________

Site Feed

 
AOD night was excellent. It was a high-energy show, with a lot of Nate and some very open jams. This was the most open that I've seen Reid get, and the results were very positive. Little, throwaway SF tunes like Mud Spring Draw extended into monster jams. It was uplifting, and unexpected.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 8:19 AM

 
The moments last with sparkling glittered memories of the past, which stick around to decorate my vision of the present. In work there is joy, and in rest there is reflection.

Yesterday Ben and I hiked North and South Kinsman. It's a long hike - between 8-10 miles. I'd done it before, but forgot how long it is. There's the ascent to lonesome lake, then the ascent, valley, ascent to the Kinsman Ridge. The snow was soft, slippery, and loose. We wore snowshoes much of the hike, but they didn't make life too much easier on some of the steep stuff, which was ice the last time I did it. The views were clearer this go round, and the scenery from the ridge between the two Kinsmans and at the top of South made it all worthwhile. Of course, the time pressure wasn't comfortable. I'd prefer to avoid doing this hike in December. It would be better with a couple extra hours of daylight to play with.

I spent much of today cleaning and organizing my room. Its clean enough that a few scattered pennies, and my chaotic desk, make it look unkempt. Hopefully, I can clean those up before Kate arrives.

I await her visit with eager anticipation, as time together is much more rewarding than the isolated phone conversations of our separation. I'm not one who is well practiced at the distilling the essence of a day down to a simple phone conversation. Or perhaps, I see too much of the day to see that as viable. Its the moments of pause, and reflection that really fill the day. A hike isn't a set of snapshots, with a few stories. There are moments of pain, anguish, loss and doubt. There's the "why do I even bother" inner dialogue as I first encounter the cold and lace my boots. There's visions of the Lord of The Rings, inspired buy the winds blowing the snow and the triumphant cinematography that captured the trek across the Misty Mountains in Fellowship. Those short scenes captured the essence of my wilderness experiences far more than any climbing movie, everest adventure, or otherwise extreme expedition.

Taking a moment to reflect on art. I must again laud Joan of Arcadia for a thought provoking episode. I'm sure that it was a repeat but the writers created a brilliant hour. Between the psychic, and Joan’s lessons of chess there was so much to ponder. I really liked the resolution discussing the concepts of not only living life like it is your own game, not some one else’s, and the idea of thinking a few moves ahead.

I probably get into my fair share of trouble because i see a lot of things in life a few moves ahead. I guess that's why I'm not crestfallen with my unemployment. Once I land a job, I'll be set - and pulling down more than a lot of my bosses at temp assignments. I can also see how it gets annoying to some, when I discuss events that are contingent on a few things that haven't quite happened. Packers fans might worry about a jinx, if I were to start talking about playoff strategy before the Cardinals polished off the lions... but in my heart I had no doubt that the frozen tundra would again menace a team in the playoffs. Maybe other folks worry that my comfort discussing things that are at best contingencies can similarly interfere with life events.

It is an interesting dichotomy of self direction, to focus on living in the moment, enjoying the simple fruits of life, and simultaneously conceiving of things a 6-8 moves ahead. I don't see them as mutually exclusive mind sets. I guess, I'll have to invoke vector properties. With life momentness an X and vision y unit vectors, I'd say it's best to live at the point (1,1). I don't think I've pulled that off, but it's my goal. By having contingencies set for many of the traumas and surprises of life, the mind can remain calm and smoothly adjust, without being stuck out side out or inside in.

I should also note, that I had every intention of writing paragraphs of praise for Erin McKeown’s record “Grand”, which is a lush and light recording. It feels sort of like old friends playing on a porch in mid afternoon making talented, timeless music. It is quite delightful, perhaps even sublime. There are just enough risks taken to transcend pleasantness and achieve real virtue. I may even dig this record more than Dar’s The Beauty of the Rain, which features John Medeski and Bela Fleck on some tracks making a similarly complex and soothing record. Both records reflect the music of happy, but thoughtful people. Dar’s work builds on her move from Northampton to New York, and her conquest of depression. I’m not sure of the roots of Erin McKeown’s effort, but I’m sure that it is not entirely unrelated to Northampton. I can’t believe that I worked with people who thought that the folks in Northampton were too weird. Liberal and artistic, yes, but not necessarily extreme to a degree that threatens the consumer world of coach bags and waiting in line for a crappy, trendy, and surprisingly empty club.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 10:02 PM

 
Between Chinatown bus service, and the Whitehouse Hotel (read hostel) I'm starting to consider the possibility of hitting NYC for the UM/Redman show.... Unfortunately, It's about a mile further up Bowery from the Ballroom - complicating travel scheduling. While I'm not sure about the safety of the neighborhoods in the evening, I must say that I enjoy it's proximity to the east and west villages, little Italy, and of course China Town.

Enough thinking about the future. I should start packing for my hike or instilling a false sense of organization into my room, but first let me recall or comment on the events of a Christmas to be remembered. Like many memories, this day will be noted for its substantial differences from the norm. Things were running smoothly, until we went to pick up my grandmother at Langdon. Apparently she fell the prior evening, and had hurt her leg. She didn't feel like fussing with getting into and out of the car. Considering the production difficulties of theses tasks on good days, I can't blame her. My mother wasn't too happy, but eventually decided that it was best. There's no sense forcing her to become mean spirited and disrupt the holiday for everyone. We could bring her gifts over in the afternoon, like we did the year she was in a nursing home recovering from a broken hip.

Around dinner time, the fine folks at Langdon called and said that they were concerned that she may have broken something and wanted to take her to the hospital. I'm not clear why this concern didn't arise after her fall/drop, or during efforts to get her to breakfast. Regardless, we weren't sure that she broke anything. She seemed hurt, and bruised from the fall, perhaps a bit more vocal - but she could support her own weight and stood for a little bit. Was Langdon / SunBridge just trying to demonstrate dedication, by disrupting our holiday (Their relationship with my grandmother and mother is not exactly positive. Stolen jewelry, and care that is boasted as adequate but seems woefully insensitive to my grandmother's increasing needs are the divisive issues.). She told them to alert her, once the ambulance was en route to the hospital. We ate dinner, and hurried through as much of the remaining gifts as possible.

My mother spent some 6-7 hours at the emergency, getting my grandmother x-rayed and settled into care for a broken pelvis. Fortunately, remedy is non-surgical but immediate care well beyond the intentions or abilities of Langdon / Sunbridge. She'll recover in the hospitals for a few days before making a move to a nursing home near downtown Nashua. My parents were already planning to move her when Langdon's assisted care rates kicked in, so we'll consolidate the trauma of moving and the trauma of the injury into one event that my grandmother must cope with.

There was a late supper, and continued gifting in the late hours. Christmas interrupted was still Christmas, despite an un evening delivery. It wouldn't score many points for style, but in the categories of family tenderness, and appreciating the important things - the giving and the family, not the receiving and eating - the day scored well.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 4:42 PM

 
I just made my phantasy phish picks.

Set I Opener: Llama
Set I Wildcard: Reba
Set I Closer: Walls of the Cave
Set II Opener: Down With Disease
Set II Wildcard: Seven Below
Set II Closer: David Bowie
Encore: Tweezer Reprise
Wildcard: Mike's Song
Cover: Auld Lang Syne
One-timer: You Enjoy Myself
Tie-break: 76

Lets see if the NYE 3rd set screws me again, by being my perfect second set - thus giving me three points instead of so many more. Yes, I realize Reba is a risky choice for a 4 show run - but I'm feeling it, and felt little else as a set 1 shoe in.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 11:42 AM

 
Not so great news from http://www.joshuaredman.com/joshua/tours/tours.cfm . While I am very excited about UM's collaboration with a very talented and widely known jazz saxophone player, I am disappointed by a tour which seems to weed out the northeastern road warrior.

