Will 2013 be finally THE year ?

by Yome NetSan 29. July 2013

When the fall tour 2013 has been announced last week, I read the news like any Phish tour announcement for sixteen years. Where will they play ? How many shows ? Basic stuffs. But when I saw that they'll play 3 days at Atlantic City from October 31th to November 2nd, I got pretty hyped : Halloween + 30th anniversary show during the same run ?! I HAVE TO GO !

Ok, I realized a few minutes later that their birthday was on December 2nd, not November 2nd...

Nevertheless, my brain was already on fire. The run will be at the very end of the Toussaint holidays in France. I already planned a family trip to Morocco but it won't last the 2 weeks. With one flight to the U.S.A., I could attend 3 shows, including a pretty rare Halloween 3-setter ! I talked about it to my wife and her answer was both encouraging and full of common sense : "How much would it cost ?"

Yes, the main concern will be the money, as it has always been.

The following day, I checked several websites for flights booking to have an idea of the grand total.
First surprise : Atlantic City International airport can't be reached from Europe. So I search for Philadelphia from Lyon, Paris or even Geneva. I found several possibilities with or without stopover for a price from 600€ to 700€. I can find cheaper with 2 stopovers but I don't want to spend 24 hours in planes and airports...
A 3 day ticket would be 180$ but I have to add the fee and shipping for a total of 217.10$.
I have also to count 4 hotel nights, a way to go from Philly to Atlantic City (it seems I won't be alone), food and pocket money.

OK so I have to find a 1200€ bill.

I could fight against my habits to buy countless video games or vinyls to finally save this amount until October. The problem is I have to spend most of it (tickets, plane and hotel) at least in august and I don't have it now. So, like many times before, I dug the idea...

 

On Saturday, I received a letter from my company about my annual bonus. Usually it's stuck on a special bank account for 5 years unless I get married, have a baby or buy a house, which is not planned. But for the first time, this year, I have the option to request the full amount to be paid immediately.

 

Wait a minute...

 

This morning, I did something I've been dreaming of for sixteen year : I request tickets for a Phish show on tickets.phish.com

Oh my. I'll go to a Phish show !

This disc is turned and framed, it's seen much better days

by Yome NetSan 29. October 2012

I think I have a rather big Phish collection but I don't often show the items I buy. So here are some of the last Phish related vinyls and discs I recently received.

The last Marco Benevento record is as good as the previous ones is not better. Moreover Mike Gordon plays bass and mandolin on Escape Horse, a tune already released last year as a limited 7" disc.

Like most of us, I discovered Jennifer Hartswick with TAB, but the girl really need more recognition for his solo work. All of her 3 albums are absolutely great, very jazzy and funky, and her contribution to Everyone Orchestra's first studio album makes it feel like one of her own.

Continue reading...

Listen to Everyone Orchestra first studio album (not yet)

by Yome NetSan 28. March 2012

I'm taking a temporary break from Amsterdam to New York as I'm rather slow in writing and selecting pictures...

Brooklyn Sessions, the first studio album from Everyone Orchestra has been partialy fan-funded on KickStarter last december.

The ones who helped the project to be released have received their download links for the album and the bonus tracks yesterday. Matt Bulter, the band's leader, invited us to "share this album to listeners".

I hope you'll enjoy this great music as much as I do and that it will leads you to actually buy the CD when it comes out in may !

everyoneorchestra.com

 

[EDIT] Matt Bulter asked me not to share the album to listeners while it can't be actually bought online. The album will be release later in may on services like iTunes or Bandcamp.

Everyone with Everyone Orchestra !

by Yome NetSan 14. December 2011

Everyone Orchestra is a unusual band.

First of all, its structure is always changing. It's actually a kind of Super Band with each member coming from other bands and none of them is permanent. There are regulars like John Fishman (ring any bell ?) or Marco Benevento and new comers like Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band). it's really an orchestra for everyone to come and play. The only central axis is Matt Butler, leader and creator... whow doesn't play any instrument.

Everybody Orchestra's music can be defined as conducted improvisation. Indeed, Matt Butler conduct the band with gestures, jumps and boards where he writes words, feelings, moods to lead the music. Needless to say, each concert is different as there's no specific "song".

After 10 years of shows, Matt Butler wanred to make a studio album. But how could one make a studio recording of a concert-only, full improvisation, ever changing line-up act ? Simply by re-creating the same feeling in studio for a one of a kind recording : improvisation.

So he gathered the following line-up : Jon Fishman (Phish), Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band), Al Schnier (moe.), Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green), Steve Kimock, Marco Benevento, Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Jamie Masefield (Jazz Mandolin Project) et Jans Ingber (The Motet). Session lasted two days and a preview of the result can be viewed bellow.

Now, in order to finish producing the album, a project has been set up on kickstarter.com to collect the needed 15.000$. Anyone can participate with any amount to help the cause and your credit card will be charge only if the goal is reached on January 6th 2012.
But it's more than just giving money. Depending on how much you gave, you'll receive a download of the album before it's released, a signed CD, all of that + bonus tracks, all of that + a signed poster or picture... It goes on to concert tickets, a meeting with the band or you nammed as producer of the album !
So even if you can't afford to have Matt Butler conduct your own band in your living room, it's like you pre-order the album while helping it happens ! It's open to everyone...

Anyway, have a listen to a preview of the session and let's participate here :
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/178370795/everyone-orchestra-first-studio-album-brooklyn-ses

 

Good answer !

by Yome NetSan 28. January 2010

Pfff, I'm seeing the end of it !
Too bad I won't see my 6 months baby with a Phish beanie anytime soon...

Here's my contact's answer and mine bellow.

Hi Guillaume.

I’m sorry I missed your first email. It was set aside by my spam filter – presumably because of the numerous exclamation points in the subject line. I apologize for not seeing it sooner.

I’m also sorry to learn that they processed your new shipment with the shortage of those items. Totally ridiculous. I’m refunding you $31 for the cost of those items, since we are completely out of those items. That refund should occur sometime today. I already refunded your shipping last time around, so I can’t do anything further there.

I agree with you that those shipping rates are ridiculous. I’ve long complained to my bosses that we are well above reasonable rates, and have already forwarded your emails to them to remind them yet again. It’s not like I’m pocketing that money personally.

The best I can do is extend some good faith to you as a fellow Phish fan. I’m going to set up a couple of unique discount codes for you which can be redeemed for free/discounted shipping on future orders. It might take me a day or two to get these set up, but I promise to send them along when they are ready. If you choose to shop with us again and use the codes, great. If you want to give them to a friend, that’s fine too. I also understand if this has soured you so much that you never shop with us again.

I’ll be in touch with those codes when they’re ready. Again, sorry about the poor communication on these out of stock items.

Best Regards,

 

Hi

Thanks for your answer, I was about to send a "third try" ;-)

Indeed, I didn't calculated the currency change ($>€) between the refund I got and the actual shipping fee. So there's no problem about the missing item, except that I was informed at all. It was really a downer when I open the parcel after the joy (!) of actually received it !

I appreciate your honest answer about the shipping rates and the discount coupons.
Of course, I'd be tented to say I'll never buy from Dry Goods any more. Unfortunatly, there's no alternative for some items...
I just hope my next order won't took 5 months to come and, if it happens, that the normal customer service will answer me properly :)

Thanks again for your help with this issue. Sorry I had to send to you so many emails ;)

Guillaume

 

Now I can relax and finally appreciate my Joy Box, my Joy Vinyl and my Joy CD.

Finally ? Not yet !!!

by Yome NetSan 27. January 2010

Great a parcel from Music Today !

But the story isn't finished yet ! OUCH ><'

Hi,

I finally received my parcel yesterday. Goog news, the Joy Box is great.
But wait... my order is NOT COMPLETE !!!!
It's missing a T-shirt (PHCT248SXNV Drops on Navy, Short Sleeve, X-L, $16) and a baby beanie (PHCH45TBAV, Organic Baby Mockstar Beanie on Avocado, $15) !
And after checking the website, none of this item is available anymore !
GREAT !

Now I'm getting really upset.
I ordered 5 MOUNTH ago !
It cost me countless emails to your mute customer service and to you to finally receive a parcel.
You told me my order would be sent with a tracking number : I'm still waiting for it.
I received a shipping mail saying the order was shipped by DHL : in fact it was EMS, a cheaper mailing service.
I received a incomplete order, missing 2 items for a total of $21. Those items aren't available anymore and nobody tells me anything about that. I didn't get a refund for these items or a chance to have other ones in replacement.

It's official, Music Today isn't able to fullfil an order properly. You are incompetent and not professional at all.

And by the way, I'm still waiting for an explanation of your excessive international shipping fees.
Oh maybe you want another simple example ?
A $2 sticker, a plain, flat, light, small sticker. Guess hos much it cost to ship from Music Today (I'm not saying the USA because you must be on another planet, it's too ridiculus) to France ? $14.71 !!!

Next time, I'll wait for my items to be sold by a guy on eBay. It will be safer and cheaper !

Still waiting (part 5)

by Yome NetSan 19. January 2010

More good news !

I received a shipping email saying that my order has been re-shipped by DHL. Un fortunatly, I can't find the tracking number...
I also got a refund for the shipping fees I paid 5 months ago. So things are taking a better shape thanks to the help of the merch account manager.
It should be arriving quicly with DHL so I'll update when I have news.

Mainwhile, I ordered through livephish.com the full Miami NYE Run as miniSD USB slots like the Festival 8 ones. We'll see which order comes first ;)

Nevertheless, he didn't answer me about the exensive shipping rates so I wrote this last message.

Hi,

First of all, I'd like to apologize for writing you again and thank you very mush for your help in my issue.

I received the refund for the shipping fee and the following email stating that my order has been shipping with DHL.

Unfortunatly, I can't find the tracking number for DHL...
I tried to use the number MIS20106167 in the DHL website but it don't work (as I expected, it's the Dry Goods, order number but who knows...) and this shippment doesn't appear in my Dry Goods account.

Just a quick answer about the shipping rates. I understand that the Joy box is heavy so the shipping rates are expensive, but here are other examples :
Joy Box ($99.00), standard shipping to France : $48.19
Joy CD ($9.99), standard shipping to France : $15.21 (!!!)
Stealing Time T-shirt XL ($19.00), standard shipping to France : $16.21
Festival 8 playing cards ($9.99), standard shipping to France : $28.84 (!!!)
Festival 8 miniSD ($62.00) standard shipping to France : $14.71
Live in Vegas DVD ($17.00), standard shipping to France : $15.21

I made some comparaison with Amazon.com (shipping from the USA)
Joy Box ($91.99), standard shipping to France : $12.48
Joy CD ($11.99), standard shipping to France : $6.48
Live in Vegas DVD ($22.49), standard shipping to France : $6.48

I also order last week a set of Rock Band instruments for the PS3 game from Amazon.de (Germany). It contains a guitar a drum kit and a microphone. Even if it's shipped from inside of Europe, the box is much bigger and heavier than the Jox Box. Shipping was only 8,42 euros ($12.11) !

I also found 2 old invoices from Dry Goods and you can see the difference here : http://www.bouncingaroundeuroom.eu/post/2009/12/23/It-was-the-good-time.aspx


With those easy examples, could you please explain me how those rates are calculated ? Don't you think that they are ridiculusly expensive ? Come on, $15.11 for shipping a plain $9.99 CD in an enveloppe...

Thank you again for your patience.

Still waiting (part 4)

by Yome NetSan 14. January 2010

Good news !

Music Today's merch account manager answered me very quickly on Friday !

Thanks for your email Guillaume, and I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t received your order yet. Let me correct the situation for you as best I can.

I will have a new order shipped out to you by expedited/trackable shipping method right away. I will email you once I have tracking information -- hopefully later today, but definitely no later than Monday. Can you please confirm that there aren’t any errors in your shipping address? This is the address we used on the previous package:

Guillaume
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxx
France

I will get back to you later today with an update on the new shipment. Please do let me know if we should make any changes to your shipping address.

Also, we will refund your shipping charges, as we’ve clearly not give you proper service in this regard. You should see that refund on your bank statement within the next 5 business days.

Best Regards,

I got another email later after I confirmed the shipping address.

I have good hopes that this issue will finally comes to an end but it's thursday and I'm still waiting the tracking number and the refund.

2009/12/31 NYE with Phish in Miami

by Holger 1. January 2010

Last day in Miami and we picked up Justin at his motel on Biscayne Blvd to go to south beach at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne. This is one of the nicest beaches I know! Perfect on time we got the best weather of the week (approx. 27-28C). We could even swim in the ocean this time. Before we left the beach we took the obvious pictures and got a random blessing by a really nice and wise man who loved to hear that we just got married. He asked god to bless us with health, a long life, happiness, luck, children, etc. And he told us that I am the "head" and Natalie is the "neck" and that the head is nothing without the neck. He also said that a table with 2 legs doesn't stand. So true! I really did feel blessed after the procedure as strange as it sounds. I definately took it as a good sign by any meaning.

Back in the hotel around 5pm we packed our stuff for the flight back and wanted to go to Shuckers again but due to NYE they didn't serve dinner. We walked up the street where I spotted a fish restaurant ("The Crab House") the days before. The waitress was enthusiastic about their special deals and special NYE 3-course menues but I politely interrupted her to tell her that we are looking for a very quick and short dinner because we go the see Phish. She didn't have a clue what I was talking about ;) Natalie had fish and chips and I had a combo with fish and chips, crab cakes and fried scampi. Yummie! They tried to support our evening plans real hard and brought the food in record breaking time. The difficult part was to get a taxi which took about 20min. The caribean driver was really funny ("NYE in Miami is CRAZY I tell ya"). He explained that it would be close to impossible to get a cab on NYE especially after midnight and on the Miami side as all cabs are in South Beach (I will come back to this later). He dropped us off across the street after a speedy 25 USD ride.

Everything was fully packed and the air was burning. It was a hot day and the streets were still warm at night. People were heated up for the show and NYE in general. You could see all kinds of crazy costumes, formal dresses, fake hairs, colorful clothes. The mass was screaming, yelling, cheering to let out the energy in some direction. There was also a strong demand to connect with others which resulted in a total breakdown of all mobile networks. I wasn't abe to call or text message Justin for over an hour! Suddenly the plan to party in advance of the show busted and we drank our bee alone. I was definately pumped for the NYE show and even Natalie was kind of looking forward to it this time.

I had just bought 2 beer inside and walking towards our section as set 1 started with "AC/DC Bag". I prepared a wish list of songs during the day and they played 14 (!) out of 29 - that's a 50% correct guess. After a perect dancing start they played "46 Days" which always gets me in a really good mood. "Water In The Sky" pleased the Florida crowd before "Bathtub Gin" took it to the next level. Then "Punch You in the Eye" got the arena through the roof. I have never seen such a wild collective dance. This set 1 was like a second 2 set if you know what I mean. Fast, groovy, jamming - like the pefect "The Moma Dance" which was followed by a singing "Guyute". Then the band gave the crowd a rest after the multiple orgasms. "Swept Away", "Demand", "Seven Below" and the cool bar tune "Lawn Boy" helped to save some power for the long night yet to come. They really know to make a perfect setlist with exciting starts, exclamation, rests and a grand finale like "Julius". Man, what a 1st set! Unfortunately still no Justin in sight.

