We Follow The Lines Going South
6.7.09 Camden (D. Vann)
Still reeling from Camden’s throwdown as we make our way down to Asheville, the excitement for the rest of this Summer is now bubbling more vigorously than ever. With six summer shows under their belt, Phish looks to dial up the intensity and improvisation as we enter one of the most anticipated weeks of tour. From the mountains of Asheville, to the sleeper in Knoxville (tickets are now going for $12 on TicketsNow!), and from the monstrosity of Bonnaroo to the intimacy of The Fabulous Fox Theatre- this week holds countless promising moments. The venues will be diverse, including both the grandest and smallest stages of the summer, and it’s all kicking off with an indoor GA show tonight in Asheville. Having re-acclimated to the live setting, the band looks to springboard off their colossal night in Camden and continue their fireworks down south.
6.7.09 (D.Vann)
The band members are having a blast on stage night after night; flashing huge smiles, joking with each other and the crowd, and clearly sharing our enthusiasm for what is unfolding this summer. Trey, Page and Fish look like kids in a candy store up there, and while Mike is always more reserved, his bass has been expressing his thoughts in between subtle smiles. This positive energy and enthusiasm has permeated their music into the audience where the crowds have been spectacular. Everyone at the shows is having a blast and it seems that most people are coming for the right reasons- in celebration of Phish. Once again, we are living IT, and it feels so good to be home again.
6.7.09 (D.Vann)
One of the most encouraging trends on this leg has been the copious amount of new songs, virtually all with improvisational potential. Not to mention that when these pieces are compiled onto Phish’s forthcoming album, they may just comprise the most impressive studio effort of the band’s career. Each piece focusing on a different piece of Phish’s sonic repertoire, the new material spans the Phish spectrum from ballads to psychedelia to straight-ahead rock and roll. It will be interesting to watch the development of these new songs and see when they are placed as centerpiece jam vehicles in the show. Personally, I look forward to the time when Phish builds big second set versions of “Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan,” the playful “Ocelot,” and “Twenty Years Later,” just to name a few. And that time could be sooner rather than later. Phish’s songwriting hasn’t been this strong since 1997 when they debuted a slew of new material that summer. And with the way things are going, I think we will continue to hear further debuts as we shift into the southern run.
With the band improving by the night, it has been like watching time-lapse photography of Phish’s re-development. Harnessing the precision and energy that put them on the map, and channeling it into a renewed improvisational spirit, the odysseys that made Phish famous are again knocking on our door again; and we’ve never had a more welcome visitor.
Tags: 2009, Summer '09
Looking at the calendar I’m thinking either June 27, July 11, or July 25 for a PDX Phish BBQ….. Any takers?
charge it bro, just charge it
@GuitarPicker420! – I was really surprised, I ended up going with a pair of Totem Mites. I was basically sold on the Paradigms walking in, and they sounded amazing of course. But, I’m starting small – no sub or anything – and I have to say the Totems were huge shock. The rock CDs I brought (a 74 Dead matrix and the Camden SBD) were just about equivalent between the 2, but the Coltrane, the Mos Def, and especially Dafos – the Hart/Moriera/Purim ear candy album – sounded remarkably more clear present on the Totems.
They won’t really roar without help, but I’ll add that in time – the cabinets are fucking tiny…
If you haven’t heard Dafos, it’s an amazing audiophile album, and perfect for testing stereo equipment.The LP is really legendary among hardcore audiophiles. One track is an unbelievably perfect recording of Mickey playing the Beam, it’s the coolest and trippiest recorded sound I’ve ever heard – how about that for a weird plug? – and hearing that tone on the Totems did me in. It’s like freebasing 100% pure Tibetan monk extract.
Listening to remastered American Beauty right now – always comes first for me – A Love Supreme next, and later tonight the Asheville show!
countdown to showtime!
Flat Fee opener (swear i heard Trey teasing it before DwD on Friday night)
@Jphishman – I am absolutely down for a gathering but am too spun at the moment to think about dates – before 2nd leg starts sounds good tho
@ MR. C – cool bud we need you there, whenever it happens.
How late have the boys been starting compared to the official start time?
I might try to be in town if you schedule it way ahead of time. In between tours is best.
Anybody have a house they’d be willing to do this at one of the weekends I mentioned above?
Go Phish & Penguins!
shit is about to go down! Big Mikes tonight!
@GuitarPicker420! – you like your Integra huh? there’s a combo deal p304 preamp and m504 amp on portland craigslist for $600, that seems like a good deal in good condition right?
@JP usually starting just a little after listed time – really, dead on, in rock and roll time
You guys swimming the stream?
Thanks for pointing out that Dafos record, Mr Completely… sounds really interesting… I will check it out!
@Chalkdustin
Thanks for that video of Trey in the Barn… Would love to visit it sometimes, looks like a really beautiful place…
the streamer has no ticket tonight.
guess it’s no spoilers for me!
http://www.lala.com/#album/504684635190091223
TTE orchestral composition. Sounds good.
set I:
Kill Devil Falls
moma!
Anyone streaming?
wheres the stream boys?
sample, stash
@Frankie
Echoing your cheers towards Phish and the Pens.
The Barn looks like a magical place up in the clouds or something. The stuff that goes on in that place must be amazing.
I have tried adding a link to a live stream a few times now and it does not seem to be posting
the place looks rowdy and rawkus
Here is the stream lets see if this works
http://qik.com/iheartvanhalen