favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite

The vibe at the concert was fantastic. MHB closed the main stage the first night of Magnolia Fest this year.



The amphitheatre stage there is one of my favorite venues; natural bowl underneath beautiful old oaks. While it's got room for a pretty good crowd the stage is a bit smaller and forces bands to setup a bit differently. I think this tends to bring out that something in the bands that play there. Mickey's setup took up about 1/3 of the stage! The keyboardist was practically hidden behind him.



Crystall Monee Hall is a fantastic singer and really took control of Samson and Delilah. I turned to my friend afterwards and said "Now that's the Samson and Delilah I've been waiting for."



Throughout the rest of the show she used her pair of mics (one modulated, one clear) to great effect. I've not seen many vocalists work it like that.



Dave Schools is just a monster on bass. There were several points (such as in China Cat) where the rhythm was alternating between a classic 4/4 rock beat and the Dead's more unusual beat. It was a bit like the optical illusion of the wine glass and faces-- what you hear keeps popping between. Now it's solid driving rock and roll; wait no now it's Dead!



Mickey got up and prowled around the stage at one point--that's really the only word to describe it-- checking up on everyone, ensuring the band was firing on all cylinders.



The whole band is playing tight. Mickey's sense of rhythm (of course!) for a concert is a thing of beauty. During the show the band takes you through a terrific journey. Around and around through fast, dancing, spacey, jamming, spinning mind blowingly great music.



If you haven't yet gotten to see Mickey Hart Band. Go see them now!

- November 20, 2012Thank you Dnuggs!!!