Phish has announced the details on their first four-day festival – Mondegreen – and their first in more than nine years. The festival will take place at The Woodlands in Dover, DE over August 15-18, 2024.
What is a Mondegreen? Webster defined the word as “a misunderstood or misinterpreted word or phrase resulting from a mishearing of the lyrics of a song.” One example from Phish would be “Read Icculus” being heard as Ridiculous. If there was ever a more fitting name for a Phish festival, it hasn’t been named yet.
Phish will perform multiple sets over the four days of the festival, with a great number of interactive fan experiences yet to be announced, as well as curated regional food and drink, art installations and much more in store.
Magnaball photo by Brian Ferguson
Mondegreen marks the first live performance in Delaware stage for Phish in over two decades, and the latest festival from a band who can be credited with influencing a resurgence of music festivals in the 1990s. Phish’s most recent festival, 2015’s Magnaball, was held at New York’s legendary Watkins Glen International and was widely considered among their best festivals yet.
Centrally located with easy access from all points in the northeast and mid-Atlantic, the festival site will feature an abundance of on-site camping, with many nearby hotel options also available.
Delaware’s picturesque Woodlands is conveniently located within driving distance from major metropolitan areas on the East Coast, including Philadelphia (under two hours), Baltimore (under two hours), Washington, DC (under two hours), and New York City (under three hours). Fans can also take advantage of Amtrak service to Wilmington, DE as well as SEPTA regional rail.
Magnaball Photo by Steve Olker
Travel packages will go on sale this Thursday, January 18, at 11AM ET, with Weekend passes and Camping passes on sale Friday, January 19 at 11AM ET.
For complete details on passes, car and RV camping and parking options, on-site glamping accommodations, travel packages, and more, please visit phish.com/mondegreen.
Nestled in Manhattan’s West Side since 1968, the cathedral of rock and roll, Madison Square Garden, opened its doors at 6:00 pm Friday night (January 12), welcoming into its friendly confines loyal card-carrying members of The Tool Army.
The last time Tool visited the hallowed grounds of Madison Square Garden (MSG) – more than 20 years ago – the city, and The Garden itself, were quite different. But one thing has endured the test of time, and that is Tool remains a thinking person’s band. One that is an amalgamation of analytical, primeval, uncompromising, bellicose, and melodic forces.
Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Following an autumn trek of North America and a subsequent two month hiatus, Tool’s Winter Tour 2024 features the latest support from psychedelic metal warriors Elder. Formed in the mid-aughts and hailing from a small seaside town in Massachusetts, frontman and guitarist Nick DiSalvo, bassist Jack Donovan, guitarist Michael Risberg and drummer Georg Edert currently call Berlin, Germany home.
Undoubtedly a momentous occasion to open for Tool, no less while gracing The World’s Most Famous Arena’s hallowed stage, Elder performed like the seasoned veterans they are, delivering on all fronts. Appearing onstage shortly after 7:30 pm, the foursome offered a 30-minute set that showcased exceptional musical craftmanship, taking the steadily growing audience on an evocative, sonic journey.
Known for long-scale compositions, DiSalvo and company presented a trio of stoner rock, mind-altering numbers collected from three of the six studio albums in their discography, including “Sanctuary” (Reflections of a Floating World, 2017), “Merged in Dreams – Ne Plus Ultra” (Innate Passage,2022), and “Halycon” (Omens, 2020).
Elder | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Promptly at 8:30 pm, as the heartbeat introduction to “Third Eye” (Ænima, 1996) began to play on tape over the house PA system, the 20,000-capacity venue went dark, and the crowd erupted with a collective, loud roar. One by one, members of the beloved Los Angeles outfit took to the stage, beginning with drummer Danny Carey, who as usual, was rocking NBA hoops gear. His jersey of choice Friday night was Quentin Grimes’ #6 of the hometown Knicks.
Following close behind Carey were bassist Justin Chancellor and guitarist Adam Jones, each of whom have already left an indelible mark in the annals of rock history with their individual technique and instrumental experimentation. As the title track from 2019’s Fear Inoculum got underway, vocalist Maynard James Keenan emerged from the dark shadows and came into view stage left. Wearing a white button down dress shirt and a dapper black suit vest, he clutched the microphone with both hands, revealing black fingerless gloves. Donning a blonde mohawk, Keenan prowled from side to side, high atop two risers constructed at opposite ends of the stage, and on which he would reside for the show’s duration.
Maynard James Keenan of Tool | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Before “The Pot” (10,000 Days, 2006) commenced, Keenan addressed us all regarding Tool’s well-known policy regarding cell phones:
So, here’s the deal. We’re gonna go for a little ride. We’re gonna connect. Take a little journey, together. Stay present. Stay in your body. Join us. Stay connected. Put your fucking phone away. [At the] end of the show, last song, you can pull your stupid phone out. Until then, stay with us. Are you ready?
Yes, we were all ready! With Tool’s seven pointed heptagram symbol dangling high above the stage, ‘open’ to signify an invitation into the collective unconscious, Tool’s entire set design was a remarkable sight to behold. Stunning visuals projected on the massive LED backdrop, which ranged from the depiction of skeletal zombie bodies with beaming alien eyes to a man trapped inside his own body, were supplemented by a spectacular laser light show that cut through the MSG atmosphere.
Danny Carey of Tool | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Following a 12-minute intermission and a goliath smack of the gong with his mallet, the second portion of the show embarked with Carey seated once again behind his massive kit. Another track from Fear Inoculum ensued, the futuristic interlude known as “Chocolate Chip Trip,” an electronic drum solo that saw the wizard Carey masterfully execute his Toolbox’s modular synthesizer.
Justin Chancellor of Tool | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Chancellor, bathed in a white spotlight, beastly strumming during a distortion and reverb filled bass exhibition, was rejoined by Jones, and eventually Keenan, for the night’s first big surprise – a live performance of “Flood” (Undertow, 1993), unearthed after 13 years! And if that were not enough for the diehard fan, following the evening’s fifth and final offering from Fear Inoculum, “Invincible,” Tool played an extended version of “Schism” (Lateralus, 2001) for the first time as a show closer.
Adam Jones of Tool | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Following their two gigs in Gotham, Tool will spend the better part of the next two months bringing their Winter Tour to the masses, culminating in Las Vegas on February 18. Tool, who at present are unsigned to a record label, are reportedly flirting with the idea of releasing an EP rather than a sixth studio album, which would mark their first new material since 2019. Nonetheless, it looks promising that The Tool Army will finally get to hear new music from their art rock heroes later in 2024.
Elder Setlist: Sanctuary, Merged in Dreams – Ne Plus Ultra, Halcyon
Tool Setlist: Fear Inoculum, The Pot, Rosetta Stoned (with “Lost Keys” intro), Pneuma, Intolerance, Descending, The Grudge (intermission), Chocolate Chip Trip, Flood, Invincible, Schism
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
January 18 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live January 19 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live January 21 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center January 23 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena January 24 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena January 26 – Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena January 27 – Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum January 31 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center February 2 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center February 3 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center February 5 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena February 9 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center February 12 – Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center February 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena February 15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena February 17 – Ontario, CA @ Toyota Arena February 18 – Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
Cloud 9 Adventures dropped the music schedule for Jam Cruise 20, sailing from Miami, visiting ports in Montego Bay and Grand Cayman. moe. headlines, along with Medeski, Martin & Porter, and Cory Wong. Jerry Harrison & Andrian Belew will play Remain in Light, backed by Cool Cool Cool. Lettuce commences the Sail Away Toast, ending the cruise with Lotus on the main Pool Deck stage, Galactic in the Pantheon Theatre, and Marc “Brownie” Brownstein of the Disco Biscuits with Chali 2na in the Jam Room.
Jam Cruise Lifers, KDTU and Galactic will return. 3-time Grammy winner Eric Krasno* will join Galactic’s drummer Stanton Moore in their recent Krasno Moore Project.
There are eight or nine official stages on the massive MSC Divina, one of its largest ships. The largest main stage is on the Pool Deck, with a smaller Brews at Sea stage facing it, and the Garden Pool stage all the way aft, next to the infinity pool where fans can watch bands perform while swimming. At the front of the ship is the majestic Pantheon Theatre, which is the other largest stage. The famous Jam Room is hosted in the Black & White Lounge. Special piano sets by Ivan Neville and others, bluegrass, and other musical styles are performed in the Atrium, the multistory central lobby with an opulent $3M Swarovski Crystal Staircase.
