This pivotal end of summer celebration began on Friday at Aspen’s Buttermilk Mountain as Government Mule (with Dave Schools on bass and Rob Barraco on keys) took the stage at five p.m. Phil then played two phat sets with “Uncle John’s Band” standing out in the second set. Late night brought Deep Banana Blackout to the Double Diamond. When members of Dirty Dozen Brass Band joined them on stage, we suddenly had a Dirty Banana jam to contemplate. Saturday and Sunday brought Phil to Red Rocks with Ratdog and Willie Nelson opening, respectively. Very nice! Saturday’s show featured “‘Til the Morning Comes” and “Mason’s Children” in the first set. On Sunday we were treated to a wicked “I Am the Walrus” in the first and an “Unbroken > Wharf Rat > Terrapin > Again and Again > Terrapin” to open the second. Treats all around. We wrapped up the weekend at Quixote’s new location on South Broadway, where Garaj Mahal duly entertained the highly receptive late night crowd.
