Author: Neil Benjamin Jr.

Pink Talking Fish, Aqueous Energize Putnam Den

After a muggy day in the Capital Region, two regional bands – Pink Talking Fish and Aqueous – took to the stage at the Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs and saturated an already soggy crowd with funk and fun, sprinkled with some purple.

Buffalo favorites Aqueous started the show around 9:30 p.m., leaping right into “Aldehyde,” which saw snazzy work on the wah pedal from guitarist Mike Gantzer. Slowly bleeding into “Origami,” Aqueous had a few stop and starts led by interim drummer Rob Houk, who is in the running to take over as full-time drummer.

“Complex Pt. I,” “Peaches” > “Warren in the Window” and “Numbers and Facts” rounded out the well executed setlist. During “Warren,” Gantzer and fellow guitarist Dave Loss heavily teased Phish’s “Meatstick” that was greeted with an uproarious cheer from the half-full crowd. “Peaches,” a cover of a song by the Presidents of the USA, was the crowd favorite of the set, with everyone belting, in unison, the catchy chorus.

Following a short break, Pink Talking Fish emerged, with guitarist Dave Brunyak playing a few melodies over the house music. Wasting no space or time, the band kicked off two sets with “In the Flesh”>”Tube”>”Life During Wartime,” and a final reprisal of “Tube,” with Brunyak nailing the bluesy ending that Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio wrote into the diddy.

“Have A Cigar”>”Wild Wild Life”>”Simple”>”Pigs” brought a mellow, then rocking mood to the set. Bassist Eric Gould led the segment, bopping the band through some of Phish, Talking Heads and Pink Floyd’s most iconic songs.

“This Must Be The Place”>”Fearless”>”Esther Interlude”>”Run Like An Antelope” completed the set, giving a sweaty crowd a much needed breather. The second set featured “Ghost,” with an irregular breakdown in the middle, and “Money,” complete with the opening and closing cash register noise from the original.

“The Lizards”>”Crosseyed and Painless”>”One of these Days”>”Lizards” was easily the highlight. The band doesn’t seem to miss even a single note, making this group of musicians maybe the only capable people to get up and perform the music of three of rock’s most beloved groups.

In fitting fashion, the band covered Prince’s “Purple Rain” (a song Phish has been performing for years) as a tribute to the passing of the Purple One. “Loving Cup” sent the crowd home happy and satiated.

Aqueous

Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs

Set 1: Aldehyde > Origami, Complex Pt. I, Peaches > Warren in the Window, Numbers and Facts

Notes: Meatstick [Phish] and Linus and Lucy [Vince Guaraldi] teases in Warren

Pink Talking Fish

Set 1:
In The Flesh>
Tube>
Life During Wartime>
Tube
Have A Cigar>
Wild Wild Life>
Simple>
Pigs (3 Different Ones)>
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Fearless*>
Esther Interlude>
Run Like An Antelope

Set 2:
Moon Rocks>
Ghost>
Money>
Making Flippy Floppy**>
Timber Ho>
Young Lust
The Lizards>
Crosseyed And Painless
One Of These Days***>
The Lizards
Cities
Seamus>
Birds Of A Feather

E:
Purple Rain%
Loving Cup

*w/ Prince Caspian tease
**w/ Rift tease
***w/ “Still Waiting” vocals
%solo piano performance by Richard James

April 23, 2016
Beartooth Embarks on Gigantic Tour

Hardcore rockers Beartooth announced a massive spring and summer tour itinerary, which includes four New York stops. The tour begins April 23 in Iowa City with Long Island metalcore band Stray from the Path supporting. The final date of the U.S. leg of the tour is at the Rock ‘n Derby Festival in Schaghticoke, NY, near Albany.

Beartooth members Caleb Shomo, Taylor Lumley, Kamron Bradbury, Oshie Bichar and Brandon Mullins, cite inflences as diverse as Nine Inch Nails and the Ramones. The group has released two albums and all signs point to another one on the way. The band is currently touring in support of a reissued edition of its Disgusting album.

Photo credit to Matthew DeFeo

Beartooth 2016 Tour Dates:

April 23 – Gabes – Iowa City, IA

April 24 – Jackpot – Lawrence, KS

April 25 – Marquis Theater – Denver, CO

April 26 – Top Deck – Farmington, NM

April 28 – House of Rock – Corpus Christi, TX

April 29 – Dirty Dog Bar – Austin, TX

May 1 – Welcome to Rockville – Jacksonville, FL (festival date includes ZZ Top, Rob Zombie, Megadeth, Lamb of God, Five Finger Death Punch)

May 3 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

May 4 – Greene Street – Greensboro, NC

May 5 – Sound Stage – Baltimore, MD

May 6 – Webster Underground – Hartford, CT

May 7 – Emporium – Patchogue, NY

May 8 – Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY

May 10 – Stache – Grand Rapids, MI

May 11 – Agora Ballroom – Cleveland, OH

May 13 – Slowdown – Omaha, NE

May 14 – House Cafe – DeKalb, IL

May 15 – Northern Invasion – Somerset, WI

May 17 – Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY

May 18 – Port City Music Hall – Portland, ME

May 19 – Chameleon Club – Lancaster, PA

May 20 – The Met – Pawtucket, RI

May 21 – Rock n’ Derby – Schaghticoke, NY (festival date)

April 12, 2016
Phish Release Fall 1996 Show

On Sunday night while we all rested up for the week ahead, the crew over at LivePhish.com quietly dropped one of the formative Fall 1996 shows Phish played: Nov. 7, at the famed Rupp Arena on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington.

Just a week removed from covering the Talking Heads’ Remain in Light at the Omni in Atlanta on Halloween, Phish were rolling through a 35-date tour on the heels of releasing Billy Breathes. Trey Anastasio was using his mini-percussion rig onstage as the band took a turn into more rhythm-driven jams, which would eventually give way to the madness that 1997 saw.

The show at Rupp Arena was special in many ways. Opening with a quick and rocking “Chalk Dust Torture,” the first set highlights included “Weigh,” “Guelah Papyrus,” “Guyute” and “Tela.”

A tight “Suzy Greenberg” gave way to what was, at the time, the longest-ever “Bathtub Gin,” which clocked in at more than 26 minutes. A monster “You Enjoy Myself,” in all of its wah-goodness, closed out a set which featured the tour’s only Fishman-led “Bike.” A “Frankenstein” encore closed out the show.

Head over to LivePhish to purchase the show or stream via PhishTracks.

March 8, 2016
New York Minute: A Chat With Jess Novak

Jess Novak is young, talented and so full of soul that it’s sometimes tough to remember she’s just a regular girl. A girl who has recorded multiple albums, performed nearly 300 shows, has participated in triathlons, has sung the National Anthem at the Carrier Dome and is an award-winning journalist. Oh, and she’s also done some modeling and has donated some of her time to go in Syracuse schools and enrich the kids with her music. The list goes on and on.

In 2011 and 2012, the New Jersey-born Novak, who is a trained violinist and plays guitar and has a heavenly powerful voice, started jamming with friends in Syracuse while she was the music writer for the Syracuse New Times. In 2013, she met Brian D. Golden, a super talented blues guitarist with a raspy, deep voice whose influences span the entire rock genre.

They soon recorded Bad Habit, Novak’s first solo album, with Mark Nanni (Los Blancos) on keys and Byron Cage on drums. In October of last year, the Duo released Rodeo.

Novak said the Duo is working on its next record, while she is also working on her next solo jaunt.

NYSMusic caught up with the busy singer to talk about everything from the importance of collaboration, to her favorite venue and even fielded a marriage proposal.

Neil Benjamin Jr.: You are having a lot of success both solo and with your various groups (Golden Novak Duo, GNBand, GNTrio). How do you fit in a personal life with an incessant touring schedule?

Jess Novak: Yes! It’s been so exciting watching The Golden Novak Band, Duo and Trio grow in a very short time. I still can’t believe we founded the band in the summer of 2014. The duo (including trio and band shows) is coming in around 270 shows annually and I’ve been doing more solo shows, too. Honestly, I don’t have much of a personal life, but it helps that my best friends are in the band! It also works out because so much of touring is about the time between shows. Golden and I, especially, have seen so much of the East Coast at this point. It’s really amazing. I feel my personal life and love are all mixed up with my passion and livelihood and that can be a great thing. I’m really lucky. … and somehow I still manage to fit in my favorite things – like reading Star Wars novels.

(Click here to see all of Novak’s upcoming schedule.)

NBJ: Tell me about Brian Golden. You two seem to have incredible musical chemistry. Can we get a glimpse of how you two work together?

JN: I was just talking about this with a friend. The beauty of Golden and I is that we are the right combination. I’m a control freak and he is game for anything. I think people struggle for control too often and the key to a good relationship of any kind is allowing things to be. You have to let the other person to be themselves, and furthermore, celebrate them for it. We’re so lucky that our personalities complement one another. I’m also big on all things natural. If something doesn’t click – you can’t force it and I think that’s especially apparent in music. Golden and I clicked from the moment we met. I picked him out as the player I wanted to work with and we have ever since. It was completely natural and continues to be an art of working together to bring out the best in each other. Beyond that – our music is completely dependent on our friendship. If that suffers, the music does, so we work really hard to be good to each other. That’s a great thing and comes through in the performance. I also feel lucky to have found someone I can travel with for 45 days – SOLID – at a time. That’s amazing and rare. The key is most definitely laughter and we do a TON of that. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s the best guitar player I know. I have tremendous respect for him – another key to a great relationship.

NBJ: You’ve become a force in CNY music scene and have worked with so many artists. Do you find it rewarding to work with so many talents?

JN: Collaboration is key. I just heard a quote recently – if you want to go far, go alone. If you want to go further, go together. That is the truth and people will see that from me more than ever this year (exciting things on the way!). I have a whole new project in the works that will involve a completely different group of people and the GNB family grows all the time. You learn something from everyone you meet and work with if you just keep yourself open to it. You can only benefit from working with others even if the experience is negative. I’ve been so lucky to be in different bands and learn different styles – like with Shining Star Band, sitting in on Mark Nanni and The Intention’s jazz night, RESPECT, The Ameribeat Orchestra, Vinyl Albums Live, etc. – and that’s just it. I’ve learned something from every experience and from every person. New relationships mean new ideas, new growth and new possibilities. That’s what it’s all about. It’s the most rewarding thing I do and I improve constantly because of it. It’s also important to stay humble and working with people better than you ALL the time will definitely keep you modest.

NBJ: Tell me some names in the local scene that we may not know yet, but that you think will emerge in the near future.

JN: I really enjoyed Liz Canino’s record, Mercy. I always love hearing from other female musicians. I’m also a big fan of Major Player and Spring Street Family Band. Those guys are troopers and are working so hard to make it happen. I admire that (and they’re fun to dance to).

NBJ: What is your favorite venue to play and why?

JN: Whammy Bar in Calais, VT is like visiting family. I absolutely adore the vibe of that place and everyone there. We actually have a guy sit in with us on a brown paper bag there and it’s amazing. Once we battled – I played the cup and he played the bag. We also had a great time at the Pooler, Georgia World of Beer on this last tour. I closed the night with an acapella version of a Tenacious D song that I’m not sure you can print the title of here. It was amazing. There are great venues and people everywhere – most often where you least expect them.

NBJ: Is Nanni ever going to shave that beard?

JN: Not as long as I have something to say about it! That thing is a work of art! In my opinion – best beard in the world. ….though I may be a little biased.

NBJ: Will you marry me?

JN: You might have to fight a few people for that one 🙂

Here’s a professionally shot video for the remix of the Golden Novak Band’s “Rat a Tat,” which features many of Novak’s friends.

And here’s an inside look at Novak and Golden inside the recording studio in Norwich, complete with interviews and insight on the pair’s songs. (Warning: Golden’s fingers move at warp speed, so don’t blink.)

March 7, 2016
Peaking Upstate: Twiddle Plumps Sold-Out Crowd

It was fitting to see a sold out Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park on Friday night for many reasons. Mainly, it signified maturity and growth for Formula 5 and headliner Twiddle, a jam-rock group out of Burlington.

Formula 5 has been working very hard lately, just wrapping up their first full tour. Led by Joe Davis on guitar, James Woods on bass, Matt Richards on keys and Greg Marek on drums, Formula 5 has quickly carved out its spot in the Northeast jam scene. It’s impossible not to draw the parallels between the four-piece and Phish, especially because the group formed while waiting in line to get tickets to a Phish show in 2009. Davis has studied Trey Anastasio and it shows in his precise, swirling, soaring guitar work

“Earthbound Tim” led way to “Pedro” which bled into “Excalibur.” Somewhere in the mix were “Down With Disease” and “Harry Hood” teases. “Floating,” “Epiphany” and a reprisal of “Earthbound Tim” closed out the show, leaving the hometown band exiting the stage with grins of approval.

Following a short break, Twiddle took the stage, backed by the Frendly Horns, which added a layer to the band not seen very much. Touring in support of their latest release Plump, Mihali Savoulidis performed using a new guitar at the show, which looked like a custom mix of a Stratocaster and a classic Guild and it sounded wonderful. It was the third show of the band’s Plumperdump winter tour.

“Gatsby the Great,” “Honeyburste,” and “Brick of Beauty”, which featured a “Shakedown Street” jam, started the two-hour set and it featured periods of extended jamming. The horns allowed Savoulidis and keyboardist Ryan Dempsey a layer of rhythmic space and both used it wisely, trading licks and staccatos before weaving their way into “Polluted Beauty” where bassist Zdenek Gubb took the lead this time and pushed the band, with the help of drummer Brook Jordan, through a funk excursion.

“Classical Gas,” “Be There,” “Complacent Race” and “Frankenfoote” closed out the set, with the audience singing along with seemingly every word.

For the encore, Twiddle had one final treat in store. Lowell Wurster, of Lucid notoriety, joined the stage to play the washboard on a version of “Did You Ever Look So Nice.”

This is the second year in a row Twiddle has sold out Upstate Concert Hall which has a capacity of nearly 1,300. Last year they did it with the support of Kung Fu. Formula 5 displayed it has the chops and dedication to continue to rise while Twiddle showed just how far they have come. It was apparent by the joyous mood outside the venue post-show that both these bands are just getting started and it’s been nice to watch them grow in the past two years.

Stream or download Ed Guidry’s recording of Twiddle’s set

Formula 5 Setlist: Earthbound Tim->Pedro->Excalibur, Floatin, Epiphany->Earthbound Tim

Twiddle Setlist: Gatsby The Great, Honeyburste, Brick Of Barley[1], Polluted Beauty, Classical Gas[2], Be There, Complacent Race, Frankenfoote

Encore: Did You Ever Look So Nice?[3]

Show Notes: This show was a part of the “Plumperdump” 2016 Winter Tour. The Frendly Horns were featured for the entire show. This was a sold-out show. Formula 5 opend the show.
[1] “Brick Of Barley” contained a “Shakedown Street” (Grateful Dead) tease.
[2] “Classical Gas” contained an “X-Files Theme” tease.
[3] “Did You Ever Look So Nice?” featured Lowell Wurster (Lucid) on washboard.

February 28, 2016
Hearing Aide: David Gans ‘It’s a Hand-Me-Down’

David Gans is a man with many talents. After launching a music career in 1970, Gans became a noted and award-winning journalist born, writing for Rolling Stone, Relix and BAM, while also serving as editor at a few different publications.

In the 1980s, he became a biographer of sorts for the Grateful Dead, writing Playing in the Band: An Oral and Visual Portrait of the Grateful Dead, with Peter Simon in 1985. Soon after, he created a nationally syndicated radio show called The Grateful Dead Hour and hosts a similar show today on SiriusXM.

Soon after Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995, Gans got the itch to start playing music again. He played a string of shows in 1997 and 1998 with Phil Lesh in a band called the Broken Angels. Throughout the last 17 years, he has played in several bands who all paid tribute to his favorite band.

Last year, David Gans released an album of Dead covers, titled It’s a Hand Me Down. The record is bare-bones minimalistic, with Gans giving his takes on such songs as “Loser,” “Deal,” “Terrapin Station,” “Stella Blue” and “Brokedown Palace,” among eight more.

What sticks out most is how Gans strips down some of the Dead’s most cherished songs and serves them up the way he sees them. For a guy with a Ph.D in the Grateful Dead, he’s as qualified as anyone to give an inside perspective at what the Dead’s music means to him.

The soft and serene tracks are perfect background music for a dinner party or solo reading time. Gans’ voice is unique, but similar enough to Garcia’s that you feel that comfortable peace that came with every word the man sang.

Key Tracks: Stagger Lee, Wharf Rat, Looks Like Rain

Here’s Gans performing “Brokedown Palace” in 2011 on Jam Cruise.

February 26, 2016
Wild Adriatic Record Live Album in Saratoga at Putnam Den

Wild Adriatic brought its show to the Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs with a bit more hype than a typical show. The three-piece rock band, based out of Albany, announced months ago it was going to record a live album on February 20 in the Spa City. For a group that has been on a straight upward trajectory, which included an appearance at Bonnaroo last year after winning a lengthy Battle of the Bands put on by the Den, Wild Adriatic seems to have the hunger and determination to rise to the top of the rock world.

