The Acoustic Planet Tour Opening Night

Keller Williams opened the show as only he can, and set the tone. His unique style blew my mind as he slowly jammed by himself, with himself via looped measures of guitar and drum sound effects. Each song slowly layered onto itself to become an exciting creation by the self-labeled freak. Keller never stopped playing straight through each song until it was his time to leave.

Soon enough a mandolin showed up from the Yonder Mountain String Band to play with Keller; then an upright bass, an acoustic guitar (as this was the opening night for the “Acoustic Planet” tour) and a Banjo. Slowly Keller faded into the background and was gone just as Yonder Mountain was getting into a groove.

At this point I heard the call of nature and went with my girlfriend across the auditorium. I passed the mixing board and was amazed at the non-stop performance by all five of the operators. Outside I beheld the view of Green Lake, and filled up my Nalgene for an adventure around the smoke-free campus to have a cigarette.

I returned as Yonder was being infiltrated by the Flecktones. Each instrument was replaced by it’s compliment Flecktone before Bela finally appeared onstage. Bela continued the jam from before and culminated in an amazing synth-guitar drum-solo by the pirate Roy Wooten. That song ended and the music had stopped for the first time since Keller took the stage.

Bela’s Bass player stole the show, in my eyes, by playing the crowd (the only section that was standing and dancing the whole show) and his bass in the most inventive and percussive ways.
The encore was necessary and included all nine performers first performing Keller’s own “Chillin’ like a Villain,” and then two more songs. The two songs featured a solo by each artist taking an opportunity to share the overwhelming energy on stage.

Leaving the familiar venue we felt as if the Pope and his Cardinals had delivered a three-hour sermon at our favorite church. Determining who was the Pope was a personal matter as they all shared the stage as equals having many opportunities to show their gifts. It was a gift they gave to us all, no one was denied an amazing experience and all left feeling that an enchanted tour had only just begun.

The night was perfect as it ended with a fabulous burger from Brady’s Bar then home to my visiting family playing poker in a happy home. Thank you to Keller, Yonder Mountain, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. The Acoustic Planet tour has already made it’s mark and will in several more venues in the Mid-West and the East coast. Check out the show if you can, and leave your worries at home you as they will take you to another world.