The Helping Phriendly Band

[solomon]

Is anybody on Team Wakarusa aware of The Helping Phriendly Band (http://www.helpingphriendlyband.com)? They are an up and coming Phish tribute band from St. Louis, and in my humble opinion they are doing a better job covering Phish than anybody else out there right now. They are keeping it authentic. Just four guys, each guy sings the correct part. They pride themselves in reproducing Phish songs as perfectly as possible. They even have a vintage vacuum cleaner.

I predict at some point in time they may reach Dark Star Orchestra type status and start reproducing Phish shows in their entirety.

I had the pleasure of joining them on their last out of town gig. The soundguy that night knew what he was doing. Here are some crispy SBD mp3s from that show.

Harry Hood (http://www.helpingphriendlyband.com/media/mp3/harryhood.mp3)
Bathtub Gin>Also Sprach Zarathustra>Bathtub Gin (http://www.helpingphriendlyband.com/media/mp3/gin-2001-gin.mp3)
The Divided Sky (http://www.helpingphriendlyband.com/media/mp3/dividedsky.mp3)
Funky B*tch (http://www.helpingphriendlyband.com/media/mp3/funkybitch.mp3)
Ginseng Sullivan (http://www.helpingphriendlyband.com/media/mp3/ginseng.mp3)
Lawn Boy (http://www.helpingphriendlyband.com/media/mp3/lawnboy.mp3)
Weigh (http://www.helpingphriendlyband.com/media/mp3/weigh.mp3)
Down With Disease (http://www.helpingphriendlyband.com/media/mp3/dwd.mp3)

If you like what you hear, please pass them along. I'd love to see them at Wakarusa, perhaps early Thursday afternoon or late night at the CPJS tent?

Here is my full review of the show the above mp3s came from: http://s4.invisionfree.com/HPBforums/index.php?showtopic=167

More mp3s are here: http://s4.invisionfree.com/HPBforums/index.php?showtopic=88

Setlists are here: http://s4.invisionfree.com/HPBforums/index.php?showtopic=14

[TeamB]

We had the pleasure of seeing The Helping Friendly Band when they came to Lawrence last month. As a long time phish fan I was very pleased with the way they handled the material and pretty impressed with everyone's technical abilities. We spoke with Eric and the rest of the band at setbreak about playing the festival and they naturally seemed very eager to. I agree with you that they would be a perfect fit for the CPJS stage, perhaps waking up the campgrounds with a late morning set on Friday or Saturday.

Thanks for the post about this. Right now I've been using a mutual friend from St. Louis as a contact but I would like to get in touch with someone from the band directly. HPB is definitely on Wakarusa radar!

[SaraJuana]

These guys are great! I am listening right now to their DWD, I am actually at work (at a hotel front desk) and I hope none of crotchy guests come down. I am enjoying these guys too much to turn them off! I would love to hear them at Waka. I really have not realized how much I missed Phish. They are real crisp, a great tribute band.-SJ

[Kindbud03]

I had the chance to catch the helping phriendly band last year at a Schwagstock concert in Salem, MO (central MO). I was very impressed with what I saw and I am excited to see them again. Before the HPB set at Schwagstock everyone was really skeptical and actually criticizing them for even attempting to cover Phish before they even heard HPB. But afterward everyone was very much impressed.
I would definately love to see them at Wakarusa and if anyone from Wakarusa's staff is reading these posts please try as hard as you can to book them.

[CPJSJohnny]

Thanks for the mp3's they sound GREAT!
Johnny B

[deadphish]

Hi!

This is Dave from HPB. Thank you SO SO much for the positive feedback in this thread. As a young band just getting started this kind of stuff really makes the work we are doing worthwhile. We would be honored to be onboard for Wakarusa this year in any capacity.

I am glad you guys are enjoying those mp3's from last weekends show. That was the first time anyone had recorded us using a multitrack capable device. Even though it was a a quick and rough mix-down it is still the best audio quality we have gotten on tape to date.

Once again thank you for the support and hopefully we will be seeing you in June!

Dave Klein
www.helpingphriendlyband.com