Day 3 of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival (with Fillmore extension) ranks at the very top of our all-time great days of live music.  The music began with the mesmerizing Jessica Lea Mayfield at 11am and extended to the last encore (at 12:30am) of Gillian Welch’s perfect birthday concert at the Fillmore.

Jessica Mayfield had a field-day earlier this year when she released her Dan Auerbach-produced album, “Tell Me.” The album is filled with great songs and her vocally laconic (in a good way) delivery, and more of the same was in evidence during her opening set on Sunday.  Her cohorts bring fire and flair to Mayfield’s seductive vocals and mien.  Following Ms. Mayfield’s well-received set, we took in Buddy Miller’s popular set.  Buddy’s obviously a very talented singer and guitarist, though he’s not our particular cup of tea (too much dead-center talent and technique, without flaws or flare-ups, which makes us cranky and causes us (perhaps unfairly) to lump Miller in with the likes of  Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas, both of whom y’all can have).  Make no mistake, though, his adoring fans were enthusiastic and entertained, and he brought out Patty Griffin, Robert Plant and Emmylou Harris to add coloratura to the proceedings.  After Buddy, we caught portions of the sets of soulful Dr. John, Bucked-up Brokedown in Bakersfield, and solo, but raging, Bob Mould.  All were good, but then the day really took off like a rocket.

Devotchka’s enormously entertaining gypsy-klezmer-rock pastiche had the massive crowd at the Star Stage enthralled and dancing.  What’s great about this band is that they grip your head and heart with their songs at the same time you’re feet are involuntarily jamming.

And then came our long-awaited first-glimpse of great Brit band, Elbow.  Guy Garvey and crew took the stage and within moments it was game-over for the best-set-of-HSB competition (due respect to the brilliant Bright Eyes).  Elbow is simply one of the best live bands on the planet, along with having composed some of the best songs and records of this era (if you don’t know and love their epic album, “The Seldom Seen Kid,” we encourage you to add it to your collection, along with their new album, “build a rocket boys!“).  Guy Garvey is a lovely human being who imparts well the uplift and emotion embedded in the band’s songs, and it is a sweet sight to see in person.  The band is also filled with perfect players, and included two female violinist-singers that added great sonorities.  We’ve written plenty about Elbow, but what will now stick with us forever are the sights and sounds of the huge crowd singing along with Garvey:  “Throw those curtains wide!  One day like this a year will see me right, for life.” Indeed.  As usual with Elbow live, the crowd left ecstatic, and plenty of tear-streaked faces were seen during and after their set.  Driven to tears–by joy.

We sat there for a bit, blown away by Elbow’s too-short, but perfect set, until we realized that there were great sounds emanating from the Towers of Gold Stage next door and recalled that Gomez had kick-started their set.  So we scrambled over to check the band out despite being completely sated and wrung-out from Elbow’s set, and skeptical of the need for any more British band performances.  Wrong!! We were quickly drawn in to the beguiling sounds of Gomez.  The band killed with its live rocking delivery on all fronts, and had the crowd rocking and reverent.  They are consummate singers and players (Ben Ottewell wailed on guitar throughout, and occasionally one-upped sound-alike Eddie Vedder vocally; but all the Gomez lads were phenomenal–and so very nice to boot!).  And ultimately Gomez exhorted the crowd into a dancing ecstasy.  At the end, we all were happily Gomezed.  Don’t ever rule out the British bands–they know best how to festival.

After a short dinner break, we reconvened with our consort for the special Gillian Welch concert at the Fillmore.  Sunday was Gillian’s birthday, and word was passed around in the audience before Gillian and David came out that a special Happy Birthday singalong was in the works.  As the duo came out, the Fillmore-crowd surprised Gillian and Rawlings with a boisterous belting of Happy Birthday. Gillian and David were clearly unsuspecting and beamed back the adoration of the crowd.  It was one of those many only-in-San-Francisco-at-the-Fillmore moments that litter the history books.   And that set the tone for the love-fest that ensued.  We’ve never heard the duo in better form, and Rawlings proved yet again why he is the most soulful and best guitar player on the planet.  Welch and Rawlings played nearly their entire new (phenomenal) record, The Harrow & the Harvest, and nearly all of their fans’ older favorites during the nearly three-hour set.  In addition, they brought out Bright Eyes’ Nathaniel Walcott (to add great muted-trumpet), Robyn Hitchock, and Buddy Miller, amongst others.  It was a cornucopia of riches which capped off one of the great musical days of our lives.

Check out some photos from the day below.  We’ll add some more and great video later.

Jessica Lea Mayfield

Buddy Miller (with accordionist Rico Bell, Patty Griffin, Robert Plant and Emmylou Harris)

Devotchka (with Amanda Palmer)

Elbow

Gomez

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (the only shot we got off before security flashlighted us)

We’ve been mired at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, held in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the last two days.  And oh what a sweet mire.  Check out some photos from Days 1 and 2 below.

On Friday we caught all of the Conor Oberst-curated acts at the Rooster Stage, including Jonathan Wilson, Simon Joyner, Woods (featuring Jeremy Earl’s high, soulful voice that gave off some Shins shadings), Kurt Vile and the Violators (killing again with their circa-Exiles Stones motif), and the always-rousing Felice Brothers (their nicely-evolutionary recent album, Celebration Florida, has been prominent on our playlists recently).  Then M. Ward came out and played the rocking warden role, driving the inmates mad.  After Ward set the bar way high, Bright Eyes (accompanied by M. Ward, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and most of the days’ participants) capped off the day with an over-the-top, revelatory set that tore the stars out of the night sky.  The Eyes had it, and the ayes had it as consensus-best set of the first two days of HSB.  Bright Eyes’ set again begged the question:  where were you Central Coast when Bright Eyes killed at the SB Bowl recently to a 2/3-filled venue? They may never come around again, but if they do, don’t mess up and miss it, ye of little faith (those in Morocco excused).

On Saturday we negotiated the massive crowds to catch the sweet subtlety of Cass McCombs, the great Robyn Hitchcock (accompanied by Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and Abigail Washburn), Hugh (“House”) Laurie, and Otis Clay.  And then Broken Social Scene (including Stars’ Amy Millan on vocals) slayed on their second-to-last set before a long hiatus, and left all sated with their strong group effect and Kevin Drew’s vaunted vocals and crowd-play.  The Punch Brothers then punched out the last set, and we were off for Hotei’s noodles and hamachi.  Another great day in San Francisco.

Check out some photos below.  We’ll post more on the above, along with some great videos, soon-come.

Day 1

Wood’s Jeremy Earl (with proper backdrop for this band)

Kurt Vile (in stylin’ striped-sweater and with the Violators).

The Felice Brothers

M. Ward

Day 2

Cass McCombs

Robyn Hitchcock and David Rawlings

David Rawlings and Gillian Welch

Broken Social Scene’s Andrew Whiteman

Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew

Broken Social Scene

The Rooster Stage crowd on Friday

One of our favorite performers, Feist, will release her new album, “Metals,” next Tuesday (October 4th) on Cherrytree/Interscope.  To stream the album just enter your e-mail address and you’ll receive a link to a site where you can stream Metals in full.  Great stuff.

Lisa Hannigan will appear at an early show at Soho here in Santa Barbara on Saturday.  To get a flavor, check out her compelling performance (and great accompaniment) on song, Knots, on Leno last night.  We wouldn’t miss her were we here, but will be away at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.

Portland-based band, Blind Pilot, recently released their album, We Are the Tide, which blends folk and added indie pop elements to great effect.  The expanded band (now six-strong) will play Soho this Friday night (September 30th).  Check ’em out.  We give ’em the nod for both their music and their bicycle touring ways.

Check out below an older video of Blind Pilot performing their song Buried a Bone, and get out and see them tomorrow night (you can get tickets from Club Mercy HERE).

Blind Pilot – Buried A Bone from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

Richmond Fontaine recently released its stellar, John Askew-produced album, “The High Country,” on El Cortez Records.  The haunted concept album is already featuring prominently on Top Ten lists around the land. If you’ve loved Willy Vlautin-and-crew’s other albums, such as the stunning “Winnemucca,”, you’ll undoubtedly hail The High Country.

You can stream the whole album below, and buy it (and find the worthwhile, stirring lyrics) HERE.

Trombone Shorty showed on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and kicked things up a notch with On Your Way Down.  We caught the N.O. lad’s great live show at last year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.  Check out the performance below and get out to UCSB to see Trombone Shorty live next Friday, October 7th.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngg54rWDLdo

In their songs, we can hear Orange Juice being squeezed by the band Dominant Legs. Well, at least we can hear that early Brit-pop band’s influence in this newish San Francisco band.  And we see grapes. In their other songs you can also hear a bit of Tracy Chapman in the musical mix. The combo is great.  Who knew that the Fast Car could be juiced? Check out their new video for their song, Hoop of Love below.  Dour gets juiced, resulting in a lilting uplift.  Their new album, “Invitation,” was released yesterday on Lefse Records.

Dominant Legs – “Hoop Of Love” from stereogum on Vimeo.

In an unprecedented move, Radiohead performed a quiver of songs on a special hour-long The Colbert Report last night.  Supported by an extra drummer and a horn quartet, Radiohead proved once again that they are the greatest band on the planet. And Colbert proved that, along with David Letterman, he is a host with musical soul.

The band opened with unreleased song, The Daily Mail, which is not on their most recent album, “The King of Limbs.” Check it out:

The band also played Bloom (oh the horns!!):

Then they played the glorious Little By Little:

Then, with Thom Yorke exhorting the crowd a la Colbert himself, the band banged out Morning Mr. Magpie:

The band finished strong by performing National Anthem::

The band then performed Codex for a web-only exclusive:

And, finally, check out the hilarious “interview” with the band: