Reader’s Picks: Luke Falk
8.24.2012, Pelham, AL (Ryan MacNeil)
All selections and text by Luke Falk
“Split Open and Melt” 4.16.92 I, Santa Barbara, CA
This tight rager showcases Big Red’s chops back in 92. Listening back, I’m struck, not only, by how absolutely all over the fret board he is, but by how he barely used to use any effects at all (to great effect). A great version that is completely overlooked.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/1.05-Split-Open-and-Melt.mp3]***
“YEM” 6.11.94 I, Morrison, CO
This first set of this Red Rocks show was broadcast on the radio, which is how I got a good quality copy that year. My vote for best ever “YEM” (possibly my favorite Phish jam ever), which somehow doesn’t get mentioned anymore with almost everyone’s attention falling on 12.9.95 and other versions.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/1.03-You-Enjoy-Myself.mp3]***
“David Bowie” 10.30.90 II, Crested Butte, CO
Not exploratory, but tight and intense, this early “Bowie” reminds me of the band’s recent gesture toward shorter, more economical playing. They really get right down to business here.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/2.12-David-Bowie.mp3]***
“My Friend, My Friend” 2.26.97 I, Stuttgart, DE
The best version ever played.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ph1997-02-26d1t04.mp3]***
“Down By the River” 10.3.98 Farm Aid, Chicago, IL
This Neil Young sit-in gets my vote for second-best guest performance ever; a nasty extended jam for the benefit of small farms. (For the record, everything with Karl Perrazo is the best guest performance.)
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/06-Down-By-The-River-_-Jam.mp3]***
“Free” 6.17.04 I, Brooklyn, NY
This is the last good version of “Free.” And it is very good. The Trey and Mike jam ultimately inspired a horrible moment at Coventry, which, I speculate, is why they’ve never tried to jam it since.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/1.07-Free.mp3]***
“Stash” 7.2.97 II, Amsterdam, NL
A 30-minute abstract monster to kick off one of my favorite sets ever.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/ph97-07-02d2t01.mp3]***
“Bathtub Gin” 2.28.03 I, Uniondale, NY
This multi-section, type II joyride foreshadowed what would come later in the show during “Tweezer.”
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/1.04-Bathtub-Gin.mp3]***
“Suzy Greenberg” 12.28.03 II, Miami, FL
This version features a super funk throwdown and then explodes into an growling catharsis featuring Trey’s uncompressed tone.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/ph031228d2_02_Suzy_Greenberg.mp3]***
“AC/DC Bag” 8.9.8 Set II, Virginia Beach, VA
Just because it never gets old—of the top three or four versions ever, which kicks off the second set of a magical night in Virginia.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ph98-08-09d2t03.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ph98-08-09d2t04.mp3] Tags: Jams, Reader's Picks
I am not imagined. I am not 50. I started Phish in high school. I’m 33. It’s strange, 94 seems like a long time ago and 97 seems like it just happened.
nice job on the tunes luke.
Checked that craigslist post MiA. Looks pretty sweet. Been looking around this afternoon. Could be the way to go. Also checkin this education store. Not sure yet but that link you posted does look promissing, would allow me to beef up some other things.
How bout the new macbook upgrade to flash memory…?.. is that gonna be the new standard…
And Oi Luke, just hit that Split. Yum.
OWC SSD drive might– MIGHT, not sure yet– be the cause of the maddening, infuriating, 3-15 second partial freezes I have been having on my 2008-era Macbook Pro for months now. Just so you know. They have a good warranty, I will be calling this week sometime, but be aware.
I dug this Danny Brown Kush Coma track
fuckin double time flow over that busy ass beat. crazy. total opposite of the minimal as all shit beats on XXX.
good stuff.
http://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/listen-danny-brown-kush-coma
reading this article on H Korine on Spring Breakers. can’t wait to see this
but they say he has a limp from when he was trying to film the movie where he would start fights with huge pissed off random strangers while his bro filmed from across the street. after 3 fights or so dude was just brutally beaten so they stopped filmin.
best quote ever
“I just wanted to make the greatest comedy of all time. There’s a lot of reasons why it was a messed-up idea”
Had to buy Flower Power tonight in order to save my last Enjoy By a lil longer. The only Enjoy By downside is I drink the whole bottle far too fast
Packing for tomorrow’s NYC Chilean psych odyssey. Gonna overnight in the city and head down to DC on Friday to visit the G Mom
Springtime started at ~7am today yet it looked & felt like winter. Ho-hum.
That article and dude are crazy. Love that guy.