Good morning
to you all. Today is somewhat of a holiday as it is Trey Anastasio’s birthday.
But I did some celebrating of my own yesterday when the past collided with my
present and had my mind blown in the process. Cause yesterday it was all about
Scranton, my roots, and Cabinet at the Snail Pie Lounge in Glennville, PA.
Since Kclinger’s closed in April, the
music scene in Hanover has suffered greatly. Yes, Perkins and his mustache have
been working overtime trying to get local shows going, like the Music in the
Park and Dutch Days. And the Winner’s Circle has had a few local bands play.
But no one has been able to get national or regional acts. But there is a place
right outside of our little borough doing something about that, the Snail Pie
Lounge in Glennville.
Take a right off of 216 and then a left on
a dirt, rutted lane called Appaloosa Lane (no signs or anything) Drive back a
quarter of a mile and roll by a barn. Park in the terrace fields and stumble
yourself down to the barn. Steve the owner, doesn’t charge admission, he takes
donations. And this show was sold out, featuring the bluegrass troubadours of
coal country, Cabinet.
As some of you are aware, I grew up
outside of Scranton. It was actually the rather wealthy suburb of Clarks Summit
but I say I’m from Scranton ‘cause if you say you’re from Clarks Summit, people
think you’re a pussy (Apologies to Lewis Black).
So it was a huge deal to see a really good
band from Scranton playing 15 minutes from my house. I went with my friend Jess
Richley, who I have known forever. How long? We have known each other since
before Kclinger’s opened. I did a little bit of research and the last show we
attended together was Bo Diddley at the 8x10 club in Baltimore on 4/26/96. On
the 27th, I saw Widespread Panic at Gettysburg College and on the 21st
I saw them in Boalsburg, PA so that was a pretty good weeks’ worth of music.
But back to the Snail Pie Lounge. It’s on
the second floor of a barn that appears to have a lot of its original wood in
its structure. It had seats for a little over 100 people, seven rows about 15
seats across. A little bit of an area to dance off on the side which is where
we set up shop. Steve the owner had a Band shirt on and a huge poster/mural of
the Band across the back of the barn. It had to 15 feet across. I believe the
Band would have loved to play this venue.
I’ve
seen Cabinet 5 times now and they really don’t mix up their set lists too much
but what they do play is all acme stuff. Highlights included How Mountain Girls
can Love, Up on Cripple Creek, Susquehanna Breakdown, and Midnight Moonlight. I
didn’t see anyone taping but you can get your fill of cabinet shows on the
Archive
They took a set break and that’s when my
past came back to life. For better or worse, my personality and future were
formed in Scranton. My best friend growing up was a kid named Eric Maria. He
came from an Italian-Irish Catholic Family. His Italian dad’s name was Cataldo
Maria. His Irish mother’s name was Mary Ann Clark. You can’t get any more
ethnic than that.
They had 8 kids, 7 boys and one girl. Again,
no good Irish/Italian Catholic family is gonna use birth control. Eric was the
second youngest and to say his older brothers picked on us is an
understatement. But it toughen me up and helped my develop my wit and sense of
humor. But more importantly, Eric’s older brother Mike got me into the Grateful
Dead. He was my Obie Wan for all things Heady.
He
was into everything before everyone else. He had a Burton snowboard around
1984, well before anyone outside of Vermont had heard of snowboarding. I
remember him being into Faith No More in the mid 80’s long before Mike Patton
even joined the group. But he was tie-dying in 1985 and dropped out of college
without telling his folks to follow the Dead. He had a tape with American
Beauty on one side and Mars Hotel on the other. He also had The Electric Kool-Aid
Acid Test. Between that tape and that book; I was ready to get on the Bus. But back to the present……..
It
was a really chill scene at set break with the band mingling with the crowd
outside. I ended up talking to the drummer Jamie. When I told him where I grew
up, he said he had just moved from Clark Summit. I then asked him if he knew
Mike Maria…... and lo and behold he did. Jamie also played in Scranton Dead
cover band the Village Idiots. He knew a guitarist named Brian Sarafinko that I
would have graduated with. He knew a few of the other bands and people that I
hadn’t seen in years. It really was a mind blowing experience to be talking all
things Scranton after so many years.
The band played a little over 3 hours and
did a cool little accapella tune about moonshine. We went to my friend’s place
for a post show bonfire. That was really cool, very reminiscent of some of the
Devolver after show parties. So everyone have a great Trey Day as I root on my
Fantasy Football and marvel at the wonder that occurs once you get on the Bus.
Greetings
everyone. Hope you all had a great last weekend of summer and tipped your hat
to the hard work that the common man does as celebrated by Labor Day. And what
did you do Kemp? Not too much, just traveled across the country to see the
hardest working band in music, Phish, for 3 days at Dick’s Sporting’s Goods
Park in Commerce City, CO.
Way back in
March, after Phish had announced the first leg of Tour, Switzer and Josh came
for a visit. You can read about it here
While here, she told me that I should skip the 3 night run
and go out to Denver over Labor Day weekend because they will have moved out to
Montana by then, IF they announce that for the second leg. And while I may be
HMLL management, when it comes to Tour, I listen to Switzer. So we waited
patiently and lo and behold, when the second leg was announced, it included 3
nights over Labor Day weekend in Denver.
After the 5
longest months of my life and a few pangs of regret for not hitting AC, Labor
Day weekend had finally arrived. I flew out on Thursday to give myself a day to
acclimatize myself to the altitude. When I first visited Colorado in 2001 for
Phil Lesh at Red Rocks, I drank 2 beers and got knocked on my ass. Older and
wiser this time around.
I flew out of BWI. Flight
was delayed and hour for logistical reasons and 30 minutes to change a light
bulb, which was performed right in front of me. After about dropping the screws
a dozen times, we were on our way. Land in Colorado and head west to Black
Hawk, CO. I was going to play some poker and then take the long way to Boulder.
I haven’t been to a real casino in years and now remember why. They’re the most
depressing places on Earth. Only stayed a half an hour and hit the road through
Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forests. Rather overcast and spritzing rain.
Went by a place called Grateful Meds. Wow, do they deliver to PA? Best name for a dispensary
since Shemp’s Hemp Emporium.
Peaked at about
8400 ft. and then began the descent into Boulder. Words can’t justify the
beauty of this drive. Peaks and towering cliffs of rock overhanging the
highway. Twisting down through the canyon, I finally arrive in Denver. GPS
reconnects and gets me to my hotel. Check in and walk next door to the Safeway
to get some snacks. A homeless guy comes up and asks for change and then hooks
me up. I’m not in Boulder 15 minutes and already I’m good.
My friend Shawn
also was spending Thurs night in Boulder. I love hitting shows with Shawn because
he knows more about Phish than me. He hit almost all of both legs and knows
people everywhere. His friend’s apartment
was only 2 miles away from the hotel. I met up with him, chilled the fuck out
and headed to the Southern Sun Brewpub. Real heady place, only accepts cash,
and has a more family atmosphere than you can imagine. I had a Colorado Kind
Ale and about 2 gallons of water. I told the wait staff I was not drinking
booze for rehydration efforts and they all but had someone standing next to the
table with a fire hose. Food was outstanding. We called it a day and I slept
the sleep of the dead. 2000 miles (or so) and 20 hour days will do that to ya.
We were staying
in downtown at the Sheraton, which was top notch. Valet parking, rooftop pool,
everything was first class. And hundreds of stinky Phish fans taking over. We
had a sweet suite in the corner, so we didn’t have ANY neighbors to complain
about the over the top raging that was about to get underway. Everyone brought
their swimsuit so we headed down to the pool.
There was nobody
there and we took over a cabana and proceeded to get down. A cadre of SF heads,
led by HMLL Delorean herself,came down
and took over the cabana next to us. I have spent a lot of time pregaming
before shows and raging poolside might be the best way. No cigs by the pool but
this is Colorado so outdoor chilling is allowed. WHAT!?!?!?
We get to the Lot
a little after 6. A windy dusty mess out on the plains that ring Denver proper.
The Vermont crew ( and crew might be an understatement. By the end of it, I
knew about 40 people from or currently living in Vermont at the shows. As Matt
said “We roll deep” ). We settled into section 120 (our home for the 3 nights)
and was ready to get this show on the road .
NOTE :Other than the third night, I haven’t relistened to
the shows. My writing could not do the music justice anyway, so just the
highlights.
[1] "We all love Dick's" vocal jam theme.
[2] Crosseyed and Painless tease.
[3] Unfinished.
[4] Emotional Rescue quote.
[5] Japanese Lyrics.
Notes: The first letters of the songs of this show spelled
out "Fuck Your Face" before Fuck Your Face itself was played. Before
You Enjoy Myself, Page said, "We're so happy to be here, we love this
place, we really do...We love Dick's". Trey and the band then led the
crowd in a "We Love Dick's" chant. During the You Enjoy Myself vocal
jam, "We Love Dick's" theme emerged with such lines as, "Page
loves Dick's, Mike loves Dick's, Trey loves Dick's, the band loves
Dick's". Ocelot included a Crosseyed and Painless tease. Prior to the
second set, Trey wished Matty from the Waterwheel table a Happy Birthday.
