Brian Bavosa

Postcards From Page Side: Are Jambands On The Verge of Extinction?

Growing up in and going to school in New York City, there was simply nothing more exciting for me than opening up the Village Voice to a colorful page of upcoming music events in the 1990’s. Before the age of Twitter and Facebook and the boom of social media, I got my fix by carefully planning my schedule off of this single calendar of events. And, more often than not that revolved around “jambands.” While the term has morphed over the years, and many of the old staples have since faded away or simply play sporadic, reunion shows nowadays, it got me thinking about whether the hey day of the almighty jamband had come and gone in the ’90s and early ’00s.


For a snapshot of exactly what I mean, let’s simply look at the city of New York during the 1990’s. After the punk and new wave movements of the late ’70s and ’80s at places like CBGB’s, for any suburban hippie kid searching for the next mind-altering rock improv band, there were a plethora of venues ot choose from – many of which catered to this type of act. Places like Irving Plaza and the Roseland Ballroom hosted mid-and larger sized acts that were well-known names in this circuit, but almost all cut their teeth in places like The Wetlands Preserve, just a stone’s throw from the Holland Tunnel downtown.

While I have traversed this country in search of the greatest musical experiences and have attended concerts in some of the most majestic venues ever built, there is still something in my heart of hearts that may rank The Wetlands at the top of that list. From the anything goes, cozy vibe (often oversold) to the free Dead Center Tuesday night sessions to the complete lack of air-conditioning (The “Sweatlands” or “Sweat Glands”), The Wetlands, as it is simply and affectionately known, opened my eyes, and more importantly my ears, at over roughly the 400 shows I saw there from ’94 through September 2001, when its final schedule was thrown off by the 9/11 attacks and its close proximity to the Twin Towers. It was due to close anyway after a lease dispute, but the “official” final show taking place on the evening of September 10th made the venue’s legacy even more magical after DJ Logic, Mike Gordon and friends played until near sunrise and actually saved a few of my friends lives who missed work downtown that fateful morning. READ ON for the rest of Postcards From Page Side…

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Postcards From Page Side: Timber!

In this week’s Postcards From Page Side, Featured Columnist Brian Bavosa looks at the recent tragedies that seem all too common: stage collapses and the reasons why, and possible steps to prevent this from happening again…

Contrary to what you may be thinking, no, this week’s column is not about Phish’s cover of Timber (Jerry), commonly referred to as Timber Ho! Instead,  it will focus on what has become a an all-too familiar–and tragic–headline as of late, where we have seen a number of stage collapses at recent festivals and concerts around the world. My immediate reaction is how? Why now? What were the causes? And, it led me to think about what could have been done–if anything–to prevent these terrible, and deadly, events. Let us take a look at three recent disasters, all that have occurred within the last month or so.

The first tragedy we will look at occurred at the Indiana State Fair. Due to inclement weather, and a heavy storm that rolled through the area (the seemingly common X-factor in all of the collapses), the stage completely buckled and collapsed. Seven people were KILLED. Yes, dead. Unreal. Concerts are supposed to be fun, not deadly!

Now, my first reaction (and seems to be with each example we will look at) is: what the hell are those people still doing there by the time the storm rolled in?!?! In this day and age with the most advanced weather instruments, radar and equipment, how can we not tell a potential dangerous storm or situation is headed our way? Is it really worth making a dollar versus potentially causing a delay or possible cancellation, which sure, would cause headaches for the staff, promoters, venues and others, but is that really worse than the DEATH of concertgoers on your conscience? I guess this issue really gets my blood boiling because I understand that while being acts of nature in most or all of the cases, I still feel more can be done in prevention and preparation.

READ ON for more Postcards From Page Side…

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Friday Mix Tape: My Name is August West

For this installment of Friday Mix Tape, I decided to put a spin on some appropriate themes popping off today: summertime — specifically the month of August — and heading West. So,

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Postcards From Page Side: HeadCount – Onwards & Upwards

This week for Postcards From Page Side, I decided to focus on an issue close to all of us, whether we realize it or not: voter registration and the impact on not only our scene, but our world in general. HeadCount is a non-profit organization focused on registering voters at live concerts, amongst other things. Co-founder Andy Bernstein was gracious enough to take some time to chat with me about HeadCount’s first eight years as a non-profit and what lies ahead for the organization with the impending election year in 2012. “It’s been a very interesting few years for us. In a lot of ways, I’m more excited and honestly more proud of the work we are doing this year than any of the years that came before it,” says Bernstein. “We really wanted to take it to the next level in 2011 and 2012 and take action, by taking the momentum of the election and turning our community into a force.”


My conversation with Bernstein quickly turns to not only the past and present of HeadCount, but also most importantly, its future, namely the election year of 2012. And trust me, HeadCount has big plans. More than just sending teams on the road to register voters, they are all about having “fun” at the shows while educating the masses. “Going into this year we took a kind of different approach. Our goal this year was to really have fun with the community on a socially conscious level. That was everything that we feel the previous years had been calling for. We wanted to just strengthen our tie to the community on a pro-social level and that would take us back into the presidential year with a whole new position and ability to reach people and get the vote out.”

Bernstein continues to elaborate on certain, specific ways that HeadCount is continuing to reinvent themselves. “We have done three major things this year. The first is a survey called the Fan DNA Project that we are doing at shows asking about their musical tastes and political beliefs. We are going to compare different fan bases and different festivals [to find out] what do we all have in common? Where are we different? What do we believe in? It will help the bands understand their fanbase better and HeadCount understand the people we are trying to reach better.”

READ ON for more on HeadCount’s history and future plans…

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Postcards From Page Side: Super Ball IX

Following up from my last column on the history of Phish festivals, this week I decided to focus on the band’s recent Super Ball IX festival, which took place over the 4th of July weekend at Watkins Glen International racetrack  in upstate New York. While I have previously given a recap of past festivals and also chimed in on the VIP camping options, I wanted this week’s Postcards to get the commentary flowing from all of you – and see what your perceptions and opinions of the weekend were. So please, feel free to participate in the below polls and leave some comments below about what was truly a magical weekend.

[All photos by Andy Hill]


From perfect weather, to the smallest attendance numbers of any festival, Super Ball IX offered a different sort of vibe than past behemoths. I have my opinions on why the numbers were so small – Phish tour manager Richard Glasgow pegged the number at “about 30,000” attendees, which is about two-thirds the capacity of Alpine Valley – but wanted to see if you all agreed with me or not. Whether it was the fact that the majority of the festivities were confined within the racetrack itself, or the fact that they had recently saturated the Northeast with many previous shows during the first leg of summer tour. So, for the first poll, I ask you, why do you feel the numbers of this festival were down compared to past affairs like The Great Went, Lemonwheel, Big Cypress, It and Coventry?

READ ON to take this poll and for more of Brian’s take on Super Ball IX…

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Postcards From Page Side: When the Circus Comes to Town – Phish Festivals

Well kiddies, here we are, just a few days away from Phish’s ninth festival since 1996, Super Ball IX, which kicks off this coming Friday. With the greatest of Phish factors coursing through my head – anticipation – the possibilities are endless, especially considering that this is the band’s first festival in the Northeast since the debacle that was Coventry in 2004. Also factoring in is that this is the band’s first summer festival since then as well, so the stage is clearly set. For today’s Postcards From Page Side, I figured I’d take a look at snippets of festivals past, while getting you ready to blow it out this weekend.


Now, to fully grasp the past 15 years of Phish, and the previous eight festivals they have hosted, there are several important points we must first understand. With the Clifford Ball at Plattsburgh in ’96, the modern festival as we know it was born. There was no Bonnaroo, no Outside Lands or the like. There simply was PHISH. The wonder and amazement that something of this magnitude could simply take place was mind blowing. Is it a coincidence that the band has named this upcoming ninth installment Super Ball? The first time that joyous, celebratory word has been used since the inaugural year? Maybe, but I think there’s more to it. I feel that the band is back, comfortable and ready to cast some magic the likes that we haven’t seen in some time. And that, my loyal readers, reaches far more than the music created on stage.

From the Clifford Ball’s artwork, Ball Square (which again will return this year), and the fact that things were taking place on a decommissioned airforce base (a theme that would continue in latter years and festivals), the sheer scope and ambition that went into the first festival was unprecedented and never seen before. Ending a short, but ferocious Summer ’96 U.S. Tour, the band arrived just across the river from their Burlington base at the time ready to deliver, and boy did they. From the often praised “best set ever” of 8.17 II, which included a Slave to the Traffic Light that is many fans’ favorite version, the band was razor sharp. But, Phish had more in store, including what would become another staple of their festivals: playing a secret set at a random time during the weekend.

READ ON for much more on Phish Festivals…

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Postcards From Page Side: Summertime Serenade – A Mix

So, after pulling double-duty this week and reviewing Phish’s Camden show, I decided for this Postcards From Page Side to do something that anyone who knows me thinks is a physical impossibility: stop talking. Instead, I have a jamband-heavy playlist to celebrate the summertime, and the now norm, “everywhere-you-turn-there-is-a-new-festival” mentality.


For a quick recap of what this playlist entails, let me say just a few words (I told you it’s tough for me to stop chatting). What better way to kick off the Summertime Serenade than with a Hot Air Balloon ride? That is exactly what we will do courtesy of the Disco Biscuits, who will be hosting their Tenth Annual Camp Bisco in upstate New York next month. Contrasting that with a live rendition of Bruce Hornsby’s beautiful tale of heartbreak, Mandolin Rain, I follow him up with a choice cut, Rebubula by moe. I figured both were appropriate in back-to-back slots since Hornsby was recently added to the moe.down lineup, traditionally one of the summer’s last festivals.

Next up is the first of a few tracks from My Morning Jacket, Golden, for a few few reasons. First, they are seemingly playing a ton of the big festivals this year, and secondly, this band deserves a few tunes in this playlist for simply being at the top of their game at this time, with the recent release of their new album, Circuital. Ween is another band that gets the double-dip here, with one of my favorite tunes, The Mollusk, and a dark, parting anthem, Buenos Tardes Amigo. Ween is headlining High Sierra Music Festival – one of the most well guarded secrets not only on the festival circuit, but all of the western hemisphere.

READ ON for more of this week’s Postcards From Page Side…

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Review Phish @ Camden – June 10, 2011

Phish @ Susquehanna Bank Center, June 10

Sometimes you know what to expect from a Phish show. Others, you don’t. Last night in Camden, NJ, at the Susquehanna Bank Center was definitely the latter, and a show that displayed some flashes of brilliance, but overall had an odd vibe and flow throughout. Kicking off with the usual encore tune, Rocky Top, and immediately followed by Mike’s Song > I am Hydrogen >Weekapaug Groove, Friday night was surely off to a start that caught many off-guard.The first highlight of the night was definitely this Weekapaug. With Mike Gordon on bass leading the way, this version had the extra spark that many of the previous years have been missing.

In many ways, the first set felt like it was backwards, eventually closing with The Curtain (With). After some ebbs and flows of the set, The Curtain With punctuated a 90-plus minute opening stanza with one of the most impressive, soaring and soulful solos that Trey Anastasio has laid upon us in some time. As this tune was transpiring, I knew it was something magical and definitely my favorite version of the song in recent memory – and maybe ever. (There’s no mistake that the band released the official vibe of this song from last night.

Watch it here:


While the long first set was an interesting affair, set two is one I’m still not sure what to make of – although I enjoyed huge portions of it as it was occurring. Down With Disease > Free was a welcome, but predictable springboard for the final frame – but that’s about the last predictable thing that went down. When everyone hoped that the improvisational doors had been opened for the remainder of the evening, Trey led the band into yet another Possum, a song played all-too-much this tour. Now, this version was very strong, with above average work by Anastasio, but it was the song’s placement that did it wrong. Like PNC the previous week, an early set Possum is just the wrong spot for this tune to be played. Period. Always fun, but oddly placed. In fact, Odd was a common word that kept popping into my head last night. Just like the Big Black Furry Creatures From Mars that followed and saw Gordon sitting on the ground while singing. I told you last night was a bit weird, right?

READ ON for more on last night’s Phish show…

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Friday Mix Tape: Yes, More Phish

After spending half of the night creating another two playlists, I abandoned them in the wee hours in lieu of riding the week-long wave that has been the opening on Phish’s 2011 Summer Tour (in which you can read my review here, along with ample other HT links/news).


So, allow me  to present to you a playlist of some choice cuts from Phish’s past, in allowing yourself to get amped for the next set of shows in the Midwest this weekend. First up, we have a scorching Funky Bitch from a venue that holds so much in the Phish lore: The Worcester Centrum. Jumping right ahead to arguably the greatest version of Bathtub Gin from the Great Went in ’97, we reach an early peak with this one that makes my head, heart and soul explode into a zillion pieces of colorful confetti. Following this up with another festival cut, Torn and Frayed from Festival 8, this is another song that I feel gets props, but not the full love it deserves: and might be my favorite song off of the Stones cover album from Halloween ’09.

Jumping on to one of the versions of Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley that 3.0 has run with, and my once-upon a time favorite tune, The Lizards, I feel we are off to a good mid-set vibe. Dipping twice into the magic of the Great Went, I return for another soaring tune in Harry Hood, in which the band jammed under the stars, sans lights and the birth of glowstick wars as we know them were created. (Don’t throw them at the band!)


READ ON for more on this week’s mix…

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Postcards From Page Side: A Tour Opening Bonanza From Phish at Bethel

This week, we get an early dose of Postcards From Page Side from our featured columnist Brian Bavosa as he recounts Phish’s tour opening weekend at Bethel Woods in Bethel, NY…

After five months off since their triumphant New Year’s Eve run at the DCU Center in Worcester and NYC’s Madison Square Garden that seemingly saw the band turn a musical corner, Phish returned to the road this past weekend for a three-night run at Bethel Woods in upstate New York. After the holiday run, fans were very interested to see what might be in store for the band’s most aggressive and longest tour in nearly 20 years this summer – broken down into two legs, 30 proper shows and a 3-day festival over the 4th of July weekend in Superball IX.

[Photo by Dave Vann © Phish 2011]


Bethel Woods is a venue that fans (and the HT staff) have been hoping for years Phish would play. Sitting just atop the hill where Woodstock was held, simply put, the place has good bones. It is also the nicest ampitheater in the northeast in my opinion, if not the country. The sightlines and sound are awesome from any vantage point, and the lush, green lawn is as comfortable as they come. While ample trees and a full-fledged museum dedicated to Woodstock on-site (which is a site to behold on itself, and highly recommended), Bethel is the quintessential place to see the band, with plenty of space to move around and get down.

When the band finally hit the stage on Friday night, any question of proving a point was made with a bombastic Tweezer > My Friend, My Friend opening sequence. In fact, from start to finish, the first set of Summer Tour 2011 was as high energy as they come and sure to be a favorite of the weekend for many. Boasting a super-funky Wolfman’s Brother that slid effortlessly into Walk Away, one of the strongest tunes for Phish 3.0 on a consistent basis, any doubts of practice, or easing into the weekend were quickly dissipated.

READ ON for more on Phish’s tour-opening run in Bethel…

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