February 27, 2008

Our resident guitar expert, Yair2k, hipped us to Paul Languedoc’s webpage, where the luthier has just released photos of the newest ‘doc. Languedoc started out making instruments before Phish’s Trey

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…

The Disco Biscuits are returning to the stage for three shows at the Starland Ballroom starting tomorrow. If you weren’t able to purchase tickets, or you’re just scared to run

The New York Mets will play the final baseball game at Shea Stadium this fall. Billy Joel, a quintessential New Yorker and baseball lover, will play the final musical notes at the stadium, which has been home to the Amazin’s since 1964, in July. From the Beatles historical concerts to Dwight Gooden’s fastball, Shea has provided some fantastic memories. Here’s a few remembered, mash-up style:

Scenes From an Italian Restaurant – Mike Piazza, who certainly provided his share of Amazin’ moments for the Mets, will probably best be remembered for his performance in the first baseball game played in New York in the post-9/11 era. On September 20, 2001, Piazza hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning that lifted the Mets over the Atlanta Braves 3-2 and brought the tiniest bit of joy to a still weeping New York City.

A Matter of Trust – The Mets lose the first two games of the 1986 World Series at Shea to the Red Sox setting off panic after a 108-win regular season and a dramatic NLCS win over Houston. Tim Teufel’s through-the-wickets error allows the lone run in Game One and Dwight Gooden is shelled for six runs on eight hits over five innings in a 9-3 Game Two loss. The Mets turn it around and win Games Three and Four in Boston.

Read on for eleven more Billy Joel songs that just drive Mr. Met absolutely crazy…

We’ve got a couple of more festivals to tell you about this week, and let’s begin with this year’s 10KLF event at Detroit Lakes in Minnesota. Phil Lesh and Friends,