Archive for July, 2009

Phish Tour Kick Off – Red Rocks 7/30/09

{ July 31, 2009 @ 8:37 am } · { Audio, Phish, Phish Summer Tour 09 }
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Phish kicked things off with a bang last night at Red Rocks – offering up a monster show complete with jam anthems Divided Sky, Stash, Possum, Mike’s Groove, Ghost, and David Bowie. The band nodded to the beautiful surroundings and uninhibited sight lines with a fitting Divided Sky opener. The rest of the first set reads like a pretty standard first set of tour featuring staples like Horn, Moma Dance, The Wedge, and Horse/Silent. Overall, a well played set with Trey sounding practiced and ready to rip.

The second set, on the other hand, is a different story filled with massive jams and explorations as well as a Billy Breathes bustout that’s just about picture perfect. Overall, the band definitely seems to be playing in a more relaxed and jammy feel than the Hampton run or Summer Tour Leg 1 – something that has left the Phish community excited and salivating for what’s to come over the next 2 weeks.

Red Rock - 7/30/09

Red Rocks - 7/30/09

Phish
7/30/09
Red Rocks Amphitheater
Morrison, CO

Set One:
The Divided Sky
Ocelot
The Wedge
Poor Heart
The Moma Dance
Horn
Stash
The Horse >
Silent In The Morning
Possum

Lights - 7/30/09

Lights - 7/30/09

Set 2:
Mike’s Song >
I Am Hydrogen >
Weekapaug Groove
Ghost
Wolfman’s Brother
Limb By Limb
Billy Breathes
The Squirming Coil
David Bowie

Encore:
Loving Cup

Stream the show here

Set 1 Download

Set 2 Download

Torrent/Flac Download

Trey - 7/30/09

Trey - 7/30/09

Really nice close-up vid of Possum:

Divided Sky:

Disco Biscuits: Fall Tour Dates and ‘Planet Anthem’

{ July 30, 2009 @ 9:54 am } · { Audio, Disco Biscuits, Upcoming Shows }
{ Comments (4) }

Today, the Disco Biscuits announced a massive fall tour (see below) and the details of their highly anticipated album release via their website and a fanclub email. The new album is titled ‘Planet Anthem’ and will be released over the next few months in a series of EPs. The first two tracks have been offered up for free download here, or via these links:

Track 1 Download – Konkrete
Track 2 Download – You and I

Camp Bisco 8

Camp Bisco 8

The Disco Biscuits Fall Tour 2009

09.12 Sat Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
09.13 Sun Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
09.17 Thurs George’s Majestic – Fayetteville, AR
09.18 Fri Palladium Ballroom – Dallas, TX
09.19 Sat Stubb’s – Austin, TX
09.22 Tues Jupiters – Tuscaloosa, AL (with Two Fresh)
09.23 Wed The Lyric Theatre – Oxford, MS (with Two Fresh)
09.24 Thurs TBD – Nashville, TN
09.25 Fri Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA (with Infected Mushroom (Live Band) and Two Fresh)
09.26 Sat Tennessee Theatre – Knoxville, TN (with Infected Mushroom (Live Band))
09.27 Sun The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC (with Chronicles of the Landsquid)
09.30 Wed Legend’s Music Hall – Boone, NC
10.01 Thurs The National – Richmond, VA
10.02 Fri 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
10.03 Sat 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
10.04 Sun The State Theatre – State College, PA
10.07 Wed Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
10.08 Thurs Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom – Hampton Beach, NH
10.09 Fri Calvin Theatre – Northampton, MA
10.10 Sat Calvin Theatre – Northampton, MA
10.28 Wed Kalamazoo State Theatre – Kalamazoo, MI (with Orchard Lounge)
10.29 Thurs University Theatre – Madison, WI (with Orchard Lounge)
10.30 Fri First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN (with Orchard Lounge)
10.31 Sat Auditorium Theatre – Chicago, IL (with The Glitch Mob, Holy Fuck and Orchard Lounge)
11.01 Sun The Canopy Club – Urbana, IL (with Orchard Lounge)
11.18 Wed Wave House San Diego – San Diego, CA (with BLVD)
11.19 Thurs House of Blues – Los Angeles, CA (with BLVD)
11.20 Fri The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA (with BLVD)
11.21 Sat The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA (with BLVD)
11.22 Sun The Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA (with BLVD)
12.10 – 12.14 Caribbean Holidaze – Runaway Bay, Jamaica

Old School Texas Mule

{ July 28, 2009 @ 10:55 pm } · { Audio, Gov't Mule }
{ Comments (1) }

Time to get dirty with some old school Mule from Texas in the fall of 1996. Back in the day, Mule was a power trio not to be messed with, Warren leading the band and raging like he had something to prove. This hit-packed show includes early renditions of Mule favorites like ‘Blindman in the Dark’, ‘Mule’, ‘Rocking Horse’, and ‘Gameface’. Solid show from cover to cover, try it on for size and see what you think.

Old School Mule

Old School Mule

Gov’t Mule ~ 9/22/96 ~ Caravan of Dreams ~ Fort Worth, TX

Grinnin’ In Your Face > Mule > Rocking Horse > Temporary Saint, Don’t Step On The Grass Sam, Birth Of The Mule, Thelonius Beck > Game Face, She Said, She Said, Gambler’s Roll, Kind Of Bird, Pygmy Twylyte > Blind Man In The Dark > Drums > Blind Man In The Dark, Presence Of The Lord, Just Got Paid > Who Do You Love? > Just Got Paid

Encore: Goin’ Out West > Gonna Send You Back To Georgia

Download

Gathering of the Vibes – Levon and Bobby Go Big

{ July 27, 2009 @ 3:20 pm } · { Festivals, Levon Helm, Ratdog }
{ Comments (3) }

Welcome To Now is back from the Vibes with smiles on our faces, mud caked on our shoes, and sunshine daydreams still firing through our synapses. What a fantastic weekend – it dosen’t getter much better than that. The highlight of the weekend imho was the back-to-back performances of Levon Helm Band and Ratdog on Saturday night on the main stage. The rain had left, clouds had parted, and the stage was set for a magical evening of music.

GOTV 2009 Main Stage

GOTV 2009 Main Stage

Levon Helm Band started off and played an eclectic and upbeat set with Larry Campbell and wife Teresa leading most of the vocal efforts along with Levon’s daughter Amy. Levon was on medical orders not to sing but the band was smiles all around and really seemed to be throwing down, Levon included. The set started off with The Band classic ‘The Shape I’m In’ – a fitting opener for day 3 of a rain, mud, and heat filled festival. The band then dropped into a few newer selections before giving a nod to Dylan with a nicely re-worked rendition of ‘Simple Twist of Fate’. Teresa then took over a beautiful cover of ‘Long Black Veil’.

Levon Helm Band - 7/25/09

Levon Helm Band - 7/25/09

That’s when things really heated up – Larry delivered a smoking ‘Deep Elem Blues’ to set the stage for Levon welcoming out Bobby for a perfect 1-2 punch of ‘Attics of my Life’ and ‘Tennessee Jed’. Bobby really clicked with the band on both tunes delivering a surprisingly well done harmony part on the ‘Attics’ and doing a stand-up job of leading the band through a fun version of ‘Tennessee Jed’. All in all, quite a treat – the kind of moment that reminds you why festivals like GOTV are so special.

Levon w/ Bobby - Tennessee Jed

Levon w/ Bobby - Tennessee Jed

After saying farewell to Bobby, the Band kept charging through the rest of the set and finished things off with two of my favorite Band songs – the soulful ‘It Makes No Difference’ followed by the rock anthem ‘Chest Fever’. To close things out on an even higher note, Bobby re-emerged for a picture perfect rendition of ‘The Weight’ complete with crowd singalong.

Levon Helm - 7/25/09

Levon Helm - 7/25/09

Levon Helm Band
7/25/09
Gathering of the Vibes
Bridgeport, CT

Shape I’m In
Love Played A Game
Crazy ‘Bout My Baby
Simple Twist Of Fate
Long Black Veil
Before I Get Too Old
Did You Love Me
Deep Elem Blues
Attics Of My Life (Amy Helm, Teresa Williams, and Larry Campbell w/ Bob Weir)^
Tennessee Jed (full band, Bob lead vocal)^
All On A Mardi Gras Day
It Makes No Difference
Chest Fever

Encore:
The Weight^

^ – w/Bob Weir

Levon Helm Set – 256 mp3 Download

Levon Helm Set – Torrent Download (Flac Files)

Ratdog - 7/25/09

Ratdog - 7/25/09

Bobby and Ratdog were up next and the band came out firing on all cylinders. There were many complaints about Bobby as the choice for the headliner slot (from myself included) but it seems Bobby has gotten the message about the slow playing and flubbed lyrics – at least for the evening. Hands down, this was the best showing from Bobby I’ve seen in years. The band started out with the rarely played ‘Festival’ which set the mood and eventually segued into a smoking ‘Jack Straw’ complete with glow stick war and rocking jam section. After cooling things down with a soothing ‘Lazy River Road’, the band kept things rocking with a surprisingly upbeat ‘Bird Song’ that led into a fun ‘Bertha’. The band was just in the zone nailing seamless segues between numbers like it was their job.

