Doubling Down?
12-30-2011 (Graham Lucas)
Amidst the many rumors spiraling through cyberspace regarding Phish’s 2012 touring plans, two have taken hold and seem to have some legs. Coincidentally, the two stands that seem to be materializing are located in each coast’s gambling mecca—Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Each of the rumors have been semi-corroborated by a Las Vegas newspaper reporter and Atlantic City’s mayor, giving them a bit more substance than your everyday Internet hearsay. Since both are seeming somewhat likely at this point in time, let’s take a closer look at the buzz.
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LAS VEGAS: March 30 – April 1 ??
Vegas, Baby?
Phish only played on April Fool’s Day in their early years, the last time coming in Portland, Oregon in 1993. If this strongly rumored run goes down, this would mark the first time in 19 years that the band would perform on this made-for-Phish, prankster holiday. Just yesterday, Las Vegas Sun columnist, J. Patrick Coolican tweeted, “Phish fans: Source sez negotiations for a 2/3 nite VEGAS run APRIL FOOLS DAY have taken new intensity. 80-20 likely, sez source.” This tweet aligns with what I have been hearing from multiple sources, thus a return to the Thomas and Mack Center seems like a distinct possibility.
While I am always down for Vegas Phish, the timing on this stand seems a bit quirky. Mike is playing with his solo band at Jam in the Dam in mid-March and then playing another date in London on March 18. Trey will be focused on his symphony tour until March 10th. These two factors alone, regardless of what Page and Fish are doing during, would preclude much practice time before the first show on March 30th. Could they pull it off with but a ten-day buffer? Of course. Might the run turnout straightforward and contained as a result of the time crunch? Quite Possibly. It seems like latter-day Phish benefits from practice even more so than in previous eras, as their lives are diversified more than ever. These Vegas shows would be just the 5th, 6th, and 7th,performances since Labor Day 2010, and practice would seem more necessary than usual. We shall see what develops.
*****
ATLANTIC CITY: June 15 – 17 ??
Atlantic City
While Phish headlining at Bonnaroo is another rumor that has been circulating with strength, this three-day Atlantic City run would represent a Phish-only “festival” at Bader Field. Atlantic City’s City Council has already approved festivals for June 15-17 and June 24-25, and the mayor alluded to the former being a “jam band” festival that is expected to attract 30,000 fans. With Starr-Hill, Coran Capshaw’s sister company of Red Light Management, slated to throw these events (the other of which, allegedly, features a “rock band”) it is but a forgone conclusion that Phish will play these dates. Further confirmation comes in the fact that that the Dave Matthews Band, who brought their Caravan tour to Bader Field last summer, will not be returning for either of these dates. Many fans have taken all of this info, put one and one together, and booked hotel rooms for this weekend.
This run could conceivably come at the end of a short run in May and June (with Bethel rumored for Memorial Day weekend) and, if so, AC would be a great place to end a tour. As I discussed last week, three-night stands were Phish’s bread and butter last year, and another trifecta in AC—like Halloween 2010—seems like a great time for all. With all hotels in close proximity to each other, the post-music part of this “festival” would take place in the casinos and hotels up and down The Boardwalk rather than in campgrounds and RVs—a different mid-summer twist. And if you poll the fan base, I think you’ll find few fans who didn’t have a blast in Atlantic City last time around, so here’s to hoping this one comes to fruition!
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Jam of the Day:
“Help -> Slip -> Bag” 4.1.86 II
In honor of a possible April Fool’s Day show, here was how Phish opened up their second set of 4/1/86’s “Festival of Fools” at Hunt’s in Burlington—the classic “Help -> Slip -> Bag.”
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/ph86-04-01d2t01.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/ph86-04-01d2t02.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/ph86-04-01d2t03.mp3] Tags: 2012, Rumors, Summer 2012
^agreed Sumo…on many points…i also lost a few shows from 2.0 in memory. seriously..one of those camden shows is gone (i didn’t make the one with that sick scents!..the other nite) completely. camden mind meld. i also did 2.0 sans accoutrements.
i stayed in the moment on “no more phish”. i remember getting rid of coventry tix at camden in the moat. i had a one year old and was so consumed by that and a layoff the previous year that i was totally distracted. then i added more kids…then the nerd band came back i was ready to go.
