Trey @ Jefferson Theatre 2.8.10 (Photo: The Butter Room)
Trey & Classic TAB 2/8/10 Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville, VA
I: Shine, Cayman Review, Tuesday, Liquid Time*, Drifting, Let Me Lie, All That Almost Was*, Alaska, Mozambique, A Case of Ice and Snow, Last Tube
II: Curlew’s Call, Sand, Valentine, Goodbye Head, Mr. Completely, Windora Bug, Night Speaks to A Woman, Push On Til the Day
E1: Small Axe, Birdwatcher*, Show of Life*
E2: At the Gazebo, First Tube
*debut
Source: B & K 4022
***
Initial Thoughts: I haven’t heard the show yet, but am excited to see the debut of “Liquid Time!” After the eerie excursion that stemmed from the song during Festival 8’s soundcheck, everyone has been waiting too see where it would pop up. Using his solo tour to work the song out, one would expect to see the Party Time track in Phish setlists this summer. Impossible to know what happened without hearing the show, it’s great to see “Goodbye Head” back on Trey’s plate after an absence from his Classic TAB tour in 2008. Another elaborate composition > ethereal jam that would translate beautifully to Phish, one must wonder if this is why Trey has brought it back to life. After only playing “Valentine” twice on his pre-Phish tour, one imagined he was stashing it away for his other band. After never making an appearance with Phish in 2009, I wonder if he has also brought it back for pre-summer polishing? A host of debuts only means more potential Phish songs! I’ll get these shows up asap, but that’s all I’ll say without hearing things first.
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This early SBD with an abbreviated second set goes out via reader request to Type III!
Soundcheck: Foam
I: Sweet Adeline, Reba, Ya Mar, You Enjoy Myself, Esther, La Grange, Dinner and a Movie, Bouncing Around the Room, Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove
II: If I Only Had a Brain, The Divided Sky (missing), My Sweet One, David Bowie (missing)
E: Contact
*multiple rain breaks throughout the show
Source: SBD
Trey & Classic TAB 2/8/10 Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville, VA I: Shine, Cayman Review, Tuesday, Liquid Time*, Drifting, Let Me Lie, All That Almost Was*, Alaska, Mozambique, A Case of Ice and Snow, Last Tube II: Curlew’s Call, Sand, Valentine, Goodbye Head, Mr. Completely, Windora Bug, Night Speaks to A Woman, Push On Til the Day …
In only a couple of weeks, Trey will head back out on the road for his February solo tour around the eastern half of the country. Building from his “Classic TAB” lineup of Fall 2008 – drummer, Russ Lawton, bassist, Tony Markelis, and keyboardist, Ray Paczkowski – Trey added horns back into the mix. Joining the band on the road will be a three-person horn section anchored by Russell Remington, formerly of The Giant Country Horns on tenor and baritone sax, and flute. Jennifer Hartswick will join Trey’s lineup on trumpet, while a TAB rookie, eighteen-year old Natalie Cressman, will arm the trombone. Recently, Trey posted a sort of self-question and answer on Trey.com regarding his upcoming tour.
Always used as a proving ground for new Phish songs, Trey indicated the band would bring a lot of new material to February’s tour, as well as keep TAB classics from the band’s earliest days in the setlist. Pulling songs from throughout his ten-year solo career, Trey will no doubt reach several musical milieus with his current septet. With a full two weeks of rehearsals, and Trey’s renewed chops, the band should come out polished and ready to go. Trey’s orchestral collaborator on “Time Turns Elastic,” Don Hart, has spent time with the band revising and rewriting horn arrangements, adding a new dynamic to the music.
Albany ’08 (A. Hill)
With a full slate of dates spanning three-weeks, but moving no further west than Kansas City, this tour will serve to keep Trey in guitar shape as we await summer tour. After an opening-night benefit for the Kristine Anastasio Manning Memorial Fund, in memory of Trey’s sister who passed last April, the band will hop to the Northeast for six shows, head to the Midwest for five nights, and conclude in the South with a final four. Hitting up classic clubs and theatres with material old and new, this February will keep Trey moving forward, preparing to rejoin the Phish in June.
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02/08 Mon Jefferson Theater Charlottesville, VA
02/09 Tue 9:30 Club Washington, DC
02/11 Thu Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
02/12 Fri House of Blues Boston, MA
02/13 Sat Oakdale Theatre Wallingford, CT
02/14 Sun Count Basie Theatre Red Bank, NJ
02/16 Tue Terminal 5 New York, NY
02/18 Thu Pabst Theater Milwaukee, WI————————————————-02/19 Fri The Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL
02/20 Sat State Theatre Minneapolis, MN
02/21 Sun Uptown Theater Kansas City, MO
02/23 Tue The Pageant St. Louis, MO
02/25 Thu Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
02/26 Fri The Fillmore Charlotte, NC
02/27 Sat The Tabernacle Atlanta, GA
02/28 Sun Tennessee Theatre Knoxville, TN
I: Chalk Dust Torture, Guelah Papyrus, Poor Heart, Brother, The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, All Things Reconsidered, Bathtub Gin > Makisupa Policeman > My Mind’s Got a Mind of its Own, Dog Log, La Grange
II: 2001 > Mike’s Song > Sparks > The Ballad of Curtis Loew, Rift, The Squirming Coil, Weekapaug Groove > Hold Your Head Up > Bike > Hold Your Head Up, Run Like an Antelope
In only a couple of weeks, Trey will head back out on the road for his February solo tour around the eastern half of the country. Building from his “Classic TAB” lineup of Fall 2008 – drummer, Russ Lawton, bassist, Tony Markelis, and keyboardist, Ray Paczkowski – Trey added horns back into the mix. Joining …
As we approach our final stages of preparation for Phish 3.0, many readers have put out the practical request to review some of the new music we could hear from Trey’s new catalog come Hampton and beyond. On his Classic TAB tour last October, he played many new songs that he and Tom Marshall had recently finished; and something tells me Trey and Tom didn’t sit down to write a bunch of tunes for Tony, Russ, and Ray to play! If things are as they appear, Trey wrote most of this new material with Phish in mind.
Having played some of his new songs once, and others only a few times over his eight shows, it seemed that Trey was holding out on the most significant songs, waiting for his “other” band to chart their destinies.
Obviously, any TAB versions of these songs represent mere templates of what they could be. What Phish will do with these pieces if, and when, they play them is a whole different story. Here are ten selections we may hear come 3.0.
Backwards Down the Number Line
Debuted acoustically at Rothbury last summer, and played over the second half of Trey’s tour, this is the new song that all fans are familiar with. The song’s poignant theme of old friends reuniting captures the tone of the moment in the Phish world. With an uptempo rock-based jam and a lyrical reprise at the end, this song seems like the new-school “Down With Disease.” Odds are favorable that we will hear this at Hampton, potentially opening one of the three second sets.
Light
“Light” is the song that *sounds* like Phish the most. With sublime harmonies and melodies within a transcendent milieu for improvisation, this song seems specifically written for our favorite foursome. With an ambient intro, reflective lyrics, and a soaring jam, this one brings shivers just imagining what Phish could do with it. Trey only played this song once over his tour, most likely signaling its place in the Phish universe. When they bust this one out, you will know- it will be one of the highlights of the show. “Tweezer > Light,” anyone?
Greyhound Rising
A multi-faceted compositional beast, “Greyhound Rising” is another song that seems custom made for Phish. Beginning with a gorgeous ballad-esque feel, the song progresses through wistful lyrical passages before moving into the distinctly different, and more grooving, second section. The song then slides into a blues-based jam before eventually building back to the original lyrical melodies. “Greyhound Rising” has a little of everything Phishy, and it is another that sounds like a perfect fit for the band.
Valentine
This song was only brought out twice along Trey’s tour due to the improvisational limitations of TAB. When this song first dropped in Brooklyn last summer, it was an immediate favorite with its soulful feel and unique lyrical path. An inspiring piece of music, this one seemed to be stashed away for Phish after TAB’s third show; a guitar solo could only take it so far. Add Mike, Page, and Fish to this tune, and you’ve got a Phish staple for years to come. This song catches you immediately and draws you right into its flow. This will fit in perfectly if Phish so chooses.
