Our staff writer was at Higher Ground in Phish's homebase of Burlington and reviewed Mike Gordon's show. A good time was had by all.
On a gloomy, New England Friday night, in Burlington, VT, Mike Gordon opened up a sold-out Higher Ground with "Long Black Line" off of his most recent album, Overstep. This late-fall tour marks the 3rd tour consisting of a fresh lineup, including John Morgan Kimock on drums and Robert Walter on keys. The magic of longtime members Scott Murawski and Craig Myers, fused with the young spirit of John on kit and Robert on keys, has created a sound that no one could turn their back to. At Higher Ground, a flame was lit that will be burning bright all the way through the end of the tour in Cambridge, MA.
With an eager and packed house, the band blasted through "Surface", and Craig Myers' group Barika track, "Angatta", before sliding into the newly debuted "Check Yer Pepper", that Craig Myers has been given the credit and honor of coining the term, according to Mike. After "check, check, check, checking our peppers, the band smoothly transitioned into "Cruel World" by Max Creek, and the Flaming Lips' "Are You a Hypnotist??", which has been a rarity this tour. First set ended with a blazing rendition of "Face", also off of Overstep, leaving the crowd begging for more, anxiously awaiting the hottest bands touring return to stage.
After close to a 45-minute set break, the band returned with a "Here Today" opener, which was debuted in 2015. Akin to the first set, the band showed no signs of slowing down, going into a long, funky, "Looking for Clues", "Peel", "Spock's Brain", before the Max Creek cover of "Jones". With a jonesin' crowd for Mike's sticky, elegant sounding bass, the band jammed through the rest of the set, ending with the genius 2015 track "How Many People Are You", that both Mike Gordon and Phish have played now. There was such a special feeling in the Burlington air all night long, and Phish's "Meat" back into the ending of "Check Your Pepper", was the most appropriate way to end such a memorable night in the cool, fall Vermont night. This band keeps getting hotter and hotter every night, and I would highly advise making it out to a show near you before the tour comes to a close.
Mike Gordon continues the tour tonight in Philly at Union Transfer, Tuesday night in DC at Lincoln Theatre, a southern run through the weekend stopping in Asheville, NC, Thursday night, Nashville, TN Friday night, and Atlanta Saturday night, before ending the tour next weekend in Cambridge, MA, with a 3 night run at the The Sinclair December 9th, 10th, and 11th.
Writing and Photos by: Sam Berenson
Edited by: Greg Heffelfinger
Set One:
- (>)
- (Max Creek cover)
- (The Flaming Lips cover)
Set Two:
- (Robert Palmer cover)
- (Phish song)
- (Max Creek cover) (>)
- (Here We Go Magic cover) (>)
Encore: Meat
(courtesy of setlist.fm)
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