It takes a lot of work to put on a rock and roll show. Very rarely do the people who work to make
the venue and stage an environment where bands and performers can display their
craft in the best possible environment to lay it down in get the recognition
they deserve. Sometimes however, the
crew becomes as much of the ambience as the band. It’s rare, but it happens.
When your boss is one of the most well known rock and roll
guitar virtuosos on the planet, you have to have as much recognition as he does. Brian
Farmer, who passed away in his Nashville
home on August 24th, was one of those rare cases. Half rock and roll looney, half technical
mastermind, Farmer kept Warren Haynes’ guitars and amps on the up and up and
wailing night after night, tour after tour, with band like The Allman Brothers
Band, Gov’t Mule, Phil Lesh and Friends, and The Dead; not to mention Warren’s
countless other projects and appearance over the years.
Farmer was as much of the show as the musicians. He was commonly confused for Warren.
He was known to wear t-shirts saying “I’m Not Him” or “I’m Not Warren”
in an effort to curtail unnecessary applause from the audience when he was line
checking before the band went on. He had
a relationship with the fans though.
They knew who he was and he made them feel like he knew them. When I was in the front row at Gov’t Mule’s
2009 Rothbury show, Farmer got a laugh out of us when he did this slapstick
checking of his pockets saying, “I knew I left those mushrooms around here
somewhere.”
I don’t know if he ever found his stash that night or not,
but it was just as much fun for me watching him work as he trouble shot
something that was happening with Warren’s
amps without so much as an audible hitch or flub.
It will be weird not seeing him around Gov’t Mule or Allman
Brothers shows. You just expected to see
him. It’s not always pleasant when
something familiar goes away. I’m sure
it will be just as difficult for Warren
to do shows without Farmer as it is to do them without Allen Woody on the
bass. The band, who is currently celebrating
it’s 20th year, went on when Woody unexpectedly passed away. I’m sure it will still keep going without
Farmer changing strings at the tech table.
However, I think it is safe to say that Farmer is going to be missed
sorely by the fans and musician community that he obviously loved and in return
was loved by.
- The Grime
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