12/12/17 Aqueous @ Redstone Room - Davenport, IA

A few weeks ago I saw my final live music of 2017 at the Redstone Room in Davenport, IA.  The headliner was the up and coming band Aqueous from Buffalo, NY with local opening act Dr. Dometone.  It wasn't a huge crowd but not bad for a Tuesday night.  Maybe 25-50 people?  That venue is perfect for an intimate show of that size.  I was able to find free street parking nearby.  It was chilly.  Upon arrival I saw birthday boy Joe McKinney and Michelle.  The opening act wasn't bad.  I'd never seen them before.

Aqueous played one set with an encore that lasted two hours in duration.  I definitely felt like I got my $12.30 worth of entertainment.  They took the stage to the theme from Chariots of Fire.  I liked the guitar player on the right who occasionally played keyboards.  When the other guitar player played slide it definitely was remiscent of Al Schnier from moe.  I am not very familiar with their repertoire yet.  I know they played Origami toward the beginning of the set.  The highlight was the jam that emerged from their cover of Pink Floyd's "Fearless".  It was a fun show.  Their drummer gave me his setlist.  The crowd was sent out into the cold night to the sounds of Michael Jackson "Girl is Mine" on the PA system.  Not bad for a Tuesday night in Iowa.

11/24/17 Dead & Company @ Little Caesars Arena - Detroit, MI

On Friday I drove from Geneseo, IL to Detroit, MI for Dead & Company at the brand new Little Caesars Arena.  The drive was uneventful as the weather was unseasonably warm.  It was clear skies and open roads on I-80 and I-94.  I paid extra to park in the garage closest to I-75 which made for a quick getaway.  I brought a few leftover turkey and stuffing sandwiches that I ate when I got there being the day after Thanksgiving.  It was a scary lot scene a few blocks away in a vacant lot/alley.  There were a lot of desperate souls out there with area homeless mixing in with the Dead tour crowd making it resemble a skid row. 




This was juxtaposed against an $800 million dollar arena built for the Red Wings and to a lesser extent the Pistons.  There were multiple Little Caesars Pizza stands within the facility as you would expect.  Little Caesars Arena has an exterior of office buildings.  Inside of this is a wide concourse filled with high end sports bars, restaurants, and team shops.  As to be expected in these cutting edge facilities we went through TSA style metal detectors.  We were greeted by the sounds of jam friendly acts like the Allmans, Phish, and the Grateful Dead on the PA system in the hallway of the arena.  I purchased the event poster.  My actual seat was in the upper deck.  I took the escalator up there.  It was hard not to get vertigo.  They used the Bell Centre in Montreal as their model of what they wanted for the upper deck sightlines.  While it would be great for hockey, that's way too steep for dancing.  I found an empty seat in the lower level and it worked out fine for the evening.  The sound could have been a tad better but the biggest problem was people talking.  I met a good guy named Mike from Detroit.  He said he had done some of the electrical work on the venue.  The show started about 7:15.  Much of the crowd was late arriving.  I would estimate the crowd around 12-15K with the floor being separated into general admission in the front and reserved seating in the back.


John Mayer was the undisputed MVP of this show.  I recognized the Martha and the Vandellas Motown cover right away.  "Can't forget the Motor City!!!"  Next was Jack Straw with the "take the Detroit Lightning out of Santa Fe" lyrics.  Weir and Mayer trade off the vocals on that classic. A review of this show described the majority of the first set as being Americana.  That would describe the song selection accurately.  Jeff Chimenti stepped up on keys for Brown Eyed Women.  Ramble on Rose was next.  That was the Dead and Company debut of the traditional Deep Elem Blues.  I remember abbreviating on some of my first tapes BIODTL.  Sugaree was clearly the highlight of the first set.  Mayer shredded this nearly 15 version. 


New Speedway Boogie is a song I connect with the Festival Express DVD.  The more I studied the lyrics it becomes apparent that it's about Altamont.  This was a great song to start the second set.  This was followed by a slow Dark Star.  I'm not a huge fan of Bobby singing the Garcia tunes but I tried not to focus on that.  The classic Scarlet > Fire pairing made the show for me.  Oteil does a good job on the vocals for Fire on the Mountain.  I was a little bit letdown by the duration and intensity of this Drums.  It just never really got there.  They farted around too much and never got a good rhythm going.  The rest of the band returned for Space that eventually surprised us with Bob Dylan's A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall.  Weir did a solid job on the cover.  The Wheel featured the Jackson Browne "Stay" tease they did earlier in the tour.  Buddy Holly's NFA wrapped up the set in this massive arena setting with the crowd clapping along.  Casey Jones was the encore.  This was a fun show that had its moments.  The overall roadtrip was a good experience for me.  The new arena was interesting to explore.  Mayer, Oteil, and Jeff Chimenti drove the train.  The drummers played some of the tunes at too slow of a pace.  Bobby "Ace" Weir is one of my heroes.  I appreciate him keeping this thing going.

11/8/17 Spafford @ Waiting Room - Omaha, NE

Right now I'm in a transitional phase.  I made the correct decision to leave a job I was unhappy doing.  Last weekend I started working at Geneseo Brewing Co. in the kitchen.   I will be doing UPS driver helper in December.  It felt like with this roadtrip I got back to being me.  For the last 9 months I worked hard and tried my best at what ultimately was not a good fit for me.  Yesterday I drove by myself to Omaha for Spafford.  It was a crisp autumnal day with clear skies but temperatures in the 40s.  The corn and soybean harvest heads toward the home stretch.  I saw equipment in the fields until well after dark.  With daylight savings over the weekend I'm still getting used to it being darker earlier. I stopped in Avoca on my way there and ate at Taco John's which proved to be a rookie mistake.  With this being a 5 hour trip each way you have some time to reflect on things. 


I found a parking spot near the venue which was something at these smaller funky bars that I worry about.  Everything worked out well on this road trip.  It was good to see Low Soxx from The Bort.  There was maybe a 100 people or so.  It was a bar setting.  There was one taper.  I was right up front for the first set.  It was a loose crowd and you could move around easily.  Kenny showed up at setbreak and I'm glad he checked Spafford out. 


I liked watching the group interaction before they took the stage.  It reminded me of a basketball team.  They all slapped hands as they walked out of the dressing room.  Being up close I felt the drums were a bit loud in the mix.  Red wasn't turned up loud enough on the keys.  They replaced one of Brian Moss' guitar pedals on the go right as the show started.  I was impressed with the guitar tech's prowess under pressure.  Backdoor Funk was the song from this band that initially made me a fan from a show from Las Vegas 2015.  Remedy was a patient, extended version that had a segue into Walls.  Moss tipped his hand pretty early on the segue.  Remedy > Walls was a major highlight of the show.  Walls clocks in around 17 minutes.  Legend featured some slower blues work. Slip and Squander is probably Spafford's most accessible song and it worked well to close out the set.  Anchoring this version was solid bass work from Jordan Fairless.  Moss' solo at the end was huge per usual.  I was impressed with the first set. 


The second set started with a 20 minute version of Leave the Light On.  Both jams were successful, especially a powerful one after the second verse.  I dig Space Gagdet with its implied Inspector Gadget theme portion.  That was a cartoon I watched a lot back in the day. Todd's Tots is one of their better songs in my opinion.  Some of the parts remind me in a good way of Pat Metheny Group.  All My Friends was followed by Bee Jam which was more contained than the now famous version from Columbia, MO this fall.  I was delighted by the choice of Minds Unchained at that juncture.  Overall I was very happy about the playing and the song selection.  For the encore they did their reggae take on The Band's "I Shall Be Released".  The guitar tech gave me Brian Moss' stage setlist after the encore.  This was my 3rd time seeing Spafford.  It's fun to have a new thing to nerd out to, learn, and enjoy.   It was a lot of driving but I'm glad I went.  I had breakfast at McD in Newton by the Iowa Speedway.  Earlier in the day my sister had her baby.  Now I'm the uncle of Tommy Lake Dawson. 

10/6/17 Mike Gordon @ Metro - Chicago, IL

A few weeks ago I went to Chicago after work.  I listened to the Cubs-Nationals playoff game on the radio on my way into the city.  Upon arrival in Wrigleyville I watched the game for a while at the various bars.  I was walking by Murphy's when the Cubs got a key insurance run and the crowd went crazy with the bartender ringing the bell.  It was a fun energy to be part of.  The Metro is located down the left field line on Clark St. just past the ballpark.  I'd only been to one other show here which was The Omega Moos in what I believe was 2008.  The security provided a thorough frisk which was to be expected with the Las Vegas tragedy the weekend before.  That event really shook me to my core.  It made me question the direction of a lot things. 


I missed a lot of the first set watching the Cubs playoff win.  I caught the new song that closed it out Go Away.  I really like the new album OGOGO.  Stealing Jamaica was the theme of the poster so that made sense to open set II.  Cruel World is a song I've heard a lot with MGB.  Trapezoidal Sunshine was a really different tune that I was unfamiliar with.  The song titles Normal Phoebe and Crazy Sometimes provide a juxtaposition.  Whirlwind was a highlight for me.  Mike Gordon's version of Cities is with Scott on vocals and a much faster pace than Phish's cover.  It's more true to the original Talking Heads style.  Let's Go was the "single" from the album and I liked hearing Mike's band play it.  Last fall I'd heard Phish play this song during a soundcheck in Tennessee.  Steps was my favorite song off the album.  That was a good call to wrap up the night.  The crowd had to walk down steps on their way out of this venerable Chicago music club made popular by acts such as The Smashing Pumpkins.  The focus was on the new material this fall with Mike.  The general consensus was the new album was really solid.  The production was top notch combined with catchy songs.  They translated well to the living setting though not necessarily explored all that much. 


I met some nice people at the show.  We split an Uber back to where I was parked and got back in a timely manner.  Also at this show someone recognized me from college.  Sadly that's going back a ways at this point.  This show was an example of how my job was not allowing me to be the person I want to be.  I had to show up late and was exhausted the whole time.  I've since decided to move on from that company.  I'll sacrifice income to have more time and energy to do what I love.   Now that I have money saved I can rest and find work in a situation that is a better fit

9/23/17 Umphrey's McGee @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island - Chicago, IL

After work last Friday I drove to Madison, WI where I stayed with longtime friend Soren and his girlfriend Melissa.  It was gracious of them to let me stay.  We ate dinner, played some pool, and watched a movie called "Waking Life".  The next morning I got up and made my way to Milwaukee for the Cubs vs Brewers.  I stopped at my buddy Craig's place in New Berlin on the way.  This was my first time to Miller Park.  It was very hot with temps in the 90s.  It was a noon start but they still continued with the Disco Night theme which I enjoyed.  The crowd was over 44,000 and was sold out.  Hendricks pitched well.  As did Wilson from the bullpen.  Surprisingly it was Wade Davis who blew two leads in the 9th and 10th innings who let us down on this occasion.  The Brewers apparently play Bob Seger "Old Time Rock and Roll" after their wins.  It was a little stressful with the detours and traffic after the game but I made my way to the Lake Forest Oasis where my dinner was Sbarro and Dunkin Donuts.  It made me think of when we had stopped there in previous years going north to Milwaukee.  This time I was rolling south and onto a stretch of interstate 94 that I'm not sure I'd ever traveled right before it connects with 90.  Finally I got off at Lake Shore Drive and parked in the Soldier Field garage.  As I walked into the venue I could hear Umphrey's McGee starting up Nemo. 


I met some good people during the setbreaks.  Before the show I saw my friend Fabian and his brother Francis.  I said hello to Adam Budney as I entered the crowd.  The first set had Jake and Brendan on acoustic guitars.  The rest of the band appeared to be using normal gear.  It was still daylight for the first set which lasted about 45 minutes in duration.  The show started on time at 6:30.  For the record I did not attend the previous attempt when it was rained out.  The acoustic set and rescheduled show was a way of the band making it right.  After a day of watching baseball in the hot sun and battling gridlock on the highway a three set concert may have been a bit ambitious.  I drank a 5 hour energy and continued onward.  There were a few songs in that first set I was not familiar with and had to look up on their Twitter page.  Mike Racky sat in on pedal steel for four songs.  I remembered him from several of the Jake and Brendan Christmas shows.  In the Kitchen with Pony Stasik supplying a strong groove was the clear highlight of this acoustic first set.  I moved closer to the stage for set II. 


Wappy Sprayberry was followed by Crucial Taunt.  This was a hard rocking segment juxtaposed against the more gentle sounds of Passing.  The rest of the set was a Jajunk sandwich with Higgins, Make It Right, and Remind Me.  This portion of the show was a major highlight with the band at the top of the collective game.


The final set and encore was sandwiched with the appropriate Divisions.  On the way home I listened to The Score 670 and listened to the divided opinions on the NFL situation.  There was a smooth segue into The Floor.  Ringo was a solid version followed by the always welcome The Triple Wide.  The dance beat dissipated into the 80's cover of Thompson Twins "Hold Me Now".  At work I listen to 104.9 KIIK.  I recognized what they were doing pretty early.  They finished the Mantis they had started at the previous show in July.  Wizard Burial Ground was a major highlight.  Stasik took a bass solo in the middle.   I thought Joel played well on keyboards.  He's a good guy.  Day Nurse was the first song of the encore and led into the end of Divisions which was end the show.  It was over by the 11 pm curfew. 


I hit major traffic near Bowlingbrook which was the result of a weekend late night construction project.  It turned the drive home into much longer than it needed to be.  After bumper to bumper traffic for several hours I finally stopped at White Castle.  The food was good but I was approached by a person asking for money in the parking lot at 2 am.  I helped the guy but honestly for one of the first times in 18 years of traveling for music I felt in danger.  Also going to White Castle made me miss Nick and Elizabeth who no longer see shows anymore.  That was a postshow ritual for us.  Near Minooka you could see a fire at the top of the nearby oil refinery.  It lit up the night sky for miles.  I stopped for a while at that rest area but with temperatures in the 80s it was hard to sleep.  Finally after getting fuel and coffee at the Pilot McDiesel in Utica I was able to make the final leg of my journey.  In retrospect I have a hard time conjuring the energy for a ballgame and a show in the same day.  To do that in two different states with the concert having an extra set taboot was asking a lot out of my body.   

9/2-3 Phish @ Dick's Sporting Goods Park - Commerce City, CO

A week ago I left work at 2:30 and traveled west.  I started the journey with Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band "Greatest Hits".  The opening track, "Roll Me Away" was the opener at the show I'd seen the previous Saturday in Moline.  I stopped briefly in Tiffin, IA and as I got back on the interstate I saw a hawk flying which is referenced in that song.  The lyrics from that album seemed to fit with my roadtrip.  I even heard "Turn the Page" on the road east of Omaha on radio coming back.  I really enjoyed that Seger show and it was a consolation for having to miss the Friday Dick's Phish show this year.  Next year hopefully I won't have to miss the first night which unfortunately for me turned out to the be the strongest show by a wide margain.  That's the way it goes sometimes.  I had a lot of fun and enjoyed the two shows I saw.  It's inspirational how well Phish is playing right now.  I think it's the best they've played since I was in high school.


I drove from Davenport, IA to York, NE and stayed at the luxurious Motel 6 where Tom Bodette left the light on for me.  I dined on Taco Bell.  After a shower and a few episodes of Modern Family I got a good night's rest.  There was still at least 6 hours of driving left.  Listened to the Nebraska official movie soundtrack.  I can tolerate western Nebraska but eastern Colorado is horrible.  Staring off into nothing for 3 hours is brutal.  It was easy to get to Dick's Sporting Goods Park and the Quebec St. area from 76 using rt. 2.  I camped with Pat, Ryan, Heather, Jeff, and Katherine.  There was a good crew of other people camping nearby who made the weekend fun.  They played songs from The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 which made them good people in my book.  However, it was very hot.  90 degrees on Saturday and 96 degrees on Sunday. 


The first set on Saturday was very impressive.  Though nowhere near the Chicago Simple this was a good version for an opener.  Martian Monster seemed explored more than earlier this summer.  Reba was a major highlight of the weekend for me.  Then they kept the momentum up with Sand.  Crazy Sometimes from the Mike solo tour works well with Phish.  Limb by Limb contained a "Follow the Yellowbrick Road" tease by Trey.  Wolfman's Brother was extended beyond normal 3.0 boundaries.  Walls of the Cave was a high energy way to wrap up a set that could pass as a second set on some nights.  I was happy with the first set. 


Everything's Right had a jam that needed a bit more leadership.  It fizzles before heading into Fuego. 
Steam was followed by Chalkdust and by now it was starting to get a little too song oriented.  Too many songs.  The calling card of the Saturday Night Special.  The jamming happened the night before.  This wasn't my first rodeo.  I know how they operate during 3 night runs in this era.  Mike's was straight forward.  Winterqueen was a cool down moment but did yield some brief interesting playing at the end before surprising us with What's the Use? before Weekapaug.  I thought that would wrap it up.  They tacked on Slave to the Traffic Light.  Lizards, Antelope was a very old school generous encore.  The landing during Antelope left something to be desired.  It was a powerhouse setlist but this second set was played almost totally within the box which is disappointing coming on the heels of the Baker's Dozen.  Still we heard a lot of classic Phish songs.  After that Reba everyone was a winner. 


The first set on Sunday was rather pedestrian until a rocking 46 Days and an explored Bathtub Gin to wrap it up.  This was my 145th show.  Pat was with me at my first show 7/24/99 Alpine Valley.  I was glad he was with me for a fun second set and a powerful encore. I liked the dark space that was explored during DWD.  The sentiment of the lyrics of Rise/Come Together are Trey's statement about the nation.  Meatstick reminded me of 7/12/00 and 9/22/00 two other favorite versions .  It sank in how long I've been seeing Phish.  The band didn't necessarily play the songs I wanted to hear during this set but they are playing so well that it didn't really matter.  Waste, First Tube was a good way to end the summer.  The postshow music was Steely Dan "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" which was a nod to the fallen Walter Becker.  The next day I heard "FM" by Steely Dan and decided to listen to the radio the entire way back.  No static at all.  I heard everything from Danzig to Rockwell to Grand Funk Railroad as I was getting closer to my home.  In Nebraska for dinner it felt like an Arby's night.  I stopped briefly in Omaha and then made the final push for home.  Last weekend was a lot of driving but I'm glad I went.  I saw some old friends.  It was good for the soul.

8/26/17 Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band @ iWireless Center - Moline, IL

This morning I made the spur of the moment decision to buy a ticket to see Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band at The Mark of the Quad Cities.  That is the venue where I saw my very first concert which was Jethro Tull in 1996 with my parents.  On that occasion it was a half house setup.  This was a full arena setup with chairs on the floor. By showtime it appeared to be sold out or very close.  You can tell that concerts are a much needed shot of business to downtown Moline.  I thought about parking near Bad Boyz Pizza but the lot was full and it was getting close to showtime so I ended up parking near 16th St. and 6th Ave. in a public lot.  I felt like George Costanza driving around refusing to pay to park.  With time being of the essence I settled for a Slim 5 at Jimmy John's.  This was a new location for me located on the same block as Bent River Brewery. 


The opening act was forgettable.  Seger hit the stage about 9.  The older beer drinking crowd sat the whole show.  The Quad Cities is lucky to have such a wonderful arena.  I still remember when it was built in the mid 90s and the hey day of the Mallards shortly thereafter.  There are lots of great memories for me associated with that building.  Bob Seger is far from my favorite artist but his music has been with me a lot over the years.  His voice is like a familiar friend that has been with me on my journey.  It's a certain type of Midwestern soul that I can relate to.  He's just a special songwriter and singer.  For a guy his age he was dancing around like James Brown at times.  It was impressive.  The Silver Bullet Band is a nuanced and tight musical outfit.  At one point there was 15 people onstage.  The 5 piece Motown horns brought a full sound for the beginning half of the show.  Several songs he played piano.  For a couple he sat and played acoustic.  His drummer was a driving force in the band.  The young electric guitar player was highly skilled and knew his parts.  Fire Down Below was expected and appreciated with the Moline reference. Mainstreet is a favorite of mine.  Like a Rock was emotion filled even its been tained by the Chevrolet commercial usage.  He said he got the idea for We've Got Tonight from the movie The Sting.  The saxophone on Turn the Page was a major highlight.  Her Strut was probably about as rocking as the show got.  Ramblin Gamblin Man was a song that I appreciate more now.  Against the Wind and Hollywood Nights are amongst my favorite Bob Seger tracks.  I liked watching one of the security ladies put down her guard and dance during Night Moves.  Rock and Roll Never Forgets wrapped up a fun experience.   It was nice to be home 30 minutes after the show ended.  My drifter days are over now.  Deadlines and commitments.  What to leave in?  What to leave out?  I'm still running against the wind. 

7/23/17 Umphrey's McGee @ The Landing at the Riverfront - Peoria, IL

With me working full time these days I had to get rid of my August 1st Phish ticket at Madison Square Garden.  I gave it away to someone who we went on an adventure with back in 2010.  I turn 36 on Tuesday so it's got me thinking a lot about getting older.  For my birthday my parents bought me a ticket to see Umphrey's McGee the previous Sunday in Peoria, IL.  Had I still been going to Phish I'm not sure I would have gone to this.  That's how I'm framing the narrative for this.  The show in Peoria made me rethink of what Umphrey's McGee currently is.  Just when you think you've gotten something totally figured out they throw you a curve ball that changes the game completely. 


This was my 157th time seeing the band over a span since 12/5/01 Union Bar in Iowa City.  With the band moving to different regions of the country and having families its somewhat changed the dynamic.  I burnt myself out on the band around 09-10.  That's when I scaled back on my involvement and have been able to keep interested from afar.  It seems like they've gone back to focusing more on the progressive rock side of things and eased back on the dance songs.  I liked how this Peoria show had plenty of danceable moments but stuck to a heavier sound overall. I'm not the best at estimating crowds but this wasn't a huge crowd by any means.  500?  The weather was gorgeous in the mid 70s.  The stage was now positioned underneath the 74 bridge.  That would be the third location on the property that I've seen Umphrey's McGee perform.  I liked how you could easily walk over next to the Illinois River.  It was a pretty sunset.  Scheduling outdoor concerts in the Midwest is a dicey proposition but this wasn't Jay Goldberg's first rodeo.  I saw him before the show.  This was a great experience for me.  He and his son have put on a lot of amazing nights of entertainment for me over the years.


On the way to the show I stopped at Culver's in Geneseo and had a Double Bacon Deluxe.  The Eat opener was appropriate.  That has always been the Umphrey's homage to King Crimson in my eyes.  The band took the stage to the track titled War by Vince DiCola on the Rocky 4 soundtrack.  They played most of that album during the setbreak.  Push the Pig with Peoria's finest in attendance kept the energy going.  That was the theme of the evening.  The show was like a geyser of energy.  Pony's new wooden colored bass has the best tone of his career.  The song wound down and Joel had a piano solo before they kicked into a hip hop sounding jam.  I wasn't familiar with the next two.  The first was an instrumental tune Cut Off and next was Onward and Upward during which you could tell something special was happening.  The inclusion of The Pequod was a nice breather moment.  It showed a maturation of the Umphrey's McGee setlist writing.  Conduit was a strong finish to a cohesive set.  I talked to NickMo for a while during setbreak. He's a good guy within this music community. 


This evening made me appreciate the Umphrey's prog classic All Things Ninja.  Attachments is a great newer addition to the catalog.  2 x 2 was a nice call and harkens back to some of the earliest days of the band.  Utopian included a Rupert Holmes cover in the middle and the second part had a jam that sounded a lot like the Around the Horn theme song.  Kula reminds me of the Davenport '08 show.  Wappy Sprayberry had a synthy jam led by Joel.  Cochise by Audioslave was a major highlight and was totally unexpected.  This was a great way to pay tribute to the recently departed Chris Cornell.  End of the Road again provided an effective juxtaposition.  Out of Order finished off a great show.  I grabbed the event poster and was out by my vehicle by the final notes.  I was home by 12:30. 

7/14-16 Phish @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island - Chicago, IL

This has been a bit of a cruel summer because I've had to sit on the sidelines for the Baker's Dozen yet I've had the resources to make it happen.  Such is life sometimes.  However, I am grateful I was able to attend the opening run of Phish's summer tour in Chicago.  I worked a fifty four hour workweek but was able to leave Davenport, IA by 3:30.  I knew with Friday traffic it was going to be pushing it.  After parking in the Soldier Field garage I emerged from the staircase to hear the opening notes of What's the Use?  Fitting indeed with today's political climate.  The band had been practicing at the former Bradley Center all week in Milwaukee and it showed.  Breath and Burning came next as I made the walk around Burnham Harbor.  This was my 141st time seeing Phish.  As I entered the venue they started up Wolfman's Brother and it was on from there.  They did an acapella tune that paid tribute to the summer time.  It was great to see them use Everything's Right from the TAB tour as a jam vehicle.  Nellie Kane and Limb by Limb kept things going.  Theme was a little shaky at times.  Blaze On wasn't explored per se but brought the energy to a peak before the setbreak.


I moved up a bit closer for set two.  The Phish engine room of Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman was firing on all cyclinders during that No Men in No Man's Land.  Fuego and MFMF are a little too structured for my ideal second sets but it worked.  The surprising highlight was My Pet Cat > Golden Age > My Pet Cat.  Leaves is a new Anastasio/Marshall ballad.  The ending of Harry Hood was better than usual especially for a tour opener.  Shine a Light seemed like it might end the set but they tacked on a fiery Julius.  I wasn't familiar with the first song of the encore.  It had a reggae vibe.  Golgi Apparatus send the masses off into the Chicago night to The Impressions "People Get Ready".  This tour was going to be special.  I drove my vehicle to Wicker Park and took the blue line back to the Pittsfield Hotel where I stayed with my friends Ryan and Heather from Auburn, AL.  I liked our accommodations on Washington just off Michigan Ave.  I thought about going to see Karl D at the Concord when I was out in Wicker Park but I was exhausted from a 9 hour work day, the drive to Chicago, and a concert. 


It was nice to enjoy a wonderful day in the city.  The weather was in the 70s which is unusual for the middle of July.  I ran into the same bunch of guys I was with for the first night of Wrigley Field 2016 as I walked down Michigan Ave towards the venue.  I saw them again at Umphrey's McGee the weekend after in Peoria.  The Hilton always reminds me of the end of The Fugitive.  I saw Travis Darby in the parking lot who I played high school soccer with.  It was nice to see him.  He's a good guy.  This show started rather pedestrian but really picked up right around Yamar.  They actually lowered the lighting rig during Martian Monster and then raised them again.  It was a use of technology that I had never seen before.  Party Time seemed extended more than usual. Wingsuit had some patient work by Trey towards the end.  After a well played Bouncin' Around the Room they wrapped up the set with my first time seeing More.  I like the lyrics to that one. 


I loved the choice of Corona from Trey's Traveler album to open set two.  What came next was unquestionably the highlight of the whole three day run.  It was Simple.  With skyscrapers literally behind the band they unleashed a 27 minute adventure.  After wrapping up a normal version they locked into what seemed like a composed heavy metal jam that eventually became what to the trained ear appeared to be a prolonged segue into Timber (Jerry).  The transition never happened as they stuck with the percussive jam and milked this for all this was worth with great success.  It was an amazing jam that foreshadowed the improvisation we've heard at Madison Square Garden since.  Winterqueen was a nice choice as the cooldown ballad and then they actually extended the ending which led into Light.  This was a short version with a somewhat awkward segue into Scents and Subtle Sounds but that was like a pitcher losing a perfect game in the 7th inning.  That's how good the second set had been.  The city shot off fireworks from Navy Pier and you could see them from the venue during Cities and the beginning of Slave to the Traffic Light.  See the city.  I called the Loving Cup encore.  After a second set like that it was the only way to go.  The sounds of Faces "Oh La La" was the postshow music.  This show made me remember what it felt like when I was younger.  After the show I walked back to the hotel along the lakefront and enjoyed the view of the greatest skyline in the world.


The Sunday show was in the shadow of Saturday's masterpiece.  I knew that wouldn't top that for a while.  We watched Tropic Thunder on Netflix and I went downstairs for some Dunkin Donuts.  The weather became almost too cold during the show.  I bought the long sleeve summer tour shirt just to stay warm.  Before the show I went out to Wicker Park and got my car and moved it to the Soldier Field for a quick getaway.  Possum was a fitting start with me getting on the road right after.  I had to be at work the next morning at 5:55 so again that was appropriate.  I liked the Stash from this set.  Run Like an Antelope was a strong way to finish the first set.  For the second set I found Scott and Adam from Champaign.  The guys from the day before.  Carini was the highlight of the show it modulated from a dark nasty jam into a blissful uplifting exploration.  20+ minutes of top shelf Phish that made the show worthwhile for me.  The segue into 20 Years Later had me thinking how I've been seeing the band for 18 years.  Piper was a solid choice at that junction.  At this point they debuted a new song Thread which has potential moving forward.  After Bathtub Gin I had to get on the road for home.  It sucks I had to miss the end of the show but I took what I could get.  I made it to work the next day.

7/1/17 Dead & Company @ Wrigley Field - Chicago, IL

Last weekend I decided that I had heard enough of the recordings of this tour to know that I wanted to be in the fold of what was happening.  John Mayer was playing great and was using a warm early 70s Jerry tone.  Weir seems rejuvenated by this project.  I was able to talk Craig into going so I was with the same person I went to GD50 4th of July two years ago.  We got tickets for $95 including fees.  It's still hard to stomach paying that much for one concert. 


The weather was ideal on Saturday with temperatures in the 80s and clear skies.  I worked on Friday so I decided to only go the second night.  I was happy with the decision with the way the setlists played out.  Traffic could have been much worse given the circumstances.  We found a parking spot in Wicker Park and had Big Al's for dinner before taking the Blue Line down to the Red Line.  At the transfer there was several black guys with a guitar and drums.  They played excellent versions of Althea and Scarlet Begonias.  They must have seen that evening's setlist.  Talk about playing to your audience. It was cool to see the renovations on Clark St.  That was all under construction last year for Phish.  There was an empty lot on Waveland that became a de facto Shakedown Street.  There was vending all along Waveland and Sheffield Ave.  We walked around the entire ballpark and then headed inside.  The metal detectors are an annoyance.  I bought the event hat and the shirt.  Our actual seats were behind home plate on the first level.  We spent the first set down the right field line.  It gave us a better view of the ballpark while the sun was still out.  The crowd was almost comical in the fact that it was three generations. 


Mayer was on top of his game with the blues rock numbers such as Cold Rain and Snow.   Jack Straw saw him trading off the vocals with Weir like the song calls for.  Tennessee Jed isn't one of my favorite numbers especially with Bobby singing it.  That was the tour debut of Ship of Fools.  I liked Oteil getting into the vocal mix.  I could have done without the acoustic interlude. The energy was lacking at that point.  Dark Star was the second verse with them having started it the night before.  This led into Friend of the Devil which became a huge sing-along.  The final two numbers of the first set Althea and Casey Jones were in Mayer's blues wheelhouse. 


We moved back to our real seats for the second set.  Bobby kicked things off with Sugar Magnolia.  Next was Dancing in the Street which was the highlight of the whole show for me.  Mayer used a late 70's disco Dead Mu-Tron effect with great success.  This Martha Reeves and the Vandellas cover was over 13+ minutes of funky dancing in Chicago.  I was also impressed with Mayer's playing in Playin' in the Band.  He was nailing the Garcia parts.  This led into an emotional version of Comes A Time sung by Oteil.  Scarlet > Fire was what I came for.  After a spiritual Drums that shook the old ballpark to its core we saw a Space that saw them toy with Stella Blue territory before settling into The Other One.  The latter day Garcia/Hunter number Days Between slowed things down more than I would have liked in that slot.  However, the Chuck Berry cover Not Fade Away closed out the final set of the tour with an appropriate ethos.  The encore was a good call with them playing in a renovated 100+ year venue.  Brokedown Palace was followed by the Sunshine Daydream end portion of Sugar Magnolia.  This was accompanied by fireworks.  I was really impressed by the crowd energy at the end of the show.  Instead of dealing with the red line madness we Uber'd it back to Wicker Park.  The drive was uneventful.  With us grooving out of the city listening to 102.7 we were able to get home around 2:30 am. 

5/28/17 Summercamp @ Three Sisters Park - Chillicothe, IL

It's been a week since I attended my 14th Summercamp in a row.  The first two years were the only ones I did not attend in some form.  We live about an hour and fifteen minutes north of the festival site.  To put it in perspective we can drive there without getting on an interstate.  I was told attendance was above 22,000 by Saturday.  Once again my friend Craig came along for the forth year in a row.  Kyle joined us as well this year.  We hit the tobacco shop and Subway on the way.  I've never parked that far away.  Going forward I will likely continue to attend but will not be arriving at noon like we did.  It's just too much hanging around in a field with a bunch of kids.  Admittedly there were times this year were I felt old and over the whole thing.  We got there so early in order to see Umphrey's McGee.  The day started with Illinois act Family Groove Company.  At the merch stand I picked up the Trey Anastasio 2017 tour shirt. 


This was my 157th time seeing Umphrey's McGee. My prime years of seeing this band were 04-07.  The Sunday afternoon set is always relatively safe.  It's tough to make it happen at 2 pm in the blazing heat.  I felt they showed well for themselves though.  This was a cohesive set that showcased songs that would appeal to veteran and new fans.  August in particular had several impressive peaks.  Walletsworth brings me back to the Anchor Drops era.  The Joel Cummins-led ending is one of my favorite parts of any of their songs.  That was my first time hearing Attachments.  There was a lot of energy for a day set and exceeded my expectations. 


I walked over to the Moonshine Stage and was impressed by Railroad Earth.  It started to really heat up.  I'll see them again in August when they play with moe. in Peoria.  This was announced in the festival pamphlet.  I left my folding chair over at the Sunshine Stage most of the day in front of the soundboard.  The highlight of the Yonder Mountain String Band set were the covers of Linda Ronstadt and America.  Allie Kral is doing a great job with that outfit.  She is an artist that I strongly associate with this festival from her years with Cornmeal.  This bluegrass part of the day took it out of me with the hot sun above.  I ended up getting sun burnt.  For dinner I had a pulled pork sandwich that wasn't bad for festival fare. 


Trey played better on this occasion than he did in Michigan three weeks prior.  Gotta Jibboo got the fans dancing.  Sand was the highlight of the show with Trey digging in providing plenty of signature licks.  Soul Rebel and Drifting are two tunes that I didn't catch at the Royal Oak show.  Money, Love and Change was another notable highlight of the first set.  Trey locked into a little phrase and kept returning to it.  I thought about catching local act The Dawn on the camping stage but Trey returned early and started Night Speaks to a Woman.  This was the same placement that I saw three weeks earlier.  Ocelot isn't a tune that necessarily needed to make the transition from Phish.  Valentine was given a little extra treatment.  Plasma was played at a very slow pace and eventually transitioned into Liquid Time.  This included a cover of recently departed Gregg Allman's Midnight Rider.  The next five songs solidified this show as my favorite part of the day.  Dark and Down reminds me of the lightning during the storm Trey played in at this venue a few years prior.  Simple Twist Up Dave was a strong version.  Goodbye Head was well played.  Mr. Completely and First Tube capped off the set.  The encore consisted of Clint Eastwood and Push on Til the Day.  By this point I was walking to the back of the field heading towards moe. when Trey finished his set with the appropriate acappella number The Parting Glass. 


As I walked up to the Moonshine Stage I recognized the opening notes of Tailspin.  This is a good call with the current state of our nation.  I was glad to hear them extend the end and eventually segue into Ricky Marten.  Opium had a sit in by Allie Kral.  This segued into Billy Goat which continued into 32 Things.  The band projected some video footage on the stage and admittedly it was corny.  Akimbo rounded out the set.  I walked over and got a cup of coffee and listened to some of Story of the World, M.E.M.P.H.I.S. from The Disco Biscuits.  I decided buying a funnel cake was a bigger priority. 


I liked how the final set of moe. was a Chromatic Nightmare sandwich.  Lazarus is always welcome.  ATL sounds too much like St. Stephen.  McBain went on a bit long and I was very tired by this point.  I've always thought McBain/George and Skrunk sounded musically related.  The band denies this but I still stand by the original assertion.  Honestly I felt like moe.'s show a year prior on Sunday at Summercamp was a lot better.  This wasn't a bad effort.  I'm glad we went.  The three of us finished out the Plane Crash encore and made the arduous walk from one end of the property to the other where they parked us.  I drove us home with relative ease.  Memorial Day was once again spent recovering.  There was a moment at the festival where I got sad thinking about some of the faces no longer with us.  I guess it's part of getting older.  I'm glad we have a major festival so close and I'll try to continue to support the event.

5/6/17 Trey Anastasio @ Royal Oak Music Theatre - Royal Oak, MI

Let's preface this by saying that I bought this ticket back in 2016 and was working a different job.  Moving forward I won't be driving this far for one show like this.  It was a foolish decision to buy the ticket.  With that said I had nothing better to do.  I had the time and the inclination.  I got the yard mowed on Friday and was ready to go by 11:30 am on Saturday.  It was clear blue skies for most of the day with temps in the fifties.  The drive went smoothly.  I stopped for Wendy's in Paw Paw, MI.  On the way there I saw a billboard for Tim Allen doing standup comedy at a casino.  They still love him up there.  I heard "The Payback" by James Brown on the radio as I was rolling into the Detroit area and that got me amped for the show.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Royal Oak was a fairly gentrified suburb of Detroit.  It was easy to find a parking garage near the venue.  The venue was pretty cool besides the TSA style metal detectors.  They did have a little patio for the smokers which filled up quickly during setbreak.  I found a place to dance toward the back of the floor.   The poster with the oak tree and the city behind it captured the suburban setting.  The wood grain reminded me of what we do at work. 


The Sand opener got things going.  I remember Acting the Devil from 01-03 era TAB which was a whole different musical beast than what we currently see.  This version of TAB still grooves but its largely a pop vehicle.  Anastasio's playing was restrained and patient almost to the point of there being a bit too much tension and not enough release.  The band was tight and everyone had their moments.  Cayman Review got me thinking how the self titled Trey album still largely anchors his solo canon.  Magilla seems a bit tired.  I'm not sure Ocelot and Alaska need to be played in the same show with Phish or TAB.  Curlew's Call has always been a favorite from Trey's repertoire.  I could have done without the Hozier cover.  Unless Trey is doing Bowie on Halloween I don't need him putting his guitar down to be a singer.  Dark and Down was one of my favorite parts of the show.  I'll never forget the lightning at Summercamp during that song a few years ago.  Money, Love and Change is a song I can relate to lyrically.  I was glad to hear the new Trey song Everything's Right.  Some of the vocals almost put me in the mind of George Michael.  Last Tube wrapped up a generous 80+ minute first set. 


Night Speaks to a Woman got the show going again and the energy was back to where we left it at the end of the first stanza.  Shine wasn't the direction I'd have gone in that slot.  49 Bye-Byes made the show for me. I was hoping to hear that cover of CSN&Y that they have been doing recently.  I met some friendly people at this show.  Some guys from Cleveland brought up the Cubs and I felt bad for them.  We were lucky not to have blown Game 7.  The next night on 60 Minutes the segment went over exactly what I talked to them about.  Simple Twist Up Dave has long been a song of Trey's solo career that I've liked.  After that I was satisfied with what I'd seen.  The show had been a positive experience so when they started up Bounce I took that as a cue. 


The drive home was a challenge but I got after it.  It was unnerving to see a lot of freshly hit deer in the road.  Michigan has a lot of woods along the interstate.  Not ideal for night driving.  I took a little break at the South Holland Oasis once I crossed back into Illinois.  After some Dunkin' Donuts in Morris I was able to push on and made it home as the sun was coming up.  I pulled into the driveway at 5:55 am on Sunday.  In three weeks I'll be seeing Trey Anastasio again in Chillicothe, IL.

4/8/17 Spafford @ Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL

For 17 years I was a tourhead that worked.  This year I finally transitioned into being a working man that sees shows.  Since my senior year in high school my biggest priority was seeing as much live music as humanly possible.  No one can really argue that I achieved that goal to the utmost.  What now though?  I am now working a full time job in Davenport.  Replacing my vehicle and eventually moving out are now the focal points for me.  This year I completed my mission of listening to every Phish show that circulates.  If it sounds like I'm closing a chapter its because to an extent I am.  The problem is that you can just turn off an insatiable appetite for that energy that only live music creates.  The answer was Spafford at The Bottom Lounge in Chicago on Saturday April 8th. 


A lot of fans of this music are searching for something new right now.  My favorite bands of the last 20 years have recently publically capped their live activity.  Phish stated 40 shows is their limit each year.  Widespread Panic has set their limit between 20-25 performances annually.  That's semi-retirement.  I'm 35 years old and still ready to rock and roll.  On our way to Nashville last October I discovered a band from Arizona named Spafford.  In November I caught a few songs from them as they opened for Lotus at the Vic in Chicago.  This time they were the headliner.  I drove to Chicago with relative ease stopping at Jimmy John's in Utica.  While I was eating a guy walked in with a shirt featuring Walt and Jesse simply stating The Danger.  Appropriate with Better Call Saul about to return that Monday.  The kid who made my sandwich reminded me of myself when I used to do that stuff.  I have come to appreciate these solo trips to Chicago for music.  It's like a reset button for the mind.  Listening to the radio stations on my way to/fro is half the fun for me at this stage of the game.  This mission had me exiting the Dan Ryan at Lake St. and driving beneath the L tracks to our venue The Bottom Lounge.  I was able to find street parking nearby and immediately met some friendly fans.  I'd seen Mungion last September in Chicago when they opened for moe. at the Concord so I was in no hurry to catch their opening set. 


The Bottom Lounge was a refreshing change of pace regarding Chicago venues.  They respected their patrons and didn't treat us like criminals upon arrival.  I bought the poster at the merch stand with the tortoise chasing the carrot.  Taking the poster out to my vehicle before Spafford started was a veteran move.  I was able to find a spot fairly close to stage.  The band was using mellow PA music to set the mood i.e. "Three Times A Lady" by The Commodores.  I didn't recognize the cover they opened with.  Weasal > Palisades > Weasal was a great start.  I was hoping to hear Slip & Squander.  It's a Bunch works well.  All In was the highlight of the first set.  That was some solid dance music exploration. 


I wasn't as wild about the second set but definitely enjoyed the Electric Taco Stand > Alternate Ending > Electric Taco Stand and the In the Eyes of Thieves.  Also of note was the solo version of Beautiful Day sung by Red Johnson.  Spafford's first set didn't start until 10:45.  So at this juncture it was getting pretty late.  I left before the encore and drove home.  This show had its moments.  Spafford is on the rise and has a lot of potential.   

2/24/17 Lotus @ Orpheum Theatre - Madison, WI

On Friday I saw my first live music of 2017.  There's been a lot of change over the winter.  I left my job in December.  For a month and half I delivered pizza for Happy Joe's in Colona.  I wasn't worried about what the perception people would have.  It was just about moving the story forward.  That brings us to today where I've been hired on at a new full time job.  While this may mean in the short term I have to vamp down on the music it's a positive turn of events.  If I have to change my touring paradigm to achieve a better life then so be it.


Before this show I was feeling somewhat down about my state of affairs.  By the end of this it made me realize there's plenty to look forward to.  That's what a good show can do.  Preshow I grabbed a slice at Pizza Di Roma.  I got rid of my extra tickets before the show.  I've taken the time and the effort to learn the Lotus repertoire.  In my opinion they are on top of the jamtronica acts right now.  This first set at the Orpheum was kind of a statement in my eyes.  The opening act was a British DJ named Jack London (not the author of White Fang) and his buddy on guitar.  During Lotus I saw him in the balcony where we were Rempel side.  He liked my Arsenal jersey.  Inspector Norse > Age of Inexperience was top shelf playing right from the start.  The balcony was probably 3/4 empty so the show was far from sold out.  Hammerstrike explored some womped out terrain with Jesse on the keyboard bass.  Blue Giant has been a favorite of mine ever since I first discovered the band on MySpace.  Sleep When We're Dead has gotten some treatment on this tour. Caywood was a great choice.  Solid selections throughout the first set.  128 was a total banger to end the first stanza.  Incredible set.  Those familiar with the band outside at setbreak were talking about what had just gone down. 


I saw this show with my friend Soren and his girlfriend Melissa.  It was snowing outside at setbreak. Cold Facts indeed.  I prefer Luke when he plays the keys and this is an example of why.  Shimmer > Sid > Shimmer was very well executed.  You could tell it was a band in late tour form but yet had a day off to recover.  Pretty much ideal.   Arupa was a major highlight for me.  I loved the usage of the horizontal lighting strips.  I've Been A Fool was the night's second tune off the new album.  Umbilical Moonrise, Greet the Mind > Moonset > Greet the Mind was impressive.  The band was really tight and were able to turn on a dime when they chose.  All told it was definitely one of the best Lotus shows I've seen.  Disappear into a Blood Red-Sky and What Did I Do Wrong sent us off into the snowy cold Wisconsin evening.  Even though it was snowing I decided to chance the drive home.  This show was good for the soul.