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| March Fourth Marching Band - in flight! (Robert Pollock photo) |
They might as well start running a commuter train between the Grammy, Americana, Country, and Blues Awards stages and Magnolia Fest in Live Oak, Florida, judging by the bevy of winners at Magfest Oct.16-19.
We got to see Lyle Lovett (three Grammys,) Rodney Crowell (Two Grammys, including a Best Americana Album win last year with Emmylou Harris,) Jason Isbell (who won Artist, Song and Album of the Year at this year’s Americana Music Awards,) Banjoist extraordinaire Bela Fleck (15 Grammys) and his wife (also a kick-ass banjo player,) Abigail Washburn, New Orleans powerhouse Marcia Ball (Two-time winner of Best Contemporary Female Artist at the Blues Music Awards plus a 1999 performance at the White House with B.B. King and Della Reese on her resume,) Jim Lauderdale (Two Grammys, numerous country and Americana awards,) The Indigo Girls (Best Contemporary Folk Album Grammy and dozens of Billboard hits,) And Dr. John (Six Grammys, plus he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.)
Well, it was all dizzyingly fantastic, rushing from one fine performance to another and seeing musicians at the top of their game over there in the paradise of clear, bright-sky days and autumn moon nights.
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| Abigail Washburn (Mandy Pichler photo) |
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| Tara Nevins of Donna the Buffalo (festgrrl photo) |
Lyle Lovett hit it out of the park Saturday night at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park’s gorgeous ampitheater stage, delivering one of the finest performances of the many incredible performances I’ve seen there over the years. He's a funny storyteller, an earnest crooner, and a steppy Texas swing bandleader. His plaintive solo performance of the haunting “Nobody Knows Me” was a one-way trip to Goose-bump City. The “Acoustic Group” band he brought with him on this run was a procession of virtuoso players, and each gave an impressive solo during the encore. Lovett showed himself as the classy, accomplished musician he is. Campground joke: "How many times did Lyle Lovett make you cry?" (festgrrl: Three.)
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| Lule Lovett and his killer acoustic band (Mandy Pichler photo) |
Jason Isbell, fresh off his Americana Awards for song, album and artist of the year, also gave a soulful performance Thursday night to a hushed crowd gathered beneath the live oaks and Spanish moss. Playing off his excellent solo album,
Southeastern, the former Drive-By Truckers front man showed off his gorgeous vocal range and heart-tugging lyrics. The crowd went wild when he launched into his Americana breakthrough hit, “Cover Me Up.”
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| Jason Isbell (Michael Kaiz photo) |
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| MagFest Fan Loving Life (festgrrl photo) |
The Indigo Girls, two Georgia friends who met in elementary school and started making music together in high school, showed they haven’t lost a bit of their vocal prowess since they hit the big time 27 years ago; their harmonies are still gorgeous and strong and their lyrics rock.
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| The Indigo Girls (Michael Kaiz photo) |
New Orleans guitarist-singer Anders Osborne, whom
Paste magazine calls “a triple threat as a singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist,” delivered a blistering late-night Saturday set which featured a nice cover of Neil Young’s “Cowgirl in the Sand.” You’re never sure what the eclectic Osborne is going to break out, but one thing is sure, this guy is a master guitar player who just keeps topping his own magic.
Dr. John – who replaced his long-time band (The Lower 911) with new musicians (The Nite Trippers) last year -- brought a big-time show, spinning out his hits and some deep New Orleans funk. The set featured a seriously cool trombone solo performance by Sarah Morrow, who toured previously with Ray Charles and was introduced by Dr. John as his "Musical Directress."
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| Dr. John (Michael Kaiz photo) |
As is always the case at this musical bonanza of riches, there were quite a few lesser-known acts I had to miss due to cool campfire picking and general socializing (plus a wee bit of sleep.) But here are some younger bands and artists I saw who are worth seeing if you get the chance:
March Fourth Marching Band is simply a phenomenon: a Burlesque, acrobatic marching band that delivers hard-charging power funk and world beat. They have outrageous costumes, and hot go-go dancers and pole dancers on stilts, doing acrobatic tricks. Just amazing. This Portland, Oregon act had everybody talking, just like they did at their last Spirit of the Suwannee performance (at Bear Creek Music & Arts Festival.) I don't care what you have to do to get to see this band, just do it!
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| March Fourth Marching Band (Robert Pollock photo0 |
The Nikki Talley Trio owned the ampitheater stage for their first-ever performance on the big stage there, and they are an up-and-coming act to watch. Nikki Talley has soul and powerful vocal chops, and both were on glorious display. Her guitarist husband, Jason, and collaborator bassist Ashleigh Caudill, put on the harmonies to blend with Talley’s gorgeous vocals. If you have not heard this girl sing, do yourself a favor and look her up, she is touring the South quite a bit.
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| Nikki Talley (festgrrl photo) |
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| Chris Mule of the Honey Island Swamp Band (festgrrl photo) |
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| The Parker Urban Band from Jacksonville killin' it (festgrrl photo) |
Sunday night closed out with The New Orleans Suspects (excellent) followed by a beautiful set by our friends Donna The Buffalo, which was part Cajun-dance party, part folk revival and just a jamtastic treat for the die-hards still hanging on at the end of a beautiful weekend.
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| Jeb Puryeat of Donna the Buffalo (festgrrl photo) |
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