Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival keeps growing

San Jose Mercury News ^ | Oct. 1, 2009 | By Jim Harrington

[Skenderbej]

Glad you can enjoy it. I’m positive Doc is the the best/most creative bluegrass guitarist in the UT/CO/WY area (maybe not saying much, but locally that’s okay!). The cheapo microphone on the video camera really can’t capture the intricacies of his playing very well. They’ve played a lot of shows with the big acts around here and even the big acts are surprised that he doesn’t make a living playing.

I’m just the pack mule/tech support for The Lady!

[GSWarrior]

Here is my follow up to the festival. I only attended on Saturday and got to see all or most of the following sets:

MARSHALL CRENSHAW. Didn't know much about his music going in. You could understand every word he sang...which is a plus is my book. Pop-oriented with a little twang. Very enjoyable

Next was BUDDY MILLER, one of my favorites. He performed songs primarily from his last two CDS. Gospel singer REGINA MCCRARY sang backup. EMMYLOU HARRIS joined him for a couple of songs, but the highlight was ROBERT PLANT, who joined Buddy for four songs to close out the set. Buddy Miller is great and this was the highlight of the day for me.

Stuck around the stage for the next set by indie band OKKERVIL RIVER. They were okay. Musicianship was not on the same level of the other bands I saw but they put on a good show, including a very chilled-out version of Sloop John B. They were very loud.

My companion wanted to see STEVE MARTIN AND THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS. He was at one of the big stages and we were at least 1/4 mile away. Martin is an accomplished banjoist and his band was tight, playing traditional bluegrass selections. Not bad.

I left the set early and made my way over to where BILLY JOE SHAVER was coming up. Wow. What a great show! I was right in down in front. His band was smokin, and he was in great form...a very charismatic performer. "I Been to George on a Fast Train" was awesome. Shaver is such a good ol' boy redneck!

Next up was ROSIE FLORES W/JON LANGFORD & PINE VALLEY COSMONAUTS, which turned out to be the SADIES, fronted by Langford. Was not impressed with Flores but the Sadies sure know how to rock out. I've always wanted to see Jon Langford. He is quite the showman. Too bad he is such a raging leftist.

All in all, it was a great day in Golden Gate Park.