So this weekend when I was hungover as fuck I was flipping through the music section of Comcast On-Demand passing on the typical pop shite when I came across something that struck me as highly improbable, a clip of Buckethead playing at some place called “The Cactus Club.” Buckethead is, of course, the former guitarist for post-Slash Guns N’ Roses, as well as a storied solo artist and co-conspirator of everyone from Bill Laswell to Les Claypool. He is probably best known for the fact that he wears a chicken bucket and a Kabuki looking mask at ALL TIMES (in fact, he lost a potential gig playing for Ozzy Osbourne because he wouldn’t take his bucket off). I of course, hit play and expected to see Buckethead doing his thing at some random 500-seat club in somewhere or another USA, but the clip turned out to be of a young Buckethead playing in someone’s backyard, from the recetly released and aptly-named Young Buckethead DVD. If you play guitar you will probably want to quit after watching if, and if you don’t play guitar you’ll probably never want to start. But if you still think you have what it takes after watching the clip, your next stop should be the legendary “Lesson” with an older but equally as weird Buckethead here.

Nestled in the cozy mountain valley of Quincy, CA, the High Sierra Music Festival has served as the pinnacle of Northern California summer music events. The typically “earthy” vibe that made the festival such a hit with jam band aficionados and world music enthusiasts has branched out as of the last few years to include fringe jam groups like My Morning Jacket, Drive-By Truckers and The Mother Hips, all the while mixed in with a healthy brood of other intriguing misfits of rock.

This year’s lineup goes a step further in the indie rock credential lunge by including Built To Spill on the lineup, a booking that should boost attendance to a newer, less B.O.-tinged realm.

I’m looking forward to seeing how many diehard High Sierra junkies actually give the band a listen, seeing as how both My Morning Jacket, Son Volt and Drive-By Truckers were all largely ignored while groups like Leftover Salmon held captive a legion of devotees. And I can’t WAIT to see how Buckethead goes over…

At least this guy will be there…

Lineup thus far:

BOB WEIR & RATDOG, GOV’T MULE, MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD, BUILT TO SPILL,
MIKE GORDON, RAILROAD EARTH, CHARLIE HUNTER TRIO, IVAN NEVILLE’s DUMPSTAPHUNK,
ROBBEN FORD, ABIGAIL WASHBURN & THE SPARROW QUARTET FEAT. BELA FLECK, JAMES HUNTER,
NEW MONSOON, THE SLIP, SURPRISE ME MR. DAVIS, BASSNECTAR,
THE MOTHER HIPS, EMMITT-NERSHI BAND, CRITTERS BUGGIN,
THE LEE BOYS, TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE, SPAM ALLSTARS,
GROOVESECT WITH FRED WESLEY, MARCHFOURTH MARCHING BAND,
BUCKETHEAD,AKRON/FAMILY, SCOTT AMENDOLA BAND,
BLVD AND MC SOULEYE, ROTARY DOWNS,
THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND, AND MANY MORE!

4 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS, 5 STAGES, LATE NIGHT SHOWS
KIDZONE, YOGA, PILATES, GREAT FOOD,
MICROBREWS, CRAFT FAIR, DAILY PARADES,
INTIMATE PLAYSHOPS, FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
PLUMAS-SIERRA FAIRGROUNDS, QUINCY, CA
TICKETS NOW ON SALE, HIGHSIERRAMUSIC.COM

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