Mr. Miner's Phish Thoughts

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 ??

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 ??

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]

As we prepare to turn the calendar to April, only four months stand between us and the alleged start of Phish’s second leg of Summer Tour. Trey and Mike have both completed their solo runs, June’s on-sales have come and gone, and yet still we have no dates confirmed for August. At this point, the delayed announcement, first rumored for last Tuesday and then for yesterday, has turned into a situation for more than a few puzzled fans. An older fan base who, collectively, has more life commitments than ever before needs more than a few months to plan its summer vacations, and with the lack of any definite dates for August, many people are being left in limbo.

On the very same token, there has still been no news about Watkins Glen. Except for the hacker-discovered (assumed) title of the festival—Superball 9—there has been no information announced regarding the details—or the confirmation of–the event. If, indeed, the Watkins Glen fest is to take place on July 4th weekend, that is only three months away. Though far fewer people will have to take vacation days to hit up the holiday-weekend fiesta, planning needs to be done, plane tickets purchased, RVs rented (if they haven’t been already), among other things. After posting the lyrics to “Contact” on his race track’s website, Michael Printup, better known to the Phish community as @theglenprez, has been surprisingly silent, while last week he seemed as giddy to announce the festival last week as a middle-schooler who just had felt breasts for the first time and couldn’t wait to tell his friends. To quote a question Cliff Clavin posed repetitively in his one-time stand-up routine—“What’s up with that?” At this point, one has to believe there is a reason for the delay, but what is it? You’re guess is as good as mine.

One rumor about the delayed announcement of any further Phish shows is that management wants to first see more ticket sales for June’s East Coast shows. Let me be of help here: if you want East Coast Phish shows to sell out faster, or at all, play less shows! Sure that sounds like the last thing you would ever hear me say, but from a business perspective, if that is really the problem, then why supersaturate the Northeast with concerts? Some things I will never understand.

Nonetheless, we can guess and second-guess as to why things haven’t been announced yet, but until the dates drop, that is all we can do. Sorry for the lack of real hard facts here, but there is nothing to go on at this point except rumors. And speaking of rumors, wouldn’t it be great if the one saying Phish will play three nights at UIC Pavilion in Chicago, instead of Deer Creek and Alpine, came true? It has gained steam in the past weeks, but until we hear officially, we’ll just keep guessing and making tentative plans with refundable deposits and courtesy holds all across the nation.

Throw us a bone…drop the dates already.

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Jam of the Day:

“YEM” 11.18.95 II

Fifteen years before they played the North Charleston Coliseum last fall, Phish dropped this classic “Brickhouse”-laced “YEM” in the very same room.

[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/YEM.mp3]

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

12.30.1992 Symphony Hall Springfield, Massahusetts

FLAC Torrent (via etree), Mp3 Torrent, Megaupload < Links

The night before New Year’s Eve—1992 style. A classic show.

I: The Landlady, Sparkle, Split Open and Melt, Esther, Chalk Dust Torture, Fluffhead, Paul and Silas, Reba -> I Walk the Line -> Reba, I Didn’t Know, David Bowie -> Timber -> David Bowie

II: Axilla, Rift, Bathtub Gin, You Enjoy Myself*, TMWSIY > Avenu Malkenu > TMWSIY, Possum, Big Ball Jam -> HYHU > Love You > HYHU, Take the ‘A’ Train, Llama

E: Ride Captain Ride, Sweet Adeline

* w/ Auld Lang Syne jam

Source: SBD > DAT > cassette

With the announcement and on-sales of Summer 2011’s opening leg behind us, the announcement of both Watkins Glen and summer’s second leg are now the next imminent off-season events. Plenty of rumors have swirled about the year’s only festival and the path of August, and now the community awaits the confirmation of both. With an announcement video looming, let’s look at the possibilities and probabilities for the rest of summer; first Watkins Glen.

Watkins Glen’s President, Michael Printup, has been blowing up his Twitter feed (@theglenprez) with not-so-subtle hints about Phish’s forthcoming festival. Last Friday, he tweeted “I think I am going phishing this weekend!” only to follow up with another message saying “I can’t wait until Monday!!!! Huge….large….biggest news ever coming from The Glen!!!” Adding one and one together, much of the community expected Phish’s rumored festival for July 1-3 to be confirmed on Monday. But when  Monday came, so did another Tweet from Printup: “Oh boy….I think my good news is delayed!!! Sorry……but stayed tuned!!!! Mpp.” As fans peppered him with virtual questions, he stated both “not intentional….just trying to get a deal done!” and then seven hours later, “we are ok….just need time!” So where do all these hints leave leave us?

Well, for one, there will clearly be a Phish festival happening at Watkins Glen this summer. But with the push back of the announcement, one theory that has popped up among fans—though unlikely—is that the festival will take place at the end of Summer Tour rather than as a stand-alone, July 4th celebration. While all sources have pointed to a patriotic Phish party, perhaps the band has bumped the festival to the far more logical time—to conclude the summer (and possibly the year.) Festivals have traditionally ended summer tours, with Oswego (mid-tour), Big Cypress and Indio (standalones) as the only exceptions. The rumored Watkins Glens dates have always seemed odd, as Phish will inundate the North East (including New York state) with shows in June and then, as it has been rumored, head right back there for a massive festival on the first weekend in July? Hmmm. Soon enough we shall find out.

Perhaps the announcement of Watkins Glen will now coincide with the more significant announcement of summer’s second set of dates (loosely rumored to drop next Tuesday.) But through various tour dockets circulated on the Internet, the general path of leg two has more or less been figured out. Phish will likely start The Gorge for a hotly-anticipated multi-night stand on August 5 (with, perhaps, a show before to warm up.) From there, the most likely scenario I’ve heard is a long-awaited, one-night stop at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles before heading back up north for what could be the two of the prize shows of the summer at Harvey’s Outdoor Amphitheatre right over the California/Nevada border at Lake Tahoe. As idyllic a setting for a Phish weekend as any, Tahoe would provide the community with a couple nights in the mountains, and the intimate, 7000-person shows could turn into the only tough tickets of the summer. Phish will likely wind up their west coast stint with an appearance at San Francisco’s Outside Lands Festival, a rumor that seems all but solidified.

After this West Coast swing, the word on the street is that Phish will work their way back across the country, finishing up on the East Coast towards the end of August (just in time for a festival). The rumored stops along the way have included many of the usual suspects such as Colorado, Alpine, Deer Creek, Chicago, Star Lake, SPAC, Jones Beach and Hartford. Perhaps all of these will materialize or perhaps different dates will intersperse the mainstays, but the path of West to East during August seems like a forgone conclusion. Maybe the timing of the festival is the detail holding up both announcements and they will drop together in the near future. But until anything is posted on Phish.com, all we have are rivers of speculation. Might as well jump in.

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Jam of the Day:

“Tweezer” 11.26.97

The opener of Hartford’s 1997 installment, this is one of the lesser-known “Tweezers” of the fall.

[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Tweezer-_.mp3]

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

2011.03.20 MGB @ The Orange Peel, Asheville, North Carolina

FLAC Torrent (via etree), Mp3 Torrent, Megaupload < Links

I: Morphing Again, What Things Seem, 15 Step, The Grid > Makisupa Policeman, Fire From a Stick, I Miss My Mind, River Niger, Flashback, Babylon Baby

II: Andelmans’ Yard, Easy To Slip > The Field, Access Me, Time (The Revelator), Spiral, No One Receiving > Weekly Time > Suskind Hotel

E: Mound

“The Grid -> Makisupa Policeman“

[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/mg2011-03-20d1t04.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/mg2011-03-20d1t05.mp3]

Source: Audix m1280/HC > Lunatec V2 > (Oade Warm) PMD-661 (24/48)

Phish won’t likely announce their summer schedule until Trey finishes touring in March. Perhaps that estimate is off by a little, but it doesn’t seem that any word is coming imminently. During the off-season, I only report legitimate rumors from reliable sources. But today, just for the fun of discussion, I figured I’d throw out some of the random buzz that I’ve heard from various sources that are not my connects. Take them with a grain of salt, folks, this is more of a fun than predictive Thursday exercise.

1. Hampton for Memorial Day weekend is not happening.

2. The July 1-3 festival at Watkins Glen will end a nationwide tour that skips the Northeast.

3. Phish will play in Florida in June, specifically, West Palm Beach.

4. Phish will return to Alpharetta for multiple nights.

5. The end of tour will go Alpine > Deer Creek > Star Lake > Watkins Glen.

6. Hampton for Memorial Day weekend is happening.

7. Red Rocks – June 17 and 18

8. Phish will hit the west coast again, but to what extent is the real question. All I’ve heard is Shoreline.

9. The Gorge with DMB on Labor Day weekend. Say it ain’t so!

10. Northeast Leg II? No Leg II?

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Jam of the Day:

“Rock and Roll > Theme > Dog Log” 9.17.00 II

Though the latter two thirds of Merriweather’s set opening combo made it to an archives show, for some reason the best part of the trio was left out. Check out the seamless segment in full right here.

[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Rock-N-Roll-_.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Theme-From-The-Botto-_.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Dog-Log-_.mp3]

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

11.16.1990 Campus Club, Providence, Rhode Island SBD

Mp3 Torrent, Megaupload < Link

Let’s stick with the early-90s soundboard theme for the entire week. Enjoy this November 1990 relic that is laced with teases of several TV show themes.

I: Suzy Greenberg, Buried Alive, Foam, You Enjoy Myself, Magilla, Llama, The Divided Sky, Golgi Apparatus

II: The Landlady, Mike’s Song > Hydrogen >Weekapaug Groove, Lawn Boy, Tube, Paul and Silas, The Lizards, Runaway Jim, I Didn’t Know, Possum

E: Contact, Fire

Source: SBD

The Watkins Glen rumor mill got some strong spins this weekend from two conflicting sources. On Saturday, BandsThatJam.com, a blog based out of New York state, poured gasoline on an already-burning fire by claiming that Phish had signed contracts in place for an 8 set, 3 day Phish-only festival. This report came as a tremendous relief for Phish fans, many who had feared, based on last-week’s speculation, that the band’s festival might be encroached upon by the unwanted scene of The Dave Matthews Band. But as soon as Phish fans began celebrating and discussing summer plans, there came a retort.

Yesterday, Watkins Glen Racetrack President, Michael Printup, publicly denied these reports in the Elmira Gazette saying:

We don’t know who is putting that out. There are a bunch of erroneous sites out there. We’ve been working with a concert promoter. But we don’t even have a contract. It’s all wishful thinking. We haven’t even signed a contract with a promoter. You do that first. Then it’s up to him to see what band he gets…Watkins Glen International is looking at some kind of summer concert, but it’s too early to even start talking about bands.

But when Hidden Track.com‘s Scotty B reached out to Peter Stergion of BandsThatJam for clarification of their report, Stergion was quick to stand by his story. Stergion explained:

The WGI President has to deny the story. They can’t publicly confirm until all the loose ends have been tied up. Our source has given us credible, specific information. Our source is not a Phish fan so they wouldn’t even have the ability to make up the information which is very consistent with what Phish has done in the past.

While not getting any more specific on their, allegedly, rock solid source, Stergion went on to defended his report to Hidden Track:

We publish stories based on good information from good sources. We take a look at the circumstances of the information and decide whether or not it’s credible. In this case we believe this will happen so we published it…We never heard DMB mentioned by anyone in person or any sources from within Watkins Glen. We’re confident that Watkins Glen will be a Phish-only festival.

Well, we’ve heard both sides of this hot topic, and while I am leaning towards believing the report of a Phish-only festival, who can know for sure? The Phish at Watkins Glen rumors have circulated for quite some time now, but a true scare came last week when The Dave Matthews Band, who shares a management company, announced 4 multi-day, multi-band festivals around the country this summer. The feared crossover of the Phish and Dave Matthews scenes seemed imminent, and plenty of people were quick to voice plenty of reasons why that was not a good idea. But let’s not even go there. Hopefully, that disaster has been averted. If such an atrocity ever materialized, be sure I’ll weigh with my two cents.

But for now we will wait…and wait. Phish announced their entire 2010 Summer Tour in March last year, but in 2009, they dropped their first set of dates in January and their second set in March. In short, we could hear any day between now an April. With both Trey and Mike about to kick off their own tours, one might guess that Phish wait until they are done to tell us their summer plans. But then again, who knows? Surrounding hotels (of which there are few) and RVs have already been booked around the Watkins Glen area based on buzz alone. And if I had to guess, 8 sets over 3 days sounds just right to end a tour. One can hope…

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Jam of the Day:

“Ghost” 7.23.97 II SBD

A seminal Summer ’97 version.

[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/7.23.97-Ghost-DSDB.mp3]

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

7.23.1997 Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta, Georgia

FLAC Torrent (via etree), Mp3 Torrent, Megaupload < Links

The third show US Summer ‘97 capped a comic-book opening to US Summer ’97. Following Virginia Beach and Raleigh, Phish moved down to Atlanta and funked hard in their second visit to the venue. With, perhaps, the hottest “Ghost” of the summer and a smoking “YEM” the band left some legitmate jams in Atlanta, and they were off to Texas at the beginning of a revolutionary summer season. This show goes out via Twitter request to @LacobbieWan! (If you’re on Twitter, follow me @mrminer)

I: Julius, Dirt, NICU, Dogs Stole Things, Ginseng Sullivan, Water in the Sky, Limb By Limb, Split Open and Melt, Billy Breathes, Possum

II: Punch You in the Eye, Ghost > Sample in a Jar, You Enjoy Myself > Rocky Mountain Way* > Chalk Dust Torture

E: Frankenstein

Notes: *Debut, Joe Walsh cover

Source: Schoeps CMC641 > Sonasax > SBM-1 > DA-P1

Though it is early in the Phish off-season, some noteworthy pieces of news have already made a splash in early 2011.

*****

# 1 – Last week, Phish made a buzz in the audiophile sector of the fan community by announcing the re-mastering and upcoming release of three shows from the first leg of 2010’s Summer Tour. The shows selected for audio collaborator, Fred Kevorkian’s treatment were Merriweather’s “I Saw It Again” escapade from 6.27, and the Alpharetta stand from July 3rd and 4th. These shows will be available on iTunes beginning tomorrow, January 18, and a limited number of CD versions of these re-masters will be sold in stores and online. When hearing three shows from Leg I were selected, I immediately thought it was an odd decision, since there were so many great shows after July 4th last year. But soon after I had that thought, Hidden Track uncovered the nugget of information I was waiting to hear. On Allmusic.com, Phish’s discography is now completed by releases from 8.6, 8.7, and 8.13.2010 — the second two shows from The Greek Theatre, and Deer Creek’s second show. Giving The Greek its proper due, the next round of remasters will juice up, arguably, the two most creative shows of summer and Phish’s twentieth-ever show from the cornfields. Unsure when this next round will hit the streets, they are, evidently, in the works.

This news continues the trend of Phish releasing remastered audio and video footage of their recent performances. Why, one might ask, would Phish bother selling such recent material? Well, the simple reason is that fans will buy it now. People want mementos, and in this case the ability to re-listen to, their treasured experiences. It’s the same reason behind marketing downloads, posters, magnets, and other merchandise — there is an immediate market for the product. Why not archival releases, one might ask — relics from their heyday? I have no question the classics will come, but that is, likely, the band’s long term plan–especially after retirement. Phish knows that they are sitting on a goldmine of archival material, and when the end of the road does finally come, there will be plenty of golden-oldies to drop on the us. They know that any well-chosen release from 1993-1999 will sell like hotcakes in the fan community, so there is no real incentive to push them out now. We’ll ultimately get more remasters from the wheelhouse of Phish’s first era, but not likely any time soon.

# 2 – The second buzz-worthy piece of news is the rabid rumor that Phish will return to Hampton Coliseum for a three-night run over Memorial Day weekend, perhaps to kick off Summer Tour. The rumor has leaked from all the reliable sources and Hampton is booked solid for May 27-29. Since getting wind of the rumor, themselves, many hotels have ixnayed their cancellation policies as well as jacked prices considerably. And when rumors develop to this an extent, they most often come to fruition. If so, this will mark Phish’s first visit to The Mothership since their comeback in March of ’09, and they would return as a different band then the tentative quartet of yesteryear. Throw this rumor together with the looser buzz of a July 4th festival in Watkins Glen, New York, and Phish could, perhaps, have a marathon, five-week summer tour. But that sounds totally out of place for this day and age, so your guess is as good as mine. Hampton, however, seems to have to some real weight behind it, so hopefully we’ll be meeting at The Mothership in May.

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Jam of the Day:

“Piper” 9.27.2000 II

An impressive rendition of “Piper” from Englewood, Colorado during Phish’s final swing of Fall 2000.

[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/ph2000-09-27d2t02.mp3]

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

11.18.1994 MSU Ausitorium, East Lansing, MI

Mp3 Torrent, Megaupload < Links

This show goes out via reader request for Jeff T. who “honestly can’t remember it that well,” but remembers “a smoking “It’s ice” jam and of course the bluegrass section was killer, too.” Enjoy the trip down memory lane, Jeff, hopefully the recording can fill in the missing spaces! (Note: Look out for the fierce second set “Tweezer.)

I: Rift, AC/DC Bag, Julius, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, It’s Ice, Tela, Split Open and Melt, Little Tiny Butter Biscuits*^ , The Old Home Place*, My Long Journey Home*

II: Llama, Bathtub Gin, Lifeboy, Poor Heart, Tweezer > Contact, Possum

E: Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms^, Runaway Jim**

*acoustic with the “Reverend” Jeff Mosier, w/ Reverand on banjo, ^debut

Source: Unknown

While Phish has yet to play a single note of summer tour, rumors are already circulating about what they may do come fall. And right now, the whispers are all talking about a three-night return to Las Vegas during the second week of October. If this happens, Phish would return to face the city that has come to symbolize the beginning of their demise in 2004. But at the same time end, Phish in Vegas is a tradition like none other. There’s nothing quite like spilling out of Thomas and Mack, wide-eyed onto the strip, as the night has just begun. An annual rite from ’96 moving forward, Sin City hosted many memorable Phish shows, and if the whispers are correct, three more are coming down the road.

While a stop in Vegas may seem surprising given the sober, family-oriented vibe of the band these days, returning to Vegas may be a way for Phish to right the wrongs of ’04, and they know there is no better locale for their fans. Regardless of reasoning, it seems that Phish may once again visit the neon desert oasis before too long. Apparently, these dates would be in conjunction with an appearance at Austin City Limits Festival, this year taking place between October 8-10. So if one were to hazard a guess, Phish would hit Vegas the following weekend of October between the 14th and 17th. Going purely on speculation here, perhaps the band would then head west for a run up the coast after these rumored dates in the desert. One can only hope.

And in other overheard mumblings…It sounds like the Holiday Run will shift back up north to Madison Square Garden this year, after two consecutive appearances in Miami. And maybe – just maybe – Indio may present itself as an option for Halloween again, after the original dates conflicted with Austin’s festival. Obviously we are be getting way ahead of ourselves here, but sometimes, as Phish fans, that’s what we do. And with less than a month left before Chicago’s summer kick off, what better way to kill some time.

What do you think?

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Jam of the Day:

“Sand” 12.13.99 II

This Providence rendition is one of the most adventurous “Sands” during the song’s peak era of December ’99. This remaster comes courtesy of Paul Shapera.

[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Sand.mp3]

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

10.21.94 Sunrise Musical Theatre, Sunrise, FL < Torrent

10.21.94 Sunrise Musical Theatre, Sunrise, FL < Megaupload

This nugget from Fall ’94 with a non-stop second set goes out via reader request to Gavin’s Dad.

I: Fee, Down with Disease, Foam, The Mango Song, The Old Home Place, Stash, The Lizards, Dog Faced Boy, Run Like an Antelope

II: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Mike’s Song > Simple > Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Sleeping Monkey, The Curtain > Fast Enough for You, Scent of a Mule. Slave to the Traffic Light

E:  Sweet Adeline, Foreplay/Long Time, Cavern

Source: Unknown

One lingering question regarding summer tour remains, even after all the tickets have gone on sale: Where will the tour actually end? If we are to believe things as they stand, Phish will play their west coast and Midwestern shows, and then invite everyone back the east coast for two random midweek shows at Jones Beach. This plan seems just a tad strange, leaving everybody hanging in the New York area after a Wednesday night finale. Since when has summer tour ended on a Wednesday? This routing, however, does leave the door wide open for a day off on Thursday followed by a weekend multi-night farewell. And there have been some rumors floating around.

One of the scenarios that has been circulating in cyberspace has Phish making another trek up to Limestone, Maine to put an exclamation point on summer 2010 in old-school fashion. While the timing seems to work, with the possibility of one or two days between Jones Beach and a potential festival, the question remains if this mature incarnation of Phish will bring their traveling caravan and their families up to the edge of America for a weekend party. A relic of times gone by, arguments both for and against a return to the hallowed Air Force Base in Loring, Maine make sense. On one had, Limestone is piece of Phish history, defining many summer weekends, and the band’s return to prominence wouldn’t be fully complete without a 3.0 festival at Limestone. We had The Great Went and Lemonwheel in the first go-round, and IT in the second. It is only natural to head back to the vast magical playground of legend, allowing east coast fans to drive, not fly cross country, to a Phish festival.

That being said, that was then and this is now. Limestone is a sacred slice of Phish history, a place in time and space where pieces of our hearts and souls reside forever. Those days of traffic, camping, rainstorms, Northern sunsets, and endless blue skies can never be recreated, so why even try? Phish is older and so is their fanbase, we’ve been there and done that – thrice. And who wants to deal with the logistics of getting up all the way up there again? Plus, without a party-based scene for the band, what would be the perks of being in the middle of nowhere for a couple of nights, when they can stay in posh hotels playing elsewhere. With stronger rumors of Indio on the horizon for October, it’s hard to believe that Phish will throw two festivals in three months, and with the ease, bliss, and resorts surrounding Southern California’s Empire Polo Fields, why would they try anything else?

An original set of dates that leaked just before the official tour announcement included two Radio City shows following Jones Beach. However, any chatter of a two-night stand at New York City’s iconic theatre has fizzled out. Unless things are being kept incredibly under wraps, the likelihood of these materializing seems very slim. So the question remains, are we bidding adieu in the stadium surroundings of Jones Beach, or will something be added to end an extensive summer in style? A leg that features Phish’s marquee shows of summer – The Greek and Telluride – and their two most classic summer venues in Deer Creek and Alpine, deserves a better ending than the overcrowded and over-patrolled environs of Jones Beach. But whether or not anything will actually be added to the tour is completely up in the air. But for now, the rumor mill spins on.

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Jam of the Day:

“Reba” 7.3.94 I

Another standout ’94 “Reba.” This one contains an extended and sublime quote of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Track-08.mp3]

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

9.27.95 Cal Expo Amphitheater, Sacramento, CA < Torrent

9.27.95 Cal Expo Amphitheater, Sacramento, CA < Megaupload

The first show of the long road of Fall ’95 featured five debuts and a new arrangement for “Taste.”

I: Wolfman’s Brother, Rift, Free, It’s Ice, I Didn’t Know, The Fog That Surrounds^, Strange Design, Chalk Dust Torture, The Squirming Coil

II: Cars Trucks Buses*, AC/DC Bag, David Bowie, Billy Breathes*, Keyboard Cavalry*, Harry Hood^**, Hello My Baby*, A Day in the Life

E: Possum

*Debut, ^ new arrangement of “Taste,” **Unfinished

Source: (F.O.B.) Schoeps MK4