We wrap up our photographic coverage of the inaugural Echo Project with our best gallery yet, a fantastic mix of live action shots and backstage portraits. In this last installment you’ll see shit so close it’ll absolutely frighten you, like this first picture, which proves Phil Lesh may in fact be the Cryptkeeper.

We’d like to extend a hearty expression of gratitude and a heaping helpful of praise to the incomparable Dave Vann, who piggybacked on his incredible Hardly Strictly Bluegrass gallery to bring us this top-drawer photo coverage of last weekend’s festival in Fairburn, Georgia. And if you haven’t checked out his ridiculous shots from the action on Friday and Saturday, may you die of gonorrhea and rot in hell (laces out!). Okay, that’s a bit harsh, but shame on you.

Like the previous two days, this final gallery includes a great mix of jambands, indie rock bands, electronic acts, hip-hoppers and more. So read on after the jump for Dave’s full gallery of Phil Lesh & Friends, former Black Crowes lead guitarist Marc Ford, Umphrey’s McGee, RAQ, Spoon, The Bravery, ALO, The Roots, RJD2, Dirty Dozen Brass Band guitarist Jamie McLean and, what would a festival be without the “How youuuu feeeeeelin’?” stylings of Michael Franti & Spearhead.

And remember, if you’d like to fill us in on your own personal Echo Project experience, leave the world a message in the comments section…

Twenty-four hours ago we posted, and this is a technical journalism phrase, “a wickedly kickass” photo gallery of the inaugural Echo Project’s first day from the masterful Dave Vann. If you missed it, you can click here and make up for your unforgivable transgression…or you can be a stubborn dick about it. As the legendary philosophers from Black Sheep once directed, the choice is yours.

Thankfully the Illustrious Mr. Vann is back with the second of his three sweet galleries. Saturday mixed the usual festival touring bands like Disco Biscuits, moe., Tea Leaf Green and Perpetual Groove with electronica-based acts like MSTRKRFT, Thievery Corporation (above) and Brazilian Girls, adding a touch of hip hop from Common, folk rock from the Avett Brothers and some singer/songwriter shenanigans from Cat Power. Oh, but there’s plenty more as well, so get goin’…

So read on after the jump for the second of three photo galleries from Echo, and hey, if you’ve got some stories from the festival, let ‘em loose in the comments.

At some point mid-afternoon on Friday, I received an instant message saying simply: “Power out at Echo.” I checked the webcast on iClips; it was down as well. So much for eco-friendly festivals — it appeared at that moment as if the inaugural Echo Project would be a total goatfuck of a disaster.

Then something strange happened. Intrepid reports from the festival grounds started rolling in to our headquarters, and the paying customers could not have been more ebullient, a cult-like enthusiasm emanating from Fairburn, Georgia.

The noise beaming from the Echo Project may have angered local residents, but the attendees have returned to their homes and showers with nothing but positive reviews. The clever lineup blending jambands, indie rock, electronica, reggae and hip hop, the grounds, the lacked of a packed-in crowd, the open-air narcotics trafficking…you name it, someone’s gushing about it. The music, well, apparently some melted faces remain in Georgia.

Our man on the scene is back as well, and we’re proud to host Dave Vann’s incredible photo gallery from the festival. Dave not only photographed the live action on stage, but he set up a portrait booth backstage to capture the artists in various states of coolness. Photos from Saturday and Sunday will follow over the next day or two, but read on after the jump for a gallery of Friday’s events, complete with shots of The Duo, the Flaming Lips, the Disco Biscuits’ late-night set, The Polyphonic Spree, Stephen Marley, GZA and Slick Rick and many more…

Optimism reigned among the Particle People when the band convinced Scott Metzger and Ben Combe to come aboard in March 2006. But continued mediocrity trumped this renewed optimism, and Metzger wisely jumped ship shortly thereafter. Now comes word that Combe is leaving the band as well, and judging from his thinly veiled parting shots, it doesn’t appear to be altogether amicable. Particle’s lost three guitarists in less than two years, so the time may have finally come for Steve Molitz to permanently hitch his wagon to Phil Lesh’s star.

