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J Mascis / Luluc – Bottletree Café – Birmingham, AL – 09/30/2014

Written by: Rosemary A.W. Roberts

On a Tuesday afternoon, the last day of September 2014, my husband and I found ourselves driving from Mobile to Birmingham, AL. We had been at our “day jobs” all day; we knew we had to work Wednesday; but still, we made the drive because Dinosaur Jr. vocalist and guitarist J Mascis was performing a solo concert at a tiny club called the Bottletree Café, and we absolutely HAD to be there! With the recent release of his gorgeous solo album Tied To A Star, J Mascis will be touring coast to coast in the USA this fall, before heading across the Atlantic for more shows. Tour dates can be found here: http://www.jmascis.com/tour-dates/

Though we were expecting a “café” setting with tables and chairs, the tiny venue had cleared the floor space to accommodate the sold out 250-person show. The evening began with Australian duo Luluc, who like J Mascis have released their most recent album Passerby on acclaimed Seattle-based Sub Pop Records. Soft dreamy melodies captivated listeners, as Zoë Randell shared her lovely, spellbinding voice and strummed her guitar. Meanwhile, Steve Hassett coaxed a honey-dripping echo from his guitar and sang in beautiful harmony with Zoë. Songs like “Without A Face” and “Tangled Heart” created an air of wistful bliss, and time seemed suspended; I thoroughly enjoyed their set. Learn more about this fascinating band and check out their music here: www.lulucmusic.com

The intimate stage was then equipped with a microphone, a chair, and two Gibson guitars (CF100’s, I think), and J Mascis sat down amidst the roar of the crowd. Opening with “Listen To Me” instantly pulled us in, reflecting the sentiments I’d been feeling for weeks: “I can’t wait to see you, I can’t wait…” A joyfully melancholy set began to unfold, with J’s uniquely pleading voice slicing through space, and his sublime guitar work tugging at our heartstrings. The opening track from Tied To A Star, “Me Again” was beautiful beyond belief. “Little Furry Things” was played with acoustic simplicity at the start, but when J cranked it up and injected some piercing delicious distortion, the audience erupted with cheers. The juxtaposition of acoustic beauty with electric fuzz and hum provides a stimulating comfort, an emotional intensity, a wild ride; it’s truly wonderful to hear this man play. Next came “Ammaring”, a song that encapsulates the other paradox J Mascis presents his listeners: it is pure sorrow, but simultaneously pure joy. This is why we came here.

From the new album, “Stumble” held genuine sweetness, and “Every Morning” was uplifting and light in melody, though its lyrics tell of struggle. To the delight of the Dinosaur Jr. fans, “Get Me” was well played and received. The new instrumental “Drifter” gracefully floated into “Heal The Star”, and the outgoing guitar solo was masterful and stunning. Dipping back to Dinosaur Jr., the haunting “Not The Same” highlighted the beauty of J’s voice, and “Pond Song” both whispered and screamed with rebelliousness. A surprising sparkle of beauty emerged as J Mascis covered Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You”; this song fits him like a glove. “Ocean In The Way” came off quite nicely, and “Not You Again” brought a bit of punk to the party. To close the set, “Alone” wrapped me in a sonic shroud, and tears of joyful gratitude clung to my eyelashes, as J’s soul seemed laid bare on his guitar. Re-appearing for an encore, J Mascis asked for requests before settling on the well-chosen “Flying Cloud”. It was a totally fulfilling night of musical delight, worth every minute and every mile it took to get there and back. Always take the time to see music that moves you: it’s healing salve for the soul. This combination of Luluc and J Mascis gave me exactly what I needed.

Setlist:

Listen To Me, Me Again, Little Furry Things, Ammaring, Stumble, Every Morning, Get Me, Drifter > Heal The Star, Not The Same, Pond Song, Fade Into You, Ocean In The Way, Not You Again, Alone

Encore: Flying Cloud

Nahko and Medicine for the People – 10/2/2014 – The Bluebird – Bloomington, Indiana

moe. – CEFCU Center Stage – Sept. 18, 2014

The Revivalists’ kick off fall tour at Mobile’s “St. Practice Day” Celebration 9/19/2014

Review and Photos by: Shari Hartmann

O’Daly’s Irish Pub brought the luck of the Irish to Mobile music lovers on Friday night with a concert lineup featuring New Orleans’ phenoms, The Revivalists. This HUKA Entertainment produced show was held outdoors at the 3-in-1 bar’s “backyard” — an empty lot behind the bar’s back deck — with a stage set up for the occasion. Calling it “St. Practice Day,” to mark the halfway point to St. Patrick’s Day, complete with green beer on tap, the feel was more like street party meets private blowout as fans from New Orleans to Pensacola gathered eagerly to see what has become one of the hottest bands on the jam scene and beyond.

Maggie Koerner started things off with an unexpected twist. She took the stage, dressed appropriately in green, and explained that her band had taken ill during the week. But her band’s trouble was the fan’s good fortune. Having been enthralled with Koerner’s performances with Galactic over the past year, this was the first many had seen her perform solo. She sat with her guitar flat in her lap, hauntingly plucking the bass string, and she sang. And she was mesmerizing. From the first notes of “Sirens,” with its pulsating bass beats, this siren’s sultry vocals transfixed the audience. Playing all originals, from her solo albums, her indie-blues style is dark, often introspective, yet her deeply soulful, slightly raspy voice and her uniquely evocative, haunting phrasings turn hypnotic melancholia into cathartic experience. Koerner treated the spellbound fans to a stirring “Shades of Grey” as well as a first-time-played song, still untitled, which will hopefully be part of a third album she is hoping to release early next year. For her final tune, she was joined by “the best brothers in the world,” The Revivalists’ David Shaw, Zach Feinberg and Andrew Campanelli for a vigorously enchanting “Judgment Day.”

The Revivalists then turned up the heat on an already steamy evening. Bounding on stage, David Shaw yelling “Mobile! You ready to get down!” Their near two hour set was pure energy from start to finish. Opening with “Chase’s House” they had fans dancing immediately as Shaw covered the stage, moving from one corner to the next, leaning out over the crowd, one leg propped on the speakers. But he wasted no time jumping down, greeting the devotees in the front row. Shaw’s dynamic presence, coupled with his powerful, soulful vocals, gets the party rocking and the hearts thumping!

But it’s not just Shaw. The entire band commands the stage with potently engaging energy. Pedal steel guitarist Ed Williams is sitting, he’s standing, wait… he’s kneeling… ON the guitar as he leans it forward! You are sure he’s going to topple over any second, yet he remains in full control of his playing. Michael Girardot’s, who’s keys are set up behind guitarist Zach Feinberg and Rob Ingraham on sax, runs out to the front of the stage and jumps on a speaker. You’d think it was all a gimmick, but it’s not. Yes, it’s a masterful stage presence, but it also seems to come naturally. These guys are truly having great time and want their fans to be as excited as they are. On this night there was no doubting the crowd’s exuberance or band’s honest vitality.

But all that energy can come to naught if the music isn’t there… And here is where the band’s authenticity makes it all come together. The band seemed more at home on stage than I have ever seen them and that seemed to translate into their music as well. They sounded tighter, more in tune with each other, and more at ease in their solos and jams than I have heard them in the few years I’ve been following them. They flowed seamlessly from “Concrete” to “Not Turn Away” to “Sunny Days” with the precision of the seasoned performers they have become. Zach Feinberg offered up robust, roaring guitar solos in “Concrete” as did Ed Williams’ stingingly unique pedal steel in the “Shake jam” and Rob Ingraham’s seductive sax in “Sunny Days.” Bassist George Gekas and drummer Andrew Campanelli held it all together throughout the night, demonstrating precisely powerful chops, especially during the fabulously funky “When I’m Able”> “Sexy M.F”.

Of course, the set would not be complete without an appearance from Maggie Koerner. She joined the band for stunningly soulful BeeGees’ “To Love Somebody.” Starting out slow and sexy, the tune built to a fevered pitch as Koerner’s wails washed over the swaying enthusiasts, resulting in goose bumps, and led Shaw to declare it “brilliant!” Nor would the set be complete without fan favorites “Catching Fireflies,” “Criminal” and “Soulfight.” which they delivered with incredible energy straight from the heart. They left the stage with the crowd pleading for more. No one was ready for the fun to end and when they returned the stage, Shaw said, “You know we wouldn’t do you like that Mobile.” Mobile was treated to a new song, an intensely emotive indie tune with the chorus “Don’t Hide from Me.”

The Revivalists are a must-see band, and if this sets the standard for the fall tour, audiences across the country need to grab their tickets and put their seatbelts on, because it’s going to be one hell of a ride.

Setlist:

Chase’s House, Two-ton Wrecking Ball (Fish Out of Water)> Not Turn Away> Shake Jam>Not Turn Away>Sunny Days, To Love Somebody (Bee Gees) w/ Maggie Koerner, When I’m Able>Sexy M.F. (Prince), Catching Fireflies, (Unknown), Upright, Soul’s Too Loud>Appreciate Me>Criminal, Soulfight

Encore: (New Song –Don’t Hide)

Fall Tour Dates (partial list):

Sept. 19 – Mobile, AL – O’Dalys Irish Pub (Outdoors)
Sept. 20 – Augusta, GA – Arts in the Heart
Sept. 20 – Augusta, GA – Sky City
Sept. 23 – Knoxville, TN – The International
Sept. 24 – Charlotte, NC – The Chop Shop
Sept. 25 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall
Sept. 27 – Pensacola, FL – Pensacola Seafood Fest
Sept. 28 – Birmingham, AL – Vulcan Park
Oct. 08 – Columbia, SC – The Music Farm
Oct. 09 – Winston-Salem, NC – Ziggy’s
Oct. 10 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
Oct. 11 – Corolla, NC – Mustang Music Festival
Oct. 12 – Wilmington, NC – Ziggy’s
Oct. 17 – Baton Rouge, LA – The Varsity Theatre
Oct. 18 – Natchez, MS – Great Mississippi River Balloon Race
Oct. 29 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
Oct. 30 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
Oct. 31 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
Nov. 01 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
Nov. 02 – New Orleans, LA – Voodoo Experience
For more information about The Revivalists and their fall tour visit the band’s official website.

Garth Brooks~09-19-14~Phillips Arena~Atlanta, GA

Written by Mike Gregory

Photos by Lucas Armstrong

After an 18-year hiatus, country music megastar Garth Brooks has returned to the stage for a world tour, which included 7 shows in Atlanta. Fans came in droves from surrounding areas, and downtown was bustling with Garth fever. Phillips Arena holds nearly 18,000 people and boasts a 4-sided big screen television suspended above the stage, allowing close up views for the entire audience.

The crowds consisted of all ages and excitement was in the air as everyone made their way into the arena for the first of two shows on Friday, which started at 6:30pm. Garth took the stage with a welcoming smile kicking off the night with hits like “Man on the Machine” and “Rodeo.” The arena erupted with cheers when he announced he was going to “bring out all the old stuff,” even though he has a new album coming out November 11th. The show was a perfect blend of rock and country. He played hits like “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til The Sun Comes Up), “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House” and of course, “The Thunder Rolls.” Garth engaged the audience even grabbing one fan’s cell phone, recording the show from his perspective. He worked all sides of the stage making everyone feel as though it was their own personal concert. It was a wholesome and rocking show all at the same time.

The first performance would be full of unexpected surprises. The 19^th just so happened to be his wife, Trisha Yearwood’s 50^th birthday, which led to a huge cake with a tiara on top rising up from the center of the stage. Garth led the audience in singing happy birthday after crowning her. The surprises continued when Garth welcomed Kelly Clarkson to the stage, (Clarkson is featured on Trisha’s new album entitled PrizeFighter). Garth stepped back from the spotlight allowing Trisha and Kelly to highlight the title track from her album, which is set for pre-release on Friday. She also did a few more hits including, “She’s in Love with the Boy” and “How Do I Live.”

