10KLF Festival Review - Day 1 - 07/18/07

Well, I was supposed to get here at 10KLF at about 6:30PM, but with delays in getting people on the bus and traffic tieups, did not get here until about 9:15. So it was a mad rush to find a spot in the campground and get the tent erected before the sun went completely down. 

After grabbing a bite to eat, I was ready to get down to business of what I came here for….listening to some jams.

After wandering around for a while to check out the scene and get my bearings on the landscape, I head to the Barn Stage to catch That 1 Guy, which true to the name, was just one guy. I missed Mike Silverman last month at the Wakarusa Festival, but was told he was not to be passed by this time. By the time I reached the stage, he was just finishing up his set so not a good start to the musical experience.

After wandering around some more, I ran into one of my buddies from Wakarusa, Andrew Wyatt, who is here shooting photos for the organizers of 10KLF. Just so happens he shot the photo that is on the 10KLF website of the sunset with the girl dancing in the foreground, so he is back this year to capture more moments such as that. You can check out some of his photos on Jambase.com from Wakarusa.

I then head back to Barn Stage for one of the great keyboardist’s of New Orleans, Jon Cleary & Absolute Monster Gentlemen. Originally from England, he now has made his home in The Big Easy for the last 20 years, doing his own thing as well as on the road with Bonnie Raitt. After having a bit of trouble getting the sound man in tune with what he wanted, it was off to the races with some good down home music.

One of his first songs was one he wrote for Taj Mahal called "Cheating On You", with a bit more funky twist of his own thrown in. His bass player, Cornell Williams, was right in the groove tonight and his guitar player, "Big D", could not wipe the smile off his face and neither could the crowd. I have seen Jon and his band at Jazzfest and on the road at other venues and these guys never let up.

After heading into some blues territory with Johnny "Guitar" Watson’s "I’m Looking for the One (To Be With Me)" and Jon tickling the ivories at his best, he decides to head back to my part of the country with "Going Home To New Orleans"… but Minnesota is not so bad so far. 

Well, at 1 in the morning it is back to the tent, feeling much better being away from the cubicle from Hell and doing what I do best….sitting on my ass listening to music….  And I have 3 more days of it….I have such a rough life…..

Sorry for the lack of pics but for some reason, I am having problems uploading photos, so I will keep snapping and  worry about that when I get back to the Lone Star State.