BELLA FLECK AND THE FLECKTONES

At the Orpheum Theater

October 25, 1998

While the crowd that filled the Orpheum Theatre looked like a combination of displaced Phish followers and graying Deadheads still mourning the death of Jerry, they brought a kind of enthusiasm that is only found in smoke-filled concert halls. As Victor Wooten, legendary bassist for the Flecktones, threaded his way through the masses outside the enterance unnoticed, I began to wonder if anybody knew exactly what they were there for, or if what they were smoking was really that good. Of course, it could have something to do with the fact that Wooten is about 5'4" and just went under everbody.

The opening band, String Cheese Incident, kicked off the night with a Phish-like number that had most of the crowd up and clapping, though not necessarily quite on beat. String Cheese combines everything from bluegrass to salsa rhythms in their music. Originally from Colorado, the band has matured and added variation to their music over the years. While they haven't quite found their own sound yet, their mishmash of other people's genres is fairly enjoyable. Although talented, their drummer tended to undertake a little too much in some of their songs and ended up sounding convoluted and confused.

Dancing in the aisles is pretty much forbidden at the Orpheum, except directly in front of the stage, which is inaccessible except for the audience seated in the first ten rows. The exodus of patchouli-wearing folk--which diverted much of the crowd's attention from String Cheese Incident--towards the front, was effectively stopped by the bouncers at the front of each section. The pointing to "friends" and claims of "I left my ticket at my seat" were in vain, and even the spaced-out-girl-in-too-little-clothing act didn't work. Unlike other places, the "No Smoking" sign at the entrance to the seating area actually meant no smoking. By the end of String Cheese Incident's last number, which dragged on for over twenty minutes, everybody's buzz was wearing off. However, when Bela Fleck and the Flecktones finally took the stage, spirits rose anew. The crowd was up on its feet, stomping and clapping with an enthusiasm that didn't ebb until the end of the show. Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten and Roy "Future Man" Wooten have been playing together since 1988, and are pioneers of their art form. They were joined by Jeff Coffin, a phenomenal horn player whose saxophone mastery was right at home on stage with the other three magicians. While making their instruments speak in unheard-of tongues, the Flecktones basically play around with each other onstage--at one point during the night, Victor vowed the he would do his best to "mess up" Bela Fleck during a particularly difficult piece by playing in a different time signature and, when Wooten failed, both of Fleck's arms went up in the air in 'King of the Mountain' triumph.

Future man's SynthAxe Drumitar took the place of a traditional drum set, and his machine can talk, sing and provide the mind-blowing beats that are required to keep up with Bela Fleck. Future man also brought a cajon, "the box," to onstage and sounded like a twelve-man percussion section during his solos, rather than a single, creative guy with fast fingers and a little help from an electronics company.

Victor Wooten's playing was amazing as usual, but the man didn't hog the limelight. The most notable part of Wooten's contribution to the band (besides being the best bass player in the world) is his interplay with band and audience members alike. As he stood out on the thrust of the stage and talked through his instrument in a million ways, it became obvious exactly what the word 'virtuoso' meant. Some have termed Victor's playing "musical masturbation"--whatever it is, it feels good.

The night ended with Bela Fleck alone on stage, taking the last solo. Drumitar, two horns and bass playing aside, Fleck is the reason the band exists and what holds it together. In the last few moments, it was clear that Fleck is the inspiration and the glue that puts this band on the map.