The Four Tweezers of Tour
7.4.10 (W.Rogell)
Since Phish came back last year, no song has been as consistently eventful as “Tweezer.” Old reliable, “Tweezer” has remained a central jam vehicle for the band’s entire career, and 3.0 has been no exception. A song that musically defines the unknown adventure that underlines the ethos of Phish, “Tweezer” has been one constant throughout the ages. In short, when “Tweezer” drops, it’s on. With an ability to travel divergent musical paths, “Tweezer” jams span the spectrum from addictive grooves to psychedelic infernos, and everything in between. Nothing in live music quite compares to full immersion in a “Tweezer” jam, hence every time its opening lick oozes from the speakers, heart rates jump and shows transform into gooey, futuristic dreamscapes. During Leg I of summer we tasted four different flavors of Phish’s famed launchpad. And here they are…
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6.13 II – Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA
6.24.10 (G. Lucas)
Coming at the conclusion of a fluid “Drowned” jam, Hershey’s dance party got started for real when Phish unrolled the opening licks to the first “Tweezer” of summer. Staying within the song’s theme, Trey and Mike led a version that favored a heavy space groove, painted with swanky guitar licks calling to whales near and far. Mike’s bulbous lines ballooned from the PA and bounced off the rubberized dance floor alongside enraptured fans. Climbing slowly to a peak, this version never branched far from its roots, but between Mike and Trey’s co-leadership in the groove, it didn’t matter. Changing into a slower outro, Trey came in over the sonic mist with the beginning of “Twist.” This “Tweezer” set the tone for a flowing set of improv in which all jams toyed creatively with their original themes.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/phish2010-06-13t15.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/phish2010-06-13t16.mp3]***
6.18 II – Comcast Theatre, Hartford, CT
6.27.10 (G.Lucas)
Phish served this “Tweezer” as the main course of Hartford’s Friday night show. Smack in the middle of the second set, the band set their course for the Mesozoic era, mingling with dinosaurs in an episode of prehistoric funk. Stepping off the edge, Trey and Mike grabbed this jam by the jugular, subduing it with a series murderous crack-grooves. Once accomplishing their mission, Trey pulled back with the swankest of licks to admire their conquest. Mike joined his cohort as they trounced on through a bass-led jungle with five and six string machetes, respectively. Manifesting the whale amidst these torrid conditions, Trey sculpted the second part of this jam as “The Whale’s Jungle Quest.” Building upon an addictive pocket, the band forged a rhythmic path of fury to the mountaintop. Looking out over the dense forest, above the clouds, the band dropped into a sparse final pattern, signifying ultimate success. Sheathing their musical swords, Phish had won again, oozing into “Theme” to resolve the sonic trek.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ph2010-06-18s2t05.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ph2010-06-18s2t06.mp3]***
6.26 II – Merriweather Post, Columbia, MD
6.26.10 (G.Lucas)
If Hartford’s “Tweezer” traveled back to the land before time, Merriweather’s version descended directly into the center of the earth. Transforming from an aggressive guitar-led excursion into a menacing tale of evil, this version likened a life-lesson learned through a harrowing experience. Beginning in a slower and heavier texture, this version carried a menacing snarl from its inception. Mike’s bass-lines took a back seat to Trey’s guitar work, as Red grew horns while leading the band into a lava-filled underworld. This piece distinctly departed from “Tweezer’s” theme, entering a section of full-on demonic jamming. Mike’s methodical bass lines pounded the way down, as Trey’s guitar wailed in desperation, as if being pulled into hell by a mob of doomed souls. A retro-journey into the heart of psych-rock madness, the band allowed for a slow, effect-laden denouement before tastefully merging with “The Horse.”
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ph2010-06-26t17.mp3]***
7.3 II – Verizon Wireless, Alpharetta, GA
7.3.10 (W. Rogell)
The final “Tweezer” of summer came in grand fashion, merging with “Slave” as the centerpiece of July 3. A quintessential dark-to-light journey, this version merged groove with melody masterfully. Beginning the jam with elephant funk of of the most refined variety, Trey broke through these liquid patterns, chopping in with a distorted effect. Leading the jam away from straight groove into a collaborative build that stayed largely within the context of “Tweezer’s” structure, Trey, again, showcased seriously passionate leads. Trey, Page, and Mike peaked the jam with a gorgeous chord progression, naturally moving into the rhythms of “Slave.” But instead of moving right along, they brought “Tweezer” to a conclusion before gracefully moving into the cathartic anthem. A stunning combination, this – somehow – was the first time in history Phish had ever combined these two classic pieces. And it worked perfectly, providing the musical highlight of the holiday weekend.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ph2010-07-03d2t06.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ph2010-07-03d2t07.mp3]=====
Jam of the Day:
One of Leg I’s top-shelf sequences; this “Disease” smokes as hard as Cheech and Chong.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ph2010-06-17s2t03.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ph2010-06-17s2t04.mp3]=====
DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
6.13.2010 Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA < Torrent
6.13.2010 Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA < Megaupload
Official Hershey Poster
A two-set throwdown with a revamped, booming sound system and a rubberized dance floor. More Hershey shows please?
I: Gotta Jibboo, Chalk Dust Torture, Fluffhead, Funky Bitch, Runaway Jim, NICU, Horn, It’s Ice, Bouncing Around the Room, Sparkle, Split Open and Melt
II: Drowned > Tweezer > Twist > Piper > Free, Wading in the Velvet Sea, You Enjoy Myself
E: Bold As Love
Source: AKG C460Bs/CK 63-ULS
Tags: 2010, Jams, Songs, Summer '10
@Mr. Completely, do check out Eternal Triangle off Sonny Side Up (Dizzy’s record). Sonny R, Sonny S, Diz.
Those two tenorists threw in every hip idea they had into that improv. Unbelievable use of vocabulary.
Ever hear his Fine and Dandy solo? Brilliant.
That’s off the Prestige 7024 with Bud Powell and JJ Johnson. The cover always reminds me of something Pollock would create.
Verve’s New York Jazz with the Jones’ and Ray Brown.
In the Beginning, with Milt Jackson is a good ’48 offering.
Then there’s Sonny PLays Bird. I prefer the older stuff, but the band is a hall of fame who’s who: Stitt, John Lewis, Jim Hall, Richard Davis, Connie Kay.
Re: ’48, Givin’ Bird a run for his money on tenor at the same time, but…Can’t believe I’ve missed all this sax talk.
Some good records listed, as I read back. Lester got it all going for the tenor. What a rich history of gifted musicians erupted from Lester’s soul.
Good night all. Thursday plan/teach. Friday plan/practice. Saturday plan/prep. Sunday gig/hit the road for Berkeley. Watched Ken Burns stuff on Lewis and Clark tonight to get me in the mood. Can’t imagine the hardships those early 19th century explorers overcame, but I sure can sense the excitement and wonder of what lied ahead. Still trying to figure out the route(sss) I’ll take.
Summers are meant for travel. Hope ya’ll get a chance to get out on the road if only for a few days and see what’s out there. Can’t wait to find IT.
thanks for the recs @corey
The Lester Young file is fixed
Thanks for the Cecil Taylor @Ramblin
This is great late-night music
Been wandering through YouTube, starting at one thing and ending up somewhere completely different, as is usual
Why the fuck was the full IT Ghost not released on the bonus disc of the IT Documentary DVD? They had some great pics on there, but that Ghost was and is just a total mindfuck for me, in the best possible sense
I agree @chef
as much as I love some of the things that are on there, it’s what ISN’T on there that really stands out
(except the Waves)
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hokay…we are apparently still in Bizarro Portland weather wise
today: 79 and perfect
tomorrow: 69 and raining
saturday: 95 and blazing
doubleyou
tee
eff
This Cecil has gotten stranger and stranger as the album continues. Cool.
way late to the suggestion box but I’d like to see “Ten Things I don’t like about Phish”. Might be a challenging assignment for Mr. Miner
saw a kid with the hood logo shirt on the other day but he was wearing it in the “I’m from the Hood” sense. I learned he was promoting some local rap company when I saw the back.
“Ten Things I don’t like about Phish”
could be verra, verra interestin’ indeed
“it’s what ISN’T on there that really stands out…except the Waves”
there’s a lot to that. Mostly solid choices on that bonus disc, but some blatant omissions to these eyes and ears. That Ghost…geez. The multiple changes, moods, peaks…it just gets me. IT just gets me. Me just GETS IT
I’d like (who wouldn’t?) to see more/all of the festies released, at least in high-quality audio, if not audio and video. Ie, everybody’s number one, Big Cypress
10 years later, no soundboards? C’mon! As a once-great band once sang, “Yeah Baby C’mon”
I don’t have the Prestige Rollins box, I have a different one a friend gave me…Freelance Years or something…mid 50s
I just linked my name to an old clav funk improvisation I did awhile back in school if anyone wants to check it out. I am a whole lot better now then I was then, especially considering that was my first time recording.
I think it turned out pretty good though. So it’s there if ya wanna hear it. Thanks for listening! Comments would be very appreciated.
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Sorry for the plug. Continue with the Phish dialogue. I’m all for a Great Went/Big Cypress DVD release
DVD? Pfft, bring on the Blu-Ray baby!
10 Solutions to all the worlds problems that came to me during the jam in tweezer
10 Things that make the west coast different than the east coast (this may have already been done)
10 Things that happened the last time I (Mr. Miner) missed a phish show and are likely to happen again at Alpine
10 Reasons why working the overnight shift sucks (ok, that ones for me to do)
Anyone still up?
Nope.
Damn it.
I’m still up for the next 5 and a half hours. back and forth from the desk here. got to get up and do my rounds which consist of walking around for about 2 hours in a few minutes though.
or right after IT chalkdust videos 1-3
Okay I think I’m going to bed BB
Goodnight!