A formerly-unofficial “secret stage” on deck 7, The Spot, created by Nathan Moore, is now hosted by The Sweet Lillies. The Spot’s acoustic mayhem is one of the many surprises fans find while exploring the ship. A “Purple Party” superjam will tribute Prince in the theatre on the night we leave Grand Cayman.
GMP Live hosts the Jam Cruise 20 Official Pre-Party on Feb 24, with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Cool Cool Cool, and Electric Kif & DJ Logic spinning DJ sets.
Only a handful of cabins remain – the Jam Cruise 20 booking deadline is Jan 26.
The 2024 Northlands Music & Arts Festival complete lineup has been announced, featuring the return of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Big Something, and Cool Cool Cool.
The 2024 Northlands Music & Arts Festival lineup boasts a wide array of talent, featuring internationally acclaimed touring ensembles. the festival will again feature nonstop music on two adjacent stages facing a massive concert ground and some of the region’s top acts on a bustling campground stage. Those camping onsite will be treated to late-night silent disco performances, with music going into the early morning.
Northlands 2024 will include indie-jam sensation Goose, the rustic harmonies of Greensky Bluegrass, and jam band icons moe. Festival alumni Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, will return to the stage as a headliner, while Big Something and Cool Cool Cool also join the fantastic list of performers. Further adding to the roster are Krasno & Friends, Mihali, Sierra Hull, Dopapod, Spafford, TAUK, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, and Magic Beans. The festival again welcomes the all-star, all-female group Super Sonic Shorties, whom Nikki Glaspie leads. Other special guests include Kanika Moore (artist at large), Jennifer Hartswick, and Natalie Cressman.
We’re so excited to welcome Pigeons back to Swanzey for another year, as well as their amazing community of fans. Big Something and Cool Cool Cool are putting together special sets for their inaugural appearances- fans, new and old, will love it. As always, we are proud to showcase rising stars in the scene on the Camp Stage. Stay tuned.
Northlands Co-Founder Seth McNally
Northlands continues to lead the way in sustainability, committed to the adage “Enjoy Life. Do Good”. Following the elimination of single-use plastics in 2023 and the introduction of industry-leading recycling and composting programs, the festival will continue to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.
Tickets for the 2024 Northlands Music & Arts Festival are on sale now.
“It’s time you knew the real story of Gamehendge!”
These nine words from actress Annie Golden, playing Jimmy’s Grandma during Phish’s New Year’s Eve concert, released a swell of emotions from Phish fans gathered at Madison Square Garden, witnessing for the first time in nearly 30 years, the first full performance of “Gamehendge.”
Photo by Brian Ferguson
Written by guitarist Trey Anastasio as his senior thesis at Godard College, titled The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday, the rock opera tells the tale of retired colonel from Long Island who enters a mythical land where the lizards live under the rule of the evil king Wilson.
Gamehendge shirt c. 1999, via PhanArt
To the lay person, this is the plot to a children’s book, but to Phish fans, this is the holy grail of shows, only performed five times prior and not even this century, until December 31, 2023.
With a cast of Annie Golden (Grandma), Mitchell Sink (Jimmy), Jo Equality Lampert (The Wolf), Jeff Williams (Colonel Forbin), Daniel Gaymon (Rutherford) and Rebecca Magazine (Tela), the performance spanned a total of 17 songs, with costumed dancers, a flying mockingbird and slow-moving assassin sloth among them, over two sets, stretching past midnight into the first hour of 2024.
The full show remastered video of the entire performance was released on Tuesday. Watch below and relive Phish’s 83rd show at Madison Square Garden.
Set 1: Everything’s Right, Tube, Ether Edge > Reba, Taste, Ruby Waves, A Life Beyond The Dream, Character Zero
Set 2: Down with Disease, Harpua > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > The Lizards > Punch You in the Eye > AC/DC Bag > Tela > Llama > Wilson > The Sloth > Divided Sky
Set 3: McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Colonel Forbin’s Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird > Auld Lang Syne > Split Open and Melt, You Enjoy Myself > Loving Cup > Possum
Encore: Cavern > First Tube > Tweezer Reprise
Additionally – Phish quietly announced a new box set would be available for sale in March. The Spectrum ’97 will celebrate the December 2 and 3 shows during the famed “Phish Destroys America” Fall 1997 tour. More info to come.
The fifth annual Dead of Summer Music Festival is coming to Hunter Park from July 12-14, nestled on 25 acres in the Green Mountains of Manchester, Vermont.
Dead of Summer features three days of live music on two stages, with over 20 food and craft beer vendors. It is family/kid-friendly, with various activities including yoga, a kids set with Andy The Music Man, tie-dying, disc golf, and RV and tent camping opportunities. The event is rain or shine.
The lineup includes a variety of well-known jam bands, including Pink Talking Fish performing the Grateful Dead’s album Terrapin Station and a fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and Phish. The Ensemble includes THE WOLFPACK string & brass quintet along with members of Twiddle, Remain In Light/Cool Cool Cool, and Dead Set.
Special guests include Neighbor, Max Creek, Bearly Dead, Dead Man’s Waltz, Deadgrass, Bar Maids, Lizards: A Phish Tribute, Annie in The Water, Misty Blues Roadhouse Revival, Mystic Dead, Harvest & Rust: A Neil Young Tribute, Rev Tor’s KlusterFunk, Saints and Liars, Organ Fairchild, The Rejuvenators w/ Wanda Houston, Woody and Rebel Alliance, and The Morning Dudes.
Gates open at 9 am on Friday, July 12. For more information about the Dead of Summer Music Festival and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Spafford has announced they are embarking on their highly anticipated Spring Tour, coming to the Brooklyn Bowl on April 20.
Coming off an incredible and unprecedented 2023 which saw the emergence of Spafford with a revitalized sound and an array of new songs following the addition of keyboardist Cory Schechtman, their iconic type two jams continue to transcend boundaries. This spring tour promises yet another extraordinary musical adventure.
Spafford is known for their astonishing improvisational ability and off-the-cuff extended jams, painting a picture in real-time each night with a musical palette known only to each other. Each show is a sonic pilgrimage, the journey of a team of musicians so in tune with each other that a single note communicates intent and purpose. Spafford is amongst the most creative and hard-traveling bands on the contemporary jam scene, performing countless sold-out headline dates and high-profile festival sets at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Firefly Music Festival, and many others.
Spafford’s Spring Tour tickets go on sale this Friday, January 5th at 10 AM EST. You can also check them out in Buffalo on January 17.
SPRING TOUR DATES:
3.16 Frozen Dead Guy Days – Estes Park, CO 3.20 The Broadberry – Richmond, VA 3.21-23 5 Points Music Sanctuary – Roanoke, VA 3.24 Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC 3.26 Tally Ho Theater – Leesburg, VA 3.28-29 Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH 3.30 Madison Theater – Covington, KY 4.18 XL Live – Harrisburg, PA 4.19 The Warehouse at FTC – Fairfield, CT 4.20 Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
WINTER TOUR DATES:
1.10-11 Broad Brook Opera House – Broad Brook, CT 1.12 Aura – Portland, ME 1.13-14 Soundcheck Studios – Pembroke, MA 1.17 Buffalo Iron Works – Buffalo, NY 1.18 Thunderbird Music Hall – Pittsburgh, PA 1.19 Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH 1.20 El Club – Detroit, MI 1.24 Bell’s Eccentric Cafe – Kalamazoo, MI 1.25 The Castle Theatre – Bloomington, IL 1.26 Moontown Brewing Company – Whitestown, IN 1.27 Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL 2.02-4 Gem & Jam Festival – Tucson, AZ 2.22-25 Old Town Pub – Steamboat Springs, CO 2.29-3.3 The Public House – Crested Butte, CO
Jam band moe. has shared a statement regarding the deadly potential terrorist attack outside their show at the Kodak Center in Rochester on New Year’s Day, which killed two people and injured nine.
At about 12:50 a.m., 35-year-old Michael Avery from Syracuse drove a Ford Explorer heading eastbound, striking a Mitsubishi Outlander, killing both himself and two passengers in the other car as concertgoers were leaving the Kodak Center after moe.’s show.
Justina Hughes, 28, of Geneva, Ontario County, and Joshua Orr, 29, of Webster were in the car’s rear in a ride-share. Rochester Police Chief David Smith spoke in a news conference about the incident, saying “Avery sped up, crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic and appears to have intentionally been driving towards the pedestrian crossing.” The collision hit a group of pedestrians who were in the crosswalk, and then two other vehicles. There was an ignited fire that took over an hour to extinguish, and first responders found at least a dozen gasoline canisters in and around Avery’s car.
Last night’s events outside the Kodak Center have left us all in profound shock and sadness. On a night that was meant for celebration and togetherness, we are faced instead with a tragedy that defies understanding. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of those who lost their lives, and our thoughts are with those who were injured.
moe.
moe. went on to thank the first responders for their “swift and courageous actions in securing everyone’s safety,” ending the statement by speaking about the resilience of their fans, saying “We believe in the power of music to heal and unite, and it is in this spirit that we will continue to move forward.”
CNN reported that so far the FBI has not recovered any information that makes them believe this is a terrorist act, but are still looking into it. They do believe it could be an intentional act though, as he drove from Syracuse to Rochester, checked himself into a hotel room, went to the store, and made at least six purchases of gasoline and gas containers between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. that day.
This story is still developing and is a tragedy for the victims, the band, and all those who were in attendance at the show.
On Sunday, December 31, 2023, Phish took the stage at Madison Square Garden for the 83rd time, and gave fans an ultimate performance for the conclusion of their annual New Years Eve run celebration. In true Phish fashion, the event bid farewell to 2023 with a spectacular Broadway-style production, immersing the audience in the mythical realm of “Gamehendge,” performing the band’s rock opera for the first time in its entirety in nearly 30 years.
This series of shows not only added another feather to the band’s cap, but etched a historic moment in their 40+ year journey. The night kicked off with a powerful performance of “Everything’s Right”, setting the tone for an evening filled with seismic energy. The ground was shaking, sections of audiences were engaged in friendly competition to see who could be loudest. Confetti, glow sticks, and bubbles danced through the air, creating a sensory feast for the devoted crowd.
A hallmark of Phish’s New Year extravaganza is the visual surprise ushering in the new year. From scores of clones to airborne hot dogs, the band’s creativity over four decades knows no bounds. This year was no exception, as Phish embarked on a captivating odyssey into the magical world of Gamehendge, a story about the battle to save a once-thriving land. The tale unfolded through the wonderful narration by Broadway actress Annie Golden, renowned for her role in the popular Netflix hit, Orange is The New Black. As the opening notes of “Harpua” resonated, the audience exploded in euphoric bliss.
The second and third sets unfolded as a vivid retelling of Phish’s legendary folklore in Broadway fashion. Colonel Forbin stumbled upon the mythical universe, Gamehendge, a realm inhabited by The Lizards, now under the oppressive rule of the evil King Wilson. The first to discover this universe, Wilson steals away from the too-trusting species their beloved helping friendly book – a guide to eternal joy and never ending splendor. The stage transformed into a mesmerizing display, featuring a colossal rhombus rising from the ground, enchanting puppets, soaring mockingbirds, and the powerhouse band from Vermont performing each song with more meaning than ever, as die-hard fans were engulfed in waves of joy, laughter, and tears.
As the clock struck past 1AM, fans spilled onto the New York streets, clutching their commemorative cups filled with memories. Phish’s journey continues, with upcoming performances in Mexico for their annual Riviera Maya shows and an eagerly anticipated four night residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
Phish – Madison Square Garden, NYC – Sunday, December 31, 2023
Set 1: Everything’s Right, Tube, Ether Edge > Reba, Taste, Ruby Waves, A Life Beyond The Dream, Character Zero
Set 2: Down with Disease, Harpua > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > The Lizards > Punch You in the Eye > AC/DC Bag > Tela > Llama > Wilson > The Sloth > Divided Sky
Set 3: McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Colonel Forbin’s Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird > Auld Lang Syne > Split Open and Melt, You Enjoy Myself > Loving Cup > Possum
