Susquehanna Breakdown Music Festival was an all day event on Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA on May 10th. Hosted by music sensation Cabinet, whose blues infused rock and roots Americana sound has established them a firm footing in the soils of the East coast, for a second year, the festival was a success.
Cabinet is from the hills of Pennsylvania making the backdrop of Montage Mountain a perfect fit. A heavy rotation of artists from NY trampled the stages giving high-energy performances leaving the audience tired, yet wanting more. The Brummy Brothers kicked off the day and music alternated without a break all day and into the night. Highlights include a set from Marco Benevento and Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, as well as artist at large, Ron Holloway. The festival was a big dance party from start to finish for all ages. The family oriented event offered something for everyone whether it was hippy clothes shopping, face art or hula-hoops.
As the weather breaks and nicer temperatures start to become the norm, the residents of Buffalo begin to come out of their winter slumber and explore the city again. This past Friday night, Marco Benevento was in town and, with mother nature’s cooperation, Buffalo’s music community came out in droves and ascended upon Nietzsche’s for a night of great music. As 10pm came and went, the venue began filling up with all walks of life to catch the jazz experimentalist himself. Benevento has played Buffalo pretty consistently as of late and it seems as though the scene here is not only appreciative of his visits, but the crowd continues to grow every time he comes back.
The night started off with local favorites, Lazlo Hollyfeld. With a beer in hand, it was actually difficult to try to maneuver to the front of the venue as it was that densely packed for Lazlo. The group, in my eyes, was a perfect fit to open the night as their instrumental experimentation goes hand in hand with the type of crowd Benevento brings out. With over ten years under their belts, Lazlo knew exactly how to draw a crowd in and keep them entranced with their choice of songs for the set. Without any effort, your ears immediately gravitated towards Matt Felski who has the unique role of Vibraphonist in the band. For those unfamiliar, the instrument is similar to a xylophone and, as you can imagine, stuck out like a sore thumb. That might sound like a slight, but the way Felski utilized staccato and legato couldn’t have been more perfect. I can’t say I’ve ever heard this instrument outside of jazz, let alone in a small band, but these guys made it work and have a truly unique sound because of it. While I would’ve enjoyed seeing some more of them that night, their set was stellar and got the crowd in the perfect mindset for what was to come. Their jamming was dark and exploratory, having almost a heavy metal feel in terms of both tempo and tone. Guitarist Sonny Baker was the visual focal piece for the band as his energy swelled with peaks in the music and forced him to frantically pluck away in certain segments and attack his solos with a fierce tenacity. As they wrapped up their set, the crowd let out an exuberant cheer, letting the band know of their appreciation and enjoyment.
Marco Benevento took the stage around midnight, which was appropriate for Buffalo as the city is known for its late nights and 4am last call. Midnight is when things start to get interesting here and that would hold true on this night as well. Benevento started off the night sprinting out of the gate and showing everyone right away why he’s so talented. On one song, he held the strings inside of his piano, creating a similar effect to a muted guitar and adding a layer of texture to his deep overall tone. As he stated in our interview, he doesn’t go on stage with a setlist in mind; he completely plays to the crowd and feels out what they’re hoping to hear from him. Friday night was no different. Benevento was locked in from the get-go as every change in tempo and every blistering solo only electrified the crowd even more. A few songs in, he turned and looked out across the crowd, grinning, to let both the band and audience know he was having a good time.
As we got deeper into the set, you began to question how much his weathered piano could take. Even though it looked like it could’ve been lying around in the back of Nietzsche’s, the tone that was culled from its depths was beautiful. It was definitely an odd juxtaposition of visual ugliness, yet tonal beauty. The use of effect pedals with his historic rig only make his sound that much more unique. His tone and approach is literally out of this world. If you closed your eyes, it was almost as if you were strolling through Dalí’s “The Persistence of Memory” and he was playing the soundtrack.
While only a year has passed since I last saw these guys, they have grown tighter as an overall entity. Dave Dreiwitz (bass) and Andy Borger (drums) have learned how to compliment what Benevento does and now play much larger roles within the group. When they would collectively stop, it felt as though the pressure had finally let up. The three were so good at keeping an incessant pace that you felt the need to gasp for air on the short break in between songs.
