As mentioned, our now-annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival musical madness began on Friday and didn’t end until 7pm last night on Sunday.  As usual with HSB, we saw some outstanding music that we had anticipated, some unexpected magical sets, and one or two that sorely disappointed.  As with every music festival, hard stage choices have to be made so when you guess wrong, it can hurt.

On Friday we saw John C. Reilly, Tom Brosseau and Becky Stark, Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express, Beachwood Sparks, Ben Kweller, Jenny Lewis (with the Watson Twins) and Conor Oberst.  All were outstanding (though Beachwood Sparks took a while to spark).  Reilly-Brosseau-Stark have been playing together for a good long period now, and they have truly jelled, with Reilly really ratcheting up his singing chops and comfortableness on stage since we saw them last in Santa Barbara. We then moved over to Conor Oberst’s annually-curated stage (Rooster) for Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express (including Prophet’s talented wife, Stephanie Finch), who were one of the highlights of HSB this year.  They primarily played songs from Prophet’s outstanding recent album (Temple Beautiful), regaling the local crowd with locally-set lyrics and songs.  Prophet and band showed themselves to be fine musicians with great feel for the express lane.  Prophet blazed on guitar throughout and especially fired-up the crowd in the last third of his set (no small feat when you begin at noon on Friday).  Beachwood Sparks started a little sleepily after Prophet’s firebrand performance, but eventually ignited and got at least one festival dancer dancing.  As for the next hand-picked performer, Ben Kweller simply killed.  Kweller is one of our better songwriters and singers, and playing solo on acoustic guitar (which he pedaled into electric-fuzz), he quickly won the crowd over with his energy, voice, playing and well-crafted songs.  He’s a must-see when on tour.  Jenny Lewis then came out with Jonny, the Watson Twins and a great band and stormed the stage and airwaves with fan-favorites and couple of new songs (one an homage to her recently-passed father).  Lewis’ voice was in fantastic form and her fans ate the show up.  Following Lewis, Friday’s finale was, of course, Conor Oberst who came out with his Mystic Valley Band, with Nate Walcott added on keys and horns.  Oberst and band gradually built their set with Oberst’s well-crafted songs, culminating in several soaring highlights.  The first was a stunning delivery of favorite Lua with Jenny Watson and the Watson Twins vamping perfectly on backup vocals in support.  The second was an excoriating delivery of Roosevelt Room, with the band raging and Conor literally spitting the lyrics as if the world’s survival depended upon its heeding his message.  It was a perfect way to end the day in San Francisco.  All was well again.

Check out some photos from Day 1 below.

John C. Reilly and Tom Brosseau:

John C. Reilly, Becky Stark and Tom Brosseau:

Chuck Prophet:

Chuck Prophet and wife, Stephanie Finch:

Beachwood Sparks:

Ben Kweller:

Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins:

Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band, with Nathan Walcott:

Conor Oberst, Jenny Lewis and Watson Twins on Lua:

Conor and band on Roosevelt Room: