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Gathering of the Vibes

Headstash's GATHERING OF THE VIBES 2012 Review Guide

: By Kyle Lamont and Hannah Schott; Published on July 24, 2012

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17th year – Estimated Attendance: 20,000

2012 Lineup: Primus, Phil Lesh and Friends, Bob Weir and Bruce Hornsby (with special guest Branford Marsalis), STS9, The Avett Brothers, Mickey Hart Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, Steel Pulse, Zappa Plays Zappa, 7 Walkers feat. Bill Kreutzmann, The Greyboy Allstars, George Porter Jr. and Runnin' Pardners, Keller Williams, Dark Star Orchestra, Mates of State, Deep Banana Blackout, ALO, Ryan Montbleau Band, Max Creek, Zach Deputy, Kung Fu, Joe Pug, Outernational, David Gans, McLovins, Dangermuffin Yarn, Toubab Krewe, Dopapod, Cosmic Jibaros, Twiddle, Band Together, Andy The Music Man, Lucid, The Primate Fiasco, Quincy Mumford and The Reason Why, Miz, School of Rock Teen Vibes Stage, Royal Family Ball feat. Soulive and Lettuce (late-night), Conspirator (late-night), Gigantic Underground Conspiracy (late-night), The Machine (late-night)

Festival Website: http://gatheringofthevibes.com/

Read our daily recaps from Gathering of the Vibes 2012 below . . .

Day 1 - Yonder Mountain String Band, Dark Star Orchestra
Day 2 - Phil Lesh and Friends, Gigantic Underground Conspiracy
Day 3 - STS9, Primus, Zappa Plays Zappa
Day 4 - The Avett Brothers, Toubab Krewe, Keller Williams

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Weather and Atmosphere

Seaside Park was like a pop-up utopia in the otherwise not-so-utopian city of Bridgeport, CT. There was so much love throughout the grounds. Seriously, I received one act of kindness each day that inspired me to share and give one as well.

Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

The weather went from mild to downright miserable to heavenly from day to day. I believe Saturday and Sunday's gorgeous weather was our reward for bearing Friday's harsh elements. And it certainly gave everyone a newfound appreciation for the lovely combination of sun and sounds.

When not watching music we were able to enjoy nature's lovely treats like the nearby Long Island Sound. People were boating, kayaking, playing beach volleyball, swimming and so much more. Walking on the beach on my way to the Main Stage each morning is serene as it gets.

The large yet intimate feel of Vibes gave it a distinct feel. Never once did I feel like just a "number" – I truly felt like an individual. And the fact that there were two stages literally 500 yards from each other made it fun and pleasurable to bounce back and forth.

There were also two, smaller kid tents right in the Artisan Village, which solidified how family-friendly this festival really is.

Festival Highlights

JumboTrons. I was absolutely blown away by GotV's production set up. The live cameras they were using on the Main Stage must have been even higher than HD. In fact, it seemed like higher quality than real life. The picture was so sharp and clear that even from the back of the lawn, you could look up and see Phil Lesh’s cuticles as he played his bass. I especially loved how they would cut in between shots of the band and the crowd making everyone feel like a rock star.

Grateful Dead lesson. In 1996, one year after Jerry Garcia's death, Ken Hays (the founder of Terrapin Tapes – a taper and recorder community) decided to throw a memorial party for the Grateful Dead front man. It was the chance for fans of the band to honor their music and the community it created.

Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

This year, Ken Hays organized one hell of a Grateful Dead reunion/lineup. Living members of The Dead, including, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, were present at the festival and they all dipped into the catalog. As a Grateful Dead newbie, I was able to hone in on certain songs that caught my attention and more strikingly, be a part of an older community –one that inspired the jam scene as we know it today.

Roseanne Barr. Before Primus took the stage on Saturday night, actress and comedian Roseanne Barr came out on stage to announce her campaign for the 2012 Presidential election. It was beyond bizarre (and basically a perfect introduction for Primus)

At one point, the crowd was getting restless and she told us all to, "shut the fuck up." Whether this was a clever way of getting back into the comedy game or a serious foray into the political world by someone who said, “When I fuck up, I can admit it, apologize and move on," it was a quirky addition to the weekend.

Photo Credit: Hannah Schott

"Roseanne for President" became a rallying albeit slightly ironic cry all weekend.

Wavy Gravy. The master of ceremonies was present on the Main Stage all weekend to tell us stories about Jerry Garcia and the rest of The Grateful Dead clan. Grandpa Gravy, as I affectionately call him, would come on stage wearing his iconic clown nose and tie-dyed pajama suit, sit down on a chair in the middle of the stage and tell us a story.

Kids stage. The School of Rock had small, daytime performances all weekend. It was so cool to see young kids (12-18) rocking out and it gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling about the future of live music. It certainly wont be long before bands on the kids stage will move up to the big leagues.

Late-night stage. The addition of late-night shows is a new concept this year, one that Ken Hays said was worth the effort in persuading the mayor of the city to allow. Royal Family Ball, Gigantic Underground Conspiracy, The Machine and Papadosio were awesome choices to end/begin the night/day.

No nitrous. At least I never saw or heard any. This truly makes a difference in the vibe of the festival – less crime and more love.

Stage scheduling. Never any overlaps and you were able to check out every band if you wanted to. Sunday afternoon's lineup was especially perfect. It was so mellow yet left a lasting effect on everyone in attendance.

Musical Highlights

Girls On Bikes. This young and talented band from Fairfield, CT are heavily inspired by classic rock, yet manage to put a distinct twist on their music. I was super impressed by the candor and stage presence of their front man and I see big things for this bands future.

Zappa Plays Zappa. I had never seen this band play before and now I can't wait to see them again. Frank Zappa's son, Dweezil, was terrific and played the meanest guitar out of everyone. The band was so captivating and entertained everybody every second they were on stage.

STS9. This show was one-of-a-kind. The livetronica quintet stripped down their set-up and went back to basics with a Sector 9 set sans computers. Without the help of a Mac, they were still dropping the heavy-hitting, electro jams that have made them so popular around the country. Bassist David Murphy was jumping around like a rock star, obviously feeling it. I am getting chills just thinking about how special and rare that performance was – they created a true musical story.

Keller Williams. This guy was the best way to get Sunday started. His performance was like a delicious glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice that revitalized and refreshed the crowd.

Suggestion Box

My personal Vibe Tribe and I came early in hopes of getting a baller camping spot, preferably one right by the water. Instead, we paid an extra $20.00 and were shoved to the way back of the festival grounds, right next to a power plant. I realize that it is an organizational thing, but there should be rewards for the early-birds.