Hangout Festival 2013 Experiences Triumphant Year

Hangout Music Festival Crowd

The 2013 Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama was a success in every sense of the word.  The beautiful sunny weather on the beach once again provided the perfect environment for patrons to enjoy its best musical lineup yet.  It was neither too hot nor too cold.  With over 60 acts, every genre of music was accounted for.  The Hangout saw everything from the best in indie rock such as The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Shins, to jambands such as Umphrey’s McGee and Moe, to electronica’s heavy hitters in Bassnectar and Porter Robinson, and everything in between.  Being able to see Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, and Trey Anastasio all giving us everything they have in the same festival was nothing short of magical.  Other than the headliners, festival highlights included The Roots, Galactic, and Toots and The Maytals.

Stevie Wonder - The Hangout Fest Grand Finale

Stevie Wonder

As the final act to play for the weekend, Stevie Wonder closed out the 2013 Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama with a bang.  His performance was quite an epic grand finale for any festival.  His large live band includes Stanley Rudolph on drums, Nathan Watts on bass guitar, Errol Cooney on guitar, Ryan Kilgore on saxophone, Dwight Adams on trumpet, Fausto Cuevas and Munyungo Jackson on percussion, and of course, Stevie Wonder on piano and keys.  His backup vocals are led by his daughter, Aisha Morris, Keith John, and LaNeesha Baca.  Wonder opened the show with a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “How Sweet It Is,” which would set the tone for the rest of the rest of the night.  Practically every song was a well known hit that was either a cover or a Stevie Wonder original. 

The Black Crowes Return from Hiatus

Chris Robinson with The Black Crowes at Hangout Music Festival

Southern rockers The Black Crowes ended their two and a half year hiatus this spring with an extensive tour including a prime time slot Saturday night at The Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  This performance marked their return to The Hangout after their appearance at the first Hangout in 2010.  Their hiatus proved not to hinder the quality of their live shows.  In fact, it was quite the opposite.  They played with as much power and charisma as they ever have.  Vocalist Chris Robinson’s easily identifiable voice echoed over the beautifully sunny beach full of chanting swimsuit-clad fans.  

The Roots Bring it Back to The Hangout Festival

Tariq Trotter with The Roots

The Roots put on one of the best live shows in music today, and that is exactly what they did Saturday afternoon at the Hangout Festival 2013.  Combining spot on hip-hop lyrics with instrumental mastery, the Philadelphia based septet played the grooviest show of the weekend.  The notorious Questlove pounded the funky beat, laying down the groundwork for the rest of the band.  Damon “Tuba Gooding Jr.” Bryson lead the band with the low notes on his sousaphone.  Meanwhile, Captain Kirk Douglas slayed the guitar and emcee Black Thought laid down his insightful words, capturing heartfelt emotion and storytelling with a gangster overtone.  The Roots convey all different sorts of musical influence, from jazz to Motown and soul.  Songs from the show included the funky fan favorite, “Next Movement,” and “Proceed,” and a cover of “Jungle Boogie.”  The Roots were once a staple at any good music festival.  Nowadays they don’t get out much, being the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  Needless to say it was quite a pleasure seeing them back in their element.  

The Shins - Indie Music at The Hangout Festival

James Mercer with The Shins

Welcoming a nice change of pace from the jambands and DJs on Friday, May 17 at the Hangout Music Festival was indie band, The Shins.  They played into the sunset from 7:30 until 9:00 on the sunset stage to a more resolute and seemingly sober crowd.  It was fairly easy to tell who the true Shins fans were.  Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and now residing in Portland, Oregon, The Shins were right on point with their show.  Although their music is relatively unknown to those that are not into their scene, one could not help but appreciate the caliber of their lyrics and instrumentalism.  They played two of their biggest hits: “Caring is Creepy” and “New Slang,” which are songs that were popularized by the 2004 movie, Garden State.  They closed their show with their also reasonably popular song “One by One All Day.”  

The Kings of Gulf Shores

Kings of Leon

The Kings of Leon were the Friday night headliners at The Hangout Music Festival 2013.  These guys know how to keep it in the family, consisting of the Followhill brothers Anthony on vocals and rhythm guitar, Ivan on drums, and Michael on bass.  Their cousin, Cameron Followhill plays lead guitar.  While the boys are originally from Oklahoma, the band is now based in Nashville, TN.  The Kings of Leon have captured their own unique sound which blends southern rock with pop and alternative and even a little blues.  They played into the night to an absolutely full beach with thousands upon thousands of screaming fans cheering them on.  The Kings of Leon played just about all of their big hits throughout their 3 hour set including “Revelry,” “Notion,” “On Call,” and “Sex on Fire.”  Throughout the show the vocals were echoed by the youthful audience, who recited the lyrics word by word with them.  It was plain as day to see that these guys have become rock stars in their own right.

Jim James at 2013 Hangout Music Festival

Jim James

Jim James, best known for being the front man of My Morning Jacket, played to a bright eyed crowd Friday afternoon at The Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  The mid-afternoon sun beamed down on the festival goers as they bobbed and swayed to the charismatic man in the eggplant purple colored suit.  Jim James switched back and forth from his Flying V electric guitar and a saxophone throughout the show.  James’ set was mainly comprised of his solo material, but he did also dabble into a My Morning Jacket tune or two.  You didn’t have to be a My Morning Jacket fan to enjoy Jim James’ performance.

