TTFW: The Reawakening—Early ’09
Hampton Coliseum 2009 (Jeff Volckhausen)
As we celebrate the third anniversary of Hampton’s comeback run—yesterday, today and tomorrow—let’s take a ride back in time with an audio retrospective of this era. In only three years, Phish has brought us from Hampton to Red Rocks, from the Gorge (two times) to Telluride, and from The Greek Theatre to Hollywood Bowl. It has brought us up and down the east coast and through the Midwest more than a couple times, hitting all the staples and then sime. This era has brought us two Halloween shows, two festivals, three more New Year’s Runs, and a whole lot of memorable multi-night stands. And above all else, this era has brought us a hell of a lot of great music. Today, lets start with my some of the earliest highlights from 2009. How long has it been since you listened to these? Enjoy the look back.
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“Down With Disease -> Seven Below” 3.8 II, Hampton, VA
The first deep dive of the modern era—and it still holds up just fine.
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“If I Could” 6.2 I, Wantagh, NY
The first performance of this song in nine years featured an alternate, more delicate interpreation.
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“Harry Hood” 6.2 II, Wantagh, NY
A profound, ambient take on their classic jam on only the second night of June ’09. If you were reading this site then, remember how hard I freaked on this one? Good times.
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“Sand” 6.7 II, Camden, NJ
This era’s first ”Sand” was a revelation, as the band infused a palette of melody into jam. This Camden excursion only foreshadowed the song’s transformation into a whole-band jam in 2010. In my opinion, the most dynamic “Sands” now live in the 3.0 era.
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“Tweezer” 6.7 II, Camden, NJ
The first legitimate “Tweezer” in ’09—and it was an out-of-left-field set closer! The commando lick never dies!
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“Ghost > Fast Enough For You ” 6.9 II, Asheville, NC
After the band blew out Camden, they came right back and threw down this “Ghost” in the next show.
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“Rock and Roll -> Light” 6.14 II, Manchester, TN
Paired with “Rock and Roll,” the band’s first exploration of “Light” came in Bonnaroo’s final set. These two songs would transform into the preeminent launchpads of the modern era thus far.
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“A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing -> Drowned -> Twist” 6.19 II, Noblesville, IN
Following an insane lightning storm, Phish came out with music to match, playing—arguably—the set of June.
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“Piper” 6.21 II, East Troy, WI
The standout jam of June ’09′s final show at Alpine.
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Tags: 2009, Summer '09, TTFF
Hannah Storm is hot, Palmer….
What I love about some of your more hyperbolic writing, Miner, is that it is so easy to imagine your perma-grin
miner, i’m just giving you the business out of boredom! you da man. i know we have 90+ days to fill. still plenty of time to revisit the best of 3.0. just spun the dick’s ‘gin’ after a few of these highlights. wow.
gotcha
also @miner, I made a pledge not to complain about the leg 1 dates. i need to belly ache about something around here, or i wouldn’t be stoney case.
imagine looking at missing most or all the upcoming shows!?
Robear = Obummin
looks like a pretty awesome tour if you have the time. good routing, great venues, time off to breath, etc. etc.
got m’fers on this site like, ‘Oh, i’ll hit one JB, two SPAC, yada yada’. The nerve, not hitting full runs within’ driving distance. I gotta fly umpteen hours for the HB custyfest. nahmean?
Secondtube
“got m’fers on this site like, ‘Oh, i’ll hit one JB, two SPAC, yada yada’. The nerve, not hitting full runs within’ driving distance. I gotta fly umpteen hours for the HB custyfest. nahmean?”
i do. i see that midwest run and it makes me thirsty. 7 straight shows. add in AC over the weekend and midwest folk should at a minimum be hitting 10 shows leg I.
thx tela! gotta’ work. love this place. this tour is gonna slay.
i think i’m hitting 10 shows, m’fers.
sorry rob.
I met MiA at Fenway.
ae, you’re a good man! just don’t tell me you’re hitting partial runs in your home state. then you’re still on the holiday card list.
I may hit the secind set second night of Worcester if I can fit it in. Might not have time for anything else
Yeah, we had to listen to CH whine on and on about the cost of a bottle of wine…
El Duderino Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 2:04 pm
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Lowell George and Little Feat, since we’re all dreaming and I do believe there will never be another Halloween show, I would like to see them do Dixie Chicken. Let Trey learn a new trick and play some slide guitar. The slide parts are not that tough and would be like a Slide 101 class for him. To me that would be something!!!!!!
prescient.
^ that’s funny.
JOE!!!!#$%^&*(*&^%
yes – that’s when I realized you never vacay with CHolt.
Learned many a valuable lesson that trip MiA. One of several experiences that made me who I am today.
The only time I ever wish I still lived in the Midwest is when dates drop. Oh well, ill take the west every other day.
Good times lumpy. Glad I was there with you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YfzFBjdB4k#t=2m28
with all this 3.0.1 talk – this hamtpon fluffhead video is insane. the energy is unparalleled.
Likewise. Next time I’m in Boston I’m definitely going to that sandwich place you found.
I always get chills when I watch that, @lumpy.
Gracias Señor Miner!
The look back is balanced and fair and I only have one of the series live to refer back to for myself.
’09 Was a bountiful year for phish and the Berzerkers. 10 in all and the most in a single year since the early 90s.
I am bummed to say I will likely not catch a single leg I show and leg II is in jeopardy for work and family reasons.
loved the energy in the mothership when the lights went down.
Thanks for that video!
all tingley now
AV ’09 was my first taste. had a blast, and started this whole addiction..
Fenway was my first taste but it wasn’t until Red Rocks that it hit me like a ton of bricks.
And then don’t even get me started on Festi 8.
miner liked Camden, but he got REALLy stoked after the Deer Creek shows.