Catching Up With Page: Amoreena, It Is

SB: Phish played Amoreena once before, back in 1997 — do you remember how that came up at the time?

PM: We were in Pittsburgh, and it was one of those things where in different stages of the band we spent a lot of time working out covers. We had a practice room backstage, and we learned, on some tours, up to a cover a day. That was a song I always liked and wanted to get the band to do it. We played it once, and then I played it some on the last tour with the band I was with, and that ended up working out very well. I also played it solo with Vida Blue, it’s a tune that’s been in my repertoire for a long time. I’ve played it with three different groups three different ways. I’m really looking forward to it.

Interestingly it’s probably the most recent Elton John song I’ve learned. When I was growing up I probably had 20 or 30 songs I played of his, and that was not one of them. Amoreena is one that became a favorite of mine later in life. Growing up in high school I learned to play the piano and sing, and he was one of the people I emulated.

SB: How was seeing Elton live in 1982?

PM: It was great. He played with the main band he played with for all of those years. They opened with Funeral For a Friend, and it was intense. He sounded great and he is an incredible performer. He just has so many hits! Aside from all the showmanship, which is something at a concert you like to see, it all goes to the songs and there are just so many songs that are so good. Just incredible melodies and lyrics, as a team (he and Bernie Taupin) they really know how to put it together.

SB: Are you interested in seeing any of the other artists on the bill at Carnegie Hall?

PM: Obviously Phoebe Snow — it’s great that she’s on the bill. I’m a big fan of Aimee Mann. I haven’t even seen the full list [of performers], but I know that both of those two are on it. I’m definitely looking forward to those two.

SB: You performed at the Simpsons premiere…how was that experience for you?

PM: That was obviously a once-in-a-lifetime experience. First of all to have Springfield, Vermont be officially named as the home of The Simpsons was amazing. Phish may be the only Vermonters that were ever animated on the show, but I’m not sure about that.

Matt’s [Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening] a fan of the band. He came and saw us a couple of times when we played Ventura. We got up there and it was just a great scene, and then we got to see the first showing at the Springfield Vermont Movie Theater, which holds about 220 people and is the only theater in town. It was really a nice moment, all the creative people were there, there was a yellow carpet we walked down. It was a great honor and a nice moment for me.

Photo by DaveO

SB: You just finished a whole cycle of writing, promoting and touring behind an album as a solo artist. What were the highlights of the whole process?

PM: Well, making the album itself was one highlight after another for me. It started with one note basically, and went on from there it could have been anything I guess at that point things were wide open. I was really pleased with…I worked really hard on it. The process of making the record was really a lot of fun for me, and it was a real period of discovery.

As far as promoting it, I knew pretty much what I was in for as I’ve promoted so many different projects with Phish over the years, and a few solo things. The press is the press, and you do a lot of interviews. It’s part of the job. It’s probably not my favorite part of the job, but it’s wasn’t anything I hadn’t expected.

The tour ended up being a lot of fun because I really found that the band grew together in a cool way. At times we had a few moments of a really unique sound… something fresh… so that’s what I was looking for. It’s a lot to put a band together, and I was really proud of those guys. We’re all really good friends, which is one of those funny things. It ended up working out that way, we get along really well.

Photo by Nathan Ingraham

SB: Do you have any plans to play with those guys in the future?

PM: I don’t have any plans beyond the Elton John gig. I’ve purposely kinda left my future open a little bit. I did have a great time playing with those guys, so you never know what will happen later on.

SB: What did you think of the High Sierra festival?

PM: High Sierra was a lot of fun. It was a really hot summer out there. There were all those forest fires nearby in Tahoe and in the hills on the way to the festival. I got there on what was the fourth day, and it was 106 degrees so the area was pretty well toasted.

The festival had a really nice vibe — I did the little workshop sessions in which I took questions and played a couple of songs solo in a nice air-conditioned room. That was a unique experience for me. I can’t really think that I’ve done anything like that. That was fun. Then being outside [on the mainstage] — it was a great day and a great lineup. Mavis Staples played right before us, and Leftover Salmon played right after us. I sat in with those guys for a song.

SB: Have you been playing with any other musicians lately? What’s next for you?

PM: Nope. Nothing on the schedule. Nothing to announce. I’m really trying to figure out what my next move is. The album, as much joy as it brought me, was a long process. I’m kinda hoping that I can get involved with something next that will be a little bit more manageable. I would love to do something else that wouldn’t be so all encompassing for a year and a half. I’m leaving it open. Hopefully there is life after working on this album for so long.

Photo by Nathan Ingraham

SB: As usual the rumors have been flying about a Phish reunion. Have you had a chance to jam with the other three members of the band since Phish walked off the stage at Coventry?

PM: No, I haven’t really had a chance to just jam with the band, but I have played with them in various situations. All three of those guys played on my record. It’s not like I don’t play music with them around Burlington or something. Mike sat in with my band when we played at Higher Ground and at The Simpsons gig, so it’s not like we don’t play together. But the last time I played with Trey was when he played on my record. It’s nothing taboo, it’s just about where we are right now.

Many thanks to Page for once again taking the time to answer our questions. Tickets for the Elton John tribute concert are on sale now through Carnegie ticketing. The rest of the lineup includes Leonard Cohen, Roger McGuinn, Phoebe Snow, Aimee Mann, Edie Brickell and 14 other performers.

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0 Responses

  1. So 2 seperate people claim to have spoken with fishman (and mike/same venue) recently, both claim that jon mentioned playing in syracuse with phish in the last month. I wonder if fishman was pulling legs, the 2 seperate people were pulling legs, or page is pulling legs?

    pull’d leg?

  2. The tribute show format needs a serious shakeup. If I were involved, all the performers would be thrown into a steel cage where they’d have to fight each other. Last one standing gets to do “Candle In The Wind.” Now THAT is something I’d pay Carnegie Hall-type dough to see. (“Edie Brickell…from the top rope! McGuinn better look out!!”)

  3. wade said on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 1:08 pm
    just had to throw the Phish question in there, huh?

    that was supposed to be before “hahaha busted”

  4. thanks for throwing in the ‘reunion’ question. So many get scared and run from this…I appreciate it. It was exactly what I was wondering by this time in the interview. Also, the Springfield, VT thing for the Simpsons is awesome. As far as a reunion, i have a feeling PT will know before any of us will. cheers on a nice interview!

  5. Nice interview. You should have asked him how he is coping with Parkinson’s Disease. I wish Page would do more to promote this illness.

  6. I like the part where Page hinted around about Phish coming back out for a tour.
    If you have not seen Page live before,you will notice that it is different then seeing a Phish show.I just wanted to give a heads up to the noobs who may think they are going to see a Phish show and get all mad at Page.
    Page is one hell of a piano player.
    `
    Hey,Page.Gimme your damn Sandwhich!!

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