Six Defining Moments of ’09
11.21.09 (W.Rogell)
On the coattails of yesterday’s top ten jams of 2009, today I’ve compiled a different type of list. Not all highlights at Phish shows come from cosmic jams, and sometimes, the most poignant moments emerge from places one least expects. As Phish returned to the stage for the first time in five years, particular songs took on enhanced meaning, delivering a message all themselves. Below are six Phishy moments that dotted ’09 with significance.
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6. “Corrina, Corrina” 12.30 I, Miami
This dark-horse selection came within the crazed setlist of December 30th’s opening frame, and when the band dropped into the old-school cover, a blissful calm washed over the arena. Back in Florida, Phish broke out this song ten years to the day they revived it at Big Cypress. In a weekend filled with musical nods to Phish’s millennial festival, the band’s calm cohesion provided a heart-tugging reminder of The Everglades, while soothing the crowd with a gorgeous rendition.
5. “Shine A Light” 10.31. II, Indio
10.31.09 (G.Lucas)
The gospel-infused peak of Exile On Main Street provided one of the most cathartic moments of ’09. Coming at the end of their masterful interpretation of The Rolling Stones’ classic, this Halloween rendition with backing singers and horns, brought a musical church to the polo fields of Indio. Putting an emotional cap on the soul-drenched double-album, “Shine A Light” provided a memory nobody will soon forget. In a wise move, Phish adopted this cover into their catalog, a perfect anthem for this golden era of their career.
4. “First Tube” – 12.4 I, MSG
"First Tube" 12.4.09 (G.Lucas)
Energy; the word is thrown around loosely in the Phish scene. But at Madison Square Garden, one moment embodied the relentless, unbridled spirit of the entire Phish community – “First Tube.” The crowd fed of Trey’s obvious energy, making him only more excited. Collectively exploding in roars of enthusiasm, the crowd fed symbiotically of off Trey’s overflowing aura, creating a legitimate human event. Every last person in that round room swam amidst an electric sea of energy of the likes I’ve never seen before. Collective consciousness had never felt so real as The Garden sat on the brink of implosion. Listening back, this might not sound particularly special, but if you were there, the mere memory brings goosebumps. If talking sheer power, this moment takes the cake.
3. “Icculus” 8.14 II, Hartford
Hartford (T.Salido)
Following a shredding combo of “Ghost > Psycho Killer,” Phish drifted into a hefty dose of onstage antics as they segued into “Catapult.” Trey’s goofy nature emerged within a classic narration, and subtly, the band began vamping over the changes of “Icculus.” Continuing with his most amusing on-stage monologue of 2009, Trey plastered Gamehendge-laced smiles on the faces of everyone in the amphitheatre. Proving that the spirit that once drove the band in their early years lived again this time around, this sequence deep in Hartford’s second set became the most significant non-musical passage of the year.
2. “The Curtain (With)” 8.1 I, Red Rocks
Red Rocks '09 (G.Lucas)
When Phish ended their 2.0 career with a horribly botched “Curtain (With)” encore at Coventry, the hallowed composition came to represent all that was wrong with the band’s finale. Crashing and burning rather than going out gracefully, Phish couldn’t even pull off the song, having to start from the top again. Many thought “Curtain” would open their comeback show in a five-year “do-over,” but whenever it emerged, the moment was going to be special. Coming as a shock, in the daytime set of Red Rock’s third show, the band tore into the beginning of the song. Drawing a huge crowd reaction, we were suddenly thrust into an incredibly emotional and Phishy context. As the compositional half merged with “(With),” Trey poured his heart into one of his most pristine solos of the year. On a perfect summer afternoon at Red Rocks, Phish hit the reset button for this era, and it felt perfect.
1. “Fluffhead” – 3.6. I, Hampton
Hampton '09 (Unknown)
Unmatchable and untouchable, Hampton’s “Fluffhead” opener will live eternally in the Hall of Fame of Phish History. Evoking the very magic that had been absent from 2.0 with the seminal (and difficult) composition they had avoided like the plague the last time around, “Fluffhead” sent a powerful message from moment one of this era. Somewhere between awake and dreaming, we found ourselves at home again. Nobody will ever forget the feeling they had when Phish walked back into our lives with, perhaps, the most iconic chord progression in their repertoire. Pure magic of the most spiritual nature, the universe shifted back into alignment, and once again, life was just a bundle of joy.
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Jam of the Day:
“Reba” 12.8.94 II
In the best-ever year for the song, this creative second-set version wrapped up “Reba” for fall tour.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
10.17.95 State Palace Theatre, New Orleans, LA < Megaupload
10.17.95 State Palace Theatre, New Orleans, LA < Torrent
State Theatre - New Orleans
This is one of the shows that Phish co-billed with Medeski, Martin, and Wood along their southern run in Fall ’95. MMW came out in each and jammed with the band. This one goes out to Lycan – finally!
I: Sample in a Jar, Stash, Uncle Pen, AC/DC Bag, Maze, Glide, Sparkle, Free, Strange Design, Amazing Grace*
II: Mound, Prince Caspian, The Fog That Surrounds, Suzy Greenberg > Keyboard Army > Jam**
E: My Long Journey Home^, I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome^
* Sung first by the band, and then by audience member “Nathan,” a gospel singer
** w/ MMW, ^acoustic
Source: Unknown
There are a multitude of Dead covers that would be neat to hear PH’s take on.
Now that the ‘statute of limitations’ has passed (if you will), I would embrace any of them.
I would throw my hat in the ring for ‘Estimated Prophet’ for sure.
‘Shakedown Street’ could make sense at any given show as well.
I’m surprised that Trey doesn’t throw more Dead teases into the mix occasionally, as he so often falls back on familiar riffs and things, it seems to me that periodically we’d find ourselves knee-deep in a ‘Fire on the Mountain’ tease from time to time.
Regardless, the idea that some new classic rock covers should come to light makes good sense to me, but the fact that there are songs sticking around from Exile, modern stuff like Golden Age and even, as TIII mentioned earlier, a revisit to earlier Halloween sets (aside from Drowned) would all work for me.
When you think about it, though…we do get a lot of dips into those earlier covers.
Oh! Sweet Nuthin’, Crosseyed and Painless, etc all bring back images of a band that pays homage to its influences on a pretty regular basis.
I’d like to see another album set, Billy Breathes or Rift would be a cool way to kick off GreatWoods this summer, for example…
There’s just so many options with a band that can do so much and has such an expansive catalog.
I love Phish.
the thing I like about Ocelot is the thing a lot of people don’t like about it: Trey’s “whaling” tone. To me he is evoking the sound of the cat wailing/lamenting with that tone, which adds something to it for me.
@wilson8or
i am def missin my lost fix..
but i have recently started watching firefly for the first time..
not as good as lost but still fairly entertaining
For those who have already seen Phish3D …
Do you think it works as a tool for turning on a prospective fan, or is it like handing them a mediocre show tape to listen to, instead of hitting them with agreed-upon masterful versions of songs?
I’m not music theory expert but Ocelot is not the same as Tennessee Jed. They have similar structures but are in different keys and have different chord changes. They do have a similar bouncy feel. Pretty sure jed has some minor chords in there, where as Ocelot has none to be found.
Duder- I’m not so sure about that. Tenn Jed and Alaska are second cousins- at least. Ocelot does sound deadish (just made that word up) to me- especially outdoors in the summer.
@ neemor
Agreed.
But why aren’t they doing this?
We need some freshies!
Yeah, I have to get on the ball and find another show! I should check that out. I’ve also been told I’d like Fringe. I’m in denial that Lost will be over! Dexter’s my next show, but that’s not long for this world, either.
Twenty Years Later also sounds like it culd have been a late 80’2 Dead tune to me… at least that is what I thought at the Gorge last summer.
What?
You guys aren’t watching Glee???
LOL
awww, only 9 holes on the Telluride Disc course?! And I thought this was America…
Dexter is a great show
I recommend Carnivale as well although I warn you that you will be left with a huge cliffhanger that never resolves.
It is some of the best works of film period.
Unfortunately it was too complex and too heavy for the general public so it got canceled.
In any case check it out because the 24 episodes that DID get made are absolutely incredible
what is this talk of indio? is it back on for 2010 possibly?
*80′s **could
damn- more coffee needed stat!
the only reason that LOST has surpassed my love for Carnivale is because its going to get finished.
I think if Carnivale had had its slated 5 seasons it would have been a huge turning point for the way television told stories
living without cable is the best thing in the world, no more wasted time, i suggest it for everybody
@NTM: I think it’s both of your thoughts. It seemed rushed. They’d have been better off culling some of these moments Miner has mentioned, rather than gather from the fest. That being said, it’s more the mass appeal route, as newbies could experience a little of everything from fest 8. Even though most of us would’ve rather seen them film it at MSG, or somewhere else to capture true Phish moments
@El Dude: Is there somewhere that has a listing of all the official DSBD’s that are out there, in a little more clear format than archive.org? Just wondering.
^What Kaveh said. A composite list?
no more wasted time
you mean no more wasted time watching tv specifically, right? cuz I can waste time without tv with the best of ‘em
@marshall, Phish3d is definitely not going to turn a non-fan into a fan. The songs featured are well played but not even the best stuff from F8. Plus there is no arc to the film at all, it just kind of starts and just kind of ends. If you didn’t know anything about the band you would have no idea how the event went down, how many sets were played, the significance of them playing a bunch of stones songs (which is how it appears in the film, its just a chunk of covers).
Lycan: Netflix to the rescue! I’ll put it in the cue.
Llamalee: Totally get it. I don’t have cable. I just watch netflix or online, but I can’t totally throw out shows since I live in a city where winter is 9 months long. Also, you married? that’s part of it! there has to be an out!
@ Kaveh & Flarrdog
No. There isn’t unfortunately.
would you guys like me to post one????
@lycan I remember carnivale, way back when I used to have a TV, I really liked the first season but for some reason I remember it started to drag.
@El Dude: If you don’t mind, that would be killer! Or should we just look at your list?