Tuesday Tribute: David Bowie

Musician, actor, and producer extraordinaire, David Bowie has always been one of the more interesting characters in the music world since his break into the business in 1969. From there, Bowie has become a symbol for glam rock, funk, punk, psychedelic and alternative rock. Much of Bowie's early success was sparked from his alter-ego Ziggy Stardust, where his concept album Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars produced such hits as "Starman," "Suffragette City," and "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide." In the mid-70's Bowie successfully re-emerged with a new funky sound with hits like "Fame," "Young Americans," and "Golden Years." Bowie pushed on through the eighties with such hits as "Let's Dance," "Under Pressure," which was a collaboration with Queen, and a version of "Dancing In The Street" with Mick Jagger. He was one of the many big names to grace the stage at Wembley Stadium for Live Aid in 1985 and even broke into acting in the eighties, most notably in the Jim Henson movie "Labyrinth." Bowie has become a huge pop-culture icon over the years, both for his achievements, as well as his style and sexuality. He was an important part of one of the more notable Flight of the Conchords episodes as well a the inspiration behind The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou soundtrack. He has become a go-to for artsy and creative people everywhere for inspiration and ideas. For his contributions to culture and entertainment, we will explore the achievements of David Bowie.

First up this week is one of the funkier tunes to ever come out of a white person. "Fame" was one of the hits that defined Bowie's soul/funk era and despite a pretty basic bassline, the guitar riffs are just phenomenal.



Here's some in your face rock from Bowie with "Queen Bitch." Gotta love his get-up in this one. Nothing out of the ordinary for a man who prided himself on kind of looking like a girl.



For a change of pace, here's a Portuguese cover of "Life on Mars?" by Brazilian acoustic guitar player Seu Jorge. The song was done for the soundtrack of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou along with various other Bowie covers. I recommend checking it out.



Last up is Bowie hitting the stage at Soul Train for a version of "Golden Years." Once again, he gets feet moving on the dance floor with a disco-like funk groove. One for the ages!

Ticketmaster and Live Nation Merge

Today is a sad day for musicians, bands, and concertgoers across the nation. The Department of Justice has somehow approved the merging of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, which will now become Live Nation Entertainment. For those not familiar, this merge will combine the nation's largest concert ticket distributor with a large selection of major venues across the country and America's biggest concert promotion company. The so-called "convenience" and "processing" fees that fans must pay are already usually in the double-digits and will probablt just keep increasing now that this merge has gone through. When the merge was originally proposed, it was met with a great deal of resistance from the music community, but now that it has passed, there will be a direct effect on all parties involved.

According to the official press release: "Live Nation Entertainment's mission will be to improve the live entertainment experience and to drive major innovations in ticketing technology, marketing and service. Through this merger, the parties believe that the combined company will have the tools to develop new products, expand access, improve transparency and deliver artists and fans more choice. This will drive greater attendance at live events and bringing more value to all major constituents in the industry."

Mike Gordon March Dates

With Trey off doing his own TAB tour and what appears to be no Phish until summer tour (although there have been rumors of a Haiti benefit), Mike Gordon will keep himself occupied with a couple of projects. First off, Mike will do a series of dates in March with his solo band that includes Max Creek's Scott Murawski (one of the most underrated guitarists at the moment) along with Craig Myers, Tom Cleary, and Todd Isler. The tour is brief, but will cover much of the northeast. Mike is also involved with a project where he is teaming up with his mother Marjorie Minkin and tech guru Jamie Robertson for a display in the Boston Children's museum. The project, titled "Another Side of In" combines Minkin's painted plastic sculptures with loops from Gordon's 2003 album Inside In. The exhibit will be on display until March 31st.

March 5 – Troy, NY Revolution Hall,
March 6 – New Haven, CT Toad’s Place
March 7 – Stroudsburg, PA Sherman Theatre
March 9 – Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live!
March 11 – Charlottesville, VA Jefferson Theatre
March 12 – Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts
March 13 – Northampton, MA Pearl Street
March 14 – Lebanon, NH Lebanon Opera House

mike-gordon.com

Perry's Pick: The London Souls

New York has been a pool of musical creativity in the past ten years or so as indie music has driven people to think as far outside the box as humanly possible. But what happened to honest fuckin' rock n' roll? Well The London Souls have your answer. This power trio is powerful indeed and is creating a mighty buzz in the northeast. After an impressive showing at 2009's CMJ festival, The London Souls have been one of the more talked about young groups in New York. A Hendrix swagger mixed with the sounds of Zeppelin, the band takes a classic sound and both modernizes and refines it, similar to the way trios like Earl Greyhound and Wolfmother have been able to do. A big selling point is the soulful scream of lead man Tash Neal, who is able to carry the group vocally while cranking out ample tasty licks on his axe. Drummer Chris St. Hillaire does a masterful job pushing the energy levels on the kit, but still maintaining a solid groove with bassist Kiyoshi Matsuyama. Soul, blues, garage punk; all of these elements are in there, but the music they create can be described no better than inspired rock n' roll, which is more of a rarity than it should be. The band has released "She's So Mad" as a single, which has received heavy play both on the band's website and on a number of independent radio stations. For now, they have yet to release their debut album, but they are currently in the studio prepping it. The chatter about The London Souls has been generated by their hard-driving, intimate live shows throughout New York City. You'll definitely be hearing a great deal about these guys in the near future, but beat the rush, impress all of your hipster friends, and check them out now!



thelondonsouls.com

Rothbury to Not Happen in 2010

rothburyfestival.com reported yesterday that Rothbury will not happen in 2010. Rothbury has become one of the premier summer music festivals in the United States because of the impressive and large lineups as well as their convenient mid-western location. the website reports:

During the past three years, all of us involved with ROTHBURY have greatly appreciated the tremendous outpouring of support for the future of the festival. For 2010, we have had to make the tough decision to postpone our efforts. A contributing factor in our decision is that, due to various artists' recording and touring schedules, we now believe that timing will not allow for us to assemble the cutting edge roster that everyone has come to expect from ROTHBURY. The result for this year is that we are not able to move forward with the integrity and high standards that we demand from ourselves and for the festival.

Despite the 2010 postponement, we intend to move toward continuing ROTHBURY in 2011. This event is something very special, and we are unwilling to potentially tarnish what ROTHBURY is, and can become, by working under conditions that will produce anything less than a magical experience.

ROTHBURY is more than a festival. It is a mission intended to discover strength in community, and what it means to be a large-scale sustainable event in these times. Our efforts are certainly not coming to an end.

It is important for us to thank the people of Michigan, Oceana County, The Village of Rothbury, Grant Township, and the Double JJ Resort. Also, we thank our team members, volunteers, creative contributors, media partners, and sponsors. We have made many friendships that will last a lifetime.

To all who attended the first two years of ROTHBURY we thank you for the soul you gave the event. Those times entered rarified air because of your energy.

We hope you have a fantastic July 4th this summer.

Mountain Jam Announces Initial Lineup

Warren Haynes' Mountain Jam will return once again to Hunter Mountain Ski Resort in Hunter, New York. This year's dates have been moved to June 4th-6th, so hopefully the weather will be a bit warmer. Gov't Mule will once again headline two nights and so far, it seems like the second headliner has not been announced (although I've heard rumors of Furthur, My Morning Jacket, or the Black Crowes). Some of the heavy hitters to join Mule this year include the Avett Brothers, Yonder Mountain String Band, Les Claypool, and the introduction of a new band featuring Derek Trucks and his wife Susan Tedeschi.
Having attended this fest, I will say that while it doesn't attract the names of Bonnaroo or Rothbury, it is diverse, well-scheduled, a modest size, and security is almost non-existent. Many more bands are to be announced, but if you live in the northeast, start making plans now, because it is a great start to the summer.

Mountain Jam 2010 Initial Lineup:
Gov't Mule
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band
Michael Franti & Spearhead
The Avett Brothers
Les Claypool
Toots & The Maytals
Yonder Mountain String Band
Matisyahu
Dark Star Orchestra
Dave Mason
Lettuce
ALO
Jonathan Taylor & The Northern Lights
Elmwood
The London Souls

mountainjam.com

Tuesday Tribute: Sly and the Family Stone

In honor of being added to this year's Coachella lineup (a tasty looking lineup I might add, check it out here), I figured I'd explore the collection of one of America's all time finest funk bands. The band formed in 1966 when Sly's band Sly & The Stoners joined forces with Jerry Stone's band Jerry & the Stone Souls. The band's messages of freedom, peace, and equality in such tunes as "Everyday People" and "Stand!" were backed up by the multi-racial lineup of the band itself. Sly was a songwriting powerhouse, but some other notable musicians in the band included brother Freddie whose notable funk licks would inspire players for years to come, drummer Gregg Errico whose powerful style would get him spots with the Jerry Garcia Band and David Bowie, and bassist Larry Graham who's seen as a bass pioneer and the inventor of the "slap" style of playing. The band was huge on radio waves in the late 60's and played a set at Woodstock that many people claim to be the best set of music they have ever seen, but despite a myriad of hits, the band went out as quick as they came in. Sly Stone has only hit the news in recent years for drug and legal problems and a knack for missing gigs; an unfortunate situation considering how many overlook just how important this band was and how many of their tunes have proved to be timeless. Sly and the Family Stone have a collection of hits far bigger than they are given credit for, so today we will explore a bit of their catalog.

First up is one of the most high energy performances I've ever seen. Woodstock got quite the second wind when Sly and the band pulled out "I Want To Take You Higher" in the wee hours of the morning. Between the call and response and the synchronized dances, this is one unforgettable gig.



"Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again" is a funk classic. Larry Graham is at his best when it comes to the bassline. Sly looks like he's having a good time too.



One of the all-time feel good tracks is "Dance to the Music." I love how every band member is able to take their turn sharing in the groove. If you're not able to get down to this song, then Cynthia is right, "all the squares go home!"



Sly's overall message was captured no more effectively than in the band's steeple hit "Everyday People." Civil and social rights were at the forefront of what this band was all about and what they aimed to convey. This is one song that will never grow old.

Perry's Pick: Ethan Kennedy and the Fat Cats

A little bit of Zeppelin, a little White Stripes, Austin's newest bluesman Ethan Kennedy draws many similarities to several familiar sounds, but is creating waves with his own unique approach. Kennedy's soulful tunes aren't exactly kosher when it comes to song structure and length, but he makes it work by adding several different grooves and paces within a complete song. A song like "Closer," for instance, starts out by exhausting a drum buildup, settles into a guitar-driven groove, then goes haywire (in a good way) as Kennedy contributes some Robert Plant moans and methodical riffs. Kennedy's first appeal is his voice. Both soulful and emotional, he and the band make every tune a journey of sorts into different musical realms and powerful climaxes. Kennedy shares most of the instrumental duties with drummer Aeran Shabi on the band's first full length release, Raucous. Live, the trio is rounded out by bassist Sam Calvert. Raucous delivers song after song of pure individuality, creating more than just one breath of fresh air. "Bonnie Mae's Blues & Greens" is one particular song thats instrumentally expansive, but achieves a simple enough groove that it is somewhat paradoxical. The band is just getting on their feet, but Kennedy's talent and grip on songwriting is a force not to be reckoned with. Keep your eye out for Raucous which is in stores now and be sure to catch these guys live when they hit the road.

Ethan Kennedy & The Fat Cats - Blue Jubilee - Live in Houston, TX from High Pass Management on Vimeo.

myspace.com/ethankennedymusic

Wakarusa Announces Initial Lineup

Bonnaroo and Rothbury's younger sibling, Wakarusa, is returning to Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Kansas for its second year in that location. The event will take place June 3rd-6th 2010. This festival has always built a diverse and memorable lineup, but due to location and lack of advertising, it has kept a modest crowd size. This year, it seems that Wakarusa has gone the electronic route with its initial artists. More artists are to be announced, but for now, here is the first batch.

Wakarusa 2010 initial lineup:
STS9
The Disco Biscuits
Slightly Stoopid
John Butler Trio
Blues Traveler
Zappa Plays Zappa
Bassnectar
Railroad Earth
The Machine performs Pink Floyd
JJ Grey & MOFRO
Lotus
Rebelution
ALO
Tea Leaf Green
BoomBox
Black Joe Lewis
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
EOTO
James Zabiela
Split Lip Rayfield
Hayes Carll
Sub Swara
Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers
Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
Trampled by Turtles
Wookiefoot
Mishka
Big Gigantic
Truth & Salvage Co.
Fort Knox Five
Mountain Sprout
Band of Heathens
Last Waltz Ensemble
Cash'd Out
Earl Greyhound
Bluetech
Uglysuit
Passafire
Simplified
Hoots & Hellmouth
Resident Anti-Hero

wakarusa.com

Jay Reatard Found Dead

Pitchfork reports that Jay Reatard was found dead today at the age of 29. Goner Records had this to say about the loss: "It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our good friend Jay Reatard. Jay died in his sleep last night. We will pass along information about funeral arrangements when they are made public." Jay Reatard was a garage-punk leader on the rise after the release of 2009's Watch Me Fall. He was most recently in the news for having a falling out with his bandmates, all of whom wound up quitting the band. It is not yet known how Reatard passed, but he will be remembered for his unique contribution to the music scene.

Dr. Dog Tour Dates and New Album

Philly's finest indie-pop kings, Dr. Dog, are at it again in 2010. One of today's most impressive and prolific bands both on the road and in the studio, Dr. Dog is gearing up for the release of their first album on Anti-Records entitled Shame, Shame. This will also mark Dr. Dog's first album recorded in a professional studio with the assistance of an outside producer (Rob Schnapf). In support of their new release, the band is also embarking on a lengthy tour to kick off the decade. Dr. Dog was one of the best bands to come out of the 00's and have shown growth on every album they've released thus far. Be sure to check these guys out on their upcoming tour because you may not have the chance to see them in such small venues again.

Dr. Dog 2010 Dates:
January 27 Revolution Hall Troy, NY *
January 28 Higher Ground Burlington, VT *
January 29 Lupo's Providence, RI *
January 30 Westcott Theatre Syracuse, NY *
February 1 Mohawk Place Buffalo, NY *
February 3 The Pike Room Pontiac, MI *
February 4 Turner Hall Milwaukee, WI *
February 5 High Noon Saloon Madison, WI *
February 6 The Mill Iowa City, IA *
February 8 Waiting Room Omaha, NE *
February 9 Rock Island Brewing Co. Rock Island, IL *
February 10 Case Western University Cleveland, OH *
February 11 Video Saloon Bloomington, IN *
February 12 Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH *
February 13 State Theatre State College, PA *
April 14 Lee's Place Toronto, ON
April 15 Blind Pig Ann Arbor, MI
April 16 Metro Chicago, IL
April 17 Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
April 19 Belly Up Aspen, CO
April 20 Gothic Theatre Denver, CO
April 22 Neuroluz Boise, ID
April 23 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
April 24 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA
April 25 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA **
April 27 Henry Fonda Los Angeles, CA **
April 29 Santa Fe Brewing Company Santa Fe, NM **
April 30 The Loft Dallas, TX **
May 1 Emo's Outside Austin, TX **
May 2 Warehouse Live Studio Houston, TX **
May 3 Majestic Fayetteville, AR **
May 5 Workplay Birmingham, AL **
May 6 Cannery Ballroom Nashville, TN **
May 7 Headliners Louisville, KY **
May 11 Paradise Boston, MA **
May 12 Paradise Boston, MA **
May 13 Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA **
May 14 9:30 Club Washington, DC **
May 15 Terminal 5 New York, NY **
* With The Growlers
** With Deer Tick

drdogmusic.com

Perry's Pick: Real Estate

Real Estate's debut self-titled album is like a modern day, east-coast Pet Sounds. Released in November, the album lacks the poppy harmonies of the Beach Boys, but is filled with sun-soaked jangly guitar, cheerful rhythms, and reverbed vocals. Real Estate screams Southern California, but the band resides in New Jersey and fits in unusually well with the surrounding indie scene. Their echoey eeriness draws similarities to Fleet Foxes and early My Morning Jacket, but is upbeat enough to possess a certain lightheartedness that continues throughout most of the album. The leadoff track, "Beach Comber" has already sprinted its way into regular rotation on college radio waves everywhere. A sun-drenched foot-stomper, the tune is a fine display of modern psychedelics and is the closest they come to a classic pop sound. Other tunes such as "Let's Rock the Beach" and "Suburban Dogs," maintain a summery feel while slowing the pace and putting more emphasis on the lyrical front. The album ender, "Snow Days" is another personal favorite, filled with beautiful acoustic progressions despite its cold and hollow sound. The band has certainly covered a wide spectrum of colors, sounds, and emotions on their debut album, but the future will tell whether Real Estate will achieve success on the road and in future songwriting efforts. Much of the appeal of Real Estate is from their nostalgic qualities. The band gets a classic sound reminiscent of The Clean, Skip Spence, and Dennis Wilson, which hits a sweet spot with today's psychedelic junkie or open-minded hipster. Keep an eye out for Real Estate in 2010 and be sure to pick up a copy of their new album, Real Estate, which is in stores now.



myspace.com/realestate

Disco Biscuits Announce 2010 Dates

The Disco Biscuits are coming off of a huge 2009. The band headlined their first show at Red Rocks, won numerous Jammy Awards, and closed the year with a successful 5 night New Years Eve run at Times Square's Nokia Theatre. It seems that the wind is at their back seeing as how the electronic scene is rapidly sweeping through the jamband world. With bands like Pretty Lights, The Egg, and Shpongle quickly rising to the top, The Disco Biscuits are almost veterans of the scene and are finally cashing in. The band's new album Planet Anthem will be released later this year and I'm sure there will be many song debuts on this tour. While I have always been deterred from Bisco, mainly because of their scene and some of the shadiness that goes along with it, they have formed an impressively large and dedicated fan base nationwide similar to a certain group of Vermonters to whom I've expressed my dedication. Get out and catch these guys live before they graduate to amphitheaters and other large venues.

Disco Biscuits 2010 Dates:
January 28 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre
January 29 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre
January 30 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre
January 31 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre
February 18 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live!
February 19 Providence, RI Lupo’s
February 20 Northampton, MA Calvin Theatre
February 21 Concord, NH Capitol Center for the Arts
March 17 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
March 18 The Egg Center For Performing Arts Albany, NY
March 19 House of Blues Boston, MA
March 20 Wellmont Theatre Montclair, NJ
March 26 Ultra Music Festival Miami, FL
April 14 Charleston, SC Charleston Music Hall
April 15 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
April 16 Richmond, VA The National
April 17 Richmond, VA The National
April 18 Norfolk, VA The NorVa
April 20 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
April 21 Charlottesville, VA The Jefferson Theatre
April 22 Bridgeport, CT The Klein Memorial Auditorium
April 23 Wilkes Barre, PA Kirby Center For Performing Arts
April 24 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues
April 25 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre
May 29 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheater (Bisco Inferno)

discobiscuits.com

moe. Confirms First Round of Snoe.Down Artists

moe. has confirmed the first four bands to join them March 26th-28th at the Killington Ski Resort for Snoe.Down 2010. Along with multiple moe. sets throughout the weekend, the band has announced sets by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Railroad Earth, Hot Day at the Zoo, and the McLovins. This is a terrific start with four diverse and terrific bands. If you haven't heard of the McLovins, they're a bunch of teenagers from Connecticut who cover Phish compositions and are starting to write their own material too. Check back for more lineup additions.



moe.org/snoedown

Wilco Starts 2010 With a Huge International Tour

Country Rock superstars Wilco will begin 2010 by embarking on a lengthy world tour in February. The band had a successful 2009 with the release of their latest studio album, Wilco (The Album), which once again garnered outstanding critical praise. Wilco is one of those bands that may not sound like it in the studio, but just happen to be one better live bands touring today. Guitar wiz Nels Cline can make some unbelievable sounds with his guitar and drummer Glen Kotche is another spectacle. Wilco's album strike an immediate chord with many, but if you are slow to get into their catalog, give them a try live and I'm sure you will think differently.

Wilco 2010 Dates:
02/07/10 Sun Adams Event Center Missoula, MT
02/09/10 Tue Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland, OR
02/10/10 Wed Paramount Theatre Seattle, WA
02/12/10 Fri The Royal Theatre Victoria, BC
02/13/10 Sat David Lam Park Vancouver, BC
02/15/10 Mon Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Edmonton, AB
02/16/10 Tue Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Calgary, AB
02/17/10 Wed TCU Place Saskatoon, SK
02/19/10 Fri DECC Auditorium Duluth, MN
02/20/10 Sat Overture Center for Arts Madison, WI
02/21/10 Sun Wharton Center For The Arts East Lansing, MI
02/23/10 Tue Hamilton Place Theatre Hamilton, ON
02/24/10 Wed Centennial Hall London, ON
02/26/10 Fri Imperial Quebec City, QC
02/27/10 Sat L' Olympia Theatre Montreal, QC
03/01/10 Mon National Arts Centre Ottawa, ON
03/03/10 Wed Halifax Metro Centre Halifax, NS
03/22/10 Mon The Fillmore Miami Beach at The Jackie Gleason Theater Miami Beach, FL
03/23/10 Tue Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL
03/25/10 Thu Johnny Mercer Theater Savannah, GA
03/26/10 Fri Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA
03/27/10 Sat Durham Performing Arts Center Durham, NC
03/29/10 Mon The National Richmond, VA
03/30/10 Tue Strathmore North Bethesda, MD
03/31/10 Wed Scranton Cultural Center Scranton, PA
04/02/10 Fri The Wellmont Theatre Montclair, NJ
04/03/10 Sat The Wellmont Theatre Montclair, NJ
04/04/10 Sun Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel Providence, RI
04/06/10 Tue Orpheum Theatre Boston, MA
04/07/10 Wed Capitol Center for the Arts Concord, NH
04/09/10 Fri The Bushnell Center For The Performing Arts Hartford, CT
04/10/10 Sat Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
04/11/10 Sun Carnegie Music Hall Pittsburgh, PA
04/22/10 Thu Big Cat Osaka, JP
04/23/10 Fri Zepp Tokyo Tokyo, JP
04/27/10 Tue Civic Theatre Auckland, NZ
04/28/10 Wed Town Hall Wellington, NZ
04/30/10 Fri Tivoli Theatre Brisbane, AU
05/01/10 Sat The State Theatre Sydney, AU
05/02/10 Sun Factory Theatre Sydney, AU
05/05/10 Wed The Forum Theatre Melbourne, AU
05/06/10 Thu The Forum Theatre Melbourne, AU
05/28/10 Fri Primavera Barcelona, ES
09/12/10 Sun End of the Road Festival Wiltshire, GB

wilcoworld.net

Trey Anastasio and Classic TAB Winter Tour

Coming off of a massive reunion year with his original band Phish, Trey Anastasio is getting back with his solo band for a series of dates in February. The first of these dates will be a benefit show at the Jefferson Theatre in Charlottesville, VA. The show will mark what would have been the 47th Birthday of Trey's sister, Kristy Anastasio Manning, who passed away last April from cancer. Kristy was an environmentalist and an author and was very instrumental in the early days of Phish. Proceeds from the show will go to the Kristine Anastasio Manning Memorial Fund, which supports many of the causes and charities she devoted herself to.
Trey's solo band has always played a mix of Phish songs, covers, and tunes from his various solo projects.
Anastasio will be accompanied by Russ Lawton on drums, Tony Markellis on bass, Ray Paczkowsi on keyboards, Russel Remington on tenor saxophone and flute, and Jen Hartswick on trumpet and vocals. New to the group this tour is Natalie Cressman on trombone and vocals who is taking the place of her father Jeff Cressman. While this doesn't excite me as much as a Phish tour would, it's good that the band is pacing themselves and let's face it, Trey is good playing with just about everyone.

Trey Band Winter Tour Dates:
02/08/10 Mon Jefferson Theater Charlottesville, VA
02/09/10 Tue 9:30 Club Washington, DC
02/11/10 Thu Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
02/12/10 Fri House of Blues Boston, MA
02/13/10 Sat Oakdale Theatre (Formerly Chevrolet Theatre) Wallingford, CT
02/14/10 Sun Count Basie Theatre Red Bank, NJ
02/16/10 Tue Terminal 5 New York, NY
02/18/10 Thu Pabst Theater Milwaukee, WI
02/19/10 Fri The Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL
02/20/10 Sat State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
02/21/10 Sun Uptown Theater Kansas City, MO
02/23/10 Tue The Pageant St. Louis, MO
02/25/10 Thu Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
02/26/10 Fri The Fillmore Charlotte, NC
02/27/10 Sat The Tabernacle Atlanta, GA
02/28/10 Sun Tennessee Theatre Knoxville, TN

treyanastasio.com

Phish NYE Run: Recounting My Miami Experience

I have finally caught up on enough sleep to put into words some of what took place this past week in Miami, Florida. One of seven in my wolfpack, I'm sure all of my buddies would agree, it was a unique and memorable experience. By day, downtown Miami is hustling and bustling with workers of various kinds going in and out of shops that may or may not be drug fronts. One of my buddies came to the conclusion that it looked like a European tourist destination circa the 1980's- lots of really outdated stores selling outdated appliances, but nonetheless making a living. Nightfall is when Miami seems to thrive. The skyline is gorgeous and the temperature is warm enough to lie on a grassy knoll at any time and watch the harbor for hours on end. This weekend, however, was not an average one for the already energetic city. Come 12:30 AM, hoards of Phans began flooding the streets, guided by the hissing sounds of the nearest nitrous tank or navigating the nearest arepa vendor to qualm their post-show munchies. The Miami police seemed lost and confused by this population of folks and really had no clue where to start. But alls well that ends well, and the music outweighed any form of crazy lot activity that ravaged the surrounding areas of the American Airlines Arena.


Night One was still a traveling day for many, so the energy of the crowd wasn't ideal, but it didn't detract from the most important thing: the music. Kicking the run off with a blistering "Sample In a Jar," the first set was fun and adventurous. The first highlight for me was "Roggae" which is one of my favorite songs and one which I among others have been waiting to hear considering they were yet to play it since their hiatus. It wasn't the best or tightest version I have heard, but the mere fact that they played it gave me overwhelming joy. A mid-set "Stash" was the highlight of the night for most folks. Personally, I thought they wandered a bit in the middle, but when they collected themselves towards the end of the jam, Trey's crescendos and build-up were as energetic as I've ever heard and they really blew the crowd away. A set ending "Possum" was very focused and well-played- the best version of the tune I've heard thus far.
Set 2 kicked off with a "Mike's Song">"Light">"I Am Hydrogen">"Weekapaug Groove" that was absolutely face-melting. Many have criticized "Light" as it is a new tune and the band is still getting their footing when playing it live, but this version was exploratory and dynamic, shedding a whole new light (no pun intended) on the song. "Harry Hood" is a personal favorite, but the version on this particular night did not come together like others I have experienced. I enjoyed the version, but it took a while to envelope and when it eventually did, it was not as explosive as it could have been. "Character Zero" ended the set with the great energy that has come to be expected of the song, but stacked up short next to the booming encore of "First Tube." One of Phish's only instrumental tunes, Trey Anastasio was hopping and dancing on stage has he made his way up and down the neck while Mike Gordon's bass practically shook the floor of the entire arena. It was a great way to cap off a splendid first night that would basically act as a warm up to the next three.


By the looks of it on paper, night 2 looked like nothing special. A lot of later material and not of early bust-outs may look disappointing on a setlist, but the best thing about this band is that they can make magic out of anything. The first set had some obscure rarities such as Undermind's "The Connection" and "Access Me" which were fun to hear and were interesting breathers stacked up next to heavy hitters like "Maze" and "The Divided Sky." My favorite tune of the first set was the fan-favorite "Reba." A song that I have always enjoyed but never worshiped the way many phans do, this particular version blew me away and shed a whole new light on the song for me. Set 2 is when the show really launched. After an opener of "Kill Devil Falls," the band plunged into a melange of non-stop funk and rock. An always groovy "Tweezer" segued right into the fist pounding "Prince Caspian." The jams didn't stop there as they transitioned into a "Gotta Jibboo">"Wilson">"Gotta Jibboo" sandwich which may have been the best part of the night. Still continuing, the band was a bit rougher in their segue into "Heavy Things," but it produced one of the best jams of the weekend. This tune is normally written off by many fans because of its poppy sound, but they really stretched out on it and gave the song a whole new meaning for me. Not stopping yet again, the band followed up with "2001" which is the biggest mindbender of funk in Phish's repertoire and let CK5, aka lighting designer Chris Kuroda, strut his stuff. Finally, to cap off the series of non-stop jams, Phish returned to one of their classic compositions, "Slave To The Traffic Light" as a slow-rocking set ender. As an encore, they pulled out the obscure lullably-esque "Sleeping Monkey" which displays Fishman's fine falsetto and led us to the greatest possible Phish show-ender "Tweezer Reprise." In my opinion, this was the best show of the run, but I still had 2 more ahead of me.


The 30th was another special night for longtime fans and new faces alike. This particular show was one of old bust-outs, sweet covers and Phish classics. Kicking the set off with the Bob Marley party-starter "Soul Shakedown Party," I knew this was going to be a fun set. After "Runaway Jim" and ZZ Top's "Jesus Just Left Chicago," the band debuted Hank Williams' "Dixieland Cannonball" which was a fun little ditty and took all fans off guard. My favorite of the set was the bust-out of an 80's Phish regular, the bluesy "Corrina," originally made famous by Taj Mahal. I love the harmonies that Phish puts on this tune and it's the right amount of mellow and funky to fall right in the middle of the set. Continuing with the rarities, us fans were treated to "What's the Use?" and the first "Tela" since 1998. "Tela" is a Gamehenge tune that is always towards the top of the request lists of long time fans and was played to an ecstatic reception. Phish then debuted a new original, "Gone," which is off of their new side-album Party Time. The bluegrassy "Rocky Top," which I thought might have been busted out the night before during the encore, kept fans on their toes as they then ended the set with standard versions of "Chalkdust Torture" and "David Bowie." The band was relentless as they kicked off the first set with the first "Sand" since before their hiatus. "The Curtain With" is always a unique musical journey and one that they have been nailing since their trainwreck version to end Coventry in 2004. Keeping up with the spacey and cathartic jams, they followed up with a rare "Lifeboy" which was slow but by no means drained the crowd. They really got experimental for a 17 minute "Back On The Train" which went all over the place, but not in a bad way. Everyone knew some sort of goofiness was about to ensue when Trey hopped on drums for "HYHU," which meant Fishman was up to something. In the middle of "Love You," Fishman brought out his signature Electrolux vacuum, but had already told the crowd 2 nights previous that that night would be his last vacuum solo of the decade. This meant he had to find someone who "looked like him" to play the Electrolux. He pulled Rich, a lucky fan who was sporting Fishman's signature mumu, out of the crowd to honk on the vacuum and then shocked everyone by presenting Rich with the legendary Electrolux to keep. This series of events pumped everyone up and the band proceeded with a mind-splitting "Free" which is one of my favorite of Phish's standard rock songs. Mike Gordon broke out his Meatlball bass compressor for the supremely funky Stevie Wonder tune "Boogie on Reggae Woman." The set ended with the best "Run Like an Antelope" I have ever heard- one of those tunes that really varies from version to version but is always exciting. As an encore, Page McConnell broke out his giant keytar for a psychedelic take on Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein." On second thought, this may have been my favorite show of the run. It's too tough to tell when you're bombarded by such awesome music!


It was hard to believe it was already the 31st, and tonight we were all going to be treated to 3 sets by our favorite band. Before we knew it, we were grooving to Mike's chunky bass for an "AC/DC Bag" opener, which was fantastic foreplay for the celebration that the night would present. "46 Days" is a tune that never really got to see its glory when it came out earlier in the decade, but it is way funky and got everyone moving. The "Bathtub Gin" that everyone was waiting for made its way into the first set, but the follow-up "Punch You In The Eye" is one of my favorite live pump-up songs and this one didn't let me down. "The Moma Dance" is perhaps the funkiest Phish song there is and it marked the point at which I started to perspire from getting down in the dead center aisle of section 314. "Guyute" is one of my favorite compositions and the band really came alive during the heavier section in the middle of the song. I have really enjoyed seeing "Seven Below" this year and this night's version was no different because it is the perfect balance of energy and spaciness and Trey's guitar perfectly floats above the groove that the rest of the band lays down. A blistering "Julius" rounded out the first set and already I felt like I had sat through a whole show. The Velvet Underground's "Rock and Roll" initiated set number 2 and put the crowd back into gear as it always does. The jam off of the cover brought the band to a 10 minute "Piper" which was airy enough to provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past year and anticipate the coming one. I was pleased to hear "Simple," a feel-good tune with an infectious riff and then the bass driven "Theme From the Bottom." The highlight of the set was a very heavy "Ghost" which saw one of the water vendors in the section next to me drop his beverage bucket in order to get down with some of the ladies in the aisle. The tail end of "Ghost" even brought the band to the first "NO2" in a long time which is basically Mike Gordon whispering random sayings into the mic, but many of the more seasoned fans clutched its nostalgia factor and smiled. They capped off set 2 was "Suzy Greenberg" which is normally a burst of energy, but in my opinion has been over-played since their reunion, considering the song used to be a rare fan-favorite. The new year was just a short time away and we had a small breather to get to the ideal viewing spot.
The New Year's set was finally upon us and we were as close to the floor as we could get thanks to a very kind ticket taker (side note: the employees of the American Airlines Arena were some of the kindest and most hilarious people I have seen- they really ate up the whole experience and I can't wait to see a show there again). Just before midnight, the band kicked off with the "Cars, Trucks, Buses"-esque new tune "Party Time" which included a countdown and the dropping of a disco ball. Balloons descended from everywhere and an overwhelming sense of joy occupied the whole arena as the band played "Auld Lang Syne." Apparently Trey wanted to kick off the new decade in style because the song of the week, "Down With Disease," came next. The band absolutely exploded, all the way from Mike's wet bass to begin to Trey's seemingly endless crescendos. The band and the crowd alike were in their glory. When the band wrapped it up, the removal of a curtain revealed a large cannon. In the center of the stage, the disco ball that had descended opened up and who else but Jon Fishman hopped inside. He was loaded into the cannon and "shot through the roof." Following the popular saying, the show must go on and the band looked to the crowd for a new drummer. They picked a stout woman name Sara, who claimed to have been playing for 6 months, but wanted to join the band for her favorite song, "Fluffhead." The tune started rough, thanks to the sloppiness of Sara on drums, but when the verse kicked in, she proved to be overwhelmingly good, leading us to realize that she was, in fact, Fishman in disguise. "Fluffhead," like "Suzy Greenberg," is another song that I thought was a bit overkill in 2009, but when they really get into the compositional part and then return to the chorus, there is no greater energy burst and it is hard to really get sick of. "Joy" was met by groans from some audience members, but it definitely exceeded expectations and by no means "killed the set." Page's delicate piano on "The Squirming Coil" gave way to one of the better "You Enjoy Myself"'s I have ever witnessed and set 3 came to a close. The encore started with Trey thanking all the folks involved with the weekend while Page tickled the ivories on "Blue Moon." After going through a lengthy list of names and making a crack about nitrous dealers in the lot, the band hopped on their instruments for one more. "Loving Cup," a Rolling Stones cover that really meant a lot to me when they encored with it at my first show, was the perfect way to round out a weekend of surprises, classics, and all around good music. New Years celebrations never seem to live up to their hype, but spending the New Year with my favorite band and some good friends exceeded anything I had in mind.

for photos and setlists from the weekend, as well as all things Phish, be sure to visit phish.com