Phil Cook and The Guitarheels

Spirit Family Reunion

Newport Aftershow – July 23, 2016

The Cafe at The Parlor

It’s 1:30 in the morning. I can’t go to sleep because I am filled with joy from the music I got to experience tonight. From the first notes of the fiddle played by the incredible Savoy brothers to the all-out dance jam that brought us home, this was an evening of musicians playing for something bigger than themselves–playing for each other and for their community. Maybe I’m gushing. I don’t care. It was beautiful and honest and really, really, really fun.

Joel and Wilson Savoy of the Savoy Family Band opened the evening, playing a few cajun tunes. They are playing Sunday at the Museum Stage and it’s hard to say how much I urge you to be there (they go on a little after 1:00, which means you should probably plan to get in line for the museum by 12:30-12:45). Their music is that perfect combination of rawness and precision that defines the best of roots music. They joined Spirit Family for several songs, with Wilson’s improvisation on piano bringing musicians out from backstage to watch.

Spirit Family Reunion played a bunch of new songs and even though Nick said he’d lost his voice, they sounded great. They bring such passion and energy to the room. They’re one of the only bands out there who could turn a Leonard Cohen song into a stomper without stomping all over it: Langhorne Slim joined them for “Tonight Will Be Fine” (the best fucking song ever written, according to Langhorne). Maggie and Nick’s vocals together are so good because they both go for every note; it’s not the harmonies that get me with this band, it’s the go-for-broke commitment to each song.

During the set change, there was some trouble with the monitors. So Phil shrugged, said, “They didn’t have monitors in the ‘50s” and launched into a truly joyful night of music. They started with Charlie Parr’s tune “1922,” and then transformed the mellow tune “Belong” into a soaring jam. At one point in the night, Phil said, “We play music; we play, [as in] we have fun,” and you could feel that from every single member of this incredible band. They don’t smile, they grin at each other and create a genuine spirit of openness and camaraderie on the stage.

It wasn’t all puppies and rainbows. Phil reminded us in no uncertain terms that our generation has a fight and that “truth and love and dignity” are worth fighting for. Phil is the first person I’ve heard say “Black Lives Matter,” at Newport. (I’ve heard some festival-goers express their feeling that Newport should be an escape from the political arena. If you think that, please, please, please read Alynda Segarra’s beautiful op-ed Fall In Love With Justice). The band covered Randy Newman’s darkly satirical song “Sail Away” to underscore their commitment to naming injustice and using music to call it out. And, not for nothing, the version was gorgeous and soulful and made me cry for its tenderness and heartache.

Phil lovingly introduced his bandmates. James Wallace delivered Jim Ford’s funny and wonderful song, “Big Mouth, USA,” that had everyone singing along while Amelia Meath’s solo turn had everyone shutting up. Ryan Gustafson played his song “Graveyard Fields,” a grooving blues featuring a lilting slide guitar. “Great Tide” and “Ain’t it Sweet” ended the set and these were both all-out dance-a-thons.

I hope you have had an experience like this: one in which you have felt filled up by the music and the community of experiencing it live. I hope you’ve felt so grateful for wonderful musicians sharing their gifts with humility and joy. I hope you’ve felt deeply connected by music before. But if you haven’t, or you just want that feeling, Phil and the Guitarheels are playing with the Blind Boys of Alabama at the Quad Stage tomorrow around 4:00. “We’re going to make a joyful noise,” Phil said. You should be there to make it with them.

If you’re reading this but not at Newport tomorrow, you can find info about Phil and tour dates here.