I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: December 29, 2019] Phish

I blew off two of the three Phish shows I had tickets to this summer.  (I really should have gone to that Sunday show).  Camden is such a hassle.

Somehow, I find getting to Madison Square Garden much less of a hassle–which makes literally no sense.  These were my fourth and fifth times seeing them at MSG (compared to two in Camden).  But this MSG trip involved driving into the city ($15 tunnel toll?) and then getting a garage.  And, because I planned to go to an after party at Le Poisson Rouge with Marco Benevento, I decided to park in the village and subway it up.  That’s actually a lot of hassle.

But it was worth it.

This was my eighth Phish show (I could be in double digits by now if I didn’t sell those Camden tickets).

The theory is that the Sunday night of the New Year’s Eve run is always great.  And boy howdy was it.

I know that everyone has Phish songs that they want to hear but haven’t yet, so your pleasure my vary, but this show knocked off four songs I wanted to hear and included ten others that I hadn’t heard before.

My seats were behind the stage (my friend Armando told me about these seats, and I agree that they are better than high 200-300-400 seats).  It’s a bit of a bummer only seeing the backs of the guys, but it’s not like the band is visually interesting–that’s what the lights are for.

I’m always pleased that Phish doesn’t go on at 7:30 as advertised.  With all the commuting, I didn’t get to the venue until 7:30 and then the line at security was a beast!  But I got to my seat around 8 and all was well.

They came on at 8:17 and played for about 90 minutes.

They opened with “Turtle in the Clouds” another song from the Kasvot Växt album that I hadn’t heard live yet (I’ve now got half of that album without even thinking about it).  It was great and is one of my favorite songs of that collection–I didn’t know that everyone would go crazy during the House Party line, which was fun.

I also knew it would be a fun night because during this song Mike and Trey did a (small) synchronized dance routine.  The one bad thing about these seats is that I really can’t ever see Mike, so it was nice of him to come out from his cubicle for the dance.

They played only 7 songs that I’d seen live before.  “The Moma Dance” was one of them, but I like that song, so it was fun to hear it again.  I’m getting to the point now where some of the songs I saw live over three years ago, so it’s okay to hear them a few times.  Usually my row-mates are cool and friendly, but these guys were all kinds of irritating.  The guys to my left talked through the whole show, which is just weird.  Since Phish is more of a party and less of a “listen intently” band I didn’t mind that much–but I did have to put in an earplug just for them.  I was also surprised that nobody passed me anything.  I didn’t want anything but I was offended that I wasn’t offered.

Then came four new live songs for me.  Starting with a bouncing “Kill Devil Falls” with a fun improv section.  Up next was my favorite Mike Gordon solo song, “Yarmouth Road.”  I’d always wondered how they made the sounds in “Yarmouth” and while I couldn’t be sure since everyone had their back to me, it sure seemed like Trey was making the weird sounds.  I’m fascinated that in addition to playing the band songs, the rest of the guys are also familiar with each other’s solo songs too.

Up next was “The Wedge” which had some great keyboard work from Page.  It was followed by a song from Page’s solo album, “Beauty of a Broken Heart.”  I’ve often felt like Page McConnell was my least favorite Phish guy–no offense Page–his songs are usually the slowest and most jazzy.  But after seeing Vida Blue and really getting to see what he’s doing, I appreciate him a lot more.  When you’re far away and Page is behind his wall of keyboards, it’s not easy to grasp what’s going on.  I could also see Page quite well from where I was, and wow, he is all over those four square feet he has to himself (with I think 8 racks of keyboards!).

One of the fun things about sitting where we were was that after each song you could see Trey lean over and whisper to Fish what song he wanted to play next.  After the first song, people near me even read his lips that it would be “Moma Dance.”  I always wondered how they all knew what was coming next.  Now I do.

Then came “Fuego.”  They played “Fuego” at the first show I saw–a 16 minute set two opener.  I didn’t know the song that well at the time.  But this time, the song blew me away.  I really could appreciate the various parts and it feels like maybe it has settled into a comfortable fan favorite (this version was less than ten minutes long).

Then came the song that had me totally freaking out with excitement.  I have heard “My Friend, My Friend” on many live recordings and it always sounds great.  And man, was it great to feel the energy the band and the fans generated during that song with its multiple parts.  I am a little bummed that we didn’t get the ending part (apparently called “myfe”) when they scream giddily, but instead of that, Fish started the familiar fast drum roll of “Birds of a Feather.”  I also saw this last time in 2016 and it’s one of my favorite Phish songs (it’s one of the first ones I’d ever heard), so I was pretty excited to hear it again.

