10/26-27 Umphrey's McGee @ Riverside Theatre - Milwaukee, WI

Umphrey's McGee
10/26/12
Riverside Theatre
Milwaukee, WI

I: Flamethrower > Miami Virtue > Intentions Clear, Anchor Drops, Conduit, Comma Later > Padgett's Profile

II: Mail Package, Resolution, Clint Eastwood > Deeper, Bridgeless > Cherub Rock, Morning Song, Tribute to the Spinal Shaft > The Bottom Half    

E: Mother, Walletsworth > Bridgeless



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I worked until 4 pm on Friday and then within a half hour we were on the road.  My neighbor Jamie rode with me for this two night run of Umphrey's McGee.  It was their first time playing the Riverside Theatre in Milwaukee.  I consider that a major step up from Eagles Ballroom at that shithole known as The Rave.  The drive was uneventful.  We parked in the Courtyard Marriot garage and walked down the street to the venue.  It was a major hassle at the willcall window.  I saw all the usual suspects of my UM friends.  I was on the Jake side underneath the balcony on the first level. 

The first set of Friday was the best set of the run.  Flamethrower had been the opener at my previous time seeing UM in Des Moines.  I love that intro to start the show.  This led into Miami Virtue which had more high octane playing.  Flamethrower > MV > IC was the highlight of the show.  Intentions Clear had a slick groove going before they dropped two repeated stews named Den and White Pickle.  Anchor Drops worked in that spot.  Conduit kept things going nicely  Comma Later into Padgett's was amazing work.  I liked that they exteneded Comma Later a bit.  Great energy throughout the set. 

I was hoping for something a little dancier than Mail Package to open set II.  Resolution had a good jam.  Clint Eastwood was appropriate with Trey's new album having just come out and me having see his solo band perform that Gorillaz cover.  This was the best version of Deeper that I have seen.  It was interesting the way they jammed out of Bridgeless finally settling upon Cherub Rock.  They do a good job with that Smashing Pumpkins tune. I felt Morning Song was a bit out of place in that slot.  Jake owned the peak of Tribute before the drop into The Bottom Half.  This was a fun show but the second set felt disjointed.  I loved Kris doing the Danzig cover in the encore.  Great job!  Walletsworth appeared to be the end of the show with Cummins playing some tasteful notes before the unexpected end of Bridgeless. 


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Umphrey's McGee
10/27/12
Riverside Theatre
Milwaukee, WI

I: Wappy Sprayberry > All in Time > Smell the Mitten, Loose Ends > Slacker, Exodus/Life During Wartime/City of Tiny Lights^, Jajunk

II: Triple Wide > Rocker pt. II, Ace of Spades/It's Gonna Be A Long Night, Kabump > Mulche's Odyssey, Andy's Last Beer, Prowler > All in Time

E: Relax/Thunderkiss '65/Have A Cigar



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We stayed in a room at the Courtyard with my friends Jesse and Sam.  There were several others in the room and it was crowded but we made the best of it and I had fun.  The hotel was connected to the mall and I enjoyed my stay.

Wappy got folks moving early on and this led into the first half AIT and then into Mitten.  Loose Ends is a different side of UM and I don't mind the tune.  Slacker kept this set going well.  I'm not a huge fan of the mashups but I did like that Exodus by Bob Marley was one of the songs.  Jajunk was the best jam of the set and the show. 

Triple Wide  and Rocker II was a great start to the set.  The mashup, however, staled that momentum and the next string of tunes weren't what I was looking for.  The playing was good and energetic but I wasn't feeling it. They ended the set with the final part of AIT and the guitar dual.  I liked Relax in the encore mashup.  In the end this show fell flat and with the disjointed second set the night before I felt this run didn't live up to expectations.  Musically it just wasn't all that special.  I had fun and the costumes the band wore on Saturday were funny.  This Must Be the Band was a decent opener both nights.  They weren't bad.  Jajunk was the highlight of the Saturday show.  After the show I drove us home.  This was my 145th time seeing Umphrey's McGee.



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10/19/12 Trey Anastasio @ Chicago Theatre - Chicago, IL

Trey Anastasio
10/19/12
Chicago Theatre
Chicago, IL

I: Gotta Jibboo, Scabbard, Corona, Push On 'Til the Day, Caymen Review, Burlap Sack and Pumps, Frost, Night Speaks to a Woman, Valentine, Pigtail, Sand

II: Alive Again, Ooh Child, Money Love and Change, Architect, Clint Eastwood, Plasma, Magilla, The Devil Went Down to Georgia, The Way I Feel, Goodbye Head > First Tube       

E: At the Gazebo, Traveler



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This was my first show after starting my new job.  I went to the city to see my sister who had recently run the Chicago Marathon.  I met up with Doc and we walked over to our friend Steve's apartment in Wicker Park.  It was pouring down rain.  We found a parking spot downtown and ate at a restaurant near the venue.  I purchased the Jim Pollack poster.  It was disappointing that the prints were still wet.  Before the show I saw a lot of the usual Chicago Phish people.  The sound was really poor on the first level.  Garry Brown should have been able to do better than that.  After a couple songs I moved up to the balcony where it sounded better.

This version of TAB sounded good but it was void of any risk taking whatsoever.  The new Traveler material made the evening interesting for me.  I liked seeing Trey on the red Fender for Corona.   Frost seems like it could work as a Phish ballad.  It was cool to see Pigtail with TAB after seeing it first with Phish in Worcester 2010.  Sand was the highlight of the set and featured some nasty licks. 

Alive Again is a song from his self titled album I've always enjoyed.  Ooh Child made the night for me.  MLC was a highlight in the second set.  Architect seems to confirms rumors of Trey becoming more religious in recent years.  Plasma was the highlight of the show.  Great version.  I could have done without Magilla and the Charlie Daniels cover.  The Way I Feel is one of my favs from the Trey solo canon.  I liked hearing Goodbye Head with this lineup.  Without stopping they started up First Tube to end the set.  At the Gazebo put me in the mind of Summer 2001 when that material was still fresh.  Traveler had some trademark Trey noodlings in the live setting.  I like the Tom Marshall even if you stand still you are traveling too.  This was my 13th time seeing Trey outside of Phish and was an enjoyable experience.  Postshow music was "Baby What A Big Surprise" by Chicago. 

 

 

9/12/12 Umphrey's McGee @ Wooly's - Des Moines, IA

Umphrey's McGee
9/12/12
Wooly's
Des Moines, IA

I: Flamethrower > Ringo, Wappy Sprayberry > Alex's House > Eat > Example 1 > Eat, Room to Breathe, Domino Theory

II: Push the Pig, Hurt Bird Bath, Much Obliged, Live and Let Die, Higgins, Last Man Swerving > Smell the Mitten

E: Bright Lights



Audience Recording



On Wednesday afternoon after work my neighbor Jamie and I drove from Geneseo to Des Moines for Umphrey’s McGee. The show had been moved indoors to a new bar in the east village near the state capital building called Wooly’s. The reasoning for the move had been stated as due to the threat of bad weather, however, rumors were going around about there having been around only 170 advance tickets sold. I was put on the guest list for the performance by a friend of mine in Ames.

