Phish — March 6-8 at Hampton!
We are waiting for official confirmation, but Merry Swankster is saying this thing’s legit:
According to a well connected Merry Swankster source, Phish will announce later today a three night run of reunion shows at Virginia’s UFO shaped Hampton Coliseum next March. Hampton Coliseum was also the site of the 2002/2003 hiatus breaking tour that saw the band perform a triumphant MSG New Years show followed by a trio of Hampton dates.
Hampton was also the site of the November 1998 shows that would eventually be released in box set form commemorating a weekend of legendary, but typical hijinks from the free spirited band. Highlighted by a series of off-beat covers, the shows included Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll, Pt. 2″, Ween’s “Roses Are Free”, Beasties’ “Sabotage”, Chumbawumba’s “Tubthumping”, and “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” by Will Smith.
We’ve heard that this one is true! Who’s in? See ya on tour!
MSD Spotlight: Desmond Dekker
Jamaican ska and reggae pioneer, Desmond Dekker, had one of the first international Jamaican hits with “Israelites” in 1968-1969. Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres in 1941 and growing up in Kingston, working as a tailor and a welder, performing called to young Desmond. He auditioned for Derrick Morgan in 1961, an early ska/reggae performer in the rocksteady, skinhead style and a local celebrity, who was impressed and supported Desmond. He started recording in 1963 at Leslie Kong’s (an early influential Chinese-Jamaican producer) recording studio. Desmond was backed in this period by the Cherrypies (later known as The Maytals) who were to soon back Toots Hibbert and Desmond was to move on to the Four Aces as his backing band. Their early output was polite and respectful with titles like: “Honour Your Mother And Father”, “Parents” and “Get Up Edina”.
Performing “The Israelites” and “It Mek” in 1970 at Wembley:
Desmond started performing in the “rudeboy” style, this and a more aggressive approach to music helped to usher in a very successful period in Desmond’s life. Recording “007 (Shanty Town)”(1968), “It Mek”(1969) and “You Can Get It If You Really Want” (1971) within a four year period coupled with heavy touring made Desmond one of the most sought after international recording stars.
The mid-1970′s weren’t as kind to Desmond. He continued a relentless touring schedule, but couldn’t match his earlier chart success. This, coupled with the death of Leslie Kong, his career sputtered and stalled. Desmond’s career limped on, yet he couldn’t catch a break. He declared bankruptcy in 1984. The 90′s were a little kinder to Desmond and recorded some of his old hits with The Specials and performed at countless reggae festivals. Sadly, Desmond passed in 2006 as he was preparing to headline a world music festival in Prague. Rest in peace, Desmond.
Joe’s Garage Musical Opens In L.A.
From Rolling Stone:
Almost 30 years since the original release of Frank Zappa’s unrealized stage play Joe’s Garage, director Pat Towne has brought the Rolling Stone-dubbed “unproducible” musical to Hollywood’s Open Fist Theatre. Joe’s Garage imagines a world where music is banned — the plot follows its protagonist as he discovers the obscene powers of rock & roll, the lazy appeal of religion and the benefits of a nice yellow apron when having sex with a robot (Joe dons that ass-less costume for the bulk of the show).
The show debuted Friday during the first presidential debate, and the irony wasn’t lost on Zappa’s widow, Gail, who says the current political climate was no small factor in finally bringing the show to life. “[Joe’s Garage] is made for people who love this country and love the Constitution,” she told Rolling Stone after the premiere, which she attended with a crew that included daughter Diva. “It’s just so relevant… these are desperate times and people are trying to convince themselves that information is knowledge, and it’s not.” Continue Reading…
Happy Birthday — Trey Anastasio (9/30)
Ernest Guiseppe Anastasio III or The Bad Lieutenant or Big Red or just Trey turns 44 today. Besides being an amazing musician, Trey is a pretty good guy and we are once again so very eager to see what he does next, be it another solo venture or getting Phish back together. Whatever it is, Trey we wish you a very happy birthday and are thankful that you are happy, healthy and the creative juices are flowing.
Here’s his recent Newport set for download and his recent Time Turns Elastic in Nashville for download.
And for some vintage Phish, here’s Reba from 10/31/1994:
Y.E.M. from 4/4/98:
And the bluegrass sessions from ’94:
Fleet Foxes — The Independent (LMB) & Article (DT)
Live Music Blog has the skinny on this recent show at The Independent. We at Musical Stew really dig this band. And a little more info offered up by Daytrotter:
Prepare to not know where you are. Prepare to be completely yanked out of the casing, borders and firmament of your bones and prints. You will find yourself naked in the middle of a barren woods, or with a light covering of bedclothes flapping in the frosty, kick of a wind, looking sideways and likeways in all directions, rubbing the sleepy fog from your eyes and wondering what had just happened – how you got between a peaceful night in and a twisted version of your own personal bit of fantastic, perplexed carnivalesque solemnity. You’ll not be frightened. Continue Reading…
White Winter Hymnal:
Trey Anastasio — Nashville, TN (9/27/2008)
Time Turns Elastic performed by Trey and Orchestra Nashville.
Set One
Disc One
1. Intro
2. XL (Scearce)
3. Divided Sky (Anastasio)*
4. Break
5. Concertino (Hart)**
6. Break
7. Orient and Occident (Part)
8. Break
9. Le Tombeau de Couperin (Ravel)
Set Two
Disc Two
1. Intro
2. Time Turns Elastic (Anastasio) ^
3. Break
4. Let Me Lie (Anastasio/Hart) **^
5. Outro
Show Notes:
*Trey on electric guitar
**Trey on acoustic guitar
^Trey on electric guitar and vocals
Bob Dylan — Stream “Tell Tale Signs” at NPR.com
Dylan’s new album will premiering over at NPR.com beginning at 12:01 am, less than 9 hours away. You’ll be able to stream it unitl the official release, Tuesday, October 7th. Click here to listen.
Robert Plant — Zep with me ain’t happenin’
Robert Plant has issued the following statement on his website in regards to the remaining dates on his tour with Allison Krauss and the rumored Zep reunion:
After those dates (Krauss & Plant tour dates, editor), Robert has no intention whatsoever of touring with anyone for at least the next two years. Contrary to a spate of recent reports, Robert Plant will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin. Anyone buying tickets online to any such event will be buying bogus tickets.
“It‘s both frustrating and ridiculous for this story to continue to
rear its head when all the musicians that surround the story are keen to get on with their individual projects and move forward,” Robert Plant said.“I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects,” he added.
We at Musical Stew sincerely hope that Zeppelin doesn’t tour with another singer, because it just wouldn’t be Zeppelin without Percy. And please don’t let them tour with David Coverdale.
Here’s Zeppelin playing “Kashmir” at the 2007 reunion:
9 Years Ago Today…
09/29/99 Pyramid Arena, Memphis, TN
Set I: Runaway Jim, Free, Driver, Taste, Dirt, Nellie Kane, Stash, Theme from the Bottom, Tweezer Reprise
Set II: Gotta Jibboo, Also Sprach Zarathustra, Down With Disease, Billy Breathes, Back On The Train, Mike’s Song, Catapult, Kung, I Didn’t Know, Weekapaug Groove
Encore: Cities
Trey Anastasio — Time Turns Elastic
Mr. Miner’s Phish Thoughts speaks his mind about the performance and offers up some videos and pictures of the dress rehearsal and the actual performance.
RIP — Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis died on this date in 1991. The world has been without Miles for 17 years, but his recordings that not only redefined and reshaped jazz, have inspired generations of musicians. His accolades and awards are far too many to list, but Miles truly was the birth of cool. Here are some videos that showcase the man.
“Walkin’” in 1967:
At the Isle Of Wight, 1970:
“So What” on the Steve Allen show in 1964:
RIP Miles.
Marvin Gaye — Washington, D.C. (5/11/1972)
Medley (You/Grapvine/Your Precious Love)
Right On
Wholy Holy
Inner City Blues
Whats Going on?
What’s happening my brother?
Flying high
Save the Children
God is Love
Crowd Banter (asks crowd what they want to hear AGAIN hahaha)
E: Inner City Blues
Whats Going On?
Trey Anastasio — Time Turns Elastic
Trey's new Languedoc.
Last night in Nashville, TN, Trey Anastasio debuted his latest symphonic work, “Time Turns Elastic” at the Ryman with Orchestra Nashville. The first set opened with the old Phish favorite, “The Divided Sky”:
Here is the setlist from last night:
XL
Divided Sky
Concertino (Comp.-Don Hart; with Trey on acoustic and Carlo Aonzo and Matt Flinner on mandolins)
Orient and Occident (Comp.- Arvo Part; just Orchestra Nashville)
Le Tombeau de Couperin (Comp.-Maurice Ravel; just Orchestra Nashville)-Intermission-
Time Turns Elastic (Comp.-Trey Anastasio and Don Hart)
I.
-magnets and revolutions
-ruby shaded sea
II.
-submarine
-in long lines
-violet, violet
-summer sound shower
-splinters of hail
-funnels
-carouselLet Me Lie
The beginning of “Time Turns Elastic”:
Hidden Track weighs in with their take.
Sunday Morning Music — Jazz Guitar
Sunday morning to us means, sleeping in a little, reading the paper with coffee and breakfast and some relaxing music lightly sketching what the day holds. Some of our favorites are John Coltrane Live At Birdland or his recording with Milt Jackson, Bags And Trane. Here’s “Stairway To The Stars”:
Sometimes Wes Montgomery fits the bill well too. Jazz guitar seems to have an instinctive knack for clearing the cobwebs, being mellow enough to let the first of your daily caffeine take hold and keep the morning rolling in the relaxing manner that is unique to a typical Sunday morning. Here’s an example with Wes Montgomery’s “Twisted Blues” from 1965:
or Django Reinhardt’s “Swing”:
As your caffeine starts kicing in, you may enjoy a bit more awareness and may enjoy this from Paco DeLucia and Larry Coryell. I first became aware of this song on the jazz guitar classic album, Friday Night In San Francisco, recorded by Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía. This is the opening track from that album, “Mediterranean Sundance”:
And here’s Pat Metheny covering Norah Jones’ song, “Don’t Know Why”:
We certainly hope that you enjoy your Sunday.
YEMblog — Phishy Blog Launched
You Enjoy My Blog has died. You needn’t shed a tear, for in its stead, YEMblog has launched. Conceived and created by the editor of Hidden Track, Scott Bernstein and Jamtopia creator, Todd Levy, YEMblog is Phish focused, defined and driven. Check it out and keep your eyes peeled, because you might just see a Musical Stew Daily item or two (or more!) on there.
Little Feat — Join The Band
Jambase.com:
Talking to Bill Payne is like entering an eternal past, a rare preservation of the peace-addled 1970s music era carried over into what he calls the “pop prism” of the 21st century. As a founding member of Little Feat, he is unabashedly sentimental, strikingly intelligent and he believes sincerely in the power of words, art and, of course, music. He has a loyal respect for the music community, which he discusses, without hierarchy or pretense, as a bunch of guys who like to get together and play music. The impression he gives is not one of history, but of timelessness.
“We’ve had The Rolling Stones sit on the side of the stage and watch us. We’ve had the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia watching us,” he says in his unique, almost stream-of-consciousness style that evokes emotions more than structured thought. “Brahms used to call it the ‘footsteps of giants.’ For him it was Beethoven, Hayden, Mozart; for me it was Zappa, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Ray Charles. Keith Richards said to me once, ‘Oh mate, we’re all part of the same thing.’ He was saying, ‘Welcome to the club. You dig us, and we dig you guys, too.’ What a concept.” Continue Reading…
Boogie On Reggae Woman
“Boogie On Reggae Woman” was an AM radio hit for Stevie Wonder off of his 1974 album, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, reaching #3 on the U.S. pop charts. It has an unmistakable Moog synth bass line and a trademark harmonica solo from Stevie. It was rumored that Bob Marley and Stevie were supposed to collaborate on the song, but the legendary pairing never materialized.
Here’s a Motown time capsule film showcasing the song:
The members of Phish were between 9 and 12 years old at the time of the release of the single. Fast forward 13 years to early 1987 and you find a youthful band from Vermont playing their 60th show at Slade Hall at The University Of Vermont. Towards the end of the second set, they play “Boogie On Reggae Woman” for the first of the thirty-three times that they will play it. They would play it three more times over the next year and then it vanished from their setlists, only to reappear at the legendary 12/7/1997 show at The Nutter Center in Dayton, OH, sandwiched between “Wolfman’s Brother” and “Reba”.
“Boogie On..” has proved to be many a fan’s favorite and certainly many fans’ favorite cover song by Phish. Rightly so, as it was always a funk vehicle for the band and showcased how thick they could lay down the funk. Some notable appearances of the song have been: 11/21/1998 at Hampton Coliseum, 9/18/1999 at Chula Vista, CA, 12/11/1999 in Philly, 12/31/1999 in The Everglades, Jason Colton’s (band management) wedding, 1/4/03 post-hiatus at Hampton and then the last appearance 6/26/2004 at Alpine Valley. The real question is, when do you think they’ll play it next?
Phish performing "Boogie" at Alpine Valley.
Here are some videos of Phish performing “Boogie On…”:
3/1/2003:
5/23/2000:
9/9/2000:
Omega Moos — Chicago, IL (6/22/2007)
The Omega Moos are part Umphrey’s McGee (Brendan Bayliss and Ryan Stasik) and part The New Deal (Darren Shearer and Jamie Shields). This is a multi-channel mix of phenomenal show recorded at The Doubledoor. I strongly recommend that you download this show.
Willie Dixon — Back Door Man
With Stephen Stills on guitar and Norton Buffalo on harp:
And for good measure, here’s Mr. Mojo Risin’ with his cronies doing it too.
Led Zeppelin — To Tour?
Will they or won’t they? One thing’s for sure, it’s not Zeppelin without Percy.