February
18 - Boston, MA - Paradise (+++)
19 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA (+++)
20 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom (+++)
21 - Baltimore, MD - Funk Box (+++)

The 18th is a Wednesday. I can hit that show without significant effort. Thursday in Philly - not unless I'm unemployed, and people want to chip in for gasohol. Friday in New York - maybe but it'd be tight, and probably not worth the hassle of securing lodging. the Baltimore gig is just out of reach. If either NY or Philly were on a Saturday, I'd be there without a thought. It's worth the trip if there would be time to enjoy the city before the show.

Here's hoping for some UM dates in northern New England or Albany before these gigs.

posted by Ben at (0) comments 5:22 PM

 
"What’s this all about? Rolling on the wheel of doubt , seeing myself from the outside out?" Twisted explosions of trombone sound, with pedal steel guitar and one funky bas line are stimulating my gelatinous brain. Christmas is a season of expectation, yet I find myself trying to live in the moment and focus on those fundamental units of life. For some reason I didn't feel Christmassy until this past weekend when presents started to appear under the tree. Maybe the unknown, coupled with the spirit of giving combine to trigger a more complex response. They certainly embody some of the expectation of the Christian holiday story. We can see Jesus as god's gift. Certainly, Mary had expectations stemming from her pregnancy. There were expectations in prophecy. There was wonder... the moment expectation mingles with reality and becomes transcendental. I wish that I could cook up some sort of recipe.

IN a unified theory of metaphysics, what would constitute wonder? What would make hopes and dreams transcend the simple questions of becoming true or not? What puts the magic into these thoughts? Is wonder a product of ritual? Certainly there's power in expected, and repeated rites. I can’t count the number of PKT initiations I've participated in, but each one was moving and rewarding - at times spiritually so. Mine was potent and introspective. It was dissonant soul searching and reflections, with a lot of questioning as to whether the ideals of the organization were in line with my own - or if I'd be a frat boy whose letters meant little more than "Place Keg there". (Note, I've never heard that used before but I am fond of its viciousness - I just hope that it stays put.

This afternoon I spent a wee bit much on a less than spectacular lunch, with enjoyable people and a waitress who needs to get herself a job at a higher volume gig where I'd be a more regular customer. regardless, It was nice to see Ben, Rhonda and Carla who I hadn't seen in eons. Well, I saw Ben briefly this summer but that was only fleeting. There needs to be more outings to eliminate the trappings of nostalgia and catching up. I need to reactivate my Southern NH social life. In the summer I was in Maine or Boston, and now more often than not I'm visiting Kate or on the road. The numbers changed, and slipped through the cracks.

Rhonda is the hermitous scribe that I've oft been tempted to become. That certainly didn't help, as she and Ben were the two focal points of my socializations in High School. Now the hubs have faded, and I need to apply the big lesson of my time at case. If I want something to happen, I must be proactive in shaping the event.

A corollary in my unified theory of metaphysics, would be to emphasize individual responsibility for identifying and practicing spiritual activity. Now not everyone must be a leader, but they must be responsible to choose the doctrine and dogma that fills their heart - not the necessarily the convenient path offered by a permissive society, or set by parents who my be clinging to the last tattered remnants of puritanical America.

At the same time that I'm amazed that pornography can make a person blush, I wonder how to stop the spread of thoughtless, spiritless sexuality. I'm not saying any particular act or circumstance is wrong (I'm ignoring those prohibited by contemporary law - which are , for the most part, wrong). I just object to the coming of a society where kids will think nothing of loosing their virginity at the age of 13 well before they can conceive of what they want their sexuality to mean in their life.

there's no bucket chemistry in my universal theory. I seem to be emphasizing an overt theoretical scientific method. Plan, think, reflect then act? Is there room for the experimentalists? Is there room in my theory for those who need mistakes to learn? How can I define the condition of those who find their path only by trying, and excluding many others? Is there a way to bring them fulfillment in their toils, are is each train wreck caused by the sinking gravity well within a denied soul?
posted by Ben at (0) comments 4:47 PM

