Morsel | 2021-06-25 | Rancho Del Rio, Bond, CO [SBD/AUD Matrix]

I’m pushing 105 and the pedal is to the floor. Been driving all night long, and I know I can drive some more if I can listen to Morsel at Beanstalk Music Festival!

In life, we don’t always learn that much from moments where everything works out perfectly. If anything, we often times wonder how they even did. The best stories are the ones that show us someone overcoming adversity and how that shapes them along their journey. No one may have learned this lesson better than Morsel this past weekend at Beanstalk: the band had a dialed in soundcheck only to be followed by a microburst storm that led to the soundbooth being all but destroyed, which pushed Morsel’s set to the following day and ultimately led to their dobro player being unable to play due to other work obligations. On top of that, their rescheduled set the following day got pushed even later due to more rain. Nevertheless, once it finally was time for Morsel to hit the stage, they rose to the occasion.

The band opened their show with a meandering jam that I unfortunately was unable to capture, as the constantly changing set times caught me off guard once Morsel finally took the stage. However, the recording clicks on serendipitously as the roaring opening chords of the band’s original tune, “Road Trip”, rumbled through the valley like a beacon of light signaling that the show must go on. I love the song’s structure; the pre-chorus works as a vivacious build to the chorus, which is a rattling instrumental chord break that shifts directions in a satisfying closure. The set followed with the uplifting positivity of “Spring Time” – a song that goes through a list of things that the singer loves, some of which felt apropos to the location (e.g. “the mountains”, “a cloudy day”, “my friends”) – not to mention the on-the-nose chorus “And when the rain begins to fall…” – clearly we were all on the same page about the rain.

But forget the rain; the band was ready to pick, following up the next duo of tunes with their originals, “Long Legged” and “Down The Line”, which featured plenty of mandolin runs over a steadfast electric strumming, really pushing the band’s jamgrass roots. Their original, “Orbit”, was a cheerful ditty that also happens to mention the rain in its infectiously catchy chorus. The following tunes were the only two covers of the set: a take on the folk traditional “Dark Hollow”, and a true-to-form nod to modern day bluegrass with a cover of the Infamous Stringdusters’ tune, “No More To Leave You Behind”, which featured another patient and focused jam section. Next, the band launched into the original “Barstool” – a morose tale of a man lost at the ocean of his mind, drowning his memories in a drink. The set then continued on with one more water themed tune, “High Water”, which featured the biggest jam of the set, one that encroached into realms of jamtronica – before finally closing things out with my personal favorite, “How We Met” – a song I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of singing.

Morsel wasn’t missing their Beanstalk set. Not for high water, not for lack of players, not for the rain, not for nothing. Their songs seemed to literally emanate themes of water, snubbing their nose at the weather, showing that art always imitates life, and determination to share art benefits us all. Like the end of “Barstool”, Morsel rose to the occasion and was the band they were meant to be; we’re all luckier for it.

Morsel | 2021-06-25 | Beanstalk Music Festival at Rancho Del Rio, CO

-= One Set =-

01. Road Trip

02. Spring Time

03. Long Legged

04. Down The Line

05. Orbit

06. Dark Hollow (Traditional)[1]

07. No more To Leave You Behind (Infamous Stringdusters cover)

08. Barstool

09. High Water

10. How We Met

Show Notes: This set kicked off the second day of the Beanstalk Music Festival. The set was originally slated for the day prior, however all sets (minus Magic Beans) were pushed a day due to inclement weather. As a result, the band’s dobro player Evan Hoatson was unable to stay for the set and is not present. [1] “Dark Hollow” had its lyrics changed to “Blow your whistle Beanstalk”.

Taper Notes: Mics setup FOB DFC raised around 7′ PAS. Board feed was split off of the PA sends but does not have the subs mixed in. As a result, the recording is matrixed with the audience feed to provide low-end as well as ambient sound. Thanks to sound engineer Richard Hartanft for the patch and mix!

Thank you to Morsel and Beanstalk Festival for being cool with taping/sharing shows. Go see live music and support your local artists and festivals! #spacetapes

ARCHIVE LINK: https://archive.org/details/Morsel2021-06-25.StudioProjects.C4.MKII.cards.AUD.SBD.Matrix