Coventry Music

HAPPY 75th PHILIP GLASS!!!

2012-01-31T15:08:00.000-05:00

Philip Glass is one of my all time favorite composers. I love how deceptively complicated his minimalist compositions are. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don't find myself driving in the car with the volume cranked to eleven jamming to his works. Above is an interview from when he was composing Glassworks. It also includes some rehearsal performances.

If you're looking to check out some more of his stuff I suggest the 3 part series he did with Francis Ford Coppola: Koyaanisqatsi ("Life Out of Balance"), Powaqqatsi ("Life in Transformation" - with George Lucas), and Naqoyqatsi ("Life as War"). Actually, the 3rd film Francis Ford Coppola did not help with. All videos can be found on youtube or instant Netflix.

So happy birthday to Mr. Glass. You are my hero!

Jam Cruise 10 Recap: Day 4/5, Excuse Me While I Play Through

2012-01-23T04:20:00.024-05:00

Day 4 was my favorite "day," if you call it that.

The epic journey began early by Jam Cruise standards as I was awoken at 9am my roommate Gypsy, who was just getting back to the room. Gypsy had danced her little ass off in the Disco where Pete from the New Mastersounds had spun an Eurodance DJ set. She was raving about how awesome it was, but alas, I missed it. Jam Cruise is a choose your own adventure and a little different for everyone. I wasn't disappointed I missed it, mostly because I got some much needed sleep and was feeling good.

I ate some breakfast and got off the boat out of principle in Farmouth, Jamaica. I am not a fan of Jamaica. I walked around for about an hour then headed back to the boat. With music not starting till 4pm, I took advantage of the pool, hot tubs and bar on the pool deck with like minded Jam Cruisers. Jam Cruise is the perfect place to be silly and I posted my Jam Cruise memes above the center bar on the pool deck. Most of the day was a blur, meeting people, talking with old friends, and just being silly.

After partying all afternoon in the sun I was able to pull myself together enough to sit down in the restaurant and force down some food. It was a good thing I ate something substantial because I probably would have not gotten though the journey ahead.

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe took over on the Pool deck at 8:30pm. Karl D played the Sticky Fingers set again (I saw the show in Denver on Halloween). If you are a fan of The Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers album, then you will probably love the Karl D's take along with all his guests that make it sound great. Although, at the time I was looking for something faster and funkier. I saved my energy for The New Mastersounds in the Theater starting at 11pm.

Even though the New Mastersounds guys had been partying with us on the pool deck that morning and afternoon they were able to play the best set I have ever seen them play. It was a two hour-long funky dance party that never let up. TNM had lots of guests, including the "giant ewok" Zach Deputy and a four piece horn section. The Theater was as full as I have ever seen it and people were getting down, including the sexiest unicorn I have ever seen. >>>

By 1am, I had been partying all day and I must admit I was getting tired. I needed something to keep me going so I tried something new (for me). For the first time in 3 Jam Cruises, I headed to the casino. I only bet $20 in blackjack, but played the ups and downs for about 30 minutes. It was a nice break to sit down, but more importantly it got my adrenaline pumping. I left the casino energized and the gambling session had everything re-circulating in my system.

The New Deal played their last show on the Pool deck 2am-4:20am and it was a uplifting dance party. I danced with a crew of mutual friends from Austin and Colorado in a great spot on the center of the floor. I danced so hard I think I got a runners high. The New Deal left me feeling euphoric. I felt like I had just left a top 10 Phish show. I was loving it. Did I mention it was Track Suit night? We were looking good and The New Deal delivered (on their last ever show?).

After The New Deal, I felt great and wasn't going to bed anytime soon. I walked around the boat, catching some more acoustic Nathan Moore/Brad Barr, and then some Jam Room. There was lots of Jam Cruise silliness that you just had to be there and in an alternate state of mind to fully appreciate.

What happened next was a first for all of us on Jam Cruise. I was hanging out on the Pool Deck about 6am and the Jam Cruise Safety crew told us we had to leave the pool deck. The Safety Crew is the Jam Cruise security, and actually some of the coolest individuals you'll ever meet. There are very few rules on Jam Cruise and the Safety Crew does an awesome time putting us in our place without being too heavy handed. I have never seen the pool deck shut down and they could not tell us why.

The only people up at this point are people still raging from the night before and we had 2 choices – go to our rooms or hang out in the cafeteria.

I chose the cafeteria and it turned into a shit show. A Jam Cruiser with a Bose system who was relocated from the pool deck set up in the coffee bar and started blasting Phish. Over 30 kids were dancing in the cafeteria to Reba, when Marco Benevento and his wife and toddler daughters walked in for some breakfast. Marco and his wife glanced at each other with a knowing grin and tried to find a quiet corner on the opposite end of the cafeteria as the Phish dance party scene just got louder and rowdier.

For a while we did not know why we could not be on the pool deck, until a rumor circulated that a Jam Cruiser had jumped from the jumbotron and landed on the deck. It took a few hours for the true story to be revealed – a Jam Cruiser had climbed up the side of the jumbotron in a restricted area during The New Deal's set, and was blown off by wind gusts. What a dummy. Because of the limited medical facilities on the boat and just to be safe, a Coast Guard helicopter air lifted him to a hospital. I watched the surreal scene from a friend's balcony with a breakfast sandwich in hand as the helicopter circled us for about 30 minutes. Turns out the kid is going to be okay, but it will be his last Jam Cruise. Cruisers who do stupid stuff aren't allowed back.

The next thing I know... it is 7am and I am still raging. You can't wake up and rage if you are still up from the night before. I started looking at the schedule for Friday, day 5. It seemed as if there was only one thing to do - Surprise Me Mr. Davis started at 11:15 AM, and I had come this far, so why not play though? A few morning cocktails later and in no time SMMD was playing on the pool deck. Perfect. I have already talked about how much I love SMMD, and this set was another awesome one. Marco’s 4 year-old and 2 year-old daughters were out dancing and witnessing their interaction with their daddy brought tears to my eyes. They are just too cute for words and I hope my daughter and I will be able to enjoy a music festival with the same beautiful joy and innocence.

I was on the pool deck during the SMMD set when my friend Matt S. came up to me with a surprise -- Matt bought a Dave Vann photo signed by Umphrey's McGee in the charity auction for me. The photo has Stasik in the center rocking the disco helmet. I was blown away -- it is one of the most thoughtful gifts I have every received. Thanks Matt!

After the SMMD set, Steve from This Week On Lot got a message to me to meet at his room at 4pm to record a podcast with Scotty B from YEMBlog and Hidden Track. Normally at this point I would have gone to bed, but I was able to enjoy the Orgone set to stay awake and get my thoughts together to sound okay on the podcast, though I am talking a little slower than usual.

Listen to TWOL podcast here.

After the podcast I took much deserved nap. Day 4 and 5 had bled together.

Thanks to a classy wake up call by my Touch of Class crew, I had enough time to eat in the restaurant one last time. Lucky for me it was lobster and steak night. Dinner ended just in time for me to catch Marco Benevento in the atrium. I was moved to tears for a second time in one day when his daughter played chopstix with him. Check out his emotional set here...

Still reading?

This is a long post, and I'm even leaving out some details of this epic day. By this time its 9pm Friday...you started reading about your hero getting up at 9am on Thursday. Whew. Next up musically was Soulive on the Pool Deck and Galactic in the Theater. Both were solid, but I was running on fumes. It was the end of the marathon and I had just a few more hours to go, so I pushed myself to stay out.

The final theme night was Masquerade. Everyone interpreted it a little differently, with some bringing out their best bling and others wearing an awesome mask. I enjoyed seeing everyone’s masks, though I couldn’t always know who was under there.

After Galactic, I headed to the jam room where Eddie Roberts of the New Mastersounds was the host. It was by far the best night in the Jam Room. I also took one last sit down at “The Spot” on deck 7 where Brad Barr and Nathan Moore were playing acoustic lots of guests coming by. Jefferson Waful (lighting director for Umphrey's) put together an awesome video of "The Spot" on the last night:

At sunrise I went back to my room to pack up. There were a few more minor funny moments with friends getting off the boat, but that was pretty much my jam cruise. It was easy getting off the boat and my direct flight back to Denver was without incident.

Its hard to believe, but Jam Cruise gets better every year. Jam Cruise 10 was exactly what I needed to get away and knock my head open. I personally had a lot of changes in 2011 and was having a tough time. The negative emotions of 2011 seem to have been released and I am starting 2012 on the right emotional path. The boat is full of love and I my cup runneth over.

Thank you Jam Cruisers!

Have you booked for Jam Cruise 2013? We are already pre-booked. If you decide to go on Jam Cruise, or have any questions, please email me at wookpatrol@gmail.com. Also, if you are a first time cruiser and use me as a referral, I get $$$ on the boat and promise to reward you. See you on Jam Cruise 11!

photo by Brian Spady

Jam Cruise 10: The Greatest Thing on Earth

2012-01-22T04:20:00.002-05:00

check out Sean G's Jam Cruise 10 video...

JC10 from Sean g on Vimeo.

Jam Cruise 10 Surprise Me Mr. Davis Little Boat

2012-01-21T14:48:00.003-05:00

Jam Cruise 10 Recap: Day 3 - Beach Party, Pet Meetup, Go Green!

2012-01-21T04:20:00.002-05:00

I woke on Day 3 and we were docked at a private island in Labadee, Haiti. The weather was perfect for a beach party. We gathered up our pet monkey Rosario and headed off the boat to the perfect Jam Cruise beach party. The beach was clean and beautiful. Jam Cruise 10 had it all to ourselves. Zach Deputy and Toubab Crew played sets near the beach on a short stage while Jam Cruisers laid in the sun, danced, and practiced yoga. Out of all the stops we have done on Jam Cruise 8, 9 and 10, Labadee was by far my favorite.

Back on board the boat I enjoyed a high energy Ozomatli set that ended with a parade through the crowd on the pool deck. Immediately after the Ozomatli set Gypsy and I brought Rosario to the Jam Cruise Pet Meet up. Jam Cruise has some creative, quirky people on board and it certainly was apparent during the pet meet up. We seem to have lots of stuffed animals and inflatable toys we give a personality to. The Pet Meet-Up was the first time the freaks got all the pets in one place.

Next up was a set of 80’s covers by the Omega Moos, made up of Umphrey's McGee members Brendan Bayliss and Ryan Stasik with The New Deal members Darren Shearer and Jamie Shields. They ran through untzy covers of Whip It, Take On Me, She Blinded Me With Science, Rebel Yell and my personal favorite Maneater. I danced and ironically pointed at my beautiful roommate Gypsy as she certainly is a Maneater.

I took another break in the restaurant and put on my lizard outfit for Go Green night. I caught 7 Walkers and guests perform a fantastic Eyes of the World before I decided to ditch the costume and get a front row spot for Dr. Klaw in the Zebra lounge. Dr. Klaw is an all-star funk band and it was my favorite set of funk on the boat – and that’s saying a lot. I danced so hard to Dr. Klaw I sweated through my t-shirt.

Late night ended with acoustic sets on the pool deck by brock butler and songs in “the spot” on Deck 7 starboard by Nathan Moore and Brad Barr. The acoustic sets are unannounced but I find them to be the most special of all the music on jam cruise. Some like to end the night in the Disco or Jam Room; I have found that I prefer to come down to some delicate acoustic guitar and meaningful lyrics.

<p>&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;Stay tuned for &amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;</p>

Stay tuned for the Day 4/5 recap where your hero plays through and parties to the finish line.

Jam Cruise 10 Recap: Day Two - Guitar Solos, Tigger, and Mr. Davis

2012-01-19T04:20:00.003-05:00

Day two began with a late afternoon start around 1pm. When I awoke my quirky roommate Gypsy had moved her mattress out onto our balcony and she was fast asleep, soaking in some ocean air and getting some rest. I gathered myself together and headed to the pool deck to check out the scene.

As I mentioned in my Day 1 recap, I created a new toy for Jam Cruise 10 – a disco guitar. It is a disco’d hot lixx, and it still works. Jam Cruise is a place where you can be silly and let it all hang out. I certainly did that, taking the guitar to the artist signing and getting each of the Umphrey’s guys to play with its arpeggios and sign the back. I taunted them with the disco guitar, showing them how I had learned to play some of Jake's solos. After the artist signing I spent some time on our first day at sea casually enjoying the music on the pool deck and drinking frozen cocktails. Oh how I love a Miami Vice on Jam Cruise.

At 4pm I headed to the Theater for Lets Make A New Deal – a Jam Cruise take on the game show Lets Make a Deal with members of The New Deal and Joel Cummins from Umphrey's McGee. I was a contestant and won $20 in merch by throwing playing cards at a watermelon and getting one to stick...by cheating to win. My buddy @petelikesmusic was sporting his Tigger outfit and was a big winner. Check out Pete bouncing up and down as Tigger in the video:

Next up was Get Lit Up with Kuroda and Waful, also in the Theater. I found the discussion quite interesting about the lighting of Phish and how Kuroda got his job when the original lighting director for Phish took a restroom break. I and had enough cocktails in me to be one of the first to ask a question from the audience.

My question went something like this:
(Directed at Waful) “Ive been to a lot of shows where the band gets the crowd riled up and the energy in the room makes the band change what they are doing as a result. Please give an example of when you made a change to the lights in reaction to the crowd energy. And part two of the question is directed at Chris Kuroda – I was at Big Cypress and saw a UFO land. I was wondering if you can confirm or deny that.”

The everyone in the theater chuckled at the UFO question and I thought I heard Kuroda say reluctantly admit “Yeah, that was me.” Mission accomplished.

The costume theme for the night was zebra night. Every year since we have been on the MSC Poesia there has been a zebra night because of the Zebra Lounge, a venue where everything from the carpet to the couches to the lamps is zebra print. Participation in Zebra night gets bigger every year and there are some fantastic creative zebra costumes.

After a meal in the sit down restaurant I changed into my zebra gear and caught a powerful set by Galactic on the Pool Deck. Check out the videos of Kashmir and 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover.

Next up was another high energy set by Umphreys McGee at 11:30pm in the Theater, but the highlight of my evening was the Surprise Me Mr. Davis set in the Zebra Bar at 1:45am. I danced through most of the SMMD set and left a little early to catch a couple of The New Deal songs before their second to last set ended 4am. I cant wait to listen to the SMMD set again – I'll post the recording when it becomes available. SMMD is a breed of animal similar to Dr. Dog or Wilco – but with strange superpowers that I cannot describe.

Every night before going to bed I would make a lap of the boat. The freaks come out at night, especially on Jam Cruise. I lost my notes so I can't tell you exactly what happened late night, and its just as well - a lot of things on jam cruise you just have to be there.

Stay tuned for the recap of Day 3 where we visit Haiti and party with Rosario the inflatable monkey on the beach.

Jam Cruise 10 Day 1 Recap: Sprinting German Sparkle Party

2012-01-17T23:11:00.009-05:00

Its difficult to write about Jam Cruise. There is so much that happens, and many times “you just have to be there” applies.

Maya Angelou said: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

I think this quote is so true when talking about Jam Cruise. Nearly everything about Jam Cruise brings out an emotion in me, and these are the things I intend to tell you about.A couple of nights ago I washed my notes in the laundry by accident. Everything I am writing is from my memory of the way I felt, and I will never forget these feelings.

I headed down to Ft Lauderdale on Saturday, Jan 7, two days before we set sail to hit the Umphreys McGee pre-shows. The Saturday UM show was well played but a miserable experience for most people in attendance, as Revolution grossly oversold the venue and it was a most uncomfortable show. The Sunday show was a different story, I got a great place and thoroughly enjoyed the show rocking out with a room full of Jam Cruisers.

Before the Sunday show we headed to a Mexican food restaurant for some dinner and to watch the Pittsburgh vs Denver game. To my surprise we found most of Umphrey’s McGee and crew/entourage sitting at a table cheering on the Steelers. Ryan Stasik and I had met briefly a few times before, and he recognized me and sneered at my buddy Adam’s Denver Broncos shirt as we walked in.

Stasik had his terrible towel in hand and stood up to cheer and wave the towel for each Steelers offensive or defensive play that went just the slightest their way. I will never forget the look on Stasik’s face as he hung his head in defeat after the winning Denver run in overtime.

Monday afternoon we headed to get on the boat without incident. Everything on Jam Cruise is a party - even the line to get on. I saw some old friends and made some new ones.

I made disco helmets to give to Simon from The New Mastersounds, and Ryan Stasik from Umphreys McGee. I had met both of them at Red Rocks July 3 and I wanted to make helmets for them because I thought it would be awesome if they actually wore them. I think both of them kind of forgot about it and never expected a fan to actually follow through. Stasik requested a gold helmet, in tribute to Pittsburgh.

I was able to run into both Stasik and Simon on the boat without looking for them and deliver their gifts with short photo sessions. I was excited and my blood was pumping. As the saying goes, it is better to give than to receive, and I feel like I was finally able to give something back to musicians who had given me so much joy. It felt good times 1,000.

The afternoon flew by and before I knew it, I was putting on a ridiculous shiny costume. The official theme for the boat was Nautical, but my crew had made a push for an unofficial theme for the night – German Sparkle Party. By 8 o’clock we had 30 people packed in the Touch of Class hallway with more sparkles and glitter than any straight man could handle. All over the boat the German Sparkle Party mixed in the the Nautical theme and the rage was turned up to 11. My cocktail of all things starting with the letter “A” was getting a little more than I would have liked – I retreated to the Pool Deck for some fresh air for a while.

We say that jam cruise is a marathon, not a sprint. On night 1 of jam cruise I came out of the gates hot – sprinting right away. I enjoyed sets by Robert Walter in the Atrium and Bruce Hornsby on the Pool Deck – but it wasn’t until Umphreys played on the Pool Deck at 12:30am that I was able to get the chemical level in my blood to the correct level.

UM played a fantastic two set show, with their originals rocking flawlessly and two standout covers will forever be remembered. During Live and Let Die, Stasik donned the Gold disco helmet for the first time, and I must say it was spectacular. Most of the time I am wearing the helmet and I don’t get to enjoy looking at it – I finally got to see a disco helmet in its perfect glory – on center stage and lit up professionally by Jefferson Waful. I enjoyed both sets rocking out on my disco guitar. I would joke that I was making a top score on guitar hero. There is no place to be a dork and silly like Jam Cruise.

The second Umphrey's cover of the night, Shine on You Crazy Diamond, was patiently executed and had all of us on the pool deck singing to the full moon directly overhead. Such a beautiful, perfect moment.

Night 1 ended for me sometime before sun rise. As I stumbled back to my room I could not believe it was only the first day.

Stay tuned for more recaps of Jam Cruise 10.

Galactic Jam Cruise Video

2012-01-17T10:53:00.000-05:00

Galactic did a pair of fantastic covers on Jam Cruise, one with Ryan Montbleau and the other with Corey Glover (Living Colour) on vocals...

Marco Benevento "My Friend My Friend" Solo Jam Cruise

2012-01-16T19:19:00.000-05:00

from Marco's atrium set Day 5 of Jam Cruise...he had a little help from his 2 and 4 yr old daughters...

Jam Cruise 10 - TWOL Podcast and Photo Dump

2012-01-15T11:11:00.000-05:00

I am back home from Jam Cruise 10 and am doing my best to catch up on sleep. Jam Cruise 10 was an incredible time and it was my favorite Jam Cruise. I will post more complete recaps in the coming days, but until then check out the This Week On Lot podcast we recorded on day 5. Scott Bernstein, Steve Olker and I discuss our experiences and it is a good listen.

This Week On Lot - Jam Cruise 10 special report

Check out a few of my favorite Jam Cruise 10 shots I have collected so far by pro photographers:

Phish and Grantland.com

2012-01-12T22:01:00.001-05:00

Phish made it's way on to the semi-regular Grantland.com segment of YouTube HOF, but in the not so favorable sub genre of 'Favorite Embarrassing Songs and Performances.' It's good fun, and well, it was the early 90s which is about as ridiculous as it gets. Link. For those unfamiliar with Grantland, it features sports and pop culture columns by Bill Simmons and Chuck Klosterman among dozens of others. Good stuff.

Tess Lynch: This video smells like old hair and gorp. Look at that sea of Caucasian ponytails bobbing along to "a crystal haze, the never-ending coral maze," dancing in sweet, stupid ignorance as someone taped them on a 15-pound camcorder. My favorite comment: "I snorted a bunch of meth at a Phish concert once and danced 'til there were holes in my socks. That was some pure shit." Bet that was during "The Squirming Coil," brah. Don't get caught by the Makisupa Policeman!

Phish MSG Videos: Fluffhead 12/31/11

2012-01-08T16:20:00.002-05:00

Official video!

Phish - 12/31/11 "Fluffhead" from Phish on Vimeo.

Phish MSG Videos: Piper-Twist 12/30/11

2012-01-07T16:20:00.000-05:00

Official video release!

Phish - "Piper" > "Twist" - 12/30/11 from Phish on Vimeo.

Phish MSG Videos: 12/29/11 Mike's Song-Chalkdst Torture-Hydrogen-Weekapaug Groove

2012-01-06T16:20:00.001-05:00

Here's an official video from Phish...

Phish - "Mike's Song > Chalk Dust Torture > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove" 12/29/11 from Phish on Vimeo.

Young at Heart Chorus Sings Free

2012-01-02T22:57:00.010-05:00

Can't say enough about this video. I was in tears watching it in BTreoch's flat, especially at the finale. Then I find out it was recorded 12/31/11.

Sung by the Young at Heart Chorus, at John M. Greene Hall, Smith College, Northampton, MA.

Filmed by Reel Life Productions

Paul McCartney Really Is Dead: The Last Testament of George Harrison

2012-01-02T04:20:00.002-05:00

Conspiracy has been brewing since the mid-1960s... Paul McCartney died in a car accident and was replaced by Billy Shears.

Phish | 12.31.11 | Steam → Auld Lang Syne → Down with Disease

2012-01-01T09:58:00.001-05:00

here is a good shot of Steam...

Phish MSG NYE Setlist - 12/31/2011 Saturday

2011-12-31T19:07:00.004-05:00

Photo by @change100
Kiss 2011 goodbye tonight and embrace 2012!

The final installment of Phish's four show run at MSG is nigh. Three sets of musical mayhem and other Phishy hijinks. I will be providing commentary throughout the NYE show via @CoventryMusic on Twitter. Also, feel free to follow the lovely @change100 for her infamous fashion reports.

Don't forget, if tonight's show is being webcast by LivePhish.com.

Phish NYE Setlist - 12/31/2011 - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Set 1: AC/DC Bag, Wolfman's, Scent of a Mule, Stealing Time from the Faulty Plan, Lawn Boy, Gotta Jiboo, Farmhouse, Pebbles and Marbles, Ocelot, Fluffhead

Set 2: Party Time, Light > Golden Age > Theme, Heavy Things, Ghost > Sneaking Sally > 46 Days, Suzy Greenburg

Set 3: Cavern, Steam > Auld Lang Syne > Down With Disease, The Wedgie > Alaska, Velvet Cheese, First Tube

ENCORE: Slave

MSG 3: Good Times, Bad Times

2011-12-31T03:04:00.009-05:00

"Tonight we saw the worst set and best set of the run," explained my girlfriend, Nicky (aka @change100) as we walked out of Madison Square Garden just before Midnight for a third evening in a row. "The first set was hoooooorrible, but the second (set) stood out as the best of six."

My girlfriend had a valid point. Then again she was seventeen sheets to the wind and admitted she was more wasted than Katie Holmes in The Ice Storm.

However, I had similar feelings about seeing the best and worst of Phish in a single night. One a difference a single set makes. I wasn't as schwilly or faded as my girlfriend, so I had a clear perspective and relatively sober for the night. I was fighting a bout of heavy fatigue after foolishly getting little to no sleep since the MSG run began. I can't help myself when I'm back on tour reliving old glory days, so I stay up until waaaay past sunrise.

I settled in for a mellow night in an attempt to converse a bit of energy for NYE. Looking at the complacency of first set, I wondered if Phish did the same. With the exception of Sand and Quinn the Eskimo (particularly if you're a Dylan fan), very little stands out in the first set as a memorable moment. On a positive note (which helped set the scene for much more entertaining second set), all the songs I loathe and consider black holes and second set killers (like Joy, Caspian, and Backwards to an extent) were played in the first set. The boys got them out of the way, as to not kill the buzz and cock block a potential scorching second set. The song placement in the first set on night 3 was perfect in that regard -- lump them all into a throw-away opening set.

Divided Sky had its solemn moments when you felt like you are praying in church, but it felt rushed and as though the band was grasping at straws in order to strengthen the shaky set (PYITE > Caspian > Backwards, Nellie Kane). Divided Sky was a life preserver tossed overboard to save the set from drowning in the high seas. Sand sounded like a step in the right direction and the band finally got cooking, but the compacted mellow-funk'd up-rumpus couldn't save a sinking ship. A sloppy Vultures preceded a choppy Rift. And then there's Joy, which always extracts mixed emotions from the crowd. The disjointed first set ended on a positive note after an audience sing-along to Dylan's Quinn the Eskimo.

We sat in section 114 right in the heart of Page Side Rage Side. Always an interesting perspective. The sound is a little muddy, but we're close to our beloved hero, Page McConnell... the second Most Interesting Man in the World. By the way, during a full set, a couple of hundred glowsticks accumulated behind the band's gear in the back of the stage -- a spooky graveyard for errant glowsticks. During setbreak, a dozen swarthy looking teamsters were sweeping the stage. Gotta love union jobs where you get paid $50/hour to sweep up glowsticks.

Photo by @change100
All the magic occurred during the 11-song second set. The first two songs -- Wilson and Axilla -- were a headbangers' wet dream. Loud, raucous, distorted guitar reverberating throughout the Garden. Trey's heavy metal clinic ended in favor of a holding a symposium on jamming featuring a transcendent Piper clocking in over 15 minutes. The first five-minute section ended with machine gun Trey, before delving into dirty tones for another five minutes or so. The last segment launched into an abstract, spacey environment that reminded me of two whales humping. I was convinced that we were getting lathered up and prepped for a segue into a lustful 2001 but those slick freaks from Vermont snuck a looping curveball by us with an unexpected segue into Twist. Trey's solo in Twist started out with his standard noodling but quickly evolved into a searing display of why Trey is the only one in the universe who can do what he does.

During a floor-rattling Julius one of those Williamsburg hipsters with a Mexican mustache in our row was making out and sucking face with a semi-passed out wookette. You wouldn't see two lovebirds licking each other like that at an Explosions in the Sky show.

2001 was teased in the last bit of the cosmic Piper jam, including CK5's infamous UFO lights, but after the crowd lapped up Golgi, the band and its CIA cohorts finally summoned the Mothership. The ETs kicked off a 2001 dance party with a flyby of MSG, the cannonfetti returned on cue, and a massive Statue of Liberty balloon almost made its way on stage.

The second set's denouement began with Horse > Silent in the Morning, which was just an opportunity to give Fishman a five minute breather before an audacious David Bowie. They could've ended the set right after Bowie's high-water mark, yet opted for one more song -- Squirming Coil. I would've preferred to hear Slave at that point, but at least with Coil we knew a lengthy Page solo was inevitable. Trey, Gordo, and Fishman eventually walked off the stage to a jubilant cheer, leaving Page all alone as he pecked away at his grand piano. Smooth. Fucking smooth. Page is a smooth operator, which is why he's is almost as cool as the guy in the Dos Equis commercials aka the Most Interesting Man in the World. Page gets a comparable amount of tail, even though he has less hair and has a bit of a gut due to his penchant for meatball sandwiches.

As denizens of Page Side Rage Side, it was fitting that the set ended with Page sitting underneath a single spotlight with 20,000+ maniacal fans clinging to every note.

Photo by Dave Vann © Phish 2011
I wondered what kind of encore we were going to get -- more smoke or a slowed, down cheesed out ballad? I guesstimated two potential covers -- Good Times Bad Times, or Shine A Light. GTBT would be a perfect bookend to a thrashing rock and roll theme that was omnipresent most of the set. So would they try to sneak that fastball by us? Or go for something off speed? But Phish is infamous for sabotaging scintillating second sets by playing an utterly preposterous encore song like Velvet Cheese. Is that how to treat fervent fans? Phisheads are dedicated to the band so much that they are willing to break up with their spouses, quit jobs, and drive thousands of miles in order to see a single show. One show. Oodles of sacrifice... but for Velvet Fucking Sea? Sorry for the rant and tangent... at least Shine A Light is an introspective tune from the Rolling Stones, yet, it's weird even for Phish to end shows on consecutive nights with covers from Exile on Main Street, since they encored Loving Cup the previous night.

The encore kicked off with Gordo's squishy bass propelling everyone into an ass-shaking rendition of Stevie Wonder's Boogie On Reggae Woman. The jam out included multiple fight bells from Gordo and Trey showing off his inner Pele by kicking big-assed balloons off the stage. They could've kept up the funk orgy for another ten minutes, but opted to end it early to sneak in one more tune -- Good Times Bad Times. I felt it coming. In my loins.

By no means was the Led Zeppelin cover perfect, but it was "all energy" and Phish finished the show with an exclamation point instead of a question mark.

Besides, I think Trey wanted to show off his chops just in case there were any Rolling Stone writers in the crowd. Every year we wonder if this is the year that Jann Wenner (the intrepid editor so ruthless he canceled Hunter S. Thompson's life insurance policy when he sent Hunter off to Southeast Asia to cover the Vietnam War) decides he has no more love for Trey and yanks him off the Top 100 Guitarist list in favor of Justin Beiber.

Trey let it rip during GTBT to remind the folks at Rolling Stone that he could have a scratchy voice, flub a bunch of lyrics, and miss a dozen or more changes -- but none of that matters because Big Red was oozing with gravitas and can shred with the best of the best.

Was the second set the premier set out of all six thus far? Most likely. Was the first set awful? It was a rough effort, but not a complete trainwreck. Ahhhh, let's be honest here -- the first set lacked substance. The rocking second set, highlighted by a celestial Piper jam and an infectious 2001 dance party, more than made up for the shakiness in the first half of the evening.

Three down. One more to go.

* * * *
He's my recaps from the other two shows... MSG 1: The Feeling I Forgot and MSG 2: Smoldering Skyscrapers.

Phish MSG Setlist - 12/30/2011 Friday

2011-12-30T17:55:00.004-05:00

Photo by Dave Vann © Phish 2011
Phish returns for the third installment of their four-show holiday run at the infamous Madison Square Garden in NYC. Follow @CoventryMusic for live updates throughout the show. You can also watch a webcast via LivePhish.

Phish Setlist - 12/30/2011 - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Set 1: PYIT> Prince Caspian > BDTNL, Nellie Kane, Divided Sky, Sand, Vultures, Rift, Joy**, Quinn the Eskimo

Set 2: Wilson > Axilla > Piper > Twist > Julius, Golgi, 2001, Horse > Silent in the Morning, Bowie, COIL

Encore: Boogie On, Good Times Bad Times

** Pauly Takes a Piss Song

MSG 2: Smoldering Skyscrapers

2011-12-30T04:53:00.000-05:00

You score a ticket. Make the journey. Get shitfaced. Eat some party favors. Phish takes the stage. Brings the heat for 3.5 hours. Blows the doors off the joint. Walks off stage. And all you can really say is "Fuck yeah!"

MSG Night 2. Heat. Smoke. Fire. Whatever. No gimmicks. No lettered-themed high-concept song shtick. No mind fucks. Just the heat. Phish came. They saw. They conquered. Everyone got their money's worth. You bought the ticket, got mesmerized watching Phish smoke the shit out of MSG, and even a few jaded vets, like myself, walked out of the Garden with a little less to gripe about.

The evening was juiced-up with high-octane energy. Sometimes you can tell it's going to be a crazy night by just walking into a venue and soaking up the scene for a few moments before you realize you're in the middle of a feisty crowd on the verge of a riot. Usually it's because someone flooded the lot of bombastic party enhancers. But in this instance, the buzz was all natural. You could smell something in the air at the Garden. And it wasn't Diesel. About half the people around me went to Wednesday's show and the other half were seeing their first show of the run, but bubbling over with uber-excitement so the entire Garden was buzzing with an abundance of nervous energy -- just awaiting to be ignited. The band feeds off crowd, and vice versa. It's infectious -- the energy, the vibe -- which in turn nurtures and nourishes a symbiotic organism that's been conjured up by the band and the audience.

During the second of a four night stint at MSG, Phish manipulated the crowd's frenetic exuberant energy and unleashed the monstrous, fire-breathing beast that nearly burned the whole fucking block to the ground. Sometimes I chase the dragon for an entire tour -- from city to city, indoor arenas and outdoors in amphitheaters -- only come face-to-face with the elusive beast once in a blue moon. I last caught up with the beast at the UIC shows, the last time I saw Phish smoke the shit out of a joint.

I attend Phish shows with an open mind and minimal expectations (aside from my daily prayer: "Dear God, don't let today be the day Trey woke up, got his palm read by a gypsy who told him to bust out TTE"), but the reason I try to see as many shows as possible is that I'm essentially a junkie chasing the dragon.

The view from Sec 227
I pre-partied with Senor and his brother Javier. Senor doesn't get to too many shows these days, but he picked one hell of a night to come down from Rhode Island to see Phish. When Senor sees shows with me the band usually plays one of three songs: Wolfman's, AC/DC Bag, and Mexican Cousin. I wagered on all three Senor standards and came out with a big fat donut.

On my way into the show, a sketchy older guy stopped me on the escalator. He asked me if I wanted to blast off. I thought he was slinging DMT, but he wasn't trying to get me digital, rather he just had run-o-the-mill shrooms. He looked like a tweaker but he had all of his fingernails. Something about him was not right, so I shined him on and wished him a good show.

I settled into a cozy section on the bend near the back in the 200 level. Everyone looked like professional party people, although, the guy next to us was seeing his first show and had no idea Phish had a piano player. Wow, a total true cherry. Someone get him a Margarita, a blunt, and a hit of liquid sunshine. He needs to be properly indoctrinated into the cult of Phish.

Sloth opener appealed to old school fans and it's not just a song about a bowl of spaghetti. I was expecting some sort of throwaway opener like AC/DC Bag or Runaway Jim, but the Sloth pick was the first indication that the night was going to be a a little different. My seats were on the aisle and a trio of high school girls rolling their tits off on molly decided to camp out next to me. One of the girls wore what I thought was a zebra jacket, but it was more like a snow-leopard outfit. I didn't investigate any further. She was jailbait and nothing but trouble. After all, I was at the show with my girlfriend, who was snookered after polishing off a nice amount of Chivas Regal during the pre-party.

The first few notes of YEM hit the crowd's ears and everyone unleashed a collective "Fuck yeah!" Yep, a scorcher was brewing. I figured the third or fourth night would be better suited for a monstrous YEM, yet never expected it as a second song in the first set. My buddy Girtz sent me a text: "45 minutes of fun." I figured a first set YEM batting second would clock in about half that time, and we were served up a turbo version (under 20 minutes), not that it mattered because the crowd fed off the band and the band fed off the crowd and etc and etc. Usually it takes the band an hour or so before the get everyone inside all jacked up, but it only took 10-15 minutes to get the crowd from simmering to scalding. I get goosebumps thinking about the crowd's cascading reaction during the release point before Boy-Man-God-Shit. That precise moment is always a cherished moment for me during a show. It's impossible to replicate hairs on the back of my neck standing straight up while listening a recording of YEM.

For the funk portion of the show, the boys treated us to a few savory blues/funk numbers including a city-funk'd up version of Back on the Train, the typical wild funk-rumpus in Moma Dance and a whaling Funky Bitch. By the time Funky Bitch ended, we had been dancing for 45 straight minutes.

My party favors kicked in by the start of Maze. I closed my eyes and got sucked down the rabbit hole and eventually lost in the jam. I forgot what song they were playing, which is a good sign because the band is transporting me to a different dimension. The second half of Maze is where you just want to let go... and get lost. When I heard the "chasing up the ladder" jam, I realized, ah... we're still lost in Maze. When the band gets a little lost in jams, Fishman comes to the rescue. Fish punches his way through a wall in the labyrinth and everyone follows him back into safe territory. They stumbled a bit getting out of Maze, but made up for it with Roses Are Free, one of those crowd sing-along cover songs.

The Halley's Comet jam has been savagely rip-chorded for all of 3.0. Just when things get cooking in Halley's, Trey bails and rushes the band into some other self-indulgent ballad or crowd-pleasing tune instead of letting a jam organically grow into a 18-minute orgy. Halley's was a little longer than usual (over seven minutes compared to those 4-5 minute appetizers), but they eventually aborted the jam and snaked into a scintillating Antelope. The anthem is an inspiring reminder of why I'm at a Phish show in the first place. Everyone else? They're sheep and will eventually get slaughtered. But Phisheads? They're antelopes all jacked up and sprinting out of control with unfettered freedom. I spent the last ten minutes of the set drenched in sweat after an 80-minute set comprised nonstop gyrations. I needed a towel at setbreak. Heck, I needed a cold shower. Some of those high school girls had stripper-esque moves. Hard not to get aroused after Phish set a fiery, sultry undertone to the show.

At break... I chugged water, scoffed at my girlfriend dropping $10 on a Jack & coke and tried to get scores on Bowl games, even though the Joker kept tabs on the Baylor-UW game for me throughout the show.

Sometimes the dragon gets unleashed for just a set, but rarely does it stick around for an entire show. Second set opener should've been another huge warning sign that the fire was going to linger. No sense in letting up, right? Crosseyed and Painless, a Talking Heads cover, has become a clutch set two opener in 3.0. Best example... opening the second set as a jam vehicle in Charleston last fall, in which they maintained peak momentum during one of those rare dragon shows. And the boys called Crosseyed's number again at the start of the second set at the Hollywood Bowl, which was the sparkplug the band needed to get back on track after a stressful first set at in the hills of Hollyweird. Phish relies on Crosseyed and Painless when they're running good and turn to it as a savior when they're running bad.

The Crosseyed jam narrowed into an ambient jam that was peppered with No Quarter teases. But, the boys already did that once before this year at UIC. Instead, they launched into Simple and created one of those miniature nuclear detonations when the crowd went apeshit bonkers during the skyscraper section... We've got skyscrapers, and it sings a pretty tune. Every band needs skyscraper too... What is a band without skyscrapers? Ooh ooh skyscraper is grand!

After almost thirty minutes of the dragon torching the room and melting parts of the skyline, the band eased off the pedal and coasted into a soothing Lifeboy. It was the only lull of the show, but well placed, considering a Mike's Groove mega-sandwich was about to be delivered. But... not before a sinister Guyute. My buddy Gil was also at the show and he also doesn't get to see too many shows, so I was pumped he got to see/hear a Gilyute.

