Pelican Cafe Essays and Blogs - The 2009 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival Awards


	9/6/2010

the BLOGS:

The 2009 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival Awards

By Paul Lyons

10/5/2009 5:37:55 PM | Number of Comments: 0 | Add Comments +

Most Amazing Performance - Lyle Lovett and The Large Band
Well once again the opening night act wins the coveted "Most Amazing Performance" award. In a different time, a large band would be billed as an "Orchestra," but Lyle Lovett has a foot in Rock and Roll. His 15 piece large band had something for everyone. With excellent weather and a full moon rising in the background, the band displayed amazing musicianship and a polished yet spontaneous performance. The choice of material was outstanding. Look out for his young fiddle and mandolin players. They can really play.

Best Song - Late For School by Steve Martin
Steve Martin’s playing was good enough to carry the day. His humor was honest, humble and got many laughs. Fortunately, I was close up for this show and his dry wit worked from a close distance.
See Lyrics

Best Groove of the Weekend - Galatic
Galatic from New Orleans. I caught these guys after hearing Alan Toussaint play many of his great hits with a polished band from the Tower's stage on a near by hill. They were good but afterwards, at the next stage over you could hear this wailing horn band playing really well. Galatic was in the house and they definitely had real energy and a funky groove. Booker T. sat in on the organ near the end. Amazing. I am certain the seats closer in were the best.

Best Weird Chord Halfway Through the Song - Little Feat
One of their new jazzy songs, about half way through, when the guitar player just sort of went into this weird arpeggio and the bass player went down a half step. There are no known recordings of this chord. It has only been heard in public only once.

Most Worldly Show - The Chieftans
Having played this festival many times, these guys have this show wired. They combine traditional Irish and Scottish music to the point of having a team of bagpipes playing away while marching around stage. During their set they also played Mexican folkloric dance music complete with a dance troop. During one of the tunes they broke into
Sweet Georgia Brown and transitioned out to an Irish tune. Talk about turning on a dime. Outstanding musicians.

Best Muni Train Employee
The N train driver who picked up a bunch of us on Irving and told us all to just climb in, and got us down the road.

Worst Muni Train Employee
The guy at Van Ness Station who then demanded a ticket/transfer. Hello World.

Late For School
Steve Martin

woke up this mornin,
clock said I was late for school,
teacher told me "that's not cool"
gotta put my shirt and pants on,
flew down the front stair,
wet my fingers and slicked my hair,
elbowed grandma passing by,
her face went into a pie.

If I'm late there's misery,
I won't be up on history,
I'll be in the English grammar slammer,
and I'll get a C.
Got a warning last semester,
told my mom and that depressed her,
promised dad I won't be late, so gotta accelerate,
let's go!

Ran out the front door,
moving like a meteor,
i sped across the front lawn quickly,
missed the bus, my shoelace tripped me,
rounded the corner,
homework flying as I go,
neighbor shouted "tally ho!"
and gave a standing O.

Lept across three lawn flamingos,
waved to Sal, (he's Filipino)
jumped the fence,
and found that I was headed toward a pool.
in the air I did look funny,
on tv I'd make some money,
waved my arms and legs like mad
to alter where I'd land, WHOO!

Aimed for the rubber boat,
hit instead the kiddie float.
I began to lose control,
I'm so glad I learned to log roll.
jumped onto the diving board,
bounced off it then headed toward,
a jungle gym,
i bounced just right and caught onto a kite.
WHOA! -I'm flying)

I'm so high, i see the school,
8AM, that's the rule!
flying slowly, time is marking,
down below the dogs are barking,
I feel like I'm sailing,
but uh-oh, the wind is failing,
now I'm headed downward, groundward,
clownward to the school.

on the football field I crashed,
50-yard line, perfect smash,
grabbed my books and so begins
my frantic final dash.
down the hall i ricochet,
trophy cases in the way,
the other kids are all in class,
I wish that I were they, WHOA!
ALMOST THERE!

I see the clock hands with delight,
8AM exactly right!
I pull a handle with a fight,
the door is locked and that's not right
there's not a person here today,
is everybody out to play?
now i'm thinking and it's sinking in,
it's saturday!
OHH!! I could have stayed in bed!

I'm out the school gate
wish that I could aviate,
or possibly evaporate,
I'll be home and back in bed soon,
my dad is waiting
"what the heck were you up to,
let's go fishing,
my oh my, your grandma's face is in a pie"

This is really something,
I'm with dad and fish are jumping,
mom gave me a new alarm
to set for monday morn.
never wanna be late for school'
never wanna be the classroom fool,
I'd be in the English grammar, slammer,
and I'll get a D!
Now my feet are doing dances,
HIP HOORAY for second chances!
I'm not late and life is great, it's time to celebrate, WHOA!

Gallery: