WHAT YOU MISSED LAST NIGHT: LES CLAYPOOL - REVIEW & PICS

Review by Drew North, Pics by James Orr

What?!!..Are you kidding me. Stop. Redefine the meaning of the word "awesome". Les Claypool rocked the late night set and was the biggest treat so far for us here at MJVI. I also safely say that this would have to be the best first night of Mountain Jam I've seen in all my years here. Hands down...Jaw dropping. I want to nominate Les Claypool for President of the United States of Fun. Do you know why?...No, not because of the Xylophone. Not because he executed flawlessly incredibly crafted tunes. It is because he not only played for us...he played WITH us! From his vast catalog of cherished tunes and favorites he pulled from all eras and DESTROYED our concept of music and threw at the audience who enjoyed every tasty little musical morsel. They brought out such amazing renditions of South Bound Pachyderm which was off the hook plain and simple...Buzzards of the Green Hills...Up on the Roof...Cosmic Highway....Les took us through a musical journey busting out classic songs we haven't heard from him in years.

Stunning and conversational musicianship was displayed with the rare genius that is Les Claypool. I just cant tell you how many heads were spinning when yet another moment of great legendary music happened when Warren Haynes hit the stage and the crowd flipped as they both teamed up together and made us rethink what fun could actually be. The facility which was displayed was not only a musical conversation, but actually a mind bending portal into a mystical dimension that Les led us into... This Pied Piper open up the Mountain and led us inside. Undoubtedly this has raised the bar for all the rest of MJVI...it doesn't get any more epic than this...and this is was just the first day!