Tag Archives: Phrazz

2011 Catskill Chill Festival, Last day, Sunday

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Photo by: Katie Feinstein

I slept like a baby the night before.  Missed the late night Wyllis show with the fantastic Jennifer Hartswick (trumpet, vocals) and I was bummed, thinking, “I just had to rest my ankles, not pass out for the night.”  Darn it…

Luckily there was a small crew from my cabin, virtual strangers before the Chill Festival, who were up and chatting on the porch.  To my ultimate surprise, I was treated to a coffee machine, hooked up and coffee being spooned in to be brewed.  There is nothing like a weekend at a festival, with a coffee maker.  Thank the sweet heavens, I am becoming re-born again.

This morning was a real treat for me, meeting strangers and becoming close friends with them in the early morning over coffee and bloody Mary’s.  Laughing so hard with each other, recounting the adventures of the day before, and truly making bonds.  I was so grateful I was amongst such wonderful people, and feeling the bliss from music wash over me.   My mind drifts, and I apologize for this is a festival review, so… on to the music….

The line up:
Particle
Dopapod
John Brown’s Body
7 Walkers
Big Sam’s Funky Nation

Particle

Photo by: Phrazz

I interviewed Steve Molitz from Particle before the Catskill Chill Festival (click here for the review), and I was excited to see him play again.  These guys are like electronica/trance/groovy dance music.  The crowd was still light at this time (3:30pm)… perhaps we all needed more coffee?  But I got my groove on, danced a while and flitted through the crowd, seeing friends and friendlies everywhere I turned.

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Photo by: Phrazz

Dopapod I have to say, I personally wasn’t into these guys.  My friends and posse seemed to be, so I wandered back to the cabin to get ready to leave.  The plan was we’d leave after John Brown’s Body, to take the 2 hour drive back to Manhattan, so I figured this was a good a time as any.  Little did I know that I wouldn’t be leaving for many, many hours.

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Photo by: Phrazz

John Brown’s Body – raging RAGING reggae.  These guys were so much fun, the venue was pretty well packed, it was kinda muggy, rainy, sweaty, but no one seemed to mind.  This was an amazing 2 hour set, people dancing, swaying – artists painting in the crowd, soccer balls being kicked around, balls bouncing, hoola hoops hooping… yes. Yes, yes, yes!  The Catskill Chill’s website says it best, ” JBB’s live show has the kind of organic, body-rocking sound that’s only possible with an 8-piece band where air tight drum and bass, a three piece horn section, and “the most gorgeous melodies in all of modern reggae music” [All Music Guide] meet a dubbed-out sound engineer.”  This was a highlight, indeed.

In between these shows, we took the time to pack the car – as originally planned.  Then, I believe it started to rain, so we took cover with…

Photo by: Joshua Raskin

7 Walkers:  I couldn’t leave.  Who, me? Leave during Billy Kreutzmann (drummer, Grateful Dead), George Porter, Jr., (bass, The Meters), Papa Mali and Matt Hubbard.  I had all great intentions, but what do they say?  The best laid plans…. yeah, that’s what happened.  This band is a mix of Grateful Dead hippy bounce with some creole soul from New Orleans.  It is fresh and upbeat, they play new original songs (some written by Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter), and they look like they are having the greatest time.  I have seen them quite a few times now, and I just have a blast every time I see them.  They never disappoint, I always feel like I’m amongst family, and my heart shines bright when they end the show.  Thank you.

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Photo by: Phrazz

Big Sam’s Funky Nation / Jets Game / We gotta go!

Yes, we had to go, but I was very excited to just linger aimlessly amongst the vendors while Big Sam was crushing it at the other stage. I needed some food, I needed some coffee and I was planning on not rushing before jumping in the car. My friend was enamored with the Jets Game, which made me feel no pressure to start driving. I have to admit, this was a great way to end the evening. Watching the Jets with my friends, hearing Big Sam’s Funky Nation in the background, quietly eating, patiently waiting, and enjoying my last few breaths of the Chillest festival I believe I’ve ever been to.

I wonder what the numbers were from their first year, to this year (their second). I will poke around and be sure to report back.

Please leave comments on your favorite memories. And I hope to see everyone again next year!

2011 Catskill Chill Festival, Camp Minglewood, Fri & Sat

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The Scene:  Talk about a Chill Festival.  This small little festival was tucked away far into the Catskill Mountains, at a summer camp called Camp Minglewood.  It had all the makings of a lovely summer camp; cabins for campers to sleep, docks and a lake for swimming, halls for eating and gathering.  This weekend, Camp Minglewood was transformed into a vendor filled, camping, music loving extravaganza.  Tents were mixed with the cabins, electricity was available for coffee percolators in the morning, hot showers (yes, I said HOT showers in the cabins) and the people were friendly.  So friendly.  Did I mention friendly?  Hugs and good mornings from strangers and friends alike.  It felt like one large big happy family, who were all floating on air from music overload, shared experiences and dancing hard.

Friday:  So, after a long day at work, and a longer ride up to the Catskills, getting our wristbands, parking the car, finding the cabin, and unloading, we were able to catch the evening’s last set.  My friend and I found our friends and I was jonesing for some music already.  We bolted from our posse and went to find the music.  We made the last set of the night, Break Science.  I remember there were about 300-400 people, and some very heavy beats from Mr. Adam Deitch.  After I got my fill from head nodding, and some hip shaking, we went to check out the fire drum circle. Jumping through mud puddles, we checked it out, and was treated to a fire dancer twirl right next to us.  I put my toes near the fire, got warmer (thankfully!) and wandered around.  We went back to the cabins to chill out with my posse, check out the vendors, understand the lay of the land, and think I passed out at 3.  Oh – we had bunkbeds, typical for a summer camp.  It’s been a very long time since I’ve slept in bunkbeds.  (side note: bring padding for bunkbeds).

Photo by: Josh Raskin/Tiny Rager

Saturday:  Ok, so I was hurting this morning.  Between the crazy long week, the dancing and wandering till 3am, the bunk beds and waking up to the sound of the drum circle still going on, I have to admit… I was kind of hurting.  If you know me, you know I am not the most lively, cordial, talkative person in the morning, and my new cabin mates learned that quickly.  I found the coffee truck, bought three cups, gave one to my friend and drank the other two quickly.  It helped…  It was beginning to help.

The day was gorgeous, not a cloud in the sky, the sun was out, the weather was a perfect 80 degrees.  It was spectacular.  And perfect.  And very Catskill Chilling.

The Heavy Pets: I gathered myself together, took a shower, ate a bit of food (don’t remember what it was), and got myself down to the stage for The Heavy Pets.  It was a really nice way to start the day.  The Main Stage wasn’t packed at all – probably under 400 people.  The Pets jammed, crazy guitar licks, heavy groovy bass drum, bouncy, trippy kind of music.  There was room to bounce.  There was room to jam.  I was relaxing into the vibe of the festival – the Chill.

Photo by: Josh Raskin/tinyrager

There was a surprise birthday party for me and a few other Virgo babies, that was completely a surprise for me.  The coordination to get at least 20 people together, at a certain time at a festival is a feat in itself, but to have candles and goodie bags for the birthday boys and girls, well… all I can say is I am grateful.  (And thank you, Karen.)

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Photo by: Phrazz

Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds:  Wow.  Hello there.  I’d never seen these guys before and… wow.  Rage-o-rama.  Horns galore, incredible harp player, and the chick that sings – WOW.  I was impressed.  We had trombone, trumpet, sax, bass sax, guitar, bass guitar, harmonica, drums, singer.  The horns do a great dance in sync, Sister Sparrow sings it hard – full Aretha/Whitney/Janis in your face (the chick is about 5 feet nothing and maybe weighs 25 pounds.  How does that work?!?)  This band is on my highlights list.  They are fun.  They are funky.  And I danced my butt off.

Photo by: Robyn Gould

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