March 15, 2022

Jason Earle

Gasparilla Music Festival 2022 | Photos by Jenn Ross Photography

March 15, 2022

Jason Earle

March 1, 2022

Jason Earle

Show Review

Jason's Journal | Gasparilla Music Festival Day 3

March 1, 2022

Jason Earle

Show Review

Jason Earle and Jenn Ross are covering Gasparilla Music Festival 2022. This is the fourth installment of Jason’s Journal which chronicles the experiences in and around the festival. To read about the lead-up to the festival, click here. For the Day 1 journal click here. Day two can be found here.

All photos by Jenn Ross Photography

Van Plating texts with an invitation to brunch right about the time my body reaches the end of its sleeping-in allowance. I am a tick tired but the trundle bed in our FearBnB treated me okay. Nine hours of sleep in a strange bed after a busy day on my feet is sufficient so long as I drink enough water and eat well.

I make sure to take advantage of any opportunity to hang with Van. She is a bright light and a good friend. I come away with each interaction a better person. She must be feeling on top of the world after yesterday’s performance.

Finding brunch in Tampa is more complicated than I remember it being years ago. Not sure if that is a function of things in town changing or me not paying as much attention to brunch spots.

Van is on the case and of course she finds a hip place in Ybor City. I hung out in Ybor for many years before Jason Isbell wrote “Traveling Alone” or Craig Finn referenced the legendary neighborhood twice on one Hold Steady album. Still, the lyrics get stuck in my head every time I visit and they shape my memories of those times.

Sitting at this table with Van, Emily Smith, Jenn Ross, and Noan Partly, I feel enormous gratitude. I get to break bread and exchange ideas with impressive folks before we head to Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF.)

Sunday is my favorite of Gasparilla Music Festival’s now three days. A hallmark of GMF is the lack of scheduling conflicts. Sunday is even easier than Friday and Saturday.

Amy Ray is the first must-see for us today. I have been a casual Indigo Girls fan over the years but have yet to dive in the way diehard fans swear one should. Leading up to GMF I started spending more time with their work and Amy’s solo records. There is so much to love about this set. Amy Ray is grateful for the crowd. A mix of folks who look like Amy Ray clones and middle aged men are up front hanging on every word.

Her band is on fire! It is just after 2:00 in the afternoon but the Amy Ray Band is bringing headliner energy. I had sort of figured this would be a good warm up set for me. Maybe have a few minutes to finish and publish my day two recap. Not gonna happen. She launches into “Laramie,” a tune that takes the energy up and in a different direction. I am excited to get to the merch table and buy some physical copies.

There were few physical copies at the merch tables all weekend this year. I’m not sure why that’s the case. Lots of shirts, a few hats, almost no CDs or records. The only disappointment of the weekend.

Kenzie Wheeler is mid-set in Kiley Gardens. Radio country sound. Not really my thing but a good example of GMF’s commitment to a diverse lineup. I think my time will be best spent hydrating and getting ready for the legend Mavis Staples! The first time I saw America’s queen was at a legendary Magnolia Fest (Mavis, Willie, Prine, Kristofferson, Stephen Marley, DBT) at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in 2013.

All of the obvious things you would expect from this moment are true. Mavis is full of light and love. She is revered by peers, fans, and folks who have never heard her name alike. The hive makes its way to the main stage well ahead of her set.

What I should have expected but did not consider until this moment halfway through her set is how Mavis keeps folks smiling while addressing the gravity of the moment. She is making statements about war, social justice, and women’s rights- all while keeping heads popping and smiles stretching.

Mavis is an American pop culture hero. A person whose accomplishments are and continue to be unassailable. Thankfully, she tells us she “Ain’t done yet.”

I don’t envy anyone who has to follow an icon. Neal Francis seems up to the task in Kiley Gardens. Aaron Lee Tasjan tweeted about him yesterday so I knew I needed to prioritize his set. The songs are layered, haunting bits of world-building. World-building through texture is my first impression.

These moments are the essence of Gasparilla Music Festival and I love them. Neal Francis does not make music that would normally seek out but his work is well within my passion wheelhouse. Without GMF I would have seen that tweet from Aaron, wrote it down to revisit, and then not thought about Neal Francis again until someone else mentioned him down the line.

Instead he is in my deep dive queue right after I spend a couple of weeks with Amy Ray.

This being Sunday, and me missing my partner and our pups, I am ready to get home. Allman Betts Band is up next. I don’t know that Jenn or I have much left but I also want to get at least a little taste of the band.

My uncle turned me onto The Allman Brothers when I was about thirteen. It sounded cooler than anything I had ever heard. Felt like the country music I grew up on but untethered from the same structure.

Jenn is shooting the first three and then we are heading out. I wish I could stick it out longer. Pinegrove and Trombone Shorty are up next. I would love to see all three sets. It’s just not in the cards at the moment. One lesson I learned a few years ago is to celebrate what you get to see and do not sweat what you miss.

I got to see great music and great friends at one of my favorite festivals. Cheers to Gasparilla Music Festival. Thank you for having us.

Finally, thank you to my good friend and collaborator, Jenn Ross. I am grateful for you.

February 28, 2022

Jason Earle

Show Review

Jason's Journal | Gasparilla Music Festival Day 2

February 28, 2022

Jason Earle

Show Review

Jason Earle and Jenn Ross are covering Gasparilla Music Festival 2022. This is the second installment of Jason’s Journal which chronicles the experiences in and around the festival. To read about the lead-up to the festival, click here. For the Day 1 journal click here.

All photos by Jenn Ross Photography

I did not sleep well last night. In hindsight, yesterday’s journal went a little easy on this AirBnB host. Dude said his “Don’t Say AirBnB” rule was for our “safety.” It’s not as if I expected someone to burst through the door and take us away at any moment, but I do not like being in places I’m not welcome. Also, are we technically trespassing?

Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF) used to start a bit early in the day. The start time being pushed back a tick is nice. I am all about an 11:00 am set at a camping festival, but if I have to find parking or a ride to the venue give me more like 2:00. Which is what we are looking at today. Everything is lining up in favor of a great day. Plus, my buddy Van Plating is making her GMF debut this afternoon! Kick me out if you wanna, BnB police. Ain’t a thing to kill my vibe.

Van is playing the amphitheater, which is a special experience. It is hot and packed. She has her band with her and they are blowing through a scorching set. This is my third or fourth time seeing her and by far my favorite set. She looks like she is feeling pure bliss and the crowd is giving back the energy.

Jenn Ross is capturing stunning photos of Van and her band. It is about 15,000 degrees in the Florida sun but folks undeterred from rocking step-for-step with Van Plating.

Have Gun Will Travel begins at the end of Van’s set - the first of three Marinade guests who are playing GMF today. Have Gun is a bunch of pros. Well respected by fellow musicians and loved by fans. Lots of folks are mouthing along to every word. The heat is starting to impose its will. Gotta keep in mind that in an hour or two things will be perfect.

There is a blissful spot in the day on Saturday at GMF. The Spark, let’s call it. Folks have discovered a new favorite band early on and are gearing up for the headliners. We are in that pocket right now. Cha Wa has just played to a joyful crowd, many of whom look like they are not quite sure how this unique sound is supposed to move their bodies. Margo Price is about to take the GMF stage for the first time in seven years. Smiles and hugs abound.

Margo’s ascent from playing a noon slot to earning an early evening draw has been a long time coming. In recent years, when artists play Florida they understandably make a political statement or two. Margo has never been one to shy away from speaking her mind about important issues. Right now is no exception. And, because you know Margo is going to do it her way, the choice to take a stance about women’s rights by covering Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me” is a powerful one.

I would be fine if this was it for today, but GMF’s spark is burning into a flame and Band of Horses is up next. Band of Horses is the kind of artist I enjoy when they come on a station but I do not own copies of any of their music.

