PINE KNOB RECAP: RETURN TO THE MIDWEST
[For this recap we'd like to welcome guest blogger Ben Hatley) -PZ]
For the first time in a year, Phish has returned to the Midwest. When tour dates were announced, many were hoping for a more extensive run through this region, after just getting the rain soaked Chicago run last year. Alas, that did not happen, but many, myself included, put a big fat circle on their calendar when they announced they would be returning to Pine Knob.
I was anxious for this show, in large part, because I am still a little bummed to have missed the monster show here back in 2011. When they didn't play here again in 2012 or 2013, I was thinking my opportunity to visit this fantastic venue had passed. While Midwesterners will not be getting to visit a lot of their favorite sheds this summer, I do not think there were many complaints about this being the one.
Photo © Phish – Phish From the Road
Pine Knob just may be as perfect of a place to see a Phish show as you are going to find. The inside of the venue is heavily wooded and absolutely gorgeous. Not to mention, after the brutal weather that we endured the last two years, whether it be rain or extreme heat, going to a show with the sun shining and temperatures in the 70's was a treat in and of itself. The stage was set for a great day.
After partaking in a few cold ones, it was time to hit the show. We got to our seats right as “Wolfman's Brother” started. Opening with the same song they opened with here back in 2011 raised a few eyebrows. Many took it as a sign that they were trying to conjure up some of the magic they drummed up here three years ago. Last night's version seemed to follow this songs typically funky path. Along with the “Devotion to a Dream” that followed, these first two tunes served as a good means of getting the guys warmed up.
Now that they felt a little settled in, Trey cranked up “Wilson.” As always, this immediately got the crowd good and gassed up. As they stormed through the raucous that is the back end, Trey shifted shifted gears and pulled everyone into a sharp version of “Poor Heart.”
Photo © Phish – Phish From the Road
The next few songs did not deliver much in the highlight department, but the set maintained good flow and we got a decent sampling of Phish's stylistic versatility, ranging from funk to rock to reggae to lounge. The first set highlight came in the form of “It's Ice.” The middle section opened up to a wildly funky jam with terrific playing from Page. This is one one of my favorite Phish songs, and I feel like it has just kept getting better over the last few years. As “It's Ice” wrapped up, Trey cranked up what would be a rousing set closing “46 Days.” While it did not break any new ground, it was enough to send everyone into set break pretty pleased.
After wandering around a bit at set break, we returned to our seats right as the lights were going out. “Mike's Song” may not be the jam Goliath that we came to know and love in the 90's, but when you are seeing this song in person, it is still fantastic. Few songs can simply suck you in faster. The lights start flying, Trey starts ripping it up, and suddenly, you are in gravy town. This version did seem to have a little extra something to it. They let it have more of an organic ending than some of the screeching halts we have seen put on this song the last few years. As it wrapped up, Mike and Trey push into “Ghost,” which appears to be the new favorite to be sandwiched in before “Weekapaug.”
Photo by J. Maehoffer
This “Ghost” jumped out into some pretty cosmic places right out of the gate. Trey had some great playing on this jam, and he navigated everyone through some mesmerizing passages. As it wound down, he dropped right into “Caspian.” Now, a “Caspian” > “Number Line” pairing is something that I would pretty much actively root against, but last night, it seemed to work alright. “Number Line,” in particular, had some strong playing that led nicely into “Weekapaug.”
“Weekapaug” jumped right out there and may be my pick for highlight of the show. Yes, it was short, but it sure felt longer. Page, Fishman, and Mike all were shining on this one. They put together a nice segue into “Cavern,” but I feel like this created a bit of a fork in the road. Having “Cavern” in the middle of the set was a nice change of pace, but where do you go from here?
Well, they weren't quite ready to pack it in just yet. “Piper,” as always, provided another opportunity to jump out into some type two jamming. Fishman held this one down like a champ while Trey, Mike, and Page came in over the top and offered up some pretty hot jamming. They moved at breakneck speed before settling this into a slow ending. As “Piper” faded into the night, Mike started “Waiting All Night.” This was a standard take, but it fit well here.
After that, I was thinking we'd move in the direction of a standard closing pairing. Trey had other ideas. Let me tell you, this pavilion went bonkers when he cranked up “Tweezer.” No one saw this coming. They laid a nice foundation for what could have been a big dark funky “Tweezer” jam, but instead, they moved this to “Fuego” instead. While “Tweezer” didn't go out as far as many would've liked, this made for a nice deep set pairing. Not to mention, Phish is clearly loving “Fuego.” It's now been played at every venue this tour. They didn't have enough time to give “Fuego” the special treatment they gave it at the MANN and SPAC, but it was played well. It was my first time seeing it, so it was nice to get another new tune under my belt. “Tweezer Reprise,” as always, brought the raucous and allowed everyone yet another chance to rock out before calling it a set.
Setlist pictograms by Joseeen (available at Etsy)
Once again, I think many expected something standard out of them when they came back out for the encore. It was almost a feeling of bewilderment when Fishman dropped the intro to “2001,” the first time it has ever appeared as an encore. We got one more dance party before calling it a night. There are a lot of “Possum” haters out there but I'm not one. I love it in the last song of the encore spot. How can you not leave the building with a smile after that?
Unlike almost every other show from this tour, they didn't offer up one marquee jam or hands down highlight. What they did do is create a consistently good second set with excellent playing throughout. In lieu of one 20+ minute jam, they offered up a fair amount of exploration in three or four different songs. I don't know exactly how this show will hold up over time after numerous re-listens, but I can assure you, it was a blast to attend!
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I was definitely taken aback by the Caspian> # Line pairing after a rocking Mike's > Ghost beginning. Weekapaug> Cavern was nice and brought the energy back up but the short versions of Piper and Tweezer intermixed with the new songs just didn't do it for me.
I was really hoping they would stretch that Piper or Tweezer since these have consistently been great jam vehicles of late. I understand they have new music to play but the set just did not have great flow for me. Night 1 of SPAC and this night are not going to be high on my playlists. I hate to sound like a hater but I am not sure I am going to do many kmore stand alone shows as they seem to try and just get as many songs into the set for the locals that are there as opposed to the buildup and creativity that they seem to exhibit over a three night run where they know they are playing to the same audience and try and deliver a little more. Just my $0.02 and feel free to enlighten me with any other viewpoints. Cheers.
How did the crowd react to that Fuego tease in 46 Days? I know at home, I was like, "Whoa, what was that? Did anyone get the license plate?" And I just listened to it about 5 times in a row here at the office.
I know its not everyone's first choice, but I'm glad many fans can still enjoy a song-oriented set or show once in a while, regardless of the inevitable digi-criticism. When done well with good playing and flow, it can lend itself to a high-energy experience, keeping everyone on their toes.
I'd also like to questions whether, while many fans might consider a lack of jamming the result of an "off night" for the band, is it possible they enjoy ripping through like 25 songs in a night on occasion? And that should be an expected, if not embraced part of the package?
--fingers crossed--
Attended the show and enjoyed it immensely, despite the venue (which I am not too fond of).
Not a setlist I would have expected to enjoy, but they mixed it up enough to keep it very fresh.
All night Trey had an evil grin on, running around orchestrating things much more than usual, visibly running over to Fish and Page in particular on multiple occasions.
A lot of this tour I think is about confounding expectations from the fans. Messing with setlist order, limiting covers, jamming different vehicles, and