Apparently willing to go a bit out of their way during their winter tour to grace Binghamton with their presence, the Trey Anastasio Band (TAB) will be performing at the Broome County Forum Theatre on Tuesday, December 9, sandwiched between shows at the State Theatre in Portland, ME, on the 7th, and the Beacon Theatre in NYC on the 11th. and 12th.
With a new album not due to be released until early next year, TAB will be sure to give us all a taste of what’s to come from their upcoming Paper Wheels. Recorded at Trey’s studio The Barn in the time span of a week (with no doubt a lot more rehearsal time beforehand to prepare), Anastasio and his six band-mates recorded most of the songs together in one room, and often in just one or two takes. Joined by six incredibly talented musicians, including a brass section, TAB allows Trey to take a different, funkier approach to his music. Having thrown fun little treats into their sets throughout this tour, including a cover of the Looney Tunes theme song and Ana Tijoux’s “1977”, perhaps best known for being featured during a particularly intense scene in Breaking Bad, I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us at Tuesday night’s show!
The show will be starting at 7:30PM, and tickets are still available, but you might want to move on them soon, as the Forum Theatre only holds 1,500 people, and you wouldn’t want to miss such an intimate performance by TAB, now would you?
Since you’re making the trip to Binghamton for TAB, why not come into town a couple of hours early and stop by Dillingers Celtic Pub and Eatery, where will be sponsoring a TAB pre-party event, with entertainment provided by local musician Timbo Linkroum from 4:00 until the show starts! A full menu with food and drink specials will be available there all night long, and being that the bar is located only three blocks from the Forum and across the street from a parking garage, you can even leave your car behind and stroll on over the show. I will be there getting my grub on before the show and listening to some fine fine music by Timbo, so stop on by and say hi!
Sporting yoga pants and loving it, after having eaten a yummy vegetarian meal, at the table right next to mine, no less! the iconic Peter Rowan casually strolled onto the stage at BSide Ballroom and Supper Club in Oneonta, armed only with a guitar and a story to tell. To have such an essential figure in the bluegrass world performing in this small intimate venue with a seating of approximately 140 maximum, was a true dream come true.
Starting off the show on a melancholy yet hopeful note with “Doc Watson Morning” a song about a “guitar-picking kind of day,” Rowan ended the song with a mini yodel, which was nice to hear so early on in the set. Giving the audience what they truly were hoping to hear, Pete moved into an acoustic solo rendition of “Panama Red” which he brilliantly chose to mash-up with classic folk tune “Freight Train” which proved to be quite the winning combination. Moving on to another one of his better known tunes, Jack Bonus’s “Hobo Song” it became clear at this point in the set that he felt totally at ease with the crowd, and in return, made the audience feel as if they were just chilling with Pete in his living room. The next song up moved the audience from Pete’s living room to a desert with tumbleweeds blowing by, when he sang a version of “Tumbleweed” throughout which he put so much emotion into each and every note.
At this point in the evening, Peter Rowan brought out bassist Paul Knight, who has toured with Pete in the past, performing as part of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band. It also marked the point in the set during which much storytelling ensued, which is always a treat coming from someone who has played with so many other musicians, and traveled to so many corners of the earth. I have to confess that when Pete was eating dinner next to me, I worked up the nerve to put in a shameless plug for myself that he was helping me kick off my birthday week celebration, and right after he brought Knight out on stage, they were kind enough to sing happy birthday to me! It’s definitely going to be hard to top that on my list of memorable birthdays.
Reminiscently telling one story about his days playing with Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys, during which time, as Pete put it, Monroe would always “call me plural” and refer to him as Peter Rowans, the audience received an intimate and real history of this legend who stood before us. Switching to stories about learning more rootsy rhythms from New Orleans, such as the “stomp” and the “slow drag” Pete performed his own song in slow drag, “Ragged Old Dream” off of his aptly named The Old School album. Segueing into a more bluesy part of his set, Rowan explained how he used to go to record stores in Boston, where one used to be able to sit and listen to blues and folk albums for hours, and proceeded to perform a particularly bluesy version of “In the Pines”. Ending his set with the title track off his new album Dharma Blues was fitting, especially because it ended with a true signature Peter Rowan yodel.
Choosing a somewhat odd time to take a set break, being so close to the 10:00pm time the show was projected to end, Pete ended up coming back on to play at 9:30, but went a bit beyond the original end time, which nobody seemed to mind. Beginning with an instrumental number with amazing use of harmonics up and down the neck of the guitar by Rowan, he then went into a very touching tribute he wrote for Jerry Garcia, his former band mate from his days playing with Old and In the Way, titled “Jerry and the Deep Blue Sea” in honor of the work Jerry used to do to raise money for the protection of dolphins and coral reefs around Hawaii. Playing a few more numbers off his new album Dharma Blues, which was inspired by his recent trips to India and Nepal, we were introduced to a much more spiritual side of Peter Rowan.
His song “Arise” which was heavily influenced by the concept of bodhisattva, was explained to the audience by Rowan as the idea that all beings have been our parents in previous lives. The cyclical nature of the concept of bodhisattva was beautifully mimicked in both the lyrics and the musical notes so masterfully chosen by Rowan. Returning to a spiritual world from a more Western culture, Rowan pulled out a particularly note-intensive version of “Land of the Navajo” incorporating an almost reggae-style bass solo, followed by Rowan playing some more impressive harmonics followed by an extended yodel jam. Ending his set with “Restless Grave” off Dharma Blues, on which he was accompanied by Gillian Welch on the album, the crowd was unhappy to see him go.
Thankfully, Rowan was urged by the audience to come back onstage for an encore, and he was even taking requests. He chose to give us two of his more popular numbers, “Lonesome L.A. Cowboy” and of course, “Moonlight Midnight” which received a big old howl from the audience! Saving up just enough energy to sign CDs and chat with anyone who wanted to be in the presence of such a spiritual being with a lifetime of experiences to share, it was easy to see that everyone in attendance for this performance was truly in awe of the special gift that had been handed to us: having the opportunity to listen to this bluegrass icon in such an intimate setting. Peter Rowan will be touring around the northeast until November 23, so make sure to add one of his shows to your calendars if you can. It will truly be worth the experience.
A dream come true for bluegrass aficionados, Peter Rowan will be bringing some good old-fashioned bluegrass music to Oneonta at the classy BSide Ballroom and Supper Club on Friday, Nov. 14. Bringing old-time music to our ears for over five decades, Peter Rowan always impresses audiences with the unique touches he adds to an otherwise traditional style. Having played with fellow well-respected musicians spanning across several styles of music, including Bill Monroe during his time playing with the Bluegrass Boys and Jerry Garcia while performing with Old and In the Way, Peter Rowan also delights fans with solo performances all over the world, and can sometimes be found rock(abilly)ing out with The Free Mexican Air Force. For those looking for some real tradition this Friday night, head on over to BSide Ballroom and be treated to an intimate performance by Grammy-winning recording legend Peter Rowan.
The show will be starting at 7:00PM, but come early if you can and indulge in a scrumptious meal consisting of fresh, quality seasonal cuisine served up in the restaurant right inside the club! Tickets for this event cost $32 in advance/$38 at the door. Reservations for this event are strongly suggested, as seats are filling up quickly for this one!
After the Oneonta show, Peter Rowan will be making an additional stop in Upstate New York on Saturday night, Nov. 15, when he will be performing at The Egg in Albany. He will also be making an appearance in Bay Shore, NY on Nov. 20. Make sure to give yourself the chance to see him perform when he’s in your town, as Rowan is a bluegrass legend in the truest sense of the word.
On Thursday Sept. 11, Oneonta received a hefty dose of folk with Slaid Cleaves’ performance at the B Side Ballroom and Supper Club, the city’s classiest joint. With one of the most extensive bars in town, along with a delectable menu consisting of fresh seasonal foods and exotic nightly specials, those lucky enough to have made reservations or arrived early to B Side were greeted with pleasant aromas and tasty meals coming from the kitchen. By the time show time rolled around, the place had filled up quite nicely with lots of fans, as well as newcomers to the classic folk sounds and storytelling they were about to be treated to over the course of the evening. Slaid Cleaves surely did not disappoint in that department.
Getting off to an abrupt start, Slaid was joined on stage by Chojo Jacques on alternating fiddle and mandolin. While Slaid is traditionally a solo performer, Chojo truly rounded out the sound, adding nice touches of sometimes Appalachian-style sometimes haunting-sounding fiddle and mandolin accompaniments. Opening with one of his more popular tunes, “Horseshoe Lounge” Slaid effectively warmed up the crowd with this mellow tune. One element that you must make note of when listening to Slaid is that it is extremely important to pay attention to his lyrics, as each song has a story to tell. Following his next tune “Drinkin’ Days” with a chorus of “My drinking days are over, but I’m still troublebound,” Slaid took the opportunity to compliment Oneonta for the hotel he is staying at that he can walk to from the venue, having a liquor store that he can also walk to that stays open until 10:00PM, the music store across the parking lot where he was able to procure a new capo for this evening’s performance, and its residents being so friendly and welcoming.
After spouting all these positive accounts, Slaid explained that he was going to move on to some sad tunes that will still make the audience feel good and threw in a Woody Guthrie quote to further emphasize his point: “A folk musician’s job is to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.” That sentiment definitely seemed to resonate throughout the rest of his set. Intermixing stories in between his tunes had the effect of making the audience feel like they were sitting around the campfire devotedly listening to the wonderful stories Slaid had to tell and the songs he wanted to share. Touring in support of his new album Still Fighting the War, Slaid jokingly warned everyone not to listen to the album more than once a week since it will be at least another year until he puts out his next album. Yet of course he shared some material off that new album with the audience including “Whim of Iron” about his Aunt Prudence who had married his 92-year-old uncle, a strong lady ahead of her time living in New York City in the 1960’s; and “Texas Love Song” about how much pride Texans have in their own state. He also threw in some classics, including “Broke Down” which he wrote along with his buddy with whom he used to play in a garage band (the band was called The Magic Rats) and “Wishbones” which was actually a request from a group who had traveled three hours to see this show, so in an effort to not send the group back home feeling disappointed, Slaid obliged. Ending with his signature yodel, Slaid took a break before settling in to the second set.
Again starting kind of nonchalantly without any announcement or fanfare, the audience quickly stopped their conversations when he started with “No Angel Knows”. Segueing from one relatively melancholy tune to another, the next song entitled “Cry” really hit a nerve. With a chorus of “Cry for your mama, Cry for your dad, Cry for everything you know they never had,” tears actually came to my eyes, as I used to see Slaid Cleaves with my mom every time he came into town, as my mom absolutely adored him. She has since passed away, so I took a hiatus from seeing Slaid for a bit myself, not wanting to deal with getting all choked up and emotional at his shows, but this song made me realize it’s OK to listen to his music and feel these emotions.
Honoring an audience request he got for “Everette” during the break, Slaid asked for complete silence before he began, and prayed that he would remember all the words, as this song is extremely lyric-intensive, written by his friend Steve Brooks, about “what poets do”. At one point during this song, someone must have ordered a mixed drink that required shaking, which might have otherwise been distracting to a musician, but thankfully the bartender/owner of B Side, Wayne Carrington, happens to be a drummer, so he just started shaking along to the rhythm of the song. Soliciting any last-minute requests before he began the final portion of his show one fan asked him to play “Sinner’s Prayer” for which he said he might need help with the lyrics, so the fan ended up shouting out the lines that Slaid couldn’t remember.
The last several songs of the second set consisted of songs taking us from Slaid’s humble beginnings in Maine to his instant rise to stardom in Texas. Singing about his childhood neighbor Willie in “Horses” letting us know that “If it weren’t for horses and divorces, I’d be a lot better off today,” the audience was treated to a much-needed chuckle, as this song followed the much sadder number “Green Mountains and Me” about a soldier’s wife missing her husband. Paying tribute to the Texas family who had taken him and his wife under their wings when they first moved to Texas, Slaid sang his well-known tune “New Years Day” which he had written about and dedicated to one of the members of his Texas family. Finishing off the set with his popular “One Good Year” Slaid graciously thanked the audience for coming out on a school night, but rather than bothering to leave the stage before the encore, he made the choice to bypass that process and went right into it. This encore was quite special though, as he and Chojo decided to play acoustically and actually walked through the audience while playing a gospel tune off his new album called “Go for the Gold”. Being a small and intimate venue they were able to walk through the entire place and give everyone a good view and opportunity to hear what they were preaching.
It is rare to see a musician and an audience have such an intimate connection, but it was very enjoyable to see that happening. It was almost as if the boundary between the band and the crowd was nonexistent. From the woman in the front of the venue singing along to every lyric, to the man at the next table over who had never before seen Slaid but kept smiling and saying “Sweet!” Slaid more than satisfied his loyal fans, and gained new ones at the same time. Be sure not to miss Slaid Cleaves the next time he comes to your town.
When pulling up to the train depot in quaint Milford, NY, you may be thinking to yourself, “Where am I? Have a stepped back in time?” It is hard to believe that a three-hour rockin’ party with Moon Boot Lover is about to take place on board the Cooperstown Blues Express Train.
Led by a locomotive built in the 1940s, on tracks that were put in place in the 1860s and ran between Cooperstown and Colliersville, the Blues Express Train is truly one of the most unusual concert experiences in our state. Having been dubbed “the area’s only rolling nightclub,” this train has been hosting concerts every Saturday night from mid-May through late September since 1997.
Having been around since the ‘90s, formerly a frequent visitor to old school venues in Oneonta like Diana’s, Peter Prince and Moon Boot Lover (MBL) have garnered a huge local and very loyal following over the years. Whenever they come to town to play on the Train, which they tend to do at least once a season, you definitely want to book ahead for these rides, as they tend to fill up quick. As a matter of fact, one of their biggest fans mentioned that he is in the military, and he actually schedules his leaves around Moon Boot Lover’s calendar.
While Moon Boot Lover’s music is difficult to categorize, there are definitely elements of blues, jazz, rock, and general “spacey-ness” involved. Channeling the energy of Jimi Hendrix and Santana at different points throughout the night, there was a constant out-of-orbit vibe going on all through the band’s set, which included the fitting choice of “I Miss the Train”. Peter Prince’s soulful voice shined on each and every song – at least those that had lyrics; and kept everyone grounded, with all the otherworldly tones coming from the instruments backing him up, including his very own frenzied guitar playing on his trademark Flying V guitar.
At one point, Prince jokingly said that the train was trying to take their drum set apart, and explained that this is part of the reason MBL goes through so many drummers, but current drummer Lee James Falco seemed more than capable of holding the rhythm together, which is quite the feat on a slow-moving train rolling along on rickety old tracks. At only 19-years-old, Falco is already sitting in with many bands, so don’t be surprised if you see him play in your area; he is definitely full of talent and is only going up from here. Bassist Ben Carle provided steady yet creative rhythms and notes, on top of well-balanced back-up vocals, throughout the evening’s experience. Rich Lemire, a friend of the band, joined in for this performance with some added percussions.
Once the sun went down, lighting designer Aaron Hunt provided a veritable psychedelic experience aboard the train, effectively utilizing the extremely limited amount of solid wall or ceiling space to somehow pin up the lights underneath translucent sheets, adding even more of an outer space element to the occasion. The crowd seemed to appreciate the trippy lighting, letting it take their already dancing feet to a whole other level, boogying down to “Natural Kind of Lover” until the last-minute, before pulling in to in the Milford Station.
It is strongly recommended, for those of you who have never been on the Cooperstown Blues Express Train, to hop aboard one of these Saturday nights before the summer is through. Where else can you ride on a historic railroad through beautiful countryside – and baseball fields – listening to funky music on an open air car, getting to wave at and taunt the people who have to wait at the railroad crossings sitting in their cars, while you are kicking back, enjoying a beverage and a snack, and cruising along listening to some great tunes.
The Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival is a festival designed for music lovers and musicians alike. You may think you are coming to simply listen to and enjoy the best of the best bands in the bluegrass world, but Grey Fox is so, so much more. In addition to the indescribably breathtaking music that takes place on the High Meadow (Main) Stage, it is possible – and recommended – to learn some new musical techniques from experts in their fields on the Grass Roots Stage, listen to stories and some tunes from your favorite musicians in a more intimate setting on the Creekside Stage, pick up a new dance step or just boogie down at the Catskill Stage, and participate in directed slow jams in the appropriately named Slow Jam Tent.
The festival officially began on Thursday, July 17, but for those hardcore Grey Fox attendees, the gates opened early, on Wednesday at 7:00AM to be exact, so folks had time to set up camp either car-camping style, or a bit more ‘in the rough’ having to carry your stuff across a field to the High Meadow Camping area and park across the street in the Car Corral, which entitled you to a $20 parking fee refund, as well as entrance in a raffle to win a pair of tickets to next year’s festival. For those early to arrive, entertainment for the evening was provided on the Catskill Stage, with an open mic event, followed by the showing of the Bill Monroe documentary “Powerful: Bill Monroe Remembered”.
With fans eagerly awaiting the music to begin on Thursday, many had been camping there since the night before and had all that extra time to get psyched up, the day kicked off at 1:00PM with the official host band of the weekend, Dry Branch Fire Squad. The band has a true old-timey sound, and they make you feel as if you are sitting with them in their living room, with the set being highlighted by the intermittent ramblings and storytelling of band leader and ‘National Treasure’ Ron Thomason. Once Dry Branch Fire Squad had gotten things kicked off, the young Barefoot Movement impressed the crowd with their upbeat rhythms, their great job at taking turns leading the tunes, and their playful introductions of each other. They ended their set with a super fun cover of Blind Melon’s “No Rain”.
At 3:00PM on Thursday, the Creekside Stage opened with a raucous performance by the immensely talented Rushad Eggleston, who was actually a beneficiary of a Grey Fox Scholarship, which allowed him to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music. He is truly a cellist from another universe. In fact, he has created a whole other world which he describes as “the land of Snee” from which forth comes ridiculously absurd lyrics, which Rushad sings while running and jumping around stage with a cello strapped over his shoulder. Just one of the gems that he shared with the crowd was actually a request of the hilarious song, “I Peed on a Bird” introduced at one of his late night sets on the Catskill Stage last year. During this song, the magic of Grey Fox truly became evident. Even though that song most likely didn’t make it into the mainstream music scene, and quite possibly didn’t leave the grounds of Grey Fox, every single person in that tent seemed to remember all of the bizarre lyrics of the chorus and were belting them out while laughing and enjoying sharing a special bond with the rest of the Grey Fox community.
The official first day of Grey Fox marched on, with performances by the 2012 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Emerging Artist of the Year Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers; the note-bending and beautifully harmonizing HillBenders; and the traditional yet at the same time contemporary Deadly Gentlemen, featuring a heavy percussive sound coming from a double bass. Next up was the more folky Aoife O’Donovan Band. Her voice sounded familiar, and it quickly became evident that she was the singer from Crooked Still, who have not played together since 2011. Well, wouldn’t you know it, since two other members of the band’s original line-up were present at the festival as well, she had banjoist Greg Liszt (currently playing with The Deadly Gentlemen) and otherworldly cellist Rushad Eggleston join her on stage for a mini Crooked Still reunion. The Steep Canyon Rangers, having gained fame in recent years from performing with Steve Martin, sure had a hard act to follow, but they managed to astound the crowd with their particularly haunting fiddle and banjo sounds, and incredible harmonies so on target that at one point, it sounded like there was a train whistle blowing.
After a sky that threatened to pour down upon us earlier in the day, the sky cleared up and the moon rose over Nickel Creek, the final band of the evening on the High Meadow Stage. It was hard to tell that the band had been on hiatus since 2007, as they still managed to forge the chemistry they had so many years ago, when they first formed their band back when they were just children. The addition of Mark Schatz on the bass to their line-up for this tour added a whole other amazing element to their already sweet sound. After playing one of their more popular instrumental tunes, “Ode to a Butterfly” mandolin player Chris Thile explained that it is much more difficult to come up with names for instrumental songs than it is for songs with a chorus, and perhaps as a way of apologizing for depriving us of Nickel Creek’s music for all these years, jokingly said that the band had taken so much time off because they had run out of titles for their instrumental tunes. Well, it sure was great to have them back together to see how much they have grown up, while still staying true to the band’s roots.
Grey Fox doesn’t mess around, the music on the second day got started at 11:00AM, and for those who got up even earlier, or for those who never even went to sleep, there were meditation classes at 9:15AM and yoga classes – accompanied by a live band – at 10:00AM at the Catskill Stage each morning. Mama Corn gave us all a run for our money first thing Friday morning, with their rousing renditions of “Catfish John” and Pink Floyd’s “Fearless” as well as their take on “Keep On the Sunny Side” which they ironically played in a minor key. Red Wine, a bluegrass band who flew here all the way from Italy, and who has been touring worldwide since 1978, was almost like the Jimmy Buffett of the bluegrass world, both in appearance and song styles, and even threw in a medley of Italian songs, which was a bit cheesy, but acceptable given the sweet Italian accents of all of the band members. On the opposite end of the spectrum geographically, Wood & Wire have their roots (well, at least their bass player does) right here in western New York. Hipster-like in style, this foursome played/sang around a single microphone, which is always enjoyable to watch and see how they manage, and they handled it with ease. The next band was aptly named Brothers Comatose; the chemistry and harmonies between the band members were so tight, there was no doubt there were brothers involved. Changing the tone drastically, Nora Jane Struthers and the Party Line were up next with a much more Americana-based set, perhaps the most so far in this genre all weekend. Struthers has a sweet voice, and is yet another example of some of the young talent out there these days. Once again going in a completely different direction, Gangstagrass showed us all a good time, demonstrating just how far you can push the bluegrass envelope, combining bluegrass and hip-hop; who would have thought it would work, but it was a whole lot of fun.
During ‘dinner break’ on the High Meadow Stage, Del, Ronnie, and Robbie McCoury were sharing family stories on the Creekside Stage, as well as offering tips about the ‘efficiency of motion’ employed by the McCourys, in that if you watch them closely, even though they are playing a thousand notes a minute, their hands barely move. It’s always lovely to listen to Del’s sing-songy voice telling us stories; he sure does have a lot of history to share, being that it is his 75th birthday this year, and he has been playing bluegrass music for the majority of his life, having gotten his big start with Bill Monroe & the Bluegrass Boys all the way back in 1963.
After getting some nourishment back at the campsite and putting on some extra layers before the cold set in for the evening – it got down into the 40s a couple of nights; it was time to head back to the High Meadow Stage for the fun times that were in store for Night 2 of Grey Fox, starting with The Steel Wheels. Jumping on the reunion bandwagon, the band invited a former member of the band to join them, adding a second fiddle to the mix, proving that you can never have too much fiddle. The sophisticated and polished Gibson Brothers graced us with their good-natured brotherly goading and their straight up 5-piece traditional bluegrass line-up.
Following the Gibson Brothers was the all-female band Della Mae, a band who truly got their start at Grey Fox. These young musicians have been coming to Grey Fox for years, but just recently as musicians themselves. In fact, bassist Shelby Means used to attend Grey Fox as a volunteer picking up trash! They seemed very appreciative of Grey Fox and all the doors it had opened for them, so much so that they even took the time to thank the “I-I-Iceman” crew; there is a fleet of trucks driving around the camping areas all weekend selling ice to campers in need of keeping their coolers chilled, by inviting them up on stage and singing Foreigner’s “You’re As Cold As Ice”.
Saturday evening’s headliner, Keller Williams and the Travelin’ McCourys set started with Keller Williams alone playing some of his signature fast/choppy guitar licks, and singing some silly tunes, including one about an ‘over-the-shoulder rocket launcher’ – that’s Keller for you, and then invited bassist Alan Bartram out to join him for a song about losing his remote control for three days, which forced him to write shallow lyrics since he couldn’t watch TV. Meanwhile, Bartram was cracking up this whole time. Fiddler Jason Carter came onto the stage next, and joined the other two for a cover of Waylon Jenning’s “Good Hearted Woman”. Keller felt a banjo was needed for this next song, so that was Robbie McCoury’s cue; he joined the others for a song about falling in love with a girl on the porta-potty line. By far the funniest introduction was Keller ‘welcoming’ mandolin player Ronnie McCoury onto the stage with Tom Petty’s “You Got Lucky” with Keller basically telling Ronnie to watch himself, and to better not get cocky and think he is better than Keller. The band truly did have fun up there on stage, and the audience could definitely tell. Performing some of Keller’s more famous tunes, including “Freaker By the Speaker” and “Mullet Cut” they threw in a couple of some not-so-obvious covers, ranging from Taylor Swift’s “Trouble” to their encore of Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks”.
It was tough to end the evening on such a high and fast note, but that just gave folks the energy to keep their dancing feet moving onto the Catskill Stage, where the zydeco-style Revelers were playing into the wee hours on both Friday and Saturday nights. Mo’ Mojo were on the Catskill Stage on Thursday night. Even if you didn’t make it down there after the full day of music on the main and workshop stages, you could still enjoy them from your campsites, as their steady drum beats and washboard scratching really thumped through the ground, keeping the rhythm going whether you were aware of it or not.
The Saturday morning of Grey Fox always means one thing for me: bluegrass karaoke on the Creekside Stage. Audience members are encouraged to belt out some tunes, either ones they have written themselves or traditional songs, but the most unusual aspect of karaoke at Grey Fox is that you have a live band backing you up! My friend, who I’ve been coming to Grey Fox with for at least 10 years now, and I always make sure that we wake up early enough and have enough coffee in our systems to make it to this super fun and nerve-wracking event at 11:00AM, which isn’t always the easiest task to accomplish on Day 3 of Grey Fox, but we managed to work up the courage to sing Gillian Welch and David Rawlings “Red Clay Halo” joined by my boyfriend on guitar.
Following that intimidating experience, it was time to sit back, relax, and listen to the gems we were in for that day. Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen were a ton of fun, demonstrating that they had been paying attention around the campgrounds by dedicating a particularly trippy version of Tony Rice’s “Is That So” to the huge black Grey Fox balloon that was shaped more like a pig, that was flying around amongst the camping area. The Claire Lynch Band provided country music lovers with what they were craving, but there was a surprising amount of jamming mixed in, especially on their version of “Wabash Cannonball” a traditional square dance tune, which they managed to go off on an amazing tangent with, and almost caused the audience to forget what song they had started with, but managed to rope it right back in. The next band scheduled to play on the High Meadow Stage was Balsam Range, but they were running late, so we missed their set on the big stage, but Red Wine, the Italian bluegrass band, was more than willing to play a second set!
Taking a break during the heat of the afternoon, it was time to take advantage of one of the slow jam workshops, specifically the workshop for guitars and basses. Although the bassists got a little bit shafted, as we were far outnumbered by guitarists, it was still useful to spend an hour really delving into two songs, and jamming on them super slow. This allowed you to pick up on things that you might have once tried to figure out by listening to a recording, but weren’t really being able to get down because the musicians on the recording were playing too fast. The slow jam tent is a great place for beginners to feel comfortable playing in a judgement-free zone.
Rushing back up to the High Meadow Stage to try to catch the end of Jim Lauderdale’s set with Della Mae, it was interesting to see the mix of the old school and newer artists of the bluegrass world collaborating together so effectively. Some of the banter coming out of Lauderdale’s mouth seemed a bit inappropriate, but he ended on a gracious note. After once again getting spoiled with a ‘home’-cooked meal back at the campsite, it was time to hear Elephant Revival, another band playing to the more hipster crowd, mashing together a variety of musical genres from a band consisting of a mind-blowing collection of instruments, each band member knowing how to play several, with one of the female lead vocalists sounding a lot like Beth Orton. The incomparable team of Tim O’Brien and Darrell Scott came up to bat next, and they did not disappoint. Bringing us back to a more traditional style, it was simultaneously comforting and inspirational to know that so much sound can come out of just two instruments – although Tim was switching between the mandolin and fiddle throughout their set. After singing several traditional-sounding numbers, they switched to a more serious mood and sang “Turn Your Dirty Lights On” an original protest song about an environmental issue near and dear to Tim’s heart: mountaintop removal in West Virginia, where he was born. One of the song’s lines was “Coal is black, it ain’t never gonna be green,” which seemed to hit a nerve amongst the crowd. They followed that intense song with a much more upbeat one, “Dance, You Hippie, Dance” which helped lighten the mood and led to one of Tim’s signature flashlight shining sessions.
On this third day of Grey Fox, there were essentially two headliners, as if the Del McCoury Band wouldn’t have been enough, the Carolina Chocolate Drops were there to top off the evening. But first things first, the Del McCoury Band, Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductees, never fails to delight, and this performance was no different. Having three members who are part of the same family blessed with some very musical genes, you’ll never hear a tighter band. Plus the non-McCoury members of the band are nothing to shake a stick at, bassist Alan Bartram has mastered the difficult art of being able to sing a melody and play the rhythm section at the same time, while fiddler Jason Carter is an expert at pretty much every technique of playing the fiddle, having won three IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year trophies. They got to most of their more popular tunes including audience requests – you can tell that Del is truly listening to what the audience is asking for, as he does tend to get to most of their requests. Requests included, “All Aboard”, “High on the Mountain” and of course, “Vincent Black Lightning”. At a festival like Grey Fox, where you see just how far bluegrass music has cast its web and embraced other genres, it is refreshing, and appropriate, to have a true traditional bluegrass band hold such a prominent position in the line-up.
The esteemed final Saturday night-time slot on the High Meadow Stage was reserved for the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who have proved that the old-time music they have been researching and perfecting is still a sought after genre. Even though there were thousands of people on the concert field, everyone was so mesmerized by Rhiannon Giddens hauntingly striking vocals that at times, you could practically hear a pin drop. The audience was hanging on every word sang and note played, and rightfully so, because each song was a story in its own right. In fact, “Come Love Come” was a history lesson in itself, as it was based on slave narratives from the Civil War that Giddens had read and gained inspiration from to write this tune. The Carolina Chocolate Drops put together an ideal set, combining the perfect mix of original songs, including “Ruby Are You Mad At Your Man?”, which has been performed by the New York City Ballet; and “Cornbread and Butterbeans”, described as being a song about life, love, and food; storytelling between songs; a dancer who joined them on stage for a couple of tunes to do some clogging and the Charleston; guest appearances by Del McCoury, Della Mae, and Jim Lauderdale; and a few awesome covers, including Blu Cantrell’s R&B hit single “Hit ‘em Up Style”. Their stage presence is a force to be reckoned with, as they somehow made you feel like you were sitting in a circle around them in the swamplands of the South, just listening to some old-timey twangy strings and hand drums.
Once the music is over on the festival stages, don’t think that you are done for the night: one need only walk around the campgrounds and keep one’s ears open, and discover that some amazing music is taking place all around you. It is a wonderful thing to have a gathering of such talented musicians not only on the festival stages, but amongst the festival attendees as well. For those bold enough, it is definitely worth walking around the campgrounds with your instrument and join in one of the jams. Most people don’t bite, and many are welcoming of new players to jump in a take a solo.
The Sunday of Grey Fox is a short day, ending by 2:00, allowing everyone ample time to pack up and get home at a reasonable hour before having to delve back into the working world the next day, yet you can always count on three uplifting and inspiring elements to keep you going until next year’s Grey Fox rolls around. First of all, the Dry Branch Fire Squad’s Sunday Morning Gospel Show is not to be missed, as everyone needs their fix of Ron Thomason’s storytelling one last time before the end of the festival. Secondly, the instrument raffles are drawn, which always keeps everyone on their toes, because who wouldn’t want to go home with a well-crafted new instrument? Throughout the weekend, folks were encouraged to purchase raffle tickets for one of five stellar acoustic stringed instruments, including a Deering banjo and a Northfield mandolin, the proceeds of which go to a scholarship fund given to selected Berklee School of Music’s Summer Strings Program recipients. And last but certainly not least, the Bluegrass Academy for Kids gets to play a “graduation gig”. Over the course of the festival, a group of about 120 kids between the ages of 8 and 17 are given the opportunity to attend a free intensive four-day workshop on everything you need to know about perfecting your stringed instrument, singing harmonies, and performing collaboratively as a band. It is always quite a sight to see all those young talented children on the main stage, giving us the confidence that bluegrass music will continue to grow and thrive with this next generation of musicians.
As you pack up the last of your camp and make that final trip across the field, don’t be surprised if you get a tear in your eye as you say goodbye to your tent neighbor, someone who had been a complete stranger at the beginning of the festival but has now come to be a lifelong friend, knowing that you are going to have to wait 360 more days until the next Grey Fox. And just a warning to those of you who are thinking of coming to Grey Fox next year: be prepared to keep the third weekend of July free every year from now on, because once you start coming to Grey Fox, there’s no doubt that you will make it an annual tradition from this point forward. See you next year on the hill.
Below are some links to download recordings from this year’s and previous Grey Fox Bluegrass Festivals.
The Cooperstown area has proven to be quite the stomping grounds for fun musical entertainment so far this year, so why not visit again for the unique experience of a blues cruise on land? Every Saturday night during the summer, the Cooperstown Blues Express Train provides a three-hour rocking blues party onboard a train that rolls you through the gorgeous countryside between Milford and Cooperstown. The bands perform on the rear car of the train, which is “open air” on nice evenings, allowing you to fully take in the scenery and the stars, but can be covered in the event of rain. Food and drinks are available as well throughout the ride in the bar car. There is a nice space set up in front of the stage to dance around, but if you do find yourself needing to sit down and grab a bite inside the train, the music can still be heard via speakers. Continuing its tradition of hosting both local and well-known national blues bands, the Cooperstown Blues Express Train is proud to be presenting Peter Prince and Moon Boot Lover on July 26!
Described by Peter Prince himself as “Rock-ET Soul” music, Moon Boot Lover can be thought of as rock ‘n’ roll at its finest, truly embodying the spirit and showmanship of the genre, influenced by such diverse musical acts as Al Green, Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk Railroad, and Led Zeppelin. From their beginnings sometime in 1993 in New York City, Moon Boot Lover’s lineup is constantly rotating, but their sound is always awe-inspiring and invigorating, giving the audience a taste of music alternating between blues and rock with a good amount of jam mixed in for good measure. Seeing Moon Boot Lover live is a whole lot like going to the moon and back! The band will be bringing with them their lighting designer, Aaron Hunt, who is working on getting additional lights for this ride, making for an even more spacey and psychedelic experience. The band will be touring later this summer in support of Conehead Buddha, another great band who got their start in the ‘90s.
For those of you who have had their interests peaked, make sure to arrive at the Milford Train Depot at 6:30PM, as the train leaves the station at 7:00PM sharp, which gives riders the opportunity to see the countryside in the daylight for the first part of the ride. This event is open to those 21 and older, and be sure to have cash on hand, as this is a cash-only affair. Tickets cost $18, which is more than fair for the three-hour experience you are sure to enjoy on this blues cruise. Later on this summer, the Blues Express Train will be hosting Rhett Tyler and Early Warning on August 23, Blue Hand Luke on September 13, and the Hop City Hellcats on September 20, but be sure to check out schedule for a more complete lineup. Hope to see lots of you on the train!
This year’s Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, one of the country’s most well-known and well-respected bluegrass festivals, will be taking place from July 17-20 on the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, NY, a quaint hamlet nestled in the Catskill Mountains. This event consistently draws both national and international fans by the thousands, including from as far away as New Zealand, Japan, and the Czech Republic! Located about two and a half hours from New York City, it is definitely worth winding your way up the mountain to check out the transcendental experience that is the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (formerly known as the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival), where the line between artists and fans seems to disappear, and where folks can truly jam with and learn from the musicians performing throughout the weekend, as well as one another.
