The B List: 10 Venues Phish Should Play
Over the past 25+ years there has been at least one Phish concert at many of the country’s best venues, but not at all of them. Now that the band is back and in fine form we’ve come up with a list of ten places we’d love to see them perform. We stuck with venues holding at least 7,000 people and even threw in a couple from Europe for good measure.
Here’s our list of ten places Phish should play that they haven’t…
10. Verizon Wireless Arena – Manchester, NH
Within striking distance of both Boston and Burlington, playing a show at this cool new-ish venue would be a terrific treat for the long-forgotten Phish fans from New Hampshire.
READ ON for the rest of Scotty’s list of venues Phish should play…
9. Slane Castle – Ireland
Located in Ireland’s County Meath, this legendary site of The Battle of the Boyne holds concerts every August on the sprawling grounds. While Phish couldn’t come close to filling the 100,000 person capacity now, perhaps one day they will be able to or they can team up their buddy Bruce Springsteen.
8. Central Park – New York, NY
Hey, if the Dave Matthews Band can get permission from the City of New York to throw a concert in Central Park, Coran Capshaw should hook it up for his other clients.
7. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre – Alpharetta, GA
We’ve only heard amazing things about the Atlanta-area’s newest outdoor venue. It’s GOT to be better than Lakewood although I’m sure Atlanta Phish fans would take a show anywhere in the area they can get it at this point.
6. Wrigley Field – Chicago, IL
If you’re going to play stadiums, you might as well play this classic ballpark.
5. Koka Booth Amphitheater – Cary, NC
Built in 2001, this intimate venue has won raves from concert attendees for both the sound and the beauty of the amphitheater.
4. Bethel Woods – Bethel, NY
This state-of-the-art venue opened in 2006 on the site of the Woodstock Festival. I caught the GRAB/Phil show back in 2006 and can attest to the beauty of the site. Bethel Woods is the rare venue with a lawn you can actually see and hear the show from.
3. The Eden Project – St. Blazey, UK
While Phish getting a gig at The Eden Project isn’t very likely, you can’t find a more dramatic setting for a rock concert than this series of gardens and domes outside of Cornwall in the United Kingdom.
2. Pritzker Pavillion in Millenium Park – Chicago, IL
Designed by Frank Gehry, this venue in Chicago’s Millennium Park features a revolutionary design and a state-of-the-art sound system. What more can you ask for?
1. Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA
Another architectural marvel, LA’s Hollywood Bowl was carved into the mountain on which it sits and has hosted a number of legendary concerts in its day. There have been rumors dating back to 1996 that Phish would play here but it hasn’t happened yet.
Thanks to Team HLA for the help on this piece.
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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I wish they would do a small theatre run, playing 3 nights in each venue to cut down on craziness. Or do 3 in each town, a Large venue, a medium, and small venue. Kinda like the Stones did a while back, that way the band stays in the same town, but the fans get 3 different looks.
These are all great. Another one I would add to the list would be Tanglewood. Yeah, it would be a total cluster-f••• but it would be worth it, imo.
Ha. Tanglewood would be amazing – hopefully it will be a stop when Trey tours with the New York Philharmonic.
Really hope Bethel Woods makes the itinerary next year.
Fed Ex Forum in Memphis
hollywood bowl is rather sick, personally that joint in Atlanta looks amazing
I would happily sell my soul to see them play at the Eden Project. But then, I would happily sell my soul to see them play anywhere in the UK. Or to see them play at all.
That joint in the UK looks insane. It would be like seeing Phish play on some weird Star Wars planet, which, of course, would be awesome.
nice call on Alpharetta and Koka Booth, both great venues
Bethel Woods would be amazing. Coran had Dave there this summer so fingers crossed Phish will follow next summer. Sick venue on sacred grounds! And nearby Rolling Stone Ranch would have quite the after party!
Greek Theater in cali.
Agree with Wrigley for sure, although sound would be compromised.
Meadowlands will happen sooner than we all might like to think…but will certainly allow for minimal ticket hassles, which is a priority now that i’m “old” for the scene.
That venue in Ireland looks rediculous…that would be sweet.
My ultimate vote, however – definitely the Central Park gig.
THose are all great venues except the venue in Manchester NH has terrible acoustics IMO. I saw Tool there and really don’t think it’s possible to make a concert sound good in a venue like that
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1. Golden Gate Park in San Fran, CA
2. The Joker’s backyard in Denver, CO
3. The Pyramids, Giza, Egypt
4. Darkside of the Moon
my vote is for the Rock, aka The Prudential Center, in beautiful downtown Newark, NJ
i would be psyched if Phish played my backyard. thanks for the suggestion, pauly! here is a pic of the facilities:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=722055&l=104391170a&id=1069756480
and you thought Red Rocks was a hard ticket to get? HA!
Great stuff Scotty. Good work as always. Now forward this to Capshaw
anywhere in HAWAII
Pritzker Pavilion would be sooooooooo outrageously awesome. Wow.
Wolf Trap.
Amen Philip! Wolf Trap. Its such a great venue. And for those that don’t know, Wolf Trap allows you to bring in your own food and booze. Better then Alpine’s $12 beers!!!
Anyone ever been to a show at Pine Mountain Amphitheater in Flagstaff, AZ? Gorgeous and has camping. Saw Cheese there a fews years back as well as Widespread.
I saw DMB at Bethel this summer, and the venue is incredible. Sound, view, and setting were all amazing.
The only problem was the crowd, which was easily the worst of the 7 DMB shows I’ve been to.
Phish would be awesome there.
[...] READ ON for the rest of Scotty’s list of venues Phish should play… [...]
slane castle would never happen, nowhere near enough irish people know phish to even start to fill it
LAS VEGAS SILVER BOWL – why not – surrounded my those mountains. Talk about a Phish festival in Las Vegas would have been unreal.