I don’t think I started to fully appreciate the incredible amount of connections and details there was in night one’s show until the next morning. I was with my dad, who is just as big a Lord of the Rings nerd as I am, and we spent most of the day sampling Asheville’s breweries and guessing songs for the next two nights. Once again, it was more awesome than we could have imagined.
Night two, The Two Towers:
Lets get right into it!
Watch it Fall (Billy Strings)
Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers opens with an epic scene of Gandalf falling through the Misty Mountains underbelly while fighting, and eventually vanquishing, the Balrog. The viewer literally gets to “Watch it Fall.” However, I believe the symbolism with this song goes further. It is a sad song lamenting the current state of politics and a world filled with war, rising oceans, and social division. “How long until there’s nothin’ left at all?” goes the pre-chorus. At the beginning of the second film/book, the outlook for our heroes is quite bleak, and the stakes extremely high. If they fail, Sauron will easily conquer Middle Earth, and nothing will be spared. What already seemed like a hopeless suicide mission (“One does not simply walk into Mordor…”) seems even more forlorn after the breaking of the Fellowship. “Watch it Fall” sets this tone perfectly, and its beauty gives us a glimmer of hope that maybe the hobbits can succeed.
Long Forgotten Dream (Billy Strings)
Though we don’t find out in the film until much later, “Long Forgotten Dream” references Gandalf’s passing through time and space in what seems like an endless dream after defeating the Balrog before being reborn as Gandalf the White. Furthermore, the song only reinforces the bleak tone set by “Watch it Fall,” with lyrics like “Would you heed the words within the winds that whisper ‘It’s too late’?” and “Can you see the empty chambers of your head begin to spin \ Leaving nothing but a cavity for all the living skin?” As the story picks up again, we learn that Frodo and Sam are lost in the desolate hills of Emyn Muil and Merry is hurt badly under the orc’s captivity. In a word, things look rough.
Running > Running the Route (Billy Strings)
When the story jumps to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, they are in hot pursuit of the Uruks that captured Merry and Pippin. The scene is pretty awesome, with sweeping helicopter landscape shots of the three hunters running through beautiful New Zealand to Howard Shore’s moving score. Most of the dialog involves funny exchanges between Gimli and the others: “I’m wasted on cross-country. We dwarves are natural sprinters! Very dangerous over short distances!” Naturally, Billy chose his two running songs, which are sometimes played together like this, for this scene.
This Old World (Billy Strings)
The next scene in the film shows the burning of Rohan’s Westfold, as Saruman’s Uruks pillage their way across the countryside unopposed. King Theoden is under the spell of Saruman, and won’t rally his riders to save his people. This song, another sad one, could be interpreted as from the perspective of one of the many unfortunate people displaced or killed by Saruman’s campaign:
Well there’s nothing worse than feeling
Like you’re first in line for losing
I thought my life was cruising then it crumbled all away
I had a lot to give but what I gave should be forgotten
Unnoticed like a stranger I’ll surrender for the dayWell this night was an illusion
It came down like an intrusion
I stay up through the night though
I can’t stand it sinking low
I’m a witness to the fight between
The darkness and the light
You’re a mean old world I’m leaving though
I have no place to go
You’re a mean old world I’m leaving though
I have no place to go
I was dancing my ass off at the show, but its actually pretty depressing when you think about the story its telling. The burning of the Westfold in the film is an emotional scene; lots of civilians are murdered, houses are burned, and families are split up by the violence. All very real consequences of war that Tolkien was too familiar with, having fought in the First World War.
Home From the Forest (Gordon Lightfoot/Tony Rice)
Here, the show shifts a bit. Having laid out the gritty beginning of The Two Towers with a string of originals, Billy and co. decided to rip some cool, nature-y covers. Tolkien was, for his time, quite the environmentalist. Having seen what the horrors of war had done to the European countryside and the growing industrialization and pollution in Great Britain, Tolkien opposed industrial development and the encroachment of technology. Some have argued that the ring, in a way, represents technology or industrialization. I think a lot of Tolkien’s values show up in the hobbits: small acts of kindness, a proclivity for good food, drink, and smoke, and above all, their love of the quiet countryside. If you are interested in this kind of stuff, I highly recommend reading Tolkien’s letters. He explains his thought processes behind many characters and parts of the world, while at the same time offering his thoughts on many other subjects, contemporary and historical.
Gordon Lightfoot, the writer of “Home From the Forest,” was also a staunch environmentalist who often wrote about nature. In the story, Merry and Pippin have escaped the orcs and fled into the ancient and mysterious Fangorn Forest, a.k.a. Mavora Lakes Park in New Zealand, which also contains the lake where the end of the Fellowship was shot. This song also introduced a new character (and sit-in): Jon Stickley as Bilbo.
Black Mountain Rag (Doc Watson)
Jon Stickley is a very skilled flat-picker whose back and forth with Billy on this Doc tune was fantastic. Probably my favorite Black Mountain Rag to date. Again, the nature theme continues, though this one is an instrumental. Obviously, Bilbo is not even in The Two Towers but it was a fun way to bring in the extremely talented Stickley.
In My Tree (Pearl Jam)
Billy loves Pearl Jam. And I love that Billy loves Pearl Jam, because we get crazy covers like this one. A psychedelic bluegrass cover of a deep-cut Pearl Jam song with a flute jam? And its a reference to Treebeard, the tree shepherd, one of Tolkien’s most interesting characters? So fucking cool. The lights were green, the jam was wild, and Ahn Phung brought the heat with her flute.
Down in the Swamp (Béla Fleck)
To finish out the nature songs is Béla Fleck’s instrumental tune, “Down in the Swamp,” a reference to Frodo and Sam’s journey through the Dead Marshes. Having captured and convinced Gollum to become their guide, they made it out of Emyn Muil and into the Dead Marshes, where the bodies (and evil spirits) of elves, men, and orcs that fell in battle 3000 years ago during the Last Alliance of Elves and Men lie under the murky water.
This song saw the addition of a third bowed instrument: Tatiana the hobbit on the fiddle. Tatiana Hargreaves is Alex’s sister and an accomplished fiddle player and academic. Tatiana, Legolas, and Gollum started off the song solo, creating a really nice harmony that the rest of the band eventually fell into.
Show Me Mordor (Billy Strings)
While Frodo and Sam are traveling through the swamps, Mordor looms as a firey black cloud in the distance. “Show Me Mordor,” a.k.a. “Show Me the Door,” is a Billy Strings song that Jarrod Walker (mandolin) wrote and like “Away From the Shire,” some lyrics have been LOTR-ified. Furthermore, Gollum is guiding them to the Black Gate — quite literally showing them the door.
You Must Come in at the Door (Traditional/Doc Watson)
An old gospel song that Doc adapted, “You Must Come in at the Door” is a reference to the Black Gate, and Frodo and Sam’s insistence, against Gollum’s advice, that they will enter Mordor there. However, after a failed attempt, they heed Gollum’s direction and head towards Cirith Ungol.
Tennessee Stud (Doc Watson)
Gandalf’s steed is named Shadowfax, however, he is no mere horse, but the lord of the mearas, a special race of horses blessed with intelligence, speed, and strength. Awesome character, awesome song, awesome way to close the second set. I think this song could also be a reference to the introduction of Rohan and the horse lords, as the scene with Shadowfax actually takes place a little later in the film, but I like calling Shadowfax the Tenessee Stud.
Rabbit in a Log (Traditional/Bill Monroe)
“There’s only one way to eat a brace of coneys!” This old bluegrass tune is a reference to the scene from the books — an entire chapter, actually, titled “Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit” — and film, where Gollum catches some rabbits and brings them to Frodo and Sam to eat. Gollum is horrified to see that Sam is going to cook them. Its a funny scene that endears the viewer a little bit to Gollum, and makes you think that he really isn’t all bad. The hobbits still don’t fully trust him; after the song Billy said “You know he’s been leading us to Mordor, and appreciate it, but I’m still not convinced that you’re not, uh, trying to kill us.” This song also featured Sam (Jarrod) partially on vocals and Gollum (Rushad) with his cello as well, placing the focus on the main characters of the scene.
