I don't know if it's them, or if it's me, but the Phish show at Shoreline—a highly anticipated one for me to say the least—left me wanting just a bit.
I think I'm most inclined to blame the venue. One of the problems with seeing live music in San Francisco is that you're spoiled rotten by the sheer number of small, stellar venues. In fact, aside from the admittedly fairly large Bill Graham Civic Center, there are no arena venues whatsoever in SF proper. And that's the way Uncle Showy likes it, dagnabbit.
I hadn't been to Shoreline in years, but when last I had, I swore to myself I'd never again go unless I could get great tickets. Thanks to demand for their first tour in five years, good tickets proved initially impossible to get, and with lots of fantastic friends to hang with on the lawn I decided not to bother picking up the good seats on Craigslist even though they came down dramatically in price as the show date arrived.
Thanks to the efforts of the incomparable duo Gumbeaux Dave and Funky Drummer Adam Willis, our crew had a spot nearly centered at the very front of the lawn. The odds of having a great show despite being so far away from the band seemingly had improved.
Despite this though, I have to say I was a little let down by the band that I feel is the most innovative and creatively dynamic rock outfit of my generation. Though Phish has, on many a good night, completely blown my mind with their musicianship and energy, this Shoreline show came up short for me. The setlist was excellent, with some of my absolute faves getting nods as the night wore on. Hailey's Comet (played 2nd) was a nice treat and always makes me smile; Chalkdust Torture rocked as usual; Divided Sky might just be my favorite song from these guys, and they zipped through its absurdly complex arrangement nearly flawlessly; Ya Mar, David Bowie, Down with Disease, Limb by Limb, Maze, Mike's Song, and Weekapaug Groove, fantastic choices all.
Yet that feeling of just being swept up in the utter amazingness of it all just barely eluded me all night long. For one thing, being so far away made the sound quite a bit softer and it was hard to focus on the dynamic intricacies of Phish's playing—what, in my opinion, makes this band so amazing. Beside the sound though, I also found the lights to be a bit lackluster. I'm of the opinion that Phish's light man, Chris Kuroda, is an umatched talent, especially with his abilities to improvise with the band. Yet I'm not sure why, maybe because they were so far away, but none of Chris' creations at this Shoreline show had much of an impact on me.
The technical accuracy of this Phish show, as far as I could hear, sounded much cleaner and tighter that their last hiatus-breaker certainly, and I think better than much of the stuff around their first break in 2000 as well. But being in the back at Shoreline, for one of your favorite bands, frankly, sucks. I was counting on the experience of Phish on a good night to overcome that. I think, THINK, they had a good night, but I never lost my shit over it. And frankly, that's what a Phish show is supposed to be all about.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Oh snap, it's BACK.
Last week wasn't the first time I've missed something that I really needed to put on the Showy McShow music list, and it sure as hell won't be the last...
I really had to drop this quick note on y'all though, because Tuesday night—tonight in fact—is a very special night.
San Francisco music hasn't quite been the same since Jazz Mafia Tuesdays at Bruno's ended.
I'm not sure what I missed most about it.
It could have been the impeccable quality and unending variety of live music streaming out of the joint until the wee hours of Wednesday morning; it could've been the obscenely low cover charge that always kept enough scratch in my wallet for that one extra drink I knew I shouldn't have ordered on a school night; it could've been the smiling faces of old friends, that Cheers kinda atmosphere that always awaited you when you stepped through the door; or, most likely, it was probably the fact that no matter what challenges my Tuesday brought me I always knew I had a place to go to lose my troubles (and myself), and just rock the hell out for a while.
Tonight, Jazz Mafia Tuesday comes roaring BACK.
|||||| TUESDAY 8/4 ||||||
Joe Bagale @ Coda - $7
WOOOOOT! SF's best damn weekly music night is BACK, baby! Coda (at Mission & Duboce) is an all-new venue and restaurant that, unlike Bruno's in the recent past, promises to stick to their live music ethos nearly every night of the week. This is the new home of Jazz Mafia Tuesdays, and it looks like it's here to stay. The choice of Joe Bagale for their first night back is a hell of a good one too. Hot off a fantastic gig at Yoshi's, Joe wil bring his multi-instrumental and vocal skills to bear in a spot where we'll have the room to dance to the sweet funky soul music. The man just rocks the old school funk with authenticity and skill that you'd never expect to find in a dude this humble and, well, white (ha). This is going to be a blast, and a hell of a way to make Wednesday morning hurt all over again. I can't freakin' wait.
http://joebagale.com/
http://www.codalive.com/
|||||| WEDNESDAY 8/5 ||||||
Phish @ Shoreline Amphitheater - $50 (SOLD OUT, see Craigslist)
The day of reckoning... the moment of truth... it has arrived. The Bay Area will soon find out if Phish—in my opinion the single most innovative rock band of the last quarter century (yeah, I said it)—can re-create the magic of their best years. In the '90s this band was untouchable. The telepathic dynamism of their improvisations, the fierce virtuosity of their musicianship, the fire and passion and sheer creativity that they brought to the live experience, it was unmatched by any single rock band I've ever seen... on a good night of course. Unfortunately as they went out on and came back from hiatus in the 2000s, they got sloppy, the good nights came less and less often, and some of the messiest shows I've heard were played. Now back again from a long break, the recordings and reports from friends have me thinking that finally, at loooong last, the magic is back. On Wednesday night I'll brave the lawn down at Shoreline (shudder) to find out... OH! And they just announced a 3-day festival in Southern California on Halloween too. Uh-huh.
http://phish.com/
Realistic Orchestra Michael Jackson Tribute @ Yoshi's SF - $10/14
If you've ever been to a Jazz Mafia tribute show, you know that no one brings the party like these cats. They have a way of bending, twisting, and squeeeeeezing the funk out of everything they touch. That's why this MJ tribute is NOT TO BE MISSED. The Realistic Orchestra will absolutely kill it with multiple vocalists and a 20 piece wall of sound. They'll make you forget all the weird (well, most of the weird), and remember all that you loved, about the late King of Pop. I can hear that Billy Jean bassline right now in fact... on an upright... maybe with a tuba...
http://www.jazzmafia.com/
|||||| UPCOMING ||||||
8/7 - American Steel | the New Trust @ Bottom of the Hill
8/8 - Los Amigos Invisibles @ the Fillmore
8/11 - Shotgun Wedding Quintet @ Coda
8/11 - Crooked Jades @ Cafe du Nord
8/14 - Orgone @ Boom Boom Room
8/14 - Sol'Jibe @ Mojito
8/18 - Shotgun Wedding Quintet @ Coda
8/20-8/22 - Brass, Bows, and Beats @ Yoshi's SF
8/28 - David Grisman Quintet @ Freight & Salvage
8/28-8/30 - Outside Lands Festival @ Golden Gate Park
8/30 - Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle @ Boom Boom Room
I really had to drop this quick note on y'all though, because Tuesday night—tonight in fact—is a very special night.
San Francisco music hasn't quite been the same since Jazz Mafia Tuesdays at Bruno's ended.
I'm not sure what I missed most about it.
It could have been the impeccable quality and unending variety of live music streaming out of the joint until the wee hours of Wednesday morning; it could've been the obscenely low cover charge that always kept enough scratch in my wallet for that one extra drink I knew I shouldn't have ordered on a school night; it could've been the smiling faces of old friends, that Cheers kinda atmosphere that always awaited you when you stepped through the door; or, most likely, it was probably the fact that no matter what challenges my Tuesday brought me I always knew I had a place to go to lose my troubles (and myself), and just rock the hell out for a while.
Tonight, Jazz Mafia Tuesday comes roaring BACK.
|||||| TUESDAY 8/4 ||||||
Joe Bagale @ Coda - $7
WOOOOOT! SF's best damn weekly music night is BACK, baby! Coda (at Mission & Duboce) is an all-new venue and restaurant that, unlike Bruno's in the recent past, promises to stick to their live music ethos nearly every night of the week. This is the new home of Jazz Mafia Tuesdays, and it looks like it's here to stay. The choice of Joe Bagale for their first night back is a hell of a good one too. Hot off a fantastic gig at Yoshi's, Joe wil bring his multi-instrumental and vocal skills to bear in a spot where we'll have the room to dance to the sweet funky soul music. The man just rocks the old school funk with authenticity and skill that you'd never expect to find in a dude this humble and, well, white (ha). This is going to be a blast, and a hell of a way to make Wednesday morning hurt all over again. I can't freakin' wait.
http://joebagale.com/
http://www.codalive.com/
|||||| WEDNESDAY 8/5 ||||||
Phish @ Shoreline Amphitheater - $50 (SOLD OUT, see Craigslist)
The day of reckoning... the moment of truth... it has arrived. The Bay Area will soon find out if Phish—in my opinion the single most innovative rock band of the last quarter century (yeah, I said it)—can re-create the magic of their best years. In the '90s this band was untouchable. The telepathic dynamism of their improvisations, the fierce virtuosity of their musicianship, the fire and passion and sheer creativity that they brought to the live experience, it was unmatched by any single rock band I've ever seen... on a good night of course. Unfortunately as they went out on and came back from hiatus in the 2000s, they got sloppy, the good nights came less and less often, and some of the messiest shows I've heard were played. Now back again from a long break, the recordings and reports from friends have me thinking that finally, at loooong last, the magic is back. On Wednesday night I'll brave the lawn down at Shoreline (shudder) to find out... OH! And they just announced a 3-day festival in Southern California on Halloween too. Uh-huh.
http://phish.com/
Realistic Orchestra Michael Jackson Tribute @ Yoshi's SF - $10/14
If you've ever been to a Jazz Mafia tribute show, you know that no one brings the party like these cats. They have a way of bending, twisting, and squeeeeeezing the funk out of everything they touch. That's why this MJ tribute is NOT TO BE MISSED. The Realistic Orchestra will absolutely kill it with multiple vocalists and a 20 piece wall of sound. They'll make you forget all the weird (well, most of the weird), and remember all that you loved, about the late King of Pop. I can hear that Billy Jean bassline right now in fact... on an upright... maybe with a tuba...
http://www.jazzmafia.com/
|||||| UPCOMING ||||||
8/7 - American Steel | the New Trust @ Bottom of the Hill
8/8 - Los Amigos Invisibles @ the Fillmore
8/11 - Shotgun Wedding Quintet @ Coda
8/11 - Crooked Jades @ Cafe du Nord
8/14 - Orgone @ Boom Boom Room
8/14 - Sol'Jibe @ Mojito
8/18 - Shotgun Wedding Quintet @ Coda
8/20-8/22 - Brass, Bows, and Beats @ Yoshi's SF
8/28 - David Grisman Quintet @ Freight & Salvage
8/28-8/30 - Outside Lands Festival @ Golden Gate Park
8/30 - Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle @ Boom Boom Room
Monday, August 3, 2009
From the Deep Dark Depths of Obscurity
(emailed July 29)
Where the hell is Obscurity anyway?
Sounds like somewhere in upstate New York to me. Possibly between Binghamton and Schenectady on Highway 88.
For such an outta-the-way township, I have to say it's quite remarkable how many people one seems to meet that are on their way from Obscurity to other parts of the globe. Other folks are rumored to dwell in Obscurity in fact, but one rarely, if ever, seems to meet them at all.
Showy McShow is, apparently, on Highway 88 right now. Headed west of course, 'cause as the late Lizard King once said, 'The west is the best.'
A message of musical mayhem... from the road:
|||||| THURSDAY 7/30 ||||||
Gomez @ the Fillmore - $27.50
Friday & Saturday shows. If you have forgotten, Gomez will remind you why rock n' roll is awesome. They're an English crew that rocks with equal parts energy and melody, with creative songwriting and fantastic musicianship. In fact, their three(!) singing, guitar-playing frontmen could easily have successful bands of their own. Instead, they fill one stage with their presence and just plain rock the hell out of the joint. I may go Friday...
http://www.gomeztheband.com/
|||||| FRIDAY 7/31 ||||||
Gomez @ the Fillmore - $27.50 (SOLD OUT, see Craigslist)
Friday & Saturday shows, see above.
http://www.gomeztheband.com/
Joe Bagale @ Yoshi's SF - $10/14
Join me for the debut of one of the Jazz Mafia's most esteemed members at Yoshi's! Joe is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is a modern master of old-school R&B. Whether he's belting out vocals like Stevie Wonder (yeah, really) or layin' down beats on the funky drums, Joe is an authentic talent and an all-around force to be reckoned with.
