Trey Anastasio - The Orpheum February 22, 2001 - Boston Fusion by Johnson Longwhales III Trey Anastasio - The Orpheum - Wednesday 2.21.2001 It seems strange, but it was just three weeks ago that Trey Anastasio, guitarist of the Vermont jam band Phish, announced his 10 date solo tour. Three weeks! Weird, very, very weird. Just a few hours ago I was one of the three thousand or so privileged, able to see Trey at his tour kickoff show at the Orpheum. Anticipation was high for this show, and as I waded through the sea of Trey phans, some with tickets, some without, I couldn't help but feel only gratitude knowing I was on my way to seeing a living legend. What was I to expect? What would he play? Would he open with 1st Tube, the rock instrumental nominated for a Grammy? Would he play any Phish songs? Would he be the same Trey I have learned to love? Hundreds of questions have been racing around my head for the past three weeks. This would be my first Trey solo show, and I was very excited. It was only September when Phish played their last show together before embarking on a hiatus that could last a year or a lifetime. Since then, my time has been filled experimenting with other bands, going to different shows, attempting to move on. After all there are plenty of fish in the sea right? My experience has been a pleasant one. I have been exposed to a new school of bands, with new sounds, and new guitarists. And through this experience, I am able to determine one thing; Phish is the shit, and so-far I have not been able to find an equal. So, when I first read the rumors of a Trey solo tour, I was more than excited, I was alive. Game on. You see, Trey tour presents the opportunity to do what I love, travel to see my favorite band, or in this case, my favorite musician. The whole process from A - Z is what's fun for me. Planning out a possible itinerary, planning how to get tickets, planning how to get drugs, planning how to plan, and then planning some more. Savoring the days prior because there is nothing like a good jolt of anticipation. But this time I wouldn't have to plan for much. The show was in my back yard, Boston. My home for twenty some odd years. 15 minutes away from my apartment. I could take the Green line! Unreal. As some of you may know, Phish has not played in Boston since 1996. The fucking Fleet Center sound is so shitty, they refuse to sacrifice their musical integrity. So, Trey at the Orpheum was a real treat, for many reasons. The Orpheum is small, with one main entrance at the end of an alley. Not the best set up for a venue, certainly not for a Trey show. There were a lot of people ticketless, waiting in the brisk Boston cold, with the slightest bit of hope that someone would offer them an extra. I don't think there was much ticket selling being done. Those with wanted in on this show, this was one not to miss. And for good reason. Tonight's show was much different than what I expected. This is no Phish show. Not even close. My mind was not blown. But tonight's show was amazing, different, but amazing. Trey Anastasio is a gifted artist who should be commended not only for his un-measureable guitar ability, but for his varied angle attack at music in general. You see, he seems to approach everything he does like it was his first show. You can see it in his smile as he sways back and forth spewing chunky rifts from his personalized guitar "Marley III" (named after his late dog Marley), or when he speaks about his current band members with honest appreciation. Trey is loved because he loves what he gets to do. It's that simple. Tonight Trey and CO played a wide array of music. Most importantly they busted out a bunch of new tunes, throwing this rowdy Boston crowd for a spin. All in all he played nine new songs... Nine. And this is his first show. Crowd favorites seamed to be 1st Tube, Sand, and Windora Bug. Three songs which were in the rotation for Phish fall tour 2000. This did not surprise me because change, at times, can be difficult to swallow. And I think that is certainly understandable. Overall I think tonight was a very good tour opener, but it was definitely a tour opener. You could tell that these guys haven't been playing with each other for 17 years. It was interesting to see Trey really lead the stage. It was clearly his night, and the band was playing to his people. Trey was in his usual stage right position, only tonight he was bouncing around, almost orchestrating the other band members at what to do and when to do it. He would point at another band member, waving his arms in some type of directive motion, and the band member would react, playing a some type of faded rift. It was great, and as the night progressed, so did the band. As eluded to above, highlights of the show were Trey staples, 1st Tube and a fifteen minute Sand. But as equally enjoyable were a few new songs, Burlap Sack and Pumps, Rescue Me, and what is now only known as the "Grammy loss to Metallica jam". So, after tonight, I feel a sense of serenity I haven't felt in months. I am still high from tonight's events. Still trying to digest what went down. Still trying to process the information. And I feel great about the immediate future. This Trey tour will surely be a blast, and I am fortunate to see two more shows. But after that what? Recent talks of an Oysterhead album (and tour?) have been rumored for months now. And some speculate that Phish will be back on the road by the fall. All I know is that I have two more Trey shows to hit, and then it's back to crossing my fingers and waiting for more. Until next time.