ALPINE VALLEY 2 RECAP
With the conclusion of Phish’s midwest swing, the heat will certainly be spoken about for years to come. In more than one way, even. As temperatures grew towards the century mark, so did the band’s own brand of fire.
When the band hit the stage on Sunday evening the typical tradition of discussing what to play first commenced, with the island infused rhythms of Bob Marley’s “Soul Shakedown Party” setting stage for the evening. Important to note though was what Trey and Mike both fiddled with during the preamble. If you listen back to the Live Phish recording, at 0:23 you can clearly hear Trey begin playing “Chalk Dust Torture Reprise” with Mike following suit. Definitely a fun trivia fact (h/t @zzyzx) and something to throw on to the rarities wish list. Speaking of rarities, for the fourth show in a row, another track off the Velvet Underground’s Loaded found its way into the set. Driven by Fish’s vocal stylings the country rock number "Lonesome Cowboy Bill" is highlighted by a fancy bit of guitar work from Trey, that begs for even more exploration. But the majority of the first set is marked not by high improvisation, rather with the outstanding technical play that has become much more prevalent over the recent week as the set bounces between styles that are masterfully executed.
The real difference between the end of 2011, and even the beginning of 2012, is showcased in a song like “Dirt.” With a trademark solo from Trey, the band hits all the changes and pulls together a rendition that pays the proper tribute to such a beautiful song. The following “A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing” was an opportunity to cast off the lines and drive for deeper waters as the band launched into its first appearance in 2012, but while powerful the jam never really takes flight. The sets improvisational highlight was found in a much more unexpected place however. Spending 6-7 minutes in dark and murky spaces of ASIHTOS is easy, but a brilliant outro jam to "Fee" is a wholly different beast. Melodic in portions and haunting in others, this is the band improvising. Just steps from the original song, but completely original and in the moment. Like I said, it’s relatively easy to throw on the delay and create an ambient wash and call that jamming, as can be seen in the Twist from Cincinnati, but at every step during the "Fee" outro the band is engaged and writing new music on the fly. This may be one of the genuine highlights of the tour thus far, and I’d easily put it above many Set 2 moments from previous shows. But in the end this set illustrates what the band is doing really well, playing their diverse catalog without ramming a grab bag of 9 rotating songs down the audience’s throats every third night.
Not many songs get a second set rolling like “Crosseyed and Painless,” but while immensely danceable the version doesn’t push beyond its predictable groove. However, a beautiful outro builds via Fish’s “vocal range” and Trey’s tapestry leading into yet another powerful version of the Led Zeppelin classic “No Quarter.” This song is just perfect for Phish, deep textures with an underlying groove the number showcases nearly all of the band’s strengths. Deep improvisation would come though, in the following song “Light.” Nearly all of the 2012 versions have been exciting in one way or another and this version impresses once again. From Trey’s delicate pick work, backed by Mike’s “Frankie Says” bass line the band communicates throughout the jam building into a major progression for the second half. This version could definitely be their best effort since the strong versions in Fall 2010. It’s really quite good and gives way to an equally good version of “Ghost”, save for hitting that god damn break. Compact and powerful, this is a perfect example of how Phish in its current incarnation differs from previous years. Beginning at 5:30, Fish makes a move he has executed well several times this tour by pushing tempo and forcing the band into new space. When he then decelerates, the whole band follows again and over the course of two minutes the jam has two or three distinct vibes. In 9 minutes the jam takes several twists and turns and begs the question “did it have anything more to give?” It’s probably fair to say no, but the perfunctory version of “Back On The Train” leaves one wanting a little bit more. Probably the single miscue of the entire show. “Farmhouse” showcases the range shown earlier in the show with "Dirt” and is a beautiful touch on the markings of a great set. But, the closing stanza seems to just turn on the cruise control in finishing the requisite laps. This band is playing with such precision that I’d like to think there is an even better set than they have put forth thus far. 70 minutes is a long time to play for any band to play, Phish does it twice in one night so I can’t judge if they lose some of their mettle towards the end of the night. "46 days" carries the fire you’d expect (it’s actually quite good), but then "Heavy Things" and "Joy", well, just kind of are. 12 minutes that you wish could be harnessed into something else before a "Julius" closer and an encore where anything goes. But even in an area that I long for some enlightening improvisational foray, both Heavy Things and Joy are exquisitely performed, so maybe I’m grasping at straws. Even when I wish they’d play something else, this band is incredibly good.
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The Mockingbird Foundation
Indeed a stunner...pristine, beautiful and simply perfect. Absolutely a highlight of both the show and tour.
