Show Review

Arguably the best festival of the summer, almost 20,000 people descended on the small Minnesota town of Detroit Lakes, for the 10,000 Lakes Festival on July 19-22, 2006. The fourth year of this festival featured more of a jamband scene than previously, and included many top favorite acts and many regional artists, on the permanent fairground facilities that hosts the very large country music festival, We Fest.

The music began Wednesday evening, featuring more of the “local” artists, including Enchanted Ape, Cosmic Railroad, New Primitives, Gold Standard, Turbine (the dynamic now more than duo from New York), Bockman and the highlight before midnight of Duluth’s own, Trampled by Turtles (a band we had heard about even on vacation in Chicago), whose mixed-up version of non-traditional bluegrass combined with punk, rock and pop, is creating a larger and larger fan base almost daily

The music continued until well past 1:00 a.m. Thursday morning with Unity, The Breakfast, The Samples and Down Lo, as the festival attendees continued to arrive and fill the many campgrounds at Soo Pass Ranch, including Northwoods Camp, Lake Sallie, Blue Ox and Viking.

The official "Shakedown Street" emerged in the middle of the field, with many goods for sale, and representatives from organizations including; Rock the Earth (currently focusing on their work with the Colorado and St. Johns Rivers, and a special project with the northwest Hawaiian Islands), Rock the Vote (encouraging participation in politics) and Conscious Alliance (continuing their amazing work in feeding the hungry through donated canned goods exchanged for special artist posters along their tour routes).

After the previous day of Minnesota rain, the beautiful weather near the Lakes (both Big and Little Detroit) continued as Thursday’s festivities began in the early afternoon with Stellar Road playing in the Saloon (a real saloon, decorated with tapestries for this event), before Trampled by Turtles once again stomped the crowd at the Barn Stage for ninety minutes (albeit mostly playing from their usual sitting positions). Known for pounding out their funked-up bluegrass music, the large, packed audience seemed more excited than the exhilarated band members.

Garaj Mahal, led by Fareed Haque, pulled the crowd away to the front of the Field Stage at 2:00 p.m. With Alan Hertz in his pink sunglasses and bandana, singing “it don’t mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing” but changing the lyrics to “Levy swing”, and “Perkins swing”, as Steven Perkins formerly of Jane’s Addiction popped out on stage and banged on the drums along with Alan. Eric Levy, in his knitted cap, was channeling a serious vibe as the percussion only increased throughout their set.

Meanwhile, at the Saloon, several other bands, including Hyentyte and Family Groove Company pleased the crowd before Tea Leaf Green packed the sloping area in front of the red barn, singing “if you want to stay”. As the weekend had barely begun, we didn’t have to even ponder that question as we listened to their sweet, harmonic sounds, including the three part "The Garden", and "Planet of Green Love>Sex in the 70's (building on their unannounced show the evening before).

While the SCI fan carried his handwritten cardboard sign around the Barn area pleading “can I get a Rivertrance,” on the Field Stage (near the water misters and the tenting creating extra shade) Steve Kimock and Stephen Perkins played almost two hours of their unique collaborative mix, whilst the energetic trumpet player, Willie Waldman, in a colorful shirt (layered over a multi-color tie-dye), changed instruments from silver to gold frequently.

The fans' screams for O.A.R. could be heard backstage of the Main Stage, as the audience grew in anticipation of the night’s main act, yet to come. Playing what some fans termed a generic setlist, the ninety minutes included their special tune "Heard The World" written last year as a lament to what's important in a world of fear, before "Anyway" a song they turned into one expressing their love of music, and it's place in the world that cannot be denied. Towards the end of the show, after the Elvis Costello cover of "Watching The Detectives", many fans threw decks of cards in the air during "That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker", decorating the ground for the rest of the evening, before they ended with "Nasim Joon">"Hey Girl."

With the backdrop rising and bubbles blowing in the wind, the “Wizard” announced the barefoot boys asking is “everybody out there happy” before reminding everybody to drink lots of water and to find the Peace Patrol if they needed help in anyway. “This is quite the party we’ve got going here”, he said, before the notes of “Texas” were heard wafting before the words “cabinet full of mushrooms, cooler full of beer” sounded to the dancing crowd. After this unique Cheese opener, the crowd screamed loudly, not for the music, but for the lack of sound, as they yelled “turn it up, turn it up” in the concert bowl.

With the sound problems corrected, String Cheese Incident launched “Johnny Cash” with Billy bouncing faster and faster. Only a couple of tunes later, Travis asked the still dancing crowd "who wants to see Billy run?" Before the yelled answers of "yes" and "go Billy", during "The Joker" Nershi ran all over the stage, from side to side and back again, not even stopping as he banged on Jason's drums. After the song ended, Keith joked "that's his exercise for the whole summer" before they pulled out "San Jose" and introduced all of Garaj Mahal who joined along for the one tune.

