I still remember getting the analog tape in the Spring of ’98. It was labeled “8 Foot Fluorescent Tubes,” the moniker of some local Burlington musicians Trey had assembled to play a single show at Higher Ground, a club in their home town. His band featured Russ Lawton on drums, Tony Markelis (formerly of The Unknown Blues Band) on bass, Tom Lawson of the punk outfit The Pants on a second guitar, and Heloise Williams of viperHouse on vocals. Together they ran through a stripped down set of Trey’s unplayed solo material before many more musicians joined them as The Burlington All-Stars for a second half filled with covers . But in that first set, Trey’s solo career was born.
The first two songs on the analog tape were labeled “Bing-Bong” and “Wee,” both referencing musical elements of the songs themselves. “Bing Bong” alluded to the climactic and repetitive chord change at the peak of the the song (words also sung by Williams)—a piece that would transform into “First Tube.” “Wee” alluded to Trey’s siren loops that started at the beginning a heavy groove, one of the strongest parts in the show, that would soon be known as “Sand.”Also performed in the set were the debuts of “Free Thought,” which would later appear as “Mozambique,” and a “jam” that would evolve into “Last Tube.” In between these songs, all that soon morphed into polished staples of Trey’s solo act in 1999, the band played four other pieces including the punk-inspired “Silicone Fairy” and a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.”
Event Poster
The band’s sound that night in April 1998 was raw, as this was the one and only show The 8 Foot Fluorescent Tubes ever played together. But something was there. Trey liked what he heard so much that he plucked the band’s rhythm section of Markelis and Lawton and brought them into The Barn to jam, thus beginning the the power trio—the first incarnation of The Trey Anastasio Band. The trio soon made their debut at the Very Special Arts Vermont benefit at Higher Ground, but would come together in earnest a year later, hitting the road as The Trey Anastasio Band in May of ’99. Touring in the same acoustic/electric format of Trey’s upcoming winter run, the trio threw down extended second sets filled with sweltering dance fury, in what were, perhaps, the most spectacular shredding guitar showcases Trey has ever played. But a year before he ever hit the road as a solo act—a project that would balloon to an eleven-member ensemble before returning to a quartet in 2008—Trey’s solo career was sparked with one under-the-radar gig in Burlington, Vermont.
Here’s the original setlist:
I. Bing Bong, Wee, Free Thought, Mr. Green Man, Naturally to Blame, In the Mood, Silicone Fairy, Jam > Higher Ground
Here’s the translation:
I. First Tube, Sand, Mozambique, Meatman, Shame, In the Mood, Silicone Fairy, Last Tube > Higher Ground
Here’s another ’91 SBD, famous for Fishman’s telling of “The Prison Joke” during the encore, not to mention plenty of on point playing throughout.
I: Runaway Jim, Cavern, Paul and Silas, Tweezer, Magilla, Dinner and a Movie, Bouncing Around the Room, Foam, Carolina, You Enjoy Myself, The Squirming Coil, Chalk Dust Torture
II: My Sweet One, Reba, Llama, TMWSIY > Avenu Malkenu > TMWSIY, The Lizards,Split Open and Melt, Lawn Boy, The Landlady > Destiny Unbound, Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove
E: Fee, HYHU > The Prison Joke > HYHU, Possum
Source: SBD
I still remember getting the analog tape in the Spring of ’98. It was labeled “8 Foot Fluorescent Tubes,” the moniker of some local Burlington musicians Trey had assembled to play a single show at Higher Ground, a club in their home town. His band featured Russ Lawton on drums, Tony Markelis (formerly of The …
When Phish plotted their return in 2009, Mike Gordon said he wanted to leave time for his solo project within the framework of his larger band. Well – he wasn’t kidding. This week, Mike announced a 17-show club and theatre tour in November that stretches from coast to coast; a nationwide path that resembles the road many fans wish Phish would undertake. Moving from Los Angeles up the coast to Seattle and back down through Missoula, Montana, Utah and Colorado, The Mike Gordon Band will play seven shows out west before taking on the heartland of America. Tallying seven more gigs in the Midwest from Omaha to Cleveland, Mike is really spreading the love across the land. Concluding with only three east coast dates that end in Portland, Maine and Boston on November 26 and 27, Mike’s tour finales wipe out the rumor of a Phish Thanksgiving run in Hampton. Covering many miles this fall, specifically the markets Phish won’t be hitting, Mike will hop off Phish tour and right onto his own – a bass assassin on a never-ending mission.
In conjunction with his national tour, Mike will also release his third solo album entitled Moss. Available now for pre-order, many of Moss’ songs were played during Mike’s last tour and according to his website, “half of its songs stem from the same 50-song burst of creativity that seeded [The Green Sparrow].” Likely carrying a similar bass-led and melodic vibe as his last album, some of the deeper cuts morph into more experimental music. Another quote from Gordon’s press release reads:
A four-song sequence, comprising “Flashback,” “The Void,” “Got Away” and “Spiral,” goes places no songs have gone before. You might suppose these soundscapes are musical evocations of particularly fanciful sights and sounds experienced while on hallucinogenic vision quests. Songs like “Spiral” and “The Void” detour into evocatively abstract, meterless areas of sound with a mysterious, textural richness.
While “Spiral” was a psychedelic centerpiece of several shows last tour, I am not familiar with the other three other three engaging titles. But by their ornate descriptions and knowing Mike’s eclectic tastes, they will provide some outstanding launchpads come November. Phish debuted the final track of Mike’s album, “Idea,” in Portsmouth, Virginia’s second set on June 15, bringing the debut out of a murky “46 Days” with infectious grooves and two springboards for improvisation. (Listen here.)
Unlike many solo projects where the sole spotlight shines on the front man, full-band improvisation is the focus of The Mike Gordon Band. With Mike serving as both band-leader and bassist, he infuses an engaging dynamic in the music, often anchoring the rhythm of jams while, simultaneously, providing melodic leads. Featuring Scott Murawski on guitar, Todd Isler on drums, Tom Clearly on keyboard and Craig Myers on percussion, Mike’s band gets into legitimate sonic experiments and takes musical risks. Also playing an array of diverse covers in their live show, the reports from Mike’s last tour were glowing across the board. With a year and half of Phish under his belt, things can only get better this time around.
Ironically, it was Mike’s work with this solo project that brought him back to Phish far more polished and prepared than his band mates in 2009. And since their comeback, Phish has sculpted their new sound around the creative lead-presence of their all-world bassist. Trey has taken a step back, happily willing to co-lead jams with his partner in a move that has dramatically increased the diversity of Phish jams this year. And while Trey, Page, and Fish take a break this season, Mike will be right back out there honing his skills for what is sure to be a stellar December.Aat the end of the day, Mike Gordon simply loves to innovate with his bass. And for two straight months this fall, that is exactly what he will do.
11/6 Troubador, West Hollywood, CA
11/7 The Independent, San Francisco, CA
11/8 Alladin Theater, Portland, OR
11/10 Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA
11/11 The Wilma Theatre, Missoula, MT
11/12 The State Room, Salt Lake City, UT
11/13 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO
11/14 The Waiting Room, Omaha, NE
11/16 Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, MN
11/17 Barrymore Theatre, Madison, WI
11/18 Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL
11/19 Bluebird, Bloomington, IN
11/20 Madison Theater, Covington, KY
11/22 Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
11/23 The Westcott Theater, Syracuse, NY
11/26 Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME
11/27 Royale Nightclub, Boston, MA
Pre-Order tickets now until Thursday September 16 at 5pm EST. It’s fun, you actually get them!
This is the first of two shows ever played at North Charleston Coliseum. With a quick-starting first set with stong versions of “Reba” and “Slave,” Phish offered a balanced meal on this evening. The second set featured a soupy-’95 style “Free”, a show-stopping “You Enjoy Myself,” and some Phishy antics switching between “Acoustic Army” and “Big Black Furry Creatures From Mars.” The show ended in classic fashion with Dr. Jack McConnell dancing The Charleston and singing his famed guest spot, “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home?”
