What A Long Strange Creek It’s Been

By Tim O’Shea

Photos by Shaun Seip

There are certain telltale signs of seasonal change in this country depending on where you live.  Some would argue that winter doesn’t really begin until the first snow fall.  Others might say that spring isn’t underway until the first flowers bloom or the first allergy attack ensues.  For music lovers, the opening bell of summer is rung loudly and proudly on Memorial Day Weekend at a number of festivals throughout the country.  One of the more established and endearing ones took place last weekend in Greenfield, MA and it goes by the name of Strange Creek.

Once again, Camp Kee-Wanee, a children’s summer day camp nestled right in the heart of the Berkshires region, played host to this festival that serves as both a celebration of music and an unofficial kick off to summer.  Now in its 12^th year and presented by Wormtown Trading Company, the Strange Creek Campout 2014 edition had some early indications that this year would be a little different.  One of the festival’s musical namesakes, Strangefolk, would not be playing this year.  Traditionally, this band would co-host the festival with Max Creek, another legendary band with strong ties to the Northeast.  However, while some of the names may have been different this year, it was very clear early on that Strange Creek could still deliver an impressive musical punch, offer a little something for almost all tastes and preferences and continue be a place where lasting memories are made.

Thursday

Strange Creek Campout started on Thursday night for a lot of people as the festival did allow for an early entrance.  While this made for a lot of camp site areas being staked out and set up in the dark, many folks still seemed to choose this option over arriving the next day and possibly missing out on music.  Small armies of people walking to and from cars while carrying coolers, tents and bags could be seen well into the night.  For those entering after sundown, proper lighting and preparedness were truly at a premium.

One of the signature elements of camping at this festival is that almost all of it is done in the woods.  Camp Kee-Wanee offers a unique forest-like setting as part of the backdrop for the weekend with sets of winding trails that are spaced out enough to provide ample room for camping under the trees.  This summer camp, now inhabited by adults and “big kids” for the weekend, also features two fairly small open air spaces amongst the wooded camping area that house the two side stages for the weekend.  The River Worm and Vernville stages were incredibly accessible for those in the general camping area and with the main stage located just a few yards outside the wooded area, it made for very easy transitions between stages with minimal loss of music – always a plus at any festival.

However, there would be no music on these stages tonight.  Thursday was designated mainly for early arrivals and a chance to get a camp site in order.  Slowly but surely, campers filled in along the outlying tree line and trail ways and those who came later had to trek further into the woods in order to find large clearings.  Spontaneous group hooting and hollering in the dark served as a signal that collective spirits were high and people were ready to embrace a new round of Strange Creek.

There was a small selection of music this night to choose from for those who were already settled in for the weekend and not exhausted from doing so.  Like any summer camp, this one also features a set of large cabins near the main grounds for group activities, which in this instance consisted of a nightly barrage of late night music.  With a very limited capacity and a full sound that bounced right off the wooden walls and ceilings, the late night cabins played host to some of the best (and loudest) music of the weekend.

Gratefully Yours, an all-star Grateful Dead cover band of sorts, helped provide the late night soundtrack for those who were willing and able to stay up this first night.  Their performance in the Wormtown Cabin was very well received and seemed to set the tone nicely for what Strange Creek had to offer this year. ‘Casey Jones’ featured a resounding guitar solo that helped take this Dead standard to another level.  This then gave way to a version of ‘Turn On Your Lovelight’ that called to mind epic set closers of the past.  However, there would be no Pigpen-esque solos at the end of this one.  Instead, the set came to a close with an upbeat combination of ‘Shakedown Street -> U.S. Blues’ that showed there was definitely still some life left in the crowd.

Afterwards, those who were still standing could entertain themselves at the large bonfire located right near the cabin if not ready to call it an opening night yet.  The community bonfire is one of the signature elements of this festival and is always sure to draw a crowd whether it’s for heating or entertainment purposes.  Between this and the fire dancers/jugglers/twirlers that accompanied acts to the side of the main stages all weekend, fire was certainly another constant theme well represented all weekend.

