The Return of the Mike Gordon Band
If you’ve read any of the interviews Mike Gordon has done since Phish got back together you won’t be surprised to see that he’ll be touring again with his solo band. There are many Phish fans, myself included, who feel last year’s The Green Sparrow was the best solo release by any member of the band since Trey Anastasio’s self-titled
effort in 2002. Gordon made it clear the return of Phish didn’t mean the end of of his solo band and he’s putting his money where his mouth is by scheduling a September tour of small clubs.
According to Jambands.com, Cactus recently returned to the studio to work on his next solo album so we’d expect to hear some new tunes at these upcoming shows. The one-of-a-kind bass player rekindled his bromance with Mike Gordon Band guitarist and HT favorite Scott Murawski on his birthday, June 3, where the two teamed up with Billy Kreutzmann of The Dead and others for a special performance at City Winery.
MIKE GORDON FALL 2009 TOUR DATES
09/08 – Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY
09/09 – Somerville Theatre, Somerville, MA
09/10 – Port City Music Hall , Portland, ME
09/11 – Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock, NY
09/12 – State Theatre, Falls Church, VA
09/14 – Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC
09/15 – Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
09/17 – Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA
09/18 – Freebird Live, Jacksonville, FL
09/19 – WorkPlay Soundstage Theatre, Birmingham, AL
09/21 – Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN
09/22 – Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN
09/24 – The Vogue, Indianapolis, IN
09/25 – Park West, Chicago, IL
09/26 – Barrymore Theatre, Madison, WI
09/28 – 20th Century Theatre, Cincinnati, OH
09/29 – The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI
09/30 – Mr. Smalls Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
10/02 – Mod Club, Toronto, ON
10/03 – Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY
10/04 – Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
A limited number of tickets are available via a fan presale now at http://mikegordontickets.rlc.net . The presale ends Thursday, July 23rd at 5pm EST, at which point tickets will go on sale through traditional outlets.
Let us know what you think about this tour by leaving a comment below. Meanwhile, where’s the Andelman’s Yard scavenger hunt?














July 20th, 2009 at 3:13 am
I agree with all the pro-phish comments above.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:11 am
To me it means Phish isn’t spending this time rehearsing and experimenting. I’m happy for Mike but it is dissapointing news. To me it means that he’s not bat-shit-crazy in love with Phish anymore. I feel sad because I just knew Phish was going to invest all their waking hours striving to amaze and capture the magic. When i hear Trey and Mike dates announced it makes me realize my phantasy is bust. They’re just going through the motions with Phish. It is not their passion it once was.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Get Bassed! Dude this video is hilarious. Nice outfits mike!
July 17th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Great! Another tour from a mediocre jamband. I had the highest hopes for Mike’s solo stuff but The Green Sparrow and the show I saw at the Highline Ballroom were very dissapointing. It is color-by-numbers jam/blues rock. Here’s the formula:
-Get a wanky guitarist
-Preppy keyboard player
-Jam over some quasi-funk-lite vamps
-throw in a wacky cover or two
Hey Mike, skip the tour and keep practicing with Phish.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Genius video and a string of dates. Only problem is the NoVa date conflicts with my existing plans for Trey and NY Philharmonic. Sorry, but I’m going to the orchestra…
July 17th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I saw the Mike Gordon band open up for MULE in Atlanta last year. I wasn’t that impresed; and I’m a Scott Murawski and Mike Gordon fan. I would give them another chance.
July 17th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
album? has its moments but not super great IMO.
live show? killer! Started off just OK but got good quickly and was crazy by the end. Very psychedelic.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
This is the greatest announcement since Wings was picked up for its fifth and final season!
July 17th, 2009 at 11:43 am
don’t really care for green sparrow, but whatever. caught cactus last summer at highline ballroom with the bridge, and it was a trip.
July 17th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Toronto, ON, CANADA October 3rd
July 16th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
orange peel is great…so many of these smaller venues are…saw 4 mike shows last tour…i suppose if he twitters again something along the lines of ‘playing _______, c u there!’ i ll show up : p Rob, let me guess, you re one of those trey fans.
July 16th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
“I really don’t like green sparrow. What am I missing?”
I don’t know. It’s a great summer record. Really UP and poppy. Most Phish sounding solo effort, IMO.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Please show your face in Vegas! I’ll be there!!
July 16th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Also going to be at the orange peel on Sept 15th.
July 16th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Hell yea, see you at Minglewood!
July 16th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Please please go visit washington DC and not Northern Virginia.
July 16th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
State Theater, Kalamazoo, MI September 14th.
July 16th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Thanks so much for the heads up, Zac!
July 16th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Add Birmingham, AL to the list of dates: September 19
July 16th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Saw Mike on 12/30 in Portsmouth and it was really good. Crowd was pretty chill and the band had some amazing moments. Mike is fun, I hope it stays chill again this tour.
July 16th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I really don’t like green sparrow. What am I missing?
July 16th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Green Sparrow is one of my favorite records. Just hope that Mike et al will come to PORTLAND, OR!!