Words by: Herschel Concepcion | Images by: Norman Sands

10,000 Lakes Music Festival :: 07.22.09 – 07.26.09 :: Soo Pass Ranch :: Detroit Lakes, MN

10KLF 2009

The 7th annual 10,000 Lakes Music Festival saw the return of Widespread Panic (who last played the fest in 2005) as well as newcomers Wilco and the Dave Matthews Band. The caliber of these world-class acts ensures 10KLF’s position as a major contender in the festival circuit. With an attendance of 18,000 devoted music fans, 10KLF 2009 proved to be just as big a party as it ever was.

Wednesday, 07.22

We arrived Wednesday morning somewhat exhausted from the marathon drive the night before but surprisingly refreshed. Whether it was from the bright shining sun of a new day or the collective energy from an excitable crowd eager to get in, I couldn’t tell. Maybe it was both. The line to get into the Lake Sallie campground stretched for about two miles, and within an hour we were inside.

I’ve always enjoyed the camping at 10KLF, which has plenty of trees for shade – one of the key elements when determining the quality of your festival experience. A good camping spot can make or break your weekend, and 10,000 Lakes has plenty of choice spots if you know where to look. “The Soo Pass Ranch is a privately owned piece of property,” says Dave Weissman, media coordinator for the fest. “It comprises over 600 acres of land – mostly wooded – but also fields, the concert bowl, and more.”

Originally used as the site for WE Fest, a country music festival that draws upwards of 60,000 attendees every year, the Soo Pass Ranch was eventually chosen to host the first 10,000 Lakes Music Festival in 2003. Headliners that year included Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule, Leftover Salmon, and OAR. A resounding success, that crucial first year would pave the way for the evolution of this popular Midwest festival.

10KLF 2009

The crowd this year was a good one, full of purely positive individuals who shared a mutual love for music. I didn’t meet a single asshole all weekend. Comprised of people from all over the country (and even some from other parts of the world), the bulk of this year’s attendees consisted of Midwesterners from Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, and of course, Minnesota. It seems that Detroit Lakes is happy to host the festival, as many of the locals look forward to 10KLF as a weekend vacation.

The festival staff I encountered over the weekend was all friendly and in good spirits. The vendors, a mix of both local and regional suppliers, offered the standard festival fare, which was pretty much everything from funnel cakes and hot beef sundaes to hammocks and $6 sunglasses. And for the lazy, tired or hopelessly intoxicated there were cab rides on decked out golf carts for three bucks per person.

But, the best part was the stages. Situated within proximity of one another in the concert bowl, 10KLF’s stage setup makes it easy for one to float around and catch music while minimizing travel time between stages.

As for the music itself, it was clear that much thought and effort was put into the scheduling this year. There were very few conflicts between the major artists’ set times. This is one of the most important aspects of a well-planned festival. So with my gear unpacked and my campsite in order, it was time to slam some drinks and head down to the concert bowl for 10KLF 2009.

Gomez kicked things off at the Main Stage at 6 p.m., and although it was still early in the festival and the crowd for the set was at far less than capacity, the five-piece British outfit nevertheless set the tone for the weekend with their heavy, psychedelia-tinged blues rock.

John Bell – WSP :: 10KLF 2009

Next up was Southern rockers Widespread Panic, playing the first of two shows for the weekend. To be honest, I found myself disappointed with Wednesday’s show. Although it had its moments – it’s Panic, I can’t really see them playing a completely rotten gig – the playing seemed uninspired and lacked passion. I saw the boys six times last year (twice in Chicago, Rothbury and all three nights in Milwaukee to close out their fall tour) and was blown away every time. So, it was disconcerting to see them play the way they did that first night, especially when you know what they’re capable of. It’s always great to hear a solid “Bear’s Gone Fishin’,” and the “Maggot Brain” > “Chainsaw City” encore was good, but overall it seemed the boys were just having an off-night.

After Panic I walked over to the Field Stage for the first time, where Colorado-based duo Pretty Lights was well on their way to getting the crowd heated up and ready for a weekend of partying and pure debauchery. The sun was down and the critters were out in full force. Glow sticks and flashy toys were everywhere as I moved through the throng of people – a giant, moving mass of bodies completely under the control of the heavy beats of electronic producer Derek Vincent Smith and drummer Cory Eberhard. Now I’m not normally the biggest fan of DJs, but this was something else, and thanks to those two for helping to get the party started.

10KLF 2009 by Reistroffer Designs

Over at the Barn Stage was another Colorado group that was bringing it just as hard. In their fourth year at 10KLF, Kinetix played to a packed house and one of the most responsive crowds all weekend. Although I had never seen them play before, I had heard a lot about Kinetix and was interested in checking them out. I’m glad I did, and I would like to see these guys at more festivals. Right from the start it became clear that Kinetix had put a lot of hard work into their set, and it paid off. I would later find out that they had spent a month preparing for the show. To me that is the pinnacle of live music – focus, dedication, effort and a true appreciation for one’s fans. The highlights of the show included “People Start Hoppin’,” a song that seems to capture the core essence and philosophy of the band’s musical approach, as well as a cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” that they more than did justice to. Their style is completely rockin’, with just a dash of pop so that it’s catchy without being cheesy; and their compositions are well crafted with proper build-up and execution, not just a bunch of noisy, repetitive jamming. And their instrumentation is top-notch and tight, with each member finding his niche and working with the rest of the group as a whole to create a very unique and powerful sound. I can’t recommend these guys enough.

Playing the late night show over at the Saloon was Carney, a Los Angeles four-piece that features Reeve Carney on lead vocals and guitar and his brother Zane on lead guitar. I was only able to catch the last couple of songs because although the band was slotted to play till 2 a.m. they were cut off at 1:40. I don’t know whether it was from technical problems or they were just shut down, but from the little bit I did see I was impressed. Reeve is a great singer. He was howling into the mic when I walked in, pouring sweat and putting everything he had into that voice of his, which is one of the best I’ve heard recently. Pure emotion. His brother Zane is no slouch either, and was shredding on the slide guitar on one knee when the sound cut out. I’m not sure what Carney’s style is as a whole (since I witnessed less than 10 minutes of their set), but based on what I did hear these guys are pure rock & roll.

Continue reading for Thursday’s coverage of 10KLF…

Thursday, 07.23

Tim Carbone – Railroad Earth :: 10KLF 2009

I started off Thursday at the Field Stage, where singer/songwriter Pete Francis (Dispatch) teamed up with jam rock outfit Barefoot Truth for a 2 p.m. set that combined material from both artists’ catalogues. Francis’ singing and songwriting prowess, backed by Barefoot Truth’s jammed out rock instrumentation, was a great start to day two of 10KLF ’09. Set to tour in the spring, this is one collaboration not to be missed.

After Pete Francis and Barefoot Truth it was time for Railroad Earth to take the stage. I love these guys. I have been blown away by Railroad Earth’s performances time and time again, and Thursday’s show was no exception. Starting out with “Old Dangerfield,” the band blasted through a set that featured a number of great tunes such as “Bird in a House” and “The Forecast,” a mystical, mostly instrumental piece that feels like a really good acid trip. And “Like a Buddha” is always a crowd pleaser and a good channel for positive energy. After “Long Way to Go,” the band finished off with a double encore of “Mighty River” and the bluegrass number “Little Rabbit.” All in all, a five-star show, almost epic.

The headliner Thursday night was Wilco. Friends have long been telling me to check these guys out but I just never had a chance to really listen to them until this set. Shame on me. I knew they were good, but I had no idea how good they really were. Plus, they’re from Chicago, so I should’ve been on top of this band from the beginning. Oh well, better late than never.

Jeff Tweedy – Wilco :: 10KLF 2009

First, and perhaps most important point: Jeff Tweedy is a musical genius. Right from the start I could tell that Wilco is a serious band that treats their music as art – their songwriting and melodies are genuine and full of emotion. This is the real deal. I get the impression that they’re a “love ‘em or hate ‘em” kind of band, but I honestly don’t see how anyone with a true appreciation for music could dismiss the talent here. Maybe you just have to see them live. From what I’ve listened to before, I thought they were more of a softer style of music, and that notion was laid to rest when I saw this rockin’ set.

