A few years back in talking with folks at Newport, photographers in the Pit, friends running sound at various stages, production folks in general I was continuously asked “oh man, so are you ready for the next 3 days?”. Not completely in the “oh man this is going to be amazing” sort of way, but more so a “oh man this is going to be amazing, but we are going to be working out asses off” sort of way. Even my wife noticed a difference this year. I wasn’t hanging on the blanket as much as I used to, watching sets together, rather I was backstage when I had a minute filming interviews or portrait sessions. Which she reluctantly, but graciously, understands. In some ways my attending of this festival is a job…albeit, the greatest job in the world. It wasn’t until this year that I truly felt that…and I guess in part, it was a baptism by fire of some fashion deeper into the chasm that is the Newport Folk Festival and the family that surrounds it. True be told, it’s completely fine by me if I never get out of it.
The biggest theme for the festival this year was that…Family. A host of artists I don’t merely value the music of, but also the friendship and something much deeper were gracing the stage this weekend and it all started on Friday with a long list of people I couldn’t wait to see on that hallowed ground.
As I tend to do, I caught some of the Open Mic in the Museum and was happily surprised to see Brian Dolzani on the list for open mic. I have heard a lot of his music, but we haven’t officially met in the flesh, so it was great to catch him. He really has something special in his songs and it was great to see him in my favorite little stage at NFF.
Haunt the House was the first official act to kick off this year’s event and one of the sets that I was most looking forward to. If you have kept up with my writing here it is no secret that Bessie, Amato and Will are 3 people who mean a whole lot to me. Their music is the type that burrows deep and stays long after the music stops. Their first 2 songs also included previously band members, Allysen Callery and Stephen Lloyd Law, in what I found to be a nice homage to the band as it was during the last album, Jack Rabbit Jones…but when the two departed, it’s when the set really got emotional. They came prepared to flood the audience that day with heart and emotion. For 45 minutes, they harmonized, and at times while hesitant, engaged us all in something truly special. My eyes weren’t dry for any of those minutes and their performances of ‘Vampyre’ and set closer ‘Jesus Christ’ had me nearly audibly weeping because I was moved to it…it didn’t really matter how public it was, it was just so special.
Luckily, I was able to catch the tail end of The Goodbye Girls. The musicianship And the attained by all 4 of these ladies is unbelievable. harmonies…man they give me chills. This quartet, they are the sweethearts of the bluegrass music community.
I wasn’t fully planning on checking in on the Converse Rubber Tracks, but alas, it was in the Museum and what I heard of Honeysuckle I loved and the Ghost of Paul Revere are always a rollicking good time. Honeysuckle was on first and I checked out a few songs from them. Holly has a gorgeous tone to her voice and their interplay off one another was divine. Everything really works in this band very well. It is great to see up and coming acts with such a focus on roots music. I spoke with them about seeing Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch around the Fort and they were ecstatic as they are all big fans of their music and you can hear inflections of that in their own original stuff. Ghost of Paul Revere, well, it was hard for the museum to contain those boys. A foot stomping good time and the crowd was on their feet, clapping and hollering along for the duration.
I very briefly caught Joe Pug for a song or two and am regretting that I didn’t stick around longer. He has this restrained confidence that lends itself to a huge stage presence. His songwriting is great, very Prine-esque or even bordering on Dylan. And the band around him was prime. I know I am hooked into an artist when I am in the photo pit for as long as they will let me and I only come out with a few shots because I am so caught up in what is unfolding on stage. Needless to say, I only got a few shots of Joe Pug.
Elephant Revival was a true pleasant surprise to me. I had heard some of their stuff previously, but the energy that the band harnesses was one of greatness. Swapping song leading duties was great, and getting to see Charlie Rose on a Newport stage again was a real treat.
Leon Bridges…I didn’t know which to pay more attention to: the man’s soulful and warm honeyed voice or how his feet danced around the stage underneath his body. There was a light shining out from the stage during Bridges’ set. The Quad was transported back into a time where Otis Redding and Sam Cooke would be gracing stages. Everything about this set was just magic. Pure soul.
The Wildwood Revival stage is literally where I parked butt from 2:30 all the way until 5:30. Never moving out of the Museum (not even for the Del’s I had been pining for since the morning time…ok fine, I already had two by this point but who is counting?). (note…Wildwood will get it’s own review in a separate feature because it deserves that much attention).
I have always been and always will be a fan of the Watkins. Sara’s voice is like a damn angel and her fiddle playing is great. Sean Watkins is easily the most underrated guitar player in the game today. The guy can pick like a tornando, quick and fierce, notes spiraling forth from the sound hole of his guitar. A monster. And the way in which Fiona Apple seemed at one point completely detached, zoned out, sitting down on the stage rocking in a trance to popping up and absolutely killing each and every note she sang, it was a juxtaposition of epic proportions and entertaining to see unfold. The band was prime, running down a setlist of great cover tunes and a couple old favorites (even a Nickelcreek tune). The highlight was Joe Pug joining them on stage for Brokedown Palace. Swapping verses and singing harmonies all together. It just felt like we were back in their living room, friends playing for thousands of people, but still comfortable and loose and just normal. Another thing about Newport that is so special, artists can feel comfortable in that way. We are all in it together. (moments later I saw Pug in the parking lot looking for a taxi and asked “weren’t you JUST on stage over there?”…man, that gent can move quick)
Day 1…we are tired, we head to the hotel eat a baguette with cheese and apples and pass the heck out until the next morning bright and early…