Newport Folk Festival day 1: a hot day weather-wise and musically
Fort Adams State Park, Newport, R.I., July 28, 2023
Reviewed by Jeffrey B. Remz and Marc Cantor
Not that protest songs ruled the day, but the question loomed as whether the music would be as hot and muggy as the weather.
One aspect of the festival is that you never know what might happen. For example, many doubtlessly were excited to see Vermont's Noah Kahan, who is breaking out, on the bill. However, by mid-afternoon, he was out, the victim of vocal issues.
The Newport app promised a "legendary" performer in his place. It was right because bounding out on stage solo acoustic was James Taylor. "Sorry we didn't a soundcheck," said the always affable Taylor, jokingly, before commenting "emergency folk operation...Little did I know when I woke up this morning..."
Taylor accorded a very large crowd at the second stage with such chestnuts as "Fire and Rain" and "Sweet Baby James." His vocals could have been miked higher, but he sounded perfect. Taylor was in good form. He was so comfortable on the stage.
Maggie Rogers can do no wrong. Rogers commanded the main Fort Stage and underscored the fact that she had the adoring crowd at her beck and call no matter what musical genre she played. Rogers started off her set solo acoustic and made it clear from the get go that she was in superb vocal form.
She brought out the sister duo SistaStrings, who are the Ross sisters on cello and fiddle. The magic continued with that before her band bounded on stage. Rogers strayed more into pop territory, gyrating with the music and the crowd.
Rogers even threw in a few worthy protest songs, "Begging For Rain" and "Fallingwater." With the one year anniversary of her latest album, "Surrender," tomorrow, Rogers said she has a new disc in the can. So, she played the radio ready "Don't Forget Me," which highlighted her singer/songwriter side.
Del Water Gap's lead singer Holden Jaffe joined Rogers for one song following a coy interaction where Rogers said they were both in the same band when they were 18. The band? Del Water Gap, and they played a song from their time together. With Rogers on banjo and Jaffe on acoustic guitar, they played a masterful duet. A superb outing from Rogers.
One of the highlights for many attending Newport is the chance to discover unfamiliar artists. For those who had never heard of Canadian singer Bella White, they should have been mightily impressed. White made it clear where she was coming from musically when she soundchecked Kitty Wells' "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels." It doesn't get much more country than that.
For her real set, White showed her bona fide country chops with excellent singing, not to mention heavy utilization of fiddle from Patrick M'Gonigle and pedal steel player extraordiniare Spencer Cullum. She switched set sufficiently and engaged with the crowd more than other performers today.
Another highlight was Mdou Moctar from Niger. The quartet came out wearing full-length tunics with some sporting white head scarves. One might have expected a traditional African folk sound. Instead, Moctar, who is from the Taureg tribe, was in the musical amalgam of Hendrix and Taureg music with even more bite than Taureg band Bombino. The guitar-based music was hypnotic at times.
Moctar possessed an air of confidence about him – gesticulating to the very enthusiastic crowd, easily getting fans to clap along while also smiling with the sense of a performance well done.
The UK-based band The Heavy Heavy were very strong in harmonies from lead singers Will Turner and Georgie Fuller, reminiscent of English bands of the '60s and '70s such as Fleetwood Mac and a bit of the Stones. The material was well structured and showcased ken musicianship.
The Beths, a New Zealand quartet, put down an excellent set, which seemingly came close to not happening. With the extreme heat and humidity, dominating lead singer Liz Stokes stopped at one mid-song to say, "Sorry, I think I'm going to pass out." Stokes was escorted off the stage to great crowd applause and support.
Fortunately,, she returned less than 10 minutes later to close a very strong set. Their sound is characterized by an infectious, pop-drive beat. The Beths' sense of humor showed with a very large inflatable fish towards the rear of the stage.
Guitarist and vocalist Sofia Jensen, performing with a backing bass and drum on the Quad Stage as Free Range, demonstrated wisdom well beyond their years with a melodic, but edgy, set. They have a breathy vocal sound, punctuated with an edgy fuzz-filled grunge-influenced guitar. Songs were mostly self-written and reflective, with a cover or two thrown in for good measure. Jensen demonstrated pleasure with being at Newport, and shared that "Folk Music changed my life, and I don't think there's a more important place" for it. Ditto to that.
