The National--Perform a Surprise Show In Washington Park to Support Clinton

The National announced a surprise show Wednesday night in Cincinnati to help promote Clinton's campaign. Cincinnati and Ohio, in general, is where the election can be won or lost. So The National played a show in Washington Park to a big crowd of supporters. The show was opened by local politicians giving brief speeches and Justin Bartha (The Hangover, National Treasure) showing his support for the presidential nominee. The National played a great set of songs and finished with a very powerful Mr. November. Everyone get out and vote!!

Images by Doug Siegel

www.dougsiegelphotography.carbonmade.com

Chris Robinson at 20th Century Theater

Chris Robinson is on tour and made a stop to the 20th Century Theater last week. They played a long set to a very packed room in Cincinnati. CRB has a new album coming out next week entitled If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home Now. Chris Robinson Brotherhood is touring through the south right now and then on to the northeast and then the west coast to close out 2016. Included in this tour is a Fillmore run in San Francisco. CRB puts on an amazing live show, check them out if they come to a venue near you.

Images by Doug Siegel

Neil Young with The Band of Horses Down By The River

Neil Young played an amazing show at Riverbend Music Center with The Band of Horses. The Band of Horses opened the show with all of their hits, then Neil Young took stage. Young's farmer girls started planting pots and throwing corn all over the stage. While this was going on, Neil came out of the dark over to his piano and immediately went into "After the Gold Rush", "Heart of Gold" into "Old Man." He started out with an acoustic set and then started tearing the place to shreds with The Promise of the Real. They played just about every song the crowd wanted to hear. About mid-set he started into a story about the history of the event at Kent State and the song "Ohio" and then played a 17 minute version of the classic masterpiece. The crowd chanted "forgetting Ohio" at the end. He then looked back at the mighty Ohio River and went into a very rocking version of "Down by the River."

Neal made two things abundantly clear, he still has "it" and he really hates Monsanto/GMO's. Most of his new songs are about his protest to Monsanto and GMO's. I was backstage with a friend from the Band of Horses and he said,  "I haven't had too many conversations with Neil that weren't serious and meaningful about something that matters." I had a few minutes of Neil's time and he was very intense and basically was getting his back into his living with his thoughts and actions. He then directed me to all of his petitions of matters of the heart to him, I of course agreed with his causes and signed away. I have two shots going onto NeilYoung(dot)com this week, check out his site and see if he is coming to a venue near you...

Images by Doug Siegel
www.dougsiegelphotography.carbonmade.com

Umphrey's McGee Performs at The Taft Theater in Cincinnati with Tauk

Umphrey's McGee played for another sold out crowd at the Taft Theater with Tauk (Brooklyn). Tauk played an incredible opening set on Friday night at the sold out venue. Umphrey's went on and dazzled the crowd with a great set that concluded with Oceans Billy featuring Nick Blasky on Bass. The second set had several guest stars including Mad Dog's Filthy Litte Secret Horns for Umphrey's encore of Peg (Steely Dan Cover), Dump City, Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel Cover). Check Umphrey's on tour and be sure to see them at one of many festivals they are already confirmed for this summer, including their own Summer Camp.

Images by Doug Siegel

Pearl Jam Opens Tour at U.S. Bank Arena with a Marathon Performance

Pearl Jam opened their Lightning Bolt tour in Cincinnati at U.S. Bank Arena on October 1, 2014. They played a three and a half hour show with two separate sets as encores. Highlights included several references to Pete Rose and how he should be in the hall of fame, talking about their last few days in Cincinnati with references to the old days of playing small venues in this city, and 34 songs of constant stadium pounding music. They delivered mellow songs to fast songs covering freedom, politics, charity, surfing, nature, and standing up for what you believe in at all times. Pearl Jam violated their curfew by half an hour and took a fine of over $10,000 to deliver a solid night of music to loyal fans. Pearl Jam gave the entire floor and first level seats to their 10 Club fan base for a minimal price. This band gets their back into their living! Pearl Jam has done over 100 charitable shows giving back to the community and practicing what they preach. This band has proven time and time again that they won't sell out. Go check out Pearl Jam 20 by Cameron Crowe.

The crew talked to people from all over the world throughout the night and was sitting next to Bronson Arroyo and Bob Pollard of Guided By Voices once my work was done. Pearl Jam is heading to several other venues throughout this tour. They will headline Austin City Limits Festival the next two weekends. In the end of October they will play right after Tom Waits and before Neil Young at his Bridge School Benefit in San Francisco, California. I have shot over 350 bands this year and this show was definitely up there in rank. This band has truly become a Hall of Fame act. There were several covers including "The Real Me" by The Who, "Rockin in the Free World" by Neil Young, and "Waiting on a Friend" by The Rolling Stones. Matt Cameron (drums) still tours with Soundgarden. There is a reason why The Rolling Stones,  Tom Petty, Neil Young, and other legends have said this band is one of their favorite touring bands. Rolling Stone also named Pearl Jam a top 10 touring band this year.  (Several photos were withheld for Pearl Jam's website and fan club which will post this week)