http://www.joebagale.com/
|||||| SUNDAY 8/2 ||||||
Melvin Seals & Jerry Garcia Band @ McLaren Park - $FREE
Daytime festival. The annual Jerry Garcia Day celebration culminates with headliner Melvin Seals and his current incarnation of the Jerry Garcia Band. With much more roots/gospel/soul influence than the Dead ever had, many people feel that the Jerry Band was the best thing Garcia was involved with. From listening to recent recordings, the band (featuring original members) sounds great—sweet and soulful with vocals that manage to emulate Jerry on a very good day.
http://www.jerryday.org/
|||||| MONDAY 8/3 ||||||
Reel Big Fish | the English Beat | the Supervillains @ the Regency Ballroom - $
Skaaaank it up! This will be a hoppin' night for the rude boys with heavy hitters spanning two generations of ska. Reel Big Fish were one of the third wave's most energetic and popular ska bands with their driving horn lines and often hilarious, irreverent lyrics. The English Beat is an icon of the second wave of ska, and they're still putting on a rockin' show 20 years later.
www.reel-big-fish.com/
http://www.thebeatuk.com/Home.html
|||||| WEDNESDAY 8/5 ||||||
Phish @ Shoreline Amphitheater - $50 (SOLD OUT, see Craigslist)
The day of reckoning... the moment of truth... it has arrived. Next week the Bay Area will find out if Phish—in my opinion the single most innovative rock band of the last quarter century (yeah, I said it)—can re-create the magic of their best years. In the '90s this band was untouchable. The telepathic dynamism of their improvisations, the fierce virtuosity of their musicianship, the fire and passion and sheer creativity that they brought to the live experience, it was unmatched by any single rock band I've ever seen... on a good night of course. Unfortunately as they went out on and came back from hiatus in the 2000s, they got sloppy, the good nights came less and less often, and some of the messiest shows I've heard were played. Now back again from a long break, the recordings and reports from friends have me thinking that finally, at loooong last, the magic is back. On Wednesday night I'll brave the lawn down at Shoreline (shudder) to find out... OH! And they just announced a 3-day festival in Southern California on Halloween too. Uh-huh.
http://phish.com/
Realistic Orchestra Michael Jackson Tribute @ Yoshi's SF - $10/14
If you've ever been to a Jazz Mafia tribute show, you know that no one brings the party like these cats. They have a way of bending, twisting, and squeeeeeezing the funk out of everything they touch. That's why this MJ tribute is NOT TO BE MISSED. The Realistic Orchestra will absolutely kill it with multiple vocalists and a 20 piece wall of sound. They'll make you forget all the weird (well, most of the weird), and remember all that you loved, about the late King of Pop. I can hear that Billy Jean bassline right now in fact... on an upright... maybe with a tuba...
http://www.jazzmafia.com/
|||||| UPCOMING ||||||
8/7 - American Steel | the New Trust @ Bottom of the Hill
8/8 - Los Amigos Invisibles @ the Fillmore
8/11 - Crooked Jades @ Cafe du Nord
8/14 - Orgone @ Boom Boom Room
8/14 - Sol'Jibe @ Mojito
8/18 - Shotgun Wedding Quintet @ Coda
8/20-8/22 - Brass, Bows, and Beats @ Yoshi's SF
8/28 - David Grisman Quintet @ Freight & Salvage
8/28-8/30 - Outside Lands Festival @ Golden Gate Park
8/30 - Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle @ Boom Boom Room
Where the hell is Obscurity anyway?
Sounds like somewhere in upstate New York to me. Possibly between Binghamton and Schenectady on Highway 88.
For such an outta-the-way township, I have to say it's quite remarkable how many people one seems to meet that are on their way from Obscurity to other parts of the globe. Other folks are rumored to dwell in Obscurity in fact, but one rarely, if ever, seems to meet them at all.
Showy McShow is, apparently, on Highway 88 right now. Headed west of course, 'cause as the late Lizard King once said, 'The west is the best.'
A message of musical mayhem... from the road:
|||||| THURSDAY 7/30 ||||||
Gomez @ the Fillmore - $27.50
Friday & Saturday shows. If you have forgotten, Gomez will remind you why rock n' roll is awesome. They're an English crew that rocks with equal parts energy and melody, with creative songwriting and fantastic musicianship. In fact, their three(!) singing, guitar-playing frontmen could easily have successful bands of their own. Instead, they fill one stage with their presence and just plain rock the hell out of the joint. I may go Friday...
http://www.gomeztheband.com/
|||||| FRIDAY 7/31 ||||||
Gomez @ the Fillmore - $27.50 (SOLD OUT, see Craigslist)
Friday & Saturday shows, see above.
http://www.gomeztheband.com/
Joe Bagale @ Yoshi's SF - $10/14
Join me for the debut of one of the Jazz Mafia's most esteemed members at Yoshi's! Joe is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is a modern master of old-school R&B. Whether he's belting out vocals like Stevie Wonder (yeah, really) or layin' down beats on the funky drums, Joe is an authentic talent and an all-around force to be reckoned with.
http://www.joebagale.com/
|||||| SUNDAY 8/2 ||||||
Melvin Seals & Jerry Garcia Band @ McLaren Park - $FREE
Daytime festival. The annual Jerry Garcia Day celebration culminates with headliner Melvin Seals and his current incarnation of the Jerry Garcia Band. With much more roots/gospel/soul influence than the Dead ever had, many people feel that the Jerry Band was the best thing Garcia was involved with. From listening to recent recordings, the band (featuring original members) sounds great—sweet and soulful with vocals that manage to emulate Jerry on a very good day.
http://www.jerryday.org/
|||||| MONDAY 8/3 ||||||
Reel Big Fish | the English Beat | the Supervillains @ the Regency Ballroom - $
Skaaaank it up! This will be a hoppin' night for the rude boys with heavy hitters spanning two generations of ska. Reel Big Fish were one of the third wave's most energetic and popular ska bands with their driving horn lines and often hilarious, irreverent lyrics. The English Beat is an icon of the second wave of ska, and they're still putting on a rockin' show 20 years later.
www.reel-big-fish.com/
http://www.thebeatuk.com/Home.
|||||| WEDNESDAY 8/5 ||||||
Phish @ Shoreline Amphitheater - $50 (SOLD OUT, see Craigslist)
The day of reckoning... the moment of truth... it has arrived. Next week the Bay Area will find out if Phish—in my opinion the single most innovative rock band of the last quarter century (yeah, I said it)—can re-create the magic of their best years. In the '90s this band was untouchable. The telepathic dynamism of their improvisations, the fierce virtuosity of their musicianship, the fire and passion and sheer creativity that they brought to the live experience, it was unmatched by any single rock band I've ever seen... on a good night of course. Unfortunately as they went out on and came back from hiatus in the 2000s, they got sloppy, the good nights came less and less often, and some of the messiest shows I've heard were played. Now back again from a long break, the recordings and reports from friends have me thinking that finally, at loooong last, the magic is back. On Wednesday night I'll brave the lawn down at Shoreline (shudder) to find out... OH! And they just announced a 3-day festival in Southern California on Halloween too. Uh-huh.
http://phish.com/
Realistic Orchestra Michael Jackson Tribute @ Yoshi's SF - $10/14
If you've ever been to a Jazz Mafia tribute show, you know that no one brings the party like these cats. They have a way of bending, twisting, and squeeeeeezing the funk out of everything they touch. That's why this MJ tribute is NOT TO BE MISSED. The Realistic Orchestra will absolutely kill it with multiple vocalists and a 20 piece wall of sound. They'll make you forget all the weird (well, most of the weird), and remember all that you loved, about the late King of Pop. I can hear that Billy Jean bassline right now in fact... on an upright... maybe with a tuba...
http://www.jazzmafia.com/
|||||| UPCOMING ||||||
8/7 - American Steel | the New Trust @ Bottom of the Hill
8/8 - Los Amigos Invisibles @ the Fillmore
8/11 - Crooked Jades @ Cafe du Nord
8/14 - Orgone @ Boom Boom Room
8/14 - Sol'Jibe @ Mojito
8/18 - Shotgun Wedding Quintet @ Coda
8/20-8/22 - Brass, Bows, and Beats @ Yoshi's SF
8/28 - David Grisman Quintet @ Freight & Salvage
8/28-8/30 - Outside Lands Festival @ Golden Gate Park
8/30 - Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle @ Boom Boom Room
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