Posts by Jeremy Gordon

Jeremy Gordon captured the Bebe Buell Band rocking the Hiro Ballroom.

Gathering of the Vibes at Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT – July 21-24

Words: Carla Danca
Photos: Jeremy Gordon

Outside of a few questions that aren’t suitable for print, “So how many have you been to?” is probably the most asked question around Gathering of the Vibes. Sixteen years after its humble beginnings as Deadhead Heaven – A Gathering of the Tribe on the campus of SUNY Purchase, Vibes has become one of the Northeast’s largest annual festivals and one of the oldest as well. In a year when many “newer” festivals celebrate their tenth anniversary, GOTV is well into is second decade. Each summer, friends – many of whom only see each other for four days each July – meet up at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT to spend a weekend together. With the heat at record highs over the weekend (103°F on Friday) more than ever it was the people, both Vibes veterans and newcomers, who made this year’s event memorable.

[All photos by Jeremy Gordon]

Sticking to its roots as a celebration of the Grateful Dead, five different members of the band played at some point during the weekend. Dark Star Orchestra brought Donna Jean Godchaux to the stage on Thursday, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh’s Furthur headlined on Friday, while Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann’s Rhythm Devils held court on Sunday. While many other festivals have recently been adding more electronic and popular acts – sometimes to the dismay of their core audience – Gathering of the Vibes has always stayed true to its roots. If the crowd on the field for Furthur was any indication, it seems that GOTV knows their audience as trying to snake your way out of the concert field was all but impossible with a patchwork of singing, swaying fans.

READ ON for more on Gathering of the Vibes 2011…

Dave Matthews Band Caravan @ Atlantic City, NJ June 24, 25 &  26

Words: Carla Danca
Photos: Jeremy Gordon

When a band decides that they aren’t hitting the road for the summer, fans often start to worry, but in the case of Dave Mathews Band, a summer free from touring left them open to much bigger and better things. DMB is no stranger to the summer festival circuit having appeared in festivals from H.O.R.D.E to Bonnaroo over the course of their 20 year career, but their own events so far have been smaller – a two-day show here or there. This year they went all in, planning four separate Caravan events including three days at the never before used as a concert venue Bader Field in Atlantic City.

[All photos by Jeremy Gordon]

While DMB could have gotten away with being the only band on the lineup, they instead pulled from an eclectic mix of artists that combined old friends and up and comers. The days were jammed packed with music, often causing hard decisions when bands overlapped. Though many of the artists held obvious appeal for DMB fans, acts such as Big Gigantic and Bassnectar provided danceable grooves, while Punch Brothers and Thievery Corporation exposed fans to a much more worldly sound.

READ ON for more from DMB Caravan – Atlantic City…

Governor’s Ball Music Festival @ Governor’s Island, June 18

Words: Carla Danca
Photos: Jeremy Gordon

The inaugural Governor’s Ball Music Festival was held on Governor’s Island this past weekend, proving that NYC can still move with the best of them. The first time festival took advantage of the beautiful grounds and isolated location to call out all the alternative people of the city dressed in their finest freaky gear. From bikini tops to rainbow socks, it seemed that all of Brooklyn traded in their skinny jeans for a day in the sun. Governor’s Ball treated show-goers to amazing sights and sounds from a wide variety of electronic inspired artists.

[All photos by Jeremy Gordon]

With all the necessary items for a party it’s no surprise that acts like People Under the Stairs gave it up for marijuana and beer drawing huge crowds that were happy to sing along with them “If you don’t like it then get the fuck outta here.” Big Boi followed, giving the crowd the hits they craved like Ms. Jackson. The song drew more than just applause from the crowd as hot pink bras found their way onto the stage! But it was Empire of the Sun that won most outrageous act of the night with multiple costume changes and a troupe of dancers that made it hard to take your eyes off the stage for even a minute.

READ ON for more about the Governor’s Ball Festival…

Bill Kreutzmann, Papa Mali and Matt Hubbard brought the 7 Walkers to NYC’s Brooklyn Bowl on Tuesday night for a few classic Dead songs, some originals and a bunch of guests to fill the stage.

[All photos by Jeremy Gordon]

Sousaphone were tabbed to hold down the bass lines. Previously announced guests Henry Butler joined in on keyboards for a few songs and Joan Osborne – who toured with Kreutzmann as part of The Dead in 2003 – shared the vocal duties on Turn On Your Love Light, New Speedway Boogie and Sugaree. However, the highlight of the night was the appearance of singer Miss Tami Lynn (at the ripe young age of 69) as she came out to sing with Papa Mali on a slowed down and chilling version of Dr. John’s I Walk On Gilded Splinters.