Runaway Jim and Chalk Dust were unfinished. Emotional Rescue was played for the
first time since September 30, 2000 (236 shows). Fuck Your Face contained an
Emotional Rescue quote.
First set was solid. I knew a
First Tube opener was rare and Uncle Penn was the bluegrass fix I needed.
Carini as the third song? Holy shit. And it was epic, 13 minutes of some great
jamming. Then the YEM in the first set. Wow they are really mixing it up. The
vocal jam was great. Fish likes Dick’s. Trey like’s Dick’s. Everyone likes
Dick’s. I heard some guy yelling for Undermind. I’m thinking really? You want
to hear that? And then Switzer runs up and says “Do you want your mind blow” OK
as long as you’re not gonna puddle me. She points out the first letters of
every song spell Fuck You. Wow my mind is blow. One note : The preset music was
horrible as the run began but was much improved by the third night. The first
night it was Women who got rejected by Lilith Fair. Even Sarah McLachlan said
put some balls on these songs please. But by the last night it was funk and
jazz. During setbreak I got a text from my
friend Monica. She’s a Devolver chick from way back in the day and other than a
wedding, I haven’t hung with her in over 10 years. I hung with her for the
second set. Our neighbors were an older couple who were raging like they were
21. It was all too much. Second set starts and it’s a really long Runaway Jim
with some deep space. Not as deep as ’97 Runaway Jam but damn close. After
Farmhouse, they started a dark jam. Everyone thought it was gonna go into 2001
but instead Alaska, which I believe is another way to say “Fuck you”. A second
set Chaulk Dust is always gonna be huge and this did not disappoint. I had
forgotten about the first letters spelling out anything and then peeps figured
it was really spelling Fuck Your Face. And what for the E? How about the first
Emotional Rescue since 2000. Wowwee! And then Fuck you Face to end it. Crazy!
And what better way to get your face fucked than with a Meatstick. I love goofy
Phish. Back to the hotel, rage some more
and finally collapse and fulfill my required 4 hors of sleep while on Tour. Day
2 and we hit the pool even earlier. Being a Saturday, it was more like a
typical Jersey Shore pool bar scene after a while but we lived it up before the
darkness took over. Switzer and crew were waiting on people so I hitched a ride
with their friend’s Nithin and Dylan. Dylan’s an OG Vermonter whose family is a
pillar of the community in Vermont, and therefore Phish community. Got a lot of
knowledge from him. We make it to the Lot and I find my way to sec 120
Notes: Light included a Crosseyed and Painless tease. Page
thanked the audience before Sleeping Monkey. Fishman returned for the encore
with a banana, causing Trey to fill time by remarking that Fishman almost
passed out from rocking so hard during the second set. Therefore, he was handed
a banana backstage to revive him. Trey and Fishman asked the crowd to picture
Fishman almost passing out and being offered a banana while listening to the
intro to Sleeping Monkey. The soundcheck's Long Cool Woman contained Telegram
Sam (T Rex) quotes.
Antelope opener? Wow first opener since 1990. Backwards is the song me and
Switzer share so that was really nice. Then a Tweezer. And this one got deep
into…. Fluffhead. Getting goosebumps as I type. All of the set was outstanding.
And according to my sources (Phish.net), this is the first show that Antelope,
Tweezer, and Fluff have all appeared in the same first set… EVER. This is
really skull demolishing because Phish have played over 1600 shows, and those
songs above have been played all north of 300 times WOWOWOWOWOWOW! Golden Age was spectacular as
always but Light has become THE vehicle for deep space. And this one did not
disappoint. The Mike’s>No Quarter> Groove was amazing. The tension in No Quarter
always thrills me. And then Sleeping Monkey> Reprise. The sound was so
crystal clear and loud, it was overwhelming. Back to the hotel for more
postshow raging. Somehow, Shawn was the first guy to pass out which I would
have bet against. We had a whole crew of people staying in our sweet suite but
most of them were heading home on Sunday so this was our last night to really
blow it out. Sunday’s pregaming consisted of
having drinks with my friend Kate Owens. We went to high school together and
saw 2 Dead shows back in the day. Other than a class reunion in the midst of
the best Devolver run ever (nov. 2001), I haven’t hung with her for over 20
years. It was great seeing her and then I took a power nap and was ready for
the last show of the tour and summer.
Again, the third song of the first set is a monster. The Rift was memorable
as was the Maze. I love Ride Captain Ride and even the Possum was full of high
energy. We take a well deserved breather, take a group photo which involved a
sober square guy not being able to operate a camera, and await the second and
final set of TOUR. About 15 minutes in, Shawn declared
best Sand ever. And he is right. 24 minutes of mind melting headiness. And then
they bring it back to the end and maybe one of the best transitions EVER into
Ghost. And that was a MONSTER. Oh wait, Piper with a slow buildup reminiscent of
2.0?Yeah I’ll take that as well. And
this was my first 3.0 Hood which is all of a sudden is a whole different animal. Incredible way to
finish. Earlier in the day, Shawn had a spirited discussion with Josh about
Character Zero and then Phish karma got him back by having it as the encore. A
perfect Phishy way to end it all. One last time of raging the room
and showing why we are the coolest people we know. I get 2 hours of sleep
before Delorean makes another appearance and wakes my ass up to get her stuff
at 5 AM. I don’t manage HMLL’s, I rather just go along for the ride. I make my
flight and with a little bit of a delay in a stopover in Detriot, I get back to
my apartment by 8 pm. Well that’s all for now. I got
Cabinet at the end of Sept and then NYE, hopefully in MSG.
Hello everyone. I hope you all had a blast
yesterday celebrating German Hanover heritage/tribute to obesity that Dutch
Days entails. Wow people, put down the fried food and back away. At least most
of them were walking around. Boxcar kicked ass on Frederick St. and then even
more ass (which as stated above, Hanover has an abundance of) at the Winner’s Circle.
But I’m not here to talk about the here and now. I’m going in the way back
machine back to the year of 1992. Bill Clinton was telling everyone he didn’t
inhale but a whole lot of inhaling happened at RFK Stadium in Washington DC on
June 20 for the Grateful Dead.
By now, I had graduated from high school
and already had a year under my belt from Penn State. Nad was graduating from
high school and the show, just like in 1991, fell over Senior Week. So we went
down to Ocean City for most of the week, busted Nad’s chops for seeing the New
Kids on the Block back in ’89 or 90 and then left to go see the good old
Grateful Dead.
This was Watson’s first show. Just talking
pregame, he mentioned how he would love to hear Casey Jones. My reply was
something along the lines of never gonna happen. They hadn’t played it since
1984. I knew that off the top of my head because of my scholarly study of
Deadbase.
We made it a point to get in for the
opener Steve Miller. The first show I ever saw was Steve Miller at Merriweather
Post in June 1990. I was really into him at the time and was a really big fan
of some of his earlier work from the late 60’s. I listened to the Anthology
collection a lot even before I got into the Grateful Dead.He didn’t disappoint by playing some of his
earlier work and I was fired up and ready for the Dead
06-20-92 Robert F. Kennedy
Stadium, Washington, D.C. (Sat)
*with
Steve Miller with Bruce Hornsby on accordion - Steve Miller opened - locomotive
airhorn during "Drumz," also to begin "Casey Jones"-
"Shenandoah" theme during "Space" - last "Casey
Jones": 11-02-84 [549] - sound check: "Baba O'Riley">
"TNK," "Casey Jones," "Way To Go"
First set was typical of the era. Second
set opened with Corinna (still one of my least favorite tunes). The energy picked
up a lot from Playin>Uncle John’s. During Drumz and Space, they moved the
sound around on the speakers which gave the impression that the band was at the
back of the stadium. It was extremely disorienting, and I really wasn’t as
disoriented as I would be at later Dead shows. Mickey also came out with train
horns during Space. These were beyond LOUD. They had been using them on most
stops of the summer tour so they really didn’t foreshadow the return of Casey
Jones. I had no idea about them sound checking it.
But when they did go into Casey Jones, the
place erupted. Evidently, Watson has powers beyond my comprehension. It sounded
pretty good. Steve Miller came out for the encore which I was also geeked for.
Love the Who and the Beatles so this was exactly what the doctor ordered.
Everyone have a great Jerry Week, which
begins Aug 1st and continues until Aug 9th. Why is this
week 8 days? Cause Deadheads will take an extra day of partying.
Greetings everyone. Hope you all survived the heat wave we just experienced. I had no problem surviving it in style. A weekend of Phish shows back in June, a weekend off, and then another weekend of shows. This time Furthur Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, PA July 7 and Merriweather Post July 8 2012.
Furthur announced their summer tour a week after Phish announced theirs. Once again, a band schedules a Tour that really looks good if you live in Hanover. People may poop on this fair city from time to time, but if you live the life you love and love the life you live, Hanover is a centrally located place to live. They had a Saturday show at the Mann Music Center in Philly and the following night at my backyard, aka Merriweather Post Pavilion.
I was hitting the Mann show by myself but meeting people in the Lot. And just like last year, it was incredably blazing hot. The high was supposed to be 103 and if you told me last year (when it was 104) it would be just as hot, I would have called you insane. However, it was only 78 degrees at midnight this year, a vast improvement over the 95 degrees at midnight last year.
I know the way to the Mann blindfolded but for whatever reason I had the destination plugged into my GPS. Just as I was getting off the Turnpike onto the Schuykill Expressway, it warned myself of extreme congestion ahead. So I got it to find a route avoiding the congestion. Cut 20 minutes off of my trip. The route took me through Upper and Lower Marion and Bryn Mayr, 3 areas of Philly that are wealthy and beautiful.
Then my route took my through the ghetto. I saw a dazed addict in the middle of the street. I saw a drug deal go down and saw a lot of abandoned houses. Right out of the Wire. But then only 2 blocks away from the blight, I rolled into Fairmont Park and the Mann Music Center.
I parked in my usual area, under the trees by the fountains. Shakedown St. was all but nonexistent as the Bureau of Licenses and Bullshit was out in force, shutting people down.
Ran into 2 of the Brown Clowns and my buddy Dion. I also saw a few of the Heads I see at all the Philly area shows. One older guy named Ernie. I’m sure this guy has been seeing the Dead in Philly since the early 80’s. I sold him a tix for Mule in Harrisburg back in 2006. See him at shows all the time now.
I also saw another older head. He looks like typical Italian American from Philly who is also a Head. At the Phish Nov 2009 preThanksgiving run in Philly, read about it here
Megan used her skills and got a tix for 20 bucks from this guy.
Christine and her crew , which consisted of her fiance Todd and Vanessa from way back in the day and her husband Jon. They were staying at the hotel until much later and I was gonna meet them on the lawn in our usual spot.
I got in early in a much more streamlined approach then they’ve had in years past at the Mann. As I was chilling on the lawn, massive waves of dark and foreboding clouds rolled in. We got a lot of lightening and just a smattering of rain, no need to break out the poncho. The breeze was nice but it was still raging hot.
1st Set
Opening Jam>Truckin>Nobodys Fault But Mine>Fire on The Mountain>
Cassidy, Peggy-O, Tennessee Jed, Brother Esau, Deal
2nd Set
China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider>Spacey Jazzy Jam>Dark Star, Caution (Do Not Stop On The Tracks)>St. Stephen, Unbroken Chain, Dear Prudence>The Wheel>Goin Down The Road Feeling Bad>And We Bid You Goodnight
I called the Truckin opener based on their tuning up beforehand. Paired with Nobody’s Fault, it was like it was 1974. The standalone Fire sounded just like it did in 1978, with that fat Telecaster tone that cut right through the humidity. I also called Tennessee Jed. My Brother Esau was nice cause I used to rock out to that tune on my In The Dark cassette tape, way back in the 80’s.
The second set is what this show was all about. The China>Rider was absolutely top notch. The Jam before they get to the first verse of Dark Star was the highlight of the night for myself. Once again, Furthur rips up Dark Star, fulfilling its potential as a jam vehicle in ways the ones I saw with Jerry never came close to. The Caution was outstanding and a great reminder that we would not be here dancing our asses off if it was not for the great, late Pigpen.
St Stephen, Unbroken Chain, and Dear Prudence were all stellar (although I do prefer the way Phish does Dear Prudence). I left during the Wheel ‘cause I had to drive back to Hanover. Avoided traffic and rolled into my crib around 2 AM
After trying to get to get back to normal levels of hydration, Ben Hockensmith of Winter House Band fame came over and we rolled down. Got to the Lot around 3 and there was no one directing traffic. Everyone was parking where ever they felt like parking. I was right by my normal spot at the entrance and no one was parking near us. Never saw so much unused space.
Ran into Ty (the tallest Head I know) and Matt Kliendenst, who I know from way back in the day at Penn State. I ‘ve known him as long as I’ve known Dion. I hadn’t seen Matt in well over 5 years and it was good to catch up. He jogged my memory about the best Dead cover band in State College, King Solomon’s Marbles.
07/08/12 (Sun) Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia, MD
Set 1: Hell in a Bucket, Candyman, Althea, Cumberland Blues, Looks Like Rain, Cold Rain and Snow, Cosmic Charlie
Set 2: Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance, Bird Song > Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Passenger > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, So Many Roads, Throwin' Stones E: Samson and Delilah
First set was solid. A few songs about the weather were a nice touch. My first Cosmic Charlie by Furthur was really sweet. At set break, I got to hang with my friend’s Aunt Linda. She lives in Marin County, 3 miles from Terrapin Crossroads. While she may have a few years on me, I think I’m in love.
The second set was good and really well played but I’ll admit Sailor, Saint, and Bird Song are among my least favorite of the Dead’s repertoire. Bird Song I’m just burned out on but this version was a million times better than the ones I’ve seen Phil do with his band. Stolen' raaaaiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnn..........
The Slipknot Passenger sandwich was outstanding, and Passenger was another tune I really wanted to hear. So Many Roads is one of my favorite later era Jerry ballads and Johnny K nailed it. Samson was played as the encore just in case you all forgot it was Sunday.
Now while I may know A LOT about Tour and the Life, I do occasionally get a few things wrong. First, I thought Furthur was gonna be a lightly attended affair. Boy was I wrong. Packed lawn and pavilion on a Sunday night show with insane heat? Way to represent people. All those people and all that space around us in the Lot.
I blew it big time before I even left by forgeting to put my beer in the cooler I took with me. Plenty of water and gatorade but no beer. But I did support my local Shakedown St, so that’s important.
Also had my fill of the Beltway. Saw 2 different motorcycle accidents. 22 years of that is enough
So now I get to catch my breath and save a little bit of cash for my next adventure. No shows until Labor Day weekend when I fly out to Denver for a full weekend of Phish with my West Coast and Rocky Mountain HMLL's.
Dave Kemp
BA American Studies
Ph.D. in Rock and Roll
How’s it going my fellow travelers? Last weekend marks my 22nd year doing what I do best: Tour. And how do I celebrate? By showing Western PA and Ohio how it’s done. So without further ado here is June 23rd Burgettstown, PA and June 24th Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.
When the Tour was announced, I skipped Atlantic City so I could do Denver but I still needed my East Coast fix. Blossom is only 2 hours away from Burgettstown so I immediately decided to include that in my itinerary as well. Unfortunately, I couldn’t convince anyone else from the area to hit it as well so this was going to be a solo project, ala Gene Simmons’s ego stroking monument Rock and Roll All Over
I was staying at Bennett Acres Campground, which was a convenient 2 and a half miles from the venue. I also knew that you wanted to get into the Lot right by the road or else you would get stuck in a monstrous traffic jam. I arrived at the campground rather early and texted the Miller Brothers (Andy and Dave) of my arrival. Before the text could transverse the cell towers, the Brothers of the House of Miller (Game of Thrones fan) rolled up. They set up camp and we got ready to head in.
We met the newly engaged Nat and Christie right up the road at Miller’s Golf Course and headed into together a little after 2 because that is the UNIVERSAL Lot opening time. We drive up and the parking lot employees inform us they are not opening until 4:30. That’s ridiculous! I believe under the 7th Amendment of the Constitution it states “…persons shall be guaranteed the right to rage the Lot with adequate time to be prepared for the 4 o’clock and 20 minutes past celebration”.
So we rolled down the road to Burgettstown proper, took a Mickey D’s bathroom break, and figured out what to do. While in the lot, we ran into some young kids. If they were 19, I’d be surprised. Even more surprising, the one chick with braces had a ton of ink on her including “Thug Life” across her belly.
We went back towards the venue and found a gravel road just off the main avenue in front of the venue. These roads are all over the place in postindustrial Rust Belt areas. There were maybe 40 cars, everyone just chilling and waiting. A cop stopped by and was just chatting with people. He told us they would probably open the lots at 3. Another guy said he was gonna go and check it out. If he wasn’t back in 5 minutes, that meant he had headed in. Christie also noticed the stream of cars going by us had all but stopped. So we headed back and got right into the good Lot. And I'd Like to thank Christie for reminding me that we were in the exact same spot as 2009. That's how you rule the Lot. Excellent.
We set up Camp Gonzo and as usual, Nate and Christie were the Hostesses with the Mostesses. Grilled chicken wraps hit the spot. Christine and Todd, who like Nat and Christie, are recently engaged (Congrats to all) showed up and our group was complete. It was like an episode of the Newlywed Game, with out embarrassing questions
My Vermont lawyer Shawn was right up the aisle. This guy has seen over 200 shows and when this Tour is complete, he will have seen 100 consecutive Phish shows. Bonnaroo doesn’t count because it was a festival, not part of Tour. I can make this judgement because I have a Ph.D. in Rock and Roll and you don’t. Nice to hang with him. I also scored a Pigpen sticker like I had on my old Shempmobile. Thank you Shakedown Street!