Images and Words by Doug Siegel
 (click read more for more images)
www.dougsiegelphotography.carbonmade.com

Bunbury Music Festival 2014

Bunbury Music Festival had another successful year on the banks of the Ohio River. The festival featured five different stages, over 100 bands, a craft beer area with hundreds of great beers, fireworks, and great weather to round out a perfect weekend. Some of the performers included The Flaming Lips, Paramore, Fallout Boy, Heartless Bastards, The Orwells, Dead Sara, J Roddy Walston, Empire of the Sun, Fitz and the Tantrums, Young the Giant, Foxy Shazam, ZZ Ward, Andrew WK, Cage the Elephant and several others.  Several hundred more Bunbury moments including crowd shots at my flickr site under the Bunbury Album.

Images by Doug Siegel
www.dougsiegelphotography.carbonmade.com

Cage the Elephant

Furthur Brings Out Guests at All Good 2013

Phil Lesh with Furthur

Furthur, the newest and most epic reincarnation of the Grateful Dead since Jerry Garcia’s passing, attained the much anticipated headlining slot at All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013.  They played two sets during a four hour set Saturday night from 8:15-12:15.  Led by Grateful Dead alums Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, Furthur also features talent from Joe Russo (Benevento Russo Duo, American Babies), Jeff Chimenti (Ratdog), John Kadlecik (Dark Star Orchestra), as well as Sunshine Becker and Jeff Pehrson on vocals.  Their performance was incredibly on point.  As usual, Furthur just kept cranking out the classic tunes with professional musicianship.  It was almost as if this show featured everyone’s favorite songs.  The first set featured jams such as “Uncle John’s Band” and “The Music Never Stopped.”  The last three songs featured Andy Falco, who is the guitarist from sensational bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters. 

Save the Leftovers

Vince Herman with Leftover Salmon

Leftover Salmon, the bluegrass rock stars from Boulder, Colorado, took to the stage Friday afternoon at All Good Music Festival and Campout 2014.  Their set was right in the middle of the day after Dark Star Orchestra and before the John Butler Trio, so needless to say the crowd was ultra hyped.  The best part of All Good Festival is the lack of overlapping sets, so the audience can sit in one place and see all of the music that they want to see.  Accordingly, the fans on Friday afternoon were content as could be, especially the ones lying in the hammocks in the wooded area.  Leftover Salmon came through with their expected high energy performance that had the crowd hootin’ and hollerin’. 

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Bring the Funk

Trombone Shorty 

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue is a brass band from New Orleans who brought such fresh flavor and style to All Good Festival 2013.  The six members of the band, including Shorty of course, brought a unique vibe and style to the stage with two percussionists, two saxophones, guitar, bass, and of course a trombone.  They even had an extra percussionist sit in with them for a few songs.  Their sound is a combination of jazz, blues, and the most authentic sounding effortless New Orleans funk you can imagine.  These guys have such a high energy style that they can keep every song fresh and sounding brand new.  Orleans Avenue has been creating quite a buzz lately and they accordingly they earned themselves a prime Saturday afternoon slot before Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. 

North Mississippi Allstars – Deep South Rock Comes to All Good

Luther Dickinson with the North Mississippi Allstars

The North Mississippi Allstars brought the heat to the main stage Sunday afternoon at All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013.  Their blend of southern rock and blues was exactly what the doctor ordered for the crowd who had been there partying since Thursday night.  The North Mississippi Allstars are a three-piece featuring Luther Dickinson on guitar and vocals, Cody Dickinson on drums and keyboard, and Chris Chew on bass.  It is hard to believe that so much sound can come from only three people.  The Allstars’ set was filled with a variety of first-rate tune including some classic covers.  They played “Hear My Train a Comin’” by Jimi Hendrix and “Goin’ Down South” by R.L. Burnside amongst others.  During the show, each member of the band swapped places and instruments, so all three played each instrument.  This is very unique demonstrates the musical ability of each of these fine musicians. 

The Stepkids Breakthrough at All Good

Jeff Gitelman with The Stepkids

Newcomers to the scene, The Stepkids, played a short yet solid set at All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013 at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio.  They had a primo slot on Friday afternoon sandwiched between All Good staples Darkstar Orchestra and Leftover Salmon.  Hailing from Bridgeport, CT, The Stepkids consist of guitarist/vocalist Jeff Gitelman, bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Dan Edinberg, and drummer/vocalist Tim Walsh.  The Stepkids were a pleasant surprise being a relatively unknown band to most of the people there.  They would fluently switch in and out between groovy psychedelic jams and layered jazzy ensembles.

The Ragbirds Span Genres at All Good Music Festival

Erin Zindle with The Ragbirds

Coming out with their debut All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013 performance Sunday afternoon was the up and coming band, The Ragbirds.  This quintet from Ann Arbor, Michigan has been touring across the country since 2006 and has played alongside notorious bands such as Cornmeal and Dirty Dozen Brass Band.  The Ragbirds are led by siblings TJ Zindle on guitar, and Erin Zindle, who plays violin and serenades the crowd with her heavenly voice.  At first listen, they sound like a group of traveling gypsies in some strange land.  There were so many noticeable influences in The Ragbirds’ music.  Their songs incorporated Americana as well as traditional music from other cultures, such as Latin and middle-eastern.  

Grace Potter On Top

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

The ever-growing musical prowess of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals has become something that fans music fans of all types can appreciate.  That is why it is such a pleasure to see them return to the All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013 to host a Saturday night prime time slot on the Dragon Stage from 6:00 until 7:30.  Between Grace’s on stage charisma, voice, and beauty, she is the perfect leader for a band that has been building up quite a rock-star reputation over the past few years.  Grace Potter and the Nocturnals put on quite a spectacle for their loyal fans on that sunny evening at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio.  The highlight of their set that had everyone talking was their cover of The Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil” which featured a surprise sit-in from none other than Bob Weir, an original member of The Dead.  In return, Potter would sit in with Furthur, who played after The Nocturnals on the same stage, to collaborate on a rendition of the Grateful Dead classic, “Turn on Your Lovelight.”  

David Byrne with St. Vincent

David Byrne and St. Vincent are currently on tour in the United States and are making their way around the festival tour and intimate venues such as the Taft Theater. The band played most of their new album and several classic Talking Heads songs on this particular evening. This has been one of my favorite performances of a summer that has been filled with music and festivals.

Images by Doug Siegel

Looking Forward to the 2013 All Good Festival

Furthur at All Good Festival

All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013 returns to Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio July 28-22 for another four days of love, harmony, and musicianship. This year’s festival follows in the tradition of honoring the Grateful Dead culture with the foremost headliner being Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. The rest of the lineup contains lots for anyone to enjoy no matter what kind of music they are into. Notable performances will include Pretty Lights, Primus, and Dark Star Orchestra. Bluegrass fans will take delight in seeing Yonder Mountain String Band, Keller Williams with The Travelin’ McCourys, and The Infamous Stringdusters.

http://www.allgoodfestival.com

The Wood Brothers at All Good Festival

The Wood Brothers

Friday afternoon at All Good Music Festival and Campout 2012 emphasized a variety of musical
genres. You had reggae and funk, and then you had some deep folky Americana music performed by three piece band called The Wood Brothers. Two brothers, Chris and Oliver, came together to
collaborate after each had already established their own music career. Chris Wood is a founding
member of Medeski, Martin, and Wood, and Oliver co-founded the band King Johnson.

The Flaming Lips Magic at All Good Festival

Wayne Coyne with The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips are known for their delightful on-stage theatrics and crowd engagement.  This was especially the case when they performed for a jam packed audience at the 2012 All Good Music Festival and Campout in Thornville, Ohio.  The Lips started out the show by playing arguably one of their best songs, “Race for the Prize.”  The next two hours would hold numerous other philosophical yet entertaining songs including a cover of Pink Floyd’s “On the Run”.  

SOJA Stirs Up All Good Festival

SOJA

Nothing beats a little reggae on a Friday afternoon at All Good Music Festival and Campout.
That’s why it was so pleasing to see SOJA (Soldiers of Jah Army) bring a little poppy roots fusion to the main stage. This high-energy Washington D.C. based band really got the crowd pumped in the warm Ohio sun. The octet knew exactly how to utilize its percussion and horns sections in a way that can get anyone to dance whether they knew the band or not. Topped off by Jacob Hemphill’s lyrics that SOJA’s fans were belting out as he sang, they created the perfect light-hearted medley of ear-pleasing melodies. It seemed as if everyone was in a good mood as the band played their song “Strength to Survive,” which is the title track from their new 2012 album. One of the best things about All Good is their rotating performances on two adjacent main stages, so all sorts of people were able to catch this rockin’ set as they soak up the good vibes from the beautiful festival environment.

Bob Weir & Bruce Hornsby with Branford Marsalis

Bruce Hornsby, Brandford Marsalis and Bob Weir

All Good Festival 2012 was a great year for fans of the Grateful Dead, with many of the surviving original members in attendance to play shows. Although Bob Weir, Phil lesh, and Mickey Hart decided to each do their own thing, it was a magical weekend for deadheads young and old alike. Bob Weir opened up Thursday on the main “Dragon” stage after a short Trampled by Turtles set by coming onstage with Piano virtuoso Bruce Hornsby and Saxophone Legend Branford Marsalis. Both Hornsby and Marsalis played with the Dead in the 90’s, so this was quite an astounding family reunion that all of the fans in the overwhelmingly large crowd could appreciate.