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
Know of him but not really hip to him. I know he got that afrobeat style down to a science. That has a lot a clave patterns within it as well.
Jer – yes – I would like to have a PDX get together this summer if other peeps are up for it. Burn a few and watch some show vids or something.
I live in Milwaukie these days, just across the Tacoma St. Bridge from Sellwood, work downtown (I am typing on the 17th floor of the fox tower and deciding which super awesome food cart to hit for lunch)
I don’t know many drummers that don’t worship Tony Allen- just ridiculous
I have an original pressing of Zombie- worth a couple of bucks
Completely
I’m up in your hood occasionally to catch a cubs game
nice place to see a game even though I’m blocks from Wrigley
Speaking of Funk and Soul. Everyone needs to check out Betty Davis(Miles Davis’s wife at one time) She introduced Miles to Jimmy Hendrix(She was fucking them both)That’s where all the wha wha Trumpet effect started for Bitches Brew. Jimmy influenced bitch’s brew! And Betty is the Bitch I believe. Check her out now she Fucks the Funk. No shit!! If you haven’t heard her stuff go to Lightintheattic.com Light in the attic records out of seattle.
Completely- I was from Portland for a long time. Actually will be at a conference this week in Portland. Still have a house over on SE Woodstock by Reed College.
Have lived in Seattle the last 4 years- but love P-town. that is funny- I didn’t think there were many west coasters on here- let alone northwest kids.
Mr.C, you – how do you say – “work”?
West Coast!!!
@msb – check this track out, drummer man
mediafire.com slash MrCompletely – track in main folder “Jekalewa.mp3”
one of the illest beats I know
if there are any hiphop fans in here, the new Mos is very interesting, not his finest verses but the beats are largely middle eastern/arab style, very cutting edge stuff – nice to see him back in the game
@BTB
Yea, I got some strange looks when I told the girls I work with that I had to hurry home and finish trying to figure out Miner’s mix-ups. Might as well have said I was going home to organize my Star Wars collectables alphabetically…….
Oregon in the house! SEe you guys at the surprise show at Les Scwhab Amphitheater in Bend b/w Shoreline and Gorge.
I’ll try to check it out tonight after I do my yardwork.BTW Yardwork sucks ass when Phish is touring.
msb: SBDs, ipod & doob = yard work fun
Did any of us have yards the last time Phish toured?
@Albert – Milwaukie is a suburb of Portland just south of SE PDX
Betty White you mean @msb? <– shoutout to old thread
Miles was more influenced by Hendrix than anyone else since he was a kid. That’s some of the most interesting stuff in Miles’ book. They were apparently jamming together some at Electric Ladyland not long before Jimi died, Miles teaching Jimi music theory, Jimi teaching Miles how to rock. About every 5 years a rumor surfaces that reels of those sessions have finally seen light of day, but it always turns out to be BS.
I lived on Woodstock for about 5 years…nice…great neighborhood. Wanna sell me that house? :oP
Anyone up for PDX meetup? Bueller?
Phish in Bend? That would be a good time… Old dude- any truth to said rumor? Thursday evening?
sorry man have friends in Bend and a bunch lived in Eugene in the nineties when everyone did, but don’t know much about the suburbs
I may have glorified the location a bit- its on 69th and Woodstock- actually Martins (which is the street directly behind Woodstock). Beautiful neighborhood if you drive towards Woodstock- a little scary if you drive towards 82nd Ave.
Heard they are trying to put in a baseball stadium just up the street- that would be a trip. I have the place rented right now- and it actually has a positive cash flow- so I’m not going to be selling anytime soon but thank you for the offer!
lol I thought you meant really down by Reed. We lived at 72nd and Carlton so I know exactly what you mean – 3 blocks closer to 82nd and you were in sketchville.
Baseball stadium in Lents == maybe so, maybe not. It’s a big, boring political battle. Would be great for the neighborhood.
“lived in Eugene in the 90s when everyone did” LOL including me, that’s funny shit dude
Dude, Your Right. But there’s no fresh Phish for me to dive into tonight. You forgot BEER in one hand and a steering wheel in the other. Man do I get some looks from the neighbors! “Look at that stoned dude drinking and driving on his mower” LOL!!
Hood, We bought our 1st house after Phish said they were done in ’04. Should we sell this house and hit the road??? Live out of a van like the good ole days!! “Garlic Grilled cheese $1” “Fatty Sammy Smiths” that the kinda of work I need to be doing.
dear fellow employee-
i am a round block fitting into a square hole in the world of conformity, thus i must experience this “phish tour” at any chance possible. to describe this experience is dangerous. this is due to the potential of your head exploding, but at the very least your face melting if i explain in full or play their music. simply put (without the face meltage) “phish tour”” is driving from town to town to voluntarily step face first into a raging fire hose of heady beats, and the only way to survive this experience is for me to surrender to the flow. i hope you understand.
ps- if a character named wilson comes looking for me tell him you know nothing of this McGrupp character and mention nothing of the said tour. believe me, it is in your best interest.
thanks for bringing up the mos def, mr c! i’m a lifelong fan, and his ‘new danger’ completely kills due to the inclusion of the great DR KNOW, wimbish and calhoun.
didn’t know he had a new album, and now i’ma find it! fyah!
Here’s a question: If it takes you 5 minutes or less to mow the grass in your “yard”, is it technically considered a yard?
^msb
I live in NYC now but am headed home so I get the home court advantage. I know the country roads of noblesville like the back of my hand. Coudlnt give directions cause I don’t know the names, just done it so many times.
^walfredo
Awesome answer. From cliff ball DVD: “what are nuggets?” “they are these cookies locally made” k would have said chicken nuggets, people seem to love em and will seek them out.
Also awesome about the lady at the wedding. I had that happen at work last week. A girl said she ran across some Phish shows and would bring them in and this guy goes on about his fishing trip next week. He finally asked where I’d be going for mine and I started naming venues until he became confused and I had to say Phish is also a band.