A Mile High
7.14.13 (Andrea Nusinov)
This time around, Denver’s summer farewell feels more like a party than a pronouncement. Although we’ve yet to hear a note, this stand-alone weekend already serves as a punctuation mark on a triumphant season of music. This summer, Phish began to carve new sonic pathways again, jamming with intent and efficiency and birthing original music with a magical consistency. Finally adding fluidity and set craftsmanship to their modern repertoire, entire shows—well, mostly entire second sets—elevated like never before in this era. Adding some new songs to the rotation—”Energy” and “Yarmouth Road”—and reviving some old ones—”Steam,” “David Bowie,” and “Split Open and Melt”—the band played their best start to finish tour of 3.0. Now, as we step into our favorite soccer stadium for three shows that will, undoubtedly, contain plenty of action, the only question that remains to be answered is, “Will this weekend top it all?”
In each of the past two years, Phish showcased fireworks in their Rockies swan song. After setlist trickery on both opening nights, one can expect some sort of prank as we approach tonight’s performance. Musically, in 2011, the band played one of their finest jams of the year in 9.3’s “Tweezer,” while dotting the weekend with a stellar second set sequence of “Twist > Piper > Hood” and a rocking “Ghost” taboot. Last year, however, Dick’s opened the gateway to the improvisational glory we have witnessed since that star-crossed weekend. A couple all-star jams over New Year’s bridged the community to this summer tour, when creativity and Phish met at the crossroads of destiny. So many jams, so many sets, so many shows this summer surpassed most of what we have seen over the past few years; a true renaissance of the highest degree. And it all started back at this soccer stadium one year ago with antics and musical triumphs that few saw coming.
First the band came out jamming with a “Fuck You” opening set that featured one of 3.0’s finest moments in “Undermind.” The second half contained another jam of the year in “Chalk Dust” not to mention a long-form “Runaway Jim.” Then came “Light.” Setting a new precedent for modern jamming, Phish unleashed a masterpiece on the second night of Labor Day weekend 2012. Spanning emotive feels, heavy groove and a cathartic blues rock crescendo, Dick’s “Light” immediately stood head to head with the Gorge’s “Rock and Roll” of 2011 for the magnum opus of the modern era, immediately upping the legend of the corporate-named stadium on the outskirts of Denver. A cosmically connected version of “Sand,” yet another timeless gem, cemented the weekend of legend the final night of summer tour.
So what will happen this time around? What jams will we be talking about for the six-week offseason as we get ready for Fall? Though it really matters not what goes down this weekend—for the band has nothing to prove—something tells me it will be one of great memories. What they will be made of we will soon find out…
At BTV ready to go. Life is awesome.
At the gate! Dicks here we come!
Bag got swabbed at the checkpoint but it’s saul good 😉
My guess is an Energy Set:
Energy, Light, Steam, Split, Here comes the Sun, Watet in the Sky, Encore: Fire
I got a serious case of DICKS envy…. Hope its what dreams are made of for all thee BB crew!
Will they spell out who will be the Halloween cover at Dick’s?
Heading to airport in 4hrs…see you in Denvah!
Bringing plenty of ravens gear to offset Denver fans ripping down my beautiful flacco banners for nfl opening night on thurs.
Rooster, tell btv I said hi and to allow SWA to fly in there. Sick of flying into Manchester and driving 2.5
Not to fast forward too much, but…ANYone on here still looking to get rid of a AC 3 pack, or Halloween ticket? Coming stateside for Roch(my old, old home place)>Reading and would love to finish up in Atlantic City.
Meanwhile…all you bb’ers have fun out in CO.
I’ll be on the shores of the Baltic Sea (literally).
Mile high Dicks? Ouch.
MINER!!
dude writes the best table setter articles
Pumped! Starting travel towards Denver by heading towards SFO, like to not travel on opening day of 3 night runs, but celebrated my little guys 2nd BDay last night and getting him set up with Grandma here to house sit
C y’all in a few, safe travels
Epic weekend in store
Hungover. Half day of work then it’s on!!!
stocked up on doritos, flower delivery pending; webcast prep complete.
enjoy the run out there, get yer twerk on.
Lets do this!
Sat in my room w two old friends last nite (hs and college) who both work in the local economy. I tried my best.
@revise – sorry man I had good intentions but sleep got me.
Other old college friend scooping me at 8 for ride up to Mt. Evans. My room safe is nicely stocked and I guess I own pens now. And my fridge is half water/half Gatorade.
Enjoy your day.
Rooting for y’all Gdiddy.
Dicks envy for sure! Opening day for the Canes, and Dicks. Pissed I cock blocked myself from getting some Dicks action. Couch Terrrrr!
A whole bag of Terra chips for dinner. Not the best start on the nutrition front.
Over on the Green Board some one posted that streaming thru the PS3 is no longer an option due to an upgrade in Flash. Any truth to this?
go get ’em, dicksheads.
here’s my choice for the encore tonight.
So it’ll probably be 10:30-1:30 webcast for us east coasters huh? Better not skimp on the nap today
Chi kidz that stayed, MC Tree at empty bottle tomorrow for $10 and Reggaeology fot free sunday at pritzker.
Coaster Kidz : The Goliath coming to six flags next year. Wooden.180 foot drop. Pumped as fuck.
Today’s setlist:
W*rk -> BBQ/birthday party > cornbread coma > four hours of DICKS
At airport. Liftoff in an hour. BBers will have a grand time in Denver.
Greetings from 35,000 feet BB. That’s how high I am right now.
I don’t know if ya’ll know this but I love fiyah which also makes me an expert on forest fires. My expert opinion is it’s really smoky down there.
PS3 worked fine for gorge and bill graham @bhizzle. There hasn’t been an update since then. Unless an update happened yesterday.