Headstash

Headstash On The Road: Gathering of the Vibes 2012 Day 1

Zach Deputy - Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

Gathering of the Vibes – it’s a campground, a playground, a makeshift small town. It’s a culture that revolves around cutting loose and having fun. And I couldn’t be more excited to be here.

As I drove through the desolate, rundown city of Bridgeport, a passage from the Majorie Kinnan’s “Cross Creek” came to mind:

"It is necessary to leave the impersonal highway, to step inside the rusty gate and close it behind. By this, an act of faith is committed . . . one is now inside the grove, out of one world, and in the mysterious heart of another."

After I arrived, I took a moment to look around and appreciate my new home, new neighbors and new scenery for the next four days. My fellow Vibers left their 9-to-5s and daily stress behind and their own personal Vibes Story was just getting started. 

Quincy Mumford and The Reason Why

Yonder Mountain String Band - Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

Once the Vibe Tribe was assembled and our campsite was secured, it was time for the music. First on my itinerary were New Jersey-natives, Quincy Mumford and The Reason Why. This emerging band first came to my attention when they played at a party for my web show, Bands on the Bubble, at the CMJ Music Festival last fall. They are the East Coast answer to Jack Johnson but with deeper reggae undertones and a very pretty and talented keyboard player who knows how to lay down a thick organ sound.

That aforementioned keyboardist, Karlee Bloomfield, nailed it when she told the crowd, "We play feel-good music."

Their songs are all about love, friendship and memories – everything that this festival encompasses. They closed out the set out with my personal favorite jam band/crossover pop song, "Sounds Like Music To Me."

After the show when I asked Quincy Mumford what this song was about and he said, "It’s about a BENY [a person from Brooklyn, Elizabeth, New York] that comes to New Jersey to wreak havoc – like the Jersey Shore people – and the relief you feel for when they leave. It sounds like music to me."

At the beginning of their set there were maybe a dozen people interested in their music, but by the end, around 200 Vibers had gathered at the front of the stage with smiles plastered on their faces, a strong indicator of how infectious this band on the bubble is.

Yonder Mountain String Band

Yonder Mountain String Band - Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

As more and more bands continue to label themselves as “newgrass,” Yonder Mountain String Band consistently proves to be the cream of the crop of the genre. Their stage formation mirrors their skills: solid and beautiful. They create songs that are so fun to get down to and inspiring to listeners who feel inclined to dig up old bluegrass records and learn more about their influences.

Yonder's harmonies were as warm as the rays of setting sun on my open back for their set on Thursday afternoon. Maybe what I dig most about Yonder is how they can make bluegrass songs sound so modern by ingenuously arranging their pedals and effects, giving it an almost electronic or DJ-inspired sound.

And I haven’t even spoken about Jeff Austin's mandolin skills. Let's just say it was a good thing the fire department was on duty tonight because he was shredding so hard, sparks were flying.

When they busted out "Fingerprint," the crowd went nuts. People were going bonkers for bluegrass. And that's a sentence I never thought I would write.

Normally relegated to afternoon spots at festivals, it was refreshing to see them as the sun began its descent at a later hour.

Dark Star Orchestra

You know it’s a highly anticipated show when fans are setting up recording devices ten hours ahead of time. This is what I absolutely love about DSO: the passion of their fans.

Dark Star Orchestra - Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

When DSO hit the stage I had a mental pencil in hand. They came out firing on all cylinders, recreating a 1989 Alpine Valley show, opening up with, "Touch of Grey" right into "Jack Straw" and seamlessly into "Jack-A-Roe," a fitting song with a touch of bluegrass to follow Yonder.

All members of the band were playing comfortably, inviting the crowd to join them on an exploitative journey. After a quick bite to ear during set break (hey, exploring makes you hungry), I headed back to my spot amidst a sea of LED hoops and glow sticks. It was like a neon war zone as the sun began to cross the horizon.

Once back to my bunker, DSO enveloped me like a cocoon and I quickly slipped into a cosmic trance. But when the percussion team of Robert Kortiz and Dino English started their mammoth duet, I was instantly brought to my feet. As far as drum solos go, this was by far the most layered and intricate one I have ever heard. Considering they are working with so many types of instruments, they were able to create certain sounds that elicited so many different emotions. The drum lines were palpable and it was a great way for me to truly connect to this band.

Royal Family Ball

Dark Star Orchestra - Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

After DSO, I now more than ever felt like a part of a musical family. So it only made sense to shuffle on over to see the Royal Family Ball. Lettuce and Soulive teaming up for some late-night funk and soul is too good to pass up.

I arrived at the Green Vibes stage in time to watch the rest of the Vibers gather like moths to a flame. When RFB hit the stage, they were looking dapper as always. These boys dress as well as they play music. They started the set with a funky groove and then went right into a cover of "Eleanor Rigby.”

Watching Eric Krasno play is so incredibly entertaining. He has the best guitar face ever and emits so much passion for music. I would say he is without a doubt one of the top five guitarists in the scene right now.

Alan and Neal Evans were on another level as well. It is so enjoyable to watch them when they are in synch with each other. It’s a true testament to brotherhood. RFB raged on until 4:30 a.m., but I headed back to my tent a little early to enjoy a late-night stroll through the grounds and feel the calmness of the ocean. The massive body of water really makes you feel one with your surroundings, which only intensifies the music.

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Day 2 is the first full day of the event with Phil Lesh and Friends, Bob Weir and Bruce Hornsby with Branford Marsalis, Conspirator, Kung Fu, The Greyboy All-Stars, 7 Walkers and Gigantic Underground Conspiracy slated to perform.

Stay tuned for more coverage from Bridgeport, CT all weekend long and be sure to check out our live Instagram pictures. Check out Gathering of the Vibes’ official website for more information.