|
SATURDAY
Saturday at Smilefest, and life is good. The beautiful thing about festivals is that once you're there, it's almost impossible to accomplish anything important in the real world outside. All that's left to do is enjoy yourself, see great music, talk to friendly people, and debate whether it's appropriate to eat garlic grilled cheese and ice cream for breakfast (short answer: yes). The music got rolling with the bluegrass sounds of Arnie Solomon, the reggae reverence of Dubconscious, and the Celtic alchemy of Furnace Mountain.
Loop unveiled a set of electronic-flavored funk with sultry female vocals, welcoming Cadillac Jones' Robbin Rahman on sax for the set-closing "Security." Barbara Martin's jazzy folk-blues led into a stunning set by bluegrass virtuosos Mike Marshall and Darol Anger. Mandolin and fiddle intermingled with elegance and aplomb as they delivered one of the most beautiful and dignified sets of the weekend.
Cadillac Jones was the undisputed surprise sleeper hit of the festival. Wearing matching red jumpsuits, they delivered a firestorm of pure-ass '70s porn-funk, gritty and meaty and good for your soul, guaranteed to scare your grandma. These guys are the real deal, cranking out an energy level equal to the orange sunshine basking down on the crowd. Pounding through songs including "Friend or Foe" and "Galaxy Galore," they made instant converts of everyone lucky enough to catch their set.
Antibalas Smilefest 2004
By Todd E. Gaul |
Singer/songwriter Leslie Helpert was up next, followed by the dance ambassadors and groove brigade of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. Picking up the gauntlet left by Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti these Brooklyn natives sport a lineup over a dozen strong. They unfurl thick grooves accented with horns and percussion that keep the crowd shuffling in their boots throughout the set. Focusing on long songs and deep percussive movements, they're leading the charge of the Afrobeat revival, inspiring and enticing the next generation of fans.
Fuzz from Deep Banana Blackout was originally scheduled to play Smilefest with his highly-regarded new band Big Fuzz, but had to cancel at the last minute. Filling in was The Bridge, a flavorful young jam band who have been steadily building a buzz throughout North Carolina. The swing-jazz flavored retro-grass of The Waybacks followed, featuring their beautiful vocals and lightning-fast riffs on songs such as "Monkey Pants," "Compadres on the Sierra Madres," and even a run through the Grateful Dead's "Cumberland Blues."
Acoustic Syndicate followed with a fiery set of modern newgrass which included their upcoming new album in its entirety. Guitar, banjo, and saxophone came together with intense inspiration as the North Carolina natives proved once again why they're considered one of the top acoustic acts touring these days. The organic electronica of Lotus blossomed over the eager crowd who absorbed the crushing depths of their trance-like energy and reflected it back towards the young troubadours in a two-way tractor beam of vitality and vigor.
Wasserman with Sanjay Mishra :: Smilefest 2004
By Joey South |
Up next was one of the most anticipated and unusual sets of the weekend. Indian guitarist Sanjay Mishra is perhaps best known in jam circles for his mid-'90s album Blue Incantation, which featured one of the last recorded performances by Jerry Garcia. Bassist Rob Wasserman has performed with Bob Weir and RatDog for years, and continues to appear in all manner of jam sessions and supergroups around the country. They were joined by a percussionist for one of the most sublime, peaceful, and musically intricate sets of the festival. Playing under a huge tree in the afternoon sunshine, the setting couldn't have been more perfect for their other-worldly blend of cultures and styles. The syncopation went up another two notches when Mike Marshall and Darol Anger dropped by for a large portion of the show, adding mandolin and fiddle to a now-overflowing musical palette. As so many artists did over the weekend, they paid tribute to the founding concepts of Smilefest with a set-closing take on the Grateful Dead's eternal paean "Ripple."
