As you probably already now, Phish will release Chicago '94 a new CD boxset on 31th July with 2 full shows !

Here are a mp3 from each concert to listen and download.

Divided Sky 6/18/94 

David Bowie 6/18/94 

Llama 11/25/94 

Simple 11/25/94 

 

I'll have "a handfull" of boxset to give away in the next weeks, so stay tuned while enjoying summer tour !

By 1994, Phish was well established as an international touring act and already well known to a growing group of hardcore fans. Amidst a tour packed with highlights - it was this summer that convinced the band to start multi-tracking their live shows - this show was recorded for posterity on 2-track DAT. Lightning rarely strikes twice in the same place but Chicago '94 is an example of just that.

Paul Languedoc's stereo soundboard mixes re-mastered by Fred Kevorkian carry the intensity and intricacy of these special shows to listeners' ears eighteen years later. Chicago '94 contains nearly six hours of music performed at both shows for a total of 43 songs, including material from the UIC soundchecks. The shows are presented in a 6-CD box set with new artwork by longtime collaborator and Chicagoan, Jim Pollock.

15 years ago, I discovered Phish and the Internet.

I've learnt how to download old shows, to find unfindable discs, to read setlists the day after the concert. Since 2003, livephish.com sells each show played by the band and since 2009, you have to wait only an hour after the last note ! Some shows were streamed live on Sirius Radio.

Last year, Phish started to do webcast of some concerts so one can listen and watch the show on Internet. What american people call Couch Tour is now really a whole tour without leaving your couch. Now you don't have to wait the day after the show to download and listen to it (what already was a great step forward), you can simply live it live, almost like you were there... and even better ! Yes, no more rain, not wait in line for the bathroom, no 7$ beer...

On this side of the Atlantic, you still have to wake up in the middle of the night. I did it for New Year's Eve and it was a strange eperience to celebrate the new year at 6 in the morning with headphones on, while chatting with other european fans on facebook.

 

Continue reading...

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

 

This Junta Deluxe vinyl is really a gift made to eBay sellers because they can get the disc for $50 and sell it $250 ! I know it's my second article about this today but I'm really pissed. Right now, 108 discs are on sale on eBay and more than 100 have already be sold ! That's 4% of the 5000 made ! And it's growing !

But I'm not alone to get angry with the situation. Here are some of the comments on the official Junta photo album on Facebook. Some of them even say that local stores, the one for which Record Store Day has been created, charged $20 more just because they want to ! Shameful...

Please Phish, release all your catalogue on vinyl, but not for Record Store Day. You accessed the scalpers for your ticket show and that's good. But with this move, the real fans have to sell their kids to buy your disc while people whi don't give a fuck of your music make more money on one day than we do in a month !

It's not even noon in the USA but there's already a lot of Phish's Junta Deluxe vinyl on sale on eBay for twice the price, or more !!

The disc is exclusive for Record Store Day and the tag price are ‎$49.99 for the Deluxe, $79.99 for the Deluxe Pollock Edition.

Of course, it's not available in Europe...

I count 46 Junta on sale or sold, that's almost 1% !

 

Those seller are assholes, no more, no less.

And those who buy this disc for $250 are a bunch of fucking retarded !

 

I promise, this will be the last article about Jam in the Dam 2012 but I wanted to conclude with a collection of all the articles.

The whole experience has been great with lots of highs and a few downs. The shows were spectacular and it was very funny to travel with my little boy. I'll keep a lot of good memories from those 5 days...

 

Waiting and planning

2011-03-17 It's the closest to a Phish show we get for several years !
2011-07-20 Jam in the Dam, here I come !
2011-11-22 Jam in the Dam schedule

2012-02-08 I'll be tripping with this strange design
2012-02-27 Amsterdam is getting closer and closer
2012-03-05 QR Code card contest
2012-03-12 Setting up and loosing money

 

Live reports from Amsterdam

2012-03-14 Jam in the Dam : Live tweeting
2012-03-15 Jam in the Dam : Night 1
2012-03-16 Jam in the Dam : Night 2
2012-03-18 Jam in the Dam : Night 3

 

Post-trip reviews, photos and recordings

2012-03-20 Amsterdam : Travel and discoveries
2012-03-21 Amsterdam : Arriving at the Melkweg
2012-03-22 Amsterdam : Jam in the Dam 1 - Lotus
2012-03-23 Amsterdam : Jam in the Dam 1 - Mike Gordon
2012-03-23 Amsterdam : Jam in the Dam 1 - Dark Star Orchestra

2012-03-29 Amsterdam : Third day and signing session
2012-03-29 Amsterdam : Jam in the Dam 2 - Keller Williams
2012-03-30 Amsterdam : Jam in the Dam 2 - moe.
2012-03-30 Amsterdam : Jam in the Dam 2 - Mike Gordon

2012-04-10 Amsterdam : Day 4
2012-04-11 Amsterdam : Jam in the Dam 3 - Mike Gordon
2012-04-19 Amsterdam : Jam in the Dam 3 - Keller Williams >
2012-04-19 Amsterdam : Jam in the Dam 3 - Dark Star Orchestra >
2012-04-19 Amsterdam : Jam in the Dam 3 - > Lotus >
2012-04-19 Amsterdam : Jam in the Dam 3 - > Dark Star Orchestra (Reprise) 

 

The pictures I sent during the festival can be seen as-they-were-sent on LightBox.

