Some of the most memorable events in life: marriage, funerals, christenings, baptisms,– now one has the feeling that these events could be secondly displaced by The 15th Ever Wonder Valley Music Festival at The Palms. If you were there you know what I mean. The howling winds put the gig inside, we might be riffing on the the Japanese idea that smaller is better, or at least denser, with ancient steel,  swords and secrets to be told with food and drink and music. The rooms was pleasantly packed. Thrown in the mix, the locals, the wild beasts, three sheets to the wind, or like a Chinese fire drill, suffering vertigo on all fours...segway to another dimension. Imagine Dan Marcus on stage singing about his clever hydrogen car and feeling like Richard Nixon, and wanting to resign, Ben Vaughn supported him on his box gibson guitar was a great match to Dan's big voice. Next up, shock again by a lone man and guitar Tony Gilkyson strummed a transfixed and hypnotic set, he managed to quiet the savages that might not have known they were in the presence of rock royalty, Gilkyson you might recall replaced Billy Zoom in the band X. Ben Vaughn who is foremost responsible for procuring the varied greatness, played after Gilkyson, these guys are classy and remote and not intimidated by each others craft. Vaughn's acoustic version of "Heavy Machinery" you had to see, the dance floor filled up and no one took their clothes off, but threatened to wear wig only. Ben then played  "I Dig Your Wig," all with implied new meaning. CB Brand was in fine form pounding out one of their most memorable sets, Chad Brown who has been tattooing his vocals on some great original songs, took the time to make a cool version of Waylon Jenning's song that spelled Dog. Viva Chad, Viva Wonder Valley. Now Old Californio is a force to be reckoned with, the night had gone totally electric with CB Brand, Old Californio is as Ben described, " where these guys play up on the dusty part of the neck" True Story.  Which also means country music that has every fret on the guitar considered, they rocked the house under, power nailer country, and Goya, and the black painting by Goya, where the giant eats his children, they eat their country music. The Sibleys played their new songs for the late night guests of the evening, Laura wore appropriate gladiator shoes for her guitar work, the lions wore down. The radiant energy produced by the evenings art warmed the minds of everyone in attendance and some other parts and those that still had their heart and didn't mistakenly drink them. The howling winds ebbed, The Palms' Bison had done it's job again, like a bear protecting her cubs.