All your favorites from the Clash to George Jones and Merle Haggard

It’s approximately 10 minutes before the Kensington Hillbillys go on and all the seats (logs) are taken at the boardwalk stage. A few people are studying there schedule and some arseparating themselves with mosquito repellant.

Many here are familiar with the band. Why else would you stop on the boardwalk halfway between two larger and definitely noisier stages? Last year the band did an all Clash cover set., and this has brought many here to the stage. That may also be seeking out some country grooves which are a rarity aside from this band at Fuji Rock.

There is a soft carpet of pine needles underneath our feet and the soft light of the sun is being defeated by the trees in the forest: an ideal setting for one of my most anticipated shows of the festival. And depending upon how the set goes, I will be able to calibrate the rest of my schedule, knowing exactly  when to drop in for a song from Johnny Cash or the Clash

As soon as the Field of Heave quiets, the band starts with the song by the Clash classic Train in Vain, ” and you can really here the lap steel guitar here . “Lucky” Pete Lambert calls out the second song with a 1-2-3..before going  into an original number called “Cowboys.”

The next number was dedicated to fans around the world, and especially those that have traveled from afar as the band launched into “Silver Wings” by Merle Hagard. TheThis was followed by “Corner Soul” and George Jones “The Race is On” which got the boardwalk rocking.

Another Clash cover “Straight to Hell” was dedicated to Gordon of “Fuji Rocks” fame, which was later followed by a more obscure reggae inspired Clash number “Wrong Em’ Boyo.”

To close out the set, the band played a number from a newly minted EP called “Push Up the Rain” a lyric inspired by Lee Scratch Perry, and two more originals  ”Harm’s Way” and “Tiny Mine.”

The next show by Kensington Hillbillys will be at 9:30 at Naeba Shokudo. Don’t miss it.