I Peed on a Bird (Rushad Eggleston)
Though the hobbits (especially Sam) still don’t entirely trust Gollum, they, as well as the reader of the book or watcher of the film is starting to maybe think Gollum could be redeemable, and this song does the same for the listener. Smeagol took center stage, explaining how when they were going up a mountain he pissed off a cliff and, evidently, it hit a bird. Its a weird, funny, banger of a song with a strong cello riff that sticks in your head for hours. Damn, not only can Gollum shred, but he writes a catchy tune too. But wait, where’s Gandalf? Royal hasn’t come back to the stage since the set break!
Nights in White Satin (The Moody Blues)
“I Peed on a Bird” faded into noise, pitch shifting and delay pedals galore, as the band built a psychedelic wave of sound that crashed in a flash of white light and Royal appeared on stage in full Gandalf the White regalia (complete with a new staff — a chrome double bass).
As everyone cheered, the band began the classic “Nights in White Satin,” a bust out cover that was the perfect way to celebrate Gandalf’s return from the dead. In The Two Towers, while tracking Merry and Pippin into Fangorn forest, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas run into Treebeard who takes them to the “White Wizard.” They fear they are being taken to the evil Saruman, but in fact it is their old friend Gandalf. As Billy said, “His task isn’t finished yet. We still got a long ways to go Gandalf.”
So Many Miles (Billy Failing)
Much has happened to the Fellowship, but many miles on their journey remain — this is only about the halfway point!
When you got no end in sight
Ain’t no ending yet to write
The way is long, gonna take it slow
So many miles still left to go
So many miles still left to go
This song, written by banjoist Billy Failing (Aragorn), is always a jam of epic proportions, and this time was no different. However, as Aragorn kicked it off, it sounded a bit different — they were playing the Rohan theme! As Legolas came in on the fiddle a shiver went down my spine as Howard Shore’s timeless music once again came to bluegrass fruition.
It was probably my favorite song of the weekend as both Billys peaked the jam in their own distinct manner, conjuring images of Éomer and the Riders of Rohan spearing wargs and Gandalf exorcising Saruman from King Théoden.
Fishing (Widespread Panic)
The next song takes us back to Frodo and Sam who, after turning away from the Black Gate, have been captured by the Rangers of Ithilien and their Captain Faramir. The Gondorian soldiers believe the hobbits to be spies of the enemy, and they find Gollum trying to catch fish to eat in the Forbidden Pool, a small pond and waterfall near their hideout. A fitting song, then, and a fantastic Widespread Panic cover that had only been played once or twice before.
There is a Time (The Dillards)
“There is a Time” is a classic bluegrass song that really captures how the hobbits must feel.
There is a time when leaves are fallin’
The woods are gray the paths are old
The snow will come when geese are callin’
You need a fire against the coldThere is a time for us to wander
When time is young and so are we
The woods are greener over yonder
The path is new the world is free
Its about how life, and the world, goes in cycles: there are bad times, there are good times, there are times to wander. For our little heroes, now is not a good time. But many miles away, back home, the woods are still green and beautiful, and there is hope that they may make it back some day.
All Fall Down (John Hartford)
The next two songs chronicle Rohan’s seeming downfall to the hosts of Isengard, as they retreat from Edoras to the castle at Helm’s Deep. The orcs are hot in pursuit, as Billy sings: “The Uruk-hai are coming and we all fall down,” once again LOTR-ifying the lyrics. An incredible psychedelic jam builds the tension that is present in the movie, as the people of Rohan flee for their lives, battling wargs and orcs on their way. Many do “Fall Down” in battle, and many others have already fallen down as the orcs burned their way across the Westfold of Rohan.
Bonaparte’s Retreat (Traditional)
Bonaparte’s Retreat is a very old instrumental fiddle tune with a haunting melody that brings to mind the music of Rohan, given that the fiddle is the primary instrument of most of Howard Shore’s compositions for Rohan. And with the name “Bonaparte’s Retreat,” it is very fitting for the people of Rohan’s desperate flight to Helm’s Deep.
Just like with “Down in the Swamp,” Tatiana, Gollum, and Legolas began the song solo, creating a wonderful harmony of bowed instruments that the rest of the band eventually joined. It was a brief but beautiful break from the intensity of the bigger jams, just like in the movie where the scenes on the journey out of Edoras offer some comic relief (think dwarf women and Éowyn’s soup); the calm before the storm.
Wargasm (Billy Strings)
It was time for the big climax. Helm’s Deep, possibly the most famous (and the longest) film battle scene of all time. Rohan’s final stand against Saruman and his army of Uruk-hai. “Wargasm” was the obvious choice for Helm’s Deep, as not only is it always a truly epic jam, but it is a protest song that chronicles the horrors of war.
Step into the grinder with your brother tomorrow
And kiss your mother goodbye
She’ll wipe her tears with your ribbons
And then they’ll replace you in the blink of an eye
So bite the bullet and boots on the ground
These ain’t sticks and stones
Flicking matches at a powder keg
While you’re standing on a pile of bones
Though Rohan is ultimately victorious at Helm’s Deep, the price is high. Nearly all of the men and boys that were initially defending the castle are slaughtered. As Théoden says, “What can men do against such reckless hate?” Red balloons representing the fires of Isengard and the blood of the men defending Rohan were dropped during the jam’s peak, signaling once more to the crowd how important this moment is in the story.
Big River (Johnny Cash)
While Saruman’s army was away fighting at Helm’s Deep, the Ents, led by Treebeard, Merry, and Pippin sacked Isengard. They destroyed Saruman’s industrial processes, killed the remaining orcs, and destroyed the the dam holding back the River Isen (quite a “Big River”), flooding the entire compound. Saruman, having lost his army and his land, was utterly defeated. Time to celebrate with some Johnny Cash!
In the Morning Light (Billy Strings/Paul Hoffman)
This one’s a little out of order: “we skipped over one, that we, uh, also had a request for so I’m gonna get back to it, right now…someone messaged me ‘can you please play this song, its my favorite song’. You know what? Fuck yeah I can.” “In the Morning Light” is one of Billy’s more beautiful songs and was co-written by his friend and mentor Paul Hoffman of Greensky Bluegrass, one of my other all time favorite bands.
Even though its not in the correct spot, I think it is pretty easy to infer that this is only one song late and is a reference to Gandalf’s appearance with Éomer and his riders at Helm’s Deep, saving the day. “Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day; at dawn, look to the east.”
Taking Water (Billy Strings)
Ok, back to the destruction of Isengard. The Big River has been unleashed, and Isengard’s walls turn it into a lake that buries all of Saruman’s evil. What better to play than a fan favorite song that was a fantastic end to the second set.
Freeborn Man (Keith Allison/Mark Lindsay/Jimmy Martin/Tony Rice)
Billy brought all the guests, including Bilbo (Jon Stickley), back onstage for the encore. As soon as the first distinctive G notes on the guitar rang out, and Billy played that riff, everyone knew it was “Freeborn Man,” an older, covered and beloved by all, bluegrass tune that Billy always added an extended solo intro to. This time was no different, as Frodo and Bilbo traded epic virtuosic licks until the whole band launched into the song.
The “Freeborn Man,” or maybe “Freeborn Hobbits,” in question here are Frodo, Sam, and Gollum who have been freed by Faramir and are able to return to their quest. Faramir had taken them as captives to the Gondorian city of Osgiliath, intending to turn the ring into his father, but had a change of heart and made the right choice of releasing them. Like the subject of the song, the hobbits are forced to ramble on. “Ramble On”…now thats a great LOTR themed song that hasn’t been played yet. Perhaps on Halloween? The grand finale? The Return of the King? We will find out in night 3!
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