Phish @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, 8-6-10

Set I: Chalk Dust Torture, Guyute, Ocelot, It's Ice, Cities > The Moma Dance > Bathtub Gin > Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan
Set II: Rock and Roll, Ghost > Mike's Song > Simple > Backwards Down the Number Line, Show of Life, Seven Below -> Weekapaug Groove, You Enjoy Myself
Encore: Good Times Bad Times

[Setlist via Phish.net]

Reviews:

• Mr. Miner's Phish Thoughts
• Hidden Track

Download the show:

• LivePhish.com
• Bittorrent
  

Phish @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, 8-5-10

Phish returned to the Greek Theatre for the first time since 1993 to kick off the second leg of their summer tour. The show didn't feature any bustouts or notable covers that we became accustomed to during the first leg, but nonetheless it looks like a classic Phish setlist. Phish will return to the Greek this evening.

Set I: Possum, Wolfman's Brother, The Divided Sky, Funky Bitch, Kill Devil Falls, Halley's Comet > Sample in a Jar, NICU, Bouncing Around the Room, Run Like an Antelope
Set II: Down with Disease > Free, Alaska, Back on the Train, Maze, Joy, Tweezer -> Fluffhead
Encore: Loving Cup, Tweezer Reprise

[Setlist via Phish.net]

Reviews:

• Mr. Miner's Phish Thoughts
• Hidden Track
• Coventry Music

Photos:

• Live Music Blog
  

Download the show:

• LivePhish.com
• Bittorrent
  

Monday Morning Coffee Break

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I am pretty much finished moving and am starting to get settled. I still don't have internet in my new place, so that's a lot of the reason while I haven't been posting much of anything. I hope to have that problem remedied this week. In the meantime, I look forward to more posts as my blog is approaching it's first birthday! Grab a cup of coffee and check out some news and a video to jump start your Monday.

• Jimmy Buffett played a free show 100 miles from the Deepwater Horizon
• Them Crooked Vultures joined Pearl Jam last week in Belgium
• Los Lobos prep Tin Can Trust for August 3 release
• The Number Line: Phish Summer Tour Leg 1
• David Gilmour & Roger Waters collaborated this weekend
• Slayer + Megadeth + Anthrax = American Carnage

Foo Fighters - Big Me

Hump Day Happenings

It's all about game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final tonight in Philly! I will be heading to Goose Island to watch the game and enjoy some good beer. Phish launched a new website a few days ahead of their summer tour kickoff in lovely Bridgeview, IL. I won't be at Toyota Park, but my summer tour will kick off at CMAC in Canandaigua, NY on June 29. Here is some news and a video to get you over the hump day known as Wednesday.

• Hidden Track chats with Mumford & Sons
• Rock the Bells adds Snoop Dogg, A Tribe Called Quest & Lauryn Hill
• Ryan Adams was inspired by the late Ronnie James Dio
• Thom Yorke has a very grim forecast for the music business
• Meet Chicago Blackhawks' national anthem singer Jim Cornelison
• Mr. Miner poses 20 questions for June

Ween - Even If You Don't

Tuesday Morning Coffee Break

Since I didn't get to my regular Monday post, I figured I would get it in this morning. I had a good weekend and played my first round of golf in almost 13 years! Last night, I tried BYFUGLIEN & Rotweizen at Goose Island and they both were excellent. It's a crappy morning here in Chicago, but have a cup of coffee, catch your breath. Phish summer tour begins this Friday!!!!

• Gorillaz, Pixies and others cancel Israeli shows
• Hidden Track unveils their 5 must see Bonnaroo sets
• Arcade Fire played their first "official" gig in three years
• Looks like a new RATM record is a possibility
• Someone stole Kanye West's Porsche and totaled it
• R.I.P. Marvin Isley

The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

Monday Morning Coffee Break

I had a really good weekend and am looking forward to the Memorial Day holiday. I had the floors refinished in my new place on Saturday. It's only the first round of work, but I hope to be moved in by the second week of June. Yesterday, I attended my first ever Goose Island MBA reunion. Great beer & great food! In case you missed it, the Blackhawks are headed to the Stanley Cup Finals! Here is some news and a video to get your Monday moving!

• Is Charlie Watts leaving The Rolling Stones?
• Listen to The Roots new track "Dear God 2.0" feat. Jim James
• Hidden Track Interviews Marco Benevento
• Jimi Hendrix's London flat will be open to the public
• NPR blogger Carrie Brownstein wants to hear your best bass solo
• U2's Bono undergoes emergency back surgery, cancels first show of US tour

The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio

Hump Day Happenings

I feel like I have been neglecting my blog recently, but I have been insanely busy. After this weekend, I hope to resume more frequent posts. I have been listening to High Violet nonstop since I picked it up yesterday. Here is some news and video of MGMT rocking "Brian Eno" on Letterman last night.

• The Rolling Stones may play whole studio albums live
• Hidden Track offers Phish 101 for your kids
• Lollapalooza to expand daily attendance to 95,000?
• 9th annual Forecastle Festival expands lineup
• Damon Albarn says Blur will record more new material
• Chemical Brothers add more US tour dates

MGMT - Brian Eno

Review: Wilco at the Overture Center

With the exception of two arena shows at the U.I.C. Pavilion back in October to support Wilco (The Album), Wilco (The Band) hasn’t played a full show in the Chicagoland Area since the Riviera Residency in February of 2008. When this show at the Overture Center in Madison, WI was added to their seemingly never-ending touring schedule, I knew that I had to go because I wasn’t sure when they would return to their hometown of Chicago.

My favorite venue in Chicago to see Wilco is the stunning Auditorium Theatre. For a few years, Wilco called the Auditorium home, playing most of their hometown shows at the iconic venue. While the Overture Center is only a few years old and lacks the charm of the Auditorium, it is truly a beautiful venue and the acoustics are marvelous.

As the lights dimmed the band walked on stage to the Olympic March, which is fitting considering most of the shows on this tour are north of the border, and the band recently played an outdoor show in Vancouver for the Olympic’s. Wilco (The Song) kicked off the festivities with the band sounding very fresh and dialed in.

After the chaotic Bull Black Nova, the opening chords to You Are My Face resonated through the venue. The song explodes with a heavily distorted guitar riff by Jeff Tweedy and then once again calms down towards the end. As the song faded out, keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen and guitarist Pat Sansone added some lullaby like textures as if they were putting the song to sleep. READ ON for more from Jimmy on Wilco in Madison.

Nels Cline gets a lot of attention for being an extraordinary guitar player, but during At Least That’s What you Said, Cline took a back seat as Tweedy tore it up with an incredible guitar solo proving that not only is he a gifted songwriter, but he’s got some chops on the guitar as well. With the Winter Olympics in full swing, Tweedy took the opportunity to bring up everyone’s favorite sport, Curling. Tweedy and guitarist Pan Sansone mimicked the sport by shuffling their feet and using the head stock of their guitars as brushes pretending to scrape the floor before launching into Sonny Feeling.

When the opening riff for Impossible Germany began, fans knew that a dizzying guitar solo was on the way. Nels Cline dazzled the crowd once again with his wizardry on the guitar. Cline’s hand traversed the fret board of his Fender Jazzmaster at break neck speeds to the delight of the crowd.

Wilco has always been a band that is accessible to their fans. They allow fans to tape and trade their shows and they also take requests via their website for each show. Fans were definitely in for a treat as the band busted out When the Roses Bloom Again. Tweedy announced that it was the most requested song for the show.

As the show was reaching the end, the band used an eight-song encore to send fans home that packed quite the punch. The band started out with a cover of Buffalo Springfield’s Broken Arrow, which Wilco debuted in January at the MusiCares tribune to Neil Young.

California Stars has always been a live fan favorite and tonight the version wouldn’t disappoint. Jeff Tweedy brought out Califone guitarist Tim Rutili and percussionist Ben Massarella to accompany them. Rutili took a guitar solo that added a little country flare to it as Jeff Tweedy and company watched.

After some brief banter Tweedy started the intro to Kingpin from Wilco’s breakthrough double album Being There. With its monstrous riffs, the song had people grinning from ear to ear. As a whole, Wilco is not a very predictable band. They change up their setlists on a nightly basis, but during Kingpin Tweedy changed the lyrics from “Living in Pekin” to the very predictable “Living in Madison”, a nod to the locals.

What would a rock show be without a big rock show ending? Wilco let it all hang out with Hoodoo Voodoo. As the song climaxed both Sansone and Cline found themselves trading guitar licks. As Cline would buzz through a quick riff Sansone was equal to the task. As the house lights came on some two and a half hours later, I thought to myself, what an amazing show.

Wilco continues to consistently perform at a level some bands only dream of. While the three-hour drive to Madison wasn’t bad, I would much rather see the band in the comfort of my own backyard. Chicago fans may have to wait a while for the beloved band to return, but when they do the Wilco will be welcomed with open arms.

Thanks to Scotty B at Hidden Track for publishing the review.

Wanna Design Your Own Simpsons Character?

Have you ever wanted to appear in an episode of The Simpsons? The creators of the show are giving fans a chance to do just that as part of their 20th anniversary celebration. All you have to do to enter the contest is fill out this form. The episode will air on January 31, 2010 and will feature Chris Martin of Coldplay.

The contest ends on Saturday, October 24. There isn't much time at all so think quick and be creative. Good Luck!

[via Hidden Track]

Hump Day Happenings

• Bill Cosby the rapper?
• Bloomberg has the latest on the proposed Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger
• Could record labels suspend drug-addicted musicians without pay?
• Animal Collective star in a new PETA ad
• Hidden Track gives the run down of all the sit-ins from the Allman Brothers/Widespread Panic joint tour
• Muzzle of Bee's reviews Wilco's tour closing show in Chicago on Monday
  

Happy Birthday Hidden Track

I just wanted to wish a quick happy birthday to Hidden Track, which turns 3 today. Scotty B. & company, keep up the great work!!!