Hulaween: The Halftime Report

Saturday has arrived here at Hulaween, whether we’re ready or not. MZG has us moving already, with another full day ahead. Meanwhile:

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Photograph courtesy of Brian Hensley

FRIDAY

Kaleigh Baker and the Groove Orient got the day off to a magical start which included a great cover of “The World is a Ghetto.” Mungion then killed with their funky fusion set, Chicago-style.

Chris Littlefield and Karl Denson
Chris Littlefield and Karl Denson

Russo, Benevento and Burbridge played a stunning jazzy set jammed together. Think Cobham, Hancock and Pastorius. Post Pluto also knocked out a great rockin’ set. Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe were their normal incredible selves, funk so deep…

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Photograph courtesy of Brian Hensley

Meanwhile, Electric Kif blew up an amazing fusion set, and we turned right around for a brilliant jamtronic set from SunSquabi. And things got downright ridiculous when Future Rock melted most of the faces still left.

It was Cheese time, and the boys knocked out a tremendous first set for a huge crowd of Hulaweeners. Then Umphrey’s did what only they can do at the Amphitheater.

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Say Cheese!

Ajeva delivered their best set ever (consensus vote). Then it was time for more Cheese; this set began solidly but then blew the sky apart. Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals then proceeded to blow more minds. The Fritz tore it up at their show (business as usual!).

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Anderson .Paak

Claude von Stroke threw down an amazing DJ set at the intersection of Acid Jazz and Deep House. Like, real deep. My Morning Jacket played a simply superior set. WOW

And the fun was JUST beginning! Quixotic combined mesmerizing music and mesmerizing dance (plus the aerial artists). With a quick stage change, we got the late-night Bluegrass Surprise: the Jon Stickley Trio. They are so beyond incredible, each one a brilliant player.

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And, finally, it was time for the Brother vs. Brother showdown, the Battling Kulishevskiys! On Channel 1, Vlad the Inhaler; on Channel Two, Leo and Lava. Maybe the other way around. Vlad was spinning those trippy dance tracks. And Lava were playing trippy trip music, Leo on violin.

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You call that one a WIN-WIN.

String Cheese Incident
String Cheese Incident. Photograph courtesy of Brian Hensley

It takes hours to properly check out all of the amazing visual art at Spirit Lake. Sleep Schmeep.

Not sure why I’m up so early, but I’m delighted: MZG is KILLING it!

 

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