BRIDGEPORT A short time after bluegrass sextet The Infamous Stringdusters took control of the Gathering of the Vibes main stage late Thursday afternoon, singer Chris Pandolfi declared the first day the best day of this, or any, multi-day music festival.
“Because everybody still has all their energy,” said the Grammy-nominated act’s banjo player.
Those thoughts may turn quite prophetic. Being right at Bridgeport’s Seaside Park overlooking the breezy Long Island Sound helps, but by midday this diminutive Woodstock was baking. And neither attendance nor the heat wave has yet peaked.
Still, the high humidity and 90-plus-degree temperature didn’t stop the dancing, be it to the acoustic alt-country sounds of The Infamous Stringdusters, the New Orleans-flavored funk of Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, or the purplish jam instrumentals of four-hour closer Dark Star Orchestra.
PHOTOS: Gathering Of The Vibes 2011 Lineup & Schedule Highlights
It was past sundown by the time Dark Star Orchestra, a Grateful Dead tribute act, took the stage. Fortunately glow-sticks and neon hula-hoops, a few of a hippy’s favorite things, kept the Seaside Park illuminated.
Incidentally, the grace and poise, the ability to seamlessly shift the hoop from waist to neck to arm to shoulder (people can hula with only a shoulder) is absolutely hypnotic.
Friday, the main stage will host the Levon Helm Band and post-Grateful Dead incarnation Furthur, featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. Saturday will see moe. followed by Elvis Costello followed by Jane’s Addiction.
That’s when the festival will truly heat up.
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Tags: Thursday