A First Course of Fall
10.8.10 - Austin, TX - (Graham Lucas)
Phish stepped off the grand stage of Texas and into the cozy confines of the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado last night, kicking off their undersized Fall Tour of 2010. Coming out of the gates with a solid effort featuring a lengthy setlist and a couple stellar moments, the band opened tour with a show that will likely be long forgotten by the end of this three-night run. Punctuating the night with a knee-buckling “Slave to the Traffic Light,” the band’s finale brought their most cohesive and triumphant playing of an evening that often seemed like was about to take that next step, but never did. Also blossoming during “Ghost,” Phish wound their way through several diverse feels en route to a space-aged oasis that bridged the gap to “Weekapaug, completing another highlight “Mike’s Sandwich.” The remainder of the set suffered a bit from a lack of flow, though the band did squeeze in a clever debut in the roots, Americana piece – “My Problem Right There.” All in all, the first night of Broomfield provided a solid opening act for a three-night circus that is bound to get far crazier.
10.8.10 - (G.Lucas)
After a sluggish opening frame, Phish lit up the start of the second half with the fiery flames of “Mike’s Song.” Jumping into the heavy and ominous fray, when the band segued into “Simple,” rushes of summer memories returned and it seemed that the “Mike’s Groove” interlude would transform into a show highlight. But just as the band began to get slightly ambient, they passed into “Ghost.”
Coming at a time in when the show desperately needed a shot in the arm, the audience noticeably reacted when Phish slid into “Ghost.” Starting in a laid-back soundscape that had the makings of a stellar piece of organic improv, Trey used minimalist offerings to color the natural groove. Passing through a segment of gorgeous collaboration moving naturally at this slower pace, Trey gradually infused more forceful guitar leads into the mix, slowly pushing the band towards a peak but costing them some cohesion along the way. After playing with one wheel loose for a part of the jam, the band reconvened in the post-peak section for a more earnest experiment. Entering effect laden sequence of percussive sound, the band pieced together a psychedelic portal into a creative “Weekapaug” that favored more delicate contributions rather than its cliched, all-out, rock and roll sprint.
10.8.10 (G.Lucas)
But when “Weekapaug” ended, so did the flow to the set. While “Fee” presented the distinct possibility of psychedelic drama with its trails of musical ambrosia, the band ixnayed any of extended mid-set revelries with a turn into “Makisupa Policeman.” For the first time in ages, Trey actually made a weed reference in the song, as he passed comically passed the officer “the dank” and proceeded to crack up along the way. Abruptly ending the reggae rhythms soon after, Trey informed the crowd of a new song they had that was also about a police man, introducing the band’s newest piece, “My Problem Right There.” A humorous, lyrically-driven nod to everything that matters, Trey pokes fun his overactive mind, suggesting that we, ourselves, are are our only obstacle to our own happiness. While not necessarily jiving in in the middle of a second set, its message was delivered with a tongue-in cheek honesty that speaks to all of our paths on earth.
10.8.08 (G.Lucas)
Briefly stopping back in “Makisupa,” the band gradually built into a show-stopping “Slave” that peaked so profoundly that its notes seemed to jump from the animated pages of a Phish comic book. Setting a melodic theme early on, Trey carried his thoughts to the mountaintop in a glorious exclamation that led one of the most poignant versions in recent memory. Providing the only “no-brainer” take away from the opener, “Slave” was the brightest star in last night’s sky, standing head and shoulders above anything else played. Phish closed the set with a denouement of “Strange” Design” and “Julius” before finalizing the first night of tour with “Loving Cup.”
Starting with a show that carried less weight than previous tour openers of 2010, Phish will surely be back in hours to obliterate night one, turning the show into distant memory by this time tomorrow. That much is money in the bank. And when all three nights of Colorado conclude, “Slave” will remain the lone pillar from a fun opening night of fall.
First Set Notes: A late-set “Stash” provided the improvisational highlight of a slow-moving opening frame that read like a script of a generic first set of tour.
I: Chalk Dust Torture, Ocelot, It’s Ice, Bouncing Around the Room, Funky Bitch, AC/DC Bag, NICU, The Moma Dance, Horn, Stash, Golgi Apparatus
II: Mike’s Song > Simple > Ghost > Weekapaug Groove, Fee > Makisupa Policeman, My Problem Right There* > Makisupa Policeman > Slave to the Traffic Light, Strange Design, Julius
E: Loving Cup
*debut
First. Not really though because everyone is commenting on the weekend’s page.
Listening to the hoodstream. Ocelot is super laid back.
Need to listen for myself. Can’t wait to hear Moma, Stash, Ghost, Slave
Thanks for the field report miner! Looking forward to spinning this over a plate of eggs. Hope everyone is having a good time in CO.
I know there are conflicting views on Columbus, but I’m loving him right now. I’ll take my bed over the office on a Monday morning any day…
What do you do nono? For most of us, this is an unrecongnized holiday.
cub, you know ray ray isn’t taking the day off, “I work six days a week, you get sundays for free!!”
seriously though, the man scares me.
“While “Fee” presented the distinct possibility of psychedelic drama with its trails of musical ambrosia…” – Seriously? It’s only Fee.
sounds like a nice fun show to kick things off. now lets get to the nitty gritty.
can’t wait to hear this Slave. it seems since Cincy ’09 Slave has been one of those songs that seems to get better and better every time played. and that is a very good thing.
thanks Miner!
Show looked pretty good to me-really hope to get a Slave this fall, and I don’t think Ive seen Makisupa since Clifford Ball!
GDAD BB MSG NYE TIC LOTTERY:
I was going to wait for Miner’s new post but I have to get the kids outta here. I will repost this in the same timeframe tomorrow am (tues) as well.
I am giving away one ticket to each nite of the MSG NYE run to BB regulars (to repeat, i know who you are). If you have tix, be cool and don’t enter. There are 3 ways to win. One person can win multiple tics. I will only deal with answers sent to my email address.
Person who answers these questions correctly, or gets closest to the right answer will win.
1. What was the date of my first show?
2. How many states have I seen Phish in?
3. How many times I have seen Mikes Song?
Send all answers to edlooram AT yahoo DOT com. I will reply with a single email to all the entrants announcing the winners tomorrow/Tuesday at ~9pm.
good luck.
Answer any of those about me and you win JACK SQUAT!
@gdad. I wouldn’t even know those answers if the questions were about me.
and anyone in need of cheering up should read the Insane Clown Posse article posted on the last entry.
no need for that, joe! we’ll repost for the lazies.
juggalo world view shattered
I generally share the same view of the world as they do I guess. I’m amazed reading that and don’t need any scientist or intellectual to dissect their thought process for me. ICP, how the fuck does that work?
and keep reading cuz when you think you’ve hit the good parts, you’ve really just begun.
im still trying to wrap my mind around that article.
hilarious!
This Moma is pretty rockin’! All sorts of hootin’ and hollerin’.
I share the amazement with the world part, not the choking women and killing people part (in case it needed clarification)
yeah, the hoodstream aud is pretty nice through subpar headphones even. sounds like shreddy trey is still going strong with the new(ish) guitar.
“I figured most people would say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know Insane Clown Posse could be deep like that.’ But instead it’s, ‘ICP said a giraffe is a miracle. Ha ha ha! What a bunch of idiots.'” He pauses, then adds defiantly, “A giraffe is a fucking miracle. It has a dinosaur-like neck. It’s yellow. Yeah, technically an elephant is not a miracle. Technically. They’ve been here for hundreds of years…Thousands,” murmurs Shaggy.
ICP ICP ICP ICP ICP ICP – This can’t be happening?
Sorry if you’re at the office g-cub. My SLF runs HR at my company and picks the holidays. She fast asleep next to me. Thanks honey!!
Cherry picked a couple of songs from last night. Slave was nice, ghost was mehh. One thing is clear though, Fish is back on his J.O.B.! Nice to know tubs is back in pocket. It was just weird to hear him slacking last year. Welcome back!
I’m sure this has been mentioned, but another plug for the livephish app – show was posted for stream before I went to bed last night (in the east coast). Pretty awesome
Nothing wrong with being amazed at the world around us, I just find it hilarious that they can’t find amazement even after understanding it. Willingly ignorant.
already 3 AUDs at http://bt.etree.org/index.php
Haven’t listened to any just yet
great write up as always miner.
i saw the show in pretty much the same way. solid first course. i might give the ghost a little more love but that might be because i was just having so much fun with every note given i haven’t seen a show since red rocks.
also worth noting, mike was huge and assertive and clear for much of the night and seemed ready to go deeper anytime, including during the simple before trey seemed to wrap it up. but haven’t re-listened yet.
on to tonight!
That article was amazing, but not just for the hilarity of pointing and laughing at someone else.
“Are we really that weird?” That just pulls my heartstrings a little.
It just has everything, starting with Alannis Morrisette level misunderstanding of common words (Miracles/Ironic), and ending with a misunderstanding that Alannis Morrisette is still relevant.