Holy Ghost Tent Revival Interview

One of the things I like most about music festivals is how easy it is to discover something new that you love. Amid all the hustle and bustle, sometimes it's those bands playing on the side stages that really surprise you.

This blog was originally published on nodepression.com.

A North Carolina-based six-piece that brings high-energy horn rock to the stage, Holy Ghost Tent Revival is one of the bands I had the pleasure of seeing for the first time at this year’s Wakarusa. The mid-evening performance was bursting with excitement and sound — the band’s instrumentation includes both a trumpet and a trombone. The players were amped and put on a great show for the crowd at the Backwoods Stage, with songs that reminded me of going to church on Sunday morning.

I thoroughly enjoyed what I heard from the group during the show, and had the opportunity to speak with one of the members, Stephen Murray, after the set.

Alright. If you can just introduce yourself and your bandmates and tell me instruments you play and that kind of thing.

Yea. My name’s Stephen Murray. I play the Rickenbacker guitar and I sing, mainly. We have Matt Martin to my right on a lead guitar and backup vocal. We’ve got Kevin Williams on bass guitar and lead vocal. Ross Montsinger holds us down on drumset. Then we have Hank Widmer on trombone and Charlie Humphrey on trumpet.

Okay. How did you guys find each other? What brought you together?

The core of the band — the drums, the two guitars, and the trombone — all went to college together, and we just wrote a couple songs then, nothing serious. I was a theater major and people were music majors and stuff. So, it was for fun, and then people started liking the tunes, and then we met a bass player and we had different members for a while. The lineup now isn’t the original lineup. So, we had different horns; we had a clarinet at one point; we had a different trumpet player. And when we graduated it was just like we already had a really good following locally, so we were like, you know, “Let’s just do it.”

Might as well. And how long has that been?

February was year six.

Wakarusa Music Festival: Final Thoughts

There is so much that I can say about this festival. The weekend was filled with unforgettable moments, wrapped in connections, and topped with crazy weather. It was such a wonderful feeling to be back on Mulberry Mountain again, especially in light of my history there, and even in spite of the muck. I hope to be able to make it out to Ozark again, sometime soon, and next time, perhaps, it'll be a little less muddy. 

This blog was originally published on nodepression.com

This year's Wakarusa was quite the event. I must say, it was the most intense festival experience I've ever had, and I've been to my fair share. The extreme weather threw a wrench in things on several occasions, leaving me to spend more time waiting in the car than could be considered pleasant.

And when I wasn’t shielding myself from the rain and lightning, I was treading through ankle deep mud and muck that spread over the entire festival grounds. My crew affectionately (or not so) dubbed it the Waka Monster, as it could be seen eating shoes and even swallowing festival-goers whole.

Over the course of the weekend, the Waka Monster grew in size and strength, thriving on the heavy rains and incessant foot traffic, until the sunshine of Saturday and Sunday caused it to shrivel up and retreat (but not surrender).

Everyone moved in slow motion. Getting to the Main Stage was a feat, and even the pathways in the campgrounds were consumed. Only the Satellite and Backwoods Stages remained relatively unscathed.

Wakarusa Music Festival: Day 4

The last day of the festival is always hard, especially when you feel like you've just gotten started. Luckily, the rain held out for us another day and we got to have our "last hurrah."

This blog was originally published on nodepression.com

I had high hopes for Sunday. Saturday felt like the first day we didn't spend trapped in the car, and Sunday was only going to be better. Scheduled performances by some of my current favorites, plus a seemingly out-of-place appearance by Snoop Lion, had me feeling optimistic. Of course, I also felt some last day jitters—that creeping sadness that comes in anticipation of parting company with your weekend home and family.

 

A late night left me sluggish in the morning, so I didn't get moving 'til the afternoon. I stopped into a press conference with Marley D. Williams of Rebelution, J Bratlie of Dirtfoot, and two members of Quixotic. Dirtfoot was back for its seventh year at Wakarusa and had played a set on Saturday.

The rest of the day seemed to move so quickly, as time has a way of doing when enjoyed. The weather was a little cool, but I was just grateful to not be rained on. The sun had significantly tempered the muck, but some spots were still slippery and there were holes everywhere. I'd seen several people fall throughout the weekend, and Sunday was no exception.

We all tried to make the best of our last day. Even though the festival had been quite the unexpected experience, we'd survived and were closer for it. We had so many stories to tell and had shared countless laughs. This was a weekend we wouldn't soon forget.

Wakarusa Music Festival: Day 3

On the third day, things began to turn around, and Wakarusa became a music festival once again. The mud had reached its worst point, though, which made actually seeing that music a little difficult. But, in spite of everything, the show went on and so did the fans. It's what we came for.

This blog was originally published on nodepression.com.

The sun rises, but it doesn’t bring much shine. The leftover clouds and fog from last night’s storm block out the light, and leave you wondering if the show really will go on. You imagine the damage, thinking things must be beyond saving. It might be time to call it quits.

No music plays. You wait for the announcement to come that forces everyone out of the campsite and back down the mountain to begin the journey home. A few cars are leaving, but most stay and hope for the best.

Slowly the sky clears and it starts to get hot. In the sunlight, it is easy to see the devastation from the night before—flattened tents, collapsed canopies, overturned coolers—some things have even been picked up and thrown by the raging winds.

There is a feeling of confusion and indecision permeating the campsite. Some talk about going to hotels or other campsites to get away from the wetness and the mud, which continues to grow exponentially.

Others are confident that they will stay, no matter what, and piece their camps back together to stick it out ‘til the bitter end.

Wakarusa Music Festival: Day 2

Day two began as a reprieve from the rains of Thursday, but ended quite differently. If you've never sat through a lightning storm for hours cramped in a van, you've really missed out.

This blog was originally published on nodepression.com.

After the exhausting events of Thursday, today got off to a good start, with sunshine peeping through the clouds and warming the air. We were excited for the chance to see some more music.

Of Monsters and Men

And we did—The Human Experience, Of Monsters and Men, The Motet, SOJA. Mid-evening, I snuck away to nap for a bit, hoping it would make it possible for me to stay up into the wee hours and see some of the awesome acts lined up late night: STS9, Galactic, Shpongle, Minnesota.

I woke up in time to meet up with my crew and head to STS9. The Revival Tent was packed to the brim, despite the serious mud (there were maybe a total of 5 spots within the venue that weren’t covered in several inches, nowhere near the stages).

After some buildup, a kind-looking woman stepped on stage, grabbed the mic, and made the announcement that it was time to evacuate. There was a lot of booing, of course, but I think the sense of urgency was conveyed, and the crowd began moving toward the exit.

Wakarusa Music Festival: Day 1

The first day we spent a lot of time in the car. After arriving and being so ready to rush into the grounds and start partying, we were held in the check-in lot for hours while storms passed over the area. Later, I met someone who said she'd arrived late Thursday night and didn't get to leave the lot until Friday morning. 

This blog was originally published on nodepression.com.

The anticipation is palpable. Dreams of what it will be like and memories of what it was become the subject of conversations held to pass the time. Minutes become hours and you settle in for the ride.

The car is packed with camping gear, food and fun. You struggle to find a comfortable position for a nap, because you still have miles to go. The shared discomfort of the road trip makes for memorable moments, and colorful characters brighten up your stops along the way.

You finally arrive. But lightning strikes once you reach the lot and you’re stuck waiting in the car. As if you weren’t already excited, it seems the sky bids you wait even longer for your reward.

Wakarusa 2013: So Close I Can Feel It!

It would seem that everything has come full circle and I've found myself back where I started just two years ago. Back at the place that became the beginning of my career as a music writer, and has shown itself again as the location of my first official gig as a blogger. 

This place holds many memories, and now I have the opportunity to make more, anew. A greater gift I could not ask for. 

This blog was originally published on nodepression.com.

As you can imagine, I am getting very excited for Wakarusa. I would like to say thank you again to No Depression for making this adventure possible. I cannot wait to share my experiences with all of you.

As the final countdown begins, I am hard at work researching and preparing so I can bring you the best coverage of the event. Through this process, I have stumbled upon several bands and musicians that have impressed me with their skills. It's amazing how much I have discovered.

In a way, I am being pushed into new territory, at least for me. My personal music tastes are a bit different from the music No Depression promotes, however, I see this as an opportunity for growth and a chance to expand my musical knowledge and palette. I hope that I can do the same for you, as I write about some of the artists that really inspire me.

A few artists I'm looking forward to seeing at Wakarusa:

• The Black Crowes
• Galactic
• RJD2
• Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
• Papadosio
• Holy Ghost Tent Revival

The Beginning of it All - Wakarusa Music Festival

On Wednesday evening, June 1, I set out on my way to Ozark, Arkansas, for Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival, my first ever campout mega-fest and my first festival of the summer. 

 After a cramped 14 hour ride (I sat with a full-sized djembe in my lap) with old friends and some new, I was beyond excited to get to Mulberry Mountain. My ride had done street teaming, so we had the hookup on a special camping spot. When we finally arrived, there was quite a bit of confusion over where we were supposed to be camping, and we were sent back and forth between festival workers who knew little more than we did. But, that confusion made it possible for three of the people in our car to sneak into the festival. Eventually we got our tent set up right behind one of the stages, which was great for seeing music, but not so great for sleeping (I went to bed Friday with Skrillex’s distorted bass screaming in my ear – not exactly a lullaby).