As usual, when herding a group of people, four in this case, to a festival, time quickly becomes irrelevant. Two hours after our planned departure, it is now midnight and I am finally given the green light to get in my car and drive. The five hour trip is easy and beautiful, though I will not notice the beauty part until the return. My companion for the weekend, Kate, is hopping in 40 miles east, on the route.
The second year of Lock’n is free from most of the quirks of the inaugural. The traffic is not backed up on the highway and the process of credential pick up to campsite takes a mere 30 minutes. The property is pristine and the staff is overly helpful. Our slightly late arrival actually put us in a closer area to the entrance of the festival and thus less walking. Besides the main Oak and Ridge mega stage, there are two smaller, the Relix Shakedown Stage and the hidden in the forest (literally and it is magnificent) Triangle Stage. The main stage has moved as well and for the best. The extra 5,000 or so people fit easily with the shift. Our neighbor at the campsite is a paramedic and firefighter who also has a brother in law who is the vice president of Another Planet Entertainment, the creators of Outside Lands in San Francisco among other things. He has put off surgery to come this year, saying that if it went wrong, he didn’t want to have missed this. He also tells us of a festival based around whitewater rafting class five rapids where people mud wrestle each other in the evenings. We thought we had been out there living….
Another noticeable change is a big name, non-jam band, headliner. Mr. Shapiro definitely knows what he is doing. Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, Two nights of Widespread Panic, One with Steve Winwood sitting in, Two nights of Phil and Friends, Two nights of String Cheese Incident, One set being a tribute to Kool and the Gang with original member and songwriter, JT Taylor, The Allman Brothers final festival show EVER, Two Nights of Umphrey’s Mcgee, Two nights of Wilco, Gary Clark Jr, Grace Potter and the Noctournals, and a whole lot more.
If you’re not familiar with the concept for the festival, it is this, everyone plays with everyone. Okay, that would take forever. Most of the bands sit in with the other bands in some capacity, making for largely memorable, once in a lifetime performances (i.e. Last year’s Zach Brown and String Cheese and Widespread Panic with Jon Fogerty).
Day 1: Thursday
It feels like Friday. This is sure to throw us off for the remainder of the weekend. Walking in to The Revivalist felt like coming home. This band blew us away at Bonnaroo a few years ago and has only picked up momentum. (Check out our interview with Singer David Shaw at https://blanknews.com/music/828-an-interview-with-david-shaw-of-the-revivalists ) They were ready for the party to start and the New Orleans sound had the crowd moving to the music. This would set the pace for the entire weekend. The Big Easy sound would dominate the vibe for the festival and set the crowd to shimmying. Highlights include Soulfight and what appeared to be and audible, Gimme Shelter (Rolling Stones cover) with guest guitarist and friend, Eric Krasno (Lettuce).
Lettuce was up for the first sunset show, but there was no sitting down today. This was a head bobbing, booty shaking, eargasm of funkalicous awesomeness that sent tingles up and down our bodies. This is a virtual super group of players including Eric Krasno, Adam Deitch and Nigel Hall. From a band that gained its name from requesting to play live (Let us = Lettuce), they took full control of the party and only paused to say thank you before turning the dance meter back to eleven. With special guest Alyssa Shakur on three songs and a finale with “our new friends, The B. S. Brass Band’s horns”, they set a pace that would be hard to follow.
The Happiness didn’t stop and the positive nature of the festival only grew to a boiling point later Thursday evening with Sting Cheese Incident’s “String Cheese and the Gang,” a tribute set to Kool and the Gang, featuring original member and songwriter, JT Taylor, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. This set was a non-stop party. We met three guys who follow SCI and they came to boogie, so we joined in. By the third song, we were dripping in sweat. Our dancing became infectious and soon people were pouring into our circle and the party continually expanded. Set list included: Jungle Boogie, Hollywood Swinging, Fresh, Ladies Night, Take My Heart, Joanna, Get Down on it, Let’s go Dancin’ > Drums > Let’s go Dancin’, Celebration.
