LiveMusicDaily Presents
A Live One • Winter Tour 2015
Second Leg of Tour Kicks off Tonight
After a killer show in the Nation’s Capital and Philly, LiveMusicDaily is pleased to Get Back on the Train by presenting you with the entire second leg of A Live One’s Winter 2015 Tour,which kicks off tonight in Toledo,OH. Full tour dates above.
Concert Review • A Live One • Live at Tropicalia in DC
Photos by Dennis Meyers• Review by Matthew Bowers
On a day that for most Phans is the equivalent to Christmas morning, Phish tribute band A Live One from Austin, Texas made their debut in the nation’s capital at Tropicalia. As the phish tour dates rolled in (including the first festival in 4 years) the foursome from the lone star state were soundchecking on U street, getting just as excited about the summer as the crowd that would show up to Tropicalia a few hours later.
That excitement from the crowd and band would translate into some great energy inside that downstairs room on U Street. The band did not waste any time getting the party started, coming right out of the gates with a 2001 opener. Anyone who’s familiar with Phish knows that if a show opens with 2001, it means that you should tighten up your dancing shoes and get ready for a funk party. The jammed out funky version they threw down got the crowd sweating early, and as more people filled up the room it was apparent that this would be a good night for everybody involved.
Keeping the energy high after the great 2001, Back on The Train would come next. A phan favorite always, this version provided the goods with a blistering guitar solo that sounded eerily similar to a certain redhead we all know and love. These guys definitely have the Phish sound down, guitarist Josh Pearson and his hollowbody really has the Trey tone locked in. Not to mention the chops to really do the music justice.
After Back on The Train, the band broke out West LA Fadeaway to the delight of any deadheads in the room. Then it was back to Phish tunes with a funky and tight version of the song Meat. Then in what my opinion was the “meat” of the first set was the two-song segment of Birds of A Feather and Maze. These two songs would divert from the funk and were just a psychedelic rock throwdown. The Birds probably had my personal favorite guitar solo of the night, and the Maze just put the energy over the top with all four guys locked in and showing off their chops. Keys player Wesley Haynes channeled his inner Paige McConnell while drummer Nick Chambers and bass player Andy Harn held down the groove amidst the madness of the screaming guitar that would bring it all home.
A nice Heavy Things would provide the breather for the crowd and Divided Sky would close the first set. A composition that is close to the heart of any Phish fan, the band nailed it and it was a great way to end the first set. The pause even got a nice ovation from the amped up district crowd.
During intermission, many conversations could be overheard of tour plans and the excitement of the festival announcement a few hours earlier. This night was clearly a tribute to Phish in every way.
The Texas quartet would get the party back swinging early with a rocking Chalkdust Torture to start the second set. Then it was back to the dirty funk with a great version of Ghost. They would really take the Ghost on a ride and explored some really great spaces during the jam all while keeping fantastic groove that kept everyone moving. The Ghost jam saw a great segue into a rare (for Phish) second set AC/DC Bag that would also get the jam treatment. The crowd all singing along to Bag was great, and I’m sure the band really appreciated the response that the phans were giving them.
Frankie Says would come next, and would be a short chance for the crowd to catch its collective breath before the band would turn back up the funk with Meatstick. This song has an undeniable groove and is so catchy that you really can’t help but dance, and that’s exactly what we all did. A ferociously rocking Antelope would end the second set in proper fashion, and included a shoutout from the band to Live Music Daily (thanks guys!). The Llama encore was the icing on the cake and left everyone in the room wondering when these guys from Texas would be back in the city to play (and play well) the songs we all know and love by the greatest live band in the world.
Needless to say I had a blast, and I can’t speak for everyone else, but it sure looked like they were having a blast too. If you’re a fan of Phish’s music and need your phix when the big four from Vermont aren’t on tour, these guys really do the music justice. I will definitely be back to see them when they’re in town.
2015.03.18 Tropicalia Washington, DC
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2001
Back On The Train
West LA Fadeway
Meat
Birds Of A Feather
Maze
Heavy Things
Divided Sky
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Chalkdust Torture
Ghost >
ACDC Bag >
Frankie Says
Meatstick
Run Like An Antelope
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E: Llama