One song in and it seems that is going to change. These are great songs. They led with “Great Salt Lake,” which I would have considered their best known tune until hearing the rest of the set. “Is There a Ghost,” “Funeral,” the list goes on throughout the evening.

It has been a great night but I am done. Jenn still wants to get some shots of The Revivalists so I’ll wait in this pizza line and hydrate before we head back to our home for the night.

The walk back to our ScareBnB is another delight. We are pretty tired but it’s always helpful to debrief and enjoy a glass of gas station wine after a day like today. We are near exhausted but content on the sixth floor balcony. It’s not quite an hour shy of midnight. Several folks are still awake and moving about in the sister building across the street. Windows are open in many of the apartments.

There’s a pup out sniffing the air and making me nervous for his safety. A guy playing video games. And…someone watching anal porn on his huge projector screen. He’s cycling through some options. Is it okay that we are spectators in his quest? Should we look away? Can we look away?

Do I want this angle or that angle? That won’t do. Yes, there’s the winner. Two minutes after settling on the right plot my man flips to an NBA game. Keep living your best life, buddy. It’s late. I gotta get to sleep.

February 26, 2022

Jason Earle

Show Review

Jason's Journal | Gasparilla Music Festival Day 1 Recap

February 26, 2022

Jason Earle

Show Review

All photos by Jenn Ross Photography

Getting into this AirBnB feels like an episode of Mission Impossible. There are three codes. One is for the gate and the building, which will expire in thirty minutes. The instructions are almost cryptic and very long. At the bottom of the instructions resides the code to the apartment door, along with an admonishment to not speak with anyone in the building. Not exactly a relaxing start to a getaway weekend.

I am starving so all of this feels like even more of an imposition. I feel kind of dirty that I’m breaking the rules of this place by paying to stay here. It’s messed up that this guy lists his place as if it’s all good and then adds a layer of stress to the conditions.

Good news is, we are just under a mile from Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF) and in the grand scheme of things my life is pretty damn easy. It’s too hot to walk now, but on the way home Florida will be dishing out one of those 60 degree winter nights. It’s Friday, opening day of Gasparilla Music Festival 2022. If I open Twitter right now the world will feel on fire. On the way to GMF all feels right with the world.

Food is our first priority, then we have a full slate of interesting bands. Today’s offering includes some acts that are somewhat unfamiliar to me- big and not-so-big names alike. Such is the beauty of GMF.

Hearty Har, which features the sons of John Fogerty, is playing as I sit down with my perogies and french fries from The Independent. At this point in my life I often like to hang back at a festival. If I am shooting photos I will do my time up front in the pit, but today I have the great Jenn Ross with me so no need to tax my ears too much.

This being opening night, and Friday being a new thing for the festival, the crowd is robust but not overwhelming. Finding a comfy spot on the lawn may be a little tougher tomorrow but tonight there’s enough room to spread out and soak in the experience.

The sun is beginning its descent behind the main stage, with The University of Tampa framed by its halo. It is one of those views that never get old. Hearty Har feels part garage rock, part psychedelic. Fun, high energy music. They are the tone setters for the day.

As The Aces take the stage it begins to become clear how many die hard fans of these bands are in attendance. GMF has grown from a hyper-local festival to a destination. Local culture remains the centerpiece but when a band like Grouplove or Black Pumas is in town, folks come from all over the place.

I can see the end of this four cheese pesto pizza from Shadrach’s Fiery Furnace and my eyelids are starting to get heavy. Black Pumas is up next. My first experience seeing them live, and their first in Florida, is not disappointing. I’m trying to hold on but these days I don’t have quite the stamina I did during my first GMF ten years ago.

The walk back to our clandestine AirBnB is an easy stroll in perfect weather. Nights like these are one of the many reasons why I live in Florida despite the fuckery that endures in our legislature.

Jenn and I are both exhausted. A few more social media posts, a glass of wine, and sleep are on the docket. Tomorrow is a big day.

The Magazine