JDaniel
06-14-2008, 07:49 AM
I got to catch 3 shows last night before heading home:
Joe Bonamassa
The Carolina Chocolate Drops
Galactic
Joe Bonamassa
This guy is a flat out amazing blues/rock guitarist. It was some of the best live guitar work I've witnessed in a while. Very reminiscent of some of the British Blues/Rock from the 60's (Beck, Clapton etc.). But he also hammered out some Delta Blues as well. Looking back on his performance, he was probably underappreciated at the festival, because they had him in an early time slot (6:15 pm) before the sun went down. The crowd was small.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops
http://www.carolinachocolatedrops.com/
Had it not been for a local radio interview, I would have probably missed this show. And that would have been a mistake. These two guys and gal were the highlight of Friday for me. The Chocolate Drops are a rare band (by their own admission) - an African American String Band. Many of you know my love for twang, bluegrass, and traditional country. A bit of each was performed last night.
They are young (appear to be early 20s). Instruments included a jug (that's right - a real jug band), banjo, guitar, fiddle, kazoo, and spoons (yep spoons). Percussion was provided compliments of two big feet on a wooden floor with a mic close by. An over the neck snare drum was employed on one tune. Their youth and inexperience was evident in their interaction with the crowd, but their traditional Appalachian and negro music (as they called it) was simply fun. People were dancing in the streets to their music. My favorite line of the night was when they were talking about trying to carry on the traditions of Black String music in todays world of rap and hip-hop. They introduced a song that they referred to as "old school rap", then proceeded to play a tune from 1929.
Galactic
My musical skeleton in the closet secret around here is that I do like Jam Bands. So I was really looking forward to some funk and jamming from Galactic. Man, was I ever disappointed. Their first tune was about a 7 minute jam with organ, bass (of course), sax, guitar. It was a great opening song. But then the band introduced rapper Chali 2na, and the rest of the show was pure rap music with a jam band backing him. Only once did they play another funk song while Chali took a break. I stuck it out, but it was painful. And a shame. There are lots of rap and hip-hop acts at the 3 day festival, but only 2 jam bands that I can find.
After that, everybody else was migrating to the stage for Diana Ross at 10 pm. The family and I declined, and called it an early night. Speaking of family, my wife and older kids went to see Sean Kingston while I was at Galactic with my youngest daughter. Kingston gets regular airplay on the local R&B and Hip Hop stations. The wife/kids said his show was great. The kid is 18, and is from Jamaica. He told the crowd he does not use inappropriate language in his music - a choice he's made (and one as a parent I appreciate).
As for a Saturday lineup, I'll be seeing:
Will Hoge
Blind Melon
N. Miss All Stars Hill Country Review
Ingrid Michaelson
Al Green
Buddy Guy
Andrew Bird
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals.
Another review to follow tomorrow.
JD
Joe Bonamassa
The Carolina Chocolate Drops
Galactic
Joe Bonamassa
This guy is a flat out amazing blues/rock guitarist. It was some of the best live guitar work I've witnessed in a while. Very reminiscent of some of the British Blues/Rock from the 60's (Beck, Clapton etc.). But he also hammered out some Delta Blues as well. Looking back on his performance, he was probably underappreciated at the festival, because they had him in an early time slot (6:15 pm) before the sun went down. The crowd was small.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops
http://www.carolinachocolatedrops.com/
Had it not been for a local radio interview, I would have probably missed this show. And that would have been a mistake. These two guys and gal were the highlight of Friday for me. The Chocolate Drops are a rare band (by their own admission) - an African American String Band. Many of you know my love for twang, bluegrass, and traditional country. A bit of each was performed last night.
They are young (appear to be early 20s). Instruments included a jug (that's right - a real jug band), banjo, guitar, fiddle, kazoo, and spoons (yep spoons). Percussion was provided compliments of two big feet on a wooden floor with a mic close by. An over the neck snare drum was employed on one tune. Their youth and inexperience was evident in their interaction with the crowd, but their traditional Appalachian and negro music (as they called it) was simply fun. People were dancing in the streets to their music. My favorite line of the night was when they were talking about trying to carry on the traditions of Black String music in todays world of rap and hip-hop. They introduced a song that they referred to as "old school rap", then proceeded to play a tune from 1929.
Galactic
My musical skeleton in the closet secret around here is that I do like Jam Bands. So I was really looking forward to some funk and jamming from Galactic. Man, was I ever disappointed. Their first tune was about a 7 minute jam with organ, bass (of course), sax, guitar. It was a great opening song. But then the band introduced rapper Chali 2na, and the rest of the show was pure rap music with a jam band backing him. Only once did they play another funk song while Chali took a break. I stuck it out, but it was painful. And a shame. There are lots of rap and hip-hop acts at the 3 day festival, but only 2 jam bands that I can find.
After that, everybody else was migrating to the stage for Diana Ross at 10 pm. The family and I declined, and called it an early night. Speaking of family, my wife and older kids went to see Sean Kingston while I was at Galactic with my youngest daughter. Kingston gets regular airplay on the local R&B and Hip Hop stations. The wife/kids said his show was great. The kid is 18, and is from Jamaica. He told the crowd he does not use inappropriate language in his music - a choice he's made (and one as a parent I appreciate).
As for a Saturday lineup, I'll be seeing:
Will Hoge
Blind Melon
N. Miss All Stars Hill Country Review
Ingrid Michaelson
Al Green
Buddy Guy
Andrew Bird
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals.
Another review to follow tomorrow.
JD