We were all with them in the trenches, when what at first seemed to be a "Manteca" tease actually became a launch back into "Steam," cutting off the end of "Stash" in a way that disappointed no one. During the jam, with about two minutes left, they took a brief major key detour with Page bringing back echoes of earlier solos, then shifted back into a minor key. The crowd was swaying and clapping, then we settled into a deeply soulful groove.
Encore spa walnut creek full#
Was that a tease? Yes! No! It was a full blown launch!Īnd what a "Stash" it was. The transition to " Stash" was so subtle and pristine that many of us were slapping our neighbors and raising our eyebrows. "Possum" ended with a pause for celebration before Trey played the first notes of " Steam," which could be called the Phish fan version of “the song of the summer.” There was abundant opportunity to groove and to giggle at the effects on stage, including steam, red lights, and occasional screaming. Page had a jazz moment minus any flourishes, maintaining the energetic, happy vibe.
Trey integrated bluegrass riffs around a clean, fresh Page solo dominated by major key piano chords. Mike was having a blast during this song-incorporating slap bass between his lilting lyrics. There were sheer paroxysms of joy at the opening chords and rhythms of " Possum," a classic tune that inevitably brings shouts of glee. The band maintained a nice balance of rock and funk, bringing up the energy with the tempo and the lights simultaneously. As the funkiness increased, the light show accelerated. Even though it is definitively not a rarity, hearing a "Moma Dance" opener always feels fresh, a welcome invitation to boogie.
They launched into "The Moma Dance" opener with playful energy. They referenced light, water, and weather in general throughout the show, a wink and a nod to those of us who understand the capriciousness of North Carolina summer evenings. The band met the moment with an ongoing recognition of the potential for storms, the fog of humidity creeping on Sandburg’s cat feet, and the lingering and potent sunlight bracketed against the Carolina blue sky. This particular Walnut Creek show was a mix of songs from throughout the years, without a dud to be found. © 2022 Dan Pasquarello (courtesy of Wombat Matt) Of course, conversation quickly drifted to the memorable 1997 show, when the deluge turned the lawn into a mudpit, Kersten’s parents were at their first show, and her brother was featured prominently on the jumbotron as he danced, shirtless and wild. Suzy’s 225th show, Kersten’s kids’ first show, our fifth Walnut Creek show together, friends and family scattered across the audience-hard to find on the packed lawn)-running into random people and finding out they're from our tiny home town in rural North Carolina. This was a show that required some recognition. Even the stairs to the lawn provoked memories that we endeavored to locate throughout the years. The moist heat smacked us in the face like a used spa towel, but once we strolled through the dusty lot to arrive at the venue, we were home. We arrived together, friends since we were six, 28 years since our first show at Walnut Creek.
0 kommentar(er)
