Review: 2008 HippieFest at Wolf Trap

by Rick Landers.

The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts (Vienna, Virginia) hosted a traveling cadre of classic rockers and balladeers for the 2008 HippieFest concert on July 30. Nostalgia ruled the night with boomers and their families singing along to songs that still sounded fresh, 40 years after they hit the charts. The 2008 HippieFest troupe included Jonathan Edwards, Joey Molland (Badfinger), Melanie, Flo and Eddie (The Turtles), Jack Bruce (Cream), and Eric Burdon and the Animals.

A quick stop backstage afforded photographer Michael G. Stewart and me an opportunity to meet Joey Molland, singer and guitarist for Badfinger and check out his newly acquired Daphne Blue Stratocaster. Soon, we were able to persuade Hippiefest's house guitarist Godfrey Townsend (John Enwhistle Band) and Billy Watts (Animals) to grab their Strats for a photo op. After some talk about pickups, rosewood necks and other guitar-centric conversation with the Strat guys, Hilton Valentine (Animals) brought out his Custom Shop red Telecaster. Hilton's resumé of guitar riffs add beef to such classics as "House of the Rising Sun," "Sky Pilot," "Monterey," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," and "San Francisco Nights."

Back out front, the stage lights were hot and a Woodstock era backdrop of peace signs and flowers flowed down the back of the stage. Music from the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey ["Also Sprach Zarathustra – Op. 30" – opening movement] wafted throughout the house, helping lead the audience down the path to the days of peace, love, hawks and doves.

Then out stepped two delightful characters, Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, known as Flo and Eddie and founding members of the Turtles, who served to MC the show. They helped the audience register how much had changed since the days when the music the crowd was about to hear was bulleting up the charts, reminding them of the average cost of an American home ($13,500); annual salaries ($6,500) and when a gallon of gas hung around 31 cents!

First up was a still lean and in great vocal form, Jonathan Edwards, who hollered, "Let's get this party started!" then wailed out a strong version of his gold hit record, "Sunshine." The old tune still sounded fresh and Edwards didn't waste any time "warming up" the crowd, driving full speed ahead into, "Shanty," and the inebriated campfire lyrics of , "Cuz we gonna lay around the shanty, mama, and put a good buzz on."

Edwards' self-deprecating humor was also in good form when he quipped about his gig's three song set, "Man, three songs! Talk about your fifteen minutes of fame!" And before he sang "This Island Earth," he told the crowd, "I'm going to do this acappella. Well, just because it's easier to play."

Next up was Joey Molland, who held court with his black Gibson SG. He laid down a great hard hitting set of Badfinger tunes including crowd pleasers "Baby Blue," "Come and Get it," "Day After Day," and "No Matter What."

Under the red and blue klieg lights stepped Woodstock-era and 25 million record sales recording artist, Melanie, with her son, Beau Jarred, who's an accomplished guitarist in his own right. The duo nailed down a nice set of "Brand New Key," "Ruby Tuesday" and "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma."

The masters of ceremony from the Turtles and the Mothers of Invention kept things rolling along with their own set of Turtles' hits. "Happy Together" was a crowd pleaser, as were "You Baby," "It Ain't Me Babe," and an enthusiastic rendition of "Eleanor." Their last tune, "She'd Rather Be With Me," had Flo banging heavy on a cowbell with a drum stick. Later, he adroitly ricocheted the stick off the stage and back in his hand, to the delight of the crowd!

Cream's masterful bassist and singer, Jack Bruce, decked out in white and running shoes, worked with heavy hitting guitarist, Godfrey Townsend, who handled the Clapton riffs of "Sunshine of Your Love." Next stop, was a bluesy "Sitting on Top of the World," that seemed to bewilder most of the crowd since the tune's not well remembered by most, but then Bruce grabbed them back with a cool version of "I Feel Free." Another, album record without a lot of air play was next, "Politician," that again was well executed, but didn't capture the mood as much as the hit singles, like the final fire breathing version of "White Room," where Bruce and Townsend unleashed some vintage Cream fireworks.

Few groups hit the '60s charts as often and as well as The Animals, with Eric Burdon's dark vocal landmarks laying the bedrock for such masterpieces as, "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," "San Francisco Nights," "Don't Bring Me Down," When I Was Young," It's My Life," and "House of the Rising Sun." Armed with the assault guitar of another Animals founding member, Hilton Valentine, Eric and crew lit into all of those classic tunes, as well as their cover of the Stone's "Paint It Black."

Wolf Trap's 2008 HippieFest concluded with Valentine taking center stage with his Fender Custom Shop wine-colored Telecaster. As the opening chords of the Animals' revolutionary folk-rock hit of 1964, "House of the Rising Sun" reached the sky, the full house rose to its feet. Eric's still rich Newcastle baritone filled the night air and the crowd sang along, with a joy too hard to hide.

Photo Gallery

Related Links
HippieFest 2008
Jonathan Edwards
Melanie
Joey Molland (Badfinger)
The Turtles
Jack Bruce (Cream)
Eric Burdon (The Animals)
Hilton Valentine
Godfrey Townsend
Michael G. Stewart Photography

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