Friday

Friday was the first official full day of music at Strange Creek as all stages were now in play.  At the Vernville Stage, one of the smaller ones tucked back in the campground, Massachusetts natives Bay Road delivered an early afternoon set to a small yet eager crowd.  For acts with early time slots today, crowd size seemed to be affected as there were still many people just arriving who were trying to secure plots of wooded camp land for the weekend.

Nearby, just a short walk down one of the winding trails at the River Worm Stage, B.A. Dario was giving the festival an early electronica feel with a scorching set of dance music featuring impressive bass play from Jay Cimini.  This group, former Wormtown Battle of Bands champions, also contains band members who’ve previously moonlighted as part of Triumph, a Disco Biscuits cover band.  The influence of these kings of jamtronica was clearly present in their playing which was crisp and well executed.  One of the highlights was a really fun take on The Talking Heads classic hit ‘Girlfriend is Better’.  This, combined with the free CDs that were available, was sure to earn this young act some new followers.

A much more established musical act was now setting up shop on one of the two new and improved main stages.  Wild Adriatic, a rock outfit based in Saratoga Springs, NY that’s been starting to receive national acclaim, delighted the crowd basking in the sun with an impressively soulful set of music that included a take on The Band’s song ‘Ophelia’.  This group has all the looks and sound of a classic rock band but still manages to incorporate modern day influences which makes for a very fun listen.  If their set at Strange Creek is any indication, it’s only a matter of time before this act is given prime festival billings and time slots.

As the warm but pleasant afternoon rolled on, most of the weekend attendees were now finished parking and lugging gear in and resigned to setting up campsites and getting acclimated to the grounds.  Slowly, crowd sizes at all stages started to increase exponentially.  The festival seemed to really kick into high gear for the first time with a spellbinding set of music delivered by New York City rockers Consider the Source whose name is more than appropriate based on all the varying musical styles and sounds they can produce in one sitting.  They had the now voracious festival crowd in the palm of their collective hand as they deftly shifted from prog rock elements to heavy metal themes and then back to a jazz styling that seemed to have an international flavor.  Gabriel Marin put on a truly impressive exhibition of fretless double-neck guitar work while bassist John Ferrara’s ability to shift gears on the fly served as a more than suitable complement. It’s no wonder the band’s sound has been dubbed “Sci-Fi Middle Eastern fusion” amongst other things; it’s that unique a sound.

As she tends to do at most summer festivals, Mother Nature eventually made an appearance in the form of a slow and steady rainfall that wreaked havoc on some of the major Friday sets.  Yarn, an established Americana type band, were only able to get a few songs into their 5 p.m. set before the rain forced many folks to seek cover or flee altogether.  While the band remained dry on the covered stage and displayed an innate ability to turn a folksy sounding song into a serious locked in jam, the dropping temperatures and rain made it difficult to maintain a large crowd for their performance.

Unfortunately, the same can be said for Turkuaz’s set that followed on the adjacent stage.  This up and coming band from New York City that combines funk and explosive rock with a big band feel also had to deal with the elements in their set.  However, that didn’t stop them from powering through a set that put their collective musicianship on full display and featured fun covers like ‘Honkey Tonk Women’ and ‘Take Me to the River’, the latter of which being very appropriate for the conditions at the time.

Grey skies continued overhead as Upstate New York legends Donna The Buffalo took their turn on the main stage.  As the rain slowly started to fade out, the iconic grassroots rockers acted in accordance by turning a mellow opening to their set into a frenzied synchronized groove when all was said and done.  Classic hits like ‘If You Only Could’ helped establish a relaxing early vibe to their set.  Tara Nevins sang this one beautifully as always and later showcased a full repetoire of her musical proficiency by eventually switching from acoustic guitar to fiddle to washboard and then back to guitar.  The other founding band member, guitarist Jeb Puryear, seemed to emerge as the set progressed as he lent his signature voice and guitar play to songs like ’40 Days, 40 Nights’.  Puryear’s distinct vocal style also helped set the tone for more rocking numbers like ‘Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday’ which had a very nice extended jam on the back end highlighted by synchronous interplay between relatively new band members Mark Raudubaugh and Kyle Spark on drums and bass, respectively.  With psychedelic imaging now imposed on the side stage video monitors, Donna shifted into overdrive and took everyone along with them for one last ride on a standout version of ‘Why You Wanna Leave Me’ that put on full display this band’s one of a kind blend of zydeco infused improvisational jamming.

