Mountain of Youth: The 5th Annual Susquehanna Breakdown Recap

As the clock struck 9pm, it was surprising to see how many Cabinet fanatics had left for the evening as Greensky Bluegrass entered the stage for their headlining performance.  Considering how much additional dance floor room was provided, no one was complaining about the lighter crowd as the quartet launched into their take on John Hartford’s “Steam Powered Aeroplane.”  The frequently played original “Past My Prime” was up next and Greensky regulars rejoiced during the heartfelt tune.  Cabinet fans in attendance were thrilled to see Pappy and JP welcomed to the stage for a kick-ass nod to Col. Bruce during the traditional “Working on a Building” often played by The Aquarium Rescue Unit.  Tom Hamilton later appeared for “I’d Probably Kill You” and remained on stage for one of the highlights of the set, “Ain’t No Bread in the Breadbox.”  The “Breadbox” jam was phenomenal and it appeared the entire band had taken off to visit Jerry Garcia in outer-space, the man who popularized the song.  Speaking of Captain Trips, Hamilton initiated a short and sweet “Eyes of the World” tease into the piece before adding in some “Stella Blue” and “Let It Grow” for safe measure.  In a festival chock-full of highlights, the “Breadbox” jam is the melted cheese on the steak.  One more sit-in came in the form of Billy Strings before the band finished off a legendary set with Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.”  I finally understood why people define Greensky as a rock n’ roll band that plays bluegrass and my mind was officially blown.

As Greensky Bluegrass said, “ Tom Hamilton is like duct tape… he makes everything better.”  His American Babies All Star Breakdown set featured an outstanding cover of The Band’s “Atlantic City” featuring Anders Beck on dobro.  As the jam heavy side stage set came to a close they enlisted help from Dave Bruzza for the Grateful Dead classic “Deal.”  The expectation level of the festival continued to peak after Hamilton’s performance and it was finally time for the 9-piece funk powerhouse, Turkuaz, to close out the weekend on the Susquehanna stage.  After two years of Susquehanna Breakdowning, I estimate that the late-night Turkuaz party packed the most energy per square inch compared to any other act.  Between the choreographed singers, Rainbow Bright colors, ear-to-ear grins and cosmic space funk, I wouldn’t be surprised if those in attendance are still trying to figure out what the hell happened to their sanity during that set.  Turkuaz turned the festival into the Susquehanna Breakdance as new relationships were blossoming between strangers and high fives were being exchanged all around.  High energy is an understatement at a Turkuaz show and as fans hovered back to their campsites and cars, they wondered how David Byrne and George Clinton conceived nine magical funk angels.

From the starting gate to the finish line, the 5th annual Breakdown was a huge success.  The exceptionally kind staff members and police officers kept the crowds safe while the over-the-top bluegrass and funk acts kept the crowds dancing.  It is difficult to say which act was the best as the entire weekend overflowed with happiness and positive energy.  Festival season is officially upon us and we have Montage Mountain to thank for the opening ceremonies in the Northeast.  Whether you decide to return to the mountain for Peach Festival or not is up to you, but the memories of this year’s gathering should keep your soul filled up until you decide to breakdown again.

CABINET AFTERNOON ACOUSTIC SETLIST:
Intro, I Am The Highway^, Pennsylvania, Honey, You Don’t Know My Mind, Susquehanna Breakdown, Doors, Back to the Basics, Poor Man’s Blues
^ (JP Solo – Audioslave cover in tribute to Chris Cornell, First Time Played)

KITCHEN DWELLERS SETLIST:
Five Candles, Living Dread, Visions of Mohr, Big Mon, Colder Nights > In The Kitchen*,
Ghost in The Bottle
*Umphrey’s Mcgee cover

WOOD BROTHERS SETLIST: Atlas, Keep Me Around, Loaded, Shoofly Pie, The Muse, Tried and Tempted, Snake Eyes, Midnight Rider*, American Heartache, Love Her With A Feelin’**, Sing About It, Liza Jane, Luckiest Man, One More Day, Wastin’ My Mind, Postcards from Hell, Honey Jar, Ophelia&
*Allman Brothers Band Cover **Buddy Guy Cover &The Band Cover

AND THE MONEYNOTES SETLIST:
Hornaplenny, Poison Ivy*, Body in my Trunk, Crawdaddy, Mimosa, My Kid Smokin, Ms. Edison, Bolinda, A Pirate’s Confession Part 3, Go Go Liza Jane%, Blue as a Bee, Toffee
*The Coasters  %Levon and the Hawks

CABINET EVENING ELECTRIC SETLIST:
Caroline > Shined Like The Sun, Po’s Reel, Old Time Songs, Sunset in Vergennes$, Cool River> Dirt, Miss Molly*, Heavy Rain*, Bottom of the Sea*, Any Old Sign, Admitting
Encore: The Distance#
$ (Pappy and Dylan) * (Justin Mazer – Guitar) # (Cake cover, First Time Played)
Setlist Credit: Rich Stoler

GREENSKY BLUEGRASS SETLIST:
Steam Powered Aereoplane, Past My Prime, Living Over, Take Cover, Working on a Building (1), Better off , I’d Probably Kill You (2), Ain’t No Bread in the Breadbox (2) (3) (4) (5), Merely Avoiding, Hit Parade of Love, Run or Die (6), Fixin’ to Ruin (7), Burn Them (7), Forget Everything, Leap Year, War Pigs
(1) with JP Biondo & Pappy (2) with Tom Hamilton (3) “Eyes of the World” tease (4) “Stella Blue” tease (5) ”Let It Grow” tease (6) pre-song “La Bamba” jam (7) with Billy Strings
Setlist Credit: Laura Hood-Hadsell

TOM HAMILTON’S BREAKDOWN ALLSTARS SETLIST:
Set 1: This Thing Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere, Synth Driver, Invite Your Friends, What Does It Mean To Be, Atlantic City1, Deal1,2
1With Anders Beck (Greensky Bluegrass) on Dobro 2-With Dave Bruzza (Greensky Bluegrass) on Drums

TURKUAZ LATE NIGHT SETLIST:
Murder Face, The Mountain, Make You Famous, Tiptoe Through the Crypto> Twenty Dollar Bill, If I Ever Fall Asleep, Nightswimming, The Generator, Digital Love, Percy Thrills The Moon Dog, Haven’t Done Nothing, Rule The World, Future 86, Electric Habitat, Gogo Mr. Dodo, Holy Ghost, Take it Slow, Coast To Coast, Monkey Fingers

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