Ratdog w/ Donna - 7/25/09

Ratdog w/ Donna - 7/25/09

The band then dove deep into their cover repertoire with a memorizing sequence of Silvio (Bob Dylan)> Tequila(Danny Flores)> Silvio> Tequila> Silvio. This sequence eventually gave way to the pleasant sounds of the ‘Scarlet Begonias’ intro vamp and out from side stage emerged Donna Jean Godchaux for an upbeat deadhead singalong galore. After Scarlet, the band launched into the closing and most intense part of the evening, finishing things off with Ashes and Glass> Iko Iko> Stuff> Days Between> Bird Song. Bobby really did ‘Days Between’ justice and channeled his love for Jerry along with the rest of the crowd – a truly special moment. Sandwiching this bust out between straight fire takes on Iko’ and ‘Bird Song’ (reprise) was just what the doctor ordered.

Ratdog - Iko Iko - 7/25/09

Ratdog - Iko Iko - 7/25/09

It wouldn’t be a Saturday Night with Bobby if he didn’t hit you with his classic ‘One More Saturday Night’ romp and tonight was no exception. The band welcomed Donna back out for a set closing rendition that just flat out rocked. After a quick break, the band launched into a beautiful though expected ‘Ripple’ encore (see Mountain Jam 2008). All in all, a great way to close out a truly, truly magical evening. To all you Bobby haters out there, remember: Bobby fans are people too!

Ratdog
7/25/09
Gathering Of The Vibes
Bridgeport, CT

Jam >
Festival >
Jack Straw
Lazy River Road,
Bird Song >
Bertha*
Silvio >
Tequila >
Silvio >
Tequila >
Silvio >
Scarlet Begonias*
Ashes and Glass >
Iko Iko >
Stuff >
Days Between >
Bird Song
One More Saturday Night*

E: Ripple*

*-with Donna Jean Godchaux

Previous ”Festival” 8/24/2006 [175 shows]

Ratdog Set – 256 mp3 Download

Ratdog Set – Torrent Download (Flac Files)

Long live the Grateful Dead and long live Vibe Tribe!

Signing Off For Vibes

{ July 23, 2009 @ 11:10 am } · { Festivals }
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Hey y’all.

Welcome To Now will be live on the scene at Gathering Of The Vibes the next few days. That said, no updates this weekend but look for full coverage from Deadhead-heaven early next week. Enjoy the weekend ahead and, as Bobby would say, dig yoursevles.

Phish Fest in Indio,CA Confirmed

{ July 22, 2009 @ 10:28 am } · { Festivals, Phish }
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As was reported yesterday over on Welcome To Now Twitter, a Hampton Inn right outside of Indio, CA mistakingly let the cat out of the bag when they prematurely began offering a ‘Phish Concert Package’ deal for Halloween weekend. While this may come as a suprise to all the custies who were putting their faith in the Phish.com map, it is certainly no surprise to us here at Welcome To Now who have been reporting that the fest will be in Indio for almost a month now. While I’ve also been told by my sources that a new promo video will drop today on Phish.com announcing the festival, what remains to be seen is when fall tour dates will be announced.

Hilton Inn Indio Screenshot - 7/21/09

Hampton Inn Indio Screenshot - 7/21/09

The originally rumored fall tour dates have been called into question by recent news that Pearl Jam’s October 28th and 30th shows at the Spectrum will be the last shows before the venue is torn down. My sources tell me that the original dates hold true but that the Philly show may be moved over to the Wachovia Complex. Additionally, a 4 day NYE run in Miami seems all but certain with multiple sources confirming.

Gathering of the Vibes Festival Preview

{ July 20, 2009 @ 7:23 pm } · { Festivals, Upcoming Shows }
{ Comments (1) }

This weekend, the annual deadhead-getaway Gathering of the Vibes is taking place in Bridgeport, CT. For those of you that haven’t been, you don’t know what you’re missing. Vibes combines a consistently top-notch lineup with one of the most beautiful (there’s a beach!) festival venues out there. GOTV started out as a Grateful Dead tribute & celebration in 1996 – originally titled ‘Deadhead Heaven – A Gathering of the Tribe’ (a throwback to the historic Human Be-In festival). While the festival has grown, changed, and moved over the years, it still maintains the Grateful Dead spirit throughout like no other festival out there.

vibes

This year’s lineup features a great mix of Dead-related acts, jamband-favorites, and timeless classic rock artists, including: Bob Weir & Ratdog, Dark Star Orchestra, George Clinton’s P-Funk, Crosby, Still & Nash, Levon Helm, Buddy Guy, Deep Banana Blackout, moe., Keller Williams and many, many more. This year also marks the return of the late night stage with performances from The Machine, Lettuce, and Perpetual Groove raging until 3:30 in the morning! Check out all the artists here, or take a look at the main stage schedule below:

GOTV 2009 Schedule

GOTV 2009 Schedule

Saturday Classics

{ July 18, 2009 @ 6:59 pm } · { Audio, Bob Dylan, The Band }
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News, is great and all, but here at Welcome To Now, we’re all about the music. Given that, and the fact that it’s a lovely Saturday afternoon, let’s relax to the sweeet and timeless sounds of Bob Dylan and The Band, live in LA 1974. This show is packed with Dylan classics like ‘Lay Lady Lay’, ‘Tom Thumb’s Blues’, and ‘All Along the Watchtower’ as well as The Band anthems to be like “Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, “Cripple Creek”,  and “Stage Fright”. Dylan and The Band, it dosen’t get much better than this…

Dylan and The Band

Dylan and The Band

Bob Dylan and The Band
2/14/74
The Forum
Los Angeles, CA

Lay Lady Lay
Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
Rainy Day Women #12 and #35
It Ain’t Me, Babe
Ballad of a Thin Man
Stage Fright
The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down
King Harvest
When You Awake
I Shall Be Released
Up On Cripple Creek
All Along the Watchtower
The Ballad of Hollis Brown
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
She Belongs to Me
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
The Times They Are A-Changin’
Just Like A Woman
It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
Rag Mama Rag
This Wheel’s On Fire
The Weight
Forever Young
Highway 61 Revisited
Like A Rolling Stone
Blowin’ In The Wind**
Evening show:
Endless Highway
The Shape I’m In
Highway 61 Revisited
Like A Rolling Stone
Maggie’s Farm

Download Link – Part 1
Download Link – Part 2

Dylan and The Band early days

Dylan and The Band early days

Welcome to Twitter

{ July 18, 2009 @ 2:08 am } · { Twitter }
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For all you tweeters out there, you can now follow Welcome to Now on Twitter at Welcome2NowBlog

Friday Music News Round-Up

{ July 17, 2009 @ 7:08 pm } · { Allman Brothers, Animal Collective, Audio, Dead Tour 09', Festivals, Gov't Mule, Grateful Dead, Mike Gordon, Phish, Rumors, Upcoming Shows, Video, Warren Haynes }
{ Comments (1) }

Ahhh, Friday afternoon – a time to relax, turn off, and let your mind surf the interwebs for endless entertainment or lack thereof. If you’re too lazy to see what’s out there, let me help you. Here’s a few noteworthy stories and goings on from the world of Jam today:

1. Warren Haynes: “I am a Jamband whore; and I couldn’t be happier.”

Warren

Warren

Well, he didn’t exactly use those words, but Warren said about as much in a Billboard article out today. The man is having his busiest year to date with big tours going on with The Dead (Spring Tour 2009), The Allman Brothers (Beacon Run and Summer/Fall tour w/ WSP), and his own Gov’t Mule project (touring on and off throughout the year). Warren also talks about the new Gov’t Mule album out soon and the solo disc he recorded this year with George Porter, Jr., Ivan Neville, Ian McLagan, Ron Holloway. Always a rumor monger, let me also point out that Warren says that “he’s confident the Dead is going to do some more”, especially with the group’s 45th anniversary in 2010. You may be a whore Warren, but we love you.

2. Animal Collective sample the Dead’s ‘Unbroken Chain’ in new track

Phil

Phil

News broke today via a Tweet that self-proclaimed Deadheads Animal Collective have been granted the rights to legally sample the Grateful Dead’s classic PhilZone Epic ‘Unbroken Chain’ in a new track the band is working on. You can listen to an unreleased version of the song here (Phil vocal loop comes in near the end).

3. Mike Gordon announces September tour; gets bad haircut

mike

Mike

Mike announced today via a creepy video that he’ll be taking to the road in September with his solo band featuring shred-tastic Scott Murawski on guitar, Brooklyn drummer Todd Isler, keyboardist Tom Cleary, and percussionist Craig Myers. Let’s just hope he leaves that Joker costume from the video (see right) at home – that thing is down right scary.

4. Phish continue Halloween festival map mystery

The Map - 7/17/09

The Map - 7/17/09

Phish blacked-out more states on their Halloween festival map today (see right). Only 13 states now remain including Texas, Florida, and Nevada. That said, all the real phans know that the festival is still doing down in Indio, CA. Expect the announcment to drop before the band’s upcoming Red Rocks dates and Summer Tour Leg 2, likely this Monday coming up.

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