Yesterday’s post turned out to be so much fun, I figured we’d segue right into “Minerese, Volume II.” Yesterday we tackled some basic terminology, though I’ve been known to use more colorful language to paint the picture of a Phish jam. Today, I plucked out some of more vibrant terms I’ve dropped from time to time, and dug up some audio excerpts to define them.
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“Colorful Molasses”
When the music gets so thick you feel like you are swimming through a larger-than-life ocean of groove, you’ve entered the realm of colorful molasses. These tar-thick rhythmic textures create a liquid reality where the gooey grooves engulf your existence. In this case I’ve juxtaposed a classic dose with a portion from ’09.
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“Drone Landscapes”
Often times, Phish enters a phase of the jam characterized by its total lack of melody. Often in conjunction with more eerie experiments, these segments are comprised of heavily effected, and often repetitive, musical phrases. These landscapes resemble alien sonic brews that Phish creates in migrating between musical planes.
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“Crack-like Grooves”
These grooves feel so good, you just gotta’ have more! These fiercely-addictive dance patterns are the musical equivalent of choice hubba rocks. Time and space stand still when high on Phish crack.
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“Bass-led Jihad”
This eclectic term is reserved for those segments of absolute Mike-driven annihilation. In these crusades, Gordon’s bass lines anchor the rhythm while, simultaneously, carrying the lead melody. Trey and Page settle into the background while Mike steps front and center as the dynamic leader of the band. Taking no prisoners, Mike’s offerings shower the audience with relentless attacks of bass warfare.
(For those trying to identify these excerpts, the task should be much easier today with more well-known selections.)
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Jam of the Day:
“Mike’s Song > Sparks > Curtis Loew” 8.2.93 II
A classic sequence from Tampa, Florida, kicking off August ’93.
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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
6.11.00 Hibiya Outdoor Theatre, Tokyo, Japan < Torrent
6.11.00 Hibiya Outdoor Theatre, Tokyo, Japan < Megaupload
This afternoon show took place a half-day after Phish ended their show the night before at Zepp. Taking place within Hibiya Park in central Tokyo, this show facilitated connections between Japanese and American fans in a way that small nightclubs couldn’t. Check out my take on the show, written only hours after it concluded.
I: First Tube, Punch You In the Eye, Horn, Ginseng Sullivan, Stash, Dirt, Possum, It’s Ice, Farmhouse
II: Birds of a Feather, Free, Beauty of My Dreams, Bug, David Bowie, When the Circus Comes, Back on the Train, Harry Hood
E: Character Zero
Source: Unknown
