Whatever You Do, Take Care Of Your Shoes

Trey took on Milwaukee last night for another night of great tunes.  Continuing the acoustic theme from the previous show, the audience was treated to the first ever acoustic “Stealing Time,” “Water In The Sky,” “Back On The Train,” ” Bathtub Gin,” and “Backwards Down The Number Line.”  “Sleep Again” made its tour debut.

Set two picked up speed with an exploratory “Curlew’s Call” and “Sand.”  “Spin” was played for the first time all tour as well.

Thursday 2/18/2010 Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI

Set I: Shine, What’s Done, Push On Til The Day, Let Me Lie, Sleep Again, The Birdwatcher, Valentine, Cayman Review, Gotta Jibboo, Sultans of Swing, Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan*, Water In The Sky*, Back On The Train*, Bathtub Gin*, Backwards Down The Number Line*,

Set II: Curlew’s Call, Sand, Night Speaks to a Woman, Goodbye Head, Words to Wanda, Money Love and Change, Small Axe, All That Almost Was, Spin, Tuesday,

E: Magilla, First Tube

*Trey solo acoustic

setlist courtesy of www.trey.com

download the show here.

pic courtesy of @beautifulbuzz

Right from the start, we knew we were in for a hell of a night.  Trey and friends hit the stage around 8:15pm, all with huge grins and ready to rock.  Launching into “Shine,” the tone was set.  Set one was just one powerful jam after another.  Trey took a moment to introduce Natalie Cressman, the latest member of TAB, before going into an extended “Mozambique.”  After “Night Speaks,” the band left the stage, and Trey picked up the Martin.  What followed was a nice camp-fire sing-along of Phish classics, with Trey strumming along acoustically…definite high point.

Set two opened with a nice funky Sand to get everyone back into dance-mode.  “Sultans of Swing,” was another highlight, with Trey cracking up as the horns took over the solo at the end.  “Ether Sunday” and “Black Dog” made their tour debut, with the latter featuring the magnificent vocals of Jen Hartswick.  To encore, “Magilla” and “First Tube” were played, with Trey in a USA jersey thrown to him earlier in the night.  What a great night.

For your pleasure, I’ve included several HD videos I shot from the front row.  I hope you enjoy.

Tuesday 2/16/2010 Terminal 5, New York, New York

Set I: Shine, Cayman Review, Push On ‘Til the Day, Alaska, Mozambique, Gotta Jibboo, All That Almost Was, Drifting, Liquid Time, The Birdwatcher, Night Speaks to a Woman, Tuesday, Brian and Robert*, Strange Design*, Sample in a Jar*, Chalkdust Torture*, Wilson*

Set II: Sand, Alive Again, Last Tube > Show of Life, Sultans of Swing, Ether Sunday, Black Dog

E: Magilla, First Tube

*Trey solo acoustic

setlist courtesy of www.trey.com

pic of me on Jambase (image courtesy of Max Flatow).

Trey celebrated Valentine’s Day with a rocking show in Red Bank last night.  Kicking off the ever-so-appropriate “Valentine,” and dedicating a mid-set “Drifting” to wife, Sue (it was the 21st anniversary of their first date), the theme of love was certainly prevalent.

Set two opened with “Sand,” and the band launched into an impromptu parade march through the crowd with Trey on percussion, when the houselights came on due to a fire alarm.

Sunday 2/14/2010 Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ

Set I: Valentine, Cayman Review, Shine, Drifting, Curlew’s Call, Tube Top Flop, Obstacle of Course, Night Speaks to a Woman, Goodbye Head > Gotta Jibboo, Tuesday

Set II: Sand*, Push On Til The Day, Mr. Completely, The Way I Feel, Money Love & Change, Sweet And Dandy, Last Tube

E: Sultans of Swing, First Tube

* House lights go on because of fire alarm leading to impromptu parade with just horns and Trey on percusion

setlist courtesy of www.trey.com

download the show here.

photo courtesy of Regan Teti Marscher.

