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Posts Tagged ‘Jon Fishman’

Hug Your Farmer Benefit Concert With Page, Fishman & All-Star Jam

January 28th, 2011 | No Comments

GOOD MUSIC FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Page McConnell by Rod Snyder

On January 12th, a devastating fire claimed Pete Johnson’s barn, winter storage crops and processing facility. I n an effort to assist the farm’s rebuilding and recovery, the best of Vermont’s local music scene will come together for an all-star jam session that includes Russ Lawton and Ray Paczkowski (Trey Anastasio Band), Bob Wagner, Clint Bierman and Peter Day (The Grift), Rich Price (The Sweet Remains), Jer Coons, Joshua Panda, Mike Clifford and Matt Hagen (Lendway), Will Evans (Barefoot Truth) and very special guests Jon Fishman and Page McConnell of Phish. One hundred percent of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to support this pillar of Vermont’s local food movement.

Amy Skelton of Pete’s Greens says, Â“The community response to the fire at the farm in support of Pete’s Greens and local food has been amazing. When spring crops emerge from the ground, we will need a place to wash and store them! This musical extravaganza will contribute a significant building block to the rebuild.Â”

Event Details

Venue: Higher Ground Ballroom
Event Date: Thu February 3, 2011
Doors: 7:00PM
Show: 8:00PM
Age Policy: all ages

Ticket Info

Price: $35 advance | $45 day of show
Tickets Onsale: Fri January 28, 2011

Tickets on sale here.

Willie Nelson, Warren Haynes Surprise Fans With Election Calls

October 26th, 2010 | No Comments

?UESTLOVE, WAYNE COYNE, GRACE POTTER, YIM YAMES, AND OTHERS ALSO CALL
FANS

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson, ?uestlove of The Roots, and Wayne Coyne of
the Flaming Lips are among the
dozen musicians involved with the Â“Pledge to VoteÂ” campaign staged by HeadCount, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes electoral
participation. Each artist recorded reminders that will be sent to fans before Election Day via automated phone calls.
In addition, most artist participants will be making live calls – surprising fans who expect to only hear a pre-
recorded message.

Â“Let’s get some folks cranked up about this,Â” said The Grateful Dead‘s Bob Weir, a HeadCount board member who will also be personally calling dozens of
voters. Â“It’s so important that people, particularly young people, are paying attention and voting so a bunch of
cranky old folks don’t steal their future. Hopefully getting a call from a familiar voice will be motivation.Â”

Close to 25,000 music enthusiasts have already made a Â“Pledge to VoteÂ” at concerts or on HeadCount’s website, www.headcount.org, requesting a reminder phone call from
one of their favorite artists and affirming that they will vote in November. The full list of artist choices include:

?uestlove
Adam Gardner (Guster)
Matt Berninger (The National)
Warren Haynes (The Allman Bros., Gov’t Mule)
Marc Brownstein (The Disco Biscuits)
Willie Nelson
Wayne Coyne (The Flaming Lips)
Grace Potter
Brett Dennen
Bob Weir (Grateful Dead, Furthur)

Jon Fishman (Phish)
Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket)

Fans can still sign up for the calls by visiting www.HeadCount.org/pledge.

Fourmile Benefit | Colorado | Pics

October 12th, 2010 | No Comments

Images by: Mike Hardaker

Fourmile Canyon Revival :: 10.09.10 :: 1stBank Center :: Broomfield, Colorado

Last Saturday, an unprecedented lineup gathered to raise funds for individuals and families directly affected by the devastating Fourmile Fire near Boulder, CO. The String Cheese Incident, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Yonder Mountain String Band, Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt of Leftover Salmon, along with very special guests Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, Page McConnell and Trey Anastasio gathered for a fine cause. We have Mike Hardaker to thank for this glimpse at this special night.

var siteRoot=”http://www.jambase.com”;var newPhotoIndex=”11″;$(document).ready( function() { $(“#GalleryWidget”).load(siteRoot+”/Photos/Widget.aspx?galleryID=143″);}); 10/9/10 – Fourmile Benefit @ 1stBank Center (Formerly The Odeum) (Broomfield, CO) View Photos

To donate to the Boulder Mountain Fire Relief Fund visit here.

JamBase | Worthy
Go See Live Music!

Fourmile Canyon Revival SCI, YMSB, Big Head, Phish

September 17th, 2010 | No Comments

FOLKS IN COLORADO NEED HELP
AND THESE FINE MUSICIANS ANSWER THE CALL

String Cheese

The Fourmile Canyon Revival is a concert to benefit the Boulder Mountain Fire Relief Fund taking place Saturday, October 9, at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. This unprecedented night of music will feature Colorado’s own The String Cheese Incident, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Yonder Mountain String Band, Vince Herman and Drew Emmitt of Leftover Salmon, along with very special guests Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, Page McConnell and Trey Anastasio.

The Fourmile Canyon Revival is designed to raise funds for individuals and families directly affected by the devastating Fourmile Fire near Boulder, CO. Tickets go on sale next Tuesday, September 21, at 10 am MDT at www.tickethorse.com. The night of the event doors open at 5:00pm and the show begins at 6:00 pm.

“It’s been humbling to see the generosity and immediate response of these amazing musicians. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said KBCO Program Director Scott Arbough.

All proceeds from the concert will go directly to the Boulder Mountain Fire Relief Fund. The Fund supports the local volunteer fire departments that courageously fought the recent fire and the mountain residents whose lives were directly impacted by this disaster and are in critical need of financial support.

More Info

ALL SEATS GENERAL ADMISSION, 4 Ticket Limit
TICKETS ARE $60 INCLUSIVE OF SERVICE CHARGE
TICKETS ONLY SOLD ONLINE AND NOT AVAILABLE AT ANY OUTLETS
ALL TICKETS SOLD ONLINE AT WWW.TICKETHORSE.COM, AND WILL BE NON TRANSFERABLE PAPERLESS TICKETS.
TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT ANY OTHER TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO KIOSKS AT THE PEPSI CENTER, DICK’S SPORTING GOODS PARK, AND 1STBANK CENTER.
A LIMITED NUMBER OF VIP SUITE PACKAGES WILL BE AVAILABLE; FOR INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT: 1STBANKCENTER@AEGLIVE.COM
ALL AGES WELCOME

Mimi Fishman Foundation/WaterWheel Auction

September 15th, 2010 | No Comments

ONLINE AUCTION LIVE RIGHT NOW; BIDDING CLOSES SEPTEMBER 27

The WaterWheel Foundation and the Mimi Fishman Foundation have teamed together for the third time in
2010
to deliver an on-line charity auction. The auction which can be found at www.mimifishman.org features Phish Fall tour ticket packages,
Phish
show used memorabilia, and a very special lunch with Phish drummer Jon Fishman.

100% of the proceeds raised will mutually benefit the Foundations. The on-line auction is currently live with the
bidding coming to close on Monday, September 27. To view and/or bid on the auction, as well as read about the
charities the auction supports, please visit the Mimi Fishman Foundation Auction Page.

Mike Gordon: Moss November Tour Dates

September 7th, 2010 | No Comments

LONG-AWAITED FOLLOW UP TO THE GREEN SPARROW OUT OCTOBER 19;
TOUR STARTS
NOVEMBER 6 IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

Moss, Mike
Gordon‘s third solo album, hits stores October 19 and is available for pre-order now.

Moss comes only two short years after The Green Sparrow, and about half of its songs stem from
the same
50-song burst of creativity that seeded that album.

Drummers Joe Russo and Doug Belote crop up throughout the album, and other guests include
organist Marco Benevento, keyboardist Page McConnell and drummer Jon
Fishman.

Anyone who pre-orders Moss on CD or Vinyl via Mike’s Online Store or Phish Dry Goodswill receive one of
four
Limited Edition sketch replications of the original Moss album cover concepts from Mike’s Journal – all
individually
signed by Mike himself. In addition, everyone is automatically entered to win a chance at the Moss Grand
Prize: a
bona fide 30 minute, private bass lesson with Mike.

Mike will head out on tour for a string of dates, starting November 6 at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, CA, and
ending on November 27 in Boston, MA. Along the way, Mike will hit San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Boulder,
Minneapolis, and other cities. Click here for a full list of dates
and take a look at the tour announcement video below.

To Pre-Order Moss, click here.

MOSS TRACKLISTING:
1. Can’t Stand Still
2. Horizon Line

3. Fire From A Stick
4. What Things Seem
5. Babylon Baby
6. Flashback
7. The Void
8. Got Away
9. Spiral
10. Idea

Mike Gordon
Tour Dates
::
Mike Gordon News
::
Mike Gordon
Concert
Reviews

Phish 6.22.10 – 6.29.10 | Photos

July 2nd, 2010 | No Comments

Phish Summer Tour stopped
by Mansfield, MA this past week with a June 22 performance at Comcast Center (formerly Great Woods), and
continued
on June 24-25 for two nights at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ. After that, the band treated
audiences
to two nights at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD on June 26-27,
before heading to the Constellation Brands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) in Canandaigua, NY on June 29.
Photographer
Dave
Vann was on hand to capture the action.

View the photos in our gallery below or click to the next page to view them all at once.

var
siteRoot=”http://www.jambase.com”;var newPhotoIndex=”0″;$(document).ready( function() {
$(“#GalleryWidget”).load(siteRoot+”/Photos/Widget.aspx?galleryID=84″);}); 6/22/10 – 6/29/10 – Phish Summer Tour
(Mansfield, Camden, Columbia, Canandaigua) View Photos

Be sure to keep up to date with all things Phish via the JamBase Phish Twitter Feed.

All shows are available for download at Live Phish.
All setlist information from phish.net.

Tuesday :: 06.22.2010 :: Comcast Center :: Mansfield, MA

I: Lit O Bit, Camel Walk, Possum, The Divided Sky, Dirt, Sample in a Jar, Kill Devil Falls, Dr. Gabel, Run Like
an Antelope

II: Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Sneakin’ Sally through the Alley -> Light -> 46
Days, Limb By Limb, Golgi Apparatus, Slave to the Traffic Light, Loving Cup

E: First Tube

Notes: This show featured the Phish debut of Lit O Bit and the debut of Dr. Gabel. In Antelope, “Marco Esquandolas”
was changed to “Leo Esquandolas,” followed by a Page solo.

Live Phish Download

Thursday :: 06.24.2010 :: Susquehanna Bank Center :: Camden, NJ

I: David Bowie, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, Water in the Sky, Ocelot, Uncle Pen, Boogie On Reggae
Woman, Gumbo > Timber (Jerry) > I Didn’t Know, Birds of a Feather, Bouncing Around the Room, Reba, The
Rover

II: Down with Disease -> Crosseyed and Painless > Nothing > Twenty Years Later > Harry Hood >
Fluffhead > Julius, You Enjoy Myself

E: Bug

Notes: During I Didn’t Know, Trey mentioned his prediction from the 6/7/09 Camden show that the Flyers would
win the Stanley Cup and announced that Fish would perform a voodoo vacuum solo for next year’s Cup. Some fans
in the audience then began chanting “Let’s Go Flyers.” Reba did not have the whistling ending. The Rover was a
Phish debut. At the start of the YEM vocal jam, some fans again chanted “Let’s Go Flyers.”

Live Phish Download

Friday :: 06.25.2010 :: Susquehanna Bank Center :: Camden, NJ

I: Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues, Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Runaway Jim,
Army of One, Free Man in Paris, Summer of ’89, Split Open and Melt, The Sloth, Time Turns Elastic, Golgi
Apparatus

II: Chalk Dust Torture > Prince Caspian > Heavy Things > Alaska > Also Sprach Zarathustra -> Billie Jean
Jam -> Also Sprach Zarathustra > Light -> Possum > Character Zero

E: Shine a Light

Notes: This show featured the first Alumni Blues since July 24, 1999 (222 shows) and the first Letter to Jimmy Page
since July 15, 1994 (587 shows). This show featured the Phish debut of Free Man in Paris (Joni Mitchell). Both Chalk
Dust and Caspian were unfinished. 2001 contained a Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ quote from Trey, the ensuing Billie
Jean Jam contained a Thriller tease from Trey, and the second “verse” of 2001 contained still more Billie Jean teases,
all on the first anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death. Billie Jean was a Phish debut.

Live Phish Download

Saturday :: 06.26.2010 :: Merriweather Post Pavilion :: Columbia, MD

I: Crowd Control, Kill Devil Falls, AC/DC Bag, Sugar Shack, Tube, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, Stash,
Backwards Down the Number Line, NICU > 46 Days, Suzy Greenberg

II: Rock and Roll > Free, Fast Enough for You, Sparkle > Tweezer, The Horse > Silent in the Morning >
Wolfman’s Brother > Slave to the Traffic Light > Tweezer Reprise

E: Show of Life, Good Times Bad Times

Notes: Prior to the start of the first set, Mike teased Do You Feel Like We Do. This show featured the Phish debut of
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (Neutral Milk Hotel). Rock and Roll contained Moby Dick teases.

Live Phish Download

Sunday :: 06.27.2010 :: Merriweather Post Pavilion :: Columbia, MD

I: Walfredo, Mellow Mood, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan > The Divided Sky, Tela, My Soul, Ginseng
Sullivan, Sample in a Jar, Bathtub Gin, Brian and Robert, Run Like an Antelope

II: Wilson > Meatstick -> Saw It Again -> Piper > Ghost -> Jumpin’ Jack Flash -> Saw It Again > Contact,
You Enjoy Myself

E: Fire

Notes: This show featured the first Walfredo since September 30, 2000 (131 shows). Antelope contained Brian and
Robert teases and an alternate “Michael Esquandolas” lyric. Meatstick contained Japanese lyrics. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
was a Phish debut. Piper, Ghost, Contact, YEM and Fire all contained Saw it Again quotes. YEM also contained
Jumpin’ Jack Flash teases and, in the vocal jam, quotes of Saw It Again and Surfin’ Bird (The Trashmen). The lyrics to
Fire were changed to “Let Jon Fishman take over.”

Live Phish Download

Tuesday :: 06.29.2010 :: CMAC Performing Arts Center :: Canandaigua, NY

I: The Connection, Down with Disease > Sample in a Jar, Ocelot, Reba, Horn, Funky Bitch, Undermind, The
Ballad of Curtis Loew, David Bowie

II: Possum, Mike’s Song > Simple > I Am the Walrus > Weekapaug Groove > Limb By Limb > Joy, Harry
Hood > Golgi Apparatus

E: First Tube

Notes: This show featured the Phish debut of I Am The Walrus. Weekapaug was unfinished.

Live Phish Download

Thursday, 07/01/2010 Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek , Raleigh, NC
I: Llama, Roses Are Free, Kill Devil Falls, Time Loves a Hero, Alaska, Water in the Sky, Runaway Jim > The
Moma Dance > The Divided Sky, Cavern
II: Backwards Down the Number Line > Halley’s Comet -> Light > Fluffhead > Have Mercy, Light Up Or
Leave Me Alone -> Free > Wading in the Velvet Sea, The Squirming Coil > Suzy Greenberg
E: Boogie On Reggae Woman

Notes: This show featured the first Time Loves a Hero since December 31, 2002 (127 shows), the first Have Mercy
since December 10, 1999 (189 shows), and the first Light Up Or Leave Me Alone since December 30,
1999 (181 shows), which was subsequently teased in Suzy.

Thanks again to Phish.net for the setlists!

All photos Used with permission from Phish. Photos by Dave Vann Â© Phish 2010.

6/22/10 Mansfield, MA

Used with permission from Phish. Photos by Dave Vann Â© Phish
2010

6/24/10 Camden, NJ

Used with permission from Phish. Photos by Dave Vann Â© Phish
2010

6/25/10 Camden, NJ

Used with permission from Phish. Photos by Dave Vann Â© Phish
2010

6/26/10 Columbia, MD

Used with permission from Phish. Photos by Dave Vann Â© Phish
2010

6/27/10 Columbia, MD

Used with permission from Phish. Photos by Dave Vann Â© Phish
2010

6/29/10 Canandaigua, NY

Used with permission from Phish. Photos by Dave Vann Â© Phish
2010

Mimi Fishman Auction SCI, YMSB, Cardinals Baseball

April 14th, 2010 | No Comments

THE STRING CHEESE INCIDENT, DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING
BAND
AMONG ARTISTS INCLUDED IN AUCTION

The String Cheese Incident

The Mimi Fishman Foundation is launching its second on-line charity auction of the year with items representing a
variety of bands. Of special note the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team makes an appearance on the auction
with a very special hall of fame package. The package consists of tickets to a Cardinals game, passes for the winner
and guests to watch batting practice on the field, and an actual seat back from the old Busch Stadium signed by 5
Cardinals Hall of Fame players.

Other auction highlights include The
String Cheese Incident Red Rocks packages, a Gathering of the Vibes pass package, Dave Matthews Band ticket/lounge
passes, Jon Fishman
signed/used drumsticks. In keeping with the baseball theme
the auction also includes an official major league baseball signed by all members of Yonder Mountain String Band.

The auction is on the heels of the Foundation announcing their first grants of 2010 totally $18,000 raising the total
the Foundation has given away since its inception to over $385,000.

Bidding on the auction concludes Monday, April 26; with each auction item having its own specific end time.

To view and/or bid on the auction please visit the Mimi Fishman Foundation Auction Page here.

Ray White and Ike Willis Reunite with Project/Object

December 10th, 2009 | No Comments

PROJECT/OBJECT PEFORMING THE MUSIC OF FRANK ZAPPA REUNITES

FORMER ZAPPA ALUMNI IKE WILLIS & RAY WHITE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS

Project/Object

For the first time in 25 years Project/Object will have, as special guests, Ike Willis and Ray White. These amazing and unique voices were clearly favorites of Frank Zappa‘s, as he recorded and toured with one or both of them from 1976 till his last tour in 1988. Together, they created some of the most memorable performances of Frank Zappa’s music, and Project/Object will bring them together for the fans; performing songs they are each known for, as well as songs from classic Zappa albums they recorded together.

Ike Willis is the legendary 10-plus year Zappa vocalist and guitarist whose career with Frank began in the role of “Joe” on the quintessential Zappa album, Joe’s Garage. He toured with Zappa’s band in 1978 and appeared on every Zappa tour thereafter; and almost every album until Frank Zappa’s tragic early death. Ike played an integral role in Zappa’s final tour in 1988, which some say was his most historic tour, and one that he richly represented to his fan base with several live recordings.

Ray White is a soul vocalist and rock and blues guitarist, best-known as a member of Frank Zappa’s touring ensembles. He was drafted into Zappa’s band in the fall of 1976, being featured on rhythm guitar and vocals, forming a memorable vocal harmony partnership with Ike Willis on later tours in 1980 and 1984. He participated on the albums Zappa in New York, Joe’s Garage, Tinsel Town Rebellion, You Are What You Is, and more. Ray has also worked with jam-oriented groups like KVHW and Umphrey’s McGee since his contributions to the Zappa band, and more recently, in summer 2007 White joined Dweezil Zappa as a special guest for the Zappa Plays Zappa Tour.

One of Frank’s greatest skills was his incredible sixth sense in identifying something magical in each of the musicians he hired. Recognizing this – Project/Object continues it’s singular mission to present the music as it was recorded – but also to respect and develop the creative “live” aspect that Zappa always pushed his band towards.

The members of Project/Object feel that Frank Zappa is one of the 20th Century’s greatest and most important composers, and they are on a mission to bring his music to the masses by faithfully recreating the live Zappa experience. The band strives to stay true to Frank’s vision of constantly challenging the musicians and the audiences.

In addition to Willis and White, many other Zappa alumni have performed with the band including Napoleon Murphy Brock, Jimmy Carl Black, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Denny Walley, Mike Keneally, Arthur Barrow, Ed Mann, Roy Estrada, Billy Mundi, and even Al Malkin. Other notable artists they’ve collaborated with include Phish‘s Jon Fishman, Capt. Beefheart/Jeff Buckley guitarist Gary Lucas, Chuck Garvey, Al Schnier, and Jim Loughlin of moe., New York City big band leader and “Zappologist” Ed Palermo, and Dweezil Zappa drummer Jerry Cucurullo.

In every new market they visit, Project/Object converts the curious into dedicated fans. They want to remind old Zappa fans of the way it used to be and let younger fans, that never experienced a Zappa show, see and hear the way it was.

Project/Object Holiday Tour Dates

12/27/09 Sun Sellersville Theater 1894 Sellersville, PA

12/28/09 Mon The 8X10 Baltimore, MD

12/29/09 Tue Rex Theater Pittsburgh, PA

12/30/09 Wed Beachland Ballroom/Tavern Cleveland, OH

12/31/09 Thu Mac’s Bar Lansing, MI

01/01/10 Fri Martyrs’ Chicago, IL

01/02/10 Sat Martyrs’ Chicago, IL

01/03/10 Sun The Miramar Theatre Milwaukee, WI

01/05/10 Tue Appalachian Brewing Company Harrisburg, PA

01/06/10 Wed River Street Jazz Cafe Wilkes Barre, PA

01/07/10 Thu B.B. King Blues Club New York, NY

01/08/10 Fri Regattabar Cambridge, MA

01/09/10 Sat Revolution Hall Troy, NY

01/10/10 Sun Toad’s Place New Haven, CT

Jam Cruise Portrait Series

November 26th, 2009 | No Comments

All Photos and Intro by: Michael Weintrob

Three years ago I wanted to do a portrait project on Jam Cruise. I came on board with my camera gear, a backdrop, and a lighting rig. By the end of the cruise I had taken studio portraits of most of the artists that performed. The images came out really well, but they could have been taken anywhere. For the following couple years on the boat I wanted to tell the story of Jam Cruise in some way, and I realized that I needed to find a creative way to capture this unique event.

While attending the Caribbean Holidaze festival I was speaking with my friend Seth Weiner, who also works on Jam Cruise. We came up with the crazy idea of dressing up the musicians like crewmembers. Over the next month we brainstormed how we were going to make it happen. Seth was the point man who connected me with Eugenio Manfredi from MSC Cruise Lines. Eugenio helped us set up the locations and arrange the costumes for the artists.

With more help from Eugenio, I compiled a list of all the different jobs and workers that make the ship run. I then went around to all the different musicians and asked them what role they wanted to be. With the help of Brad Hodge, who handled the lighting, we wound up shooting over 20 individual portraits on the ship. The result is what can be seen in the 2009 Jam Cruise Calendar that was used as a benefit for the New Orleans Musicians Clinic.

Based on the wonderful response and overall success of our portrait project, the next year we came on the boat and continued to shoot unique portraits of artists dressed like cruise workers. The end result is a complete body of work called the Jam Cruise Portrait Series. All of the photos from both years are now available for the fist time right here on JamBase.

-Michael Weintrob

Al Schnier – moe.

As a performer, what makes Jam Cruise special for you?

Jam Cruise sets itself apart in many ways, the obvious one being a festival at sea on a ship. The key factor that I didn’t get until I went was just how pro the whole thing was – from all sides. Even the fans on Jam Cruise are at the top of their game. The atmosphere is pretty amazing.

What specifically can you tell us about the photo shoot?

It was actually Michael’s idea. We had been trying to get together all weekend and kept putting it off because we were both busy. The original plan was for me to do a photo shoot in the pool, amongst all of the chaos, in my scuba gear, as I’d been diving every day on the trip. It just never worked out. The uniform was borrowed from the ship’s crew. They were very gracious. The funny thing is that I worked in a commercial dish room like this when I was in high school (in a local nursing home). It was a great time, but there was some pretty gross stuff that came through there. It didn’t take too long for me to get “in character.” It started off fairly tame, but by the end I was soaked and covered in food (and quite ashamed). It reminded me a lot of my teen years.

What do you think of the final product/photo?

I think I look just slightly sexier than Grace.

Continue reading for the next photo…

“There’s nothing like floating around with a bunch of musical hooligans.” -Grace Potter

Continue reading for the next photo…

“Jam Cruise has a lot of great artists assembled in one place.” -Warren Haynes

Continue reading for the next photo…

Jeff Raines – Galactic

As a performer, what makes Jam Cruise special for you?

What I have come to enjoy about Jam Cruise is the opportunity to see some of the up and coming bands that have been making waves on the scene. It’s also a great opportunity to catch up with friends from other bands that I don’t get to see as often as I would like.

What about the event lent itself to a photo shoot of this nature?

I think everyone on Jam Cruise finds themselves in the casino at one time or another. Michael Weintrob, in particular, seems to spend most of his nights on the cruise playing blackjack.

What specifically can you tell us about the photo shoot?

I remember that when we walked in Michael was on a first name basis with all the casino employees who were milling about preparing to open for the night. Conceptually this photo was Mike’s baby. Possibly he was just waiting for the casino to open and thought he could save some time by shooting us there.

Continue reading for the next photo…

“The bottom line for taking the cruise is the highest quality of music on board.” -Col. Bruce Hampton

Continue reading for the next photo…

Medeski Martin & Wood

Continue reading for the next photo…

“Jam Cruise is the highest class party of the year.” -Karl Denson

Continue reading for the next photo…

Ivan Neville – Dumpstaphunk

As a performer, what makes Jam Cruise special for you?

It’s a festival in the middle of the ocean where everybody is super close. You’ve got musicians hanging out with fans. You never know what’s gonna happen.

What specifically can you tell us about the photo shoot?

The photo was pretty much Michael Weintrob’s idea. He just came to me and said, “I got this idea; I want you in a janitor’s uniform. Let’s throw away that keyboard. Put it in the dumpsta!”

Continue reading for the next photo…

Les Claypool

Continue reading for the next photo…

Zach Gill – ALO

As a performer, what makes Jam Cruise special for you?

Jam Cruise holds a special place in my heart. I guess what sets it apart is that by its nature everyone is sort of forced to participate. Once it sets sail everyone is on the adventure together. Most gigs you are barely there – you arrive in the town or festival and you are gone the next day. With Jam Cruise everyone is more or less there for the entire thing and that’s what makes it fun. I love the hang. As a musician and a fan I get to see and talk with some of my favorite musicians in the world. I love it.

What about the event lent itself to a photo shoot of this nature?

The fact that there are multiple uniform collections on board helps a lot. The vibe on Jam Cruise is so playful that when someone hands you a waiter’s outfit and asks you to put it on, you don’t question it.

What specifically can you tell us about the photo shoot?

I believe the costumes were Michael’s idea, but it’s hard to say. What I do know is that Steve and I used to work as bus boys at a restaurant when we were in high school. Steve was always better than me at folding silverware, and it’s clear from this photo that he has retained his skills. Actually, Steve was much better at the restaurant business than I was. Eventually he was promoted to waiter/bar tender while I remained a busboy for my entire food industry career. It was easy to conjure the mood once we donned the outfits. And yes it was as much fun as it looks!

What do you think of the final product/photo?

I like it. I only wish they let us keep the jackets for future shows.

Continue reading for the next photo…

Keller Williams & Martin Sexton

Keller Williams

As a performer, what makes Jam Cruise special for you?

I’m a fan before I’m a performer. So, the obvious is the most special for me: The music. The bands; The energy; The big beautiful theater rocking back and forth (literally); funky music in the middle of the night in a low ceiling club. Also special: Being high as a banshee on the top deck, cruising fast in the middle of the ocean, the moon casting shadows, a band like Jazz Mandolin Project with Jon Fishman and Oteil Burbridge playing sheer perfection on the outdoor stage below. Mmmmmmmm good. That’s special.

What specifically can you tell us about the photo shoot?

The theme behind this Jam Cruise photo – which was Michael Weintrob’s idea – was me and Marty in a Chinese restaurant as waiters. The mood was easy to set for this picture since it was real – we were really fighting. You see, not only are Martin and I 9th degree black belts in Kung Su (a cross between Kung Fu and Jujitsu) but the Sexton and Williams family have been feuding for many generations, something about a great great great great great grandfather hitting on a great great great great great grandmother. I can’t remember whose. But the possibility of us being related exists, and each time we meet we battle. Just as our fathers before us did and theirs did before them, and so on. Just like the way our sons shall battle each other to defend family honor. The shot was taken when I was delivering the ancient Williams signature throat-poke, which shifted his trachea and ended the battle. I had to perform an immediate tracheotomy (with a scalpel that I carry for such an occasion) to bring Martin back to life so he could fight again one day.

Continue reading for the next photo…

Mike Dillon & Skerik

“Where else can you jog around a ship deck with Motorhead on your iPod, see Cuba, and discover The Lee Boys?” -Skerik

Continue reading for the next photo…

Ian Neville – The Funky Meters

As a performer, what makes Jam Cruise special for you?

The fact that all the musicians hang for basically the whole cruise. Usually we are all scattered out (sleeping arrangements and what not), or just leave after the gig. The boat is a perfect communal musician hang. You get to jam with different guys than normal or just catch other bands you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to see.

What about the event lent itself to a photo shoot of this nature?

I guess we didn’t look like deck hands or chefs that day. Always funny sitting around anywhere with the four of us. There is really no telling who will drag the conversation into the realm of insanity.

Continue reading for the next photo…

Mark Mullins – Bonerama

As a performer, what makes Jam Cruise special for you?

Jam Cruise is an amazingly unique and special experience unlike anything I ever get to do. Many people say it’s like Jazz Fest on a boat but I didn’t see any Shrimp Creole or Crawfish Bread in the buffet line. And if I did, well, I’d probably run away! It’s basically the coolest cruise I can imagine being on with all these great musicians everywhere and non-stop, solid, non-cruise ship music everywhere you turn. Perhaps the best thing is sharing it with people that truly respect the music we do. [It's] just the greatest vibe mingling with everyone in the stairwells to the elevators to the side stage areas. Awesome!

What about the event lent itself to a photo shoot of this nature?

We cornered off an area of the buffet seating area at like 6 p.m., (perhaps not the best time of day to try this) and were borrowing clothes off the restaurant crew while they were working. It all began to attract attention as we got into it. People are trying to eat at these tables right next to us and we’re pulling out our horns, spit dripping off of them fresh from the morning’s jam room festivities. It was ugly.

Continue reading for the next photo…

Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington & Charles Walker

Continue reading for the next photo…

Porter Batiste Stoltz

“I love Jam Cruise because it is a great time for Ara, my wife, and I to energize our love for each other and the music I love and live for. Is it too early to book for 2010? SMILE!” -George Porter Jr.

Continue reading for the next photo…

Sharon Jones

As a performer, what makes Jam Cruise special for you?

It was my first time on Jam Cruise, and I thought it was a one of a kind concert experience. There’s more bonding with fans, festival staff, and other performers then there is at a regular show or even a festival. Because your spending a much longer amount of time with everyone. I really liked that aspect of it. And the Jam Cruise audience was one of my favorites that I have performed for. Everyone was really enthusiastic and enjoyed themselves. It made performing a lot of fun for me and for the Dap-Kings.

What specifically can you tell us about the photo shoot?

I was a stewardess. I’m pretty sure that was suggested to me. Next time I want to be the captain!

Continue reading for the next photo…

Ryan Stasik – Yacht Rock

As a performer, what makes Jam Cruise special for you?

Jam Cruise is special to me because it is a very intimate voyage, where all the musicians and fans hang out and rage as hard as possible together as one. No one wants to retreat to their tiny cabin. They want to be part of the magic that surrounds them. No one knows what is lurking around each corner, whether it’s two of your favorite artists jamming together or a new lifelong friend to be made.

What specifically can you tell us about the photo shoot?

Our band Yacht Rock did not have a photo so this made perfect sense since it was our first gig!

What else can you share about Jam Cruise?

I will never forget the sun setting as we jammed [George Benson's] “Breezin’” on the pool deck while people sipped piÃ±a coladas, dancing to the smooth sounds in their captain hats and linens. Ahhh, yacht rock, so smooth, so good!

Continue reading for some more thoughts from photographer Michael Weintrob…

I wanted to personally thank everyone who was involved in the Jam Cruise 6 and 7 portrait projects. Annabel Lukins, Jon Heinrich, Brad Hodge, Mark Brown, Kelly Viau, and Seth Weiner all played a key role in helping me bring my concept to life. Most of all, thanks to all the great musicians who participated in the project. I had such an amazing time working with all of you.

-Michael Weintrob

There are still a very limited amount of cabins available for Jam Cruise 8. Set to sail January 3-8, 2010 with stops in Ocho Rios, Jamaica and George Town, Cayman Islands. This is a once in lifetime trip designed for live music and travel fanatics.

For more on Jam Cruise, see our coverage of JC7 here.

Phish Festival 8 | 10.30.09 | Indio, CA

October 31st, 2009 | No Comments

Words by: Brian Bavosa | Images by: Steven Walter

Phish Festival 8 :: 10.30.09 :: Indio, CA

Phish Festival 8 :: 10.30 :: Indio, CA

Festival 8 is not your regular Phish show. It’s not even a typical Phish festival.

Phish put on their first fest in 1996 with The Clifford Ball. 1997 welcomed The Great Went, 1998 Lemonwheel, 1999 Camp Oswego, 1999 brought the epic New Years event at Big Cypress, 2003 found It, and finally, 2004 brought fans to Vermont for Coventry. Festival 8 is the band’s eighth festival. But it also falls on Halloween, making it significantly different than any of the previous events.

Not only does Phish have deep history in regards to throwing festivals (many credit them with helping revolutionize American festivals as we know it), but the band’s Halloween shows are the stuff of legend. Dating back to 1994 when Phish performed The Beatles’ White Album in its entirety (and in order) in Glens Falls, New York, they have donned a “musical costume” for each following Halloween they would play.

1995′s “costume” was The Who’s Quadrophenia performed in Chicago. 1996 was The Talking Head’s Remain In Light busted out in Atlanta, and the last Halloween show Phish performed was in Las Vegas in 1998 where they did The Velvet Underground’s Loaded.

Festival 8 unofficially kicked-off on Thursday night with a soundcheck including teases of “Fuck Your Face” (last played about 20 years ago) and MGMT‘s “Kids,” off their smash hit Oracular Spectacular, which is rumored to be one of the eight remaining possible albums Phish will cover (they have been “killing off” a list of potential albums featured on their website, supposedly leading to the final selection which will be performed in its entirety on Halloween). Toss in the one-of-a-kind, unique stylings of the ground’s art, complete with 140 lit palm trees, “The Coil,” the burning heart of fire, beer tent, The House of Live Phish (where fans can mix songs from this past summer tour), giant Ferris Wheel, and white tents reminiscent of Shoreline, and Phish has turned The Empire Polo Club into what they are calling “Little Vermont.”

UNO

Trey – Phish Festival 8 :: 10.30 :: Indio, CA

Opening the first of eight weekend sets with “Party Time,” the feeling was immediately relaxed, a sort of anything-goes vibe. “Chalkdust Torture” came next, igniting the crowd with its trademark reckless abandon. The deep funk of “The Moma Dance” and a well placed “NICU” continued to build momentum, before a mid-set “Stash” offered the first real jam of the weekend, hitting some high points without getting particularly dissonant or scary.

A rare “I Didn’t Know” saw Jon Fishman play a vacuum solo while simultaneously “sucking and blowing in the shape of an eight,” followed by “Poor Heart” and “Cavern” that gave this portion of the show a real vintage ’92 feel.

“Beauty of a Broken Heart” is a Page McConnell number from his solo, self-titled, 2007 release, and tried to shine in Indio, but this entire set was already mailed in. Not lackluster or performed without passion, but Set I was akin to tantric sex. For all previous fests the band has been careful not to blow their load, instead working the crowd slowly, bringing the masses into a shared state of being that will last for hours and days upon end.

“Time Turns Elastic,” another tune off of the band’s latest release, Joy, concluded an hour-and-forty-minute set with a flurry, especially the last four-minutes, which are by far the most interesting part of the song.

DOS

“Punch You in the Eye” opened up the second set, with the line “where palm trees dipped and seagulls swerved,” drawing a huge response as lighting director Chris Kuroda splashed color upon the trees behind the stage. “Down With Disease” was on fire, bringing some of the most intense jamming of the night with Trey busting out celebratory licks on his Languedoc guitar. Morphing into “Prince Caspian” out of “DWD,” things again slowed a bit, but featured a McConnell led, Wild West-esque, bobble outro before a slamming “Wolfman’s Brother,” which was funky and stripped down featuring a concise Trey and Page led duel. Although a short version of “Wolfman’s,” it was still one of the night’s strongest numbers.

Phish Festival 8 :: 10.30 :: Indio, CA

The end of the set featured a standard “Joy,” before a menacing “David Bowie,” with Trey remarking, “we’re gonna give you a little hint about the Halloween album now.” A cryptic comment for sure, it’s hard to know exactly what Trey meant, but the obvious answer seems to be that they will not be playing David Bowie’s Hunky Dory, which up to this point was still one of the eight records still “alive” according to the band’s website.

The artistic highlight of the night was definitely “Harry Hood” with the roaming “Balloon Burble,” which is a blimp-like, balloon structure wired for psychedelic color via remote control. At times during the chill “Hood” jam it looked like a giant pill of rainbow that brought many back to Phish’s first festival 13 years ago at The Clifford Ball when the “Hood” jam featured fireworks. Full circle indeed.

A fun closer of “Golgi Apparatus” didn’t have the typical kick at the refrain, “I saw you with a ticket stub in your hand!,” because attendance seems slightly less than anticipated. Perhaps 30-50 thousand people as opposed to the 70 or 80 that the Polo Fields are capable of holding. The “Character Zero” encore was hot and full of gritty rock power chords, but the crowd seemed almost subdued, perhaps in shock that this historic event was finally underway.

Walking out shortly after midnight, a showing of The Shining on a giant movie screen attracted a plethora of bug-eyed campers, while many, including myself crept back to nearby condos and hotels to ponder what Phish had in store for Halloween.

More photos of this show are available here.

Phish perform again tonight on Halloween! Keep an eye on jambase.com/phish for live Tweets, setlists, pics and full reviews. Complete Phish tour dates available here.

Phish Festival 8 :: 10.30.09 :: Indio, CA

Set I: Party Time, Chalkdust Torture, Moma Dance, NICU, Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan, Stash, I Didn’t Know, Poor Heart, Cavern, Beauty of a Broken Heart, Ocelot, Time Turns Elastic

Set II: Punch You In The Eye, Down With Disease > Prince Caspian > Wolfman’s Brother > Piper > Joy, David Bowie*, Harry Hood, Golgi Apparatus

Encore: Character Zero

* “We’re gonna give you a little hint about the Halloween album now.” -Trey

JamBase | Indio

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Phish Auction: Festival 8 Tix & More to Help Delta Gamma

September 10th, 2009 | No Comments

Phish Memorabilia to Benefit the Children of the Delta Gamma Center

Phish

The Mimi Fishman Foundation once again displays its strong support for the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments. This time around, the Foundation’s on-line charity auction concentrates on Phish – and in a huge way. Items range from Phish’s Festival 8 tickets (with a Jon Fishman drumstick tossed in), to Scramble Campbell’s artwork created at one of Phish’s 2009 Red Rocks shows, to a mother lode of Phish Summer 2009 signed posters.

The auction closes for bidding on September 28, 2009.

To view and/or bid on the auction, as well as read about the charities the auction supports, please visit the Mimi Fishman Foundation Auction Page:

www.mimifishman.org/auctions

The Mimi Fishman Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization established in 1999 by Miriam “Mimi” Fishman (the late mother of Phish drummer Jon Fishman) and David Shulman, as a vehicle to raise funds for various charities which were important to Mimi. To date the Foundation has been responsible for the distribution of over $310,000 to the organizations such as The Station Family Fund, Rock the Earth, Conscious Alliance, Our Future Now, and The Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments. With no paid employees, the Foundation operates solely by the help of unpaid volunteers.

Phish 08.14.09 Hartford, CT

August 15th, 2009 | No Comments

Words by: Jesse Borrell | Images by: Adam McCullough

Phish :: 08.14.09 :: Comcast Theatre :: Hartford, CT

Trey – Phish :: 08.14.09 :: Hartford, CT

Textbook blue skies and a drawn-out sunset accompanied our walk towards the Comcast Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut. It is in fleeting moments like these, within both the waning humid days of summer and the near end of Phish‘s summer tour, which the mind tends to wander in and out of a reflective state. After a great run of performances that did not disappoint in the eyes of most, one can’t help but hope that Phish has a little something extra in the tank to raise even their own musical plateau steadily onward.

Over the past few shows, there has been an almost formulaic nature to the setlists; often large selections of succinct songs have dominated first sets. On this evening, however, we were greeted with a full ranged onslaught that surpassed expectation. After climbing the wide staircase towards the lawn, a collective sea of roars attempted to will an early commencement. Firecrackers soared from what looked to be an off limits area behind the upper green wall, and it was this and other random playful acts of mischief that allowed the time to go by until the band arrived on stage just before 8:45 p.m.

The opening licks of “Punch You In The Eye” set the tone for what would be a playful night. Moving intently through the structured portions, Trey Anastasio‘s guitar play gave and took subtly in coordination to his own dancing feet. The view from the lawn was interesting enough, but the sound space was heavily littered with distracting shouts and emphatic fan declarations. The song progressed into a patient funk, pulled further towards Jon Fishman‘s concluding hot-n-tot drum rolling. Where some recent takes of “PYITE” have ended abruptly, this version eased away from us like a wave pealing off a distant shore.

Mike – Phish :: 08.14.09 :: Hartford, CT

Making my way off the hill and under the pavilion, it was almost as if a whole other show was taking place during a short “NICU.” The beginning of “Colonel Forbin’s Ascent” took many by a pleasant surprise. White beams of accented light displayed Chris Kuroda‘s handiwork in almost unison to Trey’s lyric: “When the dust had cleared, the colonel lifted up his head, and was driven to his knees by a blazing beam of light.” As we all climbed towards acquiring the Friendly Book, the lyrically epic journey clashed in darker red and white washes. Meandering chord play by Anastasio paralleled an overall jam that was looking for cohesiveness. Eventually, this night’s battle for the Colonel’s ascent persevered towards the subsequent “Fly Famous Mockingbird,” and it was Fishman’s arrhythmic play that led the way towards one of the more cinematically unique rock opera jams I have heard Phish play this year.

Anastasio’s sustained guitar wails during the opening moments of “Birds of a Feather” pulled us into a more hard-edged groove. After a series of smaller peaks, the track could have taken a turn towards incoherent space, but this evening’s foray, while not really pushing any envelope, persisted with a mature and fun style. And throughout, it was Fishman’s energizing drum whacks that gave the song much integrity. All in stride, the familiar concluding theme for “Birds of a Feather” appeared. The flow didn’t cease until the very end, where Fishman’s staggered beat interrupted where the final chorus usually interjects, adding a couple extra measures in just for fun to finalize the musical treat.”

The casual nature of “Lawn Boy” allowed many of us a moment to cool off. Perched at the edge of the stage, Page McConnell seemed to beckon a sweeping breeze that flushed out the front concert space. Prompting the usual Mike Gordon bass solo, McConnell conversed with the fans in the back: “How about you in the lawn? Let’s hear it for Mike!”

Page – Phish :: 08.14.09 :: Hartford, CT

The previous interpretation of “Forbin” > “Mockingbird” added intrigue to what could occur during the ensuing “Stash.” What unfolded traveled around many different themes. One second we were enthralled in some sort of middle eastern spy mystery, the next excursion would captivate through darker spaced thrashings. At times it didn’t seem to be really occurring in front of us at all; through the meandering sound/image play various sonic voices were heard communicating in twirls. Eventually, similar motives collapsed and surfaced to a more distinct group discussion. The layered sludge subtly became confusion once again, only to reform towards what was left of the communal “Stash.” This one was a wild ride, and it was comforting to know they were seemingly “going for it” this entire evening.

“Ladies and gentleman, about to perform his first vacuum solo of the tour,” Trey comically announced during “I Didn’t Know” before sitting himself behind the drum kit, “a recent Juilliard Master’s Vacuum Program graduate, the one and only Jon Moses Quagmire Dewitt Hampton!” After the ensuing vacuum solo during “I Didn’t Know,” the newer Gordon track “Middle of The Road” was an upbeat number that efficiently bridged the time appropriately between two monster tracks. Although the vocal harmonies need some fine-tuning, the song shows potential even in its early stages.

The set one closer, “Character Zero,” has left many yearning for more in some of the recent attempts. A serious guitar-focused rock song at its core, “Character Zero” can almost be seen as a moment of truth whenever pulled out towards the end of a set. In the middle of a pocketed fury, Anastasio appeared to stretch his low-gauged guitar strings to the limit alongside Fishman’s fevered fills as tonight’s excursion was fun and aired out. By no means the pinnacle of the show thus far, this set ender did manage to leave us all with fists in the air looking forward to what they could possibly pull out for the rest of the evening.

Fishman – Phish :: 08.14.09 :: Hartford, CT

As set two opened with the familiar demonic bass warps of “Down With Disease,” the Hartford crowd erupted under the epic forward tumblings of light and sound. With a vast palette of inspiration before him, Kuroda kept up the pace in unison and we were once again flushed away by some ferociously progressive rocking and rolling. McConnell’s funky ivory work about ten minutes in broke the space continually wider in a form of transitory release. Eventually pure beauty emerged before us, and Anastasio’s solo sounded very similar to a “Reba” jam. If it weren’t for a somewhat harsh segue into “Wilson,” this night’s “Down With Disease” would have been seen as a flawless start to the killer second set.

While short, “Wilson” was compactly sweet. Anastasio exhibited a wrath that was consistent throughout the whole evening. There was a small pocket where the track could have broke past the five-minute mark, but eventually the band had its sights on the next track’s larger premise. One of those numbers that is so deeply rooted within the DNA of Phish, the often-contemplative meanderings of “Slave” encouraged both feelings of past reflection and forward evolution. The playing field for all band members felt even. Given this moment of restitution from the crowd’s perspective, it bent the imagination to think of what the view felt like from the artist’s perspective as the ten-minute take both soared and resolved with the grace of a gravity-stricken feather.

Page & Trey – Phish :: 08.14.09 :: Hartford, CT

After a number of recent epic road trips throughout the vistas of Colorado listening to Farmhouse, the adventurous beginnings of “Piper” brought a smile to my face. Inspired by the previous excursions of “Col. Forbin” and “Stash,” this polyrhythmic cut had much potential. Two minutes in, Trey blitzed his will and concentration towards the heavens; leading the pack with a playfully piercing tone. Throughout this entire evening, it was as if they had been continually searching for this type of ascension. The flow was collected and concise nearing the halfway mark, still searching for that aspiring groove. A small scuffle between security and a phan brought my attention back down towards the people around me. Their invigorated movements confirmed that they too were seriously enjoying the now cryptic sequences. The mood turned completely on its side during “Water In The Sky.” Even the security guards, who had been hard at work all evening repelling the riff-raff, were seen handing out glow sticks to lucky fans with a subtle generosity.

With the start of “Ghost,” one couldn’t help but feel content with tonight’s song selection. The effortless rock flow brought me back into introspective mode, and tonight’s excursion gave even more evidence that Phish 3.0 can offer inspirational muses. Some of the best moments with this band are the ones where they encourage you to go deeper within one’s own soul and psyche. During this short “Ghost,” the varied thought patterns scattering between each crowd member’s head could have been vast. If not for almost seizure inducing lights by Kuroda, many of us would have been too entranced to see grimaces upon the faces of the band members as the song transitioned into another of history’s gems.

Phish :: 08.14.09 :: Hartford, CT

The Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” came out of nowhere, almost as if a last minute decision by one of the band members. (On an interesting side note, a couple of Talking Heads songs, including “Psycho Killer,” were played over the PA before the show.) The track itself began in its usually stuttered fashion, but by the end only the repeated plick and plunk sounds by McConnell and Fishman remained as the quartet regrouped with intention towards the obscure “Catapult.” The ensuing robotic “dance contest” between Anastasio and the crowd over McConnell’s continued plicks and plunks kept the evening flowing and comedic.

“Does anyone else love this song as much as I do?” Anastasio asked. “I love this song. I’m waiting for the day until they play stuff like this on the radio,” he admitted while dancing over the sonic pulses. “Driving along, you know? Cranking it up?” Trey’s further ramblings about our most recent generation’s reliance of iPhones and DVD players over his elderly use of plain ole’ books made this ad-libbed version of “Icculus” very relevant, and shed our current time and place in a somewhat satirical light. With the stage soaked in a full range of reds after the structured portion, the set two closer of “You Enjoy Myself” sealed the deal. Although possibly cut short at the strike of midnight because of a late start, the tight improv section and ensuing beatbox-infused vocal jam left many of us fans in awe of what lay ahead for the evolution of Phish.

Existing almost as a large magnifying glass hovering above, the opinions and critiques surrounding this vast scene by both the greater media and the waves of adoring fans are definitely a dime a dozen. But walking away from the Comcast Theatre with the encore of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” still lingering through my head, tonight’s shows did seem special. Although the curfew did seem to sneak up on us, we left the venue indeed resonating with that familiar and silently contagious buzz on a visibly very sleepy morning in Hartford. This feeling could not have been a fluke. And it will be further dissection and exploration of this emerging maturity of Phish that will keep many of us coming back for more.

8/14/09 :: Comcast Theatre :: Hartford, CT

Set I: Punch You in the Eye, AC/DC Bag, NICU, Colonel Forbin’s Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird, Birds Of A Feather, Lawn Boy, Stash, I Didn’t Know, Middle Of The Road, Character Zero

Set II: Down With Disease > Wilson > Slave To The Traffic Light, Piper > Water In The Sky, Ghost > Psycho Killer > Catapult > Icculus > You Enjoy Myself

E: While My Guitar Gently Weeps

For more images of this show, go here.

Phish perform next on Saturday, August 15 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. Check back for live Tweets, setlists, pics and full reviews. Complete Phish tour dates available href="http://www.jambase.com/Artists/2698/Phish/Shows">here.

Keep up to speed with all things Phish at jambase.com/phish.

JamBase | New England

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