I don't know yet if I'll be able to watch the webcast tonight but I'm already getting prepared... and ridiculous too !

[UPDATE] I'm set. I'll be there at 2 AM in France and posting on the European Phish Phan Page on facebook ! See ya in the webcast !

[UPDATE 2] READY !

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.

• Marco Benevento - Tigerface

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.

• Jennifer Hartswick - Ocean Floor

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...

• After Trey Anastasio's Bar 17 and Phish's Party Time, the next Trey studio album Traveler (announced for the 16th october 2012) will be the third studio album to feature the song Let Me Lie. Each version is different and you can listen to the last one here : http://diffuser.fm/trey-anastasio-let-me-lie/

• The cover art for Trey's 7" vinyl Scabbard and next LP Traveler can be repeated indefinetly like a wallpaper ! The right border continues on the left side and it's the same for top and bottom. I can't wait to see the bonus 7" !

• It's the first time that a cover (Clint Eastwood) appears on a Phish or a solo studio album, if you don't count Nothing and Heavy Things that was played by Tom Marshall's Amfibian and Let Me Lie (I wouldn't call them "covers"). Mike Gordon's collaborations with Leo Kottke and Steamroller Wheelies did feature covers but they're not technically "solo records".

• The album's title track isn't featured in the vinyl version of Traveler while it's in the CD. The full length music shouldn't fit on one disc and that's why there's a bonus 7" disc with this song and Greyhound Rising.

Traveler, Trey's newest studio album, was co-produced with Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Jónsi) at Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, CT. Musicians include Trey Anastasio Band, Mates of State's Kori Gardner, The National's Bryan Devendorf and Matt Berninger, and Icelandic percussionist Samuli Kosminen.
Pressed on gold colored 180 gram vinyl, the album comes with a Traveler bonus 7" as well as a download card for an MP3 version of the album.
All pre-orders containing the new album will receive one Limited Edition Traveler Lithograph. The print measures 8"x5" and is signed by Trey. All orders will be shipped to protect the LE print.


Track List:

Side A:
Corona
Let Me Lie
Frost
Land of Nod
Pigtail

Side B:
Scabbard
Clint Eastwood
Architect
Valentine

Bonus 7"

Side A:
Traveler

Side B:
Greyhound Rising

Source : http://treyanastasio.shop.musictoday.com/Dept.aspx?cp=943_57958

I've Already told you about Brooklyn Sessions, the first studio album from Everyone Orchestra. But I received last week my signed CD and today is the official release date.

Now, for the first time, Everyone Orchestra has taken the conducted improvisation concept mastered in their legendary live shows into the studio on Brooklyn Sessions. Conductor Matt Butler invited past collaborators—musical friends like drummer Jon Fishman (Phish), keyboardist/pianist Marco Benevento, Al Schnier (moe.), Jen Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), guitarist Steve Kimock, saxophonist Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band), vocalist/percussionist Jans Ingber (The Motet), mandolinist Jamie Masefield (Jazz Mandolin Project) and bassist Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green), to join him for several days of exploration and co-creation. The results range from hard-hitting grooves that take unexpected twists and turns (“Boots”), to sweet and expansive (“Pensive”), all with a spirit that is both liberated and focused.

For me it's, by far, the best album of 2012 and one of my favorite of all times. Yes already.

You can now listen to it on bandcamp and buy it in several places.

Enjoy !

• Bandcamp
• Buy the CD at Home Grown Music
• Buy the CD at Amazon.com
• Buy the mp3 at Amazon.com
• Official Website

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.

I'll choose the flight next week between the one taking of from Lyon or from Geneva...

And then, the schedule will goes like this :

• 14 March
  • Lotus
  • Mike Gordon
  • moe.
• 15 March
  • Keller Williams (of if I don't like the first 30 minutes, Lotus)
  • Dark Star Orchestra (first 2 hours only)
  • Mike Gordon
• 16 March
  • Mike Gordon
  • Dark Star Orchestra
  • (end of) moe.

Later tonight, I'll be watching my first Phish concert live at it happens. Yes, I'll be in my living room, chatting with Holger, during the webcast of the New Year's Eve show at Madison Square Garden, New York.

Holger has been live-facebooking during the first 3 nights. You can seen what happened and follow us tonight on EU Phans, Phish Phans in Europe page on facebook.

See you tonight ?

Last but not least, Phish has just released today an archival show from 20 years ago exactly !

31th December 1991, Worcester Memorial Auditorium, Worcester, MA.

Here is the official announcement followed by a last minute chrstmas gift.

Phish had a busy year in 1991, signing a record deal with Elektra Records and touring coast-to-coast for a total of more than 130 shows including a fourteen-show tour with a three-piece horn section and the first unofficial Phish festival at Amy’s Farm. That summer Phish also recorded their third studio album, "A Picture Of Nectar". White Crow Studios in Burlington, Vermont provided the backdrop for Nectar’s namesake with engineering duties covered by Kevin Halpin and Jon Altschiller. While Jon was still getting his start as an engineer, he was also a fan and was among the dozen-or-so tapers at The New Aud for the band's New Year's Eve concert. Thanks to his work on Nectar, Jon was allowed to set up his microphones inside the front-of-house position. He also managed to snag a then-rare soundboard patch from FOH engineer Paul Languedoc.

Fast forward to 2010 when Jon returned to work with Phish on the road as LivePhish.com remote engineer and the seeds were sown for the release of this classic show. Twenty years later, Jon combined his audience and soundboard DAT recordings to create the matrix for The New Aud release. Mastered by Fred Kevorkian, this unique source is a proper document of the show, combining the qualities of both sources and harnessing the electricity that characterized this special performance.

For your listening and sharing pleasure...please feel free to download and share (by stream, download or broadcast) the following track from this archival show:

Tweezer>McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters
https://rcpt.yousendit.com/1327822594/d06bfb7f7fd5866ba5c024d40fd5c35c

Setlist:
12/31/91 Worcester Memorial Auditorium (The New Aud), Worcester, MA

Set I
1. Possum (8:25)
2. Foam (8:11)
3. Sparkle (4:33)
4. Stash (9:00)
5. The Lizards (10:03)
6. Guelah Papyrus (5:46)
7. Divided Sky (12:42)
8. Esther > (9:49)
9. Llama (4:47)
10. Golgi Apparatus (4:56)

Set II
1. Brother (6:12)
2. Bouncing Around The Room (3:43)
3. Buried Alive > (2:28)
4. Auld Lang Syne > (0:52)
5. Runaway Jim (7:37)
6. The Landlady > (3:27)
7. Reba (11:30)
8. Cavern (4:53)
9. My Sweet One > (2:28)
10. Run Like An Antelope (10:35)

Set III
1. Wilson > (6:50)
2. The Squirming Coil > (7:33)
3. Tweezer > (13:13)
4. McGrupp And The Watchful Hosemasters > (8:10)
5. Mike’s Song > (7:42)
6. I Am Hydrogen > (3:04)
7. Weekapaug Groove (7:09)

Encore:
8. Minkin Appreciation (1:26)
9. Lawn Boy > (2:30)
10. Rocky Top > (2:36)
11. Tweezer Reprise (3:16)

What about the gift ? I have two livephish.com codes to download a free show of your choice. You can use it to download tonight NYE show, of the one from 20 years ago, or any show you want ! Just leave a message here with your new year's resolution and the two first will win.

Happy New Year !

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.

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

I'm totally new to these 3 shows (Hampton Coliseum 11/21-22/1997 and Winston-Salem 11/23/1997) because at the time, I've know Phish for only 3 mounth and I thought they were disbanded for long. Later I listend to every Phish era, including 1997 but strangly enough I've never been aware of the fame of these concerts.

This morning, I listened for the first time for the Mike's Groove played at the beginning of the first Hampton show and my ears actually melted ! It's so full of groove and funk ! Mike's Song only has 4 distinctive jams, one of it based on a heavy Black-Eyed Katty tease ! The segue to Hydrogen is so smooth you don't hear it coming.

You can find this 64Mb/35min mp3 here.

In the midst of their legendary fall 1997 tour, Phish stopped in Dixie for two shows in Virginia and one in North Carolina.  The 1997 Hampton Coliseum shows were the band's first two-night stand at Hampton Coliseum – a venue they have played a total of fifteen times including a two-night stand in 1998 (released as Hampton Comes Alive) and a trio of reunion shows in 2009.  The shape and feel of the venue have earned it the nickname “The Mothership” among fans.  The next show after Hampton 1997 took place at Lawrence Joel Veteran's Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina - another familiar venue where Phish also performed in 1994, 1995 and 1998.

These three shows were a memorable triad for the band and fans.  They are among the most requested shows for soundboard release from the Phish Archives and make up a compelling slice of the twenty-two-show tour that stretched from Las Vegas to Albany.  The Hampton/Winston-Salem 97 shows were packed with notable renditions of classics including “Split Open And Melt”, “AC/DC Bag”, “Slave To The Traffic Light”, “Mike’s Song”, “Halley's Comet”, “Tweezer”, “Run Like An Antelope”, “Stash” and “Bathtub Gin”.  The band also showcased a wide variety of newer covers from the debut of the Rolling Stones' “Emotional Rescue” to Del McCoury's “Beauty Of My Dreams”, Jimi Hendrix's “Izabella”, Clifton Chenier's “My Soul” and even an impromptu take on War's “Low Rider” (sandwiched inside a blazing “Down With Disease”).  The Hampton/Winston-Salem 97 shows also showcased newer originals like “Dogs Stole Things”, “Ghost”, “Piper” and the brand-new-for-fall instrumental “Black-Eyed Katy”, which is the only song repeated on the release.  More than what was played, the sheer heights of these performances are what made them special and built their acclaim.

The Hampton/Winston-Salem 97 shows featured Phish at an emotional peak of execution and flow.  The band was hooking up at every turn, taking chances and dropping musical surprises for each other and the audience.  Throughout these shows, Phish seized most every opportunity to lift and expand their repertoire while maintaining a raging dance party at every turn.  The audience magnified this explosive energy, spinning the shows into a ball of psychedelic, funk-infused live Phish for the ages.  Paul Languedoc’s stereo “soundboard” mix re-mastered by Fred Kevorkian funnels the energy of these special shows to listeners' ears nearly fifteen years later.  Hampton/Winston-Salem 97 contains all the music played over these three shows for a total of 45 songs - over 8 hours of music - including never-before-heard material from soundchecks at both venues.  The 7-CD boxed set (also available as downloads at livephish.com) slated for release December 6, 2011 is a must-own collection for any Phish fan.

11/21/97 Hampton Coliseum - Hampton, VA
Disc One
Set I:
1. Emotional Rescue > (17:44)
2. Split Open And Melt (13:44)
3. Beauty Of My Dreams (3:27)
4. Dogs Stole Things (4:48)
5. Punch You In The Eye > (9:13)
6. Lawn Boy > (3:45)
7. Chalk Dust Torture (9:16)
8. Prince Caspian (10:33)

Disc Two
Set II:
1. Ghost > (15:48)
2. AC/DC Bag > (25:49)
3. Slave To The Traffic Light (12:32)
4. Loving Cup (7:39)
Encore:
5. Guyute (11:19)

11/22/97 Hampton Coliseum - Hampton, VA
Disc Three
Set I:
1. Mike's Song > (17:04)
2. I Am Hydrogen > (4:31)
3. Weekapaug Groove (14:52)
4. Harry Hood > (18:05)
5. Train Song (3:06)
6. Billy Breathes (7:05)
7. Frankenstein > (4:48)
8. Izabella (5:58)

Disc Four
set II:
1. Halley's Comet > (25:59)
2. Tweezer > (5:58)
3. Black-Eyed Katy > (12:41)
4. Piper > (7:53)
5. Run Like An Antelope (13:38)
Encore:
6. Bouncing Around The Room > (3:52)
7. Tweezer Reprise (4:06)

11/23/97 Lawrence Joel Veteran's Memorial Coliseum - Winston-Salem, NC
Disc Five 
set I:
1. My Soul (7:23)
2. Theme From The Bottom > (10:23)
3. Black-Eyed Katy (10:55)
4. Sparkle (4:02)
5. Twist > (10:21)
6. Stash > (17:03)
7. NICU (5:48)

Disc Six
set I, cont'd
1. Fluffhead > (15:39)
2. Character Zero (7:34)
set II:
3. Bathtub Gin > (31:57)
4. Down With Disease > (12:01)
5. Low Rider > (7:29)
6. Down With Disease (3:39)

Disc Seven
set II, cont'd
1. Bold As Love (7:57)
Encore:
2. Julius (11:12)

filler: from 11/21/97 Hampton Soundcheck:
3. Hampton '97 Soundcheck Jam (17:53)
filler: from 11/23/97 Winston-Salem Soundcheck:
4. Back At The Chicken Shack (11:21)

Starting great with a rare Vulture, the night went out when Guyute arrived : every song that followed contained an ugly pig reference ! The second set was a segue festival (listen to a crazy Split > Mercy > Piper > Split > Slave bellow) and a jam heaven.

http://www.mediafire.com/?7ry3kimcy7gbvr4

The only thing that I'm waiting more than this DVD is a BluRay version...

The 2 CD / 2 DVD boxset will be released on the may 24.

During the past few months, there were several of these phases and I decided to present them as a Phish setlist with two sets (the first one is rather straight, the second one with lots of improv), segues, sandwiches, guests, covers and old tunes.

Don't forget to click on each link as they're all different. Most of them will lead you to the object's description page my other blog Gamusik, where you can browse my collections. Although this website is in french, the collection part should be easy to navigate for english speaking people...

>> French, original version on Gamusik