7-14-01 - The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA

Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 10:20:35 -0700
From: Aaron Bach [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 7-14 Review

Right off the bat I'd like to say the reason I am writing this review is
because I'm listening to this show for the second time now. To add to that,
there are some gorgeous sounding boots up on the internet now...if you went
to this show and didn't like it...listen to it again. Also, my review may be
a little biased because I spent most of this show backstage and on the
sidestage - so of course I had the time of my life. Anyways, the Last Tube
that opened this show had a wonderful groove to it and had words and the
like -very nice. Some of the people that I was next to said that Friday's
1st set was kind of mellow so I was excited that Trey kicked it off with a
long, ripping jam. The rest of the set flew by quickly with highlights being
the Burlack and Moesha closer. I stayed on the sidestage for the second set
so I think I missed out on the lights and the crowd energy, but how often do
you get to enjoy a show from a different perspective? Sand second set was
surely the high point of this show. Listen to Ray on the keys for something
totally phresh. I guess the only thing bad about this show was the vibe. I
think a lot of people were pissed because Trey repeated a few songs from the
night before. And some of the shirts I saw - Trey is Wilson and Treytor -
whats up with that? Are some people on tour just to rag on it? I say, if
you're pissed off about the setlists, sell the rest of your tickets and move
on to another band. Don't bring down the vibes at all the shows - and
especially for those of us who just checked out one show. I loved this show,
and I didn't see any repeats! For me, this was the shit...for tour rats,it
was shitty. Oh well, I just thinks its lame to follow trey, just to rag on
him. Give him a break, he's doing something new and creative and I've never
seen him smile so big.

    - And to all of you calling him a traitor - Wouldn't he be more of a
traitor if he was selling out stadiums playing phish songs by himself?

Don't worry, Phish will be back when the time is right...if you don't like
Trey, there are tons of other bands out there...go check out some other
scenes...but please, don't ruin anymore shows. The tour is finally hitting
the midwest and soon the east coasters. Don't ruin it for my phriends out on
the east coast. They haven't scene any of this music yet. To my friends
about hit some solid midwest shows...have fun and don't let the naysayers
get you down. Listen to the music with your own ears and love it for what it
is. Peace,
Aaron

Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2001 18:02:31 -0400
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Review 7/14
 
Ok, Trey @ the Greek!  What a venue, eh?  Up on the hill overlooking the SF
Bay, nice summer evening, your favorite Guitar guy wailing away, is there
anything better?  Well ok Phish @ the Greek, perhaps.
 
Out of the two nights, I thought Friday was much stronger than Saturday.  It
seemed the band was excited about playin^� on the hallowed ground.  The first
set flowed just right and ended just in twilight both sonically and literally.  
Swingin^� Done Done It, great Windora Bug & Last Tube was^�well Tubular.
 
When the light dimmed for El Trey in La Summer for set Dos, the crowd of
moving white flesh was ready to bob thy heads and yell hallelujah!  Very
tight, very hip, very coooooooool set.  A rockin^� Mister Completely (as to
Saturday^�s) stood out for me, and both the end, Push on Through the Day and
the encore of 1st Tube kicked.  It was amazing that this band has really only
been together three weeks. Oh that was just Friday they found it, because^�
 
Saturday it already appeared to be old and wearisome. They as the weather was
a bit chilly.  I must say the low light for me was the tedious, overindulgent
too many note SAND.  Though I loved the horns and hoped our new keyboardist
would give it ago with the solo^� Sad to say, it didn^�t happen.  Maybe after
a tour ,but not the fourth show, that is for sure.  I found both sets rather
discombobulated.  There just wasn^�t the flow of Friday^�s show.  I had
friends who began in San Diego and about half way through the second, decided
to split and get some much needed rest. I guess that^�s how it goes with a new
band.  Some days the dragon wins.
 
Overall the sound was thick and all this talk about repetitive bass lines are
ridiculous when it^�s obvious Trey wants to groove and sustain and uses an
open playing field that he mostly will fill.  The rhythm section was a
machine.  Sure he^�s not Gordo, but I think that^�s the point.
 
I hope Trey comes West with Oysterhead this fall.  But I think everyone will
agree, I hope the Hiatus doesn^�t last too long.  I miss my Phish Mommy.  I
want them to come back^� And soon.
 


Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 14:38:54 -0500
From: Kevin Gittemeier [email protected]
Subject: 7-14-01 review
 
This band is tight. Both nights at this famed amphitheatre were very
entertaining and great music to dance to. The first set on Friday night
seemed a little mellow to me, but could have been because I was in a shitty
location. The second set blew everyone away and completely rocked. They
picked up right where they left off on friday night rocking the whole
night from the ripping "First Tube" opener to the "Mr. Completely" closer.
 There was something about these shows that really bothered me.....and it
wasn't the band or the fact that they played some of the same songs both
nights. It was all of the people who were sitting around pouting because trey
played some of the songs he had just played last night. I understand where
they are coming from, but it shouldn't ruin your night. He is only doing that
with the brand new songs, and for most people it was only the second time
hearing them....even with a studio album which has the exact same version of
the songs each time you listen, you can't tell anything the first run through
the songs....you know you don't go buy a cd, listen once and toss
it...especially with music like this. It is intricate, complex music that
really needs to be listened to more than once to "get it", and on top of
that, the versions are not exactly the same (moesha rocked twice as hard on
sat night) and the placement in the sets are different. This band is not
phish......they do not have the same style, catalog of tunes, musicians,
instruments, fans, etc. Do not go to more than one of these shows if you want
a completely different set list....it is not going to happen. I do think it
is complete bullshit that these people who trey has given so much to over the
years, can't or choose not to respect his decision to play the music he is
going to play. Go pick up a guitar and start your own band and play whatever
the fuck you want every night to a crowd of three losers in your dorm room
and get off tour, where all you do is complain about the best musician of our
time and the songs he chooses to play.
 
Kevin

Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 13:27:19 -0700
From: Avi Gallant [email protected]
Subject: 7-14-01 Review....
 
I really did not have any expectations going into the shows at the greek.
Unfortunately, I was slightly dissappointed.  I called the shows
"entertaining" but nothing more.  If you removed the other 7 members besides
Trey and plugged in other great musicians you would have the same thing.
 
No magic happening just songs.  I know that they are shifting away from
covers but come on if you are going to play two shows at the Greek you have
to keep it interesting.  Heard some of the same songs both nights.
 
Throughout the show all musicians were constantly looking at Trey on what to
do next.  That is not a "true" band in my mind.  All members should be equal
in the mix and that was not true this time.  Also, I agree with the review
on the bass player.  I mean come on, I've never played bass but I could
certainly play what he was playing.  During Sand, the same 10 notes for 25
minutes.  Dosen't that get a little boring?
 
Anyway, definetely not trying to be all negative, just letting people know
what it is like.  For anyone who was fortunate enough to attend High Sierra,
you will understand my dissappointment after that great weekend of music.
 
Well, who knows what the future will bring, but lets hope for something a
little more interesting next time.  Thanks and hope everyone enjoys the
shows.

Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 13:28:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Lynch [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Review - 7-14-01 - The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA
 
 
If the two shows at the Greek had been stand-alone, Saturday's would have
been better. It had more diversity, including a brand new song and an
acoustic one, and more crowd interaction from Trey. However, since I had
just seen 80% of the songs the night before, it was a little repetitive and
disappointing. I guess I didn't realize beforehand that this band has not
written/rehearsed enough material together to fill two nights with unique
music. I hope they get to that point soon!
Dave

Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 19:45:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: Schrader brian [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Berkeley Trey Shows
 
