Re: Review of Phil and Friends - Dec 29, 2005


"Bill" <u2@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:2Nitf.40344$7h7.16916@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Phil and Friends w/ John Mayer Trio opening
> date: Dec. 29, 2005
> location: Fillmore in San Francisco
>
> Assessment of John Mayer Trio?

I didn't like it. Although it was obvious that he was enjoying himself I
found it very bland, pedestrian and much more suited for a frat party than
on the bill with Phil Lesh.


> From that point on to the end of their set, it was killer

If by killer you meant it made you want to kill yourself, I agree. His set
was way too long.


> Assessment of Phil and Friends with Ryan Adams and Joan Osborne? Just a
> killer killer band.

Depends are you definition of killer, again. This line-up has potential,
but I don't think it was reached last night. The next two nights will
hopefully bring it out for them.


> This has to be one of the strongest bands in musical
> history. I'd put these guys up against any Miles or Coltrane or Zep or
> Grateful Dead band or any other band for sheer intensity and power of
killer
> music.

Good god.


> Does anybody think Phil has some unique and superior sound processing in
his
> setup? I can make out his bass notes just about better than anyone who's
> playing rock bass at that volume. It's great to be able to distinguish
each
> bass note so well with such a great bassist as Phil. He really gets a
clear
> sound.

His bass sounded fantastic and crystal clear. I thought they did a great
job of mixing all the instruments too.


> Assessment of Ryan Adams worth to Phil and Friends?

<Shaking my head>
Let's look at the songs Ryan sang:

FOTD was slow and nice, but Ryan kept singing the verses and not going to
the bridge. Phil did a little in-ear prompting to help him out. I didn't
think that was a big deal...so he needed a little prompt. It was actually a
nice without a net type experience that they managed to save without looking
too bad, but it was far from solid.

Dire Wolf was next and Ryan didn't follow the same arrangement that everyone
else was playing. A bit of train wreck.

Ryan didn't know when to come in on the lyrics for He's Gone, to the point
that Phil was rolling his eyes when Ryan would come in too early.

Ryan was having teleprompter problems so Joan moved hers over so he could
see it. It didn't help. On Bertha he was clueless. Eventually he just
gave up singing and Joan took over.

I didn't think Ryan could screw up the vocals to Wharf Rat because he often
does this song in his own shows. I was mistaken.

Nobody Girl. A Ryan Adams song. He was able to sing this one without a
teleprompter and knew when to come in on vocals.

That's 1 out of 6.


> Assessment of last night's show? Killer!

Musically the band sounded great. I just don't think they found their
groove while Ryan was singing which made the show extremely spotty. Barry
played pedal steel for most of the night and always knew his place. Larry
played tasty guitar licks, mandolin and a nice fiddle accompaniment on The
Other One (Barry was on guitar for this one but deferred an extended solo so
Ryan could rake the pedal guitar strings. What's up with that?) Joan
vocals were nice. Rob, Molo, Phil...all played great. Ryan Adams...played
very good...has a nice voice...just doesn't know the material well enough.






.

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