So, if you haven’t seen the piece that Marian Sandberg wrote in Live Design about Phish’s New Years’ Eve 2012 bash, you’re missing out, it’s a great piece. If you’ve never been to a jam band New Years Eve show, you’re missing out, too. Phish is kind of known for doing absolutely crazy stuff for the NYE show runs, as are other bands in the genre. Typically across space and time it’s Auld Lang Syne and a huge bunch of balloons that fall from the ceiling at midnight, but depending on the band and the venue, it’s a pretty great experience. I mean come on – hundreds of ten foot balloons falling from the ceiling of an arena with a bunch of people having a great time? How could that NOT be fun?!
Check out Marian’s article, and check out this video of the midnight transition at Madison Square with Phish – pretty awesome!!! There’s a part two coming up about the lighting design with Chris Kuroda, so stay tuned – and if you haven’t seen the Jam Cruise 10 lighting seminar with Chris Kuroda from Phish and Jeff Waful of Umphrey’s McGee, that’s something you should check out too!
I was at the NYE run in St. Louis at the Pageant with Jeff Waful and Umphrey’s McGee for the New Years run this year, and a very prominent music writer said, on the night of the December 31 show, “I just came from Madison Square last night from Phish, and this [Umphrey’s McGee] is the better show here in St. Louis.” My face WAS IN FACT ROCKED over the four days I spent with Umphrey’s McGee. Stay tuned for that footage, I have tons and tons.
Photo Credit – American Songwriter
