Going down to The Dream Syndicate and Dustbowl show

Back in the early 80's The Dream Syndicate debut album "Days Of Wine And Roses" was marketed by their record company alongside the debut album by the Violent Femmes. As something "American" and "alternative". The truth is that each of the two bands has a different and quite distinct sound, but this ad, was the reason for me, who was already listening to the Violent Femmes to explore The Dream Syndicate.

I finally saw the Violent Femmes live 3 years ago and now it was time to see The Dream Syndicate. There was an extra reson for doing so. Support was provided by Dustbowl whom I had seen twice before, three years ago on their Johnny Cash Tribute show and two years ago at the Music Highway Festival previewing their latest album "The Great Fandango".
I arrived at the venue just as Dustbowl had started playing, a setlist mostly based on that very same album. I was glad to hear these songs again now that I'm familiar with "The Great Fandango", an album that according to my own personal list was one of the best albums of 2016.

On top of that, Dustbowl's sound is a perfect match foe the southern rock of The Dream Syndicate.

So the headliners came on stage and we started suspecting that we were in for a special treat when Steve Wynn announced that this was the last date of their European Tour.

Their set was over in 90 minutes and just as we were wondering if that was all, it was followed not by one, but by two lengthy encores.

The only thing that disappointed me was the version of "Medicine Show" they decided to play, but I have to stress out that this is my own personal opinion.

They more than made up for it when they managed to sneak in a Tom Petty tribute within "Boston".

They even played music from their latest album (Yes, they do have a new album out) and even that was one of the highlights of the night.

They finally wrapped things up in the most appropriate way: With "John Coltrane Stereo Blues"

They had played in Athens again in 2013 but I had missed that one. So this night was a dream come true for me...

SETLISTS

Dustbowl

01. Linger On

02. Sweet Flowers And Vine

03. Lay Me Down Easy

04. The Gracious Exile

05. The Mourner

06. Heavy Chain Ball

07. Bread And Soil

08. Strain Of Care

09. The Great Fandango

10. The Boat

11. Billy

The Dream Syndicate

01. Halloween

02. The Circle

03. 80 West

04. Armed With An Empty Gun

05. Like Mary

06. Out Of My Head

07. Filter Me Through You

08. Burn

09. Whatever You Please

10. The Medicine Show

11. How Did I Find Myself Here

12. Forest For the Trees

13. That's What You Always Say

14. The Days Of Wine and Roses

Encore:

15. Glide

16. The Side I'll Never Show

17. Boston (with Tom Petty's "Refugee" snippet)

Encore 2:

18. When The Curtain Falls

19. Tell Me When It's Over

20. John Coltrane Stereo Blues

Dustbowl (and more) @ the 4th Music Highway Festival

Having already seen Dustbowl on their Johnny Cash Tribute Show I wanted to see them again, playing their own songs this time. The 4th Music Highway Festival last March was a perfect opportunity for that. Little did I know that I would discover 2 other bands as well, 4LT and the hosts Mr. Highway Band. (Penny Dreadful I already knew from their gig with The Western Ramblers. That was not the only connection with that band. One of the guitarists from Dustbowl and the drummer from Mr. Highway have also played with them in the past).

First off, starting as I was getting into the venue were 4LT. The first thing I did though was go to the merchandise stand to pick up the Penny Dreadful album which I've wanted for a long time. Then I was able to sit back and enjoy 4LT. A bit on the hard rock side, but they sounded good to me. So much so that I started thinking of going back to the stand in order to get their EP.

Next up were Penny Dreadful, the band whose sound is much closer to Dustbowl who I had come to see. It was nice to be able to watch them play probably a fuller set than the last time and give them my full attention.

 

Then it was time for Dustbowl themselves starting off with their latest single "Suicide Avenue". 

They played their own songs (what I really wanted to hear on the night), including some from their forthcoming album "The Great Fandango". Plus some great Rolling Stones and Clash covers.

