Sunday, August 12, 2012

GOTV Seaside Park Bridgeport 7/19-22/12

What can I say, another year, another vibes. Camped in Boardie-land thanks to Sneaky Jack and crew for securing the real estate. With the Pleasuredome assembled we started the dance known as GOTV.
   Thursday 7/19: Lucid starts us out with some funky jamminess hailing from Plattsburgh. George Porter Jr. and the Runnin Pardners brought some nawlins style had a good cover of Billy Preston's Round in Circles.  Main stage puts up Yonder Mountain String Band. Colorado product plays great slam grass could have used a jammy Snow On the Pines, but good set overall. Dark Star Orchestra's signature Thurs night slot suits them. The show was culled from Alpine Valley in the mid-80s and had all kinds of grateful gold. Late-night was the Royal Family Ball featuring Soulive and Lettuce. Not as smoking at Lettuce a few years back, somebody could have spiked Kras' lemonade to kick it up a notch.
   Friday 7/20: Start off with Vermont offering Twiddle who play a jammy mixture of Zappa-esque prog. After a dip in the sound, we see 7 Walkers featuring Bill Kreutzmann and more George Porter and Papa Mali giving us a bluesy swamp-thing. Second stage had the rocking outfit Bad Rabbits with a stellar frontman. Who said Karl Denson wasn't with the Greyboy Allstars? Veteran sax-flute man Denson delivered an Allstar set with this signature seminal jam group. Local group Kung Fu scorched the second stage with their full-on rock show. This band is ready for the main stage. Bob Weir with Bruce Hornsby and Branford Marsalis give a fairly tame jam-lite short offering, seems like these guys are showing their age. After Bobby, Phil and Friends take the main stage. As usual, Jackie Greene owns this stage. Late-night shows Conspirator with the Gigantic Underground Conspiracy. Members of the Disco Biscuits and the Motet drum and bass the night away.
   Saturday 7/21: Dweezil Zappa mines his father's catalog for some St Alfonso type Frank fix. Local duo Mates of State did not seem out of place at this festival. Go for a swim and back for Mickey Hart Band. Global drum group with nice front woman vocals made up for Weir' lackluster Dead offering. Skip the Strangefolk reunion and make it back for Primus. Les Claypool made more friends since last time at the vibes, could be their new release Green Naugahyde. Weak Floyd tribute The Machine could have used a better light show. Late-late night showed excellent jam group Papadosio who played the 4-5Am slot.....that's right, I said 4-5AM slot.
   Sunday 7/22: My favorite, Keller Williams blisters an early Sunday slot. Skip the mid-day festivities to break down camp. Ended the day with a bang with ALO on the second stage. Over to the main stage for a Sunday dose of reggae with Steel Pulse who rolled through Hansworth Revolution and other hits. Was really looking forward to Toubab Krewe a global mashup of afro-appalachian grooves, they were great! Ended the day with one of my faces the Avett Brothers. Seth and Scott added some other members to create a fuller sound. Always a success, GOTV is a go to event of the summer. Peace to all involved

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