JamBase on the Christmas Jam: Transformative

Here’s the link. Here are a few tidbits:

The concrete and steel of the Asheville Civic Center may reek of a concert venue past its prime, out of date and sorely in need of repair, but for the duration of the 20th Annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam the unwelcoming and dank building took the form of a sawdust-on-the-floor blues shack, a church pew, a campfire and a multitude of other forms of transformative musical power.

Along the way through the two eight-plus-hour concerts, the music featured inside took twists and turns that left the resulting setlists reading like holiday wish lists: The Allman Brothers Band playing Led Zeppelin songs with John Paul Jones on bass guitar? Check. The Del McCoury Band and The Lee Boys finding the intersection of black gospel and lilywhite bluegrass? Check. Metal band Coheed and Cambria playing a laid-back, beautiful version of “I Shall Be Released?” Check. Mere hyperbole doesn’t do the two nights justice.

And this:

John Paul Jones and his mandolin may have been the biggest star of the evening. His guest spot with McCoury was a surprise, but his performance of “Soulshine” and Zeppelin’s “Going to California” with Haynes on acoustic guitar and vocals left audiences panting and chomping at the bit.

Derek Trucks also made an appearance and showed why he may be the most tasteful, impressive guitarist around, playing effortless slide guitar throughout his own material and a rousing version of Derek and the Dominoes’ “Anyday” featuring his wife Susan Tedeschi on lead vocals.

And this:

Steve Earle‘s set was vintage Earle: uncompromising, beautiful and spot-on. Through a barrage of his own songs (“Copperhead Road”) and cover songs (Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody”), Earle showed why his voice may be the most original of them all.

Johnny Winter‘s appearance may have been the emotional high point of both nights. From the solemn and reverential introduction by Haynes to the standing ovation the audience gave at the conclusion, Winter’s performance was near superhuman.