Mustang Music Festival – Day 3 Recap
The final day of the Mustang Music Festival dawned with a sky full of clouds and a forecast that made us all wonder if the universe was going to shed some tears on a day that was meant for celebration or if Mother Nature would hold us closely to her heart and spare us from getting wet.
I think for the children of the Mustang Outreach Program, the day was theirs. I’m sure most of the festival attendees and artists can relate to the first time they took the stage, when they were awed with the opportunity of playing on a real stage. The time that we all felt, wow, music is so cool, I love this, and maybe, just maybe, I might be good at this. I think it is wonderful that the kids of northeast North Carolina had this phenomenal day to call their own. In my opinion the kids that took the stage, owned it, and they rocked it. Kudos to everyone who had anything to do with such a wonderful endeavor.
We all kept our fingers crossed, and miraculously the weather held off. Lunar Test Drive, formally Category 5, took the West stage to start things off and showed us how the locals do it. They certainly set the bar for the rest of the day, let alone the festival itself, as this is the only group that has played all five Mustang Music Festivals. They did not disappoint. Sean Olds and the Church of the Eternal took the first slot on the East Stage for the day. This Americana group from Wilmington, NC had a full-bodied sound with a lovely sax and a jamming organ.
Dan and Laura Martier from Southern Shores have played with numerous other groups, and Birddog is their duet. I liked their ode to Costa Rica with the Latin vibes and Spanish passages. Artist-at-large Mark Schimick on the mandolin joined them on stage as well. Seth Stainback and Roosterfoot really got the crowd going with their unique style of Southern rock. I love how their newest member, Steven Lazar on the keys, is always smiling. The pedal steel is also a new addition to the group and really gives their music an extra tone.
Playing something they call “fuzzy low rock” was Violent Mae hailing from Connecticut. This guitar-and-drum kit duo created a very intriguing sound. Ryan Montbleau Band were the next group to take the East stage. Their “sonic kaleidoscope” fuses funk, soul, and folk with an islandy feel. Their set featured Artists-at-Large Farnell Newton on trumpet and Mike Dillon on vibes and percussion.
The last group to grace the South stage was Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds. They had a powerful soulful, funky style that made you want to just get down and get dirty. The Nth Power melted our faces with their set. The audience certainly showed their love for this multidimensional, multitalented group. They were tight – from vocals to drumming, keys and guitars. They rocked the Whalehead and had everyone wanting more. This band never disappoints.
Keller Williams & More than a Little was the last band to play. Mike Dillon added his rhythms to this band that oozes style and class, and the addition of Gibb Droll on guitar was a real treat. They laid down the funk and had the crowd going crazy. I was impressed to see how many of their fans came out. I could tell they were fans by how many knew all the lyrics to their songs. They surely felt the love of the 5th Mustang Music Festival and they earned it. They entertained us for two hours and had us begging for more.
The last night was the first time we stayed up to go to the Jam Room (basically, we blew off working on this recap), and the local band Octopus was the host. The venue, Cosmo’s Pizzeria, was jammed (pun intended), and it was poetic that the festival ended in the same place it started with Thursday’s kickoff party. Eventually, all the guys from Big Bone Daddy were in the mix, which is how they wound up playing the festival in the first place. That, and a guy with a horse head mask dancing up front. What more could you ask for?
It was an awe-inspiring festival, especially when you look at how far Mike Dianna and his crew have come in five years. They started out in the parking lot of his restaurant, and each year I am astounded by the creative and artistic improvements they make. I wish Mike all the luck in the world and hope that in ten years I will still make this annual trip that refreshes my soul.
Photos by John Phillips | Words by Suzy LeVee Phillips
