During my formal introduction to Vince Herman, singer/guitarist for Leftover Salmon, he was driving a golf cart solo backstage at the inaugural Mile High Music Festival in 2008. Located at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado (right outside Denver), the festival property is well-known nowadays as the same place Phish hosts its annual Labor Day Weekend blowout.
To preface, Salmon is one of those true musical crossroads acts, the epitome of what it means to be an absolute melting pot of American music. A thick, vibrant thread of bluegrass wrapped around white-hot coils of blues, Cajun, folk, rock and soul, the group has always kept one foot firmly in the traditions of bluegrass, the other in whatever the hell they happily stepped in.
Although I’d never interacted with Herman in person, I recognized him immediately as he slowly cruised by me. With his signature look — as if Santa Claus and the Cheshire Cat morphed into a singular creature with a craving for high-level bluegrass, high-octane tequila and high-quality weed — I knew it was him, so I yelled his name to get his attention. That moment sparked an ongoing conversation and sincere friendship that’s nearing 20 years.
