March 20, 2000
A full moon and the Ides of March remind me the winds of change are always approaching. The first of four quarters of this New Year is almost finished and we have plenty of musical adventures still to look forward to!
Phil greeted us this year with a pleasantly suprising stellar show at the Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma, California on February 26. Joining Bay Area groovesters, Vinyl, for an hour long jamathon and rocking the funky old theatre with an electrifying Viola Lee Blues to kick things off. Of course the Rolling Rider was pleased with Phil's tip off to the April 1999 shows with this 2000 Viola Lee >> Like A Rolling Stone. This set had Phil's nuggets down pat, including Phil favorite - Cold Rain and Snow, as well as a superb Half Step >> Franklin's. The reggae jam amid the segue into Franklin's was a great seal of approval for this new phriendship! And the sweet Box encore foreshadowed the greatness soon to follow at Phil's Birthday Benefit Bash held at the Kaiser Auditorium on March 10.
Much to everyone's surprise, Phil appeared on stage playing a red Stratocaster to open his Birthday show with a stomping Like A Rolling Stone >> Box. Leave it to Phil, to match one milestone with another, turning 60 and playing guitar to an audience for the first time. Joining Phil for this special occasion was our good 'ol PHEAT friends, Billy Payne and Paul Barrere, backbone steady John Molo, new phriend Robben Ford, and recent phriend and phellow trail blazer Mike Gordon. We should have known when Phil and Gordon first shared the stage together at Shoreline Amphitheater back in September '99, that we would be treated to this magical bass partnership again!
This band provided much excitement as they ripped through yet another beautifully crafted set list. The first set was all high energy as they weaved in and out of Playing in the Band and touched some new material including Feat classic 'Oh Atlanta'. The crowd roared realizing Phil had chosen the wonderful Peter Gabriel song, 'In Your Eyes', to perform on his birthday. What had appeared to be a tight set was convincingly confirmed as Franklin's Tower rang the bell loud and clear and shook the Kaiser Aud into a feverish dance party!
The second set now reads like a true classic, including such big time tunes as Eyes of the World, Terrapin >> Rider >> Dew >> Steven >> 11 >> NFA!!!!! Setlist excellence I tell you. Excellence! And like a jewel tucked into a King's Crown, the second Bass Duet was nestled in-between the Rider >> Dew and was a true gift to all ears present. When Gordon came back out for the Wolfman's >> Playing Reprise encore, another historic night was concluded.
The East Coast Spring tour is only 3 short weeks away. Rumours suggest another all-star band to include 2 guitar virtuosos - Jeff Pevar (David Crosby's right-hand man) and Jimmy Herring (Jazz is Dead, Justice League, Aquarium Rescue Unit) as well as familiar phriends - Rob Barraco (Zen Tricksters) and John Molo. This line-up will surely play the Phil and Friends' material with astonishing excellence. However, if this is not the line-up, the Rider fears not and expects nothing but solid players. Phil certainly knows how to pick them!
With the year getting started with a big benefit and soon a month long tour, we hope to see Phil grace the stage again where it all began (so to speak) - at the Warfield Theatre in magical San Francisco. Although the Kaiser is great for a big show, the production of the Birthday event was abit of a disaster for most in attendance. Let us hope Phil remembers the tensions associated with larger venues and stressful touring situations. However, it definitely is time to share the magic with the rest of the country. Although the 1999 Fall Phil and Dylan Tour was a blast, Phil and Friends as an opening act is really a teaser! Let 'em rip for 3 or 4 hours like the Warf and we're good to go!
Well
phriends - we're off and running for an exciting year of musical collaboration
and setlists packed with the songs we love. Stay in the Zone and see you
in Connecticut!
Until next time,
The Rolling Rider
~ ~ I know you Rider going to miss me when I'm
gone ~ ~