Fans of Phish have been excited to receive a handful of official show releases over the past year, not to mention a bunch of great downloads and even a DVD concert.  Each one has given the listener a look back at the band at certain periods in their history, and reminds them just how incredible this group was back in the day.

September 4th, 2008, Boulder Theater

Family. Joyfulness. Community. Gettin' Down! These five words completely detail, although briefly, the majority of my experiences from the past Sound Tribe Sector 9 weekend.

Perhaps the greatest thing about music is that it knows no restraints.  Musicians explore this vast territory to varying degrees, and with varying levels of success.  Some choose to specify, and others choose to generalize.  The term "genre" has less and less significance all the time, obvious when you look at the staggering number of sub-niche's we need to describe just rock and roll.  Alternative, progressive, pop, punk, funk, fusion, indie, etc., etc.

Last week while reviewing the Backwoods Pondfest, I was fortunate enough to meet and talk to some of the members of the Rutland, VT band Twiddle.

I'm blessed to have a solid group of friends who love live music, generally as much as me. There is little in life I find more enjoyable than watching close friends I've taken to a new group or artist turn and give me that look of excitement and say "Wow, you were right! These guys are amazing!" This look and this line happened more than a handful of times at the latest New Mastersounds show at the Fox Theater up on the good old Hill in Boulder, CO.

The Chicago progressive jam outfit Umphrey's McGee brought their explosive live show back to Colorado over Labor Day weekend, and rained down a handful of stunning performances to the Rocky Mountain faithful.

I'm over my wishy-washy indecision about which show to review up next for y'all.

There's a lot of music floating around out there these days that falls under the greater umbrella of rock and roll, but doesn't really subscribe to any specific genre therein.  Bending and blending genres has almost become a genre unto its self.  Not that I'm complaining, and not that it hasn't always been this way to some extent in the world of music.  But being where we are in history, there is more music behind us than there ever has been in the past, meaning there are more possible sources of influence than ever before too.  This, of course, should be obvious, since

I realize more and more every day since the summer of 2008 started, that a sizeable number of people have never been to the Mishawaka Amphitheater, and a good portion of those that have never visited have never even heard about it. Gasp! It is becoming unfathomable to me that people have never heard of what most affectionately call The Mish.

Since it has been over four years that Phish has toured, it is easy to forget how exciting and inspiring it can be to watch them play.  Though there has been a recent slew of delightful audio performances released, the emergence of the Walnut Creek DVD (recorded at the famed venue in North Carolina during their 1997 summer tour) finally gives fans another chance to have Phish illuminate their eyes as well.