I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that some of the most passionate performances I’ve heard recently have come from acts that seem inspired by deep, complex religious feelings.
I’m thinking of a band like Doug Mains & the City Folk and, more recently, The Last Bison.
The Last Bison kicked off the Savannah Stopover last Thursday night with a stirring set in the pavilion in the North Garden at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum on MLK.
Ben Hardesty’s lead vocals are invested with a raw power and emotion that’s pretty rare, and the rest of the band contributes both energy and delicacy to the mix.
And there’s a sort of otherworldly beauty to the whole band when they’re on stage — they exude joy.
The night was a little chilly, which might have given the show an added edge as everyone was anxious to move around. Before the music started, guests had a chance to see the beautifully displayed posters submitted for the Stopover’s band poster competition and wander through the Ships of the Sea’s gorgeous North Garden, which many were seeing for the first time.
And I’ll add that once I tasted the blackberry flavor of Junior Johnsons’ Midnight Moon Moonshine, I was sure glad I had bought the VIP pass that gave me easy access. I know it seems crazy — even unbelievable — to some people, but I often buy tickets to events I’m excited about rather than relying on press access. Yes, press access is free. But nothing is ever really free.
Here’s the magnificent album Quill by The Last Bison:
And a selection of the pics I took. What a fun band to shoot:
