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The Infamous Stringdusters played the Abbey Bar at the Appalachian Brewing Company in Harrisburg, PA on 10-27-2009.

The Infamous Stringdusters play traditional bluegrass and are a six piece bluegrass band featuring: Andy Hall  on Dobro, Andy Falco on guitar, Chris Pandolfi on banjo, Jeremy Garrett on violin, Jesse Cobb on mandolin, and Travis Book on the upright bass. They are all accomplished musicians which lead to many foot-stomping and beer swilling choruses as well as inspiring solos and instrumentation during the show.

The band interacts well with the crowd, at one point they joked about how they had played Lancaster a week or so earlier which is only 45 minutes away and it really went well for them and they forgot to tell the audience that night that they would be playing so close again.  Reflecting back on that they said, “Kind of a big oversight huh?”.  Sure it would have helped them to advertise it at a previous gig but fortunately bluegrass does pretty well in this venue and a great crowd showed up for this band’s first performance in Harrisburg.

I was not familiar with the band’s material going into the night so I am glad I went because I left a fan.

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Los Straitjackets played the Abbey Bar at the Appalachian Brewing Company in Harrisburg, PA on 08/22/2009.  Round Table Presents brought this spanish speaking surf rock band into the area for a fast and quirky set of music.

There are three things that are immediately apparent (or odd to some) about Los Straitjackets in concert.  First you notice they all dress alike including (oddly enough) Mexican wrestling masks, then you notice their quirky dancing and motions and then the loud barrage of rapid fire spanish speaking after each song.  It would be one thing if these schticks were not supported by their music but the veteran band is extremely serious about what they do and are all very good musicians, it just so happens they have a great sense of humor.  In the world of surf-rock, these guys are right up there with the Dick Dale.

Los Straitjackets rarely stray from instrumental surf-rock music, that is their bread and butter.  The setlist was comprised mostly of Los Straitjacket original songs but included a few cover songs, most notably an amazing version of  ”Sleepwalking”.  Sleepwalking is possibly the most amazing and well known surf song of all time,  the original was performed by Santo and Johnny in the 1959 I believe.

Los Straitjackets were certainly a crowd pleaser.  They run to the front of the stage to play riffs while towering over the audience and they really feed off the crowd’s reaction as well.  Seeing this band in a small packed bar made for yet another amazing night at the Abbey Bar.

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The Allman Brothers Band played the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ on 8-21-2009.  The show was the first show of the co-headlining tour with Widespread Panic.   This tour is a music lover’s dream with many sit-ins dueling out extended improvised solos throughout the night.  It is a rare situation to find so many talented musicians in one venue and collaborating together on a nightly basis.

The night started off great with a high energy set by Widespread Panic which really got me excited about the Allman Brothers Band taking the stage.  All of the sudden, my wind was knocked out of me briefly when a nice lady in the front row asked me, “Will Derek Trucks be here tonight?”   Under the assumption they might have only been there to see Widespread Panic, I replied “Yes, he is IN the Allman Brothers Band”.

Finally the lights dimmed and the Allman Brothers symbol was shown on the video screen and it stated that they were celebrating 40th anniversary as a band and that this tour was dedicated to a brother, Duane Allman.

When the Allman Brothers Band took the stage they wasted no time in getting started off with “Statesboro Blues”.  “Wake up Mamma, turn your lamp down low” could be heard echoing around the amphitheater as the fans sung along to the band on stage.  Statesboro Blues then led into a beautiful “Les Brers In A Minor” which was a great surprise for me. 

One of the early highlights of the setlist was their cover of Elmore James’ “The Sky Is Crying”.  This slow blues number lends ample opportunity for wailing blues solos and gut wrenching vocals and this version was no different.  I typically say that Stevie Ray Vaughan has the award for this song, but hearing the Allman Brothers play it live with such intensity was something I will remember for ever.  The band was on fire and it only got better as the night went on.

While there were no sit-ins for the Widespread Panic set, there were several sit-ins during the Allman Brothers Band set.  John Bell’s vocals on “I Walk On Guilded Splinters” were a great addition, John ‘Jojo’ Herman on keyboards during “The Weight”, and Jimmy Herring’s guitar work on “Dreams” and “One Way Out” were all notable performances this evening.  Jimmy Herring played in the Allman Brothers band for a brief stint in 2000 so he is well versed in their music which often takes Derek and Warren to a higher level of playing for amazing collaborations.

The band closed out with an intense version of “Whipping Post” and the low rumble of Otiel’s bass is the only queue needed to send the audience into a frenzy of sorts.  “Whipping Post” will forever be a quintessential Allman Brothers Band closer for me.  It has an iconic bass line, classic Gregg Allman vocals, a rambling guitar riff at the beginning and of course soaring guitar solos that  melt the summer sky.

This is a tour that should not be missed.  The talent and the friendships between Widespread Panic and the Allman Brothers Band allow the two bands to work together and create amazing music together on a nightly basis.  I cannot think of a better way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Allman Brothers Band or a better way to Duane Allman’s music than this summer tour, other than the Beacon Theater residency earlier this year of course.

The setlist for the night was as follows:
Statesboro Blues
Les Brers In A Minor
Come And Go Blues
The Sky Is Crying
Don’t Keep Me Wondering
I Walk On Guilded Splinters*
Trouble No More
Good Morning Little School Girl**
Revival***
The Weight***
Dreams****
One Way Out*****

Encore:
Whipping Post

* with John Bell on guitar, Domingo Ortiz on percussion
** with John ‘Jojo’ Herman on keyboards, James Van De Bogert on percussion
*** with John ‘Jojo’ Herman on keyboards
**** with Jimmy Herring on guitar, James Van De Bogert on percussion
***** with Jimmy Herring on guitar

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Widespread Panic played the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ on 8-21-2009.  The show was the first show of the co-headlining tour with the Allman Brothers Band. For this show, Widespread Panic opened the show and the Allman Brothers Band was the headliner.  This tour is a music lover’s dream with many sit-ins dueling out extended improvised solos throughout the night.  It is a rare situation to find so many talented musicians in one venue and collaborating together on a nightly basis.

Widespread Panic played a very energetic set to open up the show kicking it all off with Little Kin.   Dave Schools’ slap/ pop bass playing along with Domingo Ortiz’s and James Van De Bogert’s percussion got the people on their feet and dancing immediately.  This triumvirate of rhythm and bass in this band gets things moving faster than fuel running through an engine.

This was the first show of the tour so John Bell’s gravelly vocals were clear and smooth sounding (especially on the band’s most recent single, the smooth sounding “Up All Night) and John JoJo Herman’s Keys laid a nice landscape backdrop for each song and shining when called on to solo.  Both guys sounded refreshed and happy to be back out on the road playing for their fans.

With Jimmy Herring now in the group playing guitar Widespread Panic is now revived and is in full force.  Jimmy’s ability to not just play notes fast but to be able to improvise a coherent solo that has a beginning, middle, and end is an amazing thing to witness in a deep jam.  I spent a lot of time watching his fingers fly around the fret board up on the jumbo screen in disbelief and awe.  In a live setting, this guy plays more jaw dropping guitar lines in one song than most do in a career.

As the night went on the band got tighter, and just when you thought the band had to have peaked, they nailed a crushing “Diner” segued into “Space Wrangler” to keep the fans going.  They left the stage on a high note when they played “Tall Boy” and “Climb To Safety”.

We got to see several of the Widespread Panic members guest on stage during the Allman Brothers band set.  Although many of the Allman Brothers Band fans were slow to fill in the seats in time for the beginning of Widespread Panic I think many of them were very impressed with the energy and flow of Widespread Panic’s set.  Photos from the Allman Brother’s set will be posted next so keep your eye out for them.

The setlist for the night was:
Little Kin
Radio Child
Up All Night
Can’t Get High
Fishwater
Christmas Katie
Travelin’ Light
Diner
Space Wrangler
Blackout Blues
Junior
You Should Be Glad
Tall Boy
Climb To Safety

Click here to see the photos.

Derek Trucks Band played the Philadelphia Folk Festival in Schwenksville, PA. The festival was a three day music festival featuring a variety of musical performers in a beautiful countryside setting.

The intense rain from the week prior took its toll on many vehicles by eating them alive in the mud.  Walking through the parking lot it was normal to see vehicles with mud up to the axles because the tires had sunk. Unlike the parking areas, the festival grounds were in great shape and the atmosphere was awesome.  Maybe it was because a lot of people were tired from camping all weekend but everyone was laid back and really nice.

By the time Derek Trucks Band came on stage the audience and anticipation had grown to a new high. From the opening notes of the extra soulful version of “Sweet Inspiration” to the last notes of the night the audience was intently watching and listening to the band’s impressive musicianship.

The dark outdoor setting with a glow from the stage and a set of music which seemed extra bluesy and soulful made this a great night.  I think the band really played off the laid back atmosphere of the festival which got them in the groove early on and the audience carried them on the rest of the set.  Another special reason that the spirits were high with the band is that it took place on Todd Smallie’s birthday.   All these things put together made this an extraordinary set of music that I will remember forever.

“Key to the Highway” was my personal favorite for the night; not only because it had been a while since I have heard them play it but also because it extended for about 7 minutes and featured amazing intense and slung out grooved blues guitar playing by Derek as well as some incredible keyboard playing by Kofi.

“Sweet Inspiration” was not far behind though.  It was about as perfect of a version of the song as I have heard thus far.  The song has great highs and lows and

From the soulful “Sweet inspiration”, motown “We’re A Winner”, jazzy “My Favorite Things”, bluesy “Key To The Highway”, and the funkiness of “Leavin Trunk” there was certainly enough variety for everyone to enjoy at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

A live recording is available for download or stream at the Live Music Archive.  Thank your local concert tapers for making shows available to everyone.

The setlist for the night was as follows:
Sweet Inspiration
Get What You Deserve
I Know
Mahjoun
Key To The Highway
Sailing On
I Done Got Over It
This Sky
Leaving Trunk
My Favorite Things
Meet Me At The Bottom
We’re A Winner

Click here to see the photos.

Langhorne Slim played the Philadelphia Folk Festival in Schwenksville, PA. The festival was a three day music festival featuring a variety of musical performers in a beautiful countryside setting.

The intense rain from the week prior took its toll on many vehicles by eating them alive in the mud.  Walking through the parking lot it was normal to see vehicles with mud up to the axles because the tires had sunk. Unlike the parking areas, the festival grounds were in great shape and the atmosphere was awesome.  Maybe it was because a lot of people were tired from camping all weekend but everyone was laid back and really nice.

Following The Del McCoury Band, Langhorne Slim took the stage with a small time slot on the main stage and mentioned how honored he was to be on the stage after The Del McCoury Band.  A little folk, a little garage rock, and a little White Stripes, Lanhorne Slim was a stark contrast to preceding the band.

Langhorne one stage is like a kid in a candy store and he has the determined look n his eye like he is going to get what he wants, and on the stage that is attention.  He mentioned that his short time slot only allowed him 25 minutes to blow the audience away.  It was a little sarcastic but from the response he got at the end of his set, he was not too far off from his goal.  After their performance I heard many people talking about how much he enjoyed his set.

Langhorne took the name of his hometown Langhorne, PA which is nearby so this was a hometown show for him.  They are a three piece band with guitar, upright bass, and drums.  If you like folky garage rock than check out Langhorne Slim, his newest single “Say Yeah” has become a staple on WXPN in Philadelphia.