The Festival Buzz
Watkins Glen, New York
The Watkins Glen rumor mill got some strong spins this weekend from two conflicting sources. On Saturday, BandsThatJam.com, a blog based out of New York state, poured gasoline on an already-burning fire by claiming that Phish had signed contracts in place for an 8 set, 3 day Phish-only festival. This report came as a tremendous relief for Phish fans, many who had feared, based on last-week’s speculation, that the band’s festival might be encroached upon by the unwanted scene of The Dave Matthews Band. But as soon as Phish fans began celebrating and discussing summer plans, there came a retort.
Yesterday, Watkins Glen Racetrack President, Michael Printup, publicly denied these reports in the Elmira Gazette saying:
We don’t know who is putting that out. There are a bunch of erroneous sites out there. We’ve been working with a concert promoter. But we don’t even have a contract. It’s all wishful thinking. We haven’t even signed a contract with a promoter. You do that first. Then it’s up to him to see what band he gets…Watkins Glen International is looking at some kind of summer concert, but it’s too early to even start talking about bands.
But when Hidden Track.com‘s Scotty B reached out to Peter Stergion of BandsThatJam for clarification of their report, Stergion was quick to stand by his story. Stergion explained:
The WGI President has to deny the story. They can’t publicly confirm until all the loose ends have been tied up. Our source has given us credible, specific information. Our source is not a Phish fan so they wouldn’t even have the ability to make up the information which is very consistent with what Phish has done in the past.
While not getting any more specific on their, allegedly, rock solid source, Stergion went on to defended his report to Hidden Track:
We publish stories based on good information from good sources. We take a look at the circumstances of the information and decide whether or not it’s credible. In this case we believe this will happen so we published it…We never heard DMB mentioned by anyone in person or any sources from within Watkins Glen. We’re confident that Watkins Glen will be a Phish-only festival.
10.31.09 (G.Lucas)
Well, we’ve heard both sides of this hot topic, and while I am leaning towards believing the report of a Phish-only festival, who can know for sure? The Phish at Watkins Glen rumors have circulated for quite some time now, but a true scare came last week when The Dave Matthews Band, who shares a management company, announced 4 multi-day, multi-band festivals around the country this summer. The feared crossover of the Phish and Dave Matthews scenes seemed imminent, and plenty of people were quick to voice plenty of reasons why that was not a good idea. But let’s not even go there. Hopefully, that disaster has been averted. If such an atrocity ever materialized, be sure I’ll weigh with my two cents.
But for now we will wait…and wait. Phish announced their entire 2010 Summer Tour in March last year, but in 2009, they dropped their first set of dates in January and their second set in March. In short, we could hear any day between now an April. With both Trey and Mike about to kick off their own tours, one might guess that Phish wait until they are done to tell us their summer plans. But then again, who knows? Surrounding hotels (of which there are few) and RVs have already been booked around the Watkins Glen area based on buzz alone. And if I had to guess, 8 sets over 3 days sounds just right to end a tour. One can hope…
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Jam of the Day:
“Ghost” 7.23.97 II SBD
A seminal Summer ’97 version.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/7.23.97-Ghost-DSDB.mp3]
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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
7.23.1997 Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta, Georgia
FLAC Torrent (via etree), Mp3 Torrent, Megaupload < Links
The third show US Summer ‘97 capped a comic-book opening to US Summer ’97. Following Virginia Beach and Raleigh, Phish moved down to Atlanta and funked hard in their second visit to the venue. With, perhaps, the hottest “Ghost” of the summer and a smoking “YEM” the band left some legitmate jams in Atlanta, and they were off to Texas at the beginning of a revolutionary summer season. This show goes out via Twitter request to @LacobbieWan! (If you’re on Twitter, follow me @mrminer)
I: Julius, Dirt, NICU, Dogs Stole Things, Ginseng Sullivan, Water in the Sky, Limb By Limb, Split Open and Melt, Billy Breathes, Possum
II: Punch You in the Eye, Ghost > Sample in a Jar, You Enjoy Myself > Rocky Mountain Way* > Chalk Dust Torture
E: Frankenstein
Notes: *Debut, Joe Walsh cover
Source: Schoeps CMC641 > Sonasax > SBM-1 > DA-P1
Tags: 2011, Festivals, Rumors, Summer 2011
wouldnt be surprised if phish insisted or asked something be said by the watkins glen guy just because something was so boldly confirmed this early in the game.
either way, i dont think we have somehing to worry about. it makes totaly sense for them to deny the festival whether there is one or not
all in. i bet it’s solid info. sounds like all the same kind of rumblings i heard locally before acl.
Wow! Their seem’s to be a lot of hate out there for the DMB. The crowd may be young and annoying, but the music those guys play is top-notch. World class performers and Phish would attest to that
Technology age for sure.
Nice shout out to willowed’s RV
sounds good . . . thanks for the writeup MrMiner
this waiting game is tough . . . i’m going to take a deep breath . . . and exhale
If such an atrocity ever materialized, be sure I’ll weigh with my two cents.
^ @Miner…I won’t expect anything else. 🙂
Good morning everyone…it’s Monday, but it is finally Super Bowl week.
Love the news, phish ONLY, june 30 – july 3 (I can be home to celebrate the 4th (no nagging from the old lady))…the Glen being 2 hours away…B…U…T…full!
7/23/97 Ghost is the dirty business. Top fiver?
Solid, thanks for putting us at ease. I think there are a few fires i started last week that during the pandemonium that i should probably check on…
I just looked watkins glen up on google maps and it showed up in Brooklyn?? Looked again and it posted in the Finger Lakes – that seems much more reasonable for a festy.
4 days with the circus is going to be intense. I am going to start my Rocky-style festy training today. I need to run simulations of wooks falling into my tent while I am sleeping at 5 am. Need to be prepared!
willowed’s rv
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21705618@N00/4159084429/
MY God man!!!!! This Ghost is so good!
You just don’t hear stuff like this any more do you!
The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen was a 1973 rock festival which once received the Guinness Book of World Records entry for “Largest audience at a pop festival.” An estimated 600,000 rock fans came to the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Raceway outside of Watkins Glen, New York on July 28, 1973, to see The Allman Brothers Band, The Band, and the Grateful Dead perform.
^don’t judge a book by it’s cover
the inside
http://soundadvicefl.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/rv_inside.306174824_std.jpg
and the girls he takes along the ride!
http://cdn3.iofferphoto.com/img/item/142/848/171/dRv0.jpg
and the girls he takes along the ride!
^ I Favre wants to take on of those girls for a ride (far left); this is Brett’s good old sex texting buddy.
Morning all, festi chatter non stop.
Why not start the day inna rubadub way? New 70’s/80’s dancehall, rubadub, reggae mix by yours truly linked below. I think it is a fun one, loaded with fire. Have fun, let me know if you like it.
http://www.mediafire.com/?fqon821q11y29wa
Watkins should be the biggest BB meetup yet…doable for the Midwesterners and Northeasterners alike.
Hey folks. Waiting game now I guess. The RV looks stellar. Fired up for a goooey Ghost this AM after wifey goes to work.
Morning everyone….
Spun the Boise bag and christiana ghost on the way into work this morning. Great way to start your Monday. Nice cup of musical caffeine to start the day.
The Boise bag, and Christiana Ghost would work well in a Vinyasa class.
Have a great Monday everyone!
I hope the poop tents haven’t all been rented already.
That Ghost goes everywhere…truly a “what song is this again” jam…love the riff they outro with…And DotD is the debut of Rocky Mountain Way?!?!?! In 97?!?!
Still Waiting……….
“It was a ‘Jump to Conclusions’ mat. You see, it would be this mat that you would put on the floor… and would have different CONCLUSIONS written on it that you could JUMP TO.”
“That’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard in my life, Tom.”
“Yes, this is horrible, this idea. “
@BTB
and southerners! we’ll be there! 🙂
top o’ the mornin, BB denizens.
spinnin 11.7.98 from mike’s on. life is good.