The Infamous Stringdusters and the Hurricane

The Infamous Stringdusters – Berkeley Café

Raleigh, NC

September 5, 2008

For those not “in the know”, the Infamous Stringdusters are a contemporary bluegrass sextet comprised of some of the hottest young pickers in the scene.  I first became hip to the band after learning Chris Eldridge, currently guitarist for Chris Thile’s innovative classical meets bluegrass project the Punch Brothers, was the original guitarist for the Stringdusters.  Right around this time I recorded an episode of the Stringdusters off Woodsongs (See Episode 425 for video and audio download).  Needless to say I was quite impressed, downloaded off iTunes (since I could not find it in stores) their debut CD “Fork in the Road” and have had them on heavy rotation ever since.

While perusing the list of shows at the record store across from NCSU campus, I noticed the Stringdusters were playing the Berkeley – I had no idea since I don’t regularly check their schedule.  In the meantime I tried to spread interest for the show to at least 15 or 20 people.

Not able to get anyone else to go, I headed out to the Berkeley amidst the wind and rain from Hurricane Hanna.  Immediately when I walked in, someone struck a conversation with me about Leftover Salmon (I was sporting a shirt) and talked to the show’s promoter about bringing the Emmitt-Nershi Band to one of the Raleigh venues.  Appropriately enough with all the rain as I was walking away from the bar and into the room with the stage, Leftover Salmon’s “River Rising” (version off Leftover’s Euphoria CD, not the version of Drew Emmit’s new CD) was blaring from the PA speakers.

The Stringdusters opened up (I think) with “Won’t be Coming Back” off their new self titled album.  The crowd was digging every solo, especially from new guitarist Andy Falco and dobro extraordinaire Andy Hall.  Jesse Cobb, sporting a Cadillac Sky shirt – bluegrass group coming to the Berkeley in a couple of weeks, simply shredded his mandolin, breaking strings on 2 occasions early on in the show.  Rounding out the band are Jeremy Garrett (vocals, fiddle), Travis Book (vocals, bass) and former Emmitt-Nershi banjoist Chris Pandolfi.

The Dusters put on a heckuva show all night with their tight harmonies, master musicianship, and their jams that often seamlessly segued from one instrument to the next in a manner that I’ve never quite seen.  The band could have benefited a lot from their soundguy turning the PA volume a bit more, as it was often times hard to hear the entire band, especially Pandolfi.  I believe the crowd (including myself) would have been into the music more if the volume was at a more “show appropriate” volume, nevertheless it was a great show.

Songs played that I recall:

No More To Leave You Behind

Fork In The Road

Moon Man (last song before encore)

Dream You Back

Won’t Be Coming Back (first song?)

Well, Well

When Silence is the Only Sound

Bound for Tennessee

Get it While You Can (quite a  groovin’ rendition)

You Can’t Handle the Truth

Jeremy gospel tune

For the encore, the band came off stage and brought their instruments to the crowd playing strictly acoustically.  Great way to connect with the audience as I have seen the Hackensaw Boys and Chatham County Line do the same thing.

After the show I purchased a shirt, the “Fork in the Road” CD (which I’ve listened to 50+ times according to my iTunes) and Andy Hall’s ‘08 release “Sound of the Slide Guitar” (review) which had Deep Elem Blues – so I had to get it.  I had a chance to talk to Jeremy (who actually took my order via credit card), Andy Falco & Chris Pandolfi…all down to earth guys.

I finished the night at the Hibernian Pub with a couple of work friends.  Our waitress was quite forgetful with our orders, but being quite easy on the eyes, all was forgiven.  By 1:30 as I was leaving, the hurricane, wind and rain were in quite full force.

Catching Up

Instead of going for my typical mid-workday lunch workout or 5 mile run, I’ve opted to stay in the office – not expend a ton of energy and update my blog that hasn’t been updated in a month and a half.  It’s not that there haven’t been all that many (or some) blog-worthy (at least for my life) events, it’s just sheer laziness that I haven’t updated.

So what has happened? It was the best of times…it was the worst of times…ok it was all good for the most part. 