Benevento himself is a madman behind the keys. You could see it in his face at various points throughout the show that he was really trying to push his musical boundaries. In and of itself, you can respect him for that, but he balances that seriousness with a jovial side that enjoys the dynamic between the band and crowd. As a clear example of his playful side, a large wolf mask somehow made its was to the stage and Marco was the first to embrace it, playing through the second half of a song while it was on his head. It was difficult to discern whether the whole thing was planned, but Marco’s eagerness and energized playing said otherwise.
The show went on until about 2am with Marco covering songs off of every album, including some new tunes off of his upcoming Fall release. It was an incredible night of music to say the least. As the crowd filed out, I overheard what I presumed to be a new fan talking about how they couldn’t wait for the next time he’s in town. Not surprised, I now understand why Marco is always smiling.
Braving the cold and possibly rainy outcome the day of the Mountain Goat Run, Benny Mardones and The Hurricanes took the stage on May 3rd and turned up the heat to bring a warmth to Syracuse for all the participants. In true Benny fashion, he came out full throttle and didn’t stop until everyone was singing along and dancing to new releases from his upcoming album, Timeless, and all the classic favorites. Didn’t have a chance to catch him this time? Don’t fret, he will be returning this summer to Onondaga Community College on August 2nd. For more information on the upcoming show that’s set to feature a ton of special guests, please visit Benny’s webpage at www.bennymardones.com.
Nearly 2,500 people crowded to downtown Syracuse to witness the arrival of Alice In Chains, who made their first appearance Central New York in over a decade at Landmark Theatre. The grunge gods are still releasing great music with the critically acclaimed rock album The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here which was released last year and have been touring the world in support of that album.
This was my first time ever seeing a rock show at The Landmark Theatre. The place still has an eerie yet beautiful feeling to it due to the historic structure. The entire place is seated and crammed; however, I don’t think anyone cared.
Canadian hard rockers Monster Truck had the pleasure of opening for Alice In Chains. They graced the stage at 7:30PM, played a very stellar 40 minute set and were well received by the fans. If Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd had a love-child in the modern era of rock music, it would most certainly be Monster Truck. Most of the songs they played were very jazzy with a flare of southern rock. While a very entertaining band, Monster Truck really shined during their slow and bluesy song “Through The Sun.” Their use of drums, guitar, and keyboards along with vocals and bass from Jeremy Widerman makes them a force to be reckoned with. I would expect this band to break out shortly.
Alice In Chains started their 18-song set shortly after, with massive production, killer and crystal clear sound, massive stage lights, the whole nine yards. They started off with “Them Bones, ” doing a great job mixing it up between their well known hits, as well as their album cuts and new material. Keeping the tone heavy, they went into “Damn That River” and “Again”, before they went into their new material such as “Check My Brain” and “Hollow.” Also let me point out that this was the first time during what I call the “Duvall-Era” of Alice In Chains where William Duvall is front and center of the entire band. Duvall has done a sensational job of filling in the shows of arguably one of the greatest singers that ever lived, the late Layne Stanley.
The highlight of the entire show was “Rain When I Die.” The duel harmonizing vocals of Duvall and Jerry Cantrell is nothing short of amazing. And another highlight was “Nutshell.” Cantrell displayed some of his best lead guitar skills during “Stone” and actually stopped midway through the song to fire up the crowd. They wrapped their set with their super heavy “We Die Young” before closing with their Vietnam War themed “Rooster.” The band came back out for a three song encore of “No Excuses,” “Got Me Wrong,” and their dark hit “Would.”
Overall, it was a fantastic show. Easily one of the best hard rock tours of this year. Cantrell addressed the crowd and said they hope to return to Syracuse real soon.
What better way to kick off Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of summer, than at an idyllic venue in Cooperstown, NY, with none other than indie rock legends Modest Mouse! Brewery Ommegang, known for producing a rich (and strong!) Belgian-style of beer in a part of the state that has traditionally been a large producer of hops, has also gotten into the concert business, and hosts bands on a stage in the field behind the brewery itself. There is always ample space to move around, and lots of tasty food options from local vendors available on the edges of the field during the concerts. Continuing its tradition of hosting bands that don’t typically tour as often as many other jam bands, but that you’ve secretly always wanted to check out (like Cake and Wilco, to name just a couple of bands who have played there in recent years), Brewery Ommegang is proud to be presenting Modest Mouse on Friday and Saturday, May 23 and 24!
An American indie rock band, founded in 1993 in Washington State, Modest Mouse’s sound has often been likened to bands ranging from the Pixies to Built to Spill. While Modest Mouse’s line-up is constantly evolving, two of the band’s founding members, singer/guitarist Isaac Brock and drummer Jeremiah Green, seem to be mainstays, having gotten their start rehearsing in a shed next to Brock’s mother’s trailer home. The band’s current line-up, in addition to Brock and Green, includes percussionist Joe Plummer, guitarist/keyboardist/bassist Tom Peloso, guitarist/vocalist Jim Fairchild, and bassist Russell Higbee. Continuing in their tradition of playing eclectic venues, having played in such a unique venue as the McCarren Park Pool in Brooklyn (which has since gone back to being used as a public pool!), and about to play a show later in the summer (on August 9, to be exact) at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in Queens, Modest Mouse is nice enough to include Cooperstown’s own gem of a venue on their roster.
Both shows will be starting at 7PM, with the gates opening at 5. On May 23, Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls will be opening the show, and on May 24, the opening band will be Brand New. Camping is available onsite as an option for those who are planning to partake in the tasty goodness of Ommegang beer. Tickets for this event cost $45 in advance, or $60 with camping pass included, although both shows are sold out. Visit www.ommegang.com for information. (If you are lucky enough to be seeing both Friday and Saturday nights’ shows, and are looking for something fun to do during the day on the Saturday in between, it happens to be the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s 75th anniversary this year, and they are kicking off the celebration this weekend, which includes a Game Day Parade and the Hall of Fame Classic baseball game going on on May 24! Check out their website, www.baseballhall.org, for more information.)
Modest Mouse will be back in our area in the not-too-distant future, when they return as part of The Hudson Project, which will be taking place on Winston Farm, home of the 25th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival, in beautiful Saugerties, NY, from July 11-13. For more information on the rest of this summer’s Modest Mouse tour dates, check out the band’s website at www.modestmouse.com.
Just back from an overseas tour with Lionel Richie, Ben Mauro returned home to the Central New York area to not only relax and catch up with family and friends, but also to launch his new EP, Take Your Time. In an interview with Ben last month, I not only had the opportunity to talk to him about this upcoming release party, but I was also able to review the new album and touch on what inspired the tracks.
Ahead of the show, I joined Ben as he came to speak with the local television station here in Utica, WUTR TV, to give viewers an insight into the release party as well as a sample of music to be played. What better setting for the interview than at Utica Classic Guitars, a shop owned and operated by Robert Acquiviva, a music business icon in the Utica area. Surrounded by guitars, Ben sat down to talk about his experiences, the upcoming EP release party, his show “Let’s Go with Ben Mauro”, and life as a guitarist and musician on the road.
As the day had finally come for the release party at Shifty’s Bar & Grill, best known for their Open Mic Night’s on Wednesdays, the place was completely sold out and packed to capacity to a much-anticipated crowd. Joining Ben on stage that evening was his SAMMY Award winning backup band, Phoenix Eleven, featuring Greg “Goose” LaPoint on drums, Joe Grosvent on bass, and Max McKee on guitar and vocals, as well as special guests Deyquan and Yajha Bowens on keyboards and vocals, and Al Cutri on saxophone. Also joining Ben on stage were good friends and musicians Ricky Chisolm, who Ben once played with in a band, and his musical instructor Rick Balestra who joined in with his electric guitar.
The night was an amazing mix of new releases, old favorites, and some amazing covers of Johnny Cash, The Eagles, and of course Lionel Richie and the Commodores. All in all, it was a great time! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YCE4f-DTw4]
The crowd loved his new music and was blown away by his amazing guitar playing. Life came full circle for Ben as he returned to celebrate at the very spot he first got up on stage and played in front of a live crowd, except this time it was sold out just for him.
Tonight in Albany, The Low Beat on Central Ave will host a night dedicated to the familiar sound of the 90s, Weezer. Members of the neighborhood B3nson Recording Company will come together to form B3nson does Blue: a tribute to Weezer. The cover fee is $5 with the show set to start at 9pm with The Pistol Whips. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Weezer’s Blue Album released on May 10th, 1994. This album helped launch their career with such songs as “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Ain’t So.” The age of music videos was also still alive then, and with help from director Spike Jones, Weezer became a mainstream success. So get ready to get jiggy with it, crimp your hair, throw on a slap bracelet, and grab your homies for a night of the nineties.Dan Maddalone, singer and guitarist for Barons in the Attic, was and still is a proud Weezer fanatic. He had time to chat about tonight’s show and all things Weezer related.
