While there hasn’t been a lot of action on the blog recently, be sure to ‘Like’ the Welcome To Now Facebook Page where we are keeping the love phlowing all summer long!

Phish in Atlantic City – Night 1

Phish came charging out of the gate with bust-outs, energy, and a very fun and playful attitude for set one on Friday night. First set highlights included an always welcome and jovial My Sweet One bustout and a long awaited It’s Ice. While the latter was not flub-free, the band made a great group effort at one of their more complicated originals, and came out with a strong and united effort. The two big standouts of the rest of the set were a sublime Simple -> The Wedge and downright shredded Stealing Time. A beautiful Squirming Coil (right after sunset) put the end to a well-rounded and solid opening set of the weekend.

Bader at Sunset

The second set, however, was another story altogether. Throwing caution to the wind, the band laid down by far the most impressive set of the summer (up to that point) with some stunning and impressive group improvisation and fiery jams. The My Soul opener got the party started in style and then the band got serious and dropped an all around jam-fest 15-minute Birds Of a Feather that really got people moving. Following up this awesome Birds was the set’s only slower points of BOTT and Heavy Things – which featured precise playing and chill jams – but nothing to write home about.

What came next, however, was an adventurous Twist->Piper that showed that the band came to AC to play for keeps. This two-song smoker featured great playing from all of the boys and started the fun summer ‘Woo!’ chanting that has continued throughout the tour. The rest of the set flowed like butter, featuring a beautiful and welcome Billy Breathes bustout (a personal favorite), a danceable and energetic Sneaking Sally, and a David Bowie set closer that featured teases galore from Trey before a raging peak. A First Tube encore nearly blew up Bader Field – an exceptional version worthy of a re-listen for those not there or those who were there whose faces had already melted to the ground.

The Ferris Wheel and Crowd at AC

All in all, night one was the kind of Phish show you walk out of and have a hard time contemplating how much fun and musical exploration is to come over the next two nights. The band came out firing and made it clear this was going to be a weekend to remember. It was arguably the best show of the summer tour so far, until night 2 (review to come)…

Night 1 setlist courtesy of Phish.net:

Set 1: The Sloth, My Sweet One > 46 Days > Camel Walk, Tube > Cities > It’s Ice,Ginseng Sullivan, Stash, Simple > The Wedge, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan,The Squirming Coil

Set 2: My Soul, Birds of a Feather^[1] -> Back on the Train > Heavy Things > Twist >Piper^[2] > Billy Breathes, Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley > David Bowie^[3]

Encore: First Tube^[4]

[1] Unfinished.
[2] “Woo!” quotes from Twist in intro.
[3] Stash, It’s Ice, Birds of a Feather, Simple, and Ginseng Sullivan teases. Wedge tease from Fishman.
[4] “Woo!” quote from Twist.

For those of you interested in summer tour recordings, follow Welcome To Now on Facebook and send us a message and we’ll help point you in the right direction ;)

The Weight from The Band’s Last Waltz:

Levon and his All Star Band do Up On Cripple Creek in 89:

Levon Helm Band doin’ Tennessee Jed on Letterman in 09:

Levon Helm, ‘When I Go Away’ Studio Track from Dirt Farmer:

Levon Helm Band w/ Bob Weir pickin’ on Deep Elem Blues at GOTV 2011:

Midnight Ramble performance of Ophelia in 2012:

Orchard Lounge laid down a spirited high-energy set that saw the three-DJ team tag off and on and even tag team on a few tracks, rarely stopping the music. For the most part, they kept the beats upbeat and accesible, with mid to fast tempo bass-heavy house and funk grooves. After a very, very solid set that warmed everybody up, OL introduced Conspirator round’ midnight. Brownie, Magner, Michetti, and drummer-for-the night KJ Sawka took the stage, Brownie spoke about his love for SF, and they launched into an all out, nearly 2-hour long assualt of banging beats, slick guitar riffage, and some solid jams and comical banter from a clearly ‘loose’ Brownie.

OL at the Indy 3/24

The focus this night was on rock and guitar heavy ‘bangers’ (including a take on Tom Saywer), with a little less Biscuits-style jamming then I’ve seen in the past. This seemed to mesh well with OL’s set and kept the energy high throughout their time on stage. The performance was energized by the dynamic and impressive drumming of KJ Sawka – he really got down and dirty and wasn’t afraid to show off. The band as a whole definitely seemed to be locked in and excited about the music they’re writing and performing these days, and Michetti looks to be getting a lot more comfortable letting go and shredding. The MVP of the performance, however, had to be Aron Magner, who really seemed to be running the show and directing the band at many points throughout the night.

Conspirator - 3/24/12

All in all, a sick night of EDM madness in SF! You can check out Conspirator on tour this spring/summer or pick up their new live DVD.

7 Walkers - Slim's

7 Walkers ~ Slim’s SF ~ 3/23/2012

Set 1: Jam -> Sue from Bogalusa, He’s Gone, Bird Song, Just Kissed My Baby*, Death Don’t Have No Mercy, Hey Bo Diddle, Smokestack Lightning

Set 2: King Cotton Blues -> Eyes of the World -> For the Love of Mr. Okra -> New Orleans Crawl -> Seven Walkers, I Know You Rider

Encore: Wharf Rat

* – w/ Zigaboo Modeliste on Drums, no Bill

Recording coming ASAP

7 Walkers - Slim's

Check out more great pics from the show over at Deadheadland.com

There is, however, a significant uproar in the Biscuits community over bigger names like Skrillex and Bassnectar appearing at Camp. The complaints are two-fold: first, these large acts make the festival bigger, less intimate, and less Biscuits-centric. Second, the younger ‘bro-step’ fans that these acts bring in are generally unwelcomed by the Biscuits community. It is always hard seeing a small, unified festival blow up and embrace bigger names and other scenes, but the festival is a business, and big means more money for the promoters. Also, by adding big names like Skrillex, the festival makes it clear that it IS more than a Disco Biscuits festival, it is a premier EDM festival that can propser and go on even if the Biscuits don’t.

Camp Bisco Initial Lineup

In addition to this big news, The Disco Biscuits also announced the next Holidaze festival yesterday, which will move from January to December of this year and also move locations to Tulum, Mexico. While the month and location are changing, this year’s event will again feature The Disco Biscuits, Umphrey’s McGee, and STS9. This is big news in the Disco Biscuits community as the band had fans fearing that this year’s Camp shows would be the last from the band for some time. It still reamins to be seen if 2012 will see any other tDB shows, but one has to imagine a NYE run building on the momentum of Holidaze is likely to go down. Check out the Holidaze website for all the details.

The honorable mention for WTN pick from 12/31 is a tie between Steam, which traversed some out there and exciting territory, and Light, which also went off nearing epicness before it was prematurely steered into Golden Age. Both honorable mentions below:

Also be sure to check out the other WTN picks from Phish’s 2011 NYEMSG run here.

3/18/67 Poster

The Grateful Dead
March 18th, 1967
Winterland
San Francisco, CA

Set 1: Me & My Uncle, Next Time You See Me, He Was A Friend Of Mine, Smokestack Lightning, Morning Dew, It Hurts Me Too, Beat It On Down The Line, Dancin’ In The Streets

Set 2: The Golden Road (to Unlimited Devotion), Cream Puff War, The Same Thing, Cold Rain & Snow, Viola Lee Blues, Death Don’t Have No Mercy

Stream via Archive.org

The Dead in March of 1967 (via Dead.net)

For more historical adventures into Deadheadland – check out the ‘Today in Grateful Dead History’ archives

Phil greets guests (via http://terrapincrossroads.net/)

For the legions of Bay Area Phil phans, this venue is truly a blessing and tonight’s opening is a big moment in the west coast deadhead scene. Expect lots more show announcements for this year, and a full-on review of the venue when yours truly makes it up there one of these days! Here’s the setlist from the first official Terrapin Crossroads gig:

Phil Lesh and Friends
3/17/2012
Terrapin Crossroads Opening Night
San Rafael, CA

Set One
Terrapin Station (Studio version over the PA) ->
Inspiration (live band enters)->
Uncle John’s Band
Ship of Fools
Sail on Sailor (Beach Boys cover)
It Takes a Lot To Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
Whiskey in the Jar
Seven Drunken Nights (Irish Jig)
Wharf Rat
Viola Lee Blues

3/17/12

Set 2*
St. Stephen->
The Wheel
Thorn In My Pride
Scarlet Begonias->
Don’t Play With Fire->
Cryptical Envelopment->
The Other One->
Fire On The Mountain->
Playin’ In The Band
Terrapin Jam->
Playin’ Reprise->
I Know You Rider

Encore: One More Saturday Night

* – Set 2 with Bob Weir

3/17 Setlist

1. Warren Haynes Band Tour

Warren Haynes will hit the road with his solo band for a mini-tour in April in support of his new Warren Haynes Band DVD coming up. Check out this great interview with Warren where he talks about ABB, Warren Haynes Band, Gov’t Mule, the recent Phil shows, and all things 2012.

2. High Sierra Lineup Announced

The High Sierra Music Festival announced their initial lineup this week. Topping the bill is Ben Harper, Galactic, STS9, Railroad Earth, Toots and the Maytals, ALO, Lotus, and Soulive. Take a look at the announcement vid below:

3. Allman Brothers Band Beacon Run Underway

The Allman Brothers Band annual Beacon Run has kicked into high gear and runs until March 25th. This year, the band has decided to open the second set of each show with a special mini acoustic set during which they will dust off old gems and offer new acoustic takes on classic ABB songs. Check out this comprehensive review and setlist from Saturday night’s show.

4. All Good Adds Bands

The All Good Music Festival, which is re-locating this year to Thornville, OH, just added some new artists to the growing lineup today: Yonder Mountain String Band, Conspirator, and ALO are the biggest new names to join the fest. You can check the full lineup here.

5. Phil Lesh Opens Terrapin Crossroads

Phil Lesh opened his Terrapin Crossroads this past weekend with a series of ‘casual’ shows featuring a number of phriends such as Bob Weir, Jackie Greene, members of Railroad Earth, the Bluhms, Mark Karan, Phil’s son Grahame Lesh, and many others. Phil and Friends will have a massive run coming up from March 17th to April 1st with tons of guests.

Over the past three years, Phish has grown and matured, albeit with some bumps in the road. 2009 saw a regaining of musical chops and the initial integration of Joy material into the repetoire. In 2010, the band had settled in and began to loosen up by extending some jams, adding new covers and originals, and creating some memorable gimmick shows like Guyutica and MPP II’s Saw It Again fest. While 2011 saw repetitive song selection and lack of new material, there were musical highs last year that were not nearly matched in 09′ or 10′. Superball, UIC, and Dick’s were top-notch Phish  – shows that had phans in resounding agreement that ‘They’re back’. Unfortunately, this 3 year story ends with a lackluster MSG 2011 run that faltered likely due to lack of practice and no warmup shows. 

Dick’s Roggae, Ghost->Guy Forget masterpeice

What’s in store for 2012? It’s hard to say, but I think the fanbase is demanding a couple of things: new material, practice, and extended jams. This is the year that the Phish 3.0 story can take off and continue to thrive, or could begin to stagnate. Here’s to hoping it’s a magical year full of the highest highs and fewer lows. Regardless, we can all rejoice that, despite your opinion on 3.0, the band that got away is back, and we can all feel good about that.