Whatever You Do, Take Care Of Your Shoes

Just as the rumors suggested, Phish will release their epic 1996 show from the Coral Sky Amphitheater on October 19.  The two-DVD set captures the entire show in pristine sound quality.  The show came on the heels of arguably their greatest Halloween performance, where the band tackled the Talking Heads’ Remain In Light.  The show is chock full of jams and experimentation, including an incredible “Crosseyed And Painless > Run Like An Antelope” that has gone down in history as one of their finest moments.  The entire show features guest percussionist, Karl Perazzo (Santana), as well as Allman Brothers Band drummer, Butch Trucks, on the “Funky Bitch” encore.

CORAL SKY DVD

Disc One
1. Ya Mar
2. Julius
3. Fee
4. Taste
5. Cavern
6. Stash
7. The Lizards
8. Free
9. Johnny B. Goode

Disc Two
1. Crosseyed And Painless
2. Run Like An Antelope
3. Waste
4. Harry Hood
5. A Day In The Life
6. Sweet Adeline
7. Funky Bitch

After Phish wrap up their Fall Tour, Mike will waste no time getting back on the road with his solo band for a November run.  The seventeen-show tour will span cross-country, seeing Mike visit the often neglected North West.  The tour will begin at the Troubadour in West Hollywood and commence at The Royale in Boston.  Tour dates below.

Mike will also release his latest solo disk, Moss, on October 19. Moss features several tracks that Mike road-tested on his Winter tour earlier this year, including “Can’t Stand Still” and “Fire From A Stick.”  Also on the album is “Idea,” which Phish debuted in Portsmouth this summer.  Musical contributors include Marco Benevento, Joe Russo, Page McConnell, and Jon Fishman.

November 6 – The Troubadour, West Hollywood CA
November 7 – The Independent, San Francisco CA
November 8 – The Aladdin, Portland OR
November 10 – Crocodile Cafe, Seattle WA
November 11 – Wilma Theatre, Missoula MT
November 12 – State Room, Salt Lake City UT
November 13 – Boulder Theater, Boulder CO
November 14 – Waiting Room, Omaha NE
November 16 – Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis MN
November 17 – Barrymore, Madison WI
November 18 – Lincoln Hall, Chicago IL
November 19 – Bluebird, Bloomington IN
November 20 – Madison Theater, Covington KY
November 22 – Beachland, Cleveland OH
November 23 – Westcott Theatre, Syracuse NY
November 26 – Port City Music Hall, Portland ME
November 27 – The Royale, Boston MA

Fresh off an incredibly successful summer run, Phish announced today a small October fall tour.  The tour will begin with the already announced Austin City Limits headlining slot on October 8.  From there, the band will play a three-night stand in Broomfield, CO, and then head east with stops in North Charleston, Augusta, Utica, Providence, Amherst, Manchester, and will culminate with three-night run in Atlantic City.  Tour closer?  Yeah, it’s Halloween, so you know what that means…  So what album will get the musical costume treatment this year?  Official tour video announcement above.

PHISH 2010 FALL TOURDATES:

10/08 - Austin City Limits Festival, Austin, TX - SOLD OUT
10/10 - 1STBANK Center, Broomfield, CO
10/11 - 1STBANK Center, Broomfield, CO
10/12 - 1STBANK Center, Broomfield, CO
10/15 - North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, SC
10/16 - North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, SC
10/19 - Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, ME
10/20 - Utica Memorial Auditorium, Utica, NY
10/22 - Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI
10/23 - Mullins Center, Amherst, MA
10/24 - Mullins Center, Amherst, MA
10/26 - Verizon Wireless Arena, Manchester, NH
10/29 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
10/30 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
10/31 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ

There were a lot of expectations as Phish took the stage for their final performance of the tour.  Would there be more bustouts?  Antics? Guests?  What we were treated to was a stellar performance from a band that gives it their all every time they hit the stage.   Sure, this was far from the best show of the tour, but a solid effort and one that I (and many others) thoroughly enjoyed.

“Down With Disease” was an interesting opener.  Much like the Alpine “Tweezer,” this could have easily been extended and explored deeper, but the boys opted to keep reel it in.  “Sample In A Jar” followed, and kept the energy high.  “Guelah” was an awesome surprise.  Trey and Page nailed the “Asse Festival” section, and the whole song was really well executed.  “Poor Heart” followed and gave us a nice sense of bluegrass.  For me, the energy was lost a bit in “Ocelot.”  I really dig this tune, but I couldn’t get into the jam, and felt it was a bit forced.  This carried over to a relatively normal “Chalk Dust.”  While great to hear, this version didn’t stand up to the ones I heard earlier this summer at Hershey and SPAC.  Things really picked up again with “Bathtub Gin,” as Trey shredded the crap out of his guitar.  “Tube” was a set highlight for me.  While not as long as I’d hoped for, it was funky a great effort.  Then came “Destiny Unbound.”  I don’t really know what happened here, but this song just fell apart.  What could have been an amazing bustout became a mess.  Trey flubbed his parts and the band stumbled back into the verse after the jam.  It was fun to hear, but nowhere near the version we got last year at Fenway.  After a soulful “Joy,” a fantastic “Antelope” ended the set, with Trey substituting the “Marco Esquandolas” lyrics with “Mike-O” (and a nice little funky bass solo from Mike in response).

Set two heated up with “Axilla,” followed by a blistering “Timber.”  “Timber” was another show highlight, as Trey went nuts during the solo and really took this one for a ride.  “Light” followed, serving as the first real exploration of the evening.  The “Light” jam eventually cooled off into “46 Days” followed by another one of my favorites, “My Friend, My Friend.”  “MFMF” was well placed mid-set and had the crowd screaming for more.  The band responded with a great “Harry Hood > Tweezer” combo that was one of the best I’ve heard all summer.  “Horse > Silent” brought us back to earth, before the set closing “YEM.”  “Suzy” and “Tweeprise” ended the night and sent us home.

This was a fun show.  Was it the highlight of the tour?  No, but it was a strong performance and one I was glad to have been a part of.  This has been an amazing tour, and I can’t wait to see what fall has in store.

Wednesday August 18, 2010 Nikon Theater At Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY

Soundcheck: You Can Get It If You Really Want, Nellie Kane, Hey Joe

Set I: Down With Disease > Sample In A Jar, Guelah Papyrus, Poor Heart, Ocelot, Chalk Dust Torture, Bathtub Gin, Tube, Destiny Unbound, Joy, Run Like An Antelope

Set II: Axilla I, Timber > Light > 46 Days > My Friend My Friend, Harry Hood > Tweezer > The Horse > Silent In The Morning, You Enjoy Myself

E: Suzy Greenberg > Tweezer Reprise

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of Dave Vann.

Coming off the heels of an explosive mid-west run, Phish returned to the east coast one last time to cap off their summer tour with two nights at Jones Beach.  Night one proved to be an exciting adventure, as the band delivered on stellar jams and great song selections.

Choosing to open the show with “Fluffhead,” the band sent a message that they were here for business.  “Fluffhead’s” energy carried right on through a scorching “Kill Devil Falls.”  Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far this song has come since they debuted it last year at Jones Beach.  Trey delivered a confident, fiery solo that had everyone begging for more.  “Cities” followed, as Trey started the opening chords slower than usual, leading the bad through a nice funky rendition.  While “Cities” didn’t reach Greek status, the funk was there and the band gelled for a nice groove.  As “Cities” drew to a close, the band launched into another raging version of “Funky Bitch.”  Mike really loves singing this tune, and he was especially upbeat in this rendition.  “Wilson” was next, and Trey spiced things up by playing a toy guitar for part of the jam…a sure sign that they “can still have fun.”  Following the antics of “Wilson” came a well executed “Reba”, sans whistling.  Still, the boys showed no signs of slowing down, as they went right into Joe Walsh’s “Walk Away,” featuring an amazing end solo by Trey that easily could have stretched a few more minutes.  A funked-out “Wolfman’s Brother” followed, featuring Mike delivering some fantastic slap bass.  This is easily one of the funkiest I’ve ever heard and a real set highlight.  A scorching “Possum” closed the set, with Trey shredding unlike anything I’ve seen all summer.  A fantastic set indeed.

Set two opened with a taste of old school, as Fish sang the first “Lengthwise” of the year over the high-hat intro to “Maze.”  This was the first well-placed “Lengthwise” in many years, and one that had many older fans reminiscing of those old ‘91-93 shows.  “Maze” got dark and dirty, setting the tone for the set.  “Halley’s” was also great to hear, but as it’s been all year, the jam stopped before it really got going.  Out of “Halley’s” came “Mike’s Song.”  Here’s where things got interesting.  Just like some of the previous shows, the band tossed away the typical “Hydrogen” in lieu of some interesting experimenting.  This time, we were treated to a raging “Simple,” followed by “Backwards Down The Number Line.”  “Number Line” saw the boys stretch out and break the typical structure, morphing into a type II jam with that was very reminiscent of SPAC ‘09.  The jam featured extensive “Maze” teases, and as it wound down, Trey led the band through a short, yet appropriately placed “Prince Caspian.”  “Caspian” went unfinished, transitioning seamlessly into “Rock & Roll.”  “Rock & Roll” was perfect and one of the best versions all year.  As Trey brought the song back into the chorus, the band kept screaming “it’s alright” over a feedback jam that paved the way for “Weekapaug Groove.”  “Loving Cup” followed, and proved to be a great set closer.  “Show Of Life” started the encore, which was a bit shocking (I had called this to end the tour), but we got one last taste of energy with “Golgi Apparatus.”

Below are two HD videos I shot from the upper tier.  Enjoy!

Tuesday August 17, 2010 Nikon Theater At Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY

Soundcheck: Dog Log, Ginseng Sullivan, Burn That Bridge [Possibly incomplete]

Set I: Fluffhead, Kill Devil Falls, Cities, Funky Bitch, Wilson*, Reba, Walk Away, Wolfman’s Brother, Possum

Set II: Lengthwise > Maze, Halley’s Comet > Mike’s Song > Simple > Backwards Down The Number Line > Prince Caspian > Rock & Roll > Weekapaug Groove, Loving Cup

E: Show Of Life, Golgi Apparatus

*with Trey on toy guitar; Fishman teasing the drumbeat to Led Zeppelin’s “Rock ‘N Roll”

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of Dave Vann.

Phish ended their mid-West run last night for a second show at Alpine Valley, bringing them one step closer to the end of summer tour.  The band made an interesting choice opening the show with “Tweezer” (first time in 3.0 that a show has opened with this).  What set the stage for a massive first set jam was ended a bit too early, as the band opted for “AC/DC Bag.”  While still an energetic version, it would have been interesting for the boys to shake it up and branch out on that first song right out the gate.  Little Feat’s “On Your Way Down” was an excellent inclusion in the first set, allowing Page to showcase some fine vocals.  The set also included noteworthy versions of “The Divided Sky,” “Stealing Time,” and “David Bowie.”

Set two kicked off with a funk-filled “Ghost > Theme From The Bottom” combo that got the crowd into a nice groove.  “Big Black Furry Creatures From Mars” brought some mid-set madness, before easing back into some experimental jams with a mid-set “YEM,” “Piper,” and “2001.”  The return of the Beatles “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (last heard in Hartford last year) was a nice inclusion as well.  To end their mid-West stand, a four song encore of the Velvet Underground’s “Oh Sweet Nuthin’,” “Cavern,” “Joy,” and “Tweezer Reprise” ended the show in top form.

As the tour winds down, we’re left with two nights at Jones Beach.  The stage has been set for plenty of surprises (will we finally get that “Dog Log” that’s been soundchecked recently?), and if these past shows are any indication of things to come, these last two shows are going to kick ass.  Keep reading and I’ll be tweeting from both (@ahandman).

Sunday August 15, 2010 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI

Soundcheck: Dog Log, new Trey ballad, Burn That Bridge, Liquid Time

Set I: Tweezer, AC/DC Bag, On Your Way Down, The Divided Sky, Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan, Water In The Sky > The Moma Dance > Farmhouse, David Bowie

Set II: Ghost > Theme From The Bottom > Big Black Furry Creature From Mars, You Enjoy Myself > Piper > 2001 > While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Character Zero

E: Oh! Sweet Nuthin’ > Cavern > Joy > Tweezer Reprise

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of @incognito23.

Last night’s show at Alpine Valley easily sticks out as a tour highlight.  A solid mix of bustouts and jams saw the band deliver one of the finest performances of the year.  Opening the evening with “Tube,” the band meant business.  A nice “Oh Kee Pah > Suzy” combo followed.  A big surprise was the return of “Fuck Your Face,” which many fans believed would be a one-and-done performance after it surfaced in Charlotte.

Set two kicked off with “The Sloth” (possibly due to a fan request), followed by a raging “Disease > What’s The Use?” combo.  The Mike-humored “Scent Of A Mule” also made its tour and year debut.  The Mike’s Groove was also quite remarkable, melding in “Dirt” and the funky “Sneaking Sally Through The Alley” in between.  The evening concluded with another performance of Dylan’s “Quinn The Eskimo.”

Saturday August 14, 2010 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI

Set I: Tube, The Oh Kee Pah Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, Funky Bitch, Reba, Fuck Your Face, Alaska, Back On The Train, Taste > When The Circus Comes, Lawn Boy, Sparkle, Gumbo, Run Like An Antelope

Set II: The Sloth, Down With Disease > What’s The Use? > Scent Of A Mule, Mike’s Song > Dirt > Sneaking Sally Through The Alley > Weekapaug Groove, Bug

E: Quinn The Eskimo

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of Dave Vann.

Phish hit the stage Friday night for the second of two performances at the famed Deer Creek.  Building off the previous night’s energy, the band showed no signs of fatigue or slowing down.  Set one contained quite a few bustouts, the most obvious being “Walls Of The Cave,” the 2.0 gem last played at Coventry (festival opener).  “Guelah Papyrus” and “Train Song” also made their debut this year.

Set two picked up with an adventurous “Light > 46 Days > Maze” trilogy that kicked the set into high gear.  The jam from “Meatstick” into “Mango Song” featured “Dave’s Energy Guide” teases by Page.  The show concluded with “Contact” and “Slave To The Traffic Light” - a great way to end a nice run.

Friday August 14, 2010 Verizon Wireless Music Center, Noblesville, IN

Set I: Chalk Dust Torture, Guelah Papyrus, My Sweet One, Axilla I, I Didn’t Know, Walls Of The Cave, Stash, Train Song > Backwards Down The Number Line, Ocelot, The Ballad Of Curtis Loew, Wilson > Possum

Set II: Halley’s Comet > Light > 46 Days > Maze, Meatstick* > The Mango Song > Fluffhead > Julius

E: Contact, Slave To The Traffic Light

*with Dave’s Energy Guide teases by Page

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of Dave Vann.

Bruce Springsteen plans on reissuing his classic Darkness On The Edge Of Town album this fall as a deluxe package.  Included with the release will be a new documentary, The Promise: The Making Of ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’ which features an intimate look into the making of Springsteen’s landmark classic album.

Rolling Stone spoke with director Thom Powers, who explains that the focus of the documentary is on the music.  The film opens with a black and white scene of Springsteen alone in his studio working on the album.  The focus shifts away from concert footage and instead focuses on the creative process that went into recording Darkness.  The previously unreleased studio footage is mixed with band member interviews, including one with Danny Federici before he passed away.  Patti Smith is also interviewed, discussing how she co-wrote “Because The Night” with Bruce.  Quoting Powers, “You don’t get the feeling that these are the same old stories they’ve polished up for the press all the time — especially with Springsteen. He gave long interviews for the film and just about everything he says is really interesting.”

For the diehards, the doc will contain original, previously unreleased studio recordings, including scenes of Van Zandt and Springsteen improvising songs never heard before - a remarkable look into the mind of a genius.

The Promise will debut on September 14 at the Toronto International Film Festival and on HBO in October.

Something clicked last night for sure.  After two shows in Telluride that musically did not stand out in comparison to the rest of the tour, Phish unleashed a beast of a show last night at Deer Creek that is easily one of the strongest performances all year.

Phish kicked the evening off with four tour firsts - “Runaway Jim,” “PYITE,” “Roggae,” and “Cars Trucks Buses” (note: I’ll count the second leg of the tour to be a separate tour).  “CTB” was a standout version, seeing Trey take a solo in what is usually a Page-dominated song.  “Sugar Shack” brought on some well-needed Gordo-funk to keep everyone dancing.  After a strong (albeit short) “Wolfman’s Brother,” “Time Turns Elastic” closed off the set.  I think “TTE” starting to fit into rotation properly.  As a set closer, it works well in my opinion…those last 5 minutes are intense!

Set two opened with The Who’s “Drowned,” which the band used as a launching pad for the evening’s first real jam.  “Drowned” segued into “Gotta Jibboo” followed by a great mid-set “Bathtub Gin.”  “My Friend My Friend” was awkwardly placed mid-second set, but well executed.  After “MFMF,” the band played the first 3.0 “Buffalo Bill” to shake things up.  The end of the second set deserves special notoriety as well, with a blistering version of “Split Open And Melt,” which saw the band really stretch out and leave the song’s structure.  “Melt” went unfinished (a first for 3.0, and first since Coventry) and instead transitioned into the tour’s first “Dog Faced Boy.”  “Harry Hood” and “Golgi” capped the set off.

Coming back for an encore, Fish kicked in the bass drum leading the band through “Fee,” which featured Trey on the megaphone (a great throwback to the old days)!  Much to the audience’s delight, the night was far from over, as Gordon began his famous “NO2” dialogue followed by the ancient chant, “Kung.”  Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire” ended the night, with Trey adding his own twist to the lyrics, shouting “let Cactus take over.”  A solid and standout night indeed.  See below for a great HD video of the encore (minus “Fire”).

Thursday August 12, 2010 Verizon Wireless Music Center, Noblesville, IN

Set I: Runaway Jim, Punch You In The Eye, Roggae, Cars Trucks Buses > Sample In A Jar, NICU, Horn, Sugar Shack, Wolfman’s Brother, Time Turns Elastic

Set II: Drowned > Gotta Jibboo > Bathtub Gin, My Friend My Friend, Buffalo Bill > Twist > The Horse > Silent In The Morning, Split Open And Melt > Dog Faced Boy, Harry Hood > Golgi Apparatus

E: Fee* > NO2 > Kung > Fire**

*with Trey on megaphone

**lyrics changed to “move over and let Cactus take over.”

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.