Taylor Swift never stops to surprise us with great music and unforgettable performances and Taylor jumped in front of a huge crowd Friday, July 20 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. For the first one of three shows in a row this weekend. Here are the Top 5 amazing things that happened during the show.
Photos By http://www.msartsandphotos.com/
5. Stages
The Reputation Stadium World Tour brings an ever changing 110′ feet tall stage with different set ups through out the concert. She also has two other extra stages for a total of three allowing Swift to get closer to those fans that couldn’t make it to the front row. This has been the biggest stage Taylor has ever had on tour.
4. Bringing people together
There is no doubt that the 28 year old songwriter is capable of pulling every heartstring of our bodies with her songs. She is also capable of bringing thousands of people together singing at the same time for a magical and fulfilling experience for any fan. The audience clearly demonstrated that they knew every song to its core.
3. Creativity
Many fans took the opportunity to unleash their creativity creating custom costumes, signs and props to catch her attention during the show.
2. Giant Snakes
No, It’s not a joke!. While she performed the lead single of the Reputation album Look What You Made Me Do. Taylor was joined in stage by her dancers and a stunning 30′ feet tall cobra. During her song “Shake it Off” she also had two giant snakes followed by great fireworks surprising the crowd even more.
1. Top Quality Performances
Charli XCX and Camila Cabello were the opening acts in the show. Both of them performed some of their hit songs such as “Boom Clap” by Charli and “Havana” by Camila. They also joined Swift on stage when she performed “Shake it Off” which was the lead single on her previous album “1989”.
The Reputation Stadium World Tour is set to continue until November 21, 2018. The last show will take place in Tokyo, Japan. The tour could become one of the highest-grossing tours of all time and it’s definitely worth seeing with your own eyes.
Not ones to rest on their laurels, Intrepid Travelers are following up their successful Solstice Festival with the second leg of their summer tour. IT heads out to Ohio and Michigan next week, then double back to New York, hitting Jamestown, Geneva and Buffalo. Summer tour rounds out with performances at Night Lights Music Festival in Sherman on Aug. 23 and Beau Fleuve Music Festival in Buffalo on Aug. 26.
Intrepid Travelers Summer Tour 2018 Leg II:
July 25 – Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH **Ween Preparty & Afterparty
July 26 – The Knickerbocker – Grand Rapids, MI
July 28 – George’s – Canton, OH Aug. 3 – Mojo’s – Jamestown, NY
Aug. 4 – FLX – Geneva, NY
Aug. 7 – Larkin Square – Buffalo, NY
Aug. 23 – Night Lights Music Festival – Sherman, NY
Aug. 26 – Beau Fleuve Music Festival – Buffalo, NY
Buffalo native and current New Orleans resident, Ani DiFranco will perform at Syracuse’s Westcott Theater on Sept. 16 on her fall tour, Creative Concerts announced Tuesday.
Ani DiFranco
The folk singer-songwriter, activist, poet and entrepreneur released her 20th album, Binary, last year and is touring with a renewed vigor. DiFranco described a breakthrough moment that hit during the writing of the pro-choice anthem “Play God” from her latest album:
When I wrote the line ‘You don’t get to play God, man/I do,’ I paused and thought, ‘Can I say that?’ It’s not the first time I’ve thought that, but it’s been a while. And in that moment, I thought, ‘I’m back, mothafuckas!
Tickets for the all ages show are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the show. They go on sale Friday, July 20 at 10:00 through the Westcott’s website.
Peter Mulvey is the support act for this show. Mulvey wrote the song “Take Down Your Flag” following the shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC in June 2015. After his first performance of the song opening for DiFranco in Northampton, MA, Mulvey put out an invitation to other artists to add verses. Mulvey’s introduction video is below, followed by DiFranco’s version, where she is accompanied by Ivan Neville and Terrance Higgins.
Ani DiFranco Fall Tour:
Sept. 15 – Grand Point North Festival – Burlington, VT Sept. 16 – Westcott Theater – Syracuse, NY
Sept. 28 – Lyric Theatre – Birmingham, AL
Sept. 29 – Center Stage Theater – Atlanta, GA
Sept. 30 – The NorVa – Norfolk, VA
Oct. 1 – The Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA Oct. 3 – Le Poisson Rouge – New York, NY
Oct. 5 – Somerville Theatre – Somerville, MA Oct. 6 – Bardavon 1869 Opera House – Poughkeepsie, NY
Nov. 4 – Delta Hall at Eccles Theater – Salt Lake City, UT
Nov. 6 – Vancouver Playhouse – Vancouver, BC
Nov. 8 – The Neptune – Seattle, WA
Nov. 9 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
Nov. 10 – McDonald Theatre – Eugene, OR
Nov. 12 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
Nov. 14 – Palace Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 15 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ
Nov. 17 – Granada Theater – Dallas, TX
Nov. 18 – Emo’s Austin – Austin, TX
Nov. 19 – House of Blues – New Orleans, LA
Check out DiFranco’s Tiny Desk Concert from last year below:
On November 15, 2017, founder Kevin Lyman shared that after 23 amazing summers of music, Vans Warped Tour would celebrate its final run in the summer of 2018. Making up for the upsetting news was the release of this summer’s diverse lineup, featuring bands from the electronic duo 3OH!3 to folk singer-songwriter Frank Turner, the charismatic members of popular Canadian rock band Simple Plan, to the abrasive metalcore of August Burns Red, with so much more sprinkled in.
While Vans holds the top seat as the festival’s primary sponsor (hence the festival’s name change), several other sponsors will be hosting multiple stages on the tour, including Journey’s (who will host a ‘Right Foot’ and ‘Left Foot’ stage), Monster (with a cleverly named ‘Mutant Red Dawn’ and ‘Mutant White Lightning’ stage, named after the ultra-caffeinated energy drinks), owly.fm and Full Sail University (to stage some up-and-coming bands). The tour is already underway, making stops in Camden, NJ this Friday, followed by Holmdel, NJ on Saturday, then Hartford, Connecticut this Sunday. The tour will also make a stop at the Darien Center in New York on July 25, and Jones Beach Ampitheatre on July 28. In celebration of it’s 23-year legacy, here are two reasons why Vans Warped Tour stands out as one of the most impressive touring festivals of its era.
1 – From start to stardom, Vans Warped Tour has introduced us to some of our favorite bands.
Since its first run in 1995, many bands have Warped Tour to thank for their rise to popularity. Avenged Sevenfold, Fall Out Boy, and Paramore are a few of the many bands that played the Warped Tour stage early in their careers, and continued to play each year in the early 2000s as their repertoire expanded. A prime example of the festival’s impact is Baltimore-based band All Time Low, who played a small stage at Warped back in 2007. Shortly after, the band released their second studio album So Wrong, It’s Right, which caught a wave of fans and charted number 6 on the Independent Albums chart in the US. The band went on to headline the festival in the following years, even topping the lineup list for this year’s fest.
The festival always had punk rock at heart, but shed some light on other genres, hosting Limp Bizkit in 1997, the Black Eyed Peas in 1999, and Katy Perry in 2008. The festival organizers adapted to the evolving popular music scene while remaining true to their roots, and the massive following that ensued placed Warped Tour as the largest traveling music festival in the United States.
2 – There’s nothing quite like the Warped Tour experience.
Walking around the grounds of the fest is a treat alone. The outcasts of the everyday find sanctuary in a crowd of like-minded cohorts at Warped Tour. Goths, skaters, and punks alike flock to the stages to dance, mosh, or whatever feels right for them. This space is theirs and free of judgement, which fosters a unique and enticing crowd experience for a first-timer. The festival takes great pride in activism, drawing attention to important causes as well, from suicide prevention to breast cancer awareness. Patrons who donate to these causes can get special interactions with artists and receive signed gear, only to further awareness among the festival. You can even get express entry to this year’s fest by donating three cans of food or $5 to Feed Our Children NOW.
Music education also plays a key role in the festival, with free lessons often offered to concert-goers. In past years, the John Lennon Bus has also set up shop at the fest, which holds a mini studio for younger attendees to interact with music in a reclusive setting. When attendees need a break from the scores of performances scheduled for the day, there are so many experiences to take in, and you’ll never know what (or even who!) you might find around the festival grounds.
A bittersweet heaviness will follow each attendee at the festival’s last return this summer, but the nostalgic lineup and all-encompassing experience will be sure to bring great enthusiasm in honor of a successful 23-year run. Be sure to get your tickets for this weekend’s festivities and the tour’s future stops on the Vans Warped Tour site. The remaining dates can be found there as well in case you’re beyond the tri-state area. For the full artist lineup and more info, head to the Vans Warped Tour artist page and info page, and be sure to follow the latest happenings on Facebook. We’ll see you on tour!
Now that we’re settling into summer, festivalgoers are looking forward to this year’s Peach Music Festival in Scranton, PA. Peach has become a favorite in the jam scene due to its always killer lineup and ability to coax incredible sets of music out of our favorite bands. The beloved festival is happening a little earlier than years past, kicking off next Thursday, July 19 rather than its typical early August dates.
This year’s Peach features a few special sets that fans won’t want to miss, namely one of Gov’t Mule’s rare “Dark Side of the Mule” sets, honoring Pink Floyd’s great album, moe.’s tribute set to Little Feat’s beloved live album Waiting for Columbus, and Cabinet’s only 2018 performance. The usual suspects will also have headlining sets this year, such as the big hitters like Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (who have 2 sets!), Umphrey’s McGee and moe., with the addition of Phil Lesh & the Terrapin Family Band and Dickey Betts.
The main stage features more than the sets mentioned previously, such as blues rock group The Marcus King Band, the horn-centered Funky Dawgz Brass Band, a duo set from Jackie Greene and Anders Osborne, and the Devon Allman Project, ft. Duane Betts. One of the more interesting acts on the Peach Stage are The Revivalists, an alternative rock group from New Orleans that put forth energetic live shows and astounding studio albums.
Some of the smaller national touring acts are also featured on this year’s lineup, such as The Magic Beans, a space funk quartet based out of Denver, CO, Turkuaz, the always groovy funk band from Brooklyn, NY, and Spafford, a genre-bending band that only use two words to represent themselves: We jam. Guitar prodigy Brandon “Taz” Niederauer and his band will also have a set performing some Taz’s original music and the unconventional LA-based organ trio Organ Freeman will be bringing their funk and jazz stylings to Scranton.
The grounds will have lots of amenities to aid attendees in having the best possible experience, such as refillable water stations, phone charging stations, ATMs, medical stations, and more! Montage also offers a full water park, available to anyone attending the festival. Peach’s Mushroom Stage is located in this water park, where attendees can watch on from the wave pool or enjoy many of the other aquatic attractions the park has to offer. People will want to check out Buffalo’s own Aqueous, Big Something and Tom Hamilton & Holly Bowling’s new group Ghost Light’s sets here.
Those who bought VIP passes will be treated to a couple of exclusive sets each day, namely solo sets from Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee and Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle on Friday, Pap & Po, a duo set from Pappy & JP Biondo of Cabinet, a special 45 minute set from Ghost Light on Saturday and, finally, a duo set from Oteil Burbridge of Dead & Company and Scott Metzger of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead on Sunday. All of these sets will take place on the Grove Stage. Fans should also check out Grahame Lesh’s soulful group Midnight North and Hayley Jane and the Primates at the Grove.
Check out the daily lineup above or create your own personalized schedule through The Peach Music Festival app, which can remind you when your favorite bands are about to start and let you know of any important updates. Keep watch for more of NYSMusic’s coverage of this year’s Peach Music Festival.
Circles Around The Sun just announced five East Coast shows in August to support their upcoming double album, Let It Wander, available Aug. 17 on Rhino Records. The run begins in Asbury Park, NJ, followed by dates in Brooklyn, Ardmore, PA and Burlington, VT before concluding at Huichica East Festival in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Photo courtesy of Circles Around The Sun’s press release.
Circles Around the Sun (CATS) was originally only supposed to record a handful of Grateful Dead-influenced instrumentals to be played during the set breaks at the Dead’s “Fare Thee Well” concerts in 2015. But between the positive response to the tracks and the band’s enjoyment in making music together they decided to keep the band going.
Their new album, Let It Wander, is a new beginning for the band as they move beyond their original music which was trying to evoke the spirit of the Dead and allows them to fully embrace their own personality. The album’s first single is called “Immovable Object” and shows just how the band in moving away from their Dead inspired sound to music with filled with musical turns leaving the listener not knowing what to expect next.
