this was my first visit to the Mann. - i attended tuesday and wednesday and loved loved every moment of these concerts. both nights felt very cohesive musically.

may we take a moment to recall and appreciate the fact that on tuesday at 6pm - despite a severe storm and lightning warning, the skies remained clear and the clouds passed. the door opening was delayed - then only pavillion ticket holders could go inside ( due to concerns about lightning ) those of us with lawn and terrace tickets waited about to see what would happen knowing we might miss something. "all is well that ends well"

cheers to the sudden clear skies and the uninterupted sets that followed. and everyone i saw around me was really happy. beautiful audience. families with smalll children are all about the lawn. just calm happiness all around.

IMO both sets reflected the venue so precisely. this is a reason i agree with dianna that the Mann concert is unique from the first four concerts of this summer's tour. the Mann being a center of performing arts rather than for example a sports stadium. the artistic aesthetic encompasses the entirety of the space from the grassy lawn and trees in the lot to the statues and fountains. there is a phenomenal panaramic view of philly in the background inside the venue. and the wood shed pavillion enclosure is plain exquisite.

so - a mid week concert - not far from nyc - tuesday and wednesday nights in a performing arts center. it is not like a party night. - this is formula, some serious space for experimentation and it seemed the band was rightly situated in an artistic comfort zone.

the bluegrass felt really right in the early evening light of half light

in the second set
my friend and i noted that jiboo was a treat and in the jam seemed to morph into not jibboo which is such a sweet stretch for a song with such a precise and recognizable riff over rhythm. the return to the familer jibboo sound in conclusion was tight.

breath and burning was interesting. very very interesting jam that one. i hope the band continues to stretch it out. i recall noting at the time, this is a very interesting moment tonight.
( one secret i will tell - when the band is seeming to perform a ballad, people start shuffling off to the rr and the beer places and such - this makes more room for those of us who just want to dance. so now i am looking forward to the next time hearing breath and burning live - hoping the jam extends further. - don't tell anyone that secret )

this was a phenomenal night and philly was all cool about it. the tempartures, mild and breezy for june in philly where it is usually much hotter. all in all - all conditions were primed for musical bliss for everyone involved.

nice review dianna and i hope we get to hear more from you in the future. happy 100th!

-moSTgHost