Farm Aid St Louis 2009

September 29th I get a call from my friend Randy from Buffalo, New York, he has an extra ticket to Farm Aid in St. Louis, Missouri, for Sunday October 4th. I ask my Honey Bunny if I can go she says "sure go". She is the best wife I could ever have. I check plane schedules, too expensive to fly. I decide to drive. Map Quest says it is 9 1/2 hours to get to St. Louis. I know I can shave at least an hour if not an hour and a half off of that time.

Friday Morning I get packed. I load the Avalanches CD player with traveling music, Joe Bonomassa, Dave Matthews, Will kimbrough, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and J. Giels. Between the CD's and XM radio, I should be able to make the trip with my sole still in tact. I take my friend Michael to the airport so that he can catch a flight to Texas then to Albuquerque, New Mexico to meet his wife where they will embark on a two week journey through the western landscape.

12:30 and I am on 71 South towards Columbus. Dark sky's and rain will be my companion for the first two hours of the trip. The music is blaring and I have cookies, peanut butter M & M's, Sour Dough Pretzels and water for nourishment. God help anyone who tries to get in my way now. The sugar buzz alone could kill most mortals. Add in the isolation and I am sure a madness will try and take over along the way.

I set landmarks to break up the trip. One hour to Mansfield. Another hour to I 270. A half hour to I 70. I know these roads well and can coast on auto pilot. Once on I 70 I have only been to Dayton twice in my life and Indianapolis once, after that I was in uncharted territory. Just me and my Biatch, the GPS to guide me. The rest of the trip on I 70 is just a flat out run from Indianapolis to Earth City Missouri. I can't wait to get there where I can blend in with the rest of the crazies and miscreants who have traveled from around the country to save the farmers.

Randy calls me when I am about two hours away from the hotel. He is in Chicago on a layover. He asks whether I am talking to myself yet. I tell him to beware of the bats. The bats are flying around but have not attacked yet. Randy knows Hunter so he could decipher what I was talking about. We should hit the hotel about the same time. I love when a plan comes together. I got to go, my voice is getting raspy from talking and I need it to keep singing.

I am the first to arrive at the hotel of our little foursome. Randy, Dave, Dave's cousin Karen and I will spend the next few days together playing tourist, gamblers, Farm Aid supporters and music fans, while enjoying the surrounds of St Louis, Missouri. I am only able to rest for about 15 minutes before Randy and the others arrive. We go and get some Bar B Que for dinner and head back to the hotel for a drink at the bar. The hotel is filled with many of the technical crew from Farm Aid. The TV crews and lighting personnel that we will meet in the bar will prove to be a wealth of information as far as the venue and schedule of times of the different acts to take the stage. Many of these techies have come from Memphis, Virginia, Maryland and other parts of the United States and are knowledgeable in music and seem stoked to be working the Farm Aid concert.

Saturday we wake late around 8:00. We all had to sleep in after the long day of travel. We have a group meeting in the lobby and decide that since we are in St Louis we need to go and see the Gateway Arch, tourists that we are. We pile in the truck and head East on I 70 to find the Arch. The Biatch is being temperamental and refuses to give me directions. Some day I am going to beat that Biatch like a red headed step child. So while I drive the four of us stare off into the sky until we catch a glimpse of the 640' silver arch. Now we have to figure out which exit to get off at, luckily there are signs that direct us off of the highway. We work our way through a maze of streets and find a parking lot close to the arch and under a highway overpass. No matter what city you go to there are always parking lots under the overpasses of the expressway.

We walk through the park to the Arch and go under the Arch where there is a museum commemorating the westward expansion of the United States. We finally talk Randy into taking the elevator up to the top of the Arch to view the City of St. Louis from the observation deck. We have to get into little cars that look like football helmets. Luckily I get separated from the other three and have to ride with a family that has two children about 9 and 11 years old. The kids do not take up much space, although one of them is kind of freaking out. Listen you little bastard I am not crazy about the confined space either but you do not feel me quivering from fear. Man up. Finally we are at the top.

Jesus Christ, who designed this lookout point a midget. I feel claustrophobic up here, my head almost touches the ceiling. The architect must have thought only gnomes, hobbits, trolls and ferries were going to come up here. The Arch is solid I don't feel it swaying in the wind like I expected it to and the view is pretty. OK we have had enough lets head down. Five grown ups climb into one of the Football helmets for the ride down. Let me explain Dave makes me look small. He is at least an inch taller, with size 17 feet and I can hide in his shadow. Needless to say the four and a half minute ride down was not very comfortable.

We now walk to the river and take a nice paddle wheal boat ride on the Mississippi River. The boat captain gave us a brief history of the river and the founding of St. Louis. A nice and relaxing trip. A bit cold at times but overall enjoyable. I met a veteran Farm Aid concert goer, from Maryland, on the boat. He had been to ten Farm Aid shows already. He plans his vacation around going to the concert every year. How much fun is that.

We now decide to play Lewis and Clark and walk what seems like to Kansas City. Truth be told it is about eight blocks to the Taste of St. Louis. The Taste of St. Louis is a street fair with lots of Bar B Que food, art work, trinkets and music. Admission is free and the food is reasonably priced. We eat ribs, ribs, pulled pork, ribs, pizza, ribs, beer, cheese cake a milk shake with a rolled up cookie in it and ice cream. Whew, lets head for the truck. Did I happen to mention that Dave can eat.

Back at the safe confines of the hotel Randy takes a nap, I stretch my back that is starting to bother me, Dave and Karen fall asleep. Randy wakes up and we go to the pool and swim in the cold pool water. Then hit the bar for a late night soup, salad and a Cuvasier. The techies are just getting in from their long day of setup and practice. We all start extending "howdy doos", "where you froms" and concert stories of days gone past. A schedule now appears out of a brief case that lets me know what times every group will be on stage if every thing runs on time. Randy and I decide we can miss some of the early acts, although Phosphorescent is one of the bands that I wanted to see that I will miss. If we head over to the amphitheatre around 2:30 I should be able to catch Billy Joe Shaver and the rest of the big acts. Thanks fellas for an enlightened enjoyable evening.

Sunday morning we all meet for a big breakfast and to discuss our game plan for the day. Get ready, head over to Harah's Casino for a few hours of gambling and Browns football, then off to the show. The Casino did not have a sports bar to watch the Browns so I headed to the video Poker machine. Three hands and I am up $50. I feel a big win in here today. OK I give back the $50 and the the original $20 that I put into the machine. I check the Browns score they are losing, go figure. I lose another $20. I check the Browns score they are tied. Ok I can live with that. I lose another $20. Thank God it is time to go and meet the others and head to the concert. I can't afford this place. The Browns are winning, hurray.

We get to the concert venue it is what Randy calls a "shed". A steel and concrete amphitheatre with a man made hill for lawn seating. It is not Red Rocks or Blossom Music Center, just a nondescript amphitheatre like many others spread out across the United States. We get to our seats six rows from the stage dead center, Nice. Jamey Johnson is on stage setting up. I don't like the looks of this where is Billy Joe Shaver. I look around and spot a couple that looks as though they have been there for a while and ask, "did Billy Joe Shaver play already?" "Yeah Yeah he's done" they tell me. I am bummed, so bummed, one of the highlights of my day was going to be seeing Billy Joe Shaver live. A living legend and I missed him. How do the Beatles say it "I'm down, I'm really down, I'm down, down on the ground".

Jamey Johnson starts playing and singing which lifts my spirits. Jamey Johnson has a deep voice that reminded me of Bo Cepheus. He reminded Randy of Kris Kristopherson. Country music but a good sound. I can listen to this. Jamey Johnson ends and I go for a walk to check out the vendors selling organic food, locally grown and raised by farmers. I get a pizza and a bottle of water.

Gretchen Wilson is up next, her band takes the stage. Dave and I decide to walk around and people watch and see what we can see. Young people, old people, farmers and city folk all together for a just cause or just to hear good music. Hey, I thought Gretchen Wilson was country? This band is playing "Lunatic Fringe" then they segue into "Rock You Like A Hurricane" by Scorpion. What the F is going on? Gretchen now joins her band and rocks out with "Here for the Party", "There's A Place In Whiskey" with a interlude to "La Grange" by ZZ Top. She ends her set with her big hit "Redneck Woman". All the women are singing along and dancing and having a good time.

Wilco comes out and slams Gretchen Wilson by asking "how many people here are not rednecks?" Over half the crowd applauds. Jeff tweedy the singer for Wilco explains that we are all just people here for a good cause, not just rednecks. Wilco plays a stellar set of music including the songs "Heavy Metal Drummer", "Casino Queen", which is about a casino that is across the Mississippi River in East St. Louis and "Hoodoo Voodoo". Nice guitar action between the two lead guitarists switching back and forth. I can understand why Wilco is making a name for themselves.

I guess I will stick around to hear Jason Mraz. I don't know much about him, lets see what the kids got. What Jason has is a nice kind of island, party sound. He sings a message of love and community and fellowship. I like it. I could do without the lame hand gestures he is trying to get the crowd to do, but I like it. Jason pulls out a nice rendition of "Spirit In The Sky". Much of the crowd is singing along. I like it.

The sun is starting to set when Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds start their set. I don't know who this Tim Reynolds is but I am sure going to find out. Tim can play guitar. Tim and Dave do an acoustic set playing some of Dave's music off of his new album Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King. "Funny the Way It Is" and "You and Me"Dave Matthews acknowledges that Willie Nelson's guitar is sitting behind him and just has to touch it, with one finger like a naughty little child. When Willie finally joins them on stage the trio performs a moving rendition of "Gravedigger". Dave and Tim finish the set with a great rendition of "Dancing Nancies". Dave is great with his band but he is equally good with Tim Reynolds acoustic. Dave is on the board of Farm Aid and said "The more we get behind things Willie believes in the better we'll be".

John Cougar Mellencamp takes the stage with a full band and rocks out his set. He opens with "Pink Houses", which gets the crowd on their feet. "Paper in Fire" and "Check it out " were very well done with a violin, accordian, two guitarist, a drummer and a bass player plus John. John did two acoustic songs then he brought the whole band back out to rock some more. John brought his 14 year old son out to try out for the band but he is not in the band yet, when they played a finale of "Authority Song". Mellencamp has to be about 60 years old and he still can rock and jump around on stage. Great set. I guess when you only have to fill an hour you might as well fill it with your rockingest, biggest hits.

Neil Young came on stage and said "We want our farms back". Neil Young had his regular band with him. His wife Pegi on backing vocals, Spooner Oldham on keyboards, Rick Rosas on Bass, Ben Kieth on Pedal Steel Guitar. Neil does a mostly acoustic set. He plays "Hold Back The Tears". A very soulful "Sail Away". Pegi's voice is very good tonight. Willie joined Neil and the band for a rousing rendition of "Home Grown". Willie and Neil really seemed to enjoying themselves on that one. Neil ended with "Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere". During the set Neil tore his red T shirt off exposing a green T shirt underneath saying "Family Farms". After Neil's set I went walking around and I heard some younger people talking. "Man when did Neil Young become so angry?" "Yeah, he is a grouchy old guy". I guess they have never believed in, or been involved in, a cause as much as Neil is. Kids, go figure.

Willie Nelson came out and said "Family farmers are the first rung of economics in this country". Yes they are. The salt of the earth. The hard working men and women who make this country great. Speaking of great what a set Willie performs. Willie performed some of his greatest hits like "Whiskey River", "Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys", "On The Road Again", "Always On My Mind". He had his son Lukas join him and take the lead for a blues filled rendition of "Me and Paul" and "Shoe shine Man". Willie had Billy Joe Shaver come on out on stage since he was late and did not perform earlier. Doh! I was bummed out for nothing. Billie Joe Shaver performed with Willie "Just Because You Asked Me To" and "Fast Train To Georgia". Two legends singing together, excellent. I am totally happy or so I thought.

During the set Willie takes off his cowboy hat and frisbees it out into the audience. The hat flutters out over my head then starts back towards the stage. I leap as I high as I can. I must have looked like Shaquille O' Neal going for a rebound. I get my hands on the hat but another fan has a grip on the hat also. I give a tug and fall back into my chair, the hat is mine. A bit beat up from the tussle but mine none the less. The smile on my face has to be from ear to ear. Willie throws out bandannas at every show. I don't know how often he throws out a cowboy hat. Now I wonder if I am on the Farm Aid live broadcast? I will have to buy the DVD when it comes out.

Willie brings his Indian entourage out with any of the performers who want to come out on stage for a bit of gospel music. As a group they perform "I'll Fly Away", a wonderful version of "Amazng Grace" and anyone who is left in the crowd is singing along with "I Saw The Light". Willie was on top of his game all day. Farm Aid brings out the best in him.

A wonderful, wonderful day. Oh except for during the concert I was talking to the people sitting next to Randy and they were from Cincinnati, my Browns lost in overtime. Ahh who cares, Farm Aid was fun and I have Willies hat. I rate this a five twirl show with some moth catcher hand moves thrown in. This is an event I can scratch off of my bucket list. Maybe I will plan my vacation around it.

Monday morning load up the car and fill the CD player with some new CD's. Let's see, how about some Van Morrison, Jerry Garcia Band, Melissa Etheridge, Paul Thorn, Grace Potter and Government Mule. I have eight hours of sunshine, singing and good memories ahead. I have Willies hat on my head and I am off.

If you text the word farmer to 90999 five dollars will be donated to Farm Aid in your name and billed to your phone bill. Please try and help the small family farmer out by buying local produce and meats and donating to Farm Aid.