Tales From the Devolver Side. The 2nd Annual Devolvoween Ball, Oct. 27th, 2001, White Rose Motorcycle Club, Jefferson, PA

     Good morning people. I haven’t made a visit to these confines in a while but to quote George Costanza, “I’m back baby!” And I’m going back even further than normal as I make a long overdue trip to the Devolver archives within my mind. So allow myself to present the for the first time ever, the inside dirt of what I consider the peak show of the Devolver Golden Age, Devolvoween, Oct. 27^th, 2001, Live at the White Rose Motorcycle Club in Jefferson, PA.

     Things were really cooking within the Devolver world. They were playing and touring more than ever. Once a month, they were playing at The Old Mill, Kclinger’s, Lupita’s, and the Depot. We had a steady stream of income to think about other things. Like buying a van. But before that, we have a show to plan.

     We had Halloween the year before at the Bair Firehall. We were looking for something bigger and better. C and B knew a gentleman named Ryder, who was the head of some committee within the White Roses Motorcycle. They got the ball rolling on us renting the venue. Then, we got B Street Subs as a sponsor. They paid for a tiny, tiny, ad in the Merchandiser and sold subs at the show. The Jay Dewald Experience was opening and we were borrowing Groovin’ Seeds’ PA.

     The first problem arose during the soundcheck. Myself and C were about to leave to run an errand. As we were about to leave, DePalmer rolled up and something told me to not leave just yet. He was throwing a fit about us using his PA (It was actually paid for by his Dad because he didn’t really work). Don’t remember the details but I do remember it was stupid. Crisis solved; let’s get on with the show!

     This show was a blast and a half. I was out of my skull on an MX Missile. I was somewhat stressed the first set but got a really quick massage from someone and all the serotonin in my body came rushing out in a wave. I remember someone asking if we could smoke. I replied I’m in charge so sure, why not. The one rule the band had was no one besides the band backstage. So I had to put on my Management cap and be an asshole to people. A lot of people wanted to hang out and especially have a backstage lammy. To quote Chuck Berry, “Too Much Monkey Business.”

You can stream it here

https://archive.org/details/devolvermusic2001-10-27

10/27/01 The 2^nd Annual “Devolloween Ball” at White Rose Motorcycle Club, Jefferson, PA

Jay Dewald opened on acoustic

I: Looking Blind, Werewolves of London, Side Of a Mountain, Jam->Strange Red Afternoon->El Nino->

Shutdown, Thread, Bubble Speak->Dehydration->Miss You*, Psycho Killer**

II: Back In Black^, Funk II->Everything Comes Around, Coming Home*, Pedelic Sax*->Spacey Jam*->

Funk II*, China Cat Sunflower^^->I Know You Rider^^->Drumz, Careful With That Axe Eugene

->Surprise Surprise^^^->Glass Hawk, Edge Of Town*

E: Turnaround*->El Nino

*w/ Ben Plesic on alto and tenor saxophone

**w/ special spooky “Halloween” ending

^First time played; AC/DC cover

^^First time played; Grateful Dead cover

^^^unfinished

Memories scattered from throughout the night.

·         Jake having me run the sound while he did the costume contest. I did not know up from down and couldn’t hear anything. Meanwhile, someone who really wanted a lammy kept talking to me and feeding me all this bullshit.

·         Zach, nervous as all hell, as he was about to go out and sing Back in Black. He was going to be just singing, not playing the bass. He went out there and did a Lead Singer Performance for the ages. I really wish video of this performance existed. It was crazy.

·         All sorts of insanity going on at the soundboard.

·         That kid from Gettysburg dressed as the Hooters Girl. Dancing like a maniac at the beginning of the show and stone cold passed out by end of second set. I saw B looking at him to make sure he was still breathing and I replied I just did the same thing.

·         Counting the money in a locked car after the show.

·         Kyle and Megan getting into a big fight. She never really seemed to be into the band or their music. Which can be an issue when you are dating a member of the band. Her costume was a zombie schoolgirl with a pencil sticking out of her head. Lots of yelling and drama, late.

·         Chad C and Tom helping with the parking. Funkbot parking his car in the driveway, blocking the exit and entrance.