Just a few thoughts and ramblings. It wasn't the same, it was different, IT
wasn't there, but change is good as long as one can go back and revisit that
special place again in the future. I feel if Phish was just taking the summer
off with definitive plans to return, most people would be enthusiastically
rallying around the shows, however, there is no end in sight to the hiatus and
that scares the shit out of some people who are left pondering, is this what
we're going to have in the future? Personally, I think the music was well
thought out by the band, played with high energy, and unrealistic expectations
are never going to be reached. I feel this band should be playing much smaller
venues than they are playing, the Greek was too big for them and this is one
of the smaller venues compared to those back East. I also feel the scene was
extremely weak in Berkeley, the crowds lacked energy, especially Saturday's
show. Coming from New England and living out here now, I realize Phish is on a
much smaller scale out here, with the crowds for Phil and Friends bigger and
far more energized, yet that was a far superior band. Only real disappointment
came when I saw Merl Saunders arrive Saturday before the show and was thrilled
in anticipation of Merl sitting in after his funky show Thursday at the Great
American, yet despite Trey hugging him at setbreak, there was no invite on
stage. There were also tons of extra tickets for the shows, people giving them
away for free or $10 at most. The light shows were a true highlight, it
appears Kuroda added new lights to the mix with great results, languedoc and
brad sands were on tour too. It seemed like the phish family was all there,
except the 3 other ones that counted. Definitely check out a show, it's not
worth a tour, but one can appreciate the effort the band put into the shows.
Change is good for the soul I suppose.Bri


Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 12:40:05 -0700
From: Amy Ciesielka [email protected]
Subject: Both Berkeley shows
 
Hey you guys, I just want to allay any doubts as to whether Trey has lost it
or Trey has excelled or that the hiatus was a mistake or that we support it
by saying... Trey just blew the non-existent roof off The Greek Ampitheater
in Berkeley! Yes, he's basically writing Phish music for another band: bass,
drums (a rhythm section that keeps time better than Seiko) and keys (who I
didn't hear at all except for a ripping Superstition-esque solo during Sand)
and a horn section of alto and tenor saxes, trombone and trumpet. They
started off the first show slowly to feel out the crowd and played a couple 3
minute snappy songs. Then he pulled out Moesha which cancelled any doubts of
Trey's new songwriting process. Halfway through I knew we were in for
(possibly) the ride of our lives.
 
Basically, Trey starts out the song and then the horns take over - tightened
up and melodic. (Jennifer on trumpet spoke to me in ways I thought not
possible!) Trey falls to the textural background to come flying through for
ripping solos. He was the only one without a music stand which basically
meant to me that everyone else was pretty orchestrally structured but held
their own next to Trey's clean and jubilant sounds.
 
The Beatles were only together for at most 8 years and look how influential
they were. Everyone in Phish is so creative that they have other avenues of
showing their talents. Same thing with the Beatles - George never got the
glory though he is amazing! Etc etc etc... Page's setting up a jazz trio
where his roots lie, Mike is making movies which infect my brain to the point
where I can't think of music without thinking of his "There are 8 things that
make up music. I'll give you 13." And of course Fishman is his Animal self
with that Pork Tornado stuff.
 
I guess it could all be summed up by 2 perfect shows that left EVERYONE
satisfied that Trey is a guitar god. BUT THEN... he put his guitar down and
conducted the band in a ripping instrumental. AND THEN... SAND!!!!! HOLY
SHIT!!! He took Sand to depths, lengths, expanses not even attempted by
Phish! When he elevated the song above where Phish had it, I turned to the
person next to me and shouted, "I can't believe what he's doing to music
right now!!!" It was like watching a whole new branch form on the tree of
musical evolution. I witnessed it, I was there - it was so abstract! And it
kept going! Everything was alive! It was so right now (threat of vomit -
Outside Out reference)! It was about being here and alive and now with all
these happy people sharing the best musical vibe I have probably ever been a
part of. And Trey was LOVING IT!!!!!
 
Ok, I know, you guys think every Phish show is my favorite, but this was a
long time coming: it was wonderful!!! My advice - DO NOT let another Trey
show go by without checking it out. I got lucky on this one. We all need the
discs. I think I may have them in the works (thanks Mike :) and will
definitely share. Yes, he repeated a few songs both nights (I was wondering
what it'd be like planning on going on tour with Trey and finding out he's
playing all the same setlists - NO PROBLEM!!!), but they were AWESOME both
nights, and I don't really know the songs yet anyway.
 
Overall, it was one of the best 2 roadtrips this year, a wonderful colorful
carload of Mike Snyder, Toby Nicastro, Stephen Levy, me and then traveler
Memo and all our friends along the way - Circle, Justin, Janna, Betsy, John,
Colby, Juliette and all Mike's Michigan friends... it was fabulous!!!
 
Thanks for listening and go see TREY!!! Love you guys, Amy
 
YEAH YEAH YEAH !!!!! :)

Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2001 12:39:25 -0700
From: Matt [email protected]
Subject: Review for yall- Trey, 7-14-01, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA
 
Wow, just got home from berkeley, and man, Trey tore that place up!  This was
my first show this year (of trey anyway) and my first solo trey show, so I
was pretty freakin stoked.  After a long chill in front of the theatre,
drinkin and smokin, we made our way inside.  Oh, I have to say that the cops
in berkeley were really pretty cool, the worst thing that I saw them do was
make people hide their beers and sell them by the corner.  One kid told me
that at Friday's show, a cop took his stash and pipe, but told the kid to
find him after the show and he did and the cop gave it back.
 
He started last night with a nice bouncy song, which got the crowd going
good. Trey was all smiles as he strummed out chords and gave everyone a
chance to hear bits of the other band members, which included a very very
hard hitting solo by Dave Grippo on sax. It was a joy seeing not only
everyone in the stands, but trey as well digging Grippo's sound. There were a
few times during the sax solo that trey even stopped playing and just totally
absorbed Grippo's music. It was a blast.
 
 The song was followed by a really mournful blues tune that led into a nicely
stiched solo by trey. You could tell at the beginning of his solo that he was
holding back, but towards the end, spurred on by cheers from the crowd, he
did do some amazing fast and complicated picking. The jam was almost like a
condolence to recent deaths in the blues field.
 
 Following that was another nice bouncy song with a lot of horns. I'm really
digging his horn section, and I'm sure trey is too. The trumpet goddess did a
very powerful solo, VERY frenetic, then the song ended to huge cheers for
her.
 
 After that, my brother started getting feeling bad, and rather than split
up, I went with him from our awesome spot in front of the stage across from
the horns up to the top of the hill, but the songs during that time was very
nice and springy. The whole time I was dealing with my bro I was groovin like
a mad man. The set ended, and we made our way back down and got almost into
the same spot, but opposite the theatre from where we were before. Now we
were directly across from the keyboards, and I was psyched for the second
set. During the first set, I was anxious to get somma that organ noise, but
he pretty much just stayed in the background the whole set. I figured we'd
get some of his fury in set two.
 
 Well, next thing you know, its dark, and they come back out to huge cheers.
Trey starts the second set with a really fast rockin song, and everyone was
going mad. Here, we get that Trey madness that I've been missing, furiously
hammering on and sliding up and down the neck of his guitar. He and the
audience was really going mad.
 
 After that, my brother was feeling crappy again, so we decided to hike about
halfway up the theatre stands and get on one of those places where he could
sit down if he wanted to. This was a good vantage point, as we could see the
whole band together, and man, they rock. The next song was a pretty bouncy
number as well, and then,
 
 Trey says-
 "here's a new one for you guys tonight, we just wrote it backstage today,
its called (something) plasma."
 
 NICE!!! they played it and man, it was tight. Lotsa changes in time, changes
in the drum beat, very awesome. You'd be dancing kinda slowish and swimmy,
and then BAM! jumpin and flailin, then woosh! slowish and swimmy, and the
back to flailing. Truly a great song, I just wish I couldv'e heard what he
said it was called.
 
 After that, Trey put down his guitar and conducted the horn section in this
little horn number that was very Zappa like, melodies in key and then ending
on a dissonant note, then going back to the quirky lines. It was as if every
different horn player was playing a different rythym, but it all worked out.
A nice number to sit back and rest, cause you knew you'd need it for the
upcoming songs.
 
 Next was a glorious Sand. I really liked it, though I was hoping to hear all
songs I haven't heard before, and this was the first I have heard. Don't get
me wrong, it rocked. I was very glad for the horn piece to rest before this
number. The crowd was going WILD on this one, and it was good to see that
more people was enjoying this one. It was very Phishy, with the main theme
and song starting, then a long long jam.  Here, finally, we get a huge
organ solo.  I'd been waiting for that, and was going nuts. After a while I
forgot what song they're playing and was totally lost in the music, then they
came back perfectly to the main theme and everyone cheers.
 
 Then, a nice slow swimmy song, trey finally picks up one of the three
acoustics that were on stage, and they all pretty much put the crowd to rest
with a very heartfelt and lullabye-ish song. Its good to get let down slowly
after such a concert, and after that trey thanked everyone and they all left
the stage.
 
 But you knew it wasn't over yet.
 
 After a short break, they came back out for the encore, which was one of the
most rocking songs I've heard them do. It was like an orgasm, the rythym
changes from one stupendously hard beat to a slighty harder beat to a grand
finale that no-one, in my opinion can top.
 
All in all I was very happy for the show. That was the end of part one of the
greatest venues in the world part of the tour, and coming up next is RED
ROCKS!!! You know trey planned this like that, because those are the two
greatest venues ever to play a show, with the greek theatre being second and
red rocks the first.  I treated this show like something else, as this was my
first solo trey show, and have nothing to compare it to.  But, nonetheless,
the place was shook, and everyone left happy.
 
 Well, I need to go to sleep now, I missed the train going back to my
relatives house, and spent the night in the park, so I'm dead tired.
 
-the guy from WV

Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 13:25:44 -0700
From: Steven Casey [email protected]
Subject: 7-14-01
 
 I did the San Diego to Berkeley run. At first I was upset that I was not
able to go to Red Rocks but after these four shows I am glad I get to save my
money. Dont get me wrong Trey's new band rocks, but hearing the same songs
night after night was a little depressing. The Greek in Berkeley is one of
the venues that you wish were in every city. I love the vibe of that
venue and the highlight of the four shows was the Sand on the second night at
the Greek. One of the best Sands ever. That Sand made the trip to Berkeley.
    I know that Trey is playing only his material but it would have been nice
to hear some covers or even change the setlist a little.
    Trey did looked stoked I have never seen him smile so much. I hope that
this band grows and creates more material next time they come through town,
or I pray that Phish comes back.

Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2001 12:23:37 -0700
From: LINDSAY J TRACY [email protected]
Subject: 7/14/01 Show Review
 
This was my fourth Trey show this tour, and I can already say that I am
sick of this band.  They don't have "it" and it is painfully obvious the
more I see them.  I love the horn section, the drums are very good, and
Trey is Trey.  The problem is that the fat guy who can't even stand up
for more than half the show or hold his own bass finds it necessary to
play the same bassline for twenty minutes on end every song.  It is so
repetive and annoying that it is impossible to concentrate on anything
else.  I don't think I've ever gone to a club and seen a bass player who
sucked as much ass as "Fat Tony".  I love the keyboard players style, but
he is so low in the mix that you almost forget about him.  The songs are
good, and its a lot of new material.  I'm definitely glad I caught one of
these shows. I felt like I was missing something great being stuck on the
west coast.  It's good to know that I'm not.   This show was very similar
to the first three for anyone who as at them. The obvious highlight of
the show was the Sand which got way out of control.  Please stop playing
Moesha, it really sucks.  Wish I didn't already have my Red Rocks tickets
I've seen more than enough of these guys already.  Can't wait to see
Trey, Les, and Stewart this fall.  Take it easy, Dan

From: [email protected]
Subject: Trey 7/14 review
 
Was a little disappointed.  Where was my Jibboo?  Trey teased it in the first
set, and now I got blue-balls!  They should've ended the first set with the
encore (which I agree with an earlier reviewer, reminds one of "Tomorrow
Never Knows"), and Jibboo should've been the encore.  Trey describes "Moesha"
as a "cheesy 70's sitcom theme"...and that's the problem with it.  It was
good the first night, but don't repeat it to end the first set on a two-day
run!  Friday night was more special, hearing the new ones for the first time.
 Windora & Last Tube, that's the way to end a first set!   Highlight of Sat
was Quantegy & Sand; you get the mellow Floydian "Quantegy" then the madness
that is Sand.  Nothing will top the Big Cypress "Sand," but tonight's version
was better than that stinker in Vegas 2000.  Worst Sand ever, the only bummer
of a magical night, for those who were there on Trey's b-day.  These are the
only two shows I'm seeing, and it gave me a good taste of Trey's new
experiment.  Just wanted to hear Jibboo with horns, like on "Farmhouse."
Looking much more forward to Trey's next tour--Oysterhead!!!!!!!!!  "Mom said
never trust a band named Oysterhead!"
 
Mark

click here to return to the 2001 reviews page


hits (many)