As a fan of a wide variety of popular (and not-so-popular) music from the 1950s (and sometimes even earlier) up through the present, one of my bucket list projects for years has been to put together a list of my 100 favorite songs of all time. At some point I decided that, once I got around to figuring that out, I could put it out on a blog, for the infinitesimally small proportion of the Internet world that might be interested. So, here we are. While the Top 100 will be a major focus, I also plan to post on a variety of other musical (and occasionally non-musical) topics, in which you may or may not be interested. (If a particular posting doesn’t ring your bell, you’re only a few clicks away from a dancing cat video on YouTube.)

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

2016 XPoNential Music Festival, July 22-24, Wiggins Park (Camden NJ)


This was almost certainly the hottest XPNFest I have ever attended (in terms of temperature, not music). Philly was right in the middle of the heat wave gripping the East Coast, with temps in the mid to upper 90s and high humidity. Consequently I abandoned my usual location near the River Stage sound board area on Saturday and Sunday in favor of more shady territory near the Marina Stage. Although I was close to the stage, off to the left side, I couldn’t see above the standees who wandered up for most of the sets, but the increased comfort level was well worth it. I’d have to say that the festival wasn’t as strong musically as in most past years – I still choose to pass on the BB&T lawn “experience” – but there were still some definite highlights. (As usual, WXPN did a nice job of summarizing all of the sets across the three-day festival.) Due to the Democratic National Convention starting Monday, I had to get a room at the Staybridge Suites in Mt. Laurel (not too far from my usual location), but since Sunday night wasn’t available I had to drive back in weekend traffic after leaving the festival Sunday (an experience I hope not to repeat). Traffic to and from the festival itself wasn’t bad, although the parking garage directly across from Wiggins Park was no longer available (at least not at the usual discount). There was plenty of space in several other lots for $10, although they were three blocks or so north of the festival, closer to the Ben Franklin Bridge.
 
TRANSCENDENT
 
The Record Company (Saturday afternoon, Marina Stage) – My decision to camp out by the Marina Stage Saturday was actually driven less by the heat and more by the desire to have a prime vantage point for the Record Company, which was the band I most wanted to see during this year’s festival. The blues-rock power trio certainly didn’t disappoint, putting together a set that was one of the best I’ve seen in my 12+ years of XPNFest attendance. The obvious high points were “Rita Mae Young” and “Off The Ground”, but there really wasn’t a weak spot in the entire performance. From what I could see, everyone was standing on the entire hill in front of the stage, with more fans crowding around the back. They made it a point to give plenty of credit to WXPN, and in particular to program director Bruce Warren, to whom they sent an unsolicited demo tape in 2012.
 
VERY GOOD
 
Shawn Colvin & Steve Earle (Friday evening, River Stage) – Since these were two of the biggest names at Wiggins Park this year, I was surprised that I was able to get a prime standing-room spot  in front of the stage less than 15 minutes before their set began; I assume this is because the gates to BB&T had already opened and Tommy Stinson had started over there 20 minutes earlier. The two did reward the fans who hung around, with some well-chosen covers (“Wake Up Little Susie” to start, “Ruby Tuesday” and “Tobacco Road” later), as well as “You’re Right, I’m Wrong” (the single from their recent album together), and some tracks from each’s solo work. I was somewhat amused that most of the between-songs patter came from Earle, since Shawn has always been extremely chatty when I’ve seen her before.
 
Mavis Staples (Sunday afternoon, River Stage) – Mavis Staples was added to the lineup only a few weeks before the festival, bolstering an otherwise unremarkable Sunday afternoon. Appropriately enough, the standing area in front of the stage was packed, and she didn’t fail to deliver, with a huge voice that showed few if any signs of her 77 years. The high points were a wonderful cover of Talking Heads’ “Slippery People” near the beginning of her set, and the closing audience singalong for the Staple Singers’ classic “I’ll Take You There”.
 
Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Saturday afternoon, River Stage) – OK, so they only got to get through one complete song before the lightning and deluge hit. (They did squeeze in another set later at BB&T, which I didn’t attend.) Although there wasn’t much of a chance of rain in the forecast, I thought I was well-prepared, with both an umbrella and a poncho in my bag. Unfortunately, the bag and my beach towel were by the Marina Stage, nowhere near where I was standing. I honestly don’t think I have ever been wetter with clothes on in my entire life. I squeezed into the nearby parking garage with hundreds of other people, waited until it stopped raining, and then headed three blocks north to my car – halfway back, it started to rain again. At least the hotel had a laundry room and a hair dryer.
 
ALSO WORTH MENTIONING
 
Opening River Stage acts Friday and Saturday (Billy Hector and Ben Arnold, respectively), David Wax Museum (Marina Stage Sunday, after their Saturday set was canceled by the storm)
 
AND THEN THERE WAS FATHER JOHN MISTY
 
Probably the most-talked-about “set” in XPNFest history. WXPN thoughtfully provided both a summary and a second post with some additional social media reaction.

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