Ray Lamontagne at the Calvin Theater

Ray Lamontagne

We have patiently waited years to see this guy in person. It was well worth the wait. This guy is really soulful. His music touches me at the core. The song Empty was pure magic live.

"Lay your blouse across the chair

Let fall the flowers from your hair

And kiss me with that country mouth so plain

Outside the rain is tapping on the leaves

To me it sounds like they're applauding us

The quiet love we"

During the show it felt like we were on a slow river boat floating and bouncing through peaceful waters.

Hannah was spectacular. Kari and I were so happy to hear that. I love the intro:

"I lost all of my vanity

when I peered into the pool

I lost all of my innocence

When I fell in love with you

I never knew a man fall so far until I landed here

Where all of my wounds turn into gold when I kissed your hair"

His version of you You Can Bring Me Flowers was straight up honky tonk with soul. That to me was the highlight of the show. This show will be one we will not forget. But we couldn't help but feel that Ray has some issues with his confidence. He is so withdrawn and seems to have such a quite personality that his voice doesn't match his personality. I wish he would realize so many people love his work and he can relax and just jam. After the show I did some searching and found that he cancelled his summer gigs including Rothbury! Man I am glad I didn't spend money to go to that over crowded fest in Michigan. Look for Ray's new album int he fall. I am a bit disappointed Heaven is a Honkeytonk will not be on the album.

You Can Bring Me Flowers

"My eyes have dried, my hands are tied

Nothing I can say

If you feel the need to go

I won't stand in your way

Sit and think

Drown in drink

Sing this sad, sad song

You can bring me flowers, baby

When I'm dead and gone

Fate has played his hand so cruel

There ain't nothing I can do

You say you lost your love for me

Me my love for you

Sit and cry

And say goodbye

And sing this sad, sad song

You can bring me flowers, baby

When I'm dead and gone

So when you're lying in his arms

Think of me and know

The choice you made it free and clear

It cost me a heavy toll

Sit and think

Drown in drink

And sing this sad, sad song

You can bring me flowers, baby

When I'm dead and gone"-Ray Lamontagne

To close I think the reason I love this guys stuff is because I like stories of the hopeless romantic that story has always got me. His song Jolene epitomizes this theme of not quite getting to reach your self to give to others:

"Lately my hands they don't feel like mine

My eyes been stung with dust, I'm blind

Held you in my arms one time

Lost you just the same

Jolene I ain't about to go straight

It's too late

I found myself face down in the ditch

Booze on my hair

Blood on my lips

A picture of you, holding a picture of me

in the pocket of my blue jeans

Still don't know what love means

Still don't know what love means"

Here are some words and songs from Ray:
http://fuelfriends.blogspot.com/2006/11/you-asked-ray-lamontagne-live.html
http://fuelfriends.blogspot.com/search?q=lamontagne

Los Lobos Northampton MA

Los Lobos ripped it up!

We had such a great time . We were so happy to get to meet the guys. Man those are truly the coolest vatos on the planet. I got to tell Louie thanks for the latest Latin Playboys album. We got to tell Conrad how he makes my fiance smile just from watching him. We got to thanks Steve to. Both he and Conrad thanked us repeatedly for coming out. We told them we wouldn't miss it for the world. Cesar was awesome as always. We told him thanks for taking a picture on stage with us a few years ago. He did the common ese nod to that comment. He was still feeling sick I think. Oh and he wouldn't shake hands just knuckled up. Again the coolest vato alive. I wouldn't want any more germs after getting the flu too. Finally, David Hidalgo just made it up as we neared the end of the line. Man I got to stand right next to the MAN! To imagine all the things I could have said to him but I just said, "You are looking more like Jerry Garcia as the days go by". His beard made me feel like Jerry was in the room. He only laughed a bit and said thanks for coming. I know David is his own man and his style is unique but I can't help making the comparison. If only I wasn't so nervous I would have said, "Thanks for making me proud to be Mexican American". Thanks for playing and spreading the music my grandparents and parents like (Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio!!!). Thanks for making music that connects people of all cultures. Thanks for making music that will stand the test of time! I could have said so many things. Just having the chance to is worth so much. Last night was a great experience. These guys never let their fans down!

Newport Folk Festival on Sunday 2007

Newport on Sunday was truly folk. The Saturday line up consisted on Allman Brothers and others from the jam band community. We avoided that day because we knew we would get our fill of jams at the Gathering of the Vibes. So I opted for my birthday to attend the Folk Fest on Sunday. The main reason was to see my hero Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. The line up perfectly matched my music taste.

Alejandro Escovedo waits as the legend steps off the acoustic stage.



Ralph is doing his song that is on the radio with Josh Turner. Great song but he did it accapela...that was such a joy.
Donuts and Cops, humm that is fitting.

Ralph Sr and Jr. Long live the Stanleys!


Ralph picked his banjo for two songs and was really having fun. I am blessed to see him rip the claw hammer style.

Alejandro Escovedo

Alejandro Escovedo was loud but damn this guy rips. I really enjoyed his music live because it is something that doesn't fit in a box. I had to catch this guy and thank him for inspiring people to have hope and strength in the midst of illness. I caught him just after the Ralph Stanley set. He was so cool. I walked right over to Alejandro extended my hand and he shook it as I said "Gracias Amigo" and he replied "Did you like it?". I said very little other than, "you are the man". He laughed. He is such a joy to see in person his smile reminds me of my uncle. Overall, I am now a fan.

