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
No way Namdi will be with the 49ers.
Forgot a comma.
No way, Namdi will be with the 49ers.
I could dig the Jets except for sanchez
but the Jets are good. really like their defense. fun to watch.
“A candy kind of smell to it”. Isn’t that the old joke, I don’t like blow but I love the way it smells. Where’s the bad pun meme?
Easy Voopa, you guys in the bay Area already took Beltran. 🙂
I think that will be great. I’ll be pulling for the Giants and Carlos to win it again. He’s a great ball player. You guys will love him. Plays hard, despite what you may have heard/read.
Giants repeat would be epic. First repeat since the Phill’s in the 70’s.
Asomugha is the most dominant player in the NFL at his position, I’m convinced – meaning he is the farthest ahead of the next best player at his position – kind of unreal to watch really….just hope he goes to a team that’ll be on tv
you think he’s that much better than Revis Mr. C? I can’t comment too much because being on the east coast, i rarely get to see him play. I do see Revis every week though. He’s the best cover guy i’ve seen since Deion.
Imagine the two of them together? Yikes
voops- Yanks repeated in the 90’s. Three-peated as a matter of fact i think.
Real interesting LA times article,thanks phoam
Yeah but how’d they do today?
We will see how good Asomugha is when he plays on a team with other good players. Not saying he sucks but I think the numbers are deceiving. Why bother throwing at the only good player on the team?
who joe? The yanks? they lost. I’m a Mets fan. You Sox guys need to get over your inferiority complex when it comes the yanks. 🙂
Joe- being a Mets fan, i can sympathize. Hate those bastards!
No inferiority complex here anymore. Helps being 3 up.
We’re as insufferable and arrogant as they are now 🙂
Sox are the better team this year. Adrian Gonzalez tipped the scales, big time in your favor. Yanks are getting old, fast. Those contracts are going to kill them in the coming years, Arod, Jeter.
Guess I meant the only real league, the NL.
based on the games I’ve seen and the football outsiders metrics he’s definitely better than Revis, believe it or not
Ravens are going to make a strong play for him too. by far the best free agent in a weak market with a lot of buyers due to the new salary floor
he’s basically perfect
he’s always in exactly the coverage sweet spot, close enough to cover his man but far enough away to break off when the play goes another way. makes it look effortless. amazing
good tackler too
Philly won one in 1980. Last NL team to win back to back world series Big Red Machine mid-70’s. Asoumugha is top corner in league, has better speed than Revis. Revis is better at jamming guy at the line. Can’t see Jets landing him, going to take alot cash. Time to get paid.
Thanks for the clarification, WHB…how could I forget the BRM?
Oh yeah, HGB (Humboldt Green etc)…
easily done. Giants have good chance of making it. Great starting pitching goes long way. Rather see the Giants rep. NL than Phil’s. Kind of pulling for the Brewers, at least to make they playoffs. Talk about a starved fan base.
Bear Creek look like a sweet line up. TAB just added to it makes for a very tempting weekend of fun.
http://www.bearcreekmusicfestival.com/