The First Moment of Tour
5.31.09 Fenway Park (P.Harrington)
Thinking back over the highlights of this tour- and there are many- it all started back in May in that rainy little stadium in Boston. Excitement overflowed for the first show of the first tour in years. People milled about around the stadium long before the show began, on what started as a sunny afternoon. Friends kept arriving, one after another, meeting up for the first time since March- or before- ready for some stadium-sized Phish.
5.31.09 (C.Taylor Crothers)
After a pre-show rain storm, a disjointed first set came together with a smoking “Disease,” “Destiny,” “Zero” ending. Phish took the massive outfield stage in the dark, following the first shortened summer setbreak- leaving many scrambling for their seats. Knowing what would start would be huge, it was a total freak scene when the opening notes of “Tweezer” bellowed from the outfield. “Fenway Tweezer”- Welcome to Tour! The slow, open-air playing covered the field like a blanket- it was on; 2009 style!
5.31.09 (C.Taylor Crothers)
The drop into the jam saw Trey begin the with song’s actual lick, before Page added some wah-effects that immediately loosened things up. The pace, the size, the stadium- surfing “Tweezer’s” liquid wave- all on a fresh head; it was all too much in the best way possible!! Transforming into an immediate peak Phish experience, the jam had hardly begun! Trey took command right away, playing a nasty lead that climbed slowly around Page’s clav patterns. The pocket was deep as the band welcomed everyone to summer with some dirty and heavy “Tweezer” grooves. Clicking as a whole, Trey’s lines become more and more creative as Mike’s centerfield bass bombs backed everything like a Green Monster of rubber jelly. Shredding a mini composed jam before making a shift into another plane, the band entered a territory focused on melody and harmony as much as rhythm, and the results were other-wordly.
5.31.09 (C.Taylor Crothers)
Trey continued to improvise an incredibly emotive melody that peaked with fifteen seconds of sustained musical bliss while the band crushed stadium-sized grooves behind him. This was one of those transcendent moments that I’ll savor forever- timeless, spaceless, egoless- this is why we go. Playing like he freed himself of any mental or metaphorical cages, this was Trey again; this was happiness. Playing with far more emotion and heart than at Hampton, he continued to annihilate the jam, along with his mates, for some time before the music made a subtle shift, signifying what was to come. Trey echoed some familiar melodies while Mike and Page played heavily-effected lines, building down into a melodic ambiance that provided a canvas for Trey to paint a psychedelic solo.
5.31.09 (P.Harrington)
Soon Page shifted back from piano to heavy effects, and Fishman subtly altered his beat, riding a cymbal- a transition was coming- what was it? Was it…”Light!?” “Really!?” Emotionally shot through the heart, I had wanted this to happen since I heard Trey play the only other versions of the song. It was supposed to happen- “Tweezer > Light”- and it did. Stunned, ecstatic.
Merging one of their oldest and newest epics, Phish launched into their second debut of the evening out of the deepest part of the show. And symbolically, the band brought us from the past into the future- all right 
there in the present. And when the time to launch came, Trey hit a geyser-like melody that reached for the stars, leading the band forth into a new spiritual playground. Used as a landing pad for the set opening sequence, the band played only the song’s template- one that would be considerably extended a week later at Bonnaroo. After a soaring, yet short, jam to end the song, the band began a layered vocal round that added a Phishy twist to its ending.
Fenway was one of those special Phish shows that we will all remember forever. Strewn with cross-cultural mythology, the show was a spectacle and Phish certainly responded. But when looking back to Fenway, my mind, heart and soul will always jump back into that “Tweezer” jam ending the first-ever “Light,” defining a most magical night.
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LISTEN TO “TWEEZER > LIGHT” NOW!
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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
6.09.2009 Asheville Civic Center < TORRENT LINK
6.09.2009 Asheville Civic Center < SENDSPACE LINK
Official Asheville Poster
Perhaps the most intimate show of tour, with a friendly vibe far outweighing any other, Phish treated the “heady” crowd to some treats. The high point of the show- and one of the entire tour- came in the creative second set “Ghost” which peaked endlessly and bled perfectly into “Fast Enough For You.” ‘Twas certainly a night to remember.
I: Kill Devil Falls, The Moma Dance, Sample in a Jar, Stash, Dog Faced Boy, Gumbo, Tube, Lengthwise, The Divided Sky, When the Cactus is in Bloom*, Bold as Love
II: Backwards Down the Number Line, Ghost > Fast Enough for You, Halley’s Comet > Maze, Alaska**, Theme from the Bottom, Golgi Apparatus, Possum
E: Loving Cup
*debut, by Bill Monroe, **debut
Source: Schoeps mk41v(AB) > kc5 > m222 > nt222 + mk21(nos) > kcy > vms5u > 744t + Neumann ak40(xy) > lc3 > km100 > v3 > 722 {C-Link} (24/48) – Tapers: Charles Fox and James Scott
(Note: Sendspace link added for those who can’t torrent!)
@guy
Thanks….that DMB vaccum is all over the place for people my age, and yes thankfully I was able to avoid it. He may be the worst vocalist in the world. Maybe I should say most overrated
@Papyrus – my hampton checklist goes 85, 87, 88, 89, 91 – but no Phish there yet – really hope to do that some day since it was the scene of my first Dead shows, and my home base for years of touring.
I really love the fact that Phish has made it a home. So awesome. I have so many crazy memories of that place!
“@everyone–>Listening to the peak of the Clifford Ball Slave at this very moment. This must have been just amazing to witness! Amazing!”
^^ one if the best of all time. Was my wedding recessional- starting as soon a Fish hits that delicate groove..sublime
Miner, would love to know how you pulled that off.!
Guess I’ll continue the string of lurkers posting, been reading since around Fenway, of course loving the no spoilers–kudos to Miner, all the tapers involved in NS, & the posters for some great & educational discussion over the past month or so.
I’m 27, grew up in Buffalo NY, now in Syracuse, lived in Ft Collins CO in between. 14 shows, first show 9.14.00 Darien–hooked instantly. Loved the scene, loved the music, loved the entire experience including getting soaked in the rain out on the lawn with thousands of people who were just as happy as I was. Was pretty disappointed that hiatus came at the end of the first tour I ever saw shows on, (was 18 at the time, never had the opp to see them earlier though I had been listening since about 98)–after Darien I was already gearing up for a big summer of shows in 2001 (had to settle for 4-5 Trey shows over 01-02).
Had a great time at Coventry, but musically that experience contributed to me not listening to the band much during the last 5 years, during which time I was pretty skeptical & jaded–said repeatedly I would never see them if they came back. Oops. Lost a couple bets on that one (saw JB1, Camden, Star Lake). Listened intently to the Hampton shows & knew I had to see it again in person. JB1 had its moments. When the pre-show rain ended, everyone got out of their cars in the lot & the party began–it was a ‘feel the feeling I forgot’ moment, with the rainbow adding a nice touch. Camden blew me away–I walked out of that place with the biggest smile, just knowing that Phish was BACK. And yeah, it is great to be back. Great vibes on this board as well, glad I stumbled across it.
the Camden Tweezer is the Heat!
Just a quick note. Most of the proceeds from livephish.com (including all of the 2004 tour) goes to the Mockingbird Foundation. It’s not like we are making someone who sucks at their job rich or anything.
Thought that tidbit might make some of you feel better… buy them or don’t but at least its for a good cause.
We both agreed that it was one of the most poignant pieces of music that we both knew and fir the vibe perfectly….had a Phish dance party in between band sets- (a GREAT wedding band of N Cal musicians featuring the late Martin Fierro). The band jammed out of the 7.1.98 “Tweezer” back into their set (including soul female vocalist!)
Speaking of…Happy Christiana Anniversary! 6.30-7.2.98 – Changed my life forever. Met most of my close friends there and also met my wife 11 years ago today! Cheers all.
Just an FYI, I bought them too and don’t think they are anywhere near as good as Hampton or the older ones I have. I just thought it was worth mentioning.
@Mitch, I’m all for good causes, but since last time I checked, the IRS doesn’t allow a deduction for Live Phish purchases, I expect to get something that is worth selling when I buy it. With how easy it is to download aud sources immediately after the show (when was the last time anyone did a CD or tape trade???), they should take a little extra time and get it right.
Miner-big sac get married to “Slave”
same ol chicky-same old poon-I got married way too soon
Seems like the thing to do today
25 year old fan in Olympia, WA- originally from Amherst, MA (2nd generation Deadhead)
First Show was IT 8/2/03 in Limestone
First got into Phish around the time that A Live One came out, through my brother (He was going to the Mullins Center shows around that time)
Number of Shows: 17
Favorite Show Attended: 6/24/04 Deer Creek
NYE Show: Miami
Funny moment: Thinking they were playing “Fluffhead” in Boston during the 20th Anniversary video, being too far gone to properly see what was going on.
Near Disappointment: Not being able to find a ticket all day on 6/19/04, which was my birthday show. getting caught sneaking in, sneaking away from “catcher,” and getting in just in time for Bowie and of course, the monster 2nd set
Shows this tour: none so far, but I plan to hit Shoreline>Gorge and Save the Date.
Post-Script: I need a miracle every day (RR?)
Hey KWL, where in Syracuse you living? I grew up there in Tipperary Hill (upside down street light!). Shenanigans, Blarney Stones, Colemans, Steve’s etc…
Here are some shots from the knoxville tapers section that i took on my cell phone. Not the greatest quality, but amazing pics of an amazing show.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv351/WholeTour/1246391090.jpg
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv351/WholeTour/1246391236.jpg
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv351/WholeTour/1246391139.jpg
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv351/WholeTour/1246391207.jpg
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv351/WholeTour/1246391236.jpg
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv351/WholeTour/1246391172.jpg
lol @SOAM
@ SOAM
@harry pood–> My wife, son, and I just were in WA for the 1st time. Where is Olympia? We want to move to WA someday, somewhere close to the San Juan Islands. What a great state!
@Jay yes I know most of those places… a good friend of mine is from Ireland (I’m taking him to his first show at Darien) so we visit Tipp Hill now & then for a pint. I’m living in the Westcott neighborhood.
guess I have to pop in both the wipeout show and clifford ball slave for tonight’s rotation…
from Wiki: to confirm the theory that the festival is called “Save the Date”
“Indio has been one of Southern California’s most important agricultural regions, once responsible for a large percentage of the nation’s date crop; however, with all the new residential and recreational development, the date groves are now more limited to south and southeast of Indio. Even the grove of date palms at the Riverside County Date Festival fairgrounds has been torn out by the county”
and….
“There are numerous festivals and special events held annually in Indio and because of it the Chamber of Commerce created Indio’s official nickname: “The City Of Festivals.”
Two major regularly-scheduled annual festivals are the National Date Festival and the world-famous Indio International Tamale Festival.
The Date Festival is held each February at the Riverside County Fairgrounds, located at Highway 111 in the heart of Indio. It’s known internationally as the celebration of the Coachella Valley’s date fruit crop.”
congratulations Miner – sounds like an amazing time, and all those shows are great. The 7.2.98 set 2 Ghost is my personal favorite version, and hands down my favorite audience recording of all time – if anyone out there doubts that a truly great AUD is better than a SBD, that FOB should clinch the deal unless you are basically deaf as a post.
Cool beans KWL, Syracuse is a cool town. Good working class people. Very friendly. Loved living there in my childhood. Freaking cold as hell though
Now living in Austin (freaking hot as hell LO!)
^^ Cheers Mr. C. DEF a TOP NOTCH Ghost. And the Tweezer > 2001 form 7.1 is my shit…..The Grey Hall-best venue yet….
One quick question for Miner or anyone else — is there one spot on the site here that lists all the shows posted and torrent or other download links? I’ve found most of what I’ve looked for by browsing the posts by year and tag, but I wasn’t sure if there’s an easier way.
^ no, I’ve been meaning to do that forever….best idea would be to search with date in MM.DD.YYYY format in the search bar- sorry. I need to get on that