Reader’s Picks: Garret Conour
12.28.12 (Graham Lucas)
I’m running with a new concept today–the reader playlist. Phish Thoughts reader Garret Conour (@garretc) proposed the idea and today has provided the inaugural installment of “Reader’s Picks.” Garret devised the playlist and wrote the words you see below, I just assembled the post. Please email mrminer@phishthoughts.com if you’d like to put one of these 10-packs together. Thanks, Garret! Enjoy!
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Given that I tend towards the darker underbelly of Phish jamming styles, it didn’t take much conscious effort to put together these particular ten jams, but upon completion I decided it would fit in nicely with the annual pre-dates aggression and despondency that always permeates the comments section around this time. Spring is starting to peek around the corner, but this is probably better suited for those of you still stuck indoors.
“Simple” 12.9.97 II, State College, PA
From a fall ’97 show on campus at Penn State, this Simple forgoes the year’s trademark cowfunk jam for a steady progression from standard “Simple” jam out into uncharted ambient seas before a “Bowie” head-fake on the way to “Timber.”
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ph1997-12-09d2t02.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ph1997-12-09d2t03.mp3]***
“Halley’s Comet” 11.11.98 II, Grand Rapids, MI
The Van Andel “Halley’s” is like so many of the best Phish jams: akin to a floating, swirling orb of musical energy that the band manipulates with ease. Just don’t go in expecting smooth ’98 ambiance, because that’s not what you’re gonna get.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2-01-Track-01.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2-02-Track-02.mp3]***
“Down With Disease” 12.12.95 II, Providence, RI
Centerpiece jam of the Providence stop in the legendary final month of 1995, this “Disease” sounds, well, like 1995 Phish, with all the percussive mind-fuckery that would lead you to believe.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Down-With-Disease.mp3]***
“Chalk Dust Torture” 8.3.03 I, Limestone, ME
With not one but two jammed out “Chalk Dusts” this year, might as well give a listen to one of the, if not the only, non-Camden noteworthy “CDTs,” from set one of IT day two.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/1.06-Chalkdust-Torture.mp3]***
“Tweezer” 12.30.94 II, MSG, NY
After yet another stellar MSG “Tweezer” during this past new years run, this here is a gem from Phish’s first trip to the round room. Make sure your chair can be hid under, because Troy is trying to break you.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tweezer.mp3]***
“Rock & Roll” 8.5.11 II, George, WA
This should need no introduction, you’ve all been paying attention lately. The best jam I’ve ever been in the building for (Yeah, yeah, 3.0 kid and all that), this is also unarguably the most fully realized storage-style jam the band has kicked down outside of the box that lent its name to the style. Aliens visiting the eastern Washington desert.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/ph2011-08-05t14.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/ph2011-08-05t15.mp3]***
“David Bowie” 6.29.95 II, Wantagh, NY
A fierce “Bowie” from a summer full of ’em, this particular “David” starts with an extended soundscape intro (remember those?) before getting into everybody’s favorite dark, shreddy, heavy ’95 style.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Track-02.mp3]***
“Gotta Jibboo” 7.4.00 II, Camden, NJ
Don’t worry, Mike changes the bass line after, oh… 15 minutes. But yeah, an extended trip out into spacey ’00 loop jams anchored by Gordo’s “Variations on the Theme from Jibboo” personal dance party. Happy birthday, America.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/2.01-Gotta-Jibboo.mp3]***
“You Enjoy Myself” 5.5.93 II, Albany, NY
Not your grandpappy’s “YEM,” the vocal jamming starts early, before the instrument jamming stops, as high speed ’93 turbo jazz-rock alternately dissolves and peaks through the course of the 33 minute run time. And there’s no proper vocal jam, so it’s safe for haters of that.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ph05-05-93d3t01.mp3]***
“A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing” 6.19.04, Saratoga Springs, NY
Phish waging sonic warfare with the Norse gods at their (second) last stand. Bring back the “ASIHTOS” jamming, preferably at the Gorge. Or whatever other shows I’m at this summer.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/2.01-Song-I-Heard-the-Ocean-Sing.mp3] Tags: Jams, Reader's Picks
anyone who cares only about the music, dick’s is the only place that is a must
leaning towards doing chicago and dick’s right now
but gorge>tahoe>SF = 7 shows vs dick’s’ 3 so i’d pick the first one…..
If I didn’t have a work thing, gorge>sf run would be an absolute with homecoming at Dicks. Try to squeeze in Chicago. Instead I settle for Chckago dicks. Ha. Life is tough. Chicago will be the run besides Dicks. Chicago will be the best of Alpine and Deer Creek. Hope they add some nice electronic acts to Pitchfork so I can bask in the sun blissed out to glitch beats
Reading back, Mr Completely bust out!!! Hey my man, hope your well !!
Tame Impala’d….now getting my Enjoy By on….
Had a great time at Boston’s HOB for Tame Impala, who played for just under 90 minutes
Impala’s live act isn’t quite as strong as its album work but still very worthy. Kevin Parker (lead guitarist/ de facto leader) has a genius for crafting psychedelic pop but I realized I was watching a band that rose to fame thru studio craftsmanship as opposed to playing the bar circuit. No, that’s not a dis, at least not a major one.
The band was very good but no one stood out as a master of his instrument. I also felt the band (and Kevin as leader) could be tighter and needed more swagger as a live unit.
Hopefully the band won’t grow too fast too soon as they need some time to mature as a fluid live act. Often there were very interesting ideas put forth by Kevin that were kinda left hanging (by his choice), tho overall the psych driven songs were well played. By far my fav song was the show closer (not encore) that featured a terrific psychedelic rave up segment.
Live Tame Impala left me reflecting on two other young modern bands that I’ve liked and seen live: MGMT & White Denim. While I loved MGMT’s psychedelic pop debut, I was disappointed by their Roo ’09 performance. It strikes me that MGMT is another band that arose from studio production (instead of live performance).
In contrast, White Denim’s live show blew me away last spring. A tight, very fluid band with good stage swagger and individual instrumental strengths. Yeah, their live show bests Impala’s too. I’m gonna guess that White Denim gelled as a live band instead of a studio band.
In the end, Tame Impala is worth all the recognition. I love their albums and see so much more potential than the good show I experienced tonight. Kevin’s got a lock on psychedelic song craftsmanship; I look forward to catching the band down the road as a tighter live unit.
Tonight’s Enjoy By done, boo!
Actual Phish dates are a blessing. After a brief chat with my Seattle crew I know I’ll be Gorge bound instead of SF bound assuming I can make either happen
And tho earlier today I initially dismissed the notion of a mid August festi, the announced tour dates do seem a bit light on NE tour stops…one can still hope…
Both Rock n Rolls from the Gorge (09, 11) have been all time!! Can’t wait til this year to se what happens! It just doesnt get better in life than Phish at the Gorge!