Monday, November 21, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
The More You Know - Screaming Chicken
This is really important, you guys.
Puppeteering & SFX by EH
Pr/Editing by LG
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Yonder Mountain String Band, 10/29/11, Best Buy Theater, NYC
(w/ Infamous Stringdusters & Noam Pikelny)
It's hard to edit photos and write a bloggy when there's no power (and heat). There's also a reason that the opposite of Bikram Yoga never caught on: because it sucks. Now, without further ado, from a warm, electricity filled home office: the Yonder Best Buy review.
A couple of days before this show, my friends Matt & Jen from Boston, whom had talked me into going to Yonder's HoB Boston show last Fall, decided to make the trip down to NYC get their Fall Yonder Fix on. This seemed like a great idea and probably would have gone a lot more smoothly if not for the freak October Snowstorm that slammed into the tri-state region last weekend, bringing with it incredibly wet, heavy snow, that decimated all previously-storm-damaged trees. I thought someone was setting off firecrackers in the neighborhood, but it was actually just tree limbs snapping off like whatever it is that snaps off easily.
The trip from Boston, which should normally take less than 4 hours, took Matt & Jen over 6, as they had to re-route numerous times due to fallen trees closing roads. About an hour before they got to me, our power shit the bed. Fucking hell. Between that, the closed roads trying to get to the Parkway, the shitty drivers who lack the skill to drive in any sort of precipitation, and the fact that we needed to sit down and have a short pregame meal at the Irish Rogue to keep us on the sane path- we didn't actually get to the Best Buy theater until The Infamous Stringdusters had 10 minutes left in their set. This was a real fucking shame, as we were all incredibly psyched to see them. A real fucking shame, as those guys are fucking awesome. We enjoyed listening/watching them from the lobby as we checked our coats and got some booze.
Holy fuck, I was psyched for this show! My ears have been sullied with mostly horrible music at work for weeks, and Yonder were going to re-set my brain with a Cucumber Sorbet of Bluegrassy Fantasticness. This was the plan. And I really wanted to hang in the Dave Zone^, despite it's proximity to the door closest to the entrance. Had a hankerin', can't deny.
The scene was rowdy before the band even took the stage. When they finally did-- total madness! The insanity of Halloween-time shows is an interesting phenomenon. It sets people into Turbo. Views are more obstructed due to wigs, hats, Slutty Cats, and elbows flying into your face. Halloween-time shows seem to grant concert-goers a built-in special permission to get unapologetically As Messy As Possible. It's almost your responsibility to get shit-faced. Or is it?
SET I began with a fantastic Shake Me Up. Super awesome, the crowd was moving, a great First Live Yonder Song of the Fall, and a smart way to start the show. The ENERGY in the room was CHURNING. More highlights in Maid of the Canyon and Part 1. They sounded great, but there were portions of the early part of SET I that kinda lost me. It slowed down a bit a few times and there were some noticeable energy fluctuations. The setlist didn't feel as cohesive as it could have been. However, they fucking blew the fucking room up from the hoppin' Little Rabbit -> through a gorgeous Out of the Blue, and a Holdin' set closer so sweet, you wanted to give it a great, big, giant hug.
The energy plateaus and downgrades are both good and bad. Bad because you WANT that energy and momentum to keep BUILDING. It's layer upon layer of DELICIOUS. That's when Yonder are in their fucking SWEET ZONE. For me, I miss it when it's not like that. Good, because up front in the Dave/Ben Zone, it had become a Total Shit Show and Furry Convention. Large men in fleece onesies were falling over from drunkenness, in between making out with their girlfriends, who could no longer stand up by themselves. Amateur Hour. Anyways-- GOOD, because it calmed some of that Obnoxious Shit down a bit. The band has actually talked about doing this- slowing down the tempo when shit gets too crazy to settle people down. Or, you know, occasionally speeding it up for fun in the same situation, just to see what will happen. And thusly: Yonder on crowd control. I love it. Shit works. Gotta wonder if it was being implemented on this occasion.
