Power Pairing...

With our dear departed Gary Gerloff providing upstage security, the 5th annual Music for Massey concert unfolded rain-free on Thursday night on the tracks at the Science Museum.  The Waybacks got it rolling with some early cross-pollination as Sam Bush on bottleneck electric mando and James Nash on lead guitar dueled mightily.  The two bands were a potent combination, especially when they joined forces for a finale that included Little Feat's "Easy To Slip," the Stones' "Gimme Shelter," and Santana's "Soul Sacrifice.  Having Sam's drummer Chris Brown and the Waybacks' Chuck Hamilton pounding twin drum kits was a heart thumping percussive power play.  Major creds to SoundWork's Steve Payne and Sam's venerable road manager Rob Stokes for the creative collaboration that enabled both full bands to play together at the end.  An end that came all too soon...just as the light showers began to fall.  We'd almost made the call to move the show inside earlier that morning due to the prospect of heavy storms but NBC12's Jim Duncan, after some creative consultation with his comely "computer models," urged us to stay outside.  And we were so glad we did. Proceeds went to
pediatric cancer research at VCU thanks to Connor's Heroes, an organization named for cancer survivor Connor Goodwin started by his folks and dedicated to conquering childhood cancer.  Connor, pictured above with mom Lisa, Sam and James, lists his pal Sam as perhaps his biggest hero, and did a fine job helping me emcee and introducing the band.   Mr. Bush also spent some quality time with fellow mandolin aficionado Harper Speagle-Price, sharing old road stories and generally encouraging her to keep playing.  He loves it more than ever.  And a serious round of virtual applause for MFM mastermind Jim Napier who tirelessly engineered this benevolent train down the tracks along with Patrick McCarty and Steve Goodwin who helped shovel the coal...let's do it again in twenty-ten! (thanks to the Goodwins and Lori Price for the pix)

And still floating from Thursday's heady experience, we made our way to Brown's Island for Friday Cheers last night, knowing that Old School Freight Train has now basically become New School and that this was the final official gig for the formerly C'ville-based band.   They sprang from bluegrass roots some nine years ago,  and as any gifted young musicians are expected to do, they've found their new road, now under Jesse Harper's confident direction.  With Ben Krakauer's banjo and Pete Frostic's mandolin in the rearview, the new quartet comprised of Harper and fellow-founder Darrell Muller, Nate Leath and drummer Nick Falk are plowing a more pop/rock furrow alongside Dave Matthews and John Mayer instead of Monroe-inspired mountain tunes.  Growing is good.  And all indications are, Jesse Harper's in the early days of a long and prosperous journey.  They insisted on having Richmond's No BS Brass Band open, to impressive effect, especially when most of them hung around to help OSFT lift "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" to a Crescent City crescendo.  A proud night for homegrown Virginia music.

We'll be on the road a bit this summer...stay tuned for a few reports from way out west...TT