Stevestock 3.5 (May 1, 2021 – Saturday Night)
It was a long Saturday at Stevestock 3.5 before Suggesting Rhythm’s turn, but it finally kicked off around 7:30pm. The guys hooked up quickly and treated us to a free version of 'All Over Now' to soundcheck. They took a quick break before returning to the stage to start for real.
The sun was just starting to set when Steve slammed the opening chord on the keys, Adam played the signature lick and Noel and Jeff started us down the path of a raunchy psychedelic 'Viola Lee Blues' to get the energy rolling. The jams in this sound like there's some China Cat teasing going on the band were having a blast early controlling the dance floor. With almost zero delay they kept us enjoying the ride with 'Hell in a Bucket'. Dave's intense lyrical delivery and the quick energetic jam lead by Adam’s guitar clued everyone in the tonight wasn't going to let up.
After some comments about how good everyone was feeling we were off again. This time it was Steve showing off his piano skills and Dave channeling Pigpen on the Ron McKernan written 'Chinatown Shuffle' for only the second or third time in SR history. A hot and quick rendition of the 1965 bubblegum pop hit by the Dixie Cups, 'Iko Iko'. 'Cassidy', the namesake of Cassidy Law, came next and features a nice long jam at the end. Keeping the engine revved up, Steve and Dave teamed up on the lyrics of 'Passenger', a rare Peter Monk and Phil Leah number from the Terrain Station album. I believe it's only been played 4 times by Suggesting Rhythm and not since August 10, 2019 at Steambell, a Jeff only drum show, making it the first time we've heard it with Noel in Billy spot. Finally slowing down just a bit the band turned into 'New Speedway Boogie'. Actually, a bluesy shuffle number as opposed to a true boogie, the boys really love this tune and showed here with another soul filled jam. Rounding out the first set we were treated to one of only two songs the Dead performed that was written entirely by Robert Hunter, music and lyrics. Written specifically for Pigpen, 'Easy Wind' was debuted by the Dead in 1969 and left their lineup with McKernan in '71. Today no one covers it better than SR and tonight was no different, the boys were on fire. The best jam of the set led us to one more reprise of the chorus before allowing the audience to breathe some and rest after a blazing set!
Reminiscent of Stevestock 2.0, set two started off with 'Help On The Way' into a gorgeous spacey 'Slipknot'. This time instead of the fake out with 'Dancing in the Streets' Adam steered the guys into 'Franklin's Tower' to finish off the iconic trilogy. Trying to top the first set, the Franklin Jam turned the crowd every way but loose until finally 22+ minutes into the set it came to a rest.
No Suggesting Rhythm show is complete without a Dylan tune, and tonight was no exception. After a quick “Thanks” to everyone the tempo slowed down so Dave could deliver the greatest lyrics ever written according to the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom. The tale of Louise and the elusive Johanna unfolded before us and the air dripped with emotion as Dave conveyed her story with a passion that only he can bring to the rhyming Dylan Lyrics. Cheers were still hanging when Ed sped things back up thumping the bass heavy intro to 'West LA Fadeaway'. They rolled into another long jam and if you listen closely Adam starts to tease a lick from 'Cary on my Wayward Son'. If you watched the stream you can see Jeff catch on and fill in the drum spot prompting a turn of acknowledgement from Drudge. The jam slowed down and wound into the 'Drums' spot. Noel and Jeff gave us some amazing energy again for the traditional early sounding drums leading into a 'Space' that Adam & Ed both tease a little campfire 'Kumbaya' on before eventually taking shape as the beloved Weir\Barlow ballad 'Looks Like Rain'. Steve got the mike next to keep the emotions dancing with his always soulful stylings in the classic Bent tune 'Blow Away' which closed out the second set.
With hardly a voice left, Steve Storer came up for some brief announcements and then left room for an encore. Like a verbal signature on brilliant work, we all to yell "Suggesting Rhythm" as the band laid out an intense 'Terrapin Station' to cap the night in dramatic fashion.
The Stevestock 3.5 opening night was fantastic and we knew we wouldn't have to break anyone's arm to come back for night two!
Highlights for my money were the ‘Viola Lee opener’, ‘Chinatown Shuffle’ in the first set.
The second set ‘Franklin’ back in the right spot, the emotion of ‘Johanna’ and ‘West LA’ jam and the ‘Terrapin’ placement.
Stevestock 3.5 (May 1, 2021 – Sunday Night)
The last day of Stevestock 3.5 was significantly hotter than the breezy Saturday. Starting later than slated due to other bands running over some, it was still in the 80's at go time around 5:30pm when Adam Drudge, Dave Oakley, Ed Bray, Jeff Rothman, Noel Burton and Steve Barnard took their places. For those that keep track, Ed was sporting his fourth bass in as many shows. A wood-stained finish this time adorned with a white pickguard, an almost exact negative of Saturday's white finish with copper guard model. Oakley was back in his Indiana Jones Fedora after spending Saturday in the gray driving hat.
The guys spent some time tuning and getting the monitor volumes just exactly perfect when with no warning Adam turned the noodling into a steady line, followed by Ed and Dave, then the organ and drums joined in and “church” had officially started with 'Who was John' finding its way back to the top spot in the lineup. The twelve-minute-long bluesy opener set the mood and had the crowd warmed up and ready for Suggesting to put on their Sunday best.
We got a few moments to catch our breath before 'Mighty High' came out for only the second time ever. Easily in my top 5, this catchy little spiritual number SR puts their own spin on, may be my new favorite. Again, clocking in at fast paced twelve plus minutes, my lungs were screaming. Answering my unspoken prayer request and staying with the ever-present biblical theme the band slowed things down for another popular JGB selection, 'Waiting on a Miracle' written by Bruce Cockburn in 1986.
This was the first time I noticed the lyrics matching the day. It was the hottest day of year so far, the incessant lake wind had died down and we were all blazing in the heat at Stevestock 3.5. Dave eerily sang the opening lyrics, "Working and waiting in the hot sun, With all the rich saints, and the fallen ones…" It couldn't have matched the moment better. Forgetting about the past and letting our worries behind, we all embraced the carefree moment.
Next up was another two/three-timer, 'Jump for Joy'. Debuting last August at Brambly Park show, this song gives me a great opportunity to jump as well as overhear my favorite words spoken at a Suggesting Rhythm show, "...man I've never heard another band do that song."
Coming back to the church theme is another personal top five 'I Need a Miracle Every Day'. As usual the band did not disappoint on this one. The lyrics melted into a long smooth jam full of twists and turns. When it finally slowed down slightly, they transitioned into the Young Rascals cover 'Good Lovin''. Barnard and Drudge both delivered hot solos in another long burning jam here before Dave came back to reprise and mop up.
Occasionally joking about different band-names, (see ‘Adam and His Ants’ at Main Line Brewery shows from February ’21.) Oakley paused here and introduced the ‘Knights that Say Nee’ giving a few of us a chuckle. I was still panting hard though when Jeff and Noel started banging out the familiar rhythm of our next sermon and the 2nd Blind Willie Johnson song of the set 'Sampson and Delilah'.
Barely 15 minutes later, due to the time crunch, the band was back for round two. My favorite way to start a set is with a quick Chuck Berry number to get me in the groove so I wasn't disappointed to hear the usual encore 'Let it Rock' take that spot.
After Stevestock 3.5 almost being cancelled a second time and finding a last second miracle in the Chesdin Campgrounds, the lyrics continued to be relatable. I won't quote the last verse, but I encourage those involved to look it up. Suffice it to say "... You can't stop the train, you gotta let it roll on!"
In between songs Jeff sneezed near his mike prompting a unison "bless you" from the crowd, again garnering snickers as the band tuned to start again. 'Harder the Come" was next. A 1972 reggae song by Jimmy Cliff and covered by JGB. This led into a nice transition over to 'Don't Let Go' another popular Jerry Garcia Band cover. After the 1st verse we got to enjoy another long spacey jam before coming back around to the 2nd verse and then slowly fading away into Drums. Drums this time started in the more techno new style before reverting to the OG drum solo to call the strings back in and fold into space as the sun was starting to set over the lake behind the stage.
Coming back to earth the sounds settled in on 'Black Peter's. Once again, as if Adam knew the future when he wrote the set list, the lyrics matched up to reality yet again. In the heavenly sunset Dave emotionally delivered the lines "...the sun is going down...and my friends they come around" this ignited another soul filled jam that bled into 'The Music Never Stopped'. Contributing to raise the bar all night we were treated to an amazingly euphoric jam here that stretched to space again and back.
I have to stop here to say thank you to Holly who noticed me go down and helped me clean and bandage my dancing blistered feet and get back on the dance floor before the song ended.
Having some fun with the names Dave introduced the band and acknowledged Noel's birthday before dialing up 'Werewolves of London' for everyone to howl one more time. Sunset Steve's piano playing here is also worth mentioning as it drove the jam.
For the last time the Mayor came on stage to give a big and raspy thank you to everyone! Then we got one more lullaby beside the water with "Brokedown Palace' to finish a long magical weekend.
Highlights like usual are hard to narrow down but first set highlights include; Mighty High, the ‘I Need a Miracle’ jam and the ”church” theme
Second set highlights include 'Let it Rock' the pertinent lyrics all night and the 'Music Never Stopped' jam
