Led Zeppelin — New York, NY (2/12/1975)
February 1975. Gerald Ford was in office. The Vietnam War was winding down. We had yet to witness the heroics of Carlton Fisk in game six of the ’75 World Series. America was preparing to celebrate the bicentennial and Led Zeppelin were the undisputed kings of the world. After releasing Zeppelin I-IV, Houses Of The Holy and Physical Graffiti, Zeppelin was the nadir of their collective power. Robert Plant would often the question at the start of their shows, “are you ready for three hours of lunacy?”. After logging in 7 years as a touring machine with a viking mentality, Zeppelin was coming to your town and you better lock up your girlfriend. Here we find Zep firing on all cylinders as they tear through 3 hours of crowd pleasing favorites and a couple of tunes off the new album, Physical Graffiti.
1. Rock And Roll
2. Sick Again
3. Over The Hills And Far Away
4. In My Time Of Dying
5. The Song Remains The Same
6. The Rain Song
7. Kashmir
8. No Quarter
9. Trampled Underfoot
10. Moby Dick
11. Dazed And Confused > San Francisco
12. Stairway To Heaven
13. Whole Lotta Love
14. Black Dog
15. Heartbreaker > That’s Alright
Victor Wooten’s Bass/Nature Camp With Mike Gordon
Victor Wooten’s Bass/Nature Camp jam session with Mike Gordon.
Check out Victor’s camp’s website here.
Phish — 10 Years Ago (2001 Or Also Sprach Zarathustra)
It never fails. Anytime I mention 2001 in certain Phish circles, I am immediately corrected. The proper name is Also Sprach Zarathustra. I would almost bet that Richard Strauss (the composer) would appreciate the brevity of 2001 over the long and pretentious sounding ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA (named after German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzche’s book). Since he’s been dead since the late 1940′s, I don’t think he’d mind either way.
ASZ was ultimately used in Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film, 2001. Eumir Deodato dusted it off, layed down a funky bass line and re-composed the song to a disco beat. His version was used in the Peter Sellers film, Being There.
Tying everything together, Phish performed this version 10 years ago in Limestone, ME at their Lemonwheel festival. Elvis Presley, who coincidentally died on this date in 1977, would use ASZ as his entrance somg from 1969 until his last concert in late June of 1977.
Thank ya…thank ya very much.
Woodstock — 39 Years Ago Today
As we metioned yesterday, the Woodstock Music And Arts Festival started on this weekend in 1969. The festival ran from the 15th through the 17th on Max Yasgur’s farm in the rural town of Bethel, NY. It’s widely regarded as one of, if not the most influential event in rock and roll history. Tickets for the three day event cost the princely sum of $18, but most didn’t pay for their tickets and for most intents and purposes, Woodstock has been considered a free event. Concert organizers had expected 200,000 patrons, but what they got was roughly 500,000(!). Obviously the festival was not prepared for such an enormous turnout, so water supply, toilet facilities, etc., were creature comforts the concert goers had to do without.
The festival started with Richie Havens plucking and singing his version of soulful folk music and wove through several different genres and styles throughout the weekend. Some of the highlights were: Crosby, Stills & Nash- performing an acoustic set and an electric set, Canned Heat, Janis Joplin, Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sly And The Family Stone, The Who (Yippie Activist, Abbie Hoffman stormed the stage and stole the microphone before it was regained), The Grateful Dead (whose set was marred by technical difficulties), Jefferson Airplane, Ten Years After, The Band, Paul Butterfield, and of course, Jimi Hendrix’s career defining early morning set.
The Beatles were asked to play, but John Lennon refused unless Yoko’s Plastic Ono Band could play as well. John and Yoko were turned down…Cold. Others that declined for various reasons were: The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Frank Zappa, Spirit, Bob Dylan, etc., etc.
The festival was filmed and released in 1970 as “Woodstock”.
