Philzone.org Discussion Board: Archive 2004: Non-PF/Dead Show Reviews Archive 2004: The Slip - Pearl St Northampton MA 10/30/04

Amongst the many and myriad Halloween shows being held this Sat, I chose this gig - never seen these guys or heard much about them, but have cd's of 2 shows from SF in the late '90's - back then they were more of a jazz/jam ensemble - a harder-edged Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, so I was kinda suprised they'd be playing a "larger" place - even more suprising it was sold out! - got in early, there was 1 other taper w/a good rig (Neumann KM140's/V3) so I patched in, again on the riser next to the soundman, prime "hot young 20-something girls in sexy Halloween costumes" viewing space. the opening act was a drums/keyboard duo, can't remember the name but was told they have some relation to Phish. Also learned that The Slip is from Boston, so this was a "homecoming" gig of sorts - lots of friends and family in attendance, kids too. The opening duo was OK, sorta like Sound Tribe Sector 9 only fewer instruments, the end of their set featured the guitarist and bassist from Ween, and they did a bunch of Led Zeppelin instrumentals!

Then The Slip's set started with them in costumes back next to the board playing their instruments (guitar, bass, and the drummer had an electronic pad) whilst guys made up to look like them were onstage "air guitaring" - that was pretty funny! The first few numbers were surf-punk instrumentals, catchy stuff, felt like I was in a Quentin Tarantino movie - these guys sound was good too, although I suspect it's really the venue's sound that is good, MUCH better than Toad's Place or The Webster (the other 2 comparable venues w/in an hour of me) - then they did a bunch of actual songs w/lyrics - was told they now do mostly songs, thus their increasing popularity - noted A LOT of varied influences in their style, early Floyd, Sonic Youth, 9 Inch Nails, Ween, other dour-sounding modern rock-ish, certainly not the usual jamband Phish-derivitive fare like Moe or Hookah or Umphrey's - and they can JAM like the best of 'em - the 3-piece lineup gives them ample opportunity to shift time and themes really quickly, they are all really good players, especially the drummer, lots of Kreutzmann '72 sounding rhythmic, fluid, lead-drumming, "just like yer dancing" as Billy sez in the GD movie, like my all time favorite drummers (Billy K, Molo, Max Roach), the bassist and guitarist no slouchers either - the 1st set ends with a long extended jazz piece (25 min's) which showcases just how far OUT they can go if they want - WOW! - 1st set was 70 min. Oh, and they had a backlit screen set up behind the band, with several different nice girls dancing, so all you could see was the outline, one girl in a cowboy outfit w/toy pistols, doing some funny stuff with them (sucking on the barrel, etc), another in a nurse's uniform, again some titillating stuff).

2nd set more songs, the 1st 2 were really good, hard driving rockin' but jazzy/jammy at the same time, nice use of driving feedback, even the rockin'-est tune was still kinda dour, but I'm likin' it - maybe 'cause of my current mindset about the lack of a life I have right now or whatever. Not sure of the lyrics, can't understand a word the dude is singing (the guitarist is the only singer), has a typical modern-rocker voice, not too annoying, better than Phish or other jambands at least. The keyboardist from the opening act joins them for the 2nd half of the 1st set, adds some nice fills, almost as if those tunes never were done w/o keyboards. The weirdest moment of the show was the 1st encore, that '80's tune from the Dennis Miller show (Everybody wants to change/rule? the world) - with the 2 dudes from Ween doing a male striptease - very gay! Mike W you woulda loved this! Pretty bold of the Ween dudes to do this - unless they really are gay? 2nd set was 80 min's, they went 5 min's over the strict 1 am curfew in MA - the venue manager was literally trying to shut the soundboard off!

I consider myself to be still "seeking" the band that will totally "DO IT" for me, as Schmegg has RR Earth and TC has Hookah, well I don't ever expect to really find one, but these guys come pretty close, at least to me now, I'll hafta check out more of their stuff - their songs are still kinda weird to me, but then again, if I like something too much right off the bat it scares me, I'd rather need some acclaimating. I really love the way they play and they JAM really HARD, DEEP, and PSYCHEDELIC - BIG things for me to like a band. May consider seeing them in NYC this upcoming Sat night (11/5) . . .

Oh and if anyone's interested in the cd's lemme know I'll do an audio vine . . . I know there are a few Ween fans on the Zone and the 2 of them played with the opening act . . .

Ok ~ you're our way and you don't even call!
What's up with that????????

Hey Noelle - Sorry! - My bad - It was a last minute decision on my part to go (7 pm-ish) and I'd seen that you guys were going to a party so I figured why bother you? Besides I didn't think you'd really like this band anyway - remember "Suck my Jazz Ass?!?!?!" - But far be it from me to pre-judge anyone's musical taste!

Oh, they're playing NYC this Fri and Sat, and Providence on 12/29 - I'm considering this Sat NYC and the Prov show.

I'd really love to have this show...

The first time I saw these guys was in Sept. of '02 when they opened up for Bruce Hornsby in Buffalo. I thought they were great..really liked the powerful jams they came out with. The second was in Erie a few months later at a bar/music hall and it was the best local show I've seen. There were probably only 20 or so people there. Normally on a weekend there it's 500 or so. For some reason nobody showed up. They said that gigs like these were the most challenging for them and they thanked us for showing up! The played their hearts out that night. I'm definitly a fan and unfortunatey they haven't been in my neck of the woods since.

Their AliveElectric cd is really good.

Anyhow, if you're up for trading the show, shoot me and email, I'd really appreciate it I'd really like to hear how they're sounding now vs. a couple years ago. Plus, I like Ween also.

Peace,

Jodi

bob- great review.I went pearl street for the halloween show. I missed Bennivito and Russo. "The DUO" .I just moved back to bands with words, so I was stoked when slip was a singing songs. I had fun.

your review was very much on point.
thank you

Sideshow....


Great review. I'm very interested in checking out a Slip show. WIll download one this evening

However..I must point this out. In your review you made mention of Hookah's sound being derivative of Phish. While I respect your opinion, I cannot understand where you get this idea. The two bands sound nothing alike to me.

I will save this for another thread tho and not get off topic.


Lookin forward to checkin out the Slip this evening when the download is done.

Now I'm less enthusiastic about these guys, after listening to the tape of the show a couple of times - not sure I'd ever really LIKE their songs - do like the way they play, though. Another band I'll see 2 or 3 times a year.

And yes, Hookah sounds like Phish to me, always have, always will. Granted I haven't seen them live, and I certainly ain't traveling to see them and they ain't comin' here, so who knows if/when that might happen.

And Nicole - You're welcome!

If anyone is interested in this show - it's up on bt.etree.org at:

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=8944

There's also a more recent show on bt, (nov. 5) from Tonic in nyc - it was a good show...just not as good as nov. 6 at the mercury lounge. Apparently, that should be posted at bt.etree.org within the next few days.