Bachelor party in Baltimore – caught the Orioles/Yankees game. Part of a wedding party down in Charleston – black out level inebriation on Saturday night for what was an awesome night and weekend.  Started singing lessons.  Began running about 20-25 miles a week.  Participating in training for an upcoming competition for our company (I won’t be competing just training) – running, biking, kayaking.  Buddy’s lakehouse.  Started seeing some girl.  Some girl e-mailed me to “call it off.”  Helped someone pick a really awesome Taylor acoustic for her fiance’s wedding gift.  Almost bought a banjo in Wendell.  Been totally inundated at work for months on end.  Did some “friendly competitve” go kart racing at the company’s bi-annual sales meetings in Garner – this was incredible.  Went to another bachelor party in Raleigh and jammed with some great musicians.  Purchased way too much music.  Missed some concerts I’d like to have caught (Tinsley Ellis, Wailers, Abbey Road, Jakob Dylan, North Mississippi All Stars – how’d I forget this one!, Dumpstaphunk, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Annuals, Yonder Mountain String Band).  Caught a few concerts (Blind Melon, Alex Machacek-Jeff Sipe-Neal Fountain, can’t recall anything else).

This past week I attended a guitar camp with Austrian fusion guitar master Alex Machacek and then caught his show with drummer extrordinaire Jeff Sipe and badass bassist Neal Fountain – this all deserves one entry…

French Broad River Festival

French Broad River Festival – Hot Springs, NC (May 2 – May 4)

Jeff Sipe Trio 4/26/08 Slim’s (Raleigh)

“That was the best 3 bucks I’ve ever spent.”….”Best live music I’ve seen in Raleigh in 10 years.”…those are just 2 of the quotes I heard last night after the Jeff Sipe Trio show at Slim’s Downtown.

The Jeff Sipe Trio show, along with 2 other shows at the Lincoln Theatre & The Pour House, was billed as a Widespread Panic After Party Show.

Codetalkers 4/23/08 Pour House – Raleigh, NC

Just getting back from The Codetalkers & Sam Kininger Band show. I’ve seen The Codetalkers quite a few times (3 times in Richmond, 2 times in Charlottesville, 2 times in Raleigh, 1 time in Chapel Hill) – but it’d been at least a year since I’ve caught a show; my first show since Bobby Lee got a new bassist and drummer.

Gov’t Mule Raleigh – 4/13/08

This year I didn’t get to go to Wanee festival (which by the way was the best thing that happened to me in ‘07) – but catching Gov’t Mule outside the Lincoln Theatre and the Greyboy All Stars that night inside the Lincoln somewhat made up for it. Not able to find anyone interested in going I headed out solo – Mule’s a can’t miss band for me so no biggie.

March & Birthdays & Madness

IPOD

About 2 weeks ago I picked up an 8GB IPOD Nano…my roommate had gotten a 4GB Nano that week, I decided I had to get one…all these years of going to the gym, I never had an mp3 player. My roommate said it was the purchase of the year…I concur. The first day I worked out, I put on some David Lee Roth era Van Halen…nothing like pumping up to Runnin’ With The Devil. It also comes in quite handy when doing yard-work.

 

St Patrick’s Day

Bought a 12 pack of Guinness and threw on a CD from the Punch Brothers (Chris Thile’s current band) and fell asleep jeans and all on the couch downstairs…that probably makes about 3 or 4 times within a week time I fell asleep wearing jeans listening to music downstairs and still waking up in time to go to be slightly late to work – so in other words on time (at least for me).

In Rainbows

Downloaded the recent Radiohead CD,

Chatham County Line – March 9, 2008 Lincoln Theatre (Raleigh, NC)

Chatham County Line @ Lincoln Theatre

March 8, 2008

While most of the Triangle had their eyes glued to ESPN for the UNC-Duke basketball game, the “hometown heroes” (as proclaimed by the opening act) Chatham County Line were playing their final show of their North Carolina CD Release three date mini-tour. The band’s fourth album, entitled simply IV (some homage to Led Zeppelin?), was released earlier in the week.

 

I’d entertained the notion of watching the basketball game with a group of friends, as well as celebrating a 30th birthday, though with no dog in the fight (being an alum of the “other rival”), I decided to head solo to the Lincoln for what would assuredly be a night of good music.

Chris Robinson – Sirius DJ Playlist 03/04/08

Chris Robinson, singer for the Black Crowes was guest DJ all day on Sirius Channel 17 – Jam On. The Crowes’ new CD Warpaint was released today. As one might expect, the list is heavy on material from The Byrds/Gram Parsons/Flying Burrito Brothers, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Grateful Dead and such. I happened to catch Leon Russel’s original version of Song For You, which as Chris said has become a standard – as I had been more familiar with Donny Hathaway’s rendition – which in my opinion is one of the best soul performances of all time (see youtube video).

Chris will also be taking over the Sirius Grateful Dead channel Wednesday evening as well.

Here’s Chris’s playlist:

Leap into March

A week in the life:

Music, Duke/State, and other stuff………….