On a weekend where Bay Area residents were treated to some serious dance parties courtesy of some of the jam scene’s biggest names, Phish’s Mike Gordon himself and his much anticipated synth wheel rolled into San Francisco to perform at the legendary Fillmore Auditorium last Sunday, January 31st. Armed with his new lineup, consisting of guitarist Scott Murawski, keyboardist Robert Walter, drummer John Kimock and percussionist Craig Myers, Gordo and his LED-lit bass decided to treat the fans with a good ole fashioned drum and bass groove fest.
“Long Black Line” kicked off the evening and briskly moved into Gordon and Murawski’s new tune “Daisy Hill Grove,” that has a deliciously synth and poppy ambient vibe. Coupled with the crowd getting their first glimpse at guitars that light up with LEDs that throw off colorful checkered patterns, this was a great way to start the show.
From the early outset, it was pretty apparent that Gordon relishes his role as the band’s front man with his typical subdued sense of command. This current lineup is completely in tune and vibe off each other with ease and fluidity. At times Murawski’s guitar playing is really an afterthought and acts as more as rhythmic playing for Gordon to crush solo after solo of bass bomb goodness. Then Murawski drops into the driver seat to deliver Garbage’s “#1 Crush,” and things get dark and dirty real quick. The dance party is on.
After these first few songs, it’s clear that any preconceived notions about how the show is going can be checked at the door. This is the Mike Gordo Show and much like Myers’s wailing on the bongos and percussion, the crowd is going to get a glimpse into the beat that goes on in Cactus’ head. As they sing in “Ether,” midway through the first set, “I’m just trying to collect enough evidence to prove that I’m insane.”
Back and forth between poppy goodness and dirty dancing, the band cruises towards set break with great versions of “Sugar Shack,” “Say Something,” and “Tiny Little World” before taking a quick breather.
“Take it As They Come” gets the band and the crowd right back into the thick of it with the REEL making its appearance surfing through the crowd giving people the chance to “slap the wheel” and an interesting audience interaction.
Kimock, Myers and Gordon keep their feet on the gas with the drums, percussion and bass bombs moving into The Field. Robert Walter drops into some Hammond B3 Organ wailing as the band morphs into a funky Steve Millerish jam that evolves into a dark trans before descending into an extended “Yarmouth Road” that has Gordon doing calisthenics on stage and Murawski channeling his inner Peter Frampton. Gordon is literally running and dancing in place and jumping around like the Mad Professor he is, the entire room was clearly feeling his vibe.
The band keeps bass bombing and the down and dirty party going for the rest of the set with fine versions of “Cruel World” and Beck’s “Black Tambourine” to note, before closing it down with “How Many People Are You,” a song that has captured the hearts of Phish fans everywhere.
Before sending everyone off into the real world to face their hangovers and the impending onslaught of tourists and fans for the forthcoming Super Bowl, the band gave one final gift and provided the Fillmore audience with a groovy and dark “Cities” that was fitting for The City.
The band is in rare form and Mike is definitely turning up the heat for this winter tour! Onward to Portland!
