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4/20/12

Show Review: Bela Fleck and the Original Flecktones at the Michigan Theater 4/19

Thursday night saw a packed house of hippies, jazzheads and music connoisseurs fill the seats of the historic Michigan Theater for the reunited original lineup of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Ann Arbor was a fitting locale given Bela's early roots in the folk and bluegrass scene and the beautifully restored theater was a perfect location for what felt more like an after hours jam session at his house.

Two thrilling and eclectic sets including old favorites and new tunes from the latest disc Rocket Science kept the enthusiastic crowd engaged for almost three hours. The band was stationed in a line toward the front of the stage, breaking down the barrier between artist and audience, and the thoughtful stories and banter between songs kept the vibe intimate and engaging. The quieter and more delicate moments seemed to transcend space and time, pulling the audience in even closer before building to an epic crescendo

Highlights included a sprawling and emotional harmonica solo from multi-instrumentalist Howard Levy, mind blowing solos from Victor Wooten and Futureman, and Bela's poignant show closing tribute to late banjo legend Earl Scruggs.