The Final Four

The Gorge (G. Lucas)

The Gorge (G. Lucas)

If you’re a Phish fan, the summer of 2009 has been something of a fantasy; easily the most exciting season in years.  Beginning in Fenway Park on May 31st, we have whittled our way through a fascinating summer of band re-evolution, and we have finally arrived at those last four east coast shows that always seemed so far off in the distance.  Beginning tomorrow at Darien Lake, Phish will begin their four-night swan song on their historic summer tour.

The Gorge (G.Lucas)

The Gorge (G.Lucas)

Beginning with three weeks in June, Phish tour was once again a reality as we navigated the Northeast, Mid-South, and Midwest en route to a three-week return to the road.  With flashes of whole-show brilliance in Camden, Bonnaroo, Deer Creek, and Alpine, Phish was beginning to get there, but something was missing-  where was the band’s signature exploratory jamming?  As the first tour wound up in the Midwest, the band began to delve a little bit deeper, foreshadowing what was to come.

Red Rocks (G.Lucas)

Red Rocks (G.Lucas)

But over the course of four unforgettable nights at Red Rocks, the entire Phish 3.0 paradigm shifted.  In a caterpillar-to-butterfly-like metamorphosis, the band’s style was all of a sudden more relaxed, confident, and focused.  The contained playing of June was history, and Phish began creating unique and original jams at almost every juncture.  Like an eight-set suite, Red Rocks, alone, featured more musical exploration than three weeks in June.  Our band was back, and the tightness they had honed over the course of the year had merged with a renewed spirit of exploration, resulting in an asteroid crash in our collective reality.  Highlighted by an insane second set on July 31st, of the like we hadn’t heard yet, Red Rocks ’09 will eternally be remembered as the run that Phish got their mojo back.

Shoreline (W.Rogell)

Shoreline (W.Rogell)

After a mid-week stop at Shoreline that seems to be settling into the dark-horse and overlooked show of the second leg, Phish moved up to The Gorge for two of the most musically sensational nights of tour.  With two magnificent shows differing in nature, Phish showcased their full improvisational diversity in the Northwest.  Strewn with musical highlights and the most laid back vibe of tour, The Gorge will no doubt go down as two of the best nights of music this summer.

Chicago (C.Smith)

Chicago (C.Smith)

And after a one-night stop at the stadium setting of Toyota Park in Chicago, we have come down to the final four shows of summer.  You can be sure that this triumphant conclusion to Phish’s summer will blow up.  Back where it all began, with four shows in the northeast, the band will begin their final run tonight in the amusement park setting of Darien Lake.  With a true sense of excitement surrounding this "homecoming run," the band has much to be proud of after the past two weeks.  Over the course of a summer, Phish has fully returned to prominence, and these four nights are going to be a celebration.  And I have a hunch that some of the tour’s most incredible is about to unfold.  Check it out…

458 Responses to “The Final Four”

  1. Doc Says:

    Whatever happened to Phishtube? He was the best.

  2. Ocelot42 Says:

    KNIFE.

  3. BrandonKayda Says:

    That’s a hot start.

    Sample
    Dinner
    Friend (? I’m assuming “knife” means My Friend My Friend)

    I don’t want to know the setlist, so I’ll see you folks in the morning.

    GHOST TONIGHT (you heard it here first)

    Luckily I haven’t heard Chicago yet, so that should keep me busy until the morning.

  4. Brian Says:

    Possum

  5. Doc Says:

    They’re bringing it tonight – making up for Chi-town, for sure.

  6. Phish...Yup Says:

    Seems like a really hot start tonight. I’ve been looking for Dinner and a Movie and MFMF for awhile. My buddy who was at Chitown and now Darien says the energy is so much higher already tonight.

  7. voopa Says:

    Sugar Shack! Love it!

  8. Brian Says:

    Brian and Robert

  9. Mr. Completely Says:

    just got home. setlist looks great so far. hoodstream is up but sounds like ass.

  10. Brian Says:

    Bowie follows BnR….interesting setlist thus far

  11. posternutbag Says:

    Looks awesome – I bet the second set gets dark

  12. Brian Says:

    definitely feeling a big ghost in set II

  13. Ocelot42 Says:

    Okay, I think I’m out for the night. Just finished listening to Joy from RR again. The damned thing nearly made me cry. Again.

  14. Phish...Yup Says:

    Yeah, set II has a monster ghost or mike’s groove written all over it

  15. KRIVRAQ Says:

    Stash, Cavern will end set 1

  16. posternutbag Says:

    Don’t cry, we want you to be happy!

  17. KRIVRAQ Says:

    bathtub gin

  18. Mr. Completely Says:

    wow nice

  19. smegma Says:

    watching the setlist as my wife and I pack for our trip to merriweather. set looks sweet so far! Anyone else going to MPP?

  20. smegma Says:

    also, anyone camping at Patapsco Valley State Park?

  21. voopa Says:

    How High the Moon. Hot damn.

  22. sloth Says:

    i’ll be at MPP – trying to figure out sleeping arrangements now. only show in the second part of summer tour i can make. after hitting up hampton, fenway, jb, mansfield and an epic camden and LOVING ALL OF IT – i can’t wait to see the dynamic. traveling alone to this one, only show i can remember doing that for besides times i volunteered for water wheel – none of my reg tour buds could make it – won’t stop me from jamming page side as close as possible as is my MO. anybody want to try to meet up in lot?

  23. ATL 007 Says:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CNJ0txKXSo

    dig it ,,,,How high the moon

  24. Mr. Completely Says:

    they soundchecked How High and MAgilla supposedly…so there’s the Les Paul tribute…who called that a few pages back?

    very very awesome looking first set

  25. Mr. Completely Says:

    @ATL, great vid thx

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