Hollinger on a Rampage!

Cleveland Gets: Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington, Josh Selby and a 2015 first round pick (Memphis) 

Memphis Gets: Jon Leuer 

For the Cavaliers… 

This deal was all about the draft pick for GM Chris Grant, the sixth first-rounder Cleveland has acquired since 2010.  The pick goes to the Cavs in 2015 or 2016 if it falls between 6-14, in 2017 and 2018 its top-5 protected and in 2019 it’s fully unprotected.  In Speights they also get a useful big man to fill in for Anderson Varejao who is out for the season with a blood clot in his right lung.  Ellington is doubtful to get his qualifying offer if he can’t unseat Daniel Gibson as their designated 3-point shooter and Selby was waived (how Josh got a 3^rd place vote for 2012 Rookie of the Year I'll never know).  Speights has a player option for one more year at $4.5 million and that’s actually a pretty fair price for him.  Grant did well here by parlaying his salary cap space into another first round pick without taking on any long term money. 

For the Grizzlies… 

This move was all about new Owner Robert Pera getting under the salary cap to avoid paying the luxury tax.  In Leuer Memphis gets an NBA Jam favorite that knows how to play the right way as their fifth big man.  This exchange also generated a $6.4 million trade exception for the Griz and I thought for sure they were done dealing, but I was wrong. 

Winner – Cleveland 

Memphis Gets: Tayshaun Prince, Ed Davis, Austin Daye, a 2013 second round pick (Toronto) and cash 

Toronto Gets: Rudy Gay and Hamed Haddadi 

Detroit Gets: Jose Calderon 

For the Grizzlies… 

This maneuver has new VP John Hollinger written all over it considering GM Chris Wallace is the guy who signed Gay to the enormously overpriced maximum contract extension in 2010 (5-years/$82 million).  Many people look at Rudy as Memphis’ leading scorer and can’t understand why they moved him when they were contenders and already below the tax line.  Well Gay is shooting a career low 40.8% from the field and 31% from three with his worst PER (14.4) since his rookie season.  Not to mention the 17.2 points he averages is actually his lowest since his first year too.  Then there’s the $37 million he’s owed over the next two seasons after this one and albatross might be too kind a word to describe him. 

Tayshaun has definitely lost a step or two and isn’t near the player he was in his prime but he’s shooting 44.4% from the field and a career high 43.4% from three.  He also doesn’t need the ball to be effective and is still twice the defender Gay is even with half the athleticism.  I look for Prince to setup in the corner and shoot standstill threes off of Mike Conley pick-and-rolls or Marc Gasol/Zach Randolph high-low action.  

I’ve been driving the Ed Davis bandwagon since his rookie year (check the archives) and this is a coup for Hollinger.  Davis is only 23, in his third year, has an 18.19 PER and averages 9.7 points & 6.7 rebounds while shooting 54.9% in 24.2 minutes.  His minutes are going to decrease behind Z-Bo, Marc and Darrell Arthur but Ed just might be the best fourth big in the NBA.  As for Daye, I’ve never been a fan, but he is shooting 52.5% from three this season and should see regular minutes behind Tay at backup SF.  Well, at least until Quincy Pondexter (left MCL) returns anyway. 

The second round pick should fall somewhere in the 31-40 range on draft night and they also received a $7.5 million trade exception that they can use this season and still remain under the salary cap.  After reading Professor Hollinger for so many years I can tell you unequivocally that this deal was made primarily by him with Wallace acting as GM in title only.  This hits all the classic Hollinger marks of improving a weakness (3-point shooting/spacing) and fortifying a strength (defense) all while maintaining their long term cap outlook and flexibility. 

If the remaining core players and Coach Lionel Hollins can get over their shock and frustration I think the Griz can actually be better.  Think of the old addition by subtraction proverb.  Granted, working in four new rotation players will lead to some growing pains, but I keep thinking about the Conley-Tony Allen-Prince-Arthur-Gasol lineup flat shutting teams down on the defensive end in the playoffs. 

For the Raptors… 

Normally when you get the best player in any transaction you win but I don’t get what GM Bryan Colangelo and VP Ed Stefanski did here.  Toronto’s payroll for the next three seasons including this one is $66,928,406, $74,348,759 and $61,004,889.  Now if paying $67 million to be a lottery team isn’t bad enough how about $74 million to bring the same group back next season?  I mean…WHAT!?!? 

On the court Gay will combine with Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani to form one of the least defense playing, most ball stopping and bad jump shot shooting starting lineups in recent memory.  I could see those four getting into fist fights over the ball during games and setting the record for least assists by a five man unit…no matter who the fifth guy is.  I feel bad for promising rookie center Jonas Valanciunas because he may only touch the ball once a half on the low block.  Then there’s Coach Dwane Casey, who is a defense first no-nonsense guy, how is he going to deal with that bunch of prima donnas? 

Apparently Haddadi will never set foot in T-Dot due some immigration issues about him being Iranian.  I just don’t get what the plan is north of the border, or if there even is one… 

For the Pistons… 

I like what President Joe Dumars did here on a few levels.  He got out from under the $15 million owed to Tayshaun over the next two years after this one while also thinning out his glut of SF’s.  Calderon’s $11 million contract expires after the season (giving them enough space for a maximum contract) but as a late season rental he’s just what Motown needed.  Jose is a real PG and the thought of him running the pick-and-roll with Greg Monroe and throwing lobs to Andre Drummond should have Pistons fans everywhere drooling with anticipation.  Jose manning the point will let Coach Lawrence Frank move Brandon Knight & Rodney Stuckey to SG permanently and the departure of Prince & Daye will allow Kyle Singler & Jonas Jerebko to be the new SF rotation.  I know Detroit is six losses out of the playoffs right now but it wouldn’t surprise me if they made a run at the eighth seed.  

Winner – Memphis

Mid-Season Report

With the defending champion Miami Heat finally playing their 41st game on 1/27 every team in the Association has now reached the midpoint of their season. I never imagined when I joined the staff at MMM that I’d still be writing about the NBA ten years later, yet here we sit with the tenth annual MSR. Since I went heavy on the statistics in the QPR I’m going to attempt to make this MSR a little more off the cuff so I apologize in advance if your team gets short shrift.

* = teams I had making the playoffs in October

EAST

1. *Miami Heat (28-13) – I can’t tell you how many of their games I’ve tuned into early only to go away because they are so difficult to watch due to how much they coast. However when they decide to turn it on around the 7-8 minute mark of the fourth quarter they are a sight to behold as no lead is too big for them to erase. They definitely have rebounding issues that could bite them against bigger sides but their defense (when they feel like it) and 3-point shooting still makes them the heavy favorites to represent the East in the Finals.

2. *New York Knicks (27-15) – Things were going great for them until Ray Felton broke his right pinky finger and missed 12 games. Then the wheels started to come off a bit and their age started to show. Now that they are fully healthy, outside of Marcus Camby & Rasheed Wallace (left feet), with Amar’e Stoudemire adjusting to his bench role and Iman Shumpert back starting next to Felton I expect them to go on a big run very soon. They can certainly challenge Miami in seven games but I don’t think they can really beat the Heat.

3. *Chicago Bulls (26-17) – It’s amazing to me how well they have done without Derrick Rose (left ACL) playing a game, which just goes to show how far good defense can carry a team. Coach Tom Thibodeau has been riding Luol Deng and Joakim Noah a little too hard for my taste and that could prove fatal come the post season. Their outlook all depends on what Rose can do when he returns. If he is 70-80% of himself they could be very dangerous and “the team no one wants to play” in the East.

4. *Brooklyn Nets (26-18) – Firing Avery Johnson after 28 games turned out to be a brilliant move by Owner Mikhail Prokhorov since they have gone 12-4 under interim Coach P.J. Carlisemo. P.J. has loosened the reins some and his guys have responded. Brook Lopez is playing so well that hardly anyone notices how bad Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries have been. I don’t see them as a threat to Miami but they can give anyone else in the East a run for their money.

5. *Indiana Pacers (26-18) – Yet another club that has gotten by on defense and rebounding without their best player. The question is with the emergence of third-year SF Paul George as an All-Star will President Donnie Walsh and GM Kevin Pritchard look into trading Danny Granger (left knee) when he returns? These guys are not fun to watch at all but when the playoffs roll around they will be ready to physically grind with anyone over seven games. I just don’t see them having enough offensive firepower to take down the Heat.

6. *Atlanta Hawks (25-19) – They started out well but the dysfunction that comes with personal agendas and injuries have set in now. You’ve got a new GM in Danny Ferry, a lame duck coach in Larry Drew and Josh Smith declaring that he’s a maximum contract player. Not to mention that high scoring sixth man Lou Williams (right ACL) has been lost for the season. If Ferry doesn’t swing a major trade this bunch has enough talent to make the playoffs in the East, but they will be one-and-done when they get there.

7. Milwaukee Bucks (23-19) – When Scott Skiles resigned after 32 games I was sure GM John Hammond would be next out the door but in a surprise move (to me anyway) Owner Herb Kohl gave Hammond a shiny new 3-year contract extension. Umm, ok. Anyway interim Coach Jim Boylan has decided on a set rotation and stuck with it which is a major upgrade from Skiles right off the bat. Because of that and all the rotation players they have looking for new contracts I see them holding on to reach the playoffs but making no noise once they get there.

8. *Boston Celtics (21-23) – They have been doubly boring to watch since they play hard about once a week and when they do it’s usually a grind-it-out affair. GM Danny Ainge has previously said that he’s not going to blow things up opting for one last run but that might have been a mistake, especially now that Rajon Rondo (right ACL) is done for the season. With Jason Terry and Leandro Barbosa as their only PG options I could see them missing the post season entirely now, and if Ainge senses that no one on the roster is safe outside of Kevin Garnett (full no-trade clause).

*Philadelphia 76ers (18-25) – If Andrew Bynum (both knees) is really able to return around the All-Star break I could see them going on a run and being very dangerous a few weeks after he’s back because I really like mix of shooters and athletes they can surround Drew with. The question is will they be too far out of the race by that point for it to matter? Probably not since the East is so terrible, but if Bynum can’t return to form then they are dead in the water and heading to Secaucus, NJ for the draft lottery.

Detroit Pistons (17-27) – They have been playing much better as of late, and somewhat shockingly, Coach Lawrence Frank has them actually competing and giving maximum effort most nights. If you watched them last year you know that was rarely the case. But what everyone really wants to see is rookie freak of nature center Andre Drummond play more than 20 minutes a game while starting up front with PF Greg Monroe. Apparently they “have a plan” to develop Drummond that likely does not include them making the playoffs.

Toronto Raptors (16-28) – They have played much better since Andrea Bargnani (right elbow) and rookie Jonas Valanciunas (right hand) got hurt and Coach Dwane Casey made the bold move of benching PG Kyle Lowry in favor of Jose Calderon. GM Bryan Colangelo is going to have a tough time finding a taker for the remaining $23 million and two years on Bargnani’s contract but the fact of the matter is that Ed Davis has been better. The post season is probably out of reach but they have some nice pieces in place going forward.

Orlando Magic (14-29) – They were rolling along until Glen Davis hurt his left shoulder and then the wheels fell off. Davis is back now but they have lost their early season mojo. These guys play hard every night and win a fair amount of their games because the opposition takes them lightly. Second-year center Nikola Vucevic has been a revelation and rookie PF Andrew Nicholson has also played well. Maybe rookie GM Rob Hennigan really does know what he’s doing as he rebuilds the franchise.

Cleveland Cavaliers (13-32) – Kyrie Irving is great, probably my favorite player to watch right now, but even he cannot carry this mess to respectability, especially with Anderson Varejao (blood clot right lung) lost for the season. The good news is GM Chris Grant has stockpiled a plethora of first round draft picks and salary cap space to speed the rebuilding process along.

Washington Wizards (11-31) – They were a borderline travesty to watch while John Wall (left knee) recovered but in the nine games since Wall has returned they are a surprisingly respectable 6-3. Nene Hilario & Emeka Okafor give them solid production down low and Martell Webster & Trevor Ariza handle the wing defense freeing up rookie Bradley Beal & Wall to do their thing. They aren’t sniffing the playoffs but I have to admit they are kind of entertaining to watch right now.

Charlotte Bobcats (11-32) – They are no longer a blight on the NBA landscape and actually have a few legitimate pieces to build around. I could not stand to watch them last season but now Kemba Walker and rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist have changed that for me. They are still YEARS away from being mentioned with the word “playoffs” but changing their name back to the Hornets should make the locals happy.

WEST

1. *San Antonio Spurs (36-11) – Coach Gregg Popovich’s “resting” shenanigans aside they continue to roll along efficiently winning the games they should and putting up a good fight in all the others. While Tim Duncan has turned back the clock a few years it looks like Father Time has finally caught up with Manu Ginobili to me. I know they have great depth but outside of Duncan and Tony Parker I don’t know who else can be counted on in really big games. The production by committee approach might work during the regular season but come the playoffs I’m still not sold on them. It would not surprise me to see them lose in the first round, seriously.

2. *Oklahoma City Thunder (34-11) – I had them winning it all back in October until the James Harden/Kevin Martin trade. Obviously I WAY overacted to that deal and didn’t count on Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka expanding their respective games. I still worry about Martin under the white-hot post season spotlight, and there’s always a chance that Russell Westbrook goes off the reservation, but for my money the Thunder are the odds on favorites to win it all.

3. *Los Angeles Clippers (33-13) – I didn’t think there was any way Coach Vinny Del Negro could manage all the egos that wanted minutes and touches on this team, yet they have some of the best chemistry in the league. Granted Chauncey Billups (left foot) isn’t back yet and Grant Hill has only played in nine games so I guess there’s still a chance they implode. They can play with anybody in the regular season but I’m not on board with them going any further than the second round just yet.

4. *Memphis Grizzlies (28-15) – They have cooled off some since the start of the season but this squad is built more for the playoffs than the regular season anyway. New Owner Robert Pera is luxury tax adverse so this may be the last time the Mike Conley-Tony Allen-Rudy Gay-Zach Randolph-Marc Gasol core has a chance together. Their bench is a little thin but this is my dark horse title contender because they defend, rebound and excel at half court offense.

5. Golden State Warriors (26-17) – I honestly thought they could be this good, but never ever did I think they’d be this good with Andrew Bogut (left ankle) appearing in only four games. It’s got to be a scary thought for the rest of the West how much their already good defense and rebounding will improve once the big Aussie returns. If Bogut can get back to 60-70% of himself by the post season this is “the team no one wants to play” in the West. They are still too green to make a real run at the title but the second round is not out of the question at all.

6. *Denver Nuggets (27-18) – Coach George Karl has done a masterful job of managing the plethora of egos and talent at his disposal. His recent blasting of JaVale McGee is a good example. Their bench unit of Andre Miller-Corey Brewer-Wilson Chandler-McGee is extremely athletic and long (outside of Miller). That said unless VP Masai Ujiri makes a 3-for-1 type of trade for a superstar scorer I don’t see them getting out of the first round. They are a great regular season side though.

7. *Utah Jazz (24-20) – I thought for sure when Mo Williams (right thumb) went down after 24 games they were dead in the water. But low and behold the ancient duo of Jamaal Tinsley (yes, he’s still in the NBA, and starting too) and Earl Watson have held down the point nicely. All eyes are on VP Kevin O’Connor and new GM Dennis Lindsey and what they’ll do with Al Jefferson and/or Paul Millsap. Both Al & Paul are in the final year of their contracts and Derrick Favors & Enes Kanter are behind them and ready to play. It’s tough to predict where they finish or what their ceiling is with the specter of a big trade looming over them, but making the playoffs seems a pretty safe bet either way.

8. Houston Rockets (24-22) – One of my favorite teams to watch play because they get up and down the floor in a hurry and either take it to the rack or shoots threes. James Harden, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons are all super fun to watch just because of their activity level. However I’m not sold on them as a playoff team because they play no defense, even though Parsons and Omer Asik are both quality defenders. GM Daryl Morey has stockpiled a bunch of talented players, draft picks and salary cap space so they are another candidate to do a big 3-for-1 deal for a superstar.

Portland Trail Blazers (22-22) – I had them as the worst team in the West prior to the season mainly because I thought they had no depth. Well I was at least 50% right because their lack of depth is almost criminal. However their starting unit of rookie Damian Lillard-Wes Matthews-Nicolas Batum-J.J. Hickson-LaMarcus Aldridge has been fantastic. Those five can play with anybody but eventually they will wear down and land GM Neil Olshey back in Secaucus, NJ.

*Los Angeles Lakers (19-25) – They don’t play any defense in the half court setting yet somehow their transition defense manages to be even worse than that. Kobe Bryant is awful away from the ball and Steve Nash is horrendous on it. Dwight Howard only plays D when he feels like it (i.e. when he’s getting touches down low) and Pau Gasol checked out mentally long ago on both ends. This leads me to Coach Mike D’Antoni who has been an unmitigated disaster as the leader of this hot mess.

For all of VP Jim Buss’ talk of D’Antoni tailoring his system to his player’s strengths the evidence, such as Earl Clark starting over Gasol, points in exactly the opposite direction. Mike D has them playing fast when they should play slow. He has them rarely running post ups even though they have three of the best post players in the NBA. He preaches offense when scoring points is the least of their worries. And worst of all he talks about the need for better chemistry and trust when he misuses each and every one of his star players which in turn frustrates them hindering the very thing he’s talking about.

ABOVE ALL ELSE the question that needs to be asked is “HOW IN THE HELL DID JIM BUSS THINK D’ANTONI WAS THE RIGHT FIT FOR THIS GROUP?” I can already see the writing on the wall and the choices Little Jimmy will have to make. First will be D’Antoni or Gasol by 2/21. Next will be this summer between Howard and D’Antoni. Before breaking this squad up I’d like to see what a real coach, like say Bernie Bickerstaff, could do with them first. I know “What’s wrong with the Lakers” makes for interesting talk but if you watch them play regularly you know this has not been a good team and that they are a long shot to make the playoffs unless they make MAJOR changes to the way they play and stick with them.

