Team JamBase’s Favorite Live Music Moments Of 2023
Here are our favorite moments when went to go see live music this year.
By Team JamBase Dec 30, 2023 • 11:22 am PST
This year was particularly significant in JamBase history as we celebrated our 25th anniversary of encouraging fans to “Go See Live Music.” Taking our own advice, the members of Team JamBase did just that throughout 2023, attending many concerts and festivals around the world, and hosting a 25th anniversary celebration featuring four nights of live music in the Boston area.
For a sense of what makes Team JamBase want to go see live music every chance we get, the crew was asked to share a Favorite Live Music Moment from 2023. Responses ranged from multi-day festivals to complete concerts to individual song performances, in places as large as Berkeley’s Greek Theatre and as intimate as a brewery in Asheville, North Carolina.
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Scroll on for a look at Team JamBase’s Favorite Live Music Moments Of 2023.
Phish – “Tweezer” at The Greek
Nate Todd – Associate Editor
Phish’s April 17 “Tweezer” at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California checked all the boxes for me. It gained the distinction of being the third longest “Tweezer” of all time, clocking in at 43:39. While longer doesn’t equal better, it doesn’t necessarily make it worse either.
Were their shaky moments in the so-called “Greezer”? Yes. But if you’re not stumbling then you’re not taking risks. Were there brilliant moments? Absolutely. There’s also an excitement that builds when it dawns on you that the jam has surpassed the 30-minute mark and is venturing into largely uncharted waters. To witness an exploration of “Tweezer” in a historic fashion, opening night of a three-night stand at a historic venue — was special.
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King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – “Change” at Salt Shed
Jon McLennand – Music Data Coordinator
Over 25 albums, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have produced no shortage of challenging material, but none as ambitious as their epic “Change.” Released in October of last year, the song remained conspicuously absent from their live shows until the third stop of this June’s U.S. Residency Tour.
Approaching the end of night three at the Salt Shed in Chicago, the band struck a nervous tone, with bandleader Stu Mackenzie even commenting “I’m scared” of what was coming next. And then the unassuming hi-hat intro of “Change” began. The sonic adventure of the next 17 minutes felt like history unfolding. Folk-jazz, hip-hop, pulsing synths, krautrock, and the rollicking classic rock finish. Four members take lead vocals at some point. Five of them are simultaneously on synths for a movement. Degree of difficulty: High. Execution: flawless. Afterward, the band struck a celebratory tone, and deservedly so.
Beardfest XI
Todd Levy – CTO
Beardfest: A psychedelic utopia of music, fire, and cereal… in New Jersey
As it has been for the three years I’ve been attending, the 2023 Beardfest in New Jersey was an immersive experience of music and community spirit at the scenic Paradise Lakes Campground in Hammonton, New Jersey.
Now in its 11th year, Beardfest has evolved from a small gathering in a suburban backyard to a full-fledged festival, attracting a diverse and party-favor-friendly audience along with well-known acts like Pink Talking Fish, Dogs in a Pile and Spafford, all of whom appeared on this year’s lineup.
The event is hosted by locals Out of the Beardspace who play throughout the fest with incredible and progressive chops fusing jazz, rock, funk and pop — a long way from their School of Rock roots.
But music is only one part of the story at Beardfest. The fest includes dozens of workshops for your body, mind and soul, from yoga to narcan training to primal screaming to primitive arrow making. And while the music plays, dozens of go-go dancers and fire jugglers provide stage-side entertainment to the delight of an audience with a large population of veteran cosmonauts.
Blue Ox Music Festival
Andy Kahn – Editor-In-Chief
When I moved to the Twin Cities a few years ago, the Blue Ox Music Festival in nearby Eau Claire, Wisconsin had already established itself as one of the Midwest’s top summer music fests. Having heard good things about the event, this past summer I was eagerly able to make it over to Pines Music Park for my first experience at Blue Ox, which I hope won’t be my last.
As I wrote in my recap for JamBase:
An exceptionally-run three days of music left me mightily impressed with the quality of performance and execution by the event organizers. Host band Pert Near Sandstone has created something special in a cozy enclave of Wisconsin and the fact the event sold out is evidence of the reputation it has established over the years.
There was a welcoming atmosphere and it was clear from the well-curated campsites and abundance of attendees wearing Blue Ox gear from previous years that many have made Blue Ox a yearly tradition. This being my first time, it felt like crashing a family reunion, but then the family turns out to be fun and inviting.
