Today, Miami-based Afro-Cuban group Spam Allstars made an extremely intriguing post on their Facebook page concerning the long-uncertain future of Phish keyboardist Page McConnell‘s early-2000s electronic-jam trio, Vida Blue, featuring Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit, and now Dead & Company) and Russell Batiste (The Meters). The post reads:
“14 years ago we had the honor to record and perform with Page McConnell’s Vida Blue with Russell Batiste & Oteil Burbridge. Today Spam Allstars are looking forward to getting into the studio again with this crew!! Stay tuned…”
Each of the three members of Vida Blue as well as the members of the still-active Spam Allstars are tagged directly in the post. In addition, the post includes a clip from Vida Blue and the Spam Allstars’ 6/5/04 performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco, later released in the form of concert DVD Live at the Fillmore. In the video, after welcoming their’s namesake, the real Mr. Vida Blue, the band performs “Most Events Aren’t Planned”, one of their signature tunes. The song has recently enjoyed something of a resurgence, as it made its first two Phish appearances ever last year during the final night of the Baker’s Dozen and night three of the Dick’s run that followed, respectively.
You can check out the clip from Vida Blue and the Spam Allstars Live At The Fillmore below via Spam Allstars’ Facebook post:
For those who are unfamiliar with Vida Blue, the trio was Page’s main creative outlet during Phish’s hiatus (between 10/7/00 and 12/31/02) and into 2004, with a late-night set at the third annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on 6/11/04 serving as their final show. During their time together, Vida Blue released two albums: their self-titled 2002 debut and their 2003 effort, The Illustrated Band, which they recorded in conjunction with Spam Allstars.
You can listen to Vida Blue’s second album, 2003’s The Illustrated Band (featuring Spam Allstars) below via YouTube user Muted Tones:
Oteil has been busier than ever over the past year with Dead & Co and his own project, Oteil & Friends, and Page hasn’t done much playing outside Phish since they re-formed in 2009 after a 5-year breakup. However, considering the sudden appearance of “Most Events Aren’t Planned” in the Phish arena this summer and the reported Spam Allstars studio plans with Vida Blue, the potential for a reunion feels more real than it has in years.
Below, watch full crowd-shot video of Vida Blue’s 4/9/03 performance at The Vic Theatre in Chicago, IL (including a guest appearance by Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass for a duet with Page on “Lawn Boy”) via YouTube user Frank Musillami:
[h/t – JamBase]
[Cover photo via YouTube user Frank Musillami]