Right now i’m on the Loser from crimson white and indigo (thanks spotify). I am a DEVOUT first set GD fan and am always touched by Loser and Candyman (and 15 others i’ve listed before). Loser is so moody and such emotive story telling…classic americana…from Hunter. And Brent rode that organ like no other..speaking of moody. we were hot as balls in JFK…they were hosing the crowd. last concert in that building i believe. classic philly throwdown and the band is cruising in 5th gear. this Let It Grow is inspired.
love the electronic jam out of the 10/22/10 sanity. mmhmm.
^now the classic Blow Away.
nite friends
@dayman
Thanks for the reminder on that. Probably the single strangest musical moment I’ve caught live, which I mean in the best way possible.
12/9/95 yem to nitecap
IMO, the greatest YEM ever.
crimson white and indigo sounds so sweet, i just love that release GD
I’m looking forward to the remastered GD 5/25/77 as the inaugural Dave’s Picks. Had that one for years, overlooked compared to other goings on that month by the band.
my pleasure @duke. listening to the 10/30/10 2001>bowie now. it’s really blowing me away how much good stuff has been produced over the last 2 years. this bowie is the goods, although my fave bowie since the return is the dwd->fluff->bowie. highlight of my summer, without a doubt.
would love to see bowie get some more love in ’12
Love that YEM, my favorite too (from a more limited pool in my case). I’ve been going through 7/11/00 from recs here, so far so good. Raging Drowned in mid-first set? Promising.
i’ve missed that 12/7/99 people were talking up. sumo must’ve hit that one.
if you need somewhere to put your extra “nails and screws” i found these really nice quilted 4 oz glass ball jars tonite. they’re the perfect size.
vocal jam commence. now bed for real. NYC tomorrow and some chillin with bob dylan.
Drowned -> Rock and Roll?
July 00 was good.
Snow->Freezing rain-> more snow. Housebound for two days straight, starting to get antsy.
^good luck tzara’s. i get cabin fever mighty quick, i know i’d be losing it.
12/29/09 tweez>caspian. going on a rampage of good 3.0 sheeit.
Damn, should have looked on earlier. Beatito lives in NOLA? I’m in town until tomorrow.
A great Michigan band, The Ragbirds are playing tomorrow night at One Eyed Jacks, wife and I have been seeing them for five or six years.
Here’s a youtube from my local music festival growing up. I’m pretty sure I saw this show, unless they came back in 09.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_rttK9rz14
oops, I didn’t actually watch the link. for some reason 8k people have watched 2+ of an encore break.
They’re good – you get the idea.
What up Pig!
Leaving manana? If you get a chance you should go eat at Cochon on Tchoupitoulas (choppa-two-liss). They celebrate all things swine 🙂
Maybe I’ll check that Ragbirds show out
its all about that 2012 sound YO
i really feel Phish will throw down at least a handful of timeless shows this year
Vegas needs some new history written
i fully understand what Miner means by practice, in this article. whenever they’ve practiced ala Chi at UIC before Toyota Park in ’10
we’ve seen good things. look at Little Feat “Waiting for Coloumbus”, all the Halloween albums, obviously involved tons of practice
anyway, for whatever reason just i just had an overwhelmingly great feeling about 2012 Phish
practice, practice are we really talkin bout practice
I’m over at the Four Points near the airport tonight bearito. Without a car google has me at 9 miles away from Cochon, I should be back next month though.
I feel kind of weird giving a music rec to someone who lives in NO, but Erin smokes on the fiddle. I’ll just say that I’ve had a fantastic time seeing them in different towns around the midwest/south.
Let me know next time you roll through pig
and if possible, stay closer to downtown
much easier to get to the meat of everything
will def try and make it out tomorrow night
I’m with you Butter!
2012 Phish will SMOKE
Liking this 12.7.99 Gin>Simple right now
First-timer tonight on that Halley’s
WOW