Robben Ford Discussion

[edpesco]

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

I wish you all could be enjoying Musikfest with me

This festival takes place on 14 stages in downtown Bethlehem (PA). This is the 25th anniversary of the festival and I have been at the last 10. There will be more than 500 shows -- most of them free -- during the 10 day festival. There's music for everyone -- I just follow my ears !
Last night I didn't have any must-see bands on my list, so I started at Americaplatz, a big outdoor plaza that overlooks the Southside of Bethlehem and North Mountain/Lehigh U. Antsy McClain & The Trailer Park Troubadours, an Americana-Rockabilly band, had me laughing out loud with their songs and banter about trailer park life and marrying up. Lots of guys in the crowd were wearing "I married up!" t-shirts and silly pink flamingo hats. Not exactly music, but very entertaining. (They have some videos on youtube if you're curious).

I also found a jam band on Main Street that I liked a lot. They go by the name Mad Sweet Pangs; they're a 5-piece band that includes a trombone player! I love trombone, but usually it's found in a funkier style band. These guys had a more traditional jam band sound -- more Grateful Dead or Rat Dog-like. The trombone and keyboard played great off each other. They play original music with lyrics and instrumental verses.

Today I'm going to check out The Art of Piano workshop by Leon Bates, a classical pianist from Philly, and later on this evening I'll see Lehigh Valley favorite, Craig Thatcher Band, and Roomful of Blues!

I'll be posting some pictures from Musikfest soon on my Picasaweb page. In reply to Edpesco, my camera is a digital point and shoot (Lumix DMC-FZ7) made by Panasonic.

n xe arz ... that's cute Blob
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[Bluelobster]

[Larry Legs]

concerts seen in the last month vith vote:

- Popa Chubby - 7,5
- Brian Auger's Oblivion Express 8
- Peter Erskine quintet - 6,5
- Mike Stern & Yellowjackets - 9
- Keith Jarrett trio - 8,5
- Chris Duarte group - 7,5
- Gary Burton & Pat Metheny - 8
- Bobby Hutcherson quartet - 7,5
- Herbie Hancock - 7
- Hans Theessink band - 9
- Marcus Miller - 7
- Johnny Winter - 8
- Robben Ford band - 7

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

[Mono Lake Dave]

Coco Montoya (smoother, not as raw as previous,new bass and keys players)
Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan (Harmonica/Guitar Duo)
Curtis Salgado (Soul/Rhythm & Blues, great vocalist)
Devon Allman's Honeytribe (rockin' the Blues, originals except Midnight Rider)
Chris Cain (Oh Yeah! My first Chris Cain show. Enjoyed his set very much. Dewayne Pate on Bass!)
Johnny Lang (I wasn't expecting him to be as good as he was/Does the Blues with a Gospel touch on vocals/puts alot of energy into his thing)
And about 65 microbreweries serving great beer all day
This was the 13th annual Bluesapalooza at Mammoth Lakes,Calif. This is an outdoor event under the pines at 7500 Ft. elevation.(talk 'bout HIGH)
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"Music is a personal experience" -Robben Ford Clinic Dec.7,2002

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

I talk to strangers... and by doing so, I met some wonderful people at Musikfest. I had a great time Wednesday (Day 6) watching Webb Wilder, Tanglefoot and Splintered Sunlight. On my last night in Bethlehem, I was planning to meet up with a new friend to see the Last Waltz Ensemble and Ryan Shaw, but instead I ended up backstage at Jethro Tull. It was Jethro Tull's 40th Anniversary Tour. It's been 20 years since I've seen this band and Ian Anderson is just as wild and witty as ever. He's still got a great voice (and he remembers all the lyrics as well!) He played flute, a small guitar and harmonica during the show. The set list started out with some very early songs and spanned the entire 40 years. The band was awesome. Martin Barre played some very bluesy electric guitar. It was a great show and I couldn't have had a better seat, or more generous hosts.

If you'd like to see my photos from Musikfest (and a few pretty shots of my sidetrip to the Laurentian Mountains), follow this link. The Summertime 2008 album includes my most recent pictures, but you're welcome to look through all my albums:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Roadwarriorfortheblues
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[rainmkr63]

'Extreme' with 'Kings X', very good time had by all. Old school head banging rock, both bands sounded and looked just like it was 20 + years ago. Nuno is a ball to watch and listen to, I have most of his solo CD's post Extreme stuff and homey has skills.

Rob

[JohnnyZ]

[rainmkr63]

I can relate to the 'too much trouble to go out' evening. It is a bit of a chore to go out/drive/spend lately and it has to be something special for me to do it.

Kings X I had seen once, opening for the Scorpion's 15 years ago and they impressed me last night. Great vocal, great message good time no frills rock and roll. Extreme was very good too, but I was so tired at the end I just wanted to go to bed. I am one of those people that never leaves a show early some people may have. It was a small crowd for the HOB probably 1800 people, its hard to get people out of the house these days.

I'm jealous of the T. storm it never rains here

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

I saw John Mayer and One Republic last night at the Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa. One Republic was one of the best opening acts I've seen in a long time. I learned from my daughter that they've been getting a lot of commercial airplay, but I had never heard of them before last night. They sounded great and had dynamic stage presence. The band set up straight across the front of the stage, so each musician could be seen. Even the drummer was up front (left front). Good rock music.

This was the third time I've seen John Mayer and it was by far my favorite show of his. The highlight for me was a long "Roy Buchanan-style" instrumental that was different than anything else I've ever heard him play. He channels the Roy Buchanan vibe very well. A great show.
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[Bluelobster]

Yeahhhhhhh, i"m glad . I think John Mayer is gonna rules..////////////

[BlueRunner]

Was back down in Southern California for Labor Day weekend and made the second day of the annual Long Beach Blues Festival. New location, at the Rainbow Lagoon. Ten degrees cooler than the old venue over at Long Beach State, with some shade, so fewer folks dropping from overheating. Ana Popovich, Eddie Floyd, Booker T, Charlie Musselwhite and Taj Mahal. Altogether one very nice day.

The high point for me was Charlie Musselwhite. I bought his "Stand Back" LP when it came out in early 1967. Still have it. No longer have a turntable to play it on, but at least the vinyl is safe and secure in my closet. I first heard him live in the summer of 1969 in a club in Palo Alto. He put on a great show at Long Beach, with Eli "Kirk" Fletcher added to his band, and afterward stuck around one of the tents to meet and greet and sign autographs. The line was long and slow, as he made a point of talking to each and everyone who wanted to connect with him, and as I had him autograph a CD for my daughter (who missed this year's festival 'cause she's moved to Washington DC) I mentioned that gig from 39 years ago, which led to a lot of remembrances from him about that summer and his touring California. Musselwhite has always been pure class in my mind, and it was great to see and hear him again.
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- BlueRunner

[rainmkr63]

Joe Jackson trio Saturday night and it was outstanding. Grand piano extravaganza played a bunch of hits and a bunch of new tracks from "Rain". I bought this disk the day it was released and it still amazes me I highly recommend it. He played for about 1:20 and the audience and I would have sat through 2 hours more since he has so much music. Rob

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

Jimmy Hall with the Tommy Talton Band ~ Lakeland Music Ranch

Jimmy Hall, the soulful former frontman for Wet Willie, got together Saturday night with guitarist Tommy Talton at the Lakeland Music Ranch and nearly burned down the barn. Hall played sax and harp throughout the night as well as sharing the vocals with Tommy Talton. It was a blistering two set performance! Talton is a great guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He's like Van Morrison, Mick Taylor and the Rolling Stones all rolled up in one! He has toured and recorded with Gregg Allman as well as many other bands since the late 60s. His current band features Brandon Peeples on bass, Tony Giordano on keyboard, and Bill Stewart on drums -- and they were awesome!

There were many OMG! moments throughout the night, but the highlight of the show, for me, was a stunning performance of Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come." I hadn't seen Jimmy Hall live since his tour with The Nighthawks in 1988. Jimmy's voice is just as amazing today as it was 20 years ago. You can imagine how wonderful it was to hear these two talented musicians together, and playing each others music.

I missed the first warm-up band, but I was there to hear Take 5 with special guest Wet Willie Alumni Larry Berwald. They were great too. Jimmy Hall even joined them onstage -- before his set -- to sing their final song.

This was my first trip to the Lakeland Music Ranch, a BYOB club about half way between Tampa and Orlando. The club was packed with guests who came from both coasts of Florida to see this show (even in this economy!) This was a cool venue for the show, but I'd love to see Jimmy Hall and Tommy Talton again (with the same support band) on the blues festival circuit or in a bigger concert hall. They're a great matchup.
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