“Live from Nateva!”

Day Three: “Bobby and Phil revisit Oxford Plains.”

Oxford Plains, ME – In the twenty-two years (and one day) since the Grateful Dead performed at the Oxford Plains Speedway on July 3, 1988 (the second of two dates that the band performed that month in the Pine Street State), much has changed.  Dead figurehead, Jerry Garcia, has passed on.  The Red Sox have won two world championships.  There is a legitimate festival in the state of Maine.  

It might be that the festival in Maine is the most surprising of the group.  Garcia’s passing seemed a sad inevitability and the Sox were on course to reverse some curses. Few might have envisioned that the Nateva Music and Camping Festival would welcome back two Dead alums playing the songs that imprinted the band’s unique sensibilities into the musical subconscious of so many, yet here they were.

Perhaps that sensibility is not buried too deeply.  A near capacity crowd was anxiously awaiting Phil Lesh and Bob Weir’s “Furthur,” which with the wonderfully adept guitar stylings of former Dark Star Orchestra member, John Kadlecik, provided a worthy tour through one of the most impressive existing catalogs of American music.

The first sign of their dexterity with the songs of the Dead was a reworked take on “Mississippi Half-Step (Uptown Toodeloo).”  The first set rang with such classics as “Ramble on Rose,” a strong segue from Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece,” into “Cumberland Blues,” and the set concluding, “Casey Jones.”

A generous break between sets allowed for most of the Nateva crowd to mingle and say their farewells to friends both new and familiar.  The beaming glows on the faces of each of the weekend warriors spoke volumes to Nateva’s success, as did the response to the Furthur second set opener, “St. Stephen.”

As the second set built to a slow boil, fueled by the Spencer Davis Group classic, “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” melting into, “Eyes Of The World,” and the timeless traditional, “And We Bid You Goodnight,” the 4th of July vibe just begged for some “U.S. Blues.”  A sturdy fireworks show followed the anticipated encore and was unlikely in that it managed to meet the set’s intensity.  It also sent the crowd home with smiling faces.

George Clinton’s Parliament Funkadelic had hips shaking, as well as heads scratching, as the big man met his assembled audience sans his trademark dreads.  In a tan suit best described as safari wear, Clinton allowed P-Funk to power a jumping set before taking the helm for the likes of, “We Want The Funk.”  Backstage, the gorgeous Chris Russell commented that he had personally kissed each member of the seemingly infinite Clinton entourage, as well as the sizable Zappa Plays Zappa party.  Between both acts that’s a lot of jamming licks, and a lot of kisses.

Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi delivered a cover of Delaney and Bonnie’s,  “Comin’ Home,” that not only fit perfectly within their set of southern fried sensibilities but also seemed to encompass the mind-set of so many who felt that they’d found home, if only for the weekend.

And therein lies the beauty of the first Nateva Music and Camping Festival.  As an observer who has heard so much music during the last three days that the sound of two revving Harleys sounded like a bass being sound checked on stage this morning, there was truly a sound at Nateva for everyone. 

From the inside out, the first Nateva Music and Camping Festival was the sort of dream that only the boldest visionary might see.  For those who came and enjoyed, it is a dream that you both idealized and enjoyed.  Good for you… and good for us.  Let’s do it all together again next year.

Please travel safe and be in touch.  We can’t wait to see you again!

-Tom Kielty