Greetings everyone. So ready for
the start of football season. But while I wait for repetitive brain
damage to begin, I've got to tell the world about the healing power
of music. And which music? How about the face melting, brain
obliterating, soul a-blazin' music that is Phish. And I got a full
dose in Denver. So here it is, Phish, Live in Denver, Colorado, Sept
2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2016.
Casey and myself decided long
before dates were announced that we were doing Dick's this year. We
had done a festival and Halloween together, so now it was time for
something else. Our plan was to fly into Denver and spend Thursday
night in Boulder. I also did this in 2012, and you can read about
that here. I'm in the middle of about 50 people from Vermont. In Colorado.
We rolled in about 3 or 1 hour
after the campground opened. The ticket said one thing and the
website said another. But we got a camping spot situated nicely,
except for the young kids next to us who blasted EDM really loud and
really late the first night. I know it's a fest but I'm an old man
and need my sleep. There should be a separate People Who Saw 1.0
Shows and Need Their Rest Camping Area. .
But back to the important stuff.
Soundcheck:
Mercury -> Low Rider Jam -> Camel Walk, Waiting All Night,
Swingtown Jam
[1]
First half performed in a swing style.
Notes:
This
show was webcast via LivePhish.
Mike teased Light Up or Leave Me Alone before Stash. Fish performed
the first part of Ass Handed in a swing style. Trey teased Stash
during The Wedge. The Birds was quoted at the end of Birds of a
Feather. Runaway Jim contained a Seven Below tease.
You
can stream it here
We went to Shakedown to check
things out before the show. We got the best thing we ate all weekend,
a salad with apples, arugula, spicy ailoi, and hempseed.
Unbelievable, from the Farm to Truck food truck in Denver. While we
were eating, we heard the soundcheck clear as a bell.
By the time the show started, I
was REALLY ready for them. And they open with Ghost! To say I was
surprised is an understatement. Deep space, just like we were in the
middle of the second set. They then have a discussion and launch
into No Man's. And this was even better. Deep super funk disco. It
was so good. The rest of the set was standard first set stuff with
Stash having some tasty morsels.
Second set, how about an Antelope
opener! Wow, really mixing up tonight. Mercury seemed like it was
stretched out a little more than normal. Wombat is a favorite funk
tune of mine. And then, TWEEZER? This late in a set, wow. And they
didn't mess around. I read one review that said this was the Tweezer
we had been looking for all summer. And then Jim, which had some sick
teases of 7 Below within it. After the encore we staggered back to
the campsite and tried to get some sleep. I wasn't too successful.
Sat. we took a bus tour of Denver
arranged by Surrender to the Flow. If you don't know what that is,
it's a free newsletter that Christie has down for every Tour and
every run since 1998. I wrote for it for the Fall Tour 2014 issue and
hopefully the Fall 2016 issue as well. We went to a few dispensaries
and to a glass museum that has to be seen to believed. They are still
working on their website
Made it back in time. Went in
early but still timed things much better.
Soundcheck:
Dogs Stole Things, My Soul
[1]
Trey on Marimba Lumina.
[2] With closing bass solo.
Notes:
This
show was webcast via LivePhish.
Simple featured Trey on Marimba Lumina. Squirming Coil ended with
Trey, Fish, and finally Page walking off, leaving Mike to take a
bass solo to finish the song for the first time in Phish history..
You
can stream it here
A
Slave opener? Now we have gone through the looking glass. I'll admit,
it flashed through my mind that it was the end of a show. Then
Disease, and this didn't skimp on the jam. Followed by What's The
Use! Indeed. The Maze was extra hot as well. Divided late in the
first set is unusual and the crowd down front chanted “We love
Dick's. Trey loves Dick's”. And one of my fav covers to close out
the wacky first set. You know his life was saved by rock and roll!!
The
Blaze On was the highlight of the second set for me. Got really deep
and distorted. The Simple had some nice moments. The 2001 had some
nifty things going on before the first chorus that I never heard
before, and this was confirmed by another reviewer. And the whole set
flowed right into the next song. And the encore? A Coil to get every
jaded vet to rush for the exits and then Don Gordelone surprises
everyone in the universe and takes the ending solo. Wow, and he
nailed it.
After
a much more restful night's sleep, we had one day to go. We went into
Denver to grab a bite to eat. We went to City o' City.
http://www.cityocitydenver.com/
Super dope and they had pics of Kerouac and Burroughs up on the wall.
Neil Cassidy was raised by a hobo alcoholic father in Denver, and my
mind wandered to him, haunting these streets many years ago.
Soundcheck:
Dog Log, My Soul
[1]
Trey on Marimba Lumina, Mike and Page on percussion.
Teases:
·San-Ho-Zay
tease
in Weekapaug Groove
·Crosseyed
and Painless tease
in Steam
·Crosseyed
and Painless tease
& quote in Light
·Crosseyed
and Painless tease
& quote in First Tube
·Crosseyed
and Painless tease
& quote in Walls of the Cave
·Crosseyed
and Painless tease
& quote in Piper
Notes:
This
show was webcast via LivePhish.
Trey teased San-Ho-Zay during Weekapaug and teased Crosseyed during
Steam, Piper, Light, First Tube and Walls of The Cave. Piper featured
a Fishman-driven and inspired improvisation with Trey on Marimba
Lumina and Mike and Page on percussion. Piper, Light, First Tube, and
Walls Of The Cave also included Crosseyed quotes.
You
can stream it here
Went
in early again but were on the floor this time, Mike's side. I
actually heard people groan when they did Wingsuit. Sigh, come on
people. Any Phish is good Phish. The Gin>Melt was really cool,
having 2 monsters back to back.
But
this show was all about the second set, specifically Crosseyed. About
ten minutes in it is a major key jam of bliss. 2 separate jams by my
count. There was a lot of meatball at the end. And then Steam. But
they never really stop playing Crosseyed. Over the course of the set
(with the exception of Lizards, 'cause that's Gamehendge shit), they
kept teasing and quoting Crosseyed. I'd love for someone to sit down
and mark each time they did it. It was truly remarkable to witness.
The Piper had a Drumz segment. I know the Marimba Lumina is a point
of debate but it was cool. Just not every show please. Piper closes
out with a sick jam. Light is no slouch either. During the encore
break, people were chanting “Still Waiting”.
I
sleep for about 5 hours if that and froze my balls off. Pretty sure
it was lower 50's. But we tore down camp, returned rental car and got
through security to make it home safe and sound. And do you remember
in the beginning I mentioned the healing power of music? 6 days
before we are scheduled to fly out, I had an accident at work and had
a 9 in long laceration on my calf. No nerves, veins, arteries, or
ligaments were cut. The sac that surrounds my calf was nicked and
required stitches. I needed 12 staples to close the would. Hardly
bled. I am so lucky it wasn't worse. 3 inches lower it hits my
Achilles. 3 inches up it hits a knee ligament. Worked there for 14
years and this was my first accident.
But
after attending the shows, my mind and leg are A OK. I got a lot of
thinking done there and the future has never looked so bright. On to
maybe writing for STTF again and Nashville on a Fall Southern Tour.
Yea haw!
Dave
Kemp
BA
American Studies
PhD
Rock and Roll
