I’m Trying to Catch Some Kind of Spark

On Saturday, May 14, 2016, I headed to the South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival and Art Walk to catch Glen Phillips playing on a free outdoor stage. This was a rare chance to hear his solo music with a backing band, as usually I catch him solo acoustic. The band was made up of Paul Bryan on bass (who is producing Glen’s forthcoming album Swallowed by the New), Chris Bruce on guitar, and Abe Rounds on drums. Singer Khäsy Modisette provided background vocals. There were a few calls from the crowd for songs from Glen’s band Toad the Wet Sprocket, but he mostly stuck to his solo catalog, apart from the two Toad hits he always plays, one song off the last Toad album, one WPA song, and a concessionary playing of “Nanci” for someone in the crowd. This is one of the few times I’ve gotten to stand up and (sort of) dance to Glen’s solo tunes. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the new songs fleshed out with a full band and am so eagerly awaiting the release of the new album (anticipated in Fall 2016). The highlight of the night had to be the last song, “Held Up,” which is a different sort of sound from Glen, but so rhythmically wonderful.

The set list for the night:

1. “The Next Day” from Mr. Lemons
2. “California Wasted” from New Constellation (Toad the Wet Sprocket)
3. “Leaving Old Town” from Live at the Belly Up, expected on Swallowed by the New
4. “True” from Winter Pays for Summer
5. “All I Want” from fear (Toad the Wet Sprocket)
6. “Baptistina” from Live at the Belly Up, expected on Swallowed by the New.
   Glen introduced this song by saying “Sometimes it’s bad for the dinosaurs, but it’s good for the mammals.”
7. “Gather” from Winter Pays for Summer
8. “The Easy Ones” from Live at the Belly Up, expected on Swallowed by the New
9. “Walk On the Ocean” from fear (Toad the Wet Sprocket)
10. “Everything But You” from Mr. Lemons
11. “Amnesty” expected on Swallowed by the New, used a line from this song for the post title
12. “When Doves Cry” Prince cover
13. “Grief & Praise” from Live at the Belly Up, expected on Swallowed by the New
14. “My Criminal Career” expected on Swallowed by the New
15. “Always Have My Love” from Works Progress Administration (WPA)
16. “Nanci” from Dulcinea (Toad the Wet Sprocket), he played this one solo acoustic
17. “Go” expected on Swallowed by the New
18. “Held Up” new song, not sure whether or not it will be on this next album

Catch a spark of inspiration, validation, celebration, imagination, and contemplation, as well as a measure of vulnerability when you listen to Glen’s solo music.