REVIEW: Railroad Earth Sherman Theater 11/27/09
-Tyler Curtis
Railroad Earth Sherman Theater 11/27/09
Set 1:
01 420
02 Saddle of the Sun
03 Bird in a House
04 The Forecast
05 Bread and Water
06 Chains
07 Lordy, Lordy
08 Reuben’s Train
09 Hard Livin’ *Set 2:
01 Peace on Earth
02 Mighty River –>
03 Like a Buddha
04 Black Bear
05 Been Down This Road
06 Elko
07 1759
08 Fisherman’s Blues
09 Crossing the Gap
10 Little Rabbit
11 Encore breakEncores:
12 Lovin’ You
13 My Sisters and Brothers
This show was off to the races from the start. I put in a request for this tune among a few others, and wether it was because I requested them or not, it was still an amazing setlist. Carey counts off, the band all starts off together, Skehan, Andy and Timmy are the first to change to another note, signifying “420”. Being right up front riding the rail I could tell you everyone was dancing as always. I was taking video, happy as could be, but still dancing as “420” often does. This is a John Skehan tune so of course Skehan made the song display is mandolin shredding, which takes up 80 percent of the song. All of the band gets there solos in, (not including Grubb and Carey, the rythym section is there keeping the jams together.)
Up next is “Saddle of the Sun”, probably one of the top Railroad Earth songs, in many peoples opinion… The song is another groove tune, can’t remember if I filmed it, I know I was dancing along with all my hobo friends… Timmy and Todd sort of dual for lead vocals on some parts, and that shows Timmys voice is very useful in the band, as well as vocally strong. Todd takes some really nice lick oppurtunities towards the end. Up next, “Bird In A House”, which I actually requested with the Grateful Deads “Bird Song” as a song it goes into because of the “Bird Song” teases in “Bird In A House”. Everyone in the crowd seemed to know this one, and loved to just move to the hypnotic ryhtym, and let Todds voice take you to new elevations. Timmy seems to impact the song greatly, because his fiddle is just on fire for this song especially. I remember being with my great friends who I met threw the band, everyone howling out the lyrics, while Todd seemed like he was joining in our fun while still putting on a top notch performance. While the vocal jams go on, John is shredding away on his mandolin, then the music stops, and the harmonies of Timmy, Todd and Carey come together.
We were in for a treat from the start because Andy comes in with the “Forecast” guitar intro, which then leads to the whole band creating this psychedelic vibe, along with the AMAZING lights show from Alex. If your a psychadelic freak, and love bluegrass instruments not playing ANYTHING like bluegrass, this song is for you. You feel like your no longer at a concert dancing to jigs, you feel like your at a place that is giving you never ending chills, with jams most bands can’t accomplish. The band goes from a semi intense jam that is just something you are like WOW after the 5 minute of continuous jam, but it builds into a monstrosity of intensity that you can’t seem to handle, but goes back to a jazzy vibe right after the climax.
A nice upbeat “shuffle”-sing along, “Bread and Water” starts off with Andy pickin away at the banjo, the band is off, Todd comes in with the lyrics, and everyones either dancing, singing a long, or doing both.
Next a Skehan/Andy a driven song – “Chains” that is a quick but singalong tune.
Next is Reubens Train, a very move-your-body and amazing song. Todd tells the story, while the rest of the band tears it up, then Todd shows up everyone by pulling out this guitar line that we didn’t know Todd was capable of sometimes. I just stopped dancing and looked up at Todd shredding his face off.
Next they bring on another Sax player, we have a Tri-Sax-Fecta. This makes for an amazing version of the Amen Corner tune Hard Livin. Timmy plays the electric guitar, and Grubb gets into a really funky groove while he shreds. The army of horns make the tune produce such a down and dirty sound.
Next is Peace on Earth, which is a song I get at pretty much every show I go to, and then turned into Mighty River. Mighty River was probably one of the best versions of the song I’ve ever heard, with Grubb getting funky, and creative with the bassline, Skehan getting technical, Timmy shaking away on the Shaker, and Todd feeling the groove, as was John, Andy, and Carey, producing a very fun, upbeat, jam that the crowd couldn’t get enough of. The crowd knew this tune, and felt more than happy to sing a long with Todd and let loose if they hadn’t done so already. I also want to note, that the band sounded very tight, and comfortable here, as they usually do, but even more so here, they felt as if they trusted each other musically, and didn’t mind who took control, because they were in sync, completely.
Here’s a video I took of Peace On Earth>Mighty River Parts 1 & 2:
