GOTV ’08: I Can’t Stay Much Longer Melinda
Will take time to let it all sink in, but overall one of the strongest Vibes in recent memory—a really strong mix of young and old, classic and new, Dead and Deader. As I exited the grounds, the Neville Brothers were cooking up a tasty gumbo—as has been their wont for longer than I’ve been […]
GOTV ’08: Same ‘Ol Jumpstart
We’ve reached the last-day-of-the-festival haze: that sense of overwhelming exhaustion that comes after a lot of good music’s come and gone, a lot of beer’s gone down the gullet, and people are starting to realize not only the scope of their sunburns but figuring out how to come back to reality after three days of […]
GOTV ’08: Magnetic Vox
There are musicians who can carry a tune, musicians who can sing, musicians who can stoke a whole room with their vocals, and musicians who have such rich and powerful voices they draw everything else happening around them into their orbit. Mike Mattison belongs in the last category; that smoky croon and face-melting howl that […]
GOTV ’08: The Greene Machine
Giving Up the Ghost is Jackie Greene’s best album to date—the fullest expression of his folksy songwriting and country blues dexterity. But his songs have never been over-reliant on heavy metaphor or confusing wordplay. Ball and Chain, Gone Wonderin’, When You’re Walkin’ Away, Rusty Nail—these are songs to enjoy, shake your ass and drink to […]
GOTV Brought To You By Jen Durkin
If she keeps up this pace, the peppery and charming Ms. Durkin will run away with another festival MVP (following her raft of sit-ins at 10,000 Lakes last weekend). She’s been all over the place, not least with Deep Banana, and also recording segments for Lotus Soundworks, which has the tent next door to ours […]
Vibes ’08: Sight For Sore Eyes
Just ran into the lovely and ridiculously talented Samantha Stollenwerck hanging around the press tent and resplendent as usual. Stollenwerck already played yesterday on the Solar Stage, but she’s here to soak up what’s turning out to be a beaut of a day… And speaking of which, there’s gospel. Oh, how there’s gospel.
GOTV ’08: Phil Lesh and Friends Set II
Phil Set 2: Scarlet Begonias > All Along the Watchtower > Jam > He’s Gone > Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad > And We Bid You Goodnight Jam, **Phil piss break**, Wharf Rat > spacey jam > The Elevator > jam > The Eleven > I Know You Rider, Not Fade Away E: Donor […]
GOTV ’08: Phil and Friends Set I
SET 1: Here Comes Sunshine > Good Lovin’, Gone Wanderin’, Cumberland Blues, Dire Wolf, Loser, Cold Rain and Snow It was a jam-packed first half, with a rollicking Good Lovin’ to get the crowd riled up, a scorching Loser and plenty of exploration (and teases and red herrings) in Cold Rain and Snow. But the […]
Gathering Of The Vibes 2008: Of Cactus Landings and Hanapepe Dreams
Well, yes, Kreutzmann was aboard for a few songs, and overall Cactus gave us a really groovy set, focused on much of The Green Sparrow, which drops this week. Murawski was lauded as the force of nature he is—Gordon joked that he’d be playing in 100 bands this weekend—and there was also a strong showing […]
GOTV ’08: Inside Out
The trio of Bill Kreutzmann, Scott Murawski and Oteil Burbridge is a heady thing—a lot fuller and far-reaching a sound than you might expect, but then chide yourself for not expecting given the talent level of the people involved. An opening Eyes of the World, for example, offered three distinct solos from Murawski—one lilting, one […]