Videos   

Welcome to Vol. 7 of Face-Melting Kids, our semi-regular series on child prodigies who rock.

Well he's not a kid any more, but Derek Trucks was just 13 years old and opening for the Allman Brothers Band when this video was shot.

Now I'm no guitar expert, but I'm pretty sure he rips his SG a new one as he covers Layla then opens it up for a really nice jam here at Walnut Creek on July 4, 1993.

Happy to say he's still melting faces today, with a full Summer of appearances including a just-announced spot on the opening night lineup for this year's All Good Music Festival July 8-11 in West Virgina.

Now this is meta.

San Francisco-based electronic / experimental artist Moldover, also know as “The Godfather of Controllerism,” just released his new album and the CD packaging really needs to be seen to believed. Thankfully, he's provided a video you can watch above.

As you'll see, it's not you're average jewel box, but a fully functioning musical instrument — not unlike a theremin — that you can use to create your own electronica at home or on the road.

This isn't the type of thing I'd normally feature on Jamtopia, and certainly not music I'd really want to listen to, but I got a huge kick out of the overall concept and hope you do too. And if you really dig it, you can buy one for $50 at Moldover.com.

Hat tip to the always insightful Lefsetz letter for bringing this to my attention.

P.S. Learn more about controllerism here and here.

Phish Hoses Hartford!

Tonight Phish played the first “Instant Classic” of their latest incarnation, a monster of a 2nd set at the security-laden Hartford Meadows (er, Comcast Theatre) in Hartford, CT.

While I wasn't there in person, I watched the show live on PhishTwit thanks to stream-legends Wigman and Joephus who collectively pulled perhaps the best stream yet — and thankfully on a night when it was most welcome.

Effectively two distinct parts bridged by Water In The Sky, the first half of the set featured Disease > Wilson > Slave followed by Piper. Then, not to be outdone, the second half of the set melted even more face with Ghost > Psycho Killer > Catapult > Icculus > YEM.

Oh, and that's not to mention a (narrationless) Forbin > Mockingbird in the 1st set. As they say in the Army, Hooah!

Watch the space above for the best videos I can find from the shows, and scroll down for Phish Hartford setlists, audio, reviews, and photos as they become available.

You might also want to hit PhishTwit for real-time Phish setlists and updates, plus streams, chat, and more.

Got something to say about Phish at Hartford? Post a comment.

Phish “Gel” at the Gorge

Hit “play” above for HD Phish Gorge videos.

Last night Phish kicked off a two-night stand at the Gorge in George, WA — returning to the majestic amphitheatre for the first time since a set of July 2003 shows I was fortunate enough to attend.

From the setlist to the seques, night one looks promising on paper, and the Twitter updates seem to suggest the same:

Another Majestic As Fuck bit of improv…
segues have been gellin'
— @YEMblog via Twitter

The Gorge shows mark the end of the West coast leg of Phish's Late Summer Tour, following 4 nights at Red Rocks and a stop at Shoreline. After this they're heading to my hometown of Chicago, then it's off to to the East coast for stops at Darien, Hartford, Merriweather, and SPAC.

Watch the space above for the best videos I can find from the shows, and scroll down for Phish Gorge setlists, audio, reviews, and photos as they become available.

You might also want to hit PhishTwit for real-time Phish setlists and updates, plus streams, chat, and more.

Got something to say about Phish at the Gorge? Post a comment.

Phish Return to Red Rocks

Hit “play” above for HD Phish Red Rocks videos.

Last night Phish played the fourth and final night of their four-night stand at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO — their first return to the spectacular venue since violence erupted outside a show there almost 13 years ago.

The Red Rocks shows also mark the beginning of Phish's Late Summer Tour which finds them hitting more classic venues including Shoreline, Gorge, Darien Lake, Hartford Meadows, Merriweather Post, and SPAC, plus a first-time stop at Toyota Park near Chicago mid-tour.

Watch the space above for the best videos I can find from the shows, and scroll down for Phish Red Rocks setlists, audio, reviews, and photos as they become available.

You might also want to hit PhishTwit for real-time Phish setlists and updates, plus streams, chat, and more.

Got something to say about Phish at Red Rocks? Post a comment.

Phish Rock Bonnaroo with the Boss!

Hit “play” above to watch Phish with Bruce Springsteen.

The 8th annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Machester, TN has just wrapped up. And though the festival was inspired by Phish's off-the-beaten-path-festivals, this year is the first time Phish played the festival.

On Friday Phish played three-hour set featuring a Highway to Hell bustout (first since 2/26/97) and later a YEM > Wilson > YEM sandwich to close the 2nd set at 2:15 am.

The band had Saturday off, but Fishman (in a suit) and David Grisman joined the Del McCoury Band at Bonaroo for three songs including Beauty of My Dreams.

On Sunday Phish closed the festival with a two set show. The obvious highlight — a sit-in by Bruce Springsteen during the 1st set for Mustang Sally (first since 8/05/88), Bobby Jean, and Glory Days.

My boyhood hero and still hero.
— Trey Anastasio introducing Bruce Springsteen

Overall the whole experience looked like a blast, and with the help of PhishTube, Joephus and Bonnaboobs, once again I almost feel like I was at the show. Thank you intrepid streamers. Total game-changer.

Read on for setlists, audio, reviews, photos and more from Phish at the 2009 Bonnaroo Festival.