Mr. Miner's Phish Thoughts

DOWNLOADS OF THE WEEKEND:

Here we have a couple of classics from the Summer of ’97 to tide you over ’till Sunday night’s No Spoilers action!  These need no introduction- Alpine and Star Lake ’97.  “Reba,” “Mike’s,” “Slave,” “Gumbo,” “Crosseyed,” “Ghost”- you know where they go.  Nothing like a little trip down memory lane before busting into the future.  FYI, Phish has been practicing at The Centrum in Worcester for a couple of days, getting ready to tear Fenway apart- new songs are being rehearsed.  Enjoy the downloads, I’ll be speaking to you Monday from the other side.  A great show and weekend to all!

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8.9.97 Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI < TORRENT LINK

I: Theme From The Bottom, Punch You in the Eye, Ghost > Taste, Dogs Stole Things, Reba, Lawn Boy, Crossroads

II: Wilson > Foam, Mike’s Song > Ain’t Love Funny > Simple > Swept Away > Steep > Scent of a Mule, Slave to the Traffic Light, Weekapaug Groove

E: When the Circus Comes, Rocky Top

Source: (FOB) Neumann km140 > Sonosax SX-M2 > Tascam DA-P1 (@ 44.1 kHz)

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8.13.97 Star Lake, Burgettstown, PA < TORRENT LINK

I: Amoreena*, Poor Heart, Stash, Water in the Sky, Gumbo > The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Beauty of My Dreams, Crosseyed and Painless, Wilson > Little Drummer Boy, Sweet Adeline

II: Runaway Jim, Ghost > Izabella, Sleeping Monkey, McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, Sample in a Jar, Also Sprach Zarathustra > Golgi Apparatus, Frankenstein

E: Theme From the Bottom

*Elton John cover (first time played)

Source: Schoeps CMXY-4V > EAA PSP-2 > Tascam DA-P1 (48 khz) > 44.1 khz

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VIDEO OF THE WEEKEND

“Tube” 3.8.09 Hampton

Keyspan Park - 2004 (MSJ)

The first show of summer- there is nothing quite like it. Staring down the barrel of so many adventures, the tour- and possibilities- seem endless.  Always defined by a palpable energy and anticipation, Phish’s tour kickoff parties are always a blast.  With friends reuniting from across the country and beyond, everyone is always in great spirits and raring to go as soon as they arrive in the chosen city of destination.  This will be the case- plus more- come Sunday in Boston, considering how many people will be seeing their first glimpse of Phish in 2009.  After Hampton’s ticket debacle, many loyal fans were forced to wait it out until this summer to get their first 3.0 fix, and the time has finally come!

Tech Rehearsal @ Cricket Pavilon (M.Gordon)

Fenway will be vibrating with so much collective energy this weekend, awaiting all the new material Phish has to offer, and rocking to updated versions of the classics.  Predicting what they will play, while fun, is ultimately futile. (“Time Turns Elastic,” “Tweezer” to open set II?) But I do predict that almost every single person in the stadium Sunday will have a one-of-a-kind Phish experience that will be as fun as any they’ve ever had.  There is no more time to wait, only time to pack up and travel!  So as you go on your way to Fenway, or whatever your first summer show will be, take the appropriate tunes contained within “Miner’s Picks: Summer Kickoff Party.”  Contained on the compilation are highlights from the first shows of each US summer tour spanning the years of 1995-2004.  The time is now, so enjoy the music and get ready to launch into summertime!

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DOWNLOAD “MINER’S PICKS: SUMMER KICK OFF PARTY” < LINK

DOWNLOAD “MINER’S PICKS: SUMMER KICKOFF PARTY” ——————-^TORRENT LINK

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1-3) 6.7.95 – BSU Pavilion, Boise, ID

I. Ha Ha Ha > Tatse

II. Harry Hood

4,5) 8.2.96 – Wolf Mountain, Park City, UT

I. Tweezer

II. Fluffhead

6-10) 7.21.97 – Virginia Beach Amp., VA

I. Ghost

Bathtub Gin

II. Wolfman’s > Magilla

Slave

11-13) 7.15.98 – Portland Meadows, Portland, OR

I. Moma Dance

II. Tweezer > Free

14-17) 6.30.99 – Sandstone Pavilion, Bonner Springs, KS

I. Baththub Gin

II Free

My Left Toe > Stash

18-20) 6.22.00 –  AmSouth Amp, Antioch, TN

II. Jibboo > 2001 > Sand

21-22) 7.7.03 – Cricket Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ

II. Wolfman’s > Scents and Subtle Sounds (debut)

23-27) 6.17.04 – Keyspan Park, Coney Island, NY

I. Moma Dance > Free

II. 46 Days > Possum

E. Divided Sky

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

6.30.95 Great Woods, Mansfield, MA < TORRENT LINK

This is not a first show of tour, but one on the home stretch of the massive musical outing of Summer ’95.  This show sparked the final twi-night stand before Sugarbush’s quasi-festival ended the triumphant summer.  There is great playing througout this one, as Phish was a well-oiled machine at the end of tour.  This one is coming at you as the last pre-tour reader request – enjoy!

I: AC/DC Bag, Scent of a Mule, Horn, Taste, The Wedge, Lizards, Mound, Fee, Run Like an Antelope

II: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Possum > Ha Ha Ha, TMWSIY > Avenu Malkenu > Mike’s Song > Contact > Weekapaug Groove, Amazing Grace, The Squirming Coil

E: HYHU > Cracklin’ Rosie > HYHU, Golgi Apparatus

Source: Unknown

We now sit on the brink of Summer Tour, with just over three days left until we congregate in Boston, and interestingly enough, this will be the second consecutive summer tour that is starting at a baseball stadium.  Phish has been called up from Keyspan to Fenway this year, due to their super agent, Coran Capshaw, and they are primed to make their major league debut.  Forging two subcultures of America- Phish and baseball – the Fenway opener may be more appropriate than meets the eye.  While Phish’s psychedelic scene and baseball’s mainstream crowd may seem on different ends of the spectrum, the two cultures are far more similar than they appear.

A striking connection between the Phish fans and baseball fans are their love of statistics.  What songs were played; how long since the last version; how long was the jam; how many shows have you been to; what songs have you seen and how many times?  The list of numbers goes on and on, not so different than the national pastime’s fanatic following of home runs, RBIs, ERA, batting average, on-base percentage, strikeouts,WHIP, and what not.  Yet it’s not just how these numbers accumulate, but how each group obsesses over them like fiends.  Fantasy baseball leagues thrive on people’s desire to follow the numbers over the internet, and, ironically, this was the same original premise of Phantasy Tour.  In each scene, fans will both glorify or criticize their heroes, depending on their performance on a given day, and they’ll make damn sure their voices are heard by someone.  Grateful Dead aficionado, David Gans, once made a coherent analogy “Why Grateful Dead Shows Are Like Baseball Games,” and I’ve always thought the comparison to be spot on.

