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Southwest
Regional Report
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Edited by Chris Gardner
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Greetings wayward travelers, and welcome back to another month of wiggles, shakes, and giggles in the finest corner of the nation. Watch in awe as Phish flaps like a flounder on the shore in Arizona, gape as the Slip shakes the suburban foundations of a strip mall in Tempe, strap on your pack and traipse the ridges of Colorado with Jeff Buske, and watch closely as the bug bites another Texan in the Big D. If you are mired in the most polluted city in America, grab a pen and mark your calendar's for the second happening from Tapir Productions. The Slip is coming, and you had better get ready. Finally Houstonians, next time Soulive chugs through our unfair city to set the walls a shiverin' in ripples of shimmering, groovalicious splendor, chase away the cobwebs, dig into the bucket of change, slide on your walking shoes, and help us ensure that the crowd out numbers the wait staff. Soulive knocked thirty-odd people out cold on a Wednesday night, and you were watching re-runs of the Simpsons. Doh!
Phish
Melts Under Arizona Sun
(1) First Tube > Wolfman's Brother, Back on the Train, Beauty of my Dreams, Vultures, Inlaw Josie Wales, Billy Breathes, Llama, Lawnboy, Runaway Jim (1:12) (2) Roses are Free, Piper > Guy Forget > Circus, Camel Walk, Driver, David Bowie (:58) E:Waste Can you say hot? The temperature in Phoenix was pretty damn close to straight-up Africa hot. It was 103 when we pulled in, at least ten degrees above normal. I came down with a caravan from school and met up with at least half the school there in the lot. A great group of kidz, from a great college, going to see the world's heavyweight champions of jamming at a great amphitheater - can't go wrong,eh? As we piled into the show in stunted spurts, it had cooled down significantly. I was feeling relaxed, very sober, and psyched for the hours of music ahead of me. I just got off summer tour, so I've gotten good about not getting my expectations too high before the show. I was just there to have a good time and hopefully hear some mind blowing moments coming from the stage. As we settled in to our place on the grass (or whatever it was) I noticed how not sold out this place was. The lawn could have easily held a couple more thousand. "All the better," I thought, so, I got settled and waited. The opener, First Tube, is magical in its self, but Trey and the band sounded tired from the get-go. On the other hand, the Wolfman's Brother drifted into a quite beautiful jam-the first set highlight for myself as well as for the crew I was with. As for the Llama towards the end, it was dead. Trey missed the lyrics from the get go, and his chopping guitar that normally kicks your ass on this number just didn't happen. The one song that I thought couldn't possibly sound weak did just that. I don't want to go song by song here, and here's why. The first set was tired, slow, and Trey looked and sounded as if he was still sleeping on the bus. I'm not trying to be brutal here, I love these guys. Just honest. I felt like they never really clicked up there like I've seen them do so many times. I'm glad they're taking a breather after California. The second set was a different story in some ways. The Roses are Free and the Piper>Guy Forget>Circus were unforgettable. If you've never heard the Guy Forget thing, its quite strange. On this take on the "song", Trey chanted the line for the song over and over, and then Fishman took over the reigns and started continuing in the same vein. It was a little spooky, and damn catchy. As for the rest of the set, it was a great mix of songs. The Camel Walk was a first for me, a rare treat that I reveled in indulgently. I loved it. It has some tight changes and sweet riffs that had the ring of various other songs, but I could never put my finger on what they were. The almighty Bowie was a great treat to end the show with. It will always be one of my most treasured Phish songs. The lights were amazing(as they always are). The band seemed to be putting all what was left of their weakened energy into the last song, which was the least they could do. The changes were pretty tight and dynamic, as well, but, the whole tone of the show up to that point left me unenthused. By the time Waste was over and done with, I was more impressed by the lights and Kuroda's mastery of the medium, than I was with the band's performance. I hope their long-awaited break will be nourishing and helpful. This show made me realize that every great band has their limits; a great, but somewhat saddening realization. Phish really needs this break, and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they'll come out the other side stronger than ever.
Colorado
Round-Up Planet Salmon Summer's End... and another great string of shows finish out the summer of '00! Starting with the last camp-out festival of the year, we travel to the Planet Bluegrass ranch located in scenic Lyons, Colorado for the 1st annual Leftover Salmon festival, Planet Salmon, a great scene and a great festy. The festivities started with North Carolina's Acoustic Syndicate's set filled with banjo driven rock, complete with a cover of the Who's Baba O'Reilly. Next came John Brown's Body, playing a nice blend of traditional old skool reggae with a horn section and a white singer who does passable Bob vocals. Next came the always entertaining Yonder Mt. String Band from the hippie haven of Nederland, up past the hills near Boulder. Their set included Gonna Take My Time with an impromptu rap about the joys of living in Colorado during high country harvest time. Next, Col. Bruce, Dr, Dan and various members of Salmon played a quick set ending in a crazy avant-jazz dissonance. Next came the man himself, J.B.! John Bell played really passionately with a strong blend of blues and country rock including guest appearances by Col.Bruce, Drew Emmit, and Apt. Q258. I was most familiar with the Panic tunes such as Old Joe played beautifully, Christmas Katie and a really powerful and solemn, Mercy. Next, all of Salmon and J.B. dressed in costume headed a crazy parade which included some really bizarre floats, and the Mayor himself dipped in silver with a splendid cape being carried by a gang of silver people. It was a lot of fun that culminated into a great night of music opening with Better and taking it all the way home with Salmon, Col. Bruce, J.B. and others for Low spark of High Heeled Boys, Blues in a Bottle, and an awesome Nobody's Fault But Mine with everyone trading vocals. This was also an emotional fest, as Apt. Q258 aka Jeff Sipe and Todd are parting ways with the band after their Saturday night performance. Planet Bluegrass is a great venue, with on-site camping in their private ranch, a psychedelic silo and a river flowing along side the tremendous all wood stage. These are also the folks who host Rockygrass and put on the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The next night, after a long night of pickin' in the campground, the fest opened with the incredible banjo stylings of Pete Wernick and his Live Five, some of you may have seen him pick with Phish in Denver in '97. Runaway Truck Ramp, who were also promoting their newly released album, Chateau Fever, followed Wernick. They played a great set, featuring and ending with the encore of Alabama Jubilee. Next came the New Orleans band, the Rebirth Brass Band. They sound a lot like the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and actually featured a tune I've also heard the latter cover, the Stones' All Over Now. Next came the funkmeister, Maceo Parker alum of the JB's, James Brown's band. Maceo ripped through a set of funk which slide guitar virtuoso, Derek Trucks, followed with a nice set of southern rock. Next came Salmon's set complete with parade and many surprises and special guests. Sadly, Derek did not come out to play. Tunes like Dance on your Head, Breakin' Thru , and Dance the Night Away made this a weekend I did not want to end. Definitely this festival is the start of a new tradition not to be missed. It's a great thing to stay up all night partyin' and pickin' and then to be relaxin' in the morning, listening to great music and wading in the river or building stone sculptures. Can't wait for the sequel to this one next year and beyond. Neil Young At the end of August, came the mighty Neil Young to another incredible venue, Red Rocks. Despite freezing rain and intense cold, the crowd was in high spirits. Neil took the stage with Motorcycle Mama featuring vocals from his wife and sister. His band also consisted of Booker T/Blues Brothers alum, just the best seasoned pro's. Next tune was Powderfinger , then an overlooked classic, Everybody knows This is Nowhere. I really enjoyed some of the nuggets he broke out which included, I believe in You, Winterlong, Walk On, a haunting Tonight's The Night and a mind blowing Like A Hurricane as well as new tunes including Razor Love and Buffalo Springfield Again. Some other selections included Unknown Legend, Hank to Hendrix and others. Neil encored with a raging Watchtower. Neil is always a treat to see live even in the freezing rain. The next day our travels brought us to the hip mountain town of Steamboat. In a basement bar known as the Cellar Lounge came Runaway Truck Ramp, who we had also caught earlier in the week in the small, mountain community of Eldora playing in a flat-bed truck for an Eldora resident's 80th birthday party, which was being hosted by Vince Herman. Steamboat found them playing to a crowd intoxicated by more than the music. Earlier in the day, Steamboat's hosted its annual Brewfest, which began at noon and lasted until about 5:30 with a cover charge that included all the microbrews you could drink. We missed Mountain of Venus, a band from Steamboat since re-located to Boston, but we did catch the last half of UDF(United Dope Front) from our hotel balcony. They are a Colorado band flavored by acid jazz and Galactic style throw-downs. The crowd was funny, falling down in the mud on a snowy September day. Truckramp played a nice energetic couple of sets including some old fav's like their cover of Graceland, Alabama Jubilee, RTR, and new fav's Flatfooted, Damn Old Man, Let Him Go Mama and others. This band is incredibly tight, playing hard drivin' bluegrass complete with fiddle and pedal steel. From Nederland, Colorado, this band is destined to hit nationwide with their good time jams. The Circus comes to Town... Phish pulled in for one night only at the dreaded Fiddler's Green, known for it's shitty sound and corporate wasteland location with it's strict 10:30 curfew. Still, it is Phish, and it was a phun show. They opened with a quick Sample and proceeded to play around two songs from each album. The first set included a new favorite of mine , Dirt. Also brilliant was Horn with it's inspiring Trey solo, Split in which they nailed the vocals, My Friend, My Friend, a drum happy Taste and the set closing Cavern. The light show was very nice and had some cool revolving lights set up behind the band. Set two opened with Piper and included a Mango with a missed cue by Page. Trey looked over incredulously during a little jam that eventually got back on track and included some really trippy ,dripping Mike bass. Mike was the hero of the show. His playing has gotten to the point of craziness. The show ended with Phish tapping their vocal cords and Trey remarking that the tune was all about the ending. The YEM was fun, too with a beginning that led into a slow motion jam and ended with trampolines & glowstick madness. The encore was the great Exile on Main Street classic, Loving Cup, which brought the show to a close at roughly 10:35. One thing is for sure one night dose of Phish is just not enough. Yonder Mountain String Band The weekend brought the Yonder Mountain String Band's Kinfolk Celebration over two nights at the Fox Theater in Boulder. A great high-energy band with top notch playing skill and what they call, "Drive without the drums," YMSB is a great band to catch live and these nights, being recorded by the band, were no exception. There was a real shroomy vibe to the air, and the band just tore it up, playing three sets a night of pure mountain bluegrass. Some tunes they broke out with included Whiskey in a Jar, and a jug band ending with out mikes playing some great old standards with crowd participation , including the ability to shut-up and listen.. Get some tapes of these boys, as they are a real blast. These crazy old/new grass kids can jam. Tomorrow brings moe. to town, then we have the Grandmothers, DBB, Phil and Friends at the Philmore, RTR on Halloween weekend, Ratdog and also Dark Star on Halloween, Stir Fried, and coming soon, Disco Biscuits, Ozric Tentacles, The Big Wu, Tom Plant's Pickin' Party and many more, see ya next month!
The
Dave Matthews Bug Bites Again Set: Seek Up, Pantala Naga Pampa--> Rapunzel, So Much to Say--> Too Much, Grace is Gone, Rhyme and Reason, Bartender, JTR, Busted Stuff, The Stone, Drive in Drive out, Song that Jane Likes, Two Step Encore: #40, Ants Marching Reflecting back on this particular concert, all I can really say is, "Wow".. Yes, it started off rather slow, but, now that I think about it, what an awesome show this really was!! To begin, some friends and I went out and enjoyed a few rounds of brew before arriving at the Starplex in time to catch the end of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Now, I must say, I never have really enjoyed Bela's music, but seeing them there performing in front of 20,000 screaming people really did something for me. I think they will begin to gather a larger following in the future. After a short intermission, the lights went out, people screamed, and out came Dave, Stefan, Carter, Leroi, and Boyd. They automatically started into a 25-30 minute version of Seek Up which was somewhat monotonous by the end, followed by Pantala Naga Pampa which faded into Rapunzel, one of my favorite's of the show. Following these So Much to Say and Too Much were played to the delight of the roaring crowd. Following this a new song Grace is Gone was played, which was rather mellow and this particular crowd didn't really get into to it. This was followed by a crowd pleaser, Rhyme and Reason which I really loved. Three new songs were played right after this Bartender, JTR, and Busted Stuff. JTR and Busted Stuff were pretty fair, but Bartender was one of the best new song's I have heard from any band in a long time. It was extremely melodic with a beautiful jam tacked onto the end of it. If the new album has more songs like this, it should be really promising. After these 3 songs, the rest of the concert was absolutely amazing. I mean, can I really say any more than The Stone, Drive In, Drive Out, and The Song that Jane Likes? Dave really got the crowd going with these 3 and then brought in the Flecktones to accompany the band on a 30 minute version of Two Step, the highlight of the night. The jam was insane at the end with every musician blasting and pounding their instruments for their very own solos. Carter Beauford jammed by himself for about 5 minutes, and it was possibly the most incredible thing I've ever seen musically. After this, Dave thanked everyone and walked off stage, just to come back and play my favorite song ever: Ants Marching. When they played the opening drum beat once, I immediately went into a maniacal tirade of yells and sang every single word. Maybe this was not the best Dave show ever, but it was the first of many to come for this DMB fan. I'm hooked for life
The
Slip
in the Strip The Lucky Dragon, to a passer-by, would look seem like a cheesy, everyday kind of Japanese restaurant you see in strip malls everywhere.....yes, I said strip mall. One of the most unlikely places to host live music (and good live music at that) I have ever seen. The Slip played here last year, at the old location in another strip mall somewhere in Tempe. As I looked back upon the show they played here last spring, I got dazzled with excitement. The place is small, dark, and has a rather funky feeling. The show last spring was hot, sweaty, and much more so than the venue, funky as all hell. As it is with The Slip, the overwhelming jazz feel dominates, but you come away feeling like you saw an explosion of energy unlike anything on this entire planet. First of all, I want to say that this show was one of the tightest, most rhythmically explosive, and most danceable show I have ever seen. The fact that there are only three guys in the band blows my mind. I did not recognize the names of many of the songs they played but I do know that most were were wonderful. I recognized Pictures of Calisto, which was the second tune they played. My friend Damon who got a ride with me down to the show asked them to play it when we were chatting with them out back. Mark's bass solos (which he blessed us with in both sets) were downright magical. His knack for finding space in the song to fit those kind of licks in boggles my mind. As for Andrew, I was awed by the timing, focus and power on the drums. This show just hit me like a ton of bricks. In the second set, Johnny's Tune (off of Does), was one of the more exploratory songs of the show. After a good 15-20 minutes, it drifted into a happy birthday tune for a couple of folks in the audience, then drifted back to Johnny's Tune. This was a magical, moving song that gave Brad, Andrew, and Mark ample space and time to experiment farther than most yet remain tight as anything you can imagine. This being a four hour show, I was exhausted by the end. My body moved like a noodle for hours on end with one short break, yet I've never felt better. I was flying on a cloud of energy unlike anything before. If I could give you one piece of advice this year, go see The Slip when they come anywhere near you. The majority of the shows are pretty small and they'll guarantee to fill the room(or air) with the sound of three amazingly grounded musicians who love nothing more than to rock out for you until the skies fall. Could you ask for much more? Tapir
Productions Slips Into Second Happening Hey Houstonites! Tapir Productions Proudly Presents: The
Slip
Continental Club
$8 at the door only This is going to be a blast! The two bands have known each other for years, and they will be playing together as well as separately. This is our first venture at the new Continental Club, and we hope you can all make it. If this goes well, Continental Club is interested in hosting more national touring jam bands and bluegrass/newgrass acts with Tapir, so we really need your support for this one. Please tell your friends and bring anyone who doesn't move too fast :-) This is the first appearance for the Slip in Houston, and we want to show them that jam bands are HOT in Space City. As always, taping is encouraged :-)
Gary Hartman & Alan Friedman
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