The Acoustic Planet Tour rocks Portsmouth

For lovers of what has become known as “jazzy funkgrass,” the heavens were smiling down on the Harbor Center in Portsmouth on August 31. The Acoustic Planet Tour showcased three generations of string performers, featuring Yonder Mountain String Band, Keller Williams and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

First to hit the stage was the progressive bluegrass styling of Yonder Mountain String Band. They played a lengthy twelve-song set featuring jams with special guests hopping on and off stage. Flecktones percussionist, known as Futureman, joined for a jazzy rendition of “Holding,” while Victor Wooten, Flecktones unprecedented bassist, carried a solid jam through “New Horizons.” Keller Williams joined YMSB guitarist Adam Aijala onstage for their final song of their set, Dire Straits’ classic “Sultans of Swing.” As Aijala slipped off stage, Williams smoothly made the transition into his set full of everything from funk, to Nirvana, Sublime and Greatful Dead covers.

The Acoustic Planet Tour featured a level of jam-band musicians. For his Nirvana cover of “Lithium,” Williams brought out Bela Fleck himself. After starting a few following numbers as a human beatbox, Williams went on to duet with Jeff Austin, mandolin player from YMSB, on his original “Ire to the High.” Closing out his set, Williams performed a cover of U2’s “Walk On” featuring Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. As the music built Fleck took command of the stage. As smoothly as Williams appeared in YMSB’s opening set, Fleck disappeared, leaving the Flecktones to do what they do best: rock the audience.

With Victor Wooten holding the sound together, Fleck proceeded to dazzle the audience amusing the crowd with his incredible ability to play the banjo. Jamming his way from “Big Country” to “Mudslingers”, Fleck had everyone stomping and clapping along. Even those who cannot find it in themselves to appreciate the banjo as a rock instrument certainly could through the playing of Fleck.

Continuing on with some crowd favorites including “Costa Brava,” “Sunset Road,” “Nu C” and “Off the Top,” Bela Fleck and the Flecktones hit their climax as the final tune of their set, “A Moment So Close” ripped through the Harbor Center.

The members of YMSB and Keller Williams reappear on stage for an encore. They began with “I Know You Rider,” a traditional bluegrass number that has never reached the pinnacles. With Jeff Austin ripping away mandolin solos, Fleck jamming away on his banjo, Victor Wooten grooving on the bass. When three generations met, each complimenting each others’ style through their own strengths.

The repeated lyrics, “She’s gonna miss me when I’m gone,” had everyone on their feet shouting for more as the bands slid into part two of their encore Fleck’s composition of “Tear Down the Grand Ole Opry.”

Nearly four hours in without a bit of momentum lost, the men soared through the song. With energy high, the band played the final song of the evening, “Polka on the Banjo.” Three generations of bluegrass styles met on stage for one a night of truly electrifying music.