NYS Music 20​13

Tag: Phish

  • Mike Gordon Band Coming to the Northeast and Releasing a New Album Next Year

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    In very exciting news this week, Mike Gordon band will be releasing a new album, Overstep, on February 25 and supporting it with a tour that crosses the country.  The tour will start at the fabulous Westcott Theater in Syracuse, NY on February 28th and the next night at Webster Hall in New York City.  The tour will see Mike and his band go across the United States before coming back a month later to wrap up the tour at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA on April 5th and Higher Ground in Burlington, VT on April 6th.

    The new album will be his first since Moss in 2010.  Mike shared songwriting duties with guitarist and longtime collaborator Scott Murawski (Max Creek) and handed over the producing reins for the first time in his solo career, enlisting Paul Q. Kolderie (Radiohead, Uncle Tupelo, Pixies). He also invited a few new players into the studio, including legendary drummer Matt Chamberlain (Jon Brion, Fiona Apple).  Mike will be joined on the road by his longtime band – Scott Murawski (guitar), Craig Myers (percussion), Tom Cleary (keyboards) and Todd Isler (drums). It was also announced that the band’s new repertoire will be augmented by hints of secret synesthetic mad scientist gadgetry on and around the stage.  This can only mean very exciting things to come from these shows.

    Tickets are on sale now at Mike’s website, with public sales starting this weekend.

    [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/124171422″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

  • Hearing Aide: Phish Niagara Falls – December 7, 1995

    The newest edition of the Live Phish series will be available for purchase and features a classic show from one of the seminal eras of Phish history. The selection is the December 7, 1995 show at the Niagara Falls Convention Center, plucked from a time where Phish began to shed the smaller theaters and arenas of the early 90s, but before they embraced the massive popularity they enjoy today, this show contains almost every element that makes this band one of a kind and serves as a can’t miss purchase this holiday season.

    Listen to Taper Lenny Stubbe’s recording of the show

    Phish Niagara Falls


    Phish greets the crowd with a somewhat fitting opener in the form of ‘The Old Home Place’. After all, they are in Upstate New York, the scene of many memorable shows in their formative years. Bassist Mike Gordon belts out the lyrics in this short but sweet opener before the band gives way to ‘The Curtain’, one of their earliest original compositions and a somewhat more logical choice to open a show based on the title alone. This is a short but technically sound version and the final guitar chord struck by Trey Anastasio ushers in the beginning of another old school original, “AC/DC Bag”, a segue in the truest sense of the word. Here, the band finally gets a chance to let loose and develop the first true jam of the evening as the energy and power of this Gamehendge classic builds to a frantic finish. As it always does, the jam eventually dissipates, with drummer Jon Fishman immediately moving to the hi-hat and begins ‘Demand’, a short and rather odd original that is found on the band’s fifth major album, Hoist. The first set energy picks back up instantly as Phish dives into the title track of their fourth album, Rift. Poignant solos by both Anastasio and keyboardist Page McConnell highlight this song which is played with a fervor so typical of this band in the early to mid 90’s.

    With energy in the room at a peak, the choice is made to go big with ‘Slave to Traffic Light’ and big they went. Even though this may be an odd song placement by today’s standards, Phish destroys this version with all the passion and exuberance of a show closer. The song’s signature slow build is executed to complete perfection and gets capped off by yet another rousing guitar solo that surely left an audience member or two with mouths agape. 

    ‘Guyute,’ a song that made its debut the year prior, follows and ‘Bouncing Around the Room’ then gives the Niagara Falls crowd somewhat of a chance to catch their breath. This turns out to be important as an absolutely smoking ‘Possum’ is then delivered replete with scorching guitar licks and precise drum fills courtesy of Anastasio and Fishman, respectively. The two are clearly locked in, as is the whole band really, and this 14+ minute version goes through many a twist and turn before climaxing. While some may say it’s a song overplayed these days, this version is surely one even the most jaded vet wouldn’t mind hearing on a regular basis; it’s that good. A rare first set a capella closer in ‘Hello My Baby’ follows before Trey tells the audience they’ll resume melting faces in 15 minutes.

    The second set picks up right where the first left off with a stellar rendition of ‘Split Open and Melt’ that features a prominent ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ tease at the outset of the jam. This song shows Phish at their improvisational best as the jam just drives along and slowly but surely picks up energy and intensity along the way. More inspirational guitar work and well placed piano fills from McConnell highlight this version which clocks in at over 17 minutes. Always cognizant of the ebb and flow of a setlist, ‘Strange Design’ then follows which is succeeded by the primitive version of ‘Taste’ which went by ‘Taste That Surrounds’ in this era. In fact, this song made its debut not even two months prior and is now a regular on setlists.

    Phish Niagara Falls

    Feeling the crowd has had a sufficient chance to regain its collective faculties, the Vermont quartet delves into an almost comically uptempo version of ‘Reba’. The composed section is played with such a frenzy that if this were a cassette recording, one might think the stereo was in 2x or fast forward mode; it’s not even close to the speed of a modern day rendition. However, the ensuing jam slips back into classic ‘Reba’ mode as the band moves fluidly and cohesively towards yet another stirring peak, highlighted by sublime bass playing and tempo control from Gordon. This is a truly special version and a must hear if only for the novelty of the composed section and the spaced out “sustain” ending. Instead of the typical “whistle” ending, Phish keeps its moving with a standard (read: powerful) version of ‘Julius’ that allows McConnell another chance to show his chops much to the audible delight of band members and crowd alike.

    ‘Sleeping Monkey’ and ‘Sparkle’ then follow and serve as two short and sweet second set fillers before giving way to one of the true treats of this show, an absolutely stellar ‘Mike’s Song -> Weekapaug Groove’. They tear through the composed section of ‘Mike’s’ and immediately find themselves locked in a tight, thick groove, no pun intended. Anastasio once again shows off his prowess on the sustain pedal before jumping onto his percussion kit, a staple of the mid 90s’s, and leading the group through yet another monster 17+ minute joy ride that’s equal parts drum circle and arena rock throwdown. Instead of something light and easy to segue into, Anastasio slowly but surely begins to structure the opening of ‘Weekapaug’, the rhythm section soon follows suit and an impeccable segue ushers in the arena rock anthem that is ‘Weekapaug Groove’ that’s played with its typical force and energy before yielding into a somewhat spacey finish.

    Fishman then seems to start the hi-hat intro that signifies the beginning of ‘Maze’, which surely would’ve blown the roof off the Convention Center, but instead the band vamps out the ending a little before shutting it down altogether. Never ones to be slaves to conformity, an a capella number also closes the second set in ‘Amazing Grace’. ‘Uncle Pen’ serves as the encore which is another seemingly odd choice for a show with such classic hits and magical moments. As an added bonus, this Live Phish release contains a cut from the show’s soundcheck.

    This is a fantastic show selection from one of the seminal points in this band’s history. It has everything from fun bluegrass covers to classic originals, from precise technical compositions to long, free form improv, from breathers to ragers – all the things that make up the very essence of this band. Live Phish has struck gold once again with this release which is sure to please fans of all varieties.

    Key Tracks: AC/DC Bag, Slave to the Traffic Light, Reba, Mike’s Song -> Weekapaug Groove

    Buy it at Phish Dry Goods

  • Phish Returns to Glens Falls in Grand Fashion

    When Phish announced their fall tour plans a few months back, the Glens Falls Civic Center date jumped right out at me. I was lucky enough to attend the Halloween ’94 show there that catapulted the band into the mainstream, and sent me from coast to coast the next two plus years following the band around. I was not going to miss it!

    After a rock solid show in Rochester the day before, and after picking up my friend Adam in Herkimer, we set off for Glens Falls. Arriving in town around 4:30, the Civic Center was in view and the crowd (and the police) were already surrounding the building. The ’94 show did have some bad moments as those shut out started to rush the gates and throw bottles at police. This time around, the police presence was beefed up around the venue, but the preshow crowd was mild mannered at best with most smiling and chatting among phriends.

    Several preshow parties were in effect, and after parking off Elm and South, I set off for 42 Degrees. Specializing in custom made glass works, 42 Degrees is one of the premier head shops in all of Upstate NY. With in-house glass blowing, and munchies and drinks available, 42 Degrees was packed by the time I arrived. My next stop was Aimee’s Dinner & Movie, which hosted an art show featuring some of the scene’s best artists, and the next door Wallabee’s Jazz Bar, where local favorites High Peaks Band were laying it down for the masses. Check them out when you can they deliver!

    From there I ventured over to the Downtown City Tavern to catch a set by Acoustically Speaking, featuring Mik Bondy and Kat Walkerson of The Garcia Project. This stripped down duo features Mik on guitar while both he and Kat share vocal duties. Their soulful renditions of Garcia Band favorites meshed perfectly with my Octoberfest preshow draft. After talking with Mik and Kat on their break, I headed over to the Civic Center to get my credentials and check in for the main event.

    Although I had a floor ticket for this one, I headed instead to the upper level behind the stage to snag some dancing space. Not surprisingly, I ran into some other ’94s up there looking for some space as well. It wasn’t long before I found a sweet spot as the lights lowered and the band appeared on stage. The energy was already amped up considerably, and when the opening notes of “Back in the USSR” started, it was like a flame to gasoline as the place erupted. It brought me back for sure, and the lyric “Gee it’s good to be back home” really nailed the moment. Phish left no doubt that this was not a total throwback, when the opening guitar licks of “Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan” sent us all back to the future; Trey was on his game already.

    Next up was “Water in the Sky”, which gave me a chance to catch my breath and my second wind. I would need it as a seven minute “Undermind” showcasing Page’s funkiness led to a midset “David Bowie” reminiscent of a mid-90’s version, clocking in at just over 10 minutes. Old school favorites “Golgi Apparatus” and “Gumbo” were next, followed by Mike Gordon’s “Yarmouth Road”, which debuted at SPAC this summer. The old school feel continued with “Camel Walk” and “Horn”, and was followed by a decent but standard version of “Limb by Limb”.

    phish returns glens falls

    “I Didn’t Know” was next, which brought Fishman and his vacuum out behind his kit. Trey asked “For 19 years we’ve all been wondering, is he gonna do it again??”, referring to Fishman getting naked at Glens Falls Civic Center the last time they played. He replied: ” I can if you want, but I doubt you want that”. The set ended with a standard version of “Split Open and Melt” that did feature some Trey licks towards the end. On paper this was a decent set at best, but if you were there, the place was rocking and the energy was intense.

    After some random acts of kindness during the intermission, I headed down to the floor, just to the right of Chris Kuroda and the light board. “Rock and Roll” opened the set with a bounce and some ripping guitar from Trey. The groove slowed and “Seven Below” emerged, a standard version that gained momentum towards the end, which led to a spirited version of “Alaska”.

    The set’s highlight was the 14 minute “Twist”, complete with full band exploration for the first time all night. CK was on fire as well, and his new light rig was put to the test. A very soothing “Wading in the Velvet Sea” followed, one of the best versions I’ve seen or heard, which led to “Harry Hood”, featuring a glow stick war that wouldn’t quit. The place was going crazy for sure, and the “Chalkdust Torture” that followed continued the late set dance party proper.

    After a very loud and lengthy ovation, the band reappeared, and Trey spoke about how great it was to play near Burlington and in Upstate New York in particular, and that many friends and family from the past 30 years were there to help celebrate. The band then revisited their Halloween past with a fitting “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” to wrap it up.

    Exiting the arena, everyone was smiling from ear to ear, all of us knowing we were a part of Phish history once again.  Fans ended their night at Hotshots, were Albany’s Mister F and Vermont’s Twiddle, or Touchpants, for the perfect nightcaps to an incredible day of live music in Upstate New York.

  • Phish Brings Phamily Together at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester

    Tuesday night’s Phish show in Rochester was a hometown show for a lot of us – sharing in the groove, the night was a spot-on show for the band as well as the crowd. Phish hadn’t played the Blue Cross Arena (The War Memorial) in 14 years and phans had high expectations for how the night would go.

    The Blue Cross Arena is set in the center of the city, the home of the Rochester Amerks hockey team and capacity of 13,000. Although this was not a sold-out show the venue allowed for dance room and a perfect landscape for Kuroda’s spine tingling, face-melting light show. This show was a night when phriends and phamily got together for the love of live music.

    phish blue cross arena rochester
    Poster designed by Zissou Tasseff-Elenkoff

    As a phan who saw two of their other shows here in Rochester, I knew this would be a solid show. What made this show the best of the three appearances was the fact that my 8-year-old daughter Ella was accompanying me and she shares my love for the band. Going to shows as a Mom is a hard choice for some people but for me its second nature. The joy it brings to not only her face and my face as she dances and sings along – but the joy it brings to the phans around us who adore that she is there, and thank me for giving her that experience –  that feeling of love and acceptance for the music and the scene is what I love sharing with her.

    In full Mom-mode, Ella and I set out to find the perfect dancing space in the venue, not too high up and not within the rowdy crowd. We found our spot in the opposite goal area from the stage. A small alcove with dreadys and spinners, the small crowd in there took turns high-fiving Ella and offering me accolades of, “you’re such an awesome mama” and “she’s the coolest little girl,” all of which made the night seem like perfection. With our spot secured and Ella perched on the ice rink wall, the lights went dim, the show had begun. Phish came right out of the gate with a much-needed, “AC/DC Bag” – the scene was set, the crowd was ready, this was going to be a spectacular show!

    phish blue cross arena
    Poster by Ryan Jerzy

    The “Moma Dance” set the crowd on fire, Axilla I brought on the lyric chanting, but what really got the groove goin was the – “Meatstick,Kill Devil Falls,Scent of a Mule”. This was one of several moments of the night that produced that energy we all seek at these shows; A hometown party insued, the days of ‘old have emerged in this tour and fans couldn’t be happier.  “Character Zero” ended the first set with expectations surpassed.

    Second set began with a 16:26 minute “Crosseyed And Painless” and Ella was holding her own at her now third Phish show since birth. She got down hardcore to this jam, feeling the freedom to dance and move about the sound of the music, we were sharing in the groove, sharing an experience of pure joy. “The Light > Golden Age” was nothing short of a miracle, glittered with the lights on the fans, Kuroda’s light show matched each note to a point, it was clear the band was feeling the crowds energy in a symbiosis of music and lights.

    The funk re-emerged with “Birds of a Feather, Halley’s Comet, Possum” – another part of the night that left fans speechless but dancing about in a undescible groove. With the night getting later and the little one getting more tired by the song, Possum would turn out to be our last dance-off for the evening, while seated with her on my lap during “Heavy Things”, it was clear we would have to call it a night.

    Finding out we missed a fantastic “YEM” and “Joy” was saddening but keeping in mind that going to shows as a Mama also means leaving shows as a Mama with a tired little girl. All in all, this show was a spectacular night for everyone in attendance – especially the coolest kid I am proud to call my daughter! Thank You Phriends and Phamily for a real good night, and Thank You to Phish for creating a community around music in which I am able to experience with the youngest of phans.

    Phish – October 22, 2013 – Blue Cross Arena – Rochester, NY

    Set 1: AC/DC Bag, The Moma Dance, Axilla I, Meatstick, Kill Devil Falls, Scent of a Mule, Timber, My Friend My Friend, Halfway to the Moon, Maze, Character Zero

    Set 2: Crosseyed and Painless, Light > Golden Age, Birds of a Feather, Halley’s Comet, Possum, Bug, Heavy Things, You Enjoy Myself

    Encore: Joy, First Tube

    Notes: Meatstick contained the Japanese lyrics. Scent of a Mule featured Fishman on Marimba Lumina. Page teased Baby Elephant Walk before the start of the second set. Golden Age began over the jam out of Light.

  • Set the Gearshift to Upstate NY – Phish Return to Rochester and Glens Falls

    With the start of Phish’s fall tour in Hampton this past weekend, few things are more exciting than the anticipation of an Upstate New York show. Rochester and Glens Falls are gearing up for two raging Phish shows that have been 19 and 13 years in the making, respectively. Local businesses and fans are ready, and has your guide to all that is happening in Rochester and Glens Falls before and after the shows this week.

    phish rochester glens falls
    photo by Danny Clinch

    On Tuesday October 22, Phish will play the Blue Cross Arena (War Memorial) in Rochester. The documentary Bittersweet Motel, directed by Todd Phillips (Old School, The Hangover) features footage from the band’s December 11th, 1997 performance, including the rehearsal and debut of Ween’s “Roses Are Free”.

    The next night, Wednesday October 23, Phish will return to the Glens Falls Civic Center for the first time since October 31st, 1994, when they covered the Beatles’ White Album in its entirety. This epic performance not only started the band’s musical costume tradition, but also launched the band into the general mainstream.

    Tickets for the Rochester show are still on sale at Ticketmaster and at the venue box office, while the 6,806-capacity Glens Falls show is sold out! Use CashorTrade.org to find extras!

    Below is a list of pre and post show events, as well as maps of the area. Have fun and see you at the shows!!

    Upon arrival in Rochester, take the Plymouth and Broad exit off I-490. There is underground parking on Broad Street and an outdoor main lot on the corner of Court Street. and Exchange Street., but parking naturally fills up quickly as you would suspect. On Court Street you will find Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, an Upstate New York favorite for good reason, so get there early and grab a table and a bite to eat. In a rush – grab food at the bar and enjoy a great selection of beers.

    Rochester post-shows include The Goods @ Dinosaur BBQ (99 Court Street) and Universe Shark and The Blind Owl Band @ The Montage (50 Chestnut Street), which starts at 10pm and is 18+.

    Glens Falls has two big pre-show events planned, both within walking distance to the venue. 42º and Manifest Glassworks present glass blowers collaboration, special deals, a live broadcast with Jeff from WEQX’s “Jam-N-Toast” and refreshments at 42º, located at 23 Park Street, a mere 0.2 miles from Glens Falls Civic Center. The show goes from 12-6pm. There will also be an Art Show @ Aimiee’s Dinner & A Movie, located at 190 Glen Street featuring many Phish artists, including Isadora Bullock, Pin Me Down Designs, Bill Pompeii of Pompeii Prints, PhanArt, StuPINdous Creations and many more from 2-630pm. For food, The Post-Star has some suggestions on dining, but you can find many places to eat just wandering around downtown. It’s a small town, you’ll find good eats around every corner.

    Post show, Glens Falls has two great shows, both right in town and a short walk from the Civic Center. Twiddle and Mister F will be at Hot Shots Sports Bar, located at 45 South St. If you can’t get a ticket to Phish, this show starts at 10pm and is 21+. The other post-show is Touchpants at Sandy’s Clam Bar, featuring Jon Fishman! Sandy’s is located at 41 South Street and this show is SOLD OUT!

    Enjoy the shows in Upstate New York everyone!

  • ‘A PhanArt Poster and Pin Exhibition: Atlantic City’ Announces Lineup for November 2nd Art Show

    PhanArt Exhibitions have become a part of Phish Tour for so many Phans. These shows have become a collective way of sharing their love for the Vermont foursome, outside of sharing in the groove at live shows. If you’re looking for something creative and fun to do while in Atlantic City for the Halloween Run we suggest you stop by this exhibit and support the art of Phish by Phans.

    2013 phanart AC show KERRIGAN LOGO_1

    Taking place November 2nd, from 12pm-5pm at Caesar’s Atlantic City in the Tiberius/Spartacus/Romulus rooms, featuring the best Phish inspired art, including limite edition art made specifically for the show. Admission to the event is FREE. This unique art show, developed and produced by Pete Mason, will be held on the final day of Phish’s Fall Tour, ending that night at Boardwalk Hall.

    The artists announced for A PhanArt Poster and Pin Exhibition: Atlantic City represent a wide array of artists from among the Phish art community. Longtime Phish artists Ryan Kerrigan, Isadora Bullock, Michael Boyer, Jiggs, Jeff Nesbit and Pompeii Prints are all familiar names with fans from past poster art shows. Each will have a large portfolio of current and past concert poster art to exhibit from a wide range of musical acts. Erin Cadigan, an artist from Woodstock, NY, will be featuring her art, posters and clothing line THREE.

    Joining the show for the first time is Setlist Tees, a line of shirts created by Ryan Stanley that feature fan-requested setlists with unique designs for each show. Pin makers and artists Matthew Jurcic of 10 Minute Tube Designs, Adam Davidoff of Phishcoins, Jack Firestone of Party Time Pins, Noah Phence, Adrian Sharpe of stuPINdous Creations, Ant Pharms Tour Pins and Designs, Cactus Bomb Designs/Tweezburger, Pin me Down, Brian Zuckerberg and Stuphph & Things will all feature their ever-popular pin series and designs, as well as other items made specifically for the Atlantic City shows.

