Episode 012: Magnaball Caspian

Brian R Brinkman
Aug 23, 2017 · 2 min read

In Episode 012, we discuss the peak jam from Magnaball, and one of the best jams from 2015: the 08/22/2015 Prince Caspian. This jam is so euphoric, and peaks with such unyielding energy, that it demanded a two-year-anniversary episode in its honor.

Following a blissful, and downright gorgeous Tweezer — a version not unlike the 08/01/1998 jam we featured in Episode 005 — the onset of Prince Caspian led many to groan. The critical Set II of the lone three-set Magnaball show had its share of highs — a beautiful 46 Days with a Two Versions of Me jam, and the aformentioned Tweezer — but was plagued by bookended, ill-placed takes of Backwards Down The Number Line, and now, Caspian. All worries were dashed the second Trey dropped out of G into CMajor and built the jam into a hysterically euphoric balls-to-the-wall, world-beating, life-saving, Rock peak. Not unlike the feeling one gets when their team wins a World Series on a spectacular late-inning hit, anyone in the field in Watkins Glen can attest to the energy the jam created.

Overall, this Prince Caspian seemed to summarize the brilliance of Magnaball. Coming at the end of a phenomenal Summer Tour, the jam, the show, and the tour was like a veteran pitcher, past his prime, twirling a dazzling string of August — October outings when everyone counted him out. The weekend is an embarrasment of riches — much like the recently concluded Baker’s Dozen — with deep jams, fluid sets, and expert song-selection crafting the most complete festival since IT. Highlights include: Simple, Bathtub Gin, Chalk Dust Torture, Ghost, No Men In No Man’s Land, 46 Days, Blaze On, Light, Cities, Martian Monster, Down With Disease, What’s The Use?, and the stunning, late-night Drive In Jam that’s probably the most listenable late-night set of their career. With rumors swirling of a return to Watkins Glen in 2018, how could you miss Festival 11 when a jam like this is possible?

Songs featured in this episode are:

The National: “Little Faith”

The Horrors: “Scarlet Fields”

Radiohead: “Daydreaming”

Sleater Kinney: “Surface Envy”

In addition, we discuss two new 2017 records we highly recommend: Golden Retriever: “Rotations,” and Ron Gallo: “Heavy Meta.”

Check us out on Spotify: Beyond The Pond Podcast Songs

You can find us on Twitter: @_beyondthepond, Medium: https://medium.com/beyond-the-pond, and/or send us an email: beyondthepondpodcast@gmail.com. Please leave us a review on iTunes!

We’ll be back on Tuesday, September 5 with Episode 013!

Until then, we’ll see you beyond the pond…

Beyond The Pond

Welcome to Beyond The Pond! We're two massive Phish fans who are using the music of Phish to introduce you to new and interesting music we think you'll love!

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Brian R Brinkman

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beyond the pond

Beyond The Pond

Welcome to Beyond The Pond! We're two massive Phish fans who are using the music of Phish to introduce you to new and interesting music we think you'll love!

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