Archive for Show Reviews

A Taste of Hampton

{ April 12, 2009 @ 5:37 pm } · { Hampton, Phish, Show Reviews }
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For those of you that weren’t fortunate enough to catch any of the Phish reunion shows at Hampton Coliseum on March 6th, 7th, and 8th, enjoy these HD/SBD clips of some highlights from the historic run. I’ve sampled some of the best vids out there from each day of the run.

Fluffhead -3/6/09 Set I Opener
The Hampton Fluffhead opener will go down in phans record books as one of, if not the most historic moment in the band’s 25 year career. While I could write an essay on this, I’ll just let you decide what you think and enjoy the song’s “FLUFFHEAD!” peak and ensuing jam:

David Bowie – 3/6/09 Set I Closer
The climax of the David Bowie jam is one of the most sought after musical segments in Phish’s repertoire. This fan favorite from the band’s first studio album – 1988′s Junta – David Bowie is funky number with extremely complex composed segments. The composed section leads into a dark and building jam all leading up to the Bowie ‘peak’, exhibit A:

YEM Vocal Jam – 3/6/09 Set II Closer
Having witnessed this vocal jam personally, all I can say is ‘Wow’. Kuroda’s lights and the band are so synced, it’s downright scary:

Ghost Jam Segment – 3/7/09 Set II
Many fans point to the Ghost jam as the most experimental jamming of the weekend and taste of what’s in store for Phish 3.0. This starts out dark and slow and builds into a fantastic jam up around the 5 minute mark, enjoy:

Tweezer Reprise – 3/8/09 Encore (last song of the run)
The band decided to save the Tweezer Reprise (Tweezer was played on night 1, set 2) to close out the run at the end of the encore on the 8th. This vid is shot from the middle of the pit and really gives you a feeling of the insane energy abound in the Coliseum this weekend. If this vid doesn’t make you want to quit your job and go on summer tour, check your pulse:

Check out more videos here

Buy the SBD from livephish.com here

Download some nice sounding AUDs from our friends over PhishThoughts here

Orchard Lounge and The Indobox – 4/11/09 @ Sullivan Hall

{ April 12, 2009 @ 3:18 pm } · { Indobox, Orchard Lounge, Show Reviews }
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Last night’s late night party at Sullivan Hall saw the Indobox and Orchard Lounge each lay img_326751_primary1down extended
sets to a happy, dancey, and no doubt twisted crowd at the Greenwich Village jam hot-spot – Sullivan Hall.

Indobox played an intense and energetic 2 hour set with face-melting jams from the quartet flowing until 2:30. While it’s hard to deny this band is a Bisco rip-off, they do it well and definitely have their own unique style to add to the mix as well. This was my first Indobox show and I’d have to say I’d definitely catch these guys again:

The Indobox – Setlist

Gz and Hustlas ->
Graffiti ->
The Right Time
Huntington
Shanghai Baby
Ming Ming
Catch Her in the Red ->
Lighthouse (ending)

The headlining act – Orchard Lounge – emerged after a short break around 300 Am and delivered a jaw-dropping dance fest of music (complete with live on-stage painting) that raged past 4 in the morning. While I don’t have the setlist, the whole idea of a ‘song’ isn’t really that relevant when you’re talking about the interwoven electro-jam segments the band dabbles in. Let me just say the crowd was loving every minute, spirits were high, smiles all around, and feet were moving. What a great way to close out an amazing weekend of music here in the greatest city in the world!

Rage the Scene!

Rage the Scene!

Spend a Little Time on the Mountain

{ April 11, 2009 @ 3:52 pm } · { Audio, Phil and Friends, Show Reviews }
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Let’s be honest – in life, not all friends are created equal. The same is true of Phil Lesh’s revolving door ‘Phil and Friends’ project. While any true head will point to the original Quintet (Lesh, Haynes, Herring, Molo, Baracco) as the ultimate lineup for this band, this head will go so far as to say the lineup featured at the Mountain Jam 07′ show is a close 2nd. This festival-closing performance saw John Scofeild and Warren Haynes on guitar, John Molo on drums, Steve Molitz on keys, and of course Mr. Lesh himself on bass.

