You probably also found yourself in the midst of 23,000 people that managed, despite the staggering odds, to keep smiles on their faces and their bodies in motion for a good part of sixty-four-plus hours. The Gathering has become one of the premier events of the jam band world, and this, the fifth annual outing, certainly had its share of mishaps. Lightning struck some concertgoers; several mismanaged facilities became pretty offensive by the third day; hours of torrential rainstorms delayed the Saturday Night Jam until 1 a.m. But despite these occasional shortcomings, the festival had an overwhelming amount of magical musical moments.
Unfortunately, several people who, assuming the storm-induced lack of power to the stage meant that the show was not going to start up again, slept through the late night jam. Communication was lacking at that point; perhaps a small, ancillary sound system for announcements would have solved a lot of the problem. But in true show biz fashion, the show went on, starting at one am and lasting till just about four!
Those that did witness the late night jam, which featured Blue Floyd (members of the Black Crowes, Govt. Mule, the Oakley-Kreiger Band, and The Allman Brothers playing Pink Floyd tunes, done up blues style… get the name?) acting as the house band, saw Ray Manzarek of the Doors lead a tribute to Jim Morrison while guest Buddy Miles (of Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys) handled vocals on great versions of “Light My Fire,” “Red House,” and many more Doors and Hendrix tunes.
The audience was then treated to a Janis Joplin medley, with Blue Floyd still acting as the house band. Bassist Tina Weymouth, known for her work with Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club (who themselves played one of the finer sets of the day), joined with Deep Banana Blackout during this funky set that kept the audience grooving.
Ending the night was a Jimi Hendrix Tribute, during which fireworks were set off to a somewhat overrated Robert Randall on pedal steel and, of course, Blue Floyd still going strong. Featuring numerous additional guests in a stellar homage to the guitar icon, the evening (or should I say morning) ended just before sunrise. All in attendance were numb from a muddy, boot shaking set!
I must mention Les Claypool and his Frog Brigade, who finished the first night’s music with another rain-delayed/abbreviated set that was, nonetheless, amazing. He jumped from one cover song to the next with unceasing aplomb. His quirky, funky, meandering bass lines, along with his equally idiosyncratic approach to music in general, left the audience wanting more.
The third day kicked off with a great set by Dickie Betts and Band. The ex-Allman Brother, ousted unceremoniously last year by the band after thirty years of service, still managed to sound pretty damned good, doing a quick, seamless move from “Franklin’s Tower” into “Blue Sky” that would have made Duane proud. As a matter of fact, he played so sweetly that the sun shone until he walked off the stage. Of course, no day at this year’s Gathering would have been complete without torrential rain and severe electrical storms. But before the storms rolled in once again, Strangefolk was able to pull off a mighty fine set that included many tunes from their great new disc.
As Deep Banana Blackout left the stage, the clouds let loose, followed by deadly lightning bolts that caused the power to, once again, be turned off for hours. By six o’clock, this reporter, having had enough, packed up his tent and gear and headed to a hotel, hoping to wash up, dry off, and get reacquainted with society as most people know it. I’ve heard that if I stuck it out another three hours, I would have been privy to some amazing sets by Bruce Horsnby, Jon Scofield, and Medeski, Martin and Wood. I wish I could have, but I guess for me, the weather won in the final stretch.
Man against nature, man at one with nature, I’m not quite sure where this weekend stands in the scheme of things. I do know one thing: The Gathering of The Vibes was truly that, rain, mud, shit, and all… a great, positive, collectively beautiful consciousness that one couldn’t help but be a part of and feel soothed by. But, then again, was that all due to the massive amount of weed being smoked?
Red Hook, NY
June 29 – July 1, 2001
(With Les Claypool and The Frog Brigade, Ray Manzarek of The Doors, The Tom Tom Club, Medeski, Martin and Wood, Bruce Hornsby, Strangefolk, Jon Scofield, Deep Banana Blackout, and many more)
review and photos by j bloomrosen