This fourth quarter trend has to be addressed at some point. It has made the difference between average-great and above average (and maybe even above average and transcendant) quite a few times over the last few years.
You did ask...
But the second set of a rock show and especially the second set of a Phish show should build to a raging peak at the finish. Yes, come out of the gates strong in set two. Yes, please, play a ballad somewhere in the middle to give people time to catch their breath. Yes, use dynamics to let it all breath. But make sure to leave something in the tank for the end. Something titanic. 2-3 short blues rock songs in a row isn't quite working.
For u, perhaps. It worked pretty well for me; why? Well, as stated, everything was played too damn well to bitch. Maybe Im a two bit sucker but I enjoyed the end of the show. I was right w everyone in thinking that the selections were odd...but then they would play incredible versions (yeah, within the box) of all of those selections. Would I had rather seen a yem or slave or song x that couldve been better (although I'm sure Someone would have bitched about a yem bc it's too predictable)? Anyhow, I loved this show. Number 21 for me and I'll preach it til the cows come home unless it totally doesn't come through on tape. And, for posterity, it blew the previous night to hell. (IMO)
Summer 03 was weak sauce leading up to Star Lake. Summer 97 selectively thrills although the closing week was particularly strong. Island tour is not a tour. Last night's Fee> most of 98. The last week's worth of first sets and all of the last 4 have been stellar, better than Worcester-> Portsmouth, so I got a little carried away. First sets are not an afterthought. See also: Scent, Curtain With. Sorry Alpine II wasn't a perfect show but better than most 1.0 shows in terms of both set I and set II.
you have to acknowledge that the 7/29/98 Gin is better than, well, just about anything they've ever played in any first set. :-)
Woah
I disagree. Liked it much better than the solo from ac. I agree w farmhouse.
"First sets have always been a mixed bag. On some nights they over-perform, but that's kind of rare, even historically save for songs like Stash or Reba."
Spot on. This seemed to happen a lot; 95' and 99' really stick out in my memory as far as hit or miss 1st sets and overpoweringly awesome 2nd sets.
Love the encores from this tour more than any in recent memory. Unpredictable and well executed.
It sorta seems like phish might be kinda caught up in chasing this 200 song thing rather quickly. Most of the debuts have been coming in these festive but sorta crowded 1st sets. I don't know that I can think of any other band, ever, that has played 180 some-odd songs in a 15 show span. maybe they'll get back in the Guiness.
From what we've heard this tour so far, I'm sure we all believe that Phish is gonna throw down a wicked Leg 2. and hopefully fall?
They r pretty damn unpredictable right now. 2nd night alpine I called divided sky, funky bitch, stash, ghost, yem, and meatstick (only bc I had been eating tons of them on the road). Well, they played two of those, and those two, IMO, we're likey the long shots out of the 6 predictions I made. Predictable, to me? No, not at all. Jams...some say they r predictably absent, but to me this show was decent in that regard.
I couldn't disagree more, and I don't think it's close! opinions are fun. I will have to relisten to n1.
The highlight of the show for me, was Light. I don't think I have ever listened to a song as intently as I did for this one. I was completely engrossed, and in the zone. Listening, in this Jam, to how Trey suggested a phrasing, then, Mike or Page pick it up, or Mike and Fish settle into a groove with Trey either joining, or rejecting it with a noodle flourish, or Mike spinning out a bass solo followed by trey picking up parts of the melody and adding to it.
Simply amazing. This Light was the summer highlight, for me. And I hope there is a song that gives you the same moment of joy.
Cheers!
@TennesseeJed said: glad to be of service, folks.
love
waxbanks
p.s. experimental commenting style, done for the night. enjoy jones beach, nerds.
Of course April 98 was a great run, including strong first sets. I do remember enjoying the heck out of Oh Kee Pah-YEM having flown in for the pair in Providence. To me, it didn't feel like a tour at the time, it felt like bonus shows between NYE and summer. Kinda random but the concerts themselves turned out well and definitely worth the trouble. A really nice run. Not quite a tour. Like NYE. Who talks about going on New Year's tour?
More importantly: Jones Beach 1 kept the strong set I streak going. I didn't care for standard Halley's and YaMar section too much but the bustouts and the Mike's Groove were worthy.
The AC version's solo seemed to be the release on that entire birds bott segment. It's honestly one of the single most joyfully cathartic solos I've ever heard and immediately made me think of that entire 3rd quarter as a single statement or journey.
No other heavy things can even breathe the same air as AC. Maybe holmdel 00
Unbelievable what a crescendo they maintained for 4 sets. That was like a victory lap after 1997