Tonight, HT faves Phish return to Madison Square Garden for their traditional New Year’s Eve performance. This marks the group’s sixth NYE show at “The World’s Greatest Arena.”

The New Year’s Gag

A Pay-Per-View webcast of tonight’s show is available through LivePhish.com.

We’re trying something different this run. In addition to our at-a-glance recap of the show we call The Skinny and the setlist, we’re also presenting a Live Blog with the help of our friends at Next Jam. We’ll compile tweets from @YEMblog along with screenshots and other interesting notes. You can find our Live Blog after the jump.

Setlist:

[via Phish.net]

Check out our Live Blog and The Skinny from MSG…

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We’re nearing the home stretch of Phish’s New Year’s Run at Madison Square Garden. This evening, the quartet took the stage for the third of four NYE Run performances.

[Photo by Michael Stein]

A Pay-Per-View webcast of tonight’s show is available through LivePhish.com.

We’re trying something different this run. In addition to our at-a-glance recap of the show we call The Skinny and the setlist, we’re also presenting a Live Blog with the help of our friends at Next Jam. We’ll compile tweets from @YEMblog and @Bizarchive along with screenshots and other interesting notes. You can find our Live Blog after the jump.

Setlist:

Set 1: Punch You In the Eye > Prince Caspian^[1] > Backwards Down the Number Line, Nellie Kane,Divided Sky, Sand, Vultures, Rift, Joy, Quinn the Eskimo

Set 2: Wilson > Axilla > Piper > Twist > Julius > Golgi Apparatus > Also Sprach Zarathustra, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, David Bowie^[2], The Squirming Coil

Encore: Boogie On Reggae Woman, Good Times Bad Times

[1] Unfinished.
[2] Silent In the Morning teases.

[via Phish.net]

Check out our Live Blog and The Skinny from MSG…

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After a layoff of nearly four months, Phish returned to the stage tonight for the first of four shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City that make up the group’s annual New Year’s Run. This evening’s performance marked the 20th Phish show at the storied venue.

Pay-Per-View webcasts of all four shows are available through LivePhish.com.

We’re trying something different this run. In addition to our at-a-glance recap of the show we call The Skinny and the setlist, we’re also presenting a Live Blog with the help of our friends at Next Jam. We’ll compile tweets from @YEMblog and @Bizarchive along with screenshots and other interesting notes. You can find our Live Blog after the jump.

Setlist:

Set 1: Free, Glide > Possum, Cities, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, Stash, Contact > Sample in a Jar, Kill Devil Falls > Bathtub Gin

Set 2: Birds of a Feather, Carini -> Tweezer^[1] > My Friend, My Friend^[2] -> Rock and Roll^[3] -> NICU,Bouncing Around the Room, Harry Hood > Bug

Encore: Tube > Rocky Top > Tweezer Reprise

[1] Streets of Cairo tease.
[2] No “Myfe” ending.
[3] Birds of a Feather jam.

Notes: This performance featured the first ever Free show opener. Tweezer contained a Streets of Cairo tease. My Friend omitted the “Myfe” ending. Rock & Roll contained a Birds of a Feather jam.

[via Phish.net]

Check out our Live Blog and The Skinny from MSG…

READ ON

I love watching great performances or well-made documentaries featuring my favorite artists from the comfort of my couch. In 2011 a number of fantastic music-related films came out and it was nearly impossible to pick the 10 best efforts, so for 2011′s list of my favorite concert films of the year, I expanded the list to 15 and there were still a few fine efforts which didn’t make the cut.

So with that in mind, we continue our long-standing tradition of detailing my top music-related DVDs/Blu-Rays of the year…

15. Eddie Vedder – Water on the Road

The Pearl Jam front man offers a mix of deep cuts from his main band’s catalog as well as covers and solo tunes on this live concert film directed by Christoph Green and Brendan Canty of Ashes of American Flags (Best Concert Film of 2009) fame.

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Each and every day in November Grateful Dead vaultmeister David Lemieux picked one gem from the band’s archives to share as a free MP3 download with Deadheads as part of 30 Days of Dead. All in all the 30 tracks he wound up sharing ranged from 1967 to 1992 and was a well-rounded collection of tunes from the group’s repertoire.

If you missed any or all of the tracks Dead.net has compiled all 30 in one zip file for your downloading and listening pleasure or you could still download the individual tracks from this page. The 2011 30 Days of Dead collection is a must-have for fans of the Dead, so be sure to grab it while you can. Much love to Lemieux and the band for this aural treat.

