After their first weekend at Madison Square Garden, Phish took a day off and returned with even more energy, making the Tuesday, August 1 show stand head and shoulders above the three previous shows.
Opening up with a monstrous “Ghost” laid the groundwork for deep, exploratory jams, including an ethereal, outstanding version “Reba” that followed. You’d be remiss to find a version of Son Seals’ “Funky Bitch” that did not pair up as well with the energy that flowed from “Reba”‘s finale. “Timber (Jerry the Mule)” had a much longer presence in the first set than typically found, flowing into the debut of “Broken Into Pieces.” A rip-roaring 17-minute “Wolfman’s Brother” was quickly discussed at setbreak as one of the best versions ever seen, and the Beatles’ “I Am the Walrus” closed, easily the best first set of the run.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_mwN-I-OJU
Throwing it back to the Baker’s Dozen, Set 2 opened with the rarely jam-friendly “Sample in a Jar,” and tonight would end up being the longest version of the Hoist track, at more than 17 minutes in total. The jam would spill over to “Kill Devil Falls” which included quotes from a new song not played this evening “The Well” from Fishman, and made for two sets of the first two songs combining for more than 28 minutes of music to get things started. “Golden Age” was another substantial jam to follow this pairing, with “Shade” giving the crowd a breather before dipping into the warm waters of “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley,” funk filling in the round room. A short “Twist” and set closing “You Enjoy Myself” would be the cap to the second set, fully
For an encore, “Wilson” made an appearance where you might find “Cavern” or “Golgi Apparatus” following, but the ever rare “Sanity” making its first appearance in two years, giving fans a chance to cross this tune off their “Most Common Phish Songs Not Heard” list. Just when you thought it was over, the hi-hat intro of “David Bowie” gave way to an unexpected (now) three song encore, with a dialed in jam that seemed to be cut short after Trey and Fishman had a chat, only to close out “Bowie” and bring in “Character Zero” for the grand finale of the evening.
Phish – Madison Square Garden, NYC – Tuesday, August 2
Set 1: Ghost, Reba, Funky Bitch, Timber (Jerry the Mule), Broken Into Pieces[1], Wolfman’s Brother, I Am the Walrus
Set 2: Sample in a Jar > Kill Devil Falls[2] > Golden Age, Shade > Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley > Twist, You Enjoy Myself
Encore: Wilson > Sanity, David Bowie > Character Zero
[1] Phish debut. [2] Unfinished.
If there is a theme emerging from this run of Phish shows, it would simply be that each show is better than the last. Wednesday, August 3rd put that theory to the test, opening up with a pair of animal tunes, “Possum” and “Guyute,” both of which might be a vanilla way to start the show, but tonight the energy was high. So high that the Apples in Stereo song “Energy” reemerged in the rotation for the first time since last summer, providing a wonderful jam that found its way into the “Meatstick.” The fan interaction tune was met with a jam that followed and one of the smoothest segues you’ll find this summer as it moved into “It’s Ice.”
Set two opened with a slow, funky jam, reminiscent of the Island Tour’s “Cavern” opener, and that was exactly the song that would emerge, a slow and funky version of the normally late-set tune. A fiery “Carini” followed, which brought back a jam on “Angels We Have Heard on High,” riffed by Trey quite a bit and also found in the “Kill Devil Falls” of Syracuse a few weeks prior. Following “Piper” was the new track, “The Well,” which at first sounds like “Wolfman’s Brother Part 2” but that’s just the first half. The second half of the song was one of the deepest jams the band could provide in a new song, one that fans will be clamoring for at SPAC and Dick’s later this summer.
Closing the set were the “2001” jam-adjacent “The Howling”, “Taste” and “About the Run,” with a “Chalkdust Torture” tacked on at the end for good measure. For an encore, keyboardist Page McConnell appeared on stage with his keytar, signaling “Frankenstein,” which hadn’t been heard live since before Covid. But that wasn’t all – Anastasio would end up playing the opening notes to “Slave to the Traffic Light” for the final song of the night, eliciting immense cheers from the audience when Trey sang “Seen the Greatest City.”
Phish – Madison Square Garden, NYC – Wednesday, August 3
Set 1: Possum, Guyute, Axilla (Part II) > Energy -> Meatstick -> It’s Ice > Blaze On
Set 2: Cavern[1] > Carini > Piper > The Well > The Howling > Taste > About to Run, Chalk Dust Torture
Encore: Frankenstein[2], Slave to the Traffic Light[3]
[1] Slow, funky version. [2] Page on keytar. [3] Lyrics changed to “see the best city.”
Jazz Is Dead is set to continue its 25th Anniversary Tour with the “Darkness Falls & Seasons Change” Tour which includes a stop at Patchogue Theatre on Nov. 29. Renowned for creative and intricate jazz interpretations of Grateful Dead songs, Jazz is Dead will also finish off its commemoration of Wake of the Flood with several shows in August.
Created in 1998 by former Santana and Weather Report bassist Alphonso Johnson, the group has released four albums throughout its lifespan. Johnson is joined by Steve Kimock (guitar), Pete Lavezzoli (drums), and Bobby Lee Rodgers (guitar). Together, the group not only expertly honors the artistic tradition of The Dead, but also reinvents classic tracks to provide an unparalleled listening experience.
In familiar Dead fashion, Jazz Is Dead looks to put together varied, unique, and diverse set lists for each performance as part of Wake of the Flood. The tour will feature two performances at each venue, with shows starting back up on August 1 in San Francisco, California.
The “Darkness Falls and Season Change” Tour is set to feature 13 shows, opening on Nov. 29 in Patchogue and closing on Dec. 15 in Columbia, South Carolina. Visit here for more details and information.
Upcoming Shows
’The Days Between’ and Beyond….
8.1 & 8.2 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco CA
8.4 & 8.5 The Hamilton – Washington DC
8.6 Big Top – St Louis MO
8.8. & 8.9 WOW Hall – Eugene OR
8.11 & 8.12 Alberta Rose Theatre – Portland OR
8.13.23 The Crocodile – Seattle WA
‘Darkness Falls & Seasons Change’ Tour…
11.29 Patchogue Theatre – Patchogue NY
11.30 Newton Theater – Newton NJ
12.1 XL Live – Harrisburg PA
12.2 Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall – Pittsburgh PA
12.3 House of Blues – Cleveland OH
12.5 Memorial Hall – Cincinnati OH
12.6 Mercury Ballroom – Louisville KY
12.7 Egyptian Room at Old National Centre – Indianapolis IN
12.8 Copernicus Center – Chicago IL
12.10 Queen Elizabeth Theatre (QET) – Toronto (CAN)
Seven great bands will perform for free from Aug. 3-5 at Shepard Park in Lake George for the Rockin For Ronald Benefit Concert supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities.
The benefit shows will help Krantz Cottage, the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat location. It is for families whose children are experiencing serious illnesses and can house up to two families at a time for stays as long as five days.
Two bands will perform on Thursday and Friday and three on Saturday. Admission to all shows is free, and vendors will be on hand with beverages and food for sale. Kicking off the event on Aug. 3 from 6-7:10 p.m. is Across the Pond, who has been performing the music of The Beatles in the Northeast since 2008. Also performing from 7:30-9:30 are The Accents, a high-energy dance band that has been a staple in the Capital Region for many years. Featuring three powerhouse vocalists, a dynamic rhythm section, and powerful horns, they cover all your favorite Motown, dance, pop, and classic rock songs. They are also one of the first groups to be inducted into the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame and to be nominated for top dance band. Following the music is a spectacular fireworks show.
The next day, Aug. 4, starts from 6-7:10 p.m. with The Newells, a family band that includes well-known keyboard/guitar player and vocalist Jonathan Newell, his wife Jennifer, their teenage sons Brandon and Evan, and a great rhythm section. They cover music from the 60s-80s, including music by Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Hornsby, and 10,000 Maniacs. Ending the night from 7:30-9:30 p.m. is Skeeter Creek, a five-piece Americana band blending their variants of country, folk, bluegrass, and rock, ranked among the best of the new and upcoming alternative artists. They have each toured with some of the biggest names in the industry and won several awards.
Skeeter Creek.
The final day, Aug. 5, has three acts, starting from 4-5:40 p.m. with The Schmooze. The band has been one of the region’s premier party bands for the past two decades, getting the party rocking with their versions of rock, pop, dance, and country hits that will have the crowd dancing and singing along. The Ultimates, a fairly new band from Saratoga, plays from 6-7:10 p.m., featuring members from Bad Cheaperones and Dealt the Blues.
Ending the Rockin For Ronald benefit concert is Classic Rock Legends Live in Concert from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Formed by Albany native Gary Weinlein, the performance includes him as the Doors’ Jim Morrison, as well as recreates the music, the look, and the energy of the British Invasion (Eric Clapton) and American rock legends (Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks and Ann Wilson of Heart).
Aqueous has announced they will perform their final shows as a band before their hiatus at The Great Flamingle II Festival on the grounds of the Great Blue Heron Festival in Sherman, NY on Aug. 11 and 12.
Aqueous is a Buffalo-based groove band with a loyal following who put on spectacular shows. The band is taking a hiatus from touring after the band’s guitarist and keyboardist, who also does vocals, David Loss, welcomed his child into the world. He wants to spend more time at home raising his child, making the difficult decision to step away from the group.
Before the band disbands, they will perform at The Great Flamingle II Festival. Featuring two nights of incredible music, camping, and art, host band Aqueous will perform five sets throughout the weekend (including a special day-time set Saturday), and are joined by a carefully curated lineup of some of their favorite national, regional, and local bands.
The lineup includes Dopapod, TAUK, Flamingosis, Mungion, a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater tribute set led by AQ’s Mike Gantzer, TAND (AQ drummer Rob Houk’s new band), Witty Tarbox, The Pickle Mafia, Damone Jackson’s Outcome and much more. On Aug. 11 and 12, these bands will grace the stage on the grounds of the Great Blue Heron Festival, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this month.
This year’s Flamingle is genuinely going to be epic, and I don’t use that term lightly! With the band opting to take a break from touring after the festival in favor of prioritizing Dave’s new role as a father, these shows will represent a joyful celebration of the band and our love for each other and our fans. We’re leaving everything we’ve got on that stage over these two nights, and we’re beyond stoked to expand the festival to two nights at a place so special to us, which gives us every opportunity to deliver on our vision for an amazing fan experience top to bottom. We’re also bringing in some of our closest BAND FRIENDS that we’ve toured with over the years to help us tie a beautiful bow on this chapter of AQ. We urge fans far and wide to come to be a part of what will surely go down as one of the most unforgettable experiences in AQ history…
Specialists and Space Carnival, two New York-based bands, will perform at Brooklyn Bowl on August 9. The show will also feature funk fusion group ShwizZ. Since 2017, the venue has not hosted Space Carnival, while Specialists are scheduled to make their Brooklyn Bowl debut.
Specialists
Spanning 23,000 sq. ft. Brooklyn Bowl is one of the most unique and dynamic event spaces in New York. Boasting a bowling alley, music venue, conference space, and much more, the Williamsburg location offers something for everyone.
I saw my first show at the Bowl in 2014, when I was just 16… My 16 year old self cannot believe this.
Specialists’ guitarist Billy
Specialists are a Brooklyn outfit that expertly blend together elements of rock, dance, and funk to create a fun and playful sound. The group puts together high energy performances that showcase the band’s extraordinary songwriting and musicianship. Specialists have performed all over NYC, including shows at Brooklyn Made and Wonder Bar. The band’s style and groove is the perfect sonic addition to any summer day.
Space Carnival
Space Carnival is made up of Jeremy Kraus on guitar, Cameron Fitch on keys and vocals, Chris Meier on bass, and Josh West joining on drums. Originally created in 2013, the Oneonta band has amassed a following for its one-of-a-kind mixture of progressive rock, alternative rock, disco, and funk. 2023 has signaled the return of Space Carnival, as the group has plans to stop at festivals across the country as well as release new music.
Click here for tickets and information about the August 9 performances.
Phish began their seven-night run at Madison Square Garden (MSG) on Friday, July 28, a well-anticipated run in the middle of their Summer Tour, which was recently extended to include two benefit shows at SPAC in late August.
photo by Cory Schwartz
Kicking off Night 1 with the re-emergence of “Evening Song,” which hadn’t been played live in more than a year, Phish shifted into an extended and spaced out “Wave Of Hope,” two common themes through each set of music so far. Friday’s first set also featured a funked out “Cities,” an all-too-fitting “Old Home Place” for the band’s 73rd performance at Madison Square Garden, and an explosive “My Soul” to cap things off.
photo by Cory Schwartz
Friday’s second set began with “More” and the band took this to heart and applied it to the massive “Ruby Waves” that followed, one of the new truer jam vehicles of this era. Seamless segues into a riveting “Plasma” and “Simple” also highlighted the set before a super dark, scary and all around amazing “Split Open and Melt” served as a momentous set closer.
photo by Cory Schwartz
Phish – Friday, July 28th, 2023 – Madison Square Garden (MSG), New York, NY
Set 1: Evening Song > A Wave of Hope, Cities, The Old Home Place > Free, Brian and Robert, Stash, My Soul
Set 2: More > Ruby Waves-> Plasma > Simple > Mountains in the Mist, Split Open and Melt
Encore: Good Times, Bad Times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E3fslzpJiU
Saturday evening’s show picked up right where Friday’s left off in terms of energy and musical cohesiveness beginning with the show-starting “Get Back On The Train.” Phish again delivered a massive blow in the two-spot with an early but effective “Down With Disease.” More familiar first set tunes like ”Sugar Shack” and “Horn” also made appearances. And the band continues to mix in newer material in their sets with songs like Anastasio’s quarantine tune “Evolve,” a song quickly growing in popularity. A classic take on “Foam” followed by a rousing cover of David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” ended the first set in fine fashion.
photo by Cory Schwartz
Phish continued to kick out the jams in the second set, courtesy of a super extended and exploratory “Fuego” that clocked in at close to thirty minutes in all. This was followed by another one of the new songs that is quickly making a name for itself, “Oblivion.” The set was punctuated by an absolutely raucous “2001” that had all of Madison Square Garden in a collective uproar. Things lightened up a bit afterwards with the first “Cracklin’ Rosie” cover in eleven years. There was still room for one more rocker though and “First Tube” in its typical encore slot more than served that purpose, with the Garden loudly showing its collective appreciation once more.
Phish – Saturday, July 29th, 2023 – Madison Square Garden (MSG), New York, NY
Set 1: Back On The Train > Down With Disease, The Dogs, Bug, Sugar Shack, Evolve, Horn > Foam, Moonage Daydream
Set 2: The Wedge, Fuego > Oblivion > Wingsuit > Also Sprach Zarathustra,->Hold Your Head Up > Cracklin’ Rosie > Hold Your Head Up, Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S
Encore: Farmhouse, First Tube
The “can’t miss” Sunday show featured a first set of all old school songs played in the new school fashion, beginning with a show-opening “AC/DC Bag” that took a stroll for a bit before melding into “My Friend, My Friend.” The opening stanza also featured a truly interesting and slightly funked out “Theme From The Bottom,” the “newest” song played in the set. Things amped up even further with the rollicking “Llama” that followed which featured some mesmerizing lighting effects.
Phish then reintroduced some newer material in the second set with a “Sigma Oasis” opener that set the table for the first ever performance of “Life Saving Gun.” The “No Men In No Man’s Land” that followed featured one of the heavier and more experimental jams of the evening and the band even dusted off “Frankie Says” for a rare second set appearance. The second set concluded with “Light” and its typical powerhouse accompanying jam. An encore of “Suzy Greenberg” and a fiery take on Jimi Hendrix’s “Izabella” served as a fitting conclusion for the first weekend of Phish’s summer residency at MSG.
Phish – Sunday, July 30th, 2023 – Madison Square Garden (MSG), New York, NY
Set 1: AC/DC Bag->My Friend, My Friend->Bathtub Gin, Theme From The Bottom>Llama, Tube>Golgi Apparatus
Set 2: Sigma Oasis, Life Saving Gun>No Men In No Man’s Land>Lonely Trip>Frankie Says>Gotta Jibboo>Light
Phish stopped at the Mann Center in Philadelphia 7/25-7/26 as part of their summer tour. The tour is quickly gaining momentum with a seven-night run at MSG up next. Locals and fans descended to the lots in masses despite the intense heat and powerful rain storm during the first day.
Night one started off with an impressive first set starting with “Strawberry Letter 23” and featured highlights like “Back on The Train”and “Axilla Part 2”. The set concluded with a thoroughly jammed out “46 Days.”
The second set began with “Down with Disease,” followed by one of the new Phish song’s to make its debut this summer, “The Well.” This went “well” into a Type 2 Jams, getting dark and rocking hard. At the Osiris Podcast pre-party the next day ,everyone agreed that “The Well” is an amazing song and collectively as now our favorite.
The show concluded with a powerful “Piper,” “Crosseyed & Painless,” and a beautiful segue into “Chalkdust Torture”. The band played a two-song encore: “Wading in the Velvet Sea” followed by a mind blowing cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire.”
Spirits were high and the weather was hot on day two. The night opened up with “Mike’s Song” followed by “Boogie on Reggae Woman” > “Mike’s Reprise”. The first set was filled with crowd favorites like “Moma Dance” and “Mound.” The set concluded in rocking fashion with a raging “Fluffhead.”
The second set opened up with “Set Your Soul Free” followed by a dark “Carini.” Highlights included “Golden Age” & “Golgi Apparatus” with a well jammed “Harry Hood” to close out the second set. The band encored with “Life Beyond A Dream” and “Run Like an Antelope,” and boy did they run.
Next up 7 nights at Madison Square Garden, happy summer tour!
The Great South Bay Music Festival came to a spectacular conclusion on its 4th and final day with the legendary Gov’t Mule headlining the event. The festival had been fantastic with three days of great music, but the final day was going to be extraordinary. Gov’t Mule was going to perform a special set called Dark Side of the Mule, promising a unique and unforgettable experience for the crowd.
As the sun began to set on the Great South Bay, the set by Gov’t Mule began, opening with two Mule classics, “Game Face” and “Time to Confess.” The roaring crowd welcomed the band led by the immensely talented Warren Haynes. After that they launched into the mesmerizing rendition of “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” a classic Pink Floyd anthem that instantly captivated the audience. Haynes’ soulful vocals and extraordinary guitar skills set the tone for an unforgettable show.
