As per the few requests I have received, I have decided to bring back the old blog from the grave. As many of you know, I am a die hard Phish fan and just recently completed a two-night run at Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY. Let me start by saying this venue is amazing and if they lifted the 5 year old ban on selling booze, this could easily be the best venue in the country to see a show. That being said...I got way too drunk for the tuesday nights show and cant do much in terms of a review, but I will tell you that the 2nd set kicked ass. The first set kicked ass as well, but I couldnt give you any real specifics. You can stream the shows at www.yawningdrone.com and take a listen for yourself.
Last nights show (8/19) was a very special one for me. This marked my 25th Phish show in the the 8 years that I have been following this incredible band. Considering that during that 8 year span the band went on a 4 year hiatus, I consider my 25th show a special achievement. Lets move on to the show.
The band hit the stage at about 8:15pm and hit the ground running with the crowd pleasing Down with Disease. I always love me some bass and slapped a little in high school....BIG TIME! So to get the Mike driven DWD to open a show is always great. The boys spent no time launching right into another fan favorite in Sample in a Jar. Although not one of my favorites, its always more welcome than Time Turns Elastic. Here is where things started to get real interesting as the 3rd song up was Guelah Papyrus, a personal favorite of mine and a song I have been chasing along with fellow fan Karin Hoesl. As you could imagine, it was a special moment for the both of us to finally hear this song live...and with an extra funky intro to boot! Trey let loose some real nice solo's during this guelah and he and Mike added in the intro and outro dances, which is what makes Phish special. Poor Heart came up next, which is always a fun upbeat tune and kept the energy rolling along. As I mentioned previously, I love me some good bass and the bass solo in this tune always gets me goin...especially when followed by some magic on the keys by Page. The set took a step back when launching into Ocelot. Although one of the better songs off the new album, it seemed to slow down the set just a bit, maybe just enough for some people to rest their tired feet. The rest didnt last long as the quarter from Vermont launched into the always enticing Chalkdust and followed it up with Bathtub Gin and then Tube. This trifecta had the crowd up and dancing for at least 20 minutes straight. Then came the rare tune that is Destiny Unbound. Although I love this tune, it appeared that Trey forgot the intro and didnt play it. It was a weaker version of the tune and didnt touch the version I caught at Fenway last summer. Trey then led the band into Joy, a great but slow tune. There was one more tune left before the set would end and the boys launched into yet another epic version of Antelope. Every version of this song in 3.0 has been rock rock solid and last nights did not disappoint by ANY means. A great end to the first set of the summer tour closer.
Unfortunately, set break was not as relaxing as I was hoping for...all I wanted was to sit in my seats and rest my weary legs. Well, that did NOT happen. Some kid who was completely spun out decided to jump from the top tier of the rafters down onto the section next to mine. Let me reiterate that he JUMPED and did not fall from the top. The kid landed on his head and all of set break was spent trying to get medical personnel to the scene. They eventually were able to get stretched him out and I really hope the kid ends up okay. The moral of the story here is a) you cant fly. b) learn to handle your drugs. c) always look out for your friends at shows and make sure they are aiiight.
The band hit the stage for its second set to the guitar driven Axilla I. Another high energy crowd pleaser. They kept the set alive with Timber Ho! a personal favorite of mine and they played it last year at Jones Beach as well. They really stretched out the jam for this one and it got a little spacey for me, but enjoyable non the less. Timber then segued into my personal favorite jam off the new album, Light. It appears they guys have really gravitated most to this song and use it as a great vehicle to segue into other songs and keep a great synergy and flow to sets. The perfect example is how they used Light in this show to segue into 46 Days, which was my highlight of the show. If someone asks me why do I go to Phish shows, this is one of the songs I would play for them. The music, energy, and jamming in this 46 days was bar none the best I have ever heard and the highlight of the show for me. Trey really took this jam to new heights and peaks, a theme that has seem to be evident through out this whole summer tour. They rocked this 46 days right into another person favorite of mine in My Friend, My Friend. It was good to finally here the structured sections nailed. Then came one of the more unique Harry Hood's that I have ever heard. There was a great glow stick war for Hood and the band was really patient with the jam. Then came the song of summer tour and a song that everyone loves....the funkalicious Tweezer. This segued into the special combo that is the horse/silent in the morning. Really just 2 beautiful songs and another reason I love the Phish from Vermont. These arent "Hippie-Jam" songs, but rather just beautiful ballads. This is the uniqueness that is Phish....they go from the funk in tweezer to the slow/mellow ballads in the horse/silent and then into the epic symphony that is YEM to end the set. This YEM was very very very patient to start and Trey really let the other 3 pour it on before he took off on the structured sections. This was a great great version and also a tune that never ever disappoints and THE song that made me fall in love with Phish. The vocal outro to this jam was the best Ive ever heard, really fun and quirky.
After a quick encore break, the boys came back out to the crowd pleasing Suzy Greenberg and rolled straight into Tweezer Reprise to take the show and summer tour to a close. This has been a great summer and I was able to catch the tour opener, closer, and 4 others in between. This is the Phish I have been waiting to hear for years...the phish of the 90's. I am so grateful to have great live music in my life and not have to hear only about lady gaga, justin bieber, and the jonas brothers. I hope you enjoyed the return of the blog...stay tuned for the next entry!
