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.

Milonga Song?

Often times in my life I am caught by a tune or lyric that compels me. For instance, when I first heard Lila Downs voice, I knew that I must continue to learn about the region of Mexico she hails from. In the journey of seeking knowledge, I find new perspectives to music and even deeper into the heart of life around the globe. I must admit I travelled the globe very little. But through music I have envisioned the glory of the world in my mind's eye.

It's the time of year when Los Lobos bust out their acoustic guitarons, quatros, violins, and several other instruments to play folk songs. I recommend the CD Acoustic En Vivo for a piece of Mexican or Latin folk music. Or check out the torrent on bt.etree right now. The show was on 2/8/07 and is a gem. I was caught by a song labeled on the set list as "Milonga". It is a purely soulful tune with wonderful guitar work and what sounds like a flute in mix. I wish I could find a video recording of the boys playing this song. Well I found a bit about the term from wikipedia. I know it is style of song played to a dance. Wow, I could just imagine the dance movements. So I posted on Los Lobos Neighborhood to ask for info and sure enough some helpful Lobos fan came to the call. Oye vato, if you read this thanks a bunch! I have found out that Abel Carlevaro is the man of los milongas or something like that. I requested two cds with Abel and another vato named Eduardo Isaac who the Lobos fan recommended. Here are some milongas I found on line.

The journey to learn more about this style of music has compelled me to revert back to my collections of music from Latin America and Mexico. Thanks to those who keep our ears happy with new sounds that span the globe.

Peace and Prosperity to all who seek it.

What's on the radar?

Well the festival line ups are being announced. The snow is falling yet the call of summer is in the air. Bonnaroo line up looks crazy. Well of all the bands there I would love to see. Tool, Rat Dog, Damien Rice, Ben Harper, String Cheese (farewell), Gov't Mule, Gillian Welch, Keller Williams, Dr. Stanley, Xavier Rudd, T-Bone Burnett, Mavis Staples, and Railroad Earth. But since it is 18 hours away and the amount of walking is simply unbearable plus the heat makes it an easy time to pass. We went in 2005 and that is pretty much good enough for me.

The fest I am most hyped about is Gathering of the Vibes. It will be held in Bridgeport this year and not in the hills of New York. Close to home and the killer is the headliners...Los Lobos, Rat Dog, Buddy Guy, Assembly of Dust, with Wavy Gravy directing things! Hands down the moment of the summer. Ordered our tickets and have been getting hyped.

We went to the Vibes in 2005 too and it was the best festival we've attended. The wait in line sucked but the size and the bands made time well spent. Plus we won the tickets through Relix! So it was free to get in so more money other things.

Of Course we plan to see Rhonda Vincent at the Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival too. Check out my post from 2006. Plus this year Chris Thile and Bryan Sutton will be there! Nothing like kicking it off with Bluegrass.

If I had the time, money, and willing partner, I would go to the Mountain Jam in New York. Hosted by Gov't Mule and with friends like Ozomatli, this would be a blast. So maybe something will come around that is close to make up for missing this and Bonnaroo.