Reader’s Picks: Dustin Lewis
12.28.2012, MSG (Graham Lucas)
All selections and text by Dustin Lewis
“Gumbo -> Sanity” 8.15.98 II, Limestone, ME
A groovy piece from Lemonwheel that perfectly illustrates Phish’s Summer ’98 sound. Tight (but loose), focused and funky. This is one of the truly great (yet somewhat forgotten) segues.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/1998-08-15-Gumbo-_-Sanity-1998-08-15-Lemonwheel-Limestone-ME2.mp3]***
“Halley’s -> Roses” 7.13.99 I, Mansfield, MA
How I miss first set jamming like this pairing. This combo comes in the first frame of the (possibly) last great show at Great Woods. Several other readers picks have mentioned that late ’90’s Halley’s represents an “effortless” type sound. This piece, which somehow merges groove with more abstract soundscapes, sounds as effortless as it gets.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/I-03-Halleys-Comet.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/I-04-Roses-are-Free.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/I-05-NO2.mp3]***
“Split Open and Melt” 12.4.99 II, Cincinnati, OH
With Big Cypress around the corner, Phish was plugging away at the sound that would take them from midnight to sunrise. Trey switches from effect-laden sustains, to the Mini-Keys, and then back to a raging guitar finish in what was one of my all-time favorite indoor dance sessions on a cold night in Cincy.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/2-02-Track-021.mp3]***
“Mike’s Song” 12.30.93 II, Portland, ME
I can’t leave out the early ’90s entirely! My favorite “Mike’s” of all-time rages from start to finish. Trey’s ripping dark leads gradually morph into bright, blissful glory. PLEASE BRING BACK THE SECON…….ok, I know, it’s been asked enough at this point.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/phish1993-12-30-mtx-d2t02.mp3]***
“Free” 7.31.98 II, Columbus, OH
Not your father’s version of “Free.” Trey ditches the guitar god soloing in favor of soupy Summer ’98 funk. A stellar version that, again, makes you yearn for the days when “Free” was free to run wild.
[audio:]http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/ph98-07-31d2t02.mp3]
***
“Theme -> Dog Log” 9.17.00 II, Columbia, MD
Another reader recently highlighted the “Mango Song” from this spectacular night at Merriweather. This set was one of the most unique of all time and carried a distinctly dark vibe throughout. This “Theme->Dog Log” is really one piece and you can’t help nodding your head back and forth to those distinctly ’00 grooves. Mr. Gordon owns this one.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2000-09-17-Theme-From-The-Bottom-_-Dog-Log-2000-09-17-Merriweather-Post-Pavilion-Columbia-MD1.mp3]***
“Tweezer” 6.18.94 II, Chicago, IL
This is one of my Top-3 “Tweezers.” The aggressive, “in your face” ’94 grooves explode out of the speakers for the first act. After a bit of meandering, Page comes in with a Mind Left Body progression that Trey jumps on like a man possessed. The peak of this jam could only come from those four musicians, in the year 1994.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ph1994-06-18d2t05.mp3]***
“Down with Disease” 2.21.03 I, Cincinnati, OH
Another choice from Cincy, but a completely different time. It is jarring just how different the band sounds when comparing Cincy ’99 to Cincy ’03. This piece, taken just about 10 shows into 2.0, captures the band getting to know each other musically again. Though it would take until the summer for the band to really hit the gas full speed on a night to night basis, it was fascinating watching the rust gradually come off the car.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/1.03-Down-With-Disease.mp3]***
“Roggae” 8.5.11 I, George, Washington
I know that most people have probably heard this one, but I just can’t leave out the obvious highlight from my first set at the Gorge. Walking up and over that precipice to see the wonder that is the Gorge was one of the true highlights of my life. If you have never been, please go. It is a truly special place. This bluesy rendition of “Roggae” brought the sun down with style…
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/ph2011-08-05t08.mp3]***
“Mercenary Territory” 10.31.10 II, Atlantic City, NJ
Though “Spanish Moon” seems to be the consensus highlight from the Columbus set, “Mercenary Territory” was my favorite. The full-band peak, including the horns, must have taken hours and hours to get down (though they still didn’t totally nail it.) If you’ve never heard the original Columbus, give it a spin….”Mercenary” is the real highlight.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2.08-Mercenary-Territory.mp3] Tags: Reader's Picks
The effects of migrating roosters sounds like an interesting thesis paper.
BCGA Light just peaked over here…my goodness. oh wait, there’s sneakin’ sally.
Migrating roosters. I leave from montreal and the other two roosters leave from Burlington. The roosters will reconvene in Tokyo for the last domestic flight together. It is at this point my daughter may understand me as a James Bond super agent.
What cars you looking at GD?
How old is your youngest aj? Like 4-5 months?
5 months
Rolling Stones perform Emotional Rescue live for the first time ever last night…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7dpcZ72-jSs#!
Another new GD box set.. May ’77
http://www.siriusxm.com/gratefuldead
Palmer! Good news there.
Crowd reaction to that Emotional Rescue was hella weak. Like, it didn’t even register with them, the magnitude of the moment. Lame.
I did not like Gwen Stefani’s overdone assistance on Wild Horses either. Sheesh girl, it’s a peerless song, you are allowed to just stand there and sing it and let it work it’s magic.
Everyone’s a critic.
Boss news on the 77 release.
With Dave previewing the new ’77 GD boxset on may 8th, I assume it’ll include Barton Hall
More info here:
http://www.jambase.com/Articles/118539/Grateful-Dead-Channel-To-Preview-New-Box-Set-May-'77
From above link:
“May 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 18th and 26th are yet to make their way out of the Grateful Dead’s vault and onto an official release.”
GD is just pumping these releases out. One wonders if Phish Inc. will do the same thing in 15 years…
I bet it’s 5/4-5/9. All great shows.
Too bad the Stones didn’t make more use of Mick Taylor instead of these one off guest appearances like Gwen
Though I will say Florence Welch kicked some serious ass with Mick on Gimmer Shelter during last December’s London show
In fact it looked like she wanted to kick Mick’s ass
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=bVN9R3EniWU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DbVN9R3EniWU
damn, may ’77 to go with the Dave’s Picks and the Euro Box Set…….I have some dead listening to catch up on. who wants to mail me the dave’s picks?
voopstar, new imac has no disc drive. all those euro dvd’s just waiting for me. : 0(
With the Winterland ’77 set just coming out, that’s 8 spring/summer ’77 shows pretty quickly. Can’t say they’re really neglecting much stuff though. Unless you’re one of those early ’80s apologists. Those SBDs were often from cassettes though.
Argh! Crazy Apple.
voop-star, guessing they recently purchased a company specializing in external DVD/CD drives!
More psyched about JGB vol. 2. Bela Fleck sit in? Yes please.
I don’t know what Unskinny Bop is, but I dig that tune. Cool hair metal guitar.
What kind of sick twist of life has it that my little baby girl needs to fall asleep to the Enya channel on pandora? Goddess Celtic dolphin song vibes up in this bitch.
good year for music so far. deerhunter!
Enya is the shit. Period. Some of the best thought provoking tree-eyed music out there.
Where can one find the new DeerHunter? I’ll give it a whirl although I’m not a huge fan of the previous works
palmer, pirate bay