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Backstage Jams Vol. 4: Trey Trades Licks with Warren

Posted Nov 22, 2008 at 10:33 pm CT by Todd Levy

Trey Anastasio & Warren Haynes

Song
Blues Jam feat. Funky Bitch

Date
Sun, December 18, 2005

Venue
Christmas Jam at Asheville Civic Center

Location
Asheville, NC

Welcome back for Vol. 4 of “Backstage Jams.” So far we've featured Jimi Hendrix backstage playing Hound Dog, Jerry Garcia backstage playing Crazy Fingers, and Pete Townshend backstage doing a two song mini-set.

When you go to Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, you're guaranteed some great jam sessions on stage. So it's probably no surprise that there's some jamming going on backstage too.

In this video, Trey Anastasio is backstage with Warren himself. The clip begins with a short interview, followed by a nice Funky Bitch inspired blues jam that finds the two virtuosos trading loose licks for about 5 minutes.

The tone and sound on warren's guitar is fuckin mind blowing.
— bleed66

Personally I dig this little backstage jam session though there's plenty of disagreement over its merits on the YouTube comment thread.

But my favorite part isn't actually the music at all — it's the way Trey and Warren share a laugh at the end, as if even they're surprised by what just transpired.

“That was cool” Trey says. Yes Trey, cool indeed.

P.S. I'm assuming this is from 2005 Xmas Jam. If you know otherwise, please drop a comment.

Want to see Trey live? Search for Phish tickets now.

1 Comment Backstage Jams | Govt. Mule | Trey Anastasio | Videos

Hey Are You Going to Burning Man?

Posted Mar 21, 2008 at 3:54 am CT by Todd Levy

Buy Electric Apricot:
Quest for Festeroo
at Amazon

Break out your wallet and head over to Amazon because you know you want to buy Electric Apricot: The Quest for Festeroo on DVD!

The mockumentary, from National Lampoon and first-time director Les Claypool follows Electric Apricot as they rise from obscurity to eventually play the mother of all festivals, Festeroo.

Making a film... it's a non-stop kick to the testicles.
— Les Claypool

In the spirit of Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind, Electric Apricot offers an “endearing and twisted look” at the jamband scene.

The Electric Apricot DVD doesn't come out until May 13, but if you're looking for an immediate fix, buy the Electric Apricot soundtrack. It's on sale now and includes “Hey Are You Going to Burning Man” plus 4 more original Electric Apricot songs and music by Bob Weir, Gov't Mule, Jerry Garcia & David Grisman, Stiff Dead Cat, Henry Thomas, and Larry LaLonde.

Watch the trailer for Electric Apricot: The Quest for Festeroo...

Comment Concert DVDs | Govt. Mule | Jerry Garcia

Party with a Purpose at the 2008 ROTHBURY Festival

Posted Feb 14, 2008 at 4:46 am CT by Todd Levy

Organizers of the inaugural ROTHBURY Music Festival at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan announced their lineup yesterday and it's quite impressive in both diversity and stature.

Among the over 70 bands confirmed to appear on 8 stages are Widespread Panic, Dave Matthews Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, John Mayer, 311, Modest Mouse, Primus, Snoop Dogg, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Thievery Corporation, STS9 and many more.

The events “purpose,” in case you were curious, is to “harness the unique energy of the live music community into a durable social movement” addressing climate change and clean energy alternatives. To that end, the festival will also include a Think Tank and Energy Fair.

The ROTHBURY Think Tank, curated by Stanford climatologist Dr. Stephen H. Schneider, will feature sessions and roundtables between leading scientists, scholars, writers, progressive political and corporate leaders, youth leaders, and entertainers.

ROTHBURY’s Energy Fair will let attendees get their hands on with cutting edge, sustainable technology and products.

Putting their money where there mouth is, organizers are taking steps to make ROTHBURY a near zero-waste concert through a variety of initiatives including replacing disposables with 100% compostables, recycling and composting, choosing clean energy, carbon-offsetting, and Green Ticket options.

Tickets for ROTHBURY go on sale February 27th and start at around $250 for a weekend pass.

UPDATE (July 6, 2008): Phish fan? Read about Trey, Mike and Fishman at ROTHBURY including setlist, photos, and more.

See the complete 2008 Rothbury Festival Lineup

4 Comments Govt. Mule | Music Festivals | Phil and Friends | Tea Leaf Green | Trey Anastasio

Cortez the Killer for Humanity

Posted Dec 26, 2007 at 1:32 am CT by Todd Levy

Gov't Mule w/ Dave Matthews

Song
Cortez the Killer

Date
Sun, December 17, 2006

Venue
Christmas Jam at Asheville Civic Center

Location
Asheville, NC

For the past 19 years, Warren Haynes has been melting faces for charity at his annual Christmas Jam to benefit Habitat for Humanity (donate online).

Here's a clip from the 2006 show, a Gov't Mule cover of Cortez the Killer with special guest Dave Matthews — a semi-reprise of Warren's appearance with Dave Matthews Band in Central Park 2003 (video below).

The sold-out 2007 Christmas Jam featured G Love, Frampton, Hornsby, and more. Visit Asheville Citizen-Times for a review of the show and some videos. The comment thread alone is worth the click. Brilliance.

Cortez the Killer originally appeared on the frequently overlooked album Zuma by Neil Young & Crazy Horse.

Props to Funkamedic for posting this video.

Bonus Video: Warren with DMB in Central Park, 2003

Sorry. You need to Flash to watch this movie.

1 Comment Govt. Mule | Guest Appearances | Neil Young | Videos

Rockin’ in the Mountain Jam

Posted Nov 05, 2007 at 9:44 am CT by Todd Levy

Govt. Mule w/ Josh Clark

Song
Rockin in the Free World

Date
Sun, June 03, 2007

Venue
Mountain Jam at Hunter Mountain

Location
Hunter, NY

Here's Govt. Mule doing a nearly 10 minute version of Rockin' in the Free World with Josh Clark sitting in at the 2007 Mountain Jam.

The beginning features Warren Haynes doing a somber, bluesy, rendition of the last verse of Bob Dylan's Masters of War.

The first half of Rockin' in the Free World is pretty standard, though still rockin', as it were. Following the versus Josh has a short "experimental" solo (read: not my favorite) and that's followed by a nice bridge, again rockin'. Then Josh and Warren have a little back and forth, again a little "experimental" for my taste.

All in all, this one's more for the novelty if you ask me.

Thanks to Bogie127 for the sharing video.

Comment Govt. Mule | Guest Appearances | Videos