The independently produced Blue Ox, who will host its 10th edition in 2024, certainly lived up to the hype this year with memorable performances by Mike Gordon, The Avett Brothers, Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, The Infamous Stringdusters, Yasmin Williams, Charlie Parr and dozens of others. Along with finally attending Blue Ox, while there I was also able to finally see guitarist Daniel Donato perform live for the first time. I first heard of Donato several years ago and was told by someone whose opinion I admire to keep my eyes and ears on the young musician. And much like the festival, Donato also lived up to the longstanding hype.
Donato and his Cosmic Country band played a captivating set, and as I wrote before: There was plenty of country and plenty of cosmic within the young guitarist’s set. Drawing a large crowd, Donato dazzled with twangy guitar runs and a tight band consisting of keyboardist Nathan Aronowitz, drummer Will Clark and switching between electric and acoustic upright bass Will McGee. The group was funkier than expected, with groovy psychedelia exemplified by the original “Dance In The Desert” and an instrumental cover of “Ghost Riders In The Sky.”
High Sierra Music Festival
David Arzo – Director Of Business Development
My favorite Live Music Moment of 2023 was attending this years High Sierra Music Festival. It was my first time going and made the weekend a family affair with my wife and two young daughters, which made it extra special. The JamBase family rolled deep so it was great to hang with colleagues as well.
If I were to name my favorite moment of the hot and dusty July weekend it would have to be watching my 3-year-old grooving front row to Celisse at the Vaudeville tent with the biggest sweatiest smile on her face. She loved every bit of it and I can tell she’s hooked on the live show life.
Yasmin Williams – High Sierra Music Festival Set
Jeff Wagner – Sr. Account Manager
After a fun filled (and sweaty) weekend of music and partying at the High Sierra Music Festival I had time to catch one more set on Sunday afternoon before a bittersweet departure. I was fortunate that Yasmin Williams was playing as she provided the perfect way to wrap up the weekend.
In addition to her amazing and virtuoustic guitar playing, the thing that stuck out to me the most was the 26-year-old’s humble stage presence. After each song a massive applause erupted and she seemed almost surprised by this. She took to the mic to thank the crowd so much for their support and complemented the amazing vibe of the festival and its attendees. Looking forward to seeing Williams continue to grow and shine!
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Phish – “Carini” at The Mann
Scott Bernstein – Editorial Director
After 30 years of fandom, Phish shows continue to bring me great joy. However, I must admit, I thought their best jams were behind them. So when Phish delivered a monster “Carini” at The Mann in Philadelphia on July 26, which in my opinion stands among the best improvisational efforts of their career, I was blown away.
My jaw was left agape as the quartet masterfully worked through beautiful bliss-laden segments and evil excursions. The 22-minute version was tied together by masterful shredding from guitarist Trey Anastasio that showed there’s still plenty of heat left on his fastball. I was worried the Philly “Carini” wouldn’t stand up when I went back to relisten but thankfully those fears were unfounded. It still brings a huge smile to my face when I hear it. Watch a video of the version Phish shared on YouTube.
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Phish – “Mike’s Song” at MSG
Court Scott – Director of Operations
I love “Mike’s Song.” Always have. Always will. The darker, the better. Give me vast, glowering and stormy, driving “Mike’s” with ample nitty-gritty sonic exploration over two clearly defined jams, and I’m in my element.
But in the late-‘90s/early-‘00s something happened, and the official second jam became less common. “Mike’s” instead became more groove-oriented in the ‘00s and that’s not to say there weren’t some masterful “Mike’s Song” performances in the first decade and a half of the century, but it wasn’t until Nashville 2015 that the second jam officially returned, ushered in with a deliciously dank and punishing Black Sabbath vibe.
Since then, a bonafide second jam has made only a couple appearances. Notably, one version – the first-rate Baker’s Dozen “Mike’s Song” (August 2, 2017) – which occurred almost six years to the day from the August ‘23 one, when Phish again opened a MSG second set with the tune. Based on the extraordinary jamming and creativity over the first shows of the August ‘23 run, I knew this “Mike’s Song” was going to be something special and it was that moment, that realization, that sticks out for me.
As the band settled into a forward-leaning groove, Trey played with delay pedals and repeating staccato sequences, as bassist Mike Gordon, keyboardist Page McConnell, and drummer Jon Fishman started laying some glimmering bedrock. At around 8:30, when you’d expect a more routine “Mike’s” to move into a “I Am Hydrogen,” a “Simple,” or meander somewhere else, nooooo… There’s a bit of a rocky signal that they’re not yet done with what they started.
And while it wasn’t the most intricate or exploratory jamming, the energy in the room and on stage took it to another level and is a shining example of how the band cycles through segments to create an offering that is greater than the sum of its parts. The next 10 or so minutes evolves a progressively buoyant display of Phish’s prowess and penchant for taking tunes for a walk, ultimately ending up at a blissful jam segment. Twenty-three minutes after it started, Trey signaled the end of the song and it wrapped quickly before “Sand” took off.
Jon Batiste – Second Line Through Crowd at Newport Jazz Festival
Chrissy Greco – Marketing Director
It was hard to top the lineup for Newport Jazz Festival’s 69th year but the opportunity to see Saturday night’s headliner for the first time was one of my main reasons for attending. The multi-talented, multi-Grammy award winning singer and band leader Jon Batiste was everything I hoped for and more.
With a 17-person big band and guests the likes of Louis Cato, the 90-minute set was a delight from beginning to end. Hearing his uplifting massive single “Freedom” live was topped only by an ending that brought us up close and personal with all the players and the melodica wielding leader when he took a second line through the crowd. An absolute crowd pleaser.
Umphrey’s McGee – “Draconian” at Soundcheck Studios
David Onigman – CEO
Throwing our own concerts in not our core business here at JamBase, we are more comfortable being a friend and partner to every concert promoter in the country rather than throwing our own hat in the ring. But we make exceptions, and celebrating our 25th anniversary this year was one of them. While I’m tempted to cite the entire four nights of music that featured the BT ALC Big Band, Club d’Elf, Jennifer Hartswick Band, Ron Artis II, Holly Bowling and Umphrey’s McGee as my live music highlight of the year, I’ve challenged myself to be more specific.
On our fourth and final night of our 25th anniversary celebrations we were honored to have Umphrey’s McGee play such a small and wonderful room hosted by our good friends at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, Massachusetts As some of you may know, we had a little issue with the fire alarm that evening, and our two-set show quickly turned into a three-set affair with a quick 15 minute break for the fire department.
The band left the stage in the middle of a “Draconian” jam, and returned picking up exactly where they left off. Well, almost exactly where they left off. As they were jumping on the stage, the band — backed by substitute drummer Duane Trucks of Widespread Panic — discussed how they might best incorporate the Talking Heads’ classic “Burnin’ Down The House” into the set. Listen closely to that drum fill Duane hits before kicking off that third set. That was my favorite moment of 2023, even if the 15 minutes of uncertainty that preceded it may have taken five years off of my life.
Rosali & David Nance Group at Burial Beer Co.
Kyle Fortinsky – Director of Music Data & Listings
Two musicians you’ve enjoyed for years (Rosali and David Nance Group) but never seen live are performing on the same bill, for free, at an outdoor brewery stage in Asheville, North Carolina on a sunny afternoon. You’d be front and center, too, right? Just one of those seamless afternoons where everything clicked for all involved.
Pretty Lights at Brooklyn Mirage
Caroline Cabral – Production Manager
After nearly five years, Pretty Lights has returned to the scene, and Derek Vincent Smith is here to remind us how truly euphoric and special his music is. I had the pleasure of attending his shows at the Brooklyn Mirage in New York, and I was truly mezmorized.
Old classics were reinvigorated, not only by Derek, but by the addition of a full band. Alvin Ford Jr. sent me to the moon with his fiercely energetic performance, such a powerhouse. The moment that really took me away was at Sunday’s show. A 200-foot wide video wall displayed a skyline view of New York City, while they performed their remix of “Empire State of Mind” featuring Notorious B.I.G.
Photo by Greg Bollinger
Twiddle – “Frends Theme” at Frendsgiving
Katie Irwin – Production Intern
Twiddle has been one of my favorite bands after discovering them in 2013 when they opened for Kung Fu at Higher Ground in Burlington, Vermont. Using my experience from Phish tour in the ‘90s, I traveled from state to state, witnessing the magic of Twiddle in small bars to large theaters. It was only fitting that our last hurrah would be at the famed Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York.
Although the three nights were full of smiles, high fives and some misty eyes, the highlight of the run for me was the infamous “Frends Theme.” Wedged between a fan favorite “Earth Mama” and a guitar rippin’ “Latin Tang,” the band payed homage to their buddies, Luke and Jack Mitrani when they dropped the sing-a-long melody.
Guitarist wrote “Frends Theme” in honor of the snowboarding music festival, The Frendly Gathering, hosted by Jake Mitrani and legendary rider, Danny Davis. The song hinges on the expression “Ain’t no I in frends” and instantly became the soundtrack for the fans and community. In my decade of following the band, I have never heard the song performed better than on November 26 and it left us all with a beautiful memory of our time together. Drummer Adrian Tramontano kept the pace high, dropped some glorious bass bombs and keyboardist Ryan Dempsey complimented Mihali’s guitar tone perfectly.
‘Twas one of those moments that I will replay in my head, filling my soul with the good stuff that live music is meant to achieve.
Photo by Dave Decrescente
