Headstash

Headstash On The Road: Gathering of the Vibes 2012 Day 3

Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

I felt like a girl waking up on Christmas morning on Saturday. My big present to unwrap: STS9. On top of that, the sun was shining bright. The vibe today was completely different from yesterday's rain-soaked experience. While walking to the Main Stage, it was all about the bikini-clad chicks and dudes in board shorts (many of whom rode skateboards around the grounds). Ponchos and puddles were drying in the beating sun.

Zappa Plays Zappa

I have listened to Frank Zappa albums before, but quite honestly, never really got it. Seeing his son along with a killer backing band was the strongest, most instant connection to a band that I have ever felt. Dweezil Zappa son and Shelia Gonzalez were tearing it up on keys and sax, going back and forth and dueling playfully. It was a musical tennis game that had the crowd captivated.

Outside of watching Dweezil shred and listening his band mate Ben Thomas sing the hell out of Frank's lyrics, another highlight was watching Peter Jones come on stage dressed like a cheap David Lee Roth and announce himself as David Lee Sloth. He sang the funniest Zappa lines while molesting the microphone stand and his grabbing himself proactively. It was a virtuosic musical performance and whimsical enough for casual listeners to have a good time.

Mates of State

Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

After watching Zappa Plays Zappa, I felt like a whole new person and the feeling was only accentuated while walking along to catch the next gig. The ocean was sparkling and dotted with boats and kayaks and some festivalgoers were even enjoying a mid-afternoon dip. It's the beach vibe that makes Gathering of the Vibes so special.

When I arrived at the Green Vibes Stage to see Mates of State, a pop-rock indie band that many jammers have not heard but quickly began to appreciate, I was happily surprised to see such a strong crowd. A local Connecticut band that grew up just minutes from Seaside Park, Mates of State had always dreamed of playing at the festival.

Kori Gardner the lead singer and keyboardist who donned the cutest forest-inspired sun dress with adorable booties that accentuated her brown legs, said that they had no concerns about playing at a "jam band festival" because, "Our music is happy – just like all the people here – so it all works out."

The husband and wife duo met in Lawrence, KS where they were attending college. They were both in their own bands and were initially hesitant to start one together in fear that it would put a strain on their new relationship. But one day they decided to give it a try and when they pulled out their guitars for practice, they realized that they had matching ones.

"It was the yin and yang of guitars,” Gardner said. “At that point we knew that we should give the band a try.”

When asked if they had any connection to The Dead Gardner said, "Musically, not really, but we did live in San Francisco and one of our daughters is named is Magnolia."

Vibers were digging their set and Mates of State definitely grabbed dozens of new fans.

Primus

Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

Outside the Main Stage, in the artisan village, there was gigantic telescope set up for vibers to gaze up at the glowing crescent moon. Escaping into the galaxy was the perfect preface to the night because Les Claypool and Primus seem to be from another world.

But before Primus took to the stage, Roseanne Barr, yes Roseanne, the actress and comedian surprised Vibers by announcing her candidacy for the 2012 presidential election. She delivered a speech that was a cross between a comedy act and soapbox rant, but the difference was, she was speaking our language.

"To my fellow baby boomers – we were right about goddamn everything,” she said in her classic loud and scratchy whine. “We want to wage a war on war and make marijuana legal." It was a bizarre spectacle, yet, if she was serious, then she just might have my and most people in attendances’ vote.

Roseanne's bizarreness primed fans for Primus to make things even weirder. When the band blew onto the stage, they launched right into "American Life," a highly appropriate song after the presidential speech. It was a slow start to the performance, but once the band got warmed up they played some of their more heavy-hitting songs.

Primus utilized a residual backbeat reminiscent of a heartbeat, allowing listeners to feel like the music was a living, breathing entity. The omnipresent drums kept you grounded amidst the weirdness.

Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

Two-thirds of the way in Primus broke out "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver" right into "Mud," a one-two punch that was highly appreciated by die-hard fans. The Primus show saw way more crowd toys, crazy puppets and neon-glowing floatable devices attached to poles than any other set over the weekend.