I would guess that by showtime the tavern was near capacity which was stated to be just less than 700. The place was very poorly ventilated and temperatures were almost unbearable the closer you got to the stage. Flamethrower was an appropriate opener and I recognized it from their most recent Umbowl show. Pony was dropping an infectious groove. I will say his get up with the mustache, rat tail, and several items of Umphrey’s merchandise is a little tacky to say the least. They took the stage the prerecorded intro and then started playing along with it as has been the custom most of this year with all the different named intros they now have. This led into Ringo which had several pieces of interesting improvisation. I can’t emphasize enough how much energy was exploding from the stage. Wappy was next and this also had a jam that strayed from the typical terrain usually associated with this dance number. Alex’s House featured some great soloing from Cinninger per usual. Eat was sandwiched with Example 1 in the middle. This also had a catchy groove. Room to Breathe was appropriate with the crowd packed in like sardines.  I wasn’t expecting Domino Theory in that slot in the setlist. That had a nice build into the end of the song. The intimate confines of Wooly’s reminded me of the old days of seeing Umphrey’s back when I was in college. It was almost too loud up front and I had to deal with several amateurs so I eventually moved further back for the second set. I saw several old school UM friends of mine namely O’Malley, Cleofus, Keith, and Waxhead Kenny.  My friend Curt was taping by the soundboard.  It was also good to see several people from Ames that I hadn’t seen in ages. I should note this was the first venue I’ve ever seen Umphrey’s McGee where they had deer mounted on the wall.

Push the Pig was fairly standard with the usual hip hop groove. The end of the song featured Xxplosive teases. Hurt Bird Bath was placed in the centerpiece position of the show and it turned out to be the highlight of the show. The raw power the band was producing was impressive. MO kept the energy going which really never let up the whole night with the exception of The Wings cover Live and Let Die which I could have done without. This is a progressive rock show not a James Bond movie. Higgins had another jam and they finished the composed ending with authority. Last Man Swerving was appropriate with much of the crowd becoming extremely inebriated. Smell the Mitten is always appreciated.  Bright Lights in the encore was my other major highlight of the show. Like so many versions recently this was a powerhouse jam. It was a great way to end the show. Umphrey’s McGee at Wooly’s was like a geyser of energy all evening. This was my 143^rd time seeing UM and they continue to find ways to keep my interest. After the show I drove us home and I crushed a McDouble at the Newton Iowa Speedway golden arches.

8/31-9/2 Phish @ Dick's Sporting Goods Park - Commerce City, CO

PHISH
8/31/12
Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Commerce City, CO

Set 1: First Tube, Uncle Pen, Carini, Kill Devil Falls, You Enjoy Myself, Ocelot, Undermind

Set 2: Runaway Jim > Farmhouse > Alaska, Chalk Dust Torture > Emotional Rescue > Fuck Your Face

Encore: Grind, Meatstick



The drive through the Texas panhandle was exciting as I had never been to that state before.  The desolate open country brought about images of cowboys and wilder times.  It was a welcome sight after I passed into New Mexico when I saw the front range of the Rockies jut up from the southern plains.  I followed these mountains the rest of my journey up into Colorado through Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver, and finally to my destination of Ft. Collins.  After gallons of coffee, dozens of cigarettes, and several footlongs worth of Subway I had arrived.  I hung out with my friend Skyler until my buddy from hometown Dave got back from seeing Tedeschi Trucks Band at Red Rocks.  It's always good seeing Dave.  We played a lot of soccer together and he lived down the street from me in Hazelwood Heights.  He joined me for the Sunday show. 

The next morning I drove down to Commerce City and checked in at the Super 8 where I'd stayed the year before.  I dropped off my canned goods and got the patches from Conscious Alliance.  Those were much nicer than the pin from last year.  I saw Oliver and Steve A waiting in line for the posters which were hot commodities. I settled on the event shirt which was the same as my patch.  I didn't notice the FUCKYOURFACE theme up on the Page side stands. I was just thoroughly impressed with the improvisation.  Carini and Undermind were things to behold.  It was just a different band compared to what I'd seen in Oklahoma. 

Runaway Jim was finally explored like back in the day.  With the full moon above the soccer stadium the band explore the outer limits of the galaxy and finally landed down in the Farmhouse.  It was a chilling transition.  Amazing work.  The fakeout of 2001/Alaska was a totally Phishy move.  This was the best Chalkdust Torture I've ever seen.  This was my 95th time seeing Phish and my first Emotional Rescue.  Fuck Your Face capped off the joke.  Its shows like these that make us follow the band around the country.  Grind, Meatstick was a fitting end to the jovial affair.  They brought serious jams in Carini, Undermind, Jim, and Chalkdust.  The band fucked our collective faces. 


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PHISH
9/1/12
Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Commerce City, CO

Set 1: Run Like An Antelope, Backwards Down The Number Line, Tweezer > Fluffhead, Roses are Free, Funky Bitch, The Moma Dance, When the Circus Comes to Town, Theme from the Bottom, Golgi Apparatus, Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan

Set 2: Golden Age, Prince Caspian > Light, Boogie On Reggae Woman, The Wedge, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Mike's Song > No Quarter > Weekapaug Groove

Encore: Sleeping Monkey, Tweezer Reprise



With little else to do besides eat Sonic chili dogs and watch AMC movies all day I was able to get a lot of relaxation and rest during this run.  It felt good to get recharged from the drive from the midwest.  This was the first Antelope opener since '91.  Very special indeed.  Tweezer was the obvious highlight of the set which was well played but obviously song oriented. 

Golden Age had a great jam that expanded upon the ideas of the ATL version.  Caspian was an all timer that included a heavy metal jam.  This was likely the best version of Light they've played.  Light was clearly the highlight of the show.  Boogie On, Wedge, Horse>SITM worked as an interlude before a high energy Mike's that included Zeppelin's No Quarter before closing with Weekapaug. I liked this No Quarter better than the one at Alpine.  The Monkey, Tweeprise encore was  predictable.  Postshow P.A. music was Prince "Wanna Be Your Lover".  This was a very strong show for 3.0 era and a great counterpiece to the Friday offering. 


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PHISH
9/2/12
Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Commerce City, CO

Set 1: Cars Trucks Buses, AC/DC Bag > Down With Disease, Bathtub Gin, Nellie Kane, Sample in a Jar, Back On The Train, Rift, Free, Ride Captain Ride, Maze, Halley's Comet, 46 Days, Possum

Set 2: Sand > Ghost > Piper, Twenty Years Later, The Lizards, Harry Hood

Encore: Character Zero


Before the show it rained and when I met Dave in the back lot by the Colorado Rapids practice fields there was a huge rainbow off in the distance.  This was an upgrade of the night before when green smog was obvious nearby.  This 3 night run of Phish was the pot of gold at the end of my 13 year rainbow of seeing the band.  I gave a lot back but this run was a huge payoff for my loyalty.  This run brought the jamming the fans have been waiting for.  This first set was nothing too outrageous.  CTB and Bag was almost a double opener.  DWD and Gin were my highlights.  BOTT had some nice work as well.  Again the first set has to be described as song oriented. 

The second stanza was a different story as Phish churned out one of the best segments of my show going career in the form of Sand > Ghost.  They continued into a strong Piper before landing in the now rare Twenty Years Later which worked as the slowdown tune.  Lizards was perfect placement in a retrospective spot with the tour coming to an end.  Hood was a decent version, better than the OKC rendition.  Character Zero to close was anticlimatic but I saw it coming.  I was satisfied.  They delivered on their end.  After this tour I feel I can begin to scale back on seeing Phish.  They achieved what I hoped they would and the recordings of these shows are the proof.  Dick's 2012 was a huge win for Phish and their fans and they type of shows that make you appreciate seeing live music and simply being alive. 

8/29/12 Phish @ Zoo Amphitheatre - Oklahoma City, OK

PHISH
8/29/12
Zoo Amphitheatre
Oklahoma City, OK

Set 1: Kill Devil Falls, Rift, Wilson, Backwards Down The Number Line, The Moma Dance, The Divided Sky, Wolfman's Brother, Axilla, 46 Days, Ya Mar, Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan, Run Like An Antelope

Set 2: Down With Disease > Birds of a Feather > My Friend My Friend, My Friend My Friend > Rock and Roll > Twist, If I Could, Light > Harry Hood, Character Zero, Suzy Greenberg

Encore: Slave to the Traffic Light, Loving Cup


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I stayed at Ozzy's in St. Louis after the show.  In the morning I drove him to Bobby's place where he had left his car the day before.  The drive down I-44 was uneventful.  I was amused by the Jesse James and Todd Akin signage along the road.  There was a huge Homer Simpson billboard in Springfield.  I thought of the devastating tornado when I drove through Joplin.  The turnpike in Oklahoma was annoying.  I feel those shouldn't be allowed west of the Mississippi.  The landscape quickly changed and the red soil became visable.  Tulsa seemed like a sizeable city.  I made it to OKC and drove past the Cheseapeake Bay Arena which had been the site of rioting during the NBA playoffs last year.  We stayed at the Sheraton across from the arena right downtown.  I ate Subway pre-show.  Eat fresh.  Bobby, Steve A, and friends rode in the VUE out to the Zoo.  We parked in a distant lot of a casino adjacent to the Zoo.  This was the be the final summer of concerts at this venue which was clearly antiquated and basic.  I didn't mind the venue but it was quite hot weatherwise before the show. 

The crowd was a lot of locals and also plenty of Texans who had made the journey north.  I felt out of my element.  The first set was a song oriented affair.  Wolfman's and 46 Days were the only real highlights but even these versions were lacking comparatively speaking.  I hoped the second set would include some exploratory jamming like the night before in STL.  That was not to be.

The second set was more standard, phoned in Phish.  Trey said they were excited to be there but what they delivered was a watered down, bland performance.  I was bored at times and definitely felt tired from the long solo drive from St. Louis to OKC.  Phish really didn't make it worth out while to drive out of our way down to Oklahoma.  I should have just cruised straight west on 70 from STL to Denver and skipped this one in hindsight.  The scene in the lot afterwords had plenty of gas.  It was sketchy.  The next morning I dropped Bobby off at the Will Rogers Airport.  I cut my losses and hit the road for Colorado via Texas and New Mexico. 

8/28/12 Phish @ Chaifetz Arena - St. Louis, MO

PHISH
8/28/12
Chaifetz Arena
St. Louis, MO

Set 1: Punch You in the Eye, Runaway Jim, Ocelot, Reba, I Didn't Know, The Curtain, Peaches en Regalia, Mound, Sample in a Jar, The Sloth, Camel Walk, Possum, Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)

Set 2: Chalk Dust Torture > Frankie Says > Undermind > Sand > Walk Away, Limb By Limb, Julius, Also Sprach Zarathustra, You Enjoy Myself

Encore: Shine A Light




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I drove to St. Louis during the middle of the day.  The weather was sunny and warm.  With Bobbyluv and his wife Erin moving to Denver this was to be a final gathering at his apartment before the show.  We cooked food on the grill for dinner.  After we parked in the SLU garage and walked around the Shakedown St. which was quite distant from the actual arena.  My friends had a few drinks at a bar which had a Phish cover band, Riker's Mailbox.  It was pretty cheesy to see a Phish cover band before actually going to see them.  However, the excitement was palpable as the crowd made its way from the lots and bars to the new campus arena with the city's trademark arch not far off in the distance.  This was the gateway to the west, an appropriate start for this final stretch of five shows that remained on the Phish Summer Tour. 

I've always loved arena Phish shows and this new arena was build with acoustics in mind with he panneling on the ceiling.  My spot was in the corner on the page side in this one level arena that is smaller than the one formerly known as the Kiel Center which Phish played in 1996.  I called the PYITE opener.  Jim stayed within the box.  I felt Ocelot was played with a bit more gusto than usual. 
I always enjoy Reba at about this point of a show but this wasn't the most memorable one by any means.  I Didn't Know was a comedic interlude with Fish on vacuum.  Curtain without into Peaches was a nice combination.  This was a decent 3.0 era Mound.  Not far from the Cahokia Mounds.  Sample in a Jar always works in the first set of an arena affair.  Sloth/Camel Walk was a nice old school pairing.  Possum appeared to be the set closer but Quinn provided a fun singalong.  This was a good first set but void of any risk taking. 

I was happy to see them explore Chalkdust a little bit outside of its normal territory before landing in Frankie Says.  I liked what they were doing with Undermind.  Both Chalkdust and Undermind from this show were a preview of things to come in Commerce City.  Sand stayed relatively groove oriented but was definitely a major highlight.  Walk Away kept the high energy at peak levels.  From Chalkdust to Walk Away the band had been on fire.  No one expected Limb by Limb to be an all time version but thats exactly what it was providing the high water mark of the show.  Julius and 2001 were both perfectly placed and well played.  There was only one way to cap off such a successful set of Phish and that was of course their quintessential tune, YEM.  The Rolling Stones spiritual anthem Shine A Light brought the crowd back down to earth before sending them off into the night.  The second set made this show a winner.

8/22/12 Phish @ Starlight Theatre - Kansas City, MO

 

PHISH

8/22/12

Starlight Theatre

Kansas City, MO

I: Chalk Dust Torture, Skin It Back, The Moma Dance, Rift, Bathtub Gin, Stash, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, Kill Devil Falls, Funky Bitch, Run Like an Antelope

II: Tweezer > Piper > Mike’s Song, Bouncing Around the Room, Backwards Down the Number Line, Heavy Things, If I Could, Weekapaug Groove, Harry Hood > Suzy Greenberg

E: Loving Cup > Tweezer Reprise

 

 

On Wednesday I woke early and was on the road by 7:15 for Ames.  I met up with my friend Ryan and his girlfriend Kallie and together the three of us rode down I-35 to Kansas City in his new blue Ford SVT Raptor.  It's a sweet ride.  We stayed at his sister Sally and brother-in-law Matt's place in Lenexa, KS.  Before the show we spent some time relaxing on their deck with their two daughters.  They have a really nice home and are lucky to have such a nice young family.  I had been here with Ryan for moe. in Lawrence back in February. 

We parked in the reserve lot near the zoo for the extra five dollars.  I walked around to the otherside to meet up with Bobbyluv and Leander.  I saw several old friends from my time at Iowa State University.  This was my third time to Starlight.  It's definitely one of my favorite outdoor venues.  My seat was toward the top of the venue but I waltzed down by where Ryan and Kallie were.  Chalkdust was a little slower and more patient on this occasion.  I was elated to hear only the second Skin It Back since the 1980s.  Again, the slow patient funk was on display in Moma Dance.  Gordo was wearing suspenders.  LOL.  Rift kept the energy going.  I loved the first set pairing of Bathtub and Stash.  The latter of the two was the obvious highlight of the first set.  Curtis Loew worked in the slot after the raging Stash.  Funky Bitch kept things going.  Antelope ended the set nicely.  This was a well played first set of Phish that was oozing with energy. 

Tweezer to start the second set is always ideal.  This was an interesting version that allowed plenty of room to breathe and explored several themes.  Trey dropped into Piper after the Tweezer had properly run its course.  This Piper was some great playing by the band though I wish it had been extended beyond when they started up Mike's.  Bouncin' worked in that spot.  #Line was a questionable call at that point.  Heavy Things featured Page stepping up more so than usual.  If I Could was a gorgeous rendition.  Gordo's thumb must have been sore after that Weekapaug because he slapped the entire song.  I'd say that was a highlight along with the Tweezer in the second stanza.  Hood had some brief plinko and definitely had a nice peak.  Suzy featured Fishman yelling out about Todd Akin.  Loving Cup, Tweeprise is a fairly standard encore.  The setlist was a lot of repeats from out in California and was relatively standard in general but the playing was good and I enjoyed the energy of the performance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7/5/12 Umphrey's McGee @ CEFCU Center Stage - Peoria, IL

Umphrey's McGee

7/5/12

CEFCU Center Stage

Peoria, IL

I: Catshot > Domino Theory, Intentions Clear > Wellwishers, All Things Ninja, Liquid* > 40's Theme*

II: Jajunk > The Bottom Half, Fussy Dutchman, Comma Later, Can't You Hear Me Knocking*, Wappy Sprayberry > Jajunk

E: Hajimemashite*

* w/ Stanley Jordan

On Thursday I worked earlier in the day and hit the road for Peoria around 5:30.  It was extremely hot with weather nearing triple digits not including the heat index.  If we don't get rain in this area of Illinois soon the farmers are in for serious trouble.  I found a parking spot in the free lot across the street from the venue.  The sounds of the opening act, G. Love and The Special Sauce, could be heard.  At this point I walked up the hill a few blocks to Sully's to meet up with some friends. 

Umphrey's McGee was onstage shortly after 8:30.  Initially the sound left something to be desired but they improved it the best they could given the stacks were on the ground.  There was a good sized crowd on hand.  The demographic was obviously younger but I didn't see too many displays of amateurism.  Pony continues to sport the Pringles man look with that mustache.  I felt this was a different side to Umphrey's McGee than what we saw at Summer Camp.  Those were dance driven shows comprised of heavy hitters where this performance was a little more nuanced.  I've heard that pre-recorded intro before several times including nearby at the Canopy Club.  Domino Theory was my least favorite of the new songs but I love the improvisation it has produced.  They took their time with the return to the end of the song.  Intentions Clear also had an interesting jam but I was surprised how much I enjoyed the Wellwishers that followed.  I didn't care for how Pony announced on the internet earlier in the day that they would play All Things Ninja.  I could also do without his merchandise banter.  Stanley Jordan added a lot to the jam out of Liquid and the set closing, 40's Theme.  During 40's Theme he took the BB solo at the end.  I liked the energy of the first set.  There really was no lulls.  We had a good group of friends near the soundboard for the whole show.

Jajunk got the set going with a decent jam albeit somewhat generic.  Pony played more slapbass than I think I've ever seen him.  I liked Jake's work during The Bottom Half.  Fussy Dutchman is an instrumental I always enjoy.  Comma Later was pretty much my only request going into the show so I was pleased to hear that new Steely Dan infused dance number.  I've heard Can't You Hear Me Knocking way too many times over the years with UM and moe. but it was well done.    Once again Stanley Jordan added to the mix.  I was surprised but not necessarily disappointed that G. Love didn't step out with his harmonica.  Wappy Sprayberry was my favorite improvisation of the evening with a very successful dance jam into the conclusion of Jajunk to end the set.  Hajimemashite featured Stanley Jordan and was a fitting encore to a fun show from Umphrey's McGee on the banks of the Illinois River in Peoria on a sweltering night. 

6/30-7/1 Phish @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre - East Troy, WI

PHISH

6/30/12

Alpine Valley Music Theatre

East Troy, WI

I: My Soul, Daniel Saw the Stone, AC/DC Bag, Moma Dance, Runaway Jim, Let It Loose, Reba, Kill Devil Falls, Sloth, Ocelot, Poor Heart, Circus Comes to Town, Timber Ho!, Oh Kee Pah Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg

II: Backwards Down the Number Line, Carini > Wilson, Golden Age > 2001, Rock and Roll > Steam > Piper > Quinn the Eskimo, Harry Hood, Character Zero

E: Good Times Bad Times

The drive from Deer Creek to Alpine Valley is a route I know very well. This is a famous stretch of highway on Phish tour. I always take I-39 and avoid Chicago, though this way is a bit longer. It goes near many of our research sites for the company where I work. After this summer I hope to find employment somewhere else so all the driving around Illinois and Iowa is coming to an end. I feel like its time to move forward to new challenges. After this summer I am going to scale back my Phish tours so I can find a place of my own. It's been a great journey these past 13 years of seeing live music. Alpine Valley is where the story started for me with Phish in 1999. We were a bunch of high school noobs with lawn tickets who drove home that night. This time around I had pit tickets and stayed at the Alpine Valley Resort. Saturday was my 90th time seeing Phish.

We had a suite at the Alpine Valley Resort. It was the three of us who stayed at the hotel for Deer Creek plus my friend Steve from Chicago who drove up and met us. We ate lunch next to the pool. Many of our Phish friends were around and many fans were still talking about the great show from Thursday in Noblesville. We heard the soundcheck during the afternoon from the parking lot of the lodge. Around 7 pm I made the short walk across the fairway to the side entrance to the pavilion and made my way down to the pit. It was fun watching the show with my friend Jenna.

It's always good to see the familiar wooden roof up above. If you have good seats at Alpine and stay at the lodge it can be one of the best amphitheatres in the United States. There is a certain vibe to a Saturday night show at Alpine. I've heard the band and their family looks forward to this weekend every summer and that they stay at a nice condo in Lake Geneva, WI. The obvious highlights for me was The Rolling Stones cover Let It Loose followed by an emotive Reba. They dropped a Timber Ho! which I thought may end the set but they included a spirited Oh Kee Pah > Suzy. Some of the set seemed like filler to be honest. We'd heard them soundcheck Daniel Saw the Stone earlier in the day so that wasn't a surprise. 

The second set doesn't appear to be anything too outrageous just by judging the setlist but it had a tremendous flow that was unmatched in the run of shows I saw this summer. To be honest #Line was a bit disappointing but once they got to the uplifting ending it was on as they crashed into the intro of Carini. This Carini had a distinctive Tweezer-esque feel to it. The drop into Wilson was abrupt but it worked on this Saturday night at Alpine as this didn't hurt the energy. Golden Age is being overplayed at this point and this version didn't compare to the one they played at Cuyahoga Falls but it had a decent groove that extended into 2001. Kuroda flexed his muscles at this point and the approximately 30,000 Phish fans in attendance danced in approval. Rock and Roll was the third Velvet Underground cover in as many nights from the Loaded album. Page always does a good job with that one and this morphed into the only Steam of the tour which was basically the only song I wanted to hear so that made my night.  Steam segued into the best jam of the night, Piper.  This had several themes and featured some amazing work by Page when the rest of the band allowed him to towards the end of the improvisation.  Quinn the Eskimo is a song that was played by The Grateful Dead in "89 at this venue.  Hood in dairyland makes sense.  There's a dairy farm next to the yellow lot, however, this wasn't the best buildup to the "you can feel good" part by any means.  Character Zero was almost guaranteed at this point.  It's Trey's favorite rocker and he loves it on Saturday at Alpine.  GTBT was a fairly straight forward one and done encore.  I had a great time during this show and I was surprised to hear fans criticize the performance. 

PHISH

7/1/12

Alpine Valley Music Theatre

East Troy, WI

I: Soul Shakedown Party, Lonesome Cowboy Bill, Vultures, Gotta Jibboo, Dirt, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, Access Me, Meat, Frankenstein, Fee, Maze, Squirming Coil

II: Crosseyed and Painless > No Quarter, Light > Ghost > Back on the Train, Farmhouse, 46 Days, Heavy Things, Joy, Julius

E: Meatstick

postshow P.A. music was Heatwave "Boogie Nights"

We spent the day watching the EURO 2012 Final.  Spain dominated Germany to an easy 4-nil victory.  My friends from Ames stopped by.  Once again we listened to the soundcheck.  All the Upstaging semis were parked back by the resort.  The evening before I saw the police escort for the tour bus.  I was tired and ready to head home with this having been a long stretch of midwest Phish shows.  It was nice to finally get caught up with my sleep the last evening.

The first set on Sunday was more to my liking than the evening before.  Overall, it had more cohesion.  Soul Shakedown Party is a rarity for an opener.  Lonesome Cowboy Bill made it four different songs off that album during the four Deer Creek/Alpine Valley shows.  Jibboo was a well played concise version.  We had heard them soundcheck A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing and that turned out to be the only time played during the tour.  It was good to hear Access Me and Meat.  That allowed Mike to shine.  Frankenstein featured Page on his James Brown white keytar.  Fee was unquestionably the highlight of the set.  The outro was amazing.  Coil to end the set with Page by himself is always a treat. 

Crosseyed has been a little stale lately and when it segued into No Quarter it was fun but still a repeat of what they did recently at UIC Pavilion.  Light was the highlight of the second set and this transitioned into Ghost.  This featured some four on the floor dance beats that you wouldn't usually associate with Phish.  Fishman and Gordon were locked in.  They're the best Jewish rhythm section in the business.  Back on the Train was a repeat from Deer Creek and did not compare to the version from Noblesville.  Farmhouse worked as a breather in this spot but the rest of the playcalling left a lot to be desired.  This set needed a YEM or a Slave to finish it out.  Instead we got 46, Heavy Things, Joy, Julius with an encore of Meatstick.  The encore had the same schtick of crowd dancers that they did the previous Sunday in Cuyahoga Falls.  46 Days had a lot of energy but in general I felt like everyone was waiting for something that never materialized.  "Still waiting..."  That's why we keep chasing these guys though.  It's the mystery and suspense.  Seeing what happens next is a big part of why we keep coming back.  See you in Kansas City in August!

6/28-29 Phish @ Klipsch Music Center - Noblesville, IN

After three days off Phish continued their tour through the midwest on Thursday in Noblesville, IN.  It was 100 degrees when I made the familiar drive during the afternoon.  This was retracing the journey I'd made to Cincinnati only 6 days before.  I stayed with my buddies from Decatur at a hotel in Fishers.  This was the first time for a Deer Creek run that I hadn't camped.  I originally planned on staying at Closeby Campground but I called an audible at the line of scrimmage when I saw the forecast.  We tailgaited prior and endured the extreme weather before mercifully the sun finally went down midway through the first set.  They allowed you to bring in two water bottles because it was so hot.  It made you sweat just standing there.   The three of us had a good vantage point in the middle of the pavilion behind the SBD and taper section. 

It was unique for them step up and start the show with the acapella Birdwatcher.  Curtain With immediately made it be known that this would be a special show.  The emotion of the With part is what shows are all about.  I remember seeing them bring back Curtain With at this same venue in 2000.  Later in the first set Pebbles and Marbles almost had a DWD sounding jam.  The funky triad of Wolfman's, Cool It Down, and Tweezer.  Cool It Down was appropriate with the unbearable heat.  Tweezer was much better than the Cuyahoga Falls version.  These were the highlights of an incredibly strong first set for this current era. 

The combination of Mike's > McGrupp was a strong start to the second frame.  McGrupp was the best version I think I've seen.  Back on the Train featured a really interesting outro jam.  The Fishman antics worked as an interlude before a well played Weekapaug.  Caspian was unfinished and floated upon the Waves into that neutically inspired tune.  This version killed it.  I'd consider this one of the best jams of the tour.  The improvisation landed into Bug and this was also a top shelf rendition.  Without stopping Fishman started up the set closing David Bowie.  Huge set.  I love David Bowie to close set II, IMO that's a great setlist spot for it.  There was a real sense of victory in the parking lot after the show.  Phish had won.

PHISH

6/28/12

Klipsch Music Center

Noblesville, IN

I: Birdwatcher, Curtain With, Fuck Your Face, Old Home Place, Pebbles and Marbles, Weigh, Chalkdust Torture, Wolfman's Brother, Cool It Down, Tweezer, Tela, Stealing Time from the Faulty Plan

II: Mike's Song > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Back on the Train > Hold Your Head Up, Bike > Hold Your Head Up > Weekapaug Groove, Prince Caspian > Waves > Bug > David Bowie

E: Show of Life, Tweezer Reprise

postshow P.A. music was The Isley Brothers "Who's That Lady"

PHISH

6/29/12

Klipsch Music Center

Noblesville, IN

I: Crowd Control, Dinner and a Movie, Sweet Jane, Limb by Limb, Possum, Mound, Life on Mars, Mango Song, Big Black Furry Creatures from Mars, Strange Design, Birds of a Feather, Halley's Comet, While My Guitar Gently Weeps

II: Down with Disease > Sand > Twist > Rift, Bathtub Gin > Fluffhead, Ride Captain Ride, Run Like an Antelope

E: Cavern > Sanity, First Tube

_________________________________

On Friday it was still blistering hot in the beginning of the day.  We ate breakfast at IHOP.  The venue posted on Facebook that the doors wouldn't open until an hour later than scheduled because of an approaching storm.  We weathered it out at the hotel.  We witnessed some EZ-UP devastation when we drove by Closeby Campground and along Shakedown Street.  Especially staying at a hotel this year (which turned out to be a great decision with the extreme weather) it was obvious to me that the vibe of Deer Creek had clearly changed.  No longer was this a rural location where Phish played amongst the cornfields and we camped at farms and in pastures.  The game has changed with the urban sprawl thats occured northward along I-69.  We cooked some Nathan's hot dogs in the lot both night (non-vending).  I have a lot of great memories of this venue.  Structurally it makes it one of the best from an acoustic standpoint.  This is one of the best lawns to see a show at.  However, it's over 5 hours from my home and they play here on the weeknights so moving forward this may have to be a run of the past for me.  We shall see. 

The first set was disappointing for me in the sense that it lacked cohesion and was like a long jukebox set.  Everything was played well.  I did like hearing Dinner and a Movie.  Sweet Jane was the second song off The Velvet Underground's Loaded in as many nights. 

The second set was highlighted by a traditional take on Down with Disease that segued into the best Sand of the tour.  Twist had no improvisation.  Just when things were getting interesting during a rare second set Gin it seemed like Trey hit the eject button too soon.  Fluffhead takes up too much time in the second set.  It's always good to hear the Blues Image cover Ride Captain Ride.  This Antelope did not compare to the one played in Cuyahoga Falls the prior Sunday.  I liked the encore.  Overall, this show will live in the shadow of the evening before and for good reason.

6/24/12 Phish @ Blossom Music Center - Cuyahoga Falls, OH

PHISH
6/24/12
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

I: Sample in a Jar, Tube, Axilla, Bathtub Gin, Roses Are Free, Limb by Limb, Free, NICU, Possum, The Wedge, Corinna, Meatstick

II: Golden Age > Ghost > Sweet Virginia, Rift, Tweezer > Walk Away, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Piper > Waste, Run Like an Antelope

E: Loving Cup, Tweezer Reprise



It was nice to only have a few hours to drive on Sunday to get to the next show.  I spent the afternoon hanging out at a mall and Best Buy where I purchased Breaking Bad season 4 on DVD on sale for $19.  I had lunch at TGI Friday's in Stow where I watched the first half of England v Italy in the Euro 2012 soccer tournament.  There was a large shakedown that had assembled along the pathway when I arrived.  For a Sunday there was a big crowd.  This is a market that is accessible for both east coast and midwest fans.  I like the wooded surroundings of Blossom Music Center.  The roof of the pavilion is unique.  I had another great seat directly in front of Kuroda. 

The first set was a bit of a snoozer.  Sample was anti-climatic.  Tube was nice but far too abbreviated.  Axilla has been played a lot on this tour.  Bathtub Gin had a bit of a jam but seemed somewhat generic.  Roses Are Free came next and was sans any improvisation.  Over time I've come to appreciate Limb by Limb.  Trey shined on that one.  Free in the first set in this era is fairly unusual.  NICU, Possum, Wedge was standard fare.  The rarely played Taj Mahal cover, Corinna, was a diamond in the rough.  I felt it was a well played rendition.  Meatstick featured a number of dancers from the crowd being brought up on stage.  While this was comical it lacked any musical merit.  The first set was rather weak in comparison to other first sets from Phish this summer. 

I called the Golden Age > Ghost pairing to open the second set.  This segue featured some amazing work from Jon Fishman.  This tour he seemed to step his game up.  Ghost also had a nice jam before landing nicely into Sweet Virginia.  This was the first of two Exile songs played during the show.  Tweezer went off the tracks when Trey started his Pink Floyd/Queen/Vanilla Ice thing.  The transition into Walk Away out of Tweezer put me in the mind of Alpine Valley 2000.  This was the best version of Walk Away that I've seen Phish do.  Unfortunately, the energy that was built up by the Walk Away quickly fizzled with Horse > SITM.  Piper explored several themes before making its way into Waste.  I liked the placement of this poignant ballad.  Run Like an Antelope featured the best peak I've heard them do in the modern era with that classic tune.  Overall, this was the weakest fo the three shows which I saw over the weekend.  I hit the road as the encore started. I wanted to beat the traffic. I had a great time touring by myself.  It was nice to have my own hotel rooms.   After the Sunday show I drove all the way home from the Cleveland, OH area to Geneseo, IL on I-80. 

6/23/12 Phish @ First Niagara Pavilion - Burgettstown, PA

PHISH
6/23/12
First Niagara Pavilion
Burgettstown, PA

I: Funky Bitch, Backwards Down the Number Line, Gumbo, Maze, Torn and Frayed, Moma Dance, Scent of a Mule, 46 Days, You Enjoy Myself

II: Gotta Jibboo, Mike's Song > Simple > Light > Weekapaug Groove > Seven Below, Bouncing Around the Room, Julius, Slave to the Traffic Light

E: Lizards



postshow P.A. music was Bee Gees "Night Fever"



I was on the road around 11 am eastern time and was heading north of the Cincy metro area before being bogged down in horrible traffic that had backed up behind bridge construction.  I got fuel near Columbus and headed east from the midwest into Appalachia.  My hotel was a Super 8 near the Pittsburgh airport.  I had Arby's before heading to the lot.  Unfortunately, they made me park in one of the lots behind the venue.  As I attempted to enter the venue the barcode reader said "see box office".  Apparently my seat didn't exist so they gave me an upgrade very close on the Page side.

The first set wasn't much to write home about.  Funky Bitch featured some good work from Trey.  I was glad to get #Line out of the way early.  Gumbo featured the ragtime ending with no jamming.  Maze was when things really got going.  I've heard Torn and Frayed a few times.  We got the Moma Dance that was aborted the night before in Cincy.  This Mule duel was highlighted by Page's Theremin usage.  46 Days was high energy blues rock.  The first YEM of the tour featured some Scent of a Mule phrasing.  There was no jamming in the first set and for the most part it was rather forgettable.

This was a tale of two sets.  The second set was one of the best offerings of the summer tour from Phish.  Gotta Jibboo in that slot reminded me of Summer 2000.  This was a decent version but they played it relatively close to the vest.  Mike's was ferocious but still didn't contain the elusive "second jam" thats been neutered in the 3.0 era.  Personally I liked the choice of Simple at this juncture.  The outro jam was when this show really became special.  Simple > Light > Weekapaug Groove > Seven Below all had plinko infused jams.  Light was particularly noteworthy.  Bouncing Around the Room served as a much needed breather.  Julius got the energy going again before the introspective Slave to the Traffic Light that perfectly capped off the set.  Phish was feeling it on this occasion.  It was a nice when the second set flowed extremely well.  I moved to the back of the lawn for the only Lizards of the tour.  When the lights came up and the sounds of "Night Fever" were audible I was running for my vehicle in attempt to avoid the Star Lake traffic. 

6/22/12 Phish @ Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH

PHISH
6/22/12
Riverbend Music Center
Cincinnati, OH

I: Wolfman's Brother, Peaches En Regalia, Shaggy Dog, Runaway Jim, Light Up or Leave Me Alone > Wilson > Alaska, Stash, Llama, Buffalo Bill, Saw It Again > David Bowie

II: Down with Disease > Guelah Papyrus, Kill Devil Falls > Twist > Halley's Comet > Sand > Roggae, Carini > Chalkdust Torture, Golgi Apparatus

E: Fluffhead



walk-in P.A. music was The Talking Heads "Speaking in Tongues"
postshow P.A. music was Johnny Cash "We'll Meet Again"


____________________________________________________________



I made my way to Cincy on that Friday with relative ease on I-74 for the majority of the way from the Quad Cities. I stopped for White Castle near Indy. I had been to Riverbend for WSP 7/26/05 and Phish 6/5/11. After checking in at the Days Inn I made my way to the parking lot near River Downs which is the adjacent horse racing track. I saw a race happen after I parked my vehicle next to the railing. It was quite warm outside for the show but it's summer tour in the midwest, what do you expect? There was a traditional shakedown street assembled across the road from the venue. This year Riverbend installed an astroturf lawn. Call me a concert puritan but I prefer a natural grass lawn. Someone stubbed me into the pavilion and I saw some friends near the soundboard. The Talking Heads were on the PA before the show.

Right out of the chute Phish killed it with perhaps the best Wolfman's I've seen. Mike was in command with the ginger beard man adding tasteful patience guitar work. This was one of the best shows of the tour because they really used the first set to their advantage. It had improv, energy, rarities, and humor. Shaggy Dog was my first time hearing that. First time since 1995. Jim made it a canine combo. They aborted Poor Heart and Moma Dance in favor of Llama. Saw It Again > Bowie was good playing to end the set.

DWD got the crowd's attention from the get go. Trey may have been a little antsy when he started up Guelah Papyrus but it worked. KDF almost had a little jam and the end of the song had an ambient outro that became the highlight of the show, Twist. This dark exploratory jamming is what Phish is all about. They finally landed with Halley's Comet which had a nice spiral effect on the overhead circles by Kuroda. They abrubtly started up an energized version of Sand that had a slick transition into Roggae. Trey was pouring his heart out during this version on his guitar. Carini was fairly abbreviated when Trey started up Chalkdust and Golgi which ended the set. Fluffhead was an above average version and that is a unique setlist spot in the encore. This was one of the best 3.0 Phish era shows I've seen.

5/25-27 Summer Camp 2012 @ Three Sisters Park - Chillicothe, IL

Umphrey's McGee 5/25/12 AUD

I drove down to Three Sisters Park on Friday morning arriving shortly before midday.  The parking lot was more full than I'd ever seen it before.  I would guess the crowd was between 15,000-20,000.  It was perhaps slightly bigger than the year before but it was difficult to gauge with them having moved the Sunshine Stage further west this year.  For the second year in a row I chose to commute each day.  It takes about an hour and 15 minutes to get to Chillicothe from Geneseo.  I enjoy the rural scenary on my two lane highway journey that begins on Rt. 6 then on 40 south to 17 which finally runs into Rt. 29 along the Illinois River.  I saw law enforcement pulling people over in Chillicothe all weekend long. 

moe. was the first music I saw and their set was predictably tame.  It was broad daylight and was apparent from the get go that dust was going to be an issue especially at the main stage.  They played a decent segue between Wormwood > Downward Facing Dog.  Leftover Salmon played in the hottest part of the day.  I found some shade alongside the wheatfield.  That was my first time seeing them.  Mercifully, some clouds rolled in for the Weir, Robinson, Green acoustic trio.  This set was primarily Grateful Dead material played at an awkward, slow pace.  We went back to Camp Decatur and enjoy burgers on the grill.  Thanks to Doc for the burgers and Red Bull. 

Umphrey's McGee stepped up to the plate on Friday and hit the ball out of the park.  Their set was filled with heavy hitters and plentiful amounts of improvisation.  It really was a mature showing for the band coupled with the professional lighting provided by Jefferson Waful.  I caught my first live versions of Miami Virtue and Loose Ends.  MV had an N2F feel in the intro.  Glory was special with the sun setting off to side of the stage.  Ringo had two successful jams and was clearly the highlight of the first set.  This second set was serious business.  The entire OB sandwich was oozing with energy.  Bright Lights provided the highlight of the show for me.  I liked the Tool cover.  However, Day Nurse > Snucka pt. III was misplaced.  They should have ended the set with 46 & 2 and then done an encore.  The end of this show felt a little odd and that was my only complaint. 

Primus proved to be too strange for me.  I was impressed with their video stage setup.  Lotus used the Umphrey's McGee lights and they provided a nice late night set.  I wasn't thrilled with their setlist which didn't feature many of the songs I wanted.  Toward the end of their set I hit the road for home.  Umphrey's McGee had clearly been the winner of day one.

Umphrey's McGee 5/26/12 AUD

The first day had been marred by extremely hot weather.  Fortunately, on Saturday I was able to recover most of the day before leaving at 5 pm which got me there in time for Gov't Mule.  I was impressed with how tight they sounded.  They were straight out of the studio and it showed.  Kind of Bird approached 20 minutes followed by Temporary Saint.  Their cover of Led Zeppelin's Trampled Under Foot was great.  After Fallen Down I made my way over to Umphrey's McGee which was my priority all weekend whenever there was an overlap.  My friend from Ames, Curt, was taping at both stages all weekend.  I usually hung with him for the Umphrey's sets. 

I really enjoy the new instrumental opening tracks they used for their sets on Friday and Saturday.  Through the Cracks is a decent new song.  I like the vocal harmonies.  Utopian Fir was the obvious highlight of the set.  This was followed by a strong version of August.  The Bridgeless earlier in this set was also noteworthy.  During the setbreak I caught most of the moe. first set.  I was impressed with the segue between CalifornIA > Moth. 

The second set was magical with the debuting Depth Charge which led into their old jam horse Hurt Bird Bath.  I was thrilled to hear the second ever version of Comma Later.  I love the dance party Steely Dan vibe.  N2F had the place rocking.  Tom Sawyer was a little corny with Brendan doing a Bono style arm wave.  They did a pretty decent job with the song itself.  The Triple Wide was another highlight.  Hangover is a little played out for me.  The lyrics seem a little juvenile.  I loved the return to 1348 which completed the version started in the first set.  I moved to the back of the field and enjoyed the All in Time encored.  This capped off my favorite performance of the festival and my 140th Umphrey's McGee show. 

The final set of the night for me was moe. on the mainstage.  The lasers were the same as last year.  I questioned the choice of Shoot First in that placement, however, it led to a fruitful segue that reminded me of Psycho Killer before morphing into meat.  This was a strong version was 20+ minutes that veered off its normal path.  meat. was my favorite moe.ment of Summer Camp this year.  I was disappointed for the most part with their setlists and general lack of effort over the weekend.  Plane Crash in the encore was predictable and I was on my way home. 

Umphrey's McGee 5/27/12 AUD


It was a quick turnaround as the Umphrey's McGee afternoon set started at 1 pm.  It was extremely hot, the hottest day so far in 2012.  Temperatures were in the mid 90s.  I missed the first few songs and arrived as Great American was starting.  By Sunday the band was showing signs of being a bit tired.  However, they played very well considering the conditions.  In the daylight it was more apparent how annoying the sticks the kids are holding up these days.  This trend needs to stop.  Phil's Farm was sandwiched during the set.  Deeper and Booth Love were two tracks from their latest album that were played.  The untitled new song has potential.  The obvious highlight to this afternoon sweltering set of music was Resolution.  This was a repeated "Jimmy Stewart" from earlier in the year.  Jajunk was a nice way to wrap up the Umphrey's McGee Summer Camp 2012 sets. 

I decided I was going to leave after moe.'s acoustic set due to the extreme heat.  We were able to hear the music from Camp Decatur which provided some much needed shade.  moe. played a fairly tame acoustic set.  That was my first time hearing Backwoods.  32 Things was when I went up near the front of the stage and said my goodbyes to moe.  This will likely be my final Summer Camp.  After nine years in a row it just feels like I'm over the event.  The extreme weather, dust, and crowded conditions are the contributing factors to my decision.  It's been a good run.  I watched the end of the festival at home on iclips.
 

2/19/12 Umphrey's McGee @ The Canopy Club - Urbana, IL

Umphrey's McGee
2/19/12
The Canopy Club
Urbana, IL

I: Jazz Odyssey > 40's Theme, Room to Breathe, Ringo, Pay the Snucka > The Crooked One > When the World is Running Down > Pay the Snucka pt. III

II: Divisions > Day Nurse, I Want You (She's So Heavy), Hurt Bird Bath, FF > Go to Hell, Much Obliged > Divisions

E: Domino Theory




postshow P.A. music was "Mama I'm Coming Home" by Ozzy Osborne


___________________________________________________



I spent the day recovering from the journey to Chicago for moe. The Blackhawks defeated the St. Louis Blues in a nationally televised game. I picked up the other resident Umphreak from town and his girlfriend we were on the road by five. There was a large line assembled waiting for the doors to open prior to 8 pm when we arrived. It was good to see a lot of familiar faces and our group took position on the Jake side.

I was impressed with the energy of the first set. The whigs on Pony, BB, and Kris were comical. Pony would look cool if he actually had hair like that. The opening J.O. is apparently known as Gurgle. 40's Theme got people dancing. Room to Breathe was appropriate with everyone crushed like sardines. Ringo was probably the best jam of the night. The Snucka sammy with The Crooked One and The Police cover was a nice way to end the set. Jake's guitar was growling during pt. III.

Divisions is one of their most classic songs. I was happy to hear them start up the new dance number Day Nurse. I definitely could have done without The Beatles cover but I understand they are always trying to attract new fans and this was a show on a college campus. HBB was big as usual on this occasion. I've never been a big fan of FF but it spawned an intersting jam which eventually segued into Go to Hell. This heavy piece is quickly becoming one of my favorites. MO featured a fairly standard jam that predicably found its way into the end of Divisions. The second set did not have the raw energy of the first set but the entire show was engaging from start to finish. Domino Theory is a song off the new album that I initially hated but I've grown to enjoy the improvisation that it has yielded in the live setting.  After the show I drove us back home. We stopped for Wendy's in B-N.

2/18/12 moe. w/ Family Groove Company @ Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL

moe.
2/18/12
Riviera Theatre
Chicago, IL

I: Smoke > Stranger Than Fiction, Bring It Back Home > Blue Jeans Pizza, Suck A Lemon, George, Lazarus > Ricky Marten > Lazarus

II: Paper Dragon, Head > Interstellar Overdrive > Head, Captain America > Recreational Chemistry, Queen of Everything, Can't You Hear Me Knocking > Buster

E: Downward Facing Dog



[Family Groove Company opened]


AUD

It was a nice afternoon that felt more like spring than winter as my friend Craig and I drove into Chicago. We hung out at my buddy Steve's place before the show and watched the Bulls lose to the Nets nearby at the United Center. My sister and her boyfriend Ian stopped by and we enjoyed Lou Malnati's delivery. The crowd was larger than when moe. played two nights at the Riv in 2010. FGC was turned up way too loud. I do like Janis on bass though. They did a good job with a cover of American Girl by Tom Petty.

The first set seemed disjointed with them opening with Smoke and then doing a no huddle segue into STF. BIBH > BJP was by far the highlight of the first stanza. George always bring a good amount of energy to the table. I was disappointed when they didn't segue into Lazarus. Like I'd heard in Lawrence this was the album version of The Bones of Lazarus and the song seems to lose a lot of its buildup. They should go back to playing Laz and Ricky Marten seperately.

The second set was much better starting with a fiery version of Paper Dragon. Head > Interstellar Overdrive > Head was fantastic. This was my favorite part of the show. Captain America was a great version with a smooth segue ala their live album L into Rec Chem which was also another highlight of the second set. I thought perhaps they would end the set with QofE but they added on the Stones cover into Buster to wrap up an extended stanza of moe. I preferred this second set much more than then one I saw in Lawrence. Downward Facing Dog ended the first leg of the Winter Tour. The Riv seemed like a bigger dump than usual on this occasion with the toilets in the basement flooding out the men's room.