Congratulations to everyone who was "Playin' In The Band!" Those of you who were in attendance, you certainly graduated with high honors. . .

Post your reviews of PLU!

Band 1:

Phil Lesh - Bass
Ethan Fanzel - Guitar
Gon Amit - Drums
Greg Fain - Guitar
Brian Laure - Keys
Joe Knox - Percussion
John Somerset - Vocal
Lizzy Friezel - Vocal

Setlist:
Viola Lee Blues
Deal>
Eyes Of The World>
Dark Star(v1)>
Franklin's Tower
encore: Not Fade Away

from chat..

Band 2:

Phil Lesh - Bass
Lord Henry - Guitar
Louie Lardo - Guitar
Sundawg - Percussion
John Somerset - Vocal
Lizzy Friezel - Vocal
????????? - Drums
????????? - Keys


Setlist:
Bertha
Jam>
New Speedway Boogie>
The Other One>
Dark Star(v1)>
Jam>
I Know You Rider

Pics and commentary in Other Stuff..

You will need to be registered user if you are not..IMHO..it is time to step in..

http://www.philzone.org/cgi-bin/discus/board-auth. cgi?lm=1163047543&file=/287273/339882.html

3rd set in progress..no updates at the moment..

"The evening will close with a very special set with Phil, John Scofield, renowned jazz drummer Jaz Sawyer and old friend Rob Barraco."

from chat..

Band 2:

Phil Lesh - Bass
Lord Henry - Guitar
Louie Lardo - Guitar
Sundawg - Percussion
John Somerset - Vocal
Lizzy Friezel - Vocal
????????? - Drums
????????? - Keys


Setlist:
Bertha
Jam>
New Speedway Boogie>
The Other One>
Dark Star(v1)>
Jam>
I Know You Rider

E: Brokedown Palace

Both bands on stage #1 and #2 group bow..

Phil says "Your diplomas are in the mail..School is out"

G.Dad - hereafter known as the Dean of PLU! Thanks.

Info from show..thanks to TaperRob and Phairone..

Dean..no way..I am more like that squirrely guy on Love Boat..

thanks GDad u always come thru!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Knock it off..

I did not do anything other than take a few calls and type a few sentences..

Musicians played..phans danced a few called their friends in chat and once again TaperRob set up the laptop connected to chatroom and discussion board w/ Phairone right there all them are the ones that came thru..

>>>>Dean..no way..I am more like that squirrely guy on Love Boat..

Who doesn't like Gopher......that guy was great on Love Boat. But seriously, thanks GDad!!! You were the Al Michaels of PLU.

Back from PLU. Just a few observations:

1. Venue was a bit too crowded, and too many peeps were trying to walk around during the music.
2. Overall, the quality of the 2 bands was exceptional. I especially enjoyed the 2nd band.
3. Phil's Brokedown was "moving".
4. Last set with Scofield, Rob and Jazz Sawyer, was a bit short, but I really enjoyed it. Basically a jazz set. Scofield on instrumental "Watchtower" was worth the price of admission
5. Phil's talk was very enjoyable. His sense of humor is priceless!

Overall a very special night!

Sam L.

>>Knock it off..

I did not do anything other than take a few calls and type a few sentences..>>

And kept us laughing with your text messages. lol. I think I saw atleast two others look at their cels and say "oh...it's g-dad".

Ohhh, I've been waiting for this, all the buzz and details of the show.

God I wish I was there.
Thanks everyone, and keep it coming.

So it was too crowded? Was there dancing space? That is a place with obstructed view but great sound?

So when the participants wake up and have their coffee, with their after glow still shining, let's have more.....please.

It was a great night. Always wonderful to to see
zone friends. Extra fun bringing a couple 'special guests' (ie. Lord Henry and Sundawg) into the chatroom ...'because THEIR phans want to know'.

(hmmm... "Phairone and Phriends Chat Party"...has a nice ring. j/k)

And THANK YOU to everyone who gave my son a nice welcome ! Can't think of a more magical 'first show' for him to experience. (Thanks "taperRob", honey, for just knowing it was right to bring him along! You were right AGAIN !!! Who's luckier than me and the 'phair'kids! )

There was dancin' space, but not a lot.

I thought the sound was great--and I was in several different parts of the venue.

It was not hard to find an unobstructed view.

Overall, I really enjoyed the venue, and I have to give a big thumbs up to the security for being chill. I even walked out during setbreak without my tix, and they let me back in since I had a coat check stub.


Sam L.

<<I did not do anything other than take a few calls and type a few sentences.. OK then.... thank-you for that! : )))

PLU was a special gift ... its deep value to us diehards only made clear after the tickets were gone and Phil made his announcements on health and the tour hiatus.

The improvisational quartet of Lesh, Scofield, Sawyer and Baracco was so incredibly sweet, its shortness the only disappointment. There was an instrumental "Hey Joe" early in the set that stretched the walls a bit. Watchtower was ripping and jazzy. They brought out Lizzie from the University class on one(the last?) tune - a wailin I Know You Rider.

Gonna miss me when I'm gone.... nothin else to say. Its gonna be a long year. {{{{{PHIL}}}}}}

Was fascinated by the "student" bands - and they rose to the moment quite nicely. Noticed that Phil some laying on of hands prior to set 2 as Phil handed over his red white & blue wristband to the guitar player next to him - I would guess that he was Lou Lardo. Whatever his name, he was crisp and tasety all set. The dude on the left had more of the Lord Henry look to him and was just a bubbling river all set. Even when he was playing rhythm behind a lead, he was warbling in and out of the other musical parts. I was on the Phil side and couldn't see the keys and percussion at all. Was it crowded? 300 people in a mid sized club with an open floor obstructed by two round columns. If you positioned yourself in front before the band came out - streetsmarts - you could touch the players. People pretty much staked out their spaces once the tunes started. The only spaces to really let loose and dance were behind the columns or in the corner, but everyone had enough space to move and bop.


Vocalists for both student bands were the same. Lizzie was great! Joan Osbourne plus! Style, presence and ability to belt it out. John Somerset had kind of a deer in the headlights look at times, but he has a nice voice and was mostly on key. (I may not be impartial - I had applied and withdrawn from the Master class as a singer). He was in some pretty impressive company and it may be harsh to be critical. What is striking is how completely unintimidated the players in both bands were. Every instrumenalist was immediately and fully belly up to the musical bar.

the dueling guitars of the first band set each other off nicely. The guy on the laft was very taseful and chock full of Jerry licks and phrasings all set. The guy next to Phil attacked the guitar the way a Neil Young plays it when he rocks - not sure where he was going to end up and holding on tight to the buckinghorse he was riding. It all ended up good for him and his without a net attitude was a good vibe to drink up.

{{{{{ PHIL }}}}}}

I had some angst over the commercial aspects of "tuition" for the master class, but decided to attend with an open heart and was rewarded with a special show. Should have just trusted the Philvibe. There was nothing but good vibration at SOBs last night. Looking around at the crowd of loving Brothas and Sistas, old Deadheads and fellow travelers - how could it ever have been otherwise?

One thing rang loud and clear as the overarching message that Phil was sending out to each of us via the PLU event: TAG! YOUR IT! Keep the vibe alive while Phil tends to himself.

Blessings.
Don

re the preceeding post. Band #1
If memory serves (and it may not ...) the tasteful Jerry licks came from Ethan Fanzel. Greg Fain was the guy a bit more frantic

"Noticed that Phil some laying on of hands prior to set 2 as Phil handed over his red white & blue wristband to the guitar player next to him - I would guess that he was Lou Lardo"

Lord Henry was actually next to Phil and wore the wristband...dark hair and glasses...great performance

We here in So Cal have been lcuky to have had many samplings of Lord Henry's tasty playin..the jam sessions..the Republic gigs..the TimmyHoover Lord Hnery accousitc shows the Del Mar Coffee Bean sessions..

He now being in Boston..and his first plugged in electric show back east PLU..what a way to pop your cherry..

Grateful Greetings, Phellowzoners! Dashiki Joe Knox here, all aglow and gleaming, fresh up from my trip back from the big city to my little town of Macungie! Just cherishing every moment of yesterday from beginning to end! I so promise a full review, but after reading your kind comments, wanted to throw up a quick post to say Hi! Wow, what a night! The vibe was soooooo fantastic, it kicked us into high gear, instantly! I was the percussionist in the first set, and just lived off that vibe! Like Dean Lesh likes to talk about, that connection between the crowd and the band coming together to make the music!! Simply an unbroken chain....a magical night for everyone! Again, i promise a more complete review asap! for now, fare thee well, fare thee well....i love you more that words can tell....!
Gratefully yours,
Dashiki Joe
~ 9 mile skid on a 10 mile ride! Woohoo!

Hi Dashiki Joe! Loved the performance last night. Great job on the skins, especially during Eyes. I noticed that Band One was having a blast and grinning the whole time, like riding on a cloud. Band Two looked more serious. Either way, the sounds were absolutely great from both bands. Phil seemed pretty emotional and it felt like an era was passing before our eyes...

to band 1
to band 2

thanks you for a really good time

that is all that needs to be said

tom

Hey, this is mikey. I went to phil on a prayer. I knew he was sick, and he wasnt going to tour for a long time, and i had to at least make an attempt. So I had about 60 bucks, and went there by myself before the doors opened. There were no extra tickets really at all especially if you only had 60 bucks. So i stood out in the rain for about 3 hours, to the point where my hands were pruned and my socks were soaking wet. Finally the guy said, persistance pays off and let me in. Dishiki Joe i got your drum stick and will cherish it always. Highlights for me (besides getting in) had to be the "eyes of the world" and especially "not fade away" for the first set. For the second set, Bertha and i know you rider were both out of this world. The last set was little short but once Scofeild and everyone got their groove, it was killer, Love light was fantastic. Drummer for the third set was off the chain and looked like the rapper nas. All and all, the intimit setting was great and the vibes were killer. If some of you think that was crowded, you should have seen hammerstein ballroom. My favorite phil show ever. Thank you to all who sent me good vibes and told me to keep the faith.

Mikey

^^^^that makes me happy

^^^^that really makes me happy!!

Gratefully yours,
Dashiki Joe
~ 9 mile skid on a 10 mile ride! Woohoo!
P.S. I am sooooo happy for both of us, Mikey....gotta run, but will be in touch later, brother!

I like to think of myself more as a fox in the headlights!

I knew I was too stiff up there, but there wasn't a lot of room and when I dance, I kick my legs around and knew that was a bad idea, further, with my arms - I might have started a dreaded "air guitar" which would have been infinately worse than kicking things over.

Thanks for the kind words, The experience was one of a lifetime, and something I will absolutely cherish and treasure for the rest of my days.

Having a crowd like you guys out there supporting us made the night really special, every where I looked I saw nothing but smiles and waves, people cheering me on to sing my best.

BTW - Dashiki Joe is the best!

All I could do is smile all night. You all are outstanding!! I love us!!
Thanks so much for everything, I will remember Nov 8th 2006 forever!!!!!

Keep smilin and hope to see you all real soon,
Brian Lauri

p.s. when is the first Plu reunion? I am there

Actually - Everyone I got to perform with was the best. But every time I looked back at Joe - he had this S*!t eating grin on his face that just made me crack up. It was hard to be all stiff with him back there, but there was simply no room for me to move about.

hey everyone! Lizzy here. i had a great time last night!! The crowd was awesome and my bandmates are people i will never forget! Thanks to everyone in the Phil crew for making the night so special and so much fun! i am honored to have had the experience of a lifetime and will cherish the memory of my night at SOB's! peace and blessings to everyone involved! See you real soon....
LIZZY

John...you were great dude! the stage was so small so what more could you have done? what an amazing evening for US all...thanks phil and kudos to all of you guys/girl who has the talent and balls to rock the village.

Lizzy - you kicked ass! Do you sing regularly?

Great to meet all of you!! This is Greg Fain from Band #1. Best part of the evening was the "mind meld" with Phil right before our set and then going out and nailing it! He had some positive things to say afterwards too. Trying to process it all now - watching footage. Oh, and I got the video footage of the diplomas being handed out (sorry SunDawg - I think missed yours) - so I definitely want to hook up with all of you and get you copies

Way to go, Greg and all other band members!!!!!

i can't wait to hear the PLU show.

Hey.. to all you band members. Sign up for an account and you can read all the great posts and props for you peeps in the "Other Stuff" folder. There had to be 10 different threads that I think you would enjoy. Lots and Lots of great pictures and stories too!

Had a blast...you people rocked the house!

Get in there...many zoners would love to hear from you.

Keep it real,
P&l
ro-j

>>> There was dancin' space, but not a lot.


I need a lot of room to keep from hurting anyone, and I never had trouble. Over on the left side by the door there was tons of space, and a good chunk back on the right as well.


I still can't believe how much fun that was...

Wow folks great to see ya all checking in.
This place has some warts and all but also a TON of positive energy and magic.
Thanks so much for making Wed night one of the coolest nights of my life.
Dialing into that magic and raising the collective conscious was something else.
Id like to both congratulate and thank each and every one of ya.
Even tho I was just a shmuck in the audience, the experience was powerful and overwhelming.
THANKS FOR THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Somerset kicked ass

Hey now John

You sung your ass off and you have obviously internalized and embody the magic. Bottle that voice and the universe will drink love. Thanks for the gift of PLU that you helped to make real for us all. Your heart was bare and shiney for all of us to see and share forevermore. Your gift is and gifts were precious and deeply appreciated by all who were in the room.

You done real good, brotha. In doing so, you made our hearts bigger and proud.

Nameste,
Don

Nicely and beautifully said, Don!! I second that emotion!! And just wait til you hear the cd!!
Gratefully yours,
Dashiki Joe
~ 9 mile skid on a 10 mile ride! Woohoo!

Another cool tidbit: when we walked out on stage - first just the "students," before Phil - people starting cheering - you know, that pre-show energy building up. I've been a part of it many, many times, but to be on the receiving end of the love and energy - wow!!!! I leaned down to turn on my effects, and the guys right in front of me started asking about the experience of being with Phil, rehearsing, etc. It was just amazing, because I felt that everyone in the audience got that we were all participating in somewhat unbelievable, unprecedented, and people were so genuine in sharing. I was pretty focused on the music and trying to hear myself on stage, so I looked out at y'all less and less, especially when we hit Eyes and Dark Star, but even so, what a cool feeling!

The simple fact that we came together on a rainy Wednesday night in lower Manhattan in a club noted for exotic music and pulled off one of the best improvisational shows I've ever seen speaks volumes. As an audience member who was right up front in front of Phil, I could honestly say that each and every band member touched me in some mystically delicious way! Let's do it again!

Jersey Steve

Hey everyone, Rich Paganello here. I played keys on the second set Band 2. Before I fade to obscurity I just wanted to thank you all for the experience of a lifetime. You guys (and girl) were the coolest, hippest, most unassuming relaxed people I have met in a long long time. What a day. we will always be tied together by this. I wish you all the best of luck and God bless. Phil if you read this please come back soon. there is no one, absolutely no one like you. You touched my soul.

Hi Everyone, my name is Jan. I was Rich the keyboardist in the second set invited guest. What an amazing day night. My friend Rich who never played a GD song in his life before he was selected to PLU was simply amazing for newbi. He practiced practiced practiced for days on end to learn the music an I respect him so much for his devotion. The bands were made up ,of wonderful
people from all over. I was in awe all day watching the rehersals.
So cool the way you guy were able to pick a tune up from the middle and play it. You guys(both bands) really made the music interesting and fresh. We all know you pushed Phil. Loved everysong from first note to the last. Friends of mine who came for the show were totally blown away and you really had to be there to understand becase words could not explain. How bout my boy Rich's solo on Rider! How great was it when we were eating dinner with Phil and there was a line going around the block to hear the bands. Sorry I didn't get to say goodbye to you everyone but my 16 year old son needed to get home and quite frankly I couldn't stand any more. We are all so lucky to have enjoyed all these years of Grateful Dead music. I can't imagine any experience with music ever touching all the great times. Peace to all, and May the Good Times Roll Jan

Grateful Greetings, Fellow Zoners! Mike, i posted this somewhere else, but dont know if you've seen it, so i wanted to post it here too, since this is where i think you made your original post!

