TTFT: US Summer 2000
6.16.2009—The Fox (Brian Kisida)
Over the holiday weekend, I finally got excited for Phish tour. I thought it wasn’t going to happen this year—or happen at the last minute—but, sure enough, it happened. With Worcester only a week away, the summer tour that has been in the distance for so long is just around the corner—and it feels great. All I know for sure is that next Thursday, we’ll be in front of Phish again, and right now, that’s good enough for me! Rumors of band rehearsals have bubbled to the surface and if I were a betting man, I’d place a fairly large wager on the opening show blowing up. With so much energy in the air, opening nights of tours have always been special occasions, and after such a long lay off, this one will carry even more intensity. Not only will we reunite with the band, but with so many friends that we only see when Phish plays music—a multi-pronged homecoming in the metropolitan city of Worcester. Kicking off this summer indoors certainly feels like a “do-over” for the New Year’s Run, and the band can easily pack more excitement into these two upcoming shows than was strewn thinly over nine sets in December. And it wouldn’t surprise me if that happened. But in the mean time, here are ten tunes from Summer 2000’s US tour. Enjoy!
***
“2001 > Sand” 6.22.00 II, Antioch, TN
Phish came back from Japan and exploded in a monstrous groove session to kick off set two of their US opener.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ph00-06-22d2t02.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ph00-06-22d2t03.mp3]***
“Tweezer” 6.24.00 I, Atlanta, GA
The last great “Tweezer” for a while…
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Tweezer.mp3]***
“Split Open and Melt” 6.25.00 II, Raleigh, NC
The one highlight from one of the least impressive shows I’ve ever attended.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/ph00-06-25d1t10.mp3]***
“Mike’s Song” 6.28.00 II, Holmdel, NJ
A piece of menacing artistry.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2.06-Mikes-Song.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2.07-Albuquerque.mp3]***
“Birds -> Catapult” 6.29.00 II, Holmdel, NJ
A twisted bit of psychedelia laced with teases of “A Love Supreme.”
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Birds-Of-A-Feather-_.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Catapult-_.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Heavy-Things.mp3]***
“Ghost” 7.1.00 II, Hartford, CT
This jam closed the show and turned into the highlight of the show.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Track-02-3.mp3]***
“Bathtub Gin” 7.3.00 I, Camden, NJ
A largely forgotten jam in a stellar two-night stand.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Bathtub-Gin-promo-edit.mp3]***
“Disease -> WMGGW” 7.15.00 II, Columbus, OH
The most significant slice of Summer’s last show.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Down-With-Disease-_.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/While-My-Guitar-Gently-Weeps.mp3]Tags: 2000, TTFF
Interesting take on 96 Hutt. Coming off the huge wave that is 95 and generally considered one of the best years for the band around here, based on people’s rankings the other day, I like your assessment of their “where am I, how did I get here? Lets try not to fuck it up” mindset.
“This is not my beautiful house, this is not my beautiful wife.”
Two things happened in 96 that would define the band for years to come.
The Ball = summer festivals
Remain in the Light costume = full band groove
However, I didn’t see the band until fall/holiday that year so my opinions are like tequila shots. Take em with salt.
@muff- Yes please. Open mind. You’ve (perhaps unknowingly) turned me on to some killer tunes over the years. This Oresund Space Collective is especially tasty- everything about it works. Please keep ’em coming. Thanks.
@thehutt- Agreed- amazing shit going down in 1996, but not with the same consistency as 94-95 or 97-00. The highs are real high, though.
97 95 98 99 94 00 93 96 (today- subject to change)
Yeah, guys! love the convo. I think 96 gets lost in the mix for so many reasons, but while I was watching that CB Reba, I was absoloutly blown away by how the guys (esp Trey) were starting to embrace the “it’s not the notes you play, it’s the notes you don’t” even as they were still kind of in that mode of 94-95 shredding. The seeds of Cow Funk had been planted, and I don’t think it’s a surprise that they went overseas to experiment with it.
@WilliamB,
I am 100% on board with the kit. The deep, dark jams that came out of the kit were the best. I think the jams that resulted from playing the kit and loops had a strong impact on the jams where Trey was not even using either. That, and I want to see Free rock the shit again.
Anyone notice thats not the camden 7/3/00 Gin?