Whatever You Do, Take Care Of Your Shoes

Last night’s Augusta show was sort of like the sleeper show of the tour so far.  If you’re following the band this tour, the logical step would have been to travel from Charleston right up to Utica and save you a few hours.  But, if history has taught us anything, it’s that no show can really be ignored (case in point is the famed 11/2/98 Dark Side Of The Moon adventure).  So for those making the trek up to Augusta, it could have been a spectacular night or just a so-so show.  Well, we didn’t get Dark Side, but we did get a show that sticks out this tour as adventurous and noteworthy.

The first set flowed nicely, opening with “Chalk Dust” followed by a funk-laden “Back On The Train.”  “Torn And Frayed” was definitely unexpected, and a song that really should be played more often.  In my mind, it really captures the essence of what it is like to be in a rock and roll band, and its lyrics echo what went on even in Phish’s past.  A mid-set “Gin” saw the band really hit their stride, as Trey shredded through the jam.  Page also took center stage with a rousing rendition of “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” and Mike brought back some much needed bluegrass with “Nellie Kane.”

After a brief intermission, the boys returned to the stage, opening set two with the 2010 anthem, “Fuck Your Face.”  After the brief metal moment, they dropped into one of the more interesting “Mike’s Song” played since their return, with “Fuck Your Face” teases throughout the jam.  The most exploratory “Light” of the year followed, segueing perfectly into “Twenty Years Later” out of a beautiful ambient jam.  “Fast Enough For You” brought everyone back down to earth, before the expected “Weekapaug.”  The rest of the set coasted from there, with “Harry Hood” being the final peak of the set.

When the band returned for their encore, no one expected that the selection would be “Reba.”  This “Reba” made making the trip worth it, as Phish delivered easily the best and most exploratory rendition of this song in over ten years.  Passing the sixteen-minute mark (without the whistling ending), Phish gave the crowd a reason to keep following.  Fishman delivered “Manteca” quotes over the jam, and they really hit their creative stride for the evening.  They easily could have ended there, but treated everyone to one last tune, “Backwards Down The Number Line” to close out the evening.  A great ending to a great night of music.

Tuesday October 19, 2010 Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, ME

Set I: Chalk Dust Torture, Back On The Train, Torn & Frayed, Bathtub Gin, Gumbo, The Divided Sky, Jesus Just Left Chicago, Nellie Kane, 46 Days, Possum

Set II: Fuck Your Face > Mike’s Song* > Light > Twenty Years Later > Fast Enough For You, Weekapaug Groove, Halley’s Comet > Free > Harry Hood > Golgi Apparatus, A Day In The Life

E: Reba**, Backwards Down The Number Line

*with “Fuck Your Face” teases

**with “Manteca” quote from Fish and no whistling ending

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of Dave Vann.

Building off the previous night’s momentum, Phish played their second show in Charleston, showcasing some impressive jams and bustouts.  Those of you who complained that the previous night’s setlist was too song-heavy and less jam-oriented had to be impressed with what transpired last night.

Set one opened with an impressive “Kill Devil Falls,” a song that seems to get better and better each time played.  The meat of the set came with the year’s first “Curtain With.”  The “With” segment was executed with such beauty, that like the previous times played in 2009, made us go “What Coventry?”  Following this triumphant jam came an interestingly placed “Mango Song” to keep the pace going.  Not looking to slow down, the band dropped “Sand” on the crowd.  “Sand” brought the funk, and lots of it, with Page wailing on the clavinet amongst Mike’s smooth groove.  “Sneaking Sally” was also a huge surprise and included a vocal jam before the band brought it back to a close.  I’ve been waiting all tour for a bluegrass bustout, and Mike took the mike for Bill Monroe’s “Uncle Pen.”  “Pebbles & Marbles” would be the final surprise of the set, making its first appearance this year.

The band must have known we wanted some jams, as set two opened up with an impressive “Crosseyed & Painless” that stemmed over 15 minutes.  Now, I just got my Coral Sky DVD, so the bar is raised significantly after hearing that version, but last night’s was pretty damn good.  The seven-song set also featured a nice “Fluffhead,” “2001 > Tweezer > Show Of Life” combo, and the tour’s first “YEM” to close it out.  A great three-song encore of “I Been Around,” “Quinn The Eskimo,” and “Tweezer Reprise” closed out a stellar pair of shows.  If these past two shows are any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for a fantastic rest of the tour.

Saturday October 16, 2010 North Charleston Coliseum, Charleston, SC

Set I: Kill Devil Falls, Guelah Papyrus, The Curtain With, The Mango Song, Sand, Limb By Limb, Sneaking Sally Thru The Alley, Uncle Pen, Pebbles & Marbles, Cavern, David Bowie

Set II: Crosseyed & Painless, Dirt, Fluffhead, 2001 > Tweezer > Show Of Life, You Enjoy Myself

E: I Been Around, Quinn The Eskimo > Tweezer Reprise

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of Ryan Mastro.

Fall Tour moved back East yesterday, with the band’s first of two shows in Charleston, SC.  I’ve been particularly impressed with this run of shows so far.  In a nod to the olden days, the setlists have become more random and less cookie-cutter than over the summer.  I think a lot of us are shocked we haven’t seen “YEM” or “Harry Hood” close out the second set yet.

The theme of last night’s show was easily “SONGS,” and lots of them.  A staggering 28 individual tunes were played last night, which is probably the most in a night this year (maybe even last - I haven’t verified yet).  What lacked in longer, experimental jams made up for in some great bustouts.  Set one’s most obvious gem was “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home,” featuring the great Dr. Jack McConnell (father of Page) on vocals and tap dancing.  Dr. McConnell last graced the stage back in 2004 at SPAC.  The other two surprises of the set were back-to-back bustouts of “Buffalo Bill” and “Dog Faced Boy.”

Set two kept that theme alive after a rocking “Down With Disease > Prince Caspian > Twist” combo to kick off the set.  A rare mid-set “Roses Are Free” easily sticks out as a highlight.  The “Mike’s Groove” theme continued as well, this time with “The Horse > Silent In The Morning” and “Mexican Cousin” sandwiched in between.  “Mexican Cousin” was a really nice choice, and a song that has really grown on me over the years.  What was once a staple back in 2003 has been regulated to the sidelines, only to emerge three times in the 3.0 era.  It may be just me, but it seemed to be played in a little bit faster a tempo than before.  A classic “Suzy Greenberg” and “Slave” polished off the set to everyone’s delight.  “Character Zero” served as the lone encore, but the boys rocked it hard.

The setlists are getting more and more interesting.  The more I see, the more I can’t wait for the Halloween run in AC.  Let’s hope they don’t run out of gas…

Friday October 16, 2010 North Charleston Coliseum, Charleston, SC

Set I: Punch You In The Eye, Possum, Bathtub Gin, Bill Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home*, Boogie On Reggae Woman, Destiny Unbound, Backwards Down The Number Line, Bouncing Around The Room, Stash, Joy, Buffalo Bill, Dog Faced Boy, Run Like An Antelope**

Set II: Down With Disease > Prince Caspian > Twist, Roses Are Free > My Friend My Friend > My Problem Right There, Tube > Mike’s Song > The Horse > Silent In The Morning, Mexican Cousin, Weekapaug Groove, Suzy Greenberg > Slave To The Traffic Light

E: Character Zero

*with Page’s father, Dr. Jack McConnell on vocals and tap dancing.

**lyrics changed to “Mike-O Esquandolas.”

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of Ryan Mastro.

The great thing about a three-day run is how vastly different each night is.  Last night’s final Broomfield show was no exception, showcasing Joy as the “central theme to this everlasting spoof.”  In fact, half of the album was played in those two sets.  Opening up with the crowd-rocking “Stealing Time,” the band crashed through the gates to wake the crowd up.  “Time Turns Elastic” followed, and depending on how you look at it, it either kept the flow or sucked the life out of the room.  For the setlist freaks, it’s important to note that this was the earliest in a show “TTE” has ever emerged.  Regardless, the bustout of “Meat” brought the well needed bass-bombs to wake everyone back up.  “Timber” and “On Your Way Down” were also well placed and nice to hear back to back.  Sticking with the Joy theme, “Sugar Shack” also made its tour debut.

Set two exploded with a “Carini” opener that featured several “Harpua” teases in the ending jam segment.  The jam dissolved into “Bowie,” giving a great taste of old-school Phish.  Just as in the previous set, more Joy popped up with “Light” and “Joy.”  In an interesting move, two more newer songs filled in the set, with Page’s “Halfway To The Moon” (last heard this summer at SPAC) and the ballad “Summer Of ‘89.”  In a clever twist, the band emerged for the encore with “Meatstick” to send the crowd dancing their asses off into the streets.  A unique show indeed.

Tuesday October 12, 2010 1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO

Set I: Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan, Time Turns Elastic, Meat, The Divided Sky, Timber, On Your Way Down, Heavy Things, Sugar Shack, 46 Days

Set II: Carini* > David Bowie, Light, Theme From The Bottom > Free > Joy, Halfway To The Moon, Bug, Summer Of ‘89, Split Open & Melt

E: Meatstick**

*ended with a meandering jam during which Trey teased Harpua several times.

**After the band finished Meatstick, the audience continued the song and dance for 8 or more choruses.

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of Dave Vann.

NOW we have a tour!  Coming off a rather lackluster first night, Phish hit the stage for their second of three nights in Broomfield and unleashed a show that made us feel a bit more at ease.

Kicking the night off with the classic “Runaway Jim/Foam” combo, it felt just like 1994 all over again (I remember when they opened night one of Jones Beach with this combo last year and feeling that energy).  Set one progressed nicely, showcasing a funky “Back On The Train,” a mid-set “Tweezer,” and set-closing “Antelope” (featuring some nice call and response between Trey and the crowd — think Marco! Polo!).  They even debuted another new tune, “What Things Seem.”

Set two saw the return of TV On The Radio’s “Golden Age,” arguably the best cover of 3.0, and one hell of a way to kick off a set.  “Golden Age” saw the band stretch out, with Trey wailing on the Ocedoc, really kicking things up a notch.  This fizzled down into a short “Piper,” followed by “Camel Walk.”  That first combo of the second set really made the evening.  The rest of the set tamed down a bit, but had moments of ecstasy, in the climax of “Fluffhead” and “Backwards Down The Number Line.”  They brought it all back home with “Sleeping Monkey” and “Tweezer Reprise.”  Let’s see what tonight brings.

Monday October 11, 2010 1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO

Set I: Runaway Jim, Foam, Back On The Train, Wolfman’s Brother, Reba, Halley’s Comet, Tweezer, What Things Seem*, The Squirming Coil, Run Like An Antelope**

Set II: Golden Age > Piper > Camel Walk, Alaska, Gotta Jibboo, Wading In The Velvet Sea, Twist, Fluffhead > Backwards Down The Number Line

E: Sleeping Monkey > Tweezer Reprise

*first time played - new Mike Gordon original

**included a call-and-response between Trey (“Marco!”) and the audience (“Polo!”).

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of @kt913.

Phish played a rather standard, safe two sets last night in Broomfield, focusing more on the song element than jam.  While their playing was tight, the night contained little musical chances and will likely be a night to forget as the tour moves east.  Set one’s highlight came in the form of “Stash,” and was really the only song to get a proper jam treatment.

Set two raised the bar slightly, as Phish continued the theme from the summer of creating unique “Mike’s Grooves.”  “Mike’s > Simple” was fairly standard, but as “Simple” dissipated into some ambient jamming, Trey started up the notes to “Ghost,” leading the band through the most remarkable and noteworthy jam of the evening.  The rest of the set flowed nicely, with special notes going to “Fee” (yes, with megaphone again) and the “Makisupa” segment, where Trey dropped a reference to weed for the first time in how many years.  The “Makisupa” jam allowed the band to introduce a new tune, “My Problem Right There,” which is quite catchy, albeit a tad cheesy.  “Slave To The Traffic Light” picked up the energy and one would have hoped for the boys to build on that momentum with a stronger song than “Strange Design.”  “Loving Cup” made up for it though, and we can hope that tonight and tomorrow take the energy up a few notches.

Sunday October 10, 2010 1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO

Set I: Chalk Dust Torture, Ocelot, It’s Ice, Bouncing Around The Room, Funky Bitch, AC/DC Bag, NICU, The Moma Dance, Horn, Stash, Golgi Apparatus

Set II: Mike’s Song > Simple > Ghost > Weekapaug Groove, Fee > Makisupa Policeman > My Problem Right There* > Makisupa Policeman > Slave To The Traffic Light, Strange Design, Julius

E: Loving Cup

*first time played - new original

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of Chad Zellmer.

Last night’s closing set at Austin City Limits seemed like more of a rehearsal for the diehards as Phish launched into their 2010 Fall Tour.  Chock full of “greatest hits,” the band played one lengthy set to close out the famed festival in Austin, TX.  It was definitely a twist from the average crowd, as Phish played to an audience full of their loyal followers and those who may have just been there and chosen Phish over The Strokes.

The set kicked off with “Down With Disease,” which strangely enough kicked off their summer tour in IL.  “Disease” was standard, below ten minutes in length, but allowed the band to quickly fall into groove.  From there, the band played a relatively safe set, including a short “Possum,” “Wolfman’s Brother,” and Chalk Dust Torture.”  The night’s first real experimentation came with “Rock & Roll > 2001,” which really upped the ante.  The ever predictable “YEM” set closer fell into place, and the night capped off with “Cavern” and “First Tube.”

Let’s think of this as a practice run for what’s to come.  We all know there are a few surprises that are bound to pop up.  Viva la Fall Tour!

P.S. For those of us who couldn’t be in attendance, the show will be broadcast tonight, 9:00pm CST on the ACL site.

Friday October 8, 2010 Austin City Limits Music Festival, Austin, TX

One Set: Down With Disease, Cities, Possum, Wolfman’s Brother, Chalk Dust Torture, Rock & Roll > 2001, Backwards Down The Number Line, Harry Hood > Light, Suzy Greenberg, You Enjoy Myself

E: Cavern, First Tube

setlist courtesy of www.phish.com

download the show here.

image courtesy of Jay Janner and Austin360.com

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