When Claypool busted out his homemade upright bass that he plays with a monkey mask on, I had to look around a few times before it dawned on me that I was still in fact on Earth. Too bad the Statue of Liberty is just a bit far from site.

At the end of his set, he announced that his spaceship was coming down to take him back to his home planet. And thanks to his music and performance, we were momentarily guests of his world.

STS9

Though some of the crowd dissipated after Primus, STS9 would steal the night and close out the Main Stage with an old-school Sector 9 set sans laptops. Without their Great Cycle Spectacles light set-up, the band utilized the more prototypical cans and movers to illuminate the stage, using an LED screen behind them sparingly and masterfully to enhance the mood of each song.

Their set was absolutely flawless with each member given time in the spotlight and in the forefront of the jam. Though they played hard and fast, each song was patient and built to a crescendo in the most natural fashion.

Opening with “Rent,” it was evident quite early that this would be a special night. Percussionist Jeffree Lerner can sometimes get lost in the background due to his subtle playing, but he was surely heard loud and clear all evening.

The band segued into “Kamuy” which launched right into “EB.” This segment saw guitarist Hunter Brown really taking over with some flowery and methodical licks that had the crowd grooving in unison.

Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

Throughout the set, the crystal-clear monitors on the side of the stage would show close-ups of each band member. Seemingly more clear than real life, it was refreshing and inspiring to be able to see the band’s faces as they play. It’s amazing to see that after more than a decade, they still emote heavily while playing their instruments. There was something special in the air in Bridgeport – and STS9 felt it. All night, the band played stirringly rocking back and forth, bobbing their heads and jumping to and fro like regular fans on the rail.

After a slow and sultry “What Is Love” that peaked and re-peaked multiple times with bassist David Murphy pulling the jam forward and back, the band played a short “Shakedown Street” cover in homage of the festival’s roots. Murph did his best Phil Lesh impression dropping heavy, well-placed bombs in an understated manner.

With “Grow” and “Kaya” following, this segment of the show was Murph’s to control. He played forcefully as ever with drummer Zach Velmer vibing off his bass playing. STS9 is at their best when your ear gets pulled from member to member throughout a song or a segment without anyone really soloing. They create a legitimate soundscape that is textured and layered yet so simplistic. That’s the true mark of amazing songwriting and cohesiveness as a group.

A gorgeous rendition of “Circus” may have been the most well received song of the night. A beautiful composition, the lights were all-too-appropriate and the syncopated drumming coupled with Hunter’s back-and-forth guitar work had people getting down and loving life.

The usually stoic or wry-smiling keyboardist David Phipps was smiling from ear to ear most of the evening, especially during a drawn-out “Equinox” where he improved some cacophonous chords that really caught listeners off guard. It was superbly done and, true to the song’s name, had some grumbly and shadowy noise to go along with the bright, airy guitar. STS9’s ability to pair dark and light sounds is a big reason why they are so unlike any other group in the jam scene.

Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

But the undisputed highlight of the night was a dancey and patient “Breathe In.” With a faster backbeat than normal, it seemed as though the band might race through the song since they got a late start. But the nearly 12-minute version was teased out with subtle flourishes. Jeffree took over about halfway through with some amazing percussion work that seemed to bounce off the crowd and resonate within you.

After the classic, slow breakdown and build-up, your ear was grabbed from percussion to drums to keys and all around the stage before emerging through to the second half of the song. Though the crowd was more subdue than your typical late-night festival atmosphere, when the lights dimmed and Zach built it back up, everyone had their hands in the air and glowsticks flew.

The set ended with a slow and steady “Inspire Strikes Back” and an encore of “Moonsockets” – two old songs that have seen changes since their debuts over a decade ago but are still some of the most well received and popular tracks among fans.

This was no ordinary festival set. Murph got on the mic throughout the night to thank the crowd for their support, tell them he loved them and reference their first time at Vibes (where they played in front of a dozen or so people in the early morning 10 years ago).

The band enjoyed themselves nearly as much as the crowd did as people headed to their campsites or the silent disco to try to process the night that was.

 

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Day 4, the last day of the festival, will feature The Avett Brothers, Steel Pulse, ALO, Toubab Krewe and more.

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.