The Band

The Band

This was Phil and Friends only summer festival appearance and it was clear they came out practiced, hungry, and with more than a few aces up their sleeve:

plyain

Playin' in the Band - Set I

Phil Lesh and Friends
Mountain Jam @ Hunter Mountain
Hunter, New York
June 3, 2007

Set I
Shakedown Street ->
Friend of the Devil
Althea
Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
New Speedway Boogie
Mason’s Children
Candyman
Scarlet Begonias ->
Eyes of the World ->
Fire on the Mountain

Set II
Unbroken Chain
Dark Star ->
Mountains of the Moon ->
Dark Star ->
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Turn on Your Lovelight

Encore
Not Fade Away

Playin' in the Band - Set II

Playin' in the Band - Set II

The first set was probably the longest Phil n’ Friends set ever clocking in at OVER 2 HOURS! I’m sure I wasn’t the only one worried they were going to do a 1 set show, but more likely they were playing an extended set in appreciation of the crowd’s undying love and enthusiasm while it had rained all day and continued to rain all through the show.

Some first set highlights include the Low Spark and Mason’s bustouts, the Scarlet/Eyes/Fire segment (look out for Scofield’s solo on Eyes), and the smoking New Speedway. The 2nd set was pure Phil magic and honestly one of the best Phil n’ Friends sets i’ve ever seen. The Lucy in the Sky was a real treat and both NFA and Lovelight feature earth-shattering riffing from Sco and Warren – these are MUST HEARS.

Enjoy!

Download the show here
Stream the show here

bow

Take a Bow!

Lotus at Bowery Ballroom – 4/10/09

{ April 11, 2009 @ 2:26 pm } · { Lotus, Show Reviews }
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Lotus put on a solid showing last night at Bowery Ballroom, I’d break it down about like this:

Music – 8.5, Lights – 9, Crowd – 4

Lotus (w/ BLVD opening)
The Bowery Ballroom
April 10th, 2009

Set I
Jump Off
Behind Midwest Store Fronts
Juggernaut
Hammerstrike
Age of Inexperience

Set II
Flower Sermon
IACTMN>
Slow Cookin>
Sunrain
Spiritualize

Encore:
Suitcases and Sandwiches

All in all a good time but not quite my cup of tea. The crowd left more than something to be desired – the scenesters were out in full force showing off their flat-brims, sun glasses inside, and all that comes with that shtick. I can’t tell you how many times someone just strolled up into my dancing space and stopped dead – completely unaware of what they were doing. Please, have some decency people!

The 1st set was more jazzy and restrained with some euphoric moments and some nicely executed jams. The 2nd set showed a little bit dirtier and, at times, more rocking side of the band and there were some definite Untz’d out moments. All in all, good times had by all.

Download/Stream the show here!

Look for a more thorough review of my preferred jam-tronica choice of the Disco Biscuits, next Saturday 4/18/09 at the one, the only, Electric Factory in the city of brotherly love!

Alpine 89

{ April 9, 2009 @ 9:19 pm } · { Grateful Dead, Show Reviews }
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In the summer of 89′, the Dead delivered this monster show at the famous summer concert destination. Brought to you in video, streaming audio and for download:

grateful-dead-pictures-1989-dn-3013-005-l-11

The Dead at Alpine Valley, 89'

The Grateful Dead
Alpine Valley Music Theater
July 17, 1989

Set I
Let The Good Times Roll->
Feel Like A Stranger
Built To Last
Me & My Uncle->
Cumberland Blues
It’s All Over Now
Row Jimmy
When I Paint My Masterpiece
When Push Comes To Shove
The Music Never Stopped

Set II
China Cat Sunflower->
I Know You Rider
Playin’ In The Band->
Uncle John’s Band->
Standing On the Moon*
Drums
Jam->
The Wheel->
Gimme Some Lovin’->
Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad->
Not Fade Away

Encore
We Bid You Good Night
Johnny B. Goode

The show’s opening segment of Let the Good Times Roll-> Feel Like a Stranger is phenomenal. The juxtaposition of the two songs to open the show is the perfect invocation; and the perfect example of the Dead at their best: able to turn on a dime from melting hearts to melting faces:

The Stones classic ‘It’s All Over Now’ is one of many gems delivered in the first set. Brent really adds some color and a new found energy to this oft-performed cover:

The set II opener ‘I Know You Rider’ (of course emerging out of China Cat) is just smoking. Both Bobby and Jerry go big on the ‘I wish I was a headlight’ line, great stuff:

If you’ve never heard the Dead’s version of ‘Gimme Some Lovin’, check this one out. Brent’s take on this is a lot of fun, you have to love both his singing and keyboard playing here. His energy keeps the band on their toes and definitely encourages Jerry to keep things moving:

The show closing Chuck Berry cover – Johnny B. Goode – really brings things home on a high note, especially following the typical goodnight lullaby ‘Bid You Goodnight’. The Dead really go all out in this, even after hours of playing, and show why they are the only ones that can do what they do. Brent’s solo is incendiary, or dare I say – flame:

Stream the show here

Download the show here

More Videos here

Enjoy!

More Free Dead

{ April 1, 2009 @ 7:39 pm } · { Audio, Grateful Dead, Show Reviews, Video }
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The Dead were busy this Monday, making 4 separate appearances throughout the Big Apple over the course of the day. While the day closing set at Roseland Ballroom was already covered here on Welcome To Now Blog, let me bring you up to speed on the rest of the day’s events in case you missed it…

The Dead started the day off with a morning appearance on the TV show ‘The View’ and offered up this take on Friend of the Devil with an alternate verse by Phil and only one vocal flub from Bobby:

Stop 2 of 4 was at the Angel Oranz Foundation for a matinee 5 o’clock acoustic set  by Phil, Bobby, and Warren:

Dire wolf
Birdsong
Cumberland Blues
Pride of Cucamonga
Lazy River Road
Casey Jones

E: Ripple

Bird Song:

Pride of Cucamonga:

Lazy River Road:

Ripple:

The band then shuffled over to the Gramercy Theater for stop 3, with the the full band joining forces for the first time in the day. After a face-melting 20+ minute Playin’ opener, the band delivered a hit-filled performance featuring:

Playin’ In the Band>
Good Lovin’>
The Wheel>
Franklin’s Tower
Touch of Grey

Download The entire set from The Gramercy Theather here!

‘Free The Dead’, Roseland Ballroom, 3/30/09

{ March 31, 2009 @ 1:48 am } · { Audio, Grateful Dead, Show Reviews }
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The Dead played a series of free shows in New York City yesterday, culminating with a full band electric set at Roseland Balroom that raged from 11:20 PM to 1:00 AM in the morning. Enjoy the following setlist, review, and download of the show here on Welcome To Now blog!

roseland_banner1

Download the show here!

Setlist:
Althea
Cassidy
Uncle John’s Band
Eyes Of The World
St Stephen (w/ Eleven teases)>
Dark Star (w/ Eleven and Other One teases)>
Sugar Magnolia  (w/ Sunshine Daydream ending)

Encore:
Not Fade Away

It was an odd scene at Roseland last night, what with the free tickets, last minute announcement, late show time, etc. It was hard to believe you were about to witness The Dead play a 3,000 person venue but at 11:20 the lights went down and the band filed out onto stage. After a few minutes of  ‘dead air’, the stealthy Althea progression emerged and Warren led the band through this soulful classic. Warren did this Jerry tune justice and a patient and restrained jam followed.

warrenandbobby

Bobby then took the reins for Cassidy and delivered a suprisingly strong performance. The band began to settle in and Phil and the drummers were locked up.  The boys kept the cheese factor going and broke into Uncle John’s Band next. By the time UJB rolled around, it was clear the band was both practiced and focused on keeping this a flub-free show. After Saturday night’s Allman Brothers debacle, they rightfully felt they had something to prove. While the band was executing consistently on point, it was at the cost of more adventurous and energetic jamming. At the same time, it’s clear Warren is still settling back into his role in the band – trying to find that balance of paying tribute to Jerry and playing his own southern-blues-rock style.

chimentiphil1As the UJB sing-along subsided, The Dead switched gears and launched in the spacey Eyes intro groove. What followed was the most exciting and experimental jamming of the night. Both Chimenti and Phil really shined in the 2nd half of the show and brought about some exciting jamming. After Eyes, the band continued into outer space with St.Stephen>Dark Star – a 35 minute sequence with moments of rocking jams and moments of Phil n’ Friends-esque ‘space’. This was by far the meatiest segment of the show and the band just continued to settle in and loosen up. As it got well past midnight, the band returned from the cosmos to bring it home with Sugar Magnolia, complete with the triumphant Bobby reprise Sunshine Daydream. While this was an energetic and fun rendition of Sugar Mag, the Eleven and Other One teases heard within the previous segment left something to be desired in song selection.

full_band2After a quick break, the band returned to close out the evening with Not Fade Away, complete with crowd clapping/sing along and some of the most energetic jamming of the night. The crowd was dancing and euphoric as The Dead brought things home on a high note. The band took a bow and Phil reminded the crowd that they’d ‘be back in a few weeks’. Stay posted for full coverage of the upcoming Dead Tour that kicks of April 12th in Greensboro, including full reviews of the MSG and Spectrum shows.


ABB 3/28/09: Peakin’ at the Beacon

{ March 29, 2009 @ 9:11 pm } · { Allman Brothers, Show Reviews }
{ Comments (2) }

For the first official concert review from Welcome To Now, enjoy the following play-by-play of last night’s Allman Brothers 20 night Beacon Theater run close out show with special Guests Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Floyd Miles, Chuck Leavell, and Paul Riddle.

Warren, Derek, and Oteil

Warren, Derek, and Oteil

First things first, the Setlist:
The Allman Brothers Band, The Beacon Theater, 3/28/09

SET I
Little Martha
Done Somebody Wrong
Trouble No More
Rocking Horse
Walk On Gilded Splinters
Who To Believe
Born Under a Bad Sign (w/ Floyd Miles)
Stormy Monday (w/ Floyd Miles and Chuck Leavell)
Come and Go Blues (w/ Chuck Leavell)
Jessica (w/ Chuck Leavell and Paul Riddle)

SET II
Sugaree (w/ Bob Weir and Phil Lesh)
I Know You Rider (w/ Bob Weir and Phil Lesh)
Franklin’s Tower (w/ Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Chuck Leavell)
Black Hearted Woman >
Mountain Jam Tease >
Little Martha tease  >
Mountain Jam  (w/ Chuck Leavell)

ENCORE
Statesborro Blues

The boys got things started with the good ole’ classics Little Martha, Done Somebody Wrong, and Trouble No More. A great way to start the show, would have loved to hear Warren and Derek acoustic on Little Martha but still a nice invocation. Done Somebody Wrong and Trouble No More were solid and allowed Warren and Derek to get warmed up and trade off some solid riffs. The Rocking Horse that followed – a Warren Haynes composition with a full on driving Gov’t Mule feel – really got things rocking. I could have been at a mule show with Warren stealing the show but it hardly mattered and he straight tore things up.

Rocking Horse

Rocking Horse

The Brothers then settled things down a bit for Walk On Gilded Splinters, Who To Believe – both great tracks and very soulful delivery from Greg on Who To Believe. They closed out the set with Folyd Miles, Chuck Leavell, and Paul Riddle. Pure history right here and beaultiful all around playing.

The Born Under a Bad Sign/Stormy Monday/Come and Go Blues was a great blues throw down with Floyd singing Born Under a Bad Sign with amazing soul and Leavell adding a great key solo in Stormy Monday. The set closing Jessica got the 50 % of the crowd who seemed lifeless for most of the first set out of their seats and dancing as the Brothers really smoked this one to close out the set.

Born Under a Bad Sign w/ Floyd Miles

Born Under a Bad Sign w/ Floyd Miles

When the lights went down for Set II (at 11 PM after a 55 minute (!) set break), the stars aligned and Bob Weir emerged along with Phil Lesh (who replaced Oteil for the Dead segment of the show) to join Warren, Derek, Greg, Butch et al. for an All-Star The Dead meets Allman Brothers jam session. A lot of the crowd was there for this sit in (it was widely rumored including here on Welcome To Now), and the lights of Phil’s Bass out of the darkness evoked a roar from the crowd before the music started.

