Florida’s own pedal-steel guitar hero, Roosevelt Collier, closed out the Wanee Music Festival‘s Wednesday pre-party in wild style last night with a set of covers dedicated to his musical heroes, including Jimi Hendrix and the James Brown Band. Collier used his sacred steel sound to take the crowd to church and worship at the altar of the greats who inspire him. The passion he feels for the material gave his performance an energy somehow beyond the already-amazing power he always brings to the stage.
Speaking of stages, Roosevelt Collier was practically on home turf at the Spirit Of Suwannee Amphitheatre stage. From his time with The Lee Boys, his own acts, and the fact that he lived not five miles from the Park for years, Collier couldn’t be more comfortable and it showed. Though Roosevelt spent most of the show bending the string of his pedal steel guitar into submission, he popped off his stool and roamed the stage several times to watch his bandmates throw down. Though his backing band was tight, the stage got a bit more heavy with talent when special guests Bobby Lee Rodgers and Isaac Corbitt joined in for a wild 23-minute take on the James Brown Band classic “Pass The Peas.” We’ve got that song as well as a pair of Hendrix tunes, “Power Of Soul” and Manic Depression”, for you folks in the clips below.
Fans walked away from Roosevelt Collier’s performance euphoric and beyond excited for the insane music this weekend at the Wanee Music Festival. Single day tickets are still available, and with Phil Lesh and Widespread Panic leading the charge, there is surely lots more to come from the festival—Live For Live Music will be bringing you all the video highlights you can handle! But for now, let’s check out the mayhem Roosevelt Collier set from last night!
“Manic Depression” (Jimi Hendrix)
“Power Of Soul” (Jimi Hendrix)
“Pass The Peas” (The J.B.s)