I don't know if it's really worthwhile but for the sake of completeness, here are all my Amsterdam tweets.

 

 

And finaly, a list of links with reports, pictures and other stuffs :

• Official web site
• Gratefulweb.com article
• Gratefulweb.com photos
• Glidemagazine.com : Diary day one
• Glidemagazine.com : Diary day two
• Glidemagazine.com : Diary day three
• Stefan Schmitz's pictures
• More pictures from Sam Friedman
• Playlist of videos found on Youtube
• Hightimes.com Night One
• Stephen's Blog with his bass signed, Mike 1, Mike 2, moe. 1, moe. 2 and Keller

 

See you at the next Jam in the Dam ?

2013 ?

2014 ?

Saturday 17th march 2012 @ 03:00

And I'm back for the last songs from Dark Star Orchestra in the final set of Jam in the Dam 2012. I arrived during the great Not Fade Away sandwich, supposedly the last song of the show. With this one I collected one more song I wanted to catch along with Truckin', Casey Jones and China Cat Sunflower !

But after a thank you speech for the staff, the band came back for one last tune to finish this incredible festival all together.

After the show, I met Stephen one last time before parting ways and I rushed to my hotel to fall in my bed.

 

 

Setlist :
5/10/72 Concertgebouw Amsterdam Netherlands

Set Two :
...
Beat It On Down The Line
Two Souls In Communion
Sugar Magnolia
Ramble On Rose
Sing Me Back Home
Not Fade Away > 
Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > 
Not Fade Away 

Filler :
Ripple

Notes :
Original Grateful Dead show went "Two Souls In Communion, Ramble On Rose, Sing Me Back Home, Sugar Magnolia"

Saturday 17th march 2012 @ 01:00

It was already late and I didn't want Jam in the Dam to end without dancing my ass off... so I went straight from Dark Star Orchestra second set into Lotus final act and didn't regret my choice.

They were jamming like crazy with their electro-jam-rock style. The groove was intense and everybody was dancing hard. The whole room had entered a big trance party and the light show was gorgeous ! I kept moving my bones until the end of the set, along with my new hundred-or-so friends !

Recording can be found here : http://archive.org/details/lotus2012-03-16.tlm170.flac16

Setlist :
1. Age of Inexperience
2. Kodiak
3. Livingston Storm
4. Wooly Mammoth
5. Massif
6. Disappear in a Blood Red Sky
7. It's All Clear To Me Now ->
8. Lucid Awakening
9. Break Build Burn
10. Greet The Mind
11. Sunrain ->
12. Flower Sermon ->
13. Sunrain

 

Tired but happy, I went back to the end of Dark Star Orchestra show...

 

Friday 16th march 2012 @ 22:30

Tonight, Dark Star Orchestra had the longest spot of Jam in the Dam because they were about to perform the Grateful Dead show played in Amsterdam during the famous Europe 72 tour : a 4 hours, 30+ songs orgy !

I was front row again with Stephen for the first set and I enjoyed every minute of it. Evey band member knows his job and I've been very impressed by the female singer.

The only drawback was that I found the sound too loud. Maybe I was a little tired after 3 days but it was too much for me.

Funny note : the bass player had a Guitar Hero II bracelet on the right arm.

Setlist :
5/10/72 Concertgebouw Amsterdam Netherlands

Set One :
Bertha
Me And My Uncle
Mr. Charlie
China Cat Sunflower > 
I Know You Rider
Black Throated Wind
Loser
Next Time You See Me
El Paso
He's Gone
Chinatown Shuffle
Playing In The Band
Big Railroad Blues
Jack Straw
Tennessee Jed
Big Boss Man
Greatest Story Ever Told
Casey Jones

Continue reading...

Friday 16th march 2012 @ 21:45

After a little break to eat a home-made sandwich, we went to The Oude Hall to witness Keller Williams jamming with half of Dark Star Orchestra ! That was the end of the set but the few minutes we catched were grooving.

Recording of his first night shows that he also jammed with DSO band members :
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=554113

Unfortunatly, this seems to be the only recording made in the small room during the whole Jam in the Dam festival...

 

After the end of Keller's set, we stayed there for the big Dark Star Orchestra extravaganza...