Here’s the full list of 30 Days of Dead 2011 tracks and download links…

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In an age of the disposable pop star, and blog buzz bands that seem to fizzle out as quickly as they rise to prominence, The Chieftains are the rare model of both consistency and longevity. The traditional Irish folk act, who have been putting out albums since the early 1960′s, will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2012 with a new studio album and a lengthy world tour. On February 21, the band will release Voice Of Ages, which will see the legendary act collaborating with an impressive roster of musicians from the worlds of indie-rock, folk, bluegrass and roots music such as Bon Iver, The Decemberists, The Low Anthem, Lisa Hannigan and more. The Chieftains will kick off their world tour at Campbell Hall in Santa Barbara, Calif., on February 17, with the U.S. leg concluding with a special 50th Anniversary St. Patrick’s Day show at New York’s Carnegie Hall on March 17.

If your not into a night with Irish folk rockers, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Ryan Adams: Winter Tour (1/24 – 2/3)
  
• Neil Diamond: Summer Tour (6/1 – 9/1)
• Red Hot Chili Peppers: Winter U.S. Tour (1/25 – 2/3)
• Nicole Atkins: Solo Tour (11/29 – 12/10)
• Justice: Early Spring Tour (3/16 – 4/26)
• Deadmau5: Las Vegas Residency (1/2 – 12/31/2012)

In 1987 the Grateful Dead unveiled a clever video for Touch of Grey that helped propel the song to into the Top 10 of the Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and won the band an influx of fans. Five years later the Spin Doctors catapulted into the mainstream thanks in part to videos for Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong and Two Princes. Since that time the format hasn’t exactly been embraced by improv-based rock bands. For instance, HT faves Umphrey’s McGee will celebrate their 14th anniversary in January and they’ve never put out an “official” music video…until today.

The Chicago-based rockers teamed up with director Travis Rime Brooks to create a visual look at the Death By Stereo track Booth Love. Guitarist Brendan Bayliss told Thomas Conner of the Chicago Sun-Times, who debuted the video on his Via Chicago blog, “In the past, we never had the right concept to go with any of the songs we had considered. We didn’t want it to be cheesy or lame, and we wanted a video to really compliment the composition. Finally, we have the right song and the right visual to go along with it. ‘Booth Love’ is a sexy tune, and I think the video is pretty sexy, too.”

Let’s see if you agree…

Umphrey’s McGee – Booth Love

In other UM news, the group has also announced details of their first DVD release since 2007.

READ ON

Since the mid-aughts, Craig Finn has built a strong reputation by writing clever, witty and pop-culture-infused story songs as the front man for The Hold Steady. With five albums under his belt with the “world’s greatest bar band”, Finn will release his solo debut, Clear Heart Full Eyes (whose title is a reference to Friday Night Lights), via Vagrant Records on January 24. Recorded in Austin, Texas and backed by members of White Denim, The Heartless Bastards, Phosphorescent, and Centro-matic, the 11-track set is being described by Finn as, “a bunch of songs that were outside of the norm for The Hold Steady, a little quieter and perhaps more narrative.” Finn will head out in support of the LP for a 15-date tour that kicks off on February 1 at Club Dada in Dallas and includes stops at Triple Rock Social Club, in his former hometown of Minneapolis (2/4), and at the Troubadour in Los Angeles (2/20).

If you’re not into a night with the Hold Steady front man, then maybe you might be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Yonder Mountain String Band: Cabin Fever Tour (2/8 – 2/24)
  
• O’Death: Northeast Winter Tour (1/19 – 1/28)
• Thurston Moore: Winter Tour (1/28 – 2/11)
• Erykah Badu & The Cannabinoids: December Tour (12/2 – 12/9)
• Jack’s Mannequin: World Tour (1/19 – 3/14)
• Black Sabbath: European Spring Tour (5/18 – 6/24)
• Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: European Tour (6/21 – 7/14)
• Martin Sexton: Winter U.S. Tour (12/2 – 2/11)

When we last checked in with Nada Surf, the indie-pop band had released If I Had a Hi-Fi,a collection of covers, that featured takes on tunes from a wide swath of artists that included Spoon, Depeche Mode, Kate Bush and The Moody Blues. As a follow-up, the Brooklyn-based trio return with their first album of original material in four years on January 24 when they release The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy. The group will play a hometown album release show that very same night at the Bowery Ballroom. Nada Surf will then hit the road for a lengthy world tour that kicks off on February 7 at King Tuts in London, England, with the band returning to the states on March 20 for the U.S. leg of the tour that will begin at the Music Box in Hollywood, Calif.

If you’re not into a night with the indie-pop act, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Wild Flag: U.S. Spring Tour (3/30 – 4/5)
• Sharon Van Etten: Late Winter Tour (2/10 – 4/1)
• Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa: The High School Tour (12/5 – 12/13)
• Gary Clark Jr.: December Tour (12/13 – 12/17)
• Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds: Winter-Spring Tour (1/16 – 3/11)
• Henry Rollins: Spoken Word World Tour (12/12 – 5/12)
• Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw & Grace Potter & The Nocturnals: Brothers Of The Sun Tour (6/2 – 8/25)

I think we can now officially call it a comeback. After years of being out of the public eye, Jeff Mangum officially returned to semi-regular touring earlier this year, playing a string of solo acoustic shows around the Northeast to sold out crowds that hung on every note played. While it was unclear if the Neutral Milk Hotel front man would continue the trend once the tour wrapped, yesterday news surfaced that he’s lined up a 12-date theater run for early 2012.

The tour will hit markets on the East Coast and Midwest, including two-night stands in Chicago at the Athenaeum Theater (2/6 – 7), and homecoming gigs in Athens, Georgia at the 40 Watt Club (2/10 – 11). Also of note is a what is being billed on Mangum’s website as “Jeff’s last NYC solo show” which will take place at Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Gilman Opera House on January 20. Whether that means it’s his last-ever gig in the Big Apple or that he he might play with a band down the line remains, much like Jeff Mangum lore, cryptic and to be determined.

If you’re not into a night with the former Neutral Milk Hotel front man, then you might be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• moe.: Winter World Tour (1/27 – 3/5)
• Leftover Salmon: Winter Tour (2/29 – 3/11)
• Willie Nelson: Winter Southwest Tour (1/5 – 2/11)
• The Kills: 10th Anniversary Tour (1/20 – 2/11)
• Megadeth: Gigantour (1/26 – 2/28)
• Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons: New Year’s Run (12/29 – 1/1)

As we previously reported, in a recent issue of Rolling Stone, Roger Waters revealed that he would be bringing his highly successful tour back to North America this summer to play a number of markets that he missed the first time around, as well as the bigger news that he would also bringing the huge multi-media production outdoors for the first time, and that those show would be taking place baseball stadiums in select big cities. Well, Waters has come through on his promise, as today Live Nation has announced the latest leg of the tour that will mix both arena and stadium dates.

The tour will kick off on May 1, in Houston at the Toyota Center and will run through mid-July, with stadium dates expected to take place at AT&T Park (5/11), Memorial Coliseum (5/19), Wrigley Field (6/8), Fenway Park (7/1), Yankee Stadium (7/6) and Citizens Bank Park (7/14). While Live Nation hasn’t confirmed that Yankee Stadium, Fenway and the Memorial Coliseum will host The Wall, they have listed TBA’s for those cities. Considering Waters mentioned those ballparks by name in the Rolling Stone piece, we think it’s a pretty good bet they’ll host The Wall. Tickets for most shows go on sale November 14. Check out the full list of dates after the jump.

If you’re not into into hearing The Wall in its entirety, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Prince: Welcome 2 Canada Tour (11/25 – 12/17)
• John Butler Trio: Spring NA Tour (4/9 – 5/3)
• Akron/Family: January Tour (1/6 – 1/20)
• Woods: December Tour (12/7 – 12/18)
• Kaki King: Late Fall World Tour (11/3 – 12/10)
• The Civil Wars: Winter Tour (1/10 – 2/4)
• Railroad Earth: Winter Tour (1/20 – 3/10)
• Nada Surf: February European Tour (2/7 – 2/28)

Here’s a look at the full list of The Wall North America 2012 dates…
READ ON

Hall of Fame rockers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers returned to the stage after a year-long layoff last night at Cal State Northridge for the first of two pledge-drive benefit shows for the college’s public radio station – KCSN. Performing in front of one of the smallest crowds (500 people) the legendary group has played before in years, Petty dug deep into his repertoire and struck gold.

Video Playlist from Show inc. Jefferson Jericho Blues, Banter, I Won’t Back Down, Green Onions, To Find A Friend, Angel Dream, Tom Rambling, I Should’ve Known It, Refugee, Runnin’ Down A Dream, Carol, You Wreck Me

Mixing songs for the group’s most recent release, Mojo, with a few tunes from 2002′s The Last DJ in honor of recently fired KLOS DJ Jim Ladd – who was the inspiration for that album, along with covers and the hits, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers showed they still have plenty left in the tank. Underplayed covers Petty dusted off for the occasion included Booker T. and the MG’s Green Onions, Champagne and Reefer by Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry’s Carol. The Gainesville, Florida native and his band also looked back at their illustrious career by busting out Fooled Again (I Don’t Like It) from their 1976 debut.

Main Set: Jefferson Jericho Blues, Listen to Her Heart, Mary Jane’s Last Dance, Fooled Again, Lover’s Touch, Won’t Back Down, Takin’ My Time, Champagne & Reefer, Have Love, Will Travel, When A Kid Goes Bad, Green Onions, To Find a Friend, Angel Dream, First Flash of Freedom, I Shoulda’ Known It, Good Enough, Refugee, Runnin’ Down A Dream

Encore: Carol, You Wreck Me

The second show takes place tonight at Cal State – Northridge.

• Reviews: Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter

We keep our eyes peeled for new tour dates announcements each week and compile them on Tuesdays for this handy column…

With all the attention being paid to celebrating the legacy grunge bands this year, it’s easy to forget that the early 1990′s were also a true turning point for a genre that was previously known as college rock, but had been rechristened alternative thanks in part to MTV shows like Alternative Nation and 120 Minutes. Among the bands that found themselves suddenly gaining new fans, which included a young Scotty B, thanks to MTV airplay was the Boston-based act The Lemonheads.

[The Lemonheads Late '80s Taang Promotional Shot]

While the band has gone through a number of lineup changes over the years, Evan Dando’s latest version of the band will release their ninth studio album, Hotel Session, on February 7 of next year. The Lemonheads have lined up a monstrous US tour in support. The band, who are currently on the road, will kick off their winter run at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on January 10 and 11, and wrap things up roughly two months later at Maxwell’s in Hoboken on March 13 and 14.

If you’re not in a night with the latest incarnation of The Lemonheads, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Sarah Lee Guthrie & Jeremy Irion: November Tour (11/5 – 11/26)
• Camper Van Beethoven & Cracker: Winter Tour (12/27 – 1/15)
• Kinky Friedman: Hannukah Tour (11/29 – 12/13)
• Jakob Dylan: Midwest November Tour (11/9 – 11/14)
• They Might Be Giants: Winter Tour (1/27 – 3/10)
• Styx: World Tour (11/3 – 3/10)
• Trombone Shorty: New Year’s in San Francisco (12/30 – 12/31)
• Kimock, Vega, Worrell and Ingram: Martyr’s (12/16 – 12/17)
• Bassnectar: New Year’s Eve in  Nashville (12/31)

We keep our eyes peeled for new tour dates announcements each week and compile them on Tuesdays for this handy column…

While Radiohead made a big splash with their recent swing through New York City that included stops at The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live and two gigs at Roseland Ballroom, the band hasn’t done much in the way of touring in support of their most recent studio album The King Of Limbs. That will all change in 2012 as  Thom & Yorke & Co., recently announced that they would hitting the road for a lengthy tour that will keep the band on the road from February to November. As we wait for more specifics, the band’s guitarist Ed O’Brien told BBC 6 Music, that their set lists will take a bit of a detour from recent tours, which focused on material from In Rainbow and “greatest hits,” saying “It’s going to be predominately from this record and the last one and then we’ll see which songs fit around that.”

If you’re not into a night with Thom Yorke & Co., then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• The Low Anthem: Winter Tour (1/16 – 2/23)
• Manchester Orchestra/White Denim/Dear Hunter: PacTour (10/21 – 11/22)
• Megafaun: Fall Southeast Tour (11/10 – 11/20)
• White Rabbits: Early Winter Tour (11/29 – 12/11)
• Kid Rock: Charity Club Tour (11/10 – 12/9)
• tUnE-yArDs: November Tour (11/2 – 11/23)
• Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears: Fall Tour (11/8 – 11/22)
• Aimee Mann: Winter Club Tour (1/14 – 1/28)

Warren Haynes returns to Asheville, North Carolina for the 23rd Annual Christmas Jam on December 10 at the Asheville Civic Center. Haynes’ Gov’t Mule unit will headline the show along with Los Lobos, Bela Fleck and more artists who will be announced soon.

Of particular interest is that Phil Lesh will also perform at this year’s XMas Jam with a new version of his Phil and Friends project. Joining Lesh will be Furthur band mates Joe Russo and Jeff Chimenti, guitarist Jackie Greene and Warren. We can’t wait to hear how this ensemble sounds. VIP packages go on sale this Thursday, followed by a presale on October 18 and a public on-sale on October 21. We’ll keep you posted on further details.