Opening Night | Mike Gordon – New Band, Originals & Covers

Friday marked the start of Phish bassist Mike Gordon’s June Tour featuring the first major change to his five-piece since he formed the band in 2008. For Mike’s performance at The Music Hall in Charleston, South Carolina last night as well as the rest of the tour, Gordon will be joined by old mates guitarist Scott Murawski and percussionist Craig Myers as well as newcomers drummer John Kimock and keyboardist Robert Walter. Cactus’ visit to Charleston also featured the debut of new material.

Sofa Tour Dude

A photo posted by Mike Gordon (@mike_gordon) on Jun 5, 2015 at 10:36pm PDT

After opening with classics “Say Something” and “Surface,” Gordon and his five-piece debuted the first of the evening’s two new songs written by Mike and Scott -“Here Today.” Later in the opening stanza, Gordon’s band would present the debut cover of Robert Palmer’s new wave 1980 gem “Looking For Clues.” The second set also featured a pair of debuts. Towards the middle of the set, the quintet offered another Gordon/Murawski original debut in the form of “How Many People Are You?” Just before the “Dig Further Down” second set closer, Mike Gordon & Co. served up their first-ever take on “How Do I Know?” by Brooklyn indie rockers Here We Go Magic. “Yarmouth Road” served as the encore.

Soundcheck in Charleston

A photo posted by Mike Gordon (@mike_gordon) on Jun 5, 2015 at 4:07pm PDT

Mike Gordon now heads to Atlanta for a performance at Center Stage tonight.

Setlist

Set One: Say Something, Surface, Here Today*, Babylon Baby, Spock’s Brain, Jumping, Angatta, Looking For Clues**, Tiny Little World

Set Two: Ether, Jones, How Many People Are You*, Meat > Face > Traveled Too Far, How Do I Know?^, Dig Further Down

Encore: Yarmouth Road

* -First Time Played -originals (Gordon/Murawski)
** -First Time Played -Robert Palmer Cover
^ -First Time Played -Here We Go Magic cover