Then Trey had a chat with Fish about the next song.  It seemed like he was trying to show him what the rhythm was like?  Then Trey started playing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”  The whole arena went nuts.  Now I don’t normally like covers, but this one was fantastic.  Phish statistics tell me it has been 234 shows since they played it last–I do tend to get the rarities.  What impressed me most was Trey’s soloing–it was fierce and powerful.  Trey can play all kinds of styles, but usually fierce isn’t one of them.  But this was an amazing solo.

That roaring soloing style continued in the set ending “Walls of the Cave” (which also ended Set One at the first night of the Baker’s Dozen shows).  I love this song and was really excited to hear it again.  And Trey’s soloing was superb.

Another interesting thing sitting behind the stage is the Chris Kuroda light show.  It’s always cool to see what he’s doing, but from behind the stage you get to see what the band is seeing.  So when Trey hits a peak in a solo and the lights get all bright, that’s exactly what the band sees.  It’s pretty cool.

A set break followed and I got a NYE-run bandanna.  Then it was back to my seat–where someone from further back was trying to sneak into my row–unsuccessfully.

Set Two opened up with “Carini.”  Now, sure I have a hundred favorite Phish songs, but yes, indeed, this is one of them. It’s never been on an album, but it is a scorching live song.  The riff is raw and loud, the jamming is cathartic and while I would always prefer to hear a song on my short(er) list of need-to-hears, I would accept a “Carini” every show.

Up next was one of those Phish songs that I know very well and kind of forget about, “Back on the Train.”  This is a great live song and it was my first time hearing it live.  Turns out one of my favorite Phish albums is (I believe the much maligned) Farmhouse, from where this comes.  But however much I enjoyed this song, it was nothing compared to the excitement I felt when they started the opening of “Bathtub Gin.”  From Page’s crazy off-kilter piano, to the super catchy bouncy rhythm, it was spectacular.  I’ve heard that people are tired of this one, but I’d never heard it before and, honestly, it sure looked like everyone was pretty excited to hear it too.  I read that this was a particularly exceptional “Gin” with some great jamming that stretched it out to over 15 minutes.

It was followed by the TV on the Radio cover “Golden Age.”  It seems weird that this cover, which I guess has become a staple of their show but which seems like an unlikely cover, I have now seen twice.  I enjoyed it more this time, although once again, I didn’t realize it was the TV on the Radio song–Phish just makes things their own.  As that song wound down I recognized the opening rumblings of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (the 2001 theme).  I love their version so much and it’s a song I never put on my list assuming I’d never hear it, I guess.  But wow was it fantastic to hear it live.  This version also had a lot of space where everyone got to Woo! which is a ton of fun.

Sitting back here, I also noticed this guy sitting at the side of the stage –>.  I assume he’s a sound guy (and not the lighting guy), but it’s weird I’ve never seen anyone off to the side of the stage before.

There are a number of songs that Phish plays so often that it seems like it’s one of theirs and not a cover.  “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley” is one of them.  I know they’ve played this a million times but I hadn’t heard it live.  It wasn’t anything I especially wanted to hear, but I really got into it like an old familiar song–and the crowd loved it.

Then came the song that I had most wanted to hear (until the next one).  I have loved “Chalk Dust Torture” ever since I heard it–it’s catchy and funny and a terrific song.  It’s also really common and somehow I hadn’t heard it yet. So yes, when they started that, it totally made my night.  That was only exceeded when they started the reggae-ish guitar chord of “Harry Hood.”  This song, with multiple parts, is one of those live staples that I feel you haven’t fully experienced Phish until you get one.  And I was right.  The song itself is a ton of fun–the various parts each have their own enjoyable parts.  But they did some fantastic jamming and stretched it out to nearly 19 minutes.  It was an outstanding set ender.

I never get my hopes up for Phish encores.  Which is stupid because over the seven previous shows half of them have been outstanding.  Sometimes it’s one song, other times it can just jam on.  The band came back out and started the mellow Trey song “Show of Life,” which was also my encore song in 2018.  It’s a lovely song, but apparently not lovely enough for the guys next to me who left once it started.  Well, I assume they are kicking themselves because Phish added this encore set to my list of great ones by shifting gears and playing a 9 minute “Run Like an Antelope.”  “Antelope” is one of their ten most played songs and somehow I’d never heard it live.  So, yes, a jammed out encore was just the place to put it.  It left me feeling fantastic.

Even though I had been tired heading into the night, the show had totally perked me up and I was in a terrific mood getting four songs checked off my list.

I was all set to go to the after party with Marco.

But when I got to the subway platform, I had just missed a train. When the next one came in, it was on the express lane, not the local, so I missed that one.  The next one did the same thing (I wasn’t the only one on this platform though, so I didn’t feel too stupid).  As this third one pulled in, I ran down the stairs to try to catch it, but there were no up-stairs, only a ridiculously slow elevator (which did not smell great).  By the time the next train came (I wonder how long the people who stayed on that other platform would stay there), it was already almost 1 AM.

