GORGE1 RECAP: SOULS WERE FREE'D
[Recap courtesy of Pete "PhanArt" Mason. -Ed.]
The hot and windy mid-Washington Gorge Amphitheater slowly welcomed Phish fans to their first ever three-night run, home to legendary Phish runs going back 21 years. With eager families and first timers dotting the hill and posing for the obligatory "We have arrived" photo, the return to the Gorge was met with plenty of buzz as the first weekend of the tour got underway.
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And so with much anticipation for the start of Phish’s three night run at the best outdoor venue in the country, I gotta say I was surprised when they opened up with a Trey Anastasio Band song, "Set Your Soul Free," when SO many other options were available. But hey, play what 'ya want. The tune did fit the sunset nicely, and the crowd eventually got down to the fun new jam, which worked into "Wolfman's" and "Roggae," a perfect pairing in a first set tonight. A half-hour into the set and the evening setting in, a quick "Poor Heart" preceded an adventurous "Undermind" that always finds a welcome home mid-first. This gave birth to a "Simple" where the band took a blues rock turn, driving deeper for a jam that stands out as a highlight of the night. "Ya Mar" could have been one or two songs earlier and been a perfect fit, but at any point of a first set, it works. The "Sand" closing the first set out was tight and energetic, keeping the vibe of the set flowing well through break.
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"Light" gave some hope with a murky "Hood"-esque jam, lowlighted by unnecessary woo'ing and an abrupt ending by Trey, who opted for a late ballad in "Waste," then a "Rock and Roll" to send us out on. An encore of "Tube" > "Golgi" felt very mid-90's, and was a reaffirmation of Phish’s ability to rock out when they want to.
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The Mockingbird Foundation
I was camping ~50mi north of the Gorge, and watched it emerge over the SSW horizon. From the stage, the band may have been able to view the entire transit, while NW-facing fans might not have noticed at all.
Also, the Set Your Soul opener is reminiscent of 2013's Architect.
Red Rocks is clearly an amazing venue, but nothing compares to the awe and beauty of the Gorge. Apples and Mangos!
@Cerias said:
Our group headed to the lawn early to get a good spot. . Once we find a spot, my boyfriend of 6 years, Andrew, asks our friend to take a photo of us with the venue in the background. As our friend is taking the photo, I notice that all our other friends had their phones out, and think to myself “I wonder why they want this picture too?” The next thing I know, Andrew is holding my hands and looks me in the eyes as he begins to recite a poem he wrote using different Phish lyrics. He then gets down on one knee, busts out the ring, and says, “Hayley, will you marry me?” Of course I said YES!! I was in absolute SHOCK! It was the most beautiful moment of my life. I love this guy more than words can explain...Of course he planned the most epic proposal ever!!!!
Right after the proposal, Mike Gordon’s wife Susan just happened to be standing there and congratulated us. We introduced ourselves, and she asked us if we had any songs that we wanted to hear that night that would be appropriate for an engagement. Andrew said “Sparkle” would be a good one... well, what song do they play in the second set?! Sparkle! And what song do they play immediately after? “Halley’s Comet,” which has always been my song and one that I always hope to hear. I knew in my heart that it was not a coincidence at all. That was the first time they’ve ever done those songs back-to-back! They played it for us!!! I still get chills when I think about it. To top it off, they closed the set with “Waste.” The night and weekend was the most magical time of my life. THANK YOU PHISH for continuing to blow my mind and heart wide open!
@PhanArt said: