SunFest Day 3: Sound Mix Abandons Gregg Allman

Gregg Allman deserved better.

The sound mix for Allman's Friday Night SunFest show was as muddy as the Delta. And, at times, Allman's distinctive vocals were buried so far down in the mix that they only could be found with a Geiger counter.

Once again, Gregg Allman deserved better. And so did the audience.

The venerable bluesman is touring to support his first new album in more than a decade, Low Country Blues. If you don't have this album, stop right now and buy it. It is required music.

Allman and his six-piece band covered songs from the Allman Brothers, his past solo work the latest album during the 80-minute set. The band started ragged with the aforementioned sound mixing debacle and with its own internal struggles with playing together on Allman's latest work. Halfway through the set, the band found its footing and ended the show with a rousing version of "Statesboro Blues." Percussionist Floyd Miles spelled Allman of his vocal duties for two funky Chicago blues tunes, which were one of the highlights of the set.

Recovering from his liver transplant from last June, Allman was playing his seventh show in the past 10 days and he was showing his 63 years. Allman has just started a younger man's tour for the next five months. The tour will make stops at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Bonnaroo and the European festival circuit. This Sunday, the band will be in Memphis for the Beale Street Blues Festival.

With that wonderfully whiskey baritone, Allman is all bluesman. I only hope to hear him again when sound mix arises to the quality of the performer.

SunFest Day 1: Avett Brothers and the Lyrics that Sing

By Emily J. Minor
I live with two grown men who are gaga over music. Our son, now 20, was getting an music allowance back way back in early middle school. Forget cash for taking out the garbage, how about another Gorillaz download? My husband - Mr. After Hours Music Proprietor Marty Minor himself - has resisted the iPhone for one simple reason: he couldn’t put all his music on it.

This might seem like one of those “blessings” all the hyper-happy like to talk about.

The Minors are so hip! We’re all so groovy. Yet, here I am, paying the monthly iTunes account, stuck in some sort of unsettling music limbo.

I am not resistant to retro; I embrace it.
Consequently, their music is way over my head.
My under-the-counter kitchen radio is set on NPR and the local oldies station. (Well, station choices in West Palm Beach are to blame for the latter, but that’s a whole other - what do they call this again? - blog post.)

It might be spring, 2011, but I still like James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac and really old Linda Ronstadt.Oh! And The Avett Brothers. I love The Avett Brothers, big time.

The Avett Brothers - two of them are really brothers, which makes me happy for their mom - are adorable. They are full of energy. They appear physically fit, which leads me to believe they eat their vegetables. And they gave a REALLY, REALLY FUN show Wednesday at SunFest. I drank three beers in their honor!

The best thing about The Avett Brothers isn’t the banjo or the bass or that one guy who plays the cello almost like it’s a guitar.

It’s their lyrics.

Scott Avett and his little brother, Seth, can write. Really write.

Funny lyrics. Happy lyrics. Lyrics that make you cry.

Somber lyrics. Sensitive lyrics. Lyrics that make you sing.

I hate to be too old-fashioned, but I think The Avett Brothers are a little bit John Prine and a little bit They Might Be Giants and a little bit Barenaked Ladies and a whole lot of them, all rolled up into something fresh and new and fun.

Every time I listen to them, I just feel happy. And Wednesday night, it was especially nice.

SunFest's Here! Time To Find A New Band

The roadies are here.  They are setting up the multiple stages as there are only a few hours left until SunFest begins on Wednesday night.  

While most of the well-meaning music fans have mapped out their headliners (After Hours will be visiting The Avett Brothers, Cee-Lo and Gregg Allman), there a multitude of up-and-coming bands and regional acts to check out.  Hell, that is the beauty of a music festival - to blithely stumble upon a band that becomes a favorite. 

During a sugar-like craving for sweet, pop music, two, early opening acts - both based in South Florida - have piqued the interests here at AF HQ.  

