Some Leftover photos and other ramblins from Merlefest, April 1998 -- Continued

Sunday -- last time at the Pet-a-Pet Zoo. Kali (I do not weeesh to be rrreckognized...) Vann, Mark's 6-year-old neice and Mike Vann's "other" favorite Salmonyte (Salmonette?) -- a "born" LoSer! She knows ALL the words to Leftover's songs AND Sam Bush's. Her comment about the shows? "Uncle Mark sweats!"

The last set -- Sunday afternoon at the Hillside Stage

Drew in deep concentration-- with his favorite guitar

Mark and Tye -- in a "jam"

The AMAZING Chris Thile and Vince

Silas Herman yells FESSSSTIIIIVAAAAALLLLL, just like his dad!

Here's what Steve Mang <smang@Concentric.net> reported:

Thanks to Heather and Todd Weller for posting some of the Merlefest highlights and setlist info. Here's my take on the weekend.

The weather turned out to be beautiful. The grounds were a little soggy on Thursday (word had it that the festival grounds were under a few inches of water just a couple days before the festival). [Actually, it was under THREE FEET of water just the week before. Festival coordinator "B" Townes had the photos to prove it!]  Considering that, the place looked wonderful!! I had a terrific time seeing all the great music and partying it up with some really nice folks.

Here's the setlists for the Salmon sets:

4/23 - Watson Stage
Ain't Gonna Work, Carnival Time, Muddy Water Home, Gold Hill Line, Euphoria, Doin My Time*, Breakin' Though*, Funky Mountain Fogdown* (with slow intro), Mama Boulet*, Reuben's Train*. Encore: Zombie Jamboree*.

* w/ Sam Bush on mando and fiddle.

4/24 - Vince at the songwriting workshop.
Nobody's Fault But Mine.

4/24 - Dance Stage
Bosco Stumble > Sittin' On Top Of The World, Dance On Your Head, Cash On The Barrelhead, Ranking Full Stop, Baby Hold On, Wheel Hoss, Never On A Monday. Encore: Pasta On The Mountain!! > Back To Old Kentucky.

4/25 - Hillside Stage Jam

Rocky Road Blues, Hot Corn Cold Corn, Boogie, Whispering Waters*, When A Man Loves A Woman*, Same Old River*, Spanish Moon* > Superstitious*, White Freightliner Blues*.

* w/ Sam Bush and Sammy Shelor - Sammy may have joined a little later in
  the set. I didn't have a clear view of the stage for this set so I'm not sure
  when he came on stage.

4/26 - Hillside Stage
Green Thing, Gold Hill Line, Jokester, Highway Song, Squirrel Heads and Gravy*, Bend In The River*^, Voodoo Queen Marie*^, 4:20 Polka, River's Risin'. Encore: Better.

* w/ Chris Thile on mando. (17 yr old kid that's simply amazing!!)
^ w/ Dirk Powell of Balfa Toujours on accordion.

I'm looking forward to next year!!

Then LoSer Sarah Milam <milase00@wfu.edu> added:

Just had to throw in my $.02 on the festival. I had an amazing weekend, great time hanging out with all you LoSers (the most "generational" camping experience this college girl has had in a while :) ) As those of you who were there know, only caught the boys once in its entirety (Sunday), but it was definently a good one. I say the band adds a second mandolinist and I say it should be Chris Thile! He is amazing, just 17, and a great deal of fun to watch. He was very at home on stage with the boys. Another highlight of the Sunday set: Vince's kid Silas, dancing, "playing bass" with Ty, and yelling "festival!" into the microphone. Too cute.

Finally from Ed Crowley <terapin@pop.erols.com>:

Leftover Salmon hillside stage sun afternoon. Another amazing killer Leftover Salmon show. Easily the best Highway song I've heard. Just as we were talking about the amazing Chris Thile from the night before, he walks out on stage. The show just got hotter as the 17 year old was having the time of his life cooking on the mandolin with Salmon. These 4 Leftover shows at merlefest were easily the best Salmon shows I have ever seen.

And just in case you might think only LoSers had a great time, here's a post from the b-grass list from a dyed-in-the-wool Merlefest fan...

Date: Fri, 1 May 1998
Sender: "Bluegrass music discussion." 
From: Chris Abate 
Subject: Top Ten Merlefest Memories

Folks,

Thought I'd distill an overwhelming weekend of music into a much too short
list of personal highlights. Hopefully, others will contribute theirs
since its impossible to be everywhere you'd like at this festival. This
list is not in any priority order and I know there were many amazing
moments I just can't remember now, but here goes......

1) The Weather! - this being my 10th I can safely say this was the best
we've ever had at Merle, no rain, not too hot, cool breezes by day ...

2) Darol Anger - Been a favorite since the DGQ days, must've seen him 30
times over the weekend in solo workshops, fiddle groups, as an accompanist,
and at multiple jam sessions. I love his esoteric humor and trademark
"chop".

3) Reserved Seating - I was skeptical at first but I think the seating plan
was a success. Chairs were comfortable, you could always borrow a seat up
close for photos. This was the first year I got any sleep. The only
drawback was the cost, but whats money for?

4) DGQ reunion set - Lacking only one original member and integrating the
current lineup, this was a historic jamola!

5) Shenandoah - Got to hear Tony Rice's solo rendition 3 times and it
consistenly raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

6) SalmonSammonJohn - It ain't bluegrass but it was Jamming! Sam 
sat in several times but the hillside workshop were they did Little 
Feat's "Spanish Moon" into Stevie Wonder's "Superstitious" into 
something else I can't remember was "The Bomb" as they say.

7) Rowan-Rice-Schatz - I always enjoy Pete's shows, but this latest
incarnation of the ultimate musical chameleon is my favorite. They dipped
into the O&ITW and Muleskinner songbooks for great renditions of "Hobo
Song" "Cold Rain & Snow" among others.

8) Chris Thile - as an aspiring mandolin player, all you can say is ugh!
And who was that fiddler "Casey something"

9) Vocal workshops - caught both Cowan-Boosinger-Randall-Herman and
O'Brien-Klein-Bush and they were filled great singing, humor, insights on
technique and motivation, and emotion. These are rarely well attended, and
have always been the most fun.

10) Bluegrass Jams -The Midnight Jam, the final Hillside Monroe jam and the
mainstage allstar set were very well orchestrated this year. Minimal wasted
time changing lineups, excellent song choices, and a "cavalcade of stars".
Both Thile with the Kruger Brothers, and Natalie MacMaster burned up the
Walker Center stage on Saturday night, making the extra $15 ticket cost a
bargain.

This festival continues to improve, and has long since been the ultimate
(tie in to another thread) for The Music. My other favorite's are
Winterhawk for the campground pickin' scene, and Telluride for the venue
and progressive lineup. See you there!

Chris

'Til NEXT year...