I’m going to give you more than you asked for, because this has been on my mind a lot. I’ve downloaded and re-listened to what I can find so far, and consulted some notes I took for myself, and have my set of opinions ready for public ridicule.
First off, TBF sets a very high standard. I mean, every festival is (musically) something special. Over the course of 20 or so of them, one has to be my favorite, and one has to be my least favorite. I’m not saying this is least favorite, but it’s in the bottom 5. Here’s my quickie opinions on what we saw, with a quick grade slapped on each one.
One final note: I’m not complaining. I always know that I may not like all the acts, and I also know the ones I don’t enjoy will always be someone else’s favorite. So if you loved an act I couldn’t stand, good for you! I’m jealous! Now…on to the grading:
Thursday, June 21, 2012
11:00 - noon — Thelma & Louise featuring Chris Thile & Béla Fleck
Syncopation Overload right off the bat. might have enjoyed this more in another timeslot. I guess I like the first act to sing a few tracks I love. But I always Love Bela, so… Grade: B
12:15 - 1:30pm — Della Mae
Awesome set. The girls had a blast, made some gorgeous music, and made my feet move. Grade: A
2:00 - 3:15pm — Dan Mangan
One of the best sets, and one I was looking forward too. I though he nailed it, but the crowd didn’t seem to dig it as much as I did. A little too much electric cacophony for some folks. Grade B+
3:30 - 4:45pm — Greensky Bluegrass
Great set, lots of fun: Grade: A-
5:15 - 6:30pm — Laura Marling
Oh, how I was looking forward to this one with serious trepidation. I love Laura, but really dfelt she would be a better Folk’s Fest act. Sure enough, she did a Folk’s Fest set and tickled my sleep bone. I walked off a little underwhelmed: Grade: B-
7:00 - 8:30pm — John Prine
Love John Prine. Great set, some moving moments, but I think I was in singer/songwriter overload at this point, and never really got my groove on for his set. Grade: B
9:00 - 11:00pm — Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
I moaned and groaned and complained about how much I missed her last year. Now I sort of wonder why. Predictable setlist, I was surprised to find myself talking to friends more than listening. Bit it’s Alison, and it’s Jerry, annd so… Grade: B+
Friday, June 22, 2012
10:00 - 11:00am — Edgar Meyer & Mike Marshall
Meh. I know, I should have loved it, but it bored me this time. I guess I don’t dig the early jazzy stuff. Grade: C
11:15 - 12:30pm — Seryn
Okay, here we go. Didn’t do anything for me. I really liked Head and the Heart last year, but Seryn sounded like HaTH “Lite”. I appreciate their sound, but it got boring after a couple of songs. I’m no fan of Fleet Foxes either, so I guess this whole new-ish genre which I can only describe as “sort of like 70’s pop, but a lot more ambient, and done with cooler instruments”, doesn’t appeal to me. Grade: D
1:00 - 2:15pm — Head for the Hills
These guys nailed it. Smoking set, and got us out of our Seryn-induced Coma. Grade: A-
2:45 - 4:00pm — O’Brien Party of Seven
A fun set. I got some good pix up front before joining the family in the family area, so my grade is based on half the set, and is a solid: Grade B
4:30 - 5:45pm — Béla Fleck & The Marcus Roberts Trio
The set I wanted to see more than any other set, and ended up missing it. Heard it some walking out of the family zone, and back to camp. From what I head, it gets a Grade: A+
6:15 - 7:30pm — Del McCoury Band
Missed it…we were at camp having dinner and getting ready for my 8-12 shift. Sounded nice from camp, so they get a solid: Grade: B+
8:00 - 10:00pm — John Fogerty
Once we’d recovered from the shock of the volume level, and passed out earplugs to as many people as I could (thanks to the Planet and the EMTs for having such huge supplies handy), it was a fun set, and I had fun with it. Grade: A
10:30 - Midnight — Leftover Salmon
What a great Salmon set. The “Whispering Waters” was just perfect, and seeing Sam get his San Juan birthday was priceless. I don’t know if I can agree with the talk of “Best Salmon set in Telluride EVER”, but I can give it the first of these fo rthe weekend: Grade: A+
Saturday, June 23, 2012
11:30 - 12:30pm — Run Boy Run
12:45 - 2:00pm — The Devil Makes Three
I’m lumping these two together, because my reaction to both of them was the same…“Whatever”. I guess I’m not into the Rootsy Traditional stuff as much this year, and these two acts didn’t float my boat. Good day for some camp time. Grade: C
2:30 - 3:45pm — Jerry Douglas featuring Omar Hakim, Viktor Krauss & Luke Bulla
These guys can do no wrong. If I could, I’d go higher: Grade: A++
4:15 - 5:45pm — Yonder Mountain String Band
Well done, gentlemen. I’d been a skeptic, and hadn’t REALLY enjoyed a Yonder set in Telluride for a few years. I enjoyed this one… a lot! Grade: A
6:15 - 7:30pm — k.d. lang & the Siss Boom Bang
okay, i’m going to make some enemies here. I won’t speak to the rest of the set, but after the first 20 minutes we were bored to tears, and escaped to camp. Among our crew, phrases used were “Universally Boring”, “Appallingly bad” and “A total throwaway” Grade: F+
8:00 - 10:00pm — Sam Bush Band
Nice, solid set. Sam always got "A"s from me, but this was a littl emore sedate than some years…fun, enjoyable, and a Grade: A-
10:30 - Midnight — Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers
The ultimate disappointment of the weekend for me. I really thought I was going to thoroughly enjoy this, so I convinced the crew to stay in the fest. 10 minutes into it, they all wanted to go home, and I couldn’t argue. I could tell from camp it improved when he got enough talent on stage with him, but Bruce and the band got a Grade: D+
Sunday, June 24, 2012
10:45 - 11:45 — John Cowan Band Gospel Hour
Better than last yea’rs Gospel Set, and nice to have the Cow on the Planet again. Grade: B
Noon - 1:00pm — Joy Kills Sorrow
A fun set…enjoyed it, but it missed a high gear I though they’d hit. Grade: B+
1:30 - 2:45pm — Peter Rowan’s Big Twang Theory
I was in camp starting to break camp and pack. But it sounded like a Grade: B
3:15 - 4:30pm — Brett Dennen
Again, most of this was from camp, until I went to work at 4:00. It was a fun little set, and everyon eI know enjoyed it. but not a TON. Grade: B
5:00 - 6:15pm — Punch Brothers
50% awesome, 50% annoying. Grade: B-
7:00 - 8:15pm — Glen Hansard
Much better last time. First couple songs the sound was awful, distorted guitar… As much as I loved him last time, I foun dhim overbearing. Grade: C+
8:45 - 10:45pm — Telluride House Band featuring Sam, Béla, Jerry, Edgar, Bryan & Stuart
It’s the House band. in the closing spot. Need I say more? Grade: A