Furthur Tips Hat To Phish Dicks With “STEAL YOUR FACE” Setlist
Back on August 31 Phish delivered an instant classic performance in which they spelled out “FUCK YOUR FACE” with the first letter of the songs they played that night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. This evening, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in nearby Morrison, post-Jerry Grateful Dead act Furthur paid tribute to that performance by spelling out “STEAL YOUR FACE” with the first letter of the 13 songs they played at the legendary venue.
[Photo via @FurthurBand]
Furthur’s “STEAL YOUR FACE” gig was the final show of three at Red Rocks that have kicked off the group’s fall tour. There was a time when Phish and the Grateful Dead existed in their own worlds and over the years the invisible barrier between the two biggest rock improv acts of all time has lifted and as recently as two weeks ago Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio jammed with Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir at a HeadCount benefit.
Tonight’s first set included the first-ever Furthur cover of Hank Williams’ You Win Again – a song last played by Weir and Lesh at a The Dead show in 2003 with Bob Dylan on vocals. Before that, the pair last performed the tune with the Grateful Dead in 1972. Following the “STEAL YOUR FACE” shenanigans, Furthur played He’s Gone – the tune with “Steal Your Face” in its lyrics. Furthur heads to Seattle next for a show at WaMu Theatre on Tuesday.
Furthur Setlist:
Set One: Samson & Delilah, Tennessee Jed, Easy Wind, Alabama Getaway, Loose Lucy, You Win Again, Operator, Uncle John’s Band
Set Two: Reuben & Cherise, Feel Like A Stranger > Alligator > Cumberland Blues, Eyes Of The World, He’s Gone > Viola Lee Blues > Caution > Viola Lee Blues > Black Peter > Viola Lee Blues
Encore: Brokedown Palace,
As for who came up with the idea? When asked who came up with the ploy, Furthur vocalist Jeff Pehrson reveals that the band’s co-manager Matt Busch put the setlist together.
Scott Bernstein
Scott Bernstein co-founded Hidden Track in October 2006 and was managing editor until taking over as EiC in January 2008. Scotty also writes for Relix Magazine and curates YEMblog.com.
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moe. was doing this consistently the past few tours. look into it. But that’s bad-ass! looks like the songs flowed pretty well taboot.
awesome acronym antics aside, I think this looks like a sick show. Alligator!
I love GD and any offshoots like furthur are awesome too. It’s so great that in this day and age we are lucky enough to have (at least) 2 amazing bands who can pull off antics like this: they are “sharing in the groove” but each with their own style.
That being said, I think Phish’s performance represented something a bit more special. The amazing CDT in the middle of the second set epitomizes that the guys aren’t waiting until their old, but rather they will, albeit somewhat ironically, “live while [they're] young.” They are bringing back their airtight style of interplay and high energy shows, just like it used to be (obviously a different flavor in the modern day), and that’s what the phans have been waiting for. 2012 Phish means business.
Also, FUCK YOUR FACE made up the entire 2 set stint rather than just part of it, meaning Phish is forcing themselves to jam, positioning their music in a way that pushes them to have jams with direction that still last over 15 or even 20 minutes.
Just my $.02
This is a horrid attempt by Phil and Bobby to justify their own validity in the present music scene. I mean c’mon, you’re gonna jack Phish’s game plan in the same state just 3 weeks later? Hokey-ass weak-sauce if you ask me. I’m surprised Phil didn’t call for a Wolfman’s>Sample encore.
That is one way to look at it. Another way is that it says: Hey Phish, we saw what you did and if you are going to do that you might as well do it with songs of substance instead of your horrid, hokey-ass crap.
They wrote chalkdust years ago because they knew that they would take a 5 year hiatus, and then come back in 2009 and start playing well in 2012. what in the?
@AK you are the guy that gives all phans a bad name, please take your bad vibes and leave forever, @CA Phish is great and much different than the Dead, deal with it. Now that I’ve said that, I must say this is a great way to give props to the new generation while also rocking a killer setlist for themselves. Good to see everyone paying attention to more than themselves and putting smiles (even if they are gimmicky and cheesy) on everybody’s face. Jam on, can’t wait til both bands have some side projects in NY!