Susan Rice: How has Weezer’s music influenced your music? They are classified as “unashamed nerd rockers.” Can you relate to this? Dan Maddalone: I listened to Weezer a ton during High School. Their album Pinkerton made me feel feelings I didn’t know existed and I always loved their songs and videos. I am a nerd and I feel no shame ever so I guess I can relate to that. Also, everyone covering them this Friday are nerds too, so I’m sure they relate as well. They’ve personally influenced my music by helping me love pop melodies and heavy guitars.
SR: The name of the band you are playing with is named after The Benson Recording Company/Family. Which members belong to which band? DM: The B3nson Recording Collective is an entity that has existed since 2009. It’s a group of friends that help each other out, make records (60+ so far!), and put on shows. We also do RestFest, which is a big concert that happens every August. This band is comprised of members from bands within the collective. Matt Ferguson from Rival Galaxies, Steve Stanley from Careers and Bear Grass, Adam Zurbregg as curator and former Sgt. Dunbar bassist, Eric Krans from The Parlor, and Tim Koch from Dunbar and the Parlor.
SR: Have you seen Weezer live before? DM: I saw Weezer live in 2010. It was in Massachusetts somewhere outside of Boston. They crushed it. I know they’ve gotten “lame” as time has gone on, but I suppose that happens to most bands. They’ve lost their “cred” according to everyone and yet it’s funny, as you talk to people and the older they get, the earlier they got shitty. Brian Bell (guitarist for Weezer) once said “you can’t truly be a Weezer fan unless you are disappointed in what the band’s currently doing”. But if you go see them, you will not be disappointed.
SR: There are multiple ways that artists pay tribute to other musicians. Do you plan on playing the album note for note or improving a bit? Are you more celebrating the album itself turning 20 or you are just that big of a Weezer fan? DM: Anything from listening, to singing karaoke, to playing, or recording a band’s music can pay tribute. We’re attempting note for note, but these songs are quite tough. The dudes shred and we’re just using this as an excuse to crank our guitars real loud and party. 20 years is just a good reason to book a show and hangout at The Low Beat.
Poughkeepsie was long overdue for a rock show on Tuesday night when Volbeat, Trivium, and Digital Summer came to town. The Mid-Hudson Civic Center was beginning to fill up when Digital Summer hit the stage early. Kicking things off early didn’t stop anyone from getting right into it. The hard rock newcomers had the stage presence of a headlining act, getting the crowd moving with their contagious energy. Most impressively, the band featured 13 year old Austin Rios on drums, who could easily give his much older peers a run for their money.
Trivium kept the night going, powering through a 45 minute set packed with hits. The guitar driven tracks were accompanied by the powerful vocals from frontman Matt Heafy, who got the crowd jumping and singing along on tracks like “” as well as the band’s latest single, “Strife”. They saved he best for last, building up anticipation with an eerie drum intro and light show to match before kicking things into high gear one last time. Mosh pits broke out while the entire audience screamed “In Waves” each time the chorus hit.
Despite being entertained by a surprisingly musical soundcheck, fans began to grow anxious for headliner Volbeat to take the stage. Just before 10pm chants for the band were met with the dimming of the lights. They immediately jumped into “Doc Holliday”, featuring the first of countless solos from guitarist Rob Cagiano. Amid hits such as “Lola Montez” and “Heaven Nor Hell” singer Michael Poulsen joked around with the crowd and talked about some of his influences growing up, including Johnny Cash. A cover of “Ring of Fire” fit Poulsen’s voice perfectly, with the audience drowning him out on occasion.
With an extensive catalog to choose from, the band did their best to fit in a few songs from each, including energetic dance along track “Sad Man’s Tongue” from their 2007 release Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil. Fans were in for a treat on “Evelyn”, when Trivium’s Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu joined Volbeat on stage. Heafy provided the screams on the heavier track, with Poulsen’s distinctive voice on the chorus, making the crowd go absolutely insane for the all-star combination. Following “Still Counting” the audience were desperate for more, chanting for one final song until the band finally made their return. The 4 song encore came to a close with older tracks “Thanks” and “The Mirror and the Ripper.” The punk rock tracks had the audience jumping along from front to back for one last time. Simply put, Volbeat are a fun band to see live. For both old and new fans, it’s nearly impossible to not dance along with a smile on your face throughout the entire set.
Al Kooper will be celebrating his 70th Birthday with a performance at The Egg tomorrow night, Saturday May 17th at 7:30pm.
The legendary musician will be joined with his group the Funky Faculty, guitar virtuoso Jimmy Vivino and some very special unannounced guests. Tickets are still available for $35 and can be purchased at The Egg Box Office at the Empire State Plaza, by telephone – 518-473-1845 or online. This show will be part of The Egg’s continuous American Roots and Branches concert series, celebrating the classic music that still continues to influence generations today.
Al Kooper is a legendary musician with a career spanning 50 years whose trademark organ riffs can be heard on classic recording by The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Tom Petty, George Harrison and countless others. He was especially close with Bob Dylan, playing with him for many years live and in the studio, and is well-known for his work on “Like a Rolling Stone.” Kooper played a key role as a member of The Blues Project, Super Session and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Don’t miss your opportunity to catch a part of Rock n Roll history tomorrow night as well as an awesome birthday party.
Festival season is upon us, and with that comes 5 months of music and memories in some of the best locations for live music in the nation. As we prepare for our coverage of music festivals this summer – more than 40 across the country and Canada – we asked our staff to revisit some of the great music festival moments that they have experienced. Here are some of those moments.
Jeremiah Shea: My greatest experience came just last year at Night Lights Fall Music Festival in Sherman, NY. Even though the music was incredible and it was my first time seeing Marco Benevento, the highlight was the setting in which it took place. The festival is known for it’s light show, not on stage, but throughout the venue and the woods surrounding it. The team that coordinates the festival does an installation of about a mile or so of LED lights scattered throughout the forest where it takes place. With multiple stages setup, I was treated to an amazing walk between sets of trees lit up in multiple colors, illuminated walkways, and an obvious show-stealing overall exhibit. I now plan on attending every year regardless of who is taking the stage as that is always held to just as high of a standard as the entire production.
Pete Mason: When I attended The Hangout in 2012, Sunday had a great afternoon lineup at the Chevrolet Stage – Mavis Staples, Steve Winwood, then The Flaming Lips, who were set to perform Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. I stayed put at that end of the beach the entire day, and while the full day was awesome, it was the Lips’ set that made it one of the greatest festival experiences ever. During “Us & Them”, I looked on my phone and saw that an eclipse was taking place momentarily on the other side of the world. I saw images coming through as “Brain Damage” started and as they went into “Eclipse”. As if those lyrics weren’t already some of the best ever, hearing “All that is now and all that is gone and all that’s to come and everything under the sun is in tune but the sun is eclipsed by the moon” was one of the most awesome feelings ever. You know those chills you get despite sweating? I had a rush of those for a few minutes afterward, and any time I hear the song in the future. I can never disconnect the memory of that day at Gulf Shores. The song will never be the same again.
Jimmy Chambers: In 1999, my first non-Phish festival, I was at Gathering of the Vibes. I was enthralled by all the different bands and art and people. It was a truly monumental experience but the one moment that would change my life forever happened early on Saturday as I was walking to my car and to my right was the main stage, where I heard music that was different and better than anything I had ever heard before in my life. It was the Disco Biscuits. 15 years and 65 shows later, I still feel they are the best band out there. That is a festival moment that will live with me forever.
Lindsay Jones: One of my best festival memories was Umphrey’s McGee, Bonnaroo 2006. It was a late show and I was flying solo that night. The set was high energy from the get-go, but when the band broke out into The Beatles “Baby You’re a Rich Man”, one of my favorites, I knew that night was special. As Umphrey’s transitioned into a funky version of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2”, it seemed that the crowd was grooving and moving as one, all dialed in. We were all singing along as “Brain Damage/Eclipse” grew to its climax, and I was absolutely overcome by emotion, bursting out into happy tears. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner of the Disco Biscuits and Joe Russo and Tom Hamilton were all on stage contributing to this musical masterpiece. I was just happy to have been there.
