Superballin’
Unofficial SBIX Print (Masthay)
Sun has risen on day two of Superball, and day one was divine. To be back on the grounds of the Phish festival with the band at the top of its came felt like the days of lore. The sky was a bit bluer as the clouds floated above and the music was a bit slowed down as it blanketed the intimate concert ground. From note one Phish dropped a power-packed and poignant opening night of a festival that people will be talking about for time to come—the time when a full-powered band and their grand summer tradition came back together in the new era.
As it stands, I have little Internet access on site as I chase down friends with Droids to use their phones as a wifi hotspot. Combined with this spotty web access and the 24 hour nature of the festival, I’ll speak to you on the other side. Or when I catch up with a Droid again…
I: Possum, Peaches en Regalia, The Moma Dance, Torn and Frayed, NICU, Bathtub Gin, Life on Mars?, My Friend, My Friend, Wolfman’s Brother, Roses Are Free, Funky Bitch, Quinn the Eskimo
II: Jam > Crosseyed and Painless -> Chalk Dust Torture, Sand, The Wedge, Mike’s Song > Simple > Bug, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Weekapaug Groove, Joy, Character Zero
E: Show of Life
*****
SBIX Mini Print (Masthay)
*****
SB IX Mini Print (Masthay)
*****
A bit more…Without having listened back, the band anchored the first set with huge versions of their classic pieces—“Moma Dance,” “Wolfman’s,” and “Bathtub Gin”—while pulling out several rarities, taboot. A scorching and cleaned-up “Peaches” came at the beginning of the set, while an out-of-the-blue “Life On Mars?” was delivered in the middle, before a jammed-out and exclamatory “Quinn the Eskimo” sent things to setbreak in high style.
The second set featured more exploratory playing from the band—peaking in a utterly sublime “Simple”—channeling the mysteries of the universe through the speaker towers of Watkins Glen. After a shredding “Crosseyed” jam, the band dropped onto an ambient path that wound a slow and enchanting route into “Chalk Dust.” This juxtaposition of styles, from shredding to abstract to shredding, kept things interesting before a way laid-back “Sand” provided a shining mid-set highlight filled with festival-sized dance grooves. A monster “Mike’s Groove”— centered around “Simple’s” cosmic trek—dominated the second half of the set, and just when it felt like “YEM” might close the set, out popped out a crunching “Character Zero.” An enthralling version of “Show of Life—and perhaps the most extensive to date—provided an indelible stamp of catharsis to a very poignant night of Phish.
The festival is back and better than ever. Love every minute of IT, folks! See you at 3pm!
Tags: Festivals, Summer 2011
i would love to read a GD show review from the 90s
I’ll pass on the review from chatting with miner post show Sunday joe
It smoked
Phish is killing it
cheers to the lovefest
I got into this site cause I figured out Miner and I see phish music eye to eye but I needed pointers cause I didn’t know the catalog in depth. So I was basically learning the in depth music nerd aspects of phish from him and figured out some of the other regulars knew their shit too. Then the conversation got interesting in general. Lots of subjects. There was a lot more conflict and argument back in the day, but also some epic threads. Like Summer 09, before during and after.
Things next-levelled in terms of the personal relationships at the MSG meetups in fall of 09. Was obvious even from a continent away. Since then it’s only gotten better and now we have a real solid group here. Lots of strong personalities and different opinions but enough consensus and friendship to keep it on the level.
The most interesting thing to me was that everyone I met at the Greek was exactly the kind of person they seem to be online. I’ve been online for 21 years and I can tell you for a damn fact that’s not always the case to say the least. The older I get, the more I value people who are exactly who they seem to be.
I have been enjoying seeing some lurkers surface in recent weeks and months, and occasional posters drop by more frequently.
@ grateful cub – from a few pages ago – I realized after it wasn’t played that I was thinking we’d get SOAM at Superball.
I’m also a Maze chaser – so that’s probably the only thing I really, really missed. Can’t complain at all though. Such a great weekend and an amazing 8 sets of music.
i think i have a pretty good grasp on how he’ll review the actual shows, but i cant wait to hear his opinion on the storage jam
@C I will try to make an effort to join the conversation more as time allows… Reading is quick; thoughtful composition and relative input takes a bit more focus… I had done a lot of work years ago to circle up good digital AUDs after my tapes were no longer THE source (although I still spin them on the weekend in my garage if I’m outside with the kids or working in the garden). Then I went to collecting SHNs and FLACs to burn to disc, which sinfully just sit on spindles in a draw next to the stacks of tapes. The iPod was the game changer.
just spent a glorious 4 days in Bozeman including rafting some good water on the Gallatin. all i’ve heard is the last 4 mins of the Golden Age jam, and that sounded amazing. otherwise, i have a lot of good Phish to digest it sounds like.
additional items from the weekend:
Vapor bags are the bizness and i can’t wait to get mine. in addition to a battery operated vapor pipe.
i haven’t listened to anything from Coventry since being there, until the Split jam from Coventry that was just released. not bad at all! i didn’t remember all that.
l like growlers of microbrew (Bozone Amber) a lot.
if you like funk and vinyl, click my name.
lastly, a spot may have opened up at the cru$ty crib if anybody is interested. let me know.
#sitehasgonetoshit
Where is my JOTD?!?!
Where is my DOTD??!?!
I need a new modifying phrase to describe music. I need this now, I want that now.
Nah, I am a pretty much alright.
Mis-informed, but not mistaken.
I come on here to read AW’s strong opinions. I like to post something that he can disagree with. I like putting a quarter in. Put my chin out.
I really am only in it for the meme’s now. Which … has been a little lacking today.
And the occasional Admiral Ackbar post.
Meetup at msg 09 was dope. Made me see thru the custy bitches I associated with in the city. Least we got em to get the blarney stone for is. The BB folks were legit. Met butter and he throws a few fat nugs in my hand that stunk the place up. “I like these people”
Also made me realize how custy my nugs were in the city. 2011 is a good non custy year. Minus the slight dip in skipping superball for bad arms.
Where’s miner? Did he get too superdosed to write?
Voopa, email me mitch at phishthoughts
Jeff and I are trying to buy flights based on where our hotels are. Wanna get em ASAP.
nice MIA
although I imagine you are kidding. I love having intelligent cats to butt heads with.
shit half the time I say shit I’m hoping someone can convince me otherwise
At dentist waiting, very good chance I am going to have to hve a wisdom tooth pulled. My wife is not amused that my 20 month old and I a re both teething. Really hope I can put this off, but hellas painful. Tooth ripping out of top of mouth. Have wedding in Boston on Saturday. Bumming.
I was kidding AW. I owe ya a beer for a trade at UIC. Pamping respekt.
Did I use pamping correctly?
Pull them fuckers AJ. There is no wisdom in those teeth.
I wish I could hook you up with some herbal pain medication on your trip to town aj, but alas my stuff is just schwaggy
That sucks AJ
My wisdom teeth hurt too. Always just avoid doing anything about it.
You don’t take care of that shit, and you’ll be standing there with a coconut and an ice skate at a wedding.
From the TM interview:
” I really do want to emphasize that there is something special happening. Like, for example, Fishman practicing so much. I told him that I can tell because his drumming is just amazing. And Page and Mike, similarly, and Trey—I know how much work he is doing. I wanted them to know how much I can tell how great a time they are having on stage. And they really appreciated that. It’s just sort of palpable —and this wasn’t always the case, Randy—there is only good energy back there now and among the four of them. It is really an amazing thing that they are able to get here through a dark cloud that descended upon them. The hint of the cloud started as early as 1999, but it got really dark around there in 2004.”
awesome.
@sumo – I hear you. I think you are reading a bit too much into whether the lack of attendance is really something that anyone needs to worry about. Hopefully phish knows that everyone except a handful of douches on the green board WANTED to be there… and many of us were having virtual fests via the stream. I
I miss the “Lost” posts. where is WALT!?!?!
I’m gonna keep trying…anyone have an extra Duval Super Ball poster?
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLTTT!!!!!!!!!!!
is there a better deep funk album name than “Dookey Shoe”?
I’ll save you the trouble of thinking about it. The answer is No.
No, there is not.
Joining the post-work lovefest. Seems like the entire board is in post-festival afterglow mode.
Started reading right before I hit my first shows in August 09, kept reading through fall 09 and new years (didn’t have internet fast enough to make it worth commenting or reading the board), really wanted to start meeting Phish kids before summer 10, and started posting and hitting meet ups then.
I’ve said it before, but the best part about this site for younger kids without many friends into Phish (or custy friends into Phish) is that we always have a crew at any show we hit. Hanging with some of the old school guys on Saturday made the weekend. Such a great vibe.
So cheers