7 Walkers continue their tour with an appearance at the Mountain Jam Music Festival tonight and will return to New York City’s City Winery on Sept. 2^nd & 3^rd. READ ON for a full gallery of Jeremy’s photos…

Disco Biscuits shows have been few and far between in 2011, making this past weekend’s three-pack of performances in the heart of “Bisco Country” extra special. The band kicked off the brief run on Thursday and Friday at the Best Buy Theater in New York City before finishing it off at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, PA on Saturday night.

[All photos by Jeremy Gordon]

The Philadelphia-based quartet mixed material from every era of the band’s history throughout the run. Here’s a look at the setlists…

04/14/11 @ Best Buy Theater – New York, NY

Set 1: Spectacle, Story Of The World1 > Bombs > Above The Waves2 > Spaga3

Set 2: Mindless Dribble > Run Like Hell > Confrontation2 > Mindless Dribble > Feeling Twisted > Run Like Hell
Encore: The Tunnel, Once The Fiddler Paid

1 – Unfinished
2 – Inverted
3 – Ending only

04/15/11 @ Best Buy Theater – New York, NY

Set 1: Kitchen Mitts, Grass Is Green > Vassillios > Minions > Voices Insane1 > Grass Is Green

Set 2: Spaga2 > Reactor3 > Tricycle > Humuhumunukunukuapua’a4 > Tempest, The Very Moon > Bernstein And Chasnoff4

Encore: Magellan

1 – Unfinished
2 – Dyslexic completion of 4/14 version
3 – Inverted
4 – Ending only

4/16/2011 @ Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA

Set 1: Portal To An Empty Head, Aceetobee > Catalyst > Aceetobee, Digital Buddha > Lunar Pursuit > Digital Buddha

Set 2: Spraypaint > Spacebirdmatingcall, House Dog Party Favor, Neck Romancer, 42 > Spraypaint

Encore: We Like To Party

[via PT Bisco]

Hidden Track’s Jeremy Gordon was on hand last Thursday to shoot the first night of the run at the Best Buy Theater. READ ON for a full gallery…

This past Thursday night the stars came out at Carnegie Hall for the XXI Annual Tibet House Benefit Concert.  Curated by Tibet House Vice President Philip Glass, the night included a beautiful duet with Taj Mahal and his daughter Deva, The Roots delivering a fantastic cover of Neil Young’s Down by the River with a stirring outro of Hendrix’s Hey Joe and Philip Glass soloing on piano with The Flaming Lips for Do You Realize.

R.E.M. fans got a special treat as Michael Stipe performed Every Day is Yours to Win for the first time live and went into full story behind Saturn Returns. Patti Smith then led her band in covers of the Youngbloods’ Get Together and Buddy Holly’s Not Fade Away. The night ended with all the participants joining on stage together for a rousing People Have the Power as Patti Smith reminded the assembled that as people have risen up for their rights in Egypt, Libya and Wisconsin it can happen everywhere.

James McCartney: Angel, Old Man*

Angelique Kidjo: Malaika, Africa

Tenzin Choegyal: Snow Line, Hi Chung

Jesse Smith, Michael Campbell & Patti Smith: Springtime

Angelique Kidjo & the Roots: Move On Up!

The Roots & Taj Mahal: Why Did You Have to Desert Me?

The Roots: Down by the River*

Taj Mahal & Deva Mahal: Lovin’ in My Baby’s Eyes

Taj Mahal: Blues with a Feeling

Philip Glass & Hal Wilner: Roosevelt After Inauguration

Michael Stipe: Saturn Returns, Every Day is Yours to Win**

The Flaming Lips: Feeling Yourself Disintegrate, Do You Realize***

Patti Smith: Get Together, Not Fade Away

All (group finale): People Have the Power

*Neil Young Cover

**First Time Played

*** w/ Philip Glass on piano

READ ON for a full gallery of Jeremy’s Tibet House Benefit photos…

Yesterday, we published the first part of a two-part B List penned by HT photo editor Jeremy Gordon in which he shared five of his favorite photos and the stories behind them. Today, Jeremy returns to tell the tales of his other five favorite shots. Take it away, JG…

6. The Forgotten Photo

[Coca-Cola sign Times Square]

It was my first time photographing the Disco Biscuits and, man, was I excited. This was going to be the biggest band I had shot up to that time, and only the second time I had shot at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square. I got there early and talked to a few people, including some other photographers. Then I grabbed a few shots of Simon Posford as he spun discs for the crowd. Finally it was time for the Biscuits to take the stage leading to three songs and about 15 minutes of me running around looking for angles, trying to grab focus, and guessing shutter speeds against the pulsating lights, all while the crowd was screaming behind me.