Garth continued the reunion performing fan favorites “Friends in Low Places” and “The Dance” as well as a Billy Joel cover, “Shameless.” Garth did a double encore consisting of 5 songs starting with Aerosmith’s “Fever” and closing with “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”. At one point the drummer who was inside of a lighted sphere rose high into the air and began to spin. The keyboards on either side of the drums rose up as well. Simultaneously, confetti shot out over the crowd. After a brief thank you to the audience, it was time to go as another hungry crowd was chomping at the bit to get in. Find out where you can get your “Garth on” at http://www.garthbrooks.com/ .

On a side note, Garth is taking time to give back to the community through his organization, Teammates for Kids. While in Atlanta, the organization hosted a football camp for 150 kids from the Children’s Restoration Network each of whom will receive guidance from the Atlanta Falcons star, Roddy White. The camp encourages kids to work hard and be a good person—certainly, something the world is lacking.

Gov’t Mule, Babcock Theater, Billings, MT 9/19/14

Review and photos by: Phil Santala

For Gov’t Mule, hitting the road with tours that run roughshod across the country has always been something they seem to do with ease, that same kind of ease with which most people show up to their 9 to 5 job. Barnstorming across the country, sitting in with other acts at festivals, and running the annual charity Christmas Jam has earned front man Warren Haynes his moniker as “the hardest working man in show business“ time and time again. Through all the shows and years Gov’t Mule and Warren have also pushed through more than their fair share of public pain and sorrow. In 2000 the band and crew would suffer the loss of original member Allen Woody. This past summer longtime friend and guitar tech Brian Farmer passed away, two weeks before the scheduled kick off of the 2014 fall tour.

Still, the band plays on. Coming out of the haze of the midwest and launching themselves into the west coast run, Mule sold out the Billings show a day before the event. With an off day to recoup following the Fargo, ND show at the Fargo Theater, and facing a 8 hour drive to the Masonic Auditorium show in Spokane, the crowd anticipated a hot show. They would not be disappointed. The first set proceeded with a well mixed variety of faster heavy songs and slower bluesy jams including the “Mule> Who Do you Love> Whole Lotta Love> Mule” rager. The set closer of “Million Miles From Yesterday” was a soulful ballad that brought the house down with Warren’s slow, deep reverberating solos.

The second set featured a series of well orchestrated originals and covers. Danny Lewis not only picked up the guitar for a few of these moments, but also stepped out from behind the keys to get closer to bassist Jorgen Carlsson. The two of them would trade licks and smiles throughout the set. The intro run of Jimi Hendrix covers of “Are You Experienced> Angel> Machine Gun” absolutely lit the crowd up. It even inspired Warren to play the guitar on his microphone stand. Matt Abts’s drum solo was surprisingly void of the normal exodus to the beer and bathroom lines one might typically expect to find. The crowd was clearly in for the long haul here.

The Howling Wolf> Stevie Wonder> Howling Wolf jam of “How Many More Years> High Ground> How Many More Years” was a sight one would only find at a Gov’t Mule show. Warren mixes so many musicians and styles with such a fluidity it’s a rare treat to see. The show also featured tracks from the latest album Shout and the encore was the highlight of these. Occasionally using the megaphone featured on the album’s cover, the Mule dropped an extended cut of “Captured” on the audience. It would have been enough to leave it there, but always the showman Warren dropped in the final “cover” of the night. The ever present and popular Allman Brothers Band song “Soulshine” was a rousing success and hit with the audience, and was able to propel even the most stubborn in the crowd out of their seat at last. It was during this final song that Warren flashed his signature two-fingered peace sign to the audience. It elicited the same in return along with hoots, cheers and smiles all around.

Over the course of the sold out show at the Babcock Theatre in Billings something became apparent. Warren and the crew don’t keep grinding it out on the road just to fulfill contractual obligations. They don’t do what they do just for a paycheck. Music seems to do for them what it does for many of those in the audience. It transports us away from our problems; and if it reminds us of them, it tells us too that we have the solution to solve them at our fingertips. There were times when, deep in the jams, Warren looked at peace with his eyes closed, just letting the music move him. Erupting out of these soulful moments he often smiled. I’d like to think that when he flashed those two fingers up in the air that out in the cheers and raised hands, Brian Farmer was smiling and watching as well. Rest In Peace, brother…

Full photo gallery can be found HERE!

Interview Series: Up and coming artists playing Bayfest 2014 ~ Mobile, AL

Check out these up and coming acts this years Bayfest, and take a listen as Dale Taylor chats with each of them.

PHUNK BLUE MOON

Friday, October 3

9:00 on Launching Pad stage

(interview with Ali Afzalirad)

SHIFTING TRACKS

Saturday, October 4

9:15 on Launching Pad Stage

(interview with Bryant Gilley)

K-ROB

Saturday, October 4

6:15 on Miller Lite Stage

The Mulligan Brothers

Sunday, October 5

4:30 on the Coca-Cola Stage

(interview with Gram Rea)

Phases of the Moon Festival ~ September 11-14, 2014 ~ Danville, IL

Review by Cassidy Maley

Photography by Keith Griner (Phierce Photography)

In its first year, Phases of the Moon festival was one of the most challenging and rewarding festivals I have experienced this summer. It was held just outside of Danville, Illinois over the weekend of September 11-14^th, this year. It was a festival with some huge names and a great staff to support having such acts. Due to some unforeseen weather issues, the beginning of the festival was a rough start, but as the weekend blossomed, things got easier and easier. The crowd was resilient and determined to see the music they loved; good weather, bad weather, cold weather, line or no line, everyone wanted a weekend to remember and for this first year festival to be a success.

Thursday September, 11^th was by far the most tested and challenged my patience has ever been at a festival. Days and days of rain before the festival made the gates and ticketing almost impossible to navigate by car. Everyone was getting sunk in the mud causing a huge back up for many of the visitors. Despite numerous attempts by the festival staff to bring in gravel, hay, and to dry the land with helicopters, the mud continued to be a huge challenge. At one point there was nothing the staff could do but improvise and start parking everyone at the county fair grounds and shuttling patrons to and from the festival grounds. It was a great plan that ended up working out very efficiently once it got up and rolling. For the most part, I and many of the other visitors kept in good spirits, understanding that the weather is uncontrollable and that this was this location’s very first gathering of this size. We were comfortably housed at the fairgrounds for the night, hoping for better conditions in the morning.

Friday morning broke, unseasonably chilly, but the light of day brought new hope of finally getting to see some live music. The Phases of the Moon staff teamed up with the local schools and started a shuttling system of big, yellow buses that would bring everyone to and from their cars. Once the shuttles started, they never stopped and I was most impressed with how friendly and dedicated the drivers were to making everyone have a good impression of their town. They drove tirelessly day and night, working 8 hour shifts to get everyone shuttled to where they needed to be. The love and openness with which this small town in Illinois greeted such a diverse crowd, was very impressive. It was hard to be angry when everyone was working so hard to make this festival a success.

Twenty-four hours after first arriving to the line, followed by a five mile hike into the venue, and after discovering there was still a line Friday morning, I finally saw my very first band. With an amazing breakfast burrito in my hand, I was graced by the rewarding sound of Boombox. It was everything I needed after a difficult 24 hours. Live music always heals any sore spot; as Boombox played an energetic set, the trials of the last 24 hours melted away, and I was able to let the good times roll.

One of the highlights of Friday was the energetic Grace Potter set. The energy this female lead brings to the stage is almost impossible to describe. The energy just bubbles outwards from her and envelopes the entire crowd. She is absolutely irresistible, dramatic, and her soulful voice is powerful and entrancing. She switches from guitar to keys to percussion and is a talented musician as well as singer. Her set included several original songs as well as an amazing cover of “Not Fade Away.” One of the moments that stopped me in my tracks was when the band left the stage and Grace began to sing “Nothing but the Water.” As red stage light illuminated her silhouette, she belted the familiar lyrics and time stood still. She closed the set with the familiar “I Bid You Good Night,” a perfect segue into the String Cheese Incident.

