WARREN HAYNES
15th CHRISTMAS JAM
by Scott Greene
(Courtesy of Gritz Magazine)

When Warren Haynes started his home coming event some 15 years ago I wonder if he ever imagined it growing to be the event it is today? I have had the pleasure of witnessing several of these shows and this years party has to be the highlight of my concert year. Warren is a true southern gentleman, as fame and fortune have not changed his outlook on life one bit, he gives much more then he could ever be ask for and has never ever forgotten his humble beginnings or the home town that gave him his attitude and outlook.
As a yearly gift Warren asks his friends and family to help him raise money for charity and give the fans a show they will never ever forget. This years show began with the Mayor of Asheville giving Warren the key to the city to which Warren asks "wonder if it fits the jail." The crowd responded with a roar and they were never quiet for more then a minute after that.

Warren was also joined on stage by his wife Stephani, who Warren credits with being the mind behind the madness that has become the Christmas Jam. The show started off with Warren doing a couple of acoustic tunes and then the Sons of Ralph band took the stage. Now, some history here. The fiddle player for Sons of Ralph is a boyhood friend of Warren’s, and was one of the many players to have helped Warren by playing some of the earlier jams.

This band is a local favorite in the style of electric bluegrass that had everyone in the house rocking. Don Lewis played fiddle and Dobro with more energy than I have ever witnessed and it raised the bar for those who would follow. The jam part of the jam is why I and so many folks go. Warren will play with anyone and everyone and his abilities to meld in with so many different styles of music are why I never stop claiming him to be the greatest guitar player to ever lived.

Warren joined each and every band this night and brought his sound and talents to them all. I think after the Sons of Ralph played, Edwin McCain came out and did a couple of songs joined by Kevn Kinney. They only played a couple of songs and then DJ Logic took over, now this is a different thing added to this years Jam, and I assume it is Warren’s purpose to bring many different styles to the jam and give everyone a chance to shine.

Next up was what to me was the second best band of the night ( note this is just my opinion and I am not saying any band was not good) Robert Randolph and The Family Band took the stage with a fire not seen by me from any band ever! Robert plays pedal steel and plays it like Jimi Hendrix! He plays with so much energy that I thought at times he would take off and fly off stage. He danced and jammed so hard that I just knew he would explode or at least blow up some piece of equipment. If you hear this band being anywhere near you or if you can find any of their music I highly recommend you snatch it up quickly.

The next band was from upstate New York called simple Moe, they are one of the new and emerging jam bands on today's jam music scene. Even if you don't care for the jam band scene their abilities and style made this a highlight of the show. I am not a jam band expert but I know good music and great playing when I hear it and Moe provided both and their following was very large and vocal. I was standing next to the rail taking some pictures and a young man ask me "who I was there to see" I explained I was there for the whole show, but Warren and Mule were the main reason I was there to which he answered " Warren is good but I am here for Moe- they rule." He had traveled a long ways from up north to see this show and I believe he, like the rest of us, left that night knowing he got his money’s worth and so much more. Moe had some special guests sit in like Dave Schools (Widespread Panic) and Warren and much to soon they were done and it was break time.

I found my seat and spoke about the music we had witnessed with my music brother ( who by the way was at this show as my Christmas gift to him) we shared notes and opinions and had a drink and did some crowd watching. I love to watch the crowd at shows and this was a special crowd as they all knew Bob Weir ( Grateful Dead) was on hand along with some friends so the Dead Head's were there ready to hear the music they love and support their band. After the break John Hiatt and his band the Goners took the stage. It was almost 11:30 and this concert began showing signs of going for a very long time. John seemed like he was ready to strut his stuff and show just why he is the legend he is. His band is highlighted by a slide player that won't quit and he did a excellent job of relighting the fire in the crowd bringing them back to their feet for his full set ( which by this time of the night is not an easy task). One special feature of the Haynes Jam is just that it's not just one jam or two but all night you never ever know who will show up and play with whom. One thing is sure Warren is invited on stage with each and every band and he allows others to dictate the style of music but adds his special gift of interpretation to each and every song he plays. I enjoyed John's set and he reminded me of bands gone by who played for fun and to interact with the fans.

The crowd knew when the Goners were done that what they had been waiting on was next up. Bob Weir made his mark in the musical world by adding his talent along with the special group of players known as the Grateful Dead. The music this group of players created etched their place in our hearts and on the musical landscape and will never be forgotten. So special was this music that whole lives have been dedicated to following it and its a music that not only is listened to but in so many lives its lived out to its fullest. I admire the Dead Head's love and dedication to their band and this night they would be in there element.

Warren and Dave Schools filled out the band this night but like so many other times before Warren seems happy to allow others to shine. The only thing about a Dead show for me is I have a hard time knowing when one song ends and another begins but no matter as they all rocked my socks off and had me sweating as I twirled and swayed with the rest of this sell out crowd.
The set as best I can remember was Shakedown Street, Baby Blue, Playin' In The Band > Truckin' > The Other One > Bird Song > Dark Star > Bird Song > Dark Star>One More Saturday Night. Some highlights for me were “Playing in the Band,” “Truckin,” and “One More Saturday Night.” All the Heads in the crowd were caught up in the musical adventure that was unfolding before them and I have to admit I was caught up in the adventure myself. Warren and Dave Schools play so well together and their musical blending is showing more and more every time I see them play together in any setting and add them to this all-star line up and you have a band dreams are made of. Never having seen the Dead except on videotape, this was a special show for me and it made me realize just how special their music is. When this set was over I made my way to the Warren side of the hall to have a better view when the Mule took the stage. I got there and took a minute to regroup my energy and catch my breath as this is the show of a life time and I wanted to be ready to catch each and every minute of it on the camera in my mind.

When the lights came back on I stepped right up to the rail to be sure my view was clear Warren came on looking thanking folks for hanging in there and promising them they had a long way to go still. This was at 1.30 am or so and I wondered just how long it would go and I hoped for the energy to still be standing at the end. I had limited film in my camera as I did not know before hand I would be able to take any pictures so I had saved some for the Mule set and I staked out my spot to try to get the best shots I could. Warren started out with “Soulshine” and the crowd responded by singing along and it was truly a beautiful sight and sound to witness. I happily shot pictures and allowed the music to take me away to that special place you can only reach by allowing the music to take you there. I have to stop right here and thank Warren for allowing us to be part of the music he creates and for all it means to so many people who's lives are made better by the shear joy that comes from the songs. The first set Mule band was made up of these players "Warren Haynes, Matt Abts, Danny Louis - keyboards, Greg Rzab- bass. I had not seen either Danny or Greg play and they brought a slightly different feel to the Mules music but it was no different then the feel brought by any different players playing on songs originally done by others and they took nothing away from the music and added their own personal touch that added so much to each and every song.

After Soulshine, the Mule played Suffer, Mule > Who Do You love > Mule, Worried Down, SCO-Mule for a set that had me sweating, gasping for breath and knowing that I was indeed 40 and not 20 any more. I wondered about the special guests or if time would run out on us before they had a chance to take the stage. My question was quickly answered when Warren came back after a short stoppage for a stage reset and started his second set off with “No Quarter” featuring Audley Freed on guitar. Following next was the highlight of the night for me Artimus Pyle from Lynyrd Skynyrd came out and joined Matt Abts on a second set of drums for Warren's version of the Skynyrd Classic “Simple Man.” Audley stayed on Guitar and this song smoked. I wondered what could top that and man did Warren answer in a big way. By now its 3 am and I am having trouble standing. The show is almost 8 hours in at this point and Warren announces that they paid big money to play so late and he thinks its worth every penny. The crowd agrees and gets up for just one more song, the encore is Love Light featuring a virtual who's who in the Christmas Jam family to the stage. The players include, John Smith on saxophone, Mike Barnes on Guitar, and Dr.Dan on organ with Audley on guitar. Col.Bruce on vocals, DJ logic, Matt and Moe's drummer on drums, Robert Randolph, Rob Barraco on keys, Dave Schools - bass and Robert Kearns on cow bell. I might have missed some but you get the point the stage was full and they gave it their all.

This years Christmas Jam tuned in to a 8+ hour musical journey that I was lucky enough to be part of and all I can is if you missed it, you missed it.

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