Last night’s show in CT marked another solid performance.  Set one opened with the Latin grooves of “Alive Again” to set the pace.  Other set highlights included “Mozambique” and “Alaska.”

Set two saw the tour’s first “Love Is Freedom,” segueing nicely into “Simple Twist Up Dave.”  “Flock Of Words” also made its tour debut.

Saturday 2/13/2009 Oakdale Theater, Wallingford, CT

Set I: Alive Again, Shine, All That Almost Was, Mozambique, Push On Til The Day, Words to Wanda, Sand, Tuesday, Alaska, Liquid Time, Show of Life

Set II: Cayman Review, Gotta Jiboo, What’s Done, The Birdwatcher, Love is Freedom > Simple Twist Up Dave, Flock of Words, Drifting, First Tube

E: At the Gazebo, Valentine, Dragonfly

setlist courtesy of www.trey.com

download the show here.

Trey and co. rolled into Boston last night for yet another stunning performance.  Set one saw the return of “What’s Done,” a darker track from the Bar 17 record.  Also making its tour debut, was the TAB staple, “Plasma,” one of my personal favorites to hear live.

Set two was one of the strongest sets of the tour, seeing a nice “Goodbye Head > Gotta Jibboo” combo that surely was a highpoint of the evening.  To encore, Trey brought back the Dire Straits cover, “Sultans Of Swing,” complete with horn solos where the normal Mark Knopfler guitar solo takes place.

I’m still waiting for a few surprises in the upcoming shows.  Where’s the “Alumni Blues” and “Buried Alive?”  Also, I think a new cover tune is still waiting to be unveiled…  Time will tell, and I can’t wait for the New York show on Tuesday.

Friday 2/12/2010 House Of Blues, Boston, MA

Set I: Shine, Cayman Review, Push On Til The Day, What’s Done, The Birdwatcher, Mozambique, Night Speaks to a Woman, Alaska, Let Me Lie, Plasma, Tuesday

Set II: Drifting, All That Almost Was, Sand, Goodbye Head > Gotta Jibboo, Small Axe, Valentine, Money Love and Change, Show of Life, Dragonfly

E: Sultans of Swing, First Tube

setlist courtesy of www.trey.com

download the show here.

Last night’s show in Philly was yet another solid performance from Trey and Classic TAB.  Kicking the night off with the jam-happy, “Sand,” the mood was set for a rocking evening.  Set one contained many similar songs as the first two nights, including the new “All That Almost Was” and Trey’s rejiggered “Birdwatcher.”  Things got interesting when Big Red debuted a new tune, co-written by Tom Marshall, called “Obstacle Of Course.”  Trey dedicated the tune to Tom’s daughter (Tom was in attendance).  To close the set, the first “Alive Again” of the tour was unleashed.

Set two saw the tour’s first “Ether Sunday,” as well as a mix of familiar jams including “Curlew’s Call,” “Liquid Time,” and “Push On.”  For the encore, the band played Toots and the Maytals’ “Sweet And Dandy,” not heard in 138 shows (more than 6 years ago!).  “Tuesday” and “First Tube” sent everyone home in good spirits.

While the setlists haven’t varied much these past shows, this lineup is one of Trey’s best.  They sound crisp, well-rehearsed, and are getting better each night.

Thursday 2/11/2010 Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA

Set I: Sand, Shine, Cayman Review, Valentine, Alaska, Mozambique, All That Almost Was, Night Speaks to a Woman, The Birdwatcher, Obstacle Of Course*, Let Me Lie, Alive Again

Set II: Curlew’s Call, Liquid Time, Sweet Dreams Melinda, Money Love and Change, Show of Life, Last Tube, Ether Sunday, Push On Til The Day

E: Sweet and Dandy, Tuesday, First Tube

* first time played

setlist courtesy of www.trey.com

download the show here.

Night two of Trey’s winter run brought similar thrills of the previous night.  From hearing some audio of the Charlottesville show, it seems like this is a tight lineup.  They just sound great.

