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Words & Images by Jake Krolick
Trey Anastasio :: 10.11.06 :: Electric Factory :: Philadelphia, PA
Trey Anastasio :: 10.11.06 :: Philly |
It always happens on the nights you'd least expect it. A miserable and rainy evening had touched down in Philadelphia and the last thing anyone wanted to do was leave the comfort of the couch to see Trey Anastasio play. It often seems though, that if you break through those gut-wrenching moments of laziness, you'll be rewarded. After considering the strong GRAB shows from the summer, the decent new album, and what appears to be a fresh sense of passion from Trey, it was clear that the positives had outweighed the negatives, so off we went, into the cold.
Trey had just released his latest album, Bar 17, and was a handful of stops into his umpteenth trek across the country in support of his latest endeavor. The crowd was damp from the evening's downpours, but the spirits were elevated as fans entered the half-empty Electric Factory.
With a start time that was 45 minutes late, the band and its ringmaster took the stage as the clamor of 1000 fans rose to the ceiling. With a nod and a signature lean to the crowd, Trey guided the talented band off into "Gotta Jibboo." The show was born, alive and kicking! By "Push On 'Til Day" Tony Hall and Trey had locked instruments at least three times, and it was crystal clear that Tony was there to hold down a funky, subterranean pocket with his wildly twisting work on bass. Trey played off the energy that Tony along with Jennifer Hartswick kindled at the skull of the stage. Jennifer's trumpet glistened almost as much as her smile as she pulled at us with song and blasted her way into our wet, warming hearts. Ray Paczkowski cranked up his key work as Jennifer's voice elevated our souls through "Night Speaks to a Woman."
Trey Anastasio Band :: 10.11.06 :: Philly |
The first set ended with a wave from the band and a simple announcement that they would be back shortly. The at times uncomfortable, casket-style standing area of the Electric Factory stayed packed through set-break as people reminisced of days past with a band they had not phorgotten. Many thought that this latest incarnation of Trey was his best answer to date.
The second set was full of surprises as the band whacked away at some classics. During a mediocre version of "Come As Melody," Trey took the form of a circus conductor. His three-ring circus is composed of one ring for the crowd, one for the band, and one for himself. When he is not guiding the crowd, he is egging on Tony, Jennifer, or Ray, though he seemed to pay very little attention to drummer Jeff Sipe. That lack of attention directed towards Jeff hurts the music, and as incredible as Jeff is in the Aquarium Rescue Unit, his percussive conversations fall flat in this setting. Perhaps he is simply over-shadowed by the leading front man.
Trey Anastasio :: 10.11.06 :: Philly |
The cold wind blew in a very special guest, Mike Gordon, and Trey was quick to bring his old band mate out for some fun. Mike emerged from the shadows for a wild romp on the stage. His work with Ray on "46 Days" was superb, and the ruckus was on from there as they ripped through a stellar version of "Twist." The passion and joy that was embodied in Phish was brought to life during this fifteen minute marathon jam.
With the crowd fully enveloped and the band hitting harder than most thought possible, Jeff got up to finish the set, but Trey sat him back down for one last extended, jaw-dropping jam. Tony and Mike went at it like school boys scrapping in the school yard, kicking up an Electric Factory dueling-bass jam, while Trey moved to play organ and Mike jumped on Trey's guitar.
The musicianship and deep conversation that occurred in Philly were so good that even those who dislike Trey or Phish would have been forced to enjoy this incarnation. "First Tube" brought the house down, and before we knew it, the evening had ended and we were whisked away, sent back into the cold, but with the knowledge that we had witnessed a truly remarkable evening of music to carry us back to the warm confines of our homes.
SET LIST
10.11.06 :: Electric Factory :: Philadelphia, PA
Set I:
Gotta Jibboo, Goodbye Head, Push On 'Til The Day, Night Speaks To A Woman, Shine, Spin
Set II:
What's Done, Mud City, Come As Melody, Plasma, 46 Days* > Twist*
Encore:
Jam*^ > First Tube*
*with Mike Gordon on bass
JamBase | Philadelphia
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