Looking Back On LOCKN': A Weekend In Review September 4, 2016 14:20

Now that I have had nearly seven full days to digest what I witnessed last weekend, it only seems appropriate to attempt to explain my LOCKN' experience.  This was something I planned to do earlier in the week, before coming down with a mild case of what many have called the "wook flu."  My friends and I set out out on the journey from Alabama to Virginia just before sunrise on Thursday, August 25th, slightly apprehensive and anxious about a four day festival in the heat of summer.  With arguably the best lineup of bands I've ever seen (extra stess on "arguably," as it's all relative), excitement was certainly abound.  Luckily, some friends hooked us up with a few extra forest camping passes, which proved to be a total game changer.  We managed to set up camp just in time to head to the concert grounds for Vulfpeck's opening set, which served as a perfect intro to the epic weekend ahead.

Vulfpeck has been one of the hottest bands in the festival scene for nearly two years, and their live show speaks for itself.  What you see is what you get with Vulfpeck. They keep it as simple as possible, playing real instruments with essentially no effects. This making for a a very raw, natural outcome.  This set was highlighted by several of their hits, such as "Funky Duck," "1612," and "Put It In My Back Pocket," as well as a cover of Steely Dan's "Peg" that nearly lit the crowd on fire.  As they finished up, the massive crowd had its first glimpse at the infamous "turntable stage," which Umphrey's McGee took full advantage of.  Within three seconds of Vulfpeck stopping, Umphreys cranked into full effect with "Nipple Trix" as the stage rotated, which quickly segued into one of my personal favorites, "1348."  

The set continued with "Attachments" and "The Triple Wide," one of the bands biggest jam vehicles.  The "2x2" > "Speak Up" > "2x2" sequence moved swiftly into a raging take on "Puppet String," ultimately leading into "Roctopus."  At this time, Brendan Bayliss called upon none other than Gene Ween, who performed an entire set with Umphrey's last summer known as "God Boner."  Being that ole Gene has an uncanny resemblance to Billy Joel these days, the decision to cover Joel's "The Stranger" was well received.  With little time to spare, the band then segued back into "Puppet String," before "All In Time" closed things out in powerful fashion.   

Next to take the stage was Ween, who was slated for the evening's headlining set.  It was clear early on that many in attendance did not know what to expect from these guys; myself included.  While I've casually listened to Ween over the last fifteen years, I never dove in deep, and I'd never had a chance to see them live.  While their were some very bizarre moments, I loved every minute of it.  These guys managed to pump out 26 total songs, including many I was familiar with such as "Transdermal Celebration," "Mister, Would You Please Help My Pony," "How High Can You Fly," "Beacon Light, "Baby Bitch," "Boys Club," "Fat Lenny," "Push The Little Daisies," "Ocean Man," and "Zoloft."  We've made it a full week since this set, and I'm still talkin' bout "Boys Club."  I can't help but think that Dean and Gene must be somehow related to Trey Parker and Matt Stone (creators of South Park), and last weekend further affirmed that assumption.  

After a truly exhausting two hours with Ween, there was just enough time for the first of many cool down sessions back at the car.  These sessions were critical, as we had a chance to turn up the A/C, charge the cell phone, and collect our completely scattered thoughts.  There wasn't much time to waste though, as Joe Russo's Almost Dead was up next at the Blue Ridge Bowl.  This was arguably my most highly anticipated performance of the weekend.  Like many others, I had been dying to see this band since its inception three years ago, but they don't tour extensively.  So, this was my first opportunity to catch their set, and I'll just say this.  JRAD uses the catalog of the Grateful Dead as a launching pad into something that is totally its own.  

I was absolutely blown away by my first JRAD experience, which kicked off with "Space" > "Truckin'," before moving into an absolute monster "St. Stephen."  "The Eleven" and "Brown Eyed Women" would follow, before "The Wheel" opened up another insane improv section.  The set continued with powerful takes on "Estimated Prophet," "Tennessee Jed," and "Viola Lee Blues," and a beautiful take on "He's Gone" would follow.  Right around 3:15 AM, the band busted into "Terrapin Station," and you better believe we got the full Terrapin Suite.  This was easily the best late night set I'd experienced at this point, and one of the best Dead sets I've ever witnessed.  Keep in mind that I'm a child of the late 80's.  

While it was already nearly 90 degrees upon waking up on Friday, the lineup ahead of us demanded our full effort and attention.  Turkuaz was scheduled for a 12:30 PM power funk lunch session, and that's something you just can't miss out on.  This is one of the most entertaining, high-energy bands in the festival circuit, and they've only scratched the surface.   These guys are incredibly tight, and the level of choreography that goes into each set can't go unnoticed.  The set ultimately closed with an amazing rendition of The Band's "Shape I'm In," to which the stage rotated with Vulfpeck in full effect.

As much as I hated to walk away from Vulfpeck, I knew that my next move was arguably my most critical decision of the weekend, and the "Infinity Downs" area had a live video stream of the main stage.  I made my way over to the almighty Vida-Flo RV, which treated me to an incredibly pleasant experience.  The fine folks at Vida-Flo spent their majority of time at LOCKN' helping others rehydrate and obtain a much needed second wind to fight through the outrageously hot and humid weekend.  "The LOCKN' Special" put me exactly where I needed to be, and I was able to enjoy Vulfpeck's covers of "Boogie On Reggae Woman" and "Tell Me Somethin' Good" during the procress.  I can't say enough about Jamey, Katie, and the rest of the Vida-Flo team for the service they provided to so many at LOCKN'.

The remainder of Friday afternoon was highlighted by performances from White Denim, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, and Peter Wolf (of the J Geils Band).  With my new found energy and hydration, I made it back to the concert grounds and enjoyed a seriously rockin' set from White Denim, who I'd been looking forward to seeing for several years.  While I definitely haven't given White Denim the attention they deserve over the years, I have loved everything I've heard from these guys.  Songs like "Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah)" and "At Night In Dreams" have been staples in my regular rotation for some time, and the entire Corsica Lemonade album is simply brilliant.  

One lifesaving factor to my LOCKN' experience that I have failed to mention thus far is the hospitality that we experienced at Starr Hill Brewery tent, which was located at the back of the concert grounds.  Starr Hill, a craft brewery based in Crozet, VA, is the official beer sponsor of LOCKN', and I'm not sure how we would've survived without it.  Fortunately, a longtime childhood friend works for the brewery and granted us access to the tent the entire weekend.  Shade, fans with mist, cool beer, and most importantly water, were made available to all of Starr Hill's patrons this weekend, as well as a distant view of the main stage.  The luxury of watching White Denim and part of Charles Bradley's set from the Starr Hill tent was a perfect way to continue the afternoon.  Star Hill Brewery probably saved our lives last weekend.

As the sun began to set, Ween returned to the stage for it's second set of the weekend.  While this set was closer to 80-90 minutes, it was an absolute scorcher.  One of my top highlights from the weekend came in the form of "Roses Are Free" > "Your Party" > "Bananas and Blow" > "Voodoo Lady."  Several other classics, including "Mutilated Lips," "Spinal Meningitis," "Piss Up A Rope," and "Buckingham Green" helped make this set one that I'll never forget.  

The stage was now set for a moment that so many were waiting for.  Phish was slated for two full sets as the Friday night headliner.  While the 90-minute break in music felt like an eternity, this was soon forgotten as the band took the stage and ripped into the opening notes of "Wilson."  Despite a few miscues in "Wilson," as well as the intro to "Down With Disease," this set was off to a really hot start.  "Free" and "Wolfman's Brother" would follow, before we were treated to a "Tube" which featured that extended jam that has been somewhat rare in recent years.  Next up was "555," which even went further than it typically does with a next outtro jam.  

"It's Ice" was probably the highlight of the first set for me, as it's just one of those songs that I tend to miss by one show.  "Wingsuit," which may be the most underrated song in the Phish catalog, slowed the pace and ultimately led into one of the most beautiful jams of the weekend.  The transition into "Simple" pumped a new life into the massive crowd, and just when you thought the set was over, the lights shifted to one particular mic stand, indicating an acapella performance.  I was lucky enough to witness the debut of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" at Wrigley Field in June, and I was elated to hear it again on Friday night.  There's nothing quite like their spin on that classic tune.

After a brief intermission, Trey wasted no time busting into "Punch You In The Eye," and he didn't let off the gas once.  "Blaze On" and "Fuego" were perfectly executed, and the "Ghost" that followed was easily the biggest jam of the night.  The segue into "Bathtub Gin" was seemless, and "Backwards Down The Number Line" provided an amazing, nostalgic sing-a-long, as it always does.  Any set that ends with "You Enjoy Myself" is a treat, and this was the case on Friday.  The trampolines came out, and Trey even gave us a little break dancing expo during Mike's solo.  The "Ass Handed" tease during the eventual vocal jam was icing on the cake.  You can only do so much with an encore after "YEM," and this was a night where "Character Zero" was the perfect choice.  Just like that, Phish's first LOCKN' set was over, and we couldn't have asked for much more.

I won't get too repetitive when discussing the second late night set from JRAD, but goodness gracious, it was amazing.  Just the fact that our evening included Ween > Phish > JRAD was hard to believe.  "Good Lovin" kicked off the set, and "Shakedown Street," "China Cat Sunflower," and "I Know You Rider" would follow.  The band welcomed Nicole Adkins to the stage to add a little Donna Jean flare to "Dancin' In The Streets," "The Music Never Stopped," and "Turn On Your Lovelight."  I was not familiar with Adkins prior to this set, but wow...she's got some serious pipes.  Her involvement in this set was something that will always stand out when thinking back on this one.  Fortunately, she stuck around for harmony vocals on the "Franklin's Tower," "Thowing Stones," and "Not Fade Away" which closed out night two at LOCKN'.  Joe Russo's ability to command and lead this band from behind the drum kit is absolutely remarkable, and I've never seen anything like it.  We are talking about one of the most talented drummers on the planet though, so I guess no one should be surprised.

We were now halfway through our LOCKN' experience, and waking up knowing that there were two more days of this madness was hard to believe.  Just like every other day, the lineup was slam packed full of "must see" bands, starting with Keller Williams' Grateful Grass at the Blue Ridge Bowl, or at least what was left of it from the two nights of JRAD destruction.  The Grateful Grass experience features a rotating cast of bluegrass musicians.  It's gotten to the point that Keller looks at the Dead's catalog as it's own genre, similar to jazz, as musicians can simply jump on stage with very little experience playing with one another and just roll with it.  I'd highly recommend reading Live Music Daily's interview with Keller from LOCKN', where he goes in depth on the evolution of the Grateful Grass concept.  

Moon Taxi was first up on the main stage, and they had the farm rocking at an early hour.  It's been a true pleasure watching this band progress from the college bar scene to touring across the country playing many of the most prestigious venues.  Their ability to find a balance between jam and mainstream rock is brilliant, and I can only imagine the dividends that it is paying.  Twiddle was up next, and I can't say enough about this band.  I feel like I haven't stopped listening to Twiddle all summer, and I've been fortunate to attend two summer festivals (LOCKN' and The Werk Out) which featured two sets of Twiddle.  "Jamflowman" and "When It Rains It Pours" gave me my two favorite Twiddle originals, and Keller Williams' sit-in on "Best Feeling" was likely the top spontaneous collaboration of the weekend.  

Thanks to the champions at SiriusXM JamOn, nearly every major set at LOCKN' was broadcasted live, which you wouldn't think would impact those of us at the festival.  You have to take a break at some point though, especially amidst the extreme heat and humidity last weekend.  While I didn't watch the Galactic set with Lee Oskar, I was able to listen live from my car, which was a major luxury.  Galactic has been an anchor in the jam/festival scene for as long as I can remember, and they delivered once again.  Hard Working Americans were next on stage, providing me with my first chance to see this super group in person.  

While I've been a huge Widespread Panic fan for 15+ years, my eyes were glued to Neal Casal's guitar playing.  This guy is one of the best in the business, and easily one of the "hardest working" musicians around.  He was easily the MVP of the weekend, performing with HWA, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Phil Lesh & Friends, and Circles Around The Sun.  Todd Snider's unique stage presence and style was a treat to watch, and it was a lot of fun watching Dave Schools and Duane Trucks jamming together with these guys.  

Saturday's Phil & Friends lineup was easily one of the most hyped moments of the weekend, and how could it not have been?  Who would have ever thought we would see Phil Lesh, Page McConnell, Jon Fishman, Joe Russo, Anders Osborne, and The Infamous Stringdusters play an entire set together?  How about adding Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi for two songs ("Mr Charlie" > "Sugaree")?  That is absolutely ridiculous, and yes, it really happened.  Seeing the stage rotate with this cast, while they busted into "Scarlet Begonias," was a memory I will always cherish.  I know I'll be listening to their renditions of "Dire Wolf," "Uncle John's Band," "Shakedown Street," and "Terrapin Station" (even if it wasn't the full Terrapin Suite) for the rest of my life.  

Most festivals would have probably featured that type of set as the night's headliner, but we weren't even close to that point.  The world class Tedeschi Trucks Band was up next for a super soulful ride into the evening.  Each night as the sun would go down, the crowd was able to breathe a little easier without the brutal sun beating down on us, and Tedeschi Trucks was a perfect way to ease into the night.  Joe Cocker's "The Letter", "Keep On Growing," and "Let Me Get By" rounded out this killer performance, setting the stage for the set that everyone is still talking about.

My Morning Jacket is no stranger to the festival scene, and it's no secret that they are one of the greatest rock-and-roll bands of our era.  That being said, I don't think anyone realized how dynamic this headlining set would be.  MMJ started in familiar territory with "Victory Dance," which flowed perfectly into a sequence of "Compound Fracture" > "Off The Record."  Next up was "Steam Engine," before a cover of Burt Bacharch's "What The World Needs Now" that had some true magic to it.  "I'm Amazed," "Spring," "Phone Went West, and Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved" would follow and keep this set alive.  "Magheeta" would precede another epic moment, as James led the band through a well executed cover of Prince's "Purple Rain."  The set's closing sequence of "Wordless Chorus" > "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream (Pt.2)," David Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel" and "One Big Holiday" couldn't have been written up any better.  MMJ was headlining the jam scene's biggest festival of the summer, and they dialed up a list of songs that reflected that.  The hype surrounding this set is absolutely justified, and anyone who had already seen this band perform wasn't surprised in the least.  Is there a bigger modern rock star than Jim James?  

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Saturday's late night at Blue Ridge Bowl provided a much needed dose of funk as Lettuce took control of the party.  It's always a special occasion when Nigel Hall (keys/vocals) is on stage, adding an extra vocal element and opening up so many different options for this insanely talented group.  Prior to the set, drummer Adam Deitch and guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff promised fans the most psychedelic set of their career, and they delivered just that.  This set was specially crafted for LOCKN', and you can't help but tip your cap to these guys for such an appropriate approach.