Dallas Mavericks (19-25) – I love Owner Mark Cuban declaring that the “Bank of Cuban is open” letting everyone know that they are ready to make a deal. Well to my recollection the “Bank of Cuban” has been open since last summer but no one wants to make a withdrawal. It’s funny because when the “Bank of Cuban” should have been open to resign Tyson Chandler after they won the ’10-11 title it wasn’t. Hey, at least he’ll always have “Shark Tank” to fall back on. Dirk Nowitzki is still not himself after right knee surgery and the rest of the squad just isn’t that good. Hello lottery!

*Minnesota Timberwolves (17-24) – Injuries have flat out killed them especially Kevin Love re-breaking his right hand and having surgery that will keep him out until sometime in mid to late March. Ricky Rubio is back but not anywhere near himself yet and now Nikola Pekovic (right thigh) is out as well. The only player to appear in all 41 games thus far is Luke Ridnour and I’m not even mentioning that Coach Rick Adelman has been away from the club since 1/6 while tending to his very ill wife. This is just a lost season for them all around and it’s a shame too because they had a lot of entertainment potential.

Sacramento Kings (16-29) – Oh my are they ever a mess, both on the court and away from it. The Maloof brothers finally found someone willing to overpay for their rotting carcass of a franchise in hedge fund manager Chris Hansen (who plans to move them to Seattle). Hopefully the first thing the Hansen group does is fire President Geoff Petrie and bring in someone that knows how to build a team. This is a talented bunch for sure but they have no idea how to play the game together which is why I rarely watch them.

New Orleans Hornets (15-29) – They were quite awful to start the season even though they always played hard. But in the 13 games that Eric Gordon has played in since his “right knee injury” they have been borderline dangerous. Greivis Vasquez is the most underrated PG in the league and Al-Farouq Aminu suddenly has a pulse in his contract year. I do have to question why GM Dell Demps traded for Ryan Anderson though because he plays the same position as prized rookie Anthony Davis and Coach Monty Williams tends to play Ryan more. If you are going nowhere you might as well get Davis as much experience as possible. But I digress; if Gordon is playing it’s worth checking them out on League Pass.

Phoenix Suns (15-30) – Another mess of a franchise run by a cheapskate owner in Robert Sarver and a clueless President (and ex-agent) in Lon Babby. Hopefully the firing of Coach Alvin Gentry at the 41 game mark means one of them has finally realized that they are going nowhere fast and it’s time to blow things up, clear salary cap space and start acquiring assets. Unfortunately I severely doubt that is their plan, and even it was I’d have no faith in them actually executing a full rebuild.

Mid-Season Awards

Defensive Player – Joakim Noah (Chicago)

Sixth Man – Ryan Anderson (New Orleans)

Coach – Mark Jackson (Golden State)

Rookie – Damian Lillard (Portland)

MVP – Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City)

All NBA

PG – Chris Paul (Clippers)
SG – Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
SF – Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City)
PF – LeBron James (Miami)
C – Tim Duncan (San Antonio)

My Year in Music 2012

Raw Statistics

Phish Shows – 7

Other Shows – 14

Festivals – Jam in the Dam (13 sets) & Eugene Celebration (3 sets)

Studio Albums

5) Mike Gordon – “Steamroller Wheelies”

This is a compilation of various Mike collaborations recorded from 1999 to the present with all proceeds going to Vermont flood recovery post Hurricane Irene.  What makes this album special is the talent of the guests throughout.  You’ve got Chris Thile, Danny Barnes, Joe Russo, Marco Benevento, Little Feat, Chris Barron, Col. Bruce Hampton, Oteil Burbridge, Victor Wooten, Russell Batiste, Jon Fishman, Page McConnell and most of Mike’s solo band.  It might take a few listens to appreciate but this a quirky gem.

4) Dopapod – “Redivider”

Released on 12/21/12 this one gets in right under the wire to grab a spot in the top five.  With four what I would call “interlude” tracks I think this was meant to be a concept album about androids fighting gorillas on some foreign planet.  Regardless, if you’ve never heard Dopapod before this a great place to start.  The full range of their skill is on display and they even sing on four tracks.  Highlights include “Trapper Keeper,” “My Elephant vs. Your Elephant,” “Vol. 3 #86” and “STADA.”  This is a late night special for sure.

3) Leftover Salmon – “Aquatic Hitchhiker”

Upon first listen you’d never guess this is the first studio album from the forefathers of the jamgrass genre since 2004.  Clearly reinvigorated with the addition of new banjoist Andy Thorn and subtraction of keyboardist Bill McKay the boys from Colorado sound like they haven’t missed a beat.  Every member of the band, except drummer Jose Martinez, contributes at least one song.  There’s not a lull on the entire album but some highlights are the title track, “Sing Up to the Moon” and “Stop All Your Worrying.”

2) Chris Robinson Brotherhood – “Big Moon Ritual”

The first album from the CRB is an hour long masterpiece of swinging Americana rock.  Chris Robinson handles all the writing with help from guitarist Neal Casal on “Tulsa Yesterday,” “Beware, Oh Take Care” and “One Hundred Days of Rain.”  What stands out on this disc is the sublime guitar playing of Casal as every tune seems to fit his pace and channeling of one Mr. Jerome Garcia.  The CRB did release another album this year (“The Magic Door”) but it was much more difficult to get “BMR” out of the car CD player. 

1) ALO – “Sounds Like This”

For those of you like me that were worried that ALO had lost their way on their two releases since 2005’s “Fly Between Falls” never fear, they are back, and in a big way.  This album sees them return to their strengths of poignant lyrics and catchy hooks combined with a little funk and a big dollop California Soul.  There are really too many highlights to list but the 70’s disco untz of “Room for Bloomin’” is impossible to resist.  I must have played this disc for everyone I know at least once this year and EVERYONE liked it.

Official Live Releases

4) Medeski Martin & Wood – “Free Magic” – CD compilation of 4/27-29/07

This album begins with about 6 minutes of free jazz before Chris Wood starts up the bass line to his own “Doppler.”  From there the groove hits and MMW take you on a ride for the next 60 minutes.  Like any MMW show there is sparseness and ambience mixed with catchy danceable grooves, and while only five tracks in length there is no lack of either on “Free Magic.”  The highlight has to be the closing 25+ minutes of “Where’s Sly” followed by the Charles Mingus/Sun Ra cover “Nostalgia in Times Square/Angel Race.”

3) Big Brother and the Holding Company – “Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968” – CD of 6/23/68

This release is the first in what is supposed to be a series of “Bear’s Sonic Journals.”  Bear is Owsley Stanley and he did an outstanding job taping this show and transferring it to digital format.  This album catches Big Brother at their psychedelic rocking height and only two months before Janis Joplin would leave the band.  It’s really something to behold with Janis as part of the band rather than out front on her own.  The extensive liner notes are fantastic and explain just how Bear wanted you to hear it; a must own.

2) Phish – “Star Lake 98” – ­2 DVDs of 8/11/98

The video on the DVDs is from three in-house cameras but there are plenty of close ups at the right times. However the video is clearly VHS quality and has no widescreen option.  The audio is crystal clear and the Dolby 5.1 mix is just great.  The highlights are the debut of Bob Marley’s “Trench Town Rock” to open the show, the return of Little Feat’s “Time Loves a Hero” and the 35+ minute second set opening “Runaway Jim.”  The bonus audio disc provides the best jam though in a sick “Gumbo” from 8/13/97.

1) Led Zeppelin – “Celebration Day” – DVD & 2 CDs of 12/10/07 & DVD of 12/6/07

In their first full show since 7/7/80 Led Zeppelin brings the HEAT from start to finish.  The picture quality is pristine and presented in widescreen only.  The concert footage is also edited in such a fast paced way that you are never bored when watching.  For audio you can choose between PCM, Dolby 5.1 or DTS 5.1 and the DTS option is flat out supersonic.  The opening trio of “Good Times Bad Times,” “Ramble On” and “Black Dog” absolutely blows the roof off the O2 Arena.  Then they drop an 11-minute “In My Time of Dying” that will give you goose bumps and follow that up with the live debut of “For Your Life.”  Simply amazing, and that’s only the first five songs!  Whether you view Led Zeppelin as the greatest cover band ever or rock gods there is no denying the raw power of their talent in the live setting.  The bonus DVD of their rehearsal is very meh though with the same setlist minus the fancy sound and video.

Top 5 Non-Phish Shows

5) 3/14/12 • moe. • Amsterdam, NL • The Melkweg (35^th show)

Zed Nought Z > Bearsong > Billy Goat > Zed Nought Z > Bearsong, Can’t Seem to Find, Haze, Where Does the Time Go?, George > Down Boy, Timmy Tucker

This was the final show of the first night at Jam in the Dam and people were fired up when moe. finally took the stage around midnight.  The place was packed but we managed to find a nice spot upstairs (this was before they shut down the upstairs to non-VIPs) about mid-way back on Chuck side.  The opening segue-fest lasted just over 50 minutes and was anchored by the first “Billy Goat” to my ears and I really liked it.  The set hit a little lull until “George” started up and went way out there.  The jam seemed like it would never end so I took the opportunity to hit the bathroom and ended up missing the start of “Down Boy,” the one tune I was really looking forward to seeing for the first time.  Oh well.  The closing “Timmy Tucker” stretched past 20 minutes and sent us out into the Leidseplein exhausted yet satisfied after six hours of non-stop music.

4) 3/15/12 • Mike Gordon • Amsterdam, NL • The Melkweg (5^th show)

Sugar Shack, Can’t Stand Still > She Said She Said, The Way it Goes, Andelmans’ Yard, Kissing the Lipless^, Babylon Baby, Funky Bitch, I Miss My Mind, Hap-Nappy

^ first time played

This was the last show on the second night of JitD and it was WAY less crowded than moe. was the previous night.  In fact it was practically empty allowing us to walk right up to the front row much like shows in Eugene do.  The “Shack” to start things off satiated those wanting to hear Phish songs but Scott Murawski’s guitar solo was far different than the one Trey Anastasio usually takes.  The show really got started next with Murawski leading a flawless transition from “Can’t Stand Still” into a ripping version of The Beatles’ “She Said.”  After Scott melted some faces the country swing of Gillian Welch’s “Way it Goes” was a welcome change of pace.  Tom Cleary took the first break on piano before another verse from Mike followed by another inspired solo from Murawski.

The second part of the show took off like a rocket with some “Andelmans’” funk that had the crowd actually singing along.  Scott took the lead vocals on The Shins’ “Kissing the Lipless” and the bouncy groove of “Babylon Baby” had everyone left getting down like crazy.  Son Seals’ “Funky B” gave the phans in attendance another treat and Cleary’s “I Miss My Mind” fit our mood perfectly at that late hour as did his tickling of the ivories.  I had been hoping to see the Trey/Mike original “Hap-Nappy” and it was a rockin’ closer.  Granted I was there mostly to see them, but MGB was the star of my third and final JitD.

3) 10/26/12 • Greensky Bluegrass • Portland, OR • Mt. Tabor Theater (7^th show)

I: Can’t Stop Now, Last Winter in the Copper Country, Cold Feet, New Rize Hill, Jaywalking > When Doves Cry, Can’t Make Time, Just to Lie > Train Junkie

II: Leap Year, Break Mountain Brokedown, Dancing in the Dark, Handguns, Hit Parade of Love, What’s Left of the Night, Freeborn Man > Bring Out Your Dead, Small Axe, Freeborn Man Reprise

E: Don’t Lie

My first trip to the Tabor was preceded by my first trip to Lompoc and a fine dinner at Jake’s.  So by the time New Grass Revival’s “Can’t Stop Now” started up I was more than ready to get down.  Being that the place was super-packed I questioned the selection of “Copper Country” as the second song but guitarist Dave Bruzza’s “Cold Feet” brought the crowd back.  Then “New Rize Hill” set them off so much that I had to throw some elbows to maintain my territory.  The 20 minutes that was “Jaywalking” into Prince’s “Doves Cry” was pure unadulterated GSBG doing what they do best with some fine dobro work in the outro jam by Anders Beck.  Mandolin player and lead vocalist Paul Hoffman’s “Can’t Make Time” was a breather before one last get down session in the 16+ minute combo of “Just to Lie > Train Junkie.”

After some much needed fresh air we walked back in and the place was still packed so we found a different position right as the new tune “Leap Year” was starting up.  When the boys drop into “BMB” you know things are going to get wild and 11 minutes later we ended up in the Boss’ “Dancing in the Dark” smiling broadly.  “Handguns” was a much needed breather before another 20-minute jam session of Allison/Lindsay’s “Freeborn Man” into “Bring Out Your Dead” that featured Bruzza wearing a full Swedish Chef head piece from someone in the crowd.  We left during “Dead” as my back could take no more and ended up missing solid versions of Bob Marley’s “Small Axe” and the Beck/Hoffman collaboration “Don’t Lie.”  What can I say other than getting old sucks.

2) 11/27/12 • Chris Robinson Brotherhood • Eugene, OR • WOW Hall (2^nd show)

I: Bright Lights Big City, Badlands Here We Come, Tough Mama, Little Lizzie Mae > Sorrows of a Blue Eyed Liar, Tomorrow Blues, Mother of Stone, Girl on the Mountain

II: Good Times, Star or Stone, One Hundred Days of Rain, Tornado, They Love Each Other, Vibration & Light Suite, Silver Car, Rosalee

E: The Dolphins, Hot Buttered Biscuit

Even though there were rumors of strong ticket sales the WOW Hall was basically empty on this Tuesday after Thanksgiving.  Not that I’m complaining as I love the space and access but sometimes Eugenians can be so lame.  Opening with Jimmy Reed’s “Bright Lights” was a little mellow but it gave what there was of a crowd time to make their way inside.  The country rock of “Badlands” set my mind at ease as I settled into the CRB groove.  Bob Dylan’s “Tough Mama” is where the show really jumped off though with guitar ace Neal Casal bringing the jam to a swirling psychedelic peak.  “Blue Eyed Liar” was a nice down moment before the hammer was dropped to the end the set.  

“Tomorrow Blues” picked up the pace showcasing Adam MacDougall’s keyboard wizardry but “Mother of Stone” really packed a punch.  “Stone” is a song from Chris’ first solo band, New Earth Mud, but this version was totally reworked evoking The Grateful Dead’s “The Other One” is it’s most heavy moments.  “Girl” is another NEM song that somewhat resembled its former self until the outro jam just completely went off.  The buildup peaked into what turned out to be a very quality set closer.

Sam Cooke’s “Good Times” was yet another questionable opener but I can’t complain because of what came next.  Even though “Star or Stone” was a repeat from last year’s show I didn’t mind as Casal really started flexing his muscle and took this one on a long journey before handing it back to Chris.  The next highlight was the Lost Crowes gem “Tornado.”  Never played live by The Black Crowes and debuted by the CRB on 9/7/12 I was really hoping to hear it, and even though it was short I was still amazed at what the CRB made it into.  It goes without saying that Jerry Garcia’s “TLEO” was great to hear as was the “Suite” that got absolutely everyone moving with reckless abandon, including the drunkest guy in the place who happened to be dancing right next to us. 

I thought the “Rosalee” fell a little flat in the jam department but by this time my back was once again acting up so I didn’t care.  Fred Neil’s “The Dolphins” was ultra mellow for an encore and I figured something with a little more oomph was coming next and “Biscuit” delivered some crunchy funk that frankly I didn’t think the CRB was capable of.  Other than barely being able to walk to the car after the show this was a great night of music by a band on the verge of being something really special.

1) 4/19/12 • Yonder Mountain String Band • Eugene, OR • McDonald Theatre (8^th show)

I: Peace of Mind > Cuckoo’s Nest > Peace of Mind, Night Out, River, Mental Breakdown, Red Tail Lights, Sidewalk Stars, Ain’t Been Myself in Years, Night is Left Behind, Finally Saw the Light, Free to Run, All the Time

II: Pretty Daughter*, Sharecropper’s Son, Don’t You Lean on Me, Pockets, Lay it on the Line, 40 Miles from Denver, What the Night Brings, Looking Back Over My Shoulder, Rag Doll > Traffic Jam > Girlfriend is Better > Robots > Traffic Jam

E: Casualty, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down**

* with MorganEve Swain on fiddle

** with Brown Bird

Besides a pre-show dinner with some friends that weren’t even going to the show I was completely solo for this one, not even plans to meet anyone there.  The music started so promptly that it actually caught a lot of people off guard and sent them scrambling to find friends and/or get to the floor.  Being the opportunist that I am I noticed that about three full rows right on the balcony rail were suddenly empty so I swooped in and texted everyone I knew to be there that I had some prime real estate.

The opening sandwich of “Peace of Mind > Cuckoo’s Nest > Peace of Mind” stretched to past 23 minutes and was just a sick jam to open the show.  Brian showed up mid-way through this tasty sandwich and took over the space saving/texting from me and I just got down from there.  “Night Out” was a MUCH needed breather but “River” seemed to deflate the crowd just a touch.  “Mental Breakdown” brought the energy in the room back up while “Night is Left Behind” and “Finally Saw the Light” set us up for the closing get-down.  During “Free to Run” I was moving so fast that I probably would have injured anyone that came in my general vicinity.  After “Run” “Time” seemed a little anti-climactic but by at this point I was surrounded by Brian’s crew and life was good.

It took some prompting from the boys in the band to get guest fiddle player MorganEve to open up but eventually she did the Bad Livers’ “Pretty Daughter” justice.  “Son” really got the party started back up and “Pockets” kept the groove going.  I always love to hear “40 Miles” and this version was no exception and “Shoulder” set us up for a massive closing boogie down stanza.  I hadn’t heard “Rag Doll” before and it was so good that it took me by surprise but when it segued into “Traffic Jam” I knew it was officially ON.  “Jam” did what it normally does and got the crowd moving with reckless abandon.  And if the transition into the Talking Heads’ “Girlfriend” wasn’t enough “Robots” took the weirdness to another level entirely before splashing back down into “Jam” and revving everyone up one last time.  When all was said and done “Rag Doll > Traffic Jam > Girlfriend is Better > Robots > Traffic Jam” totaled 28+ minutes of jamgrass at its finest.

After a rocking “Casualty” mandolin player Jeff Austin dedicated The Band’s “Dixie” to Levon Helm who had passed earlier in the day.  Letting the Brown Bird duo sit in with them was nice but I don’t they think added much sonically.  This is easily the hardest I danced at a non-Phish show all year and the second most fun I had.

Honorable Mention) 6/16/12 • Tedeschi Trucks Band • Jacksonville, OR • Britt Pavilion (2^nd show)

setlist unknown

This might be the best non-Phish show I saw all year but there is no recording and I didn’t write down the setlist so it’s hard to say for sure.  What I will say though is that this is easily the most fun I had at a non-Phish show all year.  The Britt lets you bring in your own alcohol and we took major advantage of that on a brilliant summer day.  The only downside to the venue is that no one stands up to dance, not even on the lawn.  Derek and Susan need to bring this band to Eugene and soon!

Top 3 Phish Shows

3) 9/2/12 • Commerce City, CO • Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (137^th show)

I: Cars Trucks Buses, AC/DC Bag > Down with Disease, Bathtub Gin, Nellie Kane, Sample in a Jar, Back on the Train, Rift, Free, Ride Captain Ride > Maze, Halley’s Comet > 46 Days > Possum

II: Sand > Ghost > Piper > Twenty Years Later, The Lizards, Harry Hood

E: Character Zero

I was surrounded by friends for my final Phish show of the year a few rows up in the stands at about mid-field Page side.  So when “CTB” started up all seemed well with the world.  The energy of the show just did not let up with “Bag > DwD” even though just as “DwD” was about to take off the boys remembered it was the first set and reeled it back in.  It didn’t matter though as the “Gin” that came next had a very nice jam for the first set and it was only the fourth song.  After some down tunes things got started back up again with “Train” and didn’t stop until the end of the set.  “Rift” continued to build the wave up even more before “Free” gave everyone a collective slap upside the head with Mike leading the way during his bass bomb segment.

When Blue Image’s “Captain” dissolved into “Maze” I was sure the set was over, but oh no.  I had a moment where I thought Halley’s might be jammed out to close the set but instead it flowed to an out-of-nowhere transition into a rockin’ “46 Days.”  Ok, this had to be it I thought to myself again, but the answer was no once more as a high energy “Possum” closed things down in fine fashion.  While this set had no major break out jams it was extremely solid and energetic throughout setting the stage for a barn burner.

“Sand” was the stuff of legend passing the 24-minute mark and featuring three distinct sections.  The first was a funky dance party that morphed into an ambient soundscape before closing down into a rocking grove that led smoothly into “Ghost.”  The “Ghost” jam started out slowly then picked some up steam before melting into a high energy and up tempo “Piper.”  The outro jam of “Piper” spaced out into the first “20 Years” of 2012 which was such a fitting landing spot for this near 55-minute section that my jaw was on the floor.

But it wasn’t over yet as my first “Lizards” since 8/7/10 came next and juiced everyone up for a trip to Gamehendge.  It was an unreal sequence of music that could only be capped by the majesty of “Harry Hood.”  In between the end of the set and encore we were debating what they could possibly do next to cap off this amazing run of shows and “Zero” was mentioned by exactly no one.  A lame encore didn’t affect anyone’s mood on the way to the lot after such a monster of a show.  As we hurried back to the car to beat the traffic the debate was already raging about which night was the best with all three being viable candidates.  You’ll have to check them all out and make your own call…

2) 8/19/12 • San Francisco, CA • Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (134^th show)

I: Crowd Control, Party Time, Axilla I, Reba, Free, Mound, Walk Away, NICU, Back on the Train, Gotta Jibboo, Roggae, David Bowie

II: Crosseyed and Painless > Light > Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley > Crosseyed and Painless > Theme from the Bottom > Rocky Top, Boogie on Reggae Woman, Meatstick, Bug, You Enjoy Myself

E: Ride Captain Ride, Tweezer Reprise

For the third night in the Bay we had seats a few rows from the rail slightly off center Fish side.  Much thanks to Brian, Mario and the entire Portland crew that welcomed us into their seats and got down with us all night long.  I thought my first “Crowd Control” since 4/15/04 was an odd opener but when my fifth “Party Time” (Indio, Miami, Telluride & Tahoe) came next I knew instantly it had to be ON.  “Axilla” rocked out and amped up the energy in the tiny 7,000 person room before “Reba” took us all on a magical 13+ minute ride into bliss with lighting director Chris Kuroda completely on point throughout.  There was even a slight “Dave’s Energy Guide” tease by Trey around the 9-minute mark letting us know he was in a playful mood. 

The middle of the set was solid yet unspectacular with Trey teasing “Tweezer Reprise” during the outro of the James Gang’s “Walk Away.”  Business got started back up again with a “Jibboo” that went outside the box into ambient territory before a rocking conclusion.  “Roggae” filled the ballad slot but did a lot more with a jam that seemed like it was about to get way out there before it eventually came back around.  The closing “Bowie” also packed a little more punch than normal with a wild peaking jam that had the crowd sweating their collective asses off.  In retrospect the closing 30 minutes of the final three songs should have provided a clue for what was to come next.

I always love the Talking Heads’ “C&P” especially when Fishman drops the open lyrics “Lost my SHAPE/trying to act casual.”  “C&P” seemed like it was going to be your standard awesome second set opener until the jam took a turn toward the dark side around the 9-minute mark.  Page started the jam with some keyboard acrobatics that led into a quiet ambient plane which then spaced out into “Light.”  The “Light” jam got right down to business with Trey taking the reins and leading the rest of the band out there into the stratosphere before Page took over exploring some softer textures that eventually ramped up to a filthy transition into Allen Toussaint’s “Sally.”  “Sally” absolutely set the place off with some swamp funk after the vocal breakdown.  But the money shot was yet to come as Trey led the band into an epic peak that seemed like the end until it folded into “C&P Reprise.”  WHAT?!?!  Although brief the boys managed to pull off yet another segue into “Theme.”  When “Theme” is your breather song you know you’re in the middle of a great set.  Then they somehow managed to morph “Theme’s” outro into “Rocky Top.” 

What in the fuck had just happened?  Looking around at everyone in the arena you could tell they just had their faces melted by 58+ minutes of old school who-knows-what’s-coming-next Phish.  I thought for sure a ballad was next, but nope the envelope funk of Stevie Wonder’s “Boogie On” led into some comic relief in the form of “Meatstick.”  It wasn’t until “Bug” that everyone could exhale but the moment didn’t last as the near 20 minutes of “YEM” practically imploded the place.  The “YEM” groove was so thick that Trey barely took a solo and instead put down his guitar and busted out some dance moves to Mike’s bass breakdown prior to the vocal jam.

As people sat there during the break in disbelief at what had just went down I was both zapped and hyped up at the same time.  So when “Ride Captain” started up I practically didn’t know what to do.  “Captain” is a song that Teri and I had been waiting on since we had to leave during 12/10/99’s encore to sell black bean and salsa quesadillas.  Needless to say it was the perfect topper to the night for us.  Stumbling out into the grassy park across the street from the venue there was nothing but smiles and hugs on the dewy grass.  What a night.

1) 8/31/12 • Commerce City, CO • Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (135^th show)

I: First Tube, Uncle Pen, Carini, Kill Devil Falls, You Enjoy Myself, Ocelot, Undermind

II: Runaway Jim, Farmhouse, Alaska, Chalk Dust Torture, Emotional Rescue* > Fuck Your Face

E: Grind, Meatstick

* last time played 9/30/00 (236 shows)

Ah to be back in the friendly confines of Dick’s where there’s plenty of space and fun for all.  We were about ¾ of the way back in the field just to Page side for the festivities with Brain and Angel.  When “First Tube” started up I was psyched and wondered why this tune wasn’t played more often as an opener.  My first version of Bill Monroe’s “Uncle Pen” since 12/31/99 was very welcome in the second slot.  Then “Carini” dropped and all hell broke loose.  “Carini” went way out there leaving the song’s structure in the rearview for some serious Type 2 exploration.  In a near 14-minute masterpiece the boys took us on a ride to bliss-land.  As the song was ending Brian and I shot each other knowing glances like “Holy shit, if that was only the third song what’s coming next?”

“KDF” was pretty standard but still high energy and in between songs Page said “We are so happy to be back in this place, thank you guys so much.  We love Dick’s, we do.”  To which the crowd responded by chanting “We love Dick’s!  We love Dick’s!”  And then it happened, like a lightning bolt no one expected we got a mid-first set “YEM.”  BOOM!  It was madness everywhere around us and when the vocal jam broke into them riffing on the “We love Dick’s” theme by inserting each band members first name before “loves Dick’s” and finishing with “We all love Dick’s” it was pure Phish. 

The “Ocelot” that came next was standard good but my-oh-my the “Undermind” that followed was anything but standard.  Going places no one in the giant soccer stadium imagined it could over 15+ minutes it was easily the best “Undermind” ever played, and it’s not even close really.  When it ended no one could believe what they just had witnessed.  From the raging “First Tube” opener to the mid-set “YEM” to two ridiculous jams in “Carini” and “Undermind;” and all in the first set, wow.

During set break Brian was informed by some cool fellows from Minnesota next to us that the first letter of each song spelled F.U.C.K.Y.O.U.  Now us not being as sleuthy as we should have been thought the second set might spell out Romney or Republicans being that it was election time and we were all liberals.  So opening with “Runaway” did nothing to dissuade us, and what a “Jim” it was.  Spanning 20 minutes and moving through about four or five distinct sections the “Jim” jam was some old school stuff.  When “Farmhouse” came next Brian let us in on the “Fuck Your Face” prank which I was too lost in Phish heaven to even realize.

Now “Farmhouse” is not normally a second slot song but it was well played and the spaced out ending had everyone thinking Richard Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (aka “2001”) was coming next but in yet another Phishy prank they instead went with “Alaska.”  This has got to be one of the most hated Phish songs out there but on this night they could do no wrong and delivered an above average version of the tune.  Then it was time for liftoff once more with one of the two best versions (along with 7/10/99) of “Chalk Dust” ever played.  In 18+ minutes the boys took everyone on a ride into the stratosphere before landing the space ship, but another surprise was still in store.

Everyone was sure “Esther” was next, I mean what else could it be?  Ah, never underestimate the Phish from Vermont.  Instead they busted out the Rolling Stones’ “Emotional Rescue” for only the fifth time ever and first since 9/30/00 in Vegas (I was there).  It wasn’t a stellar version but hearing Mike croon the lyrics in that falsetto was still great.  They vamped the outro a bit and slid into, what else, but “Fuck Your Face” for the seventh time ever.  While not on the same level as my first one in Alpine on 8/14/10 I was NOT complaining.

There wasn’t much discussion between the four of us about what the encore might be since we were still trying to digest what just went down.  So in the final Phishy prank in a night full of them they told us to “Grind” the “Meatstick” after fucking our faces.  On the way back to car, the drive back to the hotel and hanging out afterwards we couldn’t utter enough superlatives about this show.  Everyone we talked to, whether friends or strangers, all wore the same shit eaten grin like “Yeah, I just saw IT.”  Even the next morning people wouldn’t listen to the previous night because they still wanted to bask in the glow.  

As for me I felt very lucky to have seen the best two shows of the year out of my paltry total of seven.  Who’s ready for 2013?!?!

> Brooklyn, New York’s Dopapod is the recipient of this year’s highly coveted and prestigious NBA-Jam band on the rise award.  If you check them out I promise you won’t be disappointed.