Not to be outdone, in the middle of the second set opener, "Under African Skies", thousands of glowsticks (the thin-bracelet size) were suddenly tossed in the air from planted throwers all over the field, starting a glowstick war that seemed endless. While the sky was still filled with the multi-colored glow, the "sign-carrier" had his wish fulfilled, as they brought out "Rivertrance". The rest of the set included an over the top "Howard", "Jellyfish" and finally, an intense "Black Clouds".

The evening was still young at almost midnight, particularly for those with endless energy, as the Saloon hosted White Iron Band and Backyard Tire Fire, before the Barn stormed with Railroad Earth's first show of the festival. Including fan favorites "Head" and "Wayfaring Stranger" before SCI's Nershi joined in with his guitar on "Dandelion Wine", "Whiskey Before Breakfast" and "Long Way To Go," when suddenly on "Like a Buddha" Cheese's Travis, Kang and Jason all performed a quick impromptu stage jig (barely fitting on the edges of the old wooden platform). At the same time, the evening headed towards its close with yet another highlight of the weekend, as Mutaytor on the Field Stage included amazing fire dancing in their act.

Friday’s music dawned in the early afternoon (once again, good festival planning), as Soap played the Saloon, before Railroad Earth once again packed the Barn Stage at 2:00 p.m.. Announcing their return to the stage after the longest set break in history (from the night before), fans were not disappointed, as this "second" set included "Elko" from their recently released same titled album, "420", "Peace on Earth", "Seven Story Mountain" and a well-wished for encore of "Bird in a House".

Peace was truly shining in the afternoon, as the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey played to the crowd on the field, while the Saloon hosted WBPN, and "Stealin" Strings, while "Shooter Jennings (Waylon's son) filled the Barn Stage, and the Everyone Orchestra took over the field. Including all of Hot Buttered Rum, all of Tea Leaf Green, Tim Carbone and Andy Goessling from Railroad Earth, Steve Kimock, Vince Herman, Souleye and Shawn Hartung, Matt Butler conducted the thirteen plus musicians with his wipe-on, wipe-off board. The improvisational skills of the musicians included impromptu jams and unique collaborations, including The Beatles "I've Got a Feeling", "Rock Steady" and Dylan's "I Shall Be Released", with Andy amazing the crowd as he played two saxophones at the same time, while Herman asked the crowd "are we having fun yet?"

The Keller Williams Incident began at the Main Stage shortly after 6:00 p.m. Keller, joining the boys from Cheese for a planned incident for the first time in about three years, started the show with his songs "Breathe" and "Freeker By The Speaker", during which he brought out his sound man, Lou Gosain for backup vocals. Launching AC-DC's "Hell's Bells, before many other covers and mostly Keller originals, ending with "Best Feeling" and "Fuel for the Road", they left the audience wanting more, as Keller thanked SCI for the experience and said he was in absolute heaven playing with the Cheese.

About half an hour after the slated 8:00 p.m. start time, Phil Lesh &Friends, began the final show of their summer tour with "Cumberland Blues". One of the best shows of the run, other tunes included "Shakedown Street", and an amazing second set "St. Stephen">"Dark Star">"China Cat Sunflower">The Eleven" (including green lasers shot through the crowd and a few glowsticks flying about). Fans were screaming for more as the ended with "Help">"Slipnot!">"Franklins".

Meanwhile, as Umphrey's McGeewaited for the go-ahead to start (as the shows were still running thirty minutes late) we heard them noodling over Phil's encore of "Truckin'" from their set-up on the field. As the Umphreaks continued to jam-pack the front of the stage, and the security worked harder than almost all weekend so far, the show finally began with "The Bottom Half". After announcing they were stuck in LaGuardia that morning and not sure they'd even make the show, they played "Believe the Lie" from their latest cd Safety In Numbers, and their signature jam "Jimmy Stewart", before ending with "Pay the Snucka" and finally "Nothing Too Fancy", with Jake and Brendan trading licks all throughout.

Up at the top of the hill, while Green Lemon (the self-called intergalactic skanksters and not newcomers to the 10,000 Lakes Festival) played the Saloon and entertained with their unique song-writing and musical skills, Vince Herman and his newest group Great American Taxi, took us on one of the best rides of the weekend. Including Jefferson Hamer, Chad Staehly, Jake Coffin, and Brian Schey, this incarnation of Americana meets slam-grass with a groove, included "Wandering" and other old favorites.

