Sam Bush Band
Sam Bush, who you’ll be glad to hear has been growing his hair out again, has been playing an electrifying set tonight. Jerry Douglas is onstage, as is Emmylou Harris, and Sam’s Band, featuring Scott Vestal on banjo, has done nothing if not solidify Sam’s status as King. “All right,” Sam declared to open things, “Let’s have some fun.” The night is clear, and Saturday night with Sam Bush is one of this festival’s most treasured events. Shane and I found a place out with the crowd–a spot that reminded us of our vantage point in less-cushy years–and everything is aaalll riiiight.
Tonight’s hall-of-fame moment: John Cowan comes out and sings a blazing version of “Gimme Shelter.” Getting these two guys on stage together is the shiznit, but this greasy rock humdinger reduced the crowd to pillars of salt. Everyone knows that Sam is the Man, but tonight he supplied an awesome reminder of why. Eventually, it was a free-for-all version of Bob Marley’s “One Love” that brought Luke Bulla and Chris Thile to the stage–Chris played the electric mandolin at Sam’s insistence and provided one of the greatest lava-lamp guitar solos of all time. The set ended with Peter Rowan on lead vocals for “Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms”–Chris Thile, Byron House, Scott Vestal, Sam all taking history-altering solos.
Still tonight: Gaelic Storm, the steerage band from the Titanic movie. No kidding. Who’s ready for a pint?
Sam Bush Band