For many, Sunday started off with a much needed church session, and luckily, Keller Williams was slated for his annual "Grateful Gospel" set.  Joining Keller on lead guitar was none other than John Kadlecick, who's known for co-founding Dark Star Orchestra in 1997, as well as joining Furthur in 2009. The female backing vocalists truly added a church-like gospel feel throughout the set, but I highly recommending watching the performance of "We Bid You Goodnight" below.  I can't imagine a better way to start your day at a festival than 90-minutes of Keller's Grateful Gospel.

I was unable to make it to the main stage for the afternoon's first two performers, The Dharma Initiative and Doobie Decibel System, but there was definitely a buzz about both performances.  As amazing as this year's lineup was, it can be painful when deciding which sets you have to take a break during.  Fortunately, our campsite was within listening distance for even these sets that weren't streamed live via JamOn.  I knew I couldn't miss Twiddle's encore performance.  It's amazing to watch this band continue to flourish and reel in new fans on the biggest stage.  Sunday's set started off with "Blunderbus, "Daydream Farmer," and "Beehop," before "Lost In The Cold" seemed to have the entire farm singing in unison.  "Carte Candlestick" and "Frankenfoote" ultimately closed out the short set, as the band was again slotted for just 60-minutes.  While most any band would kill for 60-minutes at LOCKN', you just want so much more once this band gets going.  I'll be shocked if we don't see these guys back on Oak Ridge Farm in 2017.

Every music festival could use a nice dose of reggae, and who better to provide that than the band who taught us about this genre, The Wailers.  These seasoned vets took the stage and laid down literally every Bob Marley / Wailers hit that you've ever heard.  This music always generates a notable energy amongst a crowd, but it was something really special on Sunday afternoon. You've got to love the planning and attention to detail with the placement of each band on this lineup.  There is absolutely a science to it, and Peter Shapiro knows it as well as anyone in the game.

Chris Robinson Brotherhood took the stage fairly late in the afternoon, and they had their work cut out for them.  Not only were they slated for 90-minutes of originals, but they would then join Phil Lesh for the weekend's second set of Phil & Friends.  The CRB set was highlighted by originals such as "Leave My Guitar Alone," "Forever As The Moon," "New Cannonball Rag," and "Ain't Hard But Fair," while Jackie Moore's "Precious, Precious" and Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" rounded things out.  The band's latest hit single, "Narcissistic and Soaking Wet" would ultimately close things out.

While Saturday's Phil & Friends lineup featured the sexier lineup on paper, I personally thought Sunday's set had the true feel of a Dead set.  Perhaps it was presence of weekend MVP Neal Casal, who just knows how to play it like Jerry.  I've always been a fan of Robinson's vocals, and he really delivered for this one.  Just as the stage began to rotate, Phil, the boys from CRB, and Gary Clark Jr. began ripping into "Samson & Delilah."  "Good Morning Little School Girl" and "Wang Dang Doodle" were perfect choices, and the decision to play The Dead's version of Otis Redding's "Hard To Handle" was one of my favorite moments of the weekend.  This song might be the most commonly covered song in rock-and-roll, but hearing Chris Robinson sing it to The Dead's tempo was a fucking treat.  Do yourself a favor and watch the video footage below and see for yourself.  "Fire On The Mountain" and "New Speedway Boogie" opened things up for yet another monster "St. Stephen," and "The Wheel" wasn't going to slow down.  There aren't many songs in the Dead catalog better suited for a party than "Turn On Your Lovelight" (Bobby Bland), and Robinson crushed every note.  It was refreshing and reassuring to see Phil having such a great time, surrounded by so many world class musicians at LOCKN'  

Gary Clark Jr. might have been the most intriguing act on the lineup entering the weekend.  While I've heard "Bright Lights" and "Don't Owe You a Thing" as many times as I can remember on JamOn, I just haven't given this guy the attention he deserves. I've been well aware of his reputation and status across the scene in general, but I was way past due for a Gary Clark Jr. set.  He and his band came out swinging as they opened with "Bright Lights," and swiftly moved into "Travis County," "Next Door Neighbor Blues," "Cold Blooded," and "BYOB."  The crowd continued filling in, and the set eventually closed out with "Don't Owe You A Thing," "You Saved Me," and "Shake.  The sound that this guy has is out of this world.  There are moments where My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon, Jimi Hendrix, and White Denim all come to mind, except that Clark compliments the heavy riffs with one of the most soulful voices you've ever heard. 

The stage was now set for one final time, and you couldn't help but stand up and look around at the scene that awaited.  The energy at Oak Ridge Farm on Sunday night was impalpable, with 30,000+ fans riding high on four days of music with two more sets of Phish to come.  Each day as the sun would set, we experienced significant release as the temperature seemed to instantly drop fifteen degrees, and this held true once again on Sunday.  Phish took the stage right around 8:30 PM, and "Sample In A Jar" was first up to the plate.  Page then cued the now infamous vocal tracking of "Martian Monster," much to the approval of the LOCKN' faithful.  I really wish they would jam this one out more than they do now, and it feels like more appropriate in the second set (Ex: Atlanta, GA - July 31st, 2015), they're typically throwing it in early and keeping it fairly tamed.

The first set stayed super hot with "Axilla" and "The Moma Dance," before "Halley's Comet" provided that absurd, silly sing-a-long that very few are capable of pulling off.  We were then given a double-dose of the band's 1986 cassette tape release The White Tape with "AC/DC Bag" > "Fuck Your Face."  The sequence of "Fuck Your Face" > "46 Days" is about as heavy rock-and-roll as you can ask for from Phish.  "The Line" was a bit of a curveball, as it tends to be, but "Limb By Limb," "Possum," and "First Tube" would follow and wrap up a very, very solid first yet.  

There were high expectations for a wave of heavy hitters in set two, and they were exceeded, as usual.  "Carini" lit a fire across the farm and flowed nicely into the "Chalkdust Torture" that you knew was coming as some point.  "Twist" seems to be one of the jams of 2016, and I don't think anyone is complaining.  I've been a sucker for "Light" since the release of Joy in 2009, as this tune has become one of the bigger jam vehicles of the Phish 3.0 era.  The "Light" jam ultimately landed into "Tweezer," prompting a mildly concerning glow stick war on Oak Ridge Farm.  Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter" was next, prompting McConnell to guide us through the classic cover.  I'm assuming the guy next to me promised his friends that he would do a headstand if Phish was to play "No Quarter," because he went ballistic during the opening notes, and his friends proceeded to lift his feet to the sky as he hit the deck.  Truly remarkable.

From here, we went into full "space jam" mode, as Fishman dropped into the opening beat of "Also Sprach Zarathustra," aka "2001 (Space Odyssey)."  That's a dance party that never gets old.  It was apparently Fishman's moment, as he then dropped into the opening notes of "Harry Hood," which seemed to be a likely place for the set to end.  As I've said before...just when you think you know, this band proves you wrong.  They tacked on a "Tweezer Reprise" just for safe measure and made sure that this crowd was still on it's toes.  After a brief exit, the band returned and broke into The Rolling Stones' "Loving Cup" and closed out the festival with everyone screaming "What a beautiful buzz!"  While it might not have been a shocking encore selection, it felt extremely appropriate.  

Sitting down and reliving this unforgettable experience over the past few days has allowed me to fully comprehend the remarkable journey we took just a week ago.  It's easy to get caught up in the fatigue, anxiety, and pressure to "get back into a normal" rhythm after these huge musical weekends, but it's equally important to reflect and cherish the moment.  As much fun as it was, it certainly wasn't easy.  I've never dealt with that type of heat, humidity, and pure exhaustion without access to "going inside."  In the long run, that makes the experience that much more unique, and it definitely makes for better story-telling.  There were twelve different bands on this lineup that I have travelled to see play on their own, and some on multiple occasions.  Top that off with the fact that this marked my 30th show with my favorite band: Phish.  What's left to say?  My ability to continue embarking on these musical adventures with so many of the world's greatest friends is an element of life that I'll never take for granted.  Until next time, LOCKN'...

Special thanks to Keith Griner of Phierce Photography for capturing this weekend for us and allowing us to share it with you all.

Watch Phish's "Squirming Coil" Encore From Night Two At Dick's September 4, 2016 11:31

Photo by Keith Griner: Phierce Photography

Last night brought about the second night for Phish and it's annual Labor Day Weekend celebration at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO.  The band began this tradition in 2011 and has continued to conclude each summer tour at the famed soccer stadium.  Each run has been highlighted by different "setlist gags," like using the first letter of each song to spell a phrase or song title.  Saturday night featured the first "Slave To The Traffic Light" opener since 1998, as well as notable jams on "Down With Disease," "Maze," "Divided Sky," "Fuego," "Sand," "Simple," "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)," and "Harry Hood."  The choice for the encore was "The Squirming Coil," and it was no ordinary Coil.  As the outtro jam concluded, members of the stage exited one-by-one, and Mike Gordon took on the final solo on "The Squirming Coil" with an onslaught of "Gordo bombs" for the final three minutes of the song.  Full HD video footage of "The Squirming Coil," as well as the complete setlist, can be found below.

Click Here: Pre-Order Phish's Third Night at Dick's on Sunday, September 4th

  Watch Phish perform "The Squirming Coil" at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on 09.03.16 here:

Setlist: Phish - Dick's Sporting Goods Park - Commerce City, CO - 09.03.16

Set 1: Slave to the Traffic Light, Down with Disease, What's the Use? > Maze,Farmhouse, 555, Wolfman's Brother, Divided Sky, Rock and Roll

Set 2: Fuego > Sand > Blaze On > Simple^[1] > Twist > Theme From the Bottom >Also Sprach Zarathustra > Harry Hood

Encore: The Squirming Coil^[2]

[1] Trey on Marimba Lumina.
[2] With closing bass solo.

Notes: This show was webcast via LivePhish. Simple featured Trey on Marimba Lumina. Coil ended with Trey, Fish, and finally Page walking off, leaving Mike to take a bass solo.

Couch Tour Alert: Watch Phish's Three-Night Colorado Run From Home September 2, 2016 13:59

Photo by Phierce Photo by Keith G.

Phish kicks off it's highly anticipated, annual Labor Day weekend run on Friday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO.  The band confirmed on earlier this week that all three sold out shows will be available for streaming via LivePhish.com.  After what has been another top notch, highly praised summer tour, this weekend's run at Dick's is one that fans will not want to miss.  If you've never experienced an evening of Phish "couch tour," it's something we highly recommend. The band offers an experience like no other from the comfort of your own home, with live HD footage and soundboard audio.

Watch Phish's LOCKN' Performances In Full HD August 30, 2016 14:04

Photo by Keith Griner: Phierce Photography

This past weekend's LOCKN' Festival was packed full of highlights, starting with Vulfpeck's opening set on Thursday night and concluding with Phish's second two-set performance of the weekend on Sunday night.  This festival boasted one of the best lineups in music festival history, and the headliners were certainly heavy hitters.  Phish performed two full sets on both Friday night and Sunday night, with Friday night's performance coming just after nearly two-and-a-half hours from Ween.  Live webcasts from the festival were available all weekend via Fans.com and Qello Concerts.  Full HD footage and complete set lists from both night's of Phish at LOCKN' can be found below.  Stay tuned for our full recap from LOCKN' Festival coming later this week!

Photo by Keith Griner: Phierce Photography

Watch Phish's performance from Friday 8/26 at LOCKN' here:

Setlist: Phish at LOCKN' Festival: Friday 8/26/16

Set 1: Wilson > Down with Disease, Free, Wolfman's Brother, Tube > 555 > It's Ice >Wingsuit, Simple, Space Oddity

Set 2: Punch You In the Eye > Blaze On > Fuego -> Ghost > Bathtub Gin^[1] >Backwards Down the Number Line, You Enjoy Myself

Encore: Character Zero

[1] Unfinished.

Teases:
· The Little Drummer Boy tease in Fuego
· Ass Handed quote in You Enjoy Myself

Notes: This performance was part of the Lockn' Festival and was webcast via Live Phish, Fans.com and Qello Concerts. Trey teased Little Drummer Boy in Fuego. Bathtub Gin was unfinished. The YEM vocal jam included Ass Handed quotes from Fish.

Watch Phish's performance from Saturday 8/27 at LOCKN' here:

Setlist: Phish at LOCKN' Festival: Sunday 8/28/16

Set 1: Sample in a Jar, Martian Monster, Axilla > The Moma Dance > Halley's Comet >AC/DC Bag, Fuck Your Face > 46 Days, The Line, Limb By Limb > Possum, First Tube

Set 2: Carini > Chalk Dust Torture > Twist > Light > Tweezer > No Quarter > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Harry Hood > Tweezer Reprise

Encore: Loving Cup 

Notes: This performance was part of the Lockn' Festival. This show was webcast via Live Phish, Fans.com and Qello Concerts.

LOCKN' Festival Announces Free Live Video Stream Schedule August 24, 2016 15:07

For those unable to make it to this weekend's LOCKN' Festival, we have good news just for you.  The festival has announced a free livestream this weekend sponsored by FANS.com and powered by nugs.tv and Qello Concerts, featuring sets by all of your favorite LOCKN' performers, including Phish (x2), My Morning Jacket, Ween (x2), Phil Lesh & Friends, Gary Clark Jr., Vulfpeck, Umphrey's McGee, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Joe Russo's Almost Dead (x2), Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Twiddle, Hard Working Americans, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, and many more. For information on where to watch, visit the LOCKN' website, and view the full livestream schedule below. 

Click Here: Official Details via LOCKNFestival.com

-
LOCKN' FESTIVAL 2016 LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE:
All times are EDT, and subject to change.
-
THURSDAY 
Vulfpeck – 7:30pm 
Umphrey’s McGee – 8:30pm 
Ween – 10:00pm 
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – 1:00am 
-
FRIDAY 
Donna The Buffalo – 11:00am 
Moogatu – 12:00pm 
Turkuaz – 12:30pm 
Vulfpeck – 1:30pm 
White Denim – 2:30pm 
Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires – 3:30pm
Peter Wolf – 4:45pm
Ween – 6:00pm 
Phish – 8:30pm 
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead – 1:00am 
-
SATURDAY 
Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass– 10:30am 
DJ Williams Projekt – 12:00pm 
Moon Taxi – 12:30pm 
Twiddle – 1:30pm 
Galactic w/ Lee Oskar – 2:40pm 
Hard Working Americans – 4:10pm 
Brandi Carlile – 5:40pm 
Phil Lesh & Friends – 6:40pm 
Tedeschi Trucks Band – 8:20pm 
My Morning Jacket– 10:20pm 
Lettuce – 1:00am 
-
SUNDAY 
Keller Williams’ Grateful Gospel – 10:30am 
The Dharma Initiative – 12:00pm 
Doobie Decibel System – 12:30pm 
Twiddle – 1:00pm 
The Wailers – 2:00pm 
Chris Robinson Brotherhood – 3:00pm 
Phil Lesh & Friends – 4:45pm 
Gary Clark Jr. – 6:15pm 
Phish – 8:30pm

Runaway Gin: A Tribute To Phish Will Play Birmingham's Zydeco On November 11th August 23, 2016 11:33

Photo by Lucas Armstrong Photography

The world's most active Phish tribute, Runaway Gin, is officially set to make it's Alabama debut on Friday, November 11th at Zydeco in Birmingham.  We couldn't be more pleased to be a part of this show, as we have had the pleasure of seeing Runaway Gin many times over the years.  The group, which holds a weekly residency at The Charleston Pour House every Sunday night, has quickly expanded outside of the South Carolina market and become a nationally touring act in very high demand.  While Phish did not make it back to Birmingham on their fall tour, fans can rejoice in the fact that Runaway Gin is bringing a tribute that is second to none.  We recently caught up with frontman Andy Greenberg, who expressed the band's excitement to break into the Birmingham/Alabama market.  

With over 200 shows under their belt, Runaway Gin is the World's most active Phish Tribute Band. They play every Sunday at the Charleston Pour House and tour often.

The members of Runaway Gin are long time Phish fans who have united with the goal of creating musical moments inspired by Phish. The band's song list is constantly growing and their improvisational and communication skills are constantly developing independently and together. Like Phish, Runaway Gin will never play the same show or jam the same way twice making every show a unique experience and every moment pure artistic creation.

Runaway Gin strives to capture the essence of Phish's flagship live style of group improvisation known as "type-2" jamming as well as learning the composed segments of Phish's catalog with impeccable precision. Their success in these areas comes from constant live shows as well as rehearsals. The current moment is always the driving force in a Runaway Gin show giving the quartet a fresh and original sound during jams and shows as a whole.

Click Here: Purchase tickets to Runaway Gin at Zydeco today!

Photo by Lucas Armstrong Photography

Phish Announces 13-Show Fall Tour in October August 2, 2016 12:27

Press Release via Phish.com

Phish will hit the road in October for a 13-date Fall Tour beginning October 14th in North Charleston, SC and concluding with a four-night Halloween Run at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on October 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st.

The tour includes two-night stands at North Charleston, SC’s North Charleston Coliseum (October 14th and 15th); Nashville, TN’s Ascend Amphitheater (October 18th and 19th); Alpharetta, GA’s Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park (October 21st and 22nd); and Grand Prairie, TX’s Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie (October 24th and 25th) and a performance in Jacksonville, FL, for their first time ever.

A limited number of tickets are available now via Phish Tickets at tickets.phish.com  through Sunday August 14th at 11:59pm ET. Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning August 18th. For more info, visit phish.com.

Phish and CID Entertainment are also offering travel packages for the Halloween Run (which include hotel and tickets). Phish will be donating their proceeds of these travel packages to the WaterWheel Foundation. Travel Packages go on sale August 17th at 12noon PDT. Full details available at bit.ly/2at0XxJ

PHISH FALL TOUR 2016

10/14 North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, SC
10/15 North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, SC
10/16 Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, FL
10/18 Ascend Amphitheater, Nashville, TN
10/19 Ascend Amphitheater, Nashville, TN
10/21 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta, GA
10/22 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta, GA
10/24 Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, TX
10/25 Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, TX
10/28 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
10/29 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
10/30 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
10/31 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Watch Page McConnell Of Phish Jam With Twiddle In Burlington July 31, 2016 13:17

Photo via JamBase

Vermont worlds collided on Saturday night in Burlington, as Twiddle welcomed Page McConnell of Phish to the stage early in their second set at Tumble Down.  After "tweener" piano set from Holly Bowling during intermission, Twiddle and Bowling worked their way through "Hatti's Jam" to open the second set.  The Burlington natives then shocked the Waterfront Park crowd by welcoming McConnell to the stage for an extended jam on "When It Rains, It Pours."  Aside from performing with Phish and The Meter Men, Saturday night's with Twiddle would be only the third band McConnell has performed with in the past five years (Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - 2012, Mike Gordon - 2014).

The second night at Twiddle's Tumble Down proved to be special, as the evening also included performance from Nahko and Medicine for the People and Cabinet.  Dopapod's Scotty Zwang even made an appearance, as he joined Twiddle late in the second set for "Lost in the Cold."  Additional performances this weekend came from power funk army Turkuaz and Kitchen Dwellers on Friday night.  Fortunately, footage from McConnell's sit-in has surfaced via youtube user TheKamherst and can be watched below.

Watch a segment from Twiddle and Page McConnell's jam on "When It Rains, It Pours" here:

Tumble Down continued the tradition started last year at the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival that included alternating weekend nights with moe. The weekend included various recreational activities, including a Charity Disc Golf Tournament supporting Twiddle's charity, The White Light Foundation, and late night sets around town with members of Twiddle.

Twiddle is a Vermont-based quartet formed in 2004 with members Mihali Savoulidis, Ryan Dempsey, Brook Jordan, and Zdenek Gubb. Their fresh multi-genre approach conjures up rock, jazz, bluegrass, and masterfully blends reggae and funk. The band recently played Red Rocks, sold out a 5 night run of Colorado shows, and played Bonnaroo. 

Watch Phish Bust Out The Beatles' "Cry Baby Cry" In San Francisco July 23, 2016 16:56

Photo by Andrea Nusinov of AZN Media

Phish continues to make noise on the road this summer, with the west coast leg of the tour kicking off last weekend at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington.  Following two epic nights at The Gorge, the band headed to San Francisco for a three-night run at the famed Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.  Many are already calling this year's San Francisco run as one of the best of Phish 3.0, and it's obvious why.  

Each show had something totally different to offer, but night two certainly had the phans talking. Phish went super old school in the first set, with 12 of 14 songs being tour debuts.  We've already seen Phish bust out The Beatles' "Dear Prudence" and "I Am The Walrus" this summer, and they continued this theme by throwing in "Cry Baby Cry" during Tuesday night's first set.  This would be the fifth time for Phish to play the Beatles classic, and the first time since November, 21st of 1998 (Hampton Coliseum - Hampton, VA).  Thankfully, LazyLightning55a was there to capture for our viewing pleasure.

Phish debuted "Cry Baby Cry" on October 31st, 1994 at Glen Falls Civic Center when the band covered The Beatles' White Album as the "musical costume" of their Halloween show. 

Official Song Notes via Phish.net:

• The band apparently liked covering this one on Halloween 1994 as it showed up a few more times (11/22/94, 6/16/95, and 11/21/98). Although the 10/31/94 version (true to the White Album itself) also featured the “Brother can you take me back” refrain that precedes “Revolution 9,” subsequent versions did not.

Watch Phish cover The Beatles' "Cry Baby Cry" in San Francisco here:

Watch Phish open the show with "Demand" > "The Curtain With" here:

Set 1: Demand, The Curtain With, Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues > Fuck Your Face, Cry Baby Cry, Sing Monica > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, The Very Long Fuse > Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Walk Away > Sanity -> David Bowie

Set 2: No Men In No Man's Land > Mike's Song > Fee > Seven Below > Waiting All Night> Gotta Jibboo, Miss You, Weekapaug Groove, The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg > Julius

Encore: Wading in the Velvet Sea > Character Zero

Teases:
· The Very Long Fuse quote in Sanity

Average Song Gap: 61.37

Performers: Trey Anastasio, Page McConnell, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon

Notes: Demand was played for the first time since December 31, 2009 (258 shows). Alumni Blues and Letter to Jimmy Page were played for the first time since August 3, 2013 (114 shows). Cry Baby Cry was played for the first time since November 21, 1998 (496 shows). Sing Monica was dedicated to producer Bob Ezrin, who was in attendance. Walk Away was played for the first time since October 29, 2013 (100 shows).

Watch Phish's Weekend Run at The Gorge in Full HD July 11, 2016 17:49

Photo by Keith Griner :: Phierce Photo

Phish continues off it's highly anticipated summer tour this weekend at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, and the band has once again made their shows available for HD streaming via LivePhish.com.  The two-night run kicks off on Friday, July 15th and concludes on Saturday, July 16th.  Coming off of four days rest following red hot shows at Xfinity Center in Hartford and Lakeview Amphitheatre in Syracuse, this weekend at The Gorge is sure to be a special. If you've never experienced an evening of Phish "couch tour", it's something we highly recommend.  The band offers an experience like no other from the comfort of your own home, with live HD footage and soundboard audio.

Click Here: Order Your Phish Webcast Package Today

• Watch Phish live from The Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA in Full 1080p HD - We are broadcasting in Full 1080p HD in addition to our standard (SD) webcast streams. Select the HD Webcast tab above to purchase the Full 1080p HD webcasts.
• PLEASE NOTE: Full 1080p HD Webcast requires at least 5Mbps wired internet connection. Test your internet connection speed athttp://www.speedtest.net
• You may watch the Full 1080p HD streams on iOS devices only if you are on a fast enough WiFi connection.
• Watch the webcasts on your PC or Mac or iOS devices. Android devices and gaming consoles are not officially supported. Please see the LivePhish FAQ for more information.
• You will be able to stream each night's show for 24 hours following each webcast
• Save 10% on multi-night bundles
• Get MP3s of each show with the Webcast+MP3 Bundles
• Order an Event T-Shirt with Webcast+T-Shirt Bundles

Watch Phish aficionado FZappa20's official recap from the Syracuse show here:

Watch Phish perform "Guelah Papyrus" in Saratoga Springs on 07.03.16 here:

Check out the official event t-shirt for The Gorge!

Watch Phish's 19-Minute "Light" from Mansfield in HD July 11, 2016 10:43

Photo by Andrea Nusinov: AZN Pics

Phish's annual summer tour is rolling along in full force, as the band has just wrapped up it's midwest/northeast leg of the tour.  With four days off to travel, rest, and prepare for the upcoming weekend at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, Phish fans can expect a fresh, rejuvenated band full of surprises.  The first half of Phish's summer tour has been full of highlights, with major bust outs and tour debuts coming early and often at nearly every show.  

One of the tour's most recent highlights came in the second set on Friday night at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts.  After kicking off the set with "Ghost," the band swiftly transitioned into "Light," arguably the most legitimate jam vehicle off of the band's 2009 release Joy.  The Mansfield "Light" featured some serious type-two jamming with some heavy funk and even a few "woo's," making for one of the longest jams of the tour thus far.  Fortunately, Phish has released full HD footage of "Light," which can be watched below.

Watch Phish perform "Light" in Mansfield, MA on July 8th 2016 here:

Setlist: Phish - Xfinity Center - Mansfield, MA - 07.08.16 

Set 1: Party Time > 46 Days, Poor Heart, The Dogs, Bathtub Gin, Fast Enough for You, How Many People Are You, Strange Design, Fuego, Cities^[1], Space Oddity

Set 2: Ghost > Light > Wolfman's Brother^[2], Chalk Dust Torture, Saw It Again > Back on the Train > Slave to the Traffic Light

Encore: I Am the Walrus

[1] Trey broke a string and switched guitars mid-song, also introducing his guitar tech, Brian Brown. Trey then switched to Marimba Lumina and Mike played Trey's guitar.
[2] Vocal jam, during which the PA cut out and the band left the stage. Unfinished.

Teases:
· Eine kleine Nachtmusik tease

Notes: Eine kleine Nachtmusik was teased prior to Party Time. During Cities, Trey broke a string, switched guitars, and introduced his guitar tech, Brian Brown; Trey then switched to Marimba Lumina while Mike played Trey's guitar. Wolfman's contained a vocal jam, during which the PA cut out and the band left the stage. Wolfman's was unfinished, and after several minutes the band resumed with CDT.

Watch Phish's 3-Night Run in Saratoga Springs in Full HD July 1, 2016 15:21

Phish continues off it's highly anticipated summer tour this weekend at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY, and the band has once again made their shows available for HD streaming via LivePhish.com.  The three-night run kicks off on Friday, July 1st and concludes on Sunday, July 3rd.  Coming off of two red hot two-night runs at Wrigley Field in Chicago and The Mann in Philadelphia, this weekend at SPAC is sure to be a special weekend. If you've never experienced an evening of Phish "couch tour", it's something we highly recommend.  The band offers an experience like no other from the comfort of your own home, with live HD footage and soundboard audio.

Click Here: Order Your Phish Webcast Package Today

Watch Phish perform "Fluffhead" at Wrigley Field on 06.25.16 here:

Phish Kicks Off Summer Tour With Major Bust Outs June 23, 2016 01:09

Phish kicked off it's highly anticipated summer tour at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota on Wednesday night, and they wasted no time busting out an impressive new light display and some very rare material.  The tour opener came in the form of "Pigtail," a Trey Anastasio Band original, before "Wolfman's Brother" carried the rowdy crowd into a familiar groove.  Next up was another bust out, "Daniel Saw The Stone," the more spiritual, upbeat bluegrass tune.  "The Dogs" and "Undermind" would follow, before the evening's biggest bust out came in the form of The Beatles' "Dear Prudence," which hadn't been played since it's debut at the band's Halloween show in 1994 (796 shows).  Then came "Stash," which led us to "Round Room," yet another bust out.  "Horn," "Uncle Pen," "Halfway To The Moon," and the always mesmerizing "Walls Of The Cave" would close out the first set.

The band kicked off the second set in classic Phish fashion; diving straight into "Mike's Song" > "I Am Hydrogen" > "Weekapaug Groove".  A beautiful take on "Bouncing Round The Room" was next, and "Ghost" > "The Line" wasn't far behind.  We even got a "Little Drummer Boy" tease from Trey Anastasio (guitar/vocals) during "Ghost"  "Simple," one of the evening's bigger jams, would ultimately lead into The Velvet's Underground's "I Found A Reason," and you guessed it...another bust out.  This one hadn't been touched since Phish's 1998 Halloween show (493 shows).  One of the most familiar jams of 2015, "No Men In No Man's Land," was up next and continued to prove it's worth as a vehicle for improvisation.  "Billy Breathes" brought about yet another bust out and easily one of the band's most underrated tunes.  A solid take on "Bathtub Gin" would ultimately bring the set to a close.

"Water In The Sky" made it's first appearance since last July in Austin, but this time with the slower pace that many were accustomed to in the late 90's.  The always explosive "Character Zero" would follow, sending the packed house in St. Paul into an all out frenzy.  It certainly appears as if Phish is gearing up for another magical summer.

Phish continues their summer tour this weekend with two nights at Wrigley Field in Chicago, followed by what's sure to be a monster Sunday show at Klipsch Music Center (Deer Creek) in Noblesville, Indiana.  Stay tuned for future updates from Live & Listen. 

Click Here: Details for HD Webcasts from Wrigley Field

 Watch a clip from "Weekapaug Groove" here:

Setlist: Phish at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN - 6/22/16

Set 1: Pigtail, Wolfman's Brother, Daniel Saw the Stone, The Dogs, Undermind, Dear Prudence, Stash, Round Room, Horn, Uncle Pen, Halfway To The Moon, Walls Of The Cave

Set 2: Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Bouncing Around The Room, Ghost > The Line, Simple > I Found A Reason, No Men In No Man's Land, Billy Breathes, Bathtub Gin

Encore: Water In The Sky, Character Zero

Notes: This show featured multiple bustouts: Pigtail (last played December 28, 2010, or 195 shows), Daniel Saw the Stone (last played June 30, 2012, or 140 shows), Dear Prudence (last played October 31, 1994, or 796 shows), Round Room (last played January 1, 2011, or 192 shows), Uncle Pen (last played August 31, 2012, or 123 shows), and I Found A Reason (last played October 31, 1998, or 493 shows). Trey teased The Little Drummer Boy in Ghost. Page teased Magilla in Simple.

Setlist and notes via Phish.net 

Phish Announces HD Webcasts For Wrigley Field Shows June 21, 2016 07:56

Phish kicks off it's highly anticipated summer tour on Wednesday night at Xcel Energy Center in Minneapolis, followed by two sold out shows this weekend at Wrigley Field in Chicago.  While no official webcast has been announced for Minneapolis, the band revealed on Monday that both sold out shows at Wrigley will be available for streaming via LivePhish.com.  If you've never experienced an evening of Phish "couch tour", it's something we highly recommend.  The band offers an experience like no other from the comfort of your own home, with live HD footage and soundboard audio.

Click Here: Pre-Order Your Webcast Package Today

Celebrate Red Rocks' 75th Anniversary With Five Killer Performances June 15, 2016 17:28

Photo via RedRocksOnline.com

Today, the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre celebrates it's 75th anniversary, and that's something that simply cannot be overlooked. Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a rock structure near Morrison, Colorado, 10 miles west of Denver, where concerts are given in the open-air amphitheatre. There is a large, tilted, disc-shaped rock behind the stage, a huge vertical rock angled outwards from stage right, several large outcrops angled outwards from stage left and a seating area for up to 9,525 people in between. The amphitheater is owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, Colorado and is located in Red Rocks Park, part of the Denver Mountain Parks system.

The earliest notable rock-and-roll performance at Red Rocks was by The Beatles on August 26, 1964, the only concert not sold out during their US-tour.  The beautiful and unique setting has led to the venue becoming a favorite for many performers, including Jimi Hendrix on September 1, 1968.  U2 performed at the amphitheatre on June 5, 1983 during their War Tour, in front of a crowd of 9,000 people.  

Red Rocks was one of the favored venues for The Grateful Dead and the venue has become a traditional stop for many subsequent jam bands. Widespread Panic holds the record for the most sold out performances at Red Rocks (48 shows). Blues Traveler has played the venue every Fourth of July since 1993, except 1999 when lead singer and harmonica player John Popper was unable to play due to heart surgery.  The venue has also seen numerous performances from the likes of Phish, My Morning Jacket, Tedeschi Trucks Band, String Cheese Incident, Umphrey's McGee, STS9, and so many more.

In honor of Red Rocks' 75th anniversary, we've included video footage of five of our favorite performances below.  We feel confident that we can speak for the all music fans when we say, "Thank you, Red Rocks, for providing an endless amount of memories to music fans far and wide!"

Watch Widespread Panic entire show at Red Rocks on 06.28.2002 here:

Watch Phish's entire first set at Red Rocks from 07.30.2009 here:

Watch String Cheese Incident's "Incident on The Rocks" from 07.23.2013 here:

Watch Umphrey's McGee's entire show at Red Rocks from 06.07.13 here:

Watch My Morning Jacket's entire show at Red Rocks from 05.29.16 here:

Happy Birthday Cactus: Five Classic Mike Gordon Jams June 3, 2016 09:43

We make a point to recognize and celebrate the birthdays of our favorite musicians, as a way of thanking them for their endless contributions to our music scene.  We can't think of a better way to honor Mike Gordon on his 51st birthday than running through a handful of our favorite Cactus originals.  While longtime Phish lyricist Tom Marshall is responsible for the lyrics on a large percentage of the band's originals, Gordon is the mastermind behind classics such as “BBFCFM,” “Catapult,” "Clone,” “Contact,” “Destiny Unbound,” “Fuck Your Face,” “Mike’s Song,” "Mock Song.” “Mound,” “NO2,” “Poor Heart,” "Round Room,” “Scent of a Mule,” “Simple,” “Train Song,” “Weekly Time,” and “Weigh”.  We have included a few of our favorite versions of these tunes below.  

Cheers to you Cactus...may you celebrate many, many more!

Watch Phish perform "Simple" in Bend, OR (07.22.15):

Watch Phish perform "Scent of a Mule" at FirstMerit Bank Pavilion (07.20.14) here:

Watch Phish perform "Weigh" at Madison Square Garden (12.31.10) here:

Watch Phish perform "BBFCFM" > "Your Pet Cat" > "BBFCFM" at Merriweather Post Pavilion (08.15.15) here:

Watch Phish perform "Destiny Unbound" in Chula Vista, CA (10.25.14) here:

Runaway Gin - A Tribute to Phish Releases New Spring Into Summer 2016 Tour Dates May 3, 2016 12:30

Photo by Amy Boyd: Sense & Color Photography

Runaway Gin - a Tribute to Phish has announced a series of Southeast dates in addition to their weekly Sunday residency at the Charleston Pour House. Included in these dates are a triple-setter in Raleigh, NC, a debut performance in Washington, DC,a Dead and Co. Afterparty in Charlotte, NC, a headlining slot at the Pumpkintown Music Festival, and a Runaway Gin Craft Beer Cruise in August!

Here is a newly released video of Runaway Gin playing You Enjoy Myself in March of 2016:

A complete listing of Runaway Gin shows with additional details and tickets can be found here.

Friday, May 13th - 3 sets @ the Pour House Music Hall - Raleigh, NC
Saturday, May 14th - Gypsy Sally's w/ Moogatu - Washington, DC
Friday, May 27th - GOTTROCKS - Greenville, SC
Saturday, May 28th - Aisle 5 - Atlanta, GA
Friday, June 10 - Dead and Company Afterparty @ the Rabbit Hole - Charlotte, NC
Saturday, June 18 - the Get Down in Pumpkintown Festival - Marietta, SC
Friday, July 29th - the Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
Saturday, July 30th - the Calico Room - Wilmington, NC
Friday, August 5th - Runaway Gin Craft Beer Cruise - Charleston, SC

Runaway Gin is the World's most active Phish Tribute Band having played 87 shows in 2015 alone. They play every Sunday at the Charleston Pour House and tour often. On July 4th, 2015, after the second show of the Grateful Dead GD50 run, Runaway Gin sold out the Hard Rock Cafe in Chicago - a 650 capacity venue - and cemented themselves as a national act.

The members of Runaway Gin are long time Phish fans who have united with the goal of creating musical moments inspired by Phish. The band's song list is constantly growing and their improvisational and communication skills are constantly developing independently and together. Like Phish, Runaway Gin will never play the same show or jam the same way twice making every show a unique experience and every moment pure artistic creation.

Throwback: Neil Young Joins Phish For An Acoustic "Harry Hood" (1998) April 28, 2016 16:29

Nearly every year since 1986, Neil Young and his former wife Pegi have called upon their musical friends to perform at an annual benefit concert to raise funds for the Bridge School, an innovative organization educating children with severe speech and physical impairments. The Youngs ask their invited guests to cut the cords and perform on acoustics for the Bridge School Benefit Concerts.

In October of 1998, jam veterans Phish performed two acoustic sets at the 12th annual Bridge School Benefit Concert, which also featured R.E.M., Neil Young, and Barenaked Ladies.  One of many highlights from these sets came during "Harry Hood", when Neil Young joined the band just after the 7-minute mark of the song.  Young would return to the stage and take lead vocals on his own "Helpless" to close the set.  

Setlist and show notes via Phish.net

Setlist: Saturday, October 17th 1998 - Shoreline Amphitheatre

Set 1: Carolina, Sleep^[1], Never^[1], Possum^[2], I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome^[3], Free Bird, Driver^[1], Wading in the Velvet Sea^[2], Harry Hood^[4] > Helpless^[5]

[1] Debut; acoustic.
[2] Acoustic.
[3] Acoustic; Mike on banjo, Page on acoustic bass.
[4] Acoustic; unfinished; Neil Young on guitar.
[5] Phish debut; acoustic; Neil Young on guitar and vocals.

This single-set performance was part of the 12th annual Bridge School benefit that also included R.E.M., Neil Young, and Barenaked Ladies. This was an acoustic performance, with a unique stage setup that had Fish stage right, with Page on the far left. Carolina was performed with the band facing toward the Bridge School children, who were on a raised platform at the back of the stage. Sleep, Never, and Driver also debuted at this show. I’m Blue I’m Lonesome (first since December 12, 1995, or 195 shows) was performed in the bluegrass setup of 1994, with Mike on banjo and Page on acoustic bass. Free Bird was played for the first time since June 19, 1994 (338 shows). Hood included a tease of Work Song by Page and was unfinished; Neil Young joined in during the Hood jam, and then sang lead on the Phish debut of his own composition, Helpless.

Setlist: Sunday, October 18th 1998 - Shoreline Amphitheatre

Set 1: Hello My Baby, Billy Breathes^[1], Piper^[1], Roggae^[1], Loving Cup^[1], Albuquerque^[1], The Old Home Place^[2], Guyute^[1], Brian and Robert^[1], Sad Lisa^[3], Four Strong Winds^[4], I Shall Be Released^[4] 

[1] Acoustic.
[2] Acoustic; Mike on banjo, Page on acoustic bass.
[3] Phish debut; acoustic; Sarah McLachlan on guitar and vocals.
[4] Phish debut; acoustic; Sarah McLachlan and Neil Young on guitar and vocals and Kevin Hearn on accordion.

Notes: This single-set performance was part of the 12th annual Bridge School benefit that also included R.E.M., Neil Young, and Barenaked Ladies. This was an acoustic performance, with a unique stage setup that had Fish stage right, with Page on the far left. Hello My Baby was performed with the band facing toward the Bridge School children, who were on a raised platform at the back of the stage. The Old Home Place was performed in the bluegrass setup of 1994, with Mike on banjo and Page on acoustic bass. Sad Lisa featured Sarah McLachlan on guitar and vocals, while Four Strong Winds and I Shall Be Released featured McLachlan and Neil Young on guitar and vocals, as well as Barenaked Ladies’ Kevin Hearn on accordion; all three songs were Phish debuts.

Phish Announces Return to Riviera Maya in January 2017 April 12, 2016 14:05

Photo by aLive Coverage / iWally Photography

Press Release via Phish.com

Phish are going back to Mexico! The return of Phish: Riviera Maya, a 4-night all-inclusive concert vacation, will take place on January 13-15, 2017. The band will perform three nights on the beach in one of the world’s most beautiful spots – Mexico’s Caribbean coastline. The concerts will take place at Barceló Maya Beach, which sits on a mile-long stretch of white sandy beach.

Fans can stay at the host resort or at one of the other six selected hotel-resorts (including three additional properties for this year). For those not staying at the Barceló Maya Beach, shuttle service will be provided. A variety of off-site adventures will also be available.

Packages for Phish: Riviera Maya will go on sale April 19 at 1PM ET. For complete details, including payment plans, visit http://www.phishrivieramaya.com/ 

Watch Phish's 19-minute "Down With Disease" from 01.17.16 in Riviera Maya here:

LOCKN' Festival Announces Additions to 2016 Lineup March 24, 2016 09:59

Phish Announces 2016 Summer Tour Dates February 5, 2016 13:22

Press Release via Phish.com

The dates are here! Phish's 2016 Summer Tour begins on June 22 with the band's first concert in the Twin Cities since 2000, and culminates with its sixth year of summer-ending shows in September at Dick's Sporting Good Park in Commerce City, CO. The tour will include the band's first appearances at Chicago's storied Wrigley Field, as well as returns to Saratoga Performing Arts Center, The Mann, and The Gorge Amphitheater. 

An online ticket request period is currently underway at http://tickets.phish.com and will end Sunday, February 21st at 11:59pm ET. Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning Thursday, February 25th. Ticketing details are available at http://phish.com/

Watch Phish's 19-Minute "Down With Disease" From Riviera Maya (HD) January 25, 2016 18:28

Photo by Taylor Wallace of aLive Coverage

On the final night of Phish's three-night destination weekend in Riviera Maya, Mexico, the usual anticipation and predictions circulated amongst Barcelo Maya Beach as to what the band had in store for the big finale.  "Mexican Cousin" seemed like a no brainer, with many wishes for the long awaited "The Curtain With," coming true right off the bat.  And any set that includes the somewhat rare "Saw It Again" makes for a memorable night.

"Down With Disease" is certainly no stranger to the leadoff spot in the second set.  The classic original from the band's 1994 release, Hoist, has served as one of the band's go-to jam vehicles since it's 1993 New Year's Eve debut.  This night was no exception.  Page McConnell even included some vocal overdubs from "Shipwreck," one of the band's Chilling, Thrilling Vegas tunes, around the 10-minute mark.  Fortunately, the band has released HD video footage from the 19-minute DWD, which can be watched in full below.

Watch Phish's "Down With Disease" in Riviera Maya (01.17.16) here:

Phish :: Complete Setlist via Phish.net :: 01.17.16

Set 1: Mexican Cousin, The Curtain With, Sample in a Jar, Yarmouth Road, The Landlady, Army of One, Kill Devil Falls > Bathtub Gin, Funky Bitch > The Moma Dance^[1] > Saw It Again

Set 2: Down with Disease^[1] > Roggae > Crosseyed and Painless > Farmhouse > Mike's Song > Bug > Weekapaug Groove, Slave to the Traffic Light

Encore: The Ocean^[2]

[1] Unfinished.
[2] Phish debut.

Throwback: David Byrne Interviews Phish On Sessions At West 54th December 24, 2015 15:56

Phish's 4-Night New Year's Run Webcast At LivePhish.com December 21, 2015 16:38

Phish returns to Madison Square Garden in New York for a four-night New Year's Run to ring in 2016 beginning December 30th. In order to ring in the New Year with everyone, the entire run (including Phish's sold out New Year's Eve three-set performance) will be webcast at LivePhish.com. The band has played thirty-one shows to date at Madison Square Garden since December 1994.

For the first time, Phish is able to offer the New Year's Run in full 1080p HD as well as standard definition. A multi-night pass is available for pre-order now at http://livephi.sh/NYE2015Webcast. If you've got alternate New Year's Eve plans, you can still purchase the LivePhish Webcasts and watch them within a few days from your Stash.

Stay tuned to Live & Listen on Facebook and Instagram for updates from all four nights at MSG!

Click Here: Order Your Phish Webcast Today!