Hardly Strictly World Party
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October 2-4th was the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival( link here: http://www.strictlybluegrass.com/ ) in Golden Gate Park and as the fest name implies there was a bevy of bands playing for our musical pleasure. It was actually a gorgeous, sunny fall day with a bit of brisk breeze coming off the ocean and perfect temperature when in the sun. There were something like 5 stages spread throughout the park meadows that one could choose from. My three friends & I ended up splitting up (2 & 2) in order to catch the bands we were interested in.
We first caught Okkervil River who put on an enjoyable enough show. I had heard a song or two on mog & although I liked what I'd heard, it hadn't further motivated me to check them out in depth. Even after seeing them live their music didn't resonate with me. They were more folky than the songs I'd heard on mog but the last two songs they did were more rock of which I preferred. So, no Okkervil for me.
Saw Boz Scaggs perform(or I should probably say heard him since there were so many people & we couldn't get close enough to see much). Definitlely some enjoyable blues songs which were performed by Scaggs & numerous blues/rock luminaries.
Old '97s were up next and put on a rockin' set. I hadn't heard much, if anything, of theirs so I really had no expectations. I did know they were under the alt.country genre but was pleasantly surprised they rocked as hard as they did. They were pretty entertaining but they didn't do much that I would consider country. Then again genre labels don't really work too well with most bands these days. I did think they started sounding too much the same towards the end of their set though, but just a minor gripe.
Nick Lowe was next on the list of musicians we wanted to see. With various sound problems, he got off to a rocky start but sounded great with his solo acoustic guitar set. He did manage to do the one song I recognized which was 'Cruel To Be Kind', an upbeat pop ditty from the '70s.
We checked out Gillian Welch who my friend wanted to see badly but she ended up doing all bluegrass which I don't care for personally. Even though I don't care for the musical style, I could tell she was talented & sounded great too. We then decided to go check out Richie Havens but by the time we got there he did two of his songs and was done. Mellow from what we heard.
'Is It Like Today' performed at Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR 10/6/09(the next week after the fest. Sorry, no vid from the fest of World Party):
So we finally came to the stage where World Party was going to play. Unfortunately the sun was setting and the brisk breezes earlier turned into arctic winds. It was very chilly but we braved the cold and waited for Karl Wallinger & crew. It was well worth the wait though. When the band came on, there were only three people, Karl playing acoustic guitar, a violin player & a lead guitarist. I was quite surprised, concerned, and a bit perplexed. There was no drummer or bassist! But once they launched into their first song, it became apparent that a drummer or bassist weren't necessary. They put on an amazing set to the point that I forgot they were lacking band members. They did about 5 songs off their 'Goodbye Jumbo' album and hitting a few off each of their other albums.
This was actually the first time I'd ever seen World Party live so my expectations were pretty high. I've been a fan since their first album 'Private Revolution' in '86 too but since they don't tour much I was never in the right place at the right time. So I finally got to see them after 23 years. And it was definitely a great show. Karl was in good spirits, joking about the adverse weather conditions and pointing out songs that were appropriate for the situation like 'Thank You World'. It was great to see him having a good time which made them all the more enjoyable to watch. I'm glad I toughed out the cold to see them.
Unfortunately, I didn't feel too hot by the end of the day so I didn't attend the fest Sunday. But it was oh so worth braving the weather to see World Party!
Locating MOG account...
Comments (14)
Sounds like overall it was a good time and a good opportunity to sample some acts you weren't as familiar with.
Great reviews. I know nothing of world party.
Glad to hear that WP lived up to expectations--never caught Karl live in that incarnation or with the Waterboys.
I had a fun one when Private Revolution came out in '87. I was on tour and living on the Suzanne Vega bus, playing it nonstop. one day Suze had kind of OD'd on it and changed it. about 6 months later, we were actually in a hotel pool in Austin TX when she told me about this awesome new disk she had picked up and asking if i had heard it. she played me Ship of Fools and when i told her i'd played it for her awhile ago i got the "did not" rap, but that turned into the "oh yeah" quickly.
See, this is why I need to live in San Francisco. Outdoor concerts in October. What a great line up. I actually missed WP when they cruised through my town in the last year or so. Apparently they/he always puts on a consistenly good show.
so glad you got to see them live, I got to see them once here in MN and it ranks up there as one of my favorite shows. I am not sure if it is because I like them so much or the fact they played their asses off that night. Great post trip bro
bluegrass riding the wind of a mild temperature day. sounds like my kinda day! sad that okkervil didnt live up to expectations. from what ive heard of them, ive always been a little interested in attending a live show.
Thank you for the review! It was a really good read, and I didn't even sneeze while reading it (I have a cold, arg!). Now excuse me while I go spin me some Lowe.
Nice August...very nice review of the day.
Great review, A! I saw Okkervil River at a fest a year back and actually was kind of impressed that they were so energetic live...but actually the weather may have helped me have a sunny disposition :)
MusicRX very true, that was one of the reasons I went was to check out some bands I wouldn't normally.
Amiel thx, I think you'd like WP. They are a thinking man's pop group. Go to the dark side, I have several albums posted there.
Robin yea, I didn't catch The Waterboys either but was not into them like I was w/WP. Great story about Suzanne Vega, another great '80s icon, thx.
LMI Come on out! October shows are great but the winds definitely put a damper on things to an extent. I know it's nothing like the cold in your neck of the woods though. That's why I live here, haha. Too bad you haven't caught WP live, even better than the albums!
Kevin thx! So cool you caught them live, you had one up on me till now. And great to hear they put on an excellent performance too. I think it may have been both instances in my case.
Sam mild temp day my ass! It may have been at the beginning but it felt like the frozen tundra to me later on. About Okkervil river, I just wasn't familiar enough w/their music to know what to expect. They still weren't too bad. I'm surprised I didn't get into them more since I do like folk influenced music.
Anna thx, glad I could distract you from your sneezing. Sorry you have a cold, get better. And enjoy the Lowe!
Annieander thx dear. Wish I could've made it to the 2nd day of the fest & enjoy some live bands w/you & Stew. C'est la vie, eh?
Britt thx, yea, it wasn't that Okkervil was bad at all, just not how I thought they would be from what little I knew of their tunes. Weather does play a major role in how things are perceived.
sounds successful! sounds like i need to check out world party!
It was & yes you do Ardy! If you go over to my page on the dark side, I've posted 3 WP albums.
heya Aug, it's great your first time to see World Party did not disappoint.
btw, it's funny you mentioned Okkervil River because i lately realized that i love their album (2007, i think) called The Stage Names. possibly, it's too folky for you, but in case you come across them again, check out the songs Plus Ones and Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe. :D
Yes, I was glad too. They rocked!
I need to listen to a full album of Okkervil River so I think I'll take your recommendation & listen to TSN. I don't think they are too folky for me, it's just that what I'd heard previously of the few songs I'd heard was more rock. So when I saw them live I was disappointed that they were folkier than I expected. Thx for the reco.!