NYS Music 20​13

Category: Capital Region

  • Australian trio Sick Puppies invade Upstate New York

    Australian band, Sick Puppies, will be around the Upstate New York area a lot in August so there are no excuses allowed for missing this trio that is guaranteed to knock you on your ass.  August 3rd brings the Sick Puppies to The Paramount in Huntington, NY for our downstate and Long Island readers.  Central New Yorkers will be able to catch them on August 4th.  They will be part of 95X’s X-Fest along side Nonpoint, Otherwise and former 3DG lead singer Adam Gontier.  Along with 10 national acts there will be 10 local acts that you will not want to miss.  Then off to Delaware.  Upstate Metal’s Kate Drexel will be covering the August 2nd Virginia show to give an in depth look at the 2013 Summer Tour and what we can expect here in New York.  *here is a hint* Great music and a great time.

    The band then comes back to the Empire State to Poughkeepsie’s The Chance on August 7th and Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park on August 11th.  From there it is just across the pond from Plattsburgh, where they will be serving up two nights of chaos at Burlington, Vermont’s Higher Ground before coming back to Rochester for a kick-ass show at a kick-ass venue – The Armory.

    For more information on the tour go to: http://www.sickpuppies.com/events/

    To buy the new Album, Connect visit iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/connect-deluxe/id646984341

  • Alice Cooper’s Extreme Theatrics Give Life to The Palace Theatre on July 19

    The Palace Theatre got schooled in Rock and Roll and theatrics from Alice Cooper on July 19th, as Alice put on a show that included his signature prop cane being thrown into the crowd along with money with his face on it, as well as strait jackets and a monstrous Alice-Frankenstein stalking the stage.  The faithful fans in the crowd got all the hits and screamed for more once he was done.

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    Coming out to the notes of “Hello Hooray” and following that up with hits “House of Fire,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” and “Under My Wheels”, the crowd got going right off the bat.  His band played hard every moment of the evening with all three guitarists absolutely slaying their instruments.  They each got their own moment in the spotlight with their section of solos and jamming after “Dirty Diamonds.”  Alice worked in songs from many of his albums throughout the night, but made sure to keep the focus on Welcome to My Nightmare and Billion Dollar Babies, much to the crowd’s delight.

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    During a one-two punch of “Devil’s Food” and “Feed My Frankenstein” Alice continued his theatrics by having a snake around his neck in the first and having a giant Frankenstein monster stalk the stage during the end of the second.  During “Killer”, the guillotine came out and Alice’s head was chopped off, much to the delight of the crowd.  There was then a four song medley where he paid tribute to what he called his “drunken dead friends” by covering “Break On Through (to the Other Side)”, “Revolution”, “Foxy Lady” and “My Generation.”

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    Cooper then played three of his biggest hits to close out the show: “I’m Eighteen” was followed by “Poison”, and had the entire crowd singing along with Alice.  To close out the show, “School’s Out” rang through the Palace Theater and sent everyone home with a smile on their faces.  Alice is still definitely a performer to go see if you have a chance, especially if you love a little theater mixed in with a lot of rock and roll.

    Setlist: Hello Hooray, House of Fire, No More Mr. Nice Guy, Under My Wheels, I’ll Bit Your Face Off, Billion Dollar Babies, Caffeine, Department of Youth, Hey Stoopid, Dirty Diamonds, Welcome to My Nightmare, Go to Hell, Devil’s Food, Feed My Frankenstein, Ballad of Dwight Dry, Killer, I Love the Dead, Break On Through (to the Other Side), Revolution, Foxy Lady, My Generation, I’m Eighteen, Poison

    Encore: School’s Out

  • Mister F Turns Up The Heat (Wave) at The Hollow, July 18

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    Newton Crosby got the night off on the right foot on July 18th at the Hollow Bar, (formerly known as Bayou Café) ahead of Mister F. In the middle of a five day heat wave, music enthusiasts were more than happy to sweat it out to the funky beats of two phenomenal bands. Each of Newton Crosby’s songs built energy from the song before and stayed very heavily focused around the saxophone. The keys and synth transformed the organic sounds of instruments into a beautiful blend of synthetic melodic funk jams. They were the perfect band to warm up the stage on a hot night in Albany.

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    Mister F took the Hollow stage with full force and high energy. The electronic blend immediately picked up within their first song and invigorated the crowd with energy. Matt Pickering belted into the microphone without missing a single beat while the rest of the band follows suit in synchrony. Their authenticity within each song develops complex layers that bounce between band members creating stellar building points for each member to work off of. Even more so, you can tell that each member is genuinely having a blast doing it so it makes it all that much better for the crowd. Halfway through their first set they busted out a seriously funky rendition of “Superstitions” by Stevie Wonder. Scott Hannay (keys) really brought that song to life with his powerful vocals and amazingly funky keys. The blend of pure instrumental talent mixed with the electronic elements really creates a new and fresh sound that is rare to find. Even in 98 degree heat these boys threw down, and turned the heat up. This was the only the second time I had seen these guys and even from just a few months ago you can see the growth of the band and their fan-base. There is obviously a huge buzz surrounding Mister F, so make sure you catch them at their upcoming shows and festivals.

    Set I: Jump the Shark, Everything You Say, Superstition > Answer the Dog, ‘Oasis Mood’, Buster’s Revenge, Hedgehog

    Set II: This One Goes to 11, Fancy Footwork, Deal Breaker, Treadmill, 1000 Cigarettes* > Vocoder^, Get Used to It

    *first time played, MSTRKRFT
    ^”Broke Odor” version

     http://archive.org/details/mrf2013-07-18.flac16

  • Phish officially announces Fall Tour 2013

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    Jam icons Phish officially announced their 2013 Fall Tour. The tour starts back at the mothership, Hampton Coliseum, on October 18, 19 and 20. The East Coast only run will also take the band to Rochester, NY, Glens Falls, NY, Worcester, MA, Hartford, CT and Reading, PA. Phish will then play a three-night stand at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ that begins on Halloween night, which will feature 3 sets including their usual 2nd set musical costume.

    An online ticket request period for the tour is currently underway at http://tickets.phish.com and will end on Sunday, August 4th at 11:59PM ET. Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning August 8th and continue through the 10th. For complete ticketing details, visit http://phish.com.

    PHISH 2013 FALL TOURDATES

    10/18 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
    10/19 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
    10/20 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
    10/22 Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY
    10/23 Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls NY
    10/25 DCU Center, Worcester, MA
    10/26 DCU Center, Worcester, MA
    10/27 XL Center, Hartford, CT
    10/29 Sovereign Center, Reading, PA
    10/31 Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
    11/01 Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
    11/02 Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ

    phishfall-2013

  • Reggae Legend ‘Luciano’ Comes to Saratoga Springs July 19th

    Luciano056Nectar’s  Presents recently announced  that  The  Messenger,  Luciano  will  bring  his   brand  of  roots  reggae  to Putnam Den  on  July  19th.  Known  for  his  electrifying  epic  live performances,  he  will  be  backed  by  the  famed seven‐piece i-­KRONICK  band  for  his   much  anticipated  first  tour  of  North  America  in  years.  The  evening  will also  feature  selections  by  DJ  TRUMASTR  and  knomad.

    With  the  release  of  his  landmark  album  Where  There  Is  Life  in  1995,  Luciano   emerged  as  one  of  the  most important  reggae  singers  in  decades  and  the  greatest   hope  for  roots  reggae’s  survival  in  the  digital  dancehall  era. Since  then,  Luciano  has   released  over  45  albums  and  has  been  consistently  praised  for  imparting  conscious sentiments  of  spiritual  salvation,  Rastafarian  edification  and  African  repatriation.   Born  in  the  parish  of Manchester,  Jamaica,  he  has  influenced  countless  artists  from   Stevie  Wonder  to  the  “The  Crown  Prince  of Reggae”  the  late  great  Dennis  Brown.

    i-­Kronik  represents  the  future  of  the  ‘classic’  reggae  band.    Coming  from  the  lineage   of  the  Gumption  Band, they are  redefining  roots  reggae  with  years  of  experience   playing  on  the  world’s  largest  stages  backing  legends  such as Beres  Hammond,   Luciano,  Dennis  Brown,  Freddie  McGregor,  Barrington  Levy,  Ken  Boothe  and countless  others.

     Show  Details:  Nectar’s  Presents   Reggae  Legend   LUCIANO   “The  Messenger”   Backed  by  the  Seven-­‐Piece  Band:  i-­‐KRONIK   July  19,  2013   Putnam  Den   Downtown  Saratoga  Springs,  NY  (63  Putnam  Street)   (Across  from  library  and  behind  Uncommon  Ground  Coffee)

  • Mayhem is coming to SPAC this Saturday 7/20

    The sixth-year lineup for Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival was officially announced during a press conference at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood back in May. Headliners ROB ZOMBIE and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH answered questions during the event.  Since Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced the show, Upstate Metal has been revved up for the festival.  Rob Zombie played Glens Falls in the fall and it has been almost two years since 5FDP has played the region.  Hot weather won’t scare away true fans.  Come to SPAC and join Upstate Metal with horns up high as this year’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival will feature the following acts:

    Main stage:

    ROB ZOMBIE
    FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
    MASTODON
    AMON AMARTH

    Jägermeister Stage:

    MACHINE HEAD
    JOB FOR A COWBOY
    BUTCHER BABIES
    BATTLECROSS
    HUNTRESS

    Musicians Institute Stage:

    CHILDREN OF BODOM
    BEHEMOTH
    EMMURE
    BORN OF OSIRIS
    MOTIONLESS IN WHITE
    THROWN INTO EXILE

    Sumerian Records / Headbang For The Highway Concourse Stage:

    CITY IN THE SEA
    + local acts

    In addition to catching their favorite bands live, fans can take part in a number of festival activities, including playing the newest video games, perusing vendors, attending autograph-signing sessions and a slew of various interactive activities that will only add to the festival experience.

    Rockstar Energy Drink will be sampling their products and providing awesome surprises for all attendees.  Rockstar will also present the VIP/Contest winner area designated as The Rockstar Lounge and the festival area Party Like A Rockstar Tent where fans can sample ice-cold Rockstar and get autographs from their favorite bands.

    As an addition to the festival’s music and arts, Musicians Institute and the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival have partnered to create the Rockstar Mayhem Independent Artist Scholarship! This scholarship fully covers tuition and material fees for a two quarter IAP certificate (Room, Boarding and Travel are not included.) The application period runs from March 18 until June 1, 2013. Applicants must visit this location to enter.

    Tour dates are as follows:

    Jun. 29 – San Bernardino, CA @ San Manuel Amphitheater
    Jun. 30 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
    Jul. 02 – Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre
    Jul. 03 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheater
    Jul. 05 – Phoenix, AZ @ Desert Sky Pavilion
    Jul. 06 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheatre
    Jul. 07 – Denver, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
    Jul. 10 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
    Jul. 12 – Burgettstown, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
    Jul. 13 – Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
    Jul. 14 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake PAC
    Jul. 16 – Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center
    Jul. 17 – Bangor, ME @ Bangor Waterfront
    Jul. 19 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
    Jul. 20 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ SPAC
    Jul. 21 – Hartford, CT @ The Comcast Theatre
    Jul. 23 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
    Jul. 24 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
    Jul. 26 – Noblesville, IN @ Klipsch Music Center
    Jul. 27 – Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
    Jul. 28 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
    Jul. 30 – Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
    Jul. 31 – Tampa, FL @ Live Nation Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds
    Aug. 02 – Austin, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheater
    Aug. 03 – The Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
    Aug. 04 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion

  • Slaughterhouse Chorus played a hard punk set in the middle of an alternative rock show

    The Slaughterhouse Chorus, local punk, played a wake up set — that is, everyone woke up – at The Hollow Bar in Albany on Saturday, July 6. The group of young men dared to bring their chaotic chords into a show featuring headliners Stellar Young, Davenport Cabinet, and Carl Daniels. Needless to say, the acoustic/alternative crowd received the band well.

