Last year I made the bold protest that the Seattle gritty rock duo of Ryan Granger and Whitney Petty should have graced the main stage; even going as far as protesting the “clerical error at Treefort HQ.” While I sincerely apologize to the fantastic group of people at Treefort Music Festival, I must say, this time around, well done.

Playing early to the Saturday Forters I imagined a few, but certainly more than last year, brave souls staggering in and experiencing a performance that would make them fans and a show that would surely help shape the festival itself. What would soon transpire became the equivalent to a mass voluntary branding of fuzzy, grungy, blues-infused rock directly to the brain.

The people poured in as if hailed by some greater power as The Grizzled Mighty began commanding the main stage with track after track of their all-that-is-rock prowess.  For each song the crowd seemed to grow more and more. Granger and Petty’s whiskey-swagger blues rock is as exceptional live as it is on album. From licks that could kill to rocking so hard a snare was actually harmed in the making of this set, this duo electrified the main stage. Basking in the sun The Grizzled Mighty, like Superman, seemed to be fueled by its warming rays and became tighter, harder and proved that amazing can, in fact get more amazing.

Credit: Erin Cecil/Treefort

Although I would find out after the set that the duo were actually exhausted after a long haul to the Treasure Valley, their performance was nothing short of an energy-surging, spectacular musical experience that is not only the lifeblood of Treefort but a consistent for The Grizzled Mighty.

The main stage needed The Grizzled Mighty. Those in attendance, including us here, witnessed a stunning demonstration of the current state of music. Well played Treefort; well played indeed.

Greg is a regular contributor and co-founder at Nanobot. He is an avid supporter of The Grizzled Mighty because, well, if you’ve heard The Grizzled Mighty you’d just know.