Monday, January 25, 2010

11/11/09

I downloaded the Phish show from Halloween (part of their 3-day fest in Indio, CA)...excellent show.  They covered Exile In Main Street, which is funny, because Gov't Mule did a Rolling Stones covers show for Halloween as well.  I was surpsrised how well Phish plays the Stones....they do faithful versions, and also had horns for the appropriate parts as well.  I loved their take on Casino Boogie (amazing guitar) and Loving Cup, which has become almost a standard for them.  But every song was good.  The rest of the show they played some classic Phish tunes, including opening with Sample In A Jar.  Setlist:
10/31/09 Empire Polo Club, Indio, CA
Phish Festival 8
Set I: Sample in a Jar, The Divided Sky, Lawn Boy, Kill Devil Falls, Bathtub Gin, The Squirming Coil, Runaway Jim> Possum, Run Like An Antelope
Set II: Rocks Off, Rip This Joint, Shake Your Hips, Casino Boogie, Tumbling Dice, Sweet Virginia, Torn and Frayed, Sweet Black Angel, Loving Cup, Happy Birthday, Turd On The Run, Ventilator Blues> I Just Want To See His Face, Let It Loose, All Down The Line, Stop Breaking Down, Shine A Light, Soul Survivor
Set III: Backwards Down The Number Line> Fluffhead, Ghost, When the Circus Comes to Town, You Enjoy Myself
Encore: Suzy Greenberg


Not faring as well (imho) was Gov't Mule.  I thought the song choices were fairly lame (Slave?!), and didn't think any song sounded particularly inspired.  I was surprised when I listened to their take of "Can't You Hear Me Knockin" which I thought sounded unfocused.  It lacked any urgency and sounded sloppy, particularly compared to what this band is capable of live.  Monkey Man and Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) was a bit better, but this show can't compare to their last 2 Halloween shows, in which they focused on Led Zeppelin (07) and Pink Floyd (08).  I really thought Gov't Mule would nail the Stones, but wish they'd have concentrated on one of the seminal Stones albums (Exile, Sticky Fingers) instead of playing random songs.  It made me appreciate the Rolling Stones even more. Would've loved to heard Warren play "Time Waits For No One".  Sounds like they had fun doing it though, just wish it would've sounded more memorable.

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