savannah Woody’s voice is sweet and angelic, she seemed a little shy up there, but all the musicians around her on stage were propping her up, you could feel the love on the stage, from the audience and back again. She stood up there, and Artemis ran up to her with a tambourine. This song with Savannah – again it was a goosebump moment…. Breathtaking.
photo by: Dino Perrucci
11:45ish – Allman Brothers Band (Gregg Allman (vocals, keys), Warren Haynes (guitar), Derek Trucks (guitar), Oteil Burbridge (bass), Butch Trucks (drums), Jai “Jaimoe” Johanson (drums, percussion), Marc Quiñones (drums, percussion, background vocals) with special guests: Hook Herrera, Berry Oakley Jr., Rich Robinson, Audley Freed, Danny Louis, Chuck Garvey, Vinnie Amico, James Van de Bogard, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Gordie Johnson, Matt Abts
After a loooong set break, setting up for the last set, we got started probably sometime around the midnight hour with ABB in all their guitar glory.
Allman Brothers Highlights: Black Hearted Woman/Other One Jam, Southbound, Whipping Post
My personal “woohoo” ABB moments: (1): Jorgen Carlsson making eye contact with me at the bar, after he checked out my chest/Dose symbol t-shirt. (2): Being so close to the stage that I made eye contact with Derek Trucks. I am sure he was making eyes at me (hah!)
My feet were killing by this point. Standing since 7pm by midnight my dogs were barking. However, you endure amazing things while under the influence of incredible music.
Black Hearted Woman/Other One Jam was incredibly fast, loud, shredding glorious guitar banter. Oteil dancing, turning his back to the audience, the whole stage jamming hard, fast, greatness. Almost 13 minutes of tasty licks. Yeah the boys are in town, and making a raucous about it.
Southbound was a guitar lovers feast, while Warren and Derek play tit for tat with each other. Two mindblowing guitarists, trying to up each other with their licks. Hook Herrera on harmonica brings this baby up another 10 notches. Good frikkin lord, hot stuff, so hot.
At 1:30, I was willing to sacrifice what I would miss, unbelievably, as I made my way towards the door. Right then, Whipping Post came on, and I couldn’t leave. Derek Trucks wailed on that guitar, and it was the perfect way to end a perfect evening. Close to 2am, floating out of the Roseland, I was grateful to be there and experience, speechless for days, and riding high on the whispers of southern guitars raging in my head.
Woody’s daughter came out and sang Soulshine with Mule. Her voice was beautiful, to see her on stage with Warren and the boys, to feel the love from the crowd, to see her nervous up there… Wow. Head blown. Goosebumps.
Good lord, the Southern guitars churn my soul like no other. Warren Haynes, Gov’t Mule, Allman Brothers Band, North Mississippi Allstars, so many people coming and going, sauntering up on that stage. The crowd was rowdy, the Roseland was packed, they played for six hours straight. What can you say? But amazing… Speechless.
Pictures and more video coming throughout the day…. I am still trying to form words.
Setlists:
Warren Haynes, Edwin McCain & Kevn Kinney @ Another One For Woody: Set: Just Outside Of Heaven (A Good Country Mile), The Lucky One, I Shall Be Released
North Mississippi Allstars Duo @ Another One For Woody: Set: Sitting On Top of the World, Shimmy She Wobble > Station Blues > Preachin’ Blues, Glory Glory, Po Black Maddie (w/ Gordie Johnson), Straight To Hell (w/ Gordie Johnson), Whiskey Rockin Rolla (w/ Artemis Pyle, Danny Louis, Audley Freed)
Gov’t Mule @ Another One For Woody: Set: Railroad Boy > Blind Man In The Dark, Steppin’ Lightly, Banks Of The Deep End, I’m A Ram (with Gordie Johnson, Jim Loughlin & Vinnie Amico), Dear Prudence (with Chuck Garvey, Jim Loughlin & Vinnie Amico), 32/20 Blues (with Hook Herrera, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson & Artemis Pyle), Stay With Me (with Rich Robinson & Artemis Pyle), Sometimes Salvation (with Rich Robinson, Robert Kearns & Artemis Pyle, without Jorgen Carlsson), Simple Man (with Artemis Pyle, Audley Freed & Robert Kearns, without Matt Abts & Jorgen Carlsson),Wishing Well (with Artemis Pyle & Audley Freed), Soulshine (with Savannah Woody & Artemis Pyle)
Allman Brothers Band @ Another One For Woody: Set: Don’t Want You No More, Ain’t My Cross To Bear, End Of The Line, No One Left To Run With, Black Hearted Woman > Other One Jam, Who’s Been Talking (w/Hook Herrera), Midnight Rider, One Way Out (w/Rich Robinson & Berry Oakley Jr), Statesboro Blues (w/Berry Oakley Jr), The Weight (w/Audley Freed & Danny Louis), Franklins Tower (w/Chuck Garvey, Vinnie Amico & James Van de Bogart), Southbound (w/Hook, Luther, & Cody)
Encore: Whipping Post, Wish You Were Here (Warren w/ Berry Oakley jr., Gordie Johnson, Danny Louis & Matt Abts)
Pre-show: I signed up for a ticket giveaway from Relix Magazine and at 5:30, I got a call telling me I won a ticket +1. The PC Richards Theater turned out to be this tiny place, standing room only, for no more that 200 people. I’d say there were 150 people there. I was one of the 50 women in the room. Love the ratios at the Mule shows.
Show: Started out with Brokedown and I was immediately struck by the power and Jorgen’s deep loud bass. Uh huh. Hi Mule. There was no dancing – just lots of head nodding going on. I believe I did start to try to sway during Steppin’ Lightly but it wasn’t really the place to rock out. But I tried, they ended the song strong, Warren pulling on those strings, in beautiful Mule style. After each song ended there was rowdy crowd banter, a back and forth between the band and the crowd. Yes, it was that intimate. Railroad Boy > Beautifully Broken. I was in heaven. She’s so Beautifully Broken…Warren breaks out in plucking/strumming/wailing glory. Raging the end to slide into Have Mercy On The Criminal. Not really a slide at all – there was more heckling/yelling/banter going on. Fun stuff.
Jorgen's pick snag by: Ross McKillop
After an incredible Soulshine(really, when is there ever a bad Soulshine?) they left the stage – totalling a 50 minute show in all. Most of the crowd left, I stayed around and said hi to friends and then the word came that they were coming back on stage. I looked around and it was nice now, only about 40-50 people left lingering. But, it was a lie, they never came back on stage, which was fine – I had tomorrow’s Summerstage show to look forward to.
Post-Show: Wo Hop for fried dumplings with a few other Muleheads in the know – that I didn’t know until I saw the line and the Mule shirts in front of us. Yum, that was a great night.
I woke up to the most glorious, beautiful day. The sun was shining, the sky was that perfect not-a-cloud-in-the-sky blue, the lush green off the mountains were vibrating. I was ready to shake on the mountain, and I was able to find iced-coffee to boot. Fabulous! I was in for 8 sets of music today. That ice coffee would help.
Weather: Beautiful. Sunny, warm, a bit sweaty. I kept saying all day, “I can’t believe the weather is so gorgeous.” Last year’s Mountain Jam was cold. I was in flip flops the last night, it was 37 degrees cold. This Saturday it was bikini weather.
