*Pops Staples - “Down In Mississippi” - Peace to the Neighborhood The Staples Singers - “I’ll Take You There” - The Best of The Staples Singers Mavis Staples - “Slippery People” - Live in London (2019) The Staples Singers - “Freedom Highway” - Freedom Highway (1991) The Staples Singers - “Why Am I Treated So Bad” - Freedom Highway Mavis Staples - “Touch A Hand” - Live In London (1991) Mavis Staples & Jeff Tweedy - “You’re Not Alone” - You’re Not Alone (2010) Mavis Staples - “You’re Not Alone” - Live In London Aretha Franklin - “Spanish Harlem” - Spanish Harlem (1972) Mavis Staples - “Dedicated” - Live In London (2019) Mavis Staples - “Let’s Do It Again” - Live In London (2019) Angelique Kidjo - “Once In A Lifetime” - Remain In Light Hurray for the Riff Raff - “Living In The City” - The Navigator Cage The Elephant - “Ready To Let Go” - Social Cues PJ Harvey - “Send His Love To Me” - To Bring You My Love Jenny Lewis - “Red Bull & Hennessy” - On The Line Ride - “Twisterella” - Going Blank Again The Beths - “Future Me Hates Me” - Future Me Hates Me Florence and the Machine - “Moderation” - Moderation (single) Arcade Fire - “Black Mirror” - Neon Bible
Hour Two *Tori Amos - “Crucify” - Little Earthquakes Neyla Pekarek - “The Attack” - Rattlesnake Neyla Pekarek - “Letters to the Colonel” - Rattlesnake Neyla Pekarek - “Train” - Rattlesnake The Lumineers - “Big Parade” - The Lumineers Gregory Alan Isakov - “Dark, Dark, Dark” - Evening Machines Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - “Hey Mama” - Tearing At The Seams Courtney Marie Andrews - “Kindness Of Strangers” - May Your Kindness Remain John Prine - “Pretty Good” - John Prine The Smiths - “The Boy With The Thorn In His Side” - The Queen Is Dead Beck - “Up All Night” - Colors Jade Bird - “The Lottery” - Jade Bird St. Vincent - “Digital Witness” - St. Vincent TV On The Radio - “Golden Age” - Dear Science
It was disappointing to not be able to go to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass again this year due to COVID, but momma and I made a go of it and basically spent 8 hours a day on the couch from Friday to Sunday (technically we’d also be lounging around in Golden Gate Park if it were IRL, but at least there, you get a little exercise in by hauling all your stuff from stage to stage).
Some of the acts were very confusing choices. even for a “hardly strictly” event (Terrence Blanchard’s avant-garde jazz was NOT our cup of tea and Bob Mould just in no way genre-compliant), but I was able to continue my tradition of picking out a few memorable songs to cherish as little reminders.
This is an acoustic version with Jeff Tweedy (she had a full band with her on stage) but Mavis Staples was awesome (she’s 82 years old!) and this song is so lush and dark yet hopeful.