Among the album’s highlights is “One For Chuck,” which features a surprise cameo by Chuck D himself. The leader of legendary hip-hop pioneers Public Enemy just happened to stop by the studio while the band was listening to a song they’d just recorded and ended up creating an intro for the track.
The band is comprised of guitarist Neal Casal and keyboardist Adam MacDougall (bandmates in the Chris Robinson Brotherhood) along with bassist Dan Horne (Jonathan Wilson, Grateful Shred) and drummer Mark Levy (We Dream Dawn, Bonfire Dub). Let It Wander will be released on limited edition vinyl, CD and digital formats. Pre-Order is available now.
For more information on Circles Around The Sun visit their website.
John Lydon’s Public Image Ltd. has been celebrating its 40th anniversary throughout 2018. Dates throughout Europe and Japan have dotted the band’s itinerary the early part of the year and now, beginning in October, the tour comes to North America.
The Public Image is Rotten tour kicks off in New Orleans on Oct. 9 and makes its way to Asbury Park and Brooklyn on Oct. 13 and 15. Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday, July 13 at 10:00 a.m. local time. PiL is also touring in support of a documentary with the same title as the tour, which will see its theatrical premiere at the Metrograph in New York on Sept. 14.
The band is also set to release a career-spanning box set on July 20, titled The Public Image is Rotten (Songs From the Heart). The expansive box set will be available as five-CD/two-DVD, six-LP and in digital formats. It will include radio sessions, B-sides, remixes as well as the PiL Singles Collection (1978-2015). Also included is a complete live performance from New York’s Ritz from July 16, 1989.
The DVDs include PiL performances on the BBC shows Old Grey Whistle Test and Top of the Pops, two complete live shows from Estonia in 1988 and Sydney, Australia in 2013 and various promo and music videos.
For more 40th anniversary PiL info, visit the band’s official website here.
Public Image Ltd. 2018 Tour Dates:
Oct. 9 – The Civic Theatre – New Orleans, LA
Oct. 10 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
Oct. 12 – Black Cat – Washington, DC
Oct. 13 – Asbury Lanes – Asbury Park, NJ Oct. 15 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY
Oct. 16 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
Oct. 18 – Club Soda – Montreal, QC
Oct. 19 – Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON
Oct. 21 – The Majestic – Detroit, MI
Oct. 22 – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL
Oct. 24 – Granada Theatre – Dallas, TX
Oct. 25 – The Mohawk – Austin, TX
Oct. 28 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
Oct. 29 – Showbox – Seattle, WA
Oct. 31 – The Chapel – San Francisco, CA
Nov. 1 – The Chapel – San Francisco, CA
Nov. 3 – El Rey – Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 6 – Pepsi Centre – Mexico City, MX
The first ‘Bite’ sinks raw into your gums, perking your ears with sound. Harsh Armadillo and their latest four-track EP release is uninviting to the easy-listener. Regardless, you delve in for seconds and it becomes clear- there is no turning back. It’s “quick, punchy and powerful,” said vocalist Andrea Belaidi.
Bite hooks your lip and reels you deep into the 24-minute storyline of Harsh Armadillo on the rise.
Since their inception in 2013, the New Hampshire based ensemble is out for blood. Harsh Armadillo debuted their first full-length album Thayer It Is in 2014 and quickly began to draw crowds of 700 or more. Harsh Armadillo was named New England Music Awards’ Best Band in NH (2017) and has shared the stage with bands like The Nth Power, Kung Fu, Twiddle, After Funk and Kat Wright.
The seven-piece is equipped with keyboards, synth and organs, saxophone, trumpet, guitars and drums making their soundscape endless. R&B, funk and soul roots create a whirlwind of driving dance grooves that are paired with slow feel-good vocals and melodic leads throughout the EP.
Bite was recorded at Iron Wax Studio in Erving, MA with Alan Evans of Soulive. “Working in Alan’s studio was like getting catapulted through a black hole and emerging with no pants or conception of time,” siad Max Harris (saxophone, vocals). Harsh Armadillo looks up to artists like Evans which made the four day recording endeavor energetic and natural for the band. “It was just wild seeing how Alan did his thing,” said bassist Thomas Forbes.