With rain at a minimum and collective spirits soaring, it was soon time for Zach Deputy’s set on the main stage.  No stranger to Wormtown and Strange Creek, Deputy showcased his incredible talent in front of what was by far the largest audience to this point of the weekend.  His heartfelt song writing combined with the ability to loop sounds and man made beats over it has always been welcome at Strange Creek and is now bordering on “festival staple” territory.  It’s hard not to enjoy a performer who seems to take so much pleasure from the collective energy and passion of a receptive crowd which this one certainly was.  This capped off a wet, wild and wonderful day of music on the main stages.

For Friday late night activities, there was certainly a bountiful selection of contrasting musical styles – a testament to the versatility of this popular small festival.  Traditional co-hosts Max Creek played their first set ever in one of the cabins which was highlighted by some audience participation.  The band decided to have an informal Karoake Contest that would see three fans get a chance to join the legendary New England rockers on stage. It wasn’t much of a contest per se (just a Facebook post by the band asking people to list a song they’d be willing and able to sing), but three people still got to live out their rock and roll fantasties all the same via a traditional sit-in.  Mark Salmon handled vocals on ‘Truck Drivin’ Blues’, Tiffany Lake lent her voice to the Warren Zevon classic ‘Lawyers, Guns and Money’ and Jamie Parfet tackled ‘Blood Red Roses’ as the last of the three song guest vocalist gauntlet.  Creek then went on to play a spirted late night set that both long time fans and newcomers seemingly all enjoyed.  A set closing segue of ‘Not Fade Away -> Helter Skelter’ had the Wormtown Cabin dancing as one and salivating for more which would have to wait until tomorrow night.

Their set was followed by another group who would be making their first of two perfomances of the weekend, The Alchemystics, who gave the late night crowd a proper dose of their infectious blend of reggae, hip-hop and improv.  In the Kee Wanee cabin across the way, the William Thompson Funk Experiment seemed to go off without a hitch before they too yielded the stage to a band full of regaee and rhythmic influences, Roots of Creation.  If none of the above suited your tastes, there was another option still as Jeff Bujak brought his signaure blend of edm music to the Holisitic Cabin as well as a bunch of headphones for group usuage.  Silent Discos have become all the rage at festivals nowadays due to noise regulations and Strange Creek’s version of this was a “Silent Bujak” that allowed a handful of people (the Holisitic Cabin is much smaller than the other two) to listen to music as loud and as long as they wanted on the headphones that were provided upon entry.  This was the last hurrah for many on this night as tired legs and minds soon gave way to much needed sleep in order to handle another two days of music.

Saturday

With one night in the books, Saturday picked up the momentum gained from the day before and ran with it.  Depending on where your campsite was, there was a very good chance that your alarm clock this morning took the form of a marching band that paraded all throughout the wooded campgrounds.

One of the many endearing qualities of Strange Creek is the abundance of “off stage” entertainment.  In this instance, it was a roaming army of horn players and percussionists naturally being led around by a conductor.  The roving troubadours would play marching band standards, covers, and even jam out for a little while before moving on down the trail and doing the same in another spot.  Their presence was felt all weekend and they were consistently a giant magnet for smiles and onlookers all weekend.  A true weekend highlight was the impromptu dance circle they created Friday afternoon by the craft vendors where their own version of the Pharrell Williams mega-hit ‘Happy’ served as the house music.

The roaming entertainment soon gave way to music as Hot Day at the Zoo got things started on the Vernville stage.  The bluegrass quartet ripped through a set of songs that had any weary listener up and moving again.  In what’s almost a prerequisite for being a touring act these days, the band showed an artful knack of being able to shift from straight up bluegrass to hard rock and from folksy songs to breakneck jamming.  Yet another Grateful Dead cover made an appearance as the band ended their set with a sterling take on ‘New Cumberland Blues’ that was capped with a brief run through of ‘Foxy Lady’.

