Green River Festival 7/14/12 Greenfield MA

Always a spot on my calendar for Green River. The Saturday lineup slightly (and only slightly!) trumped the Sunday bill. Ok so here goes: Park in the Emu line and make it to field before the music starts. Mainstage has Sara Lee Guthrie and husband Johnny Irion, standard folkie set gearing up for Woody's 100th birthday celebration closer. Dance tent had Rebirth Brass Band steamin up a set of Nawlins funk, good cover of All Over Now by the Stones.  Made it back to the main stage for David Wax Museum's finale Maria (see Fall 2011 entry at Bar).  Saw poppy Brooklynites Lake Street Dive who have matured recently. My man Chuck Prophet kicked it: Storm Across the Sea, Temple Beautiful, Left Hand-Right Hand, Friend To You (for Alejandro E), Summertime Thing, Who Put The Bomp closed out. This crowd had a real treat to see Chuck in all his smartass glory. I know I saw him a few months ago at the Nine, but he is always great. Caught the end of Pokey Lafarge, no relation to Gumby, sometimes the old timey gets too old timey which can be a problem. Back up to the main stage for Charles Bradley and the Extraordinaires who was a James Brown disciple captured by Daptone records and got the Sharon Jones treatment. Must have been hot in his mustard velour suit.  JD McPherson, from Oklahoma has been getting much buzz from critics. He had some Jerry Lee Lewis mannerisms and great songwriting, he rocked the sweltering dance tent with his old-turned-new style. Spanglish Fly was next in the dance tent. Brooklyn-latin boogaloo fronted by this sequined sultry front woman they had a song with the refrain "get up off your butt and ride your bike". Mainstage featured Los Lobos, I was thinking that the lineup, except drummer, was the same as I saw in a parking lot at URI in 1982. Will the Wolf Survive, Don't Worry Baby, In the Neighborhood, Kiko, Saint Behind The Glass, and all the deadheads were bopping to their reading of West LA Fadeaway. Show closed with the Guthrie family reunion, with Arlo leading the charge. Airline to Heaven, Show and Tell, Shit makes the Flowers Grow. Excellent day!

Wye Oak w/ Other Colors 7/5/12 The Space Hamden CT

Other Colors, from Baltimore was a pop trio. Drums, bass, 8-string looping guitar and vocals. Tight song structure but these guys were young. Many songs in the high vocal register will a problem as these lads age, but good for them for living in the moment. Wye Oak are a duo. Guy on drums,synths, and sometimes bass. Girl on looping 12-string and vocals. These two got a lot of noise out, but the songs seemed repetitive. Sing, shred, sing again was their m.o. I liked their newer material. They got a "request" for an older song that sounded....old, like before they got good. I give them props, no a/c at the Space makes a July event with a capacity crowd a sweatbox they did well to not melt before our eyes.