As the sun set on the second day of Festy Fest a fantastic lineup of bands came on both stages, providing continuous, rockin music all night. Lawrence's fourth annual Festy Fest music festival was the biggest yet, with great local bands and friends from other states came to play together for three days straight.
The open fields and forested path between stages were soft but comfortable after days of rain last week, with perfect weather all day Saturday for the outdoor festival. Despite the humidity a day earlier, there were no bugs, and a cool breeze to keep hot bodies from getting tired too early.
Mouth really got the crowd going on Stage 2 around 8:30 p.m. with funky, dance jams. The audience filled the tent with dancing bodies, and surrounded it with folks chillin on their blankets. The band had Evan Leitnaker adding extra percussion beats and rhythms to their own funky jam, making it a more intricate, exciting experience. The band finished a rockstar set just in time for the crowd to migrate back to Stage 1 for Mountain Sprout.
Unfortunately for Mountain Sprout, the sound technician working behind the scenes was messing up horribly. Despite the band's best efforts to put on a good show, playing many of their best songs with their signature wild energy, issues with the band's ability to hear themselves, and microphones cutting out made it difficult to get into the music. Fortunately it wasn't long before another awesome band would be playing on the second stage.
Sonic Sutra jammed with fierce passion on Stage 2, crowding the tent with pumped up music lovers getting groovy. The local minstrels played their hearts out to an audience that loves them, and made the night theirs for a while. Even so, the fans were eager to get back to Stage 1 in time for Split Lip Rayfield.
The punky bluegrass trio took the already-hyped crowd and blasted off with the energy. The band broke out some of their best hits, getting everyone cheering and dancing. Split Lip Rayfield always puts on a great show, and held the audience until the end of their set.
Soon after Split Lip was over, The Floozies got going on Stage 2. The Hill brothers rocked out, when their equipment was working, but once again sound guys were doing their worst. Right in the middle of great jams and funky dance tunes the synthesizer would suddenly go mute, as if the sound guy had simply unplugged the amps. Mark kept on with the drums for a time, to make up for the awkward silence, but there's nothing worse than an awesome song getting cut short.
Somasphere was up next with heavy, electronic drum and bass. The thumping, pumping beats make this band's shows a dance party. By this time of the night the audience was going full-throttle, and Somasphere rode with the energy, making the night feel endless.
Last, but not least Rocket Science came on, throwing down sick beats and rhythms for a dance party to get funky with. IDM, or Intelligent Dance Music is too clever and slick to resist getting down to. Everyone at the festival was still raging it throughout the set that started at 3:30 p.m.
Aside from the weak sound guys messing things up for some of the great bands' sets, Saturday night was an epic first taste of the festival season starting up.
Next week: Summer Camp Music Festival!
Showing posts with label Mountain Sprout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mountain Sprout. Show all posts
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
3 Son Green, Dirtfoot and Mountain Sprout shake up the Bottleneck
Saturday night promised to be full of excitement when a crowd of eager fans was gathered for the opener, 3 Son Green. The young band of four plays with a talent beyond their years - some still appeared to have X's on their hands - filling the venue with a strong jam of funky, jazzy tunes that got the dance floor shaking. Playing cover songs as well as their own music, 3 Son Green started the night off right, and impressed audience members who came with high expectations for the veterans of Dirtfoot and Mountain Sprout.
It was an odd transition from the poppy, rocking jams of 3 Son Green to the jazzy, folk rock of Dirtfoot, but the crowd went with it with ease, as Dirtfoot got interactive, asking the audience to shout out words to follow the chorus' of different songs. Cans of beans are handed out at every Dirtfoot show, so fans and add their own rhythm to the songs, making everyone feel more involved with the music. As written in past reviews, Dirtfoot puts on an incredible live show, with talent and energy that cannot be beat.
Mountain Sprout came on shortly after Dirtfoot finished, taking up the crowd's energy and rolling it even higher, as they always do. The four bluegrass masters have added a girl with a saw to their band, who gives a haunting extra sound to some of the songs. For a few songs the washboard player from Dirtfoot joined too. Mountain Sprout plays with a passion that only the most hardcore party animals could have. Also written about in past reviews, Mountain Sprout is one of the best bluegrass acts out there, and it's a stroke of great luck that they come all the way from Arkansas to play for us in Lawrence and Kansas City.
It's ridiculous that 3 bands of such great talent can play at a venue like the Bottleneck for just $7. Only in a musical paradise like Lawrence. If only this show had been advertised more, I would have previewed it!
Don't miss them at Festy Fest here in Lawrence; they are scheduled to play the second night, Saturday, May 22nd, at 9:15 p.m. They will also be playing at Wakarusa this summer, along with Dirtfoot - and 3 Son Green, I believe!
It was an odd transition from the poppy, rocking jams of 3 Son Green to the jazzy, folk rock of Dirtfoot, but the crowd went with it with ease, as Dirtfoot got interactive, asking the audience to shout out words to follow the chorus' of different songs. Cans of beans are handed out at every Dirtfoot show, so fans and add their own rhythm to the songs, making everyone feel more involved with the music. As written in past reviews, Dirtfoot puts on an incredible live show, with talent and energy that cannot be beat.
Mountain Sprout came on shortly after Dirtfoot finished, taking up the crowd's energy and rolling it even higher, as they always do. The four bluegrass masters have added a girl with a saw to their band, who gives a haunting extra sound to some of the songs. For a few songs the washboard player from Dirtfoot joined too. Mountain Sprout plays with a passion that only the most hardcore party animals could have. Also written about in past reviews, Mountain Sprout is one of the best bluegrass acts out there, and it's a stroke of great luck that they come all the way from Arkansas to play for us in Lawrence and Kansas City.
It's ridiculous that 3 bands of such great talent can play at a venue like the Bottleneck for just $7. Only in a musical paradise like Lawrence. If only this show had been advertised more, I would have previewed it!
Don't miss them at Festy Fest here in Lawrence; they are scheduled to play the second night, Saturday, May 22nd, at 9:15 p.m. They will also be playing at Wakarusa this summer, along with Dirtfoot - and 3 Son Green, I believe!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
From Quiet Arms and Flashbulb Fires rock the Bottleneck Wednesday night, then Mountain Sprout throws down on Friday at the Bottleneck
It was another wild week at the Bottleneck!
Wednesday night, my friend from works' band, From Quiet Arms opened for Flashbulb Fires, a rock band from Denver.
From Quiet Arms got the lions' share of the crowd, because they're a local band, with a steady following. Their passionate, harmonic rock songs pull at your heart strings and get your head banging. They jammed hard. In fact, too hard, because at one point one of the guitarists broke a string on his guitar.
Flashbulb Fires demonstrated some obvious talent. They were in town a few nights, playing at other venues, I heard. But, at the Bottleneck on Wednesday they had virtually no one in front of the stage to listen. Obviously it's always hard when a small band comes to a new town, but I was surprised that they didn't at least hold the crowd that was there for From Quiet Arms.
In any case, From Quiet Arms played a fantastic set, and I can't wait for their next show. There's rumor that the band may change their name. If they do, I'll be sure to clarify on this blog, so you know the band I'm talking about.
Friday night, Mountain Sprout was playing with Adam Lee & Dead Horse Sound Company, and Tin Horn Molly,
I missed the opening bands, chilling at a friends' house. But when I made it, Mountain Sprout was playing and my friends were all on the dance floor.
Mountain Sprout virtually always plays an amazing set, and this night was no different. They played all my favorites. Their songs can be lewd, crude, but always a riot. They're usually either fun to sing along to, or easy to dance to. A Mountain Sprout show is like a really great party, with everyone drinking heavy, and dancing carefree. The band encourages all the hedonism necessary to get a crowd krunk. Sure enough, we were all swaying to the songs with a little more oomph to the songs by the end of the night. Over all, it was a fantastic night.
I still need to look ahead on the calendar to figure out what shows I'll be excited to see. Stay tuned.
Wednesday night, my friend from works' band, From Quiet Arms opened for Flashbulb Fires, a rock band from Denver.
From Quiet Arms got the lions' share of the crowd, because they're a local band, with a steady following. Their passionate, harmonic rock songs pull at your heart strings and get your head banging. They jammed hard. In fact, too hard, because at one point one of the guitarists broke a string on his guitar.
Flashbulb Fires demonstrated some obvious talent. They were in town a few nights, playing at other venues, I heard. But, at the Bottleneck on Wednesday they had virtually no one in front of the stage to listen. Obviously it's always hard when a small band comes to a new town, but I was surprised that they didn't at least hold the crowd that was there for From Quiet Arms.
In any case, From Quiet Arms played a fantastic set, and I can't wait for their next show. There's rumor that the band may change their name. If they do, I'll be sure to clarify on this blog, so you know the band I'm talking about.
Friday night, Mountain Sprout was playing with Adam Lee & Dead Horse Sound Company, and Tin Horn Molly,
I missed the opening bands, chilling at a friends' house. But when I made it, Mountain Sprout was playing and my friends were all on the dance floor.
Mountain Sprout virtually always plays an amazing set, and this night was no different. They played all my favorites. Their songs can be lewd, crude, but always a riot. They're usually either fun to sing along to, or easy to dance to. A Mountain Sprout show is like a really great party, with everyone drinking heavy, and dancing carefree. The band encourages all the hedonism necessary to get a crowd krunk. Sure enough, we were all swaying to the songs with a little more oomph to the songs by the end of the night. Over all, it was a fantastic night.
I still need to look ahead on the calendar to figure out what shows I'll be excited to see. Stay tuned.
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