Mike's Song initiated a carpet bombing of more nukes from Gordo as the ground shook most of the song. With Simple already served earlier in the feast, I Am Hydrogen became the favorite to appear as the middle meat of the Mike's Groove party sub. We got a knuckleball with Chalkdust, which is usually a first set song for Trey to show off his rockstar persona. Chalkdust featured such a high wanking factor that MSG's staff should've had one of the NY Knicks towel boys working the concert -- to run out and wipe up the "thick strawberry goo" left over after one of Big Red's monumental masturbatory moments.

The Weekapaug Groove was a thick-hearty gumbo of Page infused funk, Gordo launching a few bong-rattling bombs, Fishman channeling six African drummers, and Trey insisting on teasing Crosseyed and who know what he could squeeze into his superfluous noodling.

They could have walked off stage at the end of Weekapaug after reaching the emotional pinnacle of the set, but they stayed put for another song -- Show of Life. I think SOL and Bug are similar in that they are slow, plodding songs that eventually build up to a crescendo. They can definitely become black holes in a set and suck all of the lifeforce out of the show. That's what kinda happened on Thursday -- Bug ended the second set and I felt a little -- cheated. I was hoping for a bigger payoff. I guess the band learned their lesson because they didn't cheese out with SOL. Instead, they opted to blow some more shit up with Character Zero. The crowd knew that they got thrown a bone, so they gave Phish a gushing response with extra thrashing, grinding, and pogoing up and down like an irate British punk rocker smoking chocolate-dipped crack. Oh, and by the way... that towel boy? He was definitely needed after Zero because Trey went a wee bit overboard with an excessive excretion of bodily fluids. Alas, that's Trey being Trey.

I felt a Loving Cup coming last night, but I was just off one night. It's a safe choice. Page shines on covers. The band knows the song backwards and upside down, but that's also a knock against them because it's not as challenging as other Rolling Stones' covers. How about Monkey Man (which they busted out in Superball IX)? And I'm always chasing the dragon along with Torn and Frayed.

Solo shot encore. They nailed it. Rushed off stage. Left everyone wanting more. When the lights went up, everyone around me said something akin to "Fuck yeah!" Fun night for all. Just ask the guy at the urinal after the show who was doing keybumps while singing, "Ohhhhhh, what a beautiful buzzzzzz.... what a beautiful buzzzzzzzz!!"

MSG 2 was another evening of greatest hits with the Phish, but served with lots of hot sauce. The result? Nonstop dancing. Steamy. Sweaty. Sweltering. Smoldering. We shouldn't be allowed to have this much fun. That's why we're friggin' lucky.

Trey kicking the shit out of a balloon on Night 1
If Wednesday night was the "cold open" then Thursday was raining fire because the boys unleashed the beast. Why hold back? Chase down that dragon. Sometimes I wished Phish played with that same level of intensity every night, with the mentality of being the house band at an apocalyptic end of the world blowout. Smoke 'em if you got 'em. Party like it's 1999 before Armageddon. You know, fire and brimstone type of shit during the last night on Earth before the Mothership decides to CRTL+ALT+DELETE all of humanity.

Two down. Two more to go.

Phish MSG Setlist - 12/29/2011 Thursday

2011-12-29T17:55:00.002-05:00

Phish is back for night two of a four-show run at Madison Square Garden in NYC. Follow @CoventryMusic for live updates throughout the show. You can also watch a webcast of the MSG show via LivePhish.

Here's the setlist....

Phish Setlist - 12/29/2011 - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Set 1: Sloth, YEM, Back on the Train, Moma Dance, Funky Bitch, Maze, Roses Are Free, Halley's Comet > Antelope

Set 2: Crosseyed and Painless > Simple > Lifeboy > Guyute, Mike's Song > Chalkdust > Hydrogen > Weekapaug, Show of Life, ZERO

Encore: Loving Cup

MSG 1: The Feeling I Forgot

2011-12-29T04:20:00.004-05:00

During breakfast at a diner in the W. Village, my girlfriend peeled off a HOOD creamer for her coffee.

"It's a sign," she said. "Just like when I saw the ROSE toilet paper in the condo's bathroom in Telluride, and later that night, they played Roses Are Free."

Sometimes when you're looking for a specific sign, you'll find them everywhere. It's your mind playing tricks on you, or rather, your imagination stretching the elasticity of reality. You can connect the dots any way you want, but the HOOD creamer was something that stood out. I even tweet'd about it at 10:30am. The creamer indicated that HOOD was coming. But, HOOD on the first night? The creamer never lies.

Breakfast creamer foreshadowing the future
NYC. MSG. Phish returned for four consecutive nights of sheer madness in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Kicking it old school with a Holiday run from the 28th thru the 31st. No gimmicky show on 1/1. No other winter tour dates. The boys ended their 75-day hiatus with a triumphant return to the refurbished MSG.

MSG is like a show in my backyard considering I grew up in NYC. All I had to do was take one subway to the show. My girlfriend loved the fact that she could take the subway and not have to worry about driving after drinking and partying all night. Public transportation facilitates inebriation.

The downside to a Phish show in the urban jungle of Gotham is a serious lack of a 'lot scene' and Shakedown -- the subsequent bazaar in which to procure party favors and other hippie fare. On summer tour, the UIC lots in Chicago were a free-for-all. Same can be said about the lot across the street from AAA in Miami (with hundreds of homeless people awaiting on the fringes) during 2003 and 2009. But MSG? The lack of a traditional lot scene meant that you saw hundreds of ticketless phans wandering around on 7th Avenue with their index fingers in the air, or they were downstairs in Penn Station sidestepping harried commuters while hoping to score a miracle.

We got a semi-miracle courtesy of my girlfriend's sister, Mandy. Mandy is not much of a Phish fan, but she scored us tickets to tonight's show via mail order/lottery. We couldn't believe our luck after looking up the seating chart.

Pic by Change100
Sick score considering it was lottery. The tickets said third row but when we got up front, we were technically in the second row. A few folks in front of us were in wheelchairs, but there was plenty of space between the seats and the rail.

The kid next to me in a Phillies hat couldn't believe how close he was to the stage. He couldn't sit still before the show started. I knew that feeling. Butterflies on steroids. Sort of like trying to go to bed on Christmas Eve when you just want to rush downstairs and tear open a present. In this instance, Phish was sitting in a box with a neatly tied bow. All I wanted to do was rip the fucker open and get down to business...

I felt a Possum opener in my loins. I even bet it, but we got thrown for a curveball with a Free opener (with an instant bombardment of glowsticks), followed up by Glide. The band conveyed a message to the audience in the lyrics -- "I feel the feeling I forgot" and "We're glad, glad, glad that you've arrived." The crowd unleashed a raucous cheer during the "feeling I forgot" moment. The ground was shaking and bouncing, which is one of those cool things about seeing at a Phish show at MSG that you can't really describe unless you felt the floor rattling below you.

"Just like riding a bicycle!!!" the guy next to me screamed.

Of course, both songs were mere foreplay while they eventually tore into Possum. The guy with the cannonfetti returned with a timely release during the apex of Possum. Being so close to the action allowed me to read faces of band members. Trey looked like he was having a balls out time, but it seemed like he was trying too hard during Possum. Meanwhile, a stoic Gordo looked rather bored and unamused with Trey's early wankery.

The boys got cooking with Cities, the first cover song of the night. You knew it was coming. NYC and Cities is synonymous. Gordo unleashed a few bombs -- THWWWWOOOOOONG -- and I could feel every bit of it rattle around my insides. Gordo was turned up so loud that I could barely hear Page in the mix, but Page eventually got his moment to shine with an influx of funk-induced melodies during the Cities jam -- one of my favorite moments from the first set. Oh, and I got hit in the head with a dreidel. A balloon dreidel. Only at Phish.

Treated to two consecutive covers with Curtis Loew. It was a quickie Curtis, but it gave Page another opportunity to croon the crowd. He always kills, slays, destroys cover songs. All hail Leo... King of the Covers.

I couldn't tell which was sloppier -- Stash or the schwasted guy in the 'Peace Now' shirt that kept flailing his arms while playing air guitar and banging into an old guy in a wheelchair. I felt bad for the old guy -- not only was he confined to sit the entire show, but he couldn't get the drunk guy from invading his space. At one point a security guard warned the drunkard to get his shit together, however, drunk guy continued his annoying, stumbling antics. Toward the end of Stash, he fell into a sneezing fit and sneezed like 12 times in a row, but every time he had a wretched look on his face that it appeared as though he was gonna hurl after each sneeze. Everyone around him braced themselves for a puke shower. It never came, but instead he kept sneezing and spraying. He must have a shitty coke dealer, because no one sneezes that much unless they are trying to flush lingering baby laxatives out of their nasal cavities. The security guards 86'd him and you really have to be really, really all kinds of fucked up before you get escorted out of a Phish show. Fucking amateurs. Hold your booze or find someone with better nose candy!

The sloppy Stash and schwasted guy threw me off my mental game. I had to re-group during Contact. The boys threw everyone a bone with a crowd-pleasing double dip of Contact, followed by a Sample in a Jar sing-a-long.

Crowd during Sample
Sample is one of those songs when you can become mesmerized by the entire crowd singing along to the chorus as Kuroda flicks on the house lights and you see everyone going nuts. I love those moments.

Kill Devil Falls jam contained a few flashes of grandeur, but it got cut short in favor of Bathtub Gin. The Gin was heavy on all accounts and one of the highlights of the first set. If there was any rust, it had all been shaken off by the time Gin ended. The savory jam "hit the spot" but just when things got really grooving... it was time to go. Phish reached the 80-minute mark, took a bow, and rushed off stage.

Ten-song set. Cities and Gin. Good stuff to kick off MSG run.

Before the show, I was arguing with G-Rob over second set openers. "It's friggin' cold today in the City," I said. "It's gonna be a Tweezer. Book it."

"No way," said G-Rob. "They only play Tweezer on Saturdays. It's gonna be Rock and Roll. Take that to the bank."

Well, we were both kinda right in that Phish played each song, but we were dead wrong on the placement. The set opener nod went to... Birds of a Feather. Far-fetched choice because it was completely off the radar, but an interesting selection in the same vein as the show opener of Free.

The floor was shaking, rattling, swaying again during Carini. The jam-out had a few notes that reminded me of Simple-esque noodling, but it was the groundwork being laid before an unleashing of Tweezer that was lathered with dirty tones. I love my Tweezers dark, sultry, and outright sleazy -- sort of like the emotional fragility and sensual stability of Angelina Jolie at the tail end of a three-day coke bender. Trey was ripping up Tweeze with deep knee bends and 'chaka chaka' riffs, meanwhile, Gordo was slapping around his bass like he was a stern, non-nonsense, ball-busting dominatrix working an S&M club in Amsterdam.

My Friend My Friend is one of those songs that was written about your crazy friend from college who lost his marbles during an acid trip. You know who I'm talking about -- the demented guy that you hide sharp objects from whenever y'all dabble in psychedelics or drink grain whiskey. The haunting image of your emotionally distraught, deranged buddy holding a sharp object on a head full of acid is one of the scariest things you can imagine, especially when you're tripping balls yourself.

Dark set. Deviant set. Carini > Tweezer > My Friend. Hide your knives.

Rock and Roll popped up at least thirty minutes into the set. The Velvet Underground cover has a lyric about NYC, so that always gets a hearty cheer from the hometown heads. Rock and Roll was blazing fast. Trey was shredding, but Fishman and Page impressed me the most. I dunno what the hell they were doing at set break, but the frenetic, high-paced manner they were playing suggested that Page had sat in Fishman's dressing room and the two railed lines and lines of Adderall. They burst out of the gate in the second set, peaking during a feverish, speed-induced rendition of Rock and Roll.

Usually Phish has to pick up the pace to play NICU, but in this instance, they had to slow it down after the tweaker version of Rock and Roll.

The creamer never lies. Harry Hood appeared right after Bouncin'. Hood had its peaks and valleys, but it delivered at the right moments. Another guy in a wheelchair was getting a lap dance from his girlfriend during Hood. It was hard not to watch them. Grind city.

I dunno why I was feeling a Show of Life, but the band was on a similar wavelength because they toned it down a couple of notches and down shifted into Bug. They needed to ease off the pedal a bit after their speed-freakout, but Bug wouldn't have been that bad of a choice... if it didn't end the set, but... it ended the set. Whaaaaat? Overrated, indeed.

Fishman's spooky drum kit
At least they made up for it with a three-song encore, specifically omitting Loving Cup. Earlier in the show, Trey made hand gestures indicating Tube but either Gordo or Fishman shot him down. They didn't deny his request for the first encore song even though it was a rapid burst of funk -- barely over three minutes -- but a welcomed effort nonetheless. The second song in the encore, Rocky Top, also came out of nowhere. I think everyone was expecting something less... um... less... country. I channeled my inner hillbilly and got hokey. Senor's bro Javier once told me his theory that Phish only played Rocky Top in the 1.0 era when they felt as though they had a kick-ass night. Was that the case at MSG?

The first night featured a few peculiar song placements, but we essentially caught a formulaic "greatest hits" show with a veritable potpourri of quintessential Phish: a few classics, a few covers, a few crowd pleasers, and a couple of heavy hitters.

On cue, Tweezer Reprise ended the encore and completed the Tweeprise tandem. Trey jumped up and down like an ADHD kid with a million fire ants in his crotch, meanwhile, a cool and calm Gordo launched a couple of thermo nukes. Four hours later and my ears are still rattling.

Like true show business savants, Phish left the crowd wanting more. Sure, it had been almost three months since the last time they played, but the starving crowd would've lapped up anything they threw at us (insert your own pissing in ears joke here _____). Alas, they didn't phone it in like so many other bands would have. They didn't take the money and run. They always aim to please and gave a tough-to-please audience a little bit of everything. It wasn't perfect by any means, but considering the first night at MSG was a "cold open", Phish actually set a couple of highwater marks (Cities, Gin, Tweezer, Rock & Roll) that they'll be chasing the rest of the run.

We got a taste. Can't wait to indulge in more mayhem.

Phish MSG Setlist - 12/28/2011 Wednesday

2011-12-28T16:20:00.011-05:00

Designed by DKNG © Phish 2011.

Phish is about to kick off their four-show run at the newly refurbished MSG. Although there's not much of a crazy lot scene at MSG, I will be providing commentary throughout the MSG shows via @CoventryMusic on Twitter. Also, feel free to follow @change100 for her infamous fashion reports.

We're a few hours away from the MSG madness. If you were unable to attend the shows, don't worry because all four shows, including NYE, is being webcast! Click here to pre-order the webcast for the entire run.

Phish Setlist - 12/28/2011 - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Set 1: Free, Glide, Possum, Cities, Curtis Lowe, Stash, Contact, Sample, Kill Devil Falls > Gin

Set 2: Birds of a Feather > Carini > Tweezer > My Friend, My Friend > Rock and Roll > NICU > Bouncin**, Harry Hood > Bug

Encore: Tube > Rocky Top > Tweeprise

** Pauly Takes a Piss Song

Ben Whitesell's MSG NYE Print

2011-12-28T11:11:00.000-05:00

Our buddy Ben Whitesell created a new skyscraper-themed print in honor of the MSG run.

Here's the straight dope...

Ben Whitesell has created his latest fan art poster of the year for Phish's NYE run in NYC. There are 20 available on movingthemerch.com, all signed and numbered by the artist. He's selling these for $20. For a behind the scenes peek at his thought process for this print check out benwhitesellblog.com. Thanks to everyone who has supported his art this year.

Suzy MSG Jam

2011-12-27T04:20:00.000-05:00

One. More. Day.

The four-show MSG run kicks off in one day. We'll be there. Don't forget to follow @CoventryMusic over the next few days for updates in the trenches.

Here's a quick jam I recorded from behind the stage during the 2009 MSG run (which happened in early December of that year)...

Broseph's Year End Mix 2011

2011-12-26T04:20:00.000-05:00

Here's a mix of songs I listened to a lot this year. They're not all from 2011. In fact, one dates back to the late 90's. But, I did discover them this year. I'm especially fond of the first track, a gift idea for my friends. It's super weird.

Track List:

01-Holiday Audio Greeting Card-Broseph
02-Raconte Moi Une Histoire-M83.
03-Nothing But Our Love-Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
04-All Die Young-Smith Westerns
05-Lorelai-Fleet Foxes
06-Julius-Starfucker
07-Back Like 8 Track-The Go! Team
08-Ain't It Strange-Dr. Dog
09-Fot I Hose-Casiokids
10-My my Metrocard-Le Tigre
11-Evening, Morning-Bombay Bicycle Club

Download Here

Have a Very Hip-Hop Christmas SON!

2011-12-25T11:49:00.000-05:00

Background Beats - Winter 2012

2011-12-19T04:20:00.000-05:00

The Winter 2012 edition of Background Beats features the sounds of 2012. Tribal drums and other middle eastern sounds mixed with the smooth grooves this series is known for. The compilation touches on dark, psychedelic moods while at the same time balancing light, up-lifting emotions. The perfect mix for your deemsters - This is the 2012 Alien edition of Background Beats. Enjoy!

Track-list :

track. song - artist

01. Hypnotic (Redubbed) - Govinda

02. All In My Mind - At Home Project

03. Journey To Arnhemland – Jamiroquai

04. Robin Your Mind - Octopus Nebula

05. The Most Gorgeous Sunset - Kuba

06. Turka Lila - Hamsa Lila

07. Tabla Toy - Beats Antique

08. It Will Be – Jakatta

09. Aqua Libra (Down Beat Mix) - Cool Blu

10. Form To Follow Feat. Kelster - Tm Juke

11. Embers – Hibernation

12. Waffle Roast - Zilla

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Christmas Remixed

2011-12-16T10:44:00.002-05:00

This Christmas mix should keep music lovers & their family gatherings out of the grinch zone.

http://2020radio.com/blog/2011/11/21/christmas-remixed/

DOWNLOAD LINK - Mediafire

http://www.mediafire.com/?kf2322zwzmwjc19

Bing Crosby – White Christmas (Kaskade Remix)
Berlin Sympony Orchestra – The Nutcracker Suite (Baz Kuts Breaks Mix)
Charles Brown – I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Ohmega Watts Remix)
Louis Armstrong – Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Mulato Beat Remix)
Johnny Mercer – Winter Wonderland (Rise Ashen’s Brazilian Beach Mix)
Dean Martin – Jingle Bells (Dan The Automator Remix)
Duke Ellington – Jingle Bells (Robbie Hardkiss Remix)
Kay Starr – I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Stuhr Remix)
Berlin Symphony Orchestra – Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (Red Baron Remix)
The Cathedral Brass – Joy To The World (Mocean Worker Remix)
Andy Williams – It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (A Shrift Remix)
Bing Crosby – Happy Holidays (Beef Wellington Remix)
Patti Page – Frosty The Snowman (Rondo Brothers Remix)
CSSR State Philharmonic – Good King Wenceslas (Patrick Krouchian Remix)
Charles Brown – Merry Christmas, Baby (MNO Remix)
Bing Crosby & Ella Fitzgerald – Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer (John Beltran Remix)
Rosemary Clooney – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (MNO Remix)
Mel Torme – The Christmas Song (Michael Kessler Open Fire Mix)
Jimmy McGriff – The Christmas Song (Tonal Remix)
Bing Crosby – The First Noel (Attaboy House Party Mix)
Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You (So So Def Remix)
Mahalia Jackson – Silent Night (46Bliss Remix)

Repost: Background Beats Xmas Untz edition

2011-12-15T10:31:00.000-05:00

there may be a new Xmas Untz Mix coming up soon, but until then enjoy last year's mix...

If you have any holiday parties coming up, make sure you download this mix. This special edition of Background Beats features DJ Matt J Loya who has made many incredible mixes over the years, but is especially talented in making Christmas mixes that are guaranteed be a big hit at any holiday party.

This mix is one long track, and unfortunately I do not have a track-list, however the mix brings the same downtempo, funky beats that the Background Beats series has always provided, only with a Christmas twist.

Track-List:
MJL Christmas Mix - Matt J. Loya : 1hr:14min

DOWNLOAD

Enjoy!

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Mike Gordon Band ~ I'm DeRanged>>>The Way It Goes

2011-12-12T16:20:00.002-05:00

One of three videos I shot the other night at Gordon's The EGG show in Albany, NY. It was the tour closer and also Night II of Pete "PhanArt" Mason's birthday weekend of music which started with the McLovin's show at Red Square in Albany on Saturday Night.

My video of "Don't do it" is linked up on YEM BLOG.

Mike was intrigued by The Egg and wanted everyone to think and speak only in three letter word's. I can sum up the three letter word of my night as JAM. Most all of the song's stretched over the ten minute mark and segued effortlessly one into the other. A much tighter band (yet the same line-up) then what I had seen two year's prior at Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock.

THE DUDE OF LIFE who lives a 2 hour Thruway drive south in Westchester, NY was in attendence and came out to perform, a little sloppy but fun Suzy Greenberg.

Dazed and Confused Synopsis in 120 Seconds

2011-12-08T18:27:00.001-05:00

I was highly entertained by this gem.

Combating Hippies (With Subtitles)

2011-12-07T16:20:00.000-05:00

Hysterical.

A Video to Welcome Winter

2011-12-05T04:20:00.000-05:00

Tremendous short film from JP Auclair Street Segment (from All.I.Can.) .

JP Auclair Street Segment (from All.I.Can.) from Sherpas Cinema on Vimeo.

Mix: Songs the joker listened to A LOT in 2011

2011-12-03T11:11:00.000-05:00

It is getting towards the end of 2011 and the "best albums" lists are coming out. Instead of listing a bunch of heady albums, I wanted you to check out the songs I listened to A LOT in 2011.

I went through some big changes in 2011. The birth of my daughter has changed me in ways I can't explain, but I feel like this mix explains some about this time of my life. I believe that music we love resonates at the same frequency with the vibrations in our soul. Take a listen to this mix and let me know if any of the songs resonate with you as much as they did with me this year.

Intro- The xx
Bedouin Dress- Fleet Foxes
Truth- Alexander Ebert
Wilderness- Middle Brother
Sissyfuss- Surprise Me Mr. Davis
Still Sound- Toro y Moi
Reunion- M83
Eyes Be Closed- Washed Out
Circus>Roygbiv (axe the cables) STS9, Re:Generation Festival
Atari- Marco Benevento
Sand -6/19/2011 Phish
Girlfriend is Better- Umphrey's McGee

DOWNLOAD - songs the joker listened to A LOT in 2011
(Mattie listened to these a lot too)

The Worst Album Covers Ever Created?

2011-12-03T04:20:00.007-05:00

Our good buddy, Dusty, sent me a link to The Worst Album Covers Ever Created, and now we can all experience the pure GOLD of this website. Here are some samples:

As I browsed through these album covers, I thought to myself, "What in the hell does an album called "My Pussy Belongs to Daddy" sound like"? Well, here is the title track to "My Pussy Belongs to Daddy" - Enjoy!

Check out many more of these terrible album covers HERE, or visit their FACEBOOK PAGE.

Llama, 9-3-11

2011-12-02T16:20:00.004-05:00

This song reminds me of the first time I bought a Phish album.

My buddy Matty P mentioned seeing "the Phish". I grabbed a few CD's from the rack. I put in Lawn Boy, Junta, and A Picture of Nectar--in that order--listening to the first track only. I wasn't too impressed until the third album, and the kicking heat that is Llama.

Here's one from Dick's in September, and Page brings the heat throughout--taboot, taboot. Overall it's a bit choppy, but really heats up around the 3:00 mark.

I hope to see some messenger birds during the NYE run.

Hey, Yoga Girl Rap!

2011-11-30T16:20:00.002-05:00

I stumbled across this video when a friend posted it on her Facebook page and gave me a shout out. Quite the hysterical rap about my passion, yoga. I found it highly amusing and most especially enjoyed the use of the lingo. So, go get your stretch on and find yourself a yoga guuuurl!

Patrice O'Neal on Radiohead

2011-11-29T15:33:00.001-05:00

Patrice O'Neal died today. I wasn't a super big fan or anything, but this clip is good stuff.

Trey Anastasio Band - Push On Till The Day from Bear Creek 2011

2011-11-27T16:54:00.000-05:00

Video: Halley's Comet - 11/22/97 Hampton

2011-11-22T16:20:00.000-05:00

Man, the boys don't jam-out Halley's like the used to. Here's an official video from the 11/22/97 show at the Mothership...

Phish - "Halley's Comet" 11/22/97 from Phish on Vimeo.

FYI, this show is available as part of Phish's latest box set (due date December 6th). Get it at Phish Dry Good via pre-order here.

Halley's Comet/Tube, Denver 9/4/2011

2011-11-19T20:07:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite moments from the Dick's shows...

Grateful Dead songs to get film treatment?

2011-11-18T16:20:00.000-05:00

In an exclusive report today, Deadline's Mike Fleming spilled the beans on some interesting rumblings when it comes to the Grateful Dead's archives. After being granted access to the Dead catalog, top Hollywood agency ICM is looking to package a feature film build around the band's music. This wouldn't be a film about the Dead, but a fictional narrative set in the late 60s/early 70s built around their songs, a la the Beatles and the 2007 Evan Rachel Wood vehicle Across the Universe. Motion Picture literary agent Bruce Kaufman is spearheading the project on the ICM side and is consulting with band archivist David Lemieux.

Let's be clear--absolutely nothing about this project has been set, not a producer, writer or studio. All this really means is that ICM is actively pitching this idea to their feature writing clients to see if any of them have a good "take" on it. If someone did, the next step would be approaching a producer. And if the producer liked it they'd take it to a studio. And then, and probably only then, would a script be written. So while this whole thing is a bit pie in the sky at this point, it's something to keep an eye on.

And hey, if any of you out there have a Grateful Dead musical you wrote 15 years ago that's sitting in a drawer, you might as well register that shit with the WGA and send it to ICM!

FURTHUR - Albany Times Union Center - 11/15/11

2011-11-16T16:20:00.003-05:00

After a 2010 which saw me on the road traipsing after my favorite bands like I was a full time tour rat (I was trying for 50 shows in my 50th year), 2011 has turned out to be pretty quiet on the live music front for me. I saw Phish's New Year's Run and two of the Bethel shows. I did SuperBall IX and short of a Mclovin show and 1 Furthur show I was unable to get out there but it was not for lack of trying. I also missed Gathering of the Vibes this year where FURTHUR headlined so last nights Albany TU show which I will always refer to as the KNICK was only my second of 2011.

The Knick was home to an iconic live recording released by the Grateful Dead: Dozin' at the Knick (the original name of the TU Center was the Knickerbocker Arena and then the Pepsi Arena) for us Deadheads it was known as Dosin' at the Knick. I was present at these shows, newly sober, slightly bewildered and sought out the company of my fellow Wharf Rats for support. I saw the Grateful Dead live only a few times after this largely because the death of Brent Mydland hit me hard and the scene for me was just getting ugly and frankly the playing sloppy.

I took a break from the live music scene but once a deadhead always a deadhead and I started seeing Phil and Friends, Ratdog, the Other Ones, The Dead, Rhythm Devils etc beginning around 2000-2001. The last The Dead show I saw in April of 2009 was a snoozer, so I was pleasantly surprised when I attended Furthur at Utica in February 2010.

If you want to say Furthur recreates the Grateful Dead experience your missing the point. Go see Dark Star Orchestra. With Furthur, Bobby and Phil have attempted to take songs from the vast Grateful Dead catalog and put their own spin on them. They have added some new songs and reworked some old songs and added some covers too. John K isn't channeling Jerry, he isn't playing Jerry note for note but I feel he captures the spirit or flavor of Jerry. Let's face it no one can replace Jerry and I think Phil and Bob knew that. My old roomie doesn't like the band without Bill and Mickey, but Joe Russo is one of the best young drummers in the business and holds it all down with a youthful exuberance in a less is better kind of way.

Best friend Kim and I enjoyed dinner at El Loco Mexican. Our server noticing all the tye-dye in a largely hipster neighborhood (El Loco is around the corner from Lark Street. If Albany has a hipster locale it would probably be Lark Street) asked what show was going on at the TU Center. I mentioned it was Furthur, and then added "two of the surviving members of the Grateful Dead" when he looked slightly puzzled. At Phish shows I'm the old lady of our bunch but at Furthur there are plenty of folks with a lot more grey in their hair then Kim or I. Granted we color our hair!!

We left our cars up in Washington Park and walked down the hill to the TU Center. Shakedown was in full force early on as it has been unseasonably warm in Upstate NY short of that freak October snowstorm. We passed on Shakedown kind of a been there done that attitude and went in right before show time. I had to stop in at the Wharf Rats table to say hello to my awesome pet sitter and pfriend Amanda. Kudos to Amanda for her service. She tirelessly works the tables at Furthur, Phish, DSO, and Umphreys shows. Say hello to her this weekend at the Calvin Theatre (MA) and Ithaca DSO shows.

***official setlist photo courtesy of @furthurband

Set I opener was Here Comes Sunshine. This song was retired from rotation before my GD touring days. The first time I remember hearing it live for sure was The Other Ones show at the TU Center aka Pepsi Arena circa 2002. This was the first song from Wake of the Flood album that was performed last night (it is the 5th song on WOTF). Row Jimmy followed also from Wake of the Flood (3rd song on WOTF). Row Jimmy along with Black Peter were staples of my touring days. Love the harmonies but I can take or leave the song .

After opening with two John K vocal leads, Song III turned over to Bob. It was new-ish song Big Bad Blues. Last year Bobby popped up with a video post on his Facebook page saying "Hey Homies this is a little bit of what Im working on". Big Bad Blues is a work in progress. Lyrics by Robert Hunter but Bobby has been tweaking them. Many of the songs in the GD catalog have references to playing cards. Add this one to this list. Although its a blues song its gotta a funky twist too it. As a poker player I approve. Next was the cover of Ryan Adam's Magnolia Mountain, Since the first time I heard it at Furthur Utica it has only gotten better. The back-up harmonies of Sunshine Becker and Jeff Pehrson add a richness and depth to John K's lead.

New Minglewood Blues (another cover) once again featured Bob on lead vocals . The original version dates back to the 1920's and was recorded in the 1930's. Bobby has altered the lyrics over the years adding, repeating, forgetting them. Dire Wolf and a trip to a card game in Fennario followed. The second of two songs with card game references last night. Loose Lucy and Cosmic Charlie closed out the first set. How can you really go wrong with those two songs as a set closer. Once again stand-out harmony on Cosmic Charlie. It was a treat considering the horrible acoustics that muddied the song this summer at SPAC.

Passenger was the first song after an intermission that was almost as long as the first set. Once again the supporting vocals made this song flow. The Beatles - Here comes the Sun followed. Whereas Set I may look like it was all over the place and disjointed (it did work) Set II began to flow and segue seamlessly. I think the new arrangement with John K and Phil switching sides so John K can see Jeff Chimenti is working. John K, Bob and Phil also seem to be closer together and there seems to be more of an intuitive playing going on now then a year ago. No More Do I (a Phil and Friends tune ) threw me for a second with John K back on lead vocals. Then it was the Reverend Bob Weir's turn to step up to the pulpit. He took us thru Estimated Prophet, handed the sermon over to Phil for Cryptical Envelopment and I knew from the segue jam what was brewing was going to be a tasty and ominous That's it for the Other One. To me this is a triple D song: Dark, Dank, Dirty. I liken it to Phish's Down with Disease. In my GD touring years this song at first used to scare me until I embraced it. It was also done mostly without the Cryptical lead in live at least as performed by the GD during my touring years. The jam went back into Cryptical and then what followed was an amazing All Along the Watchtower. I've heard tons of different versions (both live and recorded) of Watchtower including author and original performer Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, RatDog, Dave Matthews, U2, Neil Young, Hendrix, Grace Potter and Pearl Jam this one was one of the best Ive heard. I credit Joe Russo to laying down ferocious licks on the drums to that. It had an energy that is sometimes sorely lacking from this song. I also felt it spoke to the Occupy Wall Street movement:

Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth.

Stella Blue followed (the third and final tune from Wake of the Flood). Once again John K handled the lead vocals. At some point a very drunk middle-aged dude in front of me asked Kim who the lead guitarist was. She deferred to me and I had to explain to drunk dude his name is John Kadlecik, and then K A D L E C I K when I was given a vacant stare. Still another vacant stare and I said he played the Jerry part in Dark Star Orchestra (another dumb look). Drunk dude finally looked at me and yelled "He's fucking great" and fist pumped the air. I am still caught off guard when people go see a show and have no idea who is performing. I mean he didnt even know about Dark Star Orchestra, its like he was just dropped into the middle of a concert from outer space!

Uncle John's Band closed Set II. Ive heard UJB so many times but still love it. Id sing it as a nursery rhyme if I had a baby to sing it too. Encore as usual started with Phil taking the mike to implore people to become Organ Donor's. I could say the NFA aka Not Fade Away encore was standard and a little lacking energy on crowd refrain but that was our fault not the band's. A beautiful Brokedown Palace closed out a nice double encore. Once again beautiful harmonies.

When I went to put on my coat it was soaked with beer. I realized that's probably why the very drunk couple from Long Island behind me offered me their weed. As I tweeted you must be embedded with hippies when you leave a concert smelling like a bong and an ashtray and covered with beer.

Gordo: "Won't Get Fooled Again"

2011-11-13T23:11:00.000-05:00

Mike Gordon Band rips it up on a bong-rattling cover of The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again...

FWIW - OWS

2011-11-10T15:33:00.000-05:00

From a performance 44 years ago... the lyrics from Buffalo Springfield echo what's happening today.

Background Beats Presents - Patrick Lee

2011-11-08T04:20:00.002-05:00

Introducing - Patrick Lee. This guy is amazing - he has over 20 albums FREE FOR DOWNLOAD at www.patrickleemusic.com

If you are a fan of the Background Beats series or Mark Farina's Mushroom Jazz, you will really enjoy the music of Patrick Lee.

He is performing in Denver, CO next Friday, 11/18 at Quixotes True Blue.
Patrick Lee by jonas0tt0

William Shatner - Bohemian Rhapsody

2011-11-04T22:10:00.000-04:00

Genius. Bill Shatner is a fucking genius.

Halloween Flashback: Festival 8 Videos

2011-10-31T13:11:00.001-04:00

I didn't really miss a Phishy Halloween this year until I woke up this morning and watched these videos I shot two years ago of friends having a blast in Indio. I couldn't stop howling with laughter. And yes, the Joker was soooo schwasted for the afternoon set that we almost issued him a "wook ticket"!

Anyway, the first video is a montage of the entire weekend. The second video reveals the Coventry crew's advanced puppetry skills, intergalactic sex between an alien and an unicorn. Oh, and how could I forget a molly-snorting parrot? The last video is the Joker dressed up as the UPS Man.

Enjoy!

Tom Marshall is tweeting gold (and has glorious hair)

2011-10-28T21:09:00.003-04:00

Tom Marshall, oft Phish lyricist and BBF of Trey, joined twitter not too long ago. He's posted some old and rare versions of early tracks worth checking out. His avatar is also creepy. @TomMarshall111

Human Agency Needs Your Help!

2011-10-26T04:20:00.005-04:00

Human Agency are good friends of Coventry. They have a track up against 15 competitors in the “Chill” bracket of The Untz Challenge 2.

Go to www.theuntz.com/theuntzchallenge2 and vote for "Human Agency - The Seventh Cup" - you have to register with their site but it only takes 2 minutes!

Here is the song you are voting for:

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://humanagency.bandcamp.com/track/the-seventh-cup"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Seventh Cup by Human Agency&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Thanks for your help!

Jerry Garcia MTV Interview

2011-10-26T04:20:00.000-04:00

Special thanks to BrandoFunk for posting this uncut Nina Blackwood interview filmed June 2, 1983.

Cliff Notes Version:

Pre-interview
Jerry Garcia Band solo tour
Playing different instruments
Jerry Garcia Band's Matrix Club S.F. roots
The Deadheads
Jerry's early years learning to play the guitar
Meeting and getting to be friends with Phil Lesh
Pigpen
Grateful Dead studio albums
Grateful Dead playing live
Grateful Dead on film
Songwriting to get a new album ready
Grateful Dead video plans
Grateful Dead in the 1980's
End of formal interview
MTV station ID's
One more question before the tape cuts
00:30:07

Blackwater 2011 Video Montage

2011-10-24T04:20:00.002-04:00

Greetings all you beautiful freaks! Check out this video montage put together from the 2011 Blackwater Music Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee. Your very own delicious Strawberry Shortcake can be spotted gettin' down in the hammock around 1:15.

Halloween Mix Tapes

2011-10-23T11:11:00.003-04:00

Throwing a Halloween Party? Here are a couple of Halloween themed mixes to help you out with DJ duties.

Halloween Mix Tape Vol I
A SIDE

01/18 Welcome To My Nightmare - Alice Cooper
02/18 Maggot Brain - Widespread Panic w/ David Blackmon
03/18 Godzilla - Blue Oyster Cult
04/18 Pusherman - Curtis Mayfield
05/18 Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones
06/18 Vampire Blues - Neil Young
07/18 Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon
08/18 I Walk On Guilded Splinters - Dr. John
09/18 Ball of Confusion - The Temptations
10/18 It's Just The Night - The Del McCoury Band
11/18 Ain't No Grave - Johnny Cash
12/18 The Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band
13/18 Shower Scene - Theme From Psycho
14/18 Spirit In The Dark - Aretha Franklin
15/18 Superstition - Stevie Wonder
16/18 Thriller - Michael Jackson
17/18 Freaks Come Out At Night - Whodini
18/18 Devil in a Blue Dress - Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels

B SIDE

01/19 Halloween Theme - John Carpenter
02/19 Where The Devil Don't Stay - Drive-By Truckers
03/19 Highly Suspicious - My Morning Jacket
04/19 Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
05/19 Scarecrow - Beck
06/19 Blood Moon - Deer Tick
07/19 Psychotic Girl - The Black Keys
08/19 Halloween Head - Ryan Adams
09/19 People Are Strange - The Doors
10/19 Slippin' Into Darkness - War
11/19 Ghost - Phish
12/19 Voodoo Woman - Koko Taylor
13/19 Little Red Riding Hood - Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
14/19 Whistlin' Past the Graveyard - Tom Waits
15/19 Way Down In The Hole - Steve Earle
16/19 Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground - The White Stripes
17/19 Back in Black - AC/DC
18/19 Me and The Devil Blues - Widespread Panic
19/19 Children Of The Grave - Black Sabbath

DOWNLOAD Halloween Mix Tape Vol I

HALLOWEEN MIX, Vol. II

01/32 Dump Truck - Robert Walter's 20th Congress
02/32 Blood On The Highway - The Ragged Jubilee
03/32 Dancing On Our Graves - The Cave Singers
04/32 Fairies Wear Boots - Black Sabbath
05/32 Howlin' For You - The Black Keys
06/32 My Wicked, Wicked Ways - Blue Mountain
07/32 Spooky - Classics IV
08/32 Diggin' My Grave - William Elliott Whitmore
09/32 Spooked Cat Blues - Tim Bluhm
10/32 The Devil Had A Hold Of Me - Gillian Welch
11/32 Deal With The Devil - Peter Rowan
12/32 Graveyard - Grayson Capps
13/32 When the Devil's Loose - A.A. Bondy
14/32 Devil's A-Go-Go - Blitzen Trapper
15/32 Halloween 2009 - Loudon Wainwright III
16/32 Every Day IsThe Day Of The Dead - Ray Wylie Hubbard
17/32 Dire Wolf - The Grateful Dead
18/32 Devil In Disguise - J.J. Cale
19/32 Demonic Possession - Drive-By Truckers
20/32 It's A Monsters' Holiday - Buck Owens
21/32 Dirt On The Grave - Iron Horse
22/32 Devil - Split Lip Rayfield
23/32 Sinister Purpose - CCR
24/32 Vampire Lake - The Builders and The Butchers
25/32 The Plank - Devil Makes Three
26/32 Am I Demon - Bonnie "Prince" Billy
27/32 Devil Town - Bright Eyes
28/32 Feed My Frankenstein - Alice Cooper
29/32 I'm Mad - The Dead Weather
30/32 Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
31/32 Woke Up This Morning - Alabama 3
32/32 Sweet Leaf - Black Sabbath

DOWNLOAD Halloween Mix Tape Vol 2

thanks to Cornbread > Jam for putting these together!

Karl Denson's Sticky Fingers - 10/21/11 San Francisco

2011-10-22T04:20:00.006-04:00

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe arrived in San Francisco for a two night run at the Independent. The Independent is one of three popular venues that is less than a 15-minute walk from my apartment in Lower Pacific Heights (the Boom Boom Room and the Fillmore are the other two). So, my girlfriend and I were eager to see a show so close by without having to worry about buzzed driving and finding a parking space. One of the primary reasons we moved to San Francisco was to soak up the juicy music scene -- especially shows within walking distance from our couch. Last weekend we caught Denver's own Juno What at the Boom Boom Room, and this weekend we were pumped to catch a special performance from Karl Denson.

Denson is doing a little something different and very ambitious this tour by covering the entire Sticky Fingers album by the Rolling Stones. His first set is devoted to all ten songs, while the second set is regular Karl Denson tunes. During this stretch he has Anders Osbourne sitting in on vocals and lead guitar. The Scandi wook's own rock band opened up for KDTU this tour.

Both shows in San Francisco were sold out. The Independent was super packed with a mixture of chatty hipsters and the usual assortment of neo-hippie types. I had an extra ticket and sold it to a kid a few bucks below face. He showed up at 6:30 hoping to buy one at the box office, but got shut out. He tried to find one for almost four hours on the street in front of the venue -- and came up empty -- until I hooked him up.

Karl doubled on vocals and sax. He opened up the Sticky Fingers' set proclaiming, "This song is about interracial sex!" Then the band launched into an ass-shaking Brown Sugar.

The soused crowd sang along the loudest during Wild Horses. The highlight of the set (and from the "A" side was a smoking Can You Hear Me Knocking. I've heard Trey and Phish tease the ending too many times to count. My only complaint was that I wish Karl and company jammed it out more.

My girlfriend thought Denson's rendition of Bitch was the highlight of the "B" side of the original album. The jamming apex occurred during a faded-version of Sister Morphine. The dissonant trumpet/sax jamming almost made it feel like I was schwasted on pharmies. Anders jammed out so hard during Morphine that he had to change his shirt after the song.

Crowd definitely perked up for Flowers, and a sultry Moonlight Mile closed the Sticky Fingers set.

Karl Denson is playing again on Saturday, but that show is also sold out. He's heading down to Chico on Sunday then off to Colorado to play gigs in Boulder, Telluride, and Denver. This tour's big moment is the Halloween gig in Denver when KDTU is playing a special themed show -- Halloween 1971. Denson is going way back forty years to perform Sticky Fingers, while local power trio Rose Hill Drive will tackle The Who's "Who's Next." Anders Osbourne is also opening up and will be sitting in with Karl for the Sticky Fingers set.

If you get a chance, check out the Karl's Sticky Fingers project.

* * *
This version of Bitch was not from the SF show, but from last week's gig at the HoB in Hollywood. As soon as find any vids from the Independent, I'll post it here...

Breakin' to 2001

2011-10-21T16:20:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Disco Sis for pointing out this epic video...

Phish Hollywood Bowl - Poster Process

2011-10-13T16:20:00.000-04:00

This was kinda cool...

Phish 2011 New Year's Eve Run at MSG

2011-10-11T14:22:00.005-04:00

As the Joker lamented, "What No NYE announcement video?"

Regardless of the lack of cool vids, we're pleased to inform you that we'll be spending another Phishy New Years in NYC raging at Madison Square Garden.

December 28th (Wednesday) - MSG, New York, NY
December 29th (Thursday) - MSG, New York, NY
December 30th (Friday) - MSG, New York, NY
December 31st (Saturday) - MSG, New York, NY

The Mothership will hover over NYC in late December as band will bring us into 2012. Who knows how long we'll have to wait to see them play after that? I really hope Phish plays an End of the World gig in December 2012. Raging into the Apocalypse.

Anyway, here's Phish and the Meatstick from last year's NYE show at MSG...

Human Agency

2011-10-10T04:20:00.000-04:00

(photo by Eye and Eye Photography)

Human Agency is an up & coming DJ/Producer act out of Denver, Colorado making some noise in the downtempo, electronic scene. These guys have been on the rise for the last year gaining lots of momentum by opening for acts such as Bonobo, Future Rock, Little People, and Emancipator.

Last week, Human Agency released the EP, "Lost Alchemy" which they have made available for FREE DOWNLOAD.

Here are two of my favorite tracks from the new EP which demonstrate the spectrum of sonic ability from Human Agency.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://humanagency.bandcamp.com/album/lost-alchemy-ep"&amp;amp;amp;gt;Lost Alchemy (EP) by Human Agency&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;
&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://humanagency.bandcamp.com/track/pearls-and-jewels"&amp;amp;amp;gt;Pearls and Jewels by Human Agency&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Follow Human Agency on Facebook/HumanAgency for more free music and tour dates.

Background Beats - Fall 2011

2011-10-08T04:20:00.000-04:00

Background Beats - Fall 2011
Tracklist
track. song - artist

01. Beats Ballet - Mochipet & Ray Barbee
02. Soulmutation - Crazy Penis
03. In Space - Röyksopp
04. Backbone - Hop Scotch
05. Herbs And Spices - Hustlers of Culture
06. Sifting Through the Ashes - Human Agency
07. Prolo - Tosca
08. Freakfest - Spaceheater
09. Muy Tranquilo - Gramatik
10. A Private Interlude (Kinobe Remix) - Groove Armada
11. One Day Trip In An Elevator - Symptom
12. Moog Porn - Machine Drum & Mochipet
13. Midnight on the Run - BoomBox

DOWNLOAD

Makisupa Policeman - 10/4/99

2011-10-06T16:20:00.001-04:00

This is a shout out to everyone at different Occupy Wall Street protests across the country...

Lady Gaga - The Illuminati Puppet?

2011-10-02T16:20:00.005-04:00

These four articles from Vigilant Citizen about Lady Gaga blew my mind...

Lady Gaga the Illuminati Puppet - Part 1
Lady Gaga the Illuminati Puppet - Part 2
Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' – The Illuminati Manifesto
Secret Meaning Behind Lady Gaga's 'Telephone

I'm not a fan of Lady Gaga. I honestly didn't know anything about her or her music aside from the fact that most of my friends often joked and wondered if she is a drag queen or really a woman.

I wasn't even familiar with her hit song Poker Face, even though I worked as a poker reporter and many of my non-poker friends often referenced it. I didn't even hear the entire song from start to finish until I picked up a rental car at Ft. Lauderdale airport during Phish's NYE run in Miami in 2009. I couldn't figure out how to change the radio station in the rental car so I had to listen to a show reviewing the year's best songs -- including Lady Gaga's Poker Face. To even make things weirder on that trip, Lady Gaga's tour bus was parked down the street from our hotel in downtown Miami. Wildo and the Joker quickly started rumors that she was going to sit in with Phish during the NYE run.

While doing research for this post, I watched a couple of Lady Gaga videos and it's very obvious that there's tons of subtle and not-so-subtle imagery and symbolism that the powers to be embedded in her videos either on purpose or by sheer coincidence. It's hard to dispute the evidence that she has become a puppet for someone. But specific imagery points toward the Illuminati -- a secret society that many conspiracy theorists believe are the ones calling the shots in shadow governments all over the globe.

Music used to be a tool of the revolution. Lyrics were a weapon that could reach the masses. Protests songs have been a part of American music for almost a hundred years. Bob Dylan was influenced by Woody Guthrie, who during his era, was renown for protest songs like This Land Is Your Land. Dylan became the master of stuffing a significant amount of political rhetoric into his folk songs. His mumbled words, a guitar, and harmonica helped ignite a revolution.

Somewhere along the way, the powers to be realized the immense social impact of popular music, so they used the airwaves to manipulate the masses, especially the impressionable youth. They hijacked videos on MTV and BET to help sedate the masses by turning them into mindless zombie consumers, instead of revolutionary anarchists hell bent on seizing power from the elites. In the ultimate display of arrogance, they even secretly leaked out their evil agenda using symbols that appeared in videos from some of the most popular artists of the day dating back to Madonna and including her post-modern incarnation of Lady Gaga. Also rumored to be manipulated by the Illuminati are Britney Spears, Kanye West, Justin Beiber, and even a few of of your favorite hip hop artists.

Enter Lady Gaga.

She fascinated the world and sold millions of records in a day when most people acquired music for free on the internet. She cut right to the front of the line of wanna-be celebs seeking their "15 minutes of fame" and her moniker became a piece of every day vernacular in mainstream America. She performed to loyal minions sold out concerts and was so captivating that even Trey took his daughters to a Lady Gaga concert. She inspired stylists and clothing designers. She became an icon for the gay community and every queer from the Castro to the West Village belted out her lyrics. Her weirdness even attracted fetishists and satanists from all over the planet.

The young woman who became Lady GaGa (born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) was a struggling musician and artist in NYC who literally sold her soul to become a puppet for the Illuminati. "Stefani" used to play her original music to drunken hipsters on the Lower East Side, but her fledgling career seemed doomed to fail before her metamorphosis into Lady Gaga. She has since become one of the most famous and recognizable celebrities in the world. She's a fixture on MTV and her songs are blasted in clubs all over the world. Did she truly sell her soul to the devil? Or at least... to devil worshipers?

Lady Gaga makes you turn your head. She looks outlandish, like the madame of a futuristic post-apocalyptic whorehouse, but all of her over-the-top costumes and intricate make-up might distract you from discovering the hidden symbolism in her outfits and in the background of her bizarre videos.

Either Lady Gaga has been "borrowing" imagery from secret societies, or she's become a shill for the Illuminati. It seems pretty obvious to me. The hidden eye theme (Eye of Horus or the symbol that is on the back of the $1 bill) is something that is strewn all over her videos and different photo shoots in magazines. The references to Baphomet are startling. Baphomet is a goat-headed androgynous creature with breasts that was the product of magical sex between opposite copulatives.

See for yourself...

When you have some time, I encourage you to take a peek at these articles: Lady Gaga the Illuminati Puppet - Part 1, Lady Gaga Illuminati Puppet - Part 2, Secret Meaning Behind Lady Gaga's 'Telephone, and Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' – The Illuminati Manifesto.

The information, pictures, and videos in those articles point toward a horrifying truth that Lady Gaga is being used as a tool to manipulate the masses using mind control techniques and sacred imagery in her videos. But who does she work for? Is she a puppet for the Illuminati, Satan worshipers, or some other evil mind control project funded by the CIA?

Next time you watch a Lady Gaga video, pay close attention because you never know what weirdness might pop up.

Happy Birthday, Trey!

2011-09-30T04:20:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday Big Red!

Here's one of my favorite interviews with Trey...

American Juggalos

2011-09-27T16:20:00.005-04:00

If the mainstream media and pretentious fucktards in the music industry like to poke fun at Phisheads, then they definitely will have a field day with Juggalos. The rabid fans of Insane Clown Posse are something like a roving gang of hooligans from futuristic post-apocalyptic flick. You definitely won't see them starting up a drum circle in Golden Gate Park, but where ever ICP plays, they will religiously follow.

As one juggalo says, "We're looked down upon because we listen to weird shit."

I kinda know what that feeling is all about.

Check out this short documentary about ICP's fans called American Juggalo...

Thanks to @BuffaloHoldem for the tip on the video.

Type II Cast - Phish Dick's

2011-09-22T16:20:00.000-04:00

I was a guest panelist on the latest episode of type II cast with @fractalgal and @UNOlker. If you don't know Type II is a podcast about Phish and we discussed the three-night Dick's run in Colorado a couple of weeks ago.

Listen here: Episode 33: Dick's

Thanks to Steve and Tanya for having me on!

Dusty Diamond Funk/Hip Hop Mix

2011-09-20T04:20:00.002-04:00

Alan Evans of Soulive has an incredible funk/soul/hip hop mix you can download for free here.
Ive been rocking it and I approve - if you liked the KRAZ funk mix then you will love this.

Bucket 'O Funk

2011-09-17T16:20:00.002-04:00

A link came across my desk that has the entire funk drops series, plus a selection of Tropical Funk and a secret bonus album. I blogged last week about how we had a great time with Funk Drops 2 - this mix is the greatest funk mix ive ever heard - all in one click! You may have a few of these tracks, but there are some real gems in here - many of these were only released on 45's and are out of print. Check it out:

Vol.1

1 - You Gotta Know Whatcha Doin - Charles Wright
2 - Sexy Coffee Pot - Tony Alvon & The Belairs
3 - Soul Machine - The Meters
4 - Dirty Red - Fabulous Counts
5 - Cold Bear - Gaturs
6 - Nobody But You Babe - Clarence Reid
7 - Pop Popcorn Children - Eldridge Holmes
8 - Get Me Back On Time Engine #9 Pt.1 & 2 - Wilson Pickett
9 - What So Never The Dance - Houseguests
10 - C'mon Children - Earth, Wind & Fire
11 - Back On The Streets Again - Tower Of Power
12 - Getting Uptown (To Get Down) - United 8
13 - Love The Life You Live - Black Heat
14 - Come Little Children - Donny Hathaway
15 - 65 Bars And A Taste Of Soul - The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
16 - Don't Come Around Here Anymore - Mark Putney
17 - It's My Thing - Cold Grits
18 - Riding Thumb - King Curtis
19 - Same Old Thing - The Meters
20 - Shop Talk - Cold Blood

Vol.2

1 Bobby Byrd Try It Again (3:34)
2 The Noble Knights Sing A Simple Song (2:51)
3 The Mighty Hannibal Somebody In The World For You (2:51)
4 The Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band Everyday People (In The Jungle) (2:28)
5 The Meters Chicken Strut (3:09)
6 Aretha Franklin Rock Steady (3:11)
7 The Fabulous Counts Lunar Funk (2:11)
8 The Mohawks The Champ (2:37)
9 The Beginning Of The End Funky Nassau (Pt. 2) (2:29)
10 The T.S.U. Toronadoes Getting The Corners (2:23)
11 The Southshore Commission Right On Brother (Pt. 1) (2:35)
12 King Curtis Memphis Soul Stew (Live) (7:37)
13 Baby Huey Hard Times (3:14)
14 Curtis Mayfield If There's A Hell Down Below, We're All Going To Go (Takes 1 & 2 Tracking Excerpt) (4:19)
15 Little Sister Stanga (3:36)
16 Betty Wright Clean Up Woman (2:44)
17 Society's Bag Let It Crawl (2:35)
18 Allen Toussaint Goin' Down (2:54)
19 Dr. John Right Place, Wrong Time (2:51)
20 The Meters Chuc Chug Chug-A-Lug (Push And Shove) (Pt. 2) (3:24)
21 Cold Blood Kissing My Love (6:02)
22 Tower Of Power Stroke '75 (1:25)
23 T.J. Kirk Soul Power (Pt. 1 & 2) (4:24)

Vol.3

1 The Commodores Keep On Dancing (2:37)
2 Barry Jones (2) Do The Funky Boogaloo (Pt. 1) (2:15)
3 Freddie & The Kinfolk Mashed Potato, Pop Corn (2:42)
4 The Mighty Hannibal Get In The Groove (2:22)
5 Johnny Cameron & The Camerons Funky John (2:44)
6 Rufus Thomas The Memphis Train (2:29)
7 Joyce Jones Help Me Make Up My Mind (2:41)
8 The Meters Here Comes The Meter Man (2:50)
9 The Commodores Rise Up (2:45)
10 Bobby Byrd I'm On The Move (2:55)
11 Black Haze Express Won't Nobody Listen (4:13)
12 Earth, Wind & Fire Fan The Fire (3:06)
13 The Fabulous Counts Get Down People (2:31)
14 The Stovall Sisters Hang On In There (3:32)
15 The Beginning Of The End Monkey Tamarind (3:33)
16 Mark Holder Whatever's Fair (2:38)
17 Rasputin's Stash Your Love Is Certified (1:58)
18 Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band What Can You Bring Me? (2:44)
19 Curtis Mayfield Get Down (Single Version) (3:50)
20 The Meters Just Kissed My Baby (4:34)
21 Black Heat No Time To Burn (3:34)
22 6ix I'm Just Like You (3:23)
23 Darrow Fletcher Improve (2:43)
24 New Birth Hurry Hurry (3:36)
25 Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns Four Play (Promo Edit) (3:30)

Tropical Funk Experience:
01. Spouge Explosion - Lunar 7
02. Let Me Get Stoned - Boo And The Tru Tones
03. Take The Funky Feeling - The Blue Rhythm Combo
04. Cissy Strut - De Boys An Dem
05. Fugitive Dub - The Skatalites
06. Don't Knock My Love - The Swingin' Stars Of Dominica
07. Black Water Gold - The Blue Rhythm Combo
08. Vehicle - Richard Stoute
09. Sweet Loving - Mighty Sparrow
10. Soul Makossa - Jablonski
11. Black Man's Cry - Gay Flamingoes
12. Smokey Feeling - The Organisation
13. Check It Out - Wildfire
14. Steppin' Up - Lynn Taitt
15. New Bag - The Exciters
16. Broasted Or Fried - St Vincents Latinaires
17. Jive Samba - Llans Thelwell And The Celestials
18. Latin Lips - The Invaders
19. Basa Bongo - Yoruba Singers
20. Back Home - Andre Tanker And The Mansa Musa Drummers

DOWNLOAD Bucket 'O Funk

Wake of the Flood: Phish Returns to Vermont

2011-09-15T14:22:00.005-04:00

Photo by Dave Vann © Phish 2011
If you've ever been to Burlington and engage in conversation with the locals, it seems that everyone holds the members of Phish in the highest regard, but more importantly, they all seem to know one of the boys personally or professionally. Vermont is a small state and even though it's a college town, Burlington has a small town mentality -- essentially everyone knows everyone. Trey is still called Trey, and even though we regard Trey as a mythical rock star, in this part of the Vermont, Trey is a local hero similar to a high school quarterback in a desolate West Texas town -- he might go onto bigger and better things, but he's still their "home boy."

I made the journey from San Francisco to Burlington via a red eye from Oakland to JFK, where I switched planes to fly to Burlington. At least 85% of my plane were heads and I was seated to one of the few civilians on board. She was a woman in her 50s and we made some small talk as I buckled in. I told her that I was a writer who is flying out to cover Phish's benefit show.

"They are such nice boys for doing this," she gushed. "My husband is a contractor and he once worked on Page's house."

I snickered. She had no idea about the running inside joke from this summer about "Page's house", so I clued her in. I don't think she fully appreciated it, but she smiled anyway.

My cabbie had nothing but amazing things to say about the Burlington music scene. "Phish is the band that put Vermont on the map, but there's plenty of other great (bands) in town. Grace Potter... she's a sweetheart. I know her parents. But Trey and the rest of the band do so much to promote music. Trey's even a part owner of the Higher Ground."

When I checked into my hotel, the pimple-faced kid at the front desk mentioned that his mom and step-dad were Trey's neighbors who lived "about 35 minutes from here."

* * *
I had frequent flier miles on JetBlue that I stashed away for a special occasion like the Vermont show. I got shutout in lottery, but luckily a cool guy from Minnesota named Trent hooked me up with two extras, which meant I could see the show with one of my closest and oldest friends, Senor. We've seen over 50 shows together including the infamous Japan tour in 2000. He's got a wife, mistress, two kids, and a job that requires long hours so he doesn't get to see as many shows as we used to. The last time we saw Phish together was the New England run last October (Providence, Worcester, Manch-Vegas and Amherst). He didn't have time to see the boys this summer, so he was super stoked when I told him I scored tickets.

"Well if you're flying all the way out from San Francisco to see one show," he said, "Then I can make the trek up from Providence!"

I rarely get to see shows with Senor in 3.0 so any time I hang out with Senor I know it's gonna be a raging time. On a more selfish note, I wanted to see Phish in Vermont to help exorcise those haunting Coventry demons. My friend Molly from Texas and I hiked in three miles to see that shit-stained trainwreck of a last waltz during a mud-riddled clusterfuck with Trey super schwasted and Page crying during Velvet Sea. The band walked off stage at Coventry under a cloud of gloom and misery.

Seven years later, Phish an opportunity to avenge the biggest blemish on their storied career, and at the same time, assisting their home state in a time of crisis by helping raise $1 million. Vermont was devastated by Hurricane Irene which caused severe wind damage and massive flooding. While the alphabet news networks focused on the hurricane reaching landfall in the Carolinas and the hysteria surrounding the clamping down of New York City, little old Vermont was barely mentioned by the mainstream media. Phish has always had a history of altruism and community service, so playing a benefit concert in Vermont seemed the appropriate thing to do.

I caught every Phish show since Super Ball IX and the band was en fuego by the time they arrived in Chicago. Toss in the three sizzling shows in Colorado and the band reached their pinnacle of the 3.0 era. The perfectionists in Phish wanted to collectively erase the last time they performed in Vermont. Plus, the gig was going to be at the Essex County fairgrounds, a mere stone's throw from their hometown in Burlington. Back to where it all began.

If you've seen the setlist or watched the stream, then you already know the benefit show fell into a "greatest hits" category. They omitted a couple of heavy hitters that were skipped in Colorado (most notably YEM, Wilson, and Mike's Groove). They played many of their classic songs and kept the far-out jamming to a minimum (with a few exceptions like Gin, DWD, Carini and Wolfman's).

Senor and I arrived at the lots around 6pm. A mini-Shakedown was set up on the far side of the fairgrounds and a fair amount of extras were floating around. We hung out for a bit before we made our way into the show and got stuck in a slow-moving line to get into the venue. That's when we heard Gordo and Vermont's governor greet the crowd. Gov Shumlin remarked about waiting seven years to see Phish play a gig in their home state.

The venue was a little bigger than the Tahoe set up with a massive grandstand opposite of the stage. The floor was cramped during the first few songs. Lots of drunks barreling through once the lights went down for the Chalkdust opener. Fish sported a special "Hurricane" muumuu for the occasion.

Photo courtesy of Gordo
The boys brought the "cow funk" early with Moma Dance in the second slot, followed up by a bubbly NICU. The crowd enthusiastically responded when Trey belted out, "Play it Leoooooooooooo!"

Everything fell into place with Funky Bitch batting cleanup before a crowd sing-along with Sample in a Jar. The guy behind me in a Red Sox hat was screaming the lyrics off key. We were treated to a rare mid-set Cavern (seems like it's been a set closer or deep into the first set as of late). Even Senor noted the early appearance of Cavern, which lacked the frenzied energy if it ended a set.

One of the jamming highlights of the first set included Bathtub Gin, accompanied by a roaring response from the crowd during the "We're all in this together, and we love to take a bath" segment. They lost me a bit with the jam, but Fish managed to pull Trey and the rest of the jam out of a dead end with a spectacular finish.

Alaska popped up and all I could think about were the rumors floating around the internet that Sarah Palin slept with former NBA star Glen Rice when he played at Michigan. It was a bizarre story for sure and as my mind wandered during the jam, I wondered if Palin ever got backstage during a Phish show in 1991 and gave Fishman a handjob at setbreak.

The crowd's energy level dipped with Alaska, but quickly recovered with Possum. It felt weird to hear a Possum non-show-opener, but the crowd soaked it all up. The last two songs -- Wolfman's > Julius -- might have been one of the more magical moments of the show, which punctuated a 90-minute opening set. At one point I had my eyes closed during the juicy Wolfman's jam and when I opened them I saw Senor jumping up and down with his arms in the air. That's one of my favorite moments at any concert -- when you see your friends getting down and rocking out. Senor and his brother used to make fun of me in the late 1990s when I was all wook'd out with a ponytail and a scraggly beard. They often referred to me as the Wolfman, so whenever we hear Wolfman's in 3.0, we always have a big laugh at the olden days.

At setbreak a drunk girl muttered, "When does Dave Matthews come on?"

"He's playing a solo acoustic set behind the port-o-potties right now!" I blurted out.

At the beginning of the second set, Trey noted that they saw lots of old friends in Vermont with the exception of two -- Pete and Tara. Pete was Fish's former drum tech otherwise known as Carini. Yep, you guess it... Carini opened up the second set. I wondered if they would throw us a bone with a Dicky Scotland Reprise?

The stretched-out Carini had a couple of dark moments before I heard a few teases and blustery notes sounding like the intro to Down With Disease, and sure enough, Carini slipped into DWD. On a random note, I recieved an email during DWD offering me a writing assignment to cover a poker tournament in Medellin, Colombia. Seriously. I saw that as an ominous sign!

DWD was left unfinished as Trey sort of rushed the band into Slave to the Traffic Light, which popped up much earlier in the set than expected. Slave usually anchors the back end of a second set, but I wasn't complaining. It's always a good night when your favorite band plays your favorite song. I always think the band plays it especially for me as a "thanks for making the journey with us."

Senor was a little schwilly by Rock and Roll. He became the "woooooooooohooooooo" guy and unleashed one of his trademarked screams every few minutes. Senor's all-time favorite Phish show was Vegas Halloween in 1998 and the musical costume of Velvet Underground's "Loaded." He said Rock and Roll always gives him instant flashbacks to that epic night. Page always shines on covers and he stepped it up, but just when Rock and Roll's jam got cooking, Trey pulled the rip chord during an abrupt seg into Twist. Trey's ADD got the best of him again and they bailed out of Twist in favor of Backwards Down the Number Line. I remember seeing a TAB show at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence with Senor right after Phish announced reunion shows at Hampton. Trey played Backwards that night and I remarked that it'll probably be one of the new songs Phish introduced in the 3.0 era.

Gordo unleashed the fight bell at the beginning to Theme from the Bottom. Senor was pumped because he couldn't remember the last time he heard it. During Suzy Greenberg, a couple of Phishy chicks in front of us were doing dippies and jumping up and down. I thought Suzy would end the set because of the rumored 11pm curfew, because if they were going to play a 20+ minute YEM encore, then they needed to end the show immediately after Suzy. Alas, the boys snuck in a reeling Character Zero to close out the second set.

I wondered if Phish was going to go past the 11pm curfew. After all, the Governor was at the show and surely he could bend the elasticity of the rules for Phish, right? Everyone wondered if the benefit show would also feature guest appearances ranging from Jen Hartswick to Grace Potter to the Giant Country Horns. Alas, this gig was 100% pure Phish. No sit ins. No Santana.

The show ended with a single encore song and a cover of the Rolling Stones' Loving Cup. Sadly, no YEM for all of you YEM-maniacs.

Senor walked out of the venue just like everyone else -- all smiles. Even though he recognized the greatest hits theme, he mentioned, "One of the better shows I've seen since Phish returned."

* * *
I thought I saw my 151st and final show in Coventry, Vermont in 2004. At that point, I was done with Phish and the demoralized scene. By the end of 2004, I stumbled into the poker scene and spent the better part of the last seven years as a gambling reporter following around different tournament circuits in Las Vegas and internationally. It's a different type of traveling circus, but I missed being on Phish tour. Every. Single. Day.

Phish returned to the fray in 2009 and I racked up 89 shows since the reunion shows at the Mothership in Hampton. The Vermont benefit show might not stand out musically (or gimmicky) compared to some of the smoking shows from this summer, but this particular show will always have a special spot in my heart.

Phish is a tremendous source of inspiration. The friends that I met through the band give me hope for humanity. Trey is a personal hero because I also struggle with some of the same (pharmaceutical) demons that he dealt with over the last decade or so. It's not easy being Trey, and it's even a thousand times tougher to walk the line of sobriety while feeding the creative beast within you and trying to entertain and show everyone a good time without being redundant. Despite the deviant obstacles, Trey and the rest of the band continue to share their collaborative musical talents with whomever is bold and crazy enough to follow them along for the ride. Phish was born in Vermont in the mid-80s when a bunch of geeky college students decided to form a band. It took 240 attempts, but I'm fortunate that I got to finally see a good show near their birthplace.

Coventry's demons have finally been exorcised.

* * *
Before I go, I have a couple "special thanks" to two people. I called in a huge favor from my project manager at PokerStars (Otis is the man!) and he got me out of a writing assignment/deadline so I could see the benefit show. Also, thanks to Trent B. for finding me a pair of tickets. He's a good dude, so if you enjoyed the tweets from the show, he's responsible for hook up. If you ever see Trent or Otis in the lot, buy them a beer!

Lastly, Vermont is going to be struggling over the next months during their recovery. They still need your support. If you'd like to volunteer and get your hands dirty, check out Vermont Response website to see how you can pitch in. Also, you can still donate money for flood recovery by clicking here.

Phish Setlist: 9/14/11 - Champlain Valley Exposition, VT

2011-09-15T00:55:00.001-04:00

(Phish goes Through the Wormhole in VT)

Set I: Chalkdust Torture, The Moma Dance > NICU, Funky Bitch, Sample in a Jar, Cavern, Bathtub Gin, Alaska > Possum, Wolfman's Brother > Julius

Set II: Carini* > Down With Disease* > Slave to the Traffic Light > Rock and Roll > Twist > Backwards Down the Number Line, Theme From the Bottom > Suzy Greenberg > Character Zero

E: Loving Cup

* Unfinished

Cast of Jersey Shore gets down to Phish

2011-09-13T04:20:00.002-04:00

You Enjoy My-Mix - "Summer 2011"

2011-09-12T04:20:00.002-04:00

Hal Masa is back with another fantastic mix of the best Phish jams from this summer. Here are the first two volumes:

Vol.1
Sally (6/4 Blossom) >
Sand (6/19 Portsmouth) >
Wolfman's (8/15 UIC)
Reba (7/3 SBIX) >
Light Up Or Leave Me Alone (6/14 Alpharetta) >
Waves->Undermind (8/15 UIC) >
2001>Hood (6/8 Darien) >
Curtain With (6/10 Camden)

DOWNLOAD Vol.1

Vol.2
DWD>Tweezer (9/3 Dicks) >
Simple (7/1 SBIX) >
Ocelot (6/14 Alpharetta) >
Light (8/9 Tahoe) >
Timber (6/15 Alpharetta) >
After Midnight (5/31 PNC) >
Bowie (6/3 Clarkston) >
BDTNL (5/28 Bethel) >
DWD Reprise (9/3 Dicks)

DOWNLOAD Vol.2

Phish Videos - Kuroda Cam: Back on the Train from 8/8/11 Hollywood Bowl

2011-09-12T04:20:00.001-04:00

Here's a special video highlighting Chris Kuroda's awesome light work at the Hollywood Bowl show from 8/8/11...

Phish Videos: Dick's 9/4/11 - Bathtub Gin

2011-09-11T13:11:00.002-04:00

Here's the "official" Gin you've been waiting for...

Phish Videos: UIC - Makisupa Policeman, Sleep, Buffalo Bill

2011-09-08T16:20:00.000-04:00

I forgot to post this gem from UIC...

Funk Drops 2

2011-09-07T16:20:00.004-04:00

As you know by now, we at Coventry Music love our mixes. I was online at the right place, right time and discovered Funk Drops 2. This British Import mix CD is perfect to put on in the Phish lot (like we did on Saturday) or any other time you want to get funky. Check it out:

Funk Drops 2
1 Try It Again -Byrd
2 Sing a Simple Song -Noble Knights
3 Somebody in the World for You -Mighty Hannibal
4 Everyday People (In the Jungle)
5 Chicken Strut -Meters
6 Rock Steady -Franklin
7 Fabulous Counts -Lunar Funk
8 The Champ -Mohawks
9 Funky Nassau, Pt. 2 -Beginning Of The End
10 Getting the Corners -T.S.U. Tornadoes
11 Right on Brother, Pt. 1 -Southshore Commission
12 Memphis Soul Stew -King Curtis
13 Hard Times -Baby Huey
14 (Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go -Mayfield
15 Stanga -Little Sister
16 Clean Up Woman -Wright
17 Let It Crawl -Society's Bag
18 Goin' Down -Toussaint
19 Right Place, Wrong Time -Doctor John
20 Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Push and Shove), Pt. 2 -Meters
21 Kissing My Love -Cold Blood
22 Stroke '75 -Tower Of Power
23 Soul Power, Pts. 1 and 2 -TJ Kirk

DOWNLOAD LINK - FUNK DROPS 2

Phish Returns to Vermont on September 14th for Benefit Concert

2011-09-06T16:20:00.001-04:00

Want to exorcise those Coventry clusterfuck demons? Then head up to Vermont next Wednesday, September 14th to see Phish perform a special show to benefit Vermont residents who were victims of the worst flooding in decades due to Hurricane Irene.

According to Phish.com...

"Proceeds from the concert and merchandise sales will be directed to The WaterWheel Foundation and The Vermont Community Foundation to aid in the recovery of the Green Mountain State."

Get your ticket request in here.

Hopefully Phish will arrange a webcast the show so phans all over the world can help contribute to a worthy cause.

Phish Dick's 9/4/11: Ghost-Forget

2011-09-05T13:11:00.001-04:00

Slow start after an epic raging after-party as Saturday night bled into Sunday morning. I tried to crash at 6am (I almost lost the Joker's ladyfriend's cat when it bolted out the door and had a slight freakout while I searched for the elusive feline) and finally passed out around 9am for a brief nap, before I woke up, cranked out a recap, grabbed food, re-upped supplies, and returned to the rendezvous point in Capitol Hill to meet up with the Party Bus crew. Jonas scheduled the bus a lot later for Sunday, mainly because he knew that by the third and final show of the Dick's run, everyone is dragging ass. Sunday was the tour closer and the prevailing attitude all around (the band and audience) was that we don't know when Phish will ever play again, so let's let it all hang out.

The Party Bus arrived at the lot and Shakedown was in full swing. We made the rounds and watched the folks from the Wook Store sling "mystery boxes" for $10. I bought 2 lollipops from a shoeless feral indigo kid. We saw Fishman capes selling for $100 and everyone was in desperate search for a lost girl named Molly.

Our Party Bus also had a grill attached to the bus. Our awesome driver grilled burgers and even let us bring a keg. I ran into Vanessa and Will and we chatted about the smoking UIC shows. Vanessa was in rare form and giving me tons of guff about getting old and getting too wasted to tweet on Saturday night.

"You need better intoxication management during the shows," she said. "(@CoventryMusic) tweets were slacking because you got too schwasted! Maybe I should get you one of those pill boxes for old people so you don't forget what to take?"

Touche. She was correct because sometimes I have too much fun at the shows and forget to tweet. Alas, I was treating the Dick's run like it was going to be the last Phish show in a year. No holding back. Balls to the wall.

Phil found good seats in the stands (approximately fifth row) at the back of the venue. We had a perfect view of Kuroda's lights with optimal sound. More importantly, we had a good group of people surrounding us (no loud drunk talkers) and everyone was ready to get down for the final show.

According to Phish.net, the last time Maze opened a show was winter tour 1995. Show openers are often throw-away songs so I get a little antsy when they kick off a show with a song that I know they'd tear to shreds later on down the line., hence, why I gripe about DWD first set openers. Plus, the boys have been smoking the shit out of Maze in 3.0. The opening slot hindered their opportunity to stretch it out.

I got pelted in the face with glowsticks during Maze. The funk train arrived with Back of the Train and Trey showed up a few machine gun licks early on. The show got off to a hot start with a solid 1-2 punch, and kept up the pace with Rift.

I was happy the Joker finally got a Bathtub Gin, after all it's his song. The fifteen minute Gin was one of my favorite first set songs from Dick's. It's also up there with some of the more delicious jams of the entire run.

After a 40 minute sprint, the band needed to cool everyone down and let Fishman catch his breath, who had changed things up in the costume department with the X-laden muumuu for the first set. Seemed to work.

The set hit an energy low point (peaks and valleys) during the Gillian Welch cover Way It Goes, which was sung by Gordo. I dig Page's crooning on Halfway to the Moon and wished it got into the rotation a little more. The back of the floor had a section of the grass soccer field blocked off . The grass had become a final resting place for errant glowsticks. A security guard patrolled inside the grassy area to make sure no one jumped over the barrier. To kill the boredom of the set, she made Phish-figures out of the glowsticks. A wook-mom let her little kids jump over the fence and the hellions disassembled a few of the fish and scrambled around gobbling up glowsticks. The security guard chased the wook kids out.

Gumbo injected an energy boost to get the crowd back on track before they ended the set with an incendiary five song combo (Halley's Comet > Tube > Timber Ho > Roses Are Free > Chalk Dust) that nearly lifted the entire venue forty feet off the ground. I usually moan about the shortened Halley's jam, but this time I was thrilled to hear a seg into Tube. The band played both tunes for Comet Elenin conspiracy theorists.

Roses > Chalkdust was an unique combo which fueled the crowd's energy level to the highest peak of the set. I have to listen to the show again, but it was one of my favorite first sets from Dick's. Not a single Pauly Takes a Piss Song.

The second set was all heat. They launched the first missile with Rock and Roll -- a perfect song because it fulfills so many aspects of Phish that I like: 1) cover song from a band/musician I admire, 2) Page shines on covers, 3) jam vehicle. The jam delved into a cover of Come Together, which was welcomed but slop city before jumping into Twist, which included a Low Rider tease.

Piper gives the band a chance to take a risk with far-out jamming. Sometimes they miss, but the effort is appreciated. I rather see them take a risk and miss, than playing it safe with a crowd pleaser. This particular Piper jam was a menacing two-headed monster that included a Roadrunner tease, Page tinkering with the theramin, and a cosmic-head-trip with a sprinkling of the ambient Storage jam from Superball.

On any normal night, I'd be gushing about Hood, but Sunday had a couple of songs (Gin, Ghost, Piper, Walls) that surpassed it. Roggae hit a highwater mark at the Gorge and that spicy version enticed the band to keep it in the rotation.

Ghost-Forget? Fuck yeah. Ghost > Guy Forget > Ghost displayed the band's musicianship and their sense of humor. As Trey said it best, "Now y'all know who the ghost really is...the ghost is Guy Forget." I caught the debut of Guy Forget at that rough Phoenix show in 2000 (rough because it was after 2 back-to-back Vegas shows when no one slept). The Ghost-Forget more than made up for the rip chord, stunted-growth version of the UIC Ghost.

Walls of the Cave is also another vehicle for them to open up and jam in the second half of the song. The composed sections of WOTC are improving with each run through, but the jams are always spot on. I never saw the crowd react as insanely as they did at Dick's wth the peak of the jam.

The encore was only one song -- Backwards Down the Number Line. Backwards fit the mold for most Phish shows that were absolutely smoking, but fizzled out with a disappointing encore. Everyone had put out the YEM vibe during the encore break, but Trey wanted to play Backwards for a reason -- it's his mea culpa and an artistic statement -- letting everyone know that he turned the corner with a terrible stretch in his life. In that regard, I'm happy to hear any Phish. Heck, at least it wasn't Velvet Cheese.

The Dick's run had some obvious omissions including YEM, Wilson, Bowie, Zero, Mike's Groove, Fluffhead, AC/DC Bag, First Tube, and Jim (not to mention popular covers: Loving Cup, Cities, Crosseyed and Painless, and Boogie On). Some of those were benched in favor of S-songs on the first night. If you are a fan of those omitted songs, I totally understand your disappointment. Phish is always fun, but the shows seem to have an extra tinge of awesomeness when they play your favorite song.

I had a blast during the Dick's run to end the second leg of summer tour. I'm particularly happy I got to see the shows with the Joker, Jonas and the rest of the Colorado crew. Thanks to Jonas for hooking up the Party Bus and thanks to the Joker for putting us up. I've seen a lot of special shows in Colorado in 3.0 (Red Rocks and Telluride), and the Dick's run was a magnificent way to end the summer. If Phish isn't going to play a while, at least I'll have many memory burns to keep me warm and fuzzy over the duration of their unknown hiatus.

It's been a long and exhausting tour kicking off with the Gorge, the Hollywood Bowl, Lake Tahoe, Outside Lands, UIC, and Dick's in Colorado. I saw most of this amazing tour with my girlfriend (she skipped UIC) and along the way, I partied at various shows with different groups of friends. Phish always puts everyone in a good mood and I'm fortunate that I got to hang out the last month with them in the lot, at the shows, and raging it up at after-parties. Phish is always a little better when you can share the experience with others.

It's been a wild ride. Can't wait to do it again. In the meantime, I gotta say... thank you, Phish.

* * *
Here are recaps from 9/2/11 - The S Show and 9/3/11 - Diseasetweeze.

Phish Setlist: Phish Dicks's 9/4/2011 Denver, CO

2011-09-05T11:11:00.003-04:00

Phish Setlist: Phish Dicks's 9/4/2011 Denver, CO

Set 1: Maze, Back on the Train > Rift > Bathtub Gin, The Way It Goes*, Halfway to the Moon, Gumbo, Halley's Comet > Tube > Timber (Jerry) > Roses Are Free > Chalk Dust Torture

Set 2: Rock and Roll > Come Together > Twist^^ > Piper > Harry Hood > Roggae > Ghost > Guy Forget > Ghost, Walls of the Cave

Encore: Backwards Down the Number Line

*debut of Gillian Welch's The Way It Goes
^^ Low Rider tease

More set list info at Phish.net

Phish Dick's Video - 9/2/11 "Seven Below > Suzy Greenberg > Scents And Subtle Sounds"

2011-09-05T10:10:00.001-04:00

Phish - 9/2/11 "Seven Below > Suzy Greenberg > Scents And Subtle Sounds" from Phish on Vimeo.

Phish Dick's Video - 9/3/11 "Tweezer"

2011-09-05T10:10:00.000-04:00

Phish - 9/3/11 "Tweezer" from Phish on Vimeo.

Phish Dick's 9/3/11 - Double Decker Diseasetweeze

2011-09-04T12:49:00.011-04:00

We ate brunch at Root Down, a foodie joint in the Highlands that also shared its name with a Beastie Boys song of the same title. The Joker and Change100 sipped on mimosas as we discussed Friday's night's S-themed show capped off with the Beasties' Sabotage as the encore.

"Phish is gonna kick off Saturday's show with a couple of C-songs just to fuck with us," I said. "Or worse, they'll play the rest of their S-repertoire and shoot their complete S-load in the first set."

We all appreciated Phish's execution of a well-crafted gimmick, but were ready for an ass-kicking show, hoping for one of those nights when Phish blows the roof of the venue (if Dick's had one). But since we were at an outdoor show, we fully expected the band to summons the Mothership. Yeah, the Whale Call has a whole other celestial meaning aside from Trey's usual wankery.

We pre-partied for Saturday's show at Dusty's crib in Capitol Hill before the Party Bus arrived. The Joker went to Bisco Inferno earlier this summer and saw a kick ass bus in the Red Rocks lot. He chatted with the driver and inquired about booking the pimped-out vehicle for Phish Dick's. Jonas sealed the deal and arranged the Party Bus for Saturday and Sunday shows. All we had to do was show up. Thirty of us. We all got on the bus...with a shit ton of booze, party favors, and wearing our favorite disco-themed costumes. Saturday's theme for our crew was Dick's Phish Disco.

Jonas jumped on his laptop and spun songs while our driver safely navigated us to beautiful Commerce City, otherwise known as the armpit of Colorado.

The Party Bus had one rule -- do not shit in the toilet -- otherwise, Jonas was going to lose his deposit. Usually the Wook Patrol roams the lot keeping everyone safe from the wookification of the scene, but in this instance, we were all on vigilant "Don't shit on the Bus" duty.

We set up shop behind Shakedown (which was moved to the back of the front lot). We made the rounds and stopped by the Wook Store. Those guys have it going on right and are not just a store, but a piece of performance art. I also noticed one guy selling an autographed Hannah Montana chair for the amazing price of $75. It was a bargain.

"$75 for Hannah Montana's chair!" screamed the vendor on Shakedown. "It's even signed by her...at least...someone who looked like her...hard to tell because we were all on drugs."

Jonas and the Joker cruise Shakedown
We headed back to the bus and our driver put aside his chauffeur's cap to don a chef's hat. Yeah, our bus driver was also a BBQ master. The bus had a slide out grill stashed in one of the storage compartments. He fired up the grill and we slammed beers while awaiting tasty grilled meat products.

I scored some Pez and was ready to get jiggy with it. My journey was slow at the onset but when it picked up, I got thrusted into the outer cosmos. I'm always eager for the second night of a multi-night run (especially night 2 of 3) because the band doesn't have any travel exhaustion to negatively affect their "creativity" and woke up in the same city they were playing. Plus, whatever tech and sound issues they encounter on the first night were cleaned up by the second soundcheck.

Standard formulaic Possum opener. I wonder if Gordo is blackmailing Trey (with compromising photos and/or a bottle of 30 OCs) and making them open with Possum again and again. Last summer, Possum was an anchor for the end of the first set, but this year, it flip-flopped.

The boys brought the funk with Moma Dance. Sure, it was a tad sloppy, but pure fun funk. The ass-shaking grinding morphed into The Wedge, which seems to be a Colorado anthem. I always have flashbacks to Phish shows in Colorado whenever they play that song.

I was not wearing the Ocelot shirt, but definitely had the noon slouch most of the day and everything "kicked in" by the 4:20 point of the song. The rest of the set picked up by that point. A few drunks in our row were super schwilly during Divided Sky and I closed my eyes to tune them out and listened to the music play. Phish had me hanging on every note after the "pause" segment. Trey made his presence known in the first set.

The next three songs were a turbo boost of high-energy songs -- Gordo belting out Funky Bitch, Trey's heavy metal head-banging version of Axilla, and a Llama to die for. I've caught 4 of the 5 Llama in 3.0 (the Manchester one shines in its own way), but Dick's Llama bottled up the most energy compared to the other versions.

I wanted the band to maintain their frenzied pace, but they downshifted to a slow tune to cool down Fishman before one final surge with Wolfman's. If I had to pick out three moments from the first set, it would include the Ocelot jam, Llama's energy, and all of Wolfman's. Sometimes the band finds a groove and it sticks with them the remainder of the show -- that happened during Wolfman's and it carried over into the second set.

Setbreak was a little rough -- the lights were too bright, I was spun out and still climbing and climbing and climbing and waiting to peak out, meanwhile my girlfriend was fighting her own internal struggle and bogged down in the middle of a minor panic attack, which can be insanely claustrophobic at a Phish show. We both knew we'd be better as soon as the lights went down and could start dancing again.

I told the Joker at setbreak that we felt a DWD and 2001 coming. He had the disco ball helmet and was primed for a 2001 dance party. We put the vibe out (along with thousands of other souls) and Phish snatched it right up.

DWD > Tweezer is a perfect example of the types of second sets I prefer -- intense jamming for thirty minutes to kick off the set. They opted to co-join two of their heaviest jamming vehicles into a double decker bus that was speeding 140mph in the wrong direction on a packed freeway. That's what it felt like. My buddy G-Money used to play in a Dead cover band and he loves to talk about Mickey Hart's "bring out the dragon" reference during some of the Dead's craziest jams. I liken some Phish jams to a giant sea-monster or Godzilla-like beast that rises out of the ocean to wreck havoc on confused Japanese people.

Phish unleashed the dragon at the set of start two with Diseasetweeze and everyone at Dick's chased that fucking lizard on steroids for the next 90+ minutes. The end of DWD was peppered with Tweezer teases. I thought it was going to be just that -- a total cock tease with them leaving us with blue balls until Sunday -- but after a stumbling seg, they ripped right into Tweezer. The crowd reacted with a thunderous cheer -- 53% utter joy, 26% orgasms, 17% sheer terror, 2% funky stuff.

Trey is desperately trying to maintain his indie street cred which is why they keep playing Golden Age. Ah, I'm just kidding -- last thing I need is getting more hate mail written in blood from emo-kids telling me to stop making fun of TV on the Radio. I'll stop poking fun at y'all if you promise to stop cutting yourself, m'ok?

The Joker approved of the Dick's Tweezer.

"It reminded me of the 2/28/03," the Joker explained. "(Page, Fish, Gordo) played a funk jam and Trey was playing long notes and letting it reverb."

If I had to pick a low point of the second set, all fingers would point to Limb by Limb. I'm not saying it was bad, just that it was the weakest link of a strong set. Fishman ramped up his Afro-beats but the song seemed misplaced when it sounded Golden Age had opportunities to morph into other tunes like Piper or Caspian, but they bled into Limb instead.

Kill Devil Falls is typically your early first set fodder, but they gave us a KDF curveball with a little extra spicy "up the ladder" jam, which reminded me of the chasing the dragon jams in Maze. After returning to the chorus, Trey decided he liked the Maze-like jam so much that he dragged us back down the rabbit hole with him.

CK5 added the UFO lights to the mix and within moments Phish called out to the Mothership. A 2001 dance party ensued. It's always a sensational moment to look out into the crowd and see everyone dancing during 2001. You rarely see that sort of collective grooving at concerts (that's not a DJ rave-fest).

The second set menu also included a delicious Light jam before they noodled back into DWD territory. Julius is a crowd pleaser. If anyone was sitting down, they were all up and dancing by the start of the song. A rocking Cavern could have been a set closer, but instead, they snuck one more song in -- a vociferous and searing Antelope.

So we missed Sleeping Monkey by one night. It was the odds on favorite to be an encore in the S show, but they saved it for Saturday as a launching pad for Tweezer Reprise. I guess when Gordo dropped a bomb one of the drunks behind us lost his cookies and puked. Poor guy held it in for 97% of the show and then lost his mud during the pinnacle of Saturday's fiesta. Fucking rookies.

We headed back to the Party Bus and everyone in our group (all 30) magically found their way back to the bus -- a feat for sure considering everyone's chemical intake. The driver successfully navigated us to Capitol Hill for the after party. Jonas once again took on DJ duties as a few spun out girls referred to him as "The Space Man DJ."

The hissing sounded began from a darkened corner of the massive house party. Someone brought a tank to the party, which accompanied a couple of kegs. That's when I heard about "chili" (a mixture of ketamine, molly, and cocaine) for the first time. Ketamolocaine.

God damn! Denver knows how to throw a fucking party.

I stayed up way past sunrise and almost lost a cat (that's a whole other story). Luckily I found it. I also thought I saw an UFO, but the Joker was convinced it was a meteorite. I didn't believe him and accused him of helping Dick Cheney cover up alien life on Earth . Whenever Phish plays 2001, the surrounding airspace is always buzzing with alien aircraft. ET activity is at an all-time high at the end of a summer tour.

Two down, one to go.

Phish Setlist: 9/3/2011 Dicks, Denver Night 2

2011-09-04T05:55:00.000-04:00

9/3/11 - Phish Dick's

Set 1: Possum, MoMA Dance > Wedge, Ocelot, Divided Sky, Funky Bitch > Axilla I, Llama > Fast Enough For You ^^, Wolfman's

Set 2: DWD > Tweezer > Golden Age > Limb by Limb, Kill Devil Falls > 2001 > Light > DWD > Julius > Cavern > Antelope

Encore: Sleeping Monkey > Tweezer Reprise

^^ w00k tries to fight Jonas

Phish Dick's 9/2/11: The S Show

2011-09-03T11:33:00.008-04:00

Colorado. Nothing else like it on the planet, and Phish picked the Denver area to throw down for three final nights to conclude their summer tour. If my sources are correct, these will be the last Phish shows for quite a while.

I flew from San Francisco to Denver on Thursday night with my girlfriend (aka Change100). The Joker picked us up at the airport and we realized we had not seen each other or saw Phish together since the Broomfield run. The Joker and his new baby girl were rocking out on couch tour all summer and he was ready to let it all hang out. We headed to a Phishy pre-party at Quixotes, saw Mike Gordon (my girlfriend was astonished at how short he was), and caught an amazing set from Magic Gravy.

If I could pick two words to describe the entire Colorado run, it would be magic gravy. After all, the final three shows of summer tour were all gravy.

We scrambled around the Denver area on Friday to get everything together for a proper lot rage fest including booze, a pharmie swap, and an EZ-up and a massive boombox -- an intricate sound system that Jonas put together for Denver Cruiser bike rides. The Joker was a little antsy to get out to Commerce City and set up shop as soon as the lots opened up at 3pm. I couldn't blame him, because he had yet to see Phish yet this year, and wanted to get the party started.

We arrived at 2:56pm and the security guard turned us away from the lots. We had to kill four minutes before they finally let us in. The guard motioned to "Lot G" but when we arrived at an empty lot, we pulled up to a different parking attendant.

"Are you looking for regular parking or Shakedown?"

The Joker and I looked at each other and nodded. I've never heard a parking attendant offer up "Shakedown" as a parking option. Usually they are surly, uncooperative and force you into a spot you usually don't want to be. However, it seemed like Dick's staff had the right attitude from the get go.

We parked one row behind Shakedown and went right to work setting up base camp. The EZ-up took a few seconds and the Joker dragged out the boombox and began cranking up a funk mix. Shakedown slowly filled up and just when it started to get raging, a cop pulled up and asked if we had staked down our EZ-up.

"40 mph winds coming this way," he said before driving off.

A girl across the way loaned us a hammer, but we only had three spikes. Did we really need four? We dragged the boombox back into the back of Joker's vehicle. Fifteen minutes later, a quick burst of wind rushed through the site. Before I knew it, I was eating a face full of dirt. The un-spiked leg of the ez-up went flying and almost shattered the windshield of the SUV next to us. I jumped on it and did what I could to hold it down. A group of five people sought shelter with us and the Joker kept spinning tunes.

Then it got nasty. The winds increased, the tornado sirens went off, and it started pouring. The wind was so fierce that rain was coming in all directions. Five or six more people bolted to the Ez-up and I jumped into Joker's truck with my girlfriend. Everyone held down the flimsy structure while someone managed to light up a joint. The Joker spun "rain" themed songs until the storm passed.

It took about twenty minutes before Shakedown was raging again. Our base camp weathered the storm. If that was the low light of the show (and the run), then it the rest was going to be all gravy.

We wandered inside after someone gave me a mystery pill. I'm a gambler so I said, what the fuck? Buy a ticket, take the ride... as Hunter Thompson once said. Most of my friends had field tickets, but my girlfriend and I had "stands" seats and before we could find a spot on Page side, a voice boomed over the sound system warning everyone about severe storms coming through and that we needed to seek shelter. Only half of the floor heeded the warning, and the rest decided to gut it out. The lightning storm in the distance was cool to look at, but we kept hoping the weather system would pass without dumping too much rain on us. A few minutes later the voice of authority announced that the weather had passed and that the show would be starting soon.

Dick's is a soccer stadium, significantly bigger than Red Rocks, but it wasn't constructed with Phish concerts in mind, which meant a few dead spots for sound. Throw in some swirling winds and you got some muddy audio. I was trying to adjust to the spotty sound during the first three songs -- Sample in a Jar, Sparkle, and Sloth. I was pumped about Sloth and didn't realize the first three songs started with the letter S. It wasn't until Fishman began singing the beginning of Sweet Virginia that I saw the pattern as I scribbled down the setlist into my notebook. When Gordo stepped up with one of his solo tunes, Suskind Hotel, it hit me that the boys were going to play the entire set with all S songs. Sweet. But could they pull it off? Would we get Sugar Shack and Secret Smile?

The girl in front of us had an orgasm during Strange Design. A screaming, wailing, extended orgasm. Page was locking up some post-show booty and came through with a silky Strange Design.

Stash had a few moments, but they rushed the jam out before they could get any momentum. The crowd responded to Sneaking Sally with huge cheer. It was one of the highlights of the first set, but the jam got cut short for a Sparks bust-out. The Who cover hadn't been played since 1996 or almost 500 shows. The rest of the S set continued with Scent of a Mule, Stealing Time, and Shine a Light (the second Exile on Main Street cover of the set). I figured Split Open and Melt or Suzy would end the set, but Melt got the nod. The shroomy jam didn't exactly melt my face and it didn't end the set either. That's what Squirming Coil was for. We got a rushed version to end the set, but Page's sublime solo is one of the reasons why we hang out on his side of the venue.

"Wow, all S songs," I said to the girl next to me. She was too spun to notice. At that point, we tried to figure out the second set. Would the S theme continue? Was it prelude for Santana, who was rumored to sit in with the boys because he was playing Red Rocks the next two nights. Many moons ago, Phish played the infamous M set packed with M songs. Maybe we were getting inside their deviant secret -- they are S&M freaks?

After the show, rumors swirled on the intertubes that the S theme was a tribute to a phan named Scotty Novak, who recently passed away. Someone mentioned on Twitter that he worked with the green crew.
But Tom Marshall posted something on PT stating that he and Trey had a running joke after the UIC shows about doing an S gimmick. However, Trey was worried that the joke wouldn't hold up with the tough-to-please crowd. If they did pull it off, he wanted it to be organic and not planned.

Trey and the boys pulled off the S gag in the first set, but they pushed the joke even more and the entire show contained S songs. The second set kicked off with a monstrous Sand. Gordo led the charge before rolling into Simple. The trippy, spacey jam out was a nice treat and I was happy to hear a stand-alone Simple instead of being the mystery meat in a Mike's Groove sandwich.

Steam is getting better and better. Jonas particularly thought the Steam jam was spot on. The crowd went a little crazy with the Bob Marley cover of Soul Shakedown Party, which they blazed through before diving into the deep end with Seven Below. I have to listen to that again before I can figure out what was going on. I was a little schwasted at that point of the show.

A crowd-pleasing Suzy got everyone in the audience shaking their ass. I always wondered if Page wanted to kick Trey in the nuts for cutting his piano solo short. The boys segued into Scents and Subtle Sounds and bypassed the intro. For a second I thought they jumped back into Sparks, but then it sunk in -- SSS.

Phish broke off the Horse > Silent in the Morning double-decker and drove away with just the Silent part. Sanity popped up next and the band finally acknowledge the S them by over-emphasizing "ssssssss" with any lyrics with S's.

The band congregated at the front of the stage and ended the set with an acapella Sweet Adeline. At that point, I was ready to bet $100 that the encore was going to be cheesed out with Show of Life > Sleeping Monkey. But then again, the way the band was thinking, they were not going to do the obvious. I tried to think up any cover songs that start with the letter S... Shakedown Street and Sussido popped into my head. Holy shit, would Phish bust out Phil Fucking Collins? They love Genesis, right?

Phish returned to the stage and my girlfriend thought she heard a Sabotage tease. Trey did the lick a second time and I thought... maybe? They launched into the Beastie Boys Sabotage, which they hadn't played since Hampton Comes Alive in 1998. It was sloppy and choppy, but high-octane energy. The crowd went apeshit berserk (similar to when they busted out Killing in the Name last summer in Alpharetta).

And then they left the stage. No double encore, just Sabotage. In all, the band played 25 songs -- all starting with the letter S. Supposedly, Saturday will be a T-themed show with TTE opener. Sunday is going to be V, with a 70-minute Vultures to open the first set.

I visited the toilet on the way out and saw blood all over the ground. One guy was laying down with two paramedics hovering over him. The guy couldn't stop smiling but his eyes were glazed over.

"We're here to help you."

We returned to Shakedown and the Joker had the boombox already set up. He blasted Michael Jackson and an impromptu dance party broke out. My girlfriend wondered where we were going for the after-party.

"This is it," I said as I motioned to the dozen spun out head dancing around in a circle. It was fun to sit back in a chair and watch wasted people wander by and stop to dance for a few minutes before they stumbled off into the darkness of night. Then the aliens showed up and they kicked the party into high gear.

Phish's first act in Colorado was an S-themed show that started out choppy, but found cohesion in the second set with a couple of big jams. Regardless if you thought the S was a prank, a tribute to a phan who passed away, or for Santana, it didn't matter -- because not too many bands have the balls or repertoire to pull off an exclusive prank and created a smoking show, combining their wit and musicianship.

One down at Dick's, two more to go.

Phish Set List: 9/2/2011 Dicks Sporting Goods Park, Denver CO Night 1

2011-09-03T11:19:00.000-04:00

Phish 9/2/2011
Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Denver CO Night 1

Set 1: Sample In A Jar, Sparkle, The Sloth, Sweet Virginia, Suskind Hotel, Strange Design, Stash, Sneaking Sally Thru The Alley -> Sparks > Scent Of A Mule, Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan, Split Open and Melt, The Squirming Coil

Set 2: Sand > Simple -> Steam > Soul Shakedown -> Seven Below > Suzy Greenberg > Scents & Subtle Sounds > Slave To The Traffic Light > Silent In The Morning > Sanity, Sweet Adeline

Encore: Sabotage

Get Ready for Phish Dicks!

2011-09-01T11:11:00.003-04:00

I'm pumped to see Phish throw down for three nights in Colorado because I get to see my first show this summer with the Joker, Jonas and the rest of the Denver crew.

Follow @CoventryMusic for updates throughout the weekend. Hopefully, I won't be too spun out and I'll be in reasonable head space to write a recap of each night at Dick's.

In case you missed it, I wrote up recaps of 2/3 of the second leg of summer tour. Enjoy...

Quickies Gorge Night 1
Quickies Gorge Night 2: Phish Magic
Hollyweird Bowl
UIC 1 - Monday Night En Fuego
UIC 2 - Chicago Disease, Gimps, and Golden Heat
UIC 3 - Tweaker City

And here's the official video of the greatest Roggae ever performed(?)...

Good Visuals Phish Pre-Party in Denver

2011-08-31T13:11:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Sutton who gave us a heads-up on the Good Visuals Phish Pre-Party on Thursday in Denver, CO at Quixotes. Most of the Coventry crew will be there, will you?

Here's the skinny...

Phish will be playing their last shows of the 2011 summer & fall season just minutes outside Denver at Dick's Sporting Good Park. Denver venue, Quixotes True Blue, will be the host to a pre-party the night before Phish's three night run begins. This all day music and art event, Good Visuals, will include live music from six bands, with some of the hottest poster artists on the scene on hand with their art display. Doors open at 4pm, music begins at 6pm and won't end until 2am. Quixotes has both an inside and outdoor stage, allowing music & art fans to enjoy the amazing Colorado weather!

Bands include Dawgs at Large, Deadlocks, Jet Edison, Shakedown Street, Magic Beans, and Magic Gravy (featuring members from ALO, The Motet, Shockra).

Artists include TRiPP, Jack Shure, Ryan Kerrigan, Kingpin, and Sweet Melis (with more announced soon).

Tickets are on sale now for only $10.

Join fellow Phish fans and celebrate the start of a great Labor Day weekend with live music and psychedelic art, just right for getting you in the perfect mind set for three nights of Phish with the Rocky Mountains as the backdrop.

Get tix now.

Hope to see you at Good Visuals!

Mick Jagger and the Grateful Dead (12-6-69)

2011-08-28T23:32:00.008-04:00

A candid moment amongst performers while waiting for their ride.

Late Night Video Jams: cLOUDDEAD 'Dead Dogs Two'

2011-08-27T00:21:00.001-04:00

Phish Videos: UIC - Undermind

2011-08-22T04:20:00.000-04:00

Here's an official video from Phish's throwdown in Chicago. Enjoy... Undermind...

McCartney or Dylan?

2011-08-21T16:20:00.002-04:00

So who is better Bob Dylan or Paul McCartney? Penn Jillette gives you the straight dope...

Thanks to Mr. Funk for sharing this video with me.

Bikini Hula Hoop Cam

2011-08-20T13:56:00.001-04:00

Check out this awesome video from @jeremy Sewell! Oh to be a hula hoop...

Phish Videos: Julius from Outside Lands

2011-08-19T16:20:00.000-04:00

Here's an official video release of Phish's gig at the Outside Lands...

Phish Videos: Tahoe

2011-08-19T04:20:00.000-04:00

Here's two official videos from Lake Tahoe, including Light from 8/9/11 and Stash from 8/10/11...

Recap: UIC 3 - Tweaker City

2011-08-18T11:10:00.015-04:00

The entire floor in my hotel reeked of weed. A business traveler in a finely tailored suit stepped off the elevator with a computer bag and a wheelie luggage. He had no idea what he was getting into staying in the same hotel with Phisheads on the final night of a scorching three-night run in Chicago. I hope he didn't have any early morning meetings because the floor was going to bring the UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ all night long.

G-Money and I grabbed lunch in Greektown before he drove back to Cincy. He could only see the first two shows and his vacation was over after a pair of shows. That meant I was raging solo for the final show at UIC. Seeing a concert by yourself can be intimidating, but every once in a while I like raging solo, especially at a Phish show. I love my friends but sometimes our group swells up to the size of a small invading army, and if you've ever read Sun Tzu, he'll tell you that it's impossible managing a dozen or more spun-out music freaks.

Phish tour can be stressful for myself and the Joker because a lot of our friends rely on us to get them out of a jam whether it's a ride to the show, a ticket fiasco, party favors, low-batterys on cell phones, bail money, or locking keys in their trunk. In the 3.0 era, I turned plenty of friends onto Phish and a few caught their first shows with me, which requires a little extra attention. At the same time, many of my older friends are trying to relive old glory days and push themselves too far and get super schwasted, which means you have to keep an eye out to make sure they don't get into any trouble. Sometimes, friends get sucked down an rabbit hole and freak out. Whenever that happens, I'm there to pull them out of a nasty spin cycle.

Whenever I can fly under the radar and see a show by myself, I'm pretty excited because I can move much more swifter through the scene and do whatever I want. I'm fortunate that have multiple Phish experiences -- from groups of 30+ or just me.

I headed to the lot and wandered around Shakedown. I ran into Justin from LiveMusicBlog. He asked what kind of show I was expecting -- "Blowout, dance party, or rock show?"

I told him that the boys tore up a couple of rock shows in San Francisco and Los Angeles because they wanted to impress the masses, so they rocked it out hard. But for the last night in Chicago, I anticipated a hybrid of a blowout show and a raging dance party.

"How about Dance Party Blowout?"

I made the rounds in Shakedown and heard, "Six up!", more times than I could count, which meant the po-po patroled the lot. It was back to school for UIC students, so the campus police maintained a stronger presence on the lot, but mainly targeting tanks -- if anyone was greedy or foolish enough to bust them out in daylight.

Extras were hard to come by, which was the case for the entire run. Had the shows been at Deer Creek or Alpine Valley, you could score a ticket for $30, but in this case, you had to fork over almost $200 to see Phish's last intimate show at UIC.

I prepped for semi-sober show until I ran into someone who hooked me up with moon rocks. At that point, I was going to blast off and sincerely hoped for a dance party blowout.

Photo by Dave Vann
I had a floor ticket again and headed to the same spot as the last two nights. I ran into Doughboy and his wife -- old friends of the Joker's days in Texas. I met Doughboy at Deer Creek in 2004 when the Joker and I first toured together. The Joker was not on tour in UIC and he was back in Colorado on diaper duty rocking couch tour with his new baby girl. However, the Joker was with us in spirit all night.

Phish took the stage about ten minutes later than they had been, but the entire building was swelling with jittery anxiousness and effervescence. A friend of a friend once described the moment before Phish took the stage as "Christmas morning" -- an appropriate description of the fervent and giddy electricity inside the venue.

I went into the second and third nights of UIC with low expectations. I likened the show to a play with three acts and we were heading into the final act. But all of this was gravy, so no matter what happened, it was going to be fun.

I'm not what you would call a Gamhendge geek, and not really into Forbin > Mockingbird. With that said, I'm glad they played the duo to kick off the show. The crowd, on the other hand, went berserk with the exception of the drunk douche in front of me who talked the entire time. I had to reposition dance space and finally enjoyed the show with a thick and hearty Gumbo (played it a couple of times on Leg 1, but making its debut on Leg 2). The bong-rattling Gordo bombs reminded me of a short convo I had with Justin about Gordo forgetting his part in Walls of the Cave before the "silent trees" part, when he pushes his hand up and down to make the GOOOOOOOSH GOOOOOOOOOOOSH effect.

Possum was well placed considering it had drawn the ire of many jaded vets as it reached overplayed status. I love possum as a lot delicacy. It's the "other" white meat. Ever have a possum kebab on Shakedown? It's savory and tastes just like chicken.

I was "that guy" who jumped up and down for Weigh. I have a bum hip, so I was hopping up and down on one leg like a one-legged hitchhiker. The boys busted out Weigh during NYE runs in Miami 03 and MSG 10. Five songs in and the show was already on a path no one expected.

The crowd's collective screaming, yelling, and cheering reached a pinnacle during the pause of Divided Sky. I've seen my share of DS outdoors at historic venues. The wallpaper on my CrackBerry is a shot of Telluride's sunset, which I snapped during DS at last year's Telluride destination shows. But, Divided Sky gets a lot rowdier indoors. UIC was a tiny venue bottling up all of the crowd noise.

Bathtub Gin allowed the boys to finally open up and let it all hang out and we finally reached the possibility of heavy jamming. During the Joker lyrics, Doughboy leaned over to me and whispered, "I miss the Joker." I couldn't have agreed more.

With the exception of Divided Sky, Gin was the longest song of the set, clocking in 12+ minutes. Gin-Maze was a sweet combo and was the highwater mark of the set (up until that point). Maze has been the vehicle in 3.0 for some serious ass-kicking tension-release jamming. Almost every one I've caught has been stellar.

I thought the set was going to end with a run-o-mill Cavern, but Trey had none of that. They launched into an explosive First Tube. I always got the impression that Gordo didn't like playing FT because the bass line wasn't as challenging as other tunes. It was virtually nonexistent in 2.0 (save for four appearances according to PT). Gordo remained stoic throughout the song, while Trey looked like a man possessed with a haunted spirit, or someone with fire ants in his crotch. Hey, Trey is sober now and uses music to get off, so if he wants to replicate snorting seventeen lines of blow by ripping the shit out of First Tube to end a first set, well by all means, let it rip.

I ran into Denver Boyd and Sweet Willy at setbreak. Both were gushing about the set (and these are vets who are very honest with their opinions) and thought it was the best set of the run (out of five). I was reticent to stamp it "best set" of the UIC run, but I definitely agreed it was one the best first sets I've seen this tour.

It had an awesome chat with Denver Boyd at setbreak because the main topic of conversation was writing. He's a fellow scribe and has been a guest poster on Coventry in the past. We both were independently mulling different writing assignments and were skiddish about pulling the trigger. But after our setbreak pep talk, we both felt better about our writing futures.

Sweet Willy's buddies from Michigan snuck in like twenty joints and some tasty bubblegum hash. They smoked me up all night. Thanks guys! Ever since I moved to California, I became a horrendous pot snob. I scored some meh homegrown in the lot on Monday, but the Michigan boys kept my head in the right spot.

We discussed second set openers. I vacillated between a pair of covers: Rock & Roll and Crosseyed & Painless. The highlight of Hollywood was the Crosseyed jam. Plus, one of my favorite shows from last summer was Charleston, where Phish kicked off a sizzling second set with CP.

Photo by Dave Vann

The lights went down and Phish led the charge with a hard-hitting Crosseyed and Painless. The "Still waiting" lyric would be the keywords of the night because they tried to sneak into other songs the rest of the show. CP's jam delved into ambient territory and like the night before with DWD, I heard a couple of 2001 and No Quarter teases. But in that instance, they launched into No Quarter. For a brief moment, I felt what it would have been like to see Zeppelin in the late 1970s. Trey channeled his inner Jimmy Page with some thrashing, thunderous guitar licks that would make one of his heroes somewhat content.

No Quarter slid into a silky seg of Timber Ho, but they never really got that jam cooking before a reprise of the "Still waiting" segment of CP. An abrupt and sudden shift into Tweezer came out of nowhere. It was high-octane but rushed and sounded sloppy as hell, but that fit the theme for the second set. Did someone dose the band with crystal meth at setbreak? If you ever wanted to know what it was like to see Phish crocked to your tits on speed, then you'll love the second set.

Trey reverted to "cutting short" jams, a bad habit which plagued the band on the West Coast run. Instead of allowing the second sets to let the music organically evolve and morph into a life of its own. Did Trey had a bet with someone that he could play more than 12 songs in a second set? Thirteen songs in the final set of UIC. That was almost double compared to the seven-song anchors in the previous two shows.

Schizo Phish or speed freaks? Welcome to Tweaker City.

A tranquil Caspian popped up, but I was thrilled when Trey's ADD took over and he made the command decision to jump into Piper, which was teased more times than I could count in the previous two shows. The Piper pink light jam might have been the musical highwater mark in the second set. Sadly, Piper's growth was stunted by Trey's impatience. It had so much more potential to sprout into hell-raising mindfuck. Luckily, they opted for a transition into Ghost.

Ghost was more of an appetizer than a full on meal, lasting less than four minutes.

"It was like listening to a studio version," said Sweet Willy.

It seemed like Gordo was the one who cut the Ghost jam off when he finally knocked Trey out of the driver's seat and dragged the band off to Makisupa Policeman. Makisupa was loaded with shtick including Trey poking fun at weed-versions of musician names (the best one was Harry Chronic, Jr.). They band's inner child took over and the four pranksters returned to the "Page's house" routine. Page tore up a killer jam and I expected the band to return to Ghost jamming. That never happened. Instead, they served up two quickie versions of Sleep and Buffalo Bill, followed up by a pair of crowd favorites -- Golgi and Character Zero -- both of which jacked the crowd's energy level back up.

Golgi was super-rushed. Speedgolgi. Antelope delivered a spot on orgasm, but it also seemed rushed to fit in perfectly with the speedy set.

Phish capped off the UIC run with a three-song encore featuring a Son Seals cover (and nod to Chicago bluesmen) of Funky Bitch, then a self-indulgent Trey offering of Show of Life, with a blow-the-roof-off-this-mutha-fucker version of Tweezer Reprise. I walked out of the venue drenched in sweat. Another scorcher. Melted faces all around.

As a whole, the UIC run was stupendous. It's difficult to maintain maximum energy and peak levels of intensity for three consecutive nights, but that's what Phish accomplished in Chicago. The three shows were pure heat and Phish sounded like an completely different band that I saw take the stage at the Gorge, the Hollywood Bowl, Lake Tahoe, and in Golden Gate Park for the Outside Lands Festival. They played with more confidence and finally showed some cojones on stage instead of trying to keep the masses happy. If I come off overly critical of Phish (not just me, but others as well), it's because I love the band but know they are not a nostalgia act, but a band capable of achieving musical perfection on any given night. It just takes the right set of circumstance to make that happen. That's why UIC blasted all of us off into the outer cosmos. The attentive crowd was frothing at the mouth and waited to be taken on a ride, and the band obliged. The receptive and frenzied audience was the necessary fuel the band needed. They fed off us and we fed off them. As a result, Phish smoked the shit out of UIC.

Nine down. A short break, before the three final shows in Colorado.

* * *
Read recaps from UIC Night 1 and UIC Night 2. I also wrote about the Gorge Night 1, Gorge Night 2, and the Hollyweird Bowl.

Phish Setlist: UIC Pavilion - Chicago, IL - 8/17/11

2011-08-17T18:36:00.018-04:00

By Tripps Prints
Last night of UIC. Follow @CoventryMusic on Twitter for live updates in the lot before/after the show and during the concert itself.

Phish - 8/17/11 - UIC Pavilion - Chicago, IL

Set I: Colonel Forbin's Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird, Gumbo, Possum, Weigh > Divided Sky, Alaska, Bathtub Gin, Maze, Cavern, First Tube

Set II: Crosseyed and Painless -> No Quarter, Timber, Tweezer -> Prince Caspian > Piper > Ghost > Makisupa Policeman, Sleep, Buffalo Bill, Golgi Apparatus, Character Zero, Antelope

Encore: Funky Bitch, Show of Life, Tweezer Reprise