As much as I wanted to stay in the Dave/Ben Zone, conditions had deteriorated and it was clearly doomed. It was time to migrate. During setbreak we shifted towards the Jeff/Adam Zone, which was significantly more manageable. Location, location, location! There was, however, one worrisome dude in a sombero about 4 feet in diameter, who really liked to dance.
SET II picked up with a driving energy in Down the River Road. Awesome. So so happy that we moved into safer real estate. The mid-set kind of mellowed out a bit again (though I do have a soft spot for Crazy), but Spanish Harlem Incident lit a fucking fuse that burned through the rest of the show. It left the room buzzing.
Then, The Infamous Stringdusters and Noam Pikelny from The Punch Brothers came out (they had been "percolating backstage") and joined Yonder for the duration of the show. This is when the real shit went down. THIS is what we came to see, hear, & feel. Let's be real-- it's always a real fucking treat when the guest musicians ADD to the show rather than SUBTRACT (I'm looking at you, Bob Weir.), and these guys absolutely BROUGHT IT. They took turns completely RAGING Pretty Daughter & Death Trip, which were INTENSE & EVIL. The energy in the room was on fire. The fuse was burning. It felt gooood. Fuck yeah. The inconvenience of an Encore Break split up what was undoubtedly the most enjoyable part of the evening. They ALL came back out and did a really fun, rollicking, Up On The Hill Where They Do the Boogie. Great energy. And then they fucking ripped the shit out of a MASSIVE Let Me Fall, wherein the room fucking exploded with greatness! KABOOM!! Goddamn, I really wanted to hear that song!!! Thank you, Yonder Mountain String Band! Let Me Fall Craving: Satiated. Awesome.
a Furry disrobes
Jeff thanks the crowd for continuing to throw things at the band.
So so so glad that the show ended on such an high note like that. It certainly wasn't the best Yonder show I've ever seen, it wasn't my favorite setlist, but they sounded great, and the chunks of awesome that appeared at strategic moments made this a great show. It definitely did the trick, I got my Fall Yonder Fix on. That energized ending left me thirsty for so much more, and I won't get to see them again for months-- GRRRRRR...
I was also glad that after making such a shiteous trek down, Jen & Matt were rewarded with a fun show. We went back to a chilly house, but the leftover Infamous Yonder Brothers Glow (and the fact that I cranked the heat after the first couple of power surges in the early afternoon, expecting the worst) kept us warm through the night.
Thanks to Yonder for more fun. Apologies to The Stringdusters for missing their set. Just means they'll have to come back soon. And Goddamnit Yonder, why don't you play NYC more often??? Yonder Mountain String Band w/ fantastic guests The Infamous Stringdusters & Noam Pikelny, 10/29/11, Best Buy Theater, NYC: 8 HUZZAHS!!!
SET I
Shake Me Up
All The Time
Must've Had Your Reasons
Maid of the Canyon
Part 1 ->
Finally Saw the Light ->
Lay It On The Line
Complicated
Just Like Old Times
Little Rabbit ->
Out of the Blue
Holdin'
SET II
Down the River Road
One More
Far From You
Crazy
Sometimes I've Won
Spanish Harlem Incident
Pretty Daughter*
Death Trip*
ENCORE
Up On the Hill Where They Do the Boogie*
Let Me Fall*
* w/ The Infamous Stringdusters & Noam Pikelny from the Punch Brothers
** The show isn't up on archive or etree yet, but as soon as it is, the link to DOWNLOAD will be here**
^ aka "Bevo side"
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Trey Anastasio Band, 10/12/11, Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ
This mid-week show had been floating around in the realm of possibilities, but because I had no desire to fight rush hour traffic and stay out really late in the middle of the week, there was no way I was going unless an unprovoked ticket fell into my lap. A few days before the show, an unprovoked ticket fell into my lap. What are ya gonna do?