But before the near capacity crowd would be treated to two hours of in-your-face rock and roll by Wild Adriatic, Greenwich-based Let’s Be Leonard set the tone for the evening with a jazzy, up-tempo performance that lends itself somewhat to Steely Dan-meets-Herbie Hancock. The five-piece — displaying two guitars, bass, drums and a saxophone — weaved together a show reminiscent of a sunny Saturday afternoon set at a small festival. Guitarist Matt Griffin and saxophonist Connor Dunn traded solos over Karl Bertrand’s chunky rhythm and Chris Cronin’s bopping bass. Paul Gauy provided the beat.

Toward the end of Let’s Be Leonard’s set, the Den grew crowded as fans filled in to support the local boys. Wild Adriatic’s drummer, Mateo Vosganian, was darting around the venue, greeting friends and fans. There was a festive and mildly rowdy feel, as many people had undoubtedly enjoyed the Saratoga Beer Summit in the hours prior.

As soon as the trio took the stage, the energy in the room grew electric. “Never Enough,” “Letter,” “Tight Grip” and “Lonely” started the show and saw guitarist Travis Gray and bassist Rich Derbyshire hop around the stage. Gray’s voice is a solid fit for their sound, which has a classic rock with an edge feel. The crowd in the front sang along as the band kicked it up with some fiery guitar work from Gray.

After a breather, they launched into the Led Zeppelin favorite “The Ocean.” Gray again danced up and down the fret board with precision. “Can’t Be Your Man,” “Woe” and “Because of Me” continued the energetic theme. A spirited take on Neil Young’s “Keep On Rockin’ in the Free World” showcased Gray’s vocal abilities.

Derbyshire and Vosganian provide an air tight rhythmic combo that gives Wild Adriatic a sound that is unique, funky and noticeable. Add in Gray’s fret work, and the band has a winning combination, no better displayed than during the show-closing combo of “Good Times, Bad Times”>”Communication Breakdown.” The crowd hadn’t thinned out at all and judging by the satisfied look on most faces, Wild Adriatic accomplished what it set out to do. It will be exciting to see how the raw energy translates to tape.

Wild Adriatic Setlist:

Never Enough, Letter, Tight Grip, Lonely, The Ocean, Can’t Be Your Man, Woe, Because of Me, Trouble, 40 Days 40 Nights>Rockin In The Free World>40 Days 40 Nights, Heavy Soul, The Fool, The Spark, Cooperstown, Use Me, Bound To Let You Go, Lose My Mind, Strange Persuasions, Mess Around

Encore: Untitled New Song, Superstition, Good Times Bad Times>Communication Breakdown

Let’s Be Leonard Setlist:

Jumpship, Rocky Road, Open Your Eyes, Comet> High and Dry, Most Days> LGWC> Most Days> Sad Town tease> Boy Into Man> Pourdungchoo> Sad Town, TOT, Wandering Frisbee

[FinalTilesGallery id=’620′]

February 22, 2016
RAQ Stuffs the Hollow on Reunion Run

RAQ is baq. Let’s hope they continue this upward trajectory.

The four-piece band has not played much in recent years due to members being tied up in a cavalcade of other projects. A somewhat perfect storm recently paved way for the band to start playing shows again, and let’s just say the group’s performance in Albany, N.Y. at the Hollow proved these guys are quite well-oiled.

Guitarist Chris Michetti and keyboardist Todd Stoops seem to have a connection that goes beyond what might happen between confident and talented band mates, as displayed by the opening pairing of “Premium”> “Hannah,” which saw virtuous playing from both. Drummer Neal Evans and bassist Jay Burwick held down the rhythm section, which settled nicely into the background.

“Push the Lil Daises”>”Late Night”>”Will Run” kept the show at a sprinter’s pace, before “Momamoth”>”Dance Hall Days”>”Momamoth”>”Wax” did nothing to put anyone to sleep. Michetti is a guitar player who can shift from trance to metal to jazz to chunky rhythm and back around again without missing a measure. I don’t know how else to describe him.

“Transcontinental,” “Shirley,” “Donkey Show” and a “Late Night” reprise closed out the rocking set. The encore consisted of “Tequila All Day”, “Nationwide”, and the ever elusive “Sweet Cream Butter”. The packed crowd exited the Hollow content, from what I could tell.

Let’s hope that RAQ decides to keep this train rolling so that everyone who wasn’t there last week can experience this group for years to come.

February 17, 2016
Nance Out, Trucks in as Widespread Panic Drummer

News broke a short time ago that founding member Todd Nance is no longer the drummer for Widespread Panic, and that Duane Trucks is taking over rhythm duties from here on out, according to a report on Jambase.

Nance was WSP’s drummer from 1986 up until September, 2014, when he took a hiatus from the group to deal with personal issues. Trucks took over for the remainder of that year, all the way up until this year’s Panic En La Playa run down in Mexico, where Nance rejoined the band for the three nights.

According to the Jambase report, a WSP representative said that Trucks is taking over as drummer, and that Nance, who was a close childhood friend of original WSP guitarist Michael Houser, “will not be on stage this evening” as the band plays a show at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia.

February 9, 2016
Phish Show no Signs of Rust in MSG Opener, December 30, 2015

It really shouldn’t have come as even the slightest surprise that Phish opened their four-night New Year’s run at Madison Square Garden on December 30, 2015, looking and sounding fresh, full of energy and playing with something to prove. Sure, we know the four-piece needs not do anything to further cement the Vermont band’s legacy, yet coming off maybe the best summer tour in 20 years, Phish came out at the world’s most famous arena and showed they continue to take steps forward heading into their 33rd year.

This show started off as a Trey lover’s wet dream. “Sample In a Jar” kicked the festivities off in fine fashion, with Anastasio showing the renewed vigor in his fingers had carried over from the summer. His short lead was crisp and fluid, and featured bursts of notes that show he has been practicing a lot. “Free” continued the Trey-led theme, as Anastasio was a rapid-fire genius from about 6 minutes on, up until the song’s closing coda. “Simple”>”Back on the Train” displayed a little full-band interplay, but again it was Anastasio who owned the section, before “Waiting All Night” and “555” slowed things down and funked them back up.

A sublime “Roggae” gently gave way to a story of a child being frightened by a big, scary dog. A rollicking version of 2014 Halloween favorite “The Dogs” gave way to a set-closing “46 Days,” where Anastasio and Page McConnell traded haunting, yet tasty licks, sending the crowd completely amped up heading into set break.

Opening up the second set was “Chalk Dust Torture,” and like so many in recent years, this version delivers on all cylinders. About a third of the way in, McConnell begins playing a progression around bassist Mike Gordon’s repetitive but catchy bass line. Anastasio falls to the background, strumming chunky chords laden with effects while drummer Jon Fishman added his special touch by seemingly hitting every piece of his kit. This then gives way to a groove best described as ambient-jazz-funk and then into pure ambient territory before Anastasio starts hitting chords reminiscent of “After Midnight.”

Up next was “Ghost,” and it wouldn’t be a notable version if it didn’t sandwich a brand new song, “Can’t Always listen,” which I honestly thought was “Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad” for a handful of seconds. A line from the chorus, “The stars are sitting pretty/and the world’s just spinning fine,” made for an upbeat and happy vibe of the song that simply made me smile and think that everything will be fine. Sit back, forget about everything else, and enjoy these four nights with four guys on stage and 20,000 of my closest friends.

A segue back to a short “Ghost” jam gave way to a “Waves” that proved inspired, but wasn’t anything to get crazy over. Phish decided that during the 15:17 that followed, the duration of “Bathtub Gin,” that they were going to take us on a sonic journey. There are so many times in my years of seeing this band that I am convinced they read each other’s minds, but this “Gin,” which did not contain a moment of down time or any confusing parts, proved my thoughts right. The last five minutes soar to a level that only Phish can climb to. If the Magnaball “Gin” was a surprising treat that brought the song back to its improvisational roots, then the “MSGin” surpasses that in stature and cohesion alone.

“Mike’s Song”>”Bouncing Around the Room”>”Weekapaug Groove”>”What’s the Use?”>”Weekapaug” closed out the set in superb style, because who doesn’t love a “WTU?”? Sandwiched in a “Mike’s Groove” is a pretty way to serve it up. “Character Zero” in the encore slot was raging and saw Anastasio blow the roof off the Garden.

Walking out in the mass of people, I couldn’t help but be crazily animated and excited by what I just saw and heard, and what was about to come.

Setlist via Phish.net

Phish December 30, 2015, Madison Square Garden, NY, NY

Set 1: Sample in a Jar, Free, Simple > Back on the Train, Waiting All Night, 555,Roggae, The Dogs > 46 Days

Set 2: Chalk Dust Torture > Ghost > Can’t Always Listen* > Ghost > Waves >Bathtub Gin > Mike’s Song > Bouncing Around the Room > Weekapaug Groove ->What’s the Use? > Weekapaug Groove

Encore: Character Zero

*first time played

January 4, 2016