I walked around the back of the Lot to meet up with my friend Emily (famous for braving the insane heat last year with me at Furthur at the Mann in Philly). We headed in, got posters, and headed for the lawn. Her friends were on the same side of the lawn as my crew, exactly as one would expect. We all settled in and got ready for my first Phish in over a year.
Saturday, 06/23/2012
First Niagara Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA
Soundcheck: Shaggy Dog, Bold As Love [Unconfirmed and Possibly Incomplete]
Set 1: Funky Bitch > Backwards Down the Number Line, Gumbo > Maze[1], Torn and Frayed, The Moma Dance > Scent of a Mule[2], 46 Days, You Enjoy Myself[3]
Set 2: Gotta Jibboo > Mike's Song > Simple > Light > Weekapaug Groove[4] -> Seven Below, Bouncing Around the Room > Julius > Slave to the Traffic Light
Encore: The Lizards
[1] Eleanor Rigby tease from Page and Trey.
[2] Mule duel featured Page on theremin.
[3] Scent of a Mule tease from Trey.
[4] Divided Sky tease from Trey.
Notes: Maze featured an Eleanor Rigby tease from Page and Trey. The Mule duel featured Page on theremin. YEM contained a Scent of a Mule tease from Trey. Weekapaug contained a Divided Sky tease from Trey.
The first set was solid. I had been hoping for Monkeyman but anything from Exile is always welcome and Torn and Frayed is one of my favorite songs off of the album. The Maze was really good. The Mule had some nice dueling elements. I asked Nate if he ever thought he would see a sign in the audience asking for YEM, as it had not been played on the Tour yet. So to satisfy us, they closed the first set with a stellar version.
Weird scene on the Lawn. Cops were traversing it back and forth. Nate saw a kid (maybe 16) walk down and stand behind Christine while she was dancing. He said, “Looks like you’re trapped buddy” His reply” I’m working. Trying to smell marijuana”. He had a walkie-talkie and was communicating with the cops. WTF?!?!!? Since I have a degree in American Studies, I can say with some authority that societies have what are called rituals of reversal, when normally frowned upon behavior (think chicks showing their breasts at Mardi Gras for beads) is allowed. And guess what people, shows are one of those rituals. Go do something productive and break up the nitrous mafia.
The meat for the second set was the Mike’s thru Weekapaugh. The Mike’s was great, but 3.0 not 2.0. A 2.0 Mike’s would still be going as I type this. Mike’s> Simple is one of my all time favorite segues, mainly because of how amazing it was the first night of Clifford Ball.
The Simple was really jammed out with some great space for the boys to do what they do. Light took us even further out there and Weekapaugh brought everything back home. Bouncin’ was a nice way for everyone to take it all in. Lizards encore? Hell yes. What year is this, 1991?
We made it back to the campsite and it was raging. I crashed before the nitrous showed up. Dave Miller let it be known he did not approve, and security was all over those people. Wish I could have seen what went down, as the security guard made it very obvious about his disapproval of the situation.
Due to the beautiful weather, I was able to sleep in until almost 9 AM. I’m sure no one did that at Deer Creek. I headed out to Blossom but because I was in a somewhat mountainous region, my GPS wasn’t working. It was desolate, dusty and I wanted to get the hell out of the Pittsburgh area. I drove west towards West Virginia and figured I’d eventually hit Ohio, which I did. Took the scenic route north along the Ohio River. First scenic view? A giant coal powered power plant.
I stayed at a KOA in Cuyahoga Falls ‘cause I wanted a chill scene after the raging at Bennett Acres. Set up my tent, showered, and meet some cool kids next to me. Ben, Kyle, and Matt were Sons of the South, all from North Carolina. But definitely younger than myself. They ate shrooms at the campground and then acid at the show. I’d be laid up for a day or 2 at least if I tried to pull that off anymore. Made plans to see them in the Lot and headed in.
Blossom has multiple entrances and I picked (or should I saw my GPS) picked the main one. Before I even hit the gates, there was a huge section under the shade of trees and cars were already parked there. I wanted to get out toot suite after the show so I parked there as well. Nice chill scene within a 5 minute walk to one of the best Shakedowns I’d ever seen.
There was a sand walkway that split the parking lots, with a waist high wooden fence lining it. There were breaks in the fence and all the vendors set upon the other side of the fence. It was like it had been built for such a purpose. Hung out there for quite awhile and then tried to meet up with my homies from the campground. While walking around, I ran into Ravi from Burlington. I met him at the Afterparty for the Hug Your Farmer Benefit show back in May. Matt Hagen aka Ronnie Hawkins from same show was there as well. So as it should be on Phish Tour, I got to hang with peeps from Vermont. I’d like to thank them for their hospitality. They had pavilion so I headed in to hit the lawn.
Sunday, 06/24/2012
Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Set 1: Sample in a Jar, Tube, Axilla, Bathtub Gin, Roses Are Free > Limb By Limb[1], Free > NICU > Possum > The Wedge, Corinna, Meatstick[2]
Set 2: Golden Age > Ghost > Sweet Virginia, Rift > Tweezer[3] -> Walk Away > The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Piper > Waste > Run Like an Antelope[4]
Encore: Loving Cup > Tweezer Reprise
[1] DEG tease.
[2] Japanese lyrics; with fans on stage dancing.
[3] Another Brick in the Wall Part 2, Under Pressure, and Ice Ice Baby quotes; Meatstick jam.
[4] Under Pressure and Meatstick teases; Fernando (Abba) quote (with lyric changed to "Orlando"). Lyrics changed to Marc Orlando Esquandolas from Syracuse, NY" and "Run like Orlando out of control." "Orlando" repeated several times.
Notes: Limb by Limb contained a DEG tease. Meatstick contained Japanese lyrics and featured fans on stage dancing. Tweezer contained an Another Brick in the Wall Part 2, Under Pressure and Ice Ice Baby quotes as well as a Meatstick jam. Antelope featured Under Pressure and Meatstick teases, a Fernando (Abba) quote with the lyric changed to "Can you hear the drums, Orlando?" Antelope's lyrics were changed to "Marc Orlando Esquandolas from Syracuse, NY" and "Run like Orlando out of control." "Orlando" was repeated several times.
I ended up running into my Vermont friends again on the lawn for the first set. The first set was solid, with the only jamming happening in Limb By Limb. Matt said no one in the bathroom knew the song Corrina. F’n noobs. It’s not like it's a super obscure song like Prep School Hippie, which I WILL hear in Denver. Then Meatstick started. It was good and then Trey invited fans onto the stage to do the dance and the energy was cranked up a notch. But watch the video for how few of them actually know the dance…again f’n noobs. Where are my HMLL’s at to show Trey how it’s done?!?!?!?!?
When the Tour was announced, this show looked like it was gonna be a monster. 3 days off after it until Deer Creek, a Sunday show, and a show a lot of east coasters were gonna skip. And you know what? I was right.
Golden Age comes charging out of the gates. The jam afterwards was a monster with some really dark jamming. I wasn’t sold on CK5’s new lighting rig until this song. Wow. If you had played the jam and told me it was from my collection, I would have said ’73 – ’74 era Pink Floyd. The transition into Ghost was great and the crowd erupted in anticipation of the jam. This jam was even better, really some peak storage type jamming. I also found it very reminiscent of the Tower Jam and Disarm from It back in 2003.
After all this jamming, the boys slowed down and went into Sweet Virginia. Another Exile on Main Street gem! I was afraid they were going to go into Alaska but this was a perfect way to catch our breath. Rift was another kick in the pants then came Tweezer. Wow, lots of heavy hitters tonight. The main jam in Tweezer was very similar to the Saratoga Springs Piper from 2004. Playing the fuck out of Tweezer Reprise Reprise riff circa Fall 1995, it just kept building and building. After that rush, Trey quoted Another Brick in the Wall (How can you eat your pudding if you don’t have your meat? line) Listen to it and you will not hear anything remotely like that song being played, so I have no idea where in the hell that came from.
Then Mike starts riffing on Under Pressure. Trey sings the first chorus sounding very much like the Thin White Duke, and then informs us he doesn’t know the words. Everyone passed the buck to another band member to sing the lyrics. I was surprised they didn’t ask anyone in the audience if they could sing it. Mike’s bass lines were somewhat similar to the part of the Union Federal jam off of Junta. I’m not kidding, go back and check it out yourself.
Out of that madness came Walkaway, which has its own jam similar to the Tweezer Reprise rift. Silent and Horse cooled things down but the Piper came to kick our asses again. Antelope finished out the set with even more Meatstick and Under Pressure teases.
The encore of Loving Cup (more Exile!!) and Reprise sent us on our way.
As hoped, I got out of the Lot rather quickly and slept the sleep of the dead. Avoided all the morning commute bullshit of Cleveland and Pittsburgh and was back at my crib by 3 pm. Next up Furthur at the Mann in Philly on July 7th and Merriweather on July 8th
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