All Five Band Members
Once again, I tweeted & tweeted my experience of Phish’s Hampton concerts from afar, while enjoying the growing community of #Phishphans on Twitter. I must confess I was a little burned out from staying up all night waiting, then downloading, and finally listening to the full sets from Mr. Miner’s No Spoilers recordings. As you can tell from my Twittering, the adrenaline, excitement, and love of Phish was keeping me up to 6am the next day.
For the record, if Phish’s concerts are posted online like this, either by LivePhish.com or through official tapers, I will do this as long as I have ears to listen and hands to type. The internet was made for this.
So without further ado, here is my review of Phish’s Set 1 & 2, from the Hampton venue! (a rhyme only my Mother could love 
- Back on the Train: Musically what a great opener, but personally I find that there is a great message in this song. I know that Tom Marshall wrote the lyrics to Train years ago, I can help but think of how this song does apply to Trey’s life, and return back to good health and the realization of Phish’s real value. I’d thought about this months ago; consider substituting “Wagon” for “Train”:
I left it all behind me and I’ve traveled far
it took me a long time to get back on the trainFrom the reaction of the crowed when you sang that line, I am sure we’re all giving thanks that you’re back on the wagon, Trey! You have our love and support, forever. We’re all going to keep praying that you’ll never look back at all!
- Runaway Jim: Ah, a great Phish concert standby….sounds like they are warming up a bit, perhaps last night’s excitement took a lot out of the guys. Or…maybe they’re being considerate of the returning audience from last night
Yes, there are 5 band members.
- Brian & Robert: The first time I remember hearing this song was watching Bittersweet Motel, though this solemn song came out 3 years earlier on Story of the Ghost. Hearing it makes me somber thinking of all the lonely folks out in the world that this song describes. Is there a message to be heard by playing this so early tonight; are the guys trying to tell us something? Definitely not an energy builder, and from what their voices sounded like, I’m thinking they’re just taking it slow to warm up and be nice to the crowd.
- Split Open & Melt: Okay, hearing how solid they hit the opening of this classic tells me one thing: either the music is in their DNA, or they’ve been playing this song in their spare time these past 4 years. Definitely a crowd mover, with a rehearsed entry into Phishland (if that makes any sense?) though I’m still going to say they’re holding back. Guess what, they’re allowed!
- Heavy Things: Now I know they’re still a bit rusty. It sounded as if they were trying to decide which song to play next and settle their nerves. I’m starting to think that maybe last night was just impossible to not ace, but now they’re working to get their/our groove on. Not sure if Trey was tweaking the lyric timing for a more lounge-y feel…or if he forgot how the song goes. Maybe I’m just spoiled having shouted CHEESCAKE! on national television
- Punch You in the Eye: HEY! NOW we’re talking! Listening to this and I’m going to say this is the official start of the concert! Trey had a few goofs, but HEY! Mike was solid as usual, and Page & Jon carried the song through. That’s what friends are for! HEY!
- Gumbo: When at first you don’t succeed, Try, Try again. Gumbo is an awesome Fishman song, and it’s very clear that Page is the driving the evening until Trey feels more comfortable to take it on. This is why I love these people, not just the Band and their music.
- Reba: NICE, now I’m starting to feel bad again for not being in Hampton! Page is TOTALLY egging Trey on through the piano…and Trey is aptly keeping up. Mike then steps it up right on cue, and the two guitars start serenading us into a much needed, and much missed Phishland. If you don’t have Goosebumps, you don’t get it! Hit replay until you do!
- Mexican Cousin: One minute I’m floating in a twilight sky Phishland, then suddenly I’m thrown back into my couch with headphones on. Some folks don’t like this song…I actually do because it’s my brand of silly…but guys, please let’s get some vocal practice before we hit these high notes…or try to anyway
- It’s Ice: Back into reality again with Page on vocals and Fishman consistently slapping a seemingly impossible drum set. Not my favorite set of the evening, but the complexity of this song plus those whorbaly electro-space sounds make it clear the warm up session is now behind us.
- Halley’s Comet: Sitting in the house with my headphones on, when I Mike’s beat-box doo-wop, I shouted just like the rest of the audience. A fun classic that from the sound of it you know they’re happy and enjoying themselves. Note: listen to Mike…he’s playing the Bass AND doing his beat-box vocals with different timing. The guy is insane!
- Beauty of a Broken Heart: I love the transition…and with Page singing again, my earlier assertion is clear: this is Page’s night with Trey accompanying. Mike’s bass is all over the place on this one too. I want to hear more of this music.
