Page McConnell preview

Page McConnell
Vic Theatre, Chicago
Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Page McConnell’s first solo album following the termination of Phish and the postponement of Vida Blue is all about beginning anew — though the past is involved as well.

Take your eyes away from the whopping 10:39 time elapse sitting next to the second track on Page McConnell (Legacy), “Heavy Rotation,” and you’ll still happen upon some familiar items. The names Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, and Trey Anastasio are near at hand, and speaking of hands, McConnell still favors a seventh chord on the piano when no others will do.

Unlike Anastasio’s Shine, which polarized all walks of Phisheads, McConnell isn’t out to reinvent his wheels. A good-time, white funk envelops nearly all of “Heavy Rotation” and “Close To Home,” though the limitations of his voice keep most of the melodies on the conservative side. Subtle electronics in “Maid Marian” and “Complex Wind” and the hip-hop beat on “Runaway Bride” prove he has kept his ear to the ground, but all told this is nothing to riot against or over — just lettin’ the good times keep rolling.

— Kevin Keegan

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly