McDowell Mountain Music Festival

With Coachella happening just 260 miles to the west, and the New Orleans jazz fest reviving the bayou, The McDowell Mountain Music wasn’t exactly the #1 U.S. music destination the weekend of April 29th. But for those looking for a solid roster all on one stage, performing in front of a mellow crowd with minimal traffic and logistical issues, the Scottsdale festival in the foothills scenic McDowell Mountain range proved to be a choice alternative.

Friday kicked off with Tallahassee’s Tishamingo delivering their bluesy southern rock to the stage. Falling somewhere between Big Head Todd &the Monsters and Galactic their hour set got the crowd moving. As the heat started to sway towards cooling night time temperatures, they offered a rousing version of The Band’s "Chest Fever." Tishamingo is on the rise - their spot on the upcoming Bonnaroo lineup should solidify that.

Son Volt, the so-called pioneers of "alt-country," took the stage with its revamped and younger looking lineup. Jay Farrar always means business on stage, but this time around he seemed to be enjoying the Arizona sun in his retro country western shirt as he breezed through an hour and fifteen minute set of new and old ‘Volt tunes. The band’s latest Okemah and the Melody of Riot was proudly represented as they whipped through "Afterglow 61, " Who," 6 String Belief" and "Bandages and Scars." Although this reunion album is barely a year old, these new compositions are proving to be Farrar’s Trace material with Son Volt. He even reached back for some Uncle Tupelo as he dusted off "Chickamauga" towards the end of the set.

New Orleans legend Buckwheat Zydeco got things partying as day turned to dark. Proving that old-school soul and blues never goes out of style, Mr. Buckwheat got everyone dancing as he rocked the accordion and laid down the groove for a good hour and a half.

The evenings headliners, The newly reenergized Black Crowes have certainly gotten pretty damn tight since they reformed about exactly a year ago. Reflecting the calendar, they opened with "Good Friday" before tearing into a soaring version of "Wiser Time," featuring tradeoff leads - Allman Brothers style - by Marc Ford and Rich Robinson.

The Robinson brothers seem to be on pretty good terms these days. As always, Chris was doing his Mick Jagger on shrooms strut while brother Rich looked like he was having as much fun as Dick Cheney at a hemp rally. But Rich delivers the goods with his solid guitar work, and Chris keeps the crowd into it. Although it was clearly a "greatest hits" set, most likely catering to the non-major market crowd, you’ve got to love the hit list they can provide. Sure a set filled with "She Talks to Angels," "Thorn In My Pride," " Sting Me," "Remedy," "Hard to Handle," "Soul Singing," "Hotel Illness" and "Jealous Again" doesn’t win points for originality, but this is the Black Crowes not Foreigner.

Day two had more of the same, clear blue skies, mid 80’s weather and a new pack of music, but Sunday was remarkably diverse. Reggae legend Burning Spear got the Rasta flavor brewing as the crowd got up and moved to the steady beats. Reggae is like eating at Chili’s. You know what you’re going to get before you order and for this sunny early afternoon, Burning Spear was just what the doctor ordered.

The ten piece Ozomatli kicked things off with their hip-hip/Latin fusion attack, getting the crowd to wave their hands in the air, and all that feel-good community stuff. The band would later invite three kids on the stage before concluding the performance in the crowd in a drum circle that had the audience chanting the band’s name: Not bad for a curtain call.

The Marshall Tucker Band on the other hand, was like eating at Arby’s - a big mistake. Vocalist Doug Gray, recovering from vocal surgery passed off the vocal duties to his bass player as the band moved through a rugged and sloppy version of their so- called "South Carolina Southern Rock." Even a version of "Can’t You See," with it’s distinguished flute intro, couldn’t save the set. The band seemed to be having a good time, even though half the crowd was into it. Someone should get these guys tickets to the next Allman Brothers Band Beacon run to show them how southern rock is really done.

Johnny Lang is what John Mayer wishes he could have been on his latest trio blues project. This young man clearly has it all down. A top notch band, pristine blues voice and rip-roaring leads that had the woman swoon and the guys in tune. Playing covers of Stevie Wonder’s "Living For The City," Lang is as soulful as he is bluesy.

After two solid says of bright sunny music, Los Lobos proved that being a three-time Grammy winner is still second banana to playing live. David Hidalgo, looking a bit older and pudgy these days, still plays the guitar as well as anyone this side of Clapton and the accordian as well as Buckwheat Zydeco. The band delivered a Dead-ish medly of "Not Fade Away>Bertha" proving that they are still in tune with their Americana roots. And or course a Los Lobos show wouldn’t be the same without a homage to Ritchie Valens with "Come on Let’s Go" and their claim to fame "La Bamba," which featured a dozen or so middle aged women dancing on stage.

Not a bad way to bring people together in the Arizona desert…and you certainly can’t beat the weather here in April. A solid festival McDowell Mountain Music Festival lineup is just a bonus.