Watch ‘Cluster Flies’ Musicians Performing Live

JamBase will release Cluster Flies, a reimagining of Phish’s album Farmhouse, on April 30. Powered by the JamBase Live Video Archive (JBLVA), this edition of Sunday Cinema features the musicians who recorded the 17 tracks on Cluster Flies performing live.

A Cluster Flies pre-order for the 3LP gatefold – 180 gram black vinyl version featuring artwork designed by Jim Pollock is underway now through May 3 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The vinyl edition can be bundled with a hand-signed and numbered 12.5″ x 12.5″ five-color silkscreen print also designed by Pollock. Visit www.clusterflies.com for purchasing information as well as full album credits and tracklist details.

Following a similar format to yesterday’s Saturday Stream Spotify Playlist, this collection of live videos presents the artists on Cluster Flies in the same order as the compilation’s tracklist. If you like what you see and hear, be sure to explore the JBLVA for more live performances by Cluster Flies musicians.

Guitarist William Tyler (“The Inlaw Josie Wales”) once again kicks things off with a solo performance from 2019. Sylvan Esso (“Farmhouse”) performs “Rooftop Dancing” on a recent appearance on CBS This Morning featuring Nick Sanborn and Amelia Meath on a rooftop, dancing.

Vocalist/trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick (“Dirt”) is accompanied by her frequent collaborator, guitarist Nick Cassarino, who also joined JHa on Cluster Flies. Guitarist Tim Palmieri (“Vultures”), who led a supergroup featuring Amar Sastry, Reid Genauer, Eric DiBerardino, Ben Atkind and Ryan Dempsey, can be seen playing a solo acoustic version of Phish’s “Chalk Dust Torture.” Singer-songwriter Daniel Donato (“Back On The Train”) covers Johnny Cash’s “Big River” on a 1952 Fender Telecaster at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville.

Multi-instrumentalist Reed Mathis (“Bye Bye Foot”) covers the Grateful Dead’s “Deal” for JamBase’s 2015 covers project Songs Of Their Own. Singer-songwriter Andy Cabic of Vetiver plays solo at The Blues Kitchen. Guitarist James Petralli (“Gotta Jibboo”) performs a set with his band White Denim.

Guitarist Chris Forsyth (“Piper”) jams with future JamBase covers project participants Garcia Peoples, along with guitarist Ryley Walker who recorded his own Cluster Flies cover (see below) and drummer Ryan Jewell who contributed both Forsyth and Walker’s Cluster Flies tracks. Check out a set by Club d’Elf (“Sand”) at home at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Singer-songwriter Lindsay Lou (“Mountains In The Mist”) appears via a session for OurVinyl. Like Donato, guitarist Sadler Vaden (“Heavy Things”) went to Carter Vintage Guitars to play his “Best Days” on a 1925 Martin 00-28 acoustic guitar. Previewing her upcoming new album What The Flood Brings, Amy Helm (“Sleep”) performs a campfire-side version of her single “Breathing.”

Keyboardist Neal Francis (“Dogs Stole Things”) cuts a session at KCRW featuring his infectious track “Changes Pts. 1 & 2.” Umphrey’s McGee guitarist Brendan Bayliss (“Twist”) previewed his contribution to Cluster Flies (though sans pedal steel guitar) during a recent at-home livestream. Strand Of Oaks (“Bug”) delivers “Weird Ways” during a taping of eTown in Boulder, Colorado. Closing out the set of videos is the aforementioned Ryley Walker who goes on a lengthy improvisational journey with Kikagaku Moyo.

Watch Cluster Flies musicians peroforming live below: