Mid-Week Musings
6.10.11 (G.Lucas)
After the incredibly successful summer that Phish has already had, we still have a dozen shows to go! In a bit more than a week the circus will travel to the hallowed grounds of the Gorge to kick off the back end of the touring season. And things couldn’t look brighter. When we left the band just a few weeks ago, they had just thrown down the best weekend of music in the modern era amidst a full-blown Phish festival of the sorts we only dreamed about a few short years ago. It is impossible to deny the musical momentum built over the first half of this summer and— more than ever—it certainly feels like the dawning of Phish’s Golden Age.
7.3.11 (G.Lucas)
Full-blown creativity, new improvisational directions, experimental jamming, airtight communication, uncharted territory—all of these facets were part of Phish’s opening month of tour. And if the progress made from leg one to leg two during the past two summer tours is any indication, Phish is going to come back with even sharper jaws and enhanced improvisational adventure. At Super Ball, the band seemed to play with a laid-back patience, understanding that we were all there for three days and there was no reason to rush anything. As a result, almost almost no jams were ended prematurely and the weekend possessed an undeniable flow. Though some sets were better crafted than others, the band left us with a slew of the most innovative music to be played in this era.
Two nights at the Gorge, Hollywood Bowl, Tahoe x 2, Golden Gate Park, then two three-packs—at UIC and Denver…there is heck of a lot of music left to be played this summer! And just like the last two, when all is said and done, my bet is that the second leg will produce the most memorable jams of the tour. Building off a spectacular June that was in a different league than its 2009 and 2010 predecessors, the thoughts of what might come out of August is awe-inducing. Five new venues and a return to two of their most classic haunts will provide us with 24 more sets to take us through a Phishless fall. But something tells me that after a spectacular—and lengthy—summer, that won’t be too much of a problem for anyone.
In 2011, Phish has created a buzz in the community like no time since their Hampton return. Showcasing a completely revitalized improvisational brilliance—built upon the foundation of ’09 and ’10—Phish took people by storm in Bethel and have maintained that quality of play, and improved upon it, right up through Super Ball. It’s an exciting time to be a Phish fan, as the entire comeback has brought us to right now. And heading up to the Gorge in this context, could anything be sweeter?
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Jam of the Day:
“Light > Number Line” 6.19.11 II
Deep in Portsmouth’s second set, Phish got into an intricate and psychedelic take on “Light” in which Trey actually sets up a quasi-transition into “Number Line.” With so much meat in his show, this “Light” jam hasn’t been discussed to much; check it out.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/phish2011-06-19.d2t08.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/phish2011-06-19.d2t09.mp3] Tags: Summer 2011
Tzar- Are you talking about the place in Fremont for beers? Brouwers? If so ya’ll come by the G and D. May actually head out Thursday. Prolly not though.
Give me a heads up.
very exciting, indeed!
thank you, Mr.Miner, for leading us in this phish adventure . . .
and for the countdown clock . . . yes!
aahhh, im starting to get worried, does everyone else have their tickets by now?? im starting to think my mailman has lost mine…
Just got UIC through PTBM. Haven’t got an email yet. Anyone have their UICs or get their email yet?
Good morning, everyone
Was a long weekend and a long last two days.
I did my very first jury trial on Monday and Tuesday with a supervising attorney. It was exhausting emotionally, mentally, and physically. I only did about half the trial, so I can’t imagine how these attorneys rock out whole trials by themselves.
We ended up losing. It was a drunk driving case. We couldn’t get the blood alchohol curve – which shows how alcohol affects you on a curve over time – into evidence. The judge said we needed an expert to explain it, but the State Public Defenders office told us we didn’t have the budget money to pay for the expert.
Sort of shitty to think about…if someone has money they can put on a better defense.
Anyway, I woke up this morning feeling relieved. Phish tour is starting soon. I’m done for the summer Thursday. Life really can’t be better.
All tickets are in hand for leg II (not Dicks).
That is a wonderful sight!
“when all is said and done, my bet is that the second leg will produce the most memorable jams of the tour”……and all you left coasters were crying because the lack of stops….. is it quality you are after or quantity?
Also, if history is any indication of what the futures holds, as Miner is suggesting, it’s really too bad there won’t be any Fall arena stops.
“Sort of shitty to think about…if someone has money they can put on a better defense”…..ain’t that the fucking truth Silly!
Looking forward to a taste.
^of the Phish that is
Good morning everyone!
Got my Gorge tickets yesterday….getting my Tahoe tickets today….and some more UIC. It is all coming together for a two week throwdown that is sure to satisfy my soul! $$$$$
@Palmer: I got my UIC since I had Gorge on that order too. My wife has a UIC coming and hasn’t received an email yet. I’m guessing they are getting Gorge and Tahoe out and all UIC’s will ship next week.
Cool, thanks kaveh. Makes sense.
Got my Tahoe & UIC tix from the UPS man yesterday after receiving an email Saturday.
anyone have marcoesq’s email?
if you check in today, M, mine is b r i e n k e l l e y at the google one. Got some recs for you for Nevis, if you’ve never been there before…
@ Pronoia
mhoyt13 at gmail
@silly, if you can hear the symptoms…..;) or as mr. brown once said “living in america”
Really like this Portsmouth Light a lot. Jumps right into the heart of the jam quite early. Big action in a small package. Very effective version, as noted maybe the smoothest landing in BDTNL I’ve heard.
Good case in point for “short doesn’t necessarily equal rushed”.
Count me as surprised that Number Line never blew up this summer other than Bethel. You never know what you’re going to get out of that one.
Thanks KP!
What a humbling lesson to learn your first time out, Silly. I guess you gave it your all though, and can now turn to leg 2 with as easy a conscience as it’s possible to have considering our fucked up capita-legal system
Mr C, I respectfully disagree with your comment from last night. My beard has nothing to do with my “look” it’s more about not having to shave and it’s fun to stroke when pondering life’s difficulties.
I do concede the brad Pitt point and wonder where I lie on that scale of wether or not to shave it to get the ladies.
And now back to your regularly scheduled Phish program.
@mitch plus they’re great for coming up with fiendish plots. i mean, how can the beardless even come up with dastardly plans without a beard to stroke? they can’t, it’s that simple
I’m constantly stroking mine at work while trying to fix stuff.
Damn that sounds wrong. Then again the bar is 4 foot tall. You don’t know what I’m doing back there. Dun dun duuuuuh
All you youngins do your best to get out on the road this Summer. Make memories and magic. Give a little, get a little. Forge a new path. Keep an open mind. Take some goddamn pictures. It’ll all be so beautiful to you many years down the road, knowing that you did whatever you could to celebrate life with your friends with some serious music as the backbone of your adventures.
^duly noted
i ain’t exactly young anymore but i sure am acting like it this summer
leaving for seattle in one week. bitches!!
Let us also not forget what a great tool in judging hetty-ness it is. My buddy and I are always trying to outbeard each other.
Damn sorry to beard-jack again.
Should we all have a beard-off at the UIC? Plenty of time to grown something fierce. I’m in…if anyone else is.
Beard-jacking welcomed!
Last day of my internship is today and the re-bearding process will begin soon thereafter