Sam Bush Band treats Lexington to More than Just a Free Show
The Sam Bush Band took the stage Friday evening, October 8th, 2010, at the Courthouse Plaza in Lexington, KY performing as part of the city's Spotlight Lexington which coincided with The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
The crowd greeted the designated "Father of Newgrass," and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame member, with a roaring welcome. Without hesitation, the show was under way as Bush, backed by a four piece band - banjoist Scott Vestal, guitarist Stephen Mougin, drummer Chris Brown and bassist Todd Parks, got right down to business and into the jams. The first hour was spent visiting hits, old and new, with "Ridin' That Bluegrass Train", "Blue Mountain", and even threw in a cover of Bob Marley's "One Love" for crowd pleasing good measure.
The second half of the show, Bush and company began to stretch out musically with a selection of songs possessing much more complex arrangements. Several of, in which, he laid down his trusty mandolin, picked up the fiddle, and in turn leading into several darkly themed movements for a portion of the set, including "The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle".
The second half of the show, Bush and company began to stretch out musically with a selection of songs possessing much more complex arrangements. Several of, in which, he laid down his trusty mandolin, picked up the fiddle, and in turn leading into several darkly themed movements for a portion of the set, including "The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle".
Image by turnerburns via Flickr
Image by turnerburns via FlickrBush returned to his trusty mandolin, leading the band towards the deep, gritty, funk-induced mandolin chops that make up what is none other, than the fabled and unmistakable sound of Sam Bush "Newgrass". The band kept the intensity at a constant increase, only taking pause before playing "Howlin at the Moon" in order for Bush to dedicate the song to good friend JD Crow; fellow bluegrass legend and Lexington native, who had performed with his band J.D. Crowe and the New South earlier that evening at 6pm on the same stage.
Image by turnerburns via FlickrJust as it seemed that the time had come to begin winding the night to a close, Bush and the band actually took it one up one more notch in an onslaught of prog-rock to the highest degree, featuring Bush and Mougin both on electric instruments, which was nothing short of mind bending. The band then brought the evening to a close which included a cover of "Cripple Creek" (Levon Helm) and Bush's solo performance of "Girl from the North Country". Once the band had left stage for the night, there is no doubt that the crowd in attendance collectively shared the same sentiment of awe and disbelief, that the evening's show had indeed cost zero admission.
Image by turnerburns via Flickr
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