Standing between the two, the crowd and the music was a bit intermixed, but the overall happy festival vibe was omnipresent, before Assembly of Dust played in the Saloon at 1:30 a.m. Being now Saturday, this not so newish creation of a former Strangefolk leader sounded a bit hazy in our tired state, and we wandered back down the hill towards our weekend home, missing the drum circle at Lake Sallie with over five hundred people (including surprise guest Mutaytor) that lasted until sunrise.

After a Saturday noon Barn Stage wedding and procession (with a canned goods donation for entry), Kinetix, out of Denver, shot their high energy funked-out original music to the early rising crowd at the Saloon for an hour starting at 1:00 p.m. The Field Stage continued to fill with Butter fans as the band sang out Zac Matthews words "I've seen cold in Minnesota" from "California Snow And Rain", before a sweet set containing "Firefly", and "Desert Rat" and finally "Honey Fountain" with Matt Butler from the Everyone Orchestra appearing on-stage to conduct the band, before joining in on drums for the final tunes "Sugaree", "Return Some Day" and "In These Parts".

On another beautiful day near the lake, the high altitude bluegrass led to Keller Williams' set in front of the Barn, which fans packed to the hilt, albeit the opener “Crowd”, and the Wood Brother's (think acoustic Hot Tuna) inability to hawk their merchandise after their show. Keller's set included “Lost”, first-timer “A Day at the Office” “Above the Thunder”, Ani DiFranco’s “Swing”, Afroman’s “Tumbleweed”, and “Ground Score” but were difficult to discern clearly unless one was brave enough to enter the dense crowd. At the same time, Big Head Todd was grooving the Field Stage while Public Property kept the cooler fans in the Saloon entertained, and a bit later, those fans wanting a more personal show were serenaded with Public Property, Hobo Nephews, Tim Sparks, the guitar "fingerstyling" man (focusing on returning to his North Carolina roots, reflected on his new cd "Roots, Rags &Blues"), and Fat Maw Rooney.

The Main Stage lit up at 6:00 p.m., billed as Mike Gordon &The Duo, but in reality The Duo, Marco Beneveto and Joe Russo, played almost the entire set of their electronica groove alone. Towards the end of the ninety minutes, after crowd chants of "Gordo, Gordo", Gordon finally joined them on stage for a crowd-pleasing rendition of Phish's "Foam".

On the Main Stage, a bit past 8:00 p.m. Trey Anastasio and G.R.A.B. played the final show of their summer tour, beginning with "Goodbye Head". After Trey announced that it was Marco's birthday, the entire crowd joined in for a chorus of "Happy Birthday", before "Suskind Hotel">"Dragonfly". The second set was as mellow as the first, lulling some already tired festivarians to sleep in their 10K Lakes logo chairs, but included "Uncle Albert" complete with Trey on megaphone. A unique version of "Poor Heart" followed "You've Got Me Floating", with Trey on acoustic guitar, and Mike on banjo. Marco was presented with a birthday cake before they launched into "Shine", ending with John Medeski joining Marco on keyboards for The Who's "Who Are You". Fifteen minutes of fireworks followed, as people started up the hill towards Medeski, Martin &Wood, when suddenly, the band returned for an impromptu encore of the Beatles "Get Back".

Meanwhile, Zac Matthews played a new song on "Seanu" (the band's new refabbed tour bus) for a few fortunate fans, written based on his recent experiences on the road, before Hot Buttered Rum played a somewhat planned, but mostly unannounced acoustic set at the Tent Stage in the Lake Sallie campground starting just about midnight with "Dina", leading to Keefe's "Honkytonk Tequila". It wasn't a dog and pony show, but a special treat for about 75 people, including favorite tunes such as Waylon Jenning's "Dukes of Hazzard Theme Song", and the Grateful Dead's "New Speedway Boogie" integrated with originals, including Keefe's "Well-Oiled Machine, and Yate's "String Breath" (echoing the freedom and love of the moment) before ending with The Band's "The Weight" with the crowd participating enthusiastically.

MMW played mostly improv on the Field, when about half way through their set, they were joined by Trey for the remainder, including songs "Exploration" and "Nightmarchers" before the encore of "New New Orleans". At the same time, Big Wu jammed the Barn Stage area before RAQ closed out the night (or morning, given it was almost 3:00 a.m.) in the Saloon.

With an “all out” of the campgrounds by noon on Sunday, and all stages darkened by the wee hours, we were destined to leave concurrently with many other 10,000 Lakes festivarians. “Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Glad, Glad, Glad”, we ran into other contented musical souls as we contemplated our long journey back to Florida, best summed up in a fan’s words “All the way to 10K, and 10K all the way!”

For more info see: 10klf.com

Photos by George Weiss