01-28-2008, 05:46 PM
It was a benefit for Habitat for Humanity. The show wasn't announced anywhere except from Phil's site and word of mouth. Tickets were expensive, like $100 or something. From 7-9, there was like six bands from Phil's son's music school. They were like High school bands, but better than some of the opening acts I've seen at the Mo'. We even had to break up a school yard fight - took the perp teen to the back office (the principal's office) and told him if he was an adult, he would have been arrested to scare him straight. Then PL&F came on at 10 and played two sets (only one was promised on the ticket) ending at 1:30 AM, way past my bedtime now.
First set was ok - China Cat open, which delighted an old friend of mine that was wearing a cat hat - Deal, BIODTL - was on a call for Dire Wolf which really worked for me (nothing like humming "i beg of you don't murder me" as you pull one of the fallen to safety) - some Jackie Green song and a serviceable Cumberland.
2nd set opened with Mountains of the moon, which I only know because I cheat and peeked at the set list. I thought it was space to Dark Star. DS served as the amazing launch platform that it was meant to be. The show exploded. Phil was rolling out those delicious boulders of thundering bass which can be felt more than heard - the Phil Zone...ahh yes...to be back in the Phil Zone... felt like coming home. There was a soulful Death don't have no mercy, then an other one that left a smoking crater just like it's supposed to, eyes, sug mag and enc: lovelight.
It was the best Dead flashback I've had since Jerry left. PL&F have recaptured that magic jam, that group mind sound, that essential ecstatic jam that was the Grateful Dead. It's not the Dead, of course, but the heart is the same. I'm thinking I might have to buy a ticket soon. I hope this incarnation of PL&F sticks around for a while. They are really on to something....again.
First set was ok - China Cat open, which delighted an old friend of mine that was wearing a cat hat - Deal, BIODTL - was on a call for Dire Wolf which really worked for me (nothing like humming "i beg of you don't murder me" as you pull one of the fallen to safety) - some Jackie Green song and a serviceable Cumberland.
2nd set opened with Mountains of the moon, which I only know because I cheat and peeked at the set list. I thought it was space to Dark Star. DS served as the amazing launch platform that it was meant to be. The show exploded. Phil was rolling out those delicious boulders of thundering bass which can be felt more than heard - the Phil Zone...ahh yes...to be back in the Phil Zone... felt like coming home. There was a soulful Death don't have no mercy, then an other one that left a smoking crater just like it's supposed to, eyes, sug mag and enc: lovelight.
It was the best Dead flashback I've had since Jerry left. PL&F have recaptured that magic jam, that group mind sound, that essential ecstatic jam that was the Grateful Dead. It's not the Dead, of course, but the heart is the same. I'm thinking I might have to buy a ticket soon. I hope this incarnation of PL&F sticks around for a while. They are really on to something....again.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse