Reader’s Picks: Marc “Kaya” Tosh
SPAC 2012 (SammyC via Crowdseye)
All text and selections by @Kayatosh
“Mango Song > Jam” 9.17.00 II, Columbia, MD
A loose, tired sounding version that feels like it might fall apart at any moment but doesn’t thanks to Page Piano. After the triumph of successfully holding it together, a dark, percussive, free-form jam emerges.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Mango-Song-_.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Jam-_.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Free1.mp3]***
“Yamar” 11.2.96 II, West Palm Beach, FL
One that slipped through the cracks the last time Miner covered 1996. Karl Perazzo enhanced.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/1.01-Ya-Mar.mp3]***
“David Bowie” 6.24.95 II, Philadelphia, PA
This long form version starts off promisingly with a spacey intro. The “Low Rider” flavored jam hints at the funk the band would actively mine in the next few years. From the chunky funk, the jam journeys into a slower, softer vibe that retains the trademark 95 dark edge. A subsequent move into speed metal features Trey out front blazing a white hot path with the other three matching his intensity.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Track-03.mp3]***
“McGrupp” 8.7.93, Darien Lake, NY
A confident version of a favorite Phish tune from a golden era. Page tickling the ivories; Fishman tickling the washboard. See also, 11.30.94 McGrupp for more of Page channeling Keith Jarret.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/II-11-McGrupp-and-the-Watchful-Hosemasters-.mp3]***
“Jam > Leprechaun” 8.24.93 Sndchk, Vancouver, BC
Four-way bluesy, uninhibited play. A pocket so deep you could lose a joint in it. Listen to Fishman’s super human fills. Midway through the 10 minute jam, Fishman settles on a steady groove, and the jam becomes a composed sounding romp. And then the elusive Leprechaun does his jig.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ph1993-08-24sct01.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ph1993-08-24sct02.mp3]***
“Chalkdust Torture” 7.16.94 II, Sugarbush, VT
A take no prisoners, almost off the rails, “Barracuda” teased Dust, featuring Trey in berserker mode.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2.11-Chalk-Dust-Torture.mp3]***
“Sneakin Sally > Frankie Says” 4.2.98 II, Uniondale, NY
Slower, thicker version of a classic phish groove vehicle. Your head will involuntarily bob as the laid-back, syncopated riffs start bumping up against your brain. “Sally” jam slides smoothly and gradually into “Frankie Says,” which features a nimble fingered Trey.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2.06-Sneakin-Sally-Through-the-Alley.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2.07-Frankie-Says.mp3]***
“Ghost > Drowned” 12.28.97 II, Landover, MD
Silky, late ’97 funk feel with a healthy dose of clavination. “Ghost’s” jam is of the hypnotic variety with intermittent hints of “Psycho Killer.” After you’ve been mellowed to the point of floating, the jam inconspicuously swirls into a funnel cone (twice), stops on a dime, and then launches into “Drowned!” Trey’s strong Hendrix impression in the “Drowned” jam finishes off the listener. Listen for The Note. “Drowned” jam concludes in soft, spacious fashion.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2.05-Ghost.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2.06-Drowned.mp3]***
“Makiuspa Policeman” 11.23.96 II, Vancouver, BC
“Woke up in the morning. Border Guard in my Bunk.” Listen for the Star Wars effects.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/II-04-Makisupa-Policeman-.mp3]***
“Bathtub Gin -> Cities -> Jam” 7.1.97 II, Amsterdam, NL
July ’97, Amsterdam — a time traveler’s dream destination. There’s a segment mid-“Gin” that mirrors the feeling of falling down stairs in slow motion. After a slick “Gin” theme tease, the jam patiently builds to a murky, not quite peaked conclusion that becomes the intro to “Cities.” The “Cities” jam sonically represents what it might feel like to be adrift at sea on a gelatinous raft. After all “Cities” flavor has been wrung from the jam, an ambient, looped section takes hold of your dome and places you right on the back of the worm. By mid ’97, this band was an ear candy machine.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/PH97-07-01D2T05.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/PH97-07-01D2T06.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/PH97-07-01D2T07.mp3]***
“Timber Ho!” 7.26.97 II, Austin, TX
More liquid gold from July 97 with a looped out, cosmic jump rope jam conclusion before the “Timber” themed coda.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/ph97-07-26d2t01.mp3] Tags: Reader's Picks
I love the “howling dofs from hell” during the intro’s of the 95′ Bowies..
Dogs. There is no such thing as “dofs”..
Been looking forward to the Kaya Groove ûberlist. Setting a high bar my friend.
Kaya done bagged it up.
Nice to see 8-7-93 represented. The day my life changed forever.
I’m guessing this shall be a solid mix, I know kaya does his homework. Thx K
Beer pairings for this list Kaya?
Kaya approved!
Will check these $$$ picks later. Thanks.
I like that kaya gives us homework to go along with it.
“listen for…”
quality stuff up in here
@pig
voopa did my work for me and posted the text file of the AÜ playlist about two pages back on the last post icymi
Just a few more branches for the listening fire.
Thank you, mr. Miner. and thanks for the love, BB. This is a real honor.
additional notes:
1) 11.2.96 is an archival release; 2) 7.16.94 CDT is a tour closer and can be found on Live Phish vol. 2; 3) 4.2.98 is an archival release; and 3) Bob Gullotti is on second drum set for 7.26.97 Timber.
yesterday, many were pamping 4.2.98 tube, stash, and twist, and rightly so.
Thought I’d highlight the overshadowed (and perhaps overlooked) 4.2.98 Sally jam.
sounds like Free got included w/ 9.17.00 mango>jam above. Gotta love Miner — always giving us more.
Well done Mr Tosh! The bar has been set.
This clip reminds me of phishm’s post, guy is out there.
http://tosh.comedycentral.com/blog/2013/04/03/submit-your-own-whats-your-name
^From Kaya’s brother, Tosh.O
great picks kaya.
Ahhh 15 years since 4-3. A lifetime ago. An absolute perfect night of music. The energy when reprise dropped.
@kayatosh: thanks for the new tunes and excellent picks. as usual, there are a few that my mind hasn’t heard yet. Great writeUp too.
Happy Hump Day BBers!
“A pocket so deep you could lose a joint in it”
Brilliant. Looking forward to some kaya time this summer.
“mirrors the feeling of falling down stairs in slow motion”
“to be adrift at sea on a gelatinous raft”
“syncopated riffs start bumping up against your brain”
Wonderful poetry Kaya.
Add Tzara’s hip hop, and we have “better than Tom” type lyrical ability here.
Because today is a great anniversary!
http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Live+Phish+4+3+98/5968246
An all-time favorite (that I never saw live).
thanks for the picks kaya. will be checking them out throughout the day
So here is a show with a very young Derek Trucks sitting in with Zero. Great interplay with Kimock all night long, super clean recording.
http://archive.org/details/zero1998-01-31.senn421.shnf
and goddammit all to hell, Iain Banks has terminal cancer. Fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK FUCK FUCK!
I am not prepared for a world forever lacking the promise of a new Culture novel.
Fitting that the market takes a shit on Kaya’s picks day…hope he’s short!
Started 4.3.98 a little while ago…multitease Week!
nice picks @kaya!
i love these readers picks. this one looks great.
I’ve been noticing lately how my listening habits have changed over the last 2 decades. twenty years ago I would have to scrounge for some high quality tapes, and then if you weren’t listening to it in the car, you were probably putting the tape in and listening to a whole show. I had listened to whole shows or at least major segments up until a few years ago, when media players made it easy to just cut to the meat of the matter. I’m not bitching about these lists at all, I really look forward to each new installment, but i wonder if we arent missing something more from listening to a whole show… that context that surrounds the jam, and gives it a more definite place in time and space. We miss out on listening to that flow monster that was more than a jam but a whole set or even a whole show that melted your brain from the idiotic continuity of the whole thing.
Again, I’m not bitching about these lists, I love them. Its just something thats been on my mind lately, and i thought i’d throw it out there. Great pics Kaya. its making my work day much easier.