While waiting for the hosts, Mr. Highway Band, to appear, it was back to the merchandise stand for me. Now, I already had all the Dustbowl CD's and the Penny Dreadful one I had bought earlier. So I got the 4LT. EP and I thought I should get something from Mr. Highway Band, they were the hosts after all, right?. They had two albums for sale, prices were good, but I didn't want to spend too much money, so I got their latest one "Story Of My Life". The funny thing was that at that particular moment the stand was manned by the Penny Dreadful singer. I hope he wasn't disappointed to see me buying almost everything except his own band's CD!

Finally, it was time for the hosts, Mr. Highway Band. They played a full 2-hour set. And although it was already late and people started leaving (I was tired myself and with an injured knee), I stayed until the end. I particurarly noted how catchy the title track from their latest album was and I liked them so much I regretted not buying their first album as well. Within a month though, I stumbled upon them playing at a bar, on my way home after another gig and I bought it then!

Well into the morning hours (it was the night we changed to daylight savings time), I left Kyttaro Club carrying several new CD's and thinking that I will probably be attending this particular festival next year...

As an added bonus, the guy who filmed the Blues Pills gig was also there that night and once again he filmed the whole show. So, sit back and enjoy!

Dustbowl - Johnny Cash : The Tribute Show

 [Before we begin, here is some info from www.dustbowl.gr]
"Dust Bowl" were those whirlwinds and hurricanes of dust that infested the South-West States of America from 1930 to 1938. A term born in those hard times from the people who lived in the drought-stricken region during the Great Depression. The "Dust Bowl Days", also known as the "Dirty Thirties", took its toll on Cimarron County. The decade was full of extremes: blizzards, tornadoes, floods, droughts, and dirt storms.

The Dust Bowl did not cause the Great Depression, although it did contribute to some of the economic problems. The dust storms began years after the arrival of the Great Depression, leaving them only to further hinder the economy. When farmers in the Midwest started having problems with their crops because of "black blizzards", they found it difficult to make profit and eventually lost their land to banks and the government. With their land barren and homes seized in foreclosure, many farm families were forced to leave. Migrants left farms in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Iowa, and New Mexico. The Dust Bowl exodus was the largest migration in American history within a short period of time.

Dustbowl (the band) were formed in Athens Greece [May 2006] and built their own flavor of Americana & Alt. Country-Rock. “Dusty Rock - Earth-Elegy” music which reveals their own inner lament and sentiments.
They weren’t concerned about fitting in or being a part of what anybody else was doing but the rebellious and deviant chain gang & the "dust bowl" refugees! 

 I went to see them when they did "Johnny Cash: The Tribute Show" at Athens Concert Hall (Megaro Mousikis Athinon) last March. I heard about them from the internet and a Johnny Cash tribute was not something I was going to miss. They had done this sort of thing before, back in 2012 I think, but this was the first time on a venue of such a scale. And they managed to rock the usually "serious" Athens Concert Hall with a 35 song set lasting for 2 1/2 hours. Several guests were brought on stage, including Makis from The Western Ramblers

SETLIST:
01. Folsom Prison Blues
02. I Walk The Line
03. Man In Black
04. So Doggone Lonesome
05. Big River
06. I'm Free From The Chain Gang Now
07. Get Rhythm
08. Cry! Cry! Cry!
09. Rusty Cage
10. Hey Porter
11. Busted
12. Cocaine Blues
13. Blue Train
14. Home Of The Blues
15. Wreck Of The Old '97
16. San Quentin
17. Sam Hall 
18. God's Gonna Cut You Down
19. Orange Blossom Special
20. Jackson
21. Long Black Veil
22. Ring Of Fire
23. It Ain't Me Babe
24. Green Green Grass Of Home
25. Sunday Morning Comin' Down
26. Don't Think Twice It's Alright
27. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
28. One Piece At A Time
29. I Still Miss Someone
30. I Won't Back Down
31. This Train Is Bound For Glory
32. Wanted Man
33. I Got Stripes
34. I've Been Everywhere
35. Ghost Riders In The Sky