While the overall feel of this band is much along the lines of Phish-style jams with Trey taking the reins while the band backs him up, the style of the music is a little more accessible, and not as eccentric and signature as Phish songs. Using a brass section Trey brings a whole new extension of sounds to play with in the band's jam sessions.
TAB plays mostly Trey's solo material from his self title album released in 2002, 2005's "Shine", and his most recent album "Bar 17", but they've also played a number of Phish tunes.
TAB made its debut in Atlanta, Georgia, with a two night run at The Tabernacle, before keeping a low profile for most of 2006. TAB opened for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers during the months of June and August, with one headlining show in late June at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass.
TAB took the summer off, as Anastasio reunited with former Phish bassist Mike Gordon, and toured with the Benevento/Russo Duo.
TAB will enbark on its first headlining tour in the fall of 2006, supporting Anastasio’s latest solo album Bar 17.
Alaska
Trey Anastasio Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the cat can slip in doors
Through a multitude of cracks
And it's funny what they'll do
Cause cracks lead outside too
When I asked her where she's goin
She said far away from you
Diggin down deep
I don't understand it
But I'm not losin sleep
I'm gonna lay down
Or head north out of town
I don't know
But I think I'll go
And try dog mushin with an eskimo
In alaska
Alaska
I guess I'll try alaska
Somewhere she might wait for me
I'll catch up just wait and see
Idaho nebraska
I don't know I'll ask here
Guess I'll try
Think I'll try alaska
Sold my old piano for the rent
I loaded up on bugspray and I found my daddys tent
Now I'm in high gear
Doin 45
Hummin a tune
I wont see the moon
Til sometime in july
I guess I couldve flown or took a train
But you wont see a moose
If you're sittin on a train
And now there's no more road
But I got a light load
And if she isn't in alaska
I'll stay and pan for gold
Alaska
Alaska
I guess I'll try alaska
Somewhere she might wait for me
I'll catch up just wait and see
Idaho nebraska
I don't know alaska
I guess I'll try
I think I'll try alaska
Just when I thought I'd end up alone
Big ol-laskan mama come walkin down the road
(Jam)
Alaska alaska
I'll stay right here in alaska
All settled down and havin fun
Here in the land of the midnight sun
Is it time to call the pastor?
I don't know I'll ask her
I'll stay right here
Stay right here
I'll stay right here
Stay right here
(Take it cactus)
The Trey Anastasio band's song Alaska is a tale of a man who has been left by his lover and decides to travel to Alaska to try to find her. The song starts with the singer reminiscing about the past and how he would always have to tell her to relax. He then talks about how the cat can slip in doors through a multitude of cracks, which leads him to think about how cracks lead outside too. Next, he asks her where she's going, and she tells him that she's going far away from him. The singer is now all alone, and he decides that he will either lay down or head north out of town. He doesn't know what he'll do, but he thinks he'll try dog mushing with an Eskimo.
The singer then decides that he will try Alaska, and he sells his old piano to pay for rent. He loads up on bugspray and finds his dad's old tent. He's now in high gear, doing 45 and humming a tune. He won't see the moon until sometime in July. He could have flown or taken a train, but he wouldn't see a moose if he's sitting on a train. He has now reached Alaska and starts panning for gold. Just when he thinks he will end up alone, a big old Laskan mama comes walking down the road.
Line by Line Meaning
I always had to tell her to relax
I had to constantly remind her to calm down
And the cat can slip in doors
Cats have the ability to enter through small spaces
Through a multitude of cracks
By using their flexibility, cats can enter through many small openings
And it's funny what they'll do
It's amusing to see what a cat will do
Cause cracks lead outside too
Small openings can lead outside, providing cats with the freedom to explore
When I asked her where she's goin
When I questioned her destination
She said far away from you
She replied that she was going far away from me
Stuck here on my own now
Being alone and trapped
Diggin down deep
Searching for a solution in my troubled mind
I don't understand it
I'm unsure why this is happening
But I'm not losin sleep
However, I'm not worried or stressed about it
I'm gonna lay down
I'll rest for a moment
Or head north out of town
Then I might leave this place and travel up north
I don't know
I'm indecisive
But I think I'll go
But I'm leaning towards leaving
And try dog mushin with an eskimo
I might try dog sledding with an Inuit
I guess I'll try alaska
I'm considering going to Alaska
Somewhere she might wait for me
Perhaps she's waiting for me there
I'll catch up just wait and see
If she is there, I'll make my way to her
Idaho nebraska
I'm unsure where to go
I don't know I'll ask here
I'll inquire about it when I reach Alaska
Guess I'll try
I'm going to attempt it
Think I'll try alaska
I'm considering attempting to travel to Alaska
Sold my old piano for the rent
I sold my piano to pay rent
I loaded up on bugspray and I found my daddys tent
I packed bug spray and acquired my father's tent
Now I'm in high gear
I'm ready and motivated
Doin 45
Driving at 45 miles per hour
Hummin a tune
I'm singing a song
I wont see the moon
Due to Alaska's location, certain times of the year don't have a full moon
Til sometime in july
I won't be able to see the full moon until July
I guess I couldve flown or took a train
I could have traveled by plane or train
But you wont see a moose
However, a moose isn't visible from those methods of transportation
If you're sittin on a train
If you're traveling by train
And now there's no more road
As I continue driving, the road ends
But I got a light load
I'm not burdened with too much luggage
And if she isn't in alaska
In the event she's not found in Alaska
I'll stay and pan for gold
Then I'll stay in Alaska and search for gold
Just when I thought I'd end up alone
As I believed I would be alone
Big ol-laskan mama come walkin down the road
A large Alaskan woman appeared on the road
I'll stay right here in alaska
I've decided to settle in Alaska
All settled down and havin fun
I'm comfortable and enjoying myself
Here in the land of the midnight sun
In this region where the sun doesn't set during summer
Is it time to call the pastor?
Should I contact a religious figure?
I don't know I'll ask her
I'll ask her opinion
Stay right here
I'm going to continue residing here
Take it cactus
Musical directive to perform a solo
Contributed by Aubrey K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.