Phish @ Keyspan Park - 2004 (MSJ)

Both cultures come from rich traditions whose participants value and honor their past.  The Boys of Summer, speaking of either Phish or baseball players, come from a lineage who forged a path for them to follow.  Whether referencing former heroes of the diamond or the stage, the best became cultural icons of their era.  Jerry Garcia, Joe DiMaggio, Jimi Hendrix, Willie Mays, John Lennon, Jackie Robinson, Miles Davis, Babe Ruth- these people were larger than life, transcending their sport or art and defining a place in time.  With a certain charisma and flair for the dramatic, sectors of society gravitated around these symbolic figures who pushed their art forward.

The season of summer is a centerpiece for both Phish and baseball.  Tours and games, reassuring fixtures of every year’s middle season, are always there to provide us with that fountain of youth; that magic reminding us of how life used to be.  A double-header in the sun or a psychedelic adventure under the stars- both are spiritual endeavors that remind us of an innocent place inside of us; that kid who just wants to have fun all day.  And so we go- to shows and to games- to feel that idyllic innocence and to discover what will happen, again and again, for a lifetime.

Stage at Fenway

Both Phish and baseball are ways of life with their own rites, ceremonies, and innate, underlying credos.  Steeped in history, fans of each like to sit around and talk shop all night, while time stands still.  Debates, arguments, and smack talk are the fabric of both conversations; but in the end it is the process that is remembered rather than the results.  Eternal bonds that could never be broken are formed within each culture-friendships- companions on this ride.

And the funny thing with both Phish and baseball is that some just don’t get it.  What’s the big deal?  Why the obsession?   If people aren’t into them, they couldn’t care less, and sometimes, therein lies the beauty.  Often thought of as mere concerts and games- nothing but recreation- the magic in both Phish and baseball lies within the hearts of those who believe in their ethos.

These timeless entities will converge in only three days, when we migrate to Fenway to see Phish battle The Green Monster in a showdown that is guaranteed to be an instant classic!

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

6.22.95 Finger Lakes PAC, Canandaigua, NY < TORRRENT LINK

Summer Tour '95

Often referred to as simply the “Fleezer” show, this second set is downright nasty.  In a summer of experimental jams, this “Tweezer” ranks right up there.  Dominating the entire second set aside from an opening “Theme,”  this “Tweezer” winds through many stages of improv, including a section of  The Who’s “My Generation.”  A true beast in every sense of the word, this one holds a special place in Summer ‘956 history.

I: Sample in a Jar, Scent of a Mule, Ha Ha Ha, The Divided Sky, Guelah Papyrus, It’s Ice, Strange Design, Maze, Cavern, Sweet Adeline

II: Theme From the Bottom > Tweezer > My Generation* >Tweezer > Tweezer Reprise

E: Acoustic Army, While My Guitar Gently Weeps

*The Who- first time played

Source: DAUD/OTS Schoeps CMC5/mk4 > Aerco > Casio DA-R100 @ 48k

Less than a week after the album release and second-ever performance of Trey’s orchestral opus “Time Turns Elastic,” Phish gave the community a significant pre-tour jolt by releasing the newly-completed Phish version as a single on iTunes yesterday morning.  Utilizing another video announcement, this time of a studio montage while the song peaks as a soundtrack, Phish punctuated the arrival of their newest piece of music- and by the way it was presented, they seem damn proud of it.  A thirteen-plus minute composition, “Time Turns Elastic” will be featured on Phish’s forthcoming album and will certainly jump into this summer’s rotation before too long.

5.21.09 Baltimore (D. Morris)

What started out as an idea for a Phish song during Trey’s solo time in Whitehall, NY, transformed into an orchestral piece, with two movements, in collaboration with Don Hart of Orchestra Nashville.  After debuting “Time Turns Elastic” at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium last September, Trey set out to record and release his one of a kind piece.  Right around that time, an acoustic demo of Trey playing the song by himself in The Barn surfaced, giving everyone a better point from which to imagine the piece as a Phish song; but I’m not sure anyone imagined this.  Rearranging the piece’s second movement for a four-piece band and recording it in New York City, Phish has morphed the symphonic composition into a musical suite that will transfix audiences this summer.

What jumps out about “Time Turns Elastic”- as compared to Phish’s older multi-part compositions- is its cohesiveness.  As opposed to many of the band’s classic songs that often contrast different musical milieus with precise, and sometimes abrupt, Zappa-like transitions, “Time Turns Elastic,” flows naturally from one segment into the next, each connected with a melodic framework that provides a unifying thread throughout the piece.  While moving between many different compositional textures, there is always a familiar element of the song’s melodic structure, holding it together coherently.

Time Turns Elastic "Single"

After listening through the track about ten times yesterday, I figure there have to be at at least four or five distinct places where Phish could jump into different improvisational segments.  Thus it will be interesting to see where the band stretches the song out when it’s performed live- not to mention there is a chance they will choose to play it as a straight composition- but they are Phish.  Swimming between upbeat textures and darker segments, musical peaks and valleys, “Time Turns Elastic” has an incredibly dynamic quality.  Some parts feel genuinely uplifting, while others are certainly somber and introspective, providing a sense of musical narrative.

(G.Stewart)

The playing on the track sounds like Phish has been firing in the studio and the video can confirm the fun they are having.  The most essential part on the track is played by Fishman, who is “doin’ work” the entire time, creating extraordinarily delicate beats and cradling the music with a tapestry of rhythms that guide the band through the many diverse sections.  Also interesting about “Time Turns Elastic” is the “whole-band” focus- no one person plays lead- instead, Trey, Mike, and Page, collectively provide the musical filling.  While Trey wrote this song by himself, it is certainly not a guitar-led piece, rather a more collaborative effort that may foreshadow a newer song model.

Beyond a strict musical opus, there is a five-piece lyrical montage of poetic imagery that narrates a story right alongside.  A philosophical statement about the fluctuations of time and our lives, Trey shares a piece of his own with us through this song.  With images like the following: “But I am a submarine / and the submarine sinks below the ground” to “These are the reasons / that we lay down on the / ground / Drawn through a funnel, all / the colors run together / Turning brown;” “Wait for the waves to come / and carry me away / Down on the ground the / sound of voices in the / echoes seem to say;” “And the carousel turns into / breath around me;” Trey has certainly responded to his post-hiatus pop song naysayers with his strongest and most personal lyrical effort in some time.  Essentially, Time Turns Elastic is a musical reflection on Trey’s time of struggle and the celebration of the resiliency of the human spirit.  (Cue haters vomiting.)

Hampton (J.Bryce)

Yet while many of the lyrical themes are personally connected to Trey’s life, they are universally applicable to all of ours.  We have all gone through periods where time has turned elastic- sped quickly or crawled- depending on our state of mind and activity, and we understand the fluctuations of emotion.  We have all felt ourselves “in and out of focus” or the “world turning upside down;” and similarly, we have all felt “kissed by the water and held in [our] mother’s arms” and “paved with gold gleaming in daylight.”  It is authentic human emotion that “Time Turns Elastic” draws on, both lyrically and musically, striking a chord somewhere inside us all.  Maybe you don’t feel it yet after a listen or two, but wait until this summer is over- you will.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

7.20.99 Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON < TORRENT LINK

Let’s take it north of the border for today’s download to Toronto, home of pleasant Molson Amphitheatre, right on the water.  In Phish’s first visit, they christened the venue with a great first set that was highlighted by the closing triumvirate of “Ghost,” “Wilson,” “YEM.”  The second set, solid all the way through, was highlighted by the closing “2001 > Misty Mountain Hop” debut.  All in all, a nice nugget from the north!

I: Chalk Dust Torture, Sample in a Jar, Cars Trucks Buses, The Sloth, The Divided Sky, Waste, Ghost, Wilson, You Enjoy Myself

II: Twist, The Moma Dance, What’s the Use?, Train Song, Also Sprach Zarathustra > Misty Mountain Hop*

E: Guyute, Hello My Baby

*First time played

Source: Unknown

SUMMER NO SPOILERS UPDATE

After a meeting of the minds, Phish Thoughts has decided to move forward with our “No Spoilers” project for the entire Summer Tour!  If you don’t already know what Phish Thoughts’ “No Spoilers” project is, click here for more details.  If you want to read some feedback from the inaugural Hampton downloads, click here.  We’ve had a few months to recover and reflect on the whole experience and are committed to continuing the project – albeit with a few changes.

“No Spoilers” was initially conceived as a way to listen to the shows spoiler-free (obviously).  Even though it wasn’t part of the initial plan, it also evolved into “and get the shows up “FAST!”  The “FAST” part led to a bit of stress pre-, during, and post-show, so we want to rework things a bit moving forward.

What does that mean? We will *always* post a spoiler free AUD source link after each show. The *only* question is how long it’ll take to get the link up. Sometimes it will be really quick, and other times it might take quite a while.  How fast will partially depend on what tapers are at which shows.

We also hope that LivePhish takes our suggestion and starts offering an untracked MP3 ASAP after each show (i.e. bundle it for free with the regular tracked LivePhish downloads, but make it available immediately.)  But until they do, we’ll keep doing this.

And finally, as always, thanks to the tapers who essentially ARE “No Spoilers”- Jamie Lutch (aka Jerryfreak), Jesse Hurlburt, Mark Hutchison, Jason Sobel, and the rest.  Without them this would not happen – we are just companions on this ride.

As usual, if you have any comments, questions, suggestions, etc., please email us at nospoilers@phishthoughts.com

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TORRENT FEEDBACK

As you know, I am trying to move Phish Thoughts to 100% Torrents for the upcoming shows.  I want to know how much of a problem that is for people.  The only reason for moving away from regular downloads is that hosting them properly is expensive, and trying to host them on the cheap is a pain.

While it would be great if I could continue to offer regular downloads for the small percentage of people that absolutely can’t do torrents (e.g. work restrictions, iPhone, etc.), my strong hunch is that even though torrents are a valid option for many, old habits die hard and the path of least resistance is to just continue using the regular downloads because they’re there.

Also, we’ve done up a really quick, really simple “How to Torrent” tutorial.  It’s probably easier than you think – you don’t necessarily need to mess around with firewalls, port forwarding, blah, blah, blah.  Try it out and let us know your thoughts!  The tutorial is permanently linked along the right side under Phish Thoughts Links.

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FALL ’97 MIX-UP RESULTS- ROBERT G. WINS KNOXVILLE TICKET!

In a race that was finished as close as humanly possible, Robert G. edged out George Fetner to be crowned the ultimate Fall ’97 Mix-Up champion!  Robert has chosen a free Section 119 ticket to the Knoxville show on 6.10 as his prize.  Robert nailed the entire, compact setlist (unreal!), while the only thing that George missed was the date of the “Simple” jam for track 3!  I was incredibly impressed with precision of all three finalists, including Mark Leporati.  The track listing to the tie-breaking mix is below.

1. “Slave” 12.5, Cleveland >
2. “Prince Caspian” 12.12, Albany >
3. “Simple” 12.28, Landover >
4. “Split Open and Melt” 11.13, Vegas >
5. “Timber” 12.9, Penn State >
6. “Twist” 11.14, Salt Lake City >
7. “Halley’s Comet” 12.28, Landover >
8. “Tweezer” 11.26, Hartford >
9. “You Enjoy Myself” 11.13, Vegas >
10. “David Bowie” 11.16, Denver >
11. “I Saw it Again” 12/12, Albany >
12. “Wolfman’s Brother” 11.19, Champaign >
13. “Fee/Meatstick jam” 11.19 Champaign

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SUMMER PHOTOGRAPHY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

In order to make my posts look so fresh and so clean, I need your help!  I want to make each post as up-to-date and relevant as possible, so to do that, I am putting out a request for photos of this summer’s shows.  I am most interested in shots from inside the show, but am open to any that convey the spirit of this summer’s tour.  Please email any and all photos to mrminer@phishthoughts.com as soon after the show as you can.  All photos used will be given proper credit on site.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

7.1.99 First American Music Center, Antioch, TN < TORRENT LINK

The second show of Summer ’99 found Phish orchestrating the elements once again, as a storm that had been brewing all night exploded with the drop into the “YEM” jam, creating an experience like none other.  The second set, somewhat short due to weather, featured massive versions of “Disease” and “YEM.”  The “Disease” gets quite dark before transitioning into a Phil and Friends-influenced version of “Prince Caspian,” as this was the next time the song was played.  A live experience that you’ll never forget of you were there, this one definitely holds up on tape.  We’ll keep the torrent thing going for now and see how it goes.  I will probably have to put “regular” links on past posts per week, so they will remain accessible- we will see.

I: Punch You in the Eye, Billy Breathes, Guyute, Wolfman’s Brother*, Beauty of My Dreams#, Doin’ My Time#^, Roggae#, Water in the Sky#, Get Back on the Train#, Poor Heart#^

II: Down With Disease > Prince Caspian > You Enjoy Myself

E: Character Zero

*With Jerry Douglas on dobro. #With Jerry Douglas on dobro, Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Tim O’Brien on fiddle (and lead vocals on “Doin’ My Time”). ^Gary “El Buho” Gazaway on trumpet; each guest took a solo.

