San Diegans stampeded to the Belly Up to see Trampled By Turtles.

At the sold out Belly Up last Monday, Trampled by Turtles fans stood shoulder to shoulder, danced, clapped, and stomped to the music. My toes got more than a few bruises as the enamored fan next to me danced and shouted to the band, “I love you! I think you might, like, be my favorite band ever. I love your Banjo!”

Lead singer Dave Simonette acknowledged her and pointed out to banjo player Dave Caroll that both men and women were professing their love to him. The band played an incredible set of music, the powerful opener “Alone” — off of their Tom Herbers (Low, Jayhawks)-engineered 2012 effort Stars and Satellites — to closers “Wait So Long” and “Again,” off Trampled by Turtles’ second album, Palomino. The enraptured crowd loved every single minute of it.

Rhode Island duo Brown Bird began their opening set just before 8:30pm and received a warm welcome from the crowd. Singer David Lamb announced that it was “good to be at sea level” again after playing Denver and Salt Lake City. Multi-instrumentalist Morgan Eve Swain joined Lamb on stage for their six song performance.

Trampled by Turtles and Brown Bird at the Belly Up – May 21, 2012 – by Sylvia Borgo

Trampled by Turtles on tour
June 7-10 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
June 15 – Bayfield, WI – Big Top Chautauqua
June 27 – Louisville, KY – WFPK Waterfront Wednesday
June 29 – Richmond, VA – Friday Cheers @ Browns Island
June 30 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
July 13 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Howelsen Hill
July 27 – Lyons, CO – RockyGrass Festival
July 19-22 – Thornville, OH – All Good Festival
July 20 – Dover, DE – Firefly Festival
July 29 – Newport, RI – Newport Folk Fest
August 3-5 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
August 10 – San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands
September 21-23 – North Adams, MA – Fresh Grass Festival