Just over three years ago Phish was given the honor of inducting one of their biggest influences, Genesis, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on March 15, 2010. Phish front man Trey Anastasio gave the speech inducting Genesis into the Rock Hall, while the quartet performed Watcher of the Skies and No Reply At All.
Recently, an exceptional rip of both of Phish’s performances, Trey’s speech and Genesis’s acceptance surfaced on YouTube. We had fun revisiting Phish’s lone turn in the Rock Hall spotlight as of yet and we’re hopeful they will one day get the same honor they bestowed on Genesis as they’re officially eligible starting next year. Check out this outstanding footage from 2010…
Yeah, Cover Wars is a bit different this week. They can’t all be jamband-friendly accessible tunes, sometimes we need to freak out some squares. So that’s why you probably won’t know many – or possibly any – of this week’s contestants as they tackle this Genesis tune from the epic 1974 album The Lamb Lies Down Broadway.
The Contestants:
Leading off this week is this rendition from Fragile using female vocals, a piano and some cheesy electric bass sounds, it works though. Source:smile
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
READ ON for the scoop on the rest of this week’s contestants…
[Published:03/29/07] Life on the road is tough, so it’s no surprise that many songwriters have used the concept of home as a theme throughout their songs. If I were living with 10 other dudes in a small van, I’d be homesick too. The word ‘home’ may conjure up different images to different people, but it seems the connection is a feeling of security and safety.
In the first six months of this column we’ve tried to focus squarely on the music. But today, this B List takes a look at the lyrics as we check out the 20 best songs about home (in no particular order). As usual, we did our best to find a YouTube video or audio clip to illustrate the songs listed:
1. Sing Me Back Home – Merle Haggard: This death-row tale was written in the late ’60s. As you see in the video, Merle used to play this song at a quick tempo, while the Grateful Dead slowed it down to a funeral dirge in their version. I favor the Dead’s version — nobody was better at emoting that sad soulful feeling like JerBear.
“Sing me back home with a song I used to hear”
2. Home Sweet Home – Motley Crue: Leave it to Motley Crue to write a tearjerker that can be classified as kickass. The number one Hair Metal Power Ballad returns to the B List due to its heartfelt lyrics by Nikki Sixx. I guess between shots of adrenaline and pussy, Sixx got a bit homesick.
“I had to run away high So I wouldn’t come home low”
3. Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith: Blind Faith’s gift to the world is possibly the best song ever written about home. Pre MTV Unplugged Eric Clapton rarely picked up an acoustic. But on the version of Can’t Find May Way Home from Blind Faith’s eponoymous album, Clapton delivers one of his most beautiful performances of his career. To me, Can’t Find My Way Home is about being caught up in the excesses of life so much so that you lose vision of what’s important.
If this was an ordered list I’d have to say this song would probably be number one. My friend Hadley hit the nail on the head when he said “If there is a more hauntingly beautiful tune than this, either the standard acoustic version or the electric one, then I’ve never heard it.”
“And I’m wasted and I can’t find my way home”
Read on for the 17 remaining tunes on this week’s B List…
The members of Phish will take the stage tonight for the first time in 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City where they will open this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. As previously announced, Phish guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio will induct Genesis which will be followed by Phish performing a couple of Genesis classics.
[Screengrab by Jen Bernstein]
Tonight’s ceremony – including Phish’s performance – will be broadcast live on Fuse starting at 8:30PM EDT. The 2010 Rock n’ Roll Hall Of Fame inductees are ABBA, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, The Hollies, The Stooges, David Geffen, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Ellie Greenwich & Jeff Barry, Jesse Stone, Mort Shuman and Otis Blackwell. Other musicians due to perform include solo star and J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf, Pat Monahan, and Fefe Dobson.
UPDATE [9:15PM EDT]: Phish performed two Genesis songs which were broadcast on Fuse with Anastasio’s induction speech in the middle. They kicked off the festivities at the Waldorf this evening with a song that Genesis often used to open their concerts in the early ’70s – Watcher of the Skies.
Trey gave a heart-felt speech that explained what was so unique and ground-breaking about Genesis and focused on the group’s early days calling them “rebellious, restless and constantly striving for something more.” Anastasio went on to say that for Genesis “every musical rule and boundary was questioned and broken.” He also made it personal stating “it’s impossible to overstate what impact this band and musical philosophy had on me as a young musician. I’m forever in their debt.”
Genesis members Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Steve Hackett accepted the honor with Rutherford explaining that Peter Gabriel had “a very legitimate and genuine excuse” for his absence as he’s rehearsing with an orchestra for an upcoming tour. Hackett, who left the band in 1977, expressed how good it felt to be back with his old mates and gave a plug for his upcoming tour. Collins was given the majority of the time and thanked all of the band’s managers and agents throughout the years and thanked Trey for the “convincing argument.”
Phish returned to the stage for a take on 1981′s No Reply at All from the Abacab album. For this tune, the band was augmented by a three-piece horn section. While the members of Phish, who were all dressed in suits, nailed both tunes they performed on this evening instrumentally, the vocals left something to be desired. Collins told reporters he was “moved” by Phish “playing two very difficult songs very well.”
We’ve got big news about Big Red this morning, as the former 70 Volt Parade lead singer will induct Genesis into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in New York City on March 15. Anastasio has long professed his love for The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and other early Genesis LPs and has cited the band as an influence. As we previously reported, Peter “The Prick” Gabriel will not attend the ceremony as he needs to wash his hair or something.
In the past, many of those who have inducted a band have joined said band during their performance or during the all-star jam at the end of the ceremony – see Aerosmith’s Perry + Tyler with Led Zeppelin. We would be thrilled to hear Trey rip up Turn It On Again or Abacab or even Land of Confusion. Luckily, we can all watch Anastasio’s speech and possible sit-in as it happens on Fuse TV. Other presenters announced this morning include Wyclef Jean (inducting Jimmy Cliff), Barry and Robin Gibb (Abba), Billie Joe Armstrong (The Stooges) as well as Jackson Browne (David Geffen).
Tune in to Fuse TV at 8:30 PM EDT on March 15 for the ceremony.
Genesis fans around the globe were getting extremely excited for the band’s upcoming induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame mainly for the chance to see former lead singer Peter Gabriel with his old mates. Unfortunately, Gabriel has told Rolling Stone that he won’t sing at the ceremony.
In fact, Petey Gabes isn’t even sure he’s going to attend. We sure hope Gabriel reconsiders and embraces the spirit of the ceremony by performing.
Let’s take a quick look at six other stories of note…
Finally, Matador Records will release Quarantine The Past: The Best of Pavement on March 9 just in time for the start of the indie-rock legends’ reunion tour. The tracklist includes the most accessible songs from the group’s albums as well as a few random selections such as Unseen Power of the Picket Fence from the No Alternative compilation.
For the second installment of Through The Years – the column in which we prepare a YouTube playlist featuring a video from each year of a band’s career – we’re focusing on prog-pop heroes Genesis.
The oldest Genesis clip we could find on YouTube was filmed in 1970 and our playlist includes a clip from every year onwards until 1992. There doesn’t seem to be anything from ’93 – ’97 on the site, but we’ve added a video from the ’98 and recent ’07 Genesis tours onto the end of the playlist for good measure. Take a look…
READ ON for a list of the tracks we used this week…
Indie-jam rockers moe. have finalized the lineup for the 10th Annual moe.down which takes place at Snow Ridge in Turin, NY on September 4 – 6. Prog-jammers Umphrey’s McGee and innovative alt-rock act Cake have been added to a bill that already included Method Man and Redman, Ani DiFranco, Matthew Sweet, Sam Bush, The New Mastersounds, Ominous Seapods, The Heavy Pets, Okemah, Nate Wilson Group, Family Groove Company, Lynch, My Dear Disco, The London Souls and of course…moe.
A limited number of cheap-as-you’ll-find $105 tickets are available now.
Before we take off for the weekend, here are some links…
Finally, if you haven’t added the HeadCount Blog, edited by Richard Gehr, to the list of sites you visit daily, you’re missing out. Yesterday, we learned that Bob Weir has entered the Twittersphere by posting a number of photos from his most recent trip to Washington D.C. with The Dead band mate Mickey Hart. Here’s one of the shots…
As we prepare for a 2009 that certain to be filled with popular rock band Phish returning to old haunts and new venues, it’s time to start thinking about what songs the band will play at these shows. Our friends at Phish Thoughts recently went over what post-Breakup Trey originals should make the cut, which in all honesty was a little depressing.
Everyone loves a good cover, so today we’re going to look at ten bands that Phish has never covered and select a song we’d like to see them perform.
10. The Eagles
Sure Henley and Frey wrote some wusstastic slop, but let’s not forget the rock edge Joe Walsh lent to this band in the late ’70s. We’d love to see Phish cover The Long Run, with its lyrics about moving on from bad influences, on the Hampton run.
READ ON for nine more artists Phish has never covered…
Over the past six months, we’ve been honored to run Jennifer Kirk’s engaging series about all sides of the presidential election: Land of Confusion. Today, she shares her final thoughts about today’s election…
“This may be the year when we finally come face to face with ourselves; finally just lay back and say it — that we are really just a nation of 220 million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns, and no qualms at all about killing anybody else in the world who tries to make us uncomfortable.”
This quote comes from the late, great Hunter S. Thompson. It was made in 1972 and sadly, it still rings true to this day. Today is a day, that no matter what happens, will remain in our memory for years to come. It is a day that we have to make a collective decision on how the direction of our country will go for the next four years, and perhaps longer. It is a day that we make a statement to the rest of the world as to who we are and who we aim to be. A day that no matter the outcome — we must still stand, united. I sincerely hope that our divisions can one day be mended come January 20 when one of the candidates takes office. Our country and our model of government are still very young in the eyes of the world. So late today, or most likely, tomorrow — we will find out what our statement will be to the world, but more importantly what that statement says of ourselves.
Former Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh and his Friends head to Rockefeller Center on Wednesday afternoon for a taping of NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien. The 2nd annual Philathon continues this evening at the Nokia Theater and continues through November 18. [via the_rick]
Phil Lesh and Friends – 10/31/2008 – Frankenstein
As Genesis prepares to issue a third box set of catalog upgrades, keyboardist Tony Banks talks to Billboard about the group’s desire to reunite with Peter Gabriel. The only person left to convince is Petey Gabes, himself. Stranger things have happened.
Each year after Halloween, I love heading over to the Jambands.com news page to find out details about the madness that occured on All Hallows Eve. This year is no exception. Our pal Mikey Greenhaus already has the scoop on Panic, Umphrey’s, Leftover Salmon, Conspirator and Phil Lesh’s Halloween gigs. Also, be sure to check out This Day In History for nine years worth of stories from my personal favorite news site in the genre.
The suits at MTV weren’t happy to see YouTube come into the picture a few years back to become THE place to watch old music videos. MTV made videos what they are before relegating them to MTV2 in lieu of such brilliant programing as The Real World – Weehawken and True Life: My Son Fucks Goats. This week, MTV finally got in the game by launching MTV Music.
The MTV Music portal features over 16,000 videos, Unplugged performances and exclusive MTV concert footage with the promise of much more to come. I spent a few hours combing through the site last night and found some really cool clips. Here’s ten great videos from the ’80s I hadn’t seen in years…
Remember when Bruce Hornsby used to be a pop star? There are plenty of old Bruuuuce videos on MTV Music besides Every Little Kiss including Valley Road, The Way It Is and Across The River.
Most people focus on Touch of Grey when discussing the Grateful Dead’s music videos, but they actually made a number of promotional videos including Just A Little Light, Hell In A Bucket, We Can Run and this clip for Built To Last’s Foolish Heart.
READ ON for eight more videos from deep within MTV’s vault…
So I’m perusing Genesis-Music.com the other day and click on an interview with Mr Collins about the release of their new gigantic DVD When in Rome, set to hit US Wal-Marts with a fury on June 10. Phil, like so many fraudulent times before, goes over his sentiments on “being off the road” and “focusing on family” and what not. HOWEVER, he oh-so-slyly slips in this epic gem of a quote:
There remains a possibility of doing a reunion performance of “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” with Peter Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett, but Collins said that will be “for something special” like a one-off performance rather than a full touring production.
File this one under the “Are You Fucking Kidding Me?” pile. Way to just slip in a bomb like that. I’m sure hardcore Rael fans started busting out their costumes for the occasion. READ ON for the whole interview from Phil and don’t forget to camp out in front of Wal-Mart on June 9, so you can be the first prog-geek on your block with a copy of Genesis’ final stop on their European Tour…
When you’ve got as many bands playing on as many stages as they’ve got at this year’s Bonnaroo there are sure to be some conflicts. Some of the doozies revealed in the just released schedule for ‘Roo ’08 include 2 Super Jams vs. MMJ vs. tDB vs. Tiesto late night on Friday and B.B. King vs. Ben Folds vs. Zappa Plays Zappa vs. Levon vs. Iron & Wine vs. Little Feat on Saturday afternoon.
Are there any conflicts that particularly piss you off? Let us know by leaving a comment below. We’ve got a few other stories to tell you about this morning:
David Byrne drank too much and fell off of his bike
Rolling Stone selects Sam Champion as May’s Breaking Artist of the Month
The Joker of Coventry fame, rediscovers his love for STS9
The Raconteurs, Justice and Vampire Weekend lead the charge of the indie brigade at SF’s Treasure Island Music Festival in September
Phil Collins and the Genesis boys discuss Peter Gabriel and their live DVD
Radiohead tops TRRTS!’ list of the current Top 50 Muxtape Bands
Will the Smashing Pumpkins play their 20th Anniversary gigs in Chicago?
Finally, our fluffing hearts were filled with joy to see that Trey Anastasio, the former lead singer of Phish, was sentenced to three years on probation Wednesday after a felony guilty plea he entered last year was vacated in Washington County Court. Big Red graduates from the Washington County Drug Treatment Court on June 18, after passing all of the drug tests thrown at him over the past 17 months.
My Phil-Dar was going off this morning, then I realized www.genesis-music.com announced its plans for the US Release of When In Rome, a live DVD shot in Rome at the grandiose Circo Massimo. This particular show was the tour closer for the European leg of the widely successful “Turn It On Again” Tour.
Having seen two of the American dates I can assure you this DVD will be legit. As I previously gushed, Mark Fisher is the man with the plan here, conjuring a plethora of high tech looks and set design, with the band tight as they have ever been. Read here for the official press release and track listing.
In an interesting and Eagles-like move, the DVD will be available exclusively at Wal Mart. Now, I know you’ve hocked some cars. Shit, you even did a Disney soundtrack and that awful movie Buster…but fucking Wal Mart!?!?! This Genesis die hard is a bit nauseous, but with the current state of the music industry, who can judge…oh that’s right…THE FANS. Terrible Phil. Just terrible.
, keyboardist Tony Banks 
