oysterhead - 10-30-01 - The Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 11:29:17 -0700
From: steve gilmore stevegilmore1@hotmail.com
To: dws@netspace.org
Subject: Oysterhead 10/30 Denver Review
 
 
Wow, what a difference a venue can make. After my blissful experience at the
Greek Theater last friday I couldn't help but feel a little deflated as I
entered the very standard, nearly industrial confines of The Fillmore
Auditorium in Denver. With the excepttion of the large purple chandoliers,
and a basket full of free apples, this place has nothing more to offer other
than marginal sound, and a bunch of bad places to stand. There was barely
more than a few moments when I could see more than one member of the band at
a time due to the zillions of heads bobbing in front of me - main thing
being that the floor is perfectly flat, so unless your 6 foot 5, or in the
front row, your really not going to see much.
The music - "Drums and Tuba," the opening act, was really cool and
entertaining.  They incorportate jammy~funky guitar licks, along with
tripped out tuba, and steady drums to create their own special breed of
trance/rock. I liked them alot, and they got a warm reception from a very
electrified crowd.
"Oysterhead" came out at around 9:10pm.  I haven't seen the setlist yet, and
didn't write it down, but unless your big on order it's pretty simple, they
played everything off the album except "Weild the Spade"  with,
unfortunately for all, a one song encore ("Rubberneck Lions"). I thought the
show was musically much tighter than at Berkeley. Trey soloed soo much, he
just kept launching into these massive high note runs that sounded soo much
like Phish (hey, I'm not complaining!). I know a lot of people thought he
took it a little too far at times, and I can't argue with that, it's just
that I enjoy it when he takes it too far!  Anyhow, it was a well jammed set,
and I would like to emphasize the word set, I'm going to the show tonight
(Halloween) and I fear the stage might get stormed if they don't play a
second set! Last night was way too short - an hour and twenty minutes of
music! Come on! Ahhh! Just a tease. I met this guy in the bathroom who
refused to believe the show was over, he was like, "no man that was just the
first set" and we were like "sorry to tell ya, that was it!" Anyhow, beyond
these gripes, I loved what they gave us. It was tight, well performed, and
extremely entertaining.
Peace All
Steve G.

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 02:55:07 EST
From: Gworm767@aol.com
To: dws@gadiel.com
Subject: 10/30/01 Oysterhead Review
 
It was quite a show.  I was expecting the worst as far as the crowd went
knowing that the show was very sold out.  There were people outside the venue
selling tickets for face value- and this was 7:30- I was surprised!  Security
was fairly chill although they had plenty of people making sure that ONLY the
ticketed got into the show.  I didn't show up at the venue until about 7:30
and walked in and walked to around 10 rows back, center of the floor.  I was
thinking it would be wall to wall- it was not!
 
The opener was pretty good!  Drums and Tuba was a good opener for oysterhead-
they had quite a groove and A TUBA which was strange to see.
 
The scene was actually a variety of those there for les and those there for
trey- so not just all phishheads!
 
So then around 8:45 Oysterhead came out and everyone went nuts- it was around
that point that I got a feel for how many people were in the room.  There was
some pushing and shoving throughout the show but it could have been worse and
probably will be tomorrow!
 
Everything was basically just like the album with a little live twist.  They
did not have long jams but they did find occasional incredible grooves that
didn't go on too long though.  All the songs were good.  The ones that really
shined were "Pseudo Suicide"- that song got pretty crazy- probably their
biggest jam.  Also "Mr. Oysterhead"- the rapper's delight tease was perfect
and this whole song was great- better than the album version in my opinion.
"Rubberneck Lions" was also pretty cool.  "Shadow" was cool because it was so
dark sounding that it was funny.
 
On the whole, I think this was a fairly standard Oysterhead show.  Les asked
the crowd who had gone to the New Orleans show that was in the crowd and then
said that "this is a whole lot better than that."  I think I agree- they are
much tighter now.  Trey did not look as happy as he was during his solo tour
shows over the summer.  Stewart was having a blast I think.  I liked Les's
dancing- it was cool- he was both the leader and was really good.
 
I would reccomend seeing a show on this tour- it is definetely an experience.
 I am really excited about tomorrow night- who knows what will happen!  See
you then.

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