Set one opened with the classic “Push On Til The Day” to set the mood.  “Gotta Jibboo” made its first appearance of the tour, and really sounds fantastic with the horns.  “Money, Love, And Change,” a TAB staple, also sticks out as a first set highpoint.  Trey also whipped out the 18 Steps gem “Words To Wanda,” an odd song in itself…definitely curious how that translated live and can’t wait to hear the AUD.  “Burlap” and “Night Speaks” capped the set off nicely.

Set two saw the return of “Simple Twist Up Dave” and “The Way I Feel,” my all time two favorite TAB songs.  “Liquid Time,” “The Birdwatcher,” and “Show Of Life” also made another appearance, so it’s safe to say they probably will stick around for a little.  The encore was a real treat, with Trey whipping out the rarely played A Picture Of Nectar track, “Magilla.”  A raging “Dragonfly” ended the night on a high note.

Tuesday 2/9/2010 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.

Set I: Push On Till The Day, Shine, Gotta Jibboo, Mozambique, Tuesday, Money Love & Change, Tube Top Wobble, Valentine, Words to Wanda, Burlap Sack and Pumps, Night Speaks to a Woman

Set II: Cayman Review, Simple Twist Up Dave, Drifting, Sand, Liquid Time, The Birdwatcher, Show of Life, The Way I Feel, First Tube

E: Magilla, Dragonfly

setlist courtesy of www.trey.com

download the show here.

Trey wasted no time last night firing up the crowd during his tour opener.  Dusting off old nuggets and unveiling a few new tracks, Trey showed no sign of fatigue and was eager to get back into his solo stride.

Set one included classic Trey-jams like “Cayman Review,” “Drifting,” and the uber-jam “Last Tube;” while also including a few debuts (“Liquid Time” off of Phish’s Party Time, and a track co-written with the Dude Of Life, “All That Almost Was”).

Set two saw the return of “Curlew’s Call,” a track that has grown on me more and more the last few years (especially the version from Plasma).  Phish’s “Sand” got the jam-treatment, as did “Goodbye Head” and “Mr. Completely.”  Trey treated the crowd to a great five-song encore, including his instrumental take on Bob Marley’s “Small Axe,” the first ever played “Birdwatcher” (another Party Time track), another Dude Of Life track “Show Of Life,” “At The Gazebo” (which Trey dedicated to his sister), and “First Tube.”  All in all, a great night…looking forward to what’s to come.

Monday 2/8/2010 Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville, VA

Set I: Shine, Cayman Review, Tuesday, Liquid Time*, Drifting, Let Me Lie, All That Almost Was*, Alaska, Mozambique, A Case Of Ice And Snow, Last Tube

Set II: Curlew’s Call, Sand, Valentine, Goodbye Head, Mr. Completely, Windora Bug, Night Speaks to a Woman, Push On Til The Day

Encore: Small Axe, Birdwatcher*, Show Of Life*, At The Gazebo, First Tube

* First Time Played

setlist courtesy of www.trey.com

download the show here.

Just confirmed on Trey’s site are some dates that had begun to surface the other day.  As expected, he will tour with Classic TAB (Tony Markellis on bass, Russ Lawton on drums, and Ray Paczkowski on keys) and a three-piece horn section (Jen Hartswick, Russell Remington, and new to the group, Natalie Cressman).  Here are the confirmed dates SO FAR:

2/8 Jefferson Theater – Charlottesville, VA
2/9 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
2/11 Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA
2/12 House of Blues – Boston, MA
2/13 Oakdale Theater – Wallingford, CT
2/14 Count Basie Theater – Red Bank, NJ
2/16 Terminal 5 – NYC
2/18 Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI
2/19 Riviera Theater – Chicago, IL
2/20 State Theater – Minneapolis, MN
2/21 Uptown Theater – Kansas City, MO
2/23 Pageant Theater – St. Louis, MO
2/25 Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
2/26 Fillmore – Charlotte, NC
2/27 Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
2/28 Tennessee Theater – Knoxville, TN

Presale begins tomorrow at 10AM and goes until 5PM Thurs.  Public onsale begins Jan. 14.

image courtesy of www.trey.com