In our second installment of Welcome To Now Picks from Phish’s MSG NYE run, we examine our favorite jam from night 2 of NYEMSG part deux. The hand’s down best jam sequence from 12/29 is the second set center-piece of Mike’s Song -> Chalkdust Torture -> I Am Hydrogen -> Weekapaug Groove.
The unexpected Chalkdust sandwich, near flawless segue into I Am Hydrogen, and ripping 10+ minute Weekapaug Groove elevate this song series above the rest of the night. The energy is soaring throughout this run of songs, and the boys really seems locked in. Obviously the band felt this performance was worth re-visiting as well, based on the fact that they choose it as the one official video to release from the 29th. Enjoy this tasty groove!
Bob Weir and Bruce Hornsby have added a second show on April Fool’s day (4/01/2012) to their already announced ‘Alone and Together’ show at the Fox Theater in Oakland on March 31st. One show just wasn’t enough to fulfill the deadhead love in the bay area, it’s great to see that our love has really not faded away. Here’s a blast from the past, a wonderful performance of Standing on the Moon from Bruce Hornsby and another WTN favorite, Trey Anastasio, from the Comes a Time tribute to Jerry Garcia on 9/24/2005:
You can get tickets for the newly announced show at Ticketmaster. The APE presale begins this Thursday at 10AM (password is layover) and the public on sale begins on Friday, also at 10AM. The first show sold out lightning fast, so grab em’ while you can phans!
Welcome To Now would like to dive into some of our favorite moments from the Phish MSG run that just wrapped up in a series we’ll call ‘WTN Picks’. Here’s our first ‘pick’, a funky Tweezer from 12/28 (Night 1) that features some great jamming, teases (Streets of Cairo), plinko-funk, and inspired leads from Trey. One of many amazing type II jams from the boys on night 1 of the run. Give it a whirl!
Believe it or not, it’s 2012. The Grateful Dead has been an American institution for almost 50 years, longer than many people live. And it’s not just Furthur out there touring, the Dead’s music continues to live on in more bands than one could ever imagine after so many years. Here’s a sampling of what 2011 meant in Grateful Dead land, and what’s in store for 2012:
1. FURTHUR
Photo: Mary Ouellette / SoundSpike
Bob Weir and Phil Lesh’s Furthur continue to tour from coast to coast, the incarnation closest to the original Grateful Dead experience. While there are haters and lovers of Furthur, all true deadheads can rejoice in seeing Bobby and Phil share the stage and make magic. To get a feel for where the band is at today, check out this show from Madison Square Garden from November 10th.
2012 Forecast: Furthur already has a spring tour booked, and will likely continue to tour at least through the end of 2012. With more Phil and Friends shows in the works and a possible Ratdog reunion tour, 2012 may be a lighter touring year than 2011.
2. 7 WALKERS
7 Walkers
If you haven’t heard the debut album or caught a show from Billy K. and Papa Mali’s ‘7 Walkers’, do yourself a favor and check them out. This stripped down ensemble invented a whole new genre of Grateful Dead known to fans as ‘Swampadelica’. Their album is soulful, bluesy, fun, and a must have for deadheads. You can buy it from the official 7 Walker’s site here.
2012 Forecast: Next up for 7 Walkers is a series of shows with Steve Kimock aboard next week’s Jam Cruise. After that, look for continued dedicated attention and touring from Billy K. as well as a possible follow-up studio album.
3. MICKEY HART BAND
Mickey has put together a brand spanking new band for 2012 with a whole slew of new original songs taboot. Check out the YouTube above to see the cast of characters that Mickey has assembled. The band just recently finished up a winter tour that was pretty smoking from what I’ve heard. Let’s hope Mickey keeps this band around for a while and releases some of the great new originals they’ve composed.
2012 Forecast: Mickey and his new band already are still in the midst of a few January shows and then will likely be releasing an album of original material with a supporting tour to follow later in the year.
4. PHIL LESH AND FRIENDS
Phil Lesh reunited ‘Phil and Friends’ this year at Warren Haynes’ annual Christmas Jam. Check out the vid above of a playful China Cat Sunflower from the reunion. The Xmas Jam group featured Jackie Greene, Warren Haynes, Jeff Chimenti, Joe Russo, and of course uncle Phil himself.
This was just a preview though, Phil and Friends will be playing 3 shows in Colorado in February of 2012 with an amazing lineup of John Scofield and Warren Haynes on Guitar, Jackie Greene on Keyboard/Guitar, John ‘The Lion King’ Molo on Drums, and Phil. These shows promise to be nothing short of epic. To get a feel for what the shows might be like, check out the vid below of a very similar band featuring Warren and Sco from Mountain Jam 2007. I was at this show and it is probably my favorite P&F show ever out of many, many shows I’ve seen.
2012 Forecast: Aside from the February shows, rumors have been swirling that Phil and Friends will crank out some more shows in 2012. Expect to see some one-off or mini-runs at Phil’s new Terrapin Crossroads venue.
5. DARK STAR ORCHESTRA
DSO
DSO continues to tour relentlessly, from New York to San Francisco to Jam in The Dam and beyond, bringing unmatched energy, passion, and love for the Grateful Dead canon to ‘Starheads’ everywhere. With Jeff Mattson firmly settled into the lead role in Dark Star, fans everywhere (including myself) can’t stop singing the praises of the new frontman and the raw 60s and 70s style psychedelic guitar work he brings to the band. If you’re still a skeptic on Dark Star and think they’re just a ‘cover band’, stop fooling yourself and catch them on their upcoming tours, you will not be sorry!
2012 Forecast: DSO is sure to keep up the relentless touring in 2012. So far the band is playing the NE and SE in the winter, Jam in the Dam in March, and the West Coast in April. Expect a NE and festival tour in the summer, West Coast in late fall, and a return to the NE for NYE 2012.
Bonus Dead: As if this wasn’t enough, RATDOG is reuniting on January 25th for a special webcast show from Bob Weir’s TRI Studios venue that he launched in 2011. The golden road really does go on forever, and there’s nothing to do but smile about it.
Pre-sale tickets just went on sale for what promises to be an exciting and intimate affair at the Fox Theater in Oakland featuring Bob Weir and Bruce Hornsby, alone and together. The evening will most likely feature solo sets from each artist, some duet performances, and special guests taboot. See you there!
Here’s a taste of Weir and Hornsby together at moe. Down 2011 performing Jack Straw:
To get tickets, head on over to the APE pre-sale now (pw is ‘layover’) and get your tickets while they last.
Keeping in the New York City spirit, here’s a taste of Furthur’s return to the big apple tonight. This was the first of 3 consecutive nights at Radio City Music Hall for the boys, and they delivered a fun and varied setlist for the NYC faithful. First set highlights included a 1st-time cover bustout of The Clash’s ‘Train in Vain’, and 60s folk throwbacks ‘Dark Hollow’ and ‘On The Road Again’.
Furthur RCMH Marquee
The second set kept up the old-school vibe with a bluesy psychedelic journey that featured Other One, Spanish Jam, Spoonful, Smokestack, and Hard to Handle. Ending things on a lighter tone, the motley Furthur crew sung everyone back home with a fun China/Rider and Not Fade Away singalong to close the set and a Touch of Grey encore taboot. While Phil and Bob rest up for tomorrow, the night is young in the city that never sleeps, til’ the morning comes…
Furthur 3/25 RCMH
Furthur ~ 03/25/2011~ Radio City Music Hall ~ New York, NY
Set 1:
Jack Straw
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo ->
Dark Hollow
Stagger Lee ->
On The Road Again
Loser
Train In Vain*
Might As Well
Set 2:
Hard to Handle ->
Smokestack Lightning ->
Spoonful ->
Birdsong ->
The Other One ->
Spanish Jam ->
The Other One
Eyes Of the world ->
Drums ->
King Solomons Marbles ->
Dear Prudence
China Cat Sunflower ->
I Know You Rider
Not Fade Away
In the first of three nights at the Garden for New Year’s Eve run 2010, Phish laid down a rock-heavy, hits-heavy performance that didn’t miss a beat from start to the finish. The first set clocked in at nearly 1 hour and 45 minutes, with an ending suite of Bathtub Gin, Fat Man in the Bathtub (first performance since 10/31), Timber, and the double dose set closer of Golgi and Character Zero. Needless to say, energy was flying high leading into the second set.
The band capitalized and delivered a best-hits-esque second set that followed a similar path to JB II Set 2 2010, with big hitters Tweezer, Light, Hood, My Friend, My Friend, and Axilla I. The overall vibe was straightforward rock-your-face, with a playful psychedelic undertones in the form of a fun and peaking Fluffhead and a space funk’d 2001. Give it a listen, download, or audio/video stream below!
Phish 12/30/2010 Ticket Stub
Phish
12/30/2010
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY
Set 1: Cities, Chalk Dust Torture, Gumbo > Quinn the Eskimo, Halley’s Comet > Camel Walk*, Maze, Driver, Bathtub Gin, Fat Man in the Bathtub, Timber (Jerry) > Golgi Apparatus, Character Zero
Set 2: Tweezer** -> Light > Theme From the Bottom > My Friend, My Friend***, Axilla > Fluffhead > Boogie On Reggae Woman -> Also Sprach Zarathustra > Suzy Greenberg
The newly revamped Rhythm Devils kicked off their 2010 tour this past weekend with a Friday show in Arcata, CA and a big Saturday showing at the NWSS at Horning’s Hideout in Oregon. The new lineup includes an all-star rhythm section of Billy, Mickey, Andy Hess (ex-Gov’t Mule) on bass, and Sikiru Adepoju on the talking drum. Rounding out the band is Keller Williams on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, along with Davy Knowles also on the ax. Check out Saturday night’s setlist and recordings below, along w/ a couple of videos that have surfaced from the first 3 shows. Lots more to come from the Rhythym Devils in 2010 including a BIG Gathervig of the Vibes headlinging spot on Saturday July 31st… Stay tuned!
Hart and Kreutzmann
The Rhythm Devils
7/17/10
Northwest String Summit
Horing’s Hideout
North Plains, OR
Setlist (1 set show):
Cumberland Blues>
Sitting on Top of the World
Friend of the Devil
Next Dimension
Bird Song
Casey Jones
Don’t Ease Me In
Ship of Fools
Jack-a-Roe
Comes Dawn
Not Fade Away
Ripple
Gov’t Mule recently kicked off their By A Thread Summer Tour 2010 with a few Northeast shows including a FREE show this past Saturday at Artscape in Baltimore. The night previous in Raleigh, NC saw The Mule’s tour opener get cut short after a few songs due to strong rain and storms. Warren and crew know how to come out of the rain with some soulshine like no other band on the circuit today and they did just that for their big Saturday night show. The setlist, guests, and (most importantly) the recording speak for themselves – this show is straight F-I-R-E Fire. Give it a whirl and get pumped up for lots more Mule in 2010!
Gov’t Mule
07/17/2010
Artscape Festival
Baltimore, MD
Setlist (1 Set Show):
Bad Little Doggie
Steppin’ Lightly
Broke Down On The Brazos
Banks Of The Deep End
Frozen Fear ->
D’yer Mak’er ->
Frozen Fear
Thorazine Shuffle
Railroad Boy ->
When Doves Cry >
Beautifully Broken ->
When Doves Cry ->
Beautifully Broken
32/20 Blues*
Mule ->
Whole Lotta Love ->
Mule*
Soulshine*
Encore:
Sugaree**
* – With Ron Holloway
** – With Ron Holloway & Jackie Greene
Welcome To Now 