 
If I extracted the key message from the avoidance, shallow small talk and false emotions of the HR lady's visit, tomorrow will be my last day at Meadowbrook. Of course, she never explicitly mentioned that - or even my termination. She just hinted at the next step....
posted by Ben at (0) comments 4:21 PM

 
I'm gripped by boredom and possibility. I've jorbed my self out.... should I do work on that paper that I could have done this summer but avoided by borting and blogging? Should I get a few loose ends and complete my Christmas shopping? Should I continue rocking out to the Umph (11/18/03 BB kings)? Should I watch some football with my dad?

the show so far has seemed very tight, and not especially experimental - although the jam out of resolution (including Zsa Zsa Gabor Fifi chants) was unexpected. The divisions was smashing pumpkins-esque, a la 10/24/03, but lacking some of the overt metalness of that version. The Tinkle's intro jam was quite transcendent.

Enough snippets of cd reviewing. I'd really like to write some tales of Saturday's shopping exploits, but doing so would reveal too much detail about the gifts that I'll be giving. I will say that I ran into my boss at the mall, and had an awkward clueless exchange. I didn't really recognize him in a baseball cap.

I went to Return of the King with my family. The movie was eye popping. I think the Two Towers will be my favorite - but I'll have to reserve judgment until I see the extended version. I'd like to see more Saurumon.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 2:49 PM

 
I was listening to a murky Guyute fugue when my attention turned to FARK headline indicating that the BBC was reporting that the second law of dynamics had been proven to be violated. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2135779.stm I thought that this was an earth shattering moment, on occasion to be celebrated by going to Osco's (yes, I know it's now a Brooks - but it will always be Osco's to me) buying a box of chalk, driving to my high school chemistry teacher’s house and hurling them. Yes, Mrs. Inderbitzen - I was right in my mockery of one law.

Unfortunately, the article says that the second law is just as "violated" as Newton's laws of motion. It is just an incomplete classical law - which I know from my graduate study of thermo. It simply lacks an analogue, or corollary to the heisenberg uncertainty principle. Weird things happen at small scales.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 7:50 AM

 
I love the winter. I can squander a Saturday night staying in and watching TV without feeling like I've wasted an enchanted evening. That Joan of Arcadia show is really quite good and addresses a lot of the uncomfortable issues with religion. The nice thing about it, is that you can believe that Joan is hallucinating all of her encounters with God and none of the events would change.

I also watched back-to-back Star Trek re-runs like the dork I am. I'm really appreciating the effortless pace of the show, compared to UPN's 160 beat per minute offerings. It's nice to see shows take the time to breathe. Joan of Arcadia does that, and after its first season so does the Sopranos.

Another thing I like about winter is the concert landscape. There are hot pairings, double bills and lots of craziness. Recent developments indicate that renowned jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman is billed to sit-in with Umphreys at their Thursday night show in a snowy February Beantown. This is massive news. UM with horns can be an awesome thing - especially if the horn player is sufficiently practiced to play over composed material. That shouldn't be an issue here. I can’t imagine that a jazz player of any credibility would have trouble picking up on the changes for most of the tunes. Mmmmm horny wormbog.

Now, the rest of that tour hasn't been unveiled, but I'm hoping that Kate and I can hit the Friday and Saturday shows again. Another Danbury -> Albany circuit would be great, but I envision things become a bit more difficult. My guess is that there will be a Burlington show. Hopefully it isn't on Friday. I'm not sure we could make it to Burlington by showtime. If nothing works out, we can take advantage of February being an awesome month for shows and see the Assembly of Dust back at the paradise on Friday before trekking to the Saturday show.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 7:25 AM

 
http://cc.com/detail.asp?eventID=75772

Wooooooot!! Woooooot!

Umphrey's McGee at the Paradise !!!!!!!!!!!!! With the OM Trio (of whom I've heard great things, and with whom Jake often cross-pollinates). Jwelsh is hinting that this will be a touring configuration. Hopefully the neighboring weekends are within driving range.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 6:58 PM

 
I just found out that the Nazi was a Pinkerton Valedictorian. Who would have thought... I guess that she was S.M.A.R.T. I wonder what happened to Amy Ramaska. I was twisted by my crush on her....It was responsible for such hilarity as The Nazi, unsolicited phone calls, and an email to RPI which probably quoted too much dodgy. I'm sure that spooked her for good. Maybe some day she'll be bored google herself. Maybe she'll get in touch....I'm not spooky anymore - and I'm very happy with a Valedictorian from WI

I doubt she'll e-mail. She's probably in upstate NY married to Don McNeil or some other guy from high school who has fallen through the cracks in time's floor. (Note, I envision lots of loose ends tying together with Dickensian complexity).

Late addition 5:49 - I forgot to mention that reports of the Nazi's bow-leggedness were widespread amongst Pinkerton students.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 4:19 PM

 
With a headache from work, I sit and type hoping to release tension. Release steam and ideas. Midwest!! Umphrey's Mcgee is my background rhythmically rocking, and making the sounds to keep me tapping my knee against my desk. Muy words, tapping, rhythmically rapping. Repetition. That's the key. repetition its what takes words and makes them free. Visions of carving non-magnetic poetry from Howl, noting the repetition, the cadence, and the imagery. Allen Ginsberg, A double shimbop with fantasy. Truffle and trite, rambling south. If your wish could be granted, what would you say?

I'd stop for a moment and reflect... would I clear my mind and take control of thee psychedelic could dancing in my moog space mind. How can anyone in an Art and Expression course, write a paper about the use of artistic imagery for commercial purposes citing examples of the use of Munch's The Scream and call it "the screamer". I work with this fine individual, but he didn't give my headache. No that was the fine chap from New Zealand, whose evangelical liberalism made a pleasant lunch turn viciously argumentative.

While I am passionate about my political beliefs, I have the common decency to keep them out of the office. He thrives on making his points known in an office of typically conservative republicans (I can't believe that it's in Massachusetts). Anyway, he poked and prodded to uncover my republicanism... and then proceeded to attack it in relation to my phish fandom, economic policy,. and tried to prove republicans hypocrites because of increases in non-defense spending. I'm not sure his source or if it matters. I didn't really try to debate well, although I raised the point of lag responses in the economy. My brain was still hibernating. I make an effort not to think when I'm at work. Unfortunately, I can't snap my fingers and escape my boredom reducing trance and relentlessly crush the hypocritical methods and ideas of a liberal who supports notions of diversity, yet taunts those whit h a religious objection to gay marriage, believes republicanism is wrong, etc.

I must say that I respect this fellow's commitment to politics. He isn't a citizen, and cannot vote - but he's still an active participant in Clark's NH campaign. I haven't pointed out to him that Clark is a closet fascist and former republican. Clark has issues with the media, and he actually thinks that by offering to pay for the first two years of college education for most Americans that he can improve the economy (talk about lag response). He boasts of having a 100 year vision, but lacks the ability to interpret the last 50 years of history to see how the Montgomery GI bill produced a surplus of college educated Americans and resulted in recession, and created the gap between the middle and lower class. If everyone has college degrees, who will pump gas? Wesley Clark?

Of course, it isn't appropriate to assault an individuals belief in the lunchroom with brutal clarity - but it would be fun to attack Clark to the point that my friend starts working for Leiberman.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 7:07 PM

 
Specters of death haunt the snow blown roads of my mind. They tempt and calm, and inspire. death and Christmas, inexorably twined in a relationship the highlights the potency and importance of the holidays. Without death, there would be no spirits and no repentance in a Christmas carol. While it its seemingly immortal, it's a wonderful life would have no weight were it stripped of death.

Death haunts the roadways of an unplowed I-93 during a Nor'Easter. It pulls at the tires and hopes to inspire some sort of chaos. It feeds on the potential for loss. But then the sun shines, blinding commuters and setting a sparkle to the jeweled forests. It is a time of wonder.

Wonder, like what does Jeremy Welsh mean when he says that UM is passing on High Sierra this year for something that is even bigger and more important. High Sierra is the key to their west coast fandom. It connected them to Claypool. What could be bigger? My guesses are too incredible to ponder.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 10:00 PM

 
Its weird being up early and scouring the net for some signs from last nights UM show at the odeon. It's the first Cleveland show that I've missed, and I really feel like I should have been there. I wonder what they pulled out, and if anybody took me up on my offer for free tickets. UM at the odeon. Wow. That's where moe. played a week ago. Admittedly, I see the beachland as only slightly smaller but much nicer. I'd rather see a 4th show there, but I can understand UM wanting the higher profile venue. From there they go the Agora, which will be better.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 6:32 AM

 
"The place I sought was far beneath the surface of the sea. My sight was poor, but I was sure the sirens sang their songs for me." What draws us to probe the depths, the crystal haze of the psyche. We aren't we satisfied to be fireflies, glowing with desire - content to burn out. What is it in our nature that separates us from these creatures

We are vector constructs, mind, body and spirit. All three components need nourishment. A healthy individual cannot feed solely on <1 0 0>, <1 1 0> or similarly arranged substance. The mind and body can easily be feed facts and fruit, but what of the spirit? Where is it's nourishment?
It seems to me that the soul feeds upon reflection, and a feeling of connection to the greater universe. Unfortunately, Dr. Atkins hasn't found a revolutionary diet for the soul in a material and superficial world. Too many folks ignore the potency of spirituality, religious or otherwise. They may find rituals that offer some spiritual fulfillment, but fail to embrace those practices spiritually. The confessional has been replaced by the psychologist's office, with a textbook guiding questions and probing for insight that the individual has neglected to grasp themselves.

I am not disparaging the profession of psychology, but see its widespread development - particularly the post-Freudian science, as a sociological outgrowth of the industrialized consumer culture which emerged in the early to mid twentieth century. Convenience replaced ritual observance, meditation and reflection. Instead of a shaman entering the age to offer people a way to maintain their spiritual connection to themselves, and their world, the universe offered up Freud, Jung, and Janov. Where is the godhead? Where is the guide? Should not prophets foretell of its coming. Throughout history, cultural change has been the harbinger of religious moments. Krishna, Christ, Buddha, Mohammed, Smith.... all a came to offer guidance upon social transformation. I suppose I could pull better references to theological scholars like Augustus if I knew my history better. regardless, I'm left wondering where is this leader? Can his words even fall on receptive ears without being branded new age hippie weirdness and discarded as pseudo-spirituality for phish heads by folks who've never listened to either the band nor their hearts.
posted by Ben at (1) comments 10:11 PM

 
It's been a busY, eventful, snowy week with Internet outages appearing at inopportune times to hinder my blogging. That or I become bloggy, rarther groggy and help myself to my bed instead of my keyboard.

I'm still gripped by meathook introspection, that tears at happiness and finds joy in sorrow. There is only balance, and space. with a tapping fish drum beat. (turn on NICU 12/29/95) Forgive me if I don't sing in your key.... Perhaps that's what I need. I’ve been a bit depressed feeling that I kind of blew yesterday's job interview. I fixed all of my Alkermes mistakes (I can't analyze my interview at High Gear... I'm not sure if I'm still in or out). Unfortunately, my interviewer at Charm had a lot less starch in his shirt. I didn't adapt and play his game of pleasant BS. I was more of a student learning about the company, the facility and the processes. Thinking that there would be a second interview to strengthen impressions. I was wrong. Hopefully he understands, that since there are lots of different types of people at his company that he needn't hire only the ones who start off singing in his key. Key's are overrated to begin with. They're a primitive way of defining the notes that sound good together. Too much of modern music employs key changes effectively for keys to be the be all and end all of musical theory. There should be an amorphous tonal set theory rooted in chord fundamentals but describing pleasant intervals for transition. Maybe there is, when was the last time I looked at music theory texts that weren't geared for beginning guitar/bass players.

Thinking of tab, here's a riff that I pulled off of the bort that indicates that there may be subliminal messages in Uncommon.

Here's a riff Jake uses a lot to finish off a verse or whenever...

E--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G-4-2-0--------------------------|--------------------------------|
D-------4-2-0--------------------|--------------------------------|
A-------------4-2-0--------------|--------------------------------|
E-------------------4-2-0--------|--------------------------------|
posted by Ben at (0) comments 6:18 PM

 
12/02/03 The Fleet Center, Boston, MA

Set I: Harry Hood, Cavern, Birds of a Feather, Ya Mar, Horn, Piper, Anything But Me, Water in the Sky, Down With Disease

Set II: Rock and Roll> Weekapaug Groove> Tweezer Reprise, Frankenstein> Kung> Frankenstein, All of These Dreams, The Wedge, Boogie On Reggae Woman> Cities, Maze, Waste

Encore: Bug

Set break included a half hour video, consisting of footage of the band progressing through the years. It began with extremely early footage of the band playing "Fluffhead" in what appears to be a dorm room, and ran through video of such famed shows as The Aladdin Theater, the "Dog Log" show, Halloween 94 and 95, NYE 94-98, as well as several clips of Cypress and the reunion show.


I pulled the set list and notes from phantasytour. This was show #11 for me, and it was definitely worthwhile. Admittedly, the hood opener didn't grab me as I would like. Openers are tough beasts anyway. At least in 2003, I don't seem to be tuned into what the band is doing until a song or twoi into the set. Cavern was nice, and Trey certainly enjoyed flubbing the lyrics (as I had remarked that I'd hope that he'd do for the 20th anniversary - has he ever got them all right?). I dug the birds jam, but it wasn't typical. It wasn't so much dark, but disconnected. I enjoyed the series of duet jams that developed out of Page's solo in Ya Mar. They were neat. I wonder if that sort of thing was a practice exercise. Horn was a treat. It may have segueed into Piper. I'm not sure if there was a stop or not. Piper was great. Anything But Me was standard, although nice to hear, and water in the sky had some interesting solos. I really enjoyed DWD as a set closer much more than I have as an opener. It leads to a more interesting peak type jam, than the meandering but forcibly high energy groove that it oft prompts as a second set opener.

The jam out of Rock and Roll was crazy, as was the madness that followed. Weekapaug and Tweprise rarely show up without their antecedents, but they certainly kept the energy going. I'd always wanted to hear a kung. It isn't played very often and it was great seeing it sandwiched (with a whole bunch of weirdness) into Frankenstein. All of These Dreams is a sweet ballad, and one of Kate's favorites off of Round Room. It was nice to hear, but no where near as nice as The Wedge. Surprisingly, this great tune isn't played much more often than Kung. Boogie On > Cities was an interesting pairing. I should have recognized the Gities guitar lick about 10 secinds into the jam, but didn;'t place it. It just seemed that Trey was trying to play something post-rock over a dance-funk groove. Maze exploaded! It was awesome. Waste was really soulful. Page's solo was particularly moving. Bug wasn't my idea of a perfect encore, but ending the show with a chorus of "It doesn't matter" did strike me as an appropriately phishy way to end the anniversary show which was teh least celebratory
(on paper) of the run. It was more exploratory - just the boys being the boys, which is really all I pay for.

One fond memory, I will carry is standing in line anxious for the posters - too far away to see them. Zzyzx (who I'd elect as president of fandom in a heartbeat) walked by with his cape and poster and announced to the confused and hopeful masses that the poster was indeed a Pollock, and that there were 2000 of them so that we'd all get one. It was succinct, and everything we needed to know. Cost is a secondary concern.

This evening may also have taught me some more about the way that Kate hears music. Her remarks about finding the rather standard jazz/swing bass of the pre-show music to be interesting coupled with the fact that she was expecting the show to be more intense inspired some thought. Aside from being pulled from the moment to combat smokers, she also was tempted by the demon that I tried to avoid - thinking about the show in terms of an Umph Show.

UM rocks hard, and experiments less than Phish. The boys from Vermont have some fast tempo, high speed songs and jams (most notably Antelope and Bowie) which were not played. Instead their jams were more melodic explorations. tension and release were built sonically with repetition, melody, compliment, etc. UM, especially with Kris, has a solid rhythmic foundation which drives their compositions and explorations. Like a jazz bass in Brubec's band, the timing is controlled and melody dances on top of it. The rhythmic force in UM's music demands attention. Phish tends to shift rhythm to suit the amorphous melody or a-tonal exploration. They don't demand attention. In fact, they're easy to ignore. The music is not without virtue. It is simply less in your face about it. In the boy's youth, they were more demanding of attention - but now they are less interested in being easy listening party-rock. (Not the UM is easy listening. If that music was sent back in time it would have set fire to Beethoven's ears and have been branded devil song by the Church for its flagrant use of forbidden intervals.)

Anyway, this whole explosion of thought has lead me to suspect that Kate relates to rhythm in music, from the cadence of vocals, to the use of percussion – rhythmic piano and guitar more than she relates to the melody of a tune. This explains many of the deviations in our musical tastes. She likes Peter Gabriel far more than I, and enjoys Galactic and the New Deal a Wee Bit more. My fondness for MMW and Vida Blue well exceed Kate’s interests – at least in a live setting. It’s also interesting that we can both be drawn to Charlie Hunter – who is incredibly rhythmic. His groove is infections, and I am fascinated by the fact that his brain holds so much music and connects melody to rhythm with a profound vocabulary.

posted by Ben at (0) comments 10:15 PM

 
I'm calling for a Fluffhead tonight. Possibly with a chance of a Seven Below. It'd (7) be a repeat this run, but the temps are cold and we were sacked by a surprise storm. It took me 3 hours of driving and 20-30min on the side of the road trying to beat an ice hill to get to work. It normally takes me 30 minutes.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 4:52 PM

 
setlist 12/1/03 Albany, NY
by Jason Pinsky, Albany, NY, 8:01 PM
Set 1
Chalk Dust Torture
Stash
Guyute
Thunderhead
Sparkle
Wolfman's Brother
Good Times Bad Times

Set 2
Tweezer
2001
You Enjoy Myself
Camel Walk*
Possum*
Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress*
Run Like An Antelope**

Encore
Fire*

Notes

*w/ Jeff Holdsworth
*w/ Jeff Holdsworth and Tom Marshall

I'd called Holdsworth (whom the band literally hadn't seen for 15 years) for tonights show. I can only be surprised. Current speculation suggests gamehenge (an actual possibility given that no gamehenge songs have been played this run and the madness that was last night) or horns. I'm down with either.

Note, the lack of tweprise hurts me in the encore category but the fire helps as a cover I'm currently 42/1826 in Phantasy Phish Zzyzx is 173. It won't last though.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 7:02 AM

 
It's been a putrid silence punctuated by babble of interest only to my self as a record. I haven't been working to create or express ideas, and my entries have been shallow listing of events. Yes, recollecting the activity of the day is a key feature of journaling, but it doesn't offer much content when the activities of the day mostly include filing. I could expound upon my thoughts of the day, but I do my best to clear my mind and to think nothing. This vacant, meditative state promotes filing efficiency and is rather effective at keeping me from thinking about the tedious and uninspiring nature of my job.

Unfortunately, today from about 2-3 my brain was exploding with emotion, thought and idea. Introspective volcanoes erupted. Fundamental questions of my spiritually begged answer. I offered up my ideas as best as I could complete with some fantasy of creating a book of my ideas, emphasizing self reflection and individual choice over absolute dogmas. It would be based upon my vector-spaced conception of metaphysics and would all to easily offer unwarranted justification for hedonism. Skip the self-reflection and go straight to individual choice of path without fully appreciating the breadth of impact various actions could have. It would be a spiritual philosophy of the terrible choice.

I won't detail it now, but I will hopefully take the opportunity to explore it here.
posted by Ben at (0) comments 10:17 PM