2. The Covers
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyZnvRwYn7k[/youtube]
After flirting with cover choices throughout 2010 that – despite being very cool selections – fell well outside their wheelhouse (i.e., Tom Waits, Neutral Milk Hotel and Joni Mitchell), Phish seemed to focus more on playing tunes that fit their lineup, sound and improvisational tendencies thus far in 2011. This meant relying more on big hitters from their original influences like Led Zeppelin with No Quarter, the Rolling Stones with Monkey Man and even AC/DC with Big Balls.
Meanwhile, the more contemporary Golden Age seems to be finding a place in the regular rotation, and stands out not only as a welcome cover, but as one of the band’s best improvisational vehicles, cover or not. Interestingly, after learning the entire Little Feat double album for Halloween, the band only played Time Loves A Hero and Rocket In My Pocket once a piece in leg one. Hence, don’t sleep on Little Feat this August.
3. The Jamming
While the first leg of summer tour wasn’t exactly filled to the brim with improv, when the quartet let loose they delivered plenty of magical moments such as the Clarkston Disease, the Storage Jam, the Great Woods Rock and Roll, the Blossom Sneakin’ Sally and the Golden Age from Super Ball IX. For many of these summer jams, such as the Simple from Watkins Glen, their power wasn’t in guitarist Trey Anastasio shredding as it was in the interplay between all four members. Mike, Page and Fish all took turns shining throughout the first leg and we’re expecting more of the same starting at The Gorge.
4. The Mound Treatment
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjyDdi-J8cQ[/youtube]
With Mound making four outings in leg one and getting the heavy treatment at Super Ball IX, there’s reason to hope for more explorations on the longtime rarity and fan-favorite. We have to believe Mike is behind this development as he referenced an “extended version of Mound” in his solo tour promotional video, and proceeded to slay it with Scott Murawski adding some law-running improvisational guitar work throughout the tour. Phish followed suit, and hopefully the trend of looking at old classics from new angles will continue into leg two.
5. The Content
For an internet savvy bunch, Phish fans were admittedly a little slow on the draw in developing their corner of the blogosphere relative to other realms like indie music, sports and politics. At this point, however, with stalwarts like the Phish.net blog, Dog Gone Blog, Phish Thoughts, Online Phish Tour, Unplugged Musings, Live Music Blog, YEMblog and of course Hidden Track, we have a bevy of great, passionate writers churning out quality content – at least enough to last you ’til lunch time.
6. The New(er) Songs
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of leg one was the band’s complete disregard for majority of the material they debuted in 2010. While sure, we haven’t noticed anyone holding up signs for Dr. Gabel, of the nine songs that worked their way into setlists last year for the first time – Show of Life, Dr. Gabel, Halfway to the Moon, Summer of 89, Idea, My Problem Right There, What Things Seem, Birdwatcher and Burn That Bridge – it was Show Of Life that got the most stage time, with three workouts, while Birdwatcher and Halfway To The Moon only got the nod once each.
While we thought we might see some more new additions to the band’s repertoire, the lone 2011 original debut came in the form of the lyrically dark, psych-funk tune Steam, which in our humble opinion may be the best of the batch so far, and seems ready for more extended exploratory versions. With the band expected to head into the studio to work on a new record this winter, we’d really like to see these songs lose a bit of their new car smell in leg two, before being committed to wax, by taking the place of some of the warhorses of the last few tours.
7. The Return of the 2.0 Epics
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3al4sCn0B0[/youtube]
Leading up to the first leg, we were perplexed by the lack of 2.0 opuses in the setlists since Hampton. One of the biggest tragedies of Phish breaking up when they did is that we never got to see A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing, Scents and Subtle Sounds and Waves develop. Thankfully, all three tunes were brought back during the first leg and we have high hopes that they will find their way into setlists this month.
8. This Could Be It For A While
T minus 14 and counting. We’ve got exactly two weeks worth of Phish shows to enjoy, listen to, debate and dissect before we’re faced with a bit of a murky timetable for the band’s return to the stage. With their messaging a bit unclear about additional dates this year, posting that “These additional dates will be the last announced by the band for the Summer and Fall” upon announcing the Denver shows, we’re not counting on anything past the tour closer on September 4.
Even more dubious were Trey’s comments to Rolling Stone about a lighter tour schedule in 2012, due to band members’ family commitments. So with all that in mind, it could be a while before we start putting in numerous mail order requests, lining up sick days to cash in and getting those pre-show butterflies, so we suggest that everyone soak it up while you can.
What are YOU excited for from Phish Summer Tour – Leg Two?
– Ryan Dembinsky, Scott Bernstein and Jeff Greenblatt
5 Responses
lots of jams in leg 1
I’m excited to see the boys rested and rejuvinated.
I’m excited to see a band playing amazing venues on their own terms, casual fans be damned. They’ll have tons of fun onstage, and setting can be a major contributor to beautiful moments.
I’m excited to hear a band that’s digested their three and a half epic moments thus far this year(Bethel Waves, DTE DwD, Ball Soundcheck, and the halfer goes to the Storage Set,) and can expound on those sounds and grooves.
I’m excited about the future of the Plinko/Funk fusion from the Blossom Sally jam and the Ball Golden Age jam.
I’m very excited to hear Steam again, and anything else in this vein that they’ve been saving for a special occasion under the stars.
I’m exteremely excited to see The Phish throw down, and above all I’m excited to get to dance with them when they do.
Man, it sure sucks to live in Tucson AZ (the land the jambands ignore)
I haven’t seen Phish since Cal Expo 1995 (yikes!!! too long). The “Wolfman’s Brother” opener and quite a few debut songs. With a bit of luck I’ll catch the 2nd show at Lake Tahoe (08.10.2011)… I’m hoping for “Sparkle” and “Fluffhead”, but anything/everything will be AWESOME!
I was lucky enough to catch 8.10 – the 2nd nite at Tahoe as I was hoping… I read elsewhere on the interweb that folks found the show “underwhelming”. Hmmmm….. opened with “Dogs Stole Things”, the first time played in over 8 years, and closed with a 20min “You Enjoy Myself” complete with trampolines and a crazy voice/spacey thing, with a double encore of “Show Of Life” and Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times”… if this is “underwhelming”, I don’t think my brain could handle “overwhelming”. IT FREEKIN’ ROCKED!!!