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Friday, March 23, 2007
Flatpicking Guitar Workshop - I started off Friday morning with Gabe from
VTW and Dan from the
Biscuit Burners showing off
their picking talents. Since I'm not a flat picker myself, their ability
is just mind boggling to me. Both were especially fond of talking about
gypsy jazz guitar, and the influence it has put on their own playing. There
were a few questions from the crowd, but it was mostly just the guys picking
some songs they were both liked. Nice way to start the day.
Tom Nelly - I caught some of Tom outside at the Florida stage next, and
the range and ability of Tom is amazing. He started off with some Jimi Hendrix
material, then morphed into some Pink Floyd, spacey material. While playing,
he got out this twelve string guitar, but I believe he said he was only
using eight strings. He's probably forgotten more about music theory than
I've ever learned.
Clyde Walker - It was good to see Clyde again. It had been quite a while
since we'd spoken with one another, and there was catching up to do. He's
finishing up the DVD project he's been working on for quite a while. He
got up and played some songs when it was his turn after Tom Nelly. The man
can still play some damn smooth finger picking just like when he played
at our house in the fall of '05. I'm hoping to get together with him sometime
soon the next time we're in the Jacksonville area.
The Biscuit Burners - This young
band has had some personnel changes. Many people were surprised when Shannon
(banjo/vocals) and Jon (mandolin) were no longer in the band. They added
a fiddler player for the first time (Odessa) and a banjo player as well
(Wes). The music they played at Springfest also shows the band is willing
to expand their sound. They've always pretty much stuck to the traditional
old-time bluegrass. The new material has a far-east flavor that isn't much
of a surprise since Mary and Billy regularly visit India. This was the only
time I got to see the band, and I'm looking forward to the new album even
more now.
Dread Clampitt - I've been a
big fan of this band since seeing them during my first Springfest in 2004.
Last year I felt they were a big tentative and not as loose as they'd been
in the past. They now have a new bass player, and they band has seemed to
have found its mojo again. This set right here probably ranked up near the
top of all the ones I saw the entire weekend. Good to see them back in fine
form, and I look forward to seeing them again.
Darrell Scott - It was back out
to the Meadow Stage under the blazing sun. This was by far the warmest Springfest
we'd been to so far. Sun block was more in demand this time than warmer
clothing like in the past. I was especially looking forward to this gig,
because I'd only see Darrell during the 2004 Springfest, and I had become
quite a big fan of his music since. He jumped right in with this set, and
played a wide array of newer and older tunes from his catalog. Both the
new and older material mixed well together, and I like how he is unafraid
to tweak and change the songs somewhat over the years. Solid set that was
well worth the potential sunburn.
Jud Caswell - I snuck over and
caught part of Jud's set, and I am still amazed at how comfortable he is
on stage. He's a natural performer, and he's got the chops to boot. His
folk music is smooth, and he does a good job of storytelling too. In fact,
his newest album was one of my wife's favorites after Springfest had finished.
It's too bad he lives up in Maine, or he'd be another possible future house
concert artist.
Ollabelle - This was one band that
I was looking forward to before Springfest. I went through the various new
bands that I hadn't seen prior to Springfest this year, and they were one
that sounded promising. I skipped the Vocal Workshop at the Music Hall to
hear more of them, after some friends spoke highly of them after seeing
them at an earlier set. I don't know if it was just the song selection for
this set, but I just didn't get into them like I had expected. They had
reminded me of a bluegrass band with heavy alternative and jazz roots. I
just couldn't get into them, but I'm hoping to see them again some date
to see if it was just that one set.
Jorma Kaukonen &
Roy Book Binder - Roy Book Binder
started this set, but it was clear that everyone was there to see Jorma.
Roy even made some jokes about it when they weren't up against the stage
until Jorma came out to play. It was extremely warm by them at the Meadow
Stage, so I know the bands were cooking up there on that black stage. Roy
cranked through some of his better tunes, and then Jorma came out with Michael
Falzarano to help out on mandolin. I was really looking forward to this
set, because I really liked Jorma's Country Blues album. His new album was
just coming out, and I'd yet to ever see Jorma to date. Unfortunately, this
set didn't live up to my high expectations either. Jorma's new songs are
more religious based, and his selection of songs for his new album just
didn't do much for me. Thus his live show this afternoon didn't really bowl
me over either. I just wish I'd seen him live a few years back.
Ray Wylie Hubbard - I didn't get
to see this entire set, because over wanting to go and see Darrell Scott's
entire set at the Main Stage. I also knew that Ray was also playing another
set later that evening at the Main Stage so I could see him then. I really
enjoyed Ray's set, and he played a lot of material off his new album. I
didn't get to hear my favorite song of his, "Conversation with the Devil."
I figured he would either play it late into the set, when I was heading
to see Darrell, or when I saw him later that night. So while it was a great
set, I knew I could hope for even better later.
Darrell Scott - Darrell cranked
through another great set that evening at the Main Stage. The thing that
impressed me most was that I don't know if there was a single song that
was played at both stages. He's building quite the catalog, and he and his
band played another top notch set. I'd love to get him to play our house
concert, but I don't know if that'd ever interest him. Amazing musician.
Bonus for this set also was that Joe Craven joined Darrell for the entire
set!
Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks - Wasn't
my cup of tea.
The Infamous Stringdusters
- Since I wasn't getting into Dan Hicks, I decided to leave earlier than
planned to see as much of the Infamous Stringdusters as I could. I'd already
heard plenty about this band this weekend. I knew they were the next up
and coming band on Sugar Hill Records. You always wonder about the next
big band coming out that is getting a lot of promo. This band though has
the skills to make the step to the next level. All of them are top notch
musicians who would stand out themselves in their own individual bands,
but this a band of lead musicians all put together. So every time they take
a break from the singing, a wicked solo comes from the fiddle, mando, guitar
or dobro player. All are top notch, and it is obvious why this band is going
to be pushed so hard by Sugar Hill Records. They've got a great young band
who is going to sell many records in the coming years.
Jorma Kaukonen - This was the
evening set for Jorma, and I went to it again, even though I had been disappointed
by the afternoon show. I mean, how many times do you get to see Jorma in
a lifetime. I liked this show a little better, because it was more varied
musically, but I'm just not into his current musical direction.
Ray Wylie Hubbard - Well, I didn't
get to this set as quickly as I would have liked, because a certain couple
of people were late getting there...ahem. The thing that sucked though was
getting there to hear the remainder of Ray's set. Because his songs were
in the same order, and the stage patter was even the same. So I heard the
same songs, and I still ended up missing the song I really wanted to hear.
I later found out that he was playing the song. I just never got to see
him play it live. I just wish he got away from a routine, and played a bit
more varied set. Still one of my favorite musicians of the weekend.
The Duhks with
Dan Frechette - Well, this set
was a big letdown. The reason was because they had already announced at
previous sets that the majority of the Duhks would not be making it to this
year's Springfest. All of the band, with the exception of Tania, was not
able to get into the United States due to some visa problems. So on the
stage was Tania, Dan Frechette, and some other musicians. After the let
down, we just went ahead and took off to head back to the camp site for
the evening.