Music is what feelings sound like

“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul.” -- Plato


I have been to a few outdoor music festivals in my life. There really is something special about listening to music on a perfect summer night when the mosquitoes are gone, the sky is clear and a slight breeze is blowing. Top it off with a full moon and the stage is set. Ready to kick back and enjoy some fabulous music.

That is how it was on Friday, June 20 at the Log Jam held at Jacks on Mille Lacs.

The crowd was slight compared to what the venue could host. I suppose the word hasn’t gotten out about the quality of music. Or perhaps, it is that troubled economic insecurity and high gas prices that kept people away. All in all there were about 1,000 people in attendance, according to festival coordinators.

For those who did not go, you missed some fabulous people watching and some simply amazing music.

Ah, About the music:

I listened to Charlie Parr on the small stage at dusk. He is at least a one-time Minnesota Music Awards recipient and his talent is incredible. “I am pretty shy, really,” he said after his show. “I just like to sing.”

Very humble, too, I might add. It was great.

The headliner band that night was Trampled by Turtles. I had heard of them before as they are also Minnesota Music Awards recipients. But really didn’t know what to expect. As the time drew every nearer for the band to perform, the crowd gathered as close as they could to the stage. With hundreds of people vying for a pirme spot up cloe to the stage, the ceremonial “Log” was placed on the stage (later removed by security) and the band each drew pulls off a Jameson Irish whiskey bottle and passed it through the crowd to their delight.

When the music started, the fans went wild. Well, in their own “blissful” way. No one was out of control. Mostly people listening, singing along, cheering but all “happy” and smiling and dancing.

The music was amazing. The band, made up of Dave Simonett, Erik Berry, Tim Saxhaug, Dave Carroll and Ryan Young all sit in chairs in a straight line across the stage. Apparently, the leader will not let them stand. (A little trivia — unconfirmed — I heard.)

But whatever the reason, I have not seen so much heart poured into an instrument since I left the House of Blues in New Orleans. Each member of the Turtles gave so much it is amazing they didn’t leave with bleeding fingers from all of the intense guitar picking. And perhaps they did.

They are a Band native to Duluth and are pretty big regionally. They are building a solid national following as well. Time will tell.

Reviews from the fans were:

“They have heart,” Beth Goshey from Crosby and Duluth said.

“They are the best thing to happen to blue grass in a long time,” Mike Hilbrand of Grand Forks said.

“They are in my top ten. Right there with the Grateful Dead,” Berdine Swanson of Lake Bronson said.

Hillbrand added, “When people think blue grass and banjo they get a little freaked. Like they think of some weired dude sitting on a porch. But these guys are not like that. They are so together and talented. Their lyrics are something everyone can relate to.”


The people watching:

I suppose you could call it a “hippie” scene. Women in long layered skirts sewn from cotton or hemp, tank tops and bare feet. Body piercings, tattoos and dreadlocks were prevalent for many of the male gender (and a few of the females). The accessories were mostly delightful natural, handcrafted items with beads, stones, and recycled bottle caps and such. A very earthy feel.

The attitudes of the festivalgoers were one of happiness and bliss. Smiles on most faces. A very few blank stares. But all seemingly very laid back. Comfortable in their own skin. Sort of the happy-hippie-peace-and-love feeling. I felt the need to find a daisy and a big yellow smiley face sticker to put on my Jeep. But there were none for me to find.

Vendors:

I first visited with Zoey. She is a 7-year-old girl who makes and sells hula-hoops. I think her parents actually do most of the work, but this little girl has a sales pitch that was very hard to turn down.

Not only does she sell the circular toys for kids of all ages, she gives lessons. She and her friends crowded around and tried to teach me a trick or two. Now I can hula-hoop with some of the best of them. We have contests at my house all the time. But Zoey has some tricks I hadn’t thought of before. Like I said, she tried to teach me, but I am not sure my knees can handle it. Maybe I just need practice.

“Always start to the right,” Zoey’s friend Tyrone said. He is 9 years old. “The key is to keep your body moving — just the bottom part — not the top. And don’t let the hoop go crazy.”

I think I will try that.

Then I had my aura read at Aura Borealis by Christy Steinbach. It didn’t hurt. I don’t know exactly how it was done, but it was a pretty cool experience. I guess I have a rather large aura. And my charkas (all 7 of them) were pretty much OK. I tend to be pretty balanced, she said. At least I was at that moment.

Then I had a lesson on the Djembe — a drum native to West Africa. It is the healing drum for the planet and unification of all people, Matthew Mueller of Cannon Falls said. He runs Pachyderm Recording Studio as his "real" job. Artists like Nirvana, Live, P.J. Harvey, Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks, and many more have produced hit records there. While he has met some pretty big names, this dude is not too big for his shoes — when he wears them. He also takes his drums — about 20 to 30 at a time — into schools to give lessons to kids.

“The kids love it,” he said.

Guess that about sums it up.

Oh, wait - Save the earth - reduce - reuse - recycle, or at least pick up your own trash.

There is one more thing I would like to point out. Honestly, this was one of the cleanest outdoor music festivals I have attended. I did not see trash strewed around the ground, or empty cans or bottles tossed haphazardly.

Perhaps it is the peace-love-save-the-earth attitude of the majority of the festivalgoers. But whatever it was, I wish it were contagious. I have seen more garbage left on the streets after local parades during the “Days” celebrations at all of the towns scattered around the lake. Even empty water bottles left on the bleachers at little league baseball games. It saddens me to think people cannot, or will not, pick up after themselves and find a trashcan and recycling bin.

Maybe I should get myself one of those Djembe drums.

Bluegrass and outlaw country music are a very welcome festival in my book.

Peace.


"Without music, life would be an error." - Friedrich Nietzsche