By marty

Finding a new band, a new sound, is always the best portion of a music festival.  At the recently completed Langerado festival in the Florida Everglades, such finds were as thick as the mosquitos.

Now in its sixth year, Langerado has geared itself as a jam band haven with forays into other related genres.  This year was no exception with Ozmatli, Dark Star Orchestra, and Phil Lesh & Friends.  Branching out, the festival featured R.E.M., Beastie Boys and The National.

On the blustery Saturday of the festival, two bands stood out as surprises - State Radio and Blitzen Trapper.

Based out of Boston, Mass., State Radio turned more than a few heads with their passionate, socially-conscious rock.  This trio, led by former Dispatch member Chad Urmston, cranked out more complete and complex sounds than most groups twice its size.  The mixture of roots, reggae and rock thundered from the festival’s main stage and woke up a dub-hazed crowd. 

In their blog, the band was pleased with the show.  They weren’t alone.  The show made me go out and buy two of their albums.  It is always a pleasure to turn these cynical eyes into wide-eyed amazement.

                                                                                                                                               

                           

Download:  The Story Of Benjamin Darling, Part I.mp3 by State Radio         

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Blitzen Trapper somewhat defies definition.  Sometimes classified as an experimental folk band, the sextet wields a wide blade as it cuts through multiple genres.  In addition to the aforementioned folk, add the blues, alt country, Dylanesque, bluegrass, traditional to full-blown psychedelia freak-out.  It is all great fun.

Vocalist Eric Earley and guitarist Erik Menteer worked the bleary early-afternoon crowd into a growing frenzy.  Blitzen Trapper’s music was full of heart and surprises and you can’t ask much more than that.

Download: Wild Mountain Nation.mp3 by Blitzen Trapper