Phil Lesh Appreciation Society: Enter the Philzone...

[bmb73]

I would love to get a number.

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

Indeed; they also had the weather in sync for The Wheel, during, "if the thunder don't get you then the lightning will."

That was a crazy good show. I think we ended up sleeping in our car from about 4-7 am, then taking the Pike back to Worcester, uneventfully.

I linked to as good a version as there is. I believe all copies seem to originate from a Nakamichi deck source that has this swirling effect going on. My copy from 1984 sounds exactly like the ones on Internet Archive.

This one is different from the other versions and a little less crowd noise:

http://archive.org/details/gd1983-06...19438.flac1644

The short version of my story getting home is that I was going to meet some friends from Santa Cruz and catch a ride with them. I found them inside the venue but we got separated. After the show, I was with some other friends and walked for about an hour through the drizzle in the woods. Eventually we found a tarp to hang out under, as it started pouring, and I talked a guy through his chemical experience so that he wouldn't trip out on his cut feet (dancing barefoot-not such a good idea). As it got lighter, I noticed that across a little gully, there was a VW van parked among the trees. It got a little lighter and I noticed it was green. It got even lighter and I realized that it was my Santa Cruz friends! After they woke up, I found out that they had driven in the dark for about 30 minutes trying to find a place to park, only to end up about 30 feet from me! So, we piled into van and head back through the woods towards the parking lot. As we were about to exit the lot, the gearshift linkage snapped and we were stuck in second gear. Oops. We went out to breakfast down the road and on the way there, we noticed the check engine light. Apparently, some seal blew, probably due to overrevving the engine given that we were stuck in second gear. Luckily, next to the breakfast joint was a general store and we got a case of oil and two cases of beer. We then struck out back to Boston, going all the way in second gear, stopping every hour or so to put in another quart of oil. It was pretty damn hot that day and we were just cooking in the van with no AC and a top speed of maybe 25mph, so not much of a breeze. We pulled into Allston about 9 or 10 that night, out of oil and long out of beer.

SPAC '84 was also an epic journey, both the music and the ride home.

Years later I got to play SPAC on the HORDE tour with the Dude of Life (although relegated to a second stage). The best part of that show was discovering how good Meshell Ndegeocello was live (and her drummer, Gene Lake, son of one of my heroes, Oliver Lake) and dinner backstage with Tony Levin. What a great venue!

[Zootsuitbass]

Wow... you guys remember that SPAC show way better than I.

But speaking of drives, here you go. The 3 shows they did in fall 81 before going over to europe. Bethlehem,PA/Buffalo NY/ Baltimore MD one day each.

Buffalo 9/26/81

Check the

Playing->bertha/ Estimated-> Down the road before the drums.

Plus we got a on the road again first set.


http://archive.org/details/gd1981-09...7.sbeok.flac16

[spacebassed]

While we're on the topic of "Phil bombs," the "Jack Straw" from Oxford Plains '88 certainly deserves a mention:
http://archive.org/details/gd88-07-0...211.sbeok.shnf

"Morning Dew" and "Jack Straw" are probably my favorite "Phil Bomb" songs - he seems to like to let loose in those two, especially. Although, during and encore NFA at a Phil & Friends show a few years back he shook the place so much with some sustained notes that it distorted my vision.

BTW, when Phil signed my copy of his autobiography several years ago, he wrote "Keep Droppin' Bombs."

[HolmeBass]

Great thread, and would love a number if someone is giving them out. Long live Phil!

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

While we're on the topic of "Phil bombs," the "Jack Straw" from Oxford Plains '88 certainly deserves a mention:
http://archive.org/details/gd88-07-0...211.sbeok.shnf

Yup, Oxford Plains stands out as the best bass reproduction I've ever heard live anywhere. Those two 40 foot stacks of Meyer subs really did the trick. That's how a line array should be, in the bass!

Lots of stories from those shows, too, but I wouldn't want to incriminate anyone!

[spacebassed]

Originally Posted by edwinhurwitz

Yup, Oxford Plains stands out as the best bass reproduction I've ever heard live anywhere. Those two 40 foot stacks of Meyer subs really did the trick. That's how a line array should be, in the bass!

Lots of stories from those shows, too, but I wouldn't want to incriminate anyone!

It's been over 20 years, the statute of limitations is probably up by now.

[DJ Bebop]

Sorry but, what does a "Phil Bomb" mean?

[spacebassed]

Usually when ppl say "Phil bomb" they're talking about a prominent double stop played on the off beat... or it can be a loud, low note that stands out - to me, either meets the criteria of a "Phil bomb."

[DJ Bebop]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

Usually when ppl say "Phil bomb" they're talking about a prominent double stop played on the off beat... or it can be a loud, low note that stands out - to me, either meets the criteria of a "Phil bomb."

Thanks, I never knew that.
I had someone say that to me a gig back. He said I was dropping bombs all over the place. I thought he meant I was messing up

But you bringing that to my attention makes sense now. The song that he made the commit about, I was playing a lot of 1, 5, 8 type of chords or triple stops
and 1, 5 double stops. So now I hope that's what he meant

[twhitedc]

I'm in! Number please...
Despite not getting a lot of play this has always been my favorite PhilBass!

[StrangerDanger]

I'm a little younger than you guys. This was my first Dead show:
The Omni, Atlanta, GA (Wednesday, 3/30/94)

Here Comes Sunshine
Feel Like A Stranger
Jack-A-Roe
Same Thing
Lazy River Road
El Paso+
New Speedway Boogie
Promised Land

Scarlet Begonias ->
Fire on the Mountain
Playing in the Band ->
Dark Star (1st verse only) ->
Drums ->
Space ->
I Need A Miracle ->
Stella Blue ->
Sugar Magnolia

E: Liberty
16 Songs

I wasn't yet 19 and that Omni Run had a profound effect on me. I named my daughter Stella.

[FretlessMainly]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

Usually when ppl say "Phil bomb" they're talking about a prominent double stop played on the off beat...

The "Dew" bombs are often on the beat, the "Straw" bombs tend to the off-beat because that tune just has that "wait for it" vibe during the chorus.

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by twhitedc

I'm in! Number please...
Despite not getting a lot of play this has always been my favorite PhilBass!

Interesting. Care to elaborate? I saw a few shows with this bass and it never sounded as present as some of the other basses. I could be off the mark as to the cause, but I didn't think the Dimarzio pickups were all that great. I also missed the Alembic and Starfire, as they seemed to have a bigger presence and just were cool!

[RDagBasses]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

Hey Roger! How are the Hagstrom Bisonic recreations coming along?

I focuse on the same design actually but adapted to the fender spacing

[Zootsuitbass]

Well,,I like that bass just because I associate it with my favorite year.. 1980. The band was BURNING,,, Jerry was practicing long hours a day,healthy. All the new go to heaven stuff was played in. Brent was solidly in. The Warfield/Radio City runs are huge!

[RCCollins]

I'm a lifelong resident of the PHIL ZONE - how about a number?

[Zootsuitbass]

BTW.....

Edwin,, Neptune?? Newton/waltham line? Phealix,Bob Smith,Jeremy,Prescott???? Double bassist who went to Umass amherst and moved to Germany??? What was his name?

[N.F.A.]

Did my first show in 81. Number please... My username isn't NFA for nothing...

[Bassman8416]

Hey count me in, saw my first show January 8th, 1979 at Madison Square Garden.

http://archive.org/details/gd1979-01...r.87657.flac16