The National have added new dates to their forthcoming spring headlining tour in support of a new studio album, which is due in stores this May. In addition to slotting
Having opened for Wilco and Meat Puppets among others, this Minnesota band makes a huge impression with album number two. The trio of drummer Eric Pollard, bassist Steve Garrington and singer/guitarist Alan Sparhawk kick things off with an endearing slow-burner “Hide It Away” evoking a blend of Explosions In The Sky and Coldplay.
Words and Images: S. Balaji Mani
Just across the street from Fenway Park, where Trey and Phish kicked off a long-anticipated summer tour last year, Trey and Classic TAB got down to business at Boston’s House of Blues. Coming on a little after 8:30 PM, Trey and company kicked off with the newly-arranged Shine. The brass intro foreshadowed what would be the defining element of the night, TAB’s featured three-piece horn section. The lighting went perfectly with the lyrics, with blazing yellows and whites flooding the room as Trey and the audience echoed the chorus. A bouncy and funky Cayman Review followed, with Trey bouncing up and jumping around, pointing to various fans in the audience.
A calm, dark What’s Done brought the mood down to let people catch their breath – it was also a first for this tour so far. The Birdwatcher showed up in the set as an Elvis-tinged old school rock-and-roll number, a distinct departure from its barbershop arrangement on Party Time.
Trey didn’t hesitate to introduce the newest member of the TAB family, trombonist Natalie Cressman (the first “second generation member of the band,” as her father used to play in TAB). She was beaming the whole night, and also joined Jennifer Hartswick on background vocals for most of the tunes. She really stepped out to shine on Mozambique, delivering a beautifully accented and original solo. While the first set had its moments, including another tour debut with Plasma (which was also supplemented with beautiful lighting work), the true standouts came thereafter.
Drifting led the second half of the evening, with colorful flute work from original Giant Country Horn member Russell Remington. Russell switched fluidly between percussion instruments, flute and saxophones throughout the night. The requisite TAB staple, Sand, sent everyone into a dancing frenzy.
READ ON for more of Balaji’s photos and thoughts on Classic TAB…
Trey Anastasio and Classic TAB returned to the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT this evening for a show that focused on the newer tunes in their repertoire. Anastasio was talkative
Welcome to a special Saturday edition of Stormy Mondays. It’s not everyday that the truly momentous anniversaries role around, and when they do, it’s worth celebrating a little. Today is
Trey Anastasio and Classic TAB mixed it up a bit more as they entered the heart of their fanbase for a gig at the House of Blues in Boston this evening. Making their tour debuts were What’s Done, Plasma and Sultans of Swing.
[Photos by Balaji Mani]
Here’s the setlist…
Trey Anastasio and Classic TAB
February 12, 2010
House of Blues
Boston, MASet 1: Shine, Cayman Review, Push On Til The Day, What’s Done, The Birdwatcher, Mozambique, Night Speaks to a Woman, Alaska, Let Me Lie, Plasma, Tuesday
Set 2: Drifting, All That Almost Was, Sand, Goodbye Head > Gotta Jibboo, Small Axe, Valentine, Money Love and Change, Show of Life, Dragonfly
Encore: Sultans of Swing, First Tube
[via @YEMblog]
READ ON for more of Balaji Mani’s photos of TAB in Boston…
The Allman Brothers Band’s annual March Madness run in New York City kicks off on March 11 at the United Palace. As you might recall, the Allmans were essentially kicked
Deadheads have never had the best reputation, so it’s not surprising to see Furthur fans take shit from all sides when the band comes to town. Yesterday, Gawker posted a
One week after killing it on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, Them Crooked Vultures get more time to melt faces during an appearance on this week’s Austin City Limits. Check your
On part 1 of this series a couple of weeks ago, I started talking about the day I spent in Pontarlier, France. The reason I went was to tour the distillery of Emile Pernot which was founded in 1890. This posting will be all about my day inside the distillery.
During the course of my Paris trip, I had the chance to meet some amazing people in the spirits industry (there was a bar show in Paris when I was there). One of the people I met while I was there was absintheur Peter Schaf. If you are a fan of Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, Peter was the American at the absinthe bar in Paris who turned Tony on to absinthe (from the No Reservations Pilot episode).
Below are my photos, thoughts and recollections from my trip inside the absinthe distillery. Things got hazier as the day went on…
Entrance to the Distillery Les Fils de Emile Pernot, founded in 1890.
READ ON for more of this week’s Friday For the Foodies…
