On May 10th, 2014 Cabinet presented a successful festival of varied exquisite music at Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Conveniently located only two hours from NYC and a mere two hours from Philadelphia, the event took place at a ski mountain/waterpark – the same location as the gargantuan Peach Festival. However, juxtaposed to Peach, this intimate festival of nearly 1,500 offered an alternatively intimate environment to bask in familiar love and music.
The argument drives on debating whether a big or small festival best delivers the ultimate music festival experience. The Susquehanna Breakdown Festival demonstrated in exemplary fashion how an intimate fest trumps any larger selection. The festival offered all the amenities of a larger festival, but without a crowded audience and the other inherent challenges of exponentially larger fare. Bill Orner (Cabinet’s manager) and his staff delivered a special festival excursion. The fest derives its name from a six-piece bluegrass/Americana outfit, Cabinet’s, song just like last year (Old Farmer’s Ball.) Susquehanna Breakdown takes its name from a track on the band’s most recent album, “Leap”, about a nearby river and a noisy energetic American country dance.
In addition to over 22 musical acts from varied genres on three different stages, the venue was filled with a plethora of interesting vending choices. With nearly 20 confirmed vendors showcasing their wares from Hula hoops to handmade instruments, jewelry to jerky, ornaments to original artwork, pins to pizzas, there was something for everyone. A notable selection was The Grateful Gallery, a traveling art gallery showcasing vintage & modern concert poster art from musical artists like The Grateful Dead. Fans from last year asked for no service fees, better beer and camping and the organizers took notice.
At $28.50, the ticket price for a bevy of entertainment proved to be an amazing value and the extra perk for attendees was that camping was offered right on the pavilion lawn – so you could hear music while you were relaxing back at base camp! Former Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead manager, Australian Sam Cutler, was tapped as a refreshing and personable Master of Ceremonies. Due to the number of attendees, one could make it down to the front of the stage when warranted and dance around with ease. Even the affable security force remained friendly and helpful rather than bait.
Highlights:
Madison Gerish’s unbridled energy led the Schooley Mountain Band as they opened the Breakdown stage, blue grass band Blind Owl Band shared intimate harmonies, rockers LeRoy Justice showcased why they are quickly-ascending the ranks in the scene, Vinnie and Al from Moe delivered a raucous set with their side-project Floodwood, Merl Seals and his cohorts set people dancing in the rain for a late night Terrapin Flyer gig, and Pappy from Cabinet submitted dutifully double dip by playing “Perk up with Pappy” to open the fest on the Plaza stage as well as a kids set later in the afternoon.
The Brummy Brothers :: Susquehanna Stage :: 11:30am-12:15pm
Up and coming bluegrass outfit, The Brummy Brothers, have been on a tear of late. In anticipation of the release of their debut album On Our Way, produced by Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth, the band played a passionate set rich in songs from the record. The band has improved its luscious harmonies and performances with an intense purpose that is not lost on the audience. Highlights included the complex, “No Good”, Russell Gottlieb’s hoot and hollerin’ infectious “Cell Phone Blues” and the flowing vocals from “60 Miles to Boston.” The show commenced the day’s music on the main stage and it was so effective that the next act, East Bound Jesus, exclaimed, “How about that Brummy Brothers! That was gonzo!” With a resurgence of energy and new material, this band consisting of Andrew Morris (guitar), Eric Brumberg (mandolin), Russell Gottlieb (banjo), and Dave Brumberg (bass) continues to carve a niche all its own and is a promising one to watch in the future!
Set List: On Our Way, No Good, Blue Ridge Blues, Hub City Hoedown, 60 Miles to Boston, Cell Phone Blues, Weed, Whiskey, Women, Quiet Life
Marco Benevento :: Susquehanna Stage :: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Marco “The Wonderful Wizard of Weird” Benevento, – along with Dave Dreiwitz (bass) and Andrew Borger (drums) – again demonstrated why he is the most prolific keyboard player in the scene today. He opened up his set during dusk with “After the Storm” – an infectious song with a gyrating groove and catchy hook that was first unveiled as a work in progress last year at Equifunk, but is now a full part of his rotation. At one point he exclaimed, “we are not fucking around” before delving into a bevy of bombastic melodies that showcased his unique performance style. Although a new album is slated for a December drop, he still managed to energetically share some of his classics including the up-lifting party anthem, “Real Morning Party” which served as an impetus for a full-fledged danceathon.
Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds :: Susquehanna Stage :: 9:00pm-10:15pm
Sister Sparrow – Arleigh Kincheloe (vocals), Jackson Kincheloe (harmonica), Bram Kincheloe (drums), Sasha Brown (guitar), Josh Myers (bass), Phil Rodriguez (trumpet), Ryan Snow (trombone) and Brian Graham (sax) – have been relentlessly touring for years and the diligence is paying off in spades. Under the veneer of a hard driving rock rhythm, the powerful band is buoyed by the alluring sex appeal of lead singer, Arleigh Kinchelsoe, which inspires male and female fans alike. This was best demonstrated by the set highlight, “The Way You Make Me Feel” where she slithered onstage to the Michael Jackson classic complete with mesmerizing harmonica fills and horns. The band is slated to jive out again soon at Mountain Jam.
Set List: Long Way, Millie, Make it, Don’t be jealous, Sugar, Way you make me feel, We need a love, Borderline, Lasso, Dirt, Prison cells, Cold blooded, Rock and roll, Road trip
Cabinet :: Susquehanna Stage :: 10:45pm – 12:15am
Playing bluegrass since 2006, the hosts of the festival, naturally were afforded the main stage’s closing spot and it was only fitting that the most arguably talented outfit would engage the prime time. Professional musicians JP Biondo (Mandolin/vocals), Mickey Coviello (guitar), Pappy Biondo (banjo), Dylan Skursky (bass), Todd Kopec (fiddle) and Jami Novak (drums) – effectively weaved tightly cohesive songs containing intricate melodies with crescendos that never fail to pay off with a bang. They are an incendiary group well served for the headliner slot and the kind of cordial laid back characters one would like to share a beer with afterwards. Highlights included the intricate bombardment of “Heavy Rain”, most recently included on the “This is Cabinet II” record, and the exploratory “Nashville Blues” that they recently performed with Bobby Paltauf at Rock and Roll Resort.
Frequent collaborator, Ron Holloway (sax) from the Warren Haynes Band, fueled the fray with his brass musings within a majority of tunes including a mesmerizing “Caroline”, which added flare and a lucid layered depth of sound. With Allie Kral’s departure from Cornmeal and Jeff Austin leaving Yonder Mountain String Band, Cabinet is ready and poised to be the “go-to” music destination for jamgrass afficiandos. Next up is a stop at Del Fest.
Set List: Heavy Rain, OFM, Nash, Mysterio, Eleanor, Gypsy, Ma, New Song, RRR, Celebrate, Wine, Caroline>Space>Shady Encore: Oxygen>Susquehenna Breakdown
Photos by Greg Horowitz at Creative Solutions Music Promotions
2 Responses
Music at this fest was great but it was not treated like a normal camping festival. Security was outrageous, kicking people out for handing out flyers and being too loud. The drink situation was bad too. cant bring beer or water in and then charged 4.50/water and 10.00 a beer and then all drink sales ended at midnight. Security was actually looking around everyones campsites because they saw beer around that wasn’t the venues. I dunno why it cant just be a bit more laid back. Like i said music was phenomenal and I had a BLAST but security brought the vibe down just a little bit. Makes me not wana go back to montage mountain….
TODD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’