The day started off with a bit of London Souls. These guys are incredible. They have a shredding, Led Zeppelin sorta, old school rock n’ roll thing going for them. They rocked out, and dancing has commenced. Again, if they’re in your area, be sure to catch them.
photo by: M Berke
Drive By Truckers: They were a nice warm up to Yonder Mtn. String Band. I’ve never seen them before, and that was my first impression, with their rockin’ guitar riffs. They were solid. I was wandering through the vendor area while they were on stage,
Lettuceis probablymy first personal highlight of the day. Because of the schedule change with Dr. Dog, we were blessed with 2 sets of Lettuce on Sat. Lettuce’s core members are Eric Krasno, guitar, Neal Evans, keys; Adam Deitch, drums; Jesus Coomes, bass and The Shady Horns, Sam Kininger and Ryan Zoidis.
photo by: M Berke
Kofi Burbridge comes on and plays pretty much for the full set on his flute. Eric shreds his guitar, Adam Deitch going all Animal on the drums, and Jesus Coomes on the bass, yeah… these guys are really tight. Then there is Neal Evans. I don’t know what to say about this guy except he is amazing, I always become absolutely blown away. I remember thinking, “oh yeah…I know that nasty key playing sound. Oh yeah, silly me, how could I have forgotten.” Then, one by one, in this short 1 hour set, on the small stage on Hunter Mountain… well, it got kinda craaazy. Nigel Hall walks in and starts wailing soulfully into the microphone, like only Nigel does. Oteil Burbridge comes on stage with that beautiful bass of his. Derek Trucks comes on to shred a bit with Eric. Susan Tedeschi comes on stage to sing along with Nigel. By the end of it there were about a dozen people on the stage, raging out, people on the mountain were bouncin their heads to the same beat at the same time, we all got all sorts of funked up, and it got hot and steamy. The heat had nothing to do with the sunshine. The heat was radiating from the stage. Oh my my my.
photo by: Ross McKillop
To slow down the pace a half a beat (or more), Yonder Mountain String Band, joins the main stage for some bouncy bluegrass string ‘ole time plucking. I do love the Yonder, and if you like bluegrass at all, I’m sure you’ll like them too.
Dave Mason: No recollection at all. Unknown.
Photo by: Ross McKillop
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band: So excited to hear these guys. Between Derek’s shredding of the guitar and Susan’s incredible voice, the Brothers Burbridge and Brothers Trucks on the stage… yeah. No words. The talent in this band is palpable, it kind of oozes off the stage into the crowd. They have so much fun playing together you can feel it and the crowd’s energy bounces off the band. A wonderful cycle.
Highlights: Love Has Something Else to Say (Susan belts it) into Midnight in Harlem (my newest favorite song, getting good rotation in my iPod lately…gosh I love that song) into Susan screamin her way through Love Was All in My Mind. I’ve never heard this song before, but the jist of it was this woman loved this guy, stood by all his crap then she finds him hangin w/ another chick. Susan belts this song like Etta James and Aretha put together. Incredible power. Mike Mattison and Nigel Hall on background vocals turn this into a hard core blues explosion. I laughed, I danced, I stood and just watched her. I need the lyrics to this song. Loved it. Good lord almighty. Check the video below.
Photo by: Ross McKillop
During Nobody’s Free, Derek literally destroys his guitar. 3 strings, gone. He keeps playing though, odd sounds bouncing around, the band keeps up with him… kinda. Finally Derek just goes off and hits those strings in “Trucks’ Time” and phewwww. Susan says, “I don’t know how he did that with 3 strings, or something…. destroy that guitar, honey.” She’s a great front woman for this band. Look Around was another highlight, Derek shredding, Susan wailing, Oteil getting really low with his bass, a great blues song. These guys are a great blues band, but then they go funky with Serve it Up. Insane keyboard playing by Kofi Burbridge, jammin out with the great beats from the drummers and his brother Oteil, then Derek goes off, whooo boy. Hot stuff.
At one point in I’d Rather be Blind, Crippled and Crazy, I believe the mountain went silent. I’ve been at DTB shows where the audience literally goes silent before, and it happened during this song. I love that stuff. Warren joins the stage and sings with Susan on Comin’ Home, the whole stage, the whole mountain… bounces. Into Drums. Yeah, Derek’s little brother Duane can play is an understatement. Tyler Greenwell is a force to be reckoned with as well They end the 90 minute set with Joe Cocker’s Space Captain. And I floated away…
Set Break: I had lost my posse during Derek and Susan, and I was on a mission afterwards to make sure I had a beer for Mule. As I settled into our homebase near the Karma Wash I see one of my buddies from Boston just standing there. Alone. I ended up hanging with him the rest of the set and enjoyed every moment of it. I also found my long lost cousin whom I only happen to see at shows. Fellow music lovers unite!
Mule: Did I gush about Mule in Day 1 enough? No. No, I did not. 3 hours of Mule. Mostly crazy cover set with incredible special guests sitting in. Derek Trucks, Eric Krazno, Matisyahu, Kofi Burbridge, Sam Kininger, Ryan Zoidis, Jackie Greene. Uh huh.
Woodstock, played near Woodstock. Yep, it felt right. Broke down on the Brazos ROCKED. That song gets better and better every time I hear it. Sad & Deep as You with Kofi. This rendition was not quite as drippingly sad as it was at Wanee, and yet was so
photo by: Ross McKillop
beautiful. Kofi’s flute makes it all that more tender, he makes the flute flutter… damn. Flute + Mule = Sweetness. Kind of Bird with Derek. They shredded guitars in pure Allman Brothers style. Fast, loud, yes please. Blind Man in the Dark, I love this song because of its slow rolling nature to crazy riff endings. The Mule was on fire.
photo by: Ross McKillop
The Joker what? really? Yeah, Steve Miller with a reggae beat. Warren began the sway, singing as he told us that we were going back to Jamaica. Matisyahu comes out and taunts the crowd with this one, schooling us for what was to come with his Day 3 set. I laughed my butt off as I shook my hips and tried to bounce on the mountain. 10 something pm on a sloped hill, 2 days into a festival, yes, this takes skill by this point. Zeppelin’s D’yer Maker – no need for words, just amazing. Rockin’ in the Free World, Neil Young cover. If you know anything about me, you know my love of Neil so, you could imagine my happiness. Hendrix’s Machine Gun rocked me away, total instrumental guitar insanity riffs holy hell.
photo by: Ross McKillop
These guys were relaxed, enjoying themselves, and the Mountain once again was bouncing and swaying then we went back to Rockin’. Um, wow, a 15 minute Rockin with Machine Gun thrown in there. Amazing. Warren says “ohhh, it’s about to go down.” And Eric Krasno comes out with the Lettuce Horns for the Stones’ The Spider and the Fly. Sam Kininger and Ryan Zoidis show us how they throw down those saxophones while Krasno decides to shred his guitar up there with Warren. “my, my, my, don’t ya tell lies…” yeahhhh…. beautiful.
photo by: Ross McKillop
Things get fuzzy by this point – Jackie Greene comes up and plays 2 songs and then for encore Mule throws out Pearl Jam’s Black. The posse had come back to the Karma Wash by this point and we all raged to the Pearl Mule Jam that was going down.Aerosmith’s Train Kept A Rollin’ kept us rollin’ on. Yeah. MULE. See ya next year, on the mountain.
Lettuce/DSO (late night set) I have to admit, Mule blew my face off my head so I have no set list. I have nothing except the Lettuce was crisp, and by the end of late night, about 2 hours later, the Lettuce was Shredded. God these guys were so damn hot, the place was packed, I was dancing, laughing, my buddies were all around me, the posse went up right to the front and I stayed back. I needed my space to groove. And then I went into music schizophrenia mode because I really wanted to see a bit of Dark Star Orchestra.
I ran up the mountain to hear Goin Down The Road Feelin Bad. Then I ran back for Lettuce, looked for my friends-couldn’t find them, closed my eyes and shook my ass to the rage that was Lettuce. Gosh, it was going DOWN in the Colonel’s Hall. I must have ran back up the hill to catch DSO again, because the notes say I was there for The Eleven>Shakedown Street>Tangled Up In Blue. I guess I couldn’t leave DSO while they were playing Dylan.
