The End of the Road
UIC Pavilion (C.Smith)
We have come to the end of the road. What started on Memorial Day weekend at Bethel Woods will wind down this Labor Day weekend just outside of Denver, Colorado—and what a road it has been. Regardless of what may happen for New Year’s and beyond, this is time to appreciate and celebrate the tremendous music that Phish has cranked all summer long and all the unforgettable times that have gone along with IT.
Beginning with “Boogie On -> Waves -> Caspian > Crosseyed”on the opening night of Summer, Phish built upon the foundation of 2009 and 2010 and reinvented themselves this year. The band is back to creating original music, experimenting in new directions, and exploring sounds unique to this year alone. Armed with a diversity of jamming styles, razor sharp chops across the board and a willingness to explore again, Phish has made Summer 2011 a tour that will go down in history. Colorado will cap a season—and possibly a year—of music that many doubted could or would ever happen again. And in this summer of timeless Phish, the band has dropped more than a few handfuls of golden jams and frozen moments. And to think this has all happened in 2011…
6.10.11 - Camden (G.Lucas)
What started as multi-legged 33-show monster has dwindled to a single three-pack. But the next three nights in Dick’s Stadium could be some of the shows we are talking about incessantly for months until we hear another note of live Phish. It isn’t like like band to go out with a whisper, and after a summer in which they have transformed as an improvisational unit, these three shows have serious potential. Three-nights stands have produced some of the highest highs of the modern era, and just this summer we have seen Phish absolutely incinerate Bethel Woods, Super Ball, and UIC Pavilion. And now, one more three-pack in the mountains of Colorado to stamp the summer complete.
6.4.11 - Cleveland (M.Stein)
Though life is truly lived in each unfolding moment, it is sometimes helpful to pause and appreciate the road traveled. And when gazing back over our shoulder at the past 30 shows of the season, what a truly astounding ride it has been it is, and something for which to be grateful for all eternity. From Bethel’s “Halley’s” to Clarkston’s “Disease” to Cincinnati’s “Tweezer” to Darien’s “2001” to Camden’s “Curtain With” to Atlanta’s storm-interrupted escapade to Charlotte’s “Ghost” to Portsmouth’s “Sand” to Super Ball’s Storage Jam and “Reba > Bowie” to the Gorge’s “Rock and Roll” to Tahoe’s “Light” to UIC’s “Undermind” and everything in between, 2011 has been nothing short of a revelation in the Phish universe and an amazing time to be a fan. And regardless of how long it is until the band’s next scheduled show, anyone who has followed along this summer can sit back and smile.
But no sitting yet. We have three more nights and many moments that will stay with us forever. See you at the stadium!
Tags: 2011, Summer 2011
exactly, KP. a testament to the band’s depth and skill.
It’s like a rival band challenged them to prove their greatness. and they answered with the S show.
I didn’t realize it was a tribute. Who was Scotty?
Apparently a prerequisite to flying from Milwaukee to Denver is being a really fucking cute female between the age of 23 and 38.
Signing off….godspeed everyone
work it, KP.
they scored major pts. with me for playing and pulling off Sparks. hot.
@ Kaya – I hear exactly what you are saying. I was expecting S&SS but still wasn’t certain I’d get it. But late second set Sanity was unexpected as was Sabotage.
I can imagine that if I’d been at home, I would have pulled up the list of all songs and started a checklist. Of course, thats the sort of thing I would do on couchtour, not at the show (although I’m sure some people did).
Like I wrote, I’m very happy with and excited about this band.
Nice, KP. Pull some of your pole-dancing moves on them. And invite them to a concert if they aren’t already coming.
NT: I didn’t pull up the S list, but the S tune list was dancing through my head. Thought of soul shakedown and something, but only got the former.
NT: I’m also very happy and excited with the band these days. so much so that I’m thinking of pulling another late night w/ the boys, despite being a little fatigued this morn.
@ Kaya- in the stands we were making predictions as well. I called Steam as a landing pad mid-way thru Simple. Yeah, people were all looking for it what they knew what to look for.
I figured it out with The Sloth. Then it just got funnier. Them I thought it would just be a first set thing. Then they dropped Sand and everyone knew that we’d underestimated them.
And yet again, when they came out for encore, I wasn’t expecting Sabotage.
Sidenote – Silent in the Morning was absolutely blissfull in it’s set placement. Also, Get yourself Deep into Simple. So amazingly beautiful.
Not that Steam is a landing pad, but you know what I mean.
In the car on the way home we were talking about how Suzy was sort of thrown oddly in the middle of the set. Someone replied that the band just needed a break to sing some words. Word.
@KP – beantown said he’d be at the embassy suites
@st8 – from what i read last nite Scotty was a long time Green Crew guy and had been seeing the band forever.
Glad you are having a good time marshall. Im holding it down at the carolina ale house in greenville.