Day Two: Friday
People’s Blue of Richmond kicked off the second afternoon. We would have liked to have seen a longer set from these guys. Often our favorites come from the undercard. Their energy was contagious and their lyrics are poignant and sometimes hilarious. Our favorite was from “Cocaine Powder.” “A Key bump in a bathroom stall/ A little one or a whole eight ball/It’s all cut with Tylenol/ It tastes like gasoline and flowers/I know it’s hard to understand/ I’m more a monster, now, than a man/I almost joined the Klu Klux Klan/I thought they said “White Powder.” Check these guys out. They will be big.
Del McCoury Band/Preservation Hall Jazz Band are always favorites. They are a part of Lock’n that we admire. The showing of where the inspiration evolved. A look back at who paved the way for the more current bands. Del McCoury Band has won more awards than any other bluegrass band in history. His set included hit after nominated hit and a sit in with collaborators The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who released an album with Del in 2011 titled “American Legacies.” True to Lock’n fashion, the fun didn’t stop with Del’s set. A parade of all the players lead to the other stage where TPHJB was set to perform and the sit in continued long into their set. As the afternoon progressed, the energy continued to grow.
Bill Kruetzmann’s Locknstep Allstars performed to a packed lawn. The set included sit ins with *Keller Williams, #Taj Mahal and ^Papa Mali. This was our first taste of The Grateful Dead, a part of the festival that much of the crowd was in attendance to relive and enjoy. The set included: Let the Good Times Roll (Sam Cooke), Big Railroad Blues (Noah Lewis), The Love Each Other (Grateful Dead)*, Bird Song (GD)*, Furthur on down the Road (GD)#, Stagger Lee (GD)#, Help on the Way (GD), Dark Star (GD), Wharf Rat (GD)^, Slipknot (GD), Franklin’s Tower (GD).
Phil Lesh and Friends closed out night two with a heater. Though the start though a bit slow, was laden with rarities, and the later more than made up for the former in energy. This version of the band was made up of Phil Lesh on bass, Warren Haynes on guitar, John Scofield on guitar, John Medeski on piano, and Joe Russo on drums. This set would offer the first repeat of the weekend and be the father of several other repeats. The set included “China Cat Sunflower (GD) Low Spark of the High Heeled Boys (Traffic), Let it Ride (Ryan Adams and the Cardinals), Crazy Finger (GD), Unbroken Chain (GD), Mountains on the Moon (GD), The Other One (GD), Dear Mr. Fantasy (Traffic), Friend of the Devil (GD), Shakedown Street (GD), Sunshine of your Love (Cream), Box of Rain (GD), Franklin’s Tower (GD), Donor Rap (GD), Turn on your Lovelight (Bobby Bland).”
Day Three: Saturday
It was hot. Sweat began running down my face fresh from showering. Before heading inside, I once again had long abandoned the notion of taking a shirt. After a quick stop at the sports tent, a large tent with four TVs in the corners and luckily for us, The University of Tennessee was winning as half time began. Hurrying to the stage for guitar phenom, Gary Clark Jr, we were informed of a delay due to possible lightning and heavy winds. Lock’n is situated near a mountain chain and thus weather can be unpredictable. The delay was only ten minutes and then the guys commenced to killing it. Every time we see this band, they have gotten exponentially better. Their blues laden rock and roll is wholly amazing. The set included hits “Black and Blue” and “You’re Gonna Know My Name.”
Tedeschi Trucks Band came ready to make us dance. They were all smiles and as always Susan put us instantly at ease with her kind words and nature. This band remains so thankful and energetic that missing them would feel like missing the festival. Their two Grammys are only a beginning, as we anticipate shelves full of them in the future. Their set included a nod to the night’s special guest, Steve Winwood, “Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring” (Traffic). The other highlights included “Back Where I Started” written by Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes as a tribute to late guitar tech for Warren Haynes, Brian Farmer, who passed away August 25th, coinciding with the death of Gov’t Mule’s original bassist Alan Woody’s death in 2000 on almost the same day. Farmer worked for Jonny Cash for eight years before joining Gov’t Mule in 1998. As the set continued, Susan lovingly straightened a shirt bearing Farmer’s likeness, when the wind moved it from view.
Wilco played their first of two sets on Saturday, kicking off their 20th year celebration tour. Midway through, a warm summer rain began to fall, cooling the audience and beating down the dust. In true Jeff Tweedy fashion, between songs, he entertained us with hilarious antic dotes, filled with the randomness that seems to fill his mind. As the rain moved on, a brilliant double rainbow formed over the festival and Tweedy couldn’t have been more (jokingly) put out. “I’ve said it before, rainbows are stupid!” Though later, upon considering the disappearance of said rainbow, he stated, “It’s gone, and I kind of miss it now. That’s how it goes.” Following the statement, they played “I’m the Man Who Loves You.” Other notables included “Jesus Ect.,” “California Stars,” and “A Shot in the Arm.”
Special Note: half way through Phil and Friends night two, upon finishing a cover of The Beatle’s “She Said,” an announcement interrupted the show calling for a mandatory evacuation of the festival. We were encouraged to return to our cars as lightning, heavy winds and torrential rain were in the area. Because of the complex makeup of the geography of the region, safe over sorry is often the plan. However, after an hour recess, the show was back on, though however Phil and friends was not allotted time to finish their set.
Widespread Panic with Steve Winwood was the most anticipated show of the night. This was my 204th Widespread Panic show and I must say that this fulfilled a fantasy spot on my list. For many years, WSP has been cover Traffic songs and making them their own. This would mark the second time the two shared a stage, the first time being, the inaugural Bonnaroo on June 22, 2002. I had sold my ticket to see WSP perform in Oak Mountain, Alabama due to the serious state of original guitarist Michael Houser’s cancer, thinking this could be the last chance to see him. However, this time I was here and only fifteen feet away. Due to a slightly shorter set because of the delay, the boys warmed the crowd up with “Junior (Junior Kimbrough),” “The Ballad of John and Yoko” (The Beatles), and Fishwater (WSP), before welcoming Mr. Winwood. The seven songs that followed included a constant sit in by longtime WSP friend, Randall Bramlett on saxophone and harmonica and even featured a WSP original. The set was as follows: “Glad” (Traffic), “Low Spark of the High Heeled Boys” (Traffic), “I am a Man” (Spencer Davis Group), “Can’t Find My Way Home” (Blind Faith), “Surprise Valley” (WSP), “Dear Mr. Fantasy” (Traffic), and “Give Me Some Lovin’” (Spencer Davis Group). Just before “Give Me Some Lovin,’” Bassist Dave Schools, who had spent most of the set jumping around (which is not normal) and constantly smiling, stepped up to the microphone and said, “I’ve waited my whole life to play this song with this man.”
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers closed out night three with a bang. Their 18 song set included four songs from their 2014 release, Hypnotic Eye, as well as a greatest list set that fulfilled every fans wish list. As usual, Petty was full of stories and ready to play. Just before “Into the Great Wide Open,” Petty told the crowd, “This is all I remember of 1991. I know I was there, because we made a record, but this is all I remember.” Later, just before “Free Fallin’,” he asked, “Feel like singing? Like when you were on the bus singing “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall?” One day, I’m going to find the guy who wrote that song and hurt him… If I could write any song that I haven’t written, it would be “Happy Birthday.” Think of the money that rolls in on that. You get a check every day!” The set went on to include: “So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” (The Byrds), “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” “American Dream Plan B,” “Into the Great Wide Open,” “Forgotten,” Man,” “I Won’t Back Down,” “Free Fallin’, “A Woman in Love (It’s Not Me),” “U Get Me High,” “Rebels” (Acoustic), “Yer So Bad”(Acoustic), “Learning to Fly” (Acoustic), “Shadow People,” “I Should Have Known It,” “Refugee,” “Runnin’ Down a Dream” Encore: “You Wreck Me” and “American Girl”
Day Four: Sunday
Skipping the late night sets last night for some needed sleep proved completely worth it. Laying at camp, we could hear Bustle in Your Hedgerow, a side project of Led Zeppelin covers by The Benevento/Russo Duo, tearing it up on the Shakedown stage, which only a 2 minute walk from our campsite, as we slowly drifted off to sleep.
The cloud cover and distinctly cooler weather proved refreshing throughout the day and into the evening. However, the day was not a slow one. Kicking things off, in the most perfect way, Soja, a local Arrington band founded in 1997, brought a joyful mix of reggae and rock to our morning. These guys already had the place packed when we walked into the main festival area. With no thought of simply watching, we were quickly shaking our booties to the fun, laid back music. Singer Jacob Hemphill was hilarious. “It was great to see Tom Petty, my favorite stock car driver. All these love songs are about Grace Potter…and Willie Nelson, 60/40 Grace.” Do yourself a favor and check these guys out!
Grace Potter and the Noctournals were brilliant. We have been looking so forward to seeing these guys (and gal) again. They “have been stuck in LA making a new album, which is great, but we would love to have been playing all Summer…so we’re going to get our ya ya’s out with you.” Besides several original favorites including “Paris” and “Ah Mary,” they also played pieces of other songs mixed inside of their own. “Sweet Hands > Not Fade Away > Sweet Hands,” and “Nothing but the Water (2) > Take You Higher > Nothing but the Water (2).” There were also covers of White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane) and a double encore dedicated to Brian Farmer consisting of “I Shall be Released” (The Band) (Grace solo on piano) and “With a Little Help of My Friends” (The Beatles).
At 81, Willie Nelson is still going strong. He is constantly on tour and releasing new albums including his newest (and 79th album!) “Band of Brothers” on June 27, 2014. This he was our first time seeing him and he was everything we expected. He was gentle and funny, talented and full of energy. His 29 song set left everything on the table. The set consisted of hit after hit starting with “Whiskey River” and Ending with “I’ll Fly Away” and included one from 2012 with Snoop Dogg called “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.” “Roll me up and smoke me when I die/And if anyone don’t like it, just look ’em in the eye/I didn’t come here, and I ain’t leavin’/So don’t sit around and cry/Just roll me up and smoke me when I die.”
The Allman Brothers closed out Lock’n 2014. This was a farewell show for this all too iconic band that formed 45 years ago in Jacksonville, Florida. Though they do have six shows (four of which are sold out and two are not on sale yet) at The Beacon in New York in October, this was our last chance to see them and for 25,000+ longtime fans, theirs as well. I have been listening to ABB since childhood. So many of their songs conjure powerful memories from key points in life, from “Ramblin’ Man” blasting from the stereo on yearly road trips to New Orleans to “Blue Sky” putting the definitive end to an argument and clearing the air in an all to packed truck cab roaring down the interstate. I remember the first time I heard “Statesboro Blues” and feeling like I had discovered a secret, one I would share at every opportunity all throughout college. I remember being stuck in a long line to get into The Beale Street Music Festival and “Jessica” was that year’s theme song, which played on a constant loop and never getting tired of those sweet chords. I could go on and on. So many people have been moved by this band that I don’t believe I can fully present how far their influence reaches. Their final set showed every side of their multi-faceted repertoire. With a director’s chair displaying the name Brian Farmer continually spotlighted, and every member donning a shirt bearing Farmer’s picture, they brought down the house. The set was as follows: “Statesboro Blues” (Blind Willie McTell), “Done Somebody Wrong” (Elmore James), “Stormy Monday” (T-bone Walker), “You Don’t Love Me” (Willie Cobb), “Hot Lanta,” “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” ”Whipping Post,” “Midnight Rider,” “Mountain Jam > Blue Sky > Little Martha > Mountain Jam.”
Lock’n 2014 was more than a success. Every problem was sorted, the grounds were well maintained and the music was packed full of memories. This is a festival unlike any other. The vibe is simply beautiful. There is an attitude of caring and familiarity that resonates inside these farm gates and is palpable in the air. The lack of negativity was astonishing. We are almost uncomfortable with anticipation for the announcement of next year’s lineup. Highlighted by Warm summery days and cool autumn evenings, missing this festival would be missing out.
Special Thanks to ZMAN, a longtime friend and brilliant taper. His live captures of music are found all over the web, including (www.panicstream.com) and over 700 miscellaneous shows at (https://archive.org/search.php?query=taper%3A%22Z-Man%22). He can be found wherever live music is the most magical at the moment. Also, thanks to Kate, Todd and Amy, for their companionship on this adventure and the hot shower and soft bed after the show on Sunday. I really needed that.
