Summer’s Swan Song?
Phish added one more piece to their massive summer puzzle of 2011 yesterday, announcing a dream-like West Coast stint at the beginning of August and a three-pack to follow at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion—a venue rich in Phish history. Totaling 30 shows for the summer at this point, the season’s most recent addition looks to be the most intriguing leg of all. And adding a twist to things, the band worded their announcement ambiguously—they did not state that these would be the final shows of summer, nor did they say that there would be another announcement—leaving many fans wondering if UIC marks the end of the road.
Could Red Light possibly wait for another cycle of on-sales to release more dates? Yes. In fact, in response to an email inquiry about any further shows, Red Light respectfully wrote back “We are considering a small amount of dates around Labor Day, but will be a minute before they are confirmed.” Really? Let’s look at the situation here. August’s tour had been rumored to travel back to the East Coast, hitting venues such as Hartford, SPAC and Jones Beach. But with a supersaturation of Northeast Phish shows this summer, and only one of them sold out, perhaps management nipped those in the bud and replaced them with a Labor Day run. Perhaps Labor day will be in Colorado. But let’s throw speculation out the window for now and look at what is officially on the books, because this run looks to be the peak of the summer!
After one year off, the band will return to The Gorge on August 5th and 6th to kick off the second leg of Summer Tour. Opening up on the most stunning stage of in nation, get ready for two nights of wide-open Phish jams like only The Gorge can provide! After a quick day off, on August 8th Phish will finally play the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles for the first time in their career after years of ongoing rumors. With a capacity of 17,376 (and The Gorge’s 20,000+), nobody should have any problems finding tickets to the first three nights of tour. But the next couple might be different.
Fans will hit the road immediately after the Hollywood Bowl show, because the very next day Phish will arrive in Lake Tahoe on the California / Nevada border for a two-night stand at Harvey’s Casino make-shift 7,000 person amphitheatre on August 9th and 10th. Located in a leftover parking lot with bleacher seating at the back, Harvey’s Outdoor Amphitheatre may prove to be a bit more difficult to grab tickets for. Though the venue, itself, may be a bit roughshod, Phish will visit another beacon of West Coast nature in Lake Tahoe, and fans will enjoy two days in mountains with rental properties and hotels on the lake during a spectacular time of year.
Following another day off, Phish will head from Tahoe to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park to headline the city’s Outside Lands festival on Friday, August 12th. Headlining the other two nights will be Muse and Arcade Fire, and though the schedule has yet to be released, you can check out the full lineup here. And there’s still rumor floating that the band will also play a solo show at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco the following night.

UIC '98 (Pollock)
Phish may bookend a summer that will open with three shows at Bethel Woods with three shows at UIC Pavilion in Chicago. These shows will mark the band’s first return to UIC’s intimate environs since a legendary three-night stand during Fall ’98. Phish also played two standout shows at UIC in 1994—6.18 and 11.25—and will undoubtedly add to their legacy with a three-pack that could close out the touring season. Moving into Chicago’s gritty, undersized venue for the final nights of summer with a tour’s worth of momentum is the recipe for the perfect storm; an end-of-tour blowout of the highest degree.
Tickets requests are now open for an unusually long, two-week period ending April 25 at 11:59 am est. The Gorge and Tahoe are full General Admission shows and cost only $50 each. The Hollywood Bowl has tiered pricing at $60 and $45 for reserved seating only, and UIC will be $60 for reserved seats or GA floor.
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Jam of the Day:
“Sneakin’ Sally” 8.7.09 II
A gem from Phish’s last visit to The Gorge.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/phish2009-08-07d1t09.mp3]=====
DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
11.7.98 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois
FLAC Torrent (via etree), Megaupload < Links

UIC 1998
My favorite of the three nights in ’98, primarily because of the other-wordly improvisation that took place within “AC/DC Bag > Ghost.” Secondary reasons include a blissful, classic “Reba” and a darkhorse “Mike’s that gets the show underway with some dirty funk grooves. During an awesome fall tour, the shows at UIC were among the best, and they are all available for download in Phish Thoughts’ Audio Archive.
