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Cary, NC.<\/p>\n
T'was one hundred degrees, and all through NC
\nNot a creature dared brave August's swampy heat;
\nYet speakers were hung off the rafters with care,
\nIn hopes that the audience soon would be there;
\nThe bands were nestled all cool in their bus,
\nWhile whispers of heat stroke passed between us;<\/p>\n
My wife in her sunglasses, and I in my cap,
\nHad found a good spot, to watch the opening acts,
\nI was buying some wine, when there arose quite a clatter,
\nI turned my head to see what was the matter.
\nBack to our lawn chairs I flew like a flash,
\nPassed the wine I'd just bought, and let out a gasp.<\/p>\n
The rollicking cast of this bluegrass-themed show
\nPlayed the opening song, which I did not know.
\nBut, who to my wondering eyes should appear,
\nBut Gillian, David, and twelve tiny reindeer,
\nErr, no, t'were not reindeer, t'was a different show.
\nNo, these were musicians, some you might know!<\/p>\n
More rapid than weasels their guitars they played,
\nDavid strummed, and shouted, and called them by name;
\n\"Now, Critter! now, Ketch! now, Morgan and Gillian!
\nOn, Greg ! on Christmas ! on, Ian and Justin!
\nTo the top of the verse! now wait for the call!
\nNow solo! solo! Solos for all!\"<\/p>\n
As dry leaves that before the hurricane fly,
\nWhen one missed a line, they all let it slide.
\nThrough song after song the players they flew,
\nThe dozens of boys (and Gillian too!)
\nAnd then, with a winking, most departed,
\nFor the first band's set had officially started.<\/p>\n
Justin Townes Earle was doing his show,
\nThough soon was re-joined by some from Old Crow.
\nHe was dressed all in white, at least it looked to me -
\nFor from where we were sitting, we couldn't see his feet.
\nAn acoustic guitar he had flung on his back,
\nAnd he sang country songs, old-timey, in fact.<\/p>\n
Then the Felice Brothers: their antics, how merry!
\nTheir cheeks were like roses, their noses like cherries!
\nCarefree and raucous through their songs they careened,
\nLike Marah and Dylan, the Pouges and Springsteen.
\nSo joyous their playing, we assumed they were drunk;
\nSo young, so irreverent, my wife called them \"punks\".<\/p>\n
In his grey flannel suit and her simple black dress
\nThe David Rawlings Machine came up to play next.
\nSongs about sugar, Cortez, and Queen Jane,
\nGillian Welch strummed, while David Rawlings sang.
\nThough it's not quite the same, to see them this way,
\nIt's still a good time, and boy can he play!<\/p>\n
The Old Crow Medicine Show, they were the last;
\nThey sang of cocaine and moonshine, love and white trash.
\nThey're a boatload of fun, with their songs about sin;
\nAnd they played fast as lightning, and sharp as a pin.
\nWe'd seen them before, but they were better this time;
\nOr maybe it was the heat - and the beer, and the wine.<\/p>\n
And then all the bands, they all went to work,
\nAnd filled up the stage; then started with a jerk,
\nA song from the Willburys: The End Of The Line
\nThough it was a little rough we all liked it fine.
\nAnd then a 'Mats song, from Pleased To Meet Me.
\nJustin Earle sang it, it felt a bit sleepy.<\/p>\n
Yet then came a song they played with real feel
\nOld Crow's Dylan re-work, the great Wagon Wheel
\nThe crowd sprang to their feet, with cheers and with whistles,
\nAnd the band played the song, and man did it sizzle.
\nAnd then they were done, and up came the lights,
\n\"Thank you to all, and have a safe drive.\"<\/p>\n