Source: AKG 483 > Sonosax > Tascam DA-P1 > Sony D8

DOWNLOADS OF THE WEEKEND:

For this three-day weekend, I am featuring a standout three-night swing through the Carolinas in November of 1995.  Beginning in Charleston, SC and heading north along tobacco road with stops in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, Phish blazed a trail heading north for Thanksgiving.  The Charleston show took no time to rage with a “Dinner and a Movie” opener and an outstanding first set.  Phish came back and threw down a great second frame highlighted by a 30-minute “YEM” with a “Brickhouse” jam contained within.    Charlotte’s second set was a start-to-finish beast with a “Tweezer” centerpiece and glorious end of set “Hood.”  Winston-Salem’s second set “Bowie > Take Me to the River > Bowie” and “Mike’s” stood out among the rest on the band’s dark and final night in the south.

In order to prepare everyone for the Summer “No Spoilers” downloads (more on that later) and all of the upcoming summer show downloads- which will only be offered in torrent format, this weekend I am going to give everybody practice with torrent-only links.  With three days for people to ask questions and figure it out, I thought this would be a good time to start. (Here are links touTorrent and Vuze)   Remember to keep your torrent windows open when you are done downloading so other people can grab it from you- that is the point!

Happy Memorial Day!  Enjoy the barbeques, and may the Schwartz be with you!

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11.18.95 North Charleston Coliseum, Charleston, SC < TORRENT LINK

I: Dinner and a Movie, Bouncing Around the Room, Reba, Lawn Boy, Punch You in the Eye, Slave to the Traffic Light, I’m Blue I’m Lonesome*, Sample in a Jar

II: AC/DC Bag, Sparkle, Free, I’m So Tired, You Enjoy Myself, Contact, Big Black Furry Creature From Mars > Acoustic Army > Big Black Furry Creature From Mars, Cavern

E: Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey#

*Acoustic #With Jack McConnell, Page’s father

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11.19.95 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC < TORRENT LINK

I: Makisupa Policeman > Maze, Poor Heart, Rift, Stash, Strange Design, It’s Ice, Hello My Baby, Julius, The Squirming Coil

II: Theme From the Bottom > Also Sprach Zarathustra > The Curtain > Tweezer > Billy Breathes, Scent of a Mule, Harry Hood, Suzy Greenberg

E: Life on Mars?, Tweezer Reprise

Source: Source: Neumann KM184

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11.21.95 LJVM Winston-Salem, NC < TORRENT LINK

I: Fee, Chalk Dust Torture, Prince Caspian, The Divided Sky, Long Journey Home*, I’m Blue I’m Lonesome*, Guyute, My Friend My Friend, Dog Faced Boy, Runaway Jim

II: Simple, David Bowie > Take Me to the River** > David Bowie, Glide, Ya Mar, Mike’s Song > Keyboard Army > HYHU > Suspicious Minds > HYHU, Carolina, A Day in the Life

E: Good Times Bad Times

*Acoustic. **First time played.

Unverified Source: Akg 460/ ck61’s

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FALL ’97 Mix-Up Pt. 2 – TIE BREAKER

Linked below is the tie breaking mix for George, Mark, and Robert.  Anyone else is free to listen to, or download, the mix, but it’s a bit different this time around.  This mix was made specifically for competition as a challenge our Fall ’97 ninjas, not necessarily “for your listening pleasure.”  The tie-breaker has just as many tracks in less than half the time, without any real focus on artistic merit.  13 jams in 33 minutes- we’ll see what happens!  Look for the results on Tuesday; the first post following this holiday weekend.  The winner gets their choice of a Fenway, Starlake or Knoxville ticket shipped directly to their door!

George, Mark, and Robert- your 13 track entries are due by Monday at 7 pm eastern / 4 pacific. Good luck!

Fall ’97 Mix-up Pt.2 Tiebreaker < LINK-=——————————————— (Roll over, click play, or right click, save as)

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VIDEOS OF THE WEEKEND:

“2001” 3.8.09 Hampton

“Moma Dance” 3.8.09

6.26.04 Alpine (Craig)

While Phish tour is a feel-good vacation from everyday life, it is also a clandestine mission to reach the most epic peaks of exaltation and self-discovery.  Fun spliced with spirituality- and a whole bunch of friends.  But anyone who has undertaken whole tours, or legs of tours, will tell you, it is not always a walk in the park.  Getting from show to show and state to state requires not only forethought, but organization.  Whether you are camping, staying in hotels, or crashing at rest areas, traveling two to six hours every night takes its toll.  Or if you are the type to get some sleep and get a move-on during the mid-day traffic, a whole different set of obstacles present themselves.  While negotiating this nationwide labyrinth of highways, back roads, and parking lots, there are some things that can help you along the way.

As we enter the last full weekend before the first summer tour in five years, people may be a little out of practice.  While many of us will use part of this three-day weekend to begin packing and getting ready for our three week adventure, I thought that some might need to reminded of some things they may be forgetting.  So as you prepare yourselves for your return to the road, here are some things you should probably not forget.

Rope, Bungee Cords: You’ll use them at some point, somewhere along the way.

Duct Tape: Whether repairing a car, a shoe, or camping equipment, duct tape is usually the answer.

Garbage Bags: For both inside and outside your car.

Needle, Thread, and Safety Pins: Someone in your car will need em at some point- and if not, it’s because you had ’em.

Advil, Tylenol, Allergy Medicine: Hangovers, cornfields, and night time lot injuries are only some of the uses for these necessary medicines.  You never know in what part of the country your allergies will kick in.

CDs, iPods, Hard drives: Nothing is more important than road tunes, and at this point it’s almost all iPods.  Make sure to bring the proper wires to connect in cars and to computers.  I’m bringing a mini-hard drive to dip my pod in daily. A portable hard drive (pocket-size) is useful when you’re hanging out in a hotel room with some folks who did the same.  Note: Those dj mixes make for great late night driving at 80 minutes a clip.

Paper, Pen, Pencils: You never know when inspiration will strike.  The computer may be packed away.

Laptop: In this digital age, every hotel, motel, and Holiday Inn has wireless, so bring it, and be able to log onto Phish Thoughts anywhere you go!  And your fantasy baseball team won’t go down the tubes when you don’t set your rotation for a month because you’re disconnected from the world.

Suntan lotion, extra sunglasses, hat or visor, bug spray: This is Summer Tour- it’s gonna’ be hot once we get to Bonnaroo! And the east coast mosquitoes suck!

Socks, socks, and more socks: I bring as many “freshies” as shows, and then you gotta’ figure you’re living life and not doing a lot of laundry.  Someone once told me to bring two times the socks and underwear as days between laundry- take it for what you will.

Atlas and/or GPS: One way or the other, you gotta find your way.  Sometimes maps look like spaghetti when you’re really spun, so a GPS may be useful- an iPhone will do the trick these days. But when trying to find that back route around the traffic at Star Lake and Alpine, you better break out that atlas.

AAA Card: A lifesaver in so many situations- make sure someone in your car has one.

Grinder, your favorite rolling papers, lighters, air-tight container, Ozium: If you’re puffing, you gotta have the goods.  And if you don’t bring papers, it’s gonna be an EZ Wider and Zig-Zag summer for you.

Gold Bond Medicated Powder: The “voodoo” herb contained within can be the cure for many a summer ailment.

Bathing Suit and Towel: This is Summer Tour- remember?

Extra Pair of Shoes: You will use them after getting caught in that post-show downpour.

Rain Gear: There’s no festival this year, but you’ll get caught in a shower at some point and be glad you have it.

Extra Set Of Car Keys: And don’t leave ’em in the car!

Snacks: While convenience stores are one of the most frequented places on tour, they aren’t always so convenient if you’re lost or running late.

Corkscrew, scissors, pocket knife: All handy on too many occasions to not have them, and you can store ’em any where.

Chargers for all your equipment: Phones, iPods, laptops, and whatever else can be run without a plug.

Now, that’s a good start!  If you have most of this tour gear, you’ll be ready for many a tour catastrophe, and be able to avert many others.  If you forget any of this stuff, there is always Flying J’s and Walmarts to fill in your gaps, but if you’re prepared, you’ll just keep on rolling.

What other tour gear must you not live without, and what has come through for you in the clutch?

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FALL ’97 MIX-UP Pt. 2 RESULTS: A THREE-WAY TIE!

Congratulations to George Fetner, Mark Leporati, and Robert G.! ALL THREE of these guys nailed the setlist track for track- a three-way tie!  Honestly, I never expected this to happen, but I guess I made it too easy!  Anyhow, after some consultation with the winners, the only fair way to decide who gets the free ticket is to have a high stakes playoff tiebreaker!  Today, I will craft a tiebreaker mix of Fall ’97 material to find out who is the true maestro of the tour.  I am definitely going to make it more challenging, and I will post it with the Weekend Nuggets for others.  I also want to congratulate Phish Thoughts reader, Rolling Papyrus, who only missed the second two tracks.  For now, the contest moves on!  The track listing to this week’s mix is below.

1. Funk Jam following Possum 12.3, Philadelphia >
2. Ghost 12.2, Philadelphia >
3. Down With Disease 12.29, MSG >
4. Bathtub Gin 11.23, Winston-Salem >
5. Stash 11.23, Winston-Salem >
6. Jam following Johnny B. Goode 11.17, Denver >
7. Mike’s Song 12.31, MSG >
8. AC/DC Bag  11.21, Hampton >
9. Drowned 12.11, Rochester >
10. Gumbo 11.14, Salt Lake City >
11. Wolfman’s Brother 12.31, MSG >
12. Ghost 12.5, Cleveland >
13. Emotional Rescue 11.21, Hampton >
14. Mike’s Song 11.22, Hampton

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TIME TURNS ELASTIC IN BALTIMORE

Trey performed the east cost debut of his orchestral composition, Time Turns Elastic last night with the Baltimore Symphony Orcestra.  The setlist is below.  It looks like a much Phishier affair than the Nashville premiere!

Trey W/ Baltimore Symphony Orchestra 5.21.09

I: Divided Sky, Brian and Robert, Inlaw Josie Wales*, Water in the Sky*^, Pebbles and Marbles, First Tube

II: Time Turns Elastic, Let Me Lie, Guyute

E: If I Could

* Acoustic Guitar
^ Dedicated to Trey’s nephew (in attendance), son of  his sister, Kristy Manning, who recently passed away

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

12.3.99 The Crown, Cincinnati, OH < LINK

12.3.99 The Crown, Cincinnati, OH < TORRENT LINK

This is the first night of December ’99’s two night stand in Cincinnati.  The more exploratory and psychedelic night, this show was smoking all the way through.  No doubt the best playing came in the second set with a heavy, dissonant “Sand,” one of the greatest and most exploratory “Limb By Limbs” ever played, and raging late-’99 “Piper,” one of the best periods of the song.

I: First Tube, Wolfman’s Brother, Bouncing Around the Room, Get Back on the Train, Billy Breathes, AC/DC Bag > Possum, Slave to the Traffic Light

II: Sand*, Limb by Limb, Bug, Piper, Harry Hood

E: Rock and Roll

*With Trey on keys.

Source: Unknown

While speculation is running rampant about Fenway and the upcoming leg of Summer tour, believe it or not, rumors have been floating around about Halloween for quite a while.  Without knowing what type of fall slate Phish will create after such an extensive summer schedule, it seems like they will be returning to their tradition of donning a musical costume for All Hallows’ Eve.  This is quite the exciting proposition, as Halloween shows were one of the greatest nights of the Phish calendar.

Rumors originally had Phish playing The Knickerbocker (now the Times-Union Center) in downtown Albany.  Then I heard the band would move down I-87 and play a fifteen year anniversary show at Glens Falls, commemorating their first Halloween costume of The Beatles’ White Album. The most recent mumblings involve a return to Vegas for Halloween weekend, a proposition that seems counter-intuitive with Phish’s new family vibe, but who knows with these guys?  The bottom line is that it looks like Phish will be taking us somewhere come the end of October.

As soon as we start talking Halloween, there is immediate conjecture about what album Phish may or should play for set II.  Having already touched on several diverse classics- The White Album, The Who’s Quadrophenia, Talking Head’s Remain In Light, and Velvet Underground’s Loaded– Phish seems to choose their costume wisely, making sure it bears some significance in rock ‘n roll history.  (We must remember the post-Halloween Dark Side show as well.) While positing what record Phish might play come October 31st is fun, most guesses will wind up empty, as Phish seems to select albums that don’t immediately rush to mind.  Nonetheless, it is a fun activity, and (assuming they won’t cover the same artist twice) below are five albums that I think would make great choices for Phish to cover come Halloween- wherever it is.

Graceland – Paul Simon

I have been advocating for this album ever since 1996.  Why?  Because Phish would crush it.  With intricate polyrhythms and percussive arrangements, Graceland would require additional musicians, much like Remain In Light. Bring on the horns!  Bring on the percussionists!  This one would make for an incredibly improvised time in which Phish could really explore the rhythms, textures, and melodies that define Paul Simon’s masterpiece.  Songs like “Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes,” “Under African Skies,” and “The Myth of Fingerprints,” would be perfect springboards for Phish to take in their own direction.  And with some singles that everybody in the arena would know (“Boy In the Bubble” and “You Can Call Me Al”) this seems like a perfect choice.

Appetite For Destruction – Guns N’ Roses

If we are talking definitive albums of rock history, Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite For Destruction has to enter the conversation.  Stripping down the ’80’s glam-rock of Hollywood, Axl and crew redefined what it meant to be a metal band in the early 1990s.  With superb songwriting, catchy hooks, and enough energy to blow up the west coast, Appetite took the nation by storm in 1989.  Can you imagine Trey taking the “Paradise City” or “Sweet Child of Mine” solos?  Or Mike and Fish grooving on “Rocket Queen?”  It would be to-die-for.  Even people who never got into this genre of music respect what Guns N’ Roses created with their debut album.  A game changing record in every sense of the term, Phish would certainly do it justice if they wanted to.  Starting off set two with “Welcome to the Jungle?”- forget about it- the room would absolutely blow apart.

Loveless – My Bloody Valentine

This critically acclaimed album by the early ’90s British alternative outfit has often been cited as a possibility for Phish to cover due to Trey’s avowed proclivity for it.  Recorded over two years and nineteen recording studios, My Bloody Valentine came close to declaring bankruptcy during the process.  But what resulted was a hallmark album of the UK’s “shoegazing” scene of the early ’90s, a sub-genre of British alternative music.  Defined by dense, dissonant guitar effects, sheets of sound, and tonal experimentation, band leader Kevin Shields used a tremolo (or whammy) bar to “strum” his guitar, creating the album’s signature sound.  Combined with drum loops and obscured, effect-laden vocals, this record became My Bloody Valentine’s seminal work, as they never recorded another full album.  Phish could transform this already-psychedelic epic into something completely out of hand-  it would be awesome.

Thriller – Michael Jackson

The world’s best selling album of all-time was toyed with in Louisville, KY the night before Halloween ’95, as the band worked “Beat It” teases into “Possum.”  At the Rosemont Horizon, the teases continued as “Harpua’s” story featured Jimmy listening to “the Halloween album” as the band teased “Beat It” once again.  As Phish took the stage for the second set, they continued the joke by hinting “Thriller” before dropping into the less-widely known Quadrophenia.  If the band were to reconsider this idea, Thriller would make as fun of a Halloween set as any album out there.  Taking Phish funk into the disco realm, this album could lend itself to extended dance improv on most tracks.  “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” could be monster jams, while the slower R & B songs could be a hilarious venue for Mike and Page to step up to the vocal task.  Though it is unlikely that “Thriller” will materialize at this point, it would be a blast to experience.

Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Often hailed as the Boss’ most powerful album, Phish has already covered the title track in jest with Tom Marshall at PNC in 1999.  But if the band took this epic record more seriously, they could expound masterfully on its dramatic compositions.  Imagine Phish interpreting “Jungleland,” or “Thunder Road?”  The emotional quality behind those songs, combined with Phish’s golden touch, could make this an incredibly powerful experience.  With time to improvise in a more upbeat fashion on “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” and “Backstreets,” this album, if chosen, would certainly surprise the younger fans out there with its poignancy.

Other Albums That Would Be Great: London Calling (The Clash), Exile On Main Street (Rolling Stones), Astral Weeks (Van Morrison), The Joshua Tree (U2), Gish (Smashing Pumpkins), Houses of the Holy (Led Zeppelin), Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie), Songs In the Key of Life (Stevie Wonder)

What album do you think Phish should cover and why?

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LISTEN to a funny a funny interview from Germany in February ’97 talking about Halloween. (4 minutes) –^^ (Roll over link, click play or right click, save as)

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

10.31.90 Armstrong Hall @ Colorado College SBD < LINK

10.31.90 Armstrong Hall @ Colorado College SBD < TORRENT LINK

1990 Tour Poster

This is the first Halloween gig that Phish played in the ’90s, and while they didn’t don a musical costume, they filled their set with every big Phish song they had at the time.  This show was actually webcast follwing Halloween in 1999 when the band skipped their traditional holiday gig.  Enjoy this nugget of Phish history as we render guesses about Halloween ’09! (Note: This is not the LivePhish source.)

I: Buried Alive > Possum, The Squirming Coil, Lizards, Stash, Bouncing Around the Room, You Enjoy Myself, The Asse Festival, My Sweet One, Cavern, Run Like an Antelope

II: The Landlady, Reba, Runaway Jim, Foam, Tweezer, Fee, Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, HYHU > Love You > HYHU, Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove

E: Uncle Pen, Big Black Furry Creature From Mars

Set 2 preceded by costume contest.

As we are now constantly thinking about the beginning of tour and what might develop with so much new material waiting in the wings, let’s look back at some other tour openers where slews of new songs made their debuts in years past.

***

1994: 4.4.94  Burlington, VT

The first show of 1994 marked the beginning of Phish’s combined spring and summer tour.  Beginning in their hometown of Burlington, at the Flynn Theatre, the band embarked on the road a mere week after Hoist was released.  Arriving to the Flynn with a plethora of premieres to play, this show featured six debuts, including the full “Down With Disease” whose jam rang in the New Year in Worcester months earlier.  Other Hoist songs that were introduced at the Flynn were “Scent of a Mule,” “If I Could,” “Wolfman’s Brother,” “Julius,” and the short-lived Jungle Book cover, “I Wanna Be Like You.”  Enhancing the debuts of “Julius,” “Wolfman’s,” and “I Wanna Be Like You” was the full lineup of The Giant Country Horns, who joined Phish for the majority of the second set.

1995: 5.16.95 Lowell, MA

Phish and Gloria Steinem 5.16.95 (phish.com)

Although this was not the first show of summer tour, outright, this one set benefit for Voters For Choice was the first show of the year.   Before Phish took the stage, after two opening acts, host Gloria Steinem promised fans more new music in one night than ever before, and Phish delivered.  Debuting ten songs in a single set, many which wound up on Billy Breathes, the only songs performed that Phish had played before were “Reba,” “YEM,” and “Sample.”  The setlist went like this:

Don’t You Wanna Go, Ha Ha Ha, Spock’s Brain, Strange Design, Reba, Theme From the Bottom,  HYHU > Lonesome Cowboy Bill > HYHU, Free , Glide II, You Enjoy Myself, Sweet Adeline, Sample in a Jar  E: I’ll Come Running > Gloria

Among the ten debuts, three were covers, and two were played only at this show.  The encore of Brina Eno’s “I’ll Come Running” into Van Morrison’s “Gloria,” in honor of Ms. Steinem, was a circumstantial choice.  But Velvet Underground’s “Lonesome Cowboy Bill” would pop up twice more during Summer ’95, again in Vegas for Halloween ’98, and one more time in Camden’s 2003 standout first set.  (Note: “Taste” and “Acoustic Army” were debuted at 1995’s first real show on June 7th in Boise, ID.  This is also when the general public got their first taste of much of Lowell’s new music.)

1996

Though not much new music debuted in 1996, Phish used an unannounced show a month before summer tour at a bar in Woodstock, NY billed as “Third Ball” to unveil “Character Zero” and “Waste”- two songs that would go on to become Phish classics.

1997: 6.13 – 6.14.97 Dubln, IR

7.1.97 Amsterdam (M.Welsh)

This opening two-night stand of Summer ’97 in Dublin, Ireland brought a motherlode of new material.  Tucked into the intimate S.F.X Centre, Phish was far from the maddening crowd, giving them comfort to test drive many new songs.  On the first night, the band broke out seven new originals- “Dogs Stole Things,” Limb By Limb,” “Wading In the Velvet Sea,” “Water In the Sky,” “Vultures,” “Ghost,” and “Oblivious Fool.”  In addition, this show marked the first public appearance of Sly and the Family Stone’s, “Stand!” and Jimi’s, “Izabella;”  the latter would be incorporated into some epic Phish sets.  The most creative debut of the evening was the gooey transition into “Ghost” out of a funked-out “Chalk Dust” jam.  Stemming from the most unlikely of places, Phish unveiled their new funk epic that would dominate setlists through 2004.

The second night in Dublin proved to be more of the same, this time featuring six new songs.  The introductions of “Dirt” and Fishman’s “Bye Bye Foot,” took place in the first set, while the second set carried some more significance. Phish opened the set with the first versions of “Twist” and “Piper,” two songs that became centerpiece jams in their repertoire up until they stopped.  Additionally, the second set saw the initial renditions of “I Saw It Again,” and “Waking Up,” a short Trey composition that was never played again.  Some of these Dublin debuts would find a home on 1998s The Story of the Ghost, and others would land on 2000’s Farmhouse. (Note: “Black Eyed Katy” was debuted in Fall ’97’s first show in Las Vegas.)

1998

The beginning of 1998 was the Island Run- not exactly your conventional Phish tour.  Nonetheless, Phish used the initial night in Nassau to unveil “Birds of a Feather” (which had developed out of an Albany ’97 jam) and “Frankie Says” (then thought to be named “Red Sand” or “Relax”.)

During the initial show of Summer ’98, at The Grey Hall in Copenhagen, Phish introduced three new songs- “The Moma Dance,” “Roggae,” and Brian and Robert.”  Two nights later in the same building, the band would unveil two of Mike’s post-Bearsville creations, “Meat” and “Fikus.”

1999

Though 1999 was also light on the new material, Phish launched three new songs amidst a standout Bonner Springs tour opener on June 30th.  The TAB transplant “Get Back On the Train” reared its bluegrass-funk in the first set, while the debut of Trey’s power-ballad “Bug” segued into an incredibly psychedelic “My Left Toe”- the first track the band broke out off of the instrumental Siket Disc.  “My Left Toe” served as an ambient lead-in to a dark and crashing set-closing “Stash,” putting an exclamation point on an excellent show.

Fall ’99 saw seven new songs played within the first three shows covering Vancouver and the Gorge.  More TAB transplants- “First Tube,” the acoustic “Inlaw Josie Wales,” and “Mozambique”- saw their first Phish show in Canada on 9.9.99, while “Gotta Jiboo” and the cover “Will It Go Round In Circles?” had to wait for the next night at The Gorge.  But the most significant debut of all came on the third night, when Phish opened up the second set, and a new universe, with a driving segue out of “Wolfman’s” into Phish’s first “Sand.”  The perfect venue for such massive grooves, “Sand’s” debut was a peak convergence of all the elements to create an unparalleled music/nature/outer-space experience.  Phish also introduced their next single, “Heavy Things” during the first set of this show.

*

Needless to say, we have tradition here, and as discussed yesterday, we are now 11 days away from starting it all over again.  Rife with anticipation, hold onto your hats, because we’re not gonna’ know what happened after we are hit with the first epic ___________.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

7.21.97 Virginia Beach Amphitheatre < LINK

7.21.97 Virginia Beach Amphitheatre < TORRENT LINK

Because not all of us made it over to Dublin to begin the summer, this first show of Phish’s US Tour took on a huge air of excitement.  Opening with the first stateside “Ghost” and beginning the show with four straight new songs, this show immediately took on the energy of one strewn with new songs.  Additionally, this show saw the US debuts of “Piper,” “Dogs,” Dirt,” and “Velvet Sea.”  In terms of musical highlights; coupling with the huge “Ghost,” a ridiculously funky “Bathtub Gin” lit up the first set, while a deep “Wolfman’s > Magilla, Bowie” opening stood out as the musical highlights of set two.  After Leroi Moore joined the band for some multi-instrumental antics, a beautiful “Slave” topped it all off.

I: Ghost, Dogs Stole Things, Piper, Dirt, Ginseng Sullivan, Bathtub Gin*, Character Zero

II: Wolfman’s Brother > Magilla, David Bowie, Wading in the Velvet Sea, Theme From the Bottom#+ > Funky Bitch#, Slave to the Traffic Light

E: Loving Cup

*At the end, Trey welcomes the beginning of the U.S. Summer Tour after time spent in Europe, mockingly chanting “USA! USA! USA!” He then introduced the new songs to the American crowd.  #With Leroi Moore of Dave Matthews Band on sax.  +With Multi-Instrument Jam (Leroi with 2 saxes, Trey with 3 guitars and Fish’s cymbals (running around like a madman on stage), and Mike with 2 basses. Meanwhile Fish was playing with multiple (somewhere between 6 and 8 ) drum sticks while Page was laying on his keyboards trying to play as many as he could and banging on them like a madman.)

Source: Schoeps CMC641 > Sonosax > SBM1 > D8

6.18.04 Brooklyn, NY

With nothing separating us from Summer Tour except 12 days, thoughts are beginning to percolate about what will go down.  What songs will we hear and what songs won’t we hear?  With act three of Phish’s career about to open, the musical anticipation is- dare I say it- greater than Hampton.  Admittedly, nothing can match the hype, excitement, and quality of energy surrounding Phish’s return in March- it was like nothing we’d ever experienced; just like a dream.  We were finally getting Phish back, and had no idea what we had in store.