    The second round of artists slated to exhibit at Caesars on November 2nd include poster artist Bruce Horan, photographer Mike Geller who will be on hand exhibiting his concert photography, while the art of Ian Millard and art from Like Minded Productions will be available for sale. Pin makers include Phanbadge, Terra-Pins and Gowy Gear, as well as MYFE. Designs, who will be releasing brand new limited edition pieces as well as rare, sold out items.

    Throughout the event, Show of Life will be streaming live the first ever Phantiques Road Show! Fans are encouraged to bring their collectible art to be reviewed by a panel of expert curators who will be on site for appraisal. Fans are encouraged to participate in a silent auction in person at the show or live from couch tour, making for an interactive feature to “A PhanArt Poster and Pin Exhibition: Atlantic City.”

    Non-profits include The Mockingbird Foundation, which has given grants for music education totaling more than $700,000 over the past 15 years, and PhanArt, a book and website created as a way to showcase the art made by Phish fans, raising money for The Mockingbird Foundation through donations from artists and fans, totaling over $11,000 since 2009.

    Phish Art shows have been held since 2003 with great success. Unique posters, pins, shirts, stickers and much more are made for Phish shows, making “A PhanArt Poster and Pin Exhibition: Atlantic City” a must-attend event during Phish tour. Produced by Pete Mason, founder of PhanArt and author of PhanArt: The Art of the Fans of Phish, the art exhibition represents a continued effort to promote and exhibit original and unique concert art from a wide variety of artists. The eclectic artists featured at this event show the broad scope of Phish related art and capture the inspiration of the band in their art. Phish’s creative fan base makes amazing art inspired by the band, their music and the locales they play.

    In keeping with the great tradition and success of past poster shows, “A PhanArt Poster and Pin Exhibition: Atlantic City” will offer free entry to all patrons and tubes available for purchase. Charitable donations from the event will be made to The Mockingbird Foundation, as well as a wide array of artists featuring posters to fit any budget. More artists will be announced in mid-October, as well as special edition works only available at the show, which will be available for viewing shortly thereafter at www.phanart.net.

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  • Pre-Phish Show Art Show: Dinner & A Movie in Glens Falls, October 23rd

    Picture 8Dinner & A Movie Art Show, presented by Manifest Glassworks, will be held on October 23rd at Aimiee’s Dinner & A Movie, located at 190 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY.

    Running from 2pm-until 630pm, the art show will feature many artists including Tripps Prints, Isadora Bullock, Pin Me Down Designs, Bill Pompeii of Pompeii Prints, Ant Pharms Pins, StuPINdous Creations, Brian McGowan of GowyGear, PhanArt, Noah Clein and local glass from Manifest Glassworks, Liffiton Fine Arts and others.

    Admission to the art show is free and will feature Live Music from High Peaks Band at the adjoining bar, Wallabee’s. This is a rare chance for Glens Falls residents to view and purchase art from vendors that travel the nation, to meet up with friends new and old and to celebrate Vermont’s greatest band visiting Glens Falls!

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  • Chill as it Ever Was: Catskill Chill Music Festival Review

    The Catskill Chill celebrated its 4th annual music festival weekend on September 6th-8th at the scenic review of Camp Minglewood of Hancock, NY, located in the heart of the Catskills. The festival brought together another year of great music with a talented lineup and loving community known as the Chill Fam. What was once a summer sleep away camp gave festival goers the ultimate end to the summer party with the rustic and wooden stages, laid back staff and fun seeking friends that brought back memories of childhood and past Chill weekends. Guests had the option of renting cabins, complete with bunk beds, bathrooms and showers as well as plenty of tent camping for those seeking a view of the clear star filled skies at night while vendors were set up near the stages offering a variety of foods, clothes and odd ends at all hours of the weekend, complete with an Ice Cream Silent Disco Truck.

    American Babies, kicked off the festival weekend on the Main Stage with a gentle rock vibe with slight southern twang. Keyboardist Adam Flicker kept a very close ear to his organ almost as if he was resting his head on every note. “Blue Skies” brought an enchanting melody of endless sunshine while their rendition of The Grateful Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie” helped the crowd stretch out their singing chops and dancing muscles. Spiritual Rez is a reggae ska band that can dance harder than you and they aren’t afraid to show it. Toft Willingham is a total talented nutcase as he sings and rocks on guitar all over the stage, encouraging the crowd to join in on a massive primal scream. Drummer Ian Miller, having recently broken his right arm, still managed to beat the hell out of the drums left handed and Mohamed Araki took a break from his keyboards to excite the crowd with a stage shaking keytar solo. Making their third appearance at The Chill, the four piece electronic rock band, Particle sent the crowd rocketing with their “Launchpad” opener into Eddy Grant’s “Electric Avenue.” It was an unusual, somewhat early (5pm) set for the group but that didn’t stop the Chill Fam from packing out the Main Stage area for their spacy dance jams. The band congratulated the crowd on making the right choice to attend this year’s Catskill Chill as it is one of their favorite festivals to perform at and went on to cover Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al.”

    Jimkata had the crowd grooving in a beautiful unison with angelic yet robotic synthesizers and hard hitting guitar riffs. Drummer Packy Lunn slams relentlessly on the cymbals throughout “Die Digital” as Evan Friedell’s vocals cascade around the dance floor. Capital Zen, the progressive funk rock band from Upstate New York had music going in every direction. Their lyrics are fast spitting poetry that hits you at warp speed as their electronic tunes mix with hardcore rock and eventually into a cover of Primus’ “My Name is Mud.” Lotus brought the sound of lasers to life as they blasted the Main Stage to pieces with “Uffi” into “Golden Ghost”. Big electronic build ups throughout the set with heavy beats and intense guitar shredding provided a never-ending dance groove for the Chill Fam. The set got kicked up a notch as Particle keyboardist, Steve Molitz, joined the band for “Greet the Mind” for the ultimate get down. “Alright, we are pretty lite up” joked Alan Evans after their set opener, “They Call Me Velvet.” Given only an hour and a few minutes to play on Stage B, the Alan Evans trio didn’t waste a minute of pure funk explosion. Keyboardist Beau Sasser could barely sit down as he shook the keys and Guitarist Danny Mayer’s riffs were so sharp, they could cut right through you.

    Primate Fiasco, newcomers to the Chill this year, scored one set Friday and Saturday night on the Acoustic Junction stage. The modern day ragtime band was a refreshing and fun surprise to folks who found themselves dancing in no time. J Witbeck’s deep sousaphone notes kept the music hot while Dave Russo picked on the banjo with fire. The true highlight of Friday night came from the 10 piece party machine, Lettuce, who threw down the funk on the Main Stage and never picked it up. Their high energy horn section blasted the groove so even folks all away across the lake could get down. It was an old school, disco dance party with plenty of soul to spare. The crowd screamed with excitement as the band played the infamous “Apache’ by Jerry Lordan. Alecia Shakour had smooth sensual vocals as she sat in for “Do Your Thing.” Kung Fu ended the night on the Main Stage with a dirty funky groove full of serious attitude. The hard core electronic beats and ripping saxophone from Robert Somerville are things not to be messed with. John Durkin and Nigel Hall joined in for the far out funk of “Steppin in It.”

    check out Bryan Lasky’s photos below and keep reading for more of Catskill Chill from Saturday and Sunday

    A brief early Saturday morning storm passed through, making way for blue skies with sunshine and a jam packed day of music scheduled. Twiddle had a surprisingly large crowd at the Main Stage for their noon set plus multiple musician sit ins. 13 year-old guitar hero Bobby Paltauf sat in for “Mamunes the Fawn” and Todd Stoops from Kung Fu sat in for “Brown Chicken, Brown Cow” > “Funky Town.” Twiddle’s music mixes with all the best flavors of music such as funk, jazz, and rock causing a delicious start to Saturday. The Z3, a three piece funk band dedicated to music of Frank Zappa consists of Zappa lovers Beau Sasser, Tim Palmieri and Bill Carbone. The trio appealed to more than just Frank Zappa fans on the B Stage with their funky twist tributes of his original experimental rock songs. After last year’s late night cabin set, Solaris, Ithaca’s electronic trio rocked the comfortably crowded Club Chill. The all instrumental group fed off the wild energy in the room and threw it right back with a higher dosage of funk jazz fusion. Jared Raphel couldn’t be stopped as he gyrated back and forth, crushing his keys with atomic awesomeness.

    One of the more diverse bands of the weekend was Shwizz. One moment they are raging 80s German techno then suddenly it’s a light and soft lullaby jam. The band had so much love for the Chill Fam that it rained on the crowd and mixed with the cloud of glitter that was continuously being shot out of a cannon. One of the highlights of the set was the “Theme from Jurassic Park” closer, possibly the best cover of the weekend; Shwizz slowed down the piece and gently brought it up to a mountainous climactic peak. Quite the tear jerker. Aqueous delivered tight jams with improvisational grooves that kept the audience in nonstop motion. The big highlight and surprise of the set was their cover of “The Kids Aren’t Alright” by The Offspring, which brought out the teenage rebel in everyone, leading to a moshing sing along.

    Galactic gave The Chill a taste of New Orleans soul shakin funk music as well as a modern twist with speedy lyrics especially during “Move Fast.” The five piece band brought the Mardi Gras jazz and groove with their horn section and a resilient rhythm from Carter Burgess and Aaron Hagele. Fikus, best described as an electro funk rock, fused together a combo of hip hop attitude with piano solos and classic rock guitar riffs that turned Club Chill upside down. Brothers Past crushed it for over an on the B Stage for an hour set, with the highlight being a smooth and exhilarating “Squeeze” going just over 17 minutes. The dangerously fun headliner, Conspirator, was proud to return to Catskill Chll this year as they dominated the Main Stage. The band has a devoted fan base, due in part to Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner of The Disco Biscuits and for the powerful electronic rock dupstep that fans can’t get enough of. Drew Suto of Dutch Masterson Designs provided an intricate light and visual show that highlighted the unstoppable dark dance party. RAQ ended the evening with the quartet bringing an old school rock groove to the Chill Fam. The set consisted of on point jams with strong harmonies that flowed from “Cheap Sunglasses>Pushin’ Up Daisies> Bootch McGoo.”

    Check out Bryan Lasky’s photos below for day two of the Catskill Chill and keep reading for a review of Sunday

    On Sunday, Cabinet brought a beautiful start to Sunday with their all-string bluegrass sound. Their soft harmonies and bow playing was as fresh as the Catskill Mountain air. There were breaks in the clouds with gorgeous rays of sunshine that reflected off the lake while Cabinet’s music echoed off the breeze. It was more of a bluegrass meditation as concert goers eased into the third and final day of the Chill. More bluegrass followed as the four piece band, The Brummy Brothers, strummed on the Acoustic Junction stage. The Brummy’s introduced the song, “Cell Phone Blues”, by saying how one of the best things about the Catskill Chill is the zero cell phone service, a rare treat for today’s generation to enjoy The Chill with no technological distractions. The Brummy’s lyrics revolve around partying, the simple things in life and modern troubles, all with a jamgrass vibe that folks can both relate and “shake their brum” to. Later that day, the crowd was dancing, stomping, and singing along with the eight piece funk and soul band, Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds as their music flew off the Main Stage. The main songbird herself, Arleigh Kincheloe, blew minds with her stunning vocals and stage presence. The Dirty Birds know how to get down and dirty with a booming horn section, shrieking harmonica plus groovy drum and guitar solos.

    The McLovin’s, with less than an hour set, took the stage wearing furry animal costumes and played their second consecutive year at the Catskill Chill. The band did a solid version of Pink Floyd’s “Run like Hell” before bringing up the Horn Section from  Grant’s Tomb, New York’s top jazz jamband for a few songs, adding an extra party element. Legendary musician George Porter Jr. joined the animals on stage for a surprise cover of “Rappers Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang resulting in a massive dance breakout. Traveling all the way from Boulder, Colorado and one of the most anticipated sets for Sunday was The Motet playing a Funk is Dead set, a tribute to The Grateful Dead. The Motet performed the classic Grateful Dead songs such as “Scarlet Begonias”, “Fire on the Mountain”, “New Speedway Boogie” and “Shakedown Street” but with a funky fresh and exotic groove that was contagious. It was almost like hearing the Dead for the first time.

    The Meter Men got the crowd jiving with a steady beat from the “Hand Clapping Song” opener which helped the musicians stretch out their groove muscles. The set was an easy flowing funk session with the Meter Men constantly feeding off each other’s vibes. Page McConnell took a moment to share with the crowd how he was reeling at the fact that he was playing with his musical heroes resulting in a roaring cheer. One of the highlights of the set was when George Porter Jr. invited Bobby Paltauf, the aforementioned 13 year old guitarist, to join them on stage and introduced him as one of the up and coming musicians to watch out for. Paltauf held his own among the music legends as he had Porter Jr. and McConnell laughing as he went note for note with Nocetelli. The crowd couldn’t get enough as they cheered on the musical magic that was happening before their eyes. After The Meter Man capped off their set with “Just Kissed My Baby”, Turkuaz blew up the B Stage with their high energy funk explosion of a performance. Geneva Williams and Sammi Garett bumped in perfect unison with their tambourines, taking turns with their own killer vocal solos. The horn section didn’t miss a chance to blow fans away as the set got wilder by each second. David Brandwein was front and center with his hard hitting vocals and nasty guitar shredding. Turkuaz doesn’t stop from the second they step foot on the stage to the second they get off, be prepared to dance your shoes off.

    For the most dedicated of the music festival fans, there was the climactic late Sunday night trio of Dopapod, Papadosio and a collaboration of the two to form, Dopadosio. As the evening temperatures dropped into the low 40s, the crowd was more than eager for the music to start as the bands took time setting up the gear on stage. New York City experimentalists Dopapod treated fans to an uplifting fusion of rock meets techno meets improvisational jam, something akin to an outer space back yard party. The four piece band isn’t afraid to push their music or fans out of their comfort zone with their genre mixing testing. Papadosio have a more relaxed sound as they started with a spacey “Hippie Babysitter” only to take an electronic turn and add haunting vocals for “Method of Control.” The quintet combined psychedelic rock with a techno jazz composition that kept people hot on the dance floor. The final act of the Catskill Chill weekend came when members of Dopadosio closed down the Main Stage with a three song tribute to RadioHead with “Airbag”, “Paranoid Android” and “Optimistic.” From the first tent set up to the last car leaving the lot, smiles could be seen all weekend. There was a constant feeling of appreciation as friends gathered to celebrate each other, the talented musicians and hardworking staff that helped make the weekend all that it could be and even better. With more than enough music and positive energy, The Catskill Chill lived up to their motto, “All Love, All the Time.”

    The final set of pictures from the Catskill Chill from Bryan Lasky.

  • Phish to Release a Classic Upstate New York Show: Niagara Falls 95

    Phish announced this past week that they will be officially releasing a great show from their 95 Fall Tour, better yet, one from Niagara Falls. This tour of course is one of the more well known tours in Phish’s history that saw the band play from October all the way through New Years Eve.  This tour is also special to the Capitol Region because on December 9 in Albany the band played one of their best versions of “You Enjoy Myself” ever.

    phish niagara falls 95

    The show in Niagara Falls took place on December 7th, two nights prior to that Albany show, and has first set highlights of a “Demand” “Rift” combo as well as a “Slave.”  The second set sees the opening “Split Open and Melt” get “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” teases, an early version of “Taste” while it was still being called “Taste That Surrounds”, a “Reba” with no whistling, and a set ending “Mike’s Groove” that ended in a “Digital Delay Loop Jam.”  This is great news and we here at always love when an Upstate show gets an official release.  This is said to be released in November, right after they come through the Upstate Region this year on their highly anticipated Fall Tour.

    Thursday, 12/07/1995, Niagara Falls Convention Center, Niagara Falls, NY

    Set 1: The Old Home Place > The Curtain > AC/DC Bag, Demand > Rift, Slave to the Traffic Light, Guyute, Bouncing Around the Room, Possum, Hello My Baby

    Set 2: Split Open and Melt, Strange Design > Taste That Surrounds, Reba1, Julius, Sleeping Monkey > Sparkle > Mike’s Song -> Weekapaug Groove [2] -> Digital Delay Loop Jam, Amazing Grace

    Encore: Uncle Pen

    [1] No whistling
    [2] Unfinished

    Teases:
    “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” tease in “Split Open and Melt”
    “Pop Goes the Weasel” tease in “Reba”

  • Flashback: Phish in Lake Placid, December 1995, with New Audio Source

    Thinking about what I wanted to write about as Phish Summer Tour kicked off and SPAC, I pondered a few different things. I wanted to first off write about something I had in the pipelines of new seeds I was sharing with the etree community and I of course wanted something Phish, and maybe something that was not only good, but under appreciated. Lake Placid 1995 met all the criteria.

    Much has been documented about December 1995, a month many consider to be one of the top three if not single greatest months in the history of Phish. It’s a month filled with night after night of fiery, tight playing, ground break jams and multiple all around all-time great shows, one that was filled with very few dull moments. I happened upon four shows this month myself, which proved to be quite the challenge considering the weather we faced in the Northeast.

    Phish Lake Placid

    Blizzard like conditions from Albany to Lake Placid that final week of Phish tour made it extremely difficult to get around on the New York State Thruway. It became so much that when confronted with an opportunity after Binghamton to sell my Lake Placid tickets and head home to Buffalo, I did, which made collecting my thoughts on this two night run that ended this long and incredible tour somewhat bittersweet. One thing that has also gone a little unnoticed and less written about in recent years, particularly in the 3.0 era of Phish is the value of seeing Phish on their home turf. Not necessarily Vermont or New England, but Upstate New York, specifically, the North Country, the Adirondack region. When I think of Phish, I think of this region. When I visit this part of New York State, I want to listen to Phish and when I see Phish in this region, it brings back incredible memories. To me, there is nothing like an Upstate New York Phish show.

    Phish Lake Placid
    Phish lot shirt from 1995

    Seeing Phish at places like The Knickerbocker Arena or Saratoga Performing Arts Center, from The Clifford Ball in Plattsburgh to the ground breaking Halloween 1994 in Glens Falls and many more, Phish brings it on their adopted home turf. When the band grew out of Vermont, not only by touring around the country, but growing their fan base into larger venues in the early 90’s, it was Upstate New York that served as the new home turf. You can feel it when you’re there. Phish in Lake Placid ’95 was the perfect two-night conclusion to this great month. What more could you really expect from these guys at this point? A monster tour staring back in September and wrapping up nearly three months later. What started in Hershey, built upon in New Haven, collected at U-Mass, exploded in Niagara Falls and Albany, carried on in Maine, reached all new levels at Binghamton and set the table in Lake Placid for what many believe to be the greatest Phish show of all time on New Years Eve. These two shows contained all the tightness of three months on the road you would expect. A well oiled machine coming to a rest after a long work out. I don’t think the band’s lack of creativity or deeper exploration in these shows is worth worry.

    What you do get is air tight renditions, high energy improvisation like what is found in the “Mikes > Simple > Weekapaug” in night one, and the band ultimately capping the tour and setting the table for the New Years Eve run. While December ’95 is not known for its very best “Mike’s Grooves”, it is known for is all time “Tweezers”, and 12/17 deserves attention along with the others. There are times for me when it sometimes feels like not only musically, but on a decision making level, that you sense what the band has decided upon. It feels to me all these years of listening to these Lake Placid shows, that they deliberately knew where they were in the tour and what had gone down up to this point. They noticed that sometimes they need a creative reprieve and 12/16 was one of those moments. But by night two, we’re ready to bring it back for one last push down the home stretch and really see what this thing is made of, to see if they could milk this thing to the last drop, and that’s exactly what they did.

    phish lake placid
    photo by James Potvin

    What gets overshadowed from this month is the bulk of 12/17’s second set: “Free > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Harry Hood > Sparkle > Tweezer -> Tweezer Reprise”. A raunchy “Free”, a direct hit of “2001”, an extended “Hood” and one last gasp “Tweezer” really showcases the brilliance of what makes December ’95, and seeing Phish on their home turf of Upstate New York so special. That is energy, energy, energy. The band knows it. The crowd knows it. Say what you will about Great Woods, Merriweather, Deer Creek or Alpine, Hampton, Philly or Boston, but there is quite simply nothing like a Phish show in green country of Upstate New York.

    Download Lenny Stubbe’s new source to circulation of 12/16/95

    Download Lenny Stubbe’s new source to circulation of 12/17/95