Phil has arrived w/ Lightsaber-esque bass

Phil has arrived w/ Lightsaber-esque bass

The opening Sugaree was a well received, energetic take on the Dead classic with Weir on vocals for a change. Weir pulled it off (somehow) and Derek was in top form. What followed was two simple Dead classics: I Know You Rider and Franklin’s Tower. While I could write an essay on the many flubs from Weir and the missed cues all around, let me say the following: Bob was unable to lead this 9 piece band and, without Warren at the helm, things got shakey and, at times, a real mess. Nonetheless, some moments of euphoric jamming mixed with great playing and singing from Phil saved this section and it was still a sight to be seen (and heard). Let’s just hope that Bobby can get things together in time for the upcoming The Dead tour.

Warren, Bobby, and Derek on Sugaree

Warren, Bobby, and Derek on Sugaree


Bobby to Warren: "How does this song go again?"

Bobby to Warren: "How does this song go again?"

After hugs all around and Bobby hitting himself in the head with his Guitar as to say “Ooops…”, the Dead contingent left the stage, Oteil returned, and a band huddle ensued to get things back together. The Brothers then preceded to close things out with Black Hearted Woman > Mountain Jam Tease > Little Martha tease  > Mountain Jam. They came out firing on Black Hearted Woman, no doubt out of frustration for the fumbled 45 minutes of music that just transpired. While Mountain Jam had some sublime moments, much of the crowd was spent and it was time to close the curtains on the 2009 Beacon run. The Statesboro Blues encore set everyone out on a high note (this fan was hoping for a Whipping Post encore but you can’t always get what you want) and Warrren thanked everyone and, in all likelihood, brought an end to the 20 year spring tradition of The Allmans at the Beacon. It was a bittersweet moment, especially with the lackluster Dead sit-in, but I left with a smile on my face (that was there from the second I got in and lasted for hours after the show) and a sincere gratitude to have witnessed the historic evening.

Bow

Bow

If this review left you salivating for more, don’t worry, installment two of Welcome To Now show reviews will happen for tomorrow’s nights FREE dead show at Roseland Ballroom.

Bob Marley for Halloween?

{ March 27, 2009 @ 12:20 am } · { Audio, Bob Marley, Show Reviews }
{ Comments (2) }

What do we have here? Some Bob Marley from Halloween night 1973:

bob_marley_03

Bob Marley and The Wailers

10/31/1973 – Sausalito, CA

1. Rastaman Chant
2. Bend Down Low
3. Slave Driver
4. Can’t Blame The Youth
5. Stop That Train
6. Burnin’ and Lootin’
7. Kinky Reggae
8. Get Up Stand Up
9. Lively Up Yourself
10. Walk The Proud Land

Download the show here!

This show is classic early 70′s Bob Marley: A more mature sound than the early Wailers, but less produced and over-played than later Bob Marley. This show features deep cuts  like “You Can’t Blame the Youth”, “Walk the Proud Land”, and “Slave Driver”. The studio-quality sound taboot, this show is a must have. Enjoy!

ABB 3/24/09

{ March 25, 2009 @ 1:09 pm } · { Allman Brothers, Show Reviews }
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Allman Brothers Band – The Beacon Theater – 3/24/09

12_beards

Full review at Swampland

SET LIST MARCH 24, 2009

SET ONE
Hot ‘Lanta
Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More
Rocking Horse (w/ Little Martha and Blue Sky teases)
Trouble No More
Goin’ Down Slow (w/ Bob Margolin and Thom Doucette)
A Change is Gonna Come (w/ Bob Margolin and Thom Doucette)
Midnight Rider (w/ Sonny Landreth)
Dreams (w/ Sonny Landreth)
Southbound (w/ Sonny Landreth and John Popper)

SET TWO
Jesus Just Left Chicago (w/ Billy Gibbons)
Stormy Monday (w/ BillyGibbons)
Statesboro Blues (w/ Billy Gibbons)
Same Thing (w/John Popper)
Mountain Jam > Smokestack Lightning > Third Stone From The Sun > Mountain Jam

ENCORE
One Way Out (w/ Sonny Landreth, Bob Margolin and John Popper)

musichead-400x222

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