But after an amazing three nights in March, and some subsequent interviews with Mike and Trey, we can make clearer predictions of what lies ahead.  This much we know for sure- there will be a host of new material.  The band is essentially hopping out of the studio and into Fenway Park, having just recorded their new album, not to mention they have written many additional songs beyond the album.  It’s safe to say that setlists will read a bit differently from now on, and it’s new material that this era of Phish will be built upon.  Will they play their classics?  Of course.  But when Phish has new material, they like to explore it in depth- always.  And this is not just a crop of new songs, it’s the ushering in of an entirely new era of Phish and defining a musical direction for 2009 and beyond.

"Ghost" 6.20.04 SPAC

This is the most exciting part about this summer- a new direction- Phish’s next evolutionary step.  No doubt my brain will pop each time they drop a “Tweezer” or a “Mike’s,” but what will be even more exciting is to see what will develop out of their newest, and virtually unplayed, songs.  To add some specificity to what I am saying, here are seven songs that I believe will blow up this summer and throughout the year.

***

1. A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing

"A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing" 6.19.04

As Phish was exiting stage left in 2004, this song was the heavy about to become the next colossal launch pad into the Phish universe.  Played only twice, and improvised on only once, the band had barely scratched the surface of this jam’s potential.  Ironically, the only time the band did jam the song, they used it as a springboard into other-worldly realms.  Among my favorite Phish jams ever, the 6.19 SPAC rendition had the entire community drooling for the next time the band unveiled “Oceans.”  Although we’ve had to wait five years for that next version, it is about to drop, and you can bet that this will develop into one of the defining dark Phish jams of 3.0.

2. Light

On the other side of the darkness, there is “Light.”  A Trey original that has only been performed twice with his solo band has popped up on both recent “track listings” for the band’s upcoming album.  There was no corroborating evidence needed, however, to know that this would be a certain, and amazing, addition to the Phish catalog.  When TAB played “Light” in Wallingford, CT, you could imagine- and practically hear- the spiritual heights to which Phish would take this piece.  Mark my words, this will be a highlight of the summer, taking soaring journeys through places we’ve never dreamed.

3. Valentine

Albany 10.08 (A. Hill)

Another song that Trey only played twice with TAB, this song was also on the seemingly-official track listing of the upcoming album.  To be honest, I knew this song would land squarely in Phish’s lap when I first heard it in Brooklyn last summer.  Debuted at his comeback show, and subsequently played only in Albany, “Valentine,” like “Light,” just sounds like a Phish song.  Combining uplifting melodies with a driving rhythm, Trey’s guitar solos were the centerpiece of both TAB versions, something that is sure to change when Phish attacks the song.  Pushing it as far as he could with his “backing band,” with Phish, this song could become a staple of this summer and years to come

4. Undermind

“Rearranged but not refined”- “Undermind” debuted in Hampton featuring a fresh and chunky groove to which everyone quickly attached.  A song that provides a poignant lyrical accuracy describing Phish at this point in their lives, you can bet that Hampton’s premiere was a sign of things to come.  Possessing a naturally funked out groove, this one should highlight many a set in the upcoming months with its diverse sound and improv.  Already a crowd favorite from its debut alone, I’d look for this one early and often.

5. Time Turns Elastic

Time Turns Elastic

A virtual shoe-in for a complex, latter-day Phish classic, the press release for Trey’s album even said that the band would be exploring the piece as a rock epic this summer.  With rich imagery, signature composition, and coherent musical themes, this may well become Trey’s consensus best work in a while after Phish gets a grasp of it.  Translating the entire second movement of his orchestral piece to a four piece, this will most likely turn out to be a 15-20 minute song.  It will be very interesting to see how and where Phish improvises within the piece, but regardless, the community will be abuzz about “Time Turns Elastic” very soon.

6. Backwards Down The Number Line

The only new song we heard at Hampton, the band seems to have a soft spot for this one.  About moving backwards and forwards at the same time- rediscovering and progressing- we have only seen the beginning of this 3.0 anthem.  A song that will likely be in heavy rotation this summer, it may find a home opening second sets with extended, rock-based jams- a mature “Disease” for the new age.  Wherever it winds up, look for some spirited improv stemming from “Backwards” all year.

7. Scents and Subtle Sounds

7.30.03 Camden, NJ (A. Phelan)

While it seems silly to put “Scents” on this list since it was played for almost a year, it was becoming huge when Phish decided to stop.  Boating monster explorations at Camden in both ’03 and ’04, the song also saw its jam break form at Deer Creek (’03) and IT as well.  One of the most powerful Anastasio/Marshall songs in years, one would hope that Phish decides to reattach the song’s psychedelic intro to its body decapitated body.  When thinking of songs that had undiscovered universes left inside of them in 2004, this one immediately jumps to mind.  Having never even played the song indoors (where the real shit goes down) I get the sense that there is a lot left in store for the the centerpiece of Undermind.

Phish’s long standing tradition has always been to break out new songs at the very beginning of their tours, making the prospect of the first week of tour all the more exciting.  While Fenway may be reserved for Phish to blow up “the oldies” in a stadium setting, Jones Beach will certainly be the site of many debuts and “re-debuts.”  Specifically, the lower-key Tuesday, 6.2, show seems like the perfect place to introduce a lot of the future.  Regardless, by the time we head up to Great Woods, my guess is the huge “YEM” and “Mike’s Groove” won’t be the prime subject of conversation.  Maybe I’m wrong- but we’ll know soon enough.

***

Before Hampton, I wrote a column and made a compilation detailing what TAB songs might possibly transition to Phish.  Now we can assume a bit more after seeing the alleged track listing to the album leaked by a Billboard Memo.  If you didn’t grab this then, grab it now- it makes a nice primer on some of the newest possibilities.

DOWNLOAD “TAB > PHISH?” NOW < LINK

DOWNLOAD “TAB > PHISH?” NOW < TORRENT LINK

***

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

5.19.94 Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Eugene, OR < LINK

5.19.94 Hult Center for the Performing Arts < TORRENT LINK

Hult Center, Eugene, OR

We are taking it back 15 years to the Pacific Northwest for the anniversary of an intimate show in Silva Concert Hall at the Hult Center in Eugene.  Some quintessential ’94 jamming is contained within the show, specifically in “Stash,” “Mike’s Groove” and “Hood.”  Here’s a chance to check out a relatively uncirculated escapade from Spring ’94.

I: Halley’s Comet^ > Llama, My Friend My Friend, Poor Heart, Stash, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Down With Disease, The Mango Song, Cavern

II: Sample in a Jar, Sparkle, Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Lizards, Julius, Big Ball Jam, Harry Hood, Golgi Apparatus

E: Ginseng Sullivan*, Nellie Cane*, Sweet Adeline, Fire

^minor digi noise at the beginning *Acoustic and without mics.

Source: NAK 300 Omnis > D-7