Gypsy Punks & Wisdom Chunks
Opening my afternoon with Gogol Bordello was a plunge in the chilly Pacific. “Wake-the-*$#&-UP!!!”
Gogol is the perfect act to catch at a music festival. You don’t need to know a lick of their music to feel the throw-down. They will inevitably crowd the stage, wail on laughing instruments (e.g. the accordion), dance like crazy, wear awesome clothes, and get your whole body pulsing with fury. Gogol Bordello stands out. Always.
If you happen to be familiar with Gogol, you’ll enjoy their performance all the more. Those wearing purple for the occasion were rewarded with a blistering “Start Wearing Purple”. And who wouldn’t appreciate lyrics like these from “Immigraniada”:
“In corridors full of tear gas
Our destinies jammed every day
Like deleted scenes from Kafka
Flushed down the bureaucratic drain
But if you give me the invitation
To hear the bells of freedom chime
To hell with your double standards
We’re coming rougher every time.”
The band dispenses similar, Clash-style, punch-you-in-the-mouth wisdom and teeth-gnashing virtuosity in practically all of their music – be
it directly or oblique in a Tasmanian-Devil-whirlwind sort of way.
I suggest you give Gogol Bordello’s studio material a listen if you haven’t already done so. There’s a ton of talent to mine. However, even if you don’t care for their recorded offerings, do not pass up a chance to see Gogol live – they will bring the heat.
And He Shall Be A Good Man…
Former The Band drummer Levon Helm is a dedicated man. Dedicated to his craft, dedicated to his worldview, dedicated to his fans, dedicated, really, to all things fireside, rootsy goodness. This dedication was evident during his band’s short but sweet mid-afternoon set.
For his cross-country voyage, Helm has assembled a crack team of about a dozen musical wizards, each embedded with a superlative sense of the Americana that drove The Band. In particular, Larry Campbell’s multi-instrumental gifts shine in any crowd – Bob Dylan, Phil Lesh, and Levon Helm, among others, have each given Campbell’s unique string-voice a place at the front of an epic catalog. Campbell’s wife Teresa Williams and Helm’s wife Amy Helm, both vocalists, give the music a lovely light. Howard Johnson is always treat, whenever his baloo-bow tuba makes its way to the stage, and Jim Wieder’s guitar chops are undeniable.
But it was Helm who held the helm (Sorry, it was a bad pun, but I couldn’t resist.) His voice crackled like an old, hearth-side Victrola, spinning such classics as “Long Black Veil” and “Blind Willie McTell” with conviction and the granular reality of a road-weary traveler. The hometown crowd loved two earnest nods to Dead Country: “Tennessee Jed” and “Deep Elem Blues”. And nobody could argue with a sing-a-long version of “The Weight” to bring this all-too-brief affair to a close.
Before it was over, Levon thanked the crowd for “all our loveliness.” Right back atchya, Levon. The musical landscape is better, way better, for all of your vitality, dedication, and loveliness.
My Technicolor Morning Jacket
To my ears, My Morning Jacket owned the set of the day. The band gauged the atmosphere, held its vapors with gentle assurance, and released sonic bliss with a poof of the hand.
The “Tonight I Want to Celebrate with You” opener offered a clear declaration of the band’s intention – to elevate spirits and in so doing elevate themselves. Early set standouts included “Gideon” and “Mahgheeta”, two of MMJ’s most beautifully textured, lyrically intelligent songs.
Before launching into a lilting version of “Golden” – which, to me, recalled Simon & Garfunkel in Central Park – lead singer and rock n’ roll superhero Yim Yames (nee Jim James) succinctly captured the essence of the afternoon: “It feels so good to be here with you guys in the field of heaven.”
“Highly Suspicious” and “Smokin’ from Shootin’ “showcased My Morning Jacket’s ability to playfully hop across genres. In the former, they wielded a Prince-ly purple cloak and a Bootsy bass thump; in the latter, they reached back to early 1970s Philadelphia soul.
The band closed their triumphant set with a show-stopping “One Big Holiday”. MMJ never fails to impress me with their ability to channel anthemic grandeur, both musically and lyrically, without a hint of Velveeta or saccharine. (See, e.g., “I’m Amazed”.) “One Big Holiday” left the crowd in stunned satisfaction.
My Morning Jacket is widely considered one of the best bands in music. And with good cause! The band embraces a broad spectrum of musical excellence. They know how to write a damn good song, but they’re not afraid to kick out the jams. At all times, My Morning Jacket maintains an Aquarian sonic quality and tight grip on their musical rudiments.
Each member of the band offers considerable talent. There is no weak link. Moreover, Yames has the stuff of legends – his voice fills every nook and cranny of a room, even if there are no walls, and his presence is both earnest and electric.
Quite simply, MMJ knows how to deliver. Their set at Outside Lands confirmed this fact with gusto.
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