Robert Plant - 30 March 2013, Bluesfest

Pretty flat out at work at the moment, so I'll put this up without too much comment. I was pretty annoyed about the clash between Plant and the Stooges. I ended up choosing Plant because I figured the Stooges were more likely to be back soon. I ended up regretting that though, because this set didn't really do that much for me (and I really like his recent solo work, so it wasn't that). Spoonful is an amazing song, but the reworked version didn't do much for me (and I can't imagine anyone who knows the original would have much appreciation for this version). The Led Zeppelin songs were all competently done and well received, but the band seemed more like an above average bar band, rather than the type of outfit that should be backing someone of Robert Plant's stature.

The recording of this seems slightly better than the other two, not entirely sure why. Although it's somewhat undermined by the crowd, who were annoying on the day and manage to pervade this recording with their annoyingness (you can even hear the beginnings of a fight behind me).

[Note: for some reason the track order works fine on iTunes, but is off on my iPod. Not sure of why, if this comes up on your system try deleting the track numbers and putting them back in]


https://mega.co.nz/#F!IZ0yCajR!AYhFUDhd7rZmtyX5ZkNhMQ

Blind Boys of Alabama - 30 March 2013, Bluesfest

For me at least, the Blind Boys of Alabama were one of the unexpected treats that make going to festivals worthwhile. It didn't hurt that they had a crowd that was both reverent and raucous. The band had a pretty good idea of what people wanted to hear, but still managed to play a few tracks that, at least for a casual listener like me, weren't familiar. It was great to get to hear Down in the Hole, although there were a few very weird seconds of trying to figure out what song they could possibly be playing that I would be so familiar with.

All the recordings from Bluesfest are of OK, but not super quality.

[Forgot to add the the setlist, sorry about that]

People Get Ready
Spirit in the Sky
Down in the Hole (w/ Charlie Musslewhite)
Take the High Road
There Will Be a Light
Free at Last
Amazing Grace
Look Where He Brought Me From
Higher Ground

https://mega.co.nz/#F!YEMSkTzZ!fge7Fy-EbQALcu7-SblgVQ

Wilco - 30 March 2013, Bluesfest

This was the first of Wilco's two appearances at Bluesfest. I was expecting a very hits focussed set, but they played a few songs that wouldn't have been familiar to casual fans and lots from The Whole Love. It was a pretty good set and they managed to attract a large audience (Bluesfest is largely a classic rock festival - headliners were Robert Plant and Paul Simon - so there were plenty who didn't know Wilco). The crowd was mostly good, but I got stuck next to the people who claim (loudly) to be massive Wilco fans, and then proceed to spend most of the set talking (loudly) about what huge fans they are, before leaving part way through. Fortunately, it was a fairly noisy crowd so in the recording they aren't as annoying as they were at the time.

The recording quality is decent enough. The set was in a tent, so the acoustics aren't fantastic, but not awful either.

https://mega.co.nz/#F!wUkA1TRA!N_luwVc7rG85Tnc4ArMl8w