I think this will be my last set of the weekend, but maybe best for last with partners-in-crime Mary Halvorson and Tomas Fujiwara making guitar/drum magic inside, while a storm passes through.
This fest is really midway between Newport Folk and Big Ears as seen through Wilco-colored glasses, except shrunk down considerably to fit in an art museum complex in Western Mass. Wide, diverse music offerings with one of the tightest demographic distributions for a musical gathering of this size. Thankfully I personally fit comfortably in there, so I'm largely loving it and will definitely be back.
So awesome that there's space at this festival for a set like this in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. The live debut of Saccata Quartet, two drums, guitar, and bass. Nels Cline at his most untethered, Chris Corsano Corsano'n pretty hard, Glenn Kotche fully freeform and Darin Grey on no-rules bass. Wild shit, with some moments of serious transcendence, when it only really takes one.
Today: Finom with a true surprise-ish pop-up set on the final day of Solid Sound. See how long I last today. Vacation beckons lol.
And finally, late stop #2 = one of the finest guitarists to ever do it, in my inexpert opinion, Marc Ribot doing the livescore improv thing to a silent film.
Got to see two of my favorite all-timer guitarists both do film livescoring in a single week. Who's lucky af?
Late stop #1 = one of the best things going these days, in my inexpert opinion, Mikaela Davis and that dreamy jam-machine Southern Star...
Solid Sound: no overlapping sets, so you never have to choose!
Also Solid Sound: Did I say never? I meant never *except* for the late Saturday slot when you're literally going to have to choose between two of your favorite artists.
Band is totally shredding, these guys kinda rule. Then lead singer is like we've never done this before, but we're gonna bring someone to join us and I'm thinking holymoly they're gonna bring up Nels Cline, but then Jeff Tweedy sits in and sings one which was very cool in a very different way.
Rain on and off all day, but nothing deal-breaking. Music has been very killer. First time seeing Water From Your Eyes and they are killing it. Definitely a weekend highlight.
neddyo
LairdJames