    As the world ages, so does the sound of music; this is indisputable. The same is true for metal. As years pass, it seems as though more and more sounds have blended into the equation of what should and can be deemed metal; and more importantly, what a metal head will listen to.

    The Slaughterhouse Chorus, although largely seen as punk, exhibits this trend. Their music isn’t just one thing. It’s a blend. Fans of Danko Jones and Bayside will enjoy them, but if you bought the metalcore trend of the last decade, featuring bands like Unearth, you may enjoy the blend.

    The band performed some of their signatures – “Built for BBQ,” “Amber Waves of Cocaine,” “How Can You Put a Price on Refreshments?”, and more. Additionally, the crowd was excited and began to mosh.

    The band’s sound, as seen at The Hollow Bar concert is formed by four members, Chris Jordan on vocals and guitar, Jay Bonafide on guitar, Dale Nixon on bass, and Mark McKenna on Drums. The four played a set in Lake George earlier in the day, fulfilling their Facebook promise of “coming to a barbecue near you.”

    While the band is energetic, Jordan’s vocals sound like they may need some work. Sure, he can sing, but after one song, he was hoarse, which is uncommon for a technique – learned person. However, only he knows.

    Otherwise, the music was accessible and the lyrics were “relatable.” If this crossover band keeps chipping, they will eventually break through to the top.

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  • Phish Saves the Best for the Last Night at SPAC

    After two days of Phish at SPAC, the energy that had built up between band and crowd was brought to a froth, thanks to Friday night’s Second Set (“Energy>Light->Mango>46 Days->Steam>Drowned>Slave”) and Saturday’s improv heavy “Split Open and Melt”, plus the magic of “Tweezer>Sand>Carini”. The froth spilled over Sunday with a start to finish highlight of the tour, as the band broke out the rockers in Set 1 and the Jam vehicles in Set 2, capping off a three night run in a way to rival last year’s tour closer at SPAC.

    phish best SPACFans filled the lots on either side of Route 50, brought Shakedown Street to life once again and mingled with friends under looming gray skies. Whether fans came in from Lee’s Campground, drove in from area hotels or walked across the Route 50 bridge, the excitement was electric and rain be damned, made their way into the venue. There is no weather condition that Phish fans can’t deal with in their journey to see Phish – rain, fog, snow, sleet, high winds, Sharknado, mud or Oswego 99-esque humidity – coping with a light rain was old hat for even the newest fan. Once inside, fans made their way to the lawn, and the lucky ones to the balcony and pavilion. Whether you were on the lawn or inside, you were getting wet – on the lawn from a consistent but light shower, or for those inside, from the sweat, smoke and humidity that had built up over three days.

    With one of the most energetic openers in their repertoire, Phish kicked off the night shortly after 8pm with”AC/DC Bag”, followed by “Back on the Train”, both of which had Trey noodling to steady the rocker, pumping up the crowd in the process and getting the show off on the right foot. A well placed “Divided Sky” was given the standard treatment and then some, showcasing one of the band’s early compositions. “Free” developed from the end of “Divided Sky”, with “It’s Ice” and “Mound” following close behind. “Maze” was Page-heavy in the best way possible, tearing up the keys and organ to build the song up and up. “Limb by Limb” paired with “Walls of the Cave” to close the set, the latter building fans up during “Listen to the silent trees” and Trey leading the way with all three on par with the Bad Lieutenant. The first set in the books, fans took refuge under the trees or stayed in the pavilion and balcony to rest up for what was sure to be a hot set.

    Second set opened with a typically spirited version of “Down With Disease”, drifting into Type II jams that led to even deeper exploration as the song built to the 14 minute mark. From there, the song seemed to dip into dark territory, a la “Sand”, but having played it the night before, we were treated to a fantastic segue from ‘Down With Disease” into “Ghost”. The first “Ghost” of the summer had some playful Frampton-esque sounds from Trey in between stanzas, then fell into a clavinet jam from Page, combining with Trey’s riffing and led towards a playful discourse between the two. “Piper” was shredded by the band from the start: they simply rocked out without reserve, carrying the tune for seven minutes before a final two minutes allowed experimentation take over and found time to give “Piper” a soft sendoff, drifting into “Wading in the Velvet Sea”. This is truly a ‘love it or hate it song’, but many at this point appreciated the placement for a slight break to prepare for the second half of the set that was yet to come. Sometimes, you need a breather at Phish shows and this one was of those times.

    If one song keeps getting better and better in the 3.0 era of Phish, it’s “Run Like an Antelope”. The dancing frenzy created from each version is due in part to Trey’s focus on the progression of the song; he has great focus on this tune, more so than any other, shunning his musical ADD for a bit to keep the song moving towards a finish line of undetermined origin. Building out of the lyrics that were substituted at the end of “Antelope”, (“Run like a Meatstick out of control“) the natural next song selection was “The Meatstick”, leading to the Meatstick dance from fans who were still catching their breath from “DWD>Ghost>Piper” and “Antelope”. To cap off the set, fans were rewarded with a 20-minute “You Enjoy Myself”, that while good, had Trey’s guitar talking over a conversation between Mike, Page and Jon. It wasn’t a bad thing, but it lacked the flow of the post ‘Wash Uffizi’ jam that is a staple of YEMs. The vocal jam that arose for the final three minutes was humorous and captivating.

    For an encore, “First Tube” felt like the natural choice, keeping the energy cranked up to 11 and preparing to get SPAC ready to liftoff. “Loving Cup” was a fine replacement and accepted without complaint, an entire crowd of 20,000 singing in unison “Oh, What a Beautiful Buzz!” Walking out, the night air was warm and light as fans made their way back to tents, beds, homes, cars and RVs, all in need of rest after three incredible days of Phish, and with all the potential of Summer Tour laying ahead of them.

    Set 1: AC/DC Bag > Back on the Train > Divided Sky, Free > It’s Ice > Mound, Maze, Limb By Limb, Walls of the Cave

    Set 2: Down with Disease 1 > Ghost 2 > Piper 3 > Wading in the Velvet Sea > Run Like an Antelope 4 > Meatstick 5 > You Enjoy Myself

    Encore: Loving Cup

    1 Unfinished.
    2 Guy Forget quote from Fish.
    3 DEG tease from Trey.
    4 Lyrics changed to reference Meatstick.
    5 Japanese lyrics.

  • Prog Rock Angels RUSH Turn Back the Clock at SPAC June 25th

    RUSH bring out the crowds at SPAC every time they perform at the open-air amphitheater.  This year was no different.  A little bit of rain before the show was little deterrent to the droves of RUSH fans that came from throughout the region and beyond to see the prog rock trio light up the stage.  As well they should as 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and one of the few Prog Rock bands given the honor to have a permanent place in Cleveland.

    Known for their elaborate live shows, with a mini-movie, a lot of stage props and of course, incredible solos.  RUSH didn’t miss a beat with the Clockwork Angels tour.  Two years ago when RUSH played SPAC they performs two numbers off the album, “Clockwork Angels,” “Caravan” and “BU2B”.  It was at that show that this reporter/photographer became well-aware that the new material was going to be spectacular. In fact, “Caravans” that opens this year’s second set is one of my personal favorites.

    The Clockwork Angels tour also highlights a special string ensemble consisting of six violins and two cellos placed directly behind Neil Peart’s drum kit.  The setup allows for a bigger sound and an orchestral feel that SPAC is well accustomed to.

    Neil Peart’s kit rotated so that the drummer could play his signature 360 degree setup.  Intense focus and absolute precision is guaranteed when Peart plays.  Fans are rarely disappointed.

    Geddy Lee’s vocals were spot on and the high-tone lead singer and bassist for the band was energetic and theatrical at times.  Facial expressions and primal screams to well-known lyrics that had the mostly male crowd chiming in at the top of their lungs.

    Guitarist Alex Lifeson knew what he was doing when he founded the band RUSH 45 years ago.  Named as a top 100 guitarist by Rolling Stones, the Canadian born guitarist can lay down a serious lick and keep up with other guitarists less than half his age.  Like Peart, the concentration and  intensity is mesmerizing to watch.  Lifeson plays a Gibson Les Paul and the sound couldn’t be better.

    After nearly a half a century RUSH doesn’t show much signs of slowing down.  With tragedies behind them, the trio is looking forward and the new album and tour is proof that we can expect more from these legends from the north.

    Set 1: Subdivisions, The Big Money, Force Ten, Grand Designs, The Body Electric, Territories, The Analog Kid, Bravado, Where’s My Thing? (including drum solo), Far Cry

    *Set 2: Caravan, Clockwork Angels, The Anarchist, Carnies, The Wreckers, Headlong Flight (including drum solo), Halo Effect (guitar solo intro), Seven Cities of Gold, The Garden, Manhattan Project, Red Sector A, YYZ, The Spirit of Radio

    Encore: Tom Sawyer, 2112 Part I: Overture, 2112 Part II: The Temples of Syrinx, 2112 Part VII: Grand Finale

    * entire set with Clockwork Angels String Ensemble

  • Night 2 of Phish at SPAC – The Jams Keep Comin’

    My 25th Phish Show. I’m no longer a noob per my lil’ brother Dr. Pauly. This was the first SPAC Phish run since 2009 that Pauly didn’t come east for. He’ll be picking up tour in Chicago and sometime between the end of Summer Tour and the anticipated fall run he will hit show 300. Needless to say, Pauly knows Phish.

    Let’s get some stats out-of-the-way. Night two and show three of Summer Tour offered three repeats in ” Chalk Dust Torture” ,  “Backwards Down the Number Line” and “Possum”. We heard the first ever SPAC “Tweezer”, one debut in “Architect”. There were a total of 10 songs in the first set and 10 in the second set including the double encore.

    I started the day by attending the poster show at the Saratoga Hilton. I met Dave Calarco, aka Mr. Miner, and poster artist John Warner. John is not a Phish-centric artist, doing work for the heavyweights of the jamband scene. I was most drawn to his work as he displayed his art form for many of the artists I love including Govt Mule, Furthur, Phish, Mountain Jam, Warren Haynes and many others. I bought a copy of Mr Miner’s Phish Thoughts and my second Ryan Kerrigan poster.

    I gave Friday night’s show a solid B. I was hoping that three shows in, the cobwebs were off and we were in for a sizzling Saturday night. This was the first year I was out on the lawn with the masses. My prior six SPAC Phish shows were from inside the shed. I found a place on the inside of the far right ramp to the balcony at the top of the slope that had a pretty good line of sight and good sound.

    Phish took the stage at 8:24 PM.  “Crowd Control” kicked things off. Traditionally this song appeared in the second set, but since 3.0 it has moved into the spot of  show opener.  It’s a light airy tune, a la  “Golden Age”.  This was a first time live performance  for me and I found myself singing it the last few days so it’s a keeper! “Chalk Dust Torture”  gets everyone rocking no matter where it appears in the rotation with its defying cry of  “Can’t I live while I’m young?!”  “The Wedge”  had a low tempo, almost reggae beat to it. Dr. Pauly texted me that this song always reminds him of  Colorado.  The first cover of the night was next with Mike Gordon on lead vocals for “Funky Bitch”.  Cactus, looking hipster chic in his scarf, also bared a striking resemblance to chef Anthony Bourdain.  “Heavy Things” and “Bug”  continued what was appearing to be a fairly mellow first set.  “Bug” is one of those songs I enjoy because it invokes philosophical questions like “Is there a God? , and “What is the meaning of life?” “Bouncin’ Round the Room”  was  the first Phish song I could name because of its frequent radio play, yet I have friends that bail for the bathroom during “Bouncin” but I enjoy it and up on the lawn, I thought that this would be a great song to Prancercise  too.

