So... Where to start? I guess from the beginning:

As soon as I saw the headline on the TPATH home page, I started repeating the mantra "Please be Atlanta! Please be Atlanta!" To my joy, one of the shows was at the Fox Theatre here in downtown. I immediately began looking for tickets. The Ticketmaestro was out of the decent $35 seats, so I checked out Stubhub and found two tickets in the second row for about $50, so I got 'em!

My friend and I get to the show in the midst of building winds, and an impending storm that seems to be the norm here in north Georgia at this time of year. The first thing I notice is what an amazing venue the Fox Theatre is. Considering it was built 80 years ago, in many ways its hard to imagine its any more than a year or two old. As an architecture student, I've been told repeatedly that I needed to see a show there, so now I have.

Anyways, time for what you guys really want to hear: As we're sitting in our seats, the lights go down, and Willie from OCMS walks out and introduces "Sara Watkins! And she's bringing her brother and a legendary rocker!" Sara, Sean and Benmont walked out and jumped right into it...

Guys and gals... If you're a fan of Benmont, you need to see him perform with Sara Watkins. The whole time I was just blown away by how free and flowing he seemed. If you're familiar with bluegrass, then you're well aware of the way in which the musicians tend to play in a circle, and even play solos in sequence. Tonight was no different, and in-between Sara's amazing fiddle playing, and Sean's guitar solos, Benmont had some absolutely phenomenal moments on the keyboards. At one point, his arms flailed wildly over the keys, sweeping back and forth. I half-expected dead notes, what resulted was one of the coolest, most awesome-est (yes, that's a word now) piano solos I've ever seen.

I always knew he was an amazing musician, but seeing him on stage tonight, he really had the chance to let loose and show what playing piano your whole life will lead you to. It was simply phenomenal. Between songs he would jump up and spin around (I'm not joking), as if embodying the excitement that the crowd had for the headliner... I'm simply blown away by the passion that this man has for performing these songs, and my friend (who knew, but wasn't a big follower of the Heartbreakers) noted how much more he moves than any other pianist.

Much of the OCMS show featured Benmont, with Sara and Sean joining for quite a few of the songs. My favourite moment came during OCMS's "Alabama High-Test", which it seems Benmont wasn't quite ready and rehearsed for. He improvised well, but he missed the ending of the song. As soon as all was quite, he stormed to the back of the stage, then back to the front with no particular destination in mind. Everyone in the crowd got a good laugh and smile from that.

The encore was just one song, and it was a good one. I had had my hopes up that Benmont's presence would illicit a TPATH cover, but OCMS went with a Dylan cover: "Lay, Lady Lay." (Benmont's organ work on this one just MADE the song...)

Ultimately, I had a great time the whole night getting to see one of my musical heroes in such a different environment than I'm used to. This show offered up a side to his talent that rarely gets realized on the rock stage, and its something I'll never forget. As for the OCMS, they are an awesome band! Even if you're not a bluegrass fan, you have to appreciate the passion these guys have for their music... I highly recommend it!


[A photo gallery will be up shortly... Benmont wore his usual touring suit, but he was also sporting a 'Jed Clampett' style hat. ]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jpharis53,

Excellent review!

Thank you so much. Pictures too? Horray!

Wonderful review!

So happy you got to see this show. Isn't Sara's voice amazing?

We've seen Benmont perform with Sara and her brother, Sean at the Largo and it's just a fantastic experience. The night I saw them, Benmont played the guitar and did his redition of The Ramones "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend". It was great.

Can't wait for the pictures!

Thanks so much for the excellent review. Made me feel like I was there. Heard flashes of Benmont's amazing piano in my head. Can't wait for the photos! Glad you had a wonderful night!

Thank you for sharing your night with us. I enjoyed reading your review.

What a great show. I was in the first row of the balcony and had an awesome view. I wish I knew how to write a formal review...it all went by in such a blur...I did enjoy watching the hat bob up and down though.

quote:

Originally posted by benmontsboogie:
What a great show. I was in the first row of the balcony and had an awesome view. I wish I knew how to write a formal review...it all went by in such a blur...I did enjoy watching the hat bob up and down though.

Great to hear you made it! I really enjoyed it, and I'm still coming down from it.


I visited and registered at the OCMS fan forum and figured out a few things. There's also a few videos over there from the show, most of them featuring Benmont!

^ Thank you for directing me there!! I watched a few of the videos and they were really awesome...I was wondering what that song was that Sean sang...it was Dead Flowers. I should've known....lol

Did you get to talk to Sara after the show?

jpharis53, thank you once again. Say, I've been looking around, and I see no mention of Glen Phillips (formerly of Toad the Wet Sprocket). Is or was he normally part of this group...?

I've been thinking of him lately. Last year he had an accident falling off stage. I hope he's fully healed. Coming back in the game can be tough. Anyway, the whole thing got me thinking... Good guitarists really get into their work. The face. The trance. Its easy to see how they might wander...and wind up who knows where. So....I've devised this sort of "protection". I originally called it a Play Pen...but then in honor of Glen, it became The Glen Pen. I'm still working on the patent. Its not your shoddy chicken wire enclosure that might protect a musician from propelled bottles of beer. This is made for all kinds of errant musicians, and is much sturdier. It will provide the musician who is familiar with it, a sense of safety, and allow for aimless rambling in about a 10'x 10' conscripted area...big enough for your largest ax. It has a trap door (maybe that's a bad choice of words)...an egress controlled from within...in case of fire or a sudden case of claustrophobia. It has corner accessories (to be sold separately) that can help set the mood: lighted Zen-like water fountain (provided the guitar is on battery pack, not amped by wire) is probably my favorite. More work is needed on this project.

So...any word on Glen? Was he maybe in another part of the show that evening?

Glen is a part of the WPA with Benmont, Sean and Sara, but was not on stage for this show. I'm a casual fan of TWS, but I'm not familiar with the names in that band.

I've looked through the OCMS fansite and there's no mention of him, there, in case that's what you meant.

Glen Phillips Website

Check out his website. He's up to something, he's been Tweeting on Twitter.

I still think if it is Twitter you Twit or you are Twittering.

Where did Tweet come from. It'd have to be Tweeter. lol

quote:

Originally posted by bluegill:
jpharis53, thank you once again. Say, I've been looking around, and I see no mention of Glen Phillips (formerly of Toad the Wet Sprocket). Is or was he normally part of this group...?

I've been thinking of him lately. Last year he had an accident falling off stage. I hope he's fully healed. Coming back in the game can be tough. Anyway, the whole thing got me thinking... Good guitarists really get into their work. The face. The trance. Its easy to see how they might wander...and wind up who knows where. So....I've devised this sort of "protection". I originally called it a Play Pen...but then in honor of Glen, it became The Glen Pen. I'm still working on the patent. Its not your shoddy chicken wire enclosure that might protect a musician from propelled bottles of beer. This is made for all kinds of errant musicians, and is much sturdier. It will provide the musician who is familiar with it, a sense of safety, and allow for aimless rambling in about a 10'x 10' conscripted area...big enough for your largest ax. It has a trap door (maybe that's a bad choice of words)...an egress controlled from within...in case of fire or a sudden case of claustrophobia. It has corner accessories (to be sold separately) that can help set the mood: lighted Zen-like water fountain (provided the guitar is on battery pack, not amped by wire) is probably my favorite. More work is needed on this project.

So...any word on Glen? Was he maybe in another part of the show that evening?

Haha, bluegill, I thought he fell through a coffee table....? Or maybe we're thinking of two different accidents. And, Glen is genius...I've been listening to a lot of his work lately.