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Ron Radio
No sooner do I start wandering around after leaving the pit from taking pictures of Dweezil and Co, I get this text:
Hey Crystal, unfortunately we have to cancel all of Mickey’s interviews for today. He needs more time to prepare for his show tonight. I’d love to set up a phoner for when Mickey is back at home from tour. I am so sorry for the inconvenience. Let me know if you need anything else.
– MC, media relations.
As much as this was a bummer to receive, I suppose at some point they’ll make good and it will be fab; I know it will. I can’t say how much I was stricken with disappointment, so I won’t. They have my number; I’m sure they’ll be in touch. Anyway, I wandered around during the set that was between Dweezil’s and Mickey’s. I figured I’d get something to eat, have a beer or two, and get ready for one of the band’s I’ve been eager to see. Not only here at the Vibes, but I’ve been wanting to see this band since they formed. This was going to be good!
It’s no wonder they call this festival Gathering of The Vibes. I have experienced such good vibes every year I’ve attended, and this one was no exception. What a great place to hold a festival. It just sets up a great feeling; great music; great people; great food; great beer and great fun!
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I did go and check out the band that played between Dweezil and Mickey. They were local; yea, they were good, just not my thing.
Then it was time for the Mickey Hart Band. Mickey, of course, spent many years as the percussionist for the Grateful Dead. Mickey was fashionably late to start, so we stood in the pit waiting. I thought it was a great photo op to take pictures of the equipment that Mickey brought. Man, he’s got some crazy toys, so you knew you were in for some equally crazy sounds!
Since Mickey had released a new record in April, I was pretty sure his band would be the same lineup that appeared on released his new album, Mysterium Tremendum. Additionally, I was pretty sure we’d be hearing a lot, or at least something from it … I’m grateful for that because I just think that is a great new project! Again, like with 7 Walkers, Robert Hunter wrote lyrics for pretty much half of the songs that appear.
The mysterious is the source of all true art and science.
He to whom this emotion is a stranger,
who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe,
is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." Albert Einstein
Absent from the Vibes lineup was vocalist Tim Hockenberry, but honestly, you could barely feel the void. The band was: the charismatic Crystal Monee Hall on vocals; Gawain Mathews on guitar; the legendary Dave Schools (of Widespread Panic) on bass; Sikiru Adapoju on talking drum and percussion. Sikiru has been with Mickey since the days of Planet Drum. Also appearing to round out the sound was Ian "Inkx" Herman on drums, and Ben Yonas on keyboards.
The show was really as good as it gets. Mickey looks like a little kid out to play. He frolocks around the stage playing anything and everything he can get sound from. He exhibits so much love and good vibes as anyone I’ve ever seen on stage. He just does. You know he’s having fun! Crystal Monee Hall grabbed everyone’s attention beginning with a ripping Not Fade Away. They quickly went into two from the new album, Time Never Ends and Who Stole the Show. Again grabbing the audience’s attention the band nicely covered another Grateful Dead favorite, Franklin’s Tower. Going back to Mysterium Tremendum, for the very cool, Supersonic Vision. Then, for the third time at the Vibes, Mickey’s band breaks out with yet another, Other One. And in my less-than-humble-opinion, the best one of the three. What better tune to go into from The Other One, but the very cool, and cosmic Heartbeat of the Sun. This song was designed to take you places, and it did! Then the band went into Cut The Deck … one of the songs penned by Robert Hunter.
And I built your house, and laid your floor
I carried your flag, and I fought your war.
I swear by the toes of the Jones above,
All I ever wanted was some of your love …
Just some of your love … Just some of your love …
With a refrain like that designed to stay with you, I was convinced that was it. Then, right when you think it’s over, the band rips open the most powerful cover of Cream’s White Room. All I can say is WOW! It was spectacular! I was ready … that was good enough for me. I went home with 818 pictures on my cameras from the weekend, and enough Good Vibes to last me until next year. See ya then.
You can check out Mickey's set:
http://archive.org/details/MickeyHartBand2012-07-21