    “Tube” brought the funk back into the set.  For generation, 3.0 “Tube” performances,  it was a longish 6+ minutes.  My favorite Tube is the 12/7/97 Dayton Ohio version with its awesome Tube Jam.  Listen closely to the SPAC 7/6/13 version and from 5:28 to 5:51, you might hear teases of Booker T’s “Green Onions”.  Trey pulled the rip chord on the  “Tube”  jam and launched  into the rocker  “Julius”.  I heard a young Phish head tell his buddy that the name of the song was “Take Another Step” after the refrain. I chuckled because that was what I originally thought the name of the song was, because why would Tom Marshall and Trey title a song “Julius” when the word doesn’t even appear in the lyrics?

    “Julius” could have easily ended the set but what happened next will be talked about for quite a while in Phish circles and deserves a replay. “Split Open and Melt” can be butchered. I heard a great version in Utica in 2010.  In this version, Trey and Fishman really locked in and the jam became full of ambient and discordant sounds tempered by the ethereal keyboards of Page McConnell.  I went down the rabbit hole to memories of  some of  Jerry Garcia’s best  jamming. At one point I forgot what song was playing and what show I was at.  About 15 minutes in, Fishman appeared to be playing bells or a glockenspiel with a very light touch.  SOAM definitely is the Set 1 highlight, ending at 9:43 PM.

    After a short intermission, “Backwards down the Number Line” opened Set II  at 10:13 PM (the second repeat from the Bangor tour opener).  Yeah, the Phish play it a lot but I will always like it as it reminds me of my 40+ year friendship with my best friend Kim.  Dr. Pauly had texted me that his buddy Fink (who I looked for but didn’t cross paths with) had told him that “Tweezer” had never been played at SPAC and to expect one.   Well, we got it as  appeared as the second song of the second set and the “Tweezer”, “Sand” and “Carini” trio will be talked about and replayed all summer long.  A glowstick war broke out on the lawn during “Tweezer”.   This “Sand’ was smooth and sultry the way I like them and the “Carini” that followed I found dark and dirty and rocking. Some folks thought it wasn’t as evil as other Carini’s, but to each their own.

    The boys gave us a break with the debut of “Architect” from Trey’s solo album Traveler.  I haven’t had a chance to listen to this song again,  but like many songs added from the band’s side projects this one will be a tweaked and mature the more it is played.  A young phan and I talked about this being about the Matrix  (my favorite movie) and free will and cause and effect as the Architect is a character in the second and third of the Matrix series and one of the lyrics in Trey’s song is  “You may even see the cause in the machine.”   A fairly standard but rocking “Wilson”, a sloppy but fun cover of “Boogie on Reggae Woman” (I think the lyrics were butchered, but all is good) and “Possum” (the third and final repeat of tour to date) closed out set II. Like many others and no matter how many times its played I still love “Possum”, although I can’t say the same for “Kill Devil Falls”, which they got out of the way as the opener on night one.

    “Show of Life” was a throw away encore so I started heading to the car. With that veteran move, I lost my noob status.  I listened to “Tweezer Reprise” as I headed out of the State Park and back home. Sometimes its good to be a local. I was home in twenty minutes and downloading the show.  After Friday’s  B performance I gave Saturday night an A-. The only reason it wasn’t a little higher was because of the canoodling on song selection during set I. I was happy but missing my Phishing buddies and was looking forward to Night 3 because as Fink and Dr. Pauly say, ” Never Miss A Sunday Show”.

    Setlist

    Set 1: Crowd Control > Chalk Dust Torture, The Wedge, Funky Bitch, Heavy Things, Bug, Bouncing Around the Room, Tube > Julius, Split Open and Melt

    Set 2: Backwards Down the Number Line > Tweezer > Sand > Carini 1 -> Architect 2, Wilson > Boogie On Reggae Woman > Possum

    Encore: Show of Life > Tweezer Reprise

    1 Meatstick tease from Mike.
    2 Phish debut.