The Music Behind The Madness At Col. Bruce Hampton's Last Hurrah [Photos/Audio]

It’s hard to know how to feel after last night’s Hampton 70: A Celebration of Col. Bruce Hampton show at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. For nearly four hours, different combinations of world-class musicians graced the Fox stage with the Colonel, performing joyous renditions of classic rock and blues covers along with seminal Bruce Hampton material to a packed house (and countless more via live stream) in honor of the Colonel’s 70th birthday. It was a joyous celebration; a highly potent, awe-inspiring display of musicianship; a moving show of respect and admiration for one of the most influential performers of his generation.

Stranger Than Fiction: The Cosmic Curtain Call Of Col. Bruce Hampton

Even before Hampton collapsed during the show’s encore, this was a performance of epic proportions, a night of music that would be talked about for years to come. Many of the jam scene’s most talented and respected players–including John Bell, Dave Schools, Jon Fishman, Warren Haynes, Karl Denson, Jimmy Herring, Chuck Leavell, John Popper, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Brandon “TAZ” Niederauer and so many more–came out to pay their respects to a the jam scene elder statesman.

From the almost overwhelming musical star power featured throughout the night, to the stranger-than-fiction manner in which the evening ended, Hampton 70 instantly became one of the most meaningful, beautiful, tragic, stupefying rock concerts that has ever occurred. Until the end of time, people will talk about the night that Colonel Bruce Hampton gathered the best and the brightest for one final, incredible performance, and left it all on the stage. An iconic occurrence on the timeline of music history. A truly legendary send-off.

Listen to a full audience audio recording of the show below:

Hampton 70 – 5/1/17 – Full Audio

[Audio: Daniel Kopp]

You can check out the full artist lineup and setlist from Hampton 70: A Celeration of Col. Bruce Hampton below (provided from soundcheck, so not totally accurate), as well as a beautiful gallery of photos from the surreal event courtesy of photographer Dave Vann.

SETLIST: Hampton 70: A Celebration Of Col. Bruce Hampton | Fox Theatre | Atlanta, GA | 5/1/17

Intro

“There Was A Time” (Jon Waterhouse, Bruce Hampton, Tyler Neal, Darren Stanley, Carter Herring, Johnny Knapp, Matt Slocum, Ike S.)

“Sing About It” (Oliver Wood, Darick Campbell, Duane Trucks, Emil Werstler, Matt Slocum)

“Postcards From Hell” (Oliver Wood, Darick Campbell, Duane Trucks, Kevin, Emil Werstler, Matt Slocum)

“Feeling Good” (Oliver Wood, Darick Campbell, Duane Trucks, Kevin Scott, Emil Werstler, Matt Slocum)

“Oh Pretty Woman” (Jake Peavy, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, Duane Trucks, Kevin, Ike Stubblefield, Denny Walley, Horns, Yonrico Scott)

“Shake Your Hips” (Jake Peavy & Taz, Duane Trucks, Kevin Scott, Ike Stubblefield, Denny Walley, Horns, Yonrico Scott)

“Workin’ on a Building” (Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Jeff Mosier, John Popper, Duane, Kevin Scott, Emil Werstler, Matt Slocum)

“Black Bottom” (Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Jeff Mosier, John Popper, Duane Trucks, Kevin Scott, Emil Wrestler, Matt Slocum)

“She Caught the Katy” (Vince Herman, Drew Emmitt, Jeff Mosier, John Popper, Duane Trucks, Kevin, Emil Wrestler, Matt Slocum, Jeff Sipe, Horns, Jon Fishman)

“When You Come Back Next Time You Gotta Stay” (Kevin Lead) (Kevin Kinney, Hardy Morris, Todd Snider, Peter Buck, Dave Schools, Duane, Emil, Slocum, Tinsley,)

“Stupid Preoccupations” (Hardy Lead) (Kevin Kinney, Hardy Morris, Todd Snider, Peter Buck, Dave Schools, Duane, Kevin, Emil, Slocum, Tinsley, Schools)

“Play a Train Song” (Todd Snider lead) (Kevin Kinney, Hardy Morris, Todd Snider, Peter Buck, Dave Schools, Duane, Kevin, Emil, Slocum, Tinsley, Schools)

“Rip This Joint” (Peter Buck lead)/Karl Denson solos (Warren Haynes, Chuck Leavell, Peter Buck, Dave Schools, Jon Fishman, Karl Denson)

“Compared to What” (Sipe & Fish) Karl D solos (Warren Haynes, Chuck Leavell, Peter Buck, Dave Schools, Jon Fishman, Karl Denson)

“Good Morning Lil Schoolgirl” (Tinsley (Sipe & Fish) Karl D solos (Warren Haynes, Chuck Leavell, Peter Buck, Dave Schools, Jon Fishman, Karl Denson)

“More Trouble Everyday” (Fish & Trucks) HORNS (Warren Haynes, Chuck Leavell, Peter Buck, Dave Schools, Jon Fishman, Karl Denson)

“Jessica” (Fish & Trucks) (Warren Haynes, Chuck Leavell, Peter Buck, Dave Schools, Jon Fishman, Karl Denson)

“Time is Free” (John Bell, Jimmy Herring, Duane Trucks, Dave Schools, Matt Slocum, Chuck Leavell, Jeff Sipe)

“Throndossa” (JB, Jimmy, Duane, Schools, Slocum, Chuck Leavell, Jeff Sipe)

“Smokestack Lightning” (JB, Jimmy, Duane, Schools, Slocum) (Chuck Leavell) (Derek and Susan) (Falcon)

“Don’t Cry No More” (JB, Jimmy, Duane, Schools, Slocum) (Chuck Leavell) (Derek and Susan) (Falcon) (Horns)

“Yield Not to Temptation” (Bruce Hampton, JB, Jimmy, Duane, Schools, Slocum) (Bruce) (Derek and Susan) (Horns) (Falcon)

“Fixin to Die” (Bruce Hampton, JB, Jimmy, Duane, Schools, Slocum) (Bruce) (Derek and Susan)( Fishman)

“Don’t Go in the Room” (Bruce Hampton, Duane, Kevin, Emil, Slocum, Fishman)