When The Spinto Band took the stage Friday afternoon, festival goers were still trickling in to Firefly. There’s little doubt some fans were still stuck in traffic, but the band still drew a respectable crowd in the warm sunshine at the Porch Stage tucked back in The Woodlands at Dover International Speedway.
WDDE catches up with the Spinto Band after their set on opening day of Firefly 2013.
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While Gov. Jack Markell talked about the festival as a “real Delaware story” of building popularity and success, the Wilmington-based band was telling their own story, playing tunes from their albums including “Nice and Nicely Done” and “Cool Cocoon,” their latest album released in February.
“I think it went pretty well,” said Sam Hughes, keyboardist for the band. “The traffic coming down was the biggest hiccup of the day.”
Of course, the traffic getting into the festival was the story of the day Friday, with even Delaware residents stuck for up to eight hours on the road. The band said they nearly missed their set until they got a line on a back route to the grounds. Between the traffic outside and playing so early in the day, they were concerned about what kind of crowd they’d play to at the Porch Stage near the back of the festival site.
“There was a nicer crowd than I expected, which was good,” said Nick Krill, guitarist and singer for the band. “I was honored people thought we were one of the fun ones.”
[caption id="attachment_46012" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The Spinto Band plays the Porch Stage on Friday,
the first day of the 2013 Firefly Festival."]
As the only Delaware-based band to perform during the three-day festival, the band said they felt they had a “home field advantage.” Working with a nearly 20-year run of experience playing live, the band primed the crowd for three full days of music that will run nearly around-the-clock through the weekend.
After their set, they packed up and headed over to the F.Y.E. artist signature tent where people lined up for autographs from the musicians. The guys then moved a couple of tents down for a set at the Coffeehouse, another new offering at this year’s Firefly. Though one might expect a stripped-down acoustic set at a venue called the Coffeehouse, where the smell of roasted beans waft across plush furniture and bistro tables, The Spinto Band offered a repeat of the rock and roll show they delivered on the big stage coaxing a few people to dance up front while others took in the five-piece’s offering.
Before going on, they expected the Coffeehouse set would typical of their usual set, just in a more intimate venue.
“I think it will be more our realm,” said Tom Hughes, bassist and singer for the band.
Done with their business, the guys set out to catch some other sets during the day, taking note of Dr. Dog, Grizzly Bear, Action Bronson and Public Enemy – and Friday’s headliners, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, on the main stage.