PINK TALKING FISH returns to the Teragram Ballroom - Feb 1st!
There are so many things to say about this band. Where to start?? Well, the obvious, they are a fusion band that plays Phish, Talking Heads, and Pink Floyd. At least that’s how they started, what they’ve evolved into is a super charged version of all three bands, with insane transitions, and surprise covers of all sorts of genres.
If you’re from the east coast PTF has been an institution of the Jam Scene for many years. Hosting countless after shows of Phish concerts all around the east coast, most recently in NYC during Phish’s annual NYE run at MSG. While they don’t play the west coast as frequently, recently the group has made an effort to spread their unique jam style to the Pacific Coast. They’re also scheduled to play in April at Skull and Roses in Ventura, along some of the best Dead inspired bands in the world.
Back to this Saturday Feb 1st at Teragram. A recent lineup change last year has vaulted this band into another stratosphere, especially their Phish songs. The band replaced guitarist Dave Brunyak, with Cal Kehoe. Cal, has an impressive connection to Phish. He has collaborated and played with Tom Marshall (Trey’s writing partner) in a band called “The Amfibian All Stars.” Cal is a wizard, and his addition has made the Phish songs standout. He’s also been selected to play the Official VIP Pre show of various Phish concerts as a solo artist, where he loops multiple sounds to create amazing covers (catch it if you get a chance). He channels Trey’s technique while adding his on style. I caught this new PTF lineup last March at the Teragram, and I was melted away. He’s added such a dynamic to the band, and the Phish tunes just explode.
Eric Gould holds it down on Bass and lead vocals, while Richard James plays keyboards and also shares lead vocal duties. Zack Burwick is on drums, and you can tell the three of these guys have played 100’s of shows together. Ripping jams, crazy transitions, interweaving songs you didn’t even know could be woven together. I guess they’re a “cover” band by definition, but they make the songs their own. Check them out LA, you tell me…does Pink Floyd’s ‘On The Run’ fit perfectly into the middle of Phish’s YEM?
Does a segue of Run Like Hell (Floyd)>Making Flippy Floppy(Heads)>Piper(Phish)>Run Like Hell sound like fun???
Or how about their idea of a Mike’s Groove… Mike’s Song(Phish)>Have A Cigar(Floyd)>Once In A Lifetime(Heads)>Weekapaug Groove(Phish)
This Saturday at Teragram. 9PM. Don’t miss it!
Opening Act: The Alligators. To my knowledge The Alligators are the only local Grateful Dead cover band that focuses on Pigpen era Dead music, and it’s as amazing as it sounds. Do you enjoy blues music? Do you like ripping harmonica? Do you enjoy whiskey? Then this is the band for you. Saw them after Dead and Co. at the Hollywood Bowl last year. Their energy is off the charts. Their frontman Pete “Pen” Carona is a whirlwind, giving an over the top performance, that has to be seen to describe. Words truly don’t do it justice. Enjoy!