Skyballs and Saxscrapers
8.5.06 - The Greek Theatre (Wendy Rogell)
The first jam of tour that lifted the entire audience into a galaxy far, far away sprouted from the unlikeliest of places. Kick-starting The Greek’s second night’s second set, Phish strung together three heavy-hitting jam vehicles – “Rock and Roll,” “Ghost,” and “Mike’s Song.” Building a legitimate tour highlight in “Rock and Roll” and a solid version of “Ghost,” one figured when the band doused the fire of “Mike’s,” a mellow interlude was inevitable. Sidestepping “Hydrogen” for “Simple” for only the second time this year, Gordon’s anthem seemed quite appropriate for the summer night. “Simple’s” only previous appearance within a “Mike’s Groove” this summer came on June 29 in Canandaigua, New York, was a version that brought creativity back to the often one-dimensional piece, featuring a shimmering ambient jam that landed in “I Am the Walrus.”
8.6.10 Pollock
Phish moved through the Greek’s mid-set rendition with a notably relaxed energy that characterized much of their playing out west. Fluidly migrating out of the lyrics, Trey and Mike took co-solos, cooperatively sculpting a double helix of melody that pointed in a singular musical direction. A dynamic opening carried an idyllic pace, allowing individual phrases to breathe while complementing each other perfectly. And just when it sounded like “Simple” was winding down and heading for another song, Phish dipped into their satchel of wizardry and pulled out a hypnotic spell.
Page took initiative with delicate piano leads, coaxing his band mates to keep their heads in the game rather than bailing for another song. The jam took a distinct turn for the mellow as Page led a gradual descent onto a gentle musical pillow. Once arriving there, Trey, Mike and Page immediately circulated in a three-piece melodic pattern while Fishman framed the abstraction with dainty cymbal work.
Page began to alter this musical orb with effected notes as Trey flicked astral pennies into the ether, blending their aural trajectories perfectly with the band’s floating experiment. As Page pushed the piece into a quasi-digital realm, Mike held down the lead with rolling bass notes. Entering an elevated state of blissful reverie, this futuristic groove took on a life of its own, moving mechanically within a sparse, psychedelic tapestry.
8.5.10 (W.Rogell)
Deep into the jam, Trey added a rhythmic delay to his notes, pushing Fishman into a more earnest groove. Together, they lured Mike and Page into this spontaneous build. Laced with a bit of attitude, Trey added distorted layers atop the musical play-land and Mike hopped freely in this rhythmic romper room. This final segment brought the once placid jam into an intricate excursion in ambient-groove. Locked into a musical sequence that burst with nuanced tonal color, Phish crafted a bumping, space-aged dreamscape that piqued the interest of fans young and old. Providing the post-show buzz of The Greek’s second night, this “Simple” jam awakened all to Phish’s renewed improvisational capabilities as the band embarked on their second leg of summer tour.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/ph2010-08-06t12.mp3]=====
Jam of the Day:
“Split > Dog-Faced Boy, Hood” 8.12.10 II
Phish broke down this unorthodox “Split” into “Dog-Faced Boy” before capping the sequence with a magnificent “Hood” that has unduly lived in the shadows of The Greek and Jones Beach’s versions.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/phish2010-08-12mbhos2t10.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/phish2010-08-12mbhos2t11.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/phish2010-08-12mbhos2t12.mp3]=====
DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
8.17.2010 Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY < New torrent w/ Encore
8.17.2010 Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY < Megaupload w/ Encore
Official Jones Beach Poster
A two-set, start-to finish barnburner, this show stands among the strongest of tour. Trey’s Alpine annihilation carried over to Jones Beach’s opener – another night where his torrid playing stood out. “Reba,” “Wolfman’s,” and “Possum” brighten the opening frame, while the second set is comprised of non-stop, highlight-quality improvisation.
I: Fluffhead, Kill Devil Falls > Cities, Funky Bitch, Wilson, Reba, Walk Away, Wolfman’s Brother, Possum
II: Lengthwise > Maze, Halley’s Comet > Mike’s Song > Simple > Backwards Down the Number Line > Prince Caspian > Rock and Roll > Weekapaug Groove, Loving Cup
E: Show of Life, Golgi Apparatus
Source: Schoeps CCM4V’S(din)> Lunatec V2> Benchmark AD2K> Sound Devices 722 (24/48)
Tags: 2010, Jams, Summer '10
OMG Aqua – that is straight genius. I was thinking signs and have a cool idea in mind but a batch of those humidors could fund tour. I feel bad ripping off Bushy Old Grower but his don’t have a my cool phish Halloween idea as a lid. WOW. I love making boxes and they are easy. Believe it or not I have at times thought of creating an herb humidor but the multi drawer system is just perfecto. Thank you for sharing.
Sancho – Junta is the perfect intro, it was mine. But I wonder if a modern music fan would find it dated.
Nagarjuna – my wife is so accepting of my zany antics, I couldn’t think of a better life mate. I only hope others are so lucky
Sneven – enjoy the blissful moment of learning you are going to be a dad again.
Speaking of Marc Emery.
Yesterday’s post.
It seems as if some sort of sentencing is coming for him and he is trying to get tarnferrd to a Canadian prison.
You know there are some real douchbags running around free…..the former head of Blackwater comes to mind.
Poor emery simply helped people who wanted to grow a plant at home. That’s it. He runs legal canna-businesses in BC, yet here he is held by the federales as if he, you know, murdered someone who might testify against him.
This country is a crazy place at time.
Support Marc Emery on Sep. 18th
-Aqua-
jdub,
glad to share.
I will come up with a schematic.
Damn moderated. Now my post won’t make sense when it comes out.
Look up Marc Emery, support him on Sep 18th
cool, yeah…Si P kind of entered the US “jam” scene via the biscuits collbas in the past few years…but he is a global beast…
plord dropping knowledge…anything off Twisted or Liquid Sound Designs is money…
Simon and Youth made “Celtic Cross” and ambient/gaelic album
and Raja Ram (Simon’s) collaborator in Shpongle, owns the TIP label…generally known for more full on trance, but he worked with multiple artists on making The Mystery of the Yeti part I and II, the latter which is one of the best psy-ambient records ever made….
Growling Mad Scientists (Dutch) first 2 records are sick
-The Growly Family, and GMS vs. Systembusters. They turned to cheese after that….
Then there is the entire Israeli scene. Infected Mushroom first four albums are classic Israeli records, however they alos added loud, cheesy guitars after to “change”. but their albums “Classical Mushroom” The Gathering, and “BP Empire” are classics…other NExt generation Israeli artists are Astrix (saw him play a sick sunrise set on a beach in Mexico as part of a festival) and Alien Project who’s first album Midnight Sun is amazing…. these guys are all full on 145 bpms and up artsits
I totally forgot about Infected Mushroom….takes me back
Miner, remember Utah Saints?? How old is that shit, like ’89 or something?
-Aqua-
140 and up!?!…..too fast for my blood.
Thanks for the mod, BTW. I appreciate it. I know you’re busy
np…full=on psytrabce is generally 145-155 bpm…the downtempo /psy dub stiff i am talking about is obv way different
also, check the two Twisted compilations
Backroom Beats 1 & 2 for some bomb post-show chillout…
I didn’t realize they finally took it to Marc Emery. I remember watching a 60 minutes segment on him. What a shame, but goes to show the levels of fear that drive our system. A fella like Glen Beck is far more dangerous.
And thanks for the recs Miner. A genre I briefly came into contact with way back. But mostly steered into drum n base and house.
Aqua – you mentioned chemical brothers were playing in chicago. They are etched in my brain as Dig your own hole was the main course for my first LSD trip.
No HD room to pick up that crazy shit you guys are talking about, but, to rehash old news
just re-watched the MSG 09 “First Tube”
love me some molten lava Trey, yo!
There’s a reason “First Tube” was nominated for an Emmy in the Best Rock Instrumental category
still working on the reason it didn’t win…
Return of the Jedi, indeed
Glenn Beck’s popularity = ChefB’s head exploding
that piece of garbage makes me feel like smegma just by thinking about him
Emmy or Jammy Chef? Was that for a live performance at MSG or was this a while ago? Awards ceremonies are weird in general anyway, especially for something as noncompetitive as music.
Goodnight, don’t usually stay up this late.
Fuck! Grammy is what I meant, thank you jdub
that was for the Farmhouse album version, back around 2000
cypress Roses is the sheeeeaaatttt