As promised, an “epic” roundup post from the action at this year’s High Sierra Music Festival from the boys in Surprise Me Mr. Davis and The Slip. Brad, Marc, Andrew, Marco, Nathan and High Sierra just go hand in hand. They are all part of the action that keeps the festival’s heart pumping. You can almost guarantee at least a few draw dropping moments in each set. Read on for an extensive photo gallery…
The Surprise Me Mr. Davis set at the Main Stage in the afternoon was my first taste of music at the festival. On Thursday around 2:15pm under the hot sun. The music was actually more laid back than I remember from past SMMD shows. That could also have been because I hadn’t seen them in two years. The Slip members sounded well rehearsed and with Marco Benevento behind the keys — it gave the music a full sound. The Sissyfuss intro seemed extended too — the song is usually played at a much faster speed. It was a great way to start off my sixth High Sierra.
SETLIST
7/5/12 SMMD @ Grandstand Stage, High Sierra Music Festival
If You Knew, High Sierra Heartbreak, When a Woman, Sissyfuss, Movin by Lovin, One of Us Standing, I Hate Love, One Sick Knave, Unprotected Sex Song, Ambrosia Drunk, Don’t Have to Say You’re Sorry Till You Go
The Slip. High Sierra’s unofficial house band. Playing only a handful of shows each year, it’s a High Sierra rite of passage to go to a Slip set. Usually the band plays two full Slip sets but this year it was down to just one at the Big Meadow Stage on Thursday. A solid hour and a half of music. You take what you can get with these New England boys, sometimes indie, sometimes jazz, sometimes krautrock masters. The band took off from playing the festival in 2010, and ironically so did I. I wish I had written down a setlist. If anyone has it, drop a line below. The Cumulus is a must listen. Hopefully the tapes surface — I saw two near the soundboard.
**Updated 7.18.12 with a Slip video from Youtube user, Yodycat
“**Slip perform ‘Yellow Medicine’, HSMF 2012 Big Meadow Stage
SETLIST
7/5/12 The Slip @ Big Meadow Stage, High Sierra Music Festival
Full setlist unknown.
Surprise Me Mr. Davis’ late night slot on Friday night was definitely one of the better sets at the festival. Oddly it was only half full in the music hall but I suspect that had to do with the free Delta Spirit late night a few minutes away in the Vaudeville Tent. I wasn’t going to miss my last sets of Brad Barr and Co. The set was highlighted by a guest sit in from Josh Clark on Sissyfuss and a great version of No Rest for the Wicked.
SETLIST (incomplete)
7/6/12 SMMD latenight @ High Sierra Music Hall
1: Summer of my Fall, Ladies & Gentlemen, I’m No Good at All, If You Knew, Joelle, The Garden > Sissyfuss#, So Close to Dreams, No Rest For the Wicked
# w/ Josh Clark of Tea Leaf Green on guitar
Here are the rest of my photos from the The Slip & SMMD sets
Earlier LMB coverage of the High Sierra Music Festival can also be found here.