In its impressive 38th year, having landed the #2 spot on USA Today’s “10 great places to go to bluegrass festivals”, Grey Fox features an amazingly impressive collection of musicians that is hard to beat, this year’s line-up to include award-winning musicians Del McCoury’s 75th Birthday “Delebration”, The Gibson Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Claire Lynch Band, and Della Mae, to name just a few. To top that all off, Nickel Creek, who have not toured together for quite some time, will be celebrating their 25th anniversary at Grey Fox on the opening night of the festival. In addition to the “regulars” who appear, and who are definitely appreciated, year after year, the producer of the festival Mary Tyler Doub likes to introduce new talent to the scene. Her knowledge of what the fans are looking for shines through in that many of Mary’s discoveries have gone on to become regulars at not just Grey Fox, but festivals throughout the country, so be sure not to skip seeing a band just because you don’t recognize their name, as they will be sure to delight. As has been the tradition since 1983, the Dry Branch Fire Squad will be the musical hosts of Grey Fox, kicking off the festival with a “welcome” set on the Thursday afternoon of the event, and ending with a Sunday morning gospel set that gets fans motivated for that one last trip over to the High Meadow (Main) Stage before heading back to pack up camp.
While Grey Fox is obviously well-known for the extraordinary caliber of musicians it tends to attract, it can also be thought of as a place to further your bluegrass schooling, with workshops and “directed slow jams” taking place throughout the event. Even though the music taking place on the High Meadow Stage is sure to be unbelievable, it is crucial that you check out the other stages scattered around the festival site, each offering its own distinctive fun and educational experiences. The Creekside Stage is the place to go if you are looking for some of your favorite artists who will be conducting instrumental and vocal workshops on a more intimate scale, jamming out with each other, and answering questions you’ve been dying to ask your musical idols.
The Catskill Stage can also be called the “dance stage”, as that is where you will find folks boogying down to high energy “almost acoustic” bands until the wee hours. And for those early risers, a yoga class is offered each morning on the Catskill Stage, with live acoustic music provided in the background. For those who arrive on Wednesday, there will be an Open Mic Night on the Catskill Stage from 7:00-10:00PM, followed by a screening of the documentary How to Grow a Band, featuring the Punch Brothers.
The Grass Roots Learning Tent is an open forum for musicians of all abilities who want to hone their skills. Hands-on sessions on a variety of topics, last year’s topics ranging from the banjo to improvisation to harmony, are taught by top musicians and teachers in their fields.
And finally, the Slow Jam Tent is where jamming for beginners is encouraged and fostered by Paul Dube, who patiently guides new players through familiar bluegrass tunes chord by chord, and gives a few helpful pointers along the way, so you can feel inspired to join in the impromptu jams that take place in the camping areas throughout the event.
Grey Fox is an extremely family friendly event. Many of the families who come to Grey Fox together treat it as their yearly family vacation – to note, kids 12 and under are admitted free to Grey Fox with a ticketed parent or guardian. Grey Fox sure is equipped for it, with a Family Tent providing a constant array of activities from when the festival gates open, straight through until Sunday afternoon. Activities range from crafts and games, to clowns and magicians, with some musical headliners making appearances at the Family Tent as well. Movies are shown after dark, and this year, the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association will be on hand to present their star-gazing equipment and answer any astronomy-related questions. None of these activities are meant be treated as babysitting services, and parents are encouraged to interact and participate alongside their children.
For some fans, rather than listening to the music taking place on the main stage, they are there simply to connect with old friends (some of whom you may only see once a year at Grey Fox), meet new friendly folks, and do some good old-fashioned picking. It is truly amazing to walk through “Pickers Paradise” just one of the many camping options at Grey Fox, and just listen to what is happening around you: traditional bluegrass fans truly appreciating the music they hold so dear, so much so that most people in attendance at the festival play at least one instrument and aren’t afraid to take part in a jam and learn new things from fellow festival-goers. Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival is unique in that you may hear music that is just as good in the campground as the music happening on the main stage. On a side note, there is generally no need to feel unsafe about leaving your instruments out in the open at your campsite; one typically does not hear about people having things stolen from their campsites at this festival.
Yet another distinctive feature of the Grey Fox Festival is the Bluegrass Academy for Kids (BGA). BGA is a free learning program that takes place throughout the four days of the festival, and is open to children between the ages of 8 and 17. The program teaches participants how to play, sing, and perform bluegrass music, and consists of both sectional practices based on what instrument the child plays, and ensemble practices as an entire group. BGA also features guest appearances by several of the professional musicians playing at Grey Fox. Approximately 100-120 children take part in BGA each year, and for those lucky enough to participate in this FREE learning opportunity, the entire class performs a “Graduation Gig” on the High Meadow Stage. It is truly inspirational to end the festival on this note, demonstrating that bluegrass is still going strong, and will be for a long time, being that children are continuing to show an interest in the genre.An additional worthy activity to take part in while at Grey Fox is, believe it or not, the raffle! Thanks to the generous sponsors of the festival, including Stelling, Collings, Martin, Eastman, and Deering (which should all ring a bell for all you musicians out there), fans have the chance to win custom-built, top of the line acoustic instruments from each of these sponsors! Be sure to purchase a ticket, as you may be lucky enough to take everything you learned music-wise over the course of the festival and use it on a beautiful new instrument. Plus, by purchasing a ticket, you will be supporting companies that donate funds to the Grey Fox Scholarship, which is awarded on an annual basis to promising bluegrass students who demonstrate the need for financial assistance.
As mentioned above, there are a variety of camping options to suit your fancy. High Meadow Camping is available for tent camping without cars, and is primly located behind the seating area for the main stage. For those who choose to bring their RVs along for the ride, there is a whole section of the festival site known as Generatorville. For the families attending Grey Fox, there are a few designated quiet/family camping areas scattered throughout the site, so be sure to seek out those spots if you are hoping to get some peace and quiet, because the majority of folks tend to gravitate toward Pickers Paradise, where it is not uncommon to hear sweet bluegrass tunes coming from every direction at all hours of the day and night. This is the place to camp (or just roam around) if you are looking to soak in, or take part in, all of the amazing jamming going on all around you. Be sure to look around at all the imaginative campsites you will find at Grey Fox; that is because every year, Grey Fox gives out a Best Campsite Award, with the prize being a pair of tickets to next year’s festival, plus the pride you will gain in having your name announced during Saturday night’s show! This year, the award will go to the campsite that is leanest and greenest, taking up the smallest amount of space in the most creative way. Start thinking about those sites now and perhaps you will be the lucky winner.
Camping gates open on Wednesday, July 16, at 7:00AM for those who are eager to secure the ideal camping spot and to get the festivities started early. Some fans actually camp out for the entire week before the festival at nearby campgrounds just to be one of the first to arrive and claim their camping spots for the week. For the past couple of years, Grey Fox has been encouraging folks to drop off their gear, then move their car across the street to the Car Corral, to make more room for campers. If you choose to car camp, you can do that for a $20 fee; which will be refunded if you move to the Car Corral, which also makes you eligible for nifty prizes throughout the four days, including one lucky winner who could take home a free camping ticket to next year’s festival. Even though camping at Grey Fox is “in the rough” meaning no water or electrical hook-ups, there is always plenty of potable water available at several locations throughout the site, and the port-o-johns at Grey Fox are practically a pleasure to use, as they are kept super clean the entire time. Sometimes, you’ll even find a kind person who has left an air freshener in there to make the experience that much nicer. Plus, for those who have never attended Grey Fox, you will quickly become accustomed to hearing “I-I-I-CE” called out via a megaphone throughout the camping areas; that is because there is actually an “ice man” driving a truck around selling ice to keep those coolers chilled during your four days of camping. Man, they really think of everything at Grey Fox!
Tickets are currently available on the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival website, with camping tickets selling fast, so if you’re interested, grab them soon, as they typically sell out. Full festival tickets, which include camping from 7:00AM on Wednesday, July 16, through 7:00PM on Sunday, July 20, cost $195, with an additional $20 parking fee if you are not planning on moving your car across the street to the Car Corral. Single-day tickets are available at $65 per day (except for Sunday, which cost $30). There are very few rules at Grey Fox, which leads to a much more relaxed festival experience. Basically, you are asked not to bring glass or pets, and smoke only in designated areas. You can set up your chair in the concert area and leave it there the entire weekend, but the Grey Fox way is to share your chair until you return. The system seems to work well overall.
If you are a fan of bluegrass music in its truest form, then the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival is definitely the place for you. While having the opportunity to see many of your favorite musicians and bands in one place, you can also attend workshops to become masters of your instrument, take part in directed slow jams, or try your hand at picking with fellow fans in the campgrounds. Grey Fox is definitely a festival where you take away way more than you ever expected, whether it’s learning a new chord progression, getting to chat with your favorite musician, or trying your hand at bluegrass karaoke, where a live five-piece band plays behind you. Expect to leave Grey Fox a more enriched person musically, and plan on coming back next year and the year after, as once you start coming to Grey Fox, it’s hard to stop! For some examples of what you can expect to hear at Grey Fox, here are some tunes for your enjoyment. Hope to see you lots of you on the hill
There was definitely something magical in the air in Oneonta on Friday night, with summer being officially in full swing, and the help of the Oneonta Theatre, where not just one but two foot-stomping bands opened up for ‘90s icons Rusted Root.
Starting right on time, prepared for a long night of diverse music, Soco Mojo with special guest and local legend, John Scarpulla took the stage. According to a fan/friend of Scarpulla’s, tonight’s gig was their first public appearance together. But boy, that was not apparent from their tight sound. Scarpulla has, in the past, played mainly solo or duo acts, which always allow you a glimpse into this singer/songwriter/guitarist’s musical mind. However his talent was demonstrated just as much when playing alongside Sojo Mojo, another local act based out of Oneonta.
The band is comprised of a Hammond organ, electric guitar, bass, drum kit, and two percussion sets, with one of the percussionists (John Banks) doubling as a flutist. The one issue with having so many players on stage was that if you were sitting on the left side of the theater, vocalist and Hammond player Conor Murphy was so far over to the left that you could not see him. This was especially odd when he started singing, and you couldn’t see where the voice was coming from, but the sound came through just fine, so that somewhat made up for not being able to see him.
Bassist Bill Youngs really drove the band with his steady rolling rhythms, while young drummer Sebastian Green and percussionist Andrew Yerdon provided great creative back beats. Scarpulla’s voice kept getting more and more powerful as the night wore on, which blended quite nicely with Soco Mojo. Scarpulla mentioned that the group had CDs for sale, and for those who couldn’t afford to pay, he offered to throw them a CD for free! After doing a bit of scatting, Scarpulla introduced the band, then walked off stage while the rest of the band was still playing, allowing them to strut their own stuff for a bit before finishing off the set. Being that this was their first public appearance together, this band’s energy can only go up from here.
Next to perform was none other than ’s March Madness contest runners-up Big Leg Emma! For the band’s first number, acoustic guitarist/vocalist Steve Johnson sounded particularly Rusted Root-esque, with his tremolo-like style of picking. Johnson’s voice was reminiscent of Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, John McCrea of Cake, and former Yonder Mountain String Band frontman, Jeff Austin. The wah-wah pedal and swirly effects used by mandolinist/vocalist/percussionist Charity Nuse were quite unusual (and awesome!) in terms of their usage on the mandolin, and her voice was lovely and subtle. The whole band was super tight, especially on their third number, during which the acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and bass were totally locked into each other in the best possible way. Each of their songs had a definite beginning, middle, and end, yet they also seemed to be able to simultaneously segue from one song to the next seamlessly.
The band covered a couple of tunes that initially seemed like unlikely choices for a bluegrassy band to cover, but, believe it or not, they both seemed to lend themselves nicely to the genre – namely the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence” and Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall”. Towards the end of their set, drummer Corey Kertzie played a super crisp drum solo, and then invited the percussionists from Soco Mojo to join him, along with bassist Miguel Morales. In this case, a little collaboration amongst bands went a long way, they sounded great together. For their last number, the true appeal of Big Leg Emma shined through with their ability to inspire a dance party! Charity reached down into the crowd and hoisted up some ladies to join her on the front of the stage to dance, and then slyly slipped back to her position as mandolinist/vocalist and continued to rock out with the band, leaving the dance party still happening in the front part of the stage. This band was the perfect choice of bands to open for Rusted Root, as they were able to get the audience energized enough to be able to keep up with Rusted Root for the remainder of the evening!
The headliner of the night was Rusted Root, a Pittsburgh-based band whom defy genres. There was a nostalgic energy pulsing throughout the Oneonta Theatre, with fans psyched and ready to hear some of their old favorites, as well as see what the band has been up to recently. Having been playing together since the ‘90s, and touring relentlessly whenever they are not in the studio, the band is currently working on a new album due to come out next year. The band hopes to be able to record and produce independently with no record label. In order to accomplish this task, Rusted Root has started an indiegogo.com fundraising effort, in the hopes of raising $25,000 from fans to help fund their album. Their last album The Movement (2012) was also funded through a fan-funding campaign called “Fortunate Freaks Unite! We Are Rusted Root”.
While the band obviously played songs off their latest and upcoming albums, they also threw in a bunch of their classics. At the very beginning of the set, before the lights even came up, percussionist Preach Freedom started playing drums that sounded so flawless that it was impossible to tell whether it was being played live, or if it was a recording! Opening with “Martyr”, a particularly energizing song to get people moving early on in the set, the band then moved into another classic, “Lost in a Crowd”, which was played with more of an electric sound than usual. Next, the band went into a couple of their new tunes, which had a different style and feel than their older material, including heavier bass and an overall increase in the level of “rock” within the music. Sensing that the audience was craving some more familiar tunes, Rusted Root pulled out an old school “Heaven”, then jammed out with a super long intro into “Laugh as the Sun”. The build-up leading into “Laugh as the Sun” created a nice effect, because it was tough to tell just from what they were playing what song they were going to go into – that kind of suspense seemed to get the crowd revved up. Next up was probably one of the more unique mash-ups I’ve heard in a while: “Cat Turned Blue”, Stevie Wonder’s “Superstitious”, and Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower”!
Effectively interspersing their newer material with their classics throughout the rest of their one-set show, featuring a twangy version of “Rain” (heavy on the washboard) and a Middle Eastern-sounding “In Our Sun” featuring a simple three-note flute. Lead vocalist/guitarist Michael Glabicki did a Matthew McConaughey impression by quoting “All right, all right, all right,” they then played “Send Me On My Way”, one of their more popular numbers. For this one, electric guitarist Dirk Miller switched over to the recorder and Preach Freedom switched from his drum kit to hand drums. Ending their set on this soaring note, they encored with a familiar but possibly new tune, and then finished off with a particularly high-energy version of “Ecstasy”, which began with a very Santana-esque intro involving just the electric guitar and bass played masterfully by Patrick Norman.
The Oneonta Theatre was definitely on fire with this show, including three amazingly talented yet diverse bands. Starting off the night with the funky blues rock of Soco Mojo joined by John Scarpulla, moving on to the Americana bluegrass stylings of Big Leg Emma, to the world rock jamming of Rusted Root. It was definitely the place to be to enjoy a wide range of music in a single night. Concert goers enjoyed running into a ton of familiar faces who came out from the woodwork to enjoy some nostalgic music from the ‘90s, and get your dance on! Be sure to check out all of these bands, and visit Rusted Root’s indiegogo site if you are interested in and able to contribute to the production of their next album.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-BSr_1sSdw]
Summer is officially here, so why not get it started on the right foot with the rootsy world rock music of Rusted Root, who are making a trip out to Oneonta on Friday night, June 27! They will be performing at the historic Oneonta Theatre, which is the perfect venue for a band of Rusted Root’s caliber, as it will be sure to attract both the college crowd (for those students who are sticking around this summer) and fans who went to see the band when they first hit the scene back in the ‘90s. This show starts at 8PM, with doors opening at 7. Be sure to visit the bar in the lobby of the Oneonta Theatre before the show and between bands; a nice selection of local beers are always on tap.
Rusted Root, a band with its roots firmly set in their hometown of Pittsburgh, is a collaboration of members who have always been drawn to and experimented with every form of music, covering regions as far-reaching as India, the Middle East, and Africa. Going to one of their concerts is truly like going on a journey through all these exotic places, as they take you there with their music. Rusted Root’s most recent album The Movement(2012), as described by the band’s vocalist and percussionist Liz Berlin, is a real testament to their community of fans, as the album was created as a result of a funds contributed by fans. In addition to Berlin, the band’s current line-up includes Michael Glabicki on lead guitar/vocals, Patrick Norman on vocals/bass/guitar/percussion, Dirk Miller on guitar, and Preach Freedom on percussion. It will be interesting to hear tunes off their new album, but it is likely that they will also be performing some of their classics, such as “Send Me On My Way” and “Ecstasy”, which are always a blast to hear and experience live.
Rusted Root will be joined by two very special guests to open up their June 27 performance. First off, Soco Mojo, a true hometown band based out of right here in Oneonta, will be joined by another local legend, the spectacularly talented vocalist and guitarist John Scarpulla. A funky blues rock band, featuring the swirly reverberations of a Hammond and sharp jazzy sounds of a flute, Soco Mojo is sure to get everyone moving and psyched up for the rest of the evening.
The second band of the night will be none other than the runners up in ’s 2014 March Madness contest, Big Leg Emma! Based out of Jamestown in Western NY, Big Leg Emma have really come onto the jamband scene strong in the last couple of years, and if they keep up the good work, they are sure to continue growing and moving in the right direction. With a heavy base of real Americana music, throwing in some bluegrass, folk, and country for good measure, the jam component definitely comes out during their live performances, when their more dancy psychedelic side truly emerges.
If you live closer to the Albany area and can’t make it to Rusted Root’s show in Oneonta, they will be performing the following night, on June 28, at the Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park. Be sure to visit www.rustedroot.com for additional tour dates.
Starting off the show on a melancholy yet hopeful note with “Doc Watson Morning” a song about a “guitar-picking kind of day,” 
At this point in the evening, Peter Rowan brought out bassist Paul Knight, who has toured with Pete in the past, performing as part of the 
Choosing a somewhat odd time to take a set break, being so close to the 10:00pm time the show was projected to end, Pete ended up coming back on to play at 9:30, but went a bit beyond the original end time, which nobody seemed to mind. Beginning with an instrumental number with amazing use of harmonics up and down the neck of the guitar by Rowan, he then went into a very touching tribute he wrote for 
The show will be starting at 7:00PM, but come early if you can and indulge in a scrumptious meal consisting of fresh, quality seasonal cuisine served up in the restaurant right inside the club! Tickets for this event cost $32 in advance/$38 at the door. 
After the Oneonta show, 
Having been around since the ‘90s, formerly a frequent visitor to old school venues in Oneonta like Diana’s, 
At one point, Prince jokingly said that the train was trying to take their drum set apart, and explained that this is part of the reason MBL goes through so many drummers, but current drummer Lee James Falco seemed more than capable of holding the rhythm together, which is quite the feat on a slow-moving train rolling along on rickety old tracks. At only 19-years-old, Falco is already sitting in with many bands, so don’t be surprised if you see him play in your area; he is definitely full of talent and is only going up from here. Bassist Ben Carle provided steady yet creative rhythms and notes, on top of well-balanced back-up vocals, throughout the evening’s experience. Rich Lemire, a friend of the band, joined in for this performance with some added percussions.
It is strongly recommended, for those of you who have never been on the Cooperstown Blues Express Train, to hop aboard one of these Saturday nights before the summer is through. Where else can you ride on a historic railroad through beautiful countryside – and baseball fields – listening to funky music on an open air car, getting to wave at and taunt the people who have to wait at the railroad crossings sitting in their cars, while you are kicking back, enjoying a beverage and a snack, and cruising along listening to some great tunes.
The festival officially began on Thursday, July 17, but for those hardcore Grey Fox attendees, the gates opened early, on Wednesday at 7:00AM to be exact, so folks had time to set up camp either car-camping style, or a bit more ‘in the rough’ having to carry your stuff across a field to the High Meadow Camping area and park across the street in the Car Corral, which entitled you to a $20 parking fee refund, as well as entrance in a raffle to win a pair of tickets to next year’s festival. For those early to arrive, entertainment for the evening was provided on the 
Described by Peter Prince himself as “Rock-ET Soul” music, Moon Boot Lover can be thought of as rock ‘n’ roll at its finest, truly embodying the spirit and showmanship of the genre, influenced by such diverse musical acts as Al Green, Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk Railroad, and Led Zeppelin. From their beginnings sometime in 1993 in New York City, Moon Boot Lover’s lineup is constantly rotating, but their sound is always awe-inspiring and invigorating, giving the audience a taste of music alternating between blues and rock with a good amount of jam mixed in for good measure. Seeing Moon Boot Lover live is a whole lot like going to the moon and back! The band will be bringing with them their lighting designer, Aaron Hunt, who is working on getting additional lights for this ride, making for an even more spacey and psychedelic experience. The band will be touring later this summer in support of 
Starting right on time, prepared for a long night of diverse music, 
Bassist Bill Youngs really drove the band with his steady rolling rhythms, while young drummer Sebastian Green and percussionist Andrew Yerdon provided great creative back beats. Scarpulla’s voice kept getting more and more powerful as the night wore on, which blended quite nicely with Soco Mojo. Scarpulla mentioned that the group had CDs for sale, and for those who couldn’t afford to pay, he offered to throw them a CD for free! After doing a bit of scatting, Scarpulla introduced the band, then walked off stage while the rest of the band was still playing, allowing them to strut their own stuff for a bit before finishing off the set. Being that this was their first public appearance together, this band’s energy can only go up from here.