70 Volt Parade
Encyclopedia
70 Volt Parade was Trey Anastasio
's backing band in 2005, formed after the breakup of Phish
in August of the previous year. After writing and recording new material in late 2004 and early 2005, Anastasio began auditioning various musicians for his next project. This band essentially replaced Anastasio's first backup band
that was together in different forms from 1999 to 2004. 70 Volt Parade originally included Peter Chwazick on bass (later replaced by Tony Hall), Skeeto Valdez on drums (later replaced by Raymond Weber), Les Hall
on guitar and keyboards, and Ray Paczkowski
also on keyboards. In 2006, with Les Hall out of the lineup, and a new musical focus for Anastasio, the 70 Volt Parade name was dropped. Anastasio has since toured with this group under the name Trey Anastasio Band. http://www.treyanastasio.com/bands
, the band played songs from all points of Anastasio's solo career, which began in 1998. He also performed the Phish song "46 Days" with the new band on a regular basis, as well as songs from the supergroup
Oysterhead
. Also, unlike Anastasio's past bands, performances usually have an opening act. Anastasio and 70 Volt Parade have also served as an opening act for The Rolling Stones
and The Black Crowes
.
One of the highlights of the band's inaugural tour was the "Superjam" in New Orleans on April 30, 2005, which included special guests Mike Gordon
, Dave Matthews
, Cyril Neville
and Sunpie Barnes, among others.
Starting with the August 6, 2005 concert at Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater, shows featured Anastasio performing a solo acoustic set in the middle or end of each concert, instead of a traditional set break. Most of the songs performed during these sets were from the Phish
catalog. During the band's fall tour, the other three members of Phish
each made a guest appearance. Page McConnell
played with Anastasio at the Roseland Ballroom
in New York City
. Jon Fishman
and Mike Gordon
later performed at a show in Utica, New York
that was heavily promoted on Anastasio's website. McConnell and Fishman's appearances marked the first time either musician had performed with Anastasio in front of a live audience since Coventry.
, was cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Anastasio then scheduled a brief summer tour in its place.
's 2005 release, Shine
, marked the first release by Anastasio since the formation of the 70 Volt Parade. Although the group does not perform on the album, they appeared in the video for the album's title track, as well as on the bonus features on the video side of the album's Dual Disc. The album, unlike its predecessors by Trey Anastasio
& Phish
, was released on Columbia Records
. The switch of labels for Anastasio led to a delay in digital recordings of 2005 shows being available for sale on the Live Phish website.
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
's backing band in 2005, formed after the breakup of Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
in August of the previous year. After writing and recording new material in late 2004 and early 2005, Anastasio began auditioning various musicians for his next project. This band essentially replaced Anastasio's first backup band
Trey Anastasio (band)
Since 1998, Trey Anastasio, best known from Phish, has toured and recorded with several backup bands, including several side-projects organized and led by the guitarist and composer. While active, his bands did not officially have a name. Fans commonly referred to them as Trey Anastasio Band, or...
that was together in different forms from 1999 to 2004. 70 Volt Parade originally included Peter Chwazick on bass (later replaced by Tony Hall), Skeeto Valdez on drums (later replaced by Raymond Weber), Les Hall
Les Hall
Les Hall is an American composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter from Columbia, South Carolina, best known for his involvement in Crossfade and 70 Volt Parade, Trey Anastasio's backup band after the demise of Phish...
on guitar and keyboards, and Ray Paczkowski
Ray Paczkowski
Ray Paczkowski is a keyboardist from Burlington, Vermont. He graduated from high school in the fishing village of Chatham, Massachusetts. A former milkman, Ray is part of the Jazz trio Vorcza, but is best known for playing in various bands with Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio.-Bands:* Vorcza*...
also on keyboards. In 2006, with Les Hall out of the lineup, and a new musical focus for Anastasio, the 70 Volt Parade name was dropped. Anastasio has since toured with this group under the name Trey Anastasio Band. http://www.treyanastasio.com/bands
Music
While 70 Volt Parade primarily performed new material that Anastasio has written and recorded since the breakup of PhishPhish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, the band played songs from all points of Anastasio's solo career, which began in 1998. He also performed the Phish song "46 Days" with the new band on a regular basis, as well as songs from the supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Oysterhead
Oysterhead
Oysterhead is an alternative rock supergroup featuring bassist Les Claypool of Primus, guitarist Trey Anastasio of Phish and drummer Stewart Copeland of The Police, with all three providing vocals...
. Also, unlike Anastasio's past bands, performances usually have an opening act. Anastasio and 70 Volt Parade have also served as an opening act for The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
and The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
.
One of the highlights of the band's inaugural tour was the "Superjam" in New Orleans on April 30, 2005, which included special guests Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
, Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
, Cyril Neville
Cyril Neville
Cyril Neville , is a percussionist and vocalist who first came to prominence as a member of his brother Art Neville's funky New Orleans-based band, The Meters...
and Sunpie Barnes, among others.
Starting with the August 6, 2005 concert at Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater, shows featured Anastasio performing a solo acoustic set in the middle or end of each concert, instead of a traditional set break. Most of the songs performed during these sets were from the Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
catalog. During the band's fall tour, the other three members of Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
each made a guest appearance. Page McConnell
Page McConnell
Page Samuel McConnell is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as a songwriter and keyboardist with the American rock band Phish....
played with Anastasio at the Roseland Ballroom
Roseland Ballroom
The Roseland Ballroom is a multi-purpose hall, in a converted ice skating rink, with a colorful ballroom dancing pedigree, in New York City's theatre district, on West 52nd Street....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Jon Fishman
Jon Fishman
Jon Fishman is an American drummer best known for his work with the band Phish. He is credited with co-writing 19 Phish originals, 8 of them as a solo credit....
and Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
later performed at a show in Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
that was heavily promoted on Anastasio's website. McConnell and Fishman's appearances marked the first time either musician had performed with Anastasio in front of a live audience since Coventry.
Zooma Tour Cancellation
In the summer of 2005, Anastasio and 70 Volt Parade were scheduled to co-headline the festival-like Zooma Tour along with Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals. The tour, which featured an intensive schedule covering venues throughout the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, was cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Anastasio then scheduled a brief summer tour in its place.
Lineup Changes
- On July 24, 2005, at the 10,000 Lakes Festival10,000 Lakes FestivalThe 10,000 Lakes Festival was an annual four-day music festival in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, at the Soo Pass Ranch that was held since 2003. 10KLF is currently on hiatus due to financial losses and was not held in 2010. Its name refers to Minnesota's nickname, "The Land of 10,000 Lakes"...
, Tony Hall replaced Peter Chazwik on bass. Hall (no relation to guitarist Les Hall) had recently played with Trey as a member of Dave Matthews and Friends. Also, two backup singers were added, Jennifer Hartswick, from Anastasio's previous band and her childhood friend, Christina Durfee. - On November 18, 2005, Raymond Weber replaced Skeeto Valdez on drums. Both Weber and Tony Hall are members of Ivan NevilleIvan NevilleIvan Neville is a multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, and songwriter. He is the son of Aaron Neville and nephew to members of The Neville Brothers....
's Dumpstaphunk, a New Orleans funk outfit in the Neville tradition. - Also on the fall tour, the two female singers began playing horns on selected songs (Jen on trumpet and tuba and Christina on trombone). Hartswick had played trumpet and tuba, as well as sang in Anastasio's old bandTrey Anastasio (band)Since 1998, Trey Anastasio, best known from Phish, has toured and recorded with several backup bands, including several side-projects organized and led by the guitarist and composer. While active, his bands did not officially have a name. Fans commonly referred to them as Trey Anastasio Band, or...
. - The band also added Russell Remington, also from Trey's old band (and who performed with PhishPhishPhish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
on many occasions as a member of The Giant Country Horns) on saxophone and flute.
Record Label
Trey AnastasioTrey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
's 2005 release, Shine
Shine (Trey Anastasio album)
Shine is Trey Anastasio's fourth solo studio album, and his first release since the breakup of Phish in August 2004. Included in this release is new material written by Anastasio in late 2004 and early 2005. Shine also marks the first release by Anastasio apart from Elektra Records, as Anastasio...
, marked the first release by Anastasio since the formation of the 70 Volt Parade. Although the group does not perform on the album, they appeared in the video for the album's title track, as well as on the bonus features on the video side of the album's Dual Disc. The album, unlike its predecessors by Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
& Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, was released on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. The switch of labels for Anastasio led to a delay in digital recordings of 2005 shows being available for sale on the Live Phish website.