Mr. Miner's Phish Thoughts

Today, in a one-time appearance between tours, Ten Tunes For Friday focuses on past highlights from all the Leg II venues. Spanning eras and playing styles, the history of these venues dip into a wide spectrum of Phish history. And here’s a small taste.

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“Reba” 8.9.97 I

This dreamy, daytime “Reba” contributed to a big first set at Alpine ’97.

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“Stash” 8.28.93 I

This first-set highlight from The Greek showcased Phish’s torrid jamming of Summer ’93, defined by near-subconscious communication.

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“Run Like An Antelope” 8.12.96 I

Deer Creek and “Antelope” have become two peas in a pod over Phish’s career, with more than a few standout versions played in the cornfields. The band threw down this dizzying jam in the first set of the first show in 1996, setting the tone for a memorable weekend.

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“Fee > David Bowie” 10.28.91 I

This combination closed the first set at Elk Ballroom, Phish’s last visit to Telluride. And yes, Phish could play then too.

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“Harry Hood” 8.10.97 I

A uniquely gorgeous “Harry Hood,” this version carried a somber tone as Phish played the usually-blissful jam in a minor key to close the first set at Deer Creek.

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“Harpua” 10.28.91 II

A classic version of “Harpua” with comical narration from another era of Phish, nineteen years ago. This selection goes out to zzyzx!

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“Tweezer > Gumbo” 6.28.95 II

Strap on your seat belt for a wild ride through a quintessential  piece of Summer ’95 improv. “Tweezer” passes through countless themes, including ‘Dave’s Energy Guide” and a jam of The Breeder’s “Cannonball,” on the way to a half-hour epic at Jones Beach.

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“You Enjoy Myself” 8.28.93 II

The final piece to Summer ’93, featuring a prominent “Oye Como Va” jam.

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Fan-Run Events Around the Greek:

Bicycle – A Psychedelic and Visionary Arts Event

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Where: Club Six – 60 6th St b/w Market and Mission, San Francisco

An art and music show showcasing the art of Stanley Mouse, Alan Forbes, Dave Hunter, David D’Andrea, Tripp Shealy, Erin Cadigan, Mark McCloud and the Blotter Barn Collection, Kyle Carter, Michael Matel and I.A.M.U. Presents artists Mark Henson, Android Jones, Xavi and Carey Thompson

DJ Sets from 9 pm – 2am

Downstairs: 10-11pm DJ Citizen Ten and MC Abstract Rude, 11pm-2am DJ Logic

Upstairs: SF’s own DJ Sleepyhead, Kaptain Harris, and Coopdville

Info and tickets here.

*****

Mystery Ship Greek Theater After Party

Friday, August 6, 2010

Where: 88 Jack London Square, Oakland, CA

After the second show on the 6th, this late-night cruise will set sail from 1:00-4:00 am with live music on board provided by The Jug Dealers and Acacia. This special after-party will take place on The Fume Blanc, a magnificent three-deck replica of a New York State Hudson River Steamboat of yesteryear. See below for more information.

Info and tickets here.

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Before we plunge head first into Leg II of summer 2o10, let’s pause for a moment to reflect on Leg II of 2009. Phish came out at Red Rocks and redefined this era after a tentative run in June. Boasting far more confidence, Phish showed up in Colorado in a relaxed musical state, willing to take risks they weren’t prepared to take only five weeks earlier. When the year came to close, Leg II of summer stood out as, perhaps, the strongest segment of 2009, with musical highlights abounding. Today we hit the brakes for a moment and glance in our rear-view mirror at The Top5 “Moments” of Summer 2009 – Leg II.

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5. “Number Line” 8.16 II – SPAC

While this SPAC show didn’t quite provide the final exclamation point that people expected, Phish did throw down one of the standout jams of August in their final show. Morphing their shiny-new anthem “Backwards Down the Number Line” into primordial soup for the soul, Phish built upon their Chicago rendition from a week earlier. Until Phish threw down Blossom’s “Number Line” this June, SPAC’s version stood as the crowning moment of the song’s young career. This jam provided a dark final excursion to end the tour before the rest of the set turned to fun.

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4. “Icculus” 8.14 II – Hartford

In this moment, we realized that Phish was still comprised of the same four zany guys that started the band back in the day. With his addiction and glassy-eyed stare years behind him, Trey used “Icculus” to launch into classic rant about the technological overload of modern culture, and how everyone needed to get back to reading The Book. The Phishy spirit that had grabbed us all at one point in our lives and dragged us into Gamehendge had returned. To see the look on Trey’s face when this went down pretty much said it all. Everyone left Hartford smiling that night.

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3. “46 Days” 8.15 II – Merriweather

Buried in the consensus “worst show of Leg II” was perhaps the best jam of the tour in the ludicrous version of “46 Days.” Remaining in the song’s structure for approximately three minutes, the band shifted into full destruction mode immediately. Trudging through a cosmic sludge, Fish hit a change and Phish took off for the heavens. Flowing like they seldom have this era, the band locked into one of the more magical jams of this era. Any semblance of “46 Days” was left in Phish’s vapor trail as they took a hose-powered journey to the edges of groove and bliss.

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2. 7.31.09 II – Red Rocks

The second set of the second night of Red Rocks still stands, in my opinion, as the best single set Phish has dropped in this era. Featuring jams aplenty, fluid transitions, and the Red Rocks “Tweezer,” this frame can stand up to any other – easily. Played in three mini-suites, Phish graced the audience with “Drowned > Crosseyed > Joy,” “Tweezer > Number Line,” and “Fluffhead > Piper > A Day In the Life.” If you have any doubts or hazy memories of this night, go re-listen, it never ceases to amaze.

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1. 8.7.09 – The Gorge

In Phish’s first night back to the Gorge in six years, they played a show that likened a soundtrack for the mystical natural surroundings. Fusing together several patient jams, Phish – literally – played differently at The Gorge, a trend that has held true throughout their career. While everyone has their favorite shows, this two-set Picasso featured three of the jams of the year in “Sneakin’ Sally,” “Light,” and “Bathtub Gin.” And you just don’t get that in one Phish show these days. That is without even mentioning the glorious combination of “Hood” and “Slave” that ended this special night. (And we might as well tack on the second night’s “Rock and Roll” while we’re here.) Needless to say, the band’s return to the Columbia River Gorge won’t soon be forgotten.

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Jam of the Day: Leg II Venue History Week

“Cities > Good Times Bad Times” 8.10.97 II

One of the defining jams of Summer ’97 from the first night at Deer Creek.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

8.10.1996 Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI < Megaupload

In Phish’s inaugural visit to Alpine Valley in 1996, they dropped significant versions of “Reba,” and “Bathtub Gin” in the first set, while showcasing “Fluffhead” and “Harry Hood” in the second. With this show, Phish inherited the massive Midwestern mecca from the Grateful Dead and prepared to blaze a legacy.

I: My Friend, My Friend, Poor Heart, AC/DC Bag, Fee, Reba, I Didn’t Know, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Rift, Bathtub Gin, Cavern

II: Wilson, Down with Disease, Scent of a Mule, Free, Fluffhead, Hold Your Head Up > Whipping Post > Hold Your Head Up, Harry Hood, A Day in the Life

E: Contact, Fire

Source: B & K 4021

As Phish steps into Leg II of summer tour, they will undoubtedly bust out more songs, both old and new, digging deeper into their never-ending catalog. Beginning this process over the early summer, the band exhumed some of their oldest pieces, while also breaking out more elusive, contemporary songs. Between “Fuck Your Face,” “The Connection,” “Alumni Blues” and “Nothing,” Phish touched on their earliest days through their post-hiatus era. But despite the copious bust-outs over Leg I, Phish inexplicably continued to leave two shining gems of their post-hiatus years on the sidelines – “Scents and Subtle Sounds” and ” A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing.”

These two songs, one moving towards the light and one moving toward darkness, provided defining jams of ’03 and ’04, and why Phish consistently ignores them has become baffling. Last year, the band played two versions of “A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing” – both in the first leg of summer. In Knoxville, the band didn’t jam the song, drifting thematically into “Waves,” while Deer Creek was a different story. After a 90-minute lightening-induced setbreak, Phish dropped the song as a heavy opener amidst the storm. Moving into a brief ambient section, the piece showcased one of 3.0′s first creative excursions, and was certainly a step in the right direction. Though it seemed to be gaining momentum, this song hasn’t been heard from again. Phish dropped only one version of “Scents and Subtle Sounds” in 2009, a succinct kick-down to lead off their last set at MSG.

In the first show of Summer 2003, Phish introduced a new blissful jam out of the depths of “Wolfman’s Brother,” and before anyone knew it, “Scents and Subtle Sounds” made a splash on the scene. Working its way into regular rotation and and providing the springboard for two of the tour’s most impressive jams,”Scents” wasted no time becoming a staple of Summer ’03. Opening the third night of Deer Creek with a 20-plus minute jaunt, Phish broke the song wide open. However, the band one-upped themselves a week later in Camden, New Jersey, playing a first-set version that reached into very essence of Phish exploration. Organically building out of the theme, the band built a quintessential post-hiatus masterpiece that still stands the test of time. Segueing in and out of “Scents” in a prominent third-set slot during ’03′s end-of-summer festival, IT, Phish confirmed their passion for their new song.

One year later, on the brink of Coventry, Phish closed their last conventional show in Camden with another adventure into the void. Favoring darker, ambient textures that reflected the tone of the time, Phish crafted an abstract sonic mural as their last amphitheatre work of art, and their final truly sublime excursion of their “career.”

After a album-version debut of “A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing” debuted during 2004′s opening set at Coney Island, Phish came back two shows later and redefined the song forever. Opening SPAC’s second set on June 19, Phish wove a stunning tale of psychedelia that reached more than one soul-caressing passage. With a jam so perfect that it sounded pre-written, Phish hit the nail directly on the head in their second voyage into darkness deep. In one of SPAC’s crowning moments, Phish threw down the only epic version of the “A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing” before signing off later that summer.

So that brings us to today. Phish has reached far and wide into their song repertoire, and barely touched upon these two pieces that drip all sorts of potential. Some fans posit theories that these songs bring unwelcome memories of a dark era in Trey’s history. Really? Phish has brought “Undermind” into the mix, and routinely play “Seven Below,” “and “46 Days” from that era, while occasionally reverencing Undermind (the album), so I don’t buy the “bad memory theory.” If this was the case, then why did they bring them back at all? Though I have no logical way to explain their absence, there must be something more going on here. No?

The mystery remains why Phish allows two of their most profound jam vehicles to sit in the wings as they continue to bring out every other piece in their songbook. The return of one or both of these pieces to improvisational prominence tops any list of pipe dreams I could write as we inch closer to The Greek. Likely? No, but at this point anything is possible. Maybe I should bring a sign.

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Jam of the Day: Leg II Venue History Week

“Tweezer > Fluffhead” 8.1.98 II

A recent SBD leak of the staggering “Tweezer” from Alpine ’98.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

Telluride ’88 < Torrent / Telluride ’88 < Megaupload

Dipping into the archives, today we have a catch-all SBD download of the band’s first visit to Telluride, Colorado in 1988. In this one file set, not only is there the classic 8.6.88 show from The Roma, but also partial recordings from three shows earlier shows in the week, as Phish between The Roma and Fly Me To the Moon Saloon due to a booking oversight. Check the setlists below.

7.29.88 The Roma – Partial

Colonel Forbin’s > Mockingbird, I Didn’t Know, Good Times, Bad Times, Rocky Top, Light Up or Leave Me Alone, Contact, Whipping Post, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, Take the ‘A’ Train, McGrupp, Bold As Love

7.30.88 III The Roma

Harpua, Fluffhead, Anarchy, Dear Mrs. Reagan, Terrapin, Antelope E: Fire

8.3.88 III Fly Me To the Moon Saloon

?: Freebird, II: I Know A Little, YEM, Jesus Left Chicago III: Peaches En Regalia, Mike’s > Hydrogen > Fluffhead, Happy Birthday, Harry Hood, Satin Doll, Funky Bitch, Walk Away

8.6.88 The Roma

I: La Grange, YEM > Cities, Take the ‘A’ Train, Funky Bitch, Dinner and a Movie*, Fire

II: Golgi, AC/DC Bag, Satin Doll, BBFCFM, Slave to the Traffic Light*

*track cuts off

All sources are SBD

With a nationwide, carpet-bombing of mail order tickets yesterday, the final countdown to the Greek Theatre has officially begun. Energy, anticipation, and anxiety has already flooded the scene, as the hype for Berkeley’s three-night stand has come to a head in recent weeks. While people finalize plans, scour the Internet for extra tickets, and prepare to head west, the appearance of second-leg stubs at doorsteps across the country yesterday, upped the adrenaline for all fans trying to focus through one more week.

The tickets for Leg II sport venue-specific designs, the Greeks decorated with a graphic take of the theatre’s backdrop. With “Phish” written in lightening bolts on the tickets, the band gave a subtle nod to the Grateful Dead as they prepare to set up shop on their forefathers’ home turf. The excitement is peaking for many, but others are still trying to get their hands on that last ticket to complete their three-pack. By not releasing multi-night packages, Phish and Ticketmaster left a lot of fans to face the worlds of ticket trading and brokering. With Saturday night stubs being the scarcest, prices in the secondary market have climbed over $300 a pop for the intimate GA shows. Since these are the only west coast dates scheduled, the migration to the Bay will come from far and wide, as this is the closer to home Phish will come for thousands of left coast fans. All of these factors have converged to create quite the pre-show hubbub for the upcoming nights in Northern California.

Phish’s only previous visit to Berkeley’s famed amphitheatre came on August 28, 1993, as the finale of Summer ’93. Concluding one of the most prolific months in their history, Phish capped August with a start-to-finish smoker that provides a quintessential portrait of the band in that era of history. “Maze” and “Stash” stood out in the first set, while highlight versions of “Antelope” and “YEM” sparkled in the second. The Dead had just finished a summer run at Shoreline the day before this show, and many first-timers crossed the Bay to check out an up and coming Phish. But since that night, relived countless times through the soundboard tape that became a staple any collector’s stash, Phish has never been back to the Greek.

Ever since 1995, Phish has made Shoreline their routine Bay Area tour stop. With a capacity of 22,000 (almost triple The Greek’s 8000), it simply made more economic sense to play the larger venue. But those days are gone and in this modern era, Phish plays where they want, when they want. With the ability to sell 44,000 tickets over two-nights at Shoreline, Phish, instead, chose the less profitable route of selling 24,000 tickets over three nights in Berkeley – but the experience will be incomparable. Despite being Bill Graham’s baby, Shoreline’s design likens most amphitheatres across the country. But when one steps into the Greek Theatre, it becomes quite apparent they have arrived somewhere special. And when Phish looks out onto the classic stone amphitheatre, they will also feel the mystique of he Greek, and their music will likely reflect their surroundings.

These upcoming Berkeley shows represent the Red Rocks of 2010 – a multi-night party in one of music’s hallowed venues to kick off the second leg of summer. Last year, the band’s improvement between Leg I and Leg II grew so significant, it became virtually inexplicable. The five-weeks between tours – whether used for practice, sorcery, Oh Kee Pah Ceremonies or family time – produced a far more evolved band in August then we’d left in June. I’m not sure we can expect such a colossal leap of progress over this month-long break, but if a musical shift brings any semblance of congruity to 2009′s giant steps, we are in for some good times. Having established a new sound and style for 2010, Phish looks to further their exploits of the early summer…next week!

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Jam of the Day:

“Run Like An Antelope” 8.28 II

The last time Phish visited The Greek…

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY: Greek History

8.28.1993 The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA < Megaupload

Phish’s last visit to The Greek – seventeen years ago in August ’93; a completely different animal altogether.

I: Llama, Bouncing Around the Room, Foam, Ginseng Sullivan, Maze, Fluffhead, Stash, The Squirming Coil, Crimes of the Mind*

II: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Rift, Run Like an Antelope, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Sparkle, It’s Ice > Big Ball Jam, Purple Rain > Hold Your Head Up, You Enjoy Myself > Oye Como Va Jam > You Enjoy Myself > Contact**, Chalk Dust Torture

E: Daniel Saw the Stone, Amazing Grace

* w/ Dude of Life on Vocals, **out vocal jam, JJ Cale opened

Source: SBD

After several weeks of listening and analysis in the Phisht Thoughts sound labs, the time has come to unveil the latest installment of “Miner’s Picks” for the first leg of summer tour. Because first sets and second sets contained such divergent vibes over the month, I’ve split the picks into a highlight-reel setlist, containing Set I, Set II, and an Encore. Though it was hard at times, I limited myself to one version of each song, so there are no repeats throughout this seven-plus hour compilation. With only a week and a half to go before The Greek kicks off Leg Two, here’s an audio retrospective of Phish’s first month of 2010. Enjoy the selections!

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Miner’s Picks: Summer 2010 Leg I < Torrent

Miner’s Picks: Summer 2010 Leg I < Megaupload

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Set I

1. “Bathtub Gin” – 6.15 I, Portsmouth, VA

2. “Destiny Unbound” – 7.3 I, Alpharetta, GA

3. “Wolfman’s Brother” – 6.11 I, Chicago, IL

4. “Timber Ho!” – 6.24 I, Camden, NJ

5. “Split Open and Melt” – 6.25 I, Camden, NJ

6. “Walk Away” – 6.17 I, Hartford, CT

7. “Reba” – 6.18 I, Hartford, CT

8. “Jibboo” – 7.4 I, Alpharetta, GA

9. “Antelope” – 7.3, I, Alpharetta, GA

10-12. Mike’s > H2 > Weekapaug” – 6.12 I, Cuyaghoga Falls, OH

13. “Slave to the Traffic Light” – 6.15 I, Portsmouth, VA

Set II

14. “Chalk Dust Torture” – 6.25 II, Camden, NJ

15,16. “Ghost > Limb” – 6.11 II, Chicago, IL

17. “2001″ – 6.25 II, Camden, NJ

18. “Light” – 7.1 II, Raleigh, NC

19-21. “Tweezer > Theme > Hood” – 6.18 II, Hartford, CT

22,23. “Rock and Roll > Free” – 6.26 II, Columbia, MD

24. “Backwards Down the Number Line” – 6.12 II, Cuy. Falls, OH

25,26. “Disease > Sand” – 6.17 II, Hartford, CT

27,28. “Saw It Again > Piper” – 6.27 II, Columbia, MD

29. “Twist” – 6.13 II, Hershey, PA

30. “Light Up or Leave Me Alone” – 7.1 II, Raleigh, NC

31,32. “Carini > Fuck Your Face” – 7.2 II, Charlotte, NC

33,34. “Drowned > Swept Away > Steep” – 6.20 II, SPAC, NY

35. “David Bowie” – 6.19 II, Saratoga Springs, NY

36. “You Enjoy Myself” – 6.13 II, Hershey, PA

Encore

37. “Boogie On Reggae Woman” – 7.1 E, Raleigh, NC

38. “Show of Life” – 6.19 II, Saratoga Springs, NY

39,40. “Tweezer Reprise, Tweezer Reprise” – 6.18 E, Hartford, CT

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Jam of the Day:

“Mike’s > H2 > Weekapaug” 6.12 I

As featured in the compilation above, and in Blossom’s first set.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEKEND:

With just under two weeks before Phish kicks off a three-day party in the Bay Area, SPAC’s finale is the last show remaining from Leg I’s download series. Highlighted by a strong first set and a sublime sequence of “Drowned > Swept Away > Steep,” Phish concluded their Northeastern with a relatively tame, song-based outing.

6.20.2010 SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY < Torrent

6.20.2010 SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY < Megaupload

I: Brother, AC/DC Bag, Back on the Train, Undermind, Cities, Gotta Jibboo*, Roggae, Sleep Again, Lawn Boy, Run Like an Antelope

II: Carini > The Mango Song, Wilson, Drowned > Swept Away > Steep, Makisupa Policeman, Piper > Also Sprach Zarathustra > You Enjoy Myself

E: Frankenstein

* w/ Tony Markelis on bass, Mike on rhythm guitar

Source: (FOB) Schoeps CCM4V’S(din)>Sound Devices 722 (24/48)

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Jam of the Weekend:

“Drowned > Swept > Steep” 6.20 II

The improvisational centerpiece of SPAC’s second night.

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VIDEO OF THE WEEKEND:

“Show of Life” – 6.19.10, SPAC (Official Release)

Saturday night – there’s no other portion of the week that conjures up such images of spontaneous adventure and good times. And there is no other adventure and good time quite like Phish. Putting these two concepts together, you’ve got “Saturday Night Phish,” a party like none other. In this modern era, Phish has established their own way of musically celebrating their Saturday night shows by opening the second set with Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll.” A trend that began in ’09 has held true for all four Saturday’s of 2010, giving even the most spun tour kid a weekly reference point. A cycle that began as a bit formulaic last year turned comedic this summer with each subsequent weekend . But as one of the band’s preeminent jam vehicles of this eras, “Rock and Roll” delivers eventful excursions more often than not. Once the band climbs out of the song’s rock stylings, anything goes when Phish breaks structure. Looking back on the four Saturday’s of Leg I, here are short capsules of the versions that that kicked off each second half.

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6.12 II – Blossom

Phish launched into the first Saturday night of tour with their popular jam vehicle, and as they entered the “Cuyahoga Jam,” the band started to breakdown the piece into percussive grooves, a la 2009. Mike thumped a stop-start bass line that underlined the unique rhythm, while Trey spray-painted the groove with shorter patterns. As Fish held down a sparse breakbeat and Page backed the jam with layers of effect, all in all, the onset of this piece didn’t veer far from the many versions that speckled ’09. But as Trey began to solo out of these tendencies, Mike jumped aboard, beginning to differentiate Blossom’ s outing. At this juncture the jam grew far more abstract, as the band molded a segment of musical silk before morphing into a collective wall of sound. Trey reprised his solo melody over this drone canvas, providing closure to the jam before rolling into “Harry Hood.”

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6.19 II -  SPAC

Instead of dropping into a series of hackneyed rhythmic grooves, Phish built out of SPAC’s “Rock and Roll” into a bass-led psychedelia. The band latched onto Mike’s lines, as Trey mixed in a repetitive lick that led the band deep into the forest right away. Wasting little post-rock time, Phish quickly swam into a sparkling steam of melody, infusing the jam with an early dose of aural beauty. The piece increased in tempo as Mike drove the troops’ wild ride into darkness. Trey continued to offer cyclical, multi-note cries, in melodic support of a staggering soundscape created by Mike, Fish and Page. Towards the latter part of the jam, the band alternated between louder and softer as if someone was turning up and down the volume knob of the jam. Trey continued his role as supporting actor in this escapade, adding his piece to a more complex overall puzzle. The band descended into an abstract pond before splashing into “Free.”

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6.26 II – Merriweather Post

While Merriweather’s second night presented the tightest set of Leg I, on Saturday night in Columbia, Maryland, Phish served up a jam that, arguably, surpassed anything from the weekend. In this set-opening “Rock and Roll,” Phish dove off a cliff, floating into the sky in a floral-ambient groove of bliss. Knitting some of the most transcendental music of summer, Trey and Mike spun their ideas together with sublime cooperation. As this segment progressed, Trey soloed as if he was emotively narrating a story to an innocent child. The band provided a magical, amoeba-like backdrop to this musical fable, morphing the jam into a soulful piece of spirituality. Concluding his tale, Trey came growling out of this hovering abstraction with leads that implored his bandmates to follow. Together they built dramatic whole-band tension throughout the latter half of the piece. Trey eventually layed down a slick “Moby-Disk-esque” line, and the band fell into a sinister groove session to bring their mission back to earth. Coming to an organic end, Phish bled into a brief, bass-led ambiance that hinted at “2001″ before revving  up the beginning of “Free.” Out of the four “Rock and Rolls” this summer, no other version even comes close; and this Merriweather rendition must be thrown in the ring for any discussion about the jam of Leg I.

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7.3 II- Alpharetta

After dropping two stellar jams over the past two weekends out of the Velvet Underground cover, when Phish charged up the anthem to open up Saturday, July 3, it wasn’t far fetched to expect something big for the song’s tour finale. Though once the band got going, they simply rode the song’s theme, juicing it for all it was worth. Phish never even veered far enough from the original for LivePhish to label an “Alpharetta Jam,” something done to avoid paying royalties on original  improvisation. With expressive rock soloing, Trey barreled through the straight forward jam that only broke form for a moment before moving into a pre-mature “Prince Caspian.”

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Jam of the Day:

“Reba” 6.11 I

A gorgeous rendition from summer’s opening set.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

7.1.2010 Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, Raleigh, NC < Torrent

7.1.2010 Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, Raleigh, NC < Megaupload

Raleigh featured a bumpy setlist that featured some big-time bust-outs and one of the deepest dives of summer in the centerpiece version of “Light.”

I: Llama, Roses Are Free, Kill Devil Falls, Time Loves a Hero, Alaska, Water in the Sky, Runaway Jim, The Moma Dance, Divided Sky, Cavern

II: Backwards Down the Number Line, Halley’s Comet > Light, Fluffhead, Have Mercy, Light Up Or Leave Me Alone > Free, Wading in the Velvet Sea, The Squirming Coil, Suzy Greenberg

E: Boogie On Reggae Woman

Source: Schoeps mk41> KC5> M222> NT222> EAA PSP-2> SD 722 (@24bit/96kHz)

Song requests via signs has always been a part of Phish show culture. But ever since Trey adopted the moniker of the “all-request band” early this summer, honoring more than a few audience member’s calls, the number of personal billboards has grown exponentially. Standing at the back of the floor in Alpharetta, as Phish took the stage for the first set of their final show, the sheer number of signs was absurd. What has always been a fun band-audience interaction has caught like wildfire this summer, causing seas of cardboard cavorters.

This 2010 craze started in Portsmouth, Virginia, when Phish came out on a sunny evening and a “Tube” sign immediately caught Trey’s eye. Everyone in the intimate amphitheatre saw Trey’s shifting attention, and began to chant, “Tuuuuuuuuube!” A minute later, an asteroid crashed into nTelos Pavilion, and “Sign-Mania” officially began.

Two shows later in Hartford, Trey preceded the “Sleeping Monkey” encore by announcing that they were playing it for a guy who held the sign throughout the previous night. After this second vocal acknowledgement that Trey is reading these signs, fans began flocking to the front holding placards of all shapes and sizes. Varying from the standard Sharpie-on-poster-board to elaborate, cut-out and painted wooden song titles, Phish fans unleashed their renowned creativity in this renewed endeavor.

Without hanging out up front at every show, it is impossible to know how many setlist choices were actually influenced by fans signs, but there were certainly more than a few. In fact the central theme of Merriweather’s second night – summer’s most well-loved set – was sparked, believe it or not, by a sign. A group of fans had traveled for multiple shows carrying a “Saw It Again” sign on wooden dowels, and finally, on Sunday night in Columbia, Maryland, their wish was granted in the biggest way. Segueing from one sign-inspired song to another, Trey brought the band from “Meatstick” into “Saw It Again,” the latter becoming the well-known foundation for a Phishy escapade.

This tour-long interaction between Trey and the audience came to a peak in Alpharetta on July 3rd. Not only did Trey respond to a sign calling for “McGrupp,” he reached down, pulled the sign on stage, and held it high before starting the rarity. After watching Trey egg on his fan base, and the ludicrous amount of signs on the 4th of July, something tells me this trend isn’t coming to a screeching halt. But just think, every time Trey responds to a sign, he could have been on the verge of dropping “A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing.” So there are two sides to this coin.

If fans are going to continue bringing signs to Phish shows en mass, we might as well set some guidelines for this fanboy behavior. If you’re going to be that guy or girl who jumps up and down trying to catch Trey’s attention with your artwork, here are three things to consider.

1. Don’t mess with peoples’ experiences. – If you’re sign takes four people to hold properly due to its outstanding craftsmanship, maybe it’s not the best idea to bring it onto the floor at a GA show. Additionally, until they make transparent poster board, if Trey doesn’t choose your song, put down your sign and try harder next time!

2. Consider the entire audience. – Bring signs that will benefit everyone! For example, a “Crosseyed and Painless” or a “Cities” sign could payoff for the entire audience, because if Trey chooses to recognize either, the show will immediately elevate. On the flip side, don’t bring a sign for “Waste” just because it’s your girl’s first show and it’s her favorite song off Billy Breathes. Trey is so happy these days, it could catch his eye and make him ditch “Ghost” for his heartfelt ballad. Seriously.

3. Know what’s going on. – With a little setlist research, you can avoid looking like a total noob. Dial up your trusty Phish website to see what the band played at least the night before, and leave those signs at home. Make sure the over-sized cardboard you choose to carry to the show, through the lot, by security, and around with you all night at least has some relevance.

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Jam of the Day:

“David Bowie” 6.19 II

This “Bowie,” in my opinion, stands head and shoulders above all other 2010 versions.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

6.19.2010 SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY < Torrent

6.19.2010 SPAC, Saratoga Springs, NY < Megaupload

The opening night of SPAC, featuring one of the “Rock and Rolls” of Leg I, and the freshest “Bowie” to hit the streets in some time.

I: Tweezer Reprise, Chalk Dust Torture, Funky Bitch, Runaway Jim, Ya Mar, Sample in a Jar, Axilla, Fluffhead, Bathtub Gin, Suzy Greenberg

II: Rock and Roll > Free, Backwards Down the Number Line, Halfway to the Moon* > Prince Caspian, Joy, David Bowie, Show of Life

E: The Squirming Coil, Character Zero, Tweezer Reprise

Source: Neumann U89i > Grace Design Lunatec V3 + Neumann KM184 (DIN ) > Grace Design Lunatec V2 > Oade Concert Modified Edirol R-44

Since Phish came back last year, no song has been as consistently eventful as “Tweezer.” Old reliable, “Tweezer” has remained a central jam vehicle for the band’s entire career, and 3.0 has been no exception. A song that musically defines the unknown adventure that underlines the ethos of Phish, “Tweezer” has been one constant throughout the ages. In short, when “Tweezer” drops, it’s on. With an ability to travel divergent musical paths, “Tweezer” jams span the spectrum from addictive grooves to psychedelic infernos, and everything in between. Nothing in live music quite compares to full immersion in a “Tweezer” jam, hence every time its opening lick oozes from the speakers, heart rates jump and shows transform into gooey, futuristic dreamscapes. During Leg I of summer we tasted four different flavors of Phish’s famed launchpad. And here they are…

***

6.13 II – Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA

Coming at the conclusion of a fluid “Drowned” jam, Hershey’s dance party got started for real when Phish unrolled the opening licks to the first “Tweezer” of summer. Staying within the song’s theme, Trey and Mike led a version that favored a heavy space groove, painted with swanky guitar licks calling to whales near and far. Mike’s bulbous lines ballooned from the PA and bounced off the rubberized dance floor alongside enraptured fans. Climbing slowly to a peak, this version never branched far from its roots, but between Mike and Trey’s co-leadership in the groove, it didn’t matter. Changing into a slower outro, Trey came in over the sonic mist with the beginning of “Twist.” This “Tweezer” set the tone for a flowing set of improv in which all jams toyed creatively with their original themes.

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***

6.18 II – Comcast Theatre, Hartford, CT

Phish served this “Tweezer” as the main course of Hartford’s Friday night show. Smack in the middle of the second set, the band set their course for the Mesozoic era, mingling with dinosaurs in an episode of prehistoric funk. Stepping off the edge, Trey and Mike grabbed this jam by the jugular, subduing it with a series murderous crack-grooves. Once accomplishing their mission, Trey pulled back with the swankest of licks to admire their conquest. Mike joined his cohort as they trounced on through a bass-led jungle with five and six string machetes, respectively. Manifesting the whale amidst these torrid conditions, Trey sculpted the second part of this jam as “The Whale’s Jungle Quest.” Building upon an addictive pocket, the band forged a rhythmic path of fury to the mountaintop. Looking out over the dense forest, above the clouds, the band dropped into a sparse final pattern, signifying ultimate success. Sheathing their musical swords, Phish had won again, oozing into “Theme” to resolve the sonic trek.

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***

6.26 II - Merriweather Post, Columbia, MD

If Hartford’s “Tweezer” traveled back to the land before time, Merriweather’s version descended directly into the center of the earth. Transforming from an aggressive guitar-led excursion into a menacing tale of evil, this version likened a life-lesson learned through a harrowing experience. Beginning in a slower and heavier texture, this version carried a menacing snarl from its inception. Mike’s bass-lines took a back seat to Trey’s guitar work, as Red grew horns while leading the band into a lava-filled underworld. This piece distinctly departed from “Tweezer’s” theme, entering a section of full-on demonic jamming. Mike’s methodical bass lines pounded the way down, as Trey’s guitar wailed in desperation, as if being pulled into hell by a mob of doomed souls. A retro-journey into the heart of psych-rock madness, the band allowed for a slow, effect-laden denouement before tastefully merging with “The Horse.”

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***

7.3 II – Verizon Wireless, Alpharetta, GA

The final “Tweezer” of summer came in grand fashion, merging with “Slave” as the centerpiece of July 3. A quintessential dark-to-light journey, this version merged groove with melody masterfully. Beginning the jam with elephant funk of of the most refined variety, Trey broke through these liquid patterns, chopping in with a distorted effect. Leading the jam away from straight groove into a collaborative build that stayed largely within the context of “Tweezer’s” structure, Trey, again, showcased seriously passionate leads. Trey, Page, and Mike peaked the jam with a gorgeous chord progression, naturally moving into the rhythms of “Slave.” But instead of moving right along, they brought “Tweezer” to a conclusion before gracefully moving into the cathartic anthem. A stunning combination, this – somehow – was the first time in history Phish had ever combined these two classic pieces. And it worked perfectly, providing the musical highlight of the holiday weekend.

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Jam of the Day:

“Disease > Sand” 6.17 II

One of Leg I’s top-shelf sequences; this “Disease” smokes as hard as Cheech and Chong.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

6.13.2010 Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA < Torrent

6.13.2010 Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA < Megaupload

A two-set throwdown with a revamped, booming sound system and a rubberized dance floor. More Hershey shows please?

I: Gotta Jibboo, Chalk Dust Torture, Fluffhead, Funky Bitch, Runaway Jim, NICU, Horn, It’s Ice, Bouncing Around the Room, Sparkle, Split Open and Melt

II: Drowned > Tweezer > Twist > Piper > Free, Wading in the Velvet Sea, You Enjoy Myself

E: Bold As Love

Source: AKG C460Bs/CK 63-ULS

The perfect Phish show experience is a combination of music, space, sound, and people. While any combination of these can produce the show of one’s life, the more ingredients that are present on any given night enhances he experiential quality of that show. In venues like Merriweather and Jones Beach, one must sacrifice everything for a small sliver of dance space, while at some GA shows, people can situate themselves  in any spot they desire. While the music makes up the vast majority of any show experience, these other intangibles can make or break an absolute throwdown. During Leg I, the following five venues combined the most of these facets, providing the highest quality show experiences of tour.

***

1. Hershey Park Stadium, Hershey, PA – 6.13

With a revamped sound system and a rubberized cover for the field, this intimate stadium that once drew the scorn of fans has been reborn as the ultimate Phish venue. With a total GA policy, large groups of friends congregated in prime real estate to rage the show together. With no barriers to space, spontaneous dance pits emerged all over the field as Mike’s larger-than-life bass lines cut the air like thunder. With easy access to wherever one had to go, Hershey Park takes home the award for The Best Venue of Leg I. Phish responded to the positive vibrations with a greatest-hits dance party in a liquid second set

***

2. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta, GA – 7.3 &4

A massive GA dance floor sprawled out in front of the stage for the tour’s final weekend. Completely flat concrete made dancing desirable, while a wristband policy kept, at least, the most timid fans from getting down to the floor. One section of seating provided direct sight lines to the stage before a small lawn dotted the back. The copious dance space and free-for-all floor more than made up for somewhat compromised sound that resulted from the super-high roof, designed for air circulation. Nonetheless, I’d be happy to see a return to Alpharetta scheduled next summer.

***

3. nTelos Pavilion, Portsmouth,VA – 6.15

With a complete GA policy like its next-door neighbor, Hampton Coliseum, nTelos Pavilion was the smallest venue of tour with a capacity of only 6,500. And you couldn’t give tickets away. The GA policy caused the seat-less floor to grow over-crowed by setbreak, pushing many fans into the seats. But with no one caring where you were at anytime, this venue on the water provided a most enjoyable experience and a unique setting for Phish. The undersized tented pavilion felt crowded, though the lawn was sparsely populated. A random stop to say the least, a great time was had by all.

***

4. Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, NJ – 6.24 & 25

Sure, the “Susquehanna Bank Center,” as its been called the for the past few years, is part of the cookie-cutter amphitheatre series, but it is one of the best. Boasting ample nooks of space and a notably lax security force, one can pretty much wind up wherever he wants in Camden and it’s gonna’ sound great. A far less regulated scene than most east coast sheds, everyone finds space to blow it up in one of Phish’s most eventful east-coast stops.

***

5. CMAC Pavilion. Canadaigua, NY – 6.29

This undersized and uniquely designed amphitheatre got a face-lift since Phish’s last visit in 1995. With an up-close and personal pavilion that placed a lot of fans close to the stage, security remained notably non chalant. VIP boxes turned into mini GA dance clubs, and the stairs and aisles were fair game for ballistic raging. The sound was loud and clear inside, though I can’t speak for the lawn. All in all, the way this venue integrated into the surrounding natural landscape made it one of the most enjoyable stops of tour.

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Jam of the Day:

“Split Open and Melt” 6.25 I

A first-set walk on the wild side in Camden.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

6.12.2010 Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH < Torrent

6.12.2010 Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH < Megaupload

One of the dark-horse shows of tour, Blossom offered a strong sequence to open the second set, including one of the jams of tour in “Number Line.” The first set featured, perhaps, the finest “Mike’s Groove” of the summer.

I: Look Out Cleveland*, Ocelot, Water in the Sky, Stash, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, Sample in a Jar, Time Turns Elastic, Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove

II: Rock and Roll > Harry Hood, Backwards Down the Number Line > Twenty Years Later, Instant Karma!**, The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, Waste, Character Zero

E: The Squirming Coil

*debut, The Band, **debut, John Lennon

Source: Schoeps mk4v> KCY> Sonosax SX-M2/LS> SD 744t (@24bit/96kHz)