May 29, 2009

Plan B to open the show has a short type 1 jam. Triumph does virtually nothing for me here. The jam in Spacebird begins with the band in 6/4 time, and this section goes basically nowhere. They eventually shift to 4/4 and around the 11:00 mark, Magner and Barber start getting a little out there, and within a minute or two this is a full-blown psychedelic dance jam. This psychedelic section lasts until around 14:30 when Barber starts playing a rise/fall riff, and this opens up into an airy section with Marc playing MIDI keyboard. Magner and Allen add some great electronic textural effects to this, and this jam has a very unique feel to it. After the switch to the Cyclone track, the band begins an 8-minute long build into Cyclone. I’ve seen this frequently lauded as an “all-time” peak into Cyclone. I’m not sure I agree. It’s not bad, but this just doesn’t peak nearly as hard as some of the other jams into Cyclone, including others in 2009. The Cyclone jam quickly shifts downtempo into a dub jam, and while I thought a lot of this was filler, at 18:50 Magner busts out the pan flute patch, and this turns into a great, exploratory dub jam. It’s crazy how one patch can completely change the feel of a jam like this. They eventually switch back to a four-on-the-floor jam and it’s clear they’re headed back to Spacebird. The rest of this is fine.

The Morph to open the second set is long and fantastic. The first 10+ minutes of this jam have a ton of Magner, and when they shift uptempo into a four-on-the-floor jam, there’s even more Magner, along with a great overall theme from the band. At 13:45 Magner just goes absolutely insane playing a rapid-fire sixteenth note melody that he carries for several measures as Barber plays more rhythm guitar. Almost feels like they wanted to hit the Morph ending here but decided against it and went elsewhere. Around the 15:44 mark the band shifts into a new theme, and Brownstein switches to MIDI keyboard almost immediately thereafter. The next several minutes don’t really do it for me, though I do like that there’s a lot of digital stuff going on here between Brownstein and Allen. Allen has a fantastic array of e-drums over the top of his breakbeat, and they at least seem to get on a nice theme around the 23:00 minute mark. These last few minutes are fairly solid as they figure out how to drop into Caves. Overall, really fantastic version of Morph. The Vassillios jam feels about as generic and meandering as a jam out of Vassillios could get. This feels like it’s headed to Helicopters or something similar, but instead the band pulls back and shifts to a more minor key around the 2:00 mark in Shadow. They start playing the “song” at 2:22, and are done by 2:50. They don’t even really play the second “half” of Shadow, so technically this is an unfinished version. From here, they go immediately into an ending jam for Confrontation. Weird. The Buddha jam has some really cool stuff from Magner, using a gated patch. However, this only lasts a few minutes before they head into a big ending peak. I blame Brownstein here for tipping his hand too early. That said, this peak is really great. Hope is jamless. The Crystal Ball jam is a little “funkier” than I would typically like, but around the 5:15 mark, Magner starts using this great arp that’s initially in the background, but starts coming more to the forefront of the jam over the following minute. At times it almost sounded like they were going to head into the beginning of I-Man, but obviously they do not. As this build continues, Barber and Magner sort of gel into a singular sound and this has a great psychedelic effect. Very solid ending to a good show.

Highlights: Spacebird*, Cyclone*, Morph**, Buddha, Crystal Ball

"Living in the past but reaching for the stars"

Everyone is familiar with these Colorado shows and with good merit. Gonna give my 2c worth like it's the 2nd or 3rd time hearing this show when in reality it might be 30+ There is definitely some extra kool-aid in the punch tonight. I adore the Ogden and with a $20, talk to Jeff at the side entrance. Skip that. This show is better than RR but both are fantastic IMO.

• Triumph ~> Spacebird ~> Cyclone ~> matingcall [greatest section of the Biscuits in the 1st half of 2009...at least] {I}

• Triumph comes out with some fierce Brownstein energy. He's ready, the tank is full and get me a root beer when you're in there will you? thanks buddy. the halfway "jam" is quite weird but very cool as Marc's bass lays down great carpeting while Mr. Mags swirls some psychedelic sounds until more cohesiveness prevails with more or less an 80's synth jam where we find ourselves getting ready for the handoff to the alien abduction.

• while not as good as my favorite Spacebird from June 30 (09) in C-Bus (wow), this one is special; the gravy gets prepared with a simple kick drum and a terrific beat by the monk of funk Allen the Andromedan minimally creates the frame for the gorgeous painting they are beginning to create. The vocals come in a little early but this is Spacebird and the meat is the jam and the jams are good. For part (a) it gets interesting as a mf near the halfway point. Just Marc & Allen. A little D&B jam when Jon joins in with beautiful tapestry, then Mags spreads little specs of light all over the room sonically...in my mind's eye I see planets, constellations and wormholes. Full on psychedelic. I hope you got electric tonight boys! This is perfect. Chill not boring. The anticipation. Do we love the Bisco anticipation pre-jam or what!? A cool middle-eastern flavored jam is on and Mags is perfection. This bird is flying!!

• Cyclone is great here as it doesn't present itself as a complete 180 from the Spacebird vibe but instead extends it and brings it to a new level, sort of like putting warm fudge overtop your french vanilla Hagen Daas. This one remains hectic, trippy, distorted and intense, all the good Cyclones are not "right in the head" :)
  at 5 minutes or so Barber gets DOWN! nice solo with perfect assistance. We are officially in flight. This jam might be the highlight of the night. This section is for sure.
  yes, that famous hook comes at around 9 minutes...only halfway through the tune btw! OK. This is nuts. In 26 years of loving this band, I will never understate the joy they give me. I will always fist pump, grin it and spin it like it's 1996 at the Wetlands in November and they are playing the tune "Patchcord" aka "Connective Blues" The final 8 minutes or so is just beautiful music. Marc and Allen really get a nice slow tempo groove here. The soundboard turns into an audience tape with so many happy fans coming through. Ending flute jam takes us back into..

• matingcall - we have 9 minutes to finish up this monumental section; what shall happen? Allen and Jon lay down a powerful suggestion, I hope the others take it. Yep it's a deal. Very pretty jam here (2:30 mins +) this is truly filthy. How did I miss these shows!? oh yeah...kicking smack is a process not to be completed at a Bisco show preferably. this part [b] is all about Jon MF Barber!!!! (mostly). "_AND I FOUND PEACE IN THE OGDEN ROOM" Fn' INCREDIBLE!!!! I am humbled by their genius'.

{II}

• Morph (note: they slice the song with an audience source a few times; a little annoying but gratitude always prevails)- this could be the best Morph to ever open a set. Even in another position, this one is bananas. the opening jam is tight. A little western here, a little post-rock there, some prog rock and more. Jon is incredible in this version. Fun, happy and very dance-friendly. You know when Allen quadruples up on the snare that we are onto another level and sure enough it gets even better. Every 3-4 minutes the grooves get mightier. Halfway in and everyone is in a frenzy. Magner performs a really original and nicely place jam/solo towards the end. Terrific use of all those toys he has. I have never seen a keyboardist use so many of his pedals, programs and various pieces as much and as well as Magner. Another level shall we say.

• Caves - standard version. short but sweet

• Vassillios - shave everything on my face but leave the neck...that's my chick magnet. on a night like this anything that isn't on the level of the show's monumental versions "seem" underwhelming. Smoke and mirrors. at 6 minutes give or take they launch. A nice xylophone textured groove gives us liftoff. Until Batman hits that snare it's official. It's the key that opens the door. There is definitely Betty Boop basslines in there and for a nice while, great stuff. At 11:45 Allen finally hits that snare and we're off. Magner and Marc are as one here in a wonderful pairing while Jon plays extended notes, a good listener will always let what sounds best come to the surface and grow. ~> tationConfron

• Confrontation - absolute perfection when choosing to play an inverted Confrontation here. it continues nicely from Vass pretty much in the same tempo and close enough in terms of the key and chords. Lots of terrific Confrontations in the summer of '09, June 3rd being one of them for sure. The disco funk jam in the middle is simply fantastic. Not hurried at all. This great jam crescendo's beautifully while Mags shoots lasers across the audience in George Duke fashion. Enormously great ending.

• Digital Buddha - only the Biscuits would jump into the mid section of Buddha here. The confidence is/was off the charts. From 8 minutes onward we get one of the funkiest jams of the night. EVERYONE is on, in the zone etc... this is serious fun.

• Hope - the boys are tired.

• perfect encore..really. A short but sweet Crystal Ball ~> Morph ending. The transition jam is very cool.

rating:: 9.0 / 10
( very much IMO, but I hope you guys still go back to this monsta')

^^ The Ogden Strain 2009 version ^^ [Tang Breath] Pure Joy. Tang Breath has 19-20% THC and 1% CBG. The giggles and overall well being are terrific and last a long while. Please get your fine self a 1/4 of this if it's around your neck of the woods.

Much, much love... Pace.