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| photo by Will Piper |
The Milwaukee Bucks basketball club has a slogan right now that states, "Own the Future." It is a unique play to get fans excited about the new direction that the franchise is going in... new owners, young players, and a general sense of exuberance and energy around pro basketball in Milwaukee.
In parallel terms, Milwaukee singer-songwriter extraordinaire, Christopher Porterfield, might have been channeling the same sentiment of the Bucks' slogan when he appeared on stage at the Miller O. wearing a "new logo" Bucks hat for Field Report's Summerfest set which spanned from twilight into dark on a seasonably chilly Sunday evening in late June.
The autumnal themes of Field Report's latest release, Marigolden,(which was one of my top two records of last year) fit the weather and the mood of the sizable crowd who gathered to watch. Field Report is not a typical Summerfest act by any means. It is a singer-songwriter act, filled with nuance laden music... not a "get up on the bleachers and dance act." For a festival crowd, the fans supporting Field Report were about as respectful as one could expect from the venue. Granted it wasn't "pin drop silent," like the band's homecoming performance at the Pabst Theater last fall, but that is to be expected while performing at a festival show, especially at "The Big Gig." However, given the venue, it was about as polite of a crowd as one could muster for Summerfest and the Miller O. To quote an older gentleman in his mid sixties who was standing next to me, and told tales of being at every Summerfest from the first one on, "These guys are darn good!" Simply put, frankly, I couldn't agree more, sir.
The set began with the building tempos of the title track off of Marigolden, and went into a series of standout tracks from last year's gem, including "Michelle," "Decision Day," and the 88.9 Radio Milwaukee favorite, "Cups and Cups." "Wings," followed next which showcased the musical range the band can explore through the layered jams in the middle of the track. Porterfield delivered a particularly soulful version of "I'm Not Waiting Anymore," a track that recently was covered, to critical acclaim, by the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Consistent touring since the fall, including solo dates for Porterfield with Bahamas, and a European tour for Field Report with Tweedy (fronted by Wilco songwriter, Jeff Tweedy) seems to have resulted in a sense of looseness in the band, where the group can easily adapt to providing slightly different takes on their tunes while keeping their signature musical tightness.
Following the emotionally heavy tune, "Pale Rider," Field Report invited local sister duo Vic and Gab onstage to provide back-up vocals for a particularly well-arranged version of "Fergus Falls," off of Field Report's first record. Vic and Gab stayed on stage to provide harmonies which enhanced the performances of "Home (Leave the Lights On)" and "Summons," my personal favorite Porterfield composition. "Taking Alcatraz" and "Enchantment" filled out the set as dusk turned to night at Summerfest, and Field Report exited the stage to a loud ovation from the crowd.
Like with the Milwaukee Bucks, and even more so with my beloved Milwaukee Brewers, I'm a natural fan of the home team. I'm proud to say that I think Milwaukee will be "owning the future," watching Christopher Porterfield and this magnificent group continue to progress and hone their talents as musicians as they progress.
Setlist:
Marigolden
Michelle
Decision Day
Cups & Cups
Wings
I'm Not Waiting Anymore
Pale Rider
Fergus Falls
Home (Leave the Lights On)
Summons
Taking Alcatraz
Enchantment
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