Gathering Of The Vibes

Added to music I've seen are the following bands, all at Gathering of the Vibes: Sea Side Park - Bridgeport, CT:
Keller Williams and Moseley, Droll & Sipe
George Clinton and P-Funk
Deep Banana Blackout
moe.
Moonalice
Assembly of Dust
Max Creek
The Levon Helm Band
Bob Weir and Ratdog


This was an awesome time...It was my first festival and it was everything I expected and some things I didn't. It was hot in Bridgeport, people were family in a respect, and everyone enjoyed themselves fairly well. All of this I expected. I did not expect that moe. would only play for 20 minutes, but a ridiculous thunderstorm made it a necessity. But expectations usually get shattered at shows. I got there just in time for the last couple of Keller Williams songs and he didn't dissapoint, but I was sad to miss most of the set. Damn traffic! The Vibes dance that he did was priceless as Keller's dancing always is, and his backing band (Moseley, Droll & Sipe ) was fantastic as well.

George Clinton and P-funk was good but not great, I can see their appeal but it just didn't grip me as well as the other bands did. I caught the last little bit of Deep Banana Blackout and it seemed like they had an all right thing going on as well.

moe. came on and started to establish their groove playing a pretty slow but energetic version of mexico. It was the perfect set-up before they really got into it and then, the rain came. soaking everyone and forcing tarp over the equipment it came down in droves with huge lightning strikes lighting up the sky. I went to bed around 1:15 with no hope of seeing moe. and doubtful that late night performance "Lettuce" would be coming on. I was sadly mistaken.

The next day, Moonalice started us off in the morning with a fantastic set, especially their rendering of Sugaree. I spent a good deal of time surveying vendors, with some beautiful things. and wandered away the day with some good tunes on stage with the likes of Max Creek. I was also not expecting the State Radio show to be canceled and was even more deeply saddened when I found out that it is led by one of the members of Dispatch, a high school favorite of mine. Guster came on and I went back to the tent but caught a bit of it when I went back and on the radio in the shuttle ride. It wasn't really anything special and I felt it was a bit musically bland for a show with so much talent for improvisation and grooviness. But to each their own.

Levon Helm's Band was fantastic, I am a huge fan of "The Band" but it was neat to see what Levon did for his own project. It really showed his true colors in a unique way. Bob Weir came on and did a couple of songs with him which were good as well. Levon had other band members fill in for the singing which was a disappointment but I only hope he's in good health and will give us more good times in the future. Seeing Levon was a huge treat for me as I've been woken up with the band on many many days through my life and have always held their songs dear. Especially good from this set was a version of The Weight.

Bob Weir was good as well although I didn't stay for long as I had a six hour ride home. This also means that I missed Sunday, which is too bad as I'm sure that Buddy Guy and Crosby Stills and Nash put on amazing shows.

Overall, an amazing first festival experience. moe.down here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If anyone finds any tapes of any of the performances, please send them to me or shoot me a link.