CBGB Festival - Chicago

[angischy]

The Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival (www.cbgbfestival.com (http://www.cbgbfestival.com/)) is a one-day festival celebrating Chicago’s unprecedented appreciation of roots music and culture.
Hosted by the legendary Congress Theatre (www.congresschicago.com), a bevy of homegrown talent will unite with some of contemporary music’s most accomplished and influential artists for a day of collaboration and cause.
12 hours, 18 bands, for only $31.
And all in the name of a just cause and a plethora of musical styles that have evolved from the Bluegrass and Blues traditions that started it all. Aiming to help eradicate congenital heart defects in children, a portion of the event’s proceeds will contribute to the research efforts of the Chicago-based Saving Tiny Hearts Foundation.
Until now, fans have had to travel far outside city limits and setup camp to witness a legend like David Grisman share a stage with the scene’s newest genre-defying sensations, The Avett Brothers, and a host of rising talents from the roots, blues, bluegrass, and jamband scenes. This fall, the Saving Tiny Hearts Society will bring them all indoors and within city limits to a historical Chicago landmark and one of the city’s largest and most unique live music venues.

http://i35.tinypic.com/nns6fl.jpg

MAIN STAGE
12:30 - 1:15 - Donnie Biggins
-Tangleweed/Second City’s “Cell Camp”
1:30 - 2:15 - Dollar Store -
--Tangleweed/Second City’s “Cell Camp”
2:45 - 3:30 - Billy Childers -
-Tangleweed/Second City’s “Cell Camp”
4-4:45 - Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials (http://www.intrepidartists.com/liled.html) - (this guy is LEGIT!)
--Tangleweed/Second City’s “Cell Camp”
5:15 - 6:15 - Majors Junction
-Tangleweed/Second City’s “Cell Camp”
6:45-7:45 - Ha Ha Tonka
-GIVING TREE BAND
8:15 - 945 - David Grisman Quintet (http://www.cbgbfestival.com/lineup/the_david_grisman_quintet.php) -
-GIVING TREE BAND
10:15 - Forever ;) - The Avett Brothers :D


Jambase. com PAVILION STAGE
Noon - 12:45 - Blue Room Hero -
1 - 1:45 - Cobalt & the Hired Guns -
2 - 2:45 - Lindsey O’Brien Band & Friends -
3- 3:45 - Mike Mangione -
4 - 4:45 - Jessica Lee (http://www.cbgbfestival.com/lineup/jessica-lee.php) (*NOT* Jessica Lee Mayfield! :))
5-5:45 - How Far to Austin -
6 - 6:45 - Blue Mother Tupelo -
7 - 7:45 - Blackdog (http://www.myspace.com/yourblackdog)

[Miss Shark]

The Congress is a great place for a show! I thought this might have something to do with CBGB's that was in NY.

[angischy]

The Congress is a great place for a show! I thought this might have something to do with CBGB's that was in NY.

Well, if CBGB's had really been the Country, Blue Grass, & Blues club Hilly intended, perhaps then, yes. :p
Come to think of it, The Avetts playing CBGB's back in the day would have been about right. That is their true spirit, their energy, and the reason why their music is so infectious, that underlying punk mentality and verve.

Shark, did you ever catch a show there? I almost did right before they closed, but we failed. :rolleyes:

[Miss Shark]

I never did see a show there.

[ragmop]

got my balcony VIP tix today! looking forward to this one. :)

[angischy]

got my balcony VIP tix today! looking forward to this one. :)


You know The Avett Bros are headlining this, right Rags? :cool:

Word from the organizer is "they're on last and will be allowed to play as long as they damn well please" not the typical 45 minute long set that some festivals dictate.

I have a few friends headed to this and really wish I could head out there, too.It should be a great day/night. :D Enjoy it!

[ragmop]

yes, i was awares. :) they're scheduled to go on at 10:15. in fact, that's why i opted for the VIP. was not planning on doing the entire festival. and with VIP showing up late will still ensure a decent location for viewing. by the time i'm planning on going, main floor will be filled.

can't wait. been a few months since i saw them. i'll keep a set list for y'all.

[angischy]

by the time i'm planning on going, main floor will be filled.

So . . . ?!? :p:confused:;)
Did you hang in the balc all nite or rush the stage, Seth side? I heard last nite in Holt, MI was epic, but still no wrap-up from our man on the scene in Chi-town.
(Rags, you know I'm not a patient girl!)

[ragmop]

Sorry about the delay.

First, the set list. Then my thoughts.

1. Go to Sleep
2. Left on Laura . . . .
3. More of You (new [to me at least] upbeat little ditty)
4. PG from Raleigh
5. Salina
6. Paranoia. . .
7. Weight of Lies
8. Talk on Indolence
9. Dream Appointed
10. Traveling Song
11. Sixteen in July (Which again, IMO they can lose from the rotation)
12. ??
13. Will You Return
14. At the Beach (best version live I've seen)
15. Pretty Girl from Annapolis
16. ??
17. Colorshow

Encore:
1. Late in Life (if you're only going to do one encore, this was a wise choice)

The delay in posting matches my enthusuiasm for the night--not the boys performance. I don't fault the boys, for they put on another solid show. I fault the promoters of this event. :mad:

This was a day-long event. And suppose I have no right to critique an event when I show up 8 hours into it. And maybe my enthusiasm lacks because an "indoor music festival" is just too vanilla to me. Festival = outdoors. Sorry, maybe that's just me. Aaaaanyway . . . IMO the venue was NOT the right fit for this festival. The Congress is made more for your top 40 acts. It is a rather large venue (General admission main floor, seating in balcony). At 8:00 main floor was only about 60% filled. Balcony was probably 25% filled.

And the crowd never grew. In fact, just the opposite. By the time TAB hit the stage at 11:00, the main floor was only at 35%. Read that again: 35%. I could NOT wrap my head around that fact throughout the rest of show. (the 2 hour set by the jam band that preceded the boys held almost double that attendance). And unfortunately, the size of the Congress Theatre just magnified the small size of the crowd. We decided to leave the balcony and hit the main floor for a better view. Had plenty of room. Bloom where you are planted, right?

As for the boys, they played like it was a sell-out. And as for the selection, I was very very pleased (except Sixteen in July--man, that is such a show kill for me. Always). And as for my partner in crime, it was his second partaking of TAB. He got a little Tee-rashed, but he's a happy drunk, so it was easy to deal.

Could kick myself though. Forgot to pick up the Jim Avett & Family Gospel disc while I was there. Oh well, suppose I'll just bite the bullet and pay 50% more to get it off website store.

Any help with nos. 12 and 16 would be great.

[angischy]

Could kick myself though. Forgot to pick up the Jim Avett & Family Gospel disc while I was there. Oh well, suppose I'll just bite the bullet and pay 50% more to get it off website store.

Any help with nos. 12 and 16 would be great.

Thanks Rags. (I'm a pushy little bugger sometimes, ain't I? :o)

Those songs should be Greensboro Woman (Townes van Zandt cover) and perhaps two more new ones: I & Love & You, and Dream Appointed (aka Another Youngster).
Odd that there wasn't a better crowd for the fellas' set. I know the guy promoting the event had posted on the TAB board a few times about it, but apparently he didn't promote it enough in Chicago itself. They certainly have made a few fans in the past couple years with their shows at HOB and such. I tend to think that you would have actually gotten quite a treat with it being a smaller crowd. More intimate feel, less pushing and stuff. Did the people who were in attendance at least get into it?

It's a shame you didn't pick up the gospel album. They are only selling it at shows right now. I should have thought to remind ya!


On a more sober note, a friend of mine from Decatur was supposed to head up there but he couldn't make it due to a horrible incident in his town. Appparently there was a kidnapping of two children with whom they were acquainted through their kids' school. Amber Alert and everything and then the mother ended up killed. Just horrible.
Count your blessings, everyone.

[Miss Shark]

That's horrid Ang-A-Lee

I'm sorry you didn't have the perfect experience rags, but I've got to say that I LOVE the congress. What a phenomenal building. Of coarse I've only been to non top 40 full shows there.....

[ragmop]

angi, horrible story about your friend! i'm so sorry. and thank you for the additional songs.

and the gospel disc is available off the website. ordered mine today, so no worries.

as for intimate and the Congress? not so much. imagine a regular attendance HOB crowd in a venue 4-5 times bigger.

okay, i'm better with analogies: it's like a like a 2 inch penis in a 10 inch condom (foreign concept for me, but i know Mr. C can relate . . .:eek:)