6-20-02 - PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ

Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2002 07:24:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jared
Subject: Trey Holmdel 6-20-02 Review

This was my first time ever seeing Trey and his band,
and I must say, it was quite awesome.  Trey looked
like he was having a blast as the ringleader of the
show.  With hand signals and ques, he shaped and
formed the jams into all sorts of weird combinations
exploring different avenues of jamming that having a
10 piece band allows him to do.  And about the band,
they are TIGHT.  Very cool.

The first set was amazing.  I was really pleased with
the jams that developed out of the Trey studio album
songs.  I remember during one song (might have been
Night Speaks?) trey was rocking out so much, and just
bending the strings so far it sounded like a Duane
Allman slide solo.  The jams also turned in a trippy
direction, once in particular Trey "turned off"
everyone in his band but his keyboard player and they
just stared at each other playing this trippy "On The
Run"-ish jam. (am I mistaken or did a perhaps jealous
sax player try to "wake up" trey and his keyboard
player out of the jam?)  The second set was really
jammed out with lots of experimentation.  I was glad
they played Drifting.  It was a nice night and hearing
"we've got the moon and the stars abooove" was great. 
I was a little disappointed they didn't play Mr.
Completely, which was my favorite song off the album,
and I also heard that it was sick live.  Oh well, the
encore would make up for it.

After the band left the stage, and some enthusiastic
applause, Trey returned to the stage with just his
acoustic.  Everyone was very happy to hear those first
few notes of an acoustic Bathtub Gin, which was great
fun as the audience became an instrument with everyone
singing "doooo do do do do....." for the outro (the
singing spilled over into the parking lots afterwards
as well).  An acoustic Chalkdust Torture followed, in
which Trey amusingly touched upon Paint It Black,
Stash, and what I'VE been told was some Floyd?  I'm
the biggest floyd fan I know, and I didn't catch it. 
I assume my ears would have perked up at the first
chord of floyd played by my favorite guitar player,
but alas, I might have been too stoned to catch it.

All in all, it was a really great night, and a
terrific first Trey show for me.  I really dug the
band, and it was just really cool to see Trey having
such a good time.  Bravo!

- Jared

Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 12:18:39 EDT
From: Davedeener@aol.com
Subject: holmdel review

This too is my first review and also probably my last. I know alot of people 
are either in Tennessee or on their way, but Phish fans should know not to 
skip out on the garden state arts center.( still can't call it pnc bank) 
Phish has always put on great shows there, and Trey did not let me down. I'm 
not going to say that this band is better than Phish because the probably are 
not, but the are definitely tighter. Trey is an orchestra conductor. Eveyone 
looks to him for all of the changes. He seems so happy as the true leader of 
a band. Not to mention a really good one. After the last tour i heard lots of 
complaints about this band. Well if you're still complaining, just stay away. 
This band is as talented as Phish if not more. No they are not changing the 
setlists too much each night, but it is still completely different from any 
other show you saw. So if you are complaining, don't come. More room on the 
lawn for me to dance on. If you need the setlist you know where to find it. 
Oh yeah. Check out those encores.
DAVE


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