Fast Lane Beating the Rain

With music, sometimes you just have to take a chance.  There it was, the first day of summer, and rain poured down. 

But one of my favorite bands, Fast Lane, was scheduled to play the Bo Diddley Plaza downtown as part of the Free Fridays Concert series downtown.  Every Friday night, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., we get treated by Alachua County to a free concert outdoors under the stars (http://gvlculturalaffairs.org/website/programs_events/plaza_series/plaza.htm.  My husband, Ken’s band, Uncle Morty’s Rhythm Cream, is scheduled to play July 19.

But we were both excited to go see Fast Lane, and we’ve been looking forward to it for weeks.  Fast Lane was scheduled to play as part of African American Music Appreciation Month.  So, even though it was raining hard, we decided to take a chance, grab some dinner and head downtown.  

The band was already on stage, playing their hearts out to an almost empty crowd as the downpour continued. But lo and behold, after a few minutes of tenuous weather, a break in the rain occurred and the crowd began to gather.  The gods of music smile on Fast Lane.

All they had to do was start the first few notes of a song and the crowd went wild – they couldn’t believe what they’re hearing.  You’re a shining star, no matter who you are.

One reason the band is so popular is because they are so great at capturing the hearts of the crowd.  The range of the lead singers, Lacy Lou Gifford and Michelle Banfield, is impressive.  Michelle has a solid range and an amazing voice, perfect for the soulful songs.  Lacy’s voice is higher but strong and engaging.  Guitarist Bo Digitally is a master showman.  He gets the crowd going and keeps the band at a fever pitch. 

These three began the night in brightly colored costumes and then changed halfway through.  How many bands do you know have a lead guitarist in bright green pants and a yellow shirt with flowers, playing a red guitar?  How about lead singer Lacy in her little skirt and green camisole, or Michelle, who went from patriotic colors to a brown and gold silk tunic and brown boots?  They literally dance the night away.

A little thing like a costume change just thrilled the audience, especially the college kids who had wandered in from the various restaurants in the downtown area.  These kids were really funny.  They originally started across the plaza to their cars, and I’m sure they had no intention of stopping to listen to some local band they’d never heard of.  Then Fast Lane started playing again, and the groups stopped, stared, open-mouthed, and never left till the end of the concert.

This band gets the crowd going every time, even in the midst of a stream, which the Plaza basically was.  Little children played in the wet grass and came up soaked. An elderly gentleman began break dancing – yes, really – and for a moment, the crowd stared.  Were we going to have a crisis?  He moved so slowly on the one-handed turn we were afraid – would he get up or should we call for backup? 

On the other side of us, a high school couple danced.  The girl moondanced in front of her friend, who shyly , subtly gyrated.  Then suddenly, inspired by the music, he reached over, grabbed the girl up off the ground and hoisted her up to his waist.  He swung her around, and she screamed, startled but thrilled.

I look over and two ladies in their sixties are dancing next to each other.  They could be sisters.  They have the same dark skin, short hair and big, bright smiles. At the front of the stage, a woman in a white hat points to the piano player, Vernon, who points back, laughing.  I don’t know what type of instrument he has – a portable piano he can wear around his neck?  Never seen anything like it.  Of course he goes back and forth from his  real piano to his mobile device, so there’s never a break in the action.

An older couple comes forward and dances – the woman, who has long hair tied down her back, dances enthusiastically, like she’s doing the old dance, The Pony (and she’s old enough to remember it.)  The guy, long hair tied down his back, dances back and forth like those of us who couldn’t dance did in the early seventies.   She’s definitely getting the better workout. Dancing and singing and moving to the music – play that funky music white boy. Pony girl is wild with joy.

In the center of the plaza, a bunch of older women help a couple of young girls do the dance, the Electric Glide (or maybe they knew it as the Hully Gully, which is what it was called when I was in high school).  As the women dance, more and more people join in and soon the kids are rocking and turning like pros.

Photographers have appeared out of nowhere, complete with tripods and expensive cameras. The lead guitarist goes to the front of the stage, stands on the edge, and plays till the crowd is literally jumping for joy.  The sisters have moved closer to the stage.  The breakdancing old man is holding both hands up in the air, signaling number 1 with both thumbs.

The drummer, Josh Hoffenberg, was fantastic, and for a band that plays as much open-ended music as Fast Lane, this was a challenge.  But Dave Baggaley, also on guitar, is no slouch!  Bassist Keith Ladd was excellent.  Pianist Vernon Montoya was amazing, pulling all those master showmen together.

The band had a few new sounds that evening – Perry Hornkohl played saxophone and an incredible flute, while Uncle Morty’s trumpet player, Doug Myers, played his usual amazing horn music.  Doug told us later that the band was tough to keep up with since they changed their set list frequently.  But I think that’s one of the amazing things about Fast lane – they are so versatile.  They give the audience what they want.

And what we wanted was just what we got – a night of hot music under the stars after the rain had washed the world clean and cooled everything off.  Sometimes, you just gotta take chances.

 

Comments

[Suzanna]

The City of Gainesville Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs are the presenters of the Free Fridays concert series, not Alachua County. You have the right link to the City page, however. Since you weren't there at the start of the show, you probably missed David Ballard's intro where he explains who presents it..."brought to you by..."