Jackie Greene @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

 

Chris Robinson @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Hot “F*#king” Tuna @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Avett Brothers @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

The folks that run Mountain Jam and Woodstock Radio figured what’s better than offering gondola rides high into the Catskill Mountains above the music stages and festival grounds….?

A 20 minute prop plane ride that takes off behind the stage! Beautiful sites, I’m sure.

The Sound of Speed Festival at Dutchess County Airport in Wappingers Falls about 2 hr north of NYC was fantabulous.

While the festival scene seems overcrowded, the Sound of Speed Festival has staying power.

The people behind the scenes certainly got in the spirit. 

Rachel Brennecke, aka Bon Jane, pulled out her best Captain’s hat while snapping pics of the musicians on stage.

Click here to see her great portraits of the Festival talent on the show’s Facebook site.

Rachel Brennecke @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Rachel Brennecke @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

If you know my fear of heights (see Mountain Jam story 2012), I passed on the overhead airplane ride, but the coolness of the venue and the people didn’t escape me and certainly added much to the old school festival scene. 

It was like something out of The Festival Express with the Band and Janis going across Canada by train..

Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Most importantly, the music was frickin’ awesome, and so was the weather (sunny w a slight breeze early, then later a sky showcasing a bigger than life full moon).

During the Chris Robinsoon Brotherhood set, the moon was directly overhead from my stage left post.

It was breathtaking, and his new songs are smoking hot.  

Chris Robinson @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Chris Robinson @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood  sounds like the funky, organ heavy Jerry Garcia Band stuff from the 1970s, and sometimes the Stones “Exile on Main St” sound… not a bad combo.  

If that’s what’s being served (on stage), I’ll take a “supersize” meal please…(See the upcoming shows at Brooklyn Bowl Nov 2015 or be square).

The highlight of Speed of Sound Festival for me was the Chris Robinson Brotherhood set.

I love the nods to old time rock and roll. His harmonica solos were rock solid too. 

I figure that Chris really likes the new Keith Richards Netflix documentary — he is carrying the torch from Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf quite well.

Chris Robinson @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Before I get to the Avett Brothers headline 2 hour set, I must share high praise for guitar and songman Connor Kennedy.  

Connor Kennedy @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Connor is a real talent who can write songs, sing and shred the guitar with the best of them… including his brief stage mate, Jackie Greene. (I will put Connor and Jackie in the same category as Jason Isbell.)

Unlike Jackie though, Connor hung out for more than 2 (yes only two) songs.   I really enjoyed that Sugaree…

Jackie Greene @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Bill Payne (r) and Will Bryant (l) @  Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

I meandered and lost interest during the Amy Helm set and found myself on a massage table next to the stage. It was not a bad place to hear Ms. Helm and ‘s stripped down rendition of “Atlantic City.” (See pic below)…

Amy Helm and Co.  @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Standing on the front rail for 12 hours is hard on the body. Thank you Kelly Collinson.

Avett Brothers @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

 

Avett Brothers @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

 

Avett Brothers @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

 

Avett Brothers @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

The Avett Brothers set was fun. More fun than I remember the last time I saw them at Mountain Jam 2013.  

They still remind me of a Gap commercial though… I must be softening.

I really enjoyed their theatrics.  Check out (click here or below) the clip of “Slight Figure of Speech” during which the band lays flat down on the stage while the drummer bangs out a solo.  I’ve never seen that…

Last, but not least, Hot Tuna played.  Not the best show I’ve ever seen the fellas put on, but its always a treat to see Jack and Jorma do their thing.

This time they played as a trio, which I was excited about thinking they’d get all heavy metal and progressive.  

They did (Jack even did his best Pete Townsend two feet in the air jumps), but not for long. 

This was a mid-afternoon family slot and everyone wants to hear Water Song…. so did I. 

It was great.

So many people flapping their wings.

Hot “F*#king” Tuna @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

 

Hot “F*#king” Tuna @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

 

Hot “F*#king” Tuna @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

IF YOU DONT KNOW JORMA, YOU DONT KNOW JACK!

Oh yeah and Katie Pierson from B52s…that was odd.

Kate Pierson @ Speed of Sound Festival, Dutchess Airport, NY (9-26-15) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble