2009

Most baseball players dream of playing in the World Series, most actors dream of winning an academy award and most musicians dream of performing their compositions at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic. Last night, Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio got to fulfill that dream when he took the stage with the most legendary orchestra in the world at arguably the most famous venue in the world and he made the most of the opportunity.

[All photos by Benjamin Slayter / Slayter Creative]

Anastasio and the Philharmonic performed two sets filled with songs that sounded so natural in this setting you would’ve thought they were originally written with an orchestra in mind. Israeli conductor Asher Fisch clearly understood the Trey/Phish experience and did an exceptional job of infusing playfulness and frenzy into the performance from the beginning of the First Tube opener through the end of the If I Could encore. There was so much going on between all of the different parts each section of the orchestra brought to each song that it was literally mind blowing trying to take it all in. Luckily a mobile recording truck captured each and every note for posterity.

From the moment you walked through the entrance of the iconic venue and saw more balloons on 57th street than at a toddler’s birthday party it was clear this wasn’t an ordinary night at Carnegie Hall. There was hooting and hollering from the moment Anastasio walked on the stage but most of it was good natured and the orchestra seemed to get a kick out of the love and appreciation that was being showed towards them at nearly every opportunity.

READ ON for more of Scotty’s thoughts and Ben’s incredible photos of Trey Anastasio and the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall…

We’ve gotta hand it to Rhino for unveiling what looks to be the best Grateful Dead archival release in years – Winterland June 1977 – The Complete Recordings. These shows

Jay Leno returns to the airwaves this week with The Jay Leno Show (NBC, 10PM) and in addition to the star power of Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Cruise, Robin Williams and

Over the last 15+ years as a Phish fan I’ve been treated to some magical experiences and last night’s concert is near the top of the list. One of Phish

After 50 years of drumming Phil Collins is putting down his sticks. The Genesis drummer has a spinal injury that has made sitting at a kit too painful to endure. 

Sad as it may be, the passing of Labor Day weekend means for all intents and purposes one thing: Summer is officially over. The leaves are changing; school is session; and the NFL’s on Fox. But before you all go running off to buy your school supplies, pack away your casual Friday wardrobes, and cross the “t” on your crappy fantasy team names, there is one last summer rite of passage we almost forgot to mention: Mr. Blotto’s Blottopia Ten.

Ever since we started up the Cover Wars feature here at Hidden Track, the self-contained jamband from Chicagoland has emerged nearly unbeatable, winning not only a number of individual song challenges, but the whole shebang in the Cover Wars March Madness tournament as well. Hence, when their proprietary festival at Vasa Park in Elgin, IL rolls around every summer, we always like to check in to see what went down, particularly to hone in on the big day-two encore, the album performance.

A festive first day kicked things off, which included the tradition of opening with last year’s closing song, in this case Peter Today, an original tune which pays respects to both Peter Tosh and to last year’s cover album, Babylon by Bus. Blotto also treated fans to a scorching and hilarious Cheech and Chong encore in Earache, My Eye, a monster Wedge with some familiar teases, a funky clavinet take on Buju Banton’s Murderer sandwiched in between two halves of Fire on the Mountain and lots of extended takes on their original catalog. READ ON for more from Ryan on Blottopia Ten…