Full Tour- Finally!
Hampton (W.Rogell)
Thirteen plus twelve equals twenty-five- now we’re talking! Dispersing the number of shows constituting a “normal” tour over the course of this entire summer, Phish will soon embark, in earnest, into chapter three. After a delayed announcement, a plethora of rumors, and even some naysayers, the band delivered a St. Patrick’s Day gift in the form of the long awaited “west coast” dates– of which half are in the east.
This time around, a video of the earth zoomed in quickly to an undisclosed location in Texas where an “09” was painted on the ground. Graphic overlays soon turned that into “Phish Summer Tour 09” and the dates started flowing. Red Rocks, Shoreline, The Gorge, Chicago, Darien, Hartford, Merriweather, SPAC. Huh? That didn’t sound so western. But Phish shows are Phish shows, and who can scoff at that east coast run peaking in upstate New York? That’s a familiar starting point for a drive to Limestone; just food for thought. As “Birds of a Feather” provided the late- summer soundtrack, we now had a tour! Let’s take a look at where this second leg of tour will take us.
Red Rocks - Morrison, CO
After 1996’s debacle outside Red Rocks, Phish would never play the stunning venue again. After seven amazing shows over four years, their legacy at Red Rocks was locked away and sealed- until now. Thirteen years after Phish played one of the greatest stands of their career, they will return to the stunning natural amphitheatre in Morrison, CO for another four-night stand! Though rumored since last year, seeing the dates posted officially is sweet eye-candy, as any doubt has been forever cast away. If they hadn’t been made already, plans quickly materialized for fans all over the country for the last weekend in July.
Shoreline - Mountain View, CA
After two days off, Phish will stop in the extended Bay Area for one show at the Grateful Dead’s former home of Shoreline Amphitheatre. The site of many an epic night of Phish, it was a little surprising to only see one show announced. Reason being, the past three times Phish came through Shoreline, it was for a twin bill. 
After Shoreline, there is another day off so people can comfortably get up to rural Washington; out to the the other best venue in America, The Gorge. With two nights of convergence between music and nature, Phish will cap their west coast tour. Albeit short, six of the seven shows will take place in the two most amazing venues in the country. Get ready for some inspired, mind-expanding Phish.
Toyota Park - Chicago
With only two days off, the next show will take place in Chicago’s Toyota Park, a 28,000 person MLS soccer stadium! In what will be one of the biggest Phish-only shows of the summer, the band will assume the Bears’ moniker of “Monsters of the Midway” for the night of August 11th. This one should be an open-air free for all. Another two days off will give people ample time to get up to Darien Center, NY for a four-night run of historic venues.
Darien Lake PAC, NY
Starting under the white tents of Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, the band will make an unexpected late-summer, northeastern swing- potentially leading up to something bigger. (Though that is pure speculation.) Having played three monster shows at Darien in their history (8.7.93, 8.14.97, 9.14.00), expect the fourth to be quite the affair. In some bizarre routing, potentially to shake extra people off tour, the band will dive down to Hartford,CT, and even further to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland, before popping back to upstate New York to finish tour at SPAC.
Merriweather- Columbia, MD
While Hartford doesn’t boast the history of the final two venues, Phish has played a solid two night stand there in the summer of 2000. The band’s relationship with Merriweather Post dates back to July of ’92 when they played a one set opener for Santana. Playing three standout shows amidst the forests of Merriweather between the years of ’98-’00, the venue became cemented in Phish lore. Finally, making a U-Turn and driving back up the exact same highways, we will head to SPAC- a place where magic happens.
SPAC 6.19.04 (M.Terry)
Another venue tucked into the forest, SPAC is actually within the grounds of a New York State Park. Enchanting surroundings encompass the intimate ampthitheatre, to which Phish has responded astoundingly over the years. Having debuted there in ’92, again opening for Santana, the band returned for big shows during the summers of ’94 and ‘95. Discord between management and the scene kept Phish away from the venue for nine years, until the legendary shows of 2004. Having logged four epic shows at the venue, and with it being the last scheduled stop, you can mark this on your calendar as an absolute no-brainer.
Not to be redundant, but with the band is returning to the east after a brief stint out west, I’ve gotta wonder if they have anything lined up for afterward in Limestone (or Texas?!). One can dream. In addition, I’ve heard the Fenway opener on May 31st is 50/50 at this point, so we’ll see on that one. That being said, we’ve got ourselves a full-blown summer tour! Pack up the car, it’s time to “cruise the land of the brave and free.”
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Tickets requests are open now through this Sunday!
Public On-sale info can be found here!
PHISH 2009 SUMMER TOUR
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06/04 – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY
06/05 – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY
06/06 – Comcast Center – Mansfield, MA
06/07 – Susquehanna Bank Center – Camden, NJ
06/09 – Asheville Civic Center – Asheville, NC
06/10 – Thompson-Boling Arena – Knoxville, TN
06/12 – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester, TN
06/14 – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester, TN
06/16 – Fox Theatre – St. Louis, MO
06/18 – Post Gazette Pavilion – Burgettstown, PA
06/19 – Verizon Wireless Music Center – Noblesville, IN
06/20 – Alpine Valley – East Troy, WI
06/21 – Alpine Valley – East Troy, WI
07/30 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
07/31 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
08/01 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
08/02 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
08/05 – Shoreline Amphitheatre Mountain View, CA
08/07 – The Gorge – George, WA
08/08 – The Gorge – George, WA
08/11 – Toyota Park – Chicago, IL
08/13 – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center – Darien Center, NY
08/14 – Meadows Music Theater – Hartford, CT
08/15 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD
08/16 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY
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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
7.22.93 Stowe PAC, Stowe, VT < LINK
7.22.93 Stowe PAC, Stowe, VT < TORRENT LINK
(Jim Pollock)
Sticking with the old-school theme, this is a classic performance from the summer of ’93. Though not a SBD, the music in this show makes it a keeper.
I: Llama, Foam, Horn, My Mind’s Got a Mind of Its Own, Sample in a Jar, The Divided Sky, Mound, Ya Mar, Poor Heart, Stash, Golgi Apparatus
II: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Tweezer > Walk Away, Sparkle, It’s Ice, Contact, Possum, Paul and Silas*, TMWSIY-> Avenu Malkenu*, Rocky Top*
E: Freebird
*With Gordon Stone on banjo.
Source: AKG460’s w/ CK-61 cardioid capsules> 45v custom built phantom power supply> Sony D-10 Pro II
Taper: Tom McMinn
Bum to the mer.
So how the hell did this happen and what happens with my confirmation number?
I know it was messed up and I’m the one hyping the gorge but I love red rocks and after tonight I thought I actually had a chance of going. Before I had no hope of tix and had resigned to the idea of not going.
Sucks. I felt bad for everyone who didn’t score but they feel better now than those of us who just had our bubble burst.
^ I don’t feel better, just as bad honestly.
playing with people’s emotions like this is no joke. i too feel bad for everyone.
Davey, I feel your pain. I just want to see them for the first time as well (stone cold sober is what I’ll be, because I’m DEFINITELY going to get to a show, no matter what), I ALSO had a really whack day. I’m rootin’ for you in the lottery (and me also!). I could have died happy on the way home from a Red Rocks show, but yes, it’s definitely looking like I’m going to have to drive to the west coast now. Good luck to all!
@ whoever said this: we really should get congress to shut that shit down! What happened to “change” anyway? I want to see the music biz crumble and get a new start, because my future as a musician is looking corrupt and evil because of ‘them’.
I shouldn’t post when I’m this tired.
wow….this couldn’t possibly be more agonizing 🙁
I have something to say about Shoreline. I have lived in Oregon for almost 4 years now and have always wanted to go to Seattle and San Fran, but for various reasons, mainly financial, haven’t. With these summer dates popping up I have something to lure me there and feel comfortable about getting tickets. I am officially stoked on seeing Phish in a bad ass city in a storied venue. Same is true for Red Rocks and The Gorge, always wanted to go, never really had the bait to get me there, if i could just score one ticket to Red Rocks and both nights Gorge, it would mean the world to me, and I honestly would never bitch about getting shut out of a show with the exception of New Years and festivals.
Davey, I feel for ya. I got in to Phish post-first hiatus (in early 2002) and while I did manage to see 5 shows (7/8/03 Chula Vista, Trey played and sang like crap and the second set had poor song choices/placement) and the Keyspan/SPAC run (very nice, 6/19/04 was awesome) but damn! after hearing the Hampton no-spoilers I so badly want to hear them live again. I’m bummed because for months there was talk about a Chula Vista / Hollywood Bowl run which would have been perfect for me, but that’s off the table (for now) and I’m beginning to get the vibe that there’s no way I’m going to get Shoreline or Gorge either from Phish Ticketing or TM, and those are the only announced shows I can go to due to work issues.
I’m really torn about using Stubhub if I get shut out of Shoreline/Gorge: it feeds the monster but I’m almost 50, I can’t rationalize being a tour rat for a week with the responsibilities I have now for much longer. As it is, I’m guilt ridden about possibly leaving my very elderly and sick parents (mom has throat cancer) behind to go chase around a band and be stoned 24/7.
Fuck.
Never been to SF ever? It’s my home town, or more accurately Menlo Park is my home town, and my grandma lived and lives in SF. I love it. Wonderful wonderful wonderful city. California is just amazing in the right places. Yes, I as well would have been overwhelmingly happy if I’d scored a Red Rocks ticket… who knows, maybe I’ll hit the jackpot with this lottery. This is all just too much for me. Never have I tried/wanted/NEEDED to see a band this bad, and NEVER has it been this difficult!
Has anyone still reading this board seen them sober? (I’m not meaning to be rude, I’m actually really curious just how apparent the drug scene really is amongst the true fans)
this place turned into Phantasy Tour for a few hours…..lol
*SHUDDER* There be dragons.
^^ Mugician, I saw them sober 7/8/03. When I went to Keyspan for the first night, I’d been 18 years sober (I was a total pothead, a bit of psychedelics, nothing else–it lead me in to a very bad scene and I nearly sent my mom to an early grave when I got arrested because of being a drugged out douchebag, so I stayed sober for my parents).
That first night at Keyspan, I was sitting there waiting for the show to start and a wook handed me a joint. I’d turned offers down for 18 years at 100’s of concerts by various bands, but for some reason (I think I was thinking “I’ll get stoned for these four shows and start my sobriety again when I get home”) I puffed AND OH MY FUCKING GOD HOW I MISSED YOU MARIJUANA. I came back to Los Angeles and I’ve been a weekend puffer since; I’m a different person than I was at 32, and I keep it low key.
I’ve always admired the Phellowship, the sober/AA-ish group that was at the shows I went to. Must be hell for people really struggling with temptation when the lots and in the shows are like a drugs supermarket.
seen them sober twice, 9-29-99 & 6-22-00, though admittedly not by choice, great shows
Yeah, I’ve been around the block with the stuff. Nothing hardcore, I found anything past L, fungus and the green just plain repulsive, but those days are past (I’m 19 in May, and I’m sober because I feel music so much clearer when I’m clear-headed, I listen play and see shows sober and music is 100% of my life). I was mainly asking about what the music is like for anyone who’s seen them tripping face and also sober. And preference, I’m just curious about how others live the music).
I prefer to do most things after smoking; never seen phish on psychedelics, but if you’re into that as well as phish, it can go hand in hand. Really though it should be good either way. I’ve seen WSP on various concoctions of drugs and honestly just getting stoned and having a couple of beers is always the best. Tripping too hard at shows always detracted from my being able to absorb just the music. Dosing hours before the show is also a great way to go IMHO.
After a few solid years of touring I realized that if I wanted to be able to really get the most out of shows, sober was the way to go. I did the entirety of Fall 2000 straight. I just had more energy to rage and dance throughout the shows if I had a clear head. I guess I’m just an old square. To each his own. I just try to listen to what my body tells me.
I was mainly asking about what the music is like for anyone who’s seen them tripping face and also sober
I would never do acid/shrooms at a concert; when I’ve done those things, I’ve wanted to be alone in a dark room with some subtle lighting, listening to music. Trying to deal with people in that state is impossible for me and I simply wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the music at all. However….
At SPAC 04 I bought a little chunk of pot from a dude on Shakedown. I went inside and saw a guy on the lawn who had a pipe and said “If I share, can I use your pipe?”. We puffed that little nug, I went to the beer tent, was introduced to the wonder that is Magic Hat #9 (not available in CA) and I was good to go. I took a few hits off a joint being passed around during the show and had a beer during setbreak and it was a perfect mix of buzz and still being present and aware. For *me* music simply sounds better when I’m buzzed.
The first show I saw was 6/30/00 (although I’d been listening to them for years). I went stone cold sober and stayed that way. The show was magical. I’m pretty sure my friends and I got a contact high from all the smoke clouds around us, but nothing ever touched our lips. The lady (old) in front of us kept trying to give us a puff of her joints and finally decided that flashing us was the answer instead. “Goooolgi!!!,” she screamed as she bared her boobies.
By the time my last shows came around (both nights at SPAC 04) I was more into experimenting with drugs to enhance my experience. The second night I remember having pavillion balcony seats. We ate some gooballs and smoked some opium along with #9s and a whole log of Jager in the lot (if anyone remembers the kids with sidewalk chalk that was us). For the second set we abandoned the pavillion for that epic 4 song jam fest and just danced our butts off on the lawn. It was an amazing night, but no more special than any time I’d seen them sober. The main difference was I couldn’t remember song for song what they played. It was more about the emotions.
I’m shocked they took away the tickets that sold last night. While it was an emotional roller-coaster (especially for anyone who is also addicted to LOST) it doesn’t make sense to me. Ah well, best of luck to any fans that have gotten shut out already. See you all at Fenway!