High Sierra Music Festival rocks again

By Andrew Harris

High Sierra is always said to have the best festival vibe, and this year was no exception. Four days of music and five stages gave festival goers a chance to experience a wide range of music. Everyone knows how to have a good time, and the bands seem to work the crowds into a dancing frenzy.

[Photo: ALO]

Thursday
The first day of the festival had a few bands that really started things off right. Mama’s Cookin’ rocked the Big Meadow stage with a great bluesy sound. They sounded a little like the North Mississippi All-Stars mixed with a little bit of Train. Frame of Mind from Lake Tahoe played on top of an RV. They have a very good jam sound, led by their lead guitarist Obie Scott. They played a cover of “Franklin’s Tower.”

I was able to catch a little of Future Rock, an electronic band, which some people really seemed to like. Garaj Mahal played a great set on the Grandstand. They are a jazzy and funky band, featuring great guitar by Fareed Haque. During the set bassist Kai Eckhardt brought his son on stage to play drums. After, I caught some of the Latin grooves of Sol’ Jibe. The night ended with a great set on the Grandstand by Galactic. They seemed to be on fire that night. Their sax player, Ben Ellman, was outstanding. The crowd got into their rock and funk sound.

Friday
Friday’s first good act was the Salvador Santana Band on the Big Meadow stage. They got people going with their Latin/Funk/Hip Hop sound. Appropriately, they ended their set with a Carlos Santana song “Evil Ways.” After I walked over to catch a little bit of That One Guy, which plays this instrument he created. The Anders Osborne Band got things rolling in the late afternoon. They seemed to master that New Orleans style sound. Close by I went over to the Vaudeville tent to listen to Chris Berry and Panjea feat. Michael Kang, the guitarist from String Cheese. They worked up the crowd, which lead to letting people dance on the stage during their last song. At the Grandstand Yonder Mountain String Band was jamming away with their “jam grass” sound. At the Big Meadow The Slip was entertaining fans for their tenth consecutive year at High Sierra. They sounded a little like U2 and broke into some heavy jams. After Yonder, the southern band, Drive By Truckers played on the Grandstand. They are very good song writers, sounding a little bit like Tom Petty. I left after a few songs to see Soulive tear it up on the Big Meadow stage. This power trio brought the funk/jam sound to High Sierra that night. They played some of their old and new songs, and ended the set with a great cover of Led Zeppelin’s “The Ocean.” After many people went to Ivan Neville’s Dumpstphunk free late night show in the Vaudeville Tent. This was one huge dance party for an hour and a half. They sounded like a mix of The Meters, James Brown, and Sly and the Family Stone They brought on the members of Soulive to play a few tunes. They played many rock and funk classics such as a funky version of “Fortunate Son,” “Miss You,” and a “Super Bad” tribute to James Brown. They ended with “Thank you (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).”

Saturday
Day three had many highlights which included “Guitarmageddon” led by Tea Leaf Green guitarist Josh Clark. Every year at High Sierra Guitarmageddon gathers some of the best to play on one stage together. This lineup included Dan Lebowitz of ALO, Jon Gutwillig of the The Disco Biscuts, Eric McFadden, and many others. They played classics such as “Sunshine of your Love” “Superstition” and “Third Stone from the Sun.”
At the Grandstand songwriter Brett Dennen played with members of ALO, which added a lot to his music. During the day I caught a little of Lake Tahoe’s Blue Turtle Seduction, as well as 56 Hope Road and Ryan Montbleau. On the Big Meadow stage Chris Thile and the How to Grow a Band was entertaining fans with a good “jam grass” sound. Chris Thile is an exceptional mandolin player, the best of the festival. Many people enjoyed Del McCoury’s traditional bluegrass sound. Eric McFadden played a good set on the Shady Grove Stage as well. At night Les Claypool closed the Grandstand with his outstanding bass playing. On the Big Meadow Stage San Francisco’s Tea Leaf Green went through a smoking set which included many hits such as “If it wasn’t for the Money,” “Two Chairs,” “Franz Hanzerbeak” and “The Garden (Part III).” Many people came on to jam with them including Dan Lebowitz of ALO and Reed Mathis of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. After people went to the Vaudeville Tent’s late night show to see the funk/blues/rock band JJ Grey and MOFRO blast through a great set. JJ Grey is a great front man, playing keyboards, guitar and harmonica. They were very happy to be at High Sierra and said many times how great this festival truly is.

[Photo: Page McConnell]

Sunday
The final day of High Sierra started with the great bluesy/gospel group on the Big Meadow stage which featured, Papa Mali, Carolyn Wonderland, Patrice Pike, and Guy Forsyth. After, Albino! played on the Grandstand. They got people up and dancing to their Afrobeat sound. Southern rockers Outformation played a nice set on the shady grove stage. Another San Francisco band ALO played on the Big Meadow stage. Led by Guitarist Dan Lebowitz, they played an hour and a half set which included “Roses & Clover” the title track to their new album, and many crowd favorites such as “Wasting Time (IV Song)” and “BBQ.” Page McConnell from Phish played a nice set on the Grandstand. On the Big Meadow stage High Sierra favorites The New Mastersounds from England were playing great funky grooves, which made everyone dance like crazy. They were wearing “Camp Happiness” T-Shirts, which is a well known High Sierra social spot. The Big Meadow ended with a set by The Disco Biscuts. The Grandstand ended with Leftover Salmon’s reunion show which was outstanding. They did old hits such as “Pasta on the Mountain.” They also invited many people on stage to jam with them which included Chris Thile, and members of Great American Taxi. The crowd got off of their set and brought out over 30 beach balls, about 10 huge salmon models, lights everywhere, and people threw over 200 tortillas in the year. Everyone shouted the High Sierra signature word “FESTIVAL!” which bought them on for an encore.

High Sierra also has late night sets every night which feature most of the popular bands of the festival. Many people raved about Leftover Salmon, saying that was the best late night on Saturday. I went to the ALO/Tea Leaf Green late night which was awesome. ALO played hits such as “Walls of Jericho” and Tea Leaf Green played great versions of “One Reason” and probably their biggest hit “Taught to be Proud.”

This was another memorable year, and proved once again how great this festival is. Even if some festivals have better lineups, no festival can beat the High Sierra atmosphere and vibe.