TimmyB

It does suck as I was looking forward to seeing (in order of personal importance to me) Wilco, The Flaming Lips, Gomez, SCI, The Polyphonic Spree.

But there is a reason for everything so now I'm going to go to Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson at Cooperstown, NY (the home of the baseball hall of fame!) to perform at one of the first ballparks in history, Doubleday Field on Friday August 6th.

Hey secondtube, Unfortunately a coalition between the Conservative Party and the Bloc Quebecois will be able to create a majority government, while a coalition of the Liberal and NDP parties will not.

The Liberals and Conservatives could both have between 110 and 120 plus seats. While the NDP will have 10 to 30 seats. The kicker is the Bloc will have over 50 seats. Even though the NDP nationally has over twice the support as the Bloc, the Blocs votes are all in one province.

Unless the Liberal party ends up with over 130 to 140 seats they might not be able to create a coalition with the NDP and Green Party for that matter.

John Lee Hooker believed to be eighty-three years old died on June 21, 2001 in his home of Los Altos, CA.

Keeping with the theme of Van Morrison coming back to Toronto. Morrison thought Hooker was the real King of the Blues, as he introduced Hooker on Morrison's last live album "A Night In San Francisco" (Exile/Polydor, 1994).

I was lucky enough to see Hooker perform live just months before he died in the fall of 2000 at Bimbo's in San Francisco, CA before I saw another Bridge School Benefit with Neil Young.

Hey Esau, I remember how not too long we were talking about how we were both at that triple bill gig with Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison at GM Place in 1998.

What a great gig that was and I specifically remember Morrison upstaging Mitchell and my favorite Dylan that night.

Since Morrisons last Toronto date at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1995 Mitchell was here in the fall of 1998 with Dylan at MLG.

While Dylan since 1995 has been at Conert Hall ('96), at The Molson Amphitheatre ('97), with Mitchell at MLG ('98), with Phil Lesh & Friends at The Molson Amphitheatre ('00), at the Air Canada Centre ('01), at The Molson Amphitheatre ('02), at Ricoh Colliseum, The Phoenix and Kool Haus ('03). That's nine Dylan gigs since 1995!

Every Morrison album that has come out since "Days Like This" (Exile/Polydor, 1995) I've looked at www.pollstar.com patiently waiting for Morrison's next gig in Toronto. Now it's finally happening.

As of 10:00AM this morning there is an internet presale on

www.ticketmaster.ca

American Express Front Of The Line:

Start: Mon, 06/21/04 10:00AM

End: Wed, 06/23/04 5:00PM

VAN MORRISON

THE MOLSON AMPITHEATRE

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2004

Tickets are $115.00, $69.50 and $35.50 plus service charges for reserved seating. Tickets go on sale Thursday June 24th.

This is Van Morrison first Canadian date since 1998 in Vancouver and first in Toronto since 1995!

I just discovered through the helpful people at www.jayfarrar.net that the opener of the Jay Farrar Lee's Palace gig was "Greenwich Time". I didn't know this song as I didn't have his EP "ThirdShiftGrottoSlack" (Artemis, 2002). Though I do now as I picked it up last night before the show at Sonic Boom on Bloor.

It also appears on his new live album "Stone, Steel & Bright Lights" (Artemis, 2004), which I picked up at Sam The Record Man. So I guess I'll know the song the next time I see him play it.

I got my tickets before the sad announcement. Phish weekend festivals when they do happen have always been a top highlight of the summer, heck, the year.

It will be sad to think that after Coventry this year that there won't be anymore of these weekend festivals. I'll stop now as I respect Trey's decision and will just have to accept whatever future endeavors he takes part in.

Hey fretman, I live in Hamilton and live around 100km away from the Fort Erie/Buffalo border crossing. I don't know if going down the 401 to the Windsor/Detroit border crossing is faster or not. If you keep a trip-o-metre for your trip, mine was 1362km for a one way trip taking the QEW>I90>271>71>65>24.

It took us 18 hours and 45 minutes to get down there because we were caravaning with a group that was slow and liked to stop often. En route home it only took 16 hours and 10 minutes.

One funny quote that I remembered from the weekend was during the Wilco set. Before "A Shot In The Arm" Jeff Tweedy asked the crowd, "Everybody Hi?!" then he raised his arms and replied "I'm not!" This statement was funny for those of you who don't know Jeff Tweedy had just recently finished up rehab from being addicted to Vicodin.