The product of an Irish schoolteacher and her musician father from India, Sarah Packiam plays a sultry acoustic pop that includes flourishes of Irish folk and Indian music.  Now based in Miami Beach, Packiam is now recording her debut album of indie world folk in Miami's Cutting Cane Studio.  Packiam is opening the show Thursday night (5:15 p.m.) at the main Bank of America stage. 

The southern-infused pop rock of The Gallery is as catchy as one of their hook-laden songs. Formed in Massachusetts, the quartet has been based in West Palm Beach for the past three years.  The unsigned band just released their first EP and continues to tour around the country.  The band has the unenviable slot of 12:15 p.m. Saturday as the first band of the day at the Tire Kingdom Stage.  

Avetts, Cee-Lo and MGMT to Play SunFest; New Music Night Dies a Quiet Death

Rumors confirmed and so much more.

The Avett Brothers, Cee-Lo and MGMT (say what?) are the announced headliners for the 2011 SunFest in West Palm. The festival line-up has a little something for everyone - perhaps one "must see" and at least a couple "check outs" for the discerning music fan.  It is a worthy lineup.

Today announcement also marks the end of  New Music Night at SunFest.  This noble, but inconsistent, programming experiment brought several great, young bands through the area to the attention of few.  I'll classify it a success for the sole reason on providing the introduction to The Whigs.

More to come on the music as the festival approaches.  However, it should be noted that After Hours HQ is happy to see the return of Ziggy and is thinking that Gregg Allman's set may be something special.

Jeff Beck To Play SunFest!

Although West Palm's SunFest has been mum on its 2011 musical lineup, the acts are starting to make their own announcements for the five-day waterfront festival. 
UK Rock God Jeff Beck will be helping close out SunFest by performing Sunday, May 1.  The time and the stage of Beck's guitar pyrotechnics have yet to be set.  
With less than 9 weeks before the 29th annual music and art festival, SunFest has yet to release any names. The rumored Avett Brothers's appearance during the festival's opening night on April 27th has not been confirmed but the date remains open on the brothers' website.  Still have a good feeling about that one. 

Flaming Lips Cancel at SunFest

The Flaming Lips has cancelled its SunFest appearance for Thursday night.

The cancellation was prompted by the hospitalization of the group's lead guitarist Steven Drozd. This is a large disappointment to area fans as the Lips were probably the most anticipated set of the festival. Here's hoping a quick recovery for Steven.

The ZZ Top show, scheduled at the same time as the Lips' set, just got a lot more crowded.

SunFest Survival Guide

Now that the storms have blown through and there's nothing but clear skies ahead, it is time to get your prep on for West Palm Beach's annual music and arts festival, SunFest. After more than 20 years of SunFest attendance, I have discovered there are several tenets for a successful festival. Here are a few:

• Respect the blanket. Placing a blanket down in front of a stage is the equivalent of staking a claim on the Yukon Trail. It is a land claim, pure and simple. However, a blanket claim is only temporary unless its properly tended. Any blanket abandoned for more than 90 minutes loses all claim. Bringing parents or other sedentary folks as designated blanket-sitters is a popular move.
• Cheap, disposal beach chair. These things need to be issued with your SunFest ticket. Put logos all over it, I don't care, just supply 'em. It is essential if you plan on being at SunFest for more than 2 hours. Beach chairs can also serve as a substitute for a blanket land grant claim for concert seating, however the claim evaporates much quicker with a beach chair. Buy a cheap chair because you never know when you'll need to leave one in a quick exit.
• Hydrate for god's sake. The sun will take down more concert-goers than the alcohol will. You get to carry a water bottle into the festival. Do it, you'll thank me later. Or risk becoming one of the baked and confused masses doing the zombie walk on Flagler. Sunscreens is another good idea.
• See something different. The best part of a music festival is the ability to see something new - to hear a new sound. There are numerous opportunities this week, especially on the first night, Wednesday. When in doubt, catch a show at the Meyer Amphitheater (i.e. the Tire Kingdom stage). It is best spot to catch a show and rarely is it crowded.

Have a great festival! See you there.

“Party Out Of Bounds” by The B-52s (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

Five Video Friday: Sunfest Edition

With SunFest coming up, we decided to give you the best music videos of some of the bands playing at the West Palm Beach festival.

Weezer- Buddy Holly

The music video made both Weezer and director Spike Jonze stars. It's also well known for being

the last big music video on MTV, before it descended into a hole of reality TV it has never

escaped from.

Smash Mouth- All Star

In the summer of 1999, everyone knew this song. It was impossible to not hear it if you turned

on the radio without hearing it. It also gave us the phrase "she was looking kind of dumb with

her finger and her thumb in the shape of an L on her forehead." So you know, that's pretty cool.

The B-52's- Rock Lobster

Some may say that Love Shack is the best B-52's video. We here at After Hours Music Blog buck

that tradition, giving you the craziness of Rock Lobster.

Flaming Lips- Yoshimi Battles The Giant Robots (Part 1)

I honestly have no idea what is going on in this

video.

Bedouin Soundclash

the Ni

While starting out kind of slow, this video picks up around the 50 second mark into awesome.

Lips, Weezer and the Top!

By marty

Best. SunFest. Lineup. ........ in quite awhile.

Perhaps not the best lineup is the
View Larger Map">West Palm Beach festival's 28-year history, but it is a damn good one.

The Flaming Lips, Weezer, ZZ Top, Ben Harper, Patti LaBelle, B-52s, Damian Marley and Charlie freakin' Daniels. Maybe because of the dearth of acts venturing to South Florida lately, but I am pretty stoked about my hometown festival, set for April 28 to May 2.

In recent years, the family-oriented festival tended to select its lineups down the middle of the road. More than a couple of locals have joked about annually seeing Steve Miller and Spyro Gyra at SunFest. Not of lot of variety and not much risk, outside an experiment of two. Worthy of a day or two of attendance.

There is some juice with this year's lineup. Some of the acts are getting a little long in the tooth, but this is something to get excited about - time to start mapping out your days.

Weezer opens the festival Wednesday, April 28th, with the third year of festival's New Music Night, which has featured some solid, up-and-coming acts such as After Hours favorites The Whigs. This year's New Music lineup has not been named yet, so you can still add your suggestions.

The Flaming Lips and ZZ Top will play at opposite ends of the festival Thursday night at roughly the same time and that sucks. Patti LaBelle will rule on Friday. The weekend is all over the place musically. Better to pull up a chair, catch some shade and enjoy.

That's worth getting excited about.

2010 SunFest Lineup

Wed, April 28
Weezer

New Music Night

Thurs, April 29
ZZ Top
Flaming Lips

Fri, April 30
Patti LaBelle
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly

Sat, May 1
Shinedown
The Charlie Daniels Band
Rise Against
Sister Hazel
Better than Ezra
Classic Albums Live's 40 years of Woodstock

Sun, May 2
Ben Harper and the Relentless7
The B -52's
Five For Fighting
Damian Marley
Nas
Flogging Molly
Marcus Miller

“Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1” by The Flaming Lips (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

“Pork And Beans” by Weezer (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

“I’m Bad, I'm Nationwide” by ZZ Top (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

Bettye LaVette: Best Interpreter in Rock

Quite simply, Bettye LaVette is the best interpreter of rock music going. 

Possessing an incredible, soulful voice, LaVette consistently wrings out new levels of emotion from songs long lost in the classic rock radio ghetto.  The best, recent example is LaVette's soaring take on The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me" at the Kennedy Center Honors.   Pete Townshend, who was being honored and the song's author, was reportedly moved to tears by her version.

Like a modern day Sarah Vaughn,  LaVette reinterprets the standards of the day.  Instead of recording Duke Ellington or Henry Mancini, LaVette covers Neil Young, Elton John and Sam Cooke. At her recent SunFest show, she performed searing versions of songs from Lucinda Williams and George Jones. During the show, the 63-year-old strutted and danced like the professional she is with 48 years in the business. She did take a break - a "senior citizen moment" - near the end of the one-hour set to sit cross-legged at the edge of the stage for an intimate ballad. It was a wonderful, albeit short, concert.  LaVette is a treasure. 

Below is a great recording of LaVette at Joe's Pub singing a killer version of Neil Young's "Hear of Gold."  Enjoy.

"Heart of Gold" by Bettye LaVette (mp3) 

SunFest 2009 Preview

Aaaaahhhhhh.... SunFest.

And not a moment too soon. The 27th annual West Palm musical festival, which begins on Wednesday, can not get here quick enough to provide that wonderful cocktail of blue skies, ocean breezes, cool beverages and a spot on the lawn for good music.

SunFest is unabashedly local. If you have put any time at all along this dune line, you will renew a friendship or acquaintance every year at SunFest. It is the enduring legacy of festival's humble beginnings as a free, community-organized arts and jazz festival. Now, the festival is much bigger and much more mainstream. It is still where to be for the locals.

Throughout the years, the festival consistently mixes up varied musical genres with the oldies, classic rock and pop. There are always some nuggets of gold to be found. This year, I have my eye out for two acts during then opening night and then the final act of the four-day fest.

Wavves is the creation of distortion popster Nathan Williams. Anointed earlier this year by the N.Y. Times and Pitchfork as an artist of interest, the 22-year-old San Diegoan is also catching some backlash. I'll leave the hipster flame wars to the unshaven and moussed. There is something interesting going on with Williams. He opens the festival at the main stage (5:30 p.m. Wednesday).

Topping off Wednesday's New Music Night will be Monterey, Mexico's Kinky. This latin rock/funk/alternative/techno group has steadily been gaining North American fans during the past decade. Kinky provides a fresh approach to rock. They perform 8 p.m. Wednesday at the amphitheater.

Finishing off the festival Sunday night will be the incomparable Bettye LaVette. For purely selfish reasons, I wish she was performing in a late morning, much like Mavis Staple's Sunday morning gospel concert a couple of years ago at SunFest. To bask in the sun and LaVette's distinctive voice at the same time would perhaps asking a bit much. Sunday night will have to do.

These are just three shows where you most likely see me. Other acts such as UB40, Sly & Robbie, Cold War Kids and Monty Warren will be as tempting as the locale.

Just in the nick of time.

“So Bored” by Wavves (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

“Presidente” by Kinky (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

“Down To Zero” by Bettye LaVette (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

Beck At SunFest? Not Necessarily a Pipe Dream

Beck at SunFest?  Really?

Well, I wouldn't be putting your lawn chair out on Flagler Drive just yet. However, the inclusion of the postmodern rocker in a talent survey the West Palm Beach festival organizers are circulating is an encouraging sign.

Take the survey here.

For too many years, SunFest abandoned seeking out interesting acts in order to play it safe with reliable oldies groups - especially those with roots back in the 80s.  Yes, Steve Miller, I am looking at you. To be sure, there are plenty of oldies in the survey, such as the Beach Boys, Bad Company, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Foreigner. 

However, the listing of Beck, Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon (please, oh, please, oh, please) and Motion City Soundtrack reflect that there is someone at SunFest who has the collective back of the discerning listening public. Unnamed SunFest organizer, keep pushing for the new, the smart, and the interesting. 

The survey includes an area for suggestions.  I've recommended After Hours favorites The Whigs (who rocked SunFest last spring), Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, The Felice Brothers and A.A. Bondy.  The booking of any of these acts would win my heartfelt devotion to my local festival. 

Make your voice heard, take the survey.

Previous Beck download removed at the request of His Majesty.