After Wilco I headed back over to the Field Stage for a change of pace, where Atmosphere, like Pretty Lights the night before, had taken control of the crowd and had the whole place moving. The very distinct hip-hop of rapper/MC Slug and producer Ant was straight-up party music, and the people sucked it down. A funky R&B mix of creatively textured beats and solid hooks paired with lyrical genius, Atmosphere laid it down dirty and kept the party bumpin’.

Digging Atmosphere it was hard to leave, but over at the Saloon stage something was unfolding. I’d heard of My Dear Disco but knew absolutely nothing about them. From the name I figured it was some sort of indie rock band, but the “Disco” part of it is what intrigued me. The possibility of a dance party will always pique my curiosity, so I made my way over and I’m glad I did. My Dear Disco is an eclectic, ’80s style group from Ann Arbor, Michigan that fuses electro-pop, funk, rock and techno in a style that the group calls “DanceThink.” Though the Saloon was completely packed I managed to squeeze my way in and get a closer look at the band. They have an incredible stage presence, especially charismatic singer Michelle Chamuel, who seems to possess a certain amount of that elusive star quality. The audience, as a result, was completely floored by the band’s performance. And so was I.

Continue reading for Friday’s coverage of 10KLF…

Friday, 07.24

Steve Kimock :: 10KLF 2009

I checked out part of the early afternoon set by acoustic guitar maestro Tim Sparks (who is a spitting image of Lebowski‘s The Dude) before heading over to the Everyone Orchestra at the Field Stage. Matt Butler did a fantastic job of orchestrating the assembled group of musicians, which featured guitarist Steve Kimock and his son John on drums, Reed Mathis from Tea Leaf Green on bass, Dominic Lalli from Big Gigantic on saxophone, and Erin Zindle and Randall Moore from The Ragbirds on violin and percussion. The resulting set was funky, fun and fresh, and, as always, Butler made sure to get the crowd in on the action as well.

Legendary guitar virtuoso Steve Kimock and his band Steve Kimock Crazy Engine was one of the acts I had been looking forward to all weekend, and I was not disappointed. Kimock’s son is a pretty damn good drummer, and I didn’t even realize Melvin Seals was in the band! Seals, who used to play in the Jerry Garcia Band, is a beast on the keys. The set was mostly instrumental, but there were a few with vocals (a great rendition of “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” comes to mind). Kimock’s got a great tone, and the music ranged from funky to super jazzy, and at times had a mystical Eastern quality to it. This was definitely one of the best shows of the weekend.

Dave Simonett – Trampled By Turtles

Trampled By Turtles hit the Main Stage at 6 p.m. and held the crowd in rapt attention with their high-energy brand of bluegrass. Fast and aggressive, the five pickers from Duluth, Minnesota showcased their instrumental talents and got the audience loosened up and ready for another serving of Widespread Panic.

When Panic hit the stage for the second time this weekend all reservations I had were quickly put to rest. This time the boys brought the heat. Between the rich vocals of John Bell, the driving, thumping bass of Dave Schools and Jimmy Herring‘s precision shredding on guitar, Panic more than made up for their performance on Wednesday. “Angels On High” was a treat, as was the “Tear The Roof Off The Sucker (Give Up The Funk)” tease in “Little Kin,” and the double encore of “Airplane” > “Pilgrims” was a perfect way to close out the set. However, it was the “Chilly Water” > “Smokestack Lightning” > “Drums” > “Bust It Big” > “Chilly Water” sandwich that really had my jaw on the floor. Sorry I ever doubted you guys.

The 11:30 p.m. timeslot featured a triple whammy of WookieFoot, BoomBox and The Macpodz. I ventured first over to the Field Stage for WookieFoot, where I grooved to their unique brand of psychedelic reggae jam rock for before heading over to BoomBox at the Barn. BoomBox, which features producer/DJ Russ Randolph and guitarist/vocalist Zion Godchaux (son of Dead alumni Keith and Donna Godchaux), is the product of two individuals with very diverse musical backgrounds. Their style is an interesting mix of rock, funk, and jazz that combines Randolph’s DJ skills with Godchaux’s guitar and smooth vocals. The crowd’s response to the duo was overwhelmingly positive, which just goes to show that there will always be a market for truly creative material.

After a quick stop at the Saloon to catch the tail end of Ann Arbor, Michigan jazz-rock outfit The Macpodz it was time for some much needed rest before tackling the final day of 10KLF ’09.

Continue reading for Saturday’s coverage of 10KLF…

Saturday, 07.25

Josh Clark – TLG :: 10KLF 2009

Saturday started out overcast and gray, which had some festival-goers worried that rain was on the way. But, when the sun finally broke through the clouds during Tea Leaf Green‘s 2 p.m. set at the Field Stage cheers erupted all across the concert bowl, which only seemed to bolster Tea Leaf’s performance. Having missed their set the day before (they played at the same time as Kimock) I made it a point to catch their second show of the weekend and see what the Bay Area rockers would bring to the 10KLF table. Overall it was a very impressive performance. Combining the soulful singing of keyboardist Trevor Garrod, the virtuosic six-string ripping of Josh Clark, the smooth, funky bass of Reed Mathis, and the drumming of Scott Rager, TLG put on a very tight show for their fans as well as those, like myself, who just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Umphrey’s McGee was the first band of the day to take the Main Stage, and rocked a set that I – someone who’s never really been a fan, though I’ve seen them eight or nine times – found to be a really tight performance from the Chicago-based group. As I was heading up to the Saloon I heard them do a great cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” that made me wish I would’ve stuck around.

After checking out the folksy Americana of Breckenridge, Colorado’s Paper Bird, I headed back down to the Main Stage for the Dave Matthews Band. I don’t listen much to Dave Matthews these days but man does he have a great backing band. Boyd Tinsley is a master violinist, and Tim Reynolds knows how to shred a guitar proper. Then there’s saxophonist Jeff Coffin, whose virtuosic abilities can also be heard in Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Dave Matthews, always up to the task of playing a good show for his fans, incorporated a varied mix of material into his set, from “Jimi Thing” and “Why I Am” to “Spaceman” and “Cornbread,” and even covered the Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House” and Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower.” Great performance from a bunch of super-pros.

After checking out the Saloon for a glimpse of another Chicago band, The Hue, I made my way back to the Barn to check out the North Indiana All Stars. Featuring guitarist Jake Cinninger, keyboardist Joel Cummins and drummer Kris Myers (all from Umphrey’s), the North Indiana All Stars brought a new groove to the final night of the fest. With Myers and bassist Tony Franklin as the backbone, the stage was set for the jazzy, funky, smooth improvisational work of Cinninger, Cummins and trumpet player Willie Waldman (who also plays with Snoop Dogg).

Jake Cinninger – UM :: 10KLF 2009

Heading back down to the Field Stage I was able to catch the last half hour of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. The pairing of Miss Jones and the Dap-Kings was like mashed potatoes and gravy. Jones is pure soul, through and through, and when combined with the funky playing of the Dap-Kings, made for a very high-energy show that had the audience howling and dancing their asses off. Jones is a charismatic soul diva with a stage presence that rivals the greats. She cracked jokes and danced like a wild woman throughout her set, and couldn’t have possibly done any better as the final Field Stage performance of the weekend. The crowd loved her.

The final band of the festival, Pert’ Near Sandstone, played to a Saloon that was so packed they had to shut the doors to prevent anyone else from coming in. What a pleasant surprise these guys were. I’d never heard of them but this hard-driving string band from Minneapolis really made an impression on me. Their sound is gritty, raw and pure – as roots music should be. Although completely beat by this point, I found myself dancing with all the crazy late-nighters in the Saloon – and those stuck outside – until the end of their set at three in the morning.

Reflecting later back home on the rooftop of my South Side Chicago apartment, looking out into the darkness dotted with the glittering lights of the city skyline, I was filled with a sense of calm. Listening to the cars flying by down below, there were moments when the warm summer wind died down and I could hear, far off in the distance, the faint pounding of bongo drums and the roar of 18,000 free spirits, and I knew I was not alone.

10KLF 2009 by Reistroffer Designs

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