A few words about this show...
Those of you who are familiar with my "column" know that I rarely if EVER
write about a local (Chicago) show unless all Hell breaks loose... and it did
in spades on this particular Tuesday night...
Weeks before this gig, I was told to expect the possible eventuality that it
might be on the off-chance of slim-to-none that Fishman could show up to sit
in...
...MAYBE...
So the night before, I call Corso and Ahmer to get the story on how many drums
I'm gonna have to deal with... the plan is to do a show that features three
drummers for the whole show so that no one is left out of the fun, so Scott
found a show... 10/31/83... which featured Airto all night. Ahmer would play
the part of Airto for the evening allowing Fishman to play his kit all
night... "works for me" I believe I said... but the REAL question was STILL
"How Much Sh*t You Bringin'?"
When the DSO has a guest (not very often and usually not as high-profile as a
member of Phish) the band goes a bit nutty... this time was NO exception...
"Kits, pads, talking drum, a set of pre-tuned toms, congas, extra floor toms,
break drums, extra rack toms, various hand percussion..."
... my head hurts already...
So I arrange to get there early to set up "Drum World"... all-told there were
seventeen inputs of drums to keep track of (Side Note: I've done the WHOLE
DAMN BAND with only seventeen channels before)... and after a lengthy set-up
we got some food and waited for Fishman to show...
...and waited...
...and waited...
Finally Scott got on the phone and made a call or two...
"Jon's not comin' tonight..." he reported.
This show was the night off Phish had between the Chicago stop and Grand
Rapids, MI so no one could really blame the man for deciding not to play, but
we were all sorta let down... and nervous about what to tell people who were
lining up outside Martyrs' an hour before doors opened on one of the windiest
nights Chicago has seen for ages... in the end we are upfront about Fishman
not showing (of course).
Scott called Daon (one of the drummers for John's band Wingnut) and Dave
Plante, another local luminary and percussionist to see if either of them
could fill the needed percussion spot so that we could still do the selected
show because the band had been working on ANOTHER surprise for the evening...
We sound checked about fifteen minutes before doors with "St. Stephen"...
"This is STILL gonna be a show..." I thought as they finished up... "...always
IS..."
Dave Plante called to say he was on his way and we retired to the band room...
This brought up a point: Scott used to play with Dave in a band and Dave is
indeed a percussionist and he is a fish member... a SMOKIN' FISH member, that
is... chuckles all around... he turned up and there was MUCH rejoicing...
Even after being told Fishman was not going to show, people paid & stayed...
and when they lit into the opening strains of "Wang Dang Doodle" you could
tell the band was focused and determined to start a fire... the "Esau" only
solidified this as the band reached thunderous peaks and the "Sailor>Saint"
and "Deal" first set closers were HUUUGE... I hadn't seen the band this bound-
and-determined in some time...
The break was the usual half-hour and then back on with a smokin'
"Help>Slip>Franks" that was celebratory in it's energy followed by "Estimated
Prophet"...
Just prior to "Prophet" starting, Hazdra got word (about the same time I did)
that Fishman had indeed arrived with Mike Gordon (Ed. note: Actually Fishman
showed up solo; Mike Gordon arrived just before the end of the first set)
, but that he wanted to chill out for a few so the band carried on without him,
delivering a stellar rendition of "Estimated" before slipping into "Eyes of the
World" during which the crowd realized Fishman was in the house and there was nothing
for it but to join the fray...
Fishman walked somewhat sheepishly to the spot between drum kits and began
playing Corso's pre-tuned drum cluster (whacking the mic every now and again
just for good measure) and the place went nuts... the jam went on and on,
during which Ahmer abdicated his throne and joined Dave on the percussion set-
up...
Drum World, baby... Drum World, indeed...
Four guys beating the tar out of everything on the stage, rocking the house
like a Brazilian holiday in full swing... followed by "Space" which swelled
and ebbed to madness before the two notes that would take us ALL higher...
"St. Stephen" had arrived rather like Fishman (who had joined the band onstage
again) and I couldn't help myself... I actually smiled.
(Ed. note: Stellablu, D3 & I had gone upstairs with Fishman during Space and we sat and talked
for a bit before his ears perked up and he asked, "Are thay playing St. Stephen?" We
told him yes and he was welcome to go down and sit in again..."the next song is gonna
be Throwin' Stones.", I added. "I don't care about Throwin' Stones as much but I wanna
play on St. Stephen!!!" he said. "Well, we can get you through that crowd in two
seconds flat!" I said. He looked at D3, "Is it okay if I play?" Bemused looks all
around. "OF COURSE!" And we wound our way through the crowd toward the stage again.)
The crowd on the other hand... "nuts" to "bananas" in seconds... pretty-darn-
good magic, if you ask me...
A "Throwin' Stones>NFA" and a "Revolution" later, the band returned to
the stage and after announcing the guest players and actual show date told the
crowd that they had been privy to the actual anniversary of the band's first
show and ended up playing a VERY fitting "Blow Away" (remember the wind?) and
a looong jammed-out "Terrapin Station" which brought the house down... but the
crowd wasn't about to end it there so the band came back YET AGAIN and
performed an unbelievable "Playin' In The Band" which lasted a good eight to
ten minutes, Fishman & Corso flailing away until the final note...
After the show, Fishman and Mike talked with audience members, signed anything
in sight, and then sat around with the band shootin' the sh*t...
I've seen shows... but THIS was truly a night where the DSO walked the earth
fifty feet tall with waffle soles, leaving everything overturned in it's
wake... and I couldn't have been more pleased... nor, I hope, could the
audience...
It's nice to see that the guys in Phish are still quite real and warm,
accommodating guys willing to give anyone their ear... in my estimation, that's
what professionalism is all about.
Thank you much to Fishman and Mike, but especially big thanks to the DSO, who
proved to me, themselves, and the fans of Dead music here in Chicago that they
are indeed the best at what they do...
"Thank You For A Real Good Time" indeed...