It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Phish, Live at the Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA Oct 18th, 1996

    Back again with another quick one. I can't explain my memory, how some shows I have near total recall and others, well, let's say I have definitely skipped some blog posts of shows because I really don't remember anything. But I always remember Phish!

It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Phish, Live at the Civic Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Oct. 18^th, 1996.

Soundcheck: My Mind's Got a Mind of It's Own, Billy Breathes

Set 1 : Runaway Jim, Guelah Papyrus, The Old Home Place, Cars Trucks, and Buses, Stash, Strange Design, Divided Sky, Billy Breathes, Taste, Sample in a Jar

Set 2: Suzy Greenburg>Maze, You Enjoy Myself, Waste, Harry Hood

Encore: Julius

YEM included teases of Peter Frampton's Do You Feel Like We Do.

You can stream it here

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1996-10-18

   Standard fare for the era. Again, no real flow. But it was only the third show of a long tour, so it is somewhat to be expected. Highlight of the ENTIRE show was the Maze. You really need to listen to it. It gets its own write up on Phish.net. Around the 10 minute mark, right as Trey is building up the “tension/release” peak of the song, some guy ran onto the stage. He avoided security and lept off of the stage into the front rows. That's why the crowd is flipping out well before the apex of the song. 

Check it out here

Audio only, but its a soundboard.

     And there you have it. I only say 2 shows on Fall Tour '96, but I made up for it with 2 shows on the NYE run. Rock and Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll

It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Phish, Live at the Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA Oct. 17th, 1996

     Hello people. I have a couple quick shows to go over from the Fall Tour of 1996. No, I wasn't smart enough to get myself down to Atlanta for Halloween. Just a few shows that were close to the home base. Here is the first one

It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Phish, Live at Bryce Jordan Center, University Park , PA Oct. 17^th, 1996.

     It felt good to be back at Penn State to see Phish again. My old roommate had moved to a new apartment and that is where we stayed. I definitely remember making tea and drinking it as we made our way across campus. My seats were right down front in the 6^th row. Some clown next to me pulled out a syringe before the lights went down. He talked to the security guards and was then led away.

SET 1: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Funky Bitch, Sparkle > Tweezer > Theme From the Bottom, Talk, Punch You In the Eye,Character Zero, A Day in the Life, Tweezer Reprise

SET 2: Ya Mar, Chalk Dust Torture, Bathtub Gin, Scent of a Mule, Free, The Lizards, The Star Spangled Banner[1], David Bowie

ENCORE: Golgi Apparatus

[1] Phish debut.

The Star Spangled Banner made its Phish debut at this show.

You can stream it here

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1996-10-17

     This one was a weird show. The first set was more like a second set. There wasn't a ton of jamming anywhere. The Tweezer went out there but again, nothing too memorable. And very little flow as well. But nothing more to say. I wasn't kidding when I said it was quick.

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll

Phish, Live in Nashville, TN, Oct 18th and 19th, 2016

     Hello everyone. I hope you survived the mini heat wave that we just experienced. I was at an even hotter location down South in Nashville Tennessee. And what was I doing there? I was on my honeymoon which of course we timed with Phish's Fall Tour. So if no one objects, here is my recap of Phish, live in Nashville, TN, on Oct. 18^th and 19^th, 2016.

     First, yes I am married. Neither myself or my beautiful bride Casey wanted a big fancy ceremony.  But Pennsylvania came through for us with something called a Self Uniting Marriage License. A couple signs it, and three days later we are married. No judge, no vows, just our undying love for each other. I love it!

     When we were planning this out and Phish announced their Fall Tour, Casey suggested we go to Nashville to see and hang with her musician cousin. The day after I put in our ticket request, her cousin told us she joined a band in NYC and was moving there by the end of September. But of course we were still going. I did check out to see if anyone cool was playing at the historic Ryman Auditorium. I saw Bob Weir was playing but it was the second night of Phish's run. Oh well, guess I won't be able to see Bobby. LMAO.

     We went down 2 days early to camp out and see a few of the sites. While I love rock and roll, the only country music I like is old school stuff, outlaw country. You know, like this guy.

Oct. 18^th, 2016

Soundcheck: Jam, Blues Jam, Tide Turns, Petrichor, Walking Blues

SET 1: Chalk Dust Torture, Blaze On, Ghost, Lawn Boy, Halley's Comet > Sand, Tide Turns, 46 Days > Breath and Burning, Limb By Limb > Cavern > Also Sprach Zarathustra

SET 2: Julius > Fuego > My Friend, My Friend, Samson and Delilah[1], Twist[2] > Miss You[3], West L.A. Fadeaway[3] > Playing in the Band[4]

ENCORE: Quinn the Eskimo[2]

[1] Phish debut; Bob Weir on guitar and vocals.
[2] Bob Weir on guitar.
[3] Bob Weir on guitar and vocals.
[4] Phish debut; Bob Weir on guitar.

    

You can stream it here

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/2016-10-18

      We were eating a light meal when we saw on FB that Bobby was soundchecking Walkin' Blues with Phish. My immediate thoughts were 1) Wow, Bobby's gonna play with Phish and 2) they're gonna play Walkin' Blues?!?!?!?!? An OK blues number that really wasn't all that when I saw the Dead do it. But who am I to complain?

     First set was solid, with a few second set heavy weights making an appearance. Both Ghost and Sand had some nice bits of improv. Everyone expected Cavern to be the end but they squeezed one more tune in and the 2001 definitely had a little extra something something in it.

     The second set started of decent enough. None of the first three songs really stretched out but I was still happy. Then without a word, Bobby came out and the place erupted. We knew he was gonna show up at some point but we thought, maybe the encore, maybe towards the end? But this was rather early. As my friend Jay DeWald, formerly of the Jay DeWald Experience said ”What if the rest of the set turns into Grateful Dead music?” The Samson is outstanding. Hearing Trey rip the hell out of the solo with Bobby playing slide, wow, just like out of the Dead's 70's era. Then a Phish song. Ok, this is gonna get real good. I joked Bobby could definitely do the Woo's in Twist. And the jam was sick!!! It was like a double helix of interweaving guitars. They very quickly got into some really deep psychedelia. I kept picturing Trey's leads poking a barrier between this world and a world where one had to beware what was around. Kind of like the alternate world when the Gorgon lives in Strangeful Things. I told you it was some deep space!

     Then Bobby sang a Phish tune. Did not see that coming. And he owned it. Whether it's about Trey's sister, Jerry G, or one of your own loved ones, this might be the definitive version. Then West LA Fadeaway, which they performed with Bobby the last time he sat in back in 2000. I told Jay I hope they finish with I Know You Rider but Playin' is quite alright as well. And Trey sang. Trey sang Playin' with Bobby on stage. Wow, just wow. And this version really reminded me of the late '72/early '73 versions, where it was trippy but not super long, 20 minutes +.

     And one of the few songs both bands played for the encore, Quinn the Eskimo. Hell yes! Trey never introduced or thanked Bobby for coming out. Almost like they just assumed everybody got it. Yes, we did.

     Somehow, I recovered from that and got a good nights sleep. On to day 2!

October 19^th, 2016.

Soundcheck: Home, Let's Go. I Always Wanted It This Way, Plasma

SET 1: Theme From the Bottom, Camel Walk, My Soul, Petrichor, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan > My Sweet One, Waking Up Dead, Halfway to the Moon, Running Out of Time[1], Tube > Shine a Light

SET 2: Golden Age > Tweezer > No Men In No Man's Land > Plasma > Harry Hood > Suzy Greenberg

ENCORE: Walls of the Cave > Tweezer Reprise

[1] Debut

You can stream it here

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/2016-10-19

     Overall, I thought night 2 was better musically than night 1. Yes, Bobby joining them was a top 3 all time moment in Phish history, but they really took it up a notch in this show. First set was good. Petrichor is like 4 songs linked together. 2 of them I like, 2 I'm meh about. The Tube has a nice extended jam and I love anything off of Exile on Main Street.

     I haven't seen Golden Age in over 2 years so that was fantastic. Trey almost ripcords it to go into Tweezer and what a monster it was. The other highlight of the second set was Hood. All sorts of magic happening there. I really like how they are doing different kinds of things in Hood now. 3.0 Hoods are a unique beast. I had to get the crowd Wooing when it was obvious the band was pausing for the Wooo's. I'm not against all Woo's, just not during the quiet parts of Reba.

     Our Urbr ride home ended up being a chick who wanted to know about veganism and of course my wife is a vegan. Rather cool little twist of the universe. And there it is. I might not see Phish live for a little bit as I am moving out to Oregon next spring/summer, so I really hoped this would be memorable. Oh, yes.

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll

It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Pearl Jam, Live at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Sept 24, 1996

     Hello everyone. I hope you are enjoying this first day of fall. I am especially geeked about this blog entry because it is about one of my favorite bands that because of time, money, and Phish's awesomeness I don't get to see live any more. I am talking about Pearl Jam. So many of my friends that may or may not be into the jam band scene all agree that PJ is right up there with the best live acts of all time. So without further ado, It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Pearl Jam, Live at Merriwether Post Pavilion, Sept 24, 1996.

     One of the things I like about Pearl Jam is its one of the few bands my brother and myself agree on. A bunch of his friends (Adam N., Mike and Brian H., Tony S. ) also are really into them. Mike has the X man tattooed on his leg. He has a giant Pearl Jam decal on his truck. I told Jake when we happened upon his truck that he also was a cook at Camp David. Jake then took to calling him the Pearl Jam Chef, which Mike said would be his dream job. I also introduced my brother and his friends to the bands that influenced PJ, like the Who, Neil Young, Dylan, etc. And before I even read an article among the many that have sprung up through the years Mike remarked that PJ are kind of like the Dead with the fans fanatical devotion and following them on tour. 

     I must also eat some humble pie here. The first time I ever heard PJ was in 1991. I was walking down a dorm hall and heard Alive coming out of someone's room. They also played at Penn State, opening for the Smashing Pumpkins and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I had a test the next day in a class I was failing and skipped it. D'oh!

09/24/96 (Tue) Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia, MD 

Set 1: Long Road, Hail Hail, Animal, Spin the Black Circle, In My Tree, Corduroy, Not For You > Jeremy, Red Mosquito, Black, Habit, Rearviewmirror, Immortality, Betterman, Whipping, State of Love and Trust, Alive, Blood, E: Who You Are, Even Flow, Daughter > Improv > W.M.A., Mankind, Leaving Here, Wash, Yellow Ledbetter

     I don't have this show on disc show can't really recall too much. I do remember noticing that the energy PJ unleashed was much, much different than what I had ever witnessed at a Dead or Phish show. It was definitely more cathartic than anything I ever saw. And of course they crushed it. We had really good seats. Plus, this was when PJ was at the peak of their war with Ticketbastard.

     I have seen PJ 8 times now, with the last show in 2008. Why was the last one? Because at show there was a guy in front of me in a Phish shirt. This was right after they reunited at a wedding. We both thought that meant Phish was returning. Sorry Eddie, but I only have so much money.

Dave Kemp

BA American Studies

PhD Rock and Roll

Phish, Sept. 2th,3rd, and 4th, 2016, Dick's, Labor Day Weekend

     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 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th, 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. 

http://kempepedia.blogspot.com/2012/09/phish-831-91-92-2012-dicks-sporting.html

     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.

Friday, 09/02/2016 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

Soundcheck: Mercury -> Low Rider Jam -> Camel Walk, Waiting All Night, Swingtown Jam

Set 1:Ghost, No Men In No Man's Land, Breath and Burning, Undermind, Heavy Things, Stash,Ass Handed[1]>The Wedge, Alaska>46 Days

Set 2:Run Like an Antelope, Mercury>Seven Below>Birds of a Feather, Wombat, Tweezer>Runaway Jim>Suzy Greenberg

Encore:Bug>Tweezer Reprise

[1] First half performed in a swing style.

Teases:
·Stashtease in The Wedge
·Light Up Or Leave Me Alonetease
·Seven Below tease in Runaway Jim
·The Birds quote in Birds of a Feather

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

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/2016-09-02

     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

http://www.illuzionglassgalleries.com/

Made it back in time. Went in early but still timed things much better.

 Saturday, 09/03/2016 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

Soundcheck: Dogs Stole Things, My Soul

Set 1:Slave to the Traffic Light, Down with Disease, What's the Use?>Maze, Farmhouse, 555, Wolfman's Brother, Divided Sky>Rock and Roll

Set 2:Fuego>Sand>Blaze On>Simple[1]>Twist>Theme From the Bottom>Also Sprach Zarathustra>Harry Hood

Encore: The Squirming Coil[2]

[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

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/2016-09-03

     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.

 Sunday, 09/04/2016
Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

Soundcheck: Dog Log, My Soul

Set 1:The Moma Dance>Chalk Dust Torture, Mike's Song>Wingsuit>Weekapaug Groove, Party Time, Bathtub Gin>Split Open and Melt, Tube>Character Zero

Set 2:Crosseyed and Painless>Steam->Piper[1]>Light>The Lizards, First Tube

Encore:Walls of the Cave

[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

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/2016-09-04

     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

Phish, Sept. 2th,3rd, and 4th, 2016, Dick's, Labor Day Weekend

     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 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th, 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. 

http://kempepedia.blogspot.com/2012/09/phish-831-91-92-2012-dicks-sporting.html

     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.

Friday, 09/02/2016 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

Soundcheck: Mercury -> Low Rider Jam -> Camel Walk, Waiting All Night, Swingtown Jam

Set 1:Ghost, No Men In No Man's Land, Breath and Burning, Undermind, Heavy Things, Stash,Ass Handed[1]>The Wedge, Alaska>46 Days

Set 2:Run Like an Antelope, Mercury>Seven Below>Birds of a Feather, Wombat, Tweezer>Runaway Jim>Suzy Greenberg

Encore:Bug>Tweezer Reprise

[1] First half performed in a swing style.

Teases:
·Stashtease in The Wedge
·Light Up Or Leave Me Alonetease
·Seven Below tease in Runaway Jim
·The Birds quote in Birds of a Feather

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

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/2016-09-02

     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

http://www.illuzionglassgalleries.com/

Made it back in time. Went in early but still timed things much better.

 Saturday, 09/03/2016 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

Soundcheck: Dogs Stole Things, My Soul

Set 1:Slave to the Traffic Light, Down with Disease, What's the Use?>Maze, Farmhouse, 555, Wolfman's Brother, Divided Sky>Rock and Roll

Set 2:Fuego>Sand>Blaze On>Simple[1]>Twist>Theme From the Bottom>Also Sprach Zarathustra>Harry Hood

Encore: The Squirming Coil[2]

[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

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/2016-09-03

     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.

 Sunday, 09/04/2016
Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

Soundcheck: Dog Log, My Soul

Set 1:The Moma Dance>Chalk Dust Torture, Mike's Song>Wingsuit>Weekapaug Groove, Party Time, Bathtub Gin>Split Open and Melt, Tube>Character Zero

Set 2:Crosseyed and Painless>Steam->Piper[1]>Light>The Lizards, First Tube

Encore:Walls of the Cave

[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

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/2016-09-04

     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