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
Way up in the hills. Summer weather. Planting early.
Kaya, great news.
VW, thanks for the nod the other day. Saw that.
Sumo, looking forward to hanging out this summer
I miss the 95 sound a bit. Edgy guitar and lots of piano.
Way up in the hills. Summer weather. Planting early.
Kaya, great news.
VW, thanks for the nod the other day. Saw that.
Sumo, looking forward to hanging out this summer
I miss the 95 sound a bit. Edgy guitar tones and lots of piano.
^i didn’t do it
Oh, and MiA is the only reason I want to visit Austin.
pleasure hanging at the house of Gdad. cracked an Enjoy By. 1st time out of the bottle, much more aromatic than on tap, great to savor the fruity and floral notes. followed it up w/ a Deviant Dales, which settled nicely. drinks too smooth for an 8%er.
some fine Sunday tunes: Deadly Dragon Podcast
Calpain, love the Dragon. The scratchy vinyl sounds. Got lots of airtime over nYE run in the apple.
Page straight crushes the piano on the alphauber Theme.
Bingos,
“Page Side. Before it was cool”
T-Shirt idea^
On the back:
Get off my lawn.
::old mans shirt::
Survived the sleepover!
Xpun
shit, man.
my bad. didn’t mean to be a distraction.
I dig it b. True too. Cool kids always raged page side. Nowadays I’d choose behind stage to watch fishman do work.
what up, BB?
feeling fresh, light, and energized today after getting my locks chopped last night by the mrs. For over 7 years i’ve been rockin the long hair pulled back in a grandma bun at the back of my bald head. It’s all gone now except a thin layer of stuble. feels so good. No more hair bulge at the back of my dome. twasn’t a good look, but i clung to it out of laziness and lack of imagination. new look is streamline and $$$.
11.14.95 is a $$$ show. phish is an amazing band. even phish lyrics have something to offer. we take the lyrics for granted but there’s some clever wordplay and vivid imagery in a lot of these songs.
“Inside me a voice is repeating a phrase: you’ve lost iot; you’ll never get out of this maze.”
“At last till he realized, he circled back around. round a back circle. round a back realized”
“UB40”
“Been you to have any spike, man?”
among my favorite lyrics are those to It’s Ice:
I’m mimicking the image in whose radiance I bask
I’m tied to him, or him to me, depending who you ask
None the less reluctantly reflections tumble in
I slide with all the other on the wrong side of the skin
“Up or down it’s up to you”
decided to revisit some 2012 champs. starting w/ 6.22.12 (cincy) Twist.
so much good, new music to support all the awesome phish we’re gonna get this summer.
9.11.74 wharf rat — $$$. spin it.
I’ll buy you a ewe.
Toss away stuff
You don’t need in the end
Keep whats important
And know who’s your friend
If you’re just staring at your walls
Observing echoing footfalls from tenants wandering distant halls
Then this one is for you
If children playing all around to you is noise, not pleasant sound
And you feel lost on the playground…
Then this one is for you
I woke up one morning in November
And I realized I love you
It’s not your headlights in front
Your tailpipe, or the skylight above you
It’s the way you cling to the road
When the wind tries to shove you
I’d never go riding away
And come back home without you
Cinco De Mayo!
yanked on my tunic and dangled my stash
8.15.93 Stash — 18 mins. of multi-themed exploration. $$$. put it on the spin list.
On Friday I was handed my first bottle of glycerine tincture.
Combine that with brilliant sunshine and temps in the 80s the past few days and Praise Jah! So clean and so pure, why did it take me 33 years to be introduced is my only question. Off to play in the Columbia river gorge with lunch at Full Sail brewing.
Enjoy, BB Massive!
back to ph 2012 w/ the award winning spac ghost. $$$. well-clavinated.