Mike Gordon ended his weeklong tour here in the Upper Valley – a stone’s throw from where he resides in Vermont. When I arrived at the Lebanon Opera House there was the family vibe so often felt at Phish shows. The crowd was lingering around the entrance with the occasional person looking for their “miracle” ticket to the nearly sold out show.

Mike and the band played with vigor worthy of applause. The show was filled with thumping bass, long improvisational grooves, and tightly knit jams. Mike rarely offered typical jam-band fare and proved that unlike many other bands on the scene, he is willing to dabble in multiple genres and excel at all of them. 

During the song “Jaded” the band was locked into such a deep groove that ending it almost seemed out of the question. It was only appropriate, however, that the band played a few Phish songs. These included the fan favorite “Meat,” and two newer songs, “Middle of the Road” and “Sugar Shack.”

The low part of the evening came when drummer Todd Isler messed up during “Sugar Shack” and Gordon had to correct him, but I’m not even sure the crowd recognized this because the band’s tight grooves had a majority of the crowd gripped in a trance.

On the surface, Gordon might come off as just another bass player for a well-known jam band trying his luck at being a front man, but it was evident that he has what it takes to lead a band.

The current incarnation of Mike Gordon’s band exemplifies the commendable attributes of a group that has something to prove: refreshing, well thought-out, and a genuine connection with one another and their fans.