Archive for April 11, 2009

Spend a Little Time on the Mountain

{ April 11, 2009 @ 3:52 pm } · { Audio, Phil and Friends, Show Reviews }
{ Comments (2) }

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!