I had certainly missed part of the show (which was supposed to begin at 12:30) and when I double-checked the map I realized I’d parked much further from LPR than I’d intended.  Did I really want to walk a mile and a half (and through Washington Square Park) at 3AM?  Not really.  So I got off at the stop nearest my car and called it a night.

I’m still bummed as I realize I have now missed Marco on a few different occasions recently.  But I’ll get to see him again, I’m sure.

Despite not going to the afterparty I still didn’t get home until 2:30.  But the Phish show was so good I didn’t mind at all.

And I was all set for the following night.

 

December 30, 2019 Madison Square Garden [night 3 of 4]	December 29, 2019 Madison Square Garden [night 2 of 4]
SET ONE	SET ONE
Wilson (4:49)	Turtle in the Clouds (7:51) [Kasvot Växt]
The Final Hurrah (7:37) [Kasvot Växt]	The Moma Dance (7:54) (2)
46 Days (8:40)  (3)	Kill Devil Falls (8:40)
The Ballad of Curtis Loew (5:02) [Lynyrd Skynyrd cover]	Yarmouth Road (7:12) [Mike song]
Blaze On (17:17) (3)	The Wedge (7:41)
Corinna (5:32) [Taj Mahal cover]	Beauty of a Broken Heart (5:28) [Page song]
Mike’s Song (6:24) (4)	Fuego (9:16) (2)
Contact (6:13)	My Friend, My Friend (5:25) (no Myfe ending)
Weekapaug Groove (4:59) (4)	Birds of a Feather (5:42) (2)
About to Run (7:47) [Trey song]	While My Guitar Gently Weeps (7:12) [The Beatles cover] (first time since 2013)
More (8:18) (2)	Walls of the Cave (11:07) (2)
SET TWO	SET TWO
Tweezer (36:08) (2) [LONGEST SONG I’VE SEEN]	Carini (13:52) (2)
Pan Story (3:25)	Back on the Train (6:22)
Ruby Waves (13:23) [Ghosts of the Forest] (2)	Bathtub Gin (15:44)
Steam (with Tweezer reprise and Ruby Waves reprise) (11:53) (2)	Golden Age [TV on the Radio] (11:06) (2)
Slave to the Traffic Light (9:28) (3)	Also Sprach Zarathustra (8:16) [Richard Strauss cover]
ENCORE	Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley (5:12) [Lee Dorsey cover]
Rock & Roll (7:19) [Velvet Underground cover]	Chalk Dust Torture (5:19)
	Harry Hood (18:53)
	ENCORE
	Show of Life (5:35) [Trey song] (2)
	Run Like an Antelope (9:08)

 

Camden, June 29, 2019	December 30, 2018 Madison Square Garden [night 3 of 4]
SET ONE	SET ONE
Mike’s Song (9:12) (3)	Alumni Blues (5:14)
I Am Hydrogen (3:02) (2)	Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues (1:53)
Weekapaug Groove (8:01) (2)	Mike’s Song (9:14) (2)
Divided Sky (15:48)	Glide II (4:03) (first since 1995)
Everything’s Right (9:50) [Trey song] (4)	Weekapaug Groove (12:38) (4)
Guelah Papyrus (5:22)	Crosseyed and Painless (8:50)
Sparkle (3:51) (3)	Bliss (1:39)
Roggae (7:59) (3)	Billy Breathes (5:35) (2)
46 Days (10:31) (2)	No Men in No Man’s Land (7:50) (3)
SET TWO	Tube > Weekapaug Groove > Tube (10:02)
Blaze On (9:23) (2)	More (6:23)
NICU (4:57)	SET TWO
Golden Age (8:27) [TV on the Radio]	Cool Amber and Mercury (9:35) [Kasvot Växt]
Ruby Waves (13:38)[Ghosts of the Forest]	Everything’s Right (15:30) [Trey song] (3)
Death Don’t Hurt Very Long (2:57) [Kasvot Växt]	Plasma (9:09)
Rift (6:11) (3)	Light (20:01) (2)
Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1 (8:10) [Ghosts of the Forest] [debut]	Wading in the Velvet Sea (5:25)
Waiting All Night (4:59)	Split Open and Melt (18:26) (3)
Ghost (8:17)	ENCORE
Say It to Me S.A.N.T.O.S (6:42) [Kasvot Växt]	Funky Bitch (5:33) (2)
ENCORE	Wilson (4:10) (3)
You Enjoy Myself (19:50) (3)	Rocky Top (2:40)
Grind (1:51) (a capella)	Cavern (4:45)