I have been glowing and a gleaming nonstop! And reading so many kind words keeps the vibe alive! thank you all soooooo much! Mike!! Damn, I got tears in my eyes when I first read your post, and everytime I try to verbally recount the story, I include the drumstick toss story, and then, well, lets just say i still cant get through the story without a meltdown! so many of those moments but you are definitely one of them, and to find out your a zoner..that's just sweet!

so here goes...my perspective on it....so pumped and excited nonstop since the congratulatory letter....In fact, I still remember my friend Chris calling and leaving a message that the Phil/Scofield lecture was posted! I called my other friend Rob, and brought it up on the screen! Wow, I said, hey, lets go to this...Rob says, okay! I told him to grab us tix, and I would square up later! Then I laughed, and said, hey, reading further down about the masterclass,"Maybe I'll apply!" He laughed back, to which i replied an oft-used quote, "Hey, if not me, who?! If not now, when?!"

I hung up, and fired off my email application, just pleased to even have an opportunity to apply, thanking Phil for that, among many other things!! Later, during "REHERSAL DINNER" with Phil....Man! who gets to say that??!! Well, first, its a beautiful thing, a U shaped table, and phil is about half way down on the opposite side! I'm sitting with my son on the other side, and gon, our amazing young drummer from israel is next to me, then j.c., Phil's road crew director, a terribly sweet man!!

Gon goes over and tells phil we'll all be disappointed if he doesnt come over and sit with us a spell too! Wow! So planned or not, about half way through, phil comes over to switch with j.c.! He comes by me, and I stand up to greet him again (had already met him when he first arrived for rehersal, and during rehersal as well, of course...stories unto themselves), and I say, Phil, I'd like you to meet my son, Brian! He's 17, like your son Brian! My son stands up and Phil looks up and they shake hands and hugg and its just an amazing thing for me! then phil works his way down the table to sit!

later, someone asked him what his criteria was for selection...and he said, rather that make a concentrated review of musical backgrounds, he was just trying to pick up on a vibe from the applications! An immediate smile, duh, another one I mean, sweeps across my face, remembering with sweet particularity how mine was jampacked with vibes!!

I then had a chance, so I started with, "Phil, I'm the luckiest man alive because.." and he interrupted me with great joy and a milewide smile, and said, "No, I'M the Luckiest Man Alive!" we all laughed, and I submitted, "Okay, I'm the second-luckiest man alive, cuz not only am I here to participate in PLU this year, but my lovely fiance, M'Lady Darilyn and I, are getting married next year, and we'd like to formally invite you and your lovely wife Jill to our wedding next october!" Phil smiled and thanked me for the invitation, saying he didnt know where he'd be at the time, and then, with great, grateful pride, I hear my son say, "And Phil, I'd like to personally invite you to the bachelor party!" Great laughter ensues!!! My eyes practically well up again with pride, thinking , chip off the old block!" Phil asks Brian, oh, you get to plan it? And Brian responds, Oh, YEAH!!

Later, I recounted this story to Jill in the dressing room...yeah, i know...how about that!!!...I said, so my son invited Phil to the bachelor party, so on behalf of M'Lady Darilyn, you are personally invited to the bridal shower!! She remarked how tall my son was and just then phil was coming through, and she said to phil, doesnt Brian remind you of our brian? so phil pulls out his wallet pictures of his son!!! unbelievable!!!

But man, did i digress?? I was relishing in the moments and days after getting the "youre in" email, and planning all sorts of nice things, and i headed over to the old music store, where I used to take drum lessons from my mentor, Chip Bachman! West end music store!! The owner, a friend, Tom, was excited for me! I noticed he was clearing out some drum sticks, and I said hey, i'll take some of these, and i'm going to toss them out after the gig! Might as well make the most of this, and think how kewl that would be to get one!!

..Well, you know you'd like to have 400, but i thought i should keep it to like 4! And then you have your special guests in the audience, and its not only practically obligatory, but you really want to give some to your special guests!!

So...We're flying through the set, and the tunes are unraveling and unwinding so nicely!! Be in the moment, everyone told me, as advice...well i was soooooo into the moment, and yet it still was flying by!! more on the songs later....or i'll never finish for mike!! so we come around our side of the stage, smiley bri and me...the two of us had permanent smiles on our faces!! it felt like our entire side of the stage was floating!! hehehe!

so were coming around the tightness of the space to get to the center, and I turn toward the crowd! and I see this guy about dead center in the back jumping up and down and waving his hands in the air...just like I have done sooooo many many times before! And I just instantly knew and felt so happy...that he was one!! I pumped my fists in the air, and he saw, and responded again! I pointed one stick in the air at him, and he held up one hand! And then in slow motion, I dipped down and in horseshoe fashion, let it rip!! it was like slow motion...the stick turned end over end, rainbowed up then skidded down in a perfect arc, right into his outstretched hands! I was overjoyed! And, to say he was overjoyed would i guess be an understatement!

I had hoped to run into him later, but never did! After our bow, I still had three more sticks, and made my way back to the right side of the stage! one fan was sort of following me through the crowd and coming in closer, and i suspected he wanted one! Nearly apologetically as I could convey, I sadly smiled and shook my head no, so sorry, dude, but one was for my friend Rob, who bought the tix,actually for his son, also named brian....of course , who was back behind this fan. So i tossed the stick up and over right to Brian, and saw his smile, confirming the right choice had to be made!

My son was next to the stage...I dont think anyone will blame me for giving him one! The last one went to a wonderful drummer friend of mine, one of the drummers of one of the best Grateful Dead Tribute bands on the east coast...Splintered Sunlight! I saw the biggest smile I ever did see on his face at that moment too!

So ....many many other memories...many many other stories to come, but this one ends a day later, when i start purusing this site, and stumble across mikey's post...after thinking more than once, that i never ran into him afterwards, thinking, i wonder if i'll ever find out who he was! So forgive me if I get alittle choked up as I relive some of these most splendid moments of our lives! I'm so glad you were there, Mike! Persistence and good vibes pay off! Happy to share more later, my phriends!!
Gratefully yours,
Dashiki Joe
~ 9 mile skid on a 10 mile ride! Woohoo!

>>> My friend Rich who never played a GD song in his life before he was selected to PLU was simply amazing for newbi. He practiced practiced practiced for days on end to learn the music an I respect him so much for his devotion. >>>


Is this for real?? One of the PLU musicians had NEVER played GD music before? What was the inspiration/motivation to do it?

That's incredible

I do not know what motivated me to do this.I was playing alot but mostly blues and jazz. My friend came in my office and said you are going to do this. I said duh, ok. Not realizing what I was getting myself into. I really started getting nervous when I was accepted, then Phil called and I started to freak. I practiced 4-5 hrs a day for 2 weeks and I am very glad I did because the other musicians kicked ass. Needless to say in hind sight I owe my friend Jan more that you can imagine because the day turned out to be one of the highlights of my life. Rich Paganello

Rich that is so cool! How much had you ever heard the Dead before? Were you into them at all and had just never played the music, or did you go into it as a complete newbie to it all?

I was never into the Dead before other than a few songs. I just didn't get it. I don't know why. I was listening to Allman Bros. Zep etc. My friend Jan started taking me to Phil Lesh concerts about 3 years ago. It grew on me. Let me tell you it is a complete blast to play the stuff. I am still coming down from the whole thing. I know everyone felt the same way by reading their emails. It was a very powerful and emotional time for all of us. I am still reliving it daily. I think that somehow I missed out on all of it before but I think that I get it now. Rich

Thats unexpected..a player that was not all that attched to the music..

Thanks for positng verification on the board Rich...

Gunna make listening to Band 2 even more interesting..

So will there be recordings circulating???