• Jeff Tweedy loves all the bustouts Wilco’s been dropping on tour
• If you can’t make it down to Hotlanta for this weekend’s Echo Project, you can stream the festie for free thanks to iClips
• Australia’s Big Day Out sold out quicker than you can say Hannah Montana
• The Dolans are expanding the MSG Empire to Chicago
• Umphrey’s McGee keyboardist Joel Cummins penned an article about his old school for the Chicago Sun-Times
• Gothamist spoke with Jonny Greenwood about Radiohead’s new album
• Girl Talk’s Greg Gillis won a shitload of food from Taco Bell
• The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are reuniting for a run of shows in Boston
• Garaj Mahal needs help naming their new tour
• Phil Lesh’s new band is getting rave reviews
• What’s with all these new movies about rock stars?

And if you’re still bored on this gloomy Friday, check out this video that shows off how The Onion nails it again. Oh, it’s not even remotely safe for work.

Andy Samberg’s Digital Shorts are about the only consistently funny parts of the otherwise lifeless Saturday Night Live program these days. And this past week’s I Ran So Far Away short that stood out among the season opener dreck was set to achieve the same viral video success as predecessors Dick In A Box and Lazy Sunday. But NBC suddenly pulled the video. How come? It turns out the SNL team lifted the melody for I Ran from an obscure Aphex Twin song, and Hitchaser does a nice job of getting into the nitty gritty of why NBC had to bag the short.

While we wait to see what Andy steals this week, let’s check out some links:

• HeadCount’s Marc Brownstein and Al Schnier will host a 45-minute town hall meeting at The Echo Project
• Inside the fight for video game supremacy between GHIII and Rock Band
• Feist continues to expand her tour thanks to the success of 1234
• Trey Anastasio’s barn is still getting plenty of use
• We’re big fans of this bootleg Van Halen t-shirt
• The Del McCoury Band and Alison Krauss and Union Station are both up for seven International Bluegrass Music Association awards
• At Ease compiled all the interesting posts about Radiohead’s innovative release of In Rainbows
• We hope Steve Kimock picks up one of these revolutionary new guitars
• Drowned In Sound talks with Tyondai Braxton of Battles [via LHB]
• Benji and Mike have a whole new batch of Cold Turkey podcasts
• CMJ has released the schedule for their upcoming festival

And, lastly, The Daily Swarm alerts us that Maryland may not have money to bail out failing hospitals, but they have plenty of money for new music halls.

The lineup for October’s Echo Project just keeps on getting better. Les Claypool, the Flaming Lips and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are among the additions playing the festival, which takes place outside Atlanta on October 12th - 14th.

• A review of last night’s DMB show, which featured a Trey sit-in
• So this happened: Kanye West actually played Young Folks with Peter Bjorn & John (see some “meh” footage here, here, here and here)
• It looks like Bonnaroo may have some imported competition 
• Give Us The Money Lebowski is starting a free Wednesday night residency at Teaneck’s Mexicali Blues
• Earvolution reviews the Black Crowes show at SummerStage
• Winston-Salem’s legendary club Ziggy’s is moving
• Jefito presents the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Randy Newman
• Uncle Neddy looks back 10 years at Phish’s performance at Darien Lake
• Tay Zonday of Chocolate Rain fame is opening for Girl Talk in Minneapolis
• The new Eagles album will only be sold at Wal-Mart
• John Lennon albums are now available through iTunes
• Eric Clapton paid $150,000 for a series of paintings by Lee Quinones
• Daft Punk will release a live album in late November
• Passon of the Weiss breaks down some of the Angels’ pre-at-bat songs

That’s all we have for now. Well that’s not true…we’re also excited that Van Morrison will be playing at the United Palace on October 14th. See ya there!

Attention Georgia recycling plants: Come mid-October, fields worth of empty tallboys are headed your way. Prepare the big bins.

The inaugural Echo Project announced its initial artist lineup today, and the promoters of the new environmentally friendly event appear poised to jump on the crowd Vegoose left behind when it veered into the Coachella skid.

The Echo Project breaks its cherry about 20 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta in Fairburn on October 12-14 — many more artists are expected to be announced, but the initial roster includes Phil & Friends, The Killers, The Roots, Umphrey’s McGee, moe., Rodrigo y Gabriela, the Disco Biscuits, Cypress Hill, Cat Power & the Dirty Blues Band, ALO, the Avett Brothers, Stephen Marley, Perpetual Groove, The Polyphonic Spree, Brazilian Girls and, whoa, this is unexpected…Michael Franti & Spearhead!

This festival’s only got one big problem: Lineup disparities aside, it’ll still compete mainly with the Vegoose clientele, and The Echo Project doesn’t have, um, Las fucking Vegas as a backdrop. Regardless, early-bird tickets go on sale at 10 am tomorrow — see the official website for more details.