No matter what their size, music festivals always seem to fall into a similar pattern for me. Friday, Saturday and sometimes even Thursday are spent throwing down all day and utilizing all of my energy, so that by the time Sunday rolls around, I'm spent. I usually find a nice spot to relax and take in some good music. This festival was no different. Sunday evening came way too quickly, and considering it was my last day in Arizona, I was bummed.

Read more about Sunday at Gem and Jam 2009 after the jump

After enjoying a few libations at Bison Witches, a short walk took me right back to the Rialto Theatre for the third and final night of music at the 5th annual Gem and Jam. When I arrived at about 8pm, it was rainy and cold, which perhaps negatively impacted the turnout for the evening. I assumed that I was late again for the night, so I was surprised when I entered a near empty theatre and learned that no one had yet taken the stage. In the meantime, we were left to listen to music over the PA while Tucson's ...Music Video? got set up on stage.

Although the sparse crowd was extremely mellow, ...Music Video? came out and gave it all that they had. The trio's poppy indie beats fused with a wide array of instruments created a diverse, textured set. Some songs were easily likable, but there were a few others that didn't really strike a chord with me. Unfortunately for the band, the room began to fill a little just after their set ended, but the small audience that was present appeared to enjoy the show. I must say that I have the utmost respect for these guys for playing the whole set as if they wanted to be there. And they had a Lite Brite!!!

Next on the bill was London's Mad Professor. I hadn't heard any of his music before, but from what I'd heard his set was worth sticking around for. He began by speaking in a robotic voice about lord knows what. I think it was something about hating your face, but I'm not quite sure. He then jumped quickly into a reggae-influenced dance party, and the now ample crowd promptly began to get down. The Mad Professor continued in this fashion for several songs, gaining my appreciation more and more each minute.

Macka B suddenly joined Mad Professor on the stage and took control of MC duties for the remainder of the set. Initially, the change of pace was quite nice, with the duo transitioning through medleys of Peter Tosh, Bob Marley and Burning Spear, to name a few. But after awhile, Macka B's addition to the act grew a little old and seemed to take away from Mad Professor's serious skills on the beats. Not that it wasn't enjoyable, I just felt that I could have used a little more of the Professor's beats solo.

The Greyboy Allstars followed Mad Professor and Macka B, and would be the last act I'd see at Gem and Jam. They took little time in setting up. I had yet to see these guys live, but have heard plenty of their music and was informed from several sources that they put on one hell of a good show. It was a nice change of pace to go from two nights of strictly electronic music to a set of indie, a taste of reggae and then a little mixture of funk and jazz. When the Greyboys took the stage, the dance floor slowly but surely began to fill up as folks began to vacate the seated area at an alarming rate. I was thoroughly impressed with the entire band.

Each member of the band was thoroughly impressive in his own right, as each seemed to bring their own instrument to life in unique ways. The keys provided by Robert Walter and the exquisitely smooth guitar riffs emitted by Elgin Park in particular took me back, and Karl Denson on the sax was also a nice treat. I love being able to see bands that are just so well put together that it is tough to find a flaw. The Greyboy Allstars are just that, and I would recommend seeing them if you haven't yet. I just don’t understand what took me so long!

Unfortunately, I had to hit the road early and left about an hour through the Greyboy set, meaning that I had to skip the Pnuma PA set that would close out the night. My flight out of Phoenix was way too early, and to be real, I was beat. Overall, the 5th annual Gem and Jam Festival was a great success. Both venues were well suited for the acts they were hosting and – aside from a little confusion about scheduling – it ran smoothly. I really thought the idea of the outdoor stage was an excellent idea, as it offered a bit of variety and the ability to catch some fresh air when necessary. One recommendation that I would have is to get someone besides an electronic act on the outdoor stage, but as space is limited, this could prove quite difficult. I hope this festival continues and I look forward to the opportunity to heading back to Tucson in the future to get out of this Nebraska winter and hang out with my Arizona buddies again.

Til next time,
The Toastman