TTFT: Winter 2003
8.6.11 - The Gorge (Graham.Lucas)
When Phish came back from their hiatus, the band played a mediocre New Year’s Run that left some fans wondering what was to come. But after two weeks in February, during which the band stepped up its game considerably, much of the community believed again. This was the only domestic winter or spring tour since 1994, and the frigid crossing of the nation brought a different feel to the two week journey. But each night, Phish’s playing warmed up the audiuence with increasingly creative playing and considerable on-stage risk taking. And by the end of the short tour, there were plenty of musical highlights to look back on. Enjoy these ten selections for this Tuesday, celebrating the band’s return to the road nine years ago.
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“Mike’s Song > Free” 2.21 II
“Mike’s” still had girth when the band came back in 2003, as it opened this second set in Cincy—nine years ago today—with plenty of filthy grooves.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2.01-Mikes-Song-1.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2.02-Free.mp3]***
“Tweezer” 2.20 II
Though Nassau’s gem gets the most focus of any “Tweezer” from Winter ’03, this Chicago rendition—the first of tour—is a dissonant and diabolical ride.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2.01-Tweezer.mp3]***
“Piper” 2.16 II
This Vegas “Piper” highlighted a big weekend in Vegas that symbolized the true return of Phish to the community at large.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2.04-Piper.mp3]***
“Twist” 2.24 II
A dark horse ride to outer space from East Rutherford’s second set, though much of the crowd was already blues’d out by BB King’s first set marathon sit-in.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/3-11-Twist.mp3]***
“Bathtub Gin” 2.22 II
One of the most original and cohesive jams of Winter Tour, as the band pushed into a nouveau ambient-Phishtronica.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ph2003-02-22d2t03.mp3]***
This sequence was the improvisational centerpiece of the band’s returned to The Centrum in Worcester.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2.01-Stash.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2.02-Ghost-1.mp3]***
“Seven Below” 2.20 II
With the above “Tweezer,” this “Seven Below” jam anchored the second set at Rosemont.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/2-04-Seven-Below.mp3]***
“Down With Disease” 2.21 I
An often-overlooked jam that got things rocking quickly in the first set of four on a snowy weekend in Cincinatti.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/1.03-Down-With-Disease.mp3] Tags: 2003, Jams, TTFF
Miner: any chance the return to Brooklyn rumor is true?
heaven forbid they go east to west leg 1, west to east leg 2
In other news, I have an old friend from college coming to visit. Havent seen the guy since ’94 I reckon. Driving down from Washington State.
^ nice, that’ll be a blast robear, enjoy.
Dayman, the best news……he’s a carpenter. It’s like a small miracle. He ran into a mutual friend of ours while back in Michigan last summer. He just called me out of the blue.
#not facebook’d
Lot’s of meandering in some of these winter 03 picks, jmo of course. Started running through Miami ’03 this morning and got through most of night one. Other than skipping a bunch of the second half of set 1, I guess.
After hitting up a ton of 99-00 lately, and before that ’95, 2.0 sure seems disjointed.
Not really going anywhere, long day of work. Saw my guy today that typically knows what’s up and he didn’t have much to say. We did only talk in generalities around a room full of our co workers though. I need to hit him up.
oh hell yeah dude! perfect timing for you man, wow. how serendipitous.
# pronoia’d
Hey Robear
Just read back a bit, and I have bamboo flooring. I have the smoked bamboo look. The floors are great, however, they scratch and indent very easy. Kind of sad since they were marketed as extremely hard and durable. I then learned that the smoked look goes through a cooking process to get it that color. In this process the surface strength is reduced upwards of 30%.
I love the floors, but if I were to do it over again, would get the non cooked bamboo (yellowish color) for higher traffic areas, and the cooked bamboo for non traffic areas.
Robear I can email you pics so you get an understanding of how easy the floors can get damaged.
I was hoping for a early July festival again, at this point I guess I’ll take any festi though. Can’t think of any must attend weddings, so that’s a plus.
Some crazy talk floating ’round here…hope we’re not being bamboozled!
A little behind and new to open my mouth – but thanks for the 03 picks Mr. Miner – was doing a run thru some of the late summer 03 stuff (Pittsburgh > IT) when i saw this… as far as the “cant” and “wont” stuff – i mostly agree, although to this comment…
“…Seems like a long time since they have truly melted a room. 03 I guess…”
I would say – UIC, Night One, Set II – face sufficiently Melted as far as 3.0 indoor nights go – was it Prague? no, was it steamy good fun – you betcha….