·         The crowd’s reaction when the band goes into I Know You Rider. Get chills just thinking about it.

It is amazing how much the brain can retain.

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll

It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Phish, live at the Spectrum, Dec. 28th and 29th, 1996, Philadelphia, PA

     Hello everyone. I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and Festivus celebrations. I surely did but know I am only thinking about one thing, New Year's Eve. The boys said they will be cutting back on touring next year so who knows if they do another NYE run in 2017. But my mind drifts back to another NYE, way back in 1996. So without further ado, here is It Was 20 Years Ago Today, Phish live at the Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA Dec 28^th and 29^th 1996.

I can't remember who all went to this with me, but I do know a lot of the Devolver crew went. One unfortunate soul told me he was tripping really hard and got stuck in the shotgun seat with Dr. Mike Lerman driving lol. I also remember one of the nights we parked next to some members of Philly area band Splintered Sunlight. When I saw them a few years ago, they had no recollection of our historic encounter.

Dec. 28^th, 1996

Philadelphia , PA

SET 1: Runaway Jim, NICU, Wolfman's Brother, It's Ice, Billy Breathes, Ginseng Sullivan, Split Open and Melt, The Mango Song, Frankenstein

SET 2: Makisupa Policeman[1] → Maze, Bouncing Around the Room, Digital Delay Loop Jam → The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu > Mike's Song → Strange Design > Weekapaug Groove[2], The Star Spangled Banner

ENCORE: Johnny B. Goode

[1] Key words: “Stink, Stank, Stunk"
[2] Ended with long Page solo.

Makisupa Policeman included the cryptic lyrics “Stink, Stank, Stunk,” which may have been a reference to the theme song in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Weekapaug Groove ended with a long Page solo. The Star Spangled Banner was dedicated to Kate Smith, who used to sing God Bless America at Flyers’ home hockey games.

You can stream it here

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1996-12-28

The Split is the highlight of the first set. The Policeman had a cool little Grinch reference thrown in. The intro into the TMWSIY was really good and I forgive them from not going back into it because of such an awesome Mike's. Wow is it good. The Groove also had a cool Coil like ending. And I love any encore with Johnny B. Goode.

Dec, 29th, 1996, Philadelphia, PA

SET 1: Poor Heart > Caravan > Cavern > Taste, Guelah Papyrus, Train Song, Rift > Free, The Squirming Coil, La Grange

SET 2: David Bowie, A Day in the Life, Bathtub Gin → The Lizards, You Enjoy Myself → Rotation Jam > Sixteen Candles[1] >You Enjoy Myself[2], Harpua[3] → Champagne Supernova[4] → Harpua

ENCORE: Rocky Top

[1] Phish debut; performed solo by Mike on piano.
[2] Vocal jam.
[3] Harpua, Poster, and Jimmy were confronted by the “Über Demon” and the “evil sound of hell.”
[4] Phish debut; Tom Marshall on vocals.

Squirming Coil contained a Sesame Street theme tease from Page. Mike performed the Phish debut of Sixteen Candles solo on piano. Tom Marshall contributed the vocals to the Phish debut of Champagne Supernova as Harpua, Poster, and Jimmy were confronted by the “Über Demon” and the “evil sound of hell.” This show featured the breakout of Caravan, which had been shelved since December 2, 1994 (160 shows).

You can stream it here

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1996-12-29

I had no knowledge of the song Caravan but it was super cool to pair it with Cavern. The Free was also typical 1996 vintage with Trey playing his mini drum kit. La Grange was a nice addition to the set. I'm sure I wasn't the only one expecting the set to end with Coil. The second set was the best of the run IMO. Bowie opener, the YEM madness, and a Harpua for the ages. And then Marshall sings Oasis was just icing on the cake.

I had a bit of an adventure after the second night. I friend of a friend, Mike, was in town from Cali for a few days and hitched a ride to the show. He had followed the Dead around and was pretty cool. He had some of the best ganja food I ever ate. His banana bread almost had me tripping. Anyway, he ran into an old friend who needed a ride to the suburbs of Philly. Mike offered my services even though I had to get home to try to get some shut eye before work Monday morning. This whole sojourn took a lot longer than I expected and got home super late. Called in sick the next day claiming I got food poisoning from a Lot burrito LMAO.

I hope you enjoyed this trip. The next entry will be about NYE 2016 at MSG!

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll

Devolver, Live at The Winner's Circle, Hanover, PA Nov. 26th, 2016

     Hello everyone. Hope you survived Thanksgiving. Myself? I've always thrived at this time of the year. From the Phish holiday runs in '95, '97, '98, and '09, to the Devolver shows of the last 13 years, I have always done this time of year right. So please enjoy my final entry in the historic Devolver 2016 World Tour, Live at the Winner's Circle, Hanover, PA November 26^th, 2016.

You can stream it here. Thanks to Todd Robinson for taping

https://archive.org/details/Devolver2016-11-26.Winners_Circle_Hanover_PA_AUD_16_FLAC

Soundcheck: Time

set 1
Highway 29, Bogey>Little Wing, Alone at the Applecart>My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama, A Day in the Life, Pass the Puddle, Kid Charlemagne, Strange Red Afternoon, Bubblespeak>Dehydration Jam>21st Century Schizoid man, Tumbleweeds and Mailboxes> Divided Sky, Marina Came to Be, Shakedown Street, Shutdown, Frankenstein

set 2

Pedalic Sax, 2001> Serve Me Up Another, Crosseyed and Painless> Looking Blind>Miss You, Thread, Psycho Killer, Cafe Latte>Drumz>Bogey, In the Flesh>Edge of Town, Captain Jack

     They definitely tighter than last weekend. The also changed up the setlists enough that if you didn't go to both shows, them you missed some primo stuff from their catalog. The segues were also a lot tighter. Crosseyed has a nice intro to it. The plastic cage around Josh worked wonders again.

     Overall a good show and the probably last Devolver show I'm gonna see for awhile. It was great to see everyone who made it out for the show.

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll

Devolver, Live at the Keystone Lounge, Skippac, PA November 19th, 2016

     Hello everyone. It's the end of Novemebr so you know what that means; my birthday and a Devolver World Tour. This time around they are shunning the rest of the country to grace Pennsylvannia with two shows. First up, The Keystone Lounge in Skippac, PA this past Saturday the 19^th.

Set List

Soundcheck: Highway 29

Set 1

Use Me, Strange Red Afternoon, Little Wing, Laughing Clown, Edge of Town, A Day in the Life, Serve Me Up Another, Paint It Black, Everything Comes Around, Pass the Puddle, Time, Bubblespeak> Dehydration Jam>Kid Charlemange, Thread, Shakedown Street, Marina Came to Be, 21^st Century Schizoid Man,

Set 2

2001, Ramble On*, Whipping Post*, Funk II>Psycho Killer>..... I don't have the rest of the show because I left early and Zach was too busy practicing for The Voice tryouts to text it to me.

W/ Karen on vocals

     Small place but room to dance for sure. The setlist speaks for itself.  The Thread and Pass The Puddle where played for the first time in 16 years. The Steely Dan tune was a nice surprise. During 21^st Century Schizoid Man, Zach's bass cord or something gave out. In the second set, Karen reprised her guest spot from 2 years ago.

     Come out this Saturday, the 26^th, at the Winner's Circle at 9pm. No cover!

And you can always stream shows from the past at my labor of love. I'm more than halfway done with all the shows. I'm gonna miss it when it's gone

https://archive.org/details/DevolverMusic

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll

It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Phish, Live at the Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA Oct 18th, 1996

    Back again with another quick one. I can't explain my memory, how some shows I have near total recall and others, well, let's say I have definitely skipped some blog posts of shows because I really don't remember anything. But I always remember Phish!

It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Phish, Live at the Civic Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Oct. 18^th, 1996.

Soundcheck: My Mind's Got a Mind of It's Own, Billy Breathes

Set 1 : Runaway Jim, Guelah Papyrus, The Old Home Place, Cars Trucks, and Buses, Stash, Strange Design, Divided Sky, Billy Breathes, Taste, Sample in a Jar

Set 2: Suzy Greenburg>Maze, You Enjoy Myself, Waste, Harry Hood

Encore: Julius

YEM included teases of Peter Frampton's Do You Feel Like We Do.

You can stream it here

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1996-10-18

   Standard fare for the era. Again, no real flow. But it was only the third show of a long tour, so it is somewhat to be expected. Highlight of the ENTIRE show was the Maze. You really need to listen to it. It gets its own write up on Phish.net. Around the 10 minute mark, right as Trey is building up the “tension/release” peak of the song, some guy ran onto the stage. He avoided security and lept off of the stage into the front rows. That's why the crowd is flipping out well before the apex of the song. 

Check it out here

Audio only, but its a soundboard.

     And there you have it. I only say 2 shows on Fall Tour '96, but I made up for it with 2 shows on the NYE run. Rock and Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll

It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Phish, Live at the Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA Oct. 17th, 1996

     Hello people. I have a couple quick shows to go over from the Fall Tour of 1996. No, I wasn't smart enough to get myself down to Atlanta for Halloween. Just a few shows that were close to the home base. Here is the first one

It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Phish, Live at Bryce Jordan Center, University Park , PA Oct. 17^th, 1996.

     It felt good to be back at Penn State to see Phish again. My old roommate had moved to a new apartment and that is where we stayed. I definitely remember making tea and drinking it as we made our way across campus. My seats were right down front in the 6^th row. Some clown next to me pulled out a syringe before the lights went down. He talked to the security guards and was then led away.

SET 1: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Funky Bitch, Sparkle > Tweezer > Theme From the Bottom, Talk, Punch You In the Eye,Character Zero, A Day in the Life, Tweezer Reprise

SET 2: Ya Mar, Chalk Dust Torture, Bathtub Gin, Scent of a Mule, Free, The Lizards, The Star Spangled Banner[1], David Bowie

ENCORE: Golgi Apparatus

[1] Phish debut.

The Star Spangled Banner made its Phish debut at this show.

You can stream it here

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1996-10-17

     This one was a weird show. The first set was more like a second set. There wasn't a ton of jamming anywhere. The Tweezer went out there but again, nothing too memorable. And very little flow as well. But nothing more to say. I wasn't kidding when I said it was quick.

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll

Phish, Live in Nashville, TN, Oct 18th and 19th, 2016

     Hello everyone. I hope you survived the mini heat wave that we just experienced. I was at an even hotter location down South in Nashville Tennessee. And what was I doing there? I was on my honeymoon which of course we timed with Phish's Fall Tour. So if no one objects, here is my recap of Phish, live in Nashville, TN, on Oct. 18^th and 19^th, 2016.

     First, yes I am married. Neither myself or my beautiful bride Casey wanted a big fancy ceremony.  But Pennsylvania came through for us with something called a Self Uniting Marriage License. A couple signs it, and three days later we are married. No judge, no vows, just our undying love for each other. I love it!

     When we were planning this out and Phish announced their Fall Tour, Casey suggested we go to Nashville to see and hang with her musician cousin. The day after I put in our ticket request, her cousin told us she joined a band in NYC and was moving there by the end of September. But of course we were still going. I did check out to see if anyone cool was playing at the historic Ryman Auditorium. I saw Bob Weir was playing but it was the second night of Phish's run. Oh well, guess I won't be able to see Bobby. LMAO.

     We went down 2 days early to camp out and see a few of the sites. While I love rock and roll, the only country music I like is old school stuff, outlaw country. You know, like this guy.

Oct. 18^th, 2016

Soundcheck: Jam, Blues Jam, Tide Turns, Petrichor, Walking Blues

SET 1: Chalk Dust Torture, Blaze On, Ghost, Lawn Boy, Halley's Comet > Sand, Tide Turns, 46 Days > Breath and Burning, Limb By Limb > Cavern > Also Sprach Zarathustra

SET 2: Julius > Fuego > My Friend, My Friend, Samson and Delilah[1], Twist[2] > Miss You[3], West L.A. Fadeaway[3] > Playing in the Band[4]

ENCORE: Quinn the Eskimo[2]

[1] Phish debut; Bob Weir on guitar and vocals.
[2] Bob Weir on guitar.
[3] Bob Weir on guitar and vocals.
[4] Phish debut; Bob Weir on guitar.

    

You can stream it here

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/2016-10-18

      We were eating a light meal when we saw on FB that Bobby was soundchecking Walkin' Blues with Phish. My immediate thoughts were 1) Wow, Bobby's gonna play with Phish and 2) they're gonna play Walkin' Blues?!?!?!?!? An OK blues number that really wasn't all that when I saw the Dead do it. But who am I to complain?

     First set was solid, with a few second set heavy weights making an appearance. Both Ghost and Sand had some nice bits of improv. Everyone expected Cavern to be the end but they squeezed one more tune in and the 2001 definitely had a little extra something something in it.

     The second set started of decent enough. None of the first three songs really stretched out but I was still happy. Then without a word, Bobby came out and the place erupted. We knew he was gonna show up at some point but we thought, maybe the encore, maybe towards the end? But this was rather early. As my friend Jay DeWald, formerly of the Jay DeWald Experience said ”What if the rest of the set turns into Grateful Dead music?” The Samson is outstanding. Hearing Trey rip the hell out of the solo with Bobby playing slide, wow, just like out of the Dead's 70's era. Then a Phish song. Ok, this is gonna get real good. I joked Bobby could definitely do the Woo's in Twist. And the jam was sick!!! It was like a double helix of interweaving guitars. They very quickly got into some really deep psychedelia. I kept picturing Trey's leads poking a barrier between this world and a world where one had to beware what was around. Kind of like the alternate world when the Gorgon lives in Strangeful Things. I told you it was some deep space!

     Then Bobby sang a Phish tune. Did not see that coming. And he owned it. Whether it's about Trey's sister, Jerry G, or one of your own loved ones, this might be the definitive version. Then West LA Fadeaway, which they performed with Bobby the last time he sat in back in 2000. I told Jay I hope they finish with I Know You Rider but Playin' is quite alright as well. And Trey sang. Trey sang Playin' with Bobby on stage. Wow, just wow. And this version really reminded me of the late '72/early '73 versions, where it was trippy but not super long, 20 minutes +.

     And one of the few songs both bands played for the encore, Quinn the Eskimo. Hell yes! Trey never introduced or thanked Bobby for coming out. Almost like they just assumed everybody got it. Yes, we did.

     Somehow, I recovered from that and got a good nights sleep. On to day 2!

October 19^th, 2016.

Soundcheck: Home, Let's Go. I Always Wanted It This Way, Plasma

SET 1: Theme From the Bottom, Camel Walk, My Soul, Petrichor, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan > My Sweet One, Waking Up Dead, Halfway to the Moon, Running Out of Time[1], Tube > Shine a Light

SET 2: Golden Age > Tweezer > No Men In No Man's Land > Plasma > Harry Hood > Suzy Greenberg

ENCORE: Walls of the Cave > Tweezer Reprise

[1] Debut

You can stream it here

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/2016-10-19

     Overall, I thought night 2 was better musically than night 1. Yes, Bobby joining them was a top 3 all time moment in Phish history, but they really took it up a notch in this show. First set was good. Petrichor is like 4 songs linked together. 2 of them I like, 2 I'm meh about. The Tube has a nice extended jam and I love anything off of Exile on Main Street.

     I haven't seen Golden Age in over 2 years so that was fantastic. Trey almost ripcords it to go into Tweezer and what a monster it was. The other highlight of the second set was Hood. All sorts of magic happening there. I really like how they are doing different kinds of things in Hood now. 3.0 Hoods are a unique beast. I had to get the crowd Wooing when it was obvious the band was pausing for the Wooo's. I'm not against all Woo's, just not during the quiet parts of Reba.

     Our Urbr ride home ended up being a chick who wanted to know about veganism and of course my wife is a vegan. Rather cool little twist of the universe. And there it is. I might not see Phish live for a little bit as I am moving out to Oregon next spring/summer, so I really hoped this would be memorable. Oh, yes.

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll