This was a little while ago, so it's not like I can pull out a whole bunch of technical details or anything... but because it is the first and only Phish festival I've managed to attend across all these years, I felt like it deserved some attention. Before I dive into the music aspect of this, I just want to express my amazement at the whole setup. From others who have been to other Phish festivals, it sounds like this one paled in comparison. That said, I was impressed. From the ferris wheel to the giant balloon-lighty-up-thingy to the castle-coil to the fire art to the immaculate port-a-potties... the whole thing was a sight to behold. The weather was gorgeous and the people were great.
I had a notion that it would be interesting to experience the festival as a member of the Work Exchange Team. First of all, I thought it would give me a chance to give back by putting in some sweat to make the show happen. Second of all, it made the show free. I already had to trek out to CA (of course, I was headed out there anyway, but that's beside the point), so a free three days of music was enticing. I'm not going to go into a lengthy tirade bashing the WET, but suffice it to say I won't be doing that again probably. Had to try it... now I know. Email me if you're ever considering it so I can fill you in on some things they may not tell you.
Anyway, I missed the Friday night set. I didn't get into LAX until quite late that night.
Got to Indio in plenty of time Saturday afternoon to catch all three sets. I have to admit, I was concerned. The last Phish show I saw was on 4 July 2000, and they were sounding rough. They were all irritated with each other, their jams were directionless, and the crowd was just miserable to be around. When they announced their hiatus, I was relieved in a weird way. I was not particularly interested in their comeback in 2004 basically because I figured it would be more of the same. When I caught wind of the 2008 comeback, my curiosity just got the best of me.
I was so impressed at how good they sounded. Their vocals were tight and their jams were well controlled. Trey Anastasio just seemed... happy. It was like they were enjoying it again, and that was cool to see. I think it really reflects in the music when the artists are not having a good time. From that afternoon set on Saturday, I also noticed how much each band member has advanced individually in the years that they haven't been playing as Phish. Particularly noteworthy was Mike Gordon and this whole new level of funk he's reached on the bass. He was always outstanding, but now his tone and style are just fithy dirty. In a good way. The crowd was mellow and everyone was just having a good time.
Saturday night, all the stops came out. The Halloween set (a full cover of the Rolling Stones album Exile on Main Street) was great, although I was using that time to explore the vastness of the field setup. I had some fun with the fire art (it was interactive--hard to explain) and drew on the walls inside the coil-castle (which was encouraged). There were lots of vendors set up in the concert field, so I walked around just taking the music in. They absolutely did the album justice. I still would have liked to have heard them try MGMT's Oracular Spectacular, which they were supposedly considering, but I'll take old school Stones any day.
The third set was outstanding, as I was able to get up close and personal. Most notable were Fluffhead and YEM. Back in the day when I was going to a lot of Phish shows, there were certain songs that spawned audience-wide glow stick wars. This is no longer the case. Glowsticks are being thrown en masse at all times. Fortunately, most concert-goers have switched to the thin and flimsy glow sticks instead of the hard shelled chem lights that hurt like hell when they hit you in the head. It's actually really cool because they chuck 'em in coordination with the climaxes in the music. Such a fun scene. And Chris Kuroda really outdid himself with the light show. I'm always impressed with his genius, but this was a level above what I remembered.
Sunday, I didn't get to see or hear much. I was working all day off site for the WET, and I had heard that the acoustic set they pulled out in the afternoon was just so-so. I have since heard this set on a recording, and it was absolutely fantastic. Vocally, they are sounding better than they ever have. Really. The harmonies are spot-on and they are blending much better than they used to (and they always blended pretty well). It was interesting to see a big jam song like "The Curtain" done unplugged, and I never would have expected them to attempt "Wilson" without the electric guitar. Those kind of surprises are what make Phish fun to see over and over. You just never know what they're going to try and do. Wish I'd seen it in person.
I caught the very tail end of the last set on Sunday and just stood at the back of the field, taking in the light show. It was a very nostalgic experience for me. I had so many memories along the way of all the random shows I travelled to see... all the crazy things that would happen along the way. I was reminded why I love live music and how I just love the way it brings people together. I do want to see Phish again because it seems like they really are on top of their game. I also want to get my butt out to another Phish festival if they have one, just for the experience. They sure do know how to put on a show.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
CD Review: Candlebox--Into the Sun (Silent Majority Recordings, released 22 July 2008)
First of all, I'm back for real this time. I regret that there are a ton of shows I've seen in the past two years that probably won't get their due review... but I guess sometimes life takes us in directions we don't expect, and we become distracted from things we started. Nonetheless, I've been re-inspired, and would like to share some of the gems I've found recently.
On to Candlebox. Remember these guys from the early-mid 1990's? Like many of you probably, I figured they shared a similar fate to many of the bands from that time. Creative differences... lust for the spotlight/money... drugs... whatever the cause of death, I figured they had broken up and died somehow. Apparently they did go through a bit of a hiatus, and then they came back with a vengeance.
I admit that I am not that well-versed in their early stuff. I know some of their stand-out hits that got played on the radio a lot ("Far Behind," "You"), but I don't own any of their older albums and could only make superficial remarks about their sound. When I heard they were touring in 2008, I had to see what it was all about. I expected some tired, washed-up individuals just looking to hold on to a former life... BOY was I surprised. I was blown away by what I saw live, and immediately went out and bought the new album they were supporting with that tour.
Kevin Martin's voice is pyrotechnical. He has an impressive range and can hit notes in the stratosphere without screaming. He can also scream without it grating on the listener. His lyrics are raw, and he is able to deliver the emotional nature of them even in the studio. He goes from pissed off ("Stand," "How Does It Feel") to sentimental ("Miss You," "Consider Us") and somehow stays genuine throughout.
They've never been known for incredibly intricate guitar work, however Peter Klett has a keen ability to create riffs and solos that fit the atmosphere without being overbearing. He is given the opportunity to show what he can do in an extended intro to the ballad "Breathe Me In," and it's impressive. He blends when he needs to, and he shows off when there is space. The tone of his work is beautiful, which is especially important in the slower, more emotional songs. At the same time, he finds the grit he needs to pull off the rawness and anger in some of the others.
I'm a fan of interesting melodies--moments where songs take an unexpected turn. Melodically, I think the title track is one of the best. I'm always impressed when bands can put together chords and progressions that most people would not have thought of. If I find myself being able to predict the melody of a song when I've never heard it before, I'm oddly disappointed. For car-singing purposes, "Into the Sun" was a difficult one to master at first due to it's odd progressions, however as a listener, that's the type of creativity that keeps me interested.
You may have heard "Miss You" on the radio. I have not yet, but I know it's out there. I also know that, while the song was written by Kevin about losing his father, there is a connection to missing loved ones who are overseas fighting for our country. Candlebox released a music video of this song which is based around soldiers leaving home and coming back. It's available on YouTube, and I highly recommend you take a look.
This album has surprisingly become one of my favorite go-to's. I just don't get tired of it for some reason. I never thought I'd be chasing after a band who seemed to be well over their prime. Now that I've gone back to listen to their older albums, I've learned that they were always decent, and they have matured and developed into a band that has quite a lot of depth. I'll for sure be watching for the next time they're in town and I can't wait to see what happens when they get back in the studio.
Track Listing:
1. Stand
2. Bitches Brewin'
3. Surrender
4. Into the Sun
5. Underneath It All
6. Miss You
7. How Does It Feel
8. A Kiss Before Dying
9. Breathe Me In (Intro)
10. Breathe Me In
11. Lover Come Back to Me
12. Consider Us
13. The Answer (iTunes Bonus Track)
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