Hardly Strictly 2024 (2024)

Warren Hellman’s Banjo Tree of Life shirt

I was chatting with a blanket neighbor at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in G G Park, as you do, over the many, many hours that constitute that particularly grueling yet rewarding activity known as attending a music festival. No snacks or beverages had been exchanged, only our names. Robert was on his own, like me, and an early arrival. He introduced himself and we made a mental note of our proximity and stuff.

As Patti’s set grew closer in the late afternoon, Robert returned, hence the chatting at our adjacent space close to front stage left. He talked about himself while I did what I hoped was some inconspicuous stretching and listened. He grew up in Chinatown in lower Manhattan; he was the only one of his family in California for the past 15 years; he loved it here; he was going back to NYC for Thanksgiving, like every year. I congratulated him for getting back to visit because I grew up in New Jersey and also lived in Manhattan and I loved it there, too.

Patti is coming soonish and he says: “She has GOT to do ‘Because the Night’ because THAT is my favorite song. That song IS Patti Smith - I remember seeing her do it acoustic with Bruce...” I believed his warm memories of a time long ago but I also felt the unmistakable stab of resentment and repulsion.

My judgy self slides off the shelf.

I don’t want to feel annoyed by Robert but I do kinda of hate that eagerness to suffocate an artist. People around us - more blanket neighbors - join in with a chorus of “Yeah, that song is the best.” “She’s gotta do it!” “Can’t wait.”

Oh boy… my inner voice is grumbling, and only a firm talking-to gets my judgy self back on the shelf. I stay silent and remind myself that Robert has warm memories of that song and it’s his right to want what he wants.

But. Still.

“Because the Night” is an anthem for love and lovers. Her great loves are gone. I believe she was with Sam Shepherd when she co-wrote that song. She helped him die not all that long ago. She’s written incredible essays about death including those of her husband and friends. Personally, I can easily imagine how that song could feel tired and irrelevant to her. At the very least, I have no expectation or desire for her to pull out an old warhorse - made more famous by other people - if she doesn’t feel like it. So, no, I am not going to give a lecture on artistic freedom but neither am I going to join in with this chorus of enthusiasm for “Because the Night.”

On a sunny day in a meadow, to a teeming crowd at Towers of Gold with next door’s Swan Stage also blasting her performance on their speakers (!!!) her set list was perfect as it was. Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was fantastic - “People Got the Power” - always magic. Dylan’s “Long Black Coat” suited well even though, sure, I adored her performance of “Hard Rain” at the Fillmore a few years ago where she needed notes and glasses to get through its lengthy wordiness, but killed it nonetheless. “Dancing Barefoot” opened the show, her voice rich and strong. A much-loved version of Dancing Barefoot is on one of the KFOG Live from the Archives CDs and a staple of my musical diet for years.

A few seconds and a quick whirl-around!

At HSB 24, Patti Smith was in full-on, priestess mode fronting a full band including drums, guitar and keyboard. Introducing the band, after several blistering, much appreciated solos, saying, “On guitar, my son, Jackson Smith,” I swear I heard the crowd gasp. It was simply so amazing, like Mt Olympus level artistry happening, up there, for all of us, for free. This is why the effort to attend is strong and the vibe can be so high. See you next year!

Huge gratitude to the HSB family, employees, volunteers and all the love and care in the crowd.

More music festival thought-slices and snapshots coming up in my next Substack. Thanks for joining me here - no pressure at all. Just sharing content. It’s fun.