Evening into Morning: As I said, it gets very fuzzy around this time. I do know I ended back down at the Hall because I ended up with the posse, walking back to the campsite, and then hanging out in one of the VIP tents on the mountain until the sun came up. It was nice in that VIP tent, they had couches to relax on. And we were hanging with the Karma Wash Crew. It is nice to make sure your Karma is clean, and it is nice to have people to clean it for you. As the Tiny Rager and I walked back to the house it started to rain. Which was fine. We had beds, which were waiting for us all warm and dry. I slept like a baby for about 5 hours.
Ed note: I am grateful that Ross McKillop let me use his pictures, instead of my grainy whacked out photos. He reminded me to shout out to two great photographers who have incredible photos and prints, and capture the most amazing musical moments: Dino Perrucci and Allison Murphy. Check ‘em out, check their work, and pay respects. Thanks Ross!
Pre-festie: Going to a festival without a car is like going fishing without a fishing pole. It’s weird, a bit offputting and I had a lot of bags to schlep. After a subway trip out to the last stop in the Bronx, my girl and I were picked up by our buddies and we were off. Goin’ to the Country was playing in my head, very apropos since Hunter Mountain is very close to Woodstock, NY, and I always associate Country Joe with Woodstock. I spent time up in “Upstate NY” as a child – so, this was like going home, very familiar terrority…with the tribe. Wow, I love Mountain Jam.
Showtime: Dr. Dog canceled at the last moment so there was a shifting in schedule. Toots and the Maytals were playing Friday, and a second set of Lettuce was to follow on Saturday. Not so bad, except I missed Toots. And Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. A real bummer. However, after all was said and done, I made it to The Avett Brothers, Gov’t Mule and Les Claypool/The New Mastersounds madness.
Mule: Oh I love me some Mule. Love Warren, his talent, the shredding, the band, Jorgen Carlsson on bass makes Mule even that hotter. With Matt Abts on drums and Danny Louis on keys…. well, the whole band just rocks. I realized that the reasons that people may not like Gov’t Mule (“It’s very heavy.” “too hard”) are exactly the reasons I love Gov’t Mule. To me, you can never be too heavy, too hard – fast guitars, wailing keys, a heavy beat bringing the noise tumbling down through your body and your brains? Yeah. That’s Mule, and that’s why I love them. Outfrikkinrageous.
First Set: Raging. Dead on raging. I stomped my feet on the mountain, I shook my head side to side, eyes closed, shook my behind so hard and kept my balance on the slope of the mountain. Yes. I felt it in my bones. We had arrived. Mule was on stage. The weather was gorgeous. Bliss. They ended first set with Thorazine Shuffle. Whooo damn, it was just first set! My friends laughed at me and said, “yeah, that’s right girl, this is all you – Mulehead.” Yeah, well… some things are true.
Second Set: They started with Pink Floyd, the same two songs they played at Wanee(One of these days and Fearless). Wanee memories crossed into Mountain Jam reality and I laughed out loud. They broke out some Hendrix w/ The Wind Cries Mary (loving it!) and then Les Claypool joins in on the fun and the banter between Les and Warren go a bit like this: “We’ve been practicing this song for a while… “so don’t F it up Warren.”
As if Warren would do such a thing!! Next up, Abts goes crazy during the drum solo and brings out timpani sticks and just beats the drums like there’s no tomorrow. We slide into Wishing Well into Raven Black Night, and I heard a flute up there. I look up and it is Kofi Burbridge blowin’ on that flute, it sounds like dancing. Twirling dancers. Then we fly into a Fleetwood Mac tune Gold Dust Woman with Grace Potter wailing like only Amazing Grace can. Phew boy, Night 1 has begun!
Set 1: Intro, Stay With Me, New World Blues, World Gone Wild, Time To Confess, The Shape I’m In, Monkey Hill >, Monday Mourning Meltdown, Where Did You Sleep Last Night, Thorazine Shuffle
Set 2: One Of These Days >, Fearless, The Wind Cries Mary, Greasy Granny’s Gopher Gravy (Part 1 & 2) > (w/ Les Claypool), Drums, Wishing Well, Raven Black Night > (w/ Kofi Burbridge), Gold Dust Woman (w/ Grace Potter) Encores: Inside Outside Woman Blues, Any Open Window >, Steppin’ Lightly
Late Night Show: The New Mastersounds. Stop right here. Go to this page and find a show near you. They are a London based band, heavy funk, heavy soul oh good lord. Kofi Burbridge showed up again and played a couple of songs, the room rocked. You could feel it. These guys rocked me. Rocked my friends. Rocked the house. They could be my new favorite band. Go see Live Music!!
I experienced the first of my schizophrenic music behavior on Day 1 – running between the Colonel’s Hall with Mastersounds, and running up the mountain for Les Claypool. I had left a very very steamy set going on in the Hall and knew I was going to see Les at Brooklyn Bowl on Tuesday when I get back, but still wanted to get some Les in. I was trying to figure out what to do, so I finally just stopped and stood on the mountain for a second. I took it in, felt the Mountain energy, looked up at the stage and listened to the deep bass plucking from Mr. Claypool. Ahhh. Then I bolted down back to The Mastersounds. I heard I wasn’t the only one with schizophrenic music behavior that evening.
Day 2 starts with a little 7 Walkers w/ Bill Kreutzmann and Papa Mali. It was sweet, but have to admit, it wasn’t the highlight.
No, that would come after with Oteil and Kofi Burbridge w/ The Lee Boys. Um, that was some incredible funky stuff going down on the Mushroom Stage. Way high energy, like stamp your feet in the sand, shake your head, oooh boy this was good stuff coming off the stage. They played an hour and it was incredible. I’ve never seen the Lee Boys, from South Florida, and good lord! they were steaming in that little forest called the Mushroom Stage. Oteil kept that bass grooving fast and low, Kofi’s keys screaming through the shredding guitars, -screaming pedal steel guitar played by Roosevelt and the pounding drums… Oteil scats, oh yeah. Fast, funky, fun.
Spirit of Suwanee Magical Moment: Run into another friend in the immense crowd of people shaking and dancing, and she led me, holding my hand to connect with another friend. Yes, I felt the Spirit.
Then no break for the weary as I heard Stephen Stills in the background as I wandered the venue with a buddy on a shopping trip. We bought sunglasses and these hemp rope sandals as Stephen played from the Peach Stage. Things now get a little crazy, with all the things to do, people to see. I was running back and forth from each stage. My friend went one way, I went another, and some how, miraculously, we kept bumping into each other in a crowd of 23,000 16,000. Seriously, how does that happen?? Spirit of the Suwanee Moments all around me.
So, to cool down from that bit of crazy, I went for a walk and heard North Mississippi Allstars while wondering around. They rocked, it was a bluesy kind of southern rock thing, but raged. Hard rock, shredding guitars, the sun was beaming down. So beautiful, danced so hard. Smile beginning to hurt my face. Listen here at Archive
JJ Grey and Mofro. 2 horns and they jam some funky stuff. My notes say: Raging guitar, voice like the Black Crowes, Raging, Shaking head, dancing, shaking ass, dancing. Um. Well… hah. That says it all, doesn’t it? Again, another band to put on the list to see again and again. Listen here at Archive.
Hot Tuna no recollection at all. Unknown.
Widespread Panic. At this point my friend and I split and I went to the Peach Stage to see Widespread. Damn, there was a lot of people there and I started to flit around the field. I was trying to scope out a place to dance, as well as find my Orlando camp family, but to no avail. But WSP raged! Continue reading →