Amos Lee

If chilling out and relaxing is what you are into Amos Lee will fit your style. I have all this guy's work and was really excited to see him live. He did not disappoint. Sorry this is not the best picture. Amos and his band have so much fun up there and he is a gifted song writer. I highly recommend these songs Colors, Bottom of the Barrel, Supply and Demand, and Sweet Pea. Check out chill my playlist on Lala.com. Get familiar with Amos Lee! He will not let you down.
The park was so nice. The only draw back was the heat! we made it through with some heavy sun burn but I am so glad we went. Really this venue was the nicest we have been to in years.
I like donuts and coffee but not in 100 degree temperature.

This is the Newport bridge. The view from the bridge is spectacular.
The fort really was fascinating to look at. Imagine a war once took place on this land and now the folk is in effect. Peace and harmony is better than cannons and war.

Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem

What a surprise treat. I check out a few of their songs before hand but really didn't get the feelings until they took the stage. This band is really something special. I was blown back by the guitarist. Here is what is on the website:

"What does it sound like? Start with a fiddle, a guitar, and a stand up bass. Add a cardboard box with a suitcase bass drum and tin can cymbals, played by an ex-rock and zydeco drummer. Over that fine groove, hang Rani Arbo's expressive alto, seamless four-part harmonies, and a splash of banjo and ukulele, and you have it. "

I am hooked on this band's sound. They have no genre label and they are playing roots music in the modern age. The percussion is amazing. The dude uses a cardboard box, suitcase, and a bunch of other common things to make noise. This band is a joy to watch live a their recent albums are worth the buy.

Gathering of the Vibes at Seaside Park 2007

The atmosphere was so fun. As you can see several side acts kept your eyes alert. The nicest thing was having the ocean/sound right there to cool us off. The venue was awesome.
This was the conga line started by the kids on Sunday that led to the the Dirty Dozen Brass Band show.
This hobo clown was funny to watch he was doing a yo yo like act and just made the kids so happy. A side note above dudes head (you can't see it) was a giant nest of wild canaries. Cool to learn about that on the Vibes forums. I also learned someone had a remote control flying saucer that hovered above the concert field on Saturday! Adults that have never grown up are the coolest to hang with.
Some folks stacked these rocks. I love these photos.
Vibes 2007 was well worth the wait!

Claypool and Weir bands morph into Rat Brigade at 2007 at the Vibes

Well, well, well who would figure my dream of seeing Claypool in the pig mask would come true. First of all Claypool took the stage solo on, I think a bassjo. Straight up billy rock at its best. Check out the torrent. I think D's Diner was the pick of the set. Oh and Les went calmly off of some fool for throwing a jug of juice at him. Check it out I really don't want to repeat what he said but it was funny. Bottom line don't throw crap at a dude who picks a bassjo, sings about slapping you up side the head with an aluminum baseball bat and calls him self mud and wears a freakin pig mask or he will make you look like a fool inf front of thousands. Respect Les Claypool! Funniest part of the show was when Claypool introuduced Bob Weir jokely as Mr. Edward Van Halen. I thought that was so funny since every hippy can pratically smell when a fromer Dead member is around. This show was off the hook. I think I am part Billy now. Mexi-Billy and I want to go to D's Diner!

Keller Williams, minus the Keels, and plus Bob Weir

Please forgive me. The rain on Friday and not being close enough for pictures kept me from taking shots until the Keller Williams on Saturday 6:20 pm. I really wished I had pictures of Railroad Earth and George Clinton from Friday but the rain got every thing wet. Railroad Earth was full of down pours yet we both agreed that the music made the rain tolerable. When the rain finally let up George Clinton and P-Funk covered the venue in that stanky funk. Believe me you could literally felt something in the air when P-Funk was on. Clinton's granddaughter is a sick lyricists! I can only explain the funk as some thing that gets in one makes you move like you got something crawling all over you. It is just the funk and boy was it nice to see Clinton again. The dude it the man diaper was not Bootsy but any grown dude ripping the funk and wearing a man diaper is cool to me.

Anyway, Keller Williams was easy to get close to the stage. She likes him so we sat up close. Keller is fun to watch loop and create music all by himself but we both looked forward to seeing him with the keys. He included in his rant that the Keels got tied up in the air and he was on his own. Looking before we went to the fest at Keller's recent lists I knew he would be joined by Bob Weir. Sure enough our came Bobby!

I really enjoyed the cover of Willin'. What a great song. Good old trucking songs make me think of Convoy the movie from the 80's. Haven't found the set list on this yet but really enjoyed the show when Keller and Weir played.

Los Lobos at the Gathering of the Vibes 2007 Seaside Park, Bridgeport , CT

The set list was amazing. First of all the, the stage hand heard a bunch of us yelling to see a copy of the set list and he held it up for a while. Then he just crumbled it up in a ball and threw it to a guy a few feet over. That guy was very cool. He let us all look at it and I took pictures with my old school camera. Here is the link.

The hippies that were left were dancing throughout. I kept looking back and laughing. Really, this was the best show we have seen because there set list was so open. David at one point was taking suggestions. He had the accordion in had so all he heard was KIKO! Heard it many times but this version was rocked out. We are so glad we stayed the four days to feel the true vibes and enjoy Los Lobos with the Grateful Dead Family. Wavy Gravy! Freaks! Clowns! Jugglers! Wookies! and Los Lobos fans! What a great time. The venue was nice too. The sound was very refreshing. I highly recommend this festival, especially if they have at Seaside again. Thank you Los Lobos for making the summer of 2007 a very memorable one for us.