I: Dinner and a Movie, Bouncing Around the Room, Reba, Lawn Boy, Punch You In the Eye, Slave to the Traffic Light, I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome^, Sample in a Jar
II: AC/DC Bag, Sparkle, Free, I’m So Tired, You Enjoy Myself*, Contact, Big Black Furry Creature from Mars > Acoustic Army > Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Cavern
E: Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home?**
^ acoustic, * w/ “Brickhouse” jam,**w/ Page’s Dad
Source: Unknown
When Phish plotted their return in 2009, Mike Gordon said he wanted to leave time for his solo project within the framework of his larger band. Well – he wasn’t kidding. This week, Mike announced a 17-show club and theatre tour in November that stretches from coast to coast; a nationwide path that resembles the …
I. Middle Of The Road, Dig Further Down, Spiral, Midnight At The Oasis, The Beltless Buckler, Traveled Too Far > Emotional Railroad > Fire From A Stick > Traveled Too Far
II. Only A Dream, Can’t Stand Still > Radar Blip, 15 Step, Be Good And You’ll Be Lonely, What Things Seem > Hap Nappy > Morphing Again, Meat
I. Time For Loving Is Now, Andelmans’ Yard, Weekly Time, Cruel World, Soul Food Man, Wave The Ocean*, Voices*, Walls Of Time*^
II. Sound > Another Door, Be Good And You’ll Be Lonely, Sugar Shack, Country Boy, River Niger, Jones, Suskind Hotel
E: Intensified > Crumblin Bones
*With Deanie Richardson on fiddle, Jeff White on vocals and stepdancers Nathan Pilatzke, Jon Pilatzke, and Cara Bultler (all currently touring with The Chieftains)
^With Jeff White on vocals and guitar
I. Can’t Stand Still, Spiral, Columbus Stockade Blues*, Voices*, Radar Blip, The Beltless Buckler > I’m Deranged > Dig Further Down
II: What Things Seem, Fire From A Stick, Crumblin’ Bones, Time (The Revelator) > Hap Nappy > La La La, Cities, Be Good And You’ll Be Lonely, Traveled Too Far
E: Swamp Music
* = w/Mark Mercier on keys & vocals
Taper Notes Paraphrased: Some of Set 1 has some muffled sound issues due to security asking taper to remove mic stand. Improvisational taping ensued for the duration of set I. Set II should be significantly better. Note, I was the only taper at the show.
3.11.2010 Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville, VA < Torrent 3.11.2010 Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville, VA < Megaupload I. Middle Of The Road, Dig Further Down, Spiral, Midnight At The Oasis, The Beltless Buckler, Traveled Too Far > Emotional Railroad > Fire From A Stick > Traveled Too Far II. Only A Dream, Can’t Stand Still > Radar Blip, …
I. Only A Dream, Can’t Stand Still > Pretend* > Can’t Stand Still > Pretend, 15 Step > Midnight**, Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies**, Middle Of The Road, Cruel World, Soul Food Man
II. Dig Further Down, Hap Nappy, Meat, She Said, She Said, Crumblin’ Bones > Morphing Again, Another Door
E: Country Boy**
* Debut’
** w/ Danny Barnes on Banjo
DOWNLOADS WILL BE POSTED WHEN AVAILABLE
I. Only A Dream, Can’t Stand Still > Pretend* > Can’t Stand Still > Pretend, 15 Step > Midnight**, Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies**, Middle Of The Road, Cruel World, Soul Food Man II. Dig Further Down, Hap Nappy, Meat, She Said, She Said, Crumblin’ Bones > Morphing Again, Another Door E: Country …
Over the weekend, Trey finished up his three-week solo tour, a swing that drew critical acclaim and copious enthusiasm from all of the Phish community. Throughout his tour, Trey grew more and more comfortable, letting loose with his musical expression, aided by the pressure-less environment of TAB. The development of his chops in February bodes well for this summer, when Trey will rejoin his school of Phish. And just as Trey winds down, Mike is about to hit the road for a eight-date mini-tour of the eastern seaboard. Like Trey, Mike has spent a week in rehearsal for his upcoming dates, yesterday releasing a newly-created track called “Birth of the Universe,” giving us a glimpse into the band’s sessions. Let’s take a look at each of these solo tours, and what effect, if any, they will have on Phish come summertime.
********
Trey and Classic TAB
Trey is the unquestionable creative force behind Phish, hence his solo efforts always present more relevance for Phish’s future than other member’s side-projects. Many songs have migrated from TAB to Phish over the years, and this tour also left us with a series of potential crossovers. Often times, the songs he drops infrequently over a tour are the ones he is reserving for Phish to define. In this case, one obvious choice would be the new Anastasio / Marshall composition “Obstacle of Course.” Played only three times over the three week tour, the catchy song seems destined to be an addition to the Phish catalog come this summer. Additionally, the reworked “Love Is Freedom” from Shine, played only once at Connecticut’s Oakdale Theatre, seems like a perfect groove vehicle for Phish to adopt. Rife with the lyrical happiness that defines the band these days, don’t let the title fool you, this could be a serious improvisational springboard. Another song that could surface this summer is “Liquid Time.” Since Phish soundchecked the song twice last year, in Chicago and Indio, Trey, with the help of Don Hart, rearranged the piece to include TAB’s horn section, forming an alternate incarnation of the song that worked quite well. But with the piece’s genesis on Party Time as a Phish song, one would imagine it would jump back into the big pond come summertime. With one stellar version from Indio’s soundcheck already under their belt, one can only assume “Liquid Time” will become a larger launchpad for Phish in the future. The other song that I originally had slated for entry into the Phish universe,”Show of Life,” was played ad infinitum during Trey’s tour, making its transfer to Phish somewhat nebulous. Still boasting the sublime sound of Phish, this piece could fit quite well into a late-second set slot before a larger closing jam. Lyrically appropriate for the band’s current state, Phish has “found [them]selves right here” and “Show of Life” is a thematic piece focusing on redemption and the present moment, two prominent themes of Phish’s modern era. Only time will tell, but this could easily become a cathartic Phish anthem.
While Trey’s side projects always have a direct influence on Phish’s catalog and musical direction, Mike’s band has provided him an opportunity to distance himself from Phish, a place where he feels he often plays second fiddle. Mixing his own originals, primarily from The Green Sparrow, with an eclectic array of covers, Mike’s band puts on a collaborative show that engages in more whole-band jamming than Trey’s. Mike, no doubt, leads the way with his rhythmic and melodic sensibilities, but opens the door to more free form jamming, inviting his bandmmates to join in the experiment more earnestly than in Trey’s groove machine. With the bass player as bandleader, and also the best musician on stage, a very divergent musical dynamic emerges in Mike’s band. Concentrated on bass-led improv within the context of a five piece, Mike’s shows divert from the Phish sound quite a bit. With a solid band surrounding him, Mike’s ideas often push the band into engaging places. Gordeaux posted a glimpse into his preparation for his tour on Facebook yesterday. His post is excerpted here (and his newly released track can be listened to below.)
“On the first day of practices, we decided to come to the studio and invite the muse to control us for a day. I led a guided meditation in which we imagined tapping into universal energy that connects from the spheres, through us, and into the center of the Earth, and then we imagined being on stage as the music played the band and the coolest sound we could fathom came out. Each band member then described his aural vision, directing the others to create it. And this little sampling is Craig Myers’ vision, entitled ‘Birth Of The Universe.’ He described ambience wallowing from nothingness, and then mouthed out a rhythm that Todd could then interpret, helping to kick the thing into rock-ass gear. Nice work, Craig.”
Throughout Phish 2009, Mike easily ran away with the player of the year award, commanding his instrument as if it were his fifth extremity. Building off two successful solo tours that clearly bolstered his confidence and musical assertiveness, he came back to Phish like a man possessed. His contributions to Phish jams often stood out as the defining facet of their musical adventure, and growing through the year, Mike absolutely owned Miami’s New Years’ Run with a display of unparalleled creativity. Therefore, while Mike’s solo music may not directly influence Phish’s catalog, his musical risk-taking and role as a band leader has led to an extremely prominent role in Phish’s virtuoso on-stage conversations, a factor that should continue to stand out into 2010. As Mike hits the road, I will be looking for people to write reader reviews of his shows since I won’t be out east next week. If this is something that interests you, please check out the reader review page for examples, and email your piece to mrminer@phishthoughts.com!
The Mike Gordon Band dates are as follows:
3/05 – Revolution Hall, Troy, NY – SOLD OUT
3/06 – Toad’s Place, New Haven, CT
3/07 – Sherman Theatre, Stroudsburg, PA
3/09 – Rams Head Live!, Baltimore, MD
3/11 – Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville, VA
3/12 – Theatre of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
3/13 – Pearl Street, Northampton, MA
3/14 – Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon, NH
This unique rendition of “Antelope” ended Riverport ’97 in divergent style. As this multi-faceted build comes to a head, the band doesn’t stop, drifting into an instrumental, theremin-laced “Makisupa” interlude before kicking into the final verse.
This stellar show includes a strong song-based first set with exciting versions of “Free” and “Antelope,” while the second set contains a divine “Harry Hood” which features one of the jams of the summer extending out of the song’s peak. Finally dropping into “Colonel Forbin’s” and the well-known Kesey-led Bozo madness, this show was a certifiable classic before the encore even ended. This show holds not only musical significance, but strong cultural significance as well. Check out my piece about this show, from the early days of Phish Thoughts, which delves into these larger themes. In addition, this Download of the Day goes out via reader request to Jim D!
I: Ya Mar, Funky Bitch, Fluffhead, Limb By Limb, Free, Cars Trucks Buses, Tela, Train Song, Billy Breathes, Run Like an Antelope
II: Chalk Dust Torture, Love Me, Sparkle, Harry Hood > Jam > Colonel Forbin’s Ascent > Merry Pranksters Jam> Camel Walk, Taste
Over the weekend, Trey finished up his three-week solo tour, a swing that drew critical acclaim and copious enthusiasm from all of the Phish community. Throughout his tour, Trey grew more and more comfortable, letting loose with his musical expression, aided by the pressure-less environment of TAB. The development of his chops in February bodes …
