Whatever You Do, Take Care Of Your Shoes

In a game-time decision, I took the LIRR ou to Patchogue last weekend to check out the Great South Bay Music Festival.  Loaded up with many local bands and some up-and-comers, the main reason for my travel was to check out Railroad Earth’s hour set right before the headliners, Umphrey’s McGee.  The festival was beautiful; situated right on a park on the water, and featured a main stage as well as a smaller tent where other bands showcased their talents.  Bluepoint Brewery sponsored the event and had a few beer tents set up for us to indulge a bit, and the vending offered everything from great carnival food to hippie apparel (I snagged a nice Weather Report shirt for all you Dead-heads out there).  I even ran into RRE’s Tim Carbone on my way to snag a hotdog.

Railroad Earth’s set was a solid hour of quality bluegrass pickin’.  The highlight was a stunning rendition of “Head,” featuring great interplay between Tim Carbone’s fiddle and John Skehan’s mandolin.  I felt they did a nice job mixing in newer cuts with older material, to deliver a set that really captured their career as a whole.  The band seemed very relaxed and loose, which was evident right from the set opening “Long Way To Go.”  Great renditions of the instrumentals “1759” and the set closing “Fiddlee” also deserve special mention.  I had great positioning up on the front rail in front of Tim.  At one point I yelled for “Mess.”  Tim and Todd acknowledged, and Tim smiled and quietly mouthed “not today.”  Looks like I’ll have to wait for another show, which is fine by me.  In my opinion, these guys are one of the most exciting bands around and I’ll catch them any chance I get.

Saturday July 16, 2011 Great South Bay Music Festival, Patchogue, NY

Long Way To Go, Lone Croft Farewell > Head, Where Songs Begin, 1759, Potter’s Field, Black Elk Speaks, Fiddlee

Railroad Earth brought it all back home Saturday night, as they descended upon the Montclair’s Wellmont Theatre for a tenth anniversary blowout.  Jackie Greene supported, and kicked the night off with a great opening set spanning his career (side note, check out his set closing “New Speedway Boogie,” complete with a “The Other One” jam and “Bird Song” teases — link below).

The men of the hour hit the stage for one long set, focusing largely on their older material, with newer gems woven in.  The show opening “Long Way To Go” was fitting, as the band celebrated not only the past, but looking forward to what lies ahead.  Todd Scheaffer gave a shoutout to the diehards, dusting off a forgotten tune, “Wavin’ Willie” that had not been played in years (If anyone has the exact date, please let me know.  Setlist.com does not have a record).  As the set progressed, the band loosened up quite a bit, jamming out staples including “Like A Buddha,” a stellar “Warheard Boogie > Black Bear” combo, and a monster “Spring-Heeled Jack” with “Mighty River” sandwiched in between.  This is a must hear!  Jackie Greene lent his guitar playing tallent, sitting in on the traditional “Duncan & Brady” and RRE’s own “Hard Livin’.”  Check out the video below to see some great interplay between Jackie and John Skehan.  The band capped an almost three-hour set with a beautiful rendition of Sam Cooke’s “Keep Movin’ On.”  Here’s hoping they do keep movin’ on, and I look forward to celebrating a twenty year anniversary.

Saturday May 7, 2011 The Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ

Long Way To Go, Old Dangerfield, Bird In A House, Like A Buddha, Railroad Earth, Wavin’ Willie, Colorado, Warhead Boogie > Black Bear, Lone Croft Farewell, Spring-Heeled Jack > Mighty River > Spring-Heeled Jack, Duncan & Brady*, Hard Livin’*, Seven Story Mountain, Storms, Jupiter And The 119 > Fiddlee

E: Keep Movin’ On

*with Jackie Greene

setlist courtesy of Earthboard.

download both Jackie Greene’s and RRE’s sets here:

Jackie Greene

RRE

Railroad Earth returned to Brooklyn Saturday night for the next stop on their winter tour.  I’ve had the opportunity to see these guys three times, and last night’s show was by far the best I’ve seen.  Each member shines in their own right and the songs and jams delivered are with such grace.  They really are a pleasure to watch.

The night flowed perfectly with a fine selection of old fan favorites, newer cuts from their newly released Railroad Earth, and covers.  True, these guys are a “jam band,” but they don’t let their jams meander to the point of randomness and obscurity.  Rather, select songs receive a nice extended treatment with delicately delivered solos that know when it’s time to wrap up.  The end result sounds incredible — unforced and confidently executed.  Perfect examples from last night were the show opening “420 Breakdown,” set one ending “1759,” and “Mission Man.”  “Mission Man” in particular featured incredible interplay between all six members, which each one taking time to solo.

But jamming aside, the song selection last night was one of the best I’ve heard.  Newer cuts like “The Jupiter And The 119” fit in nicely with older favorites like “Reuben’s Train (one of my personal highlights from the evening), “Came Up Smilin’,” and “Bird In A House.”  In particular, I’m impressed how the newer songs still have that bluegrass feel even though at times, the banjo and mandolins are replaced by electric guitar and bass.  To round out a perfect night, we were treated to a nice two-song encore melding the old (“Seven Story Mountain”) with the new (“Long Walk Home”).  Here’s a band that just keeps getting better and better.  Can’t wait for next time.

Below is a slideshow of some shots I took.  I’m trying out Photosnack for the first time, so I’m interested in your feedback.  Also, I filmed two videos which are also available below.  Enjoy!

Saturday February 5, 2011 Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY

Set I: 420 Breakdown, Saddle Of The Sun, The Jupiter And The 119, Reuben’s Train, Came Up Smilin’, Lone Croft Farewell,  Potter’s Field,  1759

Set II: Happy Birthday To Andy, Cold Water, The Forecast > Mighty River, Peace On Earth, Hard Livin’, On The Banks, Black Elk Speaks, Mission Man, Bird In A House, Bringin’ My Baby Back Home

E: Seven Story Mountain, Long Walk Home

I love seeing concerts and those of you who know me know that I’m usually up for any show, so long as it’s interesting.  When I heard that Railroad Earth would be playing a show on board a boat circling Manhattan, I knew I had to go.  These guys never disappoint, and tonight was no exception.  What was unique, was how close we got to be to the band.  This was one of the most intimate settings I’ve ever seen a band in, as there couldn’t have been more than 200-300 people max.

The band took the stage and kicked the night off with a smooth rendition of Neil Young’s “Powderfinger.”  After a few more tunes, they really hit their stride with “Elko,” and lengthy “Head” (jammed out for the crowd’s pleasure), and “Donkey For Sale.”  “Head” featured one of the most intense jams I’ve seen these guys deliver, with Tim Carbone tearing it up on the violin and John Skehan delivering quick solos on the mandolin.

Set two opened with “The Forecast > Might River,” setting the second set into a nice groove.  Tom Wait’s “Cold Water” was also another highlight, and one that everyone was signing along to.  Todd Sheaffer grinned in ecstasy as he and the boys led the crowd through the tune.  “Cuckoo’s Medley” was well played as well, and gave the last taste of bluegrass for the evening.  To end the night, a peaceful “Long Way To Go” sent us off the boat and back out onto the streets of New York.

I captured some great HD videos below, as well as some pics (thanks to Tim and John for posing for a pic…you guys were great!).

Thursday June 17, 2010 Rocks Off Boat Cruise On The Temptress, New York, NY

Set I: Powderfinger, Drag Him Down, Mourning Flies, Came Up Smiling, Elko, Head, Donkey For Sale

Set II: The Forecast > Mighty River, Just So You Know, Cold Water, Birds Of America, Cuckoo’s Medley, Fisherman’s Blues

E: Long Way To Go

Last night, I had the privilege of catching two of the best bluegrass bands around together on one bill.  Railroad Earth and the Infamous Stringdusters took Brooklyn by storm last night, turning the Music Hall of Williamsburg into one giant hoedown.  The Stringdusters kicked the night off, playing for roughly an hour (their van broke down en route to the venue, delaying the evening).  Highlights included “Steam Powered Airplane” and the classic “Deep Elem Blues.”

Railroad Earth took the stage around 10:30pm.  If you haven’t heard these guys, check them out.  You will not be disappointed.  They had the small crowd (maybe 200 in attendance tops — kid you not!) dancing all night.  “Might River” and “Bread And Water” stand out as the highlight of the first set.  After a brief intermission, they returned for a second set with favorites including “Like A Buddha,” and “Peace On Earth.”  They ended the night a little after 1:00AM with “Moonshiner.”

Here are a few videos I managed to capture.  I was told a few times that video recording was not allowed, so I had to act stealth.  Enjoy!

Railroad Earth - Thursday 12/10/2009 Music Hall Of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Set I: Carrying Coal to Newcastle > Mighty River, Give That Boy a Hand, The Good Life, Bread and Water, The Forecast, Crossing the Gap, Water Fountain Quicksand

Set II: Happy Song, Elko, For Love, Been Down This Road, Like a Buddha, New Jam (SHJ), Peace on Earth, Sing for Me

E: Moonshiner