Top Ten things about HSB 2013
1 It’s free. Yep,
three days, six stages, a line-up better than Lollapalooza, zero dollars. And while there are many food vendors, they
don’t sell any alcohol in the park. The
surprising thing? You can bring your
own. Thanks to founder Warren Hellman the
festival will continue for years to come.
2 The people. I
didn’t believe that they could possibly be as laid back as I’d been told, but
they were. Despite the mass of humanity,
everyone was happy, no one got stressed out, and they were happy to let you
through, or to get off your blanket where they had been squatting while you
left it unattended. It might have
something to do with the constant scent of weed in the air, though that’s just
a theory.
3 Low. I’ve never
been much of a Low fan, might have something to do with getting shushed
repeatedly at their show at Union South years ago (for the record, going to
happy hour before a Low show is not a good idea), but today was different. “When did Low become an eight piece?” I asked
a friend near the stage. “About two
songs ago,” he replied, though he didn’t remember who it was that had joined
them. Surprisingly, or maybe not being
they are both from Duluth, it was Trampled by Turtles. Huh, another band I didn’t think I liked,
definitely more than the sum of their parts.
4 Father John Misty. I
also didn’t think I would like Father John Misty, but apparently HSB is all
about surprises. I’d seen him solo years
ago when he went under his own name and found him Buckner boring, and while I
don’t necessarily hold him personally responsible for Fleet Foxes and their
cloying harmonies, he was in the band.
When I friend told me she thought I would like him, I stayed just to
humor her. Funny thing is, she was
right. The songs were involved yet
catchy, and he was relaxed and charming.
As some sort of statement about the saturation of Smartphone media, he
played his entire set framed by a giant iPhone cut-out, so that every picture
you took looked like you took a picture of someone’s phone.
5 Chris Isaak. It had
been years since I had seen Isaak, but his show at the Madison Civic Center
remains one of my favorites ever, and not just because he played the encore is
a stunning disco ball suit. I hadn’t
bought a CD in awhile, but I still knew many of the songs he played. “San Francisco Nights” was inevitable, but it
was also great. “Wicked Game” and “Baby
Did a Bad, Bad Thing” were like old friends.
6 Nick Lowe. Just
keeps getting cooler. Maybe that’s why
his nickname is “Jesus of Cool.” In a
festival full of impressive big bands, he played solo and stole the show, and
my heart, again. It would be hard to
sell a Christmas CD on the nicest, sunniest day San Fran had seen all year, but
he did by playing us the “least Christmas-y” of the bunch. Also, “Cruel to Be Kind,” enough said.
7 Steve Martin. Steve
Martin had a bigger crowd watching from backstage than any other act I’d seen
all weekend. My friend Jason Toth had an
explanation, “It’s different when they are actors.” Especially actors with some serious music chops. Martin has played the banjo as part of his
act since his “wild & crazy guy” days, but with the Steep Canyon Rangers
backing him they were a force to be reckoned with. The fiddle player in particular was
incendiary. “Wow” was written on
everyone’s face, backstage and for as far as the eye could see.
8 Jon Langford. His
early Saturday set with Skull Orchard, which morphed into the Freakons (a
mash-up of the Catherine Erwin/Janet Bean led Freakwater and his timeless punk
band the Mekons) was one of the highlights of the fest. I love Langford’s swoon-worthy voice, but the
Freakwater girls sounded great. Of
course, his biggest competition came from his Mekons bandmate Sally Timms,
possessor of the most beautiful country voice out there. Once I told him I would be attending my first
ever Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, he asked if I could help out with
merch at his two after-fest shows, Friday with the Freakons and Saturday
opening for Billy Bragg. It would have
been enough that the latter was at the legendary Great American Music Hall, but
he also gave me a backstage pass for the festival. Once I saw the backdrop banner on the Banjo
stage featuring his distinctive artwork honoring founder Warren Hellman, I
realized he was a VIP at this festival.
9 Lagunitas. The
California brewery provided two kinds of pale ale backstage, the easy drinking
“daytime” ale and the stronger, equally delicious IPA. It’s like they know me. Having access to cold beer all day long was
equaled by having clean, no line bathrooms.
I can’t thank you enough Mr. Langford.
10 Conor Oberst.
Maybe I was a little drunk, blame the Lagunitas, but this Conor Oberst
set was the best thing I saw all weekend, maybe all year. It made me so ridiculously happy that I was smiling
and almost crying (tears of joy) the entire time. Backed by the Felice Brothers, who had wowed
me earlier in the day despite a history of disappointment, Oberst also brought
up other guests from his “Conor Brings Friends for Friday” line-up, including
the sweet voiced sisters from First Aid Kit.
I’d missed them to watch Father John Misty, but despite the fact that
they were girls, and that there were two of them, I think I would have liked
them. I predict a non-stop diet of
Bright Eyes in my future.
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