Sometimes an intimate theater experience can deliver just as big of an impact on a live music fan as a massive arena setting can. Murray’s Law, acoustic duo Brian Murray and Jimmy Law from well-loved jam band Dogs in a Pile, delivered just that, a larger than life sound and overall experience inside the small and cozy Swyer Theatre of The Egg on Sunday evening in Albany, New York.
Superstition strikes as to never miss a sunday show, especially when you can catch such great talent steps away from your apartment. The October 20, 7pm show started just minutes after, with a very gracious and thankful Murray and Law to those in attendance. The small theatre held a tiny but extremely devoted crowd, already releasing cheers and woos of support, eager to hear what the artistic duo had in store. Incredible sound, for one, was obvious almost at an instant and rang true through the two-set night.
Playing as a stripped down acoustic duo made a truly pleasant listening experience, as fans were able to better focus and dial in on the intricacies of their individual sounds as musicians, and further amplified by the quality of sound in the room. They traded on and off between impressively fast and fun fingerpicking to hard and steady jamming in front of a simple setup of a few tall candles, beautiful, colorful mosaic lamps and endless guitar pedals that eventually lent the audience some fun reverb bouncing off the walls of the Egg.
The night’s setlist was a carefully, and well crafted arrangement of DIAP tunes, covers from american folk and country greats and favored jam bands. John Hartford’s “Joseph’s Dream” opened up the show with easy listening before dropping into the intricate fingerpicking, or “travis picking” stylings of Merle Travis’ “Cannonball Rag”. The already amped up audience got to sample a new Dogs tune titled “Look Johnny II”, sandwiched right in between an expected and wanted Grateful Dead cover, “Jack-A-Roe,” where Law’s raw vocals shined, and an impressive rendition of Jim Croce’s “Walkin’ Back to Georgia.” A collective appreciation swept over the room and while most stayed seated, groups towards the back just couldn’t contain the groove, surrendering, dancing and loudly applauding through the night.
With a nod to the venue being titled the Egg, Murray joked the nut of his guitar fell off and had to be assembled back together like humpty dumpty just seconds before walking on stage. Lighthearted fans joked in response that we got a two-for-one concert/comedy special deal. After a quick break, the guitarists continued to excite the crowd in set two with their own ‘Go Set”, the Dead’s “Cosmic Charlie” and “Lazy Susan,” a new track Murray penned in Nashville, during a time he just so happened to meet Lucas Nelson. A personal highlight of the show was the heartfelt cover of recently deceased Kris Kristofferson’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” and Murray’s emotional vocals that accompanied it. Encore came to wrap up the special evening with a double header of Trey Anastasio Band’s “Ether Sunday” and the Allman Brothers’ “Soulshine.”
With Dogs in a Pile riding high popularity waves in the current scene and a ever-growing Dog Pound of fans, it was a true treat to be able to experience such a remote setting bursting at the seams with talent in musicianship and appreciation by both the duo and fans alike. Be sure to catch the full Dogs in a Pile group at Putnam Place in Saratoga for their New Year’s Run!
10/20/24 Murray’s Law at the Egg , Albany NY Setlist
Set 1: Joseph’s Dream, Cannonball Rag, You Didn’t Hear It From Me, Today, A Thing Called Love, Wildflower, Jack-A-Roe, Look Johnny II, Walkin’ Back To Georgia, Mr. Banker, Shenanigans
Set 2: Go Set> Cosmic Charlie>Go Set Ending, Lazy Day, Lazy Susan, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Burning Daylight > No Excuses > New Shoes> Power Trip
This is part 3 of a series looking back at the history of Phish in Albany. Here are Part 1 and Part 2 as we eagerly anticipate the next round of shows at the Times Union Center this week.
December 1, 2003
2003 was a special year for Phish as it marked the band’s 20th anniversary of their first show ever. December 2, 1983 is generally recognized as the first public gig – a low key affair at a University of Vermont cafeteria where they may have even been known as Blackwood Convention. After ditching that moniker, and trading out guitarist Jeff Holdsworth for keyboardist Page McConnell, the Phish brand grew quite successfully over the next twenty years. To commemorate the occasion, Phish scheduled a “short but sweet” 4-show tour of the Northeast that culminated in a 20th anniversary show on December 2 in Boston.
12/2/83 Harris-Millis Cafeteria – University of Vermont
No proper fall tour in the Northeast, no matter how short, would skip over Albany, which was the penultimate stop. Remember, this was before Phish laid permanent claim to Madison Square Garden for indoor NY shows. The first two shows of the tour did not disappoint at all with special guests like the Dude of Life popping out for the encore in Long Island and Tom Marshall joining in on a classic version of “Buffalo Bill” the night before in Philadelphia. Now it was Albany’s turn and the band went even further back in their history for this guest selection.
In a move that seemed to be well kept under wraps, Phish brought out founding member and guitarist Jeff Holdsworth for a string of songs in the the latter part of the second set,.from the old school choice of “Camel Walk” to the “Run Like an Antelope” closer. In between these, Phish kept the nostalgia vibe strong with throw backs like a cover of “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress,” the first song at the first gig 20 years ago, and the Holdsworth-penned “Possum” that’s a regular at live shows to this day. While nothing was quite astounding from a musical perspective in this portion of the show (Holdsworth seemed to be very low in the mix), the band still afforded him some solos to take as everyone got a fun glimpse of the band’s origins.
Set 1: Chalkdust Torture, Stash, Guyute, Thunderhead -> Sparkle, Wolfman’s Brotther -> Good Times Bad Times
Set 2: Tweezer -> Also Sprach Zarathustra > You Enjoy Myself, Camel Walk, Possum, Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress > Run Like an Antelope
Encore: Fire
Note – Camel Walk through Antelope with Jeff Holdsworth on guitar
November 27 & 28, 2009
Fast forward 6 years later and it was a whole different state of Phish in Albany. After the band’s disastrous “farewell” festival that was Coventry in 2004, a second hiatus followed that lasted almost five years and was finally ended with a trio of triumphant return shows at Hampton Coliseum in March of 2009. After those shows and a successful two-legged summer tour and Halloween shows in Indio, CA, the band was truly on the way back and picking up steam as they forged a new chapter in their career. While some jaded fans may have complained the consistency of quality live shows wasn’t the same yet or that the band’s “new sound” wasn’t quite the same, it’s generally agreed that Phish made an impact statement with this set of Phish Albany shows, courtesy of one of the most acclaimed stretches of music to this day.
Poster by AJ Masthay
Each of these shows has a flavor all their own in terms of what makes them special. Friday the 27th was highlighted by some unique song selections and a couple of memorable debuts. With an energy only upstate New York can deliver, Friday started off with a rip roaring “AC/DC Bag” > “Maze” one-two punch and things only took off from there. The first set also featured an electric “Gumbo” that gave MacConnell more than enough room to show off his chops and the very rare “Two Versions of Me,” from the band’s 2004 release Undermind. So rare, in fact, the song hasn’t been played live since.
Friday night’s second set was marked by two Phish debuts, one of which is still a live show staple. After a dark and moody “My Friend, My Friend” opener, the band played “Golden Age” for the first time ever, a TV on the Radio cover that few saw coming.
The rest of the second set continued to build with another cover, Little Feat’s “On Your Way Down,” before a truly epic sequence of “Fluffhead” > “Piper” > “Tomorrow’s Song,” another true rarity plucked from Undermind and, to this day, the only time the song has been played live.
Set 1: AC/DC Bag > Maze, Driver, My Mind’s Got a Mind of its Own, Gumbo, Bouncing Around the Room > It’s Ice, Two Versions of Me, Timber (Jerry) > Limb by Limb, Cavern > Light
Set 2: My Friend, My Friend > Golden Age, On Your Way Down, Fluffhead > Piper > Tomorrow’s Song, Prince Caspian > Harry Hood > Suzy Greenberg > The Squirming Coil, I Been Around
Encore: Fire
Poster by Steve Rogers
Saturday night’s Phish Albany show picked up where things left off the night before and turned the intensity up a notch, if that were at all possible. Starting with an ebullient “Party Time” opener, the atmosphere inside The Knick was electric as fans rejoiced in another show that helped further cement the band’s status as “back.” The first set also had its share of fun song selections like “Sanity” and “Foam” as well as the triumphant return of “Vultures” for the first time since the band’s reunion. But this show will go down in lore for the incredible piece of improv that began the second set.
“Seven Below” began things with a tightly wound composed section played with precision, that soon turned into a driving, soaring jam thanks to the efforts of bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman. The improvisation then touched on elements of prog rock, ambience and then some all while being fueled by majestic guitar play from a seemingly happy and healthy Trey Anastasio on guitar. As the jam slowly petered out some 20 plus minutes later, the distinctive opening guitar riffs of “Story of the Ghost” came into play and Phish was off and running again. A spirited and quick run through the song’s composition, fueled by plenty of singing along from the crowd, soon yielded to bouncy, near blissful jam that eventually turned into a dark, sinister, almost heavy metal-ish type throwdown, serving as the surest sign yet that Phish was back in a big way.
They could have ended the show right then and there and few would have complaints. A more than appropriately named cover in The Velvet Underground’s “Cool It Down” followed and was fairly short lived before a direct segue into “Gotta Jibboo” that picked things back up. However, it would be near impossible to top the masterpiece that was the close to 48 minutes of music that the first two songs produced. A monstrous “You Enjoy Myself” serves as only a footnote on this Albany classic.
Set 1: Party Time, Stealing Time from the Faulty Plan, Uncle Pen, Sanity, Foam, Walk Away > NICU, Alaska, Split Open and Melt, Joy, Vultures, Backwards Down the Number Line
Set 2: Seven Below > Ghost, Cool It Down > Gotta Jibboo, Let Me Lie, Wolfman’s Brother > Julius
Encore: You Enjoy Myself
Take a look at our 2018 review of Phish at the then-Times Union Center and stay tuned for coverage of this weekend’s three-night run in support of the Divided Sky Foundation!
Kicking off an exciting three-show residency at Ophelia’sin Albany, it was a big night for Bridgeport, CT’s Big Shrimp on Thursday, October 17.
Rising from the ashes of the beloved buzz band Baked Shrimp following their surprise breakup earlier this year, the reimagined and reinvigorated group returned to the stage bigger, hungrier, and as it turns out, funkier than ever. Joining Big Shrimp on the bill and also making their Ophelia’s debut was NYC’s space rock juggernaut Escaper.
Big Shrimp played the first of a 3-show residency at Ophelia’s on 10/17/24.
Taking place on the same storied stage Goose headlined 5 years to the day prior, Guthrie Bell Productions has long made it a priority to bring the freshest and most exciting stars of tomorrow to the Capital Region today. With a legendary track record of spotting talent and creativity early, simply put, when Greg Bell books a band for a three-show residency, you know they must have something special going for them. A testament to the burgeoning music scene around Albany and with a community of dedicated fans and venues supporting local and independent acts, the atmosphere at 388 Broadway prior to the show felt ripe for discovery and growth.
Kicking off the evening with an exceptional set of exploratory and soaring jams was New York City’s Escaper. Comprised of Will Hanza (Guitar/Vocals), Phil Kadet (Keyboard/Vocals), Sam Crespo (Drums), and on this night, Josh Carter sitting in on bass for Luke Bemand (Lespecial), Escaper wasted no time setting the controls for the sun, opening things up with a sprawling and richly textured rendition of “Open Sky.” As the Albany faithful quickly took notice of the bands larger-than-life sound, the floorspace slowly began filling in with dancing fans eager to surrender to the music and immerse themselves in a night of soulful, sonic soundscapes and spontaneous expression. Rewarded for their curiosity with a pair of unreleased new songs, Escaper would keep the positive momentum going with “Fantasy” and “Chance.”
Escaper kicked the evening off proper with with an explosive set of jams in Albany on 10/17/24.
As the band pushed themselves through the technicality of their compositions, you could tell from the expressions on their faces they were enjoying this ride and creating this unique blend of music together. Captivating the audience with a hybrid of atmospheric soundscapes, intricate guitar work, tight rhythms and pulsating basslines, perhaps no song encapsulated Escaper’s vibe more beautifully than “Spaceship.” With its distinct hook and stunning keyboard work by the fully stretched out Phil Kadet, the song provided the biggest improvisational vehicle of the set. Brandishing a scarf and his beautiful red Gibson guitar, Will Hanza looked like a bonafide rockstar here and played like one too, uncorking his biggest and most impressive solo of the night during the song’s peak. Hyping the crowd for what was still to come, Escaper would close out with “No Strings” before joining the fans on the floor and dancing along to the high-octane grooves about to be served up by the arrival of Big Shrimp.
Escaper’s Will Hanza took Ophelia’s to the stratosphere on 10/17/24.
No stranger to Albany, the former members of Baked Shrimp have been playing at venues around the area for years now. This time though, it would be a whole different creature. Joining up with founding crustaceans Jared Sage Cowen (Guitar/Vocals) and Jager Soss (Drums/Vocals) are new additions Max Perrotti (Bass/Vocals) and Matt Takesh (Keyboard/Vocals), completing a dynamic transformation from a power trio to an edgier and more versatile, progressive-rock juggernaut. Playing only their 5th show together under the Big Shrimp moniker, the night proved to be a launching pad for both the band and the long-time fans who still weren’t quite sure what to expect out of the band’s newfound identity.
Big Shrimp played the first of a 3-show residency at Ophelia’s on 10/17/24.
Immediately putting any worries at ease with some “Words of Wisdom” to get things cooking, you could instantly hear the impact of Matt Takesh’s keyboard playing. Adding a whole new level of filth to the bands already funky sound, the excitement continued to build as the band worked their way through “Tired Eyes,” before turning vocal duties over to charismatic drummer Jager Soss for a throwback nod to the Baked Shrimp original tune, “Smoke ‘Em If You Got Em.”
While a few in attendance seemed to take the song literally, things on the floor continued to heat up with the appropriately titled “Tango” providing enough cause for some to dance as if their life depended on it. The freedom of the venue allowed for this kind of uninhibited behavior, as fans moved to the grooves, embodying the spirit of the jam band ethos: a celebration of community and creativity, creating an immersive experience that felt both intimate, expansive and genuine.
Jager Soss performing with Big Shrimp during their Ophelia’s debut on 10/17/24.
One of the most notable moments from night 1 of Big Shrimp’s residency would come next with the debut of a new original called “Nuclear Fruit.” Successfully taking the song out for its maiden voyage, it is now forever etched in musical history that it was first played at Ophelia’s. Changing up the pace a bit, the bluesy ballad “Painting Pictures” by Matt Takesh gave everyone a chance to catch their breath a bit before virtuoso guitarist Jared Sage Cowen stole it away again with one of the most stunning and emotive solos of the evening. The seamless transitions between songs and the hypnotic interplay between musicians kept the audience enraptured, highlighting Big Shrimps’ ability to blend different musical influences into a cohesive sound.
Big Shrimp’s Jared Sage Cowen dug deep into his bag of tricks on Night 1 in Albany 10/17/24.
Proving he’s not here to be your ordinary guy, Cowen would dig even deeper into his bag of tricks for an extraordinary rendition of “Ordinary Guy,” yielding some of the funkiest, most cathartic and most primal energy of the set. With catchy melodies, impressive solos, complex arrangements and shifting tempos and moods, the band kept you on your toes and bobbing your head the entire show. Throwing in one last surprise before bringing the evening to a close, Big Shrimp would revisit their roots once again by playing fan favorite “Chop Suey” from their previous entities final self-titled studio album.
Watch fan shot footage of Big Shrimp performing “Chop Suey” during Night 1 of their Albany Residency 10/17/24.
As the night drew to a close, the crowd’s enthusiasm was palpable, with chants for an encore echoing through the bar. The sense of connection among fans and performers alike was a reminder of the magic that live music can create. After receiving the subtle nod of approval from promoter Greg Bell, Big Shrimp would send fans home happy with a nostalgic cover of the “Peter Gunn Theme,” complete with Taylor Swift “You Belong with Me” teases, bringing night 1 of their Ophelia’s residency to an official end.
If you missed this incredible night, mark your calendars for their next show in two weeks when Big Shrimp return for their highly anticipated Halloween Extravaganza on October 31st. Featuring a surprise theme along with two sets of music and a costume contest with prizes, whether you’re a seasoned jam band lover or just looking for a ghoulishly good night of music and dancing, Big Shrimp is sure to deliver an unforgettable treat that will not disappoint. If their previous Halloween performances are any indication, NYS Music can tell you now, this will be a special show you don’t want to miss.
Big Shrimp | 10-17-2024 | Ophelia’s | Albany, NY
One Set: Words of Wisdom, Tired Eyes, Smoke ’em If You Got ’em, Tango, Nuclear Fruit (1), Painting Pictures, Ordinary Guy, Chop Suey.
Encore: Peter Gunn Theme (2).
(1) Debut; Original
(2) Big Shrimp Debut; Formerly performed as Baked Shrimp.
Notes: This was night one of Big Shrimp’s three-night residency at Ophelia’s in Albany, NY in Fall of 2024. “Peter Gunn Theme” contained “You Belong with Me” (Taylor Swift) teases.
Escaper | 10-17-2024 | Ophelia’s | Albany, NY
Setlist: Open Sky, Fantasy, Chance, Spaceship, No Strings.
This is Part 2 of a series looking at the history of Phish in Albany. Read Part 1 and Part 3 ahead of Phish’s return to the Capital District and MVP Arena.
The anticipation that builds on South Pearl Street outside the Knick/Pepsi/Times Union Center/MVP Arena is one that you don’t find many places where Phish plays in the Northeast. Streets are closed to all but pedestrian traffic, parking garages are popping off, local businesses are packed with customers and fans mill about from Shakedown to the bars and all points in between.
With five shows in the books in Albany so far in their career, Phish returned for seven more shows before the end of the decade and firmly made their mark for playing some of their best Fall shows here. While it was not called The Knickerbocker Arena after the 1995 show, the new branding of The Pepsi Arena was a moniker that did not stick – we just called it The Knick (and some of us still do) – even still that it’s now the Times Union Center. Whatever we call it, we know it’s home to some delicious Phish going back more than two decades. All setlists via Phish.net.
Art by Drew Suto
December 12 and 13, 1997
Back in 1997 when Phish was on the road destroying America, they wrapped up their legendary tour in Albany, as close to home as the boys from Burlington could get. And for two nights, they continued to raise the bar for performances in the Capital District, wrapping up the tour with two shows that featured stand out jams and memorable band antics.
Starting the first night off with a “Funky Bitch” that stretched out a bit and was followed with a “2001” that lasted nearly 11 minutes was par for the course back then – nevermind waiting until mid-Set 2 for that funky disco dance party – two songs in and you were getting down. Keeping the cow funk going with “Camel Walk” and an extended “Taste” were the appetizers ahead of a 16 minute “Tweezer,” where Trey and Mike built the anticipation right out of the intro. That first five and a half minutes of this “Tweezer” is furious, and the rest a big bowl of funk-icing. The ambiance on the outro led into “Train Song,” which begat “Character Zero,” the new yet familiar rocker that was locking in its place as a set closer.
“Saw it Again,” a new song for 1997 cracked the second set and drives in with pure rock and roll and a Zeppelin-esque jam that emerged as it grew closer to the monstrous 20 minute “Piper” that followed, complete with slow build (remember the days?). This furious “Piper” bursts out and like an energizer bunny it just doesn’t stop. Finally when the jam does subside softly, it works into a serene “Swept Away” -> “Steep” combo. “Prince Caspian” picked up speed again and headed toward more Zeppelin acid-rock right up to the last 90 seconds, where it starts to drift off into space before Trey returns with a penultimate “Izabella,” one of the few times it has been played, but somehow one of the nine played in 1997. Can you imagine? Nine “Izabella’s” in a single year? “Tweezer Reprise” would drain the final drop of energy out of the crowd, and for an encore, the early years of “Guyute” shone bright with a huge cheer from the crowd at the opening notes, and a furious “Antelope” with a “Buried Alive” tease thrown in for good measure.
Set 1: Funky Bitch -> Also Sprach Zarathustra > Camel Walk, Taste > Bouncing Around the Room, Tweezer > Train Song > Character Zero Set 2: Saw It Again[1] -> Piper > Swept Away > Steep > Prince Caspian > Jam -> Izabella > Tweezer Reprise Encore: Guyute, Run Like an Antelope
[1] Extended jam.
The second night was my first Phish show, and I definitely wish I appreciated the opening 18-minute “Ya Mar,” but I came here for “Sample” and stayed for the lights-out “Hood.” Much like the night before, the beginning of the show would set the tone for the night, with a crowd pleasing “Axilla” and “Theme From the Bottom” to follow. The first set, to a newcomer, was non threatening and a nice way to ease into a Phish show. On relisten, this set is full of fan favorites, tunes that in 1997 were chased, and had a wonderfully funky ending with “Tube” and a rockin’ “Good Times Bad Times.”
Set two though was where Phish left it all on the table and left no stone unturned, starting with “NICU” and “Punch You in the Eye,” and a long dark “Ghost” just to get things started. And just as a “Ghost” jam is finding its end, Trey rips a “Mike’s Song” out of the ashes and lays a little extra mustard on to get it going. Just as the lyrics are wrapped up, this “Mike’s” becomes the thing of legend, deep bass lines and dark tones from the band precede the call to ‘Bring the Dude,’ which brought the crowd along for a wild ride while the band continued to ‘Bring the Dude’ in their pocket of this jam. I remember looking around, wondering where this ‘dude’ was going to emerge from, only to have the jam pick up speed and eventually work into “Llama.” The “Weekapaug Groove” has a tight “Catapult” inside, and Trey asking Kuroda to dim the lights for “Harry Hood” made the final moments of this final set of Fall 1997 as memorable as possible. The “My Soul” and “Squirming Coil” encore were on point, tying the show, and tour, together nicely. A hometown show is a great way to start a life of Phish and I’m glad my friend Mike gave me a ticket for this show. A few hundred shows later and I’m always looking back on this show with a smile.
Set 1: Ya Mar[1] > Axilla > Theme From the Bottom, Ginseng Sullivan, Strange Design, Sample in a Jar, Vultures, Tube,Good Times Bad Times Set 2: NICU > Punch You in the Eye > Ghost > Mike’s Song[2] -> Llama, When the Circus Comes, Weekapaug Groove ->Catapult -> Weekapaug Groove, Harry Hood Encore: My Soul, The Squirming Coil
[1] Unfinished.
[2] Chants to “Bring in the Dude.”
November 25, 1998
In many ways, 1998 was an extension of the groundbreaking 1997 tours that Phish played, starting with The Island Tour in April and finding their way through the summer and a fall that already had produced a full show of Velvet Underground’s “Loaded” and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” This show from the Pepsi Arena the night before Thanksgiving is a diamond in the rough and overlooked for the three night run in Worcester that followed the holiday.
Taken on face value, you might see “Roggae,” “Lifeboy,” and acoustic versions of “Sleep” and “Driver” in the first set and think this was a snoozer, but you’d be wrong. The show opens with a one-two “Punch You in the Eye”/”My Soul” combo before getting nestled into that first set groove with “Roggae” before “AC/DC Bag” picks things back up again. The rare “Lifeboy” can’t be argued with here – you might only have had six chances to hear it since 1998 – and the 20 minute “David Bowie” that follows hits all the marks. A couple of acoustic numbers to right the ship before “Good Times Bad Times” shows up for the second show in a row at The Knick
For the second run in a row, the crowd was treated to a huge “2001” and randomly, a “Golgi Apparatus” to follow, to open the second set. “Drowned,” “Caspian” and “Piper” flowed together seamlessly, a mid-set trio that set the stage for “You Enjoy Myself,” and why not keep the tramps out there for an out of left field “Been Caught Stealing?” A fiery “Llama” was once again found in Albany, and for an encore we were treated to the fourth, and final (so far) version of The Beatles’ “Something,” fan favorite “Guyute” and surprisingly, an acapella version of “Free Bird” which is still etched in my mind for the perfect cap to this high caliber show.
Set 1: Punch You in the Eye > My Soul, Roggae, AC/DC Bag > Lifeboy, David Bowie, Sleep[1], Driver[1], Good Times Bad Times Set 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Golgi Apparatus, Drowned -> Prince Caspian > Piper, You Enjoy Myself, Been Caught Stealing > Llama Encore: Something > Guyute, Free Bird
[1] Trey on acoustic guitar.
October 9 and 10, 1999
The saying is, ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it, right?’ Well Phish opened up their next stop in Albany with “Punch You in the Eye” and after a quick “Wilson,” jumped into “Guyute,” which they apparently love to play here. The 20 minute “Ghost” keeps up the tradition of those long first jams that Albany shows are a known for.
It is in Set 2 where “Limb by Limb” got spacey and again, a “2001” emerges, and here is where we find the theme to Phish in Albany – long jams and repeated fan favorites. In the second set, the first three songs along combine for 45 minutes, followed by “Waiting in the Velvet Sea,” then a young song in the mix to mellow things out after a hot opening combo like that. “Simple” and “Loving Cup” close the set with “Slave” filling into the encore slot nicely. It’s a good thing they brought out fan favorites tonight, because the next night was a different story.
Set 1: Punch You in the Eye > Wilson, Guyute, Ghost -> Free, Sparkle > Possum Set 2: Limb By Limb > Also Sprach Zarathustra[1] > Down with Disease > Wading in the Velvet Sea, Simple, Loving Cup Encore: Slave to the Traffic Light
[1] Trey on keys.
Poster by Jim Pollock
For the end of their Fall 1999 tour, an album listening party for the soon to be released Farmhouse broke out in the first set. I won’t sit here and shame this set – it’s great, but that night it was a handful of new songs couples with some jams and a “Stash” at the end that was like the lot burrito I had that night – it didn’t sit very well. But for set 2, things went a little deeper, opening with a Jam that found its way into “You Enjoy Myself” without a vocal jam, “Prince Caspian” and “Train Song.” By the time the band got to “Bathtub Gin” they were in full rock star mode, and the “Character Zero” to close things out made for a well rounded if not slightly awkward setlist. “Contact” in the encore was fitting, and paired with “Misty Mountain Hop,” these four Vermonters were itching to get in their cars and head to the Green Mountains for six weeks of recording, rest and relaxation before heading out on tour in December with their eyes set on a millenium bash in Florida.
Set 1: Farmhouse, Gotta Jibboo, Heavy Things, First Tube, Dirt, Vultures, Stash Set 2: Jam > You Enjoy Myself[1] > Prince Caspian > Train Song, Bathtub Gin, Character Zero Encore: Contact > Misty Mountain Hop
[1] No vocal jam.
September 8 and 9, 2000
There is something to be said about tour openers in Albany – they are rare, but they are very, very good. The variety found in the show that kicked off their final tour before hiatus is remarkable, and on relisten, it gives a sampling of Albany shows past, and what we can look forward to when Phish opens up their Fall 2018 tour. A debut of Bob Marley’s “Mellow Mood” should be enough to get the juices flowing, and its the “Limb by Limb” and “Ghost” that follow that pick the pace up and give you an idea of the potential in store this night, and this tour. The next seven songs all blow by with relative ease before another big “Taste” emerges and “Golgi” closes the set out. Kicking off Set 2 with a tough “Birds of a Feather” precedes the Tony Markellis penned “Windora Bug” debut and an 18 minute “David Bowie,” and the blues tune “Back at the Chicken Shack.” A 16 minute “Bathtub Gin” paired with its own ambient jam with Fishman on vacuum and Trey on drums is that taste of 1.0 that you don’t find these days. Another show closing “Character Zero” wrapped up the show, with “Fire” in the encore slot.
Set 1: Mellow Mood[1], Limb By Limb, Ghost, Bouncing Around the Room, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Saw It Again, NICU, Glide, Axilla, Taste, Golgi Apparatus Set 2: Birds of a Feather, Windora Bug[1], David Bowie, Back at the Chicken Shack, Bathtub Gin > Jam[2] > Character Zero Encore: Fire
[1] Phish debut.
[2] Fish on vacuum and Trey on drums.
When you know it’s the last time you’ll see a band for a while, you make the most out of it, and that was the C.W. for fans that I rolled to this show with. I would see them once more this fall in Darien Lake, but for many, this was the end of the line for the foreseeable future – no one knew how long this break would be for, so rather than chance it, Albany packed the Pepsi Arena for the second night in a row. Opening with a “Possum” built off the anticipation from outside was the start to the night we needed, and deserved. A jam out of “My Friend” found its way into “Gumbo,” and then into “Maze,” so after four songs, this set was already following in the footsteps of past shows. “Boogie On,” “Roggae,” “Guyute” and “Antelope” as the second half of the set just kept raising the bar for what was possible this tour.
Opening with the new fan favorite “Gotta Jibboo” for a lengthy jam to start the set was a nice pairing to the “Possum” that opened the night. After a brief and rare “The Curtain,” a 20 minute “Sand” stood out as the jam of the night, partially because little that followed would compare. Michael Ray, of Sun Ra and Cosmic Krewe fame, would join the band on trumpet for “Makisupa Policeman,” “Cars Trucks and Buses,” and “Funky Bitch,” and while this was by no means Kid Rock sitting for the second half of a set later that tour, it did take the energy from earlier in the set and cast it aside. I never understood why Ray didn’t stick around for “Cavern,” which has a perfect fit for horns. And so for an encore that somehow had no discernable “You can feel good” ending lyrics, “Harry Hood” still clocks in at 17 minutes, with some lucky fans on the stage to enjoy it up close while Ray and Trey laughed it up as the jam came to a close.
Set 1: Possum, My Friend, My Friend[1] -> Jam > Gumbo -> Maze, Boogie On Reggae Woman, Roggae, Guyute, Run Like an Antelope[2] Set 2: Gotta Jibboo > The Curtain > Sand[3], Makisupa Policeman[3] > Cars Trucks Buses[3] > Funky Bitch[3] > Cavern Encore: Harry Hood[3]
[1] No “Myfe” lyric.
[2] Tom Marshall spoke the lyrics to Antelope.
[3] Michael Ray on trumpet.
And there you have it – seven performances by Phish from 1997-2000 that featured a few 20 minute jams, some bust outs and debuts, and a whole lot of rock n roll. Phish has a wonderful tradition of playing hot shows in Albany and with this being one of only 5 stops this Fall, you know they’ll be bringing the heat to the fans next week.
Electronic artist Porter Robinson made another career milestone with his performance at Red Rocks on Wednesday, October 16. After his summer release of his third album SMILE! 😀 the producer announced his first ever world tour. Denver was one of Porter’s last North American stops before he takes off to other continents.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Young artist Ericdoa opened up this beautiful night at Red Rocks. This Connecticut-based musician produces a fun yet angst-ridden mixture of hyper-pop, emo-rap, and trap. His stage design was so playful giving off the vibes of a bedroom from the 2000s. His energy was infectious as he was giggling with crowd and jumping on the bed on stage for his debut at this dream venue.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
As Porter Robinson has grown throughout the years so has his style in music. Listening to his discography might take audiences on a span of musical genres, but what remains consistent is Porter’s ability to invite nostalgia through his music. He as always been an artist who looks to make people feel and confront emotions throughout his set.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
This tour the artist brought his live band on stage to take his synth-pop tunes to a new level. Porter started off the night blasting confetti and a performance of “Knock Yourself Out XD.” The whole set in the mountains that night was a journey through Porter’s albums. He sectioned his set into three to highlight his three albums.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Through Porter’s Tunes
He began with his latest release playing songs like “Easier to Love You” and “Mona Lisa.” The artist decided to get intimate with the crowd by asking them to collectively put their phones down and just experience one song wholeheartedly. Porter and his band then covered MGMT’s famous hit song “Kids.” It was such a youthful moment seeing everyone be fully present and dancing with each other on the rocks.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Going into the second segment of his set, it was dedicated to his 2021 album Nurture. A portion of this section was a piano medley. The artist stripped back a handful of songs giving the audience a touching acoustic session. Some of those songs included, “Sweet Time” and “Get Your Wish.”
Finally for the third segment of Porter’s set he took it all the way back to his famous 2014 album: Worlds. This album is so special to so many of his listeners which is why Porter brought a longtime fan on stage. Lots of touching moments happened at the tail end of this set including performances of “Divinity” and “Goodbye to a World.”
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
A Night to Remember
It was so special to be at Porter’s Red Rocks show that night. Especially considering his first ever performance there was 10 years ago when he opened up for Skrillex. Some fans in the audience had even shared they’d attended that show so long ago. It just goes to show a testament of the artistry Porter Robinson possesses and even with his musical changes he is still able to bring an energetic crowd together.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
If you are ever in the Colorado area you must put Red Rocks on a must live music venue to experience. A Red Rocks show is like no other. Upcoming shows include Daily Bread on October 27 and Of The Trees on November 9. Get your tickets here!
Porter Robinson – Red Rocks, Morrison, CO – October 16, 2024
Set 1: SMILE! 😀
Knock Yourself Out XD, Perfect Pinterest Garden, Kitsune Maison Freestyle, Year of the Cup, Easier to Love You, Is There Really No Happiness?, Mona Lisa, Kids (MGMT cover), Everything To Me, Russian Roulette
Set 2: Nurture
Wind Tempos, Musician, Something Comforting, Everything Goes On, Unfold, Get Your Wish, Trying to Feel Alive / Look at the Sky, Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do, Sweet Time, Lifelike, Get Your Wish
Set 3: Worlds
Sea of Voices / Sad Machine, Divinity, Fresh Static Snow, Hollowheart, Language, Goodbye to a World, Sad Machine
On Octorber 20, 1984, The Grateful Dead played their third and final show at The Carrier Dome in Syracuse. It would be the last East Coast show of their Fall 1984 tour, following two nights at Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, NJ a few nights prior. Playing to a clearly packed Dome, the Dead throw down a vintage show full of original classic and noteworthy cover songs.
After a brief warmup, the band jumps headlong into a bubbly and downright perky “Bertha.” Brent Mydland is engaged right from the get-go and peppers this one with soulful organ fills throughout before Jerry Garcia takes his first prolonged guitar solo of the evening. It’s not quite a segue, but at song’s end there is an immediate shift to “Greatest Story Every Told” with Bob Weir taking over on lead vocals and Mydland supplying harmonies. Garcia’s tone, again, sounds immaculate on guitar, providing a thick, funky vibe to this one. Once completed, after a brief tuning lull, Garcia starts up “West L.A. Fadeaway” and the Dead are off and running again in the Carrier Dome. It’s a somewhat slow and moody “Fadeaway” that works nicely in this early slot in the first set and even features some slight vocal effects.
Things shift back to a bluesy mood with Weir taking back the mic on a classic run through of “C.C. Rider.” The full band soon gets involved and this is a version that reeks of blues and stretches out naturally. At it’s conclusion, Weir plays the role of traffic cop and leads everyone’s favorite crowd instruction for those crammed up front in “Take A Step Back,” replete with super echoey vocal effects for good measure.
With this seemingly resolved, the band then leaps into a pleasant and lively “Ramble On Rose” with Garcia belting out the lyrics flawlessly. However, afterwards, Weir gets even more dire and serious with a second and third renditions of “Take A Step Back” that seems to be for the benefit of the crowded “bug-eyed” folks up front at the behest of the fire marshal. It’s pretty remarkable that a venue as massive as the Carrier Dome can have the floor fill up to near fire-hazard capacities.
Grateful Dead in Concert at the Carrier Dome, 20 October 1984
After a quick jaunt through “My Brother Esau” that almost sounds like it’s cut off preemptively at the end, “Birdsong” then starts the ending sequence of the first set with a poignant version that again sees Garcia up to the task on vocals. This one bobs and weaves for a while enjoyably before eventually straightening out, eliciting a long round of applause from the Syracuse faithful.
There would be time for only one more number in this set and the Dead make it count and then some with a pristine “Jack Straw.” Garcia and Weir belt out the poignant lyrics from the outset on this one before it slowly intensifies into its usual pace with Garcia leading the charge with some impeccable work on the fret board. Once finished, Weir notifies the crowd that they’ll be right back and makes one more plead for everyone to “take a step back” before they leave the stage. Was the floor just oversold? People sneaking in from the sides? Maybe a little of both.
The second set later begins with an audio clue of sorts, as some signature funked out tuning licks give way to a full fledged “Shakedown Street.” The Dead rip through the composed section which contains some more echoey vocal effects, clearly taking advantage of the Carrier Dome acoustics. This elicits a thoroughly funked out jam that sees the rhythm section fully engaged and on point, led by bassist Phil Lesh. This leads directly into the drum-heavy intro of “Samson & Delilah” in a true segue that’s executed flawlessly. An extended intro fuels a powerful take on this classic Dead number that features some more timely organ fills from Mydland although it doesn’t get stretched out very far, coming to a fairly abrupt stop. Things then get considerably more mellow with a heartfelt take of “He’s Gone,” a nod to the late Pigpen, one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead. Both the “steal your face right off your head” and “nothing left to do but smile” lyrics get noticeable rounds of applause from the Carrier Dome crowd and Garcia drops some more dazzling guitar licks in the middle of this one.
“He’s Gone” elicits another soulful, bluesy extended jam which feeds directly into a quasi-bust out of sorts with the return of “Smokestack Lightning.” Before its last performance eleven days ago in Worcester, this one hadn’t been played by the Dead since March of 1972. Some beautiful interplay between Garcia and Mydland highlight this performance which fuels one of the more sizable and extended jams of the evening. Once it begins to dwindle out, this sets the stage for the “Drums” portion of the show with Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, aka The Rhythm Devils, taking center stage on percussion.
After the rest of the band returns to the stage, the closing leg of the show kicks off with “The Wheel” whose jam serves as the launching pad for a spirited “The Other One” that features some more sublime work on the piano from Mydland early on. It’s one of the more powerful songs of the whole show with Lesh dominating the rhythm on bass while Garcia throws in a bevy of fast-paced licks on guitar. As the jam lessens in intensity, it slowly funnels into a “Black Peter” with Garcia belting out the soulful lyrics flawlessly.
Instead of getting stretched out, “Peter” shifts almost instantly to a rousing version of “Turn On Your Lovelight.” It sees Weir doing his best Pigpen impression with some soulful, freeform lyrics towards the end as the second set comes to a close. For an encore, the Dead treat the Carrier Dome to a cover of The Beatles’ “Revolution” with Garcia on lead vocals as the third and final show at this iconic Central New York venue comes to a close.
View this and more Grateful Dead shows from across the years in New York State with our interactive map below
Grateful Dead Carrier Dome – Syracuse, NY 10/20/84
Set 1: Bertha-> Greatest Story Ever Told, West L.A. Fadeaway, CC Rider, Ramble On Rose, My Brother Esau, Bird Song, Jack Straw
Set 2: Shakedown Street-> Samson & Delilah, He’s Gone-> Smokestack Lightning-> Drums-> The Wheel-> The Other One-> Black Peter-> Turn On Your Love Light,
Neil Guleria, Trevor LaVecchia, and Brendan Steuart, the architect masterminds behind the psychedelic-rock band Free Whenever, graced Mercury Lounge on Saturday, October 12 as the lead-in openers for Telula, the six-piece funk headliner set to appear later on in the night.
While many in the crowd appeared to be unfamiliar with their catalog, a few agile and dexterous segments of guitar arpeggios proved to be a suitable introduction to Free Whenever’s freeform and easygoing musical philosophy.
Drawing from influences in the likes of Tame Impala and Khruangbin, Free Whenever, formed in 2020, has revamped the psychedelia artform to a version that’s much more their speed, which, in their own words, takes on “the ancient practice of long-form improvisation.”
While it may be a no-brainer to follow in the mimicry footsteps of their predecessors, however, the trio challenges any Khruangbin idolaters and gives them a run for their money, as minutes of cozy and lax synths rapidly cascade into a flurried whirlwind, chasing syncopated chords and reaching breathless highs that reveal an undertone of the band’s classical rock tastes.
With four years of improvisational wit under their belt (members of the band joined forces after a serendipitous meeting at a wedding gig playing Grateful Dead covers), Free Whenever looked comfortable in their skin riffing on tracks “Camino” and the velvety “Calypso,” off their fresh-off-the-rack self-titled EP, catapulting the crowd’s impressionable excitement and growing awe.
Soon after, Telula, complete with lead singer Tais Torres, drummer Lars Asmundsson, saxophonist Conor Smith, keyboardist Pete Rosales, bassist Lucas Aney, and guitarist Thomas Jensen, was greeted by fans with a hearty welcome.
The band — which has humble roots based out of their college dorm — eased into their set with carefree and mellow singles off their 2023 EP Fade, such as “3 1 2” and “Just What I Need,” leaning into the lather part of the night with the upbeat “No Rush.”
While tracks like “Never Enough” and even guest rapper and harmonicist appearances settled a soothing air over the audience, temporarily balming over unresolved anxieties and worries, the band shined best at each member’s standalone spotlights, where solos served as the proving grounds for the band’s overflowing flair and aptitude, with drums, sax, and guitar rising alongside each other, thrilling and exuberant in equal and balanced measure.
Her famous dad may not have played the renowned festival, but Moon Unit Zappa certainly was a hit when she ventured to Woodstock to discuss Earth to Moon(Deyst/William Morrow Books), her acclaimed memoir of growing up in the unconventional household of her iconic musician dad, Frank Zappa.
The October 12 event was sponsored by The Golden Notebook, Woodstock’s premiere independent bookshop since 1978. The shop’s co-owners, Jacqueline Kellachan and James Conrad, have brought many outstanding writers to town for lively readings, including notable musicians like Blondie’s Chris Stein and Steve Earle. To accommodate the 100 attendees, the event was moved from The Golden Notebook’s cozy location on Tinker Street to the larger Mountain View Studios.
With wit, humor, and humility, Moon addressed the cost of being raised by her largely absent genius father (who she idolizes above all others) and controlling mother – a woman whose anger arose, in no small part, due to her father’s constant philandering. Moon also discussed her much-varied career as an MTV and VH-1 VJ, an actress, author and the founder of an upscale food concern, Moon Unit® Tea. She also conversed on her spiritual quest to rise above the challenges of her youth and become a better parent to her daughter, Mathilda. And, of course, there was plenty about her time in the spotlight helping to create what would become her father’s biggest hit, “Valley Girl.” For a more in-depth look, read our earlier review of the book here.
In true Zappa tradition, the event kicked off with an unannounced surprise. It was a high-energy performance of “Valley Girl” by Mona Freaka, a quintet of teenage girls from Woodstock who truly captured the punky and snarky spirit of Moon and Frank’s original recording.
Martha Frankel, the Executive Director of the annual Woodstock Bookfest, moderated the discussion with insight and humor that matched the tenor of Moon’s wonderfully rich memoir. Frankel began by saying that the Zappa household was “truly the epicenter of lax parenting.” She added what would’ve been her advice to Moon’s parents if she had known them – “If you’re going to be doing bad shit, you probably shouldn’t let your kids have diaries!” Moon credits her lifelong interest in writing to her parents in the book, who gave her a new leather-bound diary every year. These diaries provided much of the source material for her memoir.
In the Q&A with Frankel, Moon discussed the many challenges she faced in writing the book. It was a process that took place over four and a half years and several drafts. Due to the well-publicized squabbles between Moon and her three siblings generated by her mother’s uneven distribution of control of her father’s legacy in her will, she mentioned how her first go at the book was “a f*ck you draft that I ultimately decided to throw out.” Another thing she first left out of the early drafts of the book was the chapter on the whirlwind created by the unlikely success of “Valley Girl.” Unfortunately, this sudden fame came to her during her “awkward teenage phase.” The fact that this novelty tune was the massively productive Frank’s most significant commercial success was something he greeted with chagrin.
Midway through the event, Moon Zappa teared up reading the chapter where she and her brother Dweezil are invited into Frank’s most sacred space – the rehearsal hall. They each got their turn at the mic, as their father conducted the band with a wide smile.
Moon also shared some humorous and heartbreaking facts not covered in the book. These included her unlikely teenage crushes: the stern ABC newsman Sam Donaldson, humorist Spalding Gray and comedian Sam Kinison and how, though she was hugely impressed with it, she was “mortified by my father’s music … largely because it wasn’t lady friendly.” She also mentioned her idea of pursuing a documentary where she would interview the many women her father had affairs with over the years. She also observed that she and her siblings are all “serial monogamists” and very attentive parents, an oppositional reaction to their experiences with their parents.
Like the book itself, Moon’s discussions of her life with her parents are anything but a bitch fest. Even with their many faults, Moon’s love and admiration for both came through. Moderator Frankel would comment more than once during the event that Moon was “probably the most forgiving person on the planet.”
To hear more, check out the extensive interview with Moon on my podcast, “Reading Is Funktamental.”
On Thursday, October 12th, Brooklyn Made hosted an epically unique evening. The show that was about to unfold happened to be occurring on World Mental Health Day, and Thesaurus Rex made sure to take full advantage of the opportunity in front of them.
Before the full bands went on stage, the audience was treated to a one man performance that set the perfect tone for the evening. A live artist was on stage the entire evening, making several paintings of the performances unfolding.
Nory hit the stage at 8:30 to great anticipation. The rapper and composer from Miami has set up shop here in New York City for the last few years, going viral on the internet playing with Marc Rebillet, and packing out popular venues like The Bitter End, The Sultan Room, and Elsewhere. This evening, he was accompanied brilliantly by Jordan Kerr on Guitar, Robert Nichols on Bass, and Aviv “Skippy” Bart on Drums. With incredible passion, they began their set, which Nory clarified later was all new material.
His sound is as if Kendrick Lamar met Rage Against The Machine or Beastie Boys, political and passionate lyrics, focusing clearly on rhymes and rhythms, all supported by hard rock music. Later venturing into old material which still holds up significantly, his range as an artist shines through and leaves you wanting more. His love for what he does is undeniable, and his connection to the audience is palpable. His passion reads so strongly, that it makes one think that even if no one was in attendance, he would, without question, still be up there playing his heart out. His performance left an impression on the audience without a doubt, something important happened and it resonated in a big way.
After a very tough act to follow, Thesaurus Rex’s lead singer, Calvin Rezen, hit the stage with a big smile. Flanked by his bandmates Varun Jhunjhunwalla on Guitar, Dan MacDonald on drums, and Ethan Marsh on Bass, they playfully kept insisting this evenings purpose was to do the impossible, cure the entire world of all their mental health problems. The band premiered a new music video yet to be public, taking full advantage of their moment with the huge crowd.
Crowd surfing and dancing began as Thesaurus Rex started their set, fantastic vibes permeated the room. They made sure to express their gratitude to the audience, insisting that this evening was very special to them, informing the audience that many guests would be joining them, treating this like a “family band” affair. Hard rock, punk, funk, many different styles of music clearly influence the indy rock band based in Brooklyn. Tongue and cheek style, this eccentric group hit a home run putting this evening together, as the audience was clearly locked in and having the time of their lives.
With Nory joining them for an incredible encore of merging sounds and styles, they bid their audience goodnight as the evening concluded. Momentum is on both of these groups sides with a lot of shows on the horizon, and both promising more music to be on the way shortly.
Teddy Swims brought his I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Tour to the historic Landmark Theatre in Syracuse New York on Tuesday, September 24, bringing a night of good vibes and excitement for the fans. Opening up with the “Goodbye’s Been Good To You,” the theatre became completely dark as Teddy made his way through the smoke to greet the excited fans.
Teddy Swims performing at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse on 9/24/24
The Atlanta-born singer brought a mix of country, pop, funk, and R&B as fans were on their feet dancing the night away to Teddy’s hit “Broke” which was recorded with country artist Thomas Rhett. With his mix of versatility and unique personality, Teddy took the time to address the crowd in between songs thanking them for having him at Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre.
Teddy Swims performing at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse on 9/24/24
Opening the night was Breland, a 29 year old rising pop/country artist from Burlington, New Jersey. The young singer moved around the stage with excitement as fans matched his energy, jumping up and down with excitement all night.
Country-Rap artist Breland opening for Teddy Swims in Syracuse on 9/24/24
Known for his stunning vocals, Teddy Swims closed out the show with his well recognized song “Lose Control.” Said to be his loudest show of the tour, the fans didn’t just come for the music, they came for the soulful interaction and shared experience from the 32 year old artist. Gearing up for shows in Boston, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia, the Atlanta-born artist is well on his way to becoming a household name with his stunning vocals and soulful performances.
December 1, 2003