String Cheese Incident took the stage and as the familiar melody of “Roll Over” opened the set, I realized that all of the trials and tribulations over the last 24 hours were worth it. A light rain began to fall, which only made the light show more impressive. The stage set up was elaborate, the live stream was projected on either side on large screens, and in the center was the magic that is The String Cheese Incident. There is no other band I can think of that can play bluegrass and electronic dubstep in the same set list. Their set included “Song in My Head,” “Jellyfish,” and “Best Feeling.” The crowd never stopped dancing; as the rain fell and turned to sleet, the band closed with “Roll Over.”

The stage area of the festival was decorated elaborately. There was a man powered wheel, a light up rectangle of ping pong balls, and a sanctuary where workshops were held all weekend. The Sanctuary that was set up in the middle of the festival grounds was really neat. There were a ton of places to sit down or lay around and take a load off of those beat up festival feet. The design was amazing; it looked other worldly. It had the art displays and set up of a huge festival, while numbers were still relatively low. The Moon Stage was wide enough so that during shows, the crowd was dispersed such that you could get there right as the band started and not have a problem getting relatively close or having a full view of the band. The Harvest Stage had a lot of very interesting art exhibits and swings to play around on while you enjoyed the music.

On both Saturday and Sunday, Widespread Panic was the big highlight. Each night they played one extended set. They absolutely crushed it each set and made the festival for me.

Saturday’s Panic set began with a great “Henry Parson’s Died”> “Chilly Water.” By the beginning of Chilly Water, it was as if everybody was by the stage, ready for something magical to happen. JB’s voice during Chilly Water seemed to have the entire festival moving in unison. Then came the melodic “Can’t Get High,” followed by “Let It Rock.” which transitioned into a fantastic “Radio Child.” By this point the lights were in full effect. The highlight of the first Widspread Panic set was a power packed continuous jam of “Shut Up and Drive > Ride Me High > Hatfield > Space Wrangler > Walkin’ (For Your Love).” After that came another seemingly endless segment of bliss: “Holden Oversoul->Do What You Like->Me and the Devil Blues->Driving Song->Wondering->Papa’s Home->Driving Song.” Panic then closed the first night with “North”.

By far, the Sunday Widspread Panic set was my favorite night, and a real quality set of music from start to finish. It opened with “Imitation Leather Shoes,” followed by “Weight of the World,” which included one of the best jams of the weekend. Other noteworthy moments in the set included “Rebirtha,” “Party at Your Mama’s House,” “Pleas” > “Bust It Big” > “Help Me Somebody,” “Conrad the Catepillar,” and “Action Man.” I could feel the energy smack me in the face like a brick wall during the last 2 songs of the set, which were my favorite songs of the whole weekend. The “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” had the entire crowd singing along, almost teary eyed, which transitioned into a very intense “Chainsaw City.” There was no better song I can think of for the band to end the weekend with; it took the last of the energy everyone had leftover in their tanks and sent them off to the Town Stage to wind down with Rumpke Mountain Boys and David Gans one last time before we all went back to our respective campsites to lay our tired heads to bed.

A few hours after Panic ended their Saturday set, Poor Man’s Whiskey gave us a special treat by playing one of their albums in its entirety: Dark Side of the Moonshine. It is an all bluegrass tribute to Dark Side of the Moon including blue grass jams, giving a different life to this classic album. It was unlike any other cover I have heard of this album. The band kept true to many of the qualities that Pink Floyd brings to the album, but also added blue grass jams that made it unlike anything I have heard before.

Although it was a rough take off, Phases of the Moon turned into a beautiful festival. The town of Danville came together to make this weekend a unique and friendly experience. The staff worked so hard to keep order and artistry protected. Overall, I would say the first year of the festival was a success and I can’t wait to see what it will hold in the years to come. Thank you to the town of Danville and the dedicated staff at Kennekuk County Park for bringing us a weekend to remember.

[CONTEST] Win Tickets To STS9 in Indy on 10/9

CONGRATULATIONS TO ERIK McKENZIE ON WINNING THE TICKETS!

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CONTEST

Enter below for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see STS9 on October 9th at the Egyptian Room in Indianapolis, IN.

Brought to you by FX Media (Phierce Photography) and Jams Plus Media.

Drawing to be Oct 7th, so enter now!

Trampled By Turtles with The Apache Relay ~ Old National Centre ~ Indianapolis, Indiana ~ September 17, 2014

Trampled By Turtles with The Apache Relay

Old National Centre, Indianapolis, IN

Written by: Zen Wild

Photography by: Tony Vasquez of Vasquez Photography

Photo Galleries: Trampled By Turtles

The Apache Relay

So, it’s Wednesday, September 17^th, and we’re at The Egyptian Room (inside the Old National Centre) in Indianapolis to see The Apache Relay and Trampled By Turtles. This is my first experience with either one, and I’m stoked! I’ve only heard a few tracks from Trampled By Turtles, and we listened to a few on the way to the venue, but I’ve never heard The Apache Relay. In fact, before we arrive, we don’t know who’s going to be the opening band. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard Gary Clark, Jr. play “Bright Lights,” but by the time the concert’s finished, we’ll realize that it’s one of those kinds of situations. If you know the song, you’ll know these lyrics: “You’re gonna know my name by the end of the night.” Yeah, it’s a night like that. Both bands put it on.

The Apache Relay comes on stage and, immediately, I like their set-up. They have two guitarists, Mike Harris and Brett Moore, a bassist Michael Ford Jr, two synth/keyboard players, and a drummer. Occasionally, one of the synth players switches out his keys for a third guitar. They have a driving, layered sound that reminds me of several bands, including My Morning Jacket, Wilco, and a bit of the Flaming Lips. It reminds me of them, but it’s not the same. I could also mention The Kopecky Family Band in that list, who are also from Nashville, TN, like The Apache Relay. The vocals and the lead singer, Michael Ford Jr. playing that acoustic/electric dreadnought guitar adds some folk element to the overall mix. I absolutely love their entire set. “Can’t Wake Up,” “Katie Queen of Tennessee,” and “Watering Hole” are amongst my favorites. Incredible stuff. Talking with the band after their set, I find out that they’re going to back in Indianapolis on November 4^th. You’ve got to see this band. If you’re in the area, or if you’re in another part of the country where they’ll be coming soon, get out and get a ticket.

When Trampled By Turtles arrive upon the stage, again, I love the selection of instruments. They include an acoustic/electric bass, an acoustic/electric guitar, a banjo, a mandolin, a fiddle, and a cello. Having heard a bit of their stuff, I know they come across with a solid mix of bluegrass, folk, and country. It’s absolutely amazing seeing it live. Some of the solos taken by the mandolin player Erik Berry, banjo player Dave Carroll, and fiddler Ryan Young are delivered with blistering intensity. Dave Simonett sings the lead vocals with a twangy, high-pitched sweetness that just soothes a listener’s soul, whether the lyrics are happy or sad, or about love or loss. All those things are part of life. As their performance goes on, the entire audience is dancing and singing, and shouting their appreciation to the musicians in between songs. I can’t see a single face that seems disappointed, and obviously, many of the fans have been so for a while.

I wish I knew song titles, because I would relate them to you, but unfortunately I don’t. Regardless, the set’s amazing, from beginning to end. On a side note, the only reason I mentioned some of The Apache Relay’s titles is because I will end up buying both of their albums after the show and end up listening to them all night instead of sleeping. Soon, I’ll be getting some Trampled By Turtles, as well. I’m sure another sleepless night is in store. Just as I mentioned with The Apache Relay, you’ve got to check out Trampled By Turtles. They’ll leave you worn out by end of the show, as you dance until you drop, and they’ll pack in numerous fast, short songs and longer, slower songs that will have you dreaming of that love you lost or the one you hope is fast approaching. It’s the kind of show you can’t afford to miss. Dig in your pockets, get out, and get some good music in your life. You’ll be richer by far.