The Dark Side of the Mule set continued with a thrilling rendition of “Have a Cigar,” followed by the ethereal and atmospheric “Breathe.” The crowd was taken on a journey through Pink Floyd’s iconic album, The Dark Side of the Moon, as Gov’t Mule flawlessly performed “On The Run,” “Time,” and “Money.”
The audience was treated to the expansive and transcendent “Echoes,” which created an almost otherworldly experience for those in attendance. Gov’t Mule closed their set with an epic performance of “Comfortably Numb.” The combination of Haynes’ emotive vocals and soul-stirring guitar solo left the crowd in a state of pure euphoria, making it a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable night of music.
Prior to Gov’t Mule’s headline set, the audience was treated to a mix of talented artists throughout the day. The lineup for the show featured Tauk, Brandon Taz Niederauer, Duane Betts and Palmetto Motel, Jason Bonhamâs Led Zeppelin Evening, and Gov’t Mule.
Duane Betts’ set showcased his own artistry and paid tribute to the legacy of the Allman Brothers with renditions of classics like “Blue Sky” and “Oh Well,” a Fleetwood Mac cover. The crowd embraced the familiar tunes and appreciate the chance to experience the magic of the Allman Brothers once again.
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening took the audience on a nostalgic journey through the timeless classics of the iconic rock band. Hits like “Good Times Bad Times” and “Ramble On” had the crowd singing along and reminiscing about the golden era of rock music.
Young guitar prodigy Brandon Taz Niederauer wowed the audience with his virtuoso performance. The energy and skill he brought to the stage were beyond his years, leaving everyone in awe.
The festival had a great mix of different artists and music styles, showing how music can bring people together, no matter where they come from. It went beyond differences and made everyone feel happy and connected. The event truly celebrated the special feeling of experiencing live music that touches people deeply inside.
Check out more from Day 1 and Day 3 of Great South Bay Music Festival.
Setlists
Gov’t Mule: Game Face, Time To Confess, Shine On You Crazy Diamond (PartsI-V), Have A Cigar, Breathe, On The Run, Time, Breathe (Reprise), The Great Gig in the Sky, Money, Echos, Comfortably Numb
Duane Betts: Saints to Sinners, Evergreen, Shinin, Oh Well, Cold Dark World, Colors Fade, Waiting on a Song, Stare at the Sun, Blue Sky
Jason Bonham: Good Times, Bad Times, The Ocean, Ramble On, Over the Hills, Black Dog, Misty Mountain Hop, Immigrant Song, Whole Lotta Love, Rock and Roll
Phish returned to Syracuse for the first time in over seven years last Sunday night. Not just a return to Syracuse, also their first show in the entire Central/Western New York region since that show at the same venue, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Amphitheater at Lakeview in 2016 and their first time in the area since Curveball, a planned three-day festival in Watkins Glen, was cancelled. So to say Cuse area fans were hungry for some Phish would be an understatement. Fortunately the band delivered a smorgasbord on which the crowd could feast.
The band culled selections spanning their entire catalog from the earliest compositions to their latest, from their silliest to their most serious, touching on the expansive multitudes of genres and influences that give Phish the sound that is unmistakably Phish.
But first, there had to be acknowledgement of their return to Syracuse, the hometown of their namesake drummer Jon Fishman. “Welcome Syracuse fans of Jon Fishman!” declared guitarist Trey Anastatio. Fish walked onstage in a new dress in the city-defining Syracuse University orange and blue, which was made for him by local Lisa Simpson, who also just happened to be celebrating her birthday. After a quick run through “Happy Birthday” to celebrate, the show was ready to get rolling.
The following set sated the fans from a song perspective, with highlights from nearly every stage in the band’s history. Mid-90’s staples like “Free” and “Theme from the Bottom,” a foray into the early years with Gamehenge masterpiece “McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters,” 3.0 mainstays “Steam,” and “Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan,” to the new-ish but rare “Evolve” from Anastatio’s pandemic releaseLonely Trip. The song selection was excellent, the playing was solid, but it felt somewhat unsteady in it’s variety, quickly flitting from place to place.
Bluesy rocker “Kill Devil Falls,” finally set down an anchor, launching immediately into the depths. But like what had preceded, it flitted from theme to theme so quickly that it struggled to find traction. The lights skittered and spun, flipping colors and cadences along with the music, overwhelming the senses. Then it happened. Anastatio grabbed onto a repeating theme, Page McConnell jumped in on piano, pushing the sound up and up until it jumped the tracks. Mike Gordon hit a resounding note that registered on the Richter Scale, thundering the shores of Onondaga Lake. With Fish holding it together, the whole band was locked in for a delicious final few minutes before they closed out the set, allowing the hungry crowd and delivering band to take a much-needed break.
The first set provided the wanting crowd with a tasters menu of what they’d been living without for all these years. But they were still licking their lips for some the type of memorable jams that only Phish could deliver. As the first notes of “Tweezer” rung out early into the set, the crowd salivated in anticipation. The band wasted no time gelling from the get-go, picking up where they left off with “Kill Devil Falls.” McConnell once again emerged as a power player, pushing the band with the Rhodes and piano. After a good long high-energy rocket launch, they entered the cosmos, drifting and ominous. The foursome floated around in the ether, letting natural gravity pull the sound from place to place effortlessly.
The creativity was bountiful, ideas emerging from nowhere and everywhere, endlessly engaging. Themes were at once familiar and brand new. Genesis’ “That’s All” seemed to take hold, but it wasn’t quite what it seemed. A deep cosmic groove contained an essence of The Who’s “Eminence Front” yet it was entirely original. In fact, other ther than a run through of Joe Walsh’s “Walk Away,” the entire night was pure Phish. Cover songs are always fun, and of course Phish centered a much-copied Halloween tradition around other people’s material. But after 40 years, has the band rendered covers unnecessary? The catalog runs deep, as displayed perfectly at this show. And beyond that, the uncomposed brilliance conjured in the moment is as original and interesting as ever.
And they’re still writing, adding ever still to that catalog. After 27 minutes of exploration, the “Tweezer” was blasted into oblivion. No wait, that should be capital-O “Oblivion,” another brand-new Anastatio title debuted with his new trio in June and with Phish just a little over a week prior. And a great entry into the catalog it is, lauching right back into more exploration that felt like it advanced right along the same lines the preceding jam was headed. Deep drones tightened around Fishman’s forward-marching beat that McConnell once again pushed to new heights behind bold and brilliant hammering on the ivories. From there it was all peaks and no valleys. All told, when the band finally landed, the crowd was taken on a near 50 minute journey. Syracuse’s patience was finally paying off.
A poignant “Miss You” grounded the amphitheater, while a fun and always funky “Wolfman’s Brother” and a nostalgia-fueled “Possum” brought the set to an end.
The encore played like a microcosm of the whole show. Anastatio opened with some more Fish Syracuse references, recounting his high school days at Jamesville-DeWitt. They headed back to some of their earliest years with the silly jazzy barbershop-inflected “I Didn’t Know,” featuring a rare go on the vacuum from Fishman himself, before which Anastatio quipped, “Jon Fishman is about to suck, as predicted by all his teachers.” Then they genre-jumped into the soaring and weightless instrumental “What’s the Use,” before tying a fist-pumping earth-shaking bow on the whole affair with the predictable but always welcome “Tweezer Reprise” closer.
A one-off Sunday night show amongst a tour of multi-night runs felt like a bit like a consolation prize, but the “never miss a Sunday show” aphorism delivered once again, and Syracuse was treated to a stellar evening of music. But after feasting on that, they might not be so patient in waiting for another taste.
Phish – St. Joseph’s Lakeview Amphitheatre, Syracuse, NY – Sunday, July 23, 2023
Set 1: Happy Birthday, Free, Steam, McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, Evolve, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, Meat, Walk Away, Theme From the Bottom, Kill Devil Falls
Set 2: Suzy Greenberg, Tweezer > Oblivion, Miss You, Wolfman’s Brother, Possum
Encore: I Didn’t Know, What’s the Use?, Tweezer Reprise
Rothbury, MI’s iconic four-day music festival Electric Forest brought 50,000 people together in celebration of music, art, and life. From June 22 to June 25, 2023 individuals embraced the secrets of the forest and ran around the 400-acre secluded land. The marriage of all flavors of music from electronic music to jam and adjacent bands leaves a little something for everyone to enjoy.
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Electric Forest is a music festival with its own demographic. Yes, there are stages to enjoy both your favorite artists and new alike, but there are also hidden gems found all around. For starters, most of the seven stages are located inside the forest, meaning oftentimes, these can be harder to locate. It is nearly impossible to experience everything this music festival has to offer. From beatbox battles to intention-setting workshops to art installations to games, to the dream emporium, it has it all. One central theme though found throughout this weekend getaway is the sense of community and love. People are eager to bond with one another and strike up conversations. No one is ever truly alone in the forest.
DAY 1 – ODESZA DAY
Gearing up for the first day of the festival had a lot of people up early and exploring the market vendors before entering the festival at 3 p.m. Early in the day, the Brainery Center held active workshops for various groups of people to come together and unite with their niche. Some people set intentions for their festival experience while others got together for the Reddit lover meet-up.
You could feel all the love and positive energy when entering the festival on the first day. People are eager to delve into the numerous events taking place throughout. This day was a chill more laid-back day for music. Artists like Dixon’s Violin and Eazybaked kicked off the first live shows inside the festival grounds. And for others who wanted to create art spent time “spirit painting.”
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Many people found themselves seeing the new features the 2023 forest had to offer. This included new entrance statues and the enclosed Dream Emporium which took influence from the immersive Meow Wolf museum.
As nighttime began to set in the forest house music dominated the scene. Satin Jackets, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, and Sofi Tukker all geared up the crowd for the first headliner of the festival who nobody planned on missing out on ODESZA.
ODESZA at Electric Forest. Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
The electronic duo ODESZA is known for their extravagant live shows, to say the least. Through their insane drum line, pyro, introspective visuals, and fireworks this electronic group creates a euphoric experience that can’t be compared. This show has been referred to as a cinematic experience. Regardless of your taste in music, this show the crew puts on can attract fans from all genres.
ODESZA at Electric Forest. Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
They pay homage to the human experience in terms of individuality and as a collective whole. Their latest analyzes the version of each person that gets to be expressed in this lifetime. One thing Electric Forest and ODESZA bring out of crowds is love. The hyper analyzation of self-expression and the rarity to experience this life at the same time as each other reminds everyone of the gratitude we need to constantly look towards. Their set left no one disappointed and as the next days of Electric Forest continued no one could stop talking about this performance.
ODESZA at Electric Forest. Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
DAY 2 – GET YOUR BASS FACE ON
One element that was consistent throughout Day 2 was the heat. The weather was hot and sticky but that just meant more water for more time to dance. Early wakers started their days with sound baths, guided meditation, and yoga. Those who are more competitive attended the beatbox competition, dance battle, or bingo at the Carousel Club.
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Bass lovers though spent their entire day at the Tripolee stage because that lineup was stacked from dusk til dawn. Kicking us off early was Tape B who may have a smaller following but whose fans are more dedicated than most. He brought the heat to an already hot day and even dropped a new mix that he made on the drive over to Michigan.
Following the young DJ was rapidly growing artist Zingara who has really started gaining an immense amount of traction on TikTok. She blends her love of spirituality and astrology into her music. Popular songs like, “WWYB3” and “Mind & Body” were obvious fan favorites that do just that. Her music is able to deeply connect with fans while simultaneously keeping the high intensity that bass lovers enjoy.
Zingara at Electric Forest. Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
The night at Tripolee just kept getting better and better. Artists that left zero crumbs on that stage included Champagne Drip, Jantsen, Rusko b2b Dirt Monkey, PEEKABOO, and DIESEL. DIESEL (aka Shaq) brings not only intense energy to his set but also laughter. The number of times DIESEL says “mosh pit” into the mic can’t be counted. He constantly is looking to liven the crowd up. And when he’s not yelling at the pit to open up he is shooting basketballs into a plastic net a fan is holding.
Some people ventured deeper into the forest to watch EDM legend Illenium perform. This timeless Denver native wooed the crowd as easily as ever with his astounding production quality and catchy tunes.
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
The bass stage was full of excitement that day all leading up to headliner Ganga White Night. Someone once described Ganja as the Taylor Swift of the EDM community and nothing has more accurately depicted their presence in the scene. The Belgian bass duo have created their own universe and developed characters that people even buy plush toys of. The Easter eggs they hide in music videos, posts, and more make fans so heavily invested. They change the way artists release their music and make being a part of their fandom an adventure that extends beyond any set one watches.
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Each set that Ganja White Night performs can be viewed as scenes from a movie. Their visuals take influence from anime cartoons as they also warp in new characters from other EDM artists they collaborate with. This includes Boogie T, Subtronics, and plenty more. As they took over the stage screams were heard throughout as they asked everyone, “Who is ready to wobble?” Those that couldn’t get enough of Ganja headed over to afters in the campgrounds where PEEKABOO and Ganja had a b2b set.
DAY 3 – ALL GROOVES AND MOVES
The heat continued to strike down on the forest family all of Day 3. As people did their best to find shade or take it easy in their chillbos, others chose to utilize another one of the forest’s perks: the waterpark. With only a short bus ride to an indoor waterpark, it gave a nice break from the intense weather conditions.
As silly and fun as this music festival can get it also opens up a serious room for inclusion. There are sober groups that have meetups in order to maintain sobriety during an occasion that often includes a lot of partying. Other special events held include an area of remembrance where individuals can honor loved ones lost and there’s also a chapel where actual wedding ceremonies were held.
Kasbo at Electric Forest. Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Another element of the forest that makes it so special is the various genres that exist across all the stages. If you aren’t feeling a certain set it’s so easy to find yourself somewhere new that brings completely different vibes. Saturday was the perfect day to experience numerous genres of music.
House icon Dr. Fresh took over Tripolee while trance artist ford. had soothing melodies filling the castle-like stage The Observatory. Headbangers moved over to Sheerwood as Kai Wachi filled the air with heavy bass. For anyone trying to find new artists to groove to could attend the silent disco where DJs were constantly rotating. One set that no one wanted to miss was The String Cheese Incident who had their annual “Shebang” as the honor festival holders.
Kai Wachi at Electric Forest. Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Later into the night, popular DJs across an array of genres took over leaving many people running around the forest to catch a bit of each of their performances. A heavy-hitting production from VOYD stood out especially due to his often rare appearance as his SVDDEN DEATH’s side alias. The VOYD project is significantly darker and more metal-influenced. His stage presence is definitely not for the easily scared but those who can get past the uneasiness of him wearing a deer skull mask on stage are in for a treat. His set at Electric Forest showed just that with minimal words spoken to the audience, jarring visuals, and constant red lasers. A VOYD set may seem questionable to some but one thing stands true: his sets are an experience intended to evoke specific emotions out of people. He does this effortlessly and gives his audience a true show.
ford at Electric Forest. Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Finishing up Day 3 included deep house producers Zeds Dead and jam band group STS9. STS9 brought many new fans to their stage with their mix of heavy instrumental rock matched with colorful visuals. The real closer of the night was popular British DJ Chris Lake. He is most known for his range from progressive house to vocal-driven EDM making him the perfect artist for new EDM listeners to branch into. His set included many new ID tracks that fans are hungry for to be released. However, he of course played his popular hits including “I Want You,” and “In The Yuma.”
DAY 4 – NO MONSOON WILL RUIN THESE TUNES
Despite the intense heat from the first few days the last one proved to be an exception. Grey skies covered the campgrounds in the morning. And what most people had celebrated as a break from the hotness had others packing their cars early to leave.
In the afternoon Rothbury was under a severe thunderstorm watch that saw winds approaching 60 mph. Those that went into the festival early found themselves told to evacuate the venue and seek protective shelter as an intense rain storm took over. Canopies were seen flying across the fields, tents were flooded with water, and many had to wait it out in their cars.
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
This unfortunately disrupted many artists’ set times as everyone wasn’t allowed to enter until hours later. Despite this slight disruption, it didn’t prevent anyone from turning the vibes back on once word was announced that people could re-enter the forest.
For the first time of the weekend, the line to get into the festival was the longest to date stretching down the entire row of vendors due to the anticipation. Now that stage times were slightly mixed up it caused many people to catch sets of artists they normally wouldn’t attend. A slight blessing to the rise of the storm. Many even found themselves at the Pride Party being celebrated inside the magical trees of Michigan.
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Up and coming east coast jam band Dogs in a Pile helped kick off this last day with their captivating guitar riffs and lively tunes. Electro-soul and hip-hop producer Daily Bread also had a stellar performance with catchy new remixes and hilarious visuals from Futurama.
Additionally, alternative band flipturn gave an energetic performance at the Carousal Club. It’s nearly impossible for this group to give a bad show. Even their slower indie songs they rock out to by adding eccentric drum solos and knowing how to be one with the crowd.
flipturn at Electric Forest. Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Madeon also completely blew the crowd away. His visual performance is unmatched. He brought out a massive podium that he utilized to create trippy graphics that had jaws dropped. Lovers of everything jam got to the Ranch Arena stage early for Goose. This indie-groove band has brought something new to the jam band scene. They have perfectly balanced their love for numerous genres to create a sound unique to them and one people can’t seem to stray away from.
Goose at Electric Forest. Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
The final headliner for Electric Forest couldn’t have finished this festival in a more perfect way. Mid-tempo bass techno artist Rezz had a top performance for the weekend. This producer heavily focuses on her live shows as ways to take listeners on a trip through her discography. She wears hypnotic spinning goggles throughout the set and utilizes graphics to evoke emotion. She takes the extra steps to make her performance that much more impactful by use of fireworks and a spiderweb that got placed on top of everyone at the barricade as it got spread all the way to the back. What made Rezz’s set that much more unforgettable was the rain shower that occurred. The rain only added to the visual experience as it made her infinite number of lasers sparkly.
Goose at Electric Forest. Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
After, people filed inside the forest to take it in one last time for the year 2023. The only music that could be heard was from a smaller DJ Kloud Forest who was playing on the Honey Comb stage. He was throwing down heavy beats blended with popular rap artists. This 360 stage allowed everyone to gather on this brilliant artist and dance together one last time.
As all the music lovers walked out of the magical forest for another year it became eerily quiet. Some hugged each other, others were crying, and many were yelling,” Where’s Carl?” as an age-old tradition. One thing stands true though, this place in seemingly the middle of nowhere brings people together. For the love of music and love of genuine connection, Electric Forest is home to so many. A home that many already can’t wait to return to. And until then forest family, see you in 2024!