- Guelah Papyrus: This is my beer run song, though I love the viral lyrics…
- Lawn Boy: Yes. Page-Is-The-MAN. When I hear him sing this I’m always wondering, how’s his shirt looking tonight! Michael Gordon on the bass, btw Ham it up Page!
Page, Hamming it up with Lawnboy
- Run Like an Antelope: Oh Phish, you tease. NOW you start ripping it up? The first notes get my shoulders moving, my body telling me it’s time to get up and dance, if only these headphones were wireless! Everyone’s timing is perfect. Independent synchronous harmony–with me? If not…Listen in:
- Rock & Roll: It’s Page’s night out with the boys, Set 2 opens up strong and refreshed, picking right up where they left off with Antelope.
Rock and Roll, Limb By Limb 03.07.09 from Jesse Borrell on Vimeo. - Limb by Limb: One of my favorite team effort songs I love to hear live, Limb by Limb is a lyrically philosophical song that I personally can relate to as well. There may be a back story for Trey’ and the gang, and the energy they picked up during the break is now being sustained by how fun it is to sing this song with friends. The standout here though is the guy with the sticks…did anyone catch the number of that drummer?
Somewhere in there is the genius that is Jonathan Fishman
- Story of the Ghost: Another seemingly fun song to play, Ghost is clearly going into Phishland from the start. Trey’s tweaking with his effects toys, Page is following along, and Fishman is screwing with our minds with his timing. This is the Phish that I missed experiencing live…can’t wait for my turn!
- Piper: Not the greatest transition, but they pull it off. I’d have expected Piper to show up more in the middle of Ghost, but hey, THAT takes some practice. But Trey doesn’t disappoint as he takes a hard right and goes straight into…
- Birds of Feather: So now I’m really dancing in my seat. I’d say they keep playing new songs…but my god, this was released in 1998!!!
- Wolfman’s Brother: Do I really need to say it again that this is Page’s night with a strong opening and those cool plucky synth effects? Mike steps up with some higher pitched smacks of the bass, but it’s Page’s voice that is right on key. IF there is anything we’ve learned tonight, Trey needs to get his voice back in shape. Just keep driving the bus with this one, it keeps getting better!
- Prince Caspian: This is one of the earliest songs of Phish that I knew that I fell in love with. The funny part about that reality is that this was before I had gone to any shows, and because they did not play it that often live, nobody knew what song I was talking about, and was amazed that I knew all the lyrics to this rarity. This one and Wading on the Velvet Sea resonate with me for reasons I can’t really explain–maybe it has something to do with the chanting aspects, or maybe it’s the floating. But listen to Trey lead this one…his guitar on each key, Mike’s little flourishes, and Page & Jon filling in right as things start to build up, and their voices work just fine too. OH to be Prince Caspian, floating off into my brand of Phishland….
- Mike’s Song: Does anything really need to be said? It’s a bad ass song and the classic combo of Mike’s > Hydrogen> Weekapaug should be taught in every music class from now on. This is composition and free jamming at it’s best. Ever.
Mike’s Song 03.07.09 from Jesse Borrell on Vimeo. - I Am Hydrogen: In my opinion, this is one of the most emotionally stirring pieces of music in the Phish catalog. It is an instrumental of pure Phishland, and it’s best to listen, and not take my word for it.
- Weekapaug Groove: I’ve always said that I thought THIS should be Mike’s Song, but hey what can I say. In this rendition, listen in the beginning to Page & Mike keep up each other. I like to say that they are threading each other’s fingers like a four handed, musical cat’s cradle. ( I SWEAR I’ve never done drugs, I’m just sharing in the groove)
- Character Zero: Another story of my life: This is one of those songs that I LOVE the studio version better than any live version, though I have to admit the visuals here were great!
Character Zero 03.07.09 from Jesse Borrell on Vimeo. - A Day in the Life: Proof at the end of the evening that tonight, if not the soul of Phish 3.0, belongs to Page McConnell. His voice is strong, on key, and he’s got each of these Beatle’s lyrics down, even with a twinge of an accent. And he loves to turn Trey on, which he does right on cue with near perfect vocals after a great rendition of the Beatle’s psychedelic chords. The most heartwarming part of this song is the crowd raising their voices in unison. What a great way to end the 2nd night of Phish’s rebirth!
So, what a fantastic 2nd evening with Phish. I found myself listening to these two sets repeatedly for hours, almost too distracted to listen than I was to write this blog. But I am finding writing these up to be the perfect therapy for not having made the effort to go to Virginia. How fun!