The F-Word with Frank DeBlase
Photo of Danielle Ponder by Jackie McGriff
To know Driftwood is to love Driftwood. This knock-about rusty, roustabout, Americana band with a big fan base out of Schenectady, had the Water Street crowd enthralled. It wasn't exactly country per se, but rather an Americana, ker-plunk into country polish waters.
I took a shot one more time on the 11th to catch Dopapod and their funky groove at the Lilac Festival, which was a niche, carved out of the Police and Primus. The music was ROCKING but the crowd was more “Night of the Living cell phones” which rendered the audience hostile, distracted and mean.
I could hear the soul crying in the moonlight, busting apart the clouds. It was a huge crowd that squealed in delight and cheers. The beautiful Danielle Ponder had the fans at the festival site lathered up. Alas, I couldn't get too much closer to the haps due in large part to something like 1,000,000 fans gathered there, bathed in the heaps of moonlight, magic pouring out of Ponder and her awesome band. It was beyond spiritual, and Danielle has a voice that’ll bring your tears to tears, your goosebumps to goosebumps... And brother, it did.
So, I vacated the premises and headed downtown to Abilene to catch an extra helping of the Occasional Saints. Each time I see this band, it grows better and better and into its own skin all the while, it's busy getting under my skin. It’ll get under yours. It reminds me of Randy Newman.
How we doin’ so far, friends?
F-Out
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Frank DeBlase is a prominent Rochester, NY figure, known for his contributions as a music writer and crime novelist. His deep connection to the local arts and music scene has made him a notable personality in Rochester's cultural landscape. Frank is a top contributor to the Get Your Gig On blog, running his own segment of it that you're reading now, called The F-Word.
Danielle Ponder performs in Rochester, NY at the Lilac Festival, May 2024
Photo by Jackie McGriff, jackiephotographs.com.
Dopapod Performs in Rochester, NY at the Lilac Festival, May 2024