From nator@earthlink.net Wed May 14 07:15:34 1997
Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 09:41:13 -0400
From: David Herman 
Subject: Re: phishman at jazz fest

	OK.  First off I want to say that the Galactic show at the mermaid 
lounge was one of the highlights of my Jazzfest trip.  This was my ninth 
straight Jazzfest and I have never seen Galactic before, but they have 
now vaulted to the top of my bands to be seen whenever they come around 
list.  They play a brand of New Orleans swamp funk that you rarely hear 
anyone from this decade play.  It seemed like about a third of the tunes 
they played were Meters covers and their originals are heavily Meter 
influenced as well.  The Rosemary's right after the one where my post 
was published(vol. 841) has info about where to find out more about this 
amazing funk band.

As for Fishman's performance, it seemed like it was totally unplanned 
both by Fishman and Galactic.  It turns out that my friend Blue (yes, 
that's his name) met Fishman at the Meters show that was a couple a 
blocks away and was the one who brought him over to the Mermaid Lounge 
to check out Galactic.  Even though there were maybe 150 people there, 
probably alot less than that, I didn't see Fishman there prior to the 
bass player announcing that they were bringing him up to the stage to 
sit in.  

Sissy Strut:  one of the most classic Meters stright funk numbers.  
Fishman, as great a drummer as he is, seemed confused at first about the 
structure of the song.  He was concentrating his gaze at the bass player 
watching for the changes, trying to get a feel for the groove.  After a 
minute he got it and then the band kind of broke down the jam to let 
Fishman go.  He never took a solo, per se, but there was a section of 
the jam where Fishman got a little more experimental than most drummers 
do playing this song.  Sissy Strut pretty much demands a solid funk beat 
and there really just isn't that much room for straying off of the norm. 
I would say that the pleasant surprise of seeing Fishman play in this 
environment was more special than his playing itself.  Being a huge fan 
of funk and New Orleans music and phish, this evening was an experience 
that I will never forget.  

The date was Sunday night into Monday morning May 4th-5th. (I think. I 
don't have a calandar in front of me)

I hope this review is what you wanted. I would remember more but I was 
partying pretty tough that night.

Thanks

Dave Herman