Hey Hamilton, I thought I was the one that made posts for peoples birthdays?!

I finally saw Paul McCartney at the Air Canada Centre on April 13, 2001. It was one of the greatest concerts I have ever seen, and I so hope that I see him again soon.

Maybe in 2006 Paul can tour under the name "When I'm Sixty-Four Tour".

Last night I saw Jay Farrar and Mark Spencer perform The Beatles "Love You To" off of "Revolver". Since it was the last song of the night and since the show ended at 12:07AM I guess I saw a Beatles cover on McCartney's birthday! I know it's a George Harrison tune, but it is a Beatles cover just the same.

I just discovered that Shannon Lyon was the artist that I saw open for Jay Farrar last night. My girlfriend Rachael and MarcO have been pushing me to give him a shot for the last while, and now after seeing him I think I will.

From his album "Wandered" (Inbetween Records, 2003) he performed "You Showed Me How", "Since I'm Loving You", "Barcelona" and maybe a couple of more, I'd have to listen to the album again.

Lyon also said how he already had a ticket for the Jay Farrar show before he got a late call to open the gig. He then said "I guess I would have been at this gig anyway."

Five songs into Jay Farrar's set he asked how we were doing and mentioned since he had just played New Zealand and Austrailia he is calling they were calling this the Commonwealth tour. He then said "What do you for the Commonwealth? Throw a big party? Well you should."

Finally I got to see Jay Farrar. I got into Toronto and went to HMV and Sam The Record Man on Yonge Street to pick up the new Jay Farrar live album "Stone, Steel & Bright Lights" (Artemis Records, 2004). I also picked up the latest Poco album "Running Horse" (Drifters Church, 2002) and Chris Hillman and Herb Pederson album "Way Out West" (Back Porch/Virgin, 2002) as next week I'll be seeing Poco and in July I'll be seeing Hillman and Pederson. After I headed up to Bloor and got into Lee's as the doors opened.

I didn't know until I read the NOW that Jay was performing as a duo with Mark Spencer and not with a touring band. At least I was more prepared for a mellow evening of alt country rock.

Here was the setlist from last night:

Start time: 10:47PM

1. ? (Nice start I actually didn't know this one, it was performed by Jay solo acoustic with harmonica)

2. Make It Alright (From Jay Farrar's "Sebastopol", 2001) (Mark Spencer on telecaster)

3. Feel Free (2001)

4. No Rolling Back (From Jay's "Terrior Blues", 2003) (Mark on lap steel)

5. Cahokian (2003) (tele)

6. All Of Your Might (2003)

7. Heart On The Groung (2003)

8. Barstow (lap steel)

9. Damn Shame (2001) (Jay on harp)

10. Driving The View (From Son Volt's "Wide Swing Tremolo", 1998) (tele)

11. Vitamins (2001)

12. Feed Kill Chain (2001)

13. California (2003)

14. Voodoo Candle (2001)

15. Straightface (1998)

Encore: 16. Tear-Straind Eye (from Son Volt's "Trace", 1995) (Jay solo with harp)

17. Doesn't Have To Be This Way (from Jay's "Stone, Steel & Bright Lights", 2004)

18. Windfall (1995)

Encore 2: 19. Love You To (George Harrison song on The Beatles "Revolver", 1966) (both Jay and Mark on acoustic guitars)

Set ends: 12:07AM (1 hour and 20 minutes)

I didn't get a cover of Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane" like I had hoped, but with The Beatles cover I can't complain. What a great track to pick not only because it's a great tune, it is also as obscure of a selection as you could expect to hear from someone covering the Beatles. I had seen up to tonight thirty acts cover twenty-five Beatles songs and now it is thirty-one with twenty-six songs.

Mark Spencer added so much to the gig with amazing solos through out every track, especially when he was on lap steel.

It was a really nice show with a great vibe, and I'll be looking forward to seeing Jay Farrar again soon (Hopefully in Son Volt).

It was easily one of the most special Dylan shows that I have ever attended. I too was hoping for some special guests but instead got those amazing covers of songs that I will likely never hear Dylan do again.

The crowd obviously went nuts for "Samson & Delilah". I luckily knew all the other tracks as well as I'm a fan of Hank Williams, Merl Haggard (I was first introduced to that song on The Byrds Live At The Fillmore- February 1969) and Towns Van Zandt (which felt like a tribute to Van Zandt and Willie Nelson made a hit out of it with Merl Haggard in 1983).

Also for Dylan to start out with two songs that he originally recorded in Nashville with "Down Along The Cove" on John Wesley Harding and "Tell Me That It Isn't True" on Nashville Skyline was special.

I also was happy to get the rare "Seeing The Real You At Last" off of Empire Burlesque and "Blind Willie McTell" for the first time!

Plus I was happy that Dylan kicked Freddie Koella out of the band for this new guitarist named Stu Kimball. I felt Freddie never really fit in and hopefull Stu will do a better job. Though I still miss Charlie Sexton.

The likelihood that the NDP will ever run this country is not very likely. I say this with saddness because I would like that to be so. I think the best the NDP could ever hope for is to be the Opposition.

To say that if the Conservatives get in this time that would increase the chances for the NDP next time would have to happen by the NDP moving more to the centre. The majority of Canadians are moderate and are not even close to the NDP platform.

I have to respectively disagree with you howler. Yes the liberals are just the PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVES under the title of liberals. But it is not the PC anymore. The New CONSERVATIVE is the old REFORM and CANADIAN ALLIANCE. The Conservative platform is far to the right of the political spectrum and would if elected implement bills that could shatter everything that makes us proud to be Canadian.

Yes this Liberal party is fiscally conservative especially under Paul Martin, but they will not destroy our public health care and education as the Conservatives would. Let alone what the Conservatives will do hamper the ability for a female to have an abortion.

Also Harper will get tough on crime and increase our jails and try and start up the death penalty again. I am totally anti capitol punishment and The USA and Japan are the only first world countries in the world that still have it. I don't want Canada to all of a sudden be putting in people for minor crimes such as drug possession which the Conservative party would do.

The Conservative party constantly offends me with everything they say. Like how we have to implement America's labour practices! As Canadians we hav much better working conditions than the USA and he wants us to work like Americans, well fuck him.

Yes I like the NDP more, just l like Ralph Nadar more in America, but if I was an American I would be voting for the Democrates instead of Nadar.

I say vote strategically and wisely as my union leader Buzz Hargrove said during the provincial election. If you know the NDP or the Green party have a shot at winning then by all means vote for them. But if they don't and it's between the Conservatives and the Liberals, please don't be mislead to thinking they are one in the same because they are not.

I'm not gone yet I had to drop Rachael of at work and I came back to have a shower and get ready. I'm guessing by the lack of posts that not too many people are interested in this gig tonight.

Either way I'll post a review of it tomorrow, I think you are all missing out on a great artist tonight.

As a union man and an auto worker I really should support the NDP party. Also since I live in a riding where the NDP could win, Hamilton West. Where the NDP with David Christopherson could beat Stan Keyes the Liberal incumbent.

But I'll be voting Liberal because I feel that as Joe Clark the former prime minister and leader of the Progressive Conservative party said a couple of weeks before the election. "The devil we know (Prime Minister Paul Martin) scares me less than the devil we don't know (Stephen Harper)." To me that speaks volumes for anyone out there that doesn't follow polititcs.

Yes in an ideal world I would love for the NDP to run this country, but I'm a realist and the NDP does not speak to the status quo and the majority of Canadians. The Liberal party is the one national party that speaks to the majority of Canadians. The Liberals even with all their provincal tax increases and sponsership scandal are the best party for this country.

I told some people recently that I would rather the Liberals get in and break every promise in their platform because at least things would stay the same. Rather than the Conservative (ie Reform and/or Canadian Alliance) get in and implement just a twenty-five percent of their promises which would turn this great country of ours inside out and upside down.

I don't hate America but I also don't want to be an American and under the Conservative Party Canada will quickly become the closest thing to the USA other than the USA.

That is why I'll be voting for Stan Keyes in Hamilton West on June 28, 2004.

I'm leaving for Toronto now and I hope that some of you that are into Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Giant Sand, Calexico, and even The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Neil Young are considering on going tonight because you won't be disappointed.

No AD we were their around 11:30pm to midnight on Monday. How great was that weekend though? Immediately after bonnaroo ends I wonder who will be on the bill next year.

JAY FARRAR

10:40PM HEADLINE SET

LEE'S PALACE-529 BLOOR W

LEGAL AGE 19

THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2004 DRS 9PM

Jay Farrar is a founding member of Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt.

Uncle Tupelo was one of the pioneers of the alternative country movement in the late eighties, early nineties along with The Jayhawks and a few others. The band who covered The Carter Family (the first family of country music) song No Depression even inspired the alt country magazine to be named No Depression.

The founding members were Jay Farrar on guitar vocals, Jeff Tweedy on bass and vocals and Mike Heidorn on drums. After a few albums starting with "No Depression" in 1989 with this line up Mike left. Ken Coomer joined on drums, John Stirrat on bass moving Jeff to guitar and Max Johnson on Steel guitar and banjo. This line up produced their last album "Anodyne" in 1993 before Jay called it quits in 1994 ending the band.

Tweedy went on to great critical and now commerical success with Wilco and took Stirrat, Coomer and Johnston with him. While Farrar reunited with Heidorn and added Jim and Dave Boquist to create Son Volt to less success.

Jay then disbanded Son Volt to go solo in 2001 with his underated album "Sebastopol" with musical guests Gillian Welch and Steve Drodze of the Flaming Lips and members of Superchunk. In 2003 Jay released his sophmore solo effort "Terrior Blues" both albums are on Artemis.

I have missed Son Volt every time they have been to Toronto and Jay the first time he came as a solo artist. After seeing Jay's old band mates Tweedy and Stirrat at bonnaroo this past weekend I am very excited to see this show.

Okay I'm back and before I move on to the next act I want to talk more about Bob Dylan. It was my first Dylan gig with the new guitarist Stu Kimball, who replaced Freddie Koella. I went to five Dylan gigs with Freddie Koella and I have to say I'm not going to miss him now that he's gone. Koella never seemed to fit like Charlie Sexton or John Jackson or even pedal steel player Bucky Baxter. I remember last years gig in Niagara Falls where Dylan looked disgusted with Koella and Larry Campbell and Tony Garnier were laughing behind his back.

Speaking of Campbell it was so great to see him perform pedal steel so much at the gig due to the repertoire of country classics. I actually knew the Merl Haggard song Sing Me Back Home from The Byrds Live At The Fillmore album that was released in 2000. Don't forget all you Byrds/Burrito/Eagles/Parsons fans to go and see Chris Hillman and Bernie Leadon tribute Gram Parsons at the Toronto (Saturday July 17) and Ottawa (Sunday July 18) Bluesfests.

The next act was Dave Matthews & Friends. Now I've seen the Dave Matthews Band six times and Dave Matthews solo three times and the Friends band once and the Friends band is my favorite way to see Matthews.

Last December I saw them in Rochester and I remember it had a Rolling Thunder Revue feel to it, especially when Emmylou Harris came out to perform Dylan's Oh Sister. The bonnaroo show lost that quality a bit, but still delivered the goods. Songs I got at bonnaroo that I didn't get at Rochester were amazing. First off was Save Me which is my favorite track on the solo record and I couldn't believe they didn't perform it that late fall night in Upstate New York. Also they did Hey Bulldog which like Neil and Bob I can always be in the mood for a Beatles cover. Finally Dave and Trey did Waste during their duo set. Ever since Dave Matthews covered Waste on "Sharin' In The Groove celebrating the music of phish" was released in 2001 I wanted to hear him cover this song. I remeber the DMB show at the Molson Amphitheatre in 2001 Dave covered Willie Nelson whereas the show at the Corel Centre got the Phish cover.

It was also a crazy set for all that was going on around me, Rachael, Sara Bolton, Karen Wassink and new friends that we drove down with Mike and Steve. This guy was walking by and passed out right beside us during Trey sing Up On Cripple Creek (no pun intended). Rachael went down to ask if he was okay and he cold cocked her right there! After he took this swing I snapped and jumped down on him giving him a shot and pushing him back to the ground. This is where this jerk turtled and pretended to be pass out again. Rachael and some others pulled me back and I put Rachael behind Mike and Steve and ran off to get security at the soundstage. When I finally returned the loser had already jumped up and ran.

Also two young kids stripped naked (minus the guys underwear) and were dry humping beside us for around fifteen minutes.

Back to the music it was funny during the encore of Sly And The Family Stones's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) Dave completely forgot the lyrics and had to continuously had to turn to bassist Tony Hall to get the words before each verse. Also the song completely fell apart all together and Trey went to help Brady Blade drum and Tim Reynolds did a crazy Led Zeppelin tease of Bring it On Home. It's a fun gig Dave & Friends and I hope that they continue on inbetween the DMB.