I'll Have a Beach Breeze with My Gov't Mule

Warren Haynes with Gov't Mule

Saturday at the 2013 Hangout Festival was full of classic rock and roll on the main Hangout Stage.  On this beautiful afternoon on the beach, Gov’t Mule’s hard guitar licks took over from 3:30-4:45.  The southern rock band is led by possibly one of the hardest working men in show business, Warren Haynes on lead guitar and vocals.  He is also known for his time playing with The Allman Brothers and The Dead.  Gov’t Mule also features Matt Abts on drums, Danny Louis on keys and rhythm guitar, and Jorgen Carlsson on bass.  This Hangout performance really showcased Haynes’ daunting guitar skill with his consistent wailing guitar solos and effects.  These veterans play so well together as a band that it makes any rock and roll lover an instant fan.  One highlight of the show was the song “Soulshine,” originally done by Larry McCray.

Bassnectar Blasts the Beach

Bassnectar

Lorin Ashton AKA Bassnectar played into the sunset on the other side of the beach from 7:30-8:45 right before Tom Petty closed out Saturday night at The Hangout Festival 2013.  It seemed slightly odd watching Bassnectar at a festival during the daylight, but this was unavoidable at a festival where the music has to end at 11:00 PM.  While the show was very high-energy and enjoyable, the first hour lacked the usual element of his profound visual spectacle because the sun subdued the normally epic light show.  

Dillon Francis at Hangout Music Festival

Dillon Francis

Playing to a moderately packed Boom Boom Tent at the Thursday Night Pre-Party on Thursday, May 16^th was up and coming DJ Dillon Francis.  He played a steady mix of house music, dubstep, and reggaeton dance hall style electronica that kept the crowd moving the whole time.  His hour long set was a good interlude to the headlining acts for the night which included Umphrey’s McGee and Benny Benassi.  Dillon Francis, at only 25 years old, is rising to the top of the dance music scene.  He is a master of remixing other artists tracks and he produces his own music with a unique blend of high-energy styles.  

Ellie Goulding Rocks Hangout Music Festival

Ellie Goulding

Gracing the main stage at Hangout festival 2013 on Sunday, May 13 was British sensation Ellie Goulding.  Despite winning numerous awards and having a number 1 album in her home country of the United Kingdom, her fame in the United States is just starting to blossom.  She played to a jam-packed beach and said on stage how wonderful it was since she had been getting used to playing in front of crowds of 20 people at her other US shows.   Ellie’s soprano voice can only be described as angelic.  Her melodies rang throughout the ears of the audience with a resonating splendor.  

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Headline The Hangout

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Words by: Jeremy Carson
Concert Photography by David Oppenheimer - Performance Impressions

Headlining the night of Saturday, May 18th at The Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama were the legends of All-American classic rock-n-roll, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers playing to a jam-packed crowd on the beach. This show contained the majority of Petty’s major hits from the past thirty or so years, so everyone was singing right along as the show went on. The crowd heard “Last Dance With Mary Jane,” “I won’t Back Down,” “Free Fallin’,” and “American Girl,” amongst many more. Other highlights were covers such as Muddy Waters’ “I Just Want to Make Love to You” and The Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil.” The Heartbreakers consist of lead guitarist Mike Campbell, Benmont Trench on keys, bassist Ron Blair, drummer Steve Ferrone, Scott Thurston on rhythm guitar, and of course Petty on rhythm guitar, vocals, and harmonica. Being the Saturday night headliner of a major music festival puts a lot of pressure on the band to perform a top-notch show, but Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers came through with a stellar performance without even flinching.

Reggae on the Beach

Toots and the Maytals

Toots and The Maytals, arguably one of the best reggae bands of all time, performed this past Friday, May 17th on The Chevrolet Stage at the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama from 2:30-3:45. Being right on the crisp palm tree-covered beach in the afternoon sun, the Jamaican roots reggae band was easily one of the most fitting performances of the weekend. The Maytals have been around since the 1960’s, and even after all these years they are still radiating good vibes on their audience. It is hard to believe that front man Frederick “Toots” Hibbert is 70 years old.

Update:  Future tour dates are currently on hold while Toots (70) is recovering from injury from being hit in the head while performing last month.  He has also file a lawsuit against alleged bottle thrower William Connor Lewis who has been charge with felony assault.

Galactic Takes Over Gulf Shores

Words by: Jeremy Carson

Photos by: David Oppenheimer

Galactic at Hangout Music Festival

Kicking off the summer festival season with a blast was The Hangout Festival taking place in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  With the main stages right on the beach, The Hangout stands out as one of the most epic spring musical vacations.  On a beautiful Sunday afternoon on May 19, from 2:15-3:15, New Orleans funky jazz powerhouse Galactic dominated the Chevrolet Stage.  Nothing is better than dancing to the sextet with the Gulf of Mexico on your right and the white Alabama sand underneath your bare feet.  Galactic’s live shows really demonstrate their wide variety of musical styles and influences.  Vocalist Corey Glover’s unique hip hop twang, drummer Stanton Moore’s layered rhythms, and guitarist Jeff Raines’ melodies all blend into a robust harmony.  Throw in Robert Mercurio’s funky bass and Richard Vogel’s booming keys and you have a substantially flawless performance that is not to be missed.  This show also featured Corey Henry on Trombone.  It is no question why Galactic has become festival favorites after more than 15 years of playing shows.