“The EP all works together in sequence. These songs are comprised of bits and pieces that make it different,” said Max. The band recorded the album together – all in one room, whereas it is typical for bands to record each part layered independently. “The intention was for it to be a cohesive unit. There’s something about proximity,” that makes it all flow, said Max. “We learned that it was okay to have bleed into the drum parts.”
“Gravy” starts the EP off smooth, building in volume, before the drums and horns crash in unison. The groove is sharp and interrupts with syncopated off-the-beat phrases. Male and female vocals, funky guitar licks and changing drum and bass grooves drag your head from left to right with your feet. The feel livens up in the bridge with syncopated snare, contrasting horn pads and rolling bass fills. Soon you timehop, fired-up for the hot saxophone solo in “Two Wishes and a Truth.” When playing these songs “we want someone like ‘Sput’ from Ghost Note (one of our idols) to turn around and say: What was that?,”added Forbes.
The new songs are all about pushing the envelope. Spoken-word rap in “Animal” contrasted by Dmitrys’ synth leads expand your mind. When the band digs through the bridge they become unstoppable, in full break dancing force. Songs like “Live Action” are amped up and refreshing from the laid back push-and-pull of the rhythm section. It drives hard, so you better hang on.
Guitarist Camden Riley felt that the EP is “one tiny seed planted; It is a landmark of how we are as a unit [at this moment in time].” According to the band’s press release, “The EP is about biting hard into life and being the most unapologetic version of yourself possible. A lot of the songs have this swaggy feel that everyone’s frothing over these days. I think Questlove calls it drunk drums. Either way it’s an addiction. It takes a team to get this feel.”
Harsh Armadillo is cueing up for the second EP release of the series within the next few weeks. Evolving with the changing times of the music industry Max Harris felt “You can’t put an album out every two years and still be relevant.” Harsh Armadillo’s second release “Blame Bad Habits” was exactly that – two years in the making, which became boring by the time it was ready to drop. Thus, the ensemble is ‘keeping it loose’ as they move forward not only as a band, but moreover as a tight-knit collaboration of friends.
For those wondering about the ‘moldy basement’ – it’s Dmitrys’, the bands keyboard player. “It [actually] is moldy,” added Dan [the band laughs]. To this day, Harsh Armadillo continues to practice in the same stinky rehearsal space where they were founded. “That’s where the fun comes in.” It allows Harsh Armadillo to sound raw, capturing a live feel effortlessly on Bite. “An idea sparks the song…and then we start arguing in the most exciting sense of the word. The idea is growth – to push the bar one-hundred percent.”
“Stay Harsh, Dan.”
Key Tracks:
“Gravy” is one thick serving of horns, backed by ‘2’ and ‘4’ on the snare. It cuts right to the groove and sucks you into the song. Tight melodic hits occur when you least expect it and the drums continue to push and pull you in time. Andrea’s smooth vocals, add the right amount of soul, half way through the track.
The EP would not be complete without “Live Action.” As their press release describes, “It tracks the speed of the missile and shoots just enough in front of it to hit it.” With lightning speed it is too energetic to soak up the funk from each instrument. Guitars take the spotlight early on with hot, up-beat rhythm and a blazing guitar solo within the first minute of listening. It is ever-changing. “Live Action,” is all Harsh’s best ideas morphed into one; from funk to a jam band with heavy synth-lead, to soulful vocals and back around again.
Frends from around the globe converged on Mt. Ellen this past weekend for the Frendly Gathering 2018. The three-day event proved that the event’s foundation of music, camping, community and sustainability are viable cornerstones to a successful weekend. Music started with a Frendly Gathering pre-party on Thursday June 28. In perfect syncopation, the weekend concluded just as new laws legalizing recreational marijuana in Vermont took effect.
Despite minor rain showers as Frends arrived on Thursday afternoon, mother nature cooperated just as music started later in the evening. The beautiful blue skies continued throughout the weekend and the green mountains of Vermont served as the perfect backdrop to a weekend of thoughtful music, community and frendship.
Major highlights to the weekend included the events main headliners. Thursday night, Twiddle frontman Mihali Savoulidis joined Nakho Bear for a rare Mihali & Nahko set. The duo highlighted not only a variety of their own solo music, but also played a variety of cover tunes.
Savoulidis joined his Twiddle band mates on Friday evening where frends were treated to a two-hour set from the Vermont quartet. Most of the weekend attendees agree that while they missed multiple sets from Twiddle, the Frendly Gathering staple was still their weekend favorite. Andrew Chaney from Willsboro NY, who attended his third Frendly Gathering this year told NYS Music that Twiddle is always his favorite band to see with his frends. “The lyrics consume your mind, while the instruments consume your soul.”
For many attendees, it was Friday night’s Nahko and Medicine for the People set at the Pacificio Stage that highlighted their weekend. “There is something cleansing about Nahko’s music” said New Haven, CT native Jon Carlisle, “It’s the kind of music that makes you want to go out and put good into the world. And we need more of that in the world right now.”
On Friday evening, the Burton stage played host to both Kamasi Washington and Kat Wright, who both delighted frends with powerful and soulful sets.
On Saturday, bluegrass reigned supreme as both the Devil Makes Three and Greensky Bluegrass packed the Pacifico Main Stage. Just before midnight, Greensky Bluegrass Savoulidis joined the band for a cover of J.J. Cale’s “After Midnight” and Peter Tosh’s “Legalize It” in celebration of Vermont’s changing marijuana laws. Jamtronica fans enjoyed a powerhouse evening set from Emancipator while jam fans gathered early on Saturday evening for Spafford.
The weekend was highlighted by Frendly favorites Upstate (formerly Upstate Rubdown). The Hudson Valley based Appalachian soul powerhouse delighted fans with two sets as well as a pop-up set in the Martin Guitar dome. First year attendee Shane Smith from Manchester, New Hampshire was blow away by the band’s performance “Not just their music but their whole stage presence for both of their sets was perfect, “ he told NYS Music, “and wow can those girls sing!”
Throughout the weekend, several other artists garnered praise from those in attendance. Houston based Gulf soul outfit The Suffers weathered the heat Saturday afternoon with an even hotter set of rich, powerful tunes that pierced throughout the mountain side. “We didn’t make it to the main stage because we just wanted to stay under the shade at our camp, but we could hear The Suffers clear as day back at camp,” noted Alyssa Monarch, a first time Frendly attendee from Rochester, NY. “Their music was so powerful and the vocals so heartfelt, it didn’t matter where we heard it from because it just filled our entire crew with joy.”
Boston based electrofunk quartet Strange Machines kicked off Friday’s Burton stage with a high energy set. On Friday afternoon, Satsung drew a huge crowd, despite toasty mid-day temperatures. Other weekend notables included singer songwriter Kevin Morby and Canadian based indie folk group The Relative.
Beyond the music, the true star of the weekend was the Frendly Gathering’s volunteer team, most notably their massive sustainability crew. Upon arrival, campers were offered colored trash bags to ensure ease of sorting. Volunteers wearing bright pink shirts marked “Frendly Crew” maintained the festival grounds all weekend long as they worked in pairs not only picking up trash, but also keeping labeled trash cans properly sorted. According to Smith, these efforts help encourage him to also be a part of the clean-up process. “The volunteers I saw did an amazing job keeping the place clean,” he praised. “It made me happy and motivated to keep my site clean, too.”
The festival’s commitment to sustainability shined with Kleen Kanteen providing cold, filtered water for attendees. Food vendors provided quality food with little to no waste product. “Too many festivals offer basically only fried food,” said Smith, “but this place had a very good food selection and mostly healthy as well!” To help combat the heat, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream offered free samples throughout the weekend.
The Frendly Gathering also showcased a variety of vendors, crafts, workshops and products. Twiddle fan funded 501c3 the White LIght Foundation was on site raising money for two local charities, Vermont Family Forest and LoveYourBrain.
As the weekend concluded, many frends noted that it’s the festival’s pillars of music, community, camping and sustainability that makes Frendly Gathering more than just a typical event. “Bigger festivals can be so overwhelming, and you leave feeling like you’ve really left a footprint”, noted Monarch. “I appreciate the fact that the organizers, volunteers and frends understand that sometimes, it should just be quality over quantity. It makes you feel warm to be a part of it.”
Berkshires resident and world-loved music legend James Taylor crooned to a sold-out crowd at Tanglewood July 3, the first night of his traditional two nights at the rural venue near his summer home. The crowd filled every inch of the manicured lawn with blankets, tables, chairs and fine dining accessories, clearly reflecting that this wasn’t the first JT concert attended by most fans. Inside seats were filled as the crowd sat in high humidity and heat, waiting with anticipation for the first set.
James Taylor was the first artist to set foot on the stage a little after 8:00, and he was met by cheering fans who quickly forgave the brief tardiness. The 70-year-old star appeared in his long pants, dress shirt and cap, and after brief waves, he slung his guitar over his shoulder as he sang “Carolina on My Mind.”
Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert
Taylor transitioned through both well-known pieces and some lesser-known songs in the first set. The light show, coordinated with the chorus and highlights of “Country Road,” seemed intent to remind the audience that they are indeed at a rock concert, not a folk concert.
It would be a bumpy first set, though, marked by amp problems, some pacing issues, and low energy from artist and crowd alike. At one point after “Frozen Man,” seasoned Taylor matched the key of the reverb from the amp and joked, “Do we have any songs in that key?” Using humor and his incredibly flexible vocals, Taylor kept the crowd engaged through some slower moments. He introduced band members throughout the first set, and indeed the band members, including 2 percussionists, a trumpet player, flute and saxophone player, three backup singers, pianist, fiddle and of course the customary guitar and bass, are an all-star band. Taylor turned to look at each artist as he or she performed, and genuinely reflected an appreciation for sharing the music with the artists.
Folksy and dancing little jigs, Taylor covered “(I’m a) Road Runner” and danced around the stage. This seemed to wake the audience back up, but there was a bit wrong with the rhythm section and the band seemed off the pace with one another. “Copperline” saved the set, though, with Taylor’s infallible voice finding its vertical pitches with beautiful ease. They rolled into “Handyman” and “Mexico,” bringing the crowd to it’s feet.
Before breaking for intermission, Taylor looked at the setlist and joked with the audience, pacing them for the twenty-minute break and promising “a lot of hits” in the second set. In between, he was on stage, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.
The second set delivered on the hits, and more than compensated for any troubling moments from earlier in the night. Fans sang along to the most famous James Taylor tunes, swaying in the heat to “Something in the Way She Moves.” Taylor impossibly made himself even more human and relatable with a song about his dog, Sunny, and shared adorable pictures of the pug. Each song in the second set related to the human experience: loving someone, losing someone, having a dog, being a friend.
Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert
And that’s really why people go to see James Taylor – the articulation of their own very human experience. We go to be reminded that we aren’t alone in these hard emotions, and in fact everyone struggles with sadness, joy, and how to show love. “Shower the People You Love” brought the crowd to its feet, singing along and encouraging folks to do just that – show the love to those around you.
From “Sunny Skies” and “Walking Man,”the set transitioned to the faster, more intense rock feel of “Steam Roller.” Playing on a baby blue electric guitar, Taylor’s only electric guitar song featured some impressive riffs by the pianist, bassist, and sax players. Taylor waved his cap over the instruments, and jumped on one leg like an old time rock star, bringing gasps of joy and screams of love from the audience.
Filled with folks who had traveled long distances to get to Tanglewood, the crowd talked to each other with civility, gentleness, and a genuine interest in one another in the shed. Couples surrounding this reviewer came from New Haven, Rochester, and even Philadelphia. It had become an annual pilgrimage for many of them. When asked why the same smile crossed their lips, heads shook a bit in disbelief, and no one could really articulate a specific reason beyond loving the music. But with the encore of “You’ve Got a Friend,” fans were truly speaking their hearts. James Taylor is their friend, their company in easy and hard times alike.
Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert
During this time of low civility, isolation, and sad news of disparities in our country, the concert offered a quaint respite in songs lending empathy, kindness, and intelligence. As long as he’s performing at Tanglewood, clearly James Taylor has thousands of friends overjoyed to have him – and each other – on this American holiday weekend.
Setlist
Set One: Carolina in My Mind, Country Road, The Frozen Man, Never Die Young, Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Road Runner, Nothing Like a Hundred Miles, Raised Up Family, Copperline, Handyman, Mexico
Set Two: Something in the Way She Moves, Sunny Skies, Walking Man, Up on the Roof, Steamroller, Sweet Baby James, Fire and Rain, Your Smiling Face, Shower the People, How Sweet it Is
Encore: Shed a Little Light, In the Midnight Hour, You’ve Got a Friend