Later in the show, I was invited side stage to get some more shots before adjourning backstage for a slice of Famous Ray’s and a beer. Then it was on to the aftershow to catch Bassnectar at B.B. King. So where does this photo fit into that long and rambling story? It ended up being just one of three shots taken after a friend and I left the concert and headed to Times Square in search of an ATM.  There, at 3:00 in the morning, workers were repairing the Coca-Cola sign. For one reason or another I wasn’t happy with the shot, and it sat untouched for eight months until I finally got bored and worked on this forgotten shot.  I’m glad I did.

• Previously on HT: The Stories Behind The Photos, Pt. 1

READ ON for four more amazing photos and the stories behind them…

For this week’s B List, we present a two-part series penned by HT photo editor Jeremy Gordon in which he shares his ten best photos and more importantly the stories behind those photos.

Someone once said, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and perhaps it is.  But often a photo without context conceals the greater story behind it.  A couple of months ago, my editor at Hidden Track, Scott Bernstein, asked me if I would like to share the stories behind 10 of my favorite photos.  I jumped at the chance, hoping to impart my tale and perhaps a little wisdom to our readers and my friends.  What you’ll find below is mostly true and mostly accurate,  so take it all with a grain of salt.

1. 15 Minutes of Fury

[The Flaming Lips at Central Park SummerStage]

Generally, three songs or 15 minutes is all you’re going to get in front of the band.  In that time you’ve got to get close-ups of each member of the band and hopefully shots of them together, interacting with energy and excitement.  Sometimes the lighting just plain sucks – there’s actually a joke that the bands purposely under light the first three songs because they hate photographers – or the bands are uninteresting to watch and it becomes a frustrating mess. But then you get to shoot The Flaming Lips.

The show begins with the band being born out of a giant light – or a replica of a vagina – on stage before the lead singer jumps into a  hamster ball to crowd surf the venue. Dancing girls are dressed in alien costumes (if dressed at all), giant bears and fishes join in on the fun, and confetti streams down from the rafters as 20 to 30 photographers push, shove, and run around trying to get a photo of anything they can think of. It truly is 15 minutes of fury and, except for almost going berserk on a fellow photographer, I loved every minute of it.

READ ON for four more exquisite photos and interesting stories…

Welcome to another installment of A Memory of Music. Each month we reach out for some of the best music related images from all over the counrty, so join us for a trip down memory lane for February of 2011 and remember to click on the photos for full resolution images.

[Grace Potter, photo by Steve Moyles]

As we mentioned earlier this month, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals have been on a roll of late. February was no different as the band played sold out shows in Boston, New Orleans, Atlanta and elsewhere. Fans in Dallas were given a special treat when Grace sang a duet with Scott Tournet of country star Kenny Chesney’s You and Tequila, a song that will appear on his upcoming album, Hemingway’s Whiskey.

[Joel Cummins, photo by Benjamin Slayter]

Umphreys McGee is on a streak of its own, selling out 19 of its first 23 dates of 2011, including the past 10 straight shows on this month’s tour. Sit-ins on the tour have ranged from legendary pop-star John Oates to one-man-band Keller Williams to the mini-blues sensation – 15-year-old Jake Haldenwang. Keyboardist Joel Cummins left the fans with this final thought, “Thank you…best tour ever.”

READ ON for more of A Memory of Music for February 2011…

Brothers Past @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, February 5

Words: Carla Danca
Images: Jeremy Gordon

Despite an intimate start to the show, the diehards all came out to support Brothers Past at Williamsburg’s Hall of Music this past Saturday. From the bros in the front row who embodied the “dance like no one is watching” mantra to the Funtown dancers on the stage, the floor kept moving all night long in Brooklyn. While it may have been cold and raining outside,  inside things got so hot that there was more than one shirt removed.

[All photos by Jeremy Gordon]

The show began with a set from New Jersey’s own FiKus who were crowded together among the equipment of BP. The tight set up seemed the aid the band as their playing intermixed seamlessly.  By adding additional electronic layers on top of the already rich sound provided, the five members of the band dominated the room.  Things heated up when DJ Nutritious spun while his two dancers roamed the stage with painted body art that accentuated every curve. Though it seemed a bit risqué, they didn’t quite know what to do when a dollar was thrown on stage… apparently it wasn’t that kind of party after all.

READ ON for more from Brothers Past in Williamsburg…

Welcome to another installment of A Memory of Music. Each month, we bring you the images of talented photographers across the land as selected by HT photo editor Jeremy Gordon. So join us for a trip down memory lane and remember to click on the photos for full resolution images…

[Jon Gutwillig, photo by Tim Hara]

While many in the Northeast were hit by record snow falls, some headed out of town and on to Jam Cruise or Mayan Holidaze. With sets on the beach by the Disco Biscuits, Umphrey’s McGee, STS9 and more, fans at Holidaze left the cold weather behind and enjoyed themselves in the sun – when they weren’t watching the Big Game on TV.

[Roger Daltrey, photo by Allison Murphy]

For those that stayed in town, many took their talents – and wallets – to Roger Daltrey’s Rock ‘n Roll Fantasy Camp.  After rehearsals and masterclasses with Simon Kirke of Bad Company and producer Phil Ramone, the final show at BB Kings in Times Square included a variety of campers and artists playing on such classics as Born To Run and Stand By Me.

READ ON for more of this month’s A Memory of Music…

Disco Biscuits @ Terminal 5, December 27

Words: Carla Danca
Photos: Jeremy Gordon

In a year filled with adventures, the Disco Biscuits began their New Year’s Run this past Monday just after one of the largest blizzards in NYC history. Even with a move to Terminal 5 from the Nokia (now Best Buy) Theatre in Times Square, the real surprise of the night came in an email from the band that announced that due to a severe asthma attack, Allen Aucoin would be hospitalized and special guests would be needed to fill in behind the drum kit.

Monday night saw Mike Greenfield of Lotus fill Allen’s shoes. Greenfield had previously played with the band and luckily was available on short notice. As the house lights dimmed, Pink Floyd’s The Show Must Go On filled the room and the band took to the stage for the dedicated fans that had made the trek into the snowbank-filled city.

The first set had a few teases and prolonged jams with the second half finally finding a more cohesive groove. The segues out of Cyclone into Story of the World was the highlight of the first set. The second set started off a bit more jazzy as the quartet gained steam from the long set break. The suprise of the second set was the really great reception of the crowd to the newer Bombs, which has met a bit of fan resistance since Planet Anthem was released in March. But the song of the night was definitely Astronaut. From the transition into it from Bombs to when they brought it back around after some seriously tribal jaming, Astronaut was a holiday treat to those who figured out a way to make it in for the show. The Biscuits ended the night with a solid Caterpillar encore that was entertaining and kept the crowd moving.

READ ON for more on the Biscuits @ Terminal 5…

Welcome to another installment of A Memory of Music. Each month, we show you a different side of the scene, so join us for a trip down memory lane for December 2010 and remember to click on the photos for full resolution images. For the month of December it ‘twas the season of Santa Clauses and holiday parties. From Brooklyn to San Francisco, and a few places in between, the bands dressed in their finest to spread the cheer.

[Ryan Stasik, photo by Tim Hara]

December in Chicago is all about Umphrey’s McGee.  Several weeks before their 3-day New Years Eve run, guitarists Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger treated their fans to an intimate acoustic show with lots of guest sit-ins playing both UM songs and a wide range of covers. This year marked the 8th Annual Holiday Show, which benefits the USTORM Foundation. Those who came early were treated to an Umphrey’s Garage Sale where fans could buy vintage merchandise at a discount and a few lucky girls and boys could enjoy a picture with Santa Ryan Stasik.

[Robert Fripp, photo by Jeremy Gordon]

In the spirit of giving, legendary King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp played four free shows on Dec 3^rd and 4^th in the Winter Garden of the World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan. The shows were billed as Soundscapes. For those fortunate enough to attend, Robert suggested they may be the last of the “Frippertronics” pieces and possibly his final public performances. READ ON for more incredible images from December…

Back in 1978, Ed Volker, Dave Malone and a couple of fellow musicians turned a few beers and five hour jam in a garage into a 33 year career together. As The Radiators they played with such luminaries as Gregg Allman, Maceo Parker, George Porter, Jr. and Bob Weir, to name a few, and in such long gone NYC venues as The Ritz, Tramps and Tobacco Road. Along the way, fellow musicians became brothers and fans became family as the Radiators became affectionately known as “The World’s Best Bar Band”.  Playing two packed evenings at Sullivan Hall, fans from as far away as Boston and Washington, DC came to share in what was expected to be one of the final appearances for beloved keyboardist “Zeke” and this lineup in New York City.

[All photos by Jeremy Gordon]

Treated to a mix of covers from The Beatles and Van Morrison and personal favorites of their own, many of the songs including How Do You Feel, Funeral March and The End Is Not in Sight were filled with deeper meaning and tinged with both euphoria and sadness in a truly New Orleans way. Even the final song of the run, Train Kept A Rollin’, spoke to the future of the band and its remaining members. Even if you’re not one of the loyal Fishheads, we suggest you check out one of their New Year’s run shows in Ardmore, PA or as a real treat, their final appearance at the upcoming New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 8th.

Sullivan Hall
New York, NY
11/17/10

Set 1: Tuning – Intro, Sunglasses On, Between Two Fires, Oh La La, Domino > All The Good Ones Are Gone > Everybody’s Got Something Hide Except Me & My Monkey > Linin’  Track > Domino, Falling Through The Bottom Line, Danang, Daddy’s Coming Home, Grief Snafu, Good Things, Going Up To The Country, City Of Refuge, Outro

Set 2: Tuning – Intro, Down By The River, Circus Life, The Man Who Lost His Head, Honey Bee > Keep On Popping That Shine, Hide You Love Away (false start), Hide Your Love Away, Number Two Pencil, Fools Go First, Lovely You, Kenny’s Call Em’ Back, St. James Infirmary, Party Ain’t Over Till I Say It So > Whole Lotta Shakin’, Outro

Sullivan Hall
New York, NY
11/18/10

Set 1: Tuning, Young Neil Intro, Dreaming Out Loud, Texas Chainsaw Massacre > Willie & The Hand Jive > Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Brand New Tennessee Waltz, How Do You Feel, Funeral March (riff), Automatic, One Eye Jack, JigSaw, Last Time, Sparkplug, You Can’t Always Get Want, Monkey In Her Heart > Screwloose, Outro

Set 2: Tuning – Intro, Brown Eye Girl *, March On Down To Valentine, Gimmie A Rainbow That’s For Real, I’ve Got A Feeling > Midnight Special  > I’ve Got A Feeling, Empire Getaway, Where Is The Soul Of The World ?, Lila, The End Is Not In Sight, Soul Kitchen, Kenny’s Call Em Back, Ride Captain Ride, Train Kept A Rollin’

* Young Neil On Vocals

[Setlist via Kevin Cawley]

READ ON for more of Jeremy’s shots from this show…

Kicking off this month’s edition of our look at the month in photographs are a couple shots from Halloween. The first one is an amusing photo of Bill Nershi of the String Cheese Incident, face to face with his pint size replica at the Hampton Coliseum on Hulaween. Apparently an enterprising photographer snuck the little guy up on stage, giving everyone a good laugh. You can check out tapes from the evening on the archive and livecheese.com

[Bill Nershi w/ Barefoot Billy, photo by Chris Monaghan]

A review of the last few weeks wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Phish’s triumphant three night celebration in Atlantic City. Whether it was the Zeppelin and Little Feat covers, the outrageous costumes by the fans, the late night shows or all night parties at the Tropicana, a great time was had by all. Perhaps too good a time in one case.

[Phish at the Shore, photo by Seth Eisenstein]

READ ON for more of this month’s A Memory of Music…

Today we introduce a new column called A Memory of Music put together by HT’s Photo Editor, Jeremy Gordon. Each month, Jeremy will compile a collection of his favorite shots along with the story behind the photos…

[Anders Osborne w/ Stanton Moore Trio, photo by Jeremy Gordon]

The first photo comes from the Brooklyn Bowl, where Anders Osborne shared the bill with the Stanton Moore Trio in front of a packed house.  The band continued down to New Orleans for the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival where Stanton Moore tabbed the talented Scott Metzger to join up for the rest of the tour.  As Scott explains, “When Stanton calls, no matter how early in the morning, you answer the phone.”

[Lotus w/ Max Weinberg, photo by Matthew Balch]

While some sit-ins require hours of planning to happen, others occur more spontaneously. As Lotus prepared to take the stage at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY, E Street Band – and former Conan O’Brien drummer – Max Weinberg was in town to give a keynote speech at the Music Industry Conference.  Well, Lotus’s tour manager saw him back stage, Max asked about sitting in with the band and voila.  You can check the audio and video from the night here and here.

READ ON for more of the debut installment of AMoMusic…

Yonder Mountain String Band visited New York City for the first time in 2010 this past Friday night. Jeremy Gordon, HT’s Photo Editor, caught the band’s performance at the Best Buy Theater and filed the following shots…

[All photos by Jeremy Gordon]

Here’s a look at the setlist from YMSB at the Best Buy…

Set 1: Cuckoos, No Expectations, Blue Collar Blues, Pockets, Rag Doll, Dominated Love Slave, Things You’re Selling, Brown Mountain lights, Jail Song, Damned If the Right One, East Nashville Easter, Whipping Post > Casualty

Set 2: On the Run > Steep Grades > On The Run , Honestly, Mental Breakdown, Rain Still Falls, Free to Run, Looking Back Over My Shoulder, The Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me , Dawn’s Early Light > Snow on the Pines > Robots > Pines > Two Hits & the Joint Turned Brown

Encore: Redbird

[via Phantasy Tour – YMSB]

READ ON for the rest of Jeremy’s shots from Friday night…

Royal Family Ball @ Terminal 5, October 2

Last Saturday night saw New York City’s Terminal 5 play host to the 3^rd annual Royal Family Ball presented by Royal Family Records.  With a huge sound and a stage that was bursting at the seams, fans were able to partake of a rotating set of jazz and hip-hop artists that included the members of Soulive, Lettuce, The Shady Horns, Nigel Hall, Talib Kweli and John Scofield.

Highlights included tracks from Soulive’s homage to the Beatles, Rubber Soulive, with Come Together, Something, Eleanor Rigby and I Want You (She’s So Heavy).  A surprise appearance by Warren Haynes sealed the night for most, as he traded verses with Nigel Hall and blistering guitar licks with John Scofield on Born Under a Bad Sign.

Nigel Hall Setlist:
Intro – Hang It Up, Wait Till I Get Home, Too Sweet, Never Know, Gimme A Sign, Baby I Do Love You, Never Gonna Let You Go

Lettuce Setlist:
Intro, Blast Off, Sam Huff, Last Suppitt, King of the Bergs, Move Somethin w/ Talib Kweli, The Blast w/ Talib Kweli, Get By w/ Talib Kweli, Break Out, Relax, The Flu w/ John Scofield, Move On Up w/ John Scofield, Makin My Way Back Home

Soulive Setlist:
Come Together, Something, Eleanor Rigby, I Want You, El Ron, What You See Is What You Get w/ John Scofield, Hottentot – w/ John Scofield, Born Under a Bad Sign w/ John Scofield, Warren Haynes, Do The 2, Too Much

Encore: James Brown Medley w/ John Scofield

[Setlists courtesy of jambands.com]

READ ON for Jeremy’s fabulous pics from the Royal Family Ball…

moe.down 11 @ Gelston Castle, September 3 – 5

While some things have changed this year at the 11th annual moe.down, some things will always remain the same. From the mayor of moe.ville to Al.nouncements, it sometimes seems like the past ten years blended together, but this year the move an hour down the road to Gelston Castle in Mohawk, NY shook things up for even the most seasoned moe.ron. From amazing sound magnified by the natural amphitheater to the light show on stage enhanced by beautifully glowing lanterns and spectacular firework show, the entire weekend played off of the beautiful surroundings of the Mohawk Valley. While the castle itself was a bit smaller than expected and all but in ruins, this site surely had many things going for it.

[All photos by Jeremy Gordon]

Musically, the weekend followed the standard moe.down set up with the host band’s handpicked favorites. With the new site this year, one of the biggest changes was a true second stage – named the Buzz Stage – which replaced the Beer Tent. As in past years, a few up and coming bands were given the opportunity to play multiple sets on the second stage which gave fans more than just a short taste of these stellar acts.

The Macpodz started things up for fans by keeping the funky jazz flowing on Friday, while Turbine – who also played a 5am stealth set among the RVs – took over during the day Saturday. Monkey Wrench, former tour mates of moe., had fun onstage playing to covers like Yellow Submarine and Escape (the Pina Colada song). Orgone, who was still unknown to most fans, took everyone by surprise with Fanny Franklin just bursting at the seams with enough energy to keep everyone moving and staying warm as the evening winds whipped up the hill.

READ ON for more of Carla’s thoughts and Jeremy’s photos from last weekend’s moe.down 11 at Gelston Castle in Mohawk, NY…