Hit the HIGH notes

Another HOT time at High Sierra this year! As always, a highlight of the summer with plenty of bluegrass, fiddles, banjos, mandolins and this year some phat beats thrown in! The police presence, such a downer last year, was not existent. So, everyone was pretty loose and enjoying themselves. Here are some highlights in top ten form.

1. Leftover Salmon reunion. The boys are back! I did not see the main stage show on sunday, but the after hours late night show was something to see. Darol Anger sat in on the fiddle for the first set and everyone looked to be having a great time. Complete with parade of salmon and Krispy Kreme donuts(?) The second set featured some other guests like Jefferson Hamer (Great american taxi) and others.

2. Bassnectar. DJ. Lorrin brought his unique style to high sierra for a late night set that went until dawn. I love the addition of electronic music to the festival and the format of having a performance based show of DJ's with live rappers and beat boxers is the wave of the future for electronica (I think). He also played a free show at the Vaudville tent with about 50 partiers on stage which also rocked but was too short. Zilla with Micheal travis of SCI on drums opened and rocked the house for the late nite set.

3. The Del McCoury Band. Professional and tight, the band really set the bar for all the artists. Scott McCoury showed why is the mandolin player of the year for six years running and his bro can rip up the banjo also. Del, is the consumate showman with his one-liners and good ol boy demeanor.

4. Jake Shimabukuro. The ukulele phenom represented the 808 state well with his takes on some classic tunes as well as some originals. You have to respect being on the main stage with nothing but yourself and your uke.

5. Blue turtle seduction. Strange name but cool tunes. The Tahoe band pulled together a tight set at the Big Meadow stage and had the fans bopping. Much better then I remember them being.

6. Anders Osborne. A little Narlins' style never hurt anyone and it really made everyone dance.

7. Great American Taxi. Vince Herman fronting the band and giving off plenty of "Festival" energy. Lots of fun on the shady grove stage.

8. Galactic. Always Great. Never have been let down by this New Orleans staple. Lots of fresh sounds and eclectic compostions.

9. Yonder Mountain String Band/Hot Buttered Rum. Both great and speaks to the core audience of what you would expect to hear. The Rum late night set I heard was especially good

10.The eight in the middle RV set. Watch out for these guys. I hope they get Karen on vocal to sit in more often.

honorable mention: Xavier Rudd, Chris Thile, and Roughnecks(new mastersounds)

Aloha

see you next year?