Another very notable set was Free Peoples on the Americana stage on opening night as dusk settled in slowly to the high ridges of the pine covered mountains, surrounding the festival with a backdrop of massive oxygen production. They are a Bay Area band that fuses bluegrass with blues and a touch of jam extension. I had just finished my day of giving away goodness at the NG booth and I rushed over to catch the last 45 minutes of their set. A lack of consistent Vinyl shows had my spirit in knots and twists. My dancing vibration was missing but soon became found as they went into "Wild Wild West", a song that has a slow, methodic introduction, with lead singer/guitarist Tim Sawyer drawing out hoarse lyrics from the deepest part of the spectrum. Soon they are off into space, with Bassist Michael DiPierro keeping hearts and minds steady with his lines of funky thump. Sliding smoothly and carefully back into the softer lyrical section, the ecstatic crowd was brought back down to earth and melody from the hyperspace of the free spirited heavens.




Steve Kimmock and Garaj Mahal went into crazy electronic guitar rhythms during their sets. Michael Franti, the biggest draw by far for the Festival, had everyone jumping for peace on the Main Stage on Saturday afternoon. The Scott Fisher Band had a new energy pulse thrown into the mix. But the all time highlight for most people was the amazing, unflappable Alfred Howard. Although I was remiss for not seeing his live set with the K23 Orchestra, he still busted out his freestyle, spoken word lyrical attack for many other bands that invited him to troubadour on various stages at different times throughout the festival. Listening to his CD on the long haul back to southern California, I could not believe the breadth and depth to his stream of consciousness communication. There isn't time to acknowledge each fresh, inventive rhyme before ten more or throw on your slow processing brain. Apple computers need to do some brain scans on this young brother, because his flow is out of this world.




Who else? God there were so many! Ah, yes, the ALO story. While digging the groove from up close backstage I witnessed a near disaster -- kind of. The guy responsible for keeping the gigantic 50-foot blow up Buddha/Monkey erected behind the foursome both inflated and jiggling lost his focus for a second. That was all it took. Suddenly the massive emblem of meditation and serenity was about to topple on top of ALO mid-set. I only noticed this because the woman dancing next to me suddenly sprinted over to where he was struggling to get the inflator hose hooked on to the back of the intake valve! Luckily she arrived just in time before the thing crushed him and the stopped the show a little short. Nice effect for the crowd though! How many out there actually noticed the slouching monkey suddenly become taut again? In terms of music, I challenge anyone to find a more up and coming, talented songwriter than Zach Gill. While he tours with Jack Johnson and continues to make a name for himself on the keys and with great backing harmonics, his influence on my musical psyche is tremendous. I love Steely Dan, hard to match the storytelling combined with unique funky sounds. But ALO is my modern day fix for exquisite lyrics and a variety of sounds that make them hard to categorize. With a dedicated following including the Santa Barbara Music Phreaks, there will always be souls ready to alight with every future gig that they book.




A first-timer no longer, my days of hearing stories about how great a time people have had at this annual affair are over. With all the musical options and chances to rise to ecstatic levels of consciousness, is there any wonder where I will be next Fourth of July weekend?

PS: I have been dancing all week from the leftover flavors of musical buffet that touched my ear pallet throughout the long weekend affair! I hope you can join us next year!

Good links for more information about High Sierra Music Festival:

http://www.highsierramusic.com/

http://www.highsierramusic.com/index.php?page=High_Sierra_Music_Festival

http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=6883

part 3 of 3

ER Harris