Page McConnell’s Art of Improvisation

As some longtime Phish fans may remember, Page McConnell’s senior study at Goddard was titled The Art of Improvisation. While bandmate Trey Anastasio’s thesis, The Man Who Stepped into Yesterday saga is widely circulated, for many years McConnell’s study has been hard to find. However, the re-invigorated Phish.net recently located the document on Google groups and has made it available to fans looking for their fix before Hampton. Please click here if you wish to read McConnell’s thoughts on the art of improvisation.

Ryan Adams Nearly Performs Second Stealth Gig

As previously reported, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals celebrated the release of their new studio album Cardinology yesterday with a secret show at New York’s Cafelect. Word on the message boards had Adams and The Cardinals scheduled to follow up their cafet with a second performance outside the nearby Elizabeth Art Gallery, but the group was forced to cancel
that set due to inclement weather. Still eager to perform, however, a second, private gig was scheduled for later that evening at a SoHo loft.

‘I think I am neurotic, I spend too much time alone,’ Adams posted on his blog between gigs. ‘Maybe I’ll nap, gonna set an alarm and then do the secret electric gig.’ The party took place as planned, though those in attendance noticed The Cardinals’ instruments were clearly set up for a something more akin to an
acoustic show. According to reports, the crowd consisted primarily of the band, industry associates and Adams’ friends including musician Jesse Malin. The singer/songwriter appeared around 10:30 PM, sharply dressed in a jacket and tie and mingled for approximately 30 minutes. However, Adams left the party without performing. Earlier in the day, Adams had posted a message about not feeling well. Additionally, last week,
Adams was forced to cut his performance in Atlanta short due severe voice issues. That said, Adams also announced on his blog that The Cardinals had broken up only to reunite for a less-than-secret gig on the moon. That show
didn’t happen either.

The Apollo Sunshine Experience

Apollo Sunshine will proclaim its love for Jimi Hendrix over three dates, starting this evening. Tonight at New York’s Mercury Lounge, the group will perform as the Apollo Sunshine Experience. At this show the group will be ‘taking their love of Jimi Hendrix and his psychedelia to an even higher level, performing which means dressing up like Jimi, as well as playing his songs.’ Following this evening’s gig, the Experience will travel to Cambridge, MA on Thursday (Middle East Downstairs) and then Northampton, MA on Friday (Iron Horse).

Post-Panic Outformation

Former Widespread Panic guitar tech Sam Holt may well reunite with members of that band in some capacity over the coming weekend. While Panic is in New Orleans for two shows at the UNO Lakefront Arena on Friday and Saturday, Holt’s group Outformation will perform two late night gigs in NOLA. On Friday, Outformation will appear at the New Orleans House of Blues and then on Saturday will move over to the Maple Leaf. Then, looking ahead to late November, Outformation is scheduled for a post-Panic gig on Friday November 28 at Asheville’s Orange Peel.
This evening, Widespread Panic concludes its two night run in Miami at the Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater, while Outformation’s next gig is on Thursday at Chelsea’s in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.