[ATTENDED: September 20, 2019] Vida Blue
I had seen two of the Phish guys’ side (or solo) projects, which meant I actually got to see them, and not just see them from a mile away. Mike Gordon did a solo tour which I caught, and I’ve seen Trey Anastasio with his band and solo. I assumed that would be it for small projects. Fish has a band, Pork Tornado, but it’s been on hiatus since 2002 and Page McConnell has released a couple of solo albums, but his band Vida Blue stopped touring in 2004.
Until now.
Page announced that Vida Blue was going to reunite for THREE shows (although possibly more now). And one of those three shows was in Philadelphia. So of course I bought a ticket to see Page up close.
Driving into Philly has become something of a nightmare now that Girard Avenue is closed. Especially if you want to get to the Fillmore. Traffic and detours add at least ten minutes. I had left early but still managed to get to the parking lot after 8 for an 8PM show with no opening band. I was furious. So I ran into the place and found out that they hadn’t started yet, phew. Also, everyone seemed to be milling about, so I wended my way up near the front and got an amazing spot. My only regret is that I didn’t keep going into that one last free spot in front of that one because it turned out the people around me were the worst people in Philadelphia.
To me, this was a special treat of a show–a one (or three)-of-a-kind meant to be savored and respected. But to everyone around me it was a time to talk during songs, dance into other peoples spaces, get really drunk, scream made up lyrics to a quiet instrumental passage (seriously) and come and go pushing people out of the way as you went.
I don’t think the place was very full and yet it was crazy crowded (except for the guy who was dancing by jumping and spinning around–people gave him a wide berth). I managed to get in front of the really tall guy, but the short guy in front of me apparently knew everyone and throughout the show people were coming over to him and hugging him and hanging out and then leaving. Was he a dealer? Who knows, but his friends sucked big time. Especially the guy who was a little taller than me, stood right in front of me and then kept leaning back and almost hitting my face. WTF?
So the show was insufferable because of the people. I seriously hate the Fillmore these days.
But the music. The music was really fantastic. And, it is a credit to the band that while I was clearly really irritated by everyone around me (this suggests that maybe I don’t want floor seats at a Phish show if this is the crowd they attract) I was able to actually enjoy the music and smile most of the way through.
I didn’t know Vida Blue’s music all that well. The band’s first two albums were recorded as a trio of Page McConnell, Oteil Burbridge (bass) and Russell Batiste (drums). For this tour, they have added Adam Zimmon on guitar.
The music is a pretty varied collection of styles, with some jazzy elements, some rocking elements and a great deal of funk. Page’s keyboard wall has at least six different keyboards including a clavinet and a sampler–so pretty much any sound that he wants, he can pull out of thin air (or preprogrammed air). He even played a melodica.
The show was a mixture of songs from their first album and their new album. In fact they played all of the songs from both albums except one (no “Fresh Tube”). No songs from their second album The Illustrated Band probably because they were recorded with The Spam Allstars, and they wouldn’t try to duplicate without them).
They opened with three songs from the new album. I had heard “Analog Delay” and really liked it and it sounded great live–bouncy and lively. I was also really surprised by the light show that the band brought. It’s nothing like a Phish show, but there were some really cool effects.
I loved Oteil Burbridge’s purple six-string bass, he had a really good sound from it.
Up next was a groovestorm written by drummer Russel Batiste called “Real Underground Soul Sound.” When the song was over and everyone was chanting for Russell, he came out from behind the kit and took a bow. It’s not everyone who can get away with wearing a shirt with his own name and image on it. Russell definitely had his own cheering section as a couple of guys near me just kept chanting his name and waving to him. He is legendary for having played in The Meters as well].
The third new song, “Where Did It Go” was slower and sounded a lot like a Phish song that Page would write, with lots of nifty synth sounds.
They moved back to the first album for a couple of songs, including “Electra Glide” the one that references the band name (and the baseball player they’re named after). It was followed by the instrumental jam “CJ3” which allowed Page to use ever more of his gear.
Then it was back to the new album for the mellow “Phaidon.” In the video you can hear everyone talking all the way through the song. I need to print out cards that say “The band has asked that you save your inane conversations for the intermission.”
It’s funny to think that one can say that the band played a live debut since at the previous show all of the new songs were live debuts. But we did get one live debut, “Checking Out,” a funky uptempo number which had some really cool rainbow lights.
Russell Batiste took over lead vocal duties on the old song “Wheres’ Popeyes” which appears to be about the fast food place. We were instructed to go insane whenever he shouted the title and insanity ensued.
Things settled down for another mellow Page number, “Who’s Laughing Now?” People were a little less chatty through this one, thankfully. There was one more new song in the set, “If I Told You,” another mellow song with a slightly uptempo feel. Keeping things mellow, they played “Final Flight” from their first album.
All of this mellowness seemed to be a way to rest up for what was coming next.
When I was trying to determine how long this show would be and if there were two sets (there weren’t and they played for about 2 hours total) I was spoiled to see that they had ripped through Pink Floyd’s “Sheep.” I love the Animals album and was really psyched to hear them play this. I didn’t know if we’d be treated to it as well, but as soon as those sprinkly notes in the beginning started I knew what it was. As did everyone else. And the crowd started bouncing around as soon as the heavy fast riffage started. Was there actually a pit at a Vida Blue show?
There was this tall fellow in front of me and he was pretty mellow the whole show–doing the irritating Phish-side-to-side-sway which means that they block your view as they sway left and then again as they sway right. (When one of the swayers moved in front of some other guy who had previously had a clear view, I don’t know what transpired, but I saw the swayer stomp back to his old space a few seconds later muttering about being in someone’s way. Tee hee). Anyhow, when the song started out, the tall guy was suddenly invigorated. I guess he was pushing forward, pumping his fist or something, but a few seconds later he was slammed into me and his friend was trying to get him to settle down. I can’t believe I was injured more at a Vida Blue show than any other show I’ve been to.
The band sounded fantastic playing “Sheep.” It suited all of their strengths–cool bass lines, lots of synth, great drumming and some nice clean guitar from Adam Zimmon. Not to mention Page’s voice sounded remarkably like the original.
Iassumed that was the end of the set, but then they played Vida Blue’s most popular song (and one that I’ve seen Phish play twice) “Most Events Aren’t Planned.” Amazingly the talkers even talked through this song, the song that arguably they all know best.
When the band left for the encore, I managed to move to a slightly better location for the two encore songs. “Maybe” had a very cool jam with awesome lights. And they closed the show with a cover of Gary Numan’s “Cars.” I had also read that they played this song and I wasn’t excited about it. “Cars” might be my least favorite song that I am expected to love. I’ve always felt that it was really boring and sterile (which might be the point) but oh I’ve always hated it–it also feels endless.
But when Vida Blue played it, they removed the robotic feel and really brought it to life. It was certainly familiar but it just sounded so much better and warmer and for the first time I was actually happy to hear this song.
So yes, the band sounded amazing (even if I don’t like the Fillmore anymore, their sound system is top notch). And it sure looked like Page enjoyed himself.
Despite the throngs of annoying people [“It’s not their music I hate, it’s their fans,”] I still came away from the show with positive feelings (and stories of people to complain about).
Best of all, with no opening band, they were done by 10:30 and I got home at a reasonable hour!
Thanks Page.
Thanks for bringing Vida Blue back. Maybe next time don’t tell anyone but me.
SETLIST
- Analog Delay ⊗
- Real Underground Soul Sound ⊗
- Where Did It Go ⊗
- Electra Glide ∇
- CJ3 ∇
- Phaidon ⊗
- Checking Out ⊗
- Where’s Popeyes ∇
- Who’s Laughing Now? ∇
- Weepa ⊗
- If I Told You ⊗
- Final Flight ∇
- Sheep [Pink Floyd cover]
- Most Events Aren’t Planned ∇
encore - Maybe ⊗
- Cars [Gary Numan cover]
∇ Vida Blue (2002)
⊗ Crossing Lines (2019)
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