Santana’s Soul Sacrifice:
Janis Joplin’s Try:
Joe Cocker’s With A Little Help From My Friends:
Ten Years After’s I’m Going Home:
Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit:
Crosby, Stills & Nash’s Suite: Judy Blue Eyes:
The Who’s Pinball Wizard:
Sly And The Family Stone’s I Want To Take You Higher:
….. and of course, Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child:
David Byrne — This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Perhaps this is a tad crazy, but I really believe that I like this version as much-if not more than the original. And I love the original. It’s one of our favorite family songs.
Phish — 11 Years Ago Today
Place: Loring Air Force Base
Where: Limestone, ME
When: August 16-17, 1997
Who: Phish
Download Here (Includes all of 8/16 with Disco Truck Set)
The weekend of August 16-17 is staring at us on the calendar once again. One cannot help but reminisce when even casually glancing at the date. There’s just too many big memories. The Ball, The Went, The Lemonwheel, and Coventry all happened on this historic weekend. Throughout all twenty four sets listed above, when I think of the enormity and feeling of summer Phish festivals, I think of the music provided by the Great Went’s Halley’s > Cities. It is this jam sequence that comes closet to musically defining the feeling that Phish festivals gave me .
Continue reading at MR. MINER’S PHISH THOUGHTS.
Bob Marley — 7/7/1975 (The Boarding House)
Jah! Rastafari…
1975 saw Marley’s rise to international stardom continue. Eric Clapton had recorded “I Shot The Sheriff” in 1974, which went on to become a number one hit in America. This brought a huge increase of interest in Marley’s already vast body of work. This show captures him in prime form, into his 30th year and electrifying audiences across the globe.
Trench Town Rock
Burnin’ & Lootin’
Midnight Raver
Them Belly Full
Rebel Music
No Woman, No Cry
Kinky Reggae
Stir It Up
Lively Up Yourself
Get Up, Stand Up
Widespread Panic — Driving Song>Surprise Valley With Anne Marie Calhoun
Taken from the 4/26/2008 show at Walnut Creek.
Anne Marie Calhoun has recorded/played with Steve Vai, Jethro Tull, Ringo Starr, Dave Matthews & The Foo Fighters. For another clip of Mrs. Calhoun, click here.
Mike Gordon — Page McConnell Sit-In
These are happening with more and more frequency. The “Chariman Of The Boards” sat in with “Cactus” last night, as Gordeaux led his band and McConnell through Andelman’s Yard, Travel Too Far, Voices & Makisupa Policeman. Here’s the full setlist:
Another Door
Crumblin Bones
She Said, She Said
On A Bad Day*
Milwaukee Here I Come*
Andelmans’ Yard^
Traveled Too Far^
Voices^
Makisupa Policeman^
Morphing Again
Meat
Encore: Alphabet Street
Show Notes:
* with Brett Hughes on guitar & vocals, Marie Claire on Vocals
^ with Page McConnell on keyboards
Umphrey’s McGee — Thanks!
I’d just like to take this moment to thank UM for making it back to Atlanta in mid-September. We were all pretty bummed about the rain/lightning/lack of power forcing you guys (and STS9) to cancel the last date on your tour in Atlanta on 8/2. I’m sure that the mid-September show doesn’t make logistical sense and wasn’t part of the original itinerary, so this means a lot. A whole lot. Thanks guys. We look forward to the mid-September, Sunday night show in Atlanta (and indoors!).
Wilco — 8/13/08
Via Chicago, Blood of The Lamb, You Are My Face, Hummingbird, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Shot in the Arm, Side With the Seeds, Misunderstood, Far Far Away, Impossible Germany, Pieholden Suit, California Stars, Handshake Drugs, Pot Kettle Black, Poor Places, Spiders (Kidsmoke), Jesus, Etc., Can’t Stand It, Hate it Here, Walken, I’m the Man Who Loves You, Heavy Metal Drummer, The Late Greats, Kingpin, Monday, Outtasite,
I’m A Wheel
Elvis Presley — RIP (1935-1942)
Elvis Aaron Presley left our world on this date in 1977. Love him, hate him, whatever, his mark on rock and roll and rhythym and blues is undeniable. Here’s a classic clip of “The King” performing Suspicious Minds.
Phish — 12 Years Ago Today
Classic footage here of the goings-ons at Clifford Ball in mid-August 1996. Broadcast on MTV. Check out the ripping Bowie and the wedding.
Phish — 12 Years Ago Today
08/16/96 Plattsburgh Air Force Base, Plattsburgh, NY
Clifford Ball Day 1
Souncheck was an hour and a half long jam: After this show, the band played in the parking lot on a flatbed truck in the middle of the night
Set I: Chalkdust Torture, Bathtub Gin, Ya Mar, AC/DC Bag, Esther, The Divided Sky, Halley’s Comet, David Bowie
Set II: Split Open and Melt, Sparkle, Free, Squirming Coil, Waste1, Talk1, Train Song1, Strange Design1, Hello My Baby, Mike’s Song> Simple> Contact> Weekapaug Groove
Set III: Makisupa Policeman, Also Sprach Zarathustra> Down With Disease, NICU, Life On Mars, Harry Hood2
Encore: Amazing Grace
1 Played on acoustic mini-stage
2 Fireworks were lit off
Small Adirondack Town Is Host of a Giant Concert
August 18, 1996 – The New York Times
By Staff
The Plattsburgh Air Force Base, home to B-52 bombers and F-111 fighter jets just a year ago, was transformed into a sea of tie-dyed and preppie khaki shorts, bikinis and bare feet, as 70,000 people converged on this small Adirondack town for one of the largest concerts on the East Coast this year.
The big draw at the two-day music-and-arts festival, which concluded Saturday, was Phish, the hit rock band that happens to be based in Burlington, Vt., just across the river. So-called Phish Heads, for whom devoted Grateful Dead fans serve as a prototype, came from as far away as Washington State, California and Texas. Since Jerry Garcia’s death last August, Phish has lured Dead Heads with its music — combining elements of jazz, rock and blues — as well as the nomadic life style of its fans.
But the ambiance in Plattsburgh was only semi-retro. Fans ranged from neo-hippies to computer nerds with a fresh-scrubbed look.
“It’s amazing, I’ve been to about 50 Phish shows and this is the most incredible of all,” said Patrick Mufin, 21, who had traveled from Charleston, S.C.
The festival, incidentally, coincided with the 27th anniversary of Woodstock. But unlike that and many other large festivals, this one seemed a logistical success, with 950 portable toilets, dozens of food vendors, “mist tents” to cool down participants and plenty of sunny weather. Painters, glass blowers and sculptors created their works on site.
In fact, the decommissioned air force base, with its two-mile runway and barbed-wire-enclosed grounds, was dubbed the largest city in Clinton County for the day. Plattsburgh has a population of 20,000.
“Festival organizers built a city here,” said Marni Ratzel, 27, a city planner herself from Brooklyn who made the 300-mile trek because she loves the band. “It has great transportation, great facilities, great services.” Ms. Ratzel bought 79 pickles from a Polish deli in Brooklyn for $20 and traded them for $79 worth of “money, goods and smiles.”
Though the scene might have been reminiscent of a smaller version of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival, the band’s manager said the two should not be confused.
“There are certain things that obviously echo the 60′s,” said John Paluska, the manager. “But there are distinct difference. There’s not a galvanizing political element to this audience. I think it’s more about the music.”
Rolling Stone — 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
Liverpool’s lads take home 4 of the top ten (of course). Link to story.
Nothing too surprising here, but here’s the top ten:
1. Sgt.
Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles
2. Pet
Sounds, The Beach Boys
3. Revolver,
The Beatles
4. Highway
61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
5. Rubber
Soul, The Beatles
6. What’s
Going On, Marvin Gaye
7. Exile
on Main Street, The Rolling Stones
8. London
Calling, The Clash
9. Blonde
on Blonde, Bob Dylan
10. The
Beatles (“The White Album”), The Beatles
(Taken from a 2003 issue.)
