Newish fan, what must I hear?

[Weekapauquebus]

I'm a big Timmy P buff, seen a few solo shows and a whole bunch of Kung Fu over the past couple years, but my Breakfast/PB knowledge is more limited. Can someone give me a quick rundown of some really good shows I should check out, and any classic songs that really go places. I've got the notion that Rufus, Buquebus, Beef Barley, Mayfly and Synergy serve as pretty solid vehicles for extended jams, but if anyone can give me an idea of the "different types" of songs that help develop setlists or any Breakfast wisdom that might give me some more insight into the anatomy of a show/tour. I realize this could sound kind of ambiguous, but I'm a big Phish/Dead/SCI/Kimock/Jimmy Herring Band fan; and this kind of fan knowledge/insight is what makes touring bands more exciting. Let me know if I didn't make any sense at all just now.

[simpletwistupdon]

I can give you my list... i missed a big chunk of time following them so hopefully others can fill in those years. I will limit (most of) my list to shows that I've attended though:

- First off, I would make sure you hit all the Fonghoulish Freakouts... just because you should:
I - http://archive.org/details/pb1999-10-30.flac16
II - http://archive.org/details/pb00-10-27.shnf
III - http://archive.org/details/pb2001-11-02.flac16
IV - http://archive.org/details/pb2002-11-01.flac16
V - http://archive.org/details/pb2003-10-31.flac16
VI - http://archive.org/details/breakfast2004-10-29.flac16
VII - http://archive.org/details/breakfast2005-10-29.483.flac16
VIII - http://archive.org/details/breakfast2006-10-27.483.flac16
IX - http://archive.org/details/breakfast2007-10-27.matrix.flac16
X - http://archive.org/details/breakfast2008-11-01.matrix.flac16
XI - http://archive.org/details/breakfast2009-10-31.matrix
XII - http://archive.org/details/breakfast2010-10-29.h4n
XIII - http://archive.org/details/breakfast2011-10-28.MatrixAKG483

- This is one of my first shows (that was recorded), pretty much sealed my fate:
http://archive.org/details/pb2001-02-17.flac16

- Duece album CD release party with Jeff Pevar as a guest:
http://archive.org/details/pb2001-08-23.flac16

- Complete 'Morrison Hotel' in Set II:
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2005-08-19.483.flac16

- Complete 'Sgt. Pepper's' in Set II:
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2005-08-20.483.flac16

- First show I caught in quite some time (Power Trio with Jordan as guest towards the end):
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2007-04-06.483.flac16

- Matt Oestricher's 1st full show on keys:
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2007-08-23.483.flac16

- Ron Spears last show on bass:
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2007-12-31.483.flac16

- Chris Deangelis's first show on bass:
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2008-01-11.nt3.flac16

- Jordan's official return to keys for the Breakfast (a must listen):
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2008-11-29.nt3.flac16

- My absolute favorite Metropolis intro:
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2009-07-31.FLAC16

- A bunch of new tunes in this show:
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2011-01-21

- The residency just before the hiatus:
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2011-09-05.SoundboardMatrixAKG
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2011-09-12.matrix
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2011-09-19.mk012.flac16
http://archive.org/details/breakfast2011-09-26.mk012.flac16


I know I'm missing a lot of good GOOD shows... but these are some highlights for me just to get yourself started.  It's alot but it should keep you occupied for a bit, and hopefully some others will chime in by then...

[Mark]

Nice work Donny!

[simpletwistupdon]

Nice work Donny!

thanks mark! feel free to pitch in any dates you can think of and ill look up the aud links if they're available

[Mark]

Pretty much anything at Sullys or Porters were stellar IMO.

[Klout]

Yea its hard to go wrong with any show from.... Beardslee Castle, Cafe Zacquor, Red Square, River Street Jazz Cafe, The Electric Company, Stone Church, Iron Horse, Wheelhouse Tavern, Toads...

[frolfer]

I wholeheartedly agree with every post so far. With a band like the Breakfast who jams and improvises, you are going to get a whole slew of different answers and that is the beautiful part of all this discussion. You really can't go wrong.

As far as shows you must hear, the year 2001 immediately comes to mind. I don't know what it is about this year. Maybe its the abundance of crystal clear audience/sbd matrix recordings and the crazy, diverse setlists. Add to that the exuberance of youth and being a part of something that has some real energy and momentum and potential and power! Got damn they do some sweet, sweet jamming. Some notables:
5-5-01, Baker Quad, UMASS. Excellent show all around. 7-26/27-01, Holyoke and then Camp Creek. The band is riding high on a crest with a whole summer full of awesome shows. 12-7-01, Danbury, CT. A show short on songs and long on jams. What more can you ask for? Epic performances all.

But there are great shows in every single year that this band has existed. Seriously. Sample different years and you will hear different sounds because of different lineups and just by the nature of playing experimental music. 

Yet I digress. Some more great shows to check out:
4-5-02 Powder Hollow Barn. Great show and just looking at the setlist gets me a little excited. 6-15-03. Family Jam. Just listen. 6-29-03 Jellyphish Lounge Houston, TX. A very unique sounding show. A different spin on your daily Breakfast. Someday I will mess around with the files that are on the archive and boost the levels.
Turkey Tour November 2004 are all solid shows. 8-7-05 Family Jam. Definitely check the new multitrack version  on the archive.
I love the west coast tour in March of 2006. Very nice run of shows in September of 2007 with then-new keys player Matty O. 11-28/29-08 the return of the Branch are must hear!

I will post more as I think about this. Go and explore the archive. I'm sorry I didn't link each show but I'm hoping it will be fun for you to go and look around at setlists and sample some shows.

http://archive.org/details/PsychedelicBreakfast
http://archive.org/details/TheBreakfast

[simpletwistupdon]

weekapauquebus... found anything to your liking yet?

NYE gigs are also a good end of the year wrap up of any band...

2003

2004

2005

2007

2008

[boombox]

Good call on the FF and NYE shows. I also seem to remember Timmy's birthday in 2004 or 2005  @ Cafe Zaq was a good 'un.

[Weekapauquebus]

Thanks for all the feedback! I've been worshipping 11-01-2002 and 12-31-2008. I basically downloaded every Toads place, Sully's, and Acoustic Cafe show. Can someone maybe give me a list of the biggest jam vehicles so I know how to navigate better. Like which jams are typically extended. There's on track from 11-01-2002 titled "Halloween Jam" and i've been listening to it non-stop. Also am I crazy in thinking DeAngelis blows Ron Spears out of the water? I don't really have the best perspective to judge, but Dangle is just so nasty.

[frolfer]

I was at 12-31-08 and it certainly is a phenomenal show. I had a blast in late '08 going to shows.

Some tunes that really get out there in terms of jams: Buquebus, Synergy, Tunage, May Fly, Rufus, Overexposure, GBFBITS, Gravity, Rush. Many songs can really jam out but stay within the realms of their parent song. Some stretch so far that you find yourself forgetting what song you were listening to they are so deep. This is a cursory list, I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting.

Dangle IS supa nasty. He came into the fold as a better singer and player, IMO. He has some great songs and I bet he has a bunch that we've never heard. I think I prefer Chris but I love Ron as well. He was here at the beginning and I believe he basically learned bass on the job from Tim. Kind of like Phil Lesh learning bass on the job with Jerry and the GD. I could be wrong about this. Either way, they are both fantastic and make this band what they are today. They both are high on my list of favorite bassists!

I'm glad you are enjoying the tunage Weekabuquebus! 

[simpletwistupdon]

I was at 12-31-08 and it certainly is a phenomenal show. I had a blast in late '08 going to shows.

Some tunes that really get out there in terms of jams: Buquebus, Synergy, Tunage, May Fly, Rufus, Overexposure, GBFBITS, Gravity, Rush. Many songs can really jam out but stay within the realms of their parent song. Some stretch so far that you find yourself forgetting what song you were listening to they are so deep. This is a cursory list, I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting.

Hard Luck Harry is another monster on frequent occasions, Metropolis, Mooboo's, Psygn, Eschers Part II, Beef Barley also have the potential to be heavy hitters ... the scary thing is, they can basically stretch almost any song out of their catalog at will.  I would venture to say there are only a few songs that have never broken the mold.

[frolfer]

I was at 12-31-08 and it certainly is a phenomenal show. I had a blast in late '08 going to shows.

Some tunes that really get out there in terms of jams: Buquebus, Synergy, Tunage, May Fly, Rufus, Overexposure, GBFBITS, Gravity, Rush. Many songs can really jam out but stay within the realms of their parent song. Some stretch so far that you find yourself forgetting what song you were listening to they are so deep. This is a cursory list, I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting.

Hard Luck Harry is another monster on frequent occasions, Metropolis, Mooboo's, Psygn, Eschers Part II, Beef Barley also have the potential to be heavy hitters ... the scary thing is, they can basically stretch almost any song out of their catalog at will.  I would venture to say there are only a few songs that have never broken the mold.

I knew you would have my back, kid!

And Weekaqueeb, definitely listen to BreakFEST and the Shire(9/5/10), the Acoustic Cafe residency in April/'11 and the Stella Blue residency in Sept/'11. FusionFest was pretty dope too!

[simpletwistupdon]

I knew you would have my back, kid!

You know it!

[JHamel]

11-13-2009, Mill Street.   2nd set = Scrambled Brains