First, you get stuck in traffic. Then, you get stuck in traffic. Rt. 3 out of the Lincoln Tunnel on a rainy Wednesday night- you do the math. But at the end of all that traffic there is a Trey Anastasio show, and these days he's been delivering. These Days, as opposed to Those Days, with Phase Puddle Trey from many years back, out of the way, that is. I saw an NYC show during that state, and was actively upset by the terribleness of it all. However, Spring Tour 2011, brought with it rave reviews, and I wanted Trey Band to redeem itself.
It did. Tenfold. Awesome show. Lots of love, lots of energy, and a really happy crowd. The show itself was 93-95% Awesome, 5-7% Wank. The kind of Wank that makes you sit down and conserve some energy, or time out a pee-break. They totally lost me with a couple of songs, but other than that-- AWESOME!
Trey was dancing, running around the stage, and acting like a freakin' kid on Fun Dip. And of course, shredding the fuck out of the guitar. His talent will still melt your face, even after all these years. These Years, as opposed to Those Years. It's adorable to see him genuinely enjoying himself and embracing his ability to entertain people again. I'm really glad to see him smile.
Highlights: Burlap Sack and Pumps -> Money, Love, and Change. Alaska, Magilla, SMOKING Cayman Review. Then I got tired, but the end of the set picked back up and Push On 'Til the Day (which I believe was meant to inspire us to drag our asses through setbreak and the rest of the show) filled me with spirit. Set II rocked, and they did the Gorillaz's Clint Eastwood, which was outstanding and blew the fucking roof off the place. Righteous groove. -> Mr. Completely, sick. Dire Straits' Sultans of Swing-- got the whole room moving. A rockin' First Tube closed out Set II. Encore featured a beautiful Ocelet and, annnnnnd, a fucking BRILLIANT Zep's Black Dog, with Jennifer Hartswick on screaming vocals. She rules.
Speaking of the band-- just an unbelievable lineup. The horn section (Hartswick on trumpet, Natalie Cressman on Trombone, and Russell Remington on Sax & Flute)--- was vibrant and sweet. Ray Paczkowski on Keys was soulful and a shit-ton of fun to watch. Tony Markellis (Bass) and Russ Lawton (Drums) layed down a locked-in & killer rhythm section. Great sound.
We tried to sneak on the floor but were totes denied. The balcony was still cool-- first time I've been up there. However, the sound towards the bottom is much better than the sound at the top. Yah, I know, duh-- but it was a noticeable difference. I like feeling the ROCK in my sternum and that didn't happen til we moved down for Set II.
Trey Anastasio Band redeemed itself. I'm so so glad that they did. I am also very glad that this unprovoked ticket fell into my lap-- thanks, Leeeza (all the way from VT! Great to hang in the Jerz!)! Trey Anastasio Band, 10/12/11, Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ: 8.8 HUZZAHS!!
Set 1: Burlap Sack and Pumps > Money, Love and Change, It Makes No Difference, Gotta Jibboo, Alaska, Magilla, Cayman Review, Shine, Snake Head Thumb, Pigtail, Liquid Time, Small Axe, Push On ‘Til the Day
Set 2: Simple Twist Up Dave, Acting the Devil, Clint Eastwood > Mr. Completely > Plasma, O-o-h Child > Goodbye Head > Sand, Sultans of Swing, First Tube
Encore: At the Gazebo, Ocelot, Show of Life, Black Dog
DOWNLOAD THE SHOW: haven't seen it up yet, but check http://bt.etree.org for copies that will surely pop up.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Occupy Wall Street, Zuccotti Park, & Primus, 9/30/11, Roseland, NYC
Primus, 9/30/11, Roseland Ballroom, NYC
This day started out with me checking to make sure my Primus ticket was in my wallet at least 3 times before I left the house. It was. Then I got street parking! Happy Rosh Hashanah!
When I got to work, the interwebs were abuzz with a rumor that global music superstars Radiohead, who had just played 2 surprise/sold out shows at Roseland, were going to be visiting the Occupy Wall Street protest in Zuccotti Park at 4PM and playing a few songs in support. It was believable in the moment, but as the minutes grew closer, a few statements were released claiming it was a hoax. Of course, that’s what The Man would want you to think. Regardless, it would be a stellar PR stunt for the protestors, who have gotten next to no coverage in the mainstream media. Live Music Junkie OCD took over and soon my buddy and I had ducked out of the office and took a 5 minute subway ride to Rector St.-- you know, “just in case.”
Hoax or not, it was a good excuse to finally go down there and check out the protest. I am, after all, part of the Other 99% (as opposed to those jerkface 1%'ers). And as someone who spent the better part of last year as an unemployed statistic, I am definitely in support of Tax/Finance/Wall St./Corporate/Regulatory/Health Care/Environmental/David Cook’s Beard/Generally Disenfranchised Population/You Name It Reform. But if Radiohead had played a free set so close and I had missed it, I’d be really pissed. What we found however, besides no Radiohead and a lot of NYPD, was a strange scene in the park, reminiscent of Monday morning at moe.down: lots of people kind of standing around, a sign tribute/graveyard/floor score cornucopia, air mattresses, grilled cheese sandwiches, and the occasional Tourist, who had wandered over from Ground Zero (on purpose or not). And Radiohead fans, but still, no Radiohead.
We wandered a little deeper into the mix to investigate. In the center of the park is the makeshift Media/Press Room, which consisted of folding tables, lots of laptops, and a guy wearing a black t shirt with a piece of duct tape indicating he was “Security”. Nice. We will be doing this to Pete next year at moe.down xiii. There were a mess of camera crews, I don't know from what outlets, maybe waiting for Radiohead, since the protest has gotten barely any press at all. CURIOUS. The crowd was practicing some simple chants, then they took part in what almost sounded like the legal wording of a Wide Release. Apparently, they are not allowed to use bullhorns, so they use a technique known as “The People's Mic", sort of a human bullhorn if-you-will. One person says something, and the entire crowd repeats it, in order for everyone else to hear. Cult-like, but both effective & law-abiding on Private Property. I wondered aloud if my friend and I would be leaving with Bed Bugs. No one repeated that.
Having already gotten sweatier than I ever intended to get that day, it was time to head back to work... for a major Corporation. A girl’s gotta pay for Health Insurance, yo (heeey, if only it were freeeee!!). I have left hippie protests feeling invigorated before, but this one left me feeling kind of sad and weird. Yes, the air mattresses bothered me, but also, it’s centered in this teeny tiny little park in lower Manhattan, it seems to be dwarfed by all the Skyscrapers and money around it. It feels as if nobody cares. The scene is symbolic of this entire movement, whatever it is. The 99% are diminutive. “Nothing to see here, please disperse.” It all still needs direction and focus. And there was also a hipster trying to sublet his “really nice 2 bedroom apartment in Brooklyn” on an iPhone standing next to us. So, there was that.
However, this weekend, as Occupy YOUR CITY’S NAME HERE began popping up around the country! It seems as if the message has gotten out via the interwebs. Holy crap! Sound familiar (Europe, the Middle East, etc.)? Welcome to the future? Sunday brought a massive march onto the Brooklyn Bridge, where police “kettled” in the protestors with plastic fencing and arrested over 700 of them. MORE THAN SEVEN HUNDRED PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED ON THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE ON SUNDAY. MSNBC even gave them some great Prime-Time-Air Monday night! So, perhaps they are finally onto something! I encourage everyone to go down to Zuccotti Park and check out what is going on. Occupy Wall Street has sparked a nationwide movement (joining a worldwide movement) that will hopefully keep growing and moving in the right direction. It’s hard to believe that 99% of the population can be ignored and brushed under the rug for much longer. Is it stupid to remain hopeful?
Anyways… Later in the day, there was Live Music to be had--- and this was definitely NOT a hoax.
There are few greater joys in life than watching Les Claypool dance around in a pig mask. And that’s only one of the reasons I see Primus at every given opportunity. I first saw them on MTV’s 120 Minutes, which used to air back when MTV was awesome, and actually encouraged people to go out and buy albums (crazy how that worked!), which I did. At ~14 years old, Sailing the Seas of Cheese was unlike anything I’d ever heard. Mind-bending bass and weirdness led the charge, complemented by relentlessly pounding drums, and an uncontrollable squealing guitar that always took the road less traveled. It all came together magically, creating a beautiful ruckus. A twisted and far cry from the Classic Rock, Hair Bands, & Metal I’d grown up with.
In 1995, I saw my first Primus show. My hearing would never be the same. What? I also learned a valuable lesson, which is: tiny girls don’t belong in a mosh pit. No, sir. I vaguely recall a cocky attempt followed by a fast & cowardly retreat. Later on, my sister’s boyfriend reappeared with a black eye, after getting kicked in the face. Fun! Oh, and someone threw a shoe at Les, hitting the headstock of his bass, which knocked it out of tune in the middle of Jerry Was a Racecar Driver, and earned us all a lecture about why you don’t throw things at the band. Also, Les requested, if you see some guy walking out of the AU Bender Arena with only one shoe tonight, please beat the shit out of him, or something to that effect.
Last Friday, a slightly more mature Primus crowd, briefly mingled with the Jersey Boys theater-goers (a nice English couple were staring at the marquee and asked me what was going on- I described Primus as “a loud Rock band”) before we (sans nice English couple) stormed Roseland to have our ears dominated like sex slaves who just had to fucking take it. Enjoyably, that is. No safety words can save you now. Maybe I should have lied to get them in? "It's like Fawlty Towers... on ice."
The last time I saw Primus at Roseland, I was well out of the pit area (now a professional choice), halfway back, on the floor, against the VIP riser—and of course, location and timing being everything-- a spontaneous mosh pit erupted right in front of me. This pinned me to the wall before I managed to shimmy (oh, if you could have only seen me shimmy) my way out, still against the wall, backwards. This was why I was especially thankful and grateful to Mark, for bringing me up to the Mezzanine to enjoy this particular show, out of harm’s way. Thanks, Marquis.
With the first groans of Damn Blue Collar Tweekers, Roseland began MOVING. My thoughts turned to the Occupy Wall Street folks. Though, that might be more like Those Damn White Collar Tweekers, who have always run this town. Regardless, the first set was a killer mix of Primus favorites. A stellar Groundhog’s Day. Then Southbound Pachyderm-- insanely good. The vibe in Roseland was lurking and EVIL. BRING IT, Primus! Mrs. Blaileen was loud and crazy. Jerry Was A Racecar Driver, was awesome as always, and the floor became a mess of frenzied animals (including a cow in the mosh pit!! See video, below!). Over the Electric Grapevine was a beautiful way to mellow out the room, with just enough rockin’ involved, to keep the energy going while ensuring a calm setbreak.
Setbreak itself, consisted of a captivated room of spectators, totally entranced by cartoons playing on the big screen. Fabulous! Know your audience!
Set two was the new album, Green Naugahyde, in its entirety, which was **AWESOME**. Primus busted out the big guns and the crowd ate it up. Who wouldn’t love a demented fishing trip with Les Claypool? Fun, bouncy, loud, with exploratory jams. Highlights: Prelude To A Crawl, because it sets the scene. Tragedy’s a’ Comin’, cuz it’s a silly groove. Jilly’s On Smack, do I really need to explain why? HOINFODAMAN. Pronounced: Ho’in, fo’, da man. So… Fuck yah. A spacy Extinction Burst that any Benevento/Russo Duo fan would fucking cream over. And of course, Last Salmon Men, returning to the dock with Captain Les.
Someone threw a beer at Jay, which was totes lame. Les told the tosser dude he had a small penis. Fantastic. Then they encored with a high energy Mr. Knowitall and a smokin’ Harold of the Rocks, which featured Lal going absolutely fucking bonkers on guitar! Hot damn, I love that guy!
There is absolutely nothing like a Primus show to rock the fuck out and blow off some steam. They just fucking shred. Larry Lalonde is a mad genius on guitar and the perfect complement to Claypool’s weirdness. They exist on the same plane and are absolutely magical together. Jay Lane is back on on drums, and while he’s played with various other artists through the years (Charlie Hunter, The Flying Frog Brigade, Furthur, Ratdog), the man showed everyone why he belongs in Primus. This is nothing against Herb, who has sat on the kit previously- because he is also awesome, but Jay fucking KILLED it on the skins this night. Such a sick sick trio with such a loud loud sound.
I think years of dabbling in the jamband scene has really left a positive impression on Les. The 2 set format worked really well for Primus. I’d love to see that again. Also, secretly, I think Les enjoys playing to people who aren’t beating the shit out of each other every time the tempo builds, but that’s just one hippie’s opinion.
Hope to do it again real soon!
SET I
Blue Collar Tweekers, Wynona's Big Brown Beaver, The Pressman, Groundhog's Day, Over the Falls, Southbound Pachyderm, Mrs. Blaileen, Jerry Was a Racecar Driver, Over the Electric Grapevine
SET II: Green Naugahyde
Prelude to a Crawl, Hennepin Crawler, Last Salmon Man, Eternal Consumption Engine, Tragedy's a' comin', Eyes of the Squirrel, Jilly's on Smack, Lee Van Cleef, Moron TV, Green Ranger, HOINFODAMAN, Extinction Burst, Salmon Men
ENCORE
Mr. Knowitall, Harold of the Rocks
I haven’t seen the Roseland show up, but the rest of the Northeast tour is-- so check for updates and then DOWNLOAD THE SHOW! http://bt.etree.org/?searchss=&cat=207
MY SLIDESHOW & HI-RES GALLERY!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Phish, 9/14/11, A Benefit for VT Flood Recovery
Champlain Valley Expo Center, Essex Junction, VT
Shit man, I started a new gig last week and never had time to review this show the way I wanted, but here's the gist. 2 weeks ago, Phish played their first show in Vermont since that wretched Coventry disaster back in 2004. The concert was pulled together as a benefit for Vermont Flood Disaster Relief, after that cunt, Hurricane Irene, came through, causing flash floods that destroyed anything in the vicinity of a river, brook, or creek- including roads, bridges, houses, farmland, businesses, downtowns, yards, etc.. Towns became islands and people’s lives were washed away in a matter of minutes. Vermont’s microclimates are not meant for Tropical Storms. It’s a FACT.
The Champlain Valley Exposition Center is a smallish venue (the VT State Fair is held there) with a 12k capacity, so I didn't think I'd actually score lotto tickets for this, but I freakin’ did, so I was all, "Ohh, poor me, I gotta drive to Burlington on Wednesday and hang out with my friends to do charity work! TOTES WAAAH!"
There was a ton of traffic and lots of happy people heading into to the Expo, where I almost nearly saw Def Leppard play in 98 or 99 during my UVM days, but no one would go with me for that cuz, 1) no one gave a shit- Def Leppard in VT in the late 90's?? and 2) then it started raining and I was like, "they aren't gonna beat that show in Jersey I saw when I was 13 when Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora came out to ‘jam’ on Wanted Dead or Alive, so I'll just go get drunk at VPB instead.” Which I most certainly did, yes.
But this is a Phish review. The vibe for miles around the Expo was love and chill. It was a total clusterphuck trying to get into the venue, but everyone was so psyched for the last minute show, it didn’t matter. From the line, we listened to Governor Shumlin and Mike Gordon talk about the massive destruction that Hurricane Irene caused in the wonderful state of Vermont, how people have pulled together for strength, and then they thanked us all for coming. MY PLEASURE.
I had already run into a handful of friends in the lot, but upon entering, I ran into even more. The place was packed with my VT running crew and it was just flat out fantastic to see such an intimate Phish show with all of ‘em. While the field was crowded, I had no desire to push forward to get to the stage, cuz I was totally content hanging with my peeps wherever we landed. Shit yeah.
Some folks were picking apart the setlist, but it wasn’t really a concern of mine. Many expected full on Gamehenge. Realistically, I saw this show as an addition to the Summer Tour. I prepared myself for hearing YEM, Prince Caspian, and Free, but if I had to suffer through those this time around, at least it’d be for a good cause. They played none of these things-- of course there’s always that damn Rock and Roll to contend with, but whatever. It wasn’t about the setlist.
Which brings me to the main point of this review: no, this wasn't the greatest Phish show of all time, but the crazy love and energy in the air made it into a fucking amazing and magical night IN Vermont, FOR Vermont. A hometown gig for a great cause. You can’t get more genuine than that. The practically-Full-Moon and gigantic glowing Jupiter hovering above only added to that magic. Gorgeous.
HIGHLIGHTS: Funky Bitch, Cavern, Bathtub Gin, Alaska, Wolfman’s -> Julius. Carini -> Down with Disease was TOTALLY SICK AND AWESOME. Sweet baby Cheesus, I love Carini!!! Made all the more dark by Chris Kuroda, who is a fucking Evil Genius. Theme From the Bottom was stellar, and Loving Cup just topped it all off with a frothy foam of good vibes (the foam is the best part!).
They chose songs with appropriate themes: VT (“a picture of Nectar”), water (the crowd offered a more spirited than usual “and we love to take a bath!”), and/or hurricane related lyrics (“It’s like a cross between a Hurricane, and a ship that’s run aground.”), and every time they hit one of these points, a wave of excitement and goosebumps ran through the audience. There was absolutely no mistaking the love and energy that combined to make this night so special. My one complaint was that the ice cream stand didn’t have any sprinkles. WHAT THE SHIT, EXPO??? Don’t make me ask for Jimmies! I WILL NEVER ASK FOR JIMMIES.
A quick visit to the merch booth for an adorable Phish VT Flood Relief t-shirt and hoodie (the logo featured a classic pair of rubber boots) made this some of the easiest charity work I’ve ever done. All proceeds, including merch, and webcast-streams, raised over $1.2 Million for VT Flood Relief. Not to mention all the money pumped into the local economy by thousands of VT’ers and out-of-Staters from as far away as Colorado & California (hotels and restaurants were packed!). Additionally, the Police stated that the Phish fans were the most pleasant crowd they’ve ever had to deal with, so-- way to keep the good vibes flowing in the community, hippies! Hopefully we’ll be welcomed back with open arms!
Thursday late-morning/early-afternoon was the icing on the cake, as I had a wonderful Sneakers brunch, complete with old friends, new friends, and a delicious Bloody Mary. My drive home later that day featured a patented Western VT Sunset Over the Adirondacks- my favorite kind. What a fucking fantastic last-minute trip!
Thanks again to hippie bands like Phish for making grueling charity work not only enjoyable, but also completely accessible. Loads of love to my home-away-from-home, Vermont. I hope the land, people, and infrastructure recover sooner rather than later! See you this Winter! Let's hope for snow next time around! Phish, 9/14/11, A Benefit for VT Flood Recovery: 10 HUZZAHS!!!
TO DONATE to VT Flood Relief via the Waterwheel Foundation: http://phish.com/#/waterwheel
Set 1: Chalk Dust Torture, The Moma Dance > NICU, Funky Bitch, Sample in a Jar, Cavern, Bathtub Gin, Alaska > Possum, Wolfman's Brother > Julius
Set 2: Carini > Down with Disease > Slave to the Traffic Light > Rock and Roll > Twist > Backwards Down the Number Line, Theme From the Bottom > Suzy Greenberg > Character Zero
Encore: Loving Cup
DAVE VANN’S OFFICIAL AWESOME PHISHY PICS
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