Reader’s Picks: Lindsey Pontieri
8.22.12, Kansas City, MO (Ryan MacNeill)
All selections and text by Lindsey Pontieri
Geeking out about Phish is one of my favorite activities. Rather than taking the clinical route-breaking down the jam, analyzing the tour or spitting out the stats, I put together this list based on what the band and shows bring to me—a sense of community and joy. Some are from shows that I’ve attended, some not, but all put a big fat grin on my face every time I hear them.
***
“Boogie On Reggae Woman > Golden Age > 2001” 7.7.12 II, SPAC, NY
I began this with the intention to stick with “Golden Age > 2001” as it’s become one of my favorite one-two punches, and then I remembered that “Boogie” preceded the pair at SPAC last summer. It’s funky, it’s joyful, it’s triumphant and then “2001” drops in and the whole crowd starts to groove. Love it.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2.05-Boogie-On-Reggae-Woman.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2.06-Golden-Age.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2.07-Also-Sprach-Zarathustra.mp3]***
“The Divided Sky” 10.24.10 I, Amherst, MA
Every time they hit the pause, I get goose bumps up and down my arms knowing the beauty of what comes next.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/1.04-The-Divided-Sky.mp3]***
“Chalk Dust Torture” 8.16.96 I, Plattburgh, NY
On August 16, 1996, surrounded by 70,000 of my closest friends, I got hooked on Phish. This may not be the “best” Chalkdust (7/10/99 is often hotly debated as…oops. Stat! Sorry) but this is my first “Chalkdust” and we all remember our firsts. And god was it good.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/1.01-Chalkdust-Torture.mp3]***
“Dog Log” 8.2.03 E, Limestone, ME
Silly, goofy fun. I caught this one as the encore and have been chasing it ever since (and Page’s keys in this are great….).
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/E.01-Dog-Log.mp3]***
“Suzy Greenberg” 10.31.09 E, Indio, CA
I am a firm believer that a horn section should invade the stage on a more regular basis. Trey shreds through this one with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings taking it to the next level.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/E.01-Suzy-Greenberg.mp3]***
“Run Like An Antelope” 7.14.91 I, Townshend, VT
Giant Country Horns were on tour with Phish during the summer of ’91, and this one is a fun show to listen to. It’s raw, relaxed and a sign of what’s to come. During the verse towards the end, there’s some play and a bit of horns as an added bonus.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2.10-Run-Like-an-Antelope.mp3]***
“Wilson” 3.13.93 I, Boulder, CO
The opening chords to “Wilson” with the familiar call back are known and beloved to many. However, I totally dig the original dark and twisty opening found in this version. There’s also a bit of secret language play with the Simpsons theme. Listen full through; the original chords work their way through the song giving it a different feel.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/I-10-Wilson.mp3]***
“You Enjoy Myself” 4.5.98 I, Providence, RI
It’s “You Enjoy Myself.” From the Island Tour. That should explain everything.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/1.02-You-Enjoy-Myself.mp3]***
“Squirming Coil” 12.30.11 E, MSG, NY
While this [2011] NYE run was inconsistent at best, this is a version that Page takes his time with. As time has gone on and I’ve focused on different aspects of the band, this one has grown on me. Initially, depending what was going on in the set, it was one of my bathroom songs. Now, with time and a different perspective, I find that when Page is alone on the stage, taking his time to finish it up, it is a moment of stillness and beauty.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2.12-The-Squirming-Coil.mp3]***
“Tweezer” 2.28.03 II, Uniondale, NY
Before the band hit the stage, it was a special night. My sister’s first show. And holy crap, did they not disappoint. There are shows embedded in Phish lore and this one is dug deep right in there. This second set opener is 27:08 min of patience and band connectedness that shifts from psychedelic glory to playing off the Frampton tease. This is one of those jams that you get lost in and when you emerge from it, you have to take a second to question whether it just happened.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ph2003-02-28d2t01.mp3]***
“Tweezer Reprise” 2.28.03 E, Uniondale, NY
Wherever there is a “Tweezer,” there’s a reprise lurking. Most nights it closes the same show, but in 3.0 I’ve seen it split and played to close multi-night stands and, in one instance, repeated (6/18/10). No matter where or how it presents itself, it’s four minutes of pure head banging energy, and on this fateful night in 2003, that’s exactly how they closed the show. Like all “Reprises,” this one builds and builds, with the energy in the room off the hook, and as it hits its peak, the room explodes and everybody is left exhilarated wanting more.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/E.04-Tweezer-Reprise.mp3] Tags: Reader's Picks
new MOunt Kimbie is nutso. must spin shit.
so his sunday phishfork.
someone tell Tory he needs to throw down a fuckin scorcher night 3 to keep up with the music we will be getting all day at pitchfork.
I’ll tell him
Silly did you guys get the 2 night treatment from SC3? Seattle got 2 shows in 2 venues 3 completely different sets and the forth set saw some repeats… 1 set was all Masada…so sick!! You had hipsters at the show? Weird. Such a not hipster bad… We were more just super music fans and musicians (picking their jaws off the floor). Best 2 nights of music in a while…
Hipster band..
That’s not why your eyes are burning.
I just got done setting up another network. Everything was working when we concluded about an hour ago. Since then I have smoked a fatty and drank a couple 12 abv Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron’s. I want to call them back, but hesitate for reasons mentioned. What to do? hmmm.
Guess I’ll just turn up the jam I’m in right now and worry about it later. Why let work get in the way of a good jam? Peace.
finished. Not done. Wow what a long day again.
Also forgot to mention the site called me and I missed the call. Wow, I’ll be quiet for now. Sorry for the babble. One of those after work things where the marbles start to align again, but slowly.
Did I forget to mention….forget to mention
Nice time for seguin to get his first of the playoffs!
Great game and while the Bruins lost this now means they get to close it out at the garden on Saturday.
Was hoping for a sweep. Oh well. Boston’s stick handling is phenomenal.
memphis
yo, dusty. didn’t know you were a phightin phillies phan. that’s my team, dog.
pinot’d. 2009 angel vine pinot noir from OR
Mowed yard tonight so I can be lazy as fuck all weekend. It takes exactly 1 Lemonwheel Tweezer and 1 ’94 Orpheum Bowie from mpls.
Time to have a glass of Marietta Lot 55.
cheers, mia
Late to the question but the youth are def more self absorbed, narcissistic, tech centered ‘look at me and my (growing) brand’ presence of true douches. Like all prior gens however thy are just broadcasting their youth stupid. Dumnasses..
Phism post at 5:23 is rich. Cant believe I’m saying this. Not to mention xpuns ‘did I forget to mention! Forget to mention’! Ha! Ohh .. whats this??? Bb superapp is powering me down?!??
That Goat live set circulated hereabouts gave a nice lift to my flights today. Thanks BB.
MiA… Someday I’m going to put together a ‘best of the BB mowing the lawn’ playlist… Feel like that needs video though.
Had to sit my kids down and have a fairly serious talk today. I told them it was gong to be serious when I started.
When I finished they both sat there and my daughter breaks the silence by saying “I kinda figured you were going to remind me to never act like that girl did at the concert last night.”
Classic! Even my 8 yr old is disappointed in you blondie.
I never got around to a proper review of trey w nso so here it goes:
First off all the “normal” songs- frost, let me lie, goodbye head, water in the sky, brain and Robert – were nice but just straight forward trey playing w orch backing. I had trouble hearing the vocals on some. May just be my bad ears though.
As for the songs that got the treatment;
First Tube – great opener, was bobbing my head from the get go. Now I’m not really a huge fan of this lick, or really the song except it really builds the energy but last night it was totally different. It had this nice peaks, but where phish will kick it into the next gear after each peak, last night it would return to a very quiet place each time. So I stead of trey taking an arena rock, tension filled solo, he really laid back and played a very slow melodic solo that really made me realize this was going to be a special evening.
Dsky- not a huge fan of this in phish but was really excited to hear last night. First song in which trey switched to acoustic. You can tell there’s a lot of pressure on trey when playing w a world class orchestra and he stepped up and nailed sky. Pretty straight forward rendition but shortly after the pause they dropped into this staccato section for a few measures that sounded totally badass. Plus watching The violin section slash their bows reminded me of the November rain video so I though that was cool.
Mfmf>guyute. Don’t remember to many specifics here. Sounded great, no lyrics, trey switched to electric for the outro solo. HUGE HUGE peak. I think everyone took a bow after this which led me to believe setbreak and maybe that’s why the girl approached the stage afterward
Stash – a highlight. The “jam” had a great Latin vibe. Fairly short in comparison to other songs but just went in such a cool direction. Great arrangement.
TTE – at least a 12 min intro that built so slowly. I think this song should just stay in this setting. Nearly 35 min in length, trey joked afterward “now we are going to play a long song”. I just can’t get over some of the lyrics (only let me lie contends for worse IMO). But was just showcased so well last night. I really enjoyed it all.
YEM – something to behold. Orchestra + YEM =$$$$$$. Just beautiful music that has been a soundtrack to so many great memories being played by our national orchestra really was a nice experience. The build up was amazing. All of the musicians pushing it to the edge and then one of the percussionist starts shaking a three story tall piece of sheet metal. Perfection. Fishman needs sheet metal. Kind of funny arrangement for the lyrics with the trombone doing exaggerated voicings of them. Another neat “jam” arrangement. Maybe Latin flavored don’t recall honestly. When the bass and drums segment came around trey put down his guitar and for a split second I thought he was going to do some dumb trey dance but instead came out front and did an unmiced vocal jam with the orchestra echoing him. It was really dark and eerie sounding. The most beautiful few minutes of the entire evening for me.
Inlaw Josie Wales was nice. After that YEM though nothing else mattered to me.
I highly recommend catching one if these shows if trey comes near you.
@BNCB
It was better than Cats!
Check stash and YEM
Also my little girl fell asleep during TTE and rallied for YEM
She’s a real fan 😉