Wade Wilby

When I heard Phish was breaking up I was on a condo bed in Falmouth, MA listening to Tortoise’s opus It’s All Around You. The windows and doors were open to let the sea air in. The sky was foreboding grey, a hue that would loom over Cape Cod for the duration of that day. I will never forget how I felt that moment. And like today, October 1 2008, I will never forget the barrage of texts I got at 8:01 am when I turned my phone on. The air was crisp and really starting to feel like the fall. The White Sox clinched a playoff birth the night before with a very dramatic finish at The Cell. The election was in full swing with a focus on our ever diminishing economy. Our community was ready for some good news which is exactly what we got.

And this news took me way back. Back to my living room window in the fall of ’96. My sister saw a Fed Ex truck park in front of my house and took off running out the front door to basically tackle the driver for our Fall ’96 tour tickets. She hits a spot of wet leaves at full speed and takes a mean digger. The driver knew this sort of behavior to be the norm at the Wilby house when tickets were arriving but hit the ground laughing all the same. There is just a feeling of anticipation you can’t describe.

That is the innocence of “The Presale”. Not one note has been played. Hotel rooms start getting booked. Travel plans start their evolution towards full blown ragers. Old friends are telephoned to rehash war stories and lay plans for the wars on the horizon. For all we know and truly believe in our hearts…these are the best shows they will ever play. The boys are getting back together and that, for this interval of innocence, is the ONLY thing that matters. You can’t get this moment of time back. Once those first notes are hit, the inevitable hate train will go back on course, ready to chastise the band at every wrong note or blown transition. But now….now is the golden age of anticipation. All is good. All is forgiven.

READ ON for more of Wade’s thoughts on the comeback of Phish…

Not many bands get to play at The Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millenium Park. The feat of architecture, designed by National Medal of Art winner Frank Gehry, is equipped with a state of the art sound system and shoots 120 feet high into the Chicago sky. Death Cab For Cutie joins other names such as Tortoise and Wilco as some of the only rock acts to play the prestigious stage. The stainless steel canopy would find little color from the sun to illuminate it tonight, but rather, take a cue from the band’s hometown of Seattle, and project the grey clouds hovering over the venue for the crowd to see. The mood was set.

[All photos graciously provided by Amanda Chavi Edwards]

Rogue Wave started the evening coated in reverb and dressed up in cheap ties, as if they were courting Death Cab and in a few shows, would finally meet their parents for approval. The band was tight, but eerily reminiscent to My Morning Jacket sans any balls at all. The set was pretty much a wide body guitar and Fender amp fest, but a great choice for an opener for DCFC.

The skies remained calm as the masked sun began to set over Millennium Park, though you would never be able to tell, sort of like the transformation of Ben Gibbard’s stage presence. Years ago, Ben would have emerged from behind a graffited club wall disguised as your everyday melancholy strummer with black glasses that would have you guessing him a librarian or sarcastic record store clerk. On this evening, a confident, contact-wearing rock star took the stage in Downtown Chicago and stood tall very much stage right of the rest of the ensemble, putting him at a noticeable distance from the rest of the band, signaling the leader was certainly in place. It is very hard to take that step between worlds as a performer without looking like an asshole somewhere along the way, but Ben seems to have mastered the art of transformation with no harm done to his demeanor and hasn’t looked back.

READ ON for more of Wade’s thoughts on Death Cab in Chicago…

So I’m perusing Genesis-Music.com the other day and click on an interview with Mr Collins about the release of their new gigantic DVD When in Rome, set to hit US Wal-Marts with a fury on June 10. Phil, like so many fraudulent times before, goes over his sentiments on “being off the road” and “focusing on family” and what not. HOWEVER, he oh-so-slyly slips in this epic gem of a quote:

There remains a possibility of doing a reunion performance of “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” with Peter Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett, but Collins said that will be “for something special” like a one-off performance rather than a full touring production.

File this one under the “Are You Fucking Kidding Me?” pile. Way to just slip in a bomb like that. I’m sure hardcore Rael fans started busting out their costumes for the occasion. READ ON for the whole interview from Phil and don’t forget to camp out in front of Wal-Mart on June 9, so you can be the first prog-geek on your block with a copy of Genesis’ final stop on their European Tour…

My Phil-Dar was going off this morning, then I realized www.genesis-music.com announced its plans for the US Release of When In Rome, a live DVD shot in Rome at the

On May 20, 2008 the European contingent of Genesis fans will be treated to the World Premiere of the band’s newest concert DVD, When In Rome. Worry not, Ron Burgandy did not title this movie and we assure you it is going to be slamming. Taken from the band’s most recent World Tour, this DVD features the Genesis line up that has been knocking down stadiums since the early ’80s (Daryl Sturemer, Chester Thompson, Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford).

The DVD also features the production design of the one and only Mark Fisher for Stufish Designs. If you haven’t seen Mark Fisher’s work……you suck at life.

This extravagant bash will be hosted by, get this, Genesis FAN Phil Glenister at The Kensington Odeon, simulcasting the DVD to theaters across Europe and featuring a Q and A with the “Then There Were Three” Mafia (Phil, Tony and Mike, respectively). Talk about having your cake and listening to a ripping Los Endos too. Keep your Phil-Dar locked on Wade’s World for up to the millisecond coverage on “All Things Phil.” READ ON for the full When In Rome tracklist.

On Monday we kicked off a new feature called Tour Diary with the first of four entries from the Umphrey’s McGee crew about their recently completed West Coast tour. Here’s UM Lighting Crew Chief Wade Wilby final installment:

02/15/08 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
OM Trio opened
Set I: Bridgeless> Much Obliged> Dump City, Partyin’ Peeps, The Fussy Dutchman, Sociable Jimmy> Bridgeless
Set II: Miss Tinkle’s Overture, 2nd Self> Der Bluten Kat> Gulf Stream¹> Der Bluten Kat, Syncopated Strangers, Utopian Fir
Encore: Bombtrack^{2 3}

1 First Time Played (Original) ; Portions played on 11/10/07 & 12/31/07
2 First Time Played (Rage Against The Machine)
3 Ilya Stemkovsky (Vocals) and Brian Felix (Keyboards)

All photos by Matt Ziegler, except where noted

San Francisco is a gorgeous depiction of West Coast vegetation and landscape; Rolling hills dotted with island-like real estate and a dreamy climate controlled by the waving palms. Besides its deep natural romance, the city has played host to some of music’s most famous live moments, classic venues and of course…The Fat Man. We would only come in contact with one of the aforementioned amenities in The Fillmore, and it would prove to be our last 3 night run there, making it a very special weekend at this institution of rock and roll. Read on for more…

On Monday we kicked off a new feature called Tour Diary with the first of four entries from the Umphrey’s McGee crew about their recently completed West Coast tour. Here’s UM Lighting Crew Chief Wade Wilby with a behind-the-scenes look at the San Diego and Los Angeles shows, and their day off in San Fran…:

02/12/08 House of Blues, San Diego, CA
Dub Trio opened
Set I: Get in the Van, Jimmy Stewart> Water, Higgins, Nemo> Sweetness> Jam^{1 2}, Nemo
Set II: 40’s Theme, Example 1³, Padgett’s Profile, Search 4, Morning Song, Ringo¹
Encore: Show Biz Kids^{1 4}, The Floor

1 – With Mike Keneally
2 – ‘Abacab’ jam
3 – Mike Mirro (Drums)
4 – First Time Played (Steely Dan)

Photo by Mike Sherry

The SD HOB is a bit tight to work in, but you sacrifice the space for the climate. The head lighting technician there is the funniest and most well versed HOB light guy, if not one of the best club guys in the country, so he is always a treat. He and (Umphrey’s LD Adam) Budney busted balls all day, while the boys awaited Mike Keneally from Frank Zappa fame to arrive. Jake, Joel and Kris recently recorded some great tracks with Mike on their trip to LA, and we got to listen to a few. Very scary. Very angular. Very Umphrey’s. I hope this stuff sees the light of day soon. It was decided by the group that Steely Dan’s stab at Hollywood Show Biz Kids would be the cover of the night. Read on for more from San Diego and LA…

Yesterday we kicked off a new feature called Tour Diary with the first of four entries from the Umphrey’s McGee crew about their recently completed West Coast tour. Here’s UM Lighting Crew Chief Wade Wilby with a behind-the-scenes look at the Portland and Ventura shows, and their day off in Sacramento:

02/09/08 Roseland Theatre, Portland, OR
Dub Trio opened
Set I: Nothing Too Fancy> Roulette, Much Obliged> Eat> 2×2> Eat, Syncopated Strangers> Jimmy Stewart> Syncopated Strangers
Set II: Plunger, Kula, August> End of the Road> August, Wappy Sprayberry> Resolution> Nothing Too Fancy
Encore: London Calling¹, Wizard Burial Ground

1 First Time Played (The Clash)

All photos by Matt Ziegler

Portland is starting to become one of those cities in Umph lore that brings out the best in the band. Could be Brendan’s brother Pat’s overwhelmingly positive attitude (he lives in Portland), could be the Northwest air, who knows? One thing is for sure; the boys came and brought it once again, this time at The Roseland Theater. Nothing 2 Fancy got things fired up right from the get go, and from Much Obliged till the end of the first set things didn’t let up. The same can be said for set 2, with Kula igniting the packed and sweaty dance hall. Jake nailed the vocals on the night’s new cover of London Calling by The Clash. After the show we hung tough with the Portland Family, and were excited to travel to Sacramento for a day off. Read on for more from Portland, Ventura and a well-earned trip to The Beat…

We’ve got quite a treat for you this week, as we kick off yet another new feature called Tour Diary. Our first Tour Diary comes from Umphrey’s McGee Lighting Crew Chief Wade Wilby about the band’s recently completed West Coast tour:

From the depths of the suburbs comes this blog from the UM road crew. The words come from Wade, but the experience comes from them all. The band would like to thank everyone who supported them on this tour, and all of their friends and family who stopped in to share the experience.

All photos by Matt Ziegler

02/07/08 Richards on Richards, Vancouver, BC
Set I: Soul Food I> Anchor Drops> Believe the Lie, Dump City, Nemo
Set II: Der Bluten Kat> Search 4> Der Bluten Kat> Alex’s House> I Ran, The Fuzz> Der Bluten Kat
Encore: Seek and Destroy¹> Higgins

1 – Last Played 10/28/2005 (266 Shows)

O’Hare is infamous for cowering under mother nature’s pressure. February 6, the date of our departure for Winter Tour, would be no exception. Five weeks of nervous energy and anticipation played itself out in laps, as I watched the snow hammer down on Chicago all day wondering if the flight to Vancouver would ever get out on time, if at all. Our flight was one of a handful that escaped the airport, and we were off to paradise. Read on for more from Vancouver and Seattle…

Wade Ellis Wilby has experienced many angles of the music industry. He’s written songs for Rane and headed up production at Higher Ground; these days he finds himself working for Umphrey’s McGee. On Saturday night, Wade caught Ryan Adams at the Chicago Theater just two short nights after Adams’ latest blowup. Wade filed the following report from the Adams frontlines…

The Chicago Theater is a Windy City landmark. When the movie palace first opened its doors on October 26, 1921, people hailed it as “The Wonder Theater of The World.” The light bulb design of the marquee made it look like it could have been ’21 or ’72. In front of The Chicago Theater, there is no time.

Photo by Chad Leo

I arrived to a sea of hipsters with angels on their arms, women far too beautiful to be walking in to a place this romantic with men so poorly refined. And therein lies the beauty of Ryan Adams: any suburban punk, Williamsburg Trust Rat or drunken cowboy can come and feel like a hero. The music has this cleansing ability, a vindication for everything you’re not going to apologize for and the person you just can’t stop being. There is nothing wrong with any of us. We’re just trying to get through this together. And there is no one more understanding of that than Adams. Read on for Wade’s great review of Adams’ return to the stage…