I arrived at MMMF on Friday morning just after 8 a.m. After getting through the campground check-in (which was a bear this year), we made our way to our camping spots…in less than an hour, we had our whole campsite setup and we were ready to start mingling!
2 local bands started off the festival early Friday afternoon. Mikel Lander & Meridith Moore w/ Friends played the first slot and brought a pleasant mix of jazz, blues and funk. Meridith pulled me in with her strong vocals and Mikel kept me dancing with his smooth guitar playing. It was really fun to see some swing dancers up on stage with them as they performed! One of the highlights was when they played an impressive cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready”. The Steve Reynolds band followed and the horns definitely intrigued me and got me on my feet! I really enjoyed “Mission Temple Fireworks Stand” – originally by Paul Thorn. The subdudes from New Orleans were up next and performed a short set due to some technical difficulties. I was impressed with their sound so I was upset when they ended as I was having a great time dancing! Looking out around the crowd, it seems everyone was definitely enjoying themselves! Fantastic weather, groovy music, and wonderful friends! Who could ask for more!
I also noticed the anticipation building for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals! They were the only band that was invited back after their performance last year and their name came up quite a bit in conversations I had with all my friends about what artists they were most excited to see this year…and, they did not disappoint!
Let me tell you – there is nothing sexier than a beautiful woman that can wail on a Hammond organ, guitar, and tambourine (not all at the same time of course!) while singing with one of the most soulful voices I have heard in a long time! I think my fiancé may have been a bit jealous! J They worked the crowd by playing a mix of songs from their newest album (“Stop the Bus” was very nice) along with some known songs off their earlier albums. “Treat Me Right” and “Joey” were definite standouts for me! For the second year, Grace and the boys were incredible and made a life-long fan out of me! I can see why bands like Phil Lesh & Friends, the Black Crowes, and Dave Matthews Band want this group opening for them this summer!!
Let me break from my review of the music to mention the scenery…I can’t even begin to describe the beautiful backdrop to the stage! The McDowell Mountains were stunning as they turned almost purple as the sun set. And the break from the sun was nice and seemed to put everyone in an even better mood – if that’s possible!
Robert Randolph and the Family Band came out and kept the energy level to the sky! From the moment Mr. Randolph sat down at his pedal steel, it was non-stop dancing time! Chock full of funk and soul, the band knows how to entertain! I have never seen anyone enjoy themselves more on stage than Robert Randolph – at one point, laying down on his chair and throwing his legs up in the air! Always a smile on his face! He worked the crowd into a frenzy playing “The March”, “Shake Your Hips” and closing the set with “Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That”.
The headliner for the day was Gov’t Mule with Warren Haynes. Definitely rock-n-roll at it’s finest; the boys of Gov’t Mule also infuse blues and jazz into their set. You can definitely see the band playing off each other as they play. It almost seems at times that they are not even aware of the large audience in front of them…they almost get lost in the music…and I’m almost glad they are because it makes it that much better! They are just really into the music and I can feel it and it draws me in even more! I was happily surprised to hear Hunger Strike with a slight segue into “Dear Mr. Fantasy” in the middle. Grace Potter and guitarist Scott Tournet of the Nocturnals joined the band on stage for a blazing rendition of Al Green’s “Take Me to the River. Another special moment was when Robert Randolph came on stage to jam with the boys on “Soulshine” to finish out the evening. Gov’t Mule will outlast the test of time with their huge guitar riffs and stand-out jams.
Stay tuned for my review of the Saturday lineup! Sorry it’s taking me so long to get these reviews done! It’s definitely a lot harder than I thought! J But, with more and more practice I’ll be able to churn these reviews out in no time! J