I. My Soul, Mike’s Song > Driver, Brian and Robert, The Wedge, Limb By Limb, Fikus, Billy Breathes, Beauty of My Dreams, Weekapaug Groove
II. AC/DC Bag -> Ghost, Reba, Farmhouse
E: Guyute, While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Source: Flacs: Audio Technica 815 (shotguns) > Sony SBM-1 > DAT (@ 48 kHz), MP3s: Schoeps
Tags: Summer
but then he went all custy and decided to “hang out with his gf”
llfa, custy mitch rolled with his lady. 2011 continues to be non-custy. 8)
not sure man.
too much oil.
hash oil. not in the ocean oil.
didnt need that to be a top of page declaration per se
Although, speaking of oil and taxes, a gas tax would be both beneficial fiscally and environmentally!
marble cheese is the best cheese
UIC
Spicy cheeses kinda suck.
@miner, where’s the tour countdown?!
I’m flying into Seattle on the 4th. i know a couple other peeps here that are debating that option as well. just booked a room at the Holiday Inn in Ellensburg. After Deer Creek last year i said never again for August camping.
still looking for takers on a caravan from Gorge to Tahoe, and Seattle to Gorge.
Custy Jon here, you’re resident BB custy fluffer!
who’s renting the phatty motor home for the Gorge, and setting up the Oasis?
The Federal govt. has a 19 cents per gallon gas tax already. Plus state, county, and city taxes on it as well.
Indio Oasis was $$$$$
@Robear
Well, from what I’ve heard the Indio Oasis was pretty money, who was in charge of that one? Roflare, or something was it?
I vote for that guy!
@EP
Interesting… I’ve been misunderstanding all the blog posts I’ve been skimming past in that regard then…
A HIGHER gas tax, then, would be beneficial fiscally and environmentally…
re: taxes:
what about some kind of flat rate, no deductions. say, 15-18% range? 18% for highest bracket, down to 15% for lowest. simplify.
no doubt garretc. what happened to that cat?
@Robear
Last I heard he was moving to Russia or something? Fell in love over Skype I guess…
Although I’m sure we’ll hear from him next year, bitching about the lack of Russia dates, the usual…
@tela’s. Maybe a kittle bit of a long shot for a drive to Tahoe, but don’t count me out. Self-employes for the first time and looking to take advantage. Fromtahoe you’d be on your own or back to Seattle if that works.
skipping hollywood bowl and outside lands…
i’m looking to fly in and out of seattle for the gorge shows, then down to frisco to catch a giants game and see some fam on my way to tahoe, where i’ll rage super tuff for a couple nights before flying back to indy to work for three days and drive up to uic to get my wig split
i’m in for a meetup/caravan situation in seattle and some posh digs in a tahoe rental
Tzara’s – i’m booking a flight out of Reno back to Denver so I’m good. Just need a ride down to Tahoe. I know a couple others that might as well, but not sure if they’ve committed 100%. If we could get 4 of us for the drive splitting gas money, finding a nice camping spot on the way, that would be sweet.
are you interested in jumping in a rental house for Tahoe?
Except the price of gas is already causing a double dip recession and 6-10% inflation wrecking havoc on savings and increasing gas prices too. Not a good time to hit the working folks with higher gas taxes. Think of all money coming from 19 cents on gas and 24 cents diesel. Gas upping the AT-AT Walker for the Gorge,
G711-
The better source of 8-9-98 that I got earlier is seeding here and here.
Robear-
2 different sources of 11-28-98 here and here.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/42551209
Real inflation numbers. Emperor out.
I am, tela’s. I see myself getting sucked into the vortex here. My main hangup was flight cost, but four people driving is cheap. And opens up the SF possibility as well.
ok. hit me up. you too @uncle.
we get at least 8 people in a house and we can get a nice rental and pay about $30 – $50 a day. Way cheaper than the casino. I’ve already found a ton of good spots.
i’ve got 7 including you two who could be in for a house. Sumodie?? Robear? What up?