A Case of Ice and Snow
Trey included an acoustic version of this song on his solo album,Bar 17, but when he played it throughout his solo tour, the song took on a wholly different shape. Reflecting on hard times gone by, the mellow and gorgeous song could give way to surreal soundscapes, something that was merely hinted at via TAB. Again, this sounds very much like a Phish song, and it could be a tremendous addition deep in the second set- like how The Dead used “Morning Dew.”
Ruby Waves
Trey only busted this song out once over his eight shows. Representing the poppier side of his writing, this song could certainly fit in with Phish 3.0. Boasting a smooth palatable groove and an uplifting chorus, this could turn out to be a latter-day Phish “single” with legitimate improvisational potential when played live. This is a song that Phish could vibrantly enhance.
Burlap Sack & Pumps
Consistently introduced with the group of songs that Trey wrote with Tony and Russ, and that made the transition to Phish, it seemed that Trey was implying that this song would do the same. A centerpiece of Trey’s October tour, this was rearranged for a four-piece, with Trey taking adopting the horn’s lead melodies from TAB’s big-band incarnation. With two distinct jams, this “Burlap Sack & Pumps” could provide multiple launch pads for Phish. Many feel that due to the song’s long TAB history, this one won’t be brought into Phish. Yet, after hearing the psychedelic planes that this song traversed throughout Trey’s tour, I wouldn’t be making any wagers!
Let Me Lie
This could be the next beautiful Phish ballad, though due to its incredibly autobiographical nature, I’m not sure it will make the jump. Played extensively over TAB tour, this recovery-themed song seemed very appropriate for his solo comeback performances. Though the song would definitely translate beautifully to Phish, whether they choose to include it is another story.
Spin
An older song off of Shine, this was also played a on GRAB tour a few years ago, so Mike already knows it. Played twice over the recent TAB tour, “Spin” possesses an dark and open-ended ambient jam at the end that Phish could absolutely slaughter. A reflection on Trey’s less-happy days, this one could also be too personal to bring to his “other” band. If Phish does decide to play this- forget about it- the results will be huge.
Alaska
A straightforward, and somewhat comedic, blues song, Phish could adopt this for a diversity of feels. This could work, bringing some dirty blues-based jamming into the mix. As most fans seem to know the lyrics already, this one could be an underwhelming arena sing-along that morphs into improv. Only time will tell.
The second movement of Trey’s orchestral piece that he debuted with Orchestra Nashville in September surfaced as a solo acoustic demo on the Internet. When listening to the acoustic piece, one can hear how this entire movement could translate into a latter day Phish epic. With lyrics rich in imagery and diverse musical approaches, this “song” could develop into a masterpiece.
ANDY GADIEL ON THE RADIO / WEB STREAM TONIGHT! – 8-10 pm
Godfather of Phish Internet space, and good friend, Andy Gadiel, will be guest DJing a special “Phish Reunion Set” set tonight on KPFA’s “Dead to the World” radio show with David Gans on 94.1 FM in the Bay Area from 8-10pm. Manning the DJ booth for two hours, you can be sure he will throw down a juicy playlist! Regardless of where you live, be sure to tune in for what is sure to be a good time! Tune in to the broadcast at KPFA 94.1 FM in the Bay Area, kpfa.org or nugs.net online everywhere.
This is the first of the final two nights of Fall ’95. This would be show number 53 of 54, and Phish was clicking. Two weeks away from their legendary New Years Run, these two nights in Lake Placid are revered in Phish history. (The second show was posted a couple days ago.)
I: Buried Alive, AC/DC Bag, Fog That Surrounds, Ya Mar, The Sloth, The Divided Sky, Dog Faced Boy, Julius, Suzy Greenberg
II: Sample in a Jar, Reba, Scent of a Mule, Cavern, Mike’s Song > Simple > Weekapaug Groove, The Squirming Coil
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As we approach our final stages of preparation for Phish 3.0, many readers have put out the practical request to review some of the new music we could hear from Trey’s new catalog come Hampton and beyond. On his Classic TAB tour last October, he played many new songs that he and Tom Marshall had …
Thus far, the Northern Exposure Tour has exposed the fact that Trey is back and happy unleash his cosmic fury on us nightly once again. What has also become greatly apparent is the reverence that Trey has for Tony, Russ, and Ray. Often seen as a backdrop to Trey’s power, he has gone out of his way each and every show to discuss the musical contributions that were collectively written, and have progressed to Phish songs. Paying tribute to his second songwriting “voice,” has been a thread running through the first weekend of shows….
Roseland – photo: Col. Forbin
…Resiliency is one of the most admirable qualities of the human spirit. The ability to get back up when life has knocked you down, or as Trey sings in Let Me Lie, to “use [your] brakes when [you] go downhill,” inspires us, though it is not always as easy to personally replicate. Over the last four nights, I have been incredibly moved by Trey’s model of resiliency and personal strength. As if addiction wasn’t enough of a monster with which to grapple, he had to fight his personal battles largely in the public eye of the Phish community. Possessing an incredible humility, when he hit bottom, he never stopped creating music and pulled himself back to place happier than before; an example of pure personal resilience. Persevering through an arrest, a drug program and a fourteen month relocation, Trey took a bad situation and turned it into something positive. Garnering a new sense of enthusiasm and joy for life and music, he has again began to crank out new inspiring music. Seeing him so happy on stage as he navigates the musical universe with us again has been heartwarming. We can all learn something here…
…so far Trey hasn’t played Backwards Down the Number Line or Greyhound Rising- two of the songs that highlighted his comeback in Brooklyn. Potentially holding them for the second half of tour, or for his other band, it will be interesting to see if these two songs pop up soon…I cannot wait to hear Phish play, “Light.” It was a song made for the four of them to play- that much is clear. I bet we see it as a second set opener in one of the three Hampton shows…A huge Mr. Completely should present itself in Providence or Boston…Trey’s voice sounds so strong and clear these days, something that can be heard noticeably during his acoustic pieces of tour…during the acoustic Sample in Wallingford, I thought of how massive the swell of energy will be when Phish drops the first 3.0 Sample…wow…
…Finally, I want to apologize for the delay in the Burlington show. I realize few were there and many want to hear it. I hope it is up soon. I’m trying to work out the kinks of facilitating this immediate turnaround of the shows for the first time, and since I’m not a taper, there is only so much I can control in this situation. Rest assured that I will get you every show on Phish Thoughts as soon as I possibly can, I WANT YOU to hear what has been happening. The Wallingford second set should be up soon as well. Hopefully this process will smooth out over over the next few shows. I appreciate your patience…
Thus far, the Northern Exposure Tour has exposed the fact that Trey is back and happy unleash his cosmic fury on us nightly once again. What has also become greatly apparent is the reverence that Trey has for Tony, Russ, and Ray. Often seen as a backdrop to Trey’s power, he has gone out of …
10/19/2008 Higher Ground, South Burlington, VT I. Gotta Jibboo, Peggy, Dark and Down, Push On Til The Day, Sweet Dreams Melinda, Sand
II. Burlap Sack and Pumps, Money Love and Change, Last Tube, Let Me Lie, Drifting, Alive Again, Tube Top Flop, Windora Bug > Ruby Waves*, Moesha, Dragonfly
E: A Case Of Ice And Snow, First Tube * debut
Higher Ground
In his first show in Phish’s hometown since 2005, Trey greeted the tiny audience at Higher Ground with an electrifying performance that challenged, if not exceeded, any of the first three shows of tour. An event that was larger than the concert itself, the entire evening was a benefit for Trey’s Seven Below Arts Initiative. In conjunction with Burlington City Arts, Trey offers local visual artists grants for their work as eight-week residencies in The Barn to create uninterruptedly. Additionally, the program provides outreach arts education programs, and is looking to expand their work with children. With a silent auction featuring Trey’s CD catalog, tickets (not for Hampton!), some old-school TAB posters and his personal artwork, every dollar- including ticket revenue- went directly to Seven Below. With an incredibly friendly and local vibe, the crowded club was also host to quite a concert!
Higher Ground – Set One
In a show where Trey was particularly warm and chatty all night long, the night carried a greater sense of intimacy than any Trey related event in a long time. With a first set constructed out of some of his best played songs of tour, the night took no time to get moving. Opening with the tour highlight of Jibboo, the show was spinning quickly as Trey opened the vault and initiated his show with a solo in his now characteristic ’08 sound. Deep, distorted and dirty, he began the jam layering his thoughts over a classic siren-esque loop. While staying relatively compressed as the first song, there was no shortage of sizzling improv. Throughout the set, each song seemed as well played as the next, remained within their thematic jam structures. Sweet Dreams Melinda, a song that has stood out all tour for its tightly improvised melodies, again brought the smooth delight of the first set, but the no-doubt highlight was perhaps the best Sand played this week. With scorching improvisation, Trey led the band in a high-speed chase though a post-apocalyptic wonderland. Closing the set on the highest of notes, the crowd quickly funneled into the bar and auction room to watch the triumph of Tampa Bay Rays in Game Seven of the ALCS amidst a densely populated crowd of Red Sox fans.
A Phish family feel pervaded the set break, as well as the evening, with the number of old familiar faces multiplying from the larger venues of the run. In a show clearly meant for Vermont locals, tickets were only sold at the Higher Ground box office after the small allotment vanished from pre-sale in less than a minute. With nary a broker ticket to be found on the entire internet within the last few days, this one was an incredibly tough ticket to come by.
The second set was one flowing highlight, as the improvisation was some of the greatest of the run. Opening with his new favorite song, Trey re-introduced Burlap Sack and Pumps to his hometown in shiny psychedelic fashion. A song, that with Jibboo, has become a central vehicle of the tour, had yet another dark ambient-to-groove jam that provided one of the most exciting points of the night. Yet, outdoing the hot set opener were the next two songs, and another deeper in.
The subsequent songs, Money, Love and Change and Last Tube absolutely blew up. With some of hottest improv of the tour, these two songs kept the audience completely engaged for quite a long time time. From the extended addictive funk rhythms of the former to the more aggressive Antelope-esque grooves of the latter, this combination served up some of the heartiest meat of the evening. With the Last Tube climaxing the first three songs of the set, the crowd responded enthusiastically to the twisting adventure that their guitar hero had led them through.
All Points West
The second half of the set got very interesting with some first appearances of the tour and another debut. Arguably the jam of the night, Alive Again saw Trey improvising ferociously in a seemingly sub-conscious state. With the apropos refrain of “The time has come for you to be alive again!”, this rendition in Phish’s hometown took on significant meaning, and everyone seemed to understand. Following up the fierce jam, was the welcome return of the slow funky intsrumental Tube Top Flop. In past years, always paired with Push On Til the Day, its welcome breeze of slow grooves cooled down the fired up room.
As the set continued to mellow out with Windora Bug, Trey led the band in a segue into the debut of “Ruby Waves.” With a classic Anastaio pop sensibility and with lush beautiful melodies, this song could be a preview of something to come in the near and not so near future. As Trey was about to finish his set, he instead took a request of Moesha, a song the band hadn’t played “in five years,” or 148 TAB shows. The fun old school treat gave way to a rocking set ending Dragonfly.
All Points West
The emotional encore combined A Case of Ice and Snow and First Tube. Throughout the first four nights of, First Tube has transformed into a piece where Trey no longer simply plays screeching walls of sound, but improvises consistently in what now can truly be called a jam at the end of the song. With each being distinct, no longer just set ending fire, but a piece that can be looked to for diversity. The night ended far later than normal due to a later 9:20 start and a longer than usual second set, but everyone went off into the brisk Burlington darkness not wishing they had been anywhere else.
10/19/2008 Higher Ground, South Burlington, VT I. Gotta Jibboo, Peggy, Dark and Down, Push On Til The Day, Sweet Dreams Melinda, Sand II. Burlap Sack and Pumps, Money Love and Change, Last Tube, Let Me Lie, Drifting, Alive Again, Tube Top Flop, Windora Bug > Ruby Waves*, Moesha, Dragonfly E: A Case Of Ice And …