Carly Knaszak: My greatest festival was Uproar Festival 2011 at Darien Lake, NY. My friends and I got there early just to see what merch they had out and what bands would be playing early. The headliners were Avenged Sevenfold and Three Days Grace. My friends and I walked into the venue and we saw a stand that was selling Three Days Grace CDs and we approached and saw if you bought their Life Starts Now album, you would be able to have the band sign it for 5 bucks. We bought the CDs and had the experience of a life time meeting Three Days Grace with their former singer, Adam Gontier. Avenged Sevenfold stole the show when they came on with opening with ‘Nightmare’ and ending with the oh so famous, “A Little Piece Of Heaven’. I came out of that concert with a few bruises, a sore throat, ears ringing and the greatest concert experience, ever.
Garrett Woodward: Watching The Dead play the sunset set on the 4th of July. It was a surreal moment to stand on that grassy knoll‚ amid tens of thousands‚ and realize everyone (everything) here is a result of the magic created by a band formed some 44 years ago. The angst and beauty associated with traveling to catch that perfect show‚ the effort to drive dozens of hours in hopes of a correctly guessed opening melody‚ the lifestyle and reality‚ the entire goddamn reason I‚ and all in attendance‚ conduct our lives grew out of our unrelenting love for the Grateful Dead. Before I knew it‚ a handful of teardrops rolled down my cheeks during “US Blues‚” as fireworks exploded over the stage‚ celebrating not only the independence of this great land‚ but the independence and progressive nature of those surrounding me. “Wave that flag‚ wave it wide and high‚ summertime done‚ come and gone…”
Amy Lieberman: My favorite festival moment had to have been back in 2010, at the Gathering of the Vibes, a lovely gathering on the beach at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This festival always seems to have an all-around positive vibe hanging over it the entire four days, probably due to the fact that this festival was created to provide a forum for music lovers and appreciators to channel the spirit of Jerry Garcia, which is really what attracted me to want to attend the event in the first place. On top of the obviously amazing shows put on by Furthur, Primus, Jimmy Cliff, and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, my absolute favorite moment of the festival was when Jackie Greene made a surprise guest appearance at the “Teen Scene” stage, where he joined the group of talented young musicians who happened to be playing on the stage after Jackie’s main stage act! I have to admit (and I’m sure I’m not the only one out there), I am a huge admirer of Jackie Greene, but I tend to get extremely starstruck. Well, I managed to work up the courage to tell him what I’ve always wanted to tell him, which was “Your voice makes my heart melt,” and got my photo snapped with him! That was definitely a major highlight of my festival-going years, not to mention my entire life!
Pete Mason: When I attended The Hangout in 2012, Sunday had a great afternoon lineup at the Chevrolet Stage – Mavis Staples, Steve Winwood, then The Flaming Lips, who were set to perform Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. I stayed put at that end of the beach the entire day, and while the full day was awesome, it was the Lips’ set that made it one of the greatest festival experiences ever. During “Us & Them”, I looked on my phone and saw that an eclipse was taking place momentarily on the other side of the world. I saw images coming through as “Brain Damage” started and as they went into “Eclipse”. As if those lyrics weren’t already some of the best ever, hearing “All that is now and all that is gone and all that’s to come and everything under the sun is in tune but the sun is eclipsed by the moon” was one of the most awesome feelings ever. You know those chills you get despite sweating? I had a rush of those for a few minutes afterward, and any time I hear the song in the future. I can never disconnect the memory of that day at Gulf Shores. The song will never be the same again.
Amy Lieberman: My favorite festival moment had to have been back in 2010, at the Gathering of the Vibes, a lovely gathering on the beach at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This festival always seems to have an all-around positive vibe hanging over it the entire four days, probably due to the fact that this festival was created to provide a forum for music lovers and appreciators to channel the spirit of Jerry Garcia, which is really what attracted me to want to attend the event in the first place. On top of the obviously amazing shows put on by Furthur, Primus, Jimmy Cliff, and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, my absolute favorite moment of the festival was when Jackie Greene made a surprise guest appearance at the “Teen Scene” stage, where he joined the group of talented young musicians who happened to be playing on the stage after Jackie’s main stage act! I have to admit (and I’m sure I’m not the only one out there), I am a huge admirer of Jackie Greene, but I tend to get extremely starstruck. Well, I managed to work up the courage to tell him what I’ve always wanted to tell him, which was “Your voice makes my heart melt,” and got my photo snapped with him! That was definitely a major highlight of my festival-going years, not to mention my entire life!