Mike Gordon Welcomes Page McConnell & Brett Lanier At Higher Ground

Bassist Mike Gordon brought his quintet to Higher Ground in South Burlington, Vermont for the second of two shows on Thursday night. The evening’s first set featured guest appearances both from local pedal steel wiz Brett Lanier and from Mike’s Phish band mate keyboardist Page McConnell.

All April long Higher Ground is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Gordon noted the occasion when he brought out Lanier, whom he described as “one of my favorite Burlington musicians of all-time.” Brett added streaks of pedal steel to a cover of Flaming Lips’ “Are You A Hypnotist??” Page McConnell then joined in the action as he shared Robert Walter’s keyboard rig.

McConnell and Lanier both sat-in on an expansive “Marissa” that followed “Are You A Hypnotist??” Page, Brett, Mike, Robert, guitarist Scott Murawski, percussionist Craig Myers and drummer John Kimock jammed “Marissa” into “Crazy Sometimes” for a pairing of songs off OGOGO. Brett Lanier then left the stage as the set continued with Mike’s recently debuted version of Jon Cleary’s “Got To Be More Careful.” McConnell added to the Cleary cover as well as a stellar rendition of “Destiny Unbound” that ended the frame. Gordon and his band went at it alone for a second set that included standout takes on “Steps” and “Normal Phoebe.” For the encore, the five-piece closed out the show with a cover of Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion.”

Watch Page join Mike Gordon and his band for “Destiny Unbound” thanks to Hutnons HTNS: