Hidden Track

Ever heard of phenomenology? Me either; this one just fell in my lap. In the early chapters of Muriel Barbery’s relatively recent bestseller, The Elegance of the Hedgehog which just so happened to be in my lap on the train this weekend, she put forth this idea of phenomenology, “the science of what appears to our conscious.” As she so aptly puts, “For millennia now, by way of ‘I know thyself’ to ‘I think therefore I am,’ mankind has been rambling on about the ridiculous human prerogative that is our consciousness.”

[All Photos by Dave Vann]

Some segments of this group known as “mankind” may focus their attention on their conscious perceptions of their favorite bagel or pizza joints, films or works of literature by the masters, or perhaps means of transportation (Amtrak baby). We, on the other hand, choose to focus on our perceptions on Phish shows and the detailsl of every note, and then subsequently comparing all those details to all the other details we have previously compared, turning out these databases of critical information to compile such useful diatribes as the all-time ten best Harry Hoods ever played. Well, it may be as she says “ridiculous human prerogative,” but like the great Bobby Brown always says, it is ours.

Phish fans are divided like chocolate lovers. Some like it dark (70%), bitter and potent, with emphasis on the sinister Down With Diseases and smoggy funky Ghosts. Other palates prefer the sweeter, yet still complex milk chocolate (Swiss) like a Fluffhead opener, a nice Reba, a Hood, or a long-awaited If I Could. Lots of folks will simply eat it all. And then of course, there are those who like the mass market Hersheys. Well, at least they like the flavor in general.

Anyway, getting to the point, finally. Very rarely can you please them all, but Phish’s tour opener at the historic Fenway Park in Boston served up Homer’s Chocolate Town, complete with flavors for everyone. With the anticipation nearly reaching Hampton levels, with heaps of fans out for their first show since the breakup, Phish swung for the fences. READ ON for more…

Summer is just around just around the bend, so Stormy Mondays bids the spring a fond farewell with a mix of songwriterly pieces, kicking off with the grandmaster, Bob Dylan,

On Friday we said goodbye to Jay Leno and this evening we say hello to new Tonight Show host Conan O’Brien. Seattle rockers Pearl Jam will be Conan’s first musical

Phish kicked off their first tour in nearly five years with a scorcher at historic Fenway Park in Boston. The band busted out the second Destiny Unbound since 1991 and

Words: Carla Danca
Photos: Jeremy Gordon (TO FOLLOW)

With the sun finally out in full force and only bright fluffy white clouds in the sky, Day 2 of Mountain Jam had the makings of a perfect day. I hurried over to the mountain to catch The Macpodz and their vibrant horns started the day out right. Brett Dennen kept it going with more smooth roots rock that was easy and familiar, perfect for those who might still be recovering. Something that struck me was that unlike most afternoon slots at festivals, there were a lot of people out on the hill; apparently Mt Jam organizers know how to pick them.

By afternoon it was beautifully cool and breezy, and I was excited for Gomez to take the stage. Seducing the crowd with their infectious song, Airstream Driver, I like them more with every listen. With the perfect mix of raspiness and grit, How We Operate shows the range this band has. From easy pop to hard hitting rock they blend all sorts of sounds and keep me wanting more.

The day rolled on with Jackie Greene who may be young but his talent shows. He included a nod to the Grateful Dead in New Speedway Boogie as well as a personal favorite of mine, Velvet Underground’s Waiting for My Man. The Hold Steady made sure to give fans a taste of their new album including their new single Memphis. READ ON for more…

Words: Carla Danca
Photos: Jeremy Gordon

The first day of Mountain Jam, held at beautiful Hunter Mountain in the northern Catskills of New York, had something for everyone.

I started the day with Marco Benevento Trio and a cover of MMJ’s Golden that was so beautiful even a butterfly was drawn to the stage. Next up was PBS (Porter Batiste and Stoltz) with a set so filled with funky grooves that it seemed to call down the rain, with some help from an on-stage rain dance of sorts by George. Railroad Earth and Tea Leaf Green had the crowds dancing and smiling despite the on again / off again showers. By the time Umphrey’s was up and the lights had begun to fade, things really started to move. Warren got in his first sit in of the day with a cover of The Rolling Stones’ Can’t You Hear Me Knocking, as Umphrey’s wrapped up its set.

But this is Gov’t Mule’s festival and it wouldn’t be their style to let anyone go home without a serious taste of what they bring – Warren tearing into that guitar so furiously that picks were flying off stage like dirty cigarette butts. With covers from Led Zeppelin, Ray Charles, The Grateful Dead and Neil Young, I’m not sure if there is anything that they can’t make their own. George Porter joined then on stage and the second set ended with Tea Leaf Green’s Josh Clark and Trevor Garrod joining in for a stunning Cortez the Killer, while the crowd helped out in a sing-a-long.

If you could made it to late night however, you were in for a something special. Girl Talk fronted an all out party on stage complete with dozens of girls dancing on stage while tossing toilet paper streamers and even an inflatable whale into the crowd. His thumping set was filled with all your guilty pleasure songs from the past 20 years—the ones you can’t resist singing along to when you’re alone in the car. Inside, Eric Krasno and Chapter 2 gave a different kind of dance party, with some straight up rock and roll including a cover of Hendrix’s Manic Depression.

READ ON for more of Carla’s thoughts and Jeremy’s photos from Hunter…

While Phish continues to rehearse at the DCU Center (aka The Centrum) in Worcester, the Hidden Track team is getting ready to hit the road for what promises to be

Photographer Chris Cartelli took a trip down south to attend last weekend’s Amberland Festival which was thrown by jam-rockers Perpetual Groove at Cherokee Farms in Lafayette, Georgia and delivered these