TTFF: The Structured Stuff
10.22.13, War Memorial, Rochester, NY (Jake Silco)
As everyone well knows, I almost exclusively comprise my playlists of Phish’s open jams. Not today. The band’s playing was so strong across the board this past tour, that I’d like to highlight some of my favorite contained jams for this Friday’s playlist. As I wrote about as recently as this year, the band’s structured—or type I—playing, was the last part of their repertoire to ripen in this era. Sure, they could get through all the changes without the obvious flubs of post-hiatus, but for the first years of this era, they infused little to no creativity into their structured jams, causing parts of shows—particularly first sets—to drag. This year, however, starting in summer, Phish made a point to resuscitate classic pieces that has lost their luster; pieces like “Bathtub Gin,” “David Bowie,” “Stash,” and “Harry Hood.” During 2013, these jams—and more—have regained their proper place in the Pantheon of Phish. Here are some of my favorites from fall presented to you in a thought out playlist that bring some flow to your Friday.
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“2001” 10.26 II, Hartford, CT
Though “Also Sprach” had been gaining creative steam all year, this this tour is first time the guys gave the piece a decent amount of time to breathe, as both versions clocked in at must over eight minutes. Hartford’s tour highlight came at the tail end of a groovalicious set that featured massive versions of both “Tweezer” and “Golden Age,” and kept the vibe alive with a nasty rhythmic throwdown.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/2.06-Also-Sprach-Zarathustra.mp3]***
“Harry Hood” 10.23 II, Glens Falls, NY
Perhaps the retro environs of Glens Falls seeped into Trey’s consciousness, because he took this set-closing version of “Harry Hood” with the fury of old. The jam begins with some distinctly modern textures and ends with a scorching peak the likes of which we haven’t seen in quite some time—all in all, a stellar version.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/2.06-Harry-Hood.mp3]***
“Bathtub Gin” 10.26 I, Worcester, MA
This “Gin” provided the highlight of perhaps the best first set of the tour on the second night of Worcester. Almost breaking form, the band remains anchored in groove and brings this version to a colossal peak—the largest single peak of the entire show.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1.06-Bathtub-Gin.mp3]***
“Sand” 11.1 I, Atlantic City, NJ
This third-song “Sand” beat out any second setter of this tour, as Phish’s relaxed and confident demeanor showed immediately on night two in Boardwalk Hall. They had just turned in their first “Shaft” jam of the weekend in “Runaway Jim,” when they flexed their muscles on their groove anthem—an incredibly fiery start to one of tour’s strongest performances.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1.03-Sand.mp3]***
“Roggae” 10.18 II, Hampton, VA
I recently respun Hampton’s tour opener and found it to be an incredibly well played show, if not a touch mellow. This mid-second set “Roggae” stood out immediately and paced the set between “Twist” and before “Carini.” This second set is a dark horse of tour.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/2.03-Roggae.mp3]***
“Sneakin Sally Through the Alley” 11.1. E, Atlantic, City
After a spectacular performance, Phish went right ahead and blew up a “Sally” encore, eventually reprising the “Shaft” jam from “Runaway Jim.” Whew!
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/E.02-Sneakin-Sally-Through-the-Alley.mp3]***
“Split Open and Melt” 10.29 I, Reading, PA
The band seemed to have this “Split” jam by the horns as they had progressed the piece into ominous abstraction. Then, without even attempting to bring it back, Trey bailed out of the jam abruptly for “Julius.” Not sure what that was about, but this jam is nasty.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1.08-Split-Open-and-Melt.mp3]***
“Gotta Jibboo” 11.1.13 II, Atlantic City, NJ
After a monumental “Twist” jam, the guys applied their focus to the groove in this smoking “Jibboo.”
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/2.02-Gotta-Jibboo.mp3]***
“David Bowie” 10.26 I, Worcester, MA
This intricate “Bowie” closed out Worcester’s big-time first set on the 26th, coming at the tail end of a powerful, set-closing trifecta that started with “Stash” and “Simple.”
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1.10-David-Bowie.mp3]***
“Slave to the Traffic Light” 10.20 II, Hampton, VA
This gentle, understated “Slave” served as a perfect juxtaposition to the fire-filled set it closed, the set of the fall tour.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/2.08-Slave-To-The-Traffic-Light.mp3]***
“You Enojy Myself” 10.29 II, Reading, PA
A real live “YEM” jam?! Lordy, lordy where have you been? Refreshing to say the least!
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/2.06-You-Enjoy-Myself.mp3] Tags: 2013, Fall '13, Jams, Miner's Picks
youre a douche stoney. they just arent as hooked up in that jam as in others. clalibrate your ears.
That jam was the culmination of the under cover rhythm work Trey had been working all Fall
^ didn’t think it was so strong in carini though. but i get what you are saying, lots of subtle work.
there are like 4 of 18 sick minutes in ac carini imo
not as hooked up as EITHER other Carini jam of fall, just more exploratory and floaty…they never really hit it imo. It’s all very good, but very little is great. Just because something sounds different doesn’t mean its hooked up and firing. but quality experimental phish. just very loosey goosey and not that powerful imo. lots of searching.
You’re not ‘some phans’ are you miner?
-Also loved the end of Lost.
-New Shjips has failed to move me anything like West did on first few listens. Will try again.
@davidsilver- Thanks for the repeated pimping of Take Shelter. Finally watched it this evening and it completely flipped my whig. $$$$.
i had JUST posted how I didnt think it was all that. You’re saying it wasn’t a response to me? fair enough. I am sorry. Not in the best place over here. My bad.
Ha ha! So competitive! Didn’t discount any other Carini’s! Just saying the one from AC an absolute beauty.
Figured you were speaking for some masses. You can say whatever. Was trying to just challenge the others to keep the discussion going.
You’re more like the man than some Phan. All in good fun.
Wait. You’re not saying it isn’t ‘all that’ are you?! Dunno bout that. You can say they’re all all that. Not likeing AC not being all that, though.
Ha. I’m the douche. I’ll step down.
VW, I’ve never heard West
::ducks::
Yeah, new Wooden Shjips isn’t as dynamic as I’d hoped for. Band has kinda lost their luster in my eyes tho I do like the disc. Still wanna catch them live
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I gotta take the fall tour Carini challenge! Still haven’t replayed the Hampton version since that uber crazy nite
Hartford Tweezer sounded the best yet on replay over the home stereo (as opposed to the pod). Still not feeling that jam as my personal top pick for jam of tour. But I’m still working on my top 10 list (don’t hold your breathe, who knows when I’ll finish)
I do really dig Woost Carini too. Really hits a completely original feel. Gives me a dance hall mixed with free jazz vibe.
And Hampton Carini is just so sick, with the 3 different sections, centered around funk, with Page just killing the B3 Hammond. Love all the space between notes in this version
Didn’t love the end of Lost (but still a huge fan). Granted, it’s hard to wrap up a tv show right. Those first 3 seasons set my expectations unbelievably sky high for the rest of the show
Miner, Rob Ford is the douchey one, I’m the poopy one.
Fuck it, still trying. Free NYE ticket to whomever has free crash space for the run for just me.
Good seat too.
I liked the AC Carini a lot. Hell, I liked all the Carini’s that were played during Fall tour. I also never watched one episode of Lost, not one.
I decided to go to sleep early tonight to get a good nights sleep and sure enough I’m wide awake 4 hours later. My neck hurts which makes it hard to stay asleep for long. Ouch. I might as well just go to bed after midnight if I want to sleep until morning. Oh well. Guess I’ll fire up some Phish and think about how tired I’ll be in the morning. Good thing I don’t have any meetings scheduled and my boss is out for the week. I just have to take care of my kids for the week. I love doing that.
I’m only slightly kidding here but I think the new direction of Phish Jams is almost compositional in nature… Like creating a “new” song on the spot for future reference..
It happens in AC Carini, Dicks Chalkdust I think it is ( the Kinda Manteca meets Bo Diddly part) and Tahoe Tweez (I called it the Monkee Woo) to mention a few… Lots more Chordal style of playing from Trey…Still leading but not in the Shredding Jazzy way of the past…
Pats!
Foxboro is not Peyton’s Place!
OK, I just listened to the AC and Hampton Carini’s. Both very good. Not sure I have a favorite. Now finishing up the AC Twist>Under Pressure. That beats both IMO. Absolute flow. Could care less what they were teasing there. Just completely lost in music. Good to come out of that one. Love it.
i agree with stoney ..it took a few listens but that carini is awesome. The supper happy bouncy stuff from trey and mike using the envlope is tits. I think it’s better than the hartford tweezer. Hartford tweezer is in a similar upbeat vein but doesn’t blow me away.
oops ..i thought you guys were talking about the hampton carini
ac carini is great because of the mike and fishman work …some of the best stuff i’ve heard from them in 3.0. They literally make that jam. Trey’s not doing much, just adding textures here and there, fishman is leading that jam. Mike’s bass is silly and just gets better and better as the jam progresses. Then, trey nails the peak.