Back on the main stage, local Berkshire rockers Domino Theory treated the afternoon crowd to a set of power rock tunes and even got some assistance from Max Creek’s own Scott Murawski on a couple of numbers.  Immediately following them, Murawksi’s partner in Creek, drummer Greg Vasso, got one of his old bands back together for a full fledged Jiggle the Handle reunion.  This is a band which used to open for such national acts as Little Feat and Widespread Panic, but now only play the occasional reunion show to give their loyal followers a taste of what once was.

Continuing the trend of the all you can hear musical buffet that was Strange Creek Campout this year, the early evening portion of Saturday offered a little bit for everyone. For the reggae enthusiasts, The Alchemystics played their second set of the weekend that featured some of the band’s older numbers including a superb ‘Shine I’, an incredibly upbeat and harmonized song that exudes hope and positivity.  Back in Vernville, The Garcia Project paid their respects to the legendary minstrel by performing some of his classic solo standards like ‘Valerie’ and ‘Reuben & Cherise’ before ending things with a soulful rendition of ‘Candyman’, a Grateful Dead classic.  If neither of these two acts tickled your fancy, The Lee Boys were down on the main stage presiding over a Saturday night service of soulful rock and rhythmic blues.  Following in the same footsteps and style of a Robert Randolph and the Family Band, this gospel band wasn’t immune to covers either as their take of Hendrix’s ‘Voodoo Chile’ came as somewhat of a surprise but certainly a welcome one.

Finally, it was time for some more home cooking from Max Creek who served as tonight’s headliner and delivered a full two sets of music that displayed the full breadth of this band’s musical prowess.  Noted for their blend of memorable originals with a deep catalog of cover songs, this was exhibited right from the get go with an opening sequence of ‘Windows’ ->Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes’ that set the tone for a light but fun first set.

In the second set, Creek was joined by a pair of their former drummers, Scott Allshouse and Greg Vasso, to form the day’s second musical reunion of sorts.  The order was switched in this set with one of the highlights of the night:  a raucous cover of ‘Come Together’ that eloquently flowed into the long time Creek classic ‘You’re  the Only One For Me’, a song that regularly makes an appearance at Strange Creek as a nod to the ever present love and respect between band and audience.   It’s worth going to Strange Creek once in your life just to hear this played and see the effect it has on nearly everyone within earshot.

Once again, the late night cabins were alive with the sound of raging as another edition of Silent Bujak went down in the Holistic Cabin.  For those who hadn’t gotten enough Grateful Dead in their musical diet yet, Shakedown, one of New England’s more prominent tribute bands, did their thing in the Wormtown Cabin.  However, the highlight of late night was far and away a set from a band who seems to be making big strides in the festival circuit.  No longer known for just a unique band name, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong turned an empty cabin into a packed dance hall in a matter of minutes.   Their improvisational skills and visible chemistry were put to the test early with an impressive cover of Phish’s ‘Birds of a Feather’ that opened eyes (and ears) and served as a testament to the potential of this still relatively fledgling band.  This performance was the final hurrah for many on this night as there was still one magical day of Strange Creek left to enjoy.

Sunday

The final stretch of a great weekend of music had by far the most pleasant weather of the weekend with bright sunny skies overhead and the occasional cool breeze.  You couldn’t ask for better conditions on a wedding day and that’s exactly what took place at the main stage area as the Head Worm himself, Mark Blanchette, founder of Wormtown Trading Company, exchanged vows with Debbie Lee in what could be deemed a very non-private ceremony.  A small crowd of festival attendees made sure there would be witnesses aplenty and Sunday was treated as an all day wedding reception complete with a complimentary lunch of salad and pasta for anyone who wanted it.  Free food is often hard enough to turn down on its own but on the last day of a weekend festival full of dancing and partying, it’s near impossible.

As music goes, Sunday was just another day with a myriad of different styles from which to choose.  Creek keyboardist Mark Mercier went back to work with one of his side touring projects, The Marks Brothers, who rattled through a set of classic rock covers including a run through of ‘Scarlet Begonias’ that had a spirited piano-led jam.  Ryan Montbleau then followed with a set of solo acoustic tunes to keep the relaxed Sunday vibe going.  Without his normal backing band, Montbleau still delighted the crowd with song after song that highlighted his deeply personal song writing style as well as his effusive personality.  Acts like him and Zach Deputy have been mainstays at Strange Creek the last few years, giving the festival a modicum of continuity that many other smaller festivals of this nature seem to share.

The tone in the main stage area then shifted dramatically as it went from light and easy to hard and heavy courtesy of Z3, an all-star Frank Zappa tribute band.  Featuring a core of guitar virtuoso Tim Palmieri, keyboard maven Beau Sasser and drum phenom Bill Carbone, the group had a very special guest with them for this performance as Ed Mann, former percussionist for Zappa, lent his expertise to the already star-studded lineup.  A ferocious ‘Willie the Pimp’ got things cooking early as Z3 rattled off Zappa classics that were treated with full respect but still given a little modern touch to keep things interesting.  They even covered Zappa’s cover songs with a fun take on the classic hit ‘So Happy Together’ by The Turtles that had many singing along earnestly.  An up tempo ‘Joe’s Garage’ was also really well executed and helped cap an amazing tribute set.  Certainly, no one was clamoring for this band to “turn it down” at any point.

Music then shifted to a more funky tone as notable acts Fungus Amungus and The Main Squeeze each took a turn putting their respective versions of funk infused rock on display at the main stage.  Fungus Amungus took a slightly harder approach with a sound that’s been labeled as “Parliament meets Sublime” while The Main Squeeze seemed to incorporate a more traditional feel.  Back in Vernville, Soulive’s drummer Alan Evans brought his act Play On Brother to the party as they delighted the crowd with a raging set of electrified soul rock.  Beau Sasser was called back into duty and manned the keyboard while Danny Mayer laid down thick grooves on the guitar from start to finish.  A memorable rendition of Cream’s ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ was one of many highlights of this exciting side project that was extremely well received by all.

At long last, this musical marathon was finally nearing its end as only two acts remained on the main stage.  For those who still hadn’t gotten their fill, Shakedown played another two sets of Grateful Dead music.  Not only does this act have a sound that remains true to the original one, but a Garcia doppelganger on lead guitar really puts them over the edge.  They’ve been honoring the jam pioneers at gigs across New England for over 20 years now and show no signs of slowing down if this weekend’s performances are any indication.  Standout versions of ‘Saint of Circumstance’ and ‘Bird Song’ helped bring a rousing two sets of music to a close which served as the final Dead tribute for a weekend that was chock full of them.

Rusted Root then closed things out on the main stage with a truly spirited set that seemed to celebrate all the aspects of peace and unity that were present all weekend long.  Showing they’re more than just musicians with radio hits like ‘Ecstasy’ and ‘Send Me on My Way’, the final headliners showcased their skill and cohesiveness with incredible rhythmic collaborations and well structured moments of improvisation and exploration.  A Rusted Root classic like ‘Cat Turned Blue’ was enhanced by a slow but progressive jam that peaked with ‘All Along the Watchtower’ quotes at the end.  Earlier, a cover of ‘Suspicious Minds’ was played to a perfection in a style all their own. The band wasn’t afraid to incorporate the occasional Led Zeppelin tease either as they wove their way through a set that just got better as it went along.

Things came to a crest when the band invited a young girl named Lilly to come and join them on stage to play a bongo drum and be a part of this special performance.  She even took bows with the band after they were done with a set that had just about everything and produced smiles all around.  It was a remarkably endearing and memorable image that helped close the book on a weekend that was full of them.

Strange Creek always promises a fun time whether you’re a first timer or a yearly regular.  The collective family vibe and unified spirit are tangible once you set food on the grounds of Camp Kee-Wanee and the music that’s presented each year is always top notch.  But Strange Creek is more than just good music, it’s an experience that’s meant to be shared with family and good friends and one that creates positive lasting memories.  It’s about celebrating art in all of its forms and mediums and doing so while being embedded in nature.  While the music and names may change slightly from year to year, the love personified by the people of Wormtown Trading who put this on every year, the incredible staff and those who attend every year never changes.  For a similar experience, check out the Wormtown Music Festival this September 12^th– 14^th at this same venue that essentially serves as the end of summer party.

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