Next was Vida Blue With The Spam Allstars. I saw Vida Blue during their first tour with Hamilton and MarcO a couple of years ago in Detroit. I remember how Wilco and Los Lobos were also playing that night in Mowtown, I went to Vida Blue with the thought of the possiblility that it would maybe be the only time I could see Vida Blue. I was wrong, but I also find it funny that in 2004 I got to see Vida Blue, Wilco and Los Lobos on the same weekend!

Now the show this time had the Spam Allstars which apperar on the new Vida Blue alubm "The Illustrated Band" released last year. I also wanted to see this show in Miami after Phish this year but luckily got to see it here. Some stand out Vida Blue tracks were the opener Most Events Aren't Planned, Where's Popeye, Electric Glide (which lyrically reminds me of Strange Design). The covers included a well recieved verson of Average White Band's Pick Up The Pieces, also Radiohead's Subterranean Homesick Alien (which was a definite highlight for me. It was the first time I have seen somebody cover Radiohead who I think are the best band of the past ten years) and Pink Floyd's Sheep (which I saw in Detroit, but was better here with the guitarist from the Spam Allstars). Vida Blue encored with Cars, Trucks And Buses. I thought it was interesting that now we as phans now have to get used to seeing Trey and Page perform Phish tracks (like Billy Breathes cuts Waste and Cars, Trucks And Busese) in their different groups then Phish. I enjoyed Vida Blue and thought the Spam Allstars gave them some punch as their material can be a bit too much mid tempo.

After Vida Blue I went to The Other Tent to see a bit of Umphrey's McGee. I saw them at the first bonnaroo and thought they were a decent midwest version of moe., I remember fondly how they performed YYZ at the 2002 festival. This time I didn't stay until the end as I don't know the material well and was very tired. They did do a crazy cover of the Flock of Seaguls song that was featured on the Diet Pepsi commerical a year or two ago.

Day two I went right to the What Stage to see Los Lobos. Which was where I found out that Ray Charles had passed away as David Hidalgo tributed at least two songs to Ray. It made me sad as I never so the soul great and I remembered all the times I passed him up including on year on my birthday. I had seen Los Lobos twice before though it had been since 1997 that I could check them out. They are coming to Toronto on Saturday July 17, but unfortunately that is the day that I will be going to see Chris Hillman and Bernie Leadon at the Bluesfest. Their set included two songs off their new album The Ride (Mammoth Records, 2004), they were Charmed and Chains Of Love. They also did my favorite Los Lobos song One Time One Night. They also covered The Who's My Generation and Not Fade Away and Bertha. The one song I thought I would hear but didn't was When The Circus Comes because of Phish covering it over the years it would have gotten a great reception.

Next was the British boys from Gomez at the Which Stage. I saw them in at Lee's Palace back in 1999. And was very much looking forward to seeing them again. Gomez will also be playing on the second day (Friday August 6) of Lolapalooza this year at the Molson Amphitheatre. It was a good show with old Gomez stand outs like Bring It on, Love Is Better Than A Warm Trombone, Free To Run, In My Gun, Here Comes The Breeze, Fill My Cup and Trying To Get Myself Arrested. New tracks performed included Where Ya Going? and We Don't Know Where We're Going. A definite highlight of the set was when they performed The Way You Do The Things You Do a Temptations song written by Smokey Robinson and known through this scene by the Jerry Garcia Band.

Next was Gov't Mule at the What Stage. I came in late as I have seen the Mule more times than most whereas Gomez is relatively rare to see. I walked in as the Mule were peaking to Led Zeppelin's No Quater. The set also included Al Green's I'm A Ram which Warren started playing with Gordie Johnson and Big Sugar back in 1998 when they toured together. Then Warren also tributed Ray Charles by performing one of my favorite Charles tunes I Believe To My Soul, it was the best part of the gig. I also saw them do Mule tracks Rockin' Horse, Thorazine Shuffle, Beautifully Broken (When Doves Cry intro) and soulshine. Then to close they did a meddley of The Who's Youngman Blues (that's two Who covers by back to back bands on the same stage) and Good Morning Little School Girl. I was hoping for guests but the set was still special with the Charles tribute.

After I ran over and checked out My Morning Jacked at the Which Stage. I liked the track they had on the Bonnaroo 2003 compiliation CD, titled Dancefloors, and luckily for me they performed it while I was their. Also I heard a lot of good things about them being a fun southern rock band and after seeing Gov't Mule I still needed that southern rock fix. Though I did leave their set early to get a good spot for Steve Winwood where I was also supposed to meet up with Rachael since she left me during the Gomez set.

Steve Winwood at the What stage was delayed for two hours and fifteen minutes due to thunder storms. And even after he started his set the rain continued until around midnight. I had seen Steve Winwood perform Glad and Low Spark High Heeled Boys with Widespread Panic back at the first Bonnaroo, but I had never seen him perform his own set. I had tickets to see Winwood play Massey Hall back in 1997 but unfortunately the show was cancelled. I was disappointed that Willie Nelson was off the bill, but since I see Willie with Neil at every Farm Aid it didn't hurt too bad. I found out at that first bonnaroo that Winwood lives in the Nashville area now and was estatic about his addition. He opened with Can't Find My Way Home, I just smiled and remembered when I bought that Blind Faith album when I was fifteen in a trip with my high school music band in New York City. He also did Different Light from last years About Time album on the String Cheese Incident label SCI Fidelity Records. Winwood got a huge ovation when he put on the mandolin and did Back In The High Life. Also before he went into the Traffic material, he told us that the recent Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees would hit the road this fall. The Traffic songs performed were Dear Mr Fantasy and Low Spark. Winwood then encored with the Spencer Davis Group song in which Steve was only fifteen when it was recorded Gimme Some Lovin'. The Winwood set was one of the best parts of the weekend for me even if I was wet and cold through out it.

My only regret is that if I knew that Steve's set was going to start so late I could have checked out the bluegrass great Doc Watson and maybe a bit of Jazz Mandolin Project. But I guess hindsite is 20/20.

After came the Dead on the same stage. The arrived one hour and forty-five minutes late due to the rain. It was a good first set and the first time I saw Warren Haynes play with Bob Weir and the two drummers. And The Weight was something that I really enjoyed (it was also the second night in a row that the headlining act performed a Band song). But when they took a set break after just an hour first set with everybody tired, wet and muddy I got mad and decided to go back to the camp site for the first time all day. Because of the rain I missed the Dead doing Shine On Your Crazy Diamonds and I missed Primus as well but I was just wipped out.

The final day I went with Rachael and Sarah to see Burning Spear for the first time. It was much like last year with The Wailers on the Saturday opener on the main stage, a great vibe. Reggae music first thing on a hot Sunday afternoon is always nice.

Next I went to the Which Stage to see Taj Mahal for the first time and what a great set! I have always loved the blues and since Ray Charles had just passed on it reminds me that many of these greats won't be on the earth with us much longer. Obviously he did Corrina, Corrina which was made me think of growing up on the Rolling Stones and Phish in Florida.

Next was Guster at The Other Tent. I have been a fan of Guster since their 1998 album "Lost And Gone Together" and I finally saw them this past fall at Lee's Palace and didn't mind missing moe. for them at this years bonnaroo. At the Lee's Palace gig they performed a Talking Heads cover Nothing But Flowers and I wondered what were the odds that David Byrne would come out and play it with them. Well co lead vocalist Ryan Miller thought the same thing and told us this amazingly sad story. He basically said that the story was going to go bad before he went into it. Miller said that the band went through all the right channels, through the record companies to try and see if Byrne would come out with them, and the record company said no way. As Miller was getting his haircut in New York city last Friday his hair stylist said that she also cuts Byrne's hair. So she asked Byrne what he thought and Byrne said great just have them come up to me before the gig and I'll come out. Unfortunately for Miller and Guster a "Nineth stage band" as he referred to himself is as impossible as it is for the audience to go and meet up with David Byrne. So It didn't happen but the did the song anyway in tribute. Their set included twin guys playing a cello and violin for more than half the set and a trumpet player for two songs. Highlights for me were Happier, Careful, I Spy, Barrel Of A Gun, Amsterdam, Homecoming King, and Fa Fa.

After Guster we ran over to David Byrne which unfortunately we arrived late but that's the way it is at these festivals sometimes. I had seen David Byrne once before at the Phoenix duing his Look Into The Eyeball tour in 2001. That gig was great but it was only a few Talking Heads songs, this gig was the opposite where he played only a few solo songs and the rest was Talking Heads tracks. I came in during I Zimbra, And She Was, Once In A Lifetime, Psycho Killer, Blind, Life During War Time. Plus solo tracks that I like Like Humans Do and off the new album Tiny Apocalyse. Unfortunately I feel the set was cut short due to the upcoming storm as the show ended at seven when it was scheduled until seven thirty.

Then the rain came again and Rachael, Sarah and I helped with the giant tarp city to keep us all out of the rain up front. It stoped in time for Trey to debut his orchestral music at nine with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. I felt privilaged to be there though I wish he picked a different venue to debut this style of music. The crowd was generally respectable, but it only takes a few to ruin it for all. I thought Flock of Words was beautifully done with the orchestra and Guyute was very intense.

I have seen Trey Band perform six times before this show and I have to say that the second set was the best single set of any Trey Band show that I have ever seen! They performed my favorite Trey Band songs like the Mister Completely opener, Cayman Review, Push On Till The Day, Ether Sunday and First Tube to close with an amazing array of fireworks. Also the covers were amazing! Devil Went Down To Georgia had the crowd going wild, Sultans Of Swing which had a firework go off right by some friends which I later found out started a ass kicking of the guy who fired it and finally Black Dog with Jennifer Hartswick singing lead vocals.

After the final night I went back to the tents and wound down and crashed for a few hours before getting up at seven for the long drive home. Though getting out in fifty minutes helped the day go by faster. En Route home it was fun seeing all those who were at bonnaroo too. I had a great conversation with a couple at Cracker Barrel. And we even saw some at the Angola stop right out of Buffalo before the Canadian border.

I can't wait until next year and hope more friends will come with me for the fourth bonnaroo.

Hi everybody, after getting back from bonnaroo late on Monday night I was unable to post my review on Tuesday due to the fact that I had a doctor's appointment and had to work. So here it is.

I have been to all three bonnaroo's thus far and for me personally this was the best bonnaroo yet! For reasons that I will now write about.

For starters getting in and out this year was the fastest yet. This year it only took around three hours to get in and under an hour to get out. Whereas the first year it took twelve hours to get in and a half hour to get out and the second year it took fifteen hours to get in and two and a half hours to get out.

This year I saw eighteen total acts with twelve complete © sets. Twelve complete sets is the most complete sets I have ever seen at bonnaroo. I also saw four acts for the first time.

The first year I saw fifteen total sets and ten complete with six first timers. The acts in 2002 were in the order I saw them, The Big Wu, Umphrey's McGee, Col. Les Clapool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, Gov't Mule, Widespread Panic, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, The Del McCoury Band, Col. Bruce Hampton And The Code Talkers (the second Colonel of the weekend along with Les!), Ben Harper (solo), Widespread Panic (second time), moe., Galactic, Ween, Phil Lesh & Friends with special guest Bob Weir and Trey Anastasio Band.

During bonnaroo 2003 I saw, Rebirth Brass Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, Jack Johnson, Lucinda Williams, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, The Wailers, Emmylou Harris, Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon, Widespread Panic, The Flaming Lips, The New Deal, Warren Haynes, Drive By Truckers, Galactic, James Brown, moe., and The Dead.

Now to this year. Before I get into the reviews of the shows I just want to say that I was so happy about the scheduling this year. I was able to see almost every band that I wanted to see.

First band I saw was Calexico do a soundcheck at This Tent an hour before bonnaroo music was to start. Calexico is a band from Tucson, Arizona that consist of Joey Burns on vocals and guitar and John Convertino on drums. Burns and Convertino were the rhythm section for Howie Gleb's Giant Sand before they formed Calexico. They have been one of my favorite bands since I saw Calexico at the Horseshoe in the late nineties. This was my fifth Calexico show not including a Giant Sand gig as well. The band consists of Joey and John with an upright bassist, pedal steel/guitarist, guitarist, trumpeter, and percussionist, and anothe trumpeter and percussionist. The band creates a rich sound of mexicali, surf, country, rock and jazz.

The second band I saw was The Los Lonely Boys who performed at the Which Stage (the second largest stage) for half their set. They are a band of three brothers from Texas that perform a Stevie Ray Vaughn And Double Trouble style with some Los Lobos in the mix. I have seen The Los Lonely Boys twice at the last two Farm Aids because they were discovered by Willie Nelson (who I wish didn't have to cancel from bonnaroo this year) a couple of years ago. They are a fun band but I had to get back to This Tent to see the who Calexico set.

I was so happy Calexico was on this years bill so they could get some exposure that they deserve and I hope to see them playing to more people soon because of bonnaroo. Their set included Calexico classics Trigger, Stray, Crystal Frontier and a cover of the Love song Alone Again Or. During Calexico's set I noticed that Toronto's own the Sadies were going to be the back up band for Neko Case, but I had to go and see my favorite band on the bill, Wilco.

Wilco performed at the What Stage (the biggest stage). It was my tenth Wilco show and my first with the new line up. Luckily I already had a copy of "A Ghost Is Born" since the majority of the set consisted of this album. Stand out tracks were At Least Thats What You Said, The Late Greats and Hell Is Chrome. Wilco also performed several tracks from their commerical breakthrough "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and One By One of the Mermaid Avenue set. My one complaint was no songs from Wilco's first two albums, but it was still a great show.

During the Wilco set it was getting very hot, especially for us Canadians. My girlfriend Rachael decided to go into a mist tent (which were key all weekend) during the end of Wilco and I left her to run over to That Tent to see the legendary Patti Smith.

When I got into That Tent to see the punk goddess perform for the first time I wished for one song, the pro union anthem People Have the Power. I asked someone who looked old because I figured they would know her material, if she had performed it yet. They said they didn't think so and asked me if Patti used to be in the Pretenders!? I told the guy no that's Chrissie Hynde. I guess I asked the wrong guy! She did the new song Ghandi off her new record and then did the song I wanted. After that she found out she had eight minutes so she did her classic cover of Van Morrison's Them song Gloria. What an artist! She completely captivated the audience and it was the best ovation I saw the whole weekend.

Next was What Stage again for the highlight of the weekend for me. Bob Dylan, my favorite artist along with Neil Young (who was at the last bonnaroo), for the twentieth time. I was hoping for some guests like Emmylou Harris or something but instead I got one of the most special and unique setlists I'll ever see Dylan do. He opened with two tracks that he originally recorded in Nashville, Down Along The Cove off of "John Wesley Harding" and Tell Me That It Isn't True" off of "Nashville Skyline" both of which I have never seen live. Then their are the four covers that were first timers for me Samson & Delilah (which the crowd obviously enjoyed), the Hank Williams tune You Win Again, Merl Haggard's Sing Me Back Home and Townes Van Zandt Panch And Lefty. I also got one of my all time favorite Dylan tunes for the first time Blind Willie McTell.

I have to get ready for work now so I'll write about the rest of the gigs that I witnessed after work.

That's cool. I believe that Neil Young's "Greendale" DVD will be hitting stores on June 22nd.

Day 3: The Story Of The Ghost

I too would like to vote for the NDP if it were politics as usual in Canada. But as this Conservative Party is not the Progressive Conservative Part of old (I smell the Reform and/or the Canadian Alliance), I feel I have little choice but to vote for the Liberals.

My job at Ford Motor Company of Canada might be in jeopardy if the Conservative Party gets into office. The Conservatives would not give out corporate subsidies to Ford or any other automotive company in Canada to ensure the future stabability of the auto industry in Ontario. I'm not a fan of corporate welfare either, but if southern American states are offering up hundreds of millions in subsidies what choice to Canadian governments have? Ontario and the Federal government have really no choice but to match these type of subsidies, the lack there of would cost tens of thousand Canadian jobs in the not so distant future, including mine.

For every one auto job in Ontario their are seven spin off jobs that are reliant on auto. Auto exports in Ontario add up to one third of the total exports in Canada. The Conservative Party said they would cut corporate taxes instead of using subsides to keep corporations in Ontario and Canada. This is not enough in the auto industry. All of the auto plants in Ontario pay a total of $250 million a year in taxes, whereas Ford and GM alone want $100 and $200 million in subsides for new flexible manufacturing plants. Tax breaks are not enough, to save tens of thousands of jobs. The auto workers in Ontario pay over $2 billion a year in taxes and we need some of that money from the Federal government to ensure our futures. The Conservative Party would devistate Ontario with their attitudes towards corporate subsidies.

When I get back from Bonnaroo I think I'll be going to Stan Keyes campaign office to volunteer my time to help the Liberals.

I missed day 1, damn. Today I'll vote off "The Story Of The Ghost".