Tony Rice Unit :: Smilefest 2004
By Joey South |
The Tony Rice Unit revved things back up to full speed with their intense take on bluegrass new and old. Darol Anger sat in for the entire set, adding yet another voice to the mass of masterful musicians. Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and the traditional "Red Haired Boy" joined their originals as these musical magicians conspired to delight. Perpetual Groove is another of the Southeast's hottest young jam acts, bursting out of Savanna, GA with a high-energy electronic-flavored rock extravaganza. Guitarist Brock Butler pleads and dances with each note as they form a solid foundation from which to launch into their epic adventures. Songs such as "Robot Waltz," "Sundog," and "Crockett and Tubbs" helped anchor a set full of transcendent waves and thick sounds.
Jeff Austin of YMSB
By Willa Stein |
The Latin jazz flavorings of Braco led into the relentlessly upbeat bluegrass renderings of Yonder Mountain String Band. These newgrass superheroes welcomed Darol Anger (who must've been exhausted by now) to their ranks for the entire show, adding yet another amazing aspect to their hot-blooded stage show. (I secretly fear that Foreigner ruined the phrase "hot-blooded" for all time.) Their cover of The Rolling Stones' country-blues classic "No Expectations" provided a particularly poignant moment.
The Americana rock of the Jaimee Tomas Band led into one of the hottest sets of the weekend by guitarist Steve "Big Daddy" McMurry of Acoustic Syndicate. Playing under the moniker Big Daddy Bluegrass Band, he was joined by Larry and Jenny Keel, Curtis Burch, and Billy Constable from the Klezmer-jam group Hypnotic Clambake on banjo. They scorched the earth, razing through "Hillbilly Hot Tub," "Kind Veggie Burrito," and even a cover of Dire Straits' "Water of Love." The band grew to new heights towards the end of the set, as they were joined by Jeff Austin from Yonder Mountain String Band on mandolin and Chojo Jaques from The Waybacks on fiddle.
Galactic :: Smilefest 2004
By Todd E. Gaul |
The energy level was already in the red when we all took a serious left turn into the massive valleys and concentrated reggae thump of Burning Spear. The crowd was erupting in cheers throughout the set by this roots reggae legend, as his band pulsated along to his soulful vocals and heartfelt percussion. The swampy blues of the Laura Blackley Band were followed by the indefatigable funky barrage of Galactic. Running through almost two dozen songs, they offered up a huge set of Saturday night potion. Singer Latrice Barnett howled and wailed through a supercharged cover of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," as the band made their way through crackling versions of "Funky Bird," "Tiger Roll," and "Shibuya."
Garaj Mahal with Tanya Shylock
By Todd E. Gaul |
There remained only one band left to play at Smilefest 2004, and they were prepared to go the distance. Garaj Mahal walked onto the Homegrown Stage and didn't leave until the sun was shining on Sunday morning. The night grew later as the sky grew lighter, but on they jammed. Tanya Shylock from Mountain of Venus joined on extended guest vocal duties as they kicked, laughed, shimmied and boogied all through the night. The band ran through classics such as "Massive" and "Gulam Sabri" and welcomed drummer Jakubu Griffin onboard for "Uptown Tipitina's." Around quarter to six in the morning, guitarist Fareed Haque explained to the crowd that since they had played this long, bassist Kai Eckhardt wanted to keep going till first light. With that proclamation, they blasted into the tightest, fastest, most intense half hour of their entire set, including a run through Marvin Gaye's "Mercy, Mercy Me," finally wrapping things up around 6:15 in the morning.
As first light appeared on Sunday morning, Smilefest 2004 had come to a close, wrapping up ten years of celebration in the sunshine, ten years of amazing music and smiling faces, ten years of an ever-growing spiritual vision taking root in reality. Once again the festival organizers stressed out day and night to create an environment where the rest of us could relax. (As a tribute to their hard work, some fans made a point to relax as hard as they possibly could.) With each passing year, the music seems to get better, the faces friendlier, and the Smilefest spirit grips a few more people. I sincerely hope to be there when it turns 20.
Paul Kerr
JamBase | North Carolina
Go See Live Music!
|
