July 6, 2008

Trey, Mike & Fishman Together at Rothbury

Phish was three-quarters of the way present on the roll call at the ROTHBURY music festival in Michigan earlier today (Sunday, July 6), but just as The Wagger predicted there was no full-fledged Phish reunion.

This is funny and irritating all at once . . . here is a "reporter" from ROTHBURY announcing that Phish is getting back together because Trey and Mike performed together "for the first time in four years." Ah, yeah. Nevermind the 2006 Summer Tour they did as the GRAB Band, or Mike & The Italians. And never mind the fact that Fishman was on-stage with them. What an idiot! This reporter also says the festival is "swimming in alcohol and drugs, like any other outdoor festival featuring jam bands." God, that sort of blanket statement pisses me off!

Anyway, rumor has it that Page may have been hanging out backstage, but he was nowhere to be seen when Trey and Fishman joined the Mike Gordon Band on-stage for a rendition of The Beatles' "She Said, She Said."

Here is a photo of Mike and Trey performing at ROTHBURY. Here is another one from Rolling Stone, which now has coverage of the festival posted online. Once again, Mike shows that he is a true fashion icon. And I believe that is a Langeudoc bass guitar Mike is using.

This was the second time this trio has been together on-stage since Coventry, the first being when Trey and Mike played an acoustic version of The Divided Sky in Ithaca, New York and Fishman walked out for two quick taps on one of Mike's cymbals (the ones he used to keep on the corner of Fishman's drum riser back in the day) to signal the transition into the long, jammed-out section of the epic tune.

Anyway, happy day! Look for files of the show to be posted at etree's Community Tracker sometime tomorrow.

While you're there, download the Phil Lesh & Friends show from ROTHBURY on the same day. It is (I'm watching it via iClips.com while composing this post) one smokin' set. The highlight has to be the Help on the Way -> Slipknot! -> Franklin's Tower ripped out to open the second set. This version brings the funk in a way I think Jerry would have loved.

Real Quotes from President Bush (Part III)

It still surprises me when I hear people say they honestly believe President Bush has done, or is doing, a great job in the Oval Office.

Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything he's accomplished that's made the average American's quality of life better over the last seven-and-a-half years. President Bush is not 100 percent responsible for the current state of affairs the United States of America finds itself in, but he is responsible for doing nothing to try and make things better.

He doesn't try to negotiate about oil production with oil-rich nations or with OPEC; he hasn't done anything to address rising inflation and the falling value of the U.S. dollar; and he doesn't come out and chastise the Democratic-led Congress for sitting on its hands rather than coming up with new policies that might help jump start the economy, such as rebuilding the country's infrastructure, or creating a scenario like the Manhattan Project only for green energy and alternative fuel sources.

In any case, it blows my mind to hear people talk on CNN, post messages on blogs, or write letters to the editor supporting President Bush and his approach to leadership as chief executive of the United States of America. We are in the middle of the worst economic tailspin this country has seen since President Jimmy Carter was in office, and Bush is sitting back doing nothing, coasting through his final days as the leader of the free world.

Thank God we only have 199 days left until he leaves 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue forever, and a new president will be sworn in. Let's just hope the next president doesn't take a year or more to settle into office, choose his cabinet and get down to the business of turning this country around, or at least steering it onto a better course.

One thing is for sure: the next president will be a better orator than numb-nuts over there, and will never get quoted saying things like this:

"You've also got to measure in order to begin to effect change that's just more - when there's more than talk, there's just actual - a paradigm shift." -- Washington D.C., July 1, 2003

"I'm looking for a good night's sleep on the soil of a friend." -- From an interview with the Danish Broadcasting System about his upcoming trip to Denmark, June 2005

"I am determined to keep the process on the road to peace." -- Washington D.C., June 2003

"I'm also not very analytical. You know, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things." -- Aboard Air Force One, June 2003

"This case has had full analyzation and has been looked at a lot. I understand the emotionality of death penalty cases." -- Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 23, 2000

"I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe - I believe what I believe is right." -- Rome, Italy, June 22, 2001

"I was going to say he's a piece of work but that might not translate too well. Is that all right, if I call you a 'piece of work?'" -- to the prime minister of Luxembourg, June 20, 2005

"I'm sure you can imagine it's an unimaginable honor to live here." -- The White House, June 2001

"I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace." -- Washington D.C., June 18, 2002

And of course, everyone's favorite quote from President George W. Bush:

"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once - shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you fool me - you can't get fooled again." -- Nashville, Tennessee, September 2002

July 1, 2008

Mike Gordon Makes His Own Statement About Phish Reunion

An article appearing in today's Chicago Sun-Times newspaper quotes Phish bassist Mike Gordon discussing the possibility of a Phish reunion later this year.

"There isn't really anything more to say than what's been said, because we don't know yet,'' Mike told the newspaper, referring to the letter keyboardist Page McConnell recently wrote and posted on Phish's website.

Mike goes on to say, "We all are liking the idea of doing something."

New flash Mike -- so are we.

Well, one thing has not changed at all about the guys from Phish: they sure know how to make you stop dead in your tracks and pay attention to what they're doing.

OK, let's recap. First, Trey referenced a Phish reunion in Rolling Stone. Next, Phish lyricist Tom Marshall told PopMatters.com that "Trey wants Phish to come back" and "No one wants Phish back more than Trey." That was followed by Page's letter, which made the world turn upsidedown, start spinning, stop abruptly and then right itself again with the news it contained. Now, we have word from Mike that he's into it as well. So, what's left?

It's your turn Fishman. And no, the rumored e-mail that supposedly came from you talking about the band hiring producer Steve Lillywhite to help record a new album does not count. Here at The Wagger, we are calling for you, Henrietta, Greezy Fizeek, Bob Weaver, or whomever you are this week, to turn and address the Phish Tank directly!

Well . . . . . we're waiting . . . . . (fingers crossed)

On a side note, even with all of the rumblings over the last month about the band deciding to spend some time together in late 2008, I still don't think a Phish reunion at Rothbury is in the cards. Read The Wagger's prior post on the subject to find out why there will be no Rothbury Phish reunion.