During setbreak Natalie stayed at the seats in case Justin would be looking for us. I was getting us 2 more beers and return exactly when the lights turned off and Justin made down from 4th level to our lower section (sec 118, row 20, seats 7/8). The rest of the night should bring massive excitement with 2 of my favorite covers by Phish. First one kicked off set 2 - "Rock & Roll" (by The Velvet Underground). It felt like the show contained a lot of "Billy Breathes" and "The Story of the ghost" songs. "Rock & Roll" was one of my absolute highlights of the whole night and it got an welcomed extension when it merged into "Piper" followed by "Simple" with a background choir of 20.000 phans. "Theme From The Bottom" gave us some air to breath before we collapse. "Shine A Light" is the second best song (besides "Loving Cup") from the Halloween musical costume which brought us a complete cover of the Rolling Stones record "Exile on main street". And it got better and better with the obvious "Ghost" which was overdue since 3 days and fulfilled all expectations. "NO2" and "Suzy Greenberg" closed an awesome 2nd set around 11.30pm.

From now on everybody was checking the clock for midnight to arrive. You could already see thousands of huge balloons holden by big nets under the roof of the American Airlines Arena. This is classic! 5min before midnight "Party Time" started the extravaganza and it seemed as it was only written for this occasion. The band moved into "Auld Lang Syne" exactly at midnight. The balloons were following down and filling the arena with pure joy. When the bass line of "Down With Disease" started the crowd totally freaked out for the next 10-15min. Balloons were EVERYWHERE!

Then the so called "NYE gag" with Fishman as main actor took place. Yome already wrote about it so I skip this part. I only want to add that from the audience you really couldn't tell if it was the girl or Fishman dressed up like the girl. And the faking at the beginning of "Fluffhead" seemed like a really well trained amateur drummer tried to play with Phish. "Joy" was the perfect song to nail down everyone's feeling. I was so happy and that's how the band wants us to be. "The Squirming Coil" was another crowd pleaser which made us all sing together one more time but one song was still missing after 4 unbelievable days and nights. And they delivered it big time. "Wash uffize drive me to Firenze"! "You Enjoy Myself" is probably THE Phish song ("Man...", "God...", "Shit..."). It ended in a vocal jam like most of the times in the previous 2009. I was exhausted but after "Blue Moon" I saved the rest of my power for  "Loving Cup" - "I'm the man from the mountain...".

Oh my god, what a monster night! Probably my best Phish show ever! It seemed like everybody was enjoying themselves and collectively a lot. The crazy mix of people at Phish shows from all kinds of different states and with all kinds of different styles is a story of its own. I am so glad that Justin joined us. He is such a lovely guy who is always entertaining and outgoing which is infectious to others. One night is was screaming really loud and people around us jumped in and suddenly it spread like wildfire across the whole venue. He just smiled at me and said to me "You see... ;)". He's also a wild dancer and a real party animal. And it all started at Deer Creek when I asked him and Matt if there's some space to sit down in the shade together with them.

It's often the little things. We don't recognize the importance at first but later (sometimes a lot later) we look back and understand how destiny pushed us in this or that direction. Like the guy at the beach who blessed us or the cab driver who didn't want to pick us up again after the show ("Hey man, if I tell ya I pick ya up I would be lying. Traffic is CRAZY in Miami on NYE. I tell ya.").

When we stepped out into the warm December night everybody tried to get a cab. The police had closed down Biscayne Blvd so there no chance to catch one at all. We decided to walk a few blocks. We wanted to get back to the hotel quick as we had to get up early for our flight back. No taxi in sight. Fuck! We walked further north parallel to Biscayne Blvd. Thousands of peoples on the street. Phishheads mixing with the local club scene and night bar goers. Traffic broke down completely around AAA. I was expecting a long walk. But destiny gave us a miracle. The first taxi with lights on which came from the exit of the highway while I was running up the exit to secure it for us was driven by the same Caribbean cab driver who dropped us off before the show. Can you believe that? What is the chance for this coincidence to happen in Miami on NYE around AAA? This time I was like "Hey man, I tell ya this is CRAZY" ;) After a 20 USD ride we fall straight to sleep. See you in the morning and happy new year everybody!

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/treyanastasio/sets/72157623084195140/

 

2009/12/30 American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL

by Holger 31. December 2009

After an excessive shopping experience at Aventura Mall in the morning and around lunch we went to North Miami Beach to sit and walk at the Beach. My wife Natalie wanted to skip night 3 as she is not the biggest phan and she's fine staying at the hotel room, relaxing and watching movies. Its a short and packed with activities trip so she needed some rest. My Indiana phish buddy Justin was more than happy to trade his 4th level balcony ticket with her lower level seat.

So we met after an delicious dinner (new york cut steak) and a beer in front of American Airlines Arena. Low demand seemed to let the parking prices plunge from day to day. As a result I only had to pay 10 USD last night instead of 20 and 15 the nights before. The parking lot was a lot fuller. Before going in we had another beer outside. Inside it was also a lot fuller. I guess more people go for the end of the run and NYE of course! Behind the stage and flor was well filled and the balcony behind stage was open but still empty.

Set 1 started with some cool reaggae music ("Soul Shakedown Party") and followed by an dancing "Runaway Jim". Next song was the very relaxed blues number "Jesus Just Left Chicago" which is on "Slip, stitch and pass" which has been recorded during the '97 Europe tour in Hamburg, Germany. "Dixie Cannonball" was a real surprise song to me - didn't hear it before. I only found out today that was a debut. Then the first and only song from the latest album ("Joy") - "Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan" with the brilliant lyrics "Got a blank space where my mind should be". The next 5 songs ("Corrina", "What's the Use?", "Tela", "Gone" - the second debut of the show, "Rocky Top") were all about rarities and phan tunes - that's one of the reason why people go to several shows in a row. The set was closed with a rocking "Chalk Dust Torture" and a awesome "David Bowie".

Set 2 started with a jamming "Sand" followed by a great "The Curtain With" and a quiet "Lifeboy" which gave everybody a mini-break. One of my highlights was the 17min long "Back on the Train" which is one of my alltime faves by Phish. "Wading in the Velvet Sea", "Hold Your Head Up" > "Love You" >


"Hold Your Head Up" had a guest appearance by a fan on stage who was allowed to play a solo on the vacuum cleaner instead of Fishman. The fan was wearing the same shirt like Fishman and to his big surprise he was given the vacuum cleaner as a gift and could take it with him off the stage back into the audience. So this time it really was the ultimately final vacuum solo of the decade. Fishman didn't seem to feel sad about the loss and ran around the stage in circles only stopping from time to time to let the crowd give applause to him. During all of this Trey was playing the drums by the way.

After this little fun break a serious rocking "Free" made me dancing and actually feel very free. This was my second highlight of the night. And it got better with a funky "Boogie On Reggae Woman" - Mike probably deserves last nights MVP. And it got even better with "Run Like an Antelope" which was mashed up by Trey with guitar licks from "Roses are free" multiple times during the whole song. I was simply blown away - wow! As an encore they played "Frankenstein" with Page on the keytar standing in front of the stage. What a night again!

Personally I thought they might bring out a guest (Gloria Estefan or Lady Gaga as some rumors say) on night 3 but maybe they saved that for NYE or it is just a rumor. Anyway tonight will be sick and we are taking a cab tonight to appreciate the full NYE party vibe before we fly out tomorrow morning from Miami to Philadelphia to Frankfurt back to the cold and snowy Berlin in Germany.

More pictures on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/treyanastasio/sets/72157623084195140/

 




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