Every year, I write this column for the second Friday of Riverbend while still in the throes of festival coverage. For you, there are only two days left of the 'bend, but deadlines being what they are, I've just washed the last whiff of the barbecue smoke out of my hair from the Bessie Smith Strut.
Of course, that makes it difficult for me to think about anything but Riverbend at this point. That's just fine by me, because this year has probably been the best since I started covering the festival.
Whether it was a renewed focus on actually attending the shows or just becoming Zen about the heat, everything seemed bright, shiny and new this year, despite a dearth of many actual changes to the festival. Actually, it was the standards that stood out the most.
Sunday's headlining show by the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, The Waybacks, Joan Osborne, John Cowan and Jens Kruger has been the high point thus far, hands-down. I thought the idea of a "mystery rock revue" sounded tantalizing, but judging by the poor attendance, many of you apparently decided not to risk your evening when you weren't sure what was going to be played.
The idea may have backfired, but for those of us who were there, the rendition of "Abbey Road" was something special indeed.
I've made no secret of my love for another annual 'bending exclusive, the Bessie Smith Strut. The first time I hit the boulevard every year and get enveloped by blues and barbecue smoke, I can't help but grin like a moonstruck idiot. As usual, it was like musical Christmas in June.
Usually, I just strut with the rest of you up and down M.L. King, hardly ever pausing to take in the bands, but again, this year was all about the music. Otis Taylor and company delivered in style, especially Anne Harris, who is as much a punk ballerina as she is a fiddler, by my estimation.
There just isn't enough room here to list everything that made this year so great. I also loved Jerry Douglas, reconnecting with Milele Roots, getting to follow Slim Pickin's around and having my first taste of fried gator (it's not as chickeny as you might think).
All that, and I've only just now folded my schedule over for the second half.
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Essential Listening Project (part deux) purchases for Week 1 (June 10): The Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street," Deep Purple's "Machine Head," John Coletrane's "A Love Supreme" and Elvis Costello's "This Year's Model."