Storming the Castle!

Hello again and thank you for keeping up with all things InTents! Last weekend I hit up the Forecastle Festival in Louisville, KY which took me slightly out of the realm of festivals I had been frequenting. First of all, Forecastle was held at the Belvedere in downtown Louisville. Everything was located within the 7 acres that make up the water-front park on the Ohio River…no on-site camp or sprawling hills. Secondly, the line-up was a little more prominent than the smaller regional festivals I’ve been sticking to and, lastly, I was fortunate enough to spend time with and stay with my best friend, Abby, all weekend. All of those things combined pretty much secured Forecastle as my favorite festival so far.

The Ohio River from the Belvedere

I headed down Friday afternoon to catch up wth Abs and after dinner and some drinks, we headed down to register for our passes which included access to the VIP section…this was a first for me, but proved to be pretty cool. The VIP section basically consisted of several different areas to hang out in and around, a separate supply of porta-pots, discounted drinks and, best of all, a HUGE fan for heat relief. Concrete and humidity made for some sweltering weather both Friday and Saturday, but the music was well worth it.

So, onto that! We entered near the East stage and Extreme Sports area (amazing kids rocking out on bikes & boards all day…rad!) and headed straight toward the West Stage. The path from one stage to the next was lined with vendors ranging from normal hippie wear and jewelry to designer threads; an odd mix of hippies and hipsters that was pretty interesting. We arrived at the main stage just as Zappa plays Zappa finished setting up. I was a little disappointed we missed the Whigs, but Zappa definitely offered some positive energy and upbeat vibes. They’re pretty jammy and a little funky, so it was a nice start to my night. Find out if you dig them at myspace.com/zappaplayszappa.

After investigating the VIP section further and hanging with some friends, it was time for Pretty Lights to start. Pretty Lights consists of Colorado-based producer Derek Vincent Smith and drummer, Cory Eberhard. I hadn’t heard much from them before that night, but had heard a lot about them leading up to it, so I was pretty anxious to see what all the hype was about. As soon as the lights went on and the music started, I FELT exactly what everyone had been talking about. The beats were sick and the live drums brought a different element than you normally see at hip hop shows; everyone was dancing and the energy was amazing. After a short stint hanging out with my good friend Alex from Herm Productions (myspace.com/434761697), I got back in time for the Black Keys to finish out the night. The Black Keys was another band I had been told about a lot, but hadn’t seen live. They were a great transition from the electronica beats of Pretty Lights and brought a great blues-rock vibe to keep the energy up, but still pretty chill. I dug them a lot and everyone seemed pretty stoked when they came back for an encore. Check them out at myspace.com/theblackkeys to hear them for yourself…you’ll be a fan for sure!

The Black Keys in downtown Louisville

If you’ve ever been to Louisville, then you know the fun doesn’t stop until you do, so we headed to the Derby City Espresso to check out The Pass and You’re My Destiny. Both bands were pretty rockin’, and it was really nice sitting on their back patio and smelling the fresh coffee (even at 2a.m.). After a late night slice, it was all I could do keep my eyes open, so we headed back to Abs’ place to rest up for Day 2.

We arrived Saturday just in time to catch the end Afromotive’s set. A mix of afro-beat and funk, these guys from Asheville, North Carolina are great at getting your blood pumping and your feet moving. Feel the beat at myspace.com/afromotive.

We also caught the last bit of the New Mastersounds from the UK. Really amazing accents made me like them, but the music made me a fan. They’re jazz and soul and everything good about combining the two with funk. It’s hard to stand still when I listen to them…test yourself at myspace.com/newmastersounds.

After some super fresh sweet potato fries (one of my faves!), Abs and I took some time to hang out in the shaded confines of the VIP section during the Dead Confederate’s set. The Black Crowes were up next and by far the band I was looking most forward to seeing, so I was ready for them to start. Standing along the side of the lawn, I watched and danced, but was a little disappointed in the lack of energy they brought even with Chris Robinson rocking out and dancing harder than anyone else there. However, it was great to see one of my favorite bands playing in such a cool setting…skyscrapers and hotels lined the sky around the festival, which was made to look like a pirate shipwreck in the heart of Louisville. Whether you like the Black Crowes or not, check them out at www.blackcrowes.com for a free download of “I Ain’t Hiding.”

The Black Crowes!

We did happen to catch a little of Trevor Hall’s set on the East Stage where we ran into James Nimmer, founder of Muncie’s Wuhnurth Festival and his best girl, Christa, rocking out. Trevor Hall embodies peace, love and unity with his positive lyrics and reggae rock tunes. He makes your heart feel a little lighter and gives a little hope that things will change and be okay. Let go with Trevor at myspace.com/trevorhall if you need a release.

From there, the only thing left was the explosion brought on by Widespread Panic. Now, don’t get me wrong, Panic is GOOD; they’re talented and have been jamming for a long time, but I’m not a die-hard Widespread fan. I like the stuff, but they aren’t my crème-de-la-crème if you know what I mean. Most of the rest of the Forecastle fans felt the exact opposite. As soon as WP took the stage, everyone went crazy and entered a Panic frenzy filled with erratic dancing and elated joy. I’ll give it to the band, though, they know what it takes to make their fans go to that place and just ride the wave right on through. They rocked it out for over an hour before we decided to head out, but it was definitely a great end to the festival for me.

I didn’t hit up any shows Sunday, because I needed to head back, but Forecastle overall was AMAZING! Pretty Lights definitely stole the show and it was really great spending tons of time with my best friend. I’m sad it’s over, but there’s still tons of summer to go and I can’t wait for everything coming up!

Speaking of…next up is the Cosmic Railroad Family Gathering in Janesville, WI July 31^st-August 2^nd featuring Cosmic Railroad (obviously), ekoostik hookah, Terrapin Flyer, Sweetwater Meltdown, Home Groan, and a slew of others. Check out myspace.com/cosmicrailroad for the entire rundown of bands & events and don’t forget to check back often for more coverage on all things InTents!

Until then, be happy and stay positive,

music.love.KG.

Don't judge me.

As always, any questions/comments/concerns can be sent to intentspromo@gmail.com!

Campfire tales

Hello again and thank you for keeping up with all things InTents!

Last weekend’s 1st Annual Hookahnanny at Hog Hill in Hamilton, IN was my latest stop on the Promo Tour. Only a couple hours north of Muncie, Hog Hill has an amazing set-up for festivals. Surrounded by trees and offering tons of camping space, it’s a great place to get away and still be close to your morning cup of coffee (definite plus!).

After getting our camp situated, my friend/photographer, Nick Armogida, and I had a chance to mingle with some fellow festers before the music started. Vendors lined the far side of the hill across from the stage and tents took up most of the space left over. The stage, set at the top of a hill, was in perfect view from just about anywhere on the grounds and offered some good exercise in reaching it. As the music finally got underway, Gida and I found a nice shaded spot to hang out and enjoy the live music.

First up was Shaggy Wonda, an amazing group of musicians out of Bloomington that offer some pretty bluesy rock tunes. They definitely brought a mellow feel to start it off and Teddy Jones plays a mean sax for sure! Check them out at myspace.com/shaggywonda to see what I mean.

In between sets, we found our way back to the campsite to hang with some new friends and relax before Ekoostik Hookah started. Romeo Champagne offered a great set of funk and jazz to chill out to, but as night set in, you could tell everyone was ready for Hookah. We made our way to the stage just as the band started. A large crowd had already gathered and was not at all deterred by the steep hill they were dancing on. As one jam flowed into the next and the crowd really started feeling it, Gida and I took a little time out to spend with the stars. The sky was astonishingly clear and only added to the euphoria of live music, nature, and a slight head buzz.

When Hookah finished up, promising a MUCH longer set the next night, we hit up the valley again to catch Derick Howard’s acoustic set. As always, Derick astounded me with his “one man jam band” effects and crazy light show. Even after heading back to camp to sit around the fire, people would stop by just to make sure we knew those crazy riffs were coming from “ONE dude”. After a great day of music and campfire tales, we finally turned in.

The always amazing Derick Howard

Saturday morning started a little early due to the sun turning our tent into a not-so-welcome sauna, so we decided to get some coffee and take a cruise around to cool off. When we got back to Hog Hill, we stopped at the top of the campsite to listen to Dan Dickerson rock out with his amazing electroacoustic harpiness. If you haven’t seen Dan in his intergalactic mini-bus offering jams created by looping his guitar, harp, drum kit, kazoo and just about anything else that makes noise, then you haven’t experienced true wonderment. Check him out at myspace.com/harpconditiondandickerson and see if you don’t end up with a harp condition of your own…he’s amazing!

Dan Dickerson & Family

As hard as it was to pull away from the harp, word was out that one of my very favorite jam bands, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus, had arrived and I couldn’t wait to see them! I chatted with some of the guys as well as UV promotions master, Rachel, as everything got set up and then just sat back and enjoyed the energy the Hippo always brings to wherever they are. For their schedule and/or to listen to some awesome tunes, check out myspace.com/uvhippo…so worth it!

At this point, the sun was really starting to burn me (literally), so we headed down to the pavilion for some lunch and much needed shade and then back to camp for a nap. Unfortunately I ended up missing The Werks & Samesoul, but they did offer some amazing background music to take a nap in the grass to. I awoke as Ekoostik Hookah was setting up for their second set, so we decided to pack up our camp so we could head out after the show. Hookah offered another amazing set of psychedelic jams from a group of some of the most all-around talented musicians I’ve had the pleasure to watch. Every member brings their own outstanding live performance that flows seamlessly with every other member’s. As I sat back and watched them perform together, I could tell how comfortable the guys still are after over 15 years of jamming together. Their sound is nothing if not completely original and has the ability to take your mind away from it all. The feeling is pretty freeing and a little bit magical, too. Definitely the perfect end to one of my favorite shows of the Tour so far. Check out Hookah at myspace.com/officialhookah and let them take you away!

Next up: The Forecastle Festival in Louisville, KY…by far the one I have been looking forward to the most. Not only will there be amazing music offered by the Black Crowes, the Black Keys, Zappa Plays Zappa, the Avett Brothers, Yonder Mountain String Band, Dead Confederates and tons more, there will also be amazing local art and the company of one of my very best friends. This weekend could set a new precedent for all other upcoming shows!

Be sure to check back again for all things InTents and, as always, feel free to e-mail me with comments, suggestions, and/or concerns at intentspromo@gmail.com.

Until next time, be safe and stay positive!
music.love.KG.

One last thing, I would like to thank some amazing people for all the support they have shown me and the InTents Promo Tour…Michelle Kinsey as well as the entire All Access staff, Gary Martin of After Dark, Rod Crossland of Wishbone Gifts, and Scott Gaddis and everyone else that has taken part in helping make a crazy dream come true. Thank you all!