Indie pop rocker and music producer Samuel Holden Jaffe is referred to as just Holden by former collaborator, and fellow 2023 Newport act Maggie Rogers. He hit the stage as alter ego Del Water Gap. Guitar in hand, Jaffe was a charismatic and expressive stage presence, ever in motion, and engaging with the approving crowd, as he offered selections from his new-born (yesterday!) release, including the confessional "Coping on Unemployment." He also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the NFF experience, offering that he "wanted to play this festival since (he) was a little boy with an internet connection." Judging by the catchy dance-worthy rhythms and observational lyrics, one would have no reason to doubt him.
Philadelphia generated rock-indie act Slaughter Beach, Dog, led by founder and guitarist Jake Ewald, delivered a set of storytelling and collaboration, punctuated by selections from soon to be released "Crying, Laughing, Waving, Smiling," including the single "Float Away." With help from Erin Rae, who seemed ubiquitous at Newport, the performance showcased Ewald's rhythmic guitar and imagery-laden songs. And, as if to prove that the Festival is a collaborative stew, they were later joined by Craig Finn of The Hold Steady to cover Neil Young's "Barstool Blues." Slaughter Beach, Dog is Ewald's side project from Indie-punk project Modern Baseball, and provides him the opportunity to convey his contemplative, more acoustic side.
Guitarist and vocalist Sofia Jensen, performing with a backing bass and drum on the Quad Stage as Free Range, demonstrated wisdom well beyond their years with a melodic, but edgy, set. They have a breathy vocal sound, punctuated with an edgy fuzz-filled grunge-influenced guitar. Songs were mostly self-written and reflective, with a cover or two thrown in for good measure. Jensen demonstrated pleasure with being at Newport, and shared that "Folk Music changed my life, and I don't think there's a more important place" for it. Ditto to that.
Indie pop rocker and music producer Samuel Holden Jaffe is referred to as just Holden by former collaborator, and fellow 2023 Newport act Maggie Rogers. He hit the stage as alter ego Del Water Gap. Guitar in hand, Jaffe was a charismatic and expressive stage presence, ever in motion, and engaging with the approving crowd, as he offered selections from his new-born (yesterday!) release, including the confessional "Coping on Unemployment." He also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the NFF experience, offering that he "wanted to play this festival since (he) was a little boy with an internet connection." Judging by the catchy dance-worthy rhythms and observational lyrics, one would have no reason to doubt him.
Philadelphia generated rock-indie act Slaughter Beach, Dog, led by founder and guitarist Jake Ewald, delivered a set of storytelling and collaboration, punctuated by selections from soon to be released "Crying, Laughing, Waving, Smiling," including the single "Float Away." With help from Erin Rae, who seemed ubiquitous at Newport, the performance showcased Ewald's rhythmic guitar and imagery-laden songs. And, as if to prove that the Festival is a collaborative stew, they were later joined by Craig Finn of The Hold Steady to cover Neil Young's "Barstool Blues." Slaughter Beach, Dog is Ewald's side project from Indie-punk project Modern Baseball, and provides him the opportunity to convey his contemplative, more acoustic side.
Peter One doubtlessly had the most interesting bio of any performer. He was born in the Cote d'Ivoire where he was a recording star. Political turmoil resulted in him fleeing to the U.S. where he worked as a nurse for 30 years. Based in Nashville, he just released his first album in decades.
He has a pleasant voice singing in French, English and an African dialect. He would have benefitted from mixing up the tempo because too many songs in a row were of the same musical palette. That changed up towards the end of his set. Still, it was good to hear One.
Laden Valley is a Newport-based folk/Americana duo of Evan St. Martin and Dave Sarazen. They combine wonderful vocal harmonies amidst an acknowledged Bob Dylan influence. To wit, they played "The Times They Are A-Changin'." Their sound was rounded out by an upright bassist and fiddle player Elizabeth Beisel (if her name is familiar, it's probably not for her instrumental prowess, though that was there. She is a two-time Olympic swimming medalist!).
Ron Gallo opened the whole festival on a side stage. He rocked pretty much before softening his sound. He may have the most creative song titles, including "All the Punks Are Domesticated" and the very serious "I Left Someone Very Deep Inside Me."
A hot day weather-wise and musically on day one of Newport Folk Festival.
Editor's note: deadline resulted in missing headliner My Morning Jacket.
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