Concert Review: Slow Food Rocks! - Labor Day Weekend

Slow Food Nation, an organization which advocates good, clean, and fair food, held their first ever Slow Food Rocks festival this past weekend, which included my two favorite things in life: Gourmet food and music. The entire event was spread out over the city, including picnics, seminars, dinners, music and tastings. It was so spread out, in fact, that it was difficult to see all of it. So I saw music on Day 1 and ate food on day 2. Boy, what a weekend.

Music
The first day was full of amazing music: Medeski, Martin, and Wood, The New Pornographers, Ozomatli, and Gnarls Barkeley all put on amazing shows. I’d say the highlight of the day was Ozomatli, who, with their Spanglish, afro-cuban/hip-hop/big band sound were clearly just what the good weather needed. The whole performance was VERY SoCal, as the audience danced with the sun in their eyes, happy and burnt, or lying on the grass, tanning their backs, skillfully blocking their pipe from the wind.

Ozomatli are first-rate performers, who clearly enjoy what they do. Bouncing around onstage, they kept the energy up solidly for their entire set. Of course it didn’t hurt that a member from Pharcyde (which one was it??? Anyone know?) jumped up out of nowhere as the whole band played "Passin’ Me By". Talk about a crowd-pleaser.

Gnarls Barkley took the stage afterwards. Donned in dork-chic apparel, they delivered a performance that defies categorization. Sometimes funky, but mostly pop-rock-y, lead singer Cee-Lo and friends belted out a sold set. I have to say that my knowledge of Gnarls Barkeley up until this point was limited to that overplayed “Crazy” tune and of course, to Cee-Lo’s solo albums, Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections, and Cee-Lo Green is the Soul Machine (both STELLAR, by the way).  So I was a little taken aback to see how rock-oriented Gnarls Barkley really was. They even covered Violent Femmes and Radiohead, to give you an idea. So if you want to hear some rock’n’roll with Cee-Lo’s screeching soul voice on top, you should check them out the next time they are in town!

Food
Someday, after this life is over, I will know if there is a heaven, and I will make this assessment based on whether or not there is a Tasting Pavilion. Have any of you ever been to one of these? It’s unbelievable. You walk in and you get cheese, meat, fish, breads, chutneys, honeys and preserves, chocolates, beer, wine, all of which is delicious, and all of which is completely fair and clean. No tortured animals, no chemicals. All of the plants and animals involved are happy.

Meanwhile, at U.N. Plaza, very happy people gathered to hear lectures on food and sustainable farming, and to eat sample some amazing local produce, and chow down on some incredible meals.

A note about water to everyone. In case you haven’t heard, the city of San Francisco has broken their bottled water contract, which means that there is no bottled water served at city of San Francisco buildings, and there will not be bottled water used at any events hosted by the city of San Francisco. This is a huge accomplishment for the movement to get bottled water out of one of the only countries in the world that has guaranteed clean water everywhere! To find out more go to www.takebackthetap.org.