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Phish | 08.11 | Chicago

August 12th, 2009 | No Comments

Words by: Cal Roach | Images by: Chad Smith

Phish :: 08.11.09 :: Toyota Park :: Bridgeview, IL

Phish :: 08.11.09 :: Bridgeview, IL

Ah, predicting of the opener, a time honored tradition that I have always sucked at. Conventional wisdom would deem Toyota Park, the lone Midwestern stop on the second summer leg, a potential sleeper show, which just means that as usual, anything at all might happen. We hadn’t seen “Kill Devil Falls” open in a while, so I suppose we were about due, and this set the tone for a show that would see all the usual 3.0 suspects rolled out. By now, Phish is entrenched in “KDF.” It’s little more than a middle-aged “Chalk Dust Torture” update, but it has already shown itself to have potential, though tonight’s version was pretty standard, tight with a couple of nice little peaks.

You could smell the “Ocelot” coming already. Both of these tunes took their eighth at-bat of the year, and while “KDF” has had a couple of monstrous outings already, I’m beginning to lose faith in “Ocelot.” It features a very indistinct, vaguely Deadheaded guitar riff and doesn’t seem to be able to break free of that lackadaisical stroll. I’m sure it will probably blast into space one of these nights, but there are far more interesting launch pads in the repertoire.

Phish got “Sample In A Jar” out of the way sort of oddly in the number two slot, then busted out “Paul and Silas” after “Ocelot” for some guy Trey had met walking down the street. And then, the debut of “Windy City,” a new Page tune. It was about what you’d expect from a new Page tune – kind of bluesy, a little adventurous with the time signatures, well-sung and with a perfunctory Trey wail in the end. Nothing mind-blowing, but it was a pleasant surprise to hear a Chicago tribute coming from Phish.

Trey Anastasio :: 08.11.09

If this brand new song was exciting for its novelty alone, “The Curtain With” was exciting in every possible way. The song took on an untouchable reverence after its sacrificial slaughter at Coventry, and having missed the Red Rocks breakout (read the review here), this one hit me like a ton of cement blocks. It’s such a gorgeous composition in itself, and it is so nice to be able to hear the “With” portion in all its aching beauty without cringing. The jam was “Reba”-esque, concise but triumphant, maybe even defiant, taken back from disgrace.

After a quick “Train Song” that felt right in its placement, we were treated to a near-epic “Gumbo” dropped for the second time since Hampton. This one was textbook, but in a good way. Post-hiatus versions generally felt tossed-off, and while this was no barnburner, the short jam was melodic and smooth and Page’s solo was comfort food. “Heavy Things” perpetuated the upbeat, spirited playing, Trey naturally taking the reins this time and turning in some top-notch licks that any spoiled tourhead knows he could pull off in his sleep.

I know there are a lot of “Time Turns Elastic” haters out there, but I’m a firm believer in this end-of-set-one placement for the song. Those who don’t dig it can get to the bathrooms early, but I am still excited to watch it mature. I think it would really benefit from a high-octane guest vocalist (sort of a requirement for most prog-rock of this caliber) to be brought out as a rarity, but for now they have to keep powering through it or it’ll never find its feet. I thought it scorched to close set one at Alpine earlier in the summer (read the review here), and tonight’s closing improv was the most adventurous we’ve seen – sort of scattered and hectic, foreshadowing the madness to come, and explosive in the end.

Before this show, I didn’t see a lot of potential for “Backwards Down The Number Line” as much more than a first-set “Heavy Things” surrogate, but it proved me wrong. After the song proper, Trey and Mike instantly grabbed a sustainable groove and took it into stratospheric rock territory, eventually backing off into low-key skronk that cranked quickly back into high gear, finally dipping into some mad Atari funk. And before it had any chance to peter out, Trey ripped into THE breakout of the show: “Carini.”

Trey & Mike :: 08.11.09

Sometimes you have an experience dreamed out in your head to its maximum choiceness, then you forget about it for a while, and then it actually happens and it’s better than you’d even conceived of. Phish has done that for me more than any other group, and that might be the crux of why I love this band so much. I never expected Mike to be just busting bomb after bomb, the glorious screech of the final chorus, and then Trey just incinerated it in one of the most frightening displays I’ve heard from him this year.

There’s no denying that “Gotta Jibboo” was a shift in character, from evil to pure joy, but as far as an individual jam it was hard to say whether Trey or Page was more glorious. However, it was such a thrill just to be wondering such things again. “Theme From The Bottom” could have been better. While Page was busy killing it, Trey completely dropped the ball in the end, and he was pretty unimaginative throughout the jam. Their trip to the dark side continued with a ferocious “Wilson.” I could get used to hearing this deep into the second set. It was no paint-by-numbers version, too. They’ve barely jammed it out at all this year, and this one got heavy fast and just oozed electricity. I guess they can still have fun with it.

Then, the cult of “2001″ got its collective wish. It’s always a joy to hear, but it definitely has lost its luster since its heyday in the mid-to-late-90s. Then came the amazing version from Deer Creek earlier in the year (read the review here), and suddenly this one was a journey and a destination all over again. This reading didn’t approach the ecstasy of Deer Creek or the weirdness of the crawling Red Rocks version (read that review here), but it was certainly sufficient.

The “Chalk Dust” that emerged from “2001″ was the best I’ve heard in ages, a simply stunning construction of sound. Mike was creative from the very beginning and he dominated the jam, luring some truly intuitive group improv from the whole band, surging as one entity from a little downtempo groove to a heady peak.

Phish :: 08.11.09 :: Bridgeview, IL

Okay, I admit it, I was hoping for “Harry Hood.” I hadn’t heard a single version from this year that I thought was really good. This version’s jam started pretty sloppy and got dangerously ambient, Trey seeming almost to lose it completely but then he started “First-Tubing” his way out of it. Page caught on quickly and the first mini-peak was very sweet. What followed was simply Page taking control, waking “Hood” up from its post-millennial stupor and destroying it. It was far from perfect, the ending completely awkward as it’s been almost every time this year, but I really felt it was a heroic effort by Page. If “The Squirming Coil” hadn’t been in the plan already, Page had just earned it. Pure bliss to end the set, like a long-lost friend, plus Mr. McConnell’s excellent solo, it was pure John Paul Jones 1977 “No Quarter” stuff. Just stunning.

The “Loving Cup” encore could’ve just as easily been sung by Page. He played a baaad piano tonight, and in one of the heaviest sets by Phish 3.0 so far. But Trey deserves a shout-out as well. Even though the sets were light on segues or lengthy thematic explorations, they were tight, bursting with energy and never boring for a second. That only happens when everybody’s on, and tonight everybody was.

Phish :: 08.11.09 :: Toyota Park :: Bridgeview, IL

Set I: Kill Devil Falls, Sample In A Jar, Ocelot, Paul and Silas, Windy City, The Curtain With, Train Song, Gumbo, Heavy Things, Time Turns Elastic

Set II: Backwards Down the Number Line > Carini > Gotta Jibboo, Theme From The Bottom, Wilson, 2001 > Chalk Dust Torture, Harry Hood, The Squirming Coil

E: Loving Cup

For more pics of this show, go here.

Phish perform next on Thursday, August 13 at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien Center, NY. Check back for live Tweets, setlists, pics and full reviews. Complete Phish tour dates available href="http://www.jambase.com/Artists/2698/Phish/Shows">here.

Keep up to speed with all things Phish at jambase.com/phish.

JamBase | Pheelin’ It
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Phish | 08.08 | Gorge II

August 10th, 2009 | No Comments

Words by: Court Scott | Images by: John Crouch

Phish :: 08.08.09 :: Gorge Amphitheatre :: George, WA

Phish :: 08.08.09 :: The Gorge

I’m not even gonna preface this with anything except to say that Saturday night’s show at The Gorge was as close to flawless as I’ve seen mah boys in a long time. Some may argue that the Friday night setlist was superior, and that may very well be the case, but I feel that the playing, energy and intent to get the crowd off was far stronger on night number two. The instrumentation was utterly focused, organic in a way that made me at times feel they were just channeling something greater. In short, night two completely ripped.

A full hill and floor full of phans rose to the occasion as the band launched into a “Mango” opener – a huge bust-out – and chugged right into “Chalkdust.” Next up was a Mike Gordon/Leo Kottke tune, “Middle of the Road,” a bit slower and none too well known but a nice breather before Trey played the opening notes of a big, fat, juicy “Tweezer.” I think the word ‘funk’ and most of its derivatives often don’t convey the authenticity of the word, but Page‘s solo was a tweaked-out space funk beauty.

Bringing it down a notch was “Driver,” a pleasant little ditty, and the subsequent new song, “20 Years Later,” had Trey and Gordon trading proggy, stuttered licks. The groove was locked down as they barreled into “Ya Mar,” a recent replay from Shoreline. The last four songs from the first set hit like a ton of bricks. “It’ Ice” (Bam!) flowed into a ridiculously funked out “Wolfman’s Brother,” which featured the first of several massive glow stick wars. A short pause and then a raging “Character Zero,” which we figured was the set closer. Wrong! It was full speed ahead into “Antelope,” with Gordon shape-shifting the bass ine and Trey tucking “Mango” teases here and there. The level of adventurousness is building, evident with each set’s song selections. And Saturday night was the first time I actively noticed tons of teases and maybe even a touch of secret language here and there. That the band is beginning to get super playful and overtly confident puts me greatly at ease.

Set two was where I felt the guys started to sizzle. Since they’ve been back, a number of the shows have been cover tune heavy, which is great, because the “Rock and Roll” that they opened set two with was a freaking monster. People, it was huge. Clocking in at just around 20 minutes, Trey was in his element and going nuts; even yelling at the end. He was shattering as Gordon laid the lines down, down, down, just so we could pick them up. The next tune, “Makisupa,” was also Gordon’s time to shine, with what seems to be becoming a standard bass solo each show. It was Gordon’s filthy, liquid bass effects that dropped the bomb on everyone from top of the hill to the front row (and quite possibly the fish in the Columbia River behind the stage). And Trey, for a short while, was running some new high pitched, almost nitrous-y effect over Gordon. Then, Gordon and Trey switched instruments and each took solos on the other’s gear, harkening back to the rotating jams from years back.

Trey :: 08.08.09 :: The Gorge

“Alaska,” another new tune, was next and is a pleasant song but I hope it doesn’t get into heavy rotation. The lyrics seem trite and simplistic, not nearly as interesting as Tom Marshall’s work with Trey. “Alaska” has a nice little edge and Trey manifested a soulful solo, but I remain unconvinced. And then out of the darkness came “Wedge,” an old tune that used to be quite rare now being called up more frequently. “Y.E.M.” was next on deck and featured loads of smoke and red and blue lights. Gordo had another sub-stratospheric solo as the trampolines appeared on stage. As he and Trey jumped and spun in unison, Page lead a nice solo, which morphed into a flashing strobe-light vocal jam. Right out of the darkness of a “Y.E.M.” jam appeared the new, not totally bad “Backwards Down the Number Line.” It’s growing on me, but again, it just lacks a certain oomph I not only love but also have come to expect as a second set closes. Luckily, it wasn’t the closer, instead we got a “Piper” jam; incomplete song, but a short rager with Fishman teasing the hell out of “Llama.” To end the set, the fellas came out for an a capella “Grind,” another way old tune back in the roster. The encores featured a huge version of Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” naturally segueing into a “Tweezer Reprise.”

The band seemed to be having a great time, with loads of smiles, waving at the crowd and a general ease that makes me feel like this time it really is different. I’m also deeply appreciative that all the band’s instruments are generally back to a pared down, early ’90s sound rather than relying on effects to cover lazy or sloppy playing. Ditto for Kuroda‘s light show, which is being used more like punctuation and less like a part of the message. Don’t get me wrong, the lights will still spin your noodle, but there is a difference in the pace at which they change and evolve that I’m into. Looking forward to next week with a renewed fervor!!!

Phish :: 08.08.09 :: Gorge Amphitheatre :: George, WA

Set I: The Mango Song, Chalk Dust Torture, Middle Of The Road, Tweezer, Driver, Twenty Years Later, Ya Mar, It’s Ice, Wolfman’s Brother, Character Zero > Run Like An Antelope

Set II: Rock & Roll > Makisupa Policeman, Alaska, The Wedge, You Enjoy Myself, Backwards Down the Number Line > Piper, Grind

E: Good Times Bad Times, Tweezer Reprise

For more pics of this show go here.

Phish perform next on Tuesday, August 11 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL. Check back for live Tweets, setlists, pics and full reviews. Complete Phish tour dates available href="http://www.jambase.com/Artists/2698/Phish/Shows">here.

Just like Leg I of Phish’s Summer Tour, JamBase will be at every stop with more coverage than you’ll find anywhere! Keep up to speed with all things Phish at jambase.com/phish.

JamBase | Simply Gorgeous

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Phish | 08.05 | Shoreline, CA

August 6th, 2009 | No Comments

Note: In our constant efforts to bring you the most compelling Phish coverage anywhere, we offer two points of view on Phish’s first California show in over six years. First we have general reflections from our Editor-in-Chief Kayceman, followed by a fresh perspective from our Associate Editor Dennis Cook. Enjoy.

Words by: Kayceman | Images by: Susan J. Weiand

Phish :: 08.05.09 :: Shoreline Amphitheatre :: View Mountain View, CA

Kayceman shares a few thoughts on Phish at Shoreline:

MIKE’S BAND

src="http://images.jambase.com/bands/phish/090805_weiand/12_1.jpg">Mike Gordon :: 08.05 :: Shoreline Amphitheatre

Since when is this Gordo‘s band? Don’t get me wrong, dude’s been dropping bombs forever, but I’ve heard lots of chatter about individual band members, how great Trey is playing now that he’s sober and focused (true), how strong Page sounds (no doubt), but after watching Mike control the entire show last evening I am compelled to champion his cause. Whether he was challenging Trey on “Chalk Dust,” crushing the funk on “Cities,” or pushing his fat bass notes into truly dark territory on “Down With Disease” and the hard-earned “Mike’s Song,” Gordo was the dominator at Shoreline.

NEW SONGS

Alright, no sugar here, let’s tell it like it is. We got a lot of new songs at Shoreline and we didn’t get the good ones. And I get it. A band always wants to play what’s new, and any healthy band has to be engaged in fresh material, but overall the selections from last night didn’t do it for me. Here are the new ones from Shoreline:

“Time Turns Elastic” – Time turns boring. Like many of their new ones, there’s a really strong jam at the end, but the set-up is too formulaic, almost like they are covering themselves in a way. Put it back in the oven, I bet it bakes into something nice, but it’s not ready yet.

“Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan” – I dig it, and definitely the best new one from Shoreline. A little like “Character O,” but I also like that track so we’re doing okay. The “got a blank space where my mind should be” chorus really works and Trey’s guitar is mean. More like this, please.

“Backwards Down The Number Line” – Not bad. I hated the placement as set two opener, but it’s a nice song that like “Time Turns Elastic” built up steam as it went. At the end of the day, I’m just not into the introspective songwriter thing with Phish; it’s not why we go to Phish.

“Let Me Lie” – No. No. Seriously, no! I don’t want to think of Trey riding his bike or taking off his shirt to feel it burn or using the brakes when he goes down hill. The metaphors are all wrong. At a rock & roll show we don’t use brakes, we want to fly off the rails because we’re going so fast.

KEEPING IT AFLOAT

src="http://images.jambase.com/bands/phish/090805_weiand/29_1.jpg">Phish :: 08.05 :: Shoreline Amphitheatre

For all my shit talking I actually really liked the show and think the band sounds really good right now. Song selection wasn’t my favorite but a few incredibly well played numbers kept the night afloat. The set one combos of “Chalk Dust”/”Divided Sky” (where Trey nailed the shit out of it) and “Suzy”/”David Bowie” were more than enough to satiate the packed house. Set two was carried by a spacey “Down With Disease” and then the “Maze,” “Mike’s” (a lil slow out of the gate but definitely worth the wait) > “Simple,” “Weekapaug.” The “Maze” was completely demented and likely the song of the night. If “Maze” wasn’t the highpoint, then “Mike’s” was, as shit got primordial in the back section. And just hearing “Bowie” and “Maze” on the same night is enough. Never in all my years have I seen both in the same show. Well played, lads.

SOLID B

For their efforts at Shoreline, I give Phish a solid B. And coming off Red Rocks and going into The Gorge, two mammoth sets of shows, a solid B on a Wednesday night with flashes of brilliance ain’t too bad.

Continue reading for Dennis Cook’s review of Shoreline…

Words by: Dennis Cook | Images by: Susan J. Weiand

Phish :: 08.05.09 :: Shoreline Amphitheatre :: Mountain View, CA

src="http://images.jambase.com/bands/phish/090805_weiand/16_1.jpg">Phish :: 08.05 :: Shoreline Amphitheatre

Enthusiasm is much harder to offer than respect. While passingly familiar with the broad strokes of Phish‘s 26-year career, this show was only my third time seeing them in the flesh. Always feeling an outsider to their very codified clubhouse, I just let them be, marveled at what they’d achieved against any “normal” industry standards and patted my many Phish lovin’ friends on the back as they celebrated this band. However, I walked into Shoreline with a real zeal to unlock their zeitgeist, preconceptions left in a jar at home, and discovered a world class quartet with a vibrant, peculiar, fiercely engaging identity. And they were a shitload of fun, too.

Immediately I was struck by how twisty they are, but in such a friendly way. It would be so easy for this music to veer into artiness and highbrow distance but it really never did. Yes, there were a few meandering stretches but Phish 3.0 seems like a band with a mission, and at least from my newbie’s POV, that mission appears to be to shore up every good thing that’s distinct about them. The wandering is to be expected when juggling such primal ooze but they never really dropped the ball and their idiosyncratic internal logic swept one up in a journey, where time was both elastic and stolen, that will take awhile for my brain to untangle. I’m not sure they were trying to craft a cohesive narrative a la Phil & Friends but there was a scale of storytelling and brave, balls out execution that felt, well, epic (and apologies for falling back on that hoary jam-scene cliche but it fits).

src="http://images.jambase.com/bands/phish/090805_weiand/22_1.jpg">Trey Anastasio :: 08.05 :: Shoreline Amphitheatre

By the time they hit the rawk-tastic “Chalk Dust Torture” in set one I was pretty sold by the curious mixture of elements they stir – Frampton-like classic rock moves mingling with African high life, brainy electric jazz, calypso, barbershop harmonizing, dub accents, bar band moxie and way more. It’s so freakin’ illogical that it transcends any simple descriptor, a language separate from rock’s Rosetta Stone that others can play at but only these four dudes can actually converse smoothly in, a lovely chatter that emerges when they drink up the moment and move off the guide rails. To wit, the jam in “Chalk Dust,” which wobbled on the song’s axis, bellowing sea bottom bass and jittery sprinter’s heart drums being clawed at by hungry guitar that teetered between madness and Joe Pass finesse, wound into a flurry of keys unleashed by Page that actually quickened my pulse. There’s SO much going on in their music that it’s a smorgasbord to choose from, each person free to sample bites or just take in the general yumminess.

And there’s the no small matter of the abundant love their incredibly dedicated throng project towards the stage. Looking around during this show all I saw were people lit up from within by what Phish was creating on stage, and it’s not hard to surrender to that affectionate, alive riptide and join them in celebrating life and wholly engaged music making. Regardless of my ignorance, I love hearing the oddball titles of their tunes murmured adoringly on folk’s lips – “Golgi,” “Weekapaug,” “Ya Mar.” It’s a foreign tongue to be sure, and while FAR from fluent I left this gig determined to do a lil’ Berlitz blitz to bring myself up to speed, a surprising commitment given the shortness of time and abundance of music already on my plate. My anxiousness to educate myself speaks volumes about the intensity of what they laid down.

src="http://images.jambase.com/bands/phish/090805_weiand/32_1.jpg">Phish :: 08.05 :: Shoreline Amphitheatre

I can’t rightly say if this was a “great show” or merely a very good one. I simply don’t have the frame of reference to speak with any authority. What I can say is that despite their massive individual talents it was the group dynamic, their collective noise, especially in the second set that floored me. It’s a sound that runs down jubilation and finds the sweet spot between simplistic fare (there’s a goodly amount of pure cock rock to Phish but also a fair bit of nursery rhyme thinking) and stratospheric, highly theoretical muso smarty pants-ed-ness. More simply, Phish is a fucking platypus, fuzzy but laying hard-shelled eggs, a thumb in the eye to those who stuff things into neat genres. And they did all this with such exposed emotion, raggedly baroque eloquence and gee-whiz bravado that my wig was rightfully flipped.

A few other scattershot highlights: The swerving blur of “David Bowie” that closed set one; Page’s Chucho Valdes-esque piano throughout the night and his strong Traffic-era Winwood lead vocal on their tremendous cover of The Velvet Underground’s “Oh Sweet Nothin’;” Trey‘s heartfelt reading of Los Lobos’ “When The Circus Comes,” even if it put the brakes on the momentum they were building at that point; the wacky juxtapositions of mood and tempo; the way Trey occasionally brought to bear a very Derek and the Dominoes blues guitar growl and vocal yearning; the disco-y take on the Talking Heads’ “Cities;” the wicked turns of “Maze;” their unbridled love for people with “a ticket stub in their hand;” Chris Kuroda‘s Dumbledore-ian lighting wizardry; and the vast distances they traveled, often within a single piece, which ranged from the consciously gigantic and involved down to music box delicacy.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed (which their music can EASILY make one feel) I experienced a tiny taste of what’s kept millions on the ride for decades, understanding that while they’re the focal point, the enzyme, Phish is a collaborative effort produced by a combination of these extraordinarily gifted players, a mind-boggling catalog AND the writhing, hands in the air masses that gather around them. The morning after I can honestly say I finally dig Phish. Go figure…

Phish :: 08.05.09 :: Shoreline Amphitheatre :: View Mountain View, CA

Set I: Golgi Apparatus, Halley’s Comet, Chalk Dust Torture, The Divided Sky, When the Circus Comes, Time Turns Elastic, Ya Mar, Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan, Suzy Greenberg, David Bowie

Set II: Backwards Down the Number Line, Down With Disease > Limb By Limb, Oh Sweet Nothin’, Cities > Maze, Mike’s Song > Simple, Weekapaug Groove

E: Let Me Lie, Bold As Love

For more pics of this show go here.

Phish perform again Friday and Saturday night at The Gorge in George, WA. Check back for live Tweets, setlists, pics and full reviews. Complete Phish tour dates available href="http://www.jambase.com/Artists/2698/Phish/Shows">here.

Just like Leg I of Phish’s Summer Tour, JamBase will be at every stop with more coverage than you’ll find anywhere! Keep up to speed with all things Phish at jambase.com/phish.

JamBase | Awash
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Phish | 08.02 | Red Rocks Day 4

August 3rd, 2009 | No Comments

Words by: Brian Bavosa | Images by: Dave Vann

Phish :: 08.02.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO

src="http://images.jambase.com/bands/phish/090802_vann/21_1.jpg">Phish :: 08.02 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Sunday night closed out Phish‘s famed return to Red Rocks. With hundreds of ticket-less folks outside and word of a tight band to kick off the current tour, hopes were high for the final night. Keeping with the theme of busting out fan favorites, Phish took the stage shortly after 8 p.m. and jumped into Ween‘s “Roses Are Free.” The previous night there was a fan up close who had a sign that read, “Jerry Loves Roses,” and apparently threw roses on the stage during the encore, with a note that quoted one of the songs lines: “Don’t believe the florist,” which Trey supposedly picked up as he walked off stage. I guess he took the hint because it was only the second time the band has played “Roses” since 2000, with the other being a badly butchered version at Alpine Valley in ’04. This version was tight, short and to the point and, like many songs this run, well executed.

“Wilson” kept the energy high and echoed the call-and-response between the band and crowd, before Trey blistered his ways through this oldie but goodie. An always fun “NICU,” which, in my opinion, has one of the most unique grooves of any Phish number, saw McConnell take charge after Trey demanded, “Play it, Leo!,” a tradition for this tune. An early set “Prince Caspian” and an out of place, mid-set, a cappella “Grind,” which Phish apparently loves singing, sandwiched another big gem, “Reba.” One of Phish’s compositional masterpieces, “Reba” had some intricate portions before a chill section that blasted into a soaring, uplifting jam. It’s one of the easiest tunes to close your eyes and drift off with. This version, sans the whistling at the end, was spot on and allowed me to do just that. Also, somewhere in there, Trey thanked everyone for making this weekend possible and relayed how much the band loved playing at Red Rocks.

src="http://images.jambase.com/bands/phish/090802_vann/30_1.jpg">McConnell – Phish :: 08.02 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

The rest of set one took on a slight resemblance to the Worcester Centrum show in ’03, where the band debuted a tune from each of their solo projects. The second ever rendition of McConnell’s “Beauty of a Broken Heart” from his ’07 album (read the JamBase interview with Page about this release here), and the second ever Gordon tune, debuted earlier this summer, “Sugar Shack,” filled in the latter portions of set one. “Broken Heart” allows Page to shine on vocals in a different way than his normal crooning, and boasts a really solid jam with collective efforts by the four members. “Sugar Shack” is, simply put, a Gordo tune. It screams quirky, bassy and bubbly, and is impossible to not bounce to. “Waste” and “Kill Devil Falls,” the new, 3.0 rocker off the forthcoming new album, Joy, closed a set one that was well played but sort of all over the map.

The second set held the fireworks and more surprises. “Boogie On Reggae Woman” kicked things off and was super funky, with Gordon’s bombs leading the way and Trey’s sexy guitar licks hot on his heels. This was a very good version, indeed. “You Enjoy Myself,” one of the remaining big guns, was up next, and appropriate since many claim the 6.11.94 version of “YEM” from Red Rocks to be one of, if not the best ever. It showed the band was focused and ready to rock. “YEM” highlighted everything Phish represents – soaring solos, funky bass lines, sharp interplay, trampoline dance moves and a vocal jam at the song’s end – under black-and-white lights that segued seamlessly into “Undermind.” During the vocal jam, a second drum kit was set up and Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead) took a spot behind the kit to help push the set along. This again made me think of the final night at RR in ’96 where Phish welcomed Tim O’Brien to help them close that run out. Anyone that wanted a Jerry Garcia nod the previous night on his birthday would have to settle for Kreutzmann this night. Kreutzmann and Gordon have played together with Scott Murawski, so this sit in is not as far-fetched as some might think, but still awesome nonetheless.

src="http://images.jambase.com/bands/phish/090802_vann/8_1.jpg">Anastasio – Phish :: 08.02 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

A loose and funky “Undermind,” which seemed to take its time (a strength of the song), led into a fierce drum duel between Fishman and Kreutzmann, before Trey hit the opening hook for “Seven Below,” which bobbed and weaved with Trey repeating the infectious licks while Fish and Kreutzmann had a ball holding down the low end with arms flailing to and fro. A complete segueway-fest saw the band dive into some spacier territory for “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” commonly referred to as the “Theme from 2001.” All songs with Kreutzmann were a half step slower – in a good, loose way – and the “2001″ was no exception. In fact, it was so loose and dance-able with all of the empty space moving in and out that it was like trying to eat tomato soup with a fork – things just kept morphing and moving in a slippery way.

“Waves” saw Kuroda‘s lights shine once more on the majestic setting of Red Rocks before Trey took hold and shook all in attendance with a raging “Character Zero.” An all out fireball of blazing, scorching, heavy guitar rock, “Zero” is a fist-pumper that fires up everyone something fierce. It was a great ending to a super, guest filled second set.

The encore saw the four members proper come out again and had Trey explain that his daughter had been asking him to play this tune all tour and in turn, dedicated it to “Matt,” whom his daughter said should “keep your hair straight,” before the first “Bittersweet Motel” since Star Lake in ’03. “Bouncing Around the Room,” one of the songs that anyone who casually likes Phish probably knows, was nice to hear, regardless of whether you love or hate it, and featured the typical vocal levels and jam that peters out.

However, I simply knew the band wasn’t quite done yet, and was hoping for the one song that felt right to close things out: “Slave to the Traffic Light.” My personal, favorite Phish song, “Slave” represents the delicate, raw thunder and emotion that is Phish in a nutshell. It was the perfect closer to a historic, four-night run and return to one of the most amazing venues on Earth. And as “Slave” wowed the crowd with its sheer emotion, it felt more comfortable than a fleece blanket on a cold, winter night. An absolutely perfect conclusion.

src="http://images.jambase.com/bands/phish/090802_vann/13_1.jpg">Phish :: 08.02 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Phish :: 08.02.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO

Set I: Roses Are Free, Wilson, NICU, Prince Caspian, Get Back on the Train, Reba, Grind, Beauty of a Broken Heart, Sample in a Jar, Sugar Shack, Waste, Kill Devil Falls
Set II: Boogie on Reggae Woman, You Enjoy Myself > Undermind* > Drums* > Seven Below* > 2001* > Waves* > Character Zero*
E: Bittersweet Hotel, Bouncing Around The Room, Slave to the Traffic Light

* with Billy Kreutzmann

For more pics of Red Rocks Sunday night go here.

Phish perform again Wednesday night at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. Check back for live Tweets, setlists, pics and full reviews. Complete Phish tour dates available href="http://www.jambase.com/Artists/2698/Phish/Shows">here.

Just like Leg I of Phish’s Summer Tour, JamBase will be at every stop with more coverage than you’ll find anywhere! Keep up to speed with all things Phish at jambase.com/phish.

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Phish | 08.01 | Red Rocks Day 3

August 2nd, 2009 | No Comments

Words by: Brian Bavosa | Images by: Dave Vann

Phish :: 08.01.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO

Gordo – Phish :: 08.01 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

For as long as I’ve been seeing Phish -1 6 years and counting – the third night of a four night run has always been, well, wild, special and more often than not, THE night. Night three of Red Rocks was certainly a worthy contender in this tradition.

Opening with “AC/DC Bag,” the fire-fueled, Gamehendge rocker, it was on from note one. The line, “Let’s get this show on the road!,” is always a surefire way to let the masses know the band means business, and set one was my favorite of the three firsts opening sets thus far, on paper and in execution. Speaking of execution, the second tune, “The Curtain With,” was the first reading since the now infamous encore at Coventry, which Trey screwed up something awful. Tonight was flawlessly executed to perfection. The band really appeared to take their time in practicing and making sure they played this one right, and this take gave a flying “Fuck You” salute to Coventry and the bad memories it has held since ’04. Good riddance.

And then the band launched into the drum-lead “Mound,” a bust out not played since the last “return” show at MSG on New Year’s Eve ’02. Always a fan favorite, this too, is a difficult composition to pull off, and the band crushed it. All four members were in sync from the jump tonight, something that carried over to the crowd inside (and the few hundred who climbed the mountain behind the venue).

“Gotta Jibboo” was as fun and danceable as ever, while “Guyute” served as the composition song in set one. “Punch You in the Eye” – a song the band hasn’t had the easiest time with this summer – was exceptionally locked-in, and Trey led throughout; he was very sharp and spirited this evening, particularly in set two. “Tube” was the first set highlight, and was super-duper tight and funky, featuring McConnell on the Clav/synth who was simply laying it down. “Alaska” was reworked and featured a triple repeat of the opening line. It was loose and took on a bluesy, stripped-down feel. Another big gun, “Run Like an Antelope,” closed set one and was not as razor sharp as normal, but rather dark, twisted and weird. Overall, a great first set with some major treats.

Phish :: 08.01 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Unlike the previous night’s (read about it here) rain-soaked set break, Saturday felt quick and saw Anastasio and company land in The Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll.” It lived up to its name for sure and eventually devolved into a spacey breakdown that found Trey looping effects and Gordon smothering pedals before dropping the intro bombs of “Down With Disease.” A song that took on real character in Leg One of the tour, this night’s “DWD” was shorter and more out there than usual, but still interesting.

The hammer was then dropped into “Free,” which with the exception of the big five or so, is, in my opinion, the quintessential, ultimate Phish song. Lyrically, musically and emotionally, “Free” represents all things good about Phish and why we continue to traverse the country to see them. It allows one to get lost and fly “freely” across a slamming anthem. But, the highlight of Red Rocks thus far, in my mind and in terms of sheer balls, was the first “Esther” since Vegas ’00, and my personal first since The Clifford Ball in ’96, ironically enough the same tour Phish last played Red Rocks. What most impressed me about this rendition was that Trey hit every single lyric. Not a flub to be found. It was also in these moments that I truly managed to lose myself and my ego, drift off to the sublime spaces that only Phish generates and truly believe in my heart of hearts that PHISH is the greatest band of our generation. While most of Phish 3.0 has been “safe,” the gall it takes to play “Mound” and “Esther” leads me to believe that there are still hints of greatness left in the Phab Phour.

Trey & Gordo – Phish :: 08.01 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

“Dirt” served as the breather song of the second set, but was more upbeat and Trey-charged than usual, with him adding some extra spice, so much so that the set-closing “Harry Hood” featured a “Dirt” guitar lick tease by Trey in the intro section. If I ever had to choose a place to “live beneath the dirt,” Red Rocks would be at the top of the list. “Hood” is also a perfect song for Red Rocks, with Chris Kuroda‘s lights resonating off of the giant red slabs to either side of the venue while the city lights of Denver glistened silently in the background. In a word, it was majestic. While the second set seemed short tonight, it still featured some big guns and a MAJOR bust out.

An encore of “Sleeping Monkey” was a semi-gospel prayer (with organ worship hands flying high) with a Beatles “Let It Be” tease by Page. The night was capped off by “First Tube,” which was super high energy and saw Trey jumping all over the place, literally and musically. Not only has Phish delivered three monstrous efforts in a row but the tour is just heating up. All signs for Sunday point to a narration, a huge “You Enjoy Myself” and a deep “2001″ to help us wrap up Red Rocks. Night four still has some huge tunes in store, but also some final surprises I’m sure.

Lastly, Happy Birthday, Jerry. Without you, Phish wouldn’t be what they are today.

Dig in, night four is descending upon us…

Phish :: 08.01.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO

Set I: AC/DC Bag, The Curtain With, Mound, Gotta Jibboo, Guyute, Punch You in the Eye, Tube, Alaska, Run Like An Antelope
Set II: Rock and Roll, Down with Disease > Free, Esther, Dirt, Harry Hood
E: Sleeping Monkey, First Tube

Phish :: 08.01 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

For more pics of Phish at Red Rocks Night 3 go here. And for coverage of Night 1, go here, and coverage of Night 2 here.

Phish perform again tonight at Red Rocks. Check back
for live Tweets, setlists, pics and full reviews. Complete Phish tour dates available here.

Just like Leg I of Phish’s Summer Tour, JamBase will be at every stop with more coverage than you’ll find anywhere! Keep up to speed with all things Phish at jambase.com/phish.

JamBase | Three Fathoms Deep
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Phish | 7.31 | Red Rocks Day 2

August 1st, 2009 | No Comments

Words by: Brian Bavosa | Images by: Dave Vann

Phish :: 07.31.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO

Phish :: 07.31 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Opening with “Runaway Jim” and a blazing “Chalkdust Torture,” two of the band’s favorite starters, signs pointed to night two at Red Rocks being another treat for all. Judging by the ticket-less masses outside and the growing anticipation every hour, the final, few shows here are going to be insane. Friday seemed to push things off towards that path. “Bathtub Gin” conjured up the elements of weather, as a bit later, the crowd would certainly shout, “Because we’re all in this together, and we love to take a bath.” The jam in this tune was strong and focused, led by Trey.

“Time Turns Elastic” found a new slot in the middle of set one, and seemed a good opportunity for many to grab a beer or hit the head. While it’s a beautiful composition, it just doesn’t do it for many, myself included. “Lawnboy” saw Page crooning and offering, “Thank you. Thank you very much,” followed by “Water In The Sky,” another foreshadowing tune with a Page piano intro that allowed him to really take charge. “Water” was loose and featured some dizzying dueling by Trey and Page at the song’s conclusion. The second new tune of the night, “Stealing Time From a Faulty Plan” is a darker one, with a razor sharp tone, strong direction and the haunting line, “I have a blank space where my mind should be.” Along with the set-closing “Split Open and Melt,” where the sky decided to open up something fierce, the band channeled that energy and played a dark, mean, winding jam that led us into what felt like a longer than normal set break where many fans were diving for cover in the downstairs museum area or under concession tents.

Phish :: 07.31 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

After seemingly an hour or so, the band reemerged, with the rain gone, and like Deer Creek a month back (read the review here), opened the post-rain break with a smoking rendition of The Who’s “Drowned.” Led by the fierce chops of McConnell, who, again, owned set two, the band found their way quickly to a meaty jam, which saw the four cylinders collectively lock in and Trey leading them into “Crosseyed and Painless.” A mighty surge of energy descended upon the masses when this one hit, and the set was only minutes old. Long a fan favorite, “Crosseyed” saw some wailing licks by Trey and an all out blitzkrieg by the band.

“Joy” followed for its second ever run-through and features some lyrics that some would call beautiful while others might term ‘sappy,’ I’ll call it a nice filler tune. However, the song of the night was “Tweezer,” where the band finally let loose for the first TRUE time all weekend. This version was the ’03 equivalent of David Ortiz on steroids and slugged its way to the Triple Crown. Fierce, fierce playing by all led to a jam that devolved into a breakdown of sorts. Easily, the song of the run thus far.

McConnell & Anastasio – Phish :: 07.31 :: Red Rocks

“Backwards Down the Number Line,” the third and final new tune of the night, simply feels the most “Phishy.” The lyrics are appropriate for version 3.0 and the jam simply soars. As if the statement of set two wasn’t already made, “Fluffhead” nailed that point home. Obviously practicing this song has reinvigorated the band and they have enjoyed playing it, and all those who pined for it for almost nine years have sure gotten their fill of “powerful pills” since Phish’s almighty return. “Fluffhead” segued into a short, quick reading of “Piper” before slipping into a piano solo akin to the end of “Squirming Coil,” where McConnell tickled the keys before starting up the set closing cover of The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life.” A masterpiece of a song, Phish does this one justice and it was the cherry on the sundae of set two.

An encore of “Suzie Greenburg” again saw Page crush the ivories, while Fishman joked that he wished he was a neurologist before the exclamation point of “Tweezer Reprise” closed things out proper. Two shows into the tour, the band seems to be focused and ready to go, with the “Tweezer” leading the way for early tour MVP.

Phish :: 07.31.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO

Set I: Runaway Jim, Chalk Dust Torture, Bathtub Gin, Time Turns Elastic, Lawn Boy, Water In The Sky, Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan, Split Open and Melt

Set II: Drowned > Crosseyed and Painless > Joy, Tweezer > Backwards Down The Numberline > Fluffhead > Piper > A Day in the Life

E: Suzy Greenberg > Tweezer Reprise

Phish :: 07.31 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

For more pics of Phish at Red Rocks night 2 go here. And for coverage of Night 1, go here.

Phish perform again tonight at Red Rocks. Check back
for live Tweets, setlists, pics and full reviews. Complete Phish tour dates available here.

Just like Leg I of Phish’s Summer Tour, JamBase will be at every stop with more coverage than you’ll find anywhere! Keep up to speed with all things Phish at jambase.com/phish.

JamBase | Gone Phishin’
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Phish | 07.30 | Red Rocks Day 1

July 31st, 2009 | No Comments

Words by: Brian Bavosa | Images by: Dave Vann

Phish :: 07.30.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO

Phish :: 07.30 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Colorful Colorado. So much Phishtory has happened here over the years. From the first-ever “official,” non-Northeast shows for the band documented in Colorado ’88 to the funk-era ragers of Denver in ’97, there has been no other venue in the state that has inspired the band to play more historic shows than Red Rocks.

From ’93-’96, Phish played a total of nine shows at this truly breathtaking, one-of-a-kind, natural amphitheatre, where the stage sits between two giant slabs of red earth that serve as a center for some cosmic and energetic interactions and results. I also know why everyone in Colorado is in such good shape because everything here is an uphill hike.

However, since some trouble in the little town of Morrison during the four nights in ’96 with fans and police, Phish has simply not been allowed to return for a number of reasons. And, with the venue holding maybe 8 or 9 thousand people, they simply outgrew it. I, like many others, never, ever expected Phish to return here and was floored when the announcement came. That also made these tickets harder to score than any of the return shows yet. It also made it a perfect choice to open the second leg of their summer tour with a statement – a four-night stand.

Trey :: 07.30 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Opening with the very first song they ever played here in ’93, “The Divided Sky,” Trey Anastasio and company soared through this intricate and appropriate number and nailed it. Next up was the catchy “Ocelot,” a tune slated for the upcoming, September release, Joy, which many of the newer fans seem to really like.

“The Wedge,” another tune played in the first set of the ’93 show, features the line “take the highway to the great divide,” and boy, oh boy, is Red Rocks such a place. In fact, this was the first time in a long time that most of my night was spent admiring the scenic beauty and intricacies this venue has to offer rather than simply being fixated on the band and stage.

A funky, Fishman driven “Moma Dance” was above average and gave way to “Horn,” yet another Rift-era tune that had me thinking that the band was truly excited to be back on hallowed ground. But, the surefire highlight in set one was an atypical “Stash,” which saw some loose jamming and more twists and turns than the snakes outside in the surrounding park. It was led at different stages by all four and featured Fishman all over the skins. It was exploratory, yet not as dark as normal, and made for a great ride.

Set two began with some Trey banter introducing Mike Gordon before launching into “Mike’s Song,” and it seemed that immediately the energy of the band for set two was higher than earlier and we were poised for a sharp second effort. Again, Fishman took charge and pounded “Mike’s” into oblivion before landing in the beautiful middle portion of the “Mike’s Groove” trilogy, “I Am Hydrogen.” The beautiful segue was closed proper by a slamming “Weekapaug Groove” that saw great interplay between Trey and Page, while Fish and Gordon held down the beat.

Phish :: 07.30 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Another of the night’s highlights was “Ghost,” which conjured up memories of the lauded, super funky, 11.17.97 Denver version. It bubbled up loose and funky, featuring some rock & roll licks by Anastasio, and finally landed in another funktastic number, “Wolfman’s Brother.” This two-song onslaught was a solid half hour of booty shaking and loose, yet inspired playing and jamming. At this point, the first set was a mere footnote in my mind.

The first “Billy Breathes” since the summer of ’03 was another nod that just about anything was possible during this four-night run. A song that does not always translate well live, this version did, slowing things down for a moment for all to soak in the power of this venue. “The Squirming Coil” was spot-on and saw McConnell, who was extremely impressive throughout set two, play his baby grand piano, which made hearts swoon at the end of this number and made me think it was the show closer.

That was until Fishman hit the familiar high-hat intro signaling “David Bowie.” This version was standard, yet sharp, and capped off a solid night one. Set two was super and continued with the encore of “Loving Cup.” A rocker that led the masses out to the trails and natural stairs of Red Rocks, it truly was a “beautiful buzz” to close out Night One.

Phish :: 07.30.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO

Set I: The Divided Sky, Ocelot, The Wedge, Poor Heart, The Moma Dance, Horn, Stash, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Possum

Set II: Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Ghost, Wolfman’s Brother, Limb By Limb, Billy Breathes, The Squirming Coil, David Bowie

E: Loving Cup

For more pics of Phish at Red Rocks go here.

Phish perform again tonight at Red Rocks. Check back
for live Tweets, setlists, pics and full reviews. Complete Phish tour dates available here.

Just like Leg I of Phish’s Summer Tour, JamBase will be at every stop with more coverage than you’ll find anywhere! Keep up to speed with all things Phish at jambase.com/phish.

Continue reading for more pics of Phish at Red Rocks Night 1…

JamBase | Rocking Red Style
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Trey Ellis: Skip Is My Hero

July 23rd, 2009 | No Comments

Although some have decried Professor Gates as overreacting, I know, from personal experience, that what he did was an act of courage. As black boys…

Trey Ellis: Bloomberg Is Failing Our Best Schools

July 20th, 2009 | No Comments

When I moved back to New York with my school-aged kids four years ago I was worried about throwing them into the New York City…

Trey at Carnegie Hall w/ NY Philharmonic on 9/12

July 13th, 2009 | No Comments

TREY ANASTASIO TO PERFORM WITH THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC AT CARNEGIE HALL

Trey Anastasio & BOS :: 05.21 :: Baltimore by K. Pusey

Trey Anastasio will join conductor Asher Fisch and the New York Philharmonic for orchestrations of classic Anastasio compositions and the New York premiere of his composition “Time Turns Elastic” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at the Carnegie Hall. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, July 14, at 9:00 a.m. at carnegiehall.org, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 or at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 57th Street at Seventh Avenue. The Box Office is open Monday – Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (July 1 to August 30), and beginning August 31, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday – Saturday, and 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.

The evening’s performance will serve as a benefit for the Kristine Anastasio Manning Memorial Fund and the New York Philharmonic.

The program will feature classic Phish songs and solo Trey compositions, as well as the New York premiere of “Time Turns Elastic,” co-composed by Anastasio and long-time collaborator Don Hart. “Time Turns Elastic” is a groundbreaking work for vocals, electric guitar and orchestra with long, orchestral passages intertwined with epic guitar lines and vocals in the vein of such classic Trey compositions as “The Divided Sky,” “Guyute” and “Fluffhead.” With Trey’s electric guitar at the forefront, “Time Turns Elastic” pushes the limits of orchestral music.

“Time Turns Elastic” received its world premiere in September 2008 with Orchestra Nashville, conducted by Paul Gambill, at the Ryman Auditorium. It was recently performed with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop (see our review here). In May, the album was released on Trey’s own Rubber Jungle Records.

The album is currently on sale as a digital download from iTunes for $7.99 but is also available on CD as well as pressed on audiophile-grade 180g clear vinyl. The Vinyl features the “Original Acoustic Demo” as a bonus track and quantities are extremely limited. The Vinyl edition is now sold-out through our online stores but limited quantities will be available in local record stores.

Phish recently completed a very strong return to the road and JamBase was there. We were on the scene with live Twitter coverage and setlist updates as well as reviews and pics from every stop on the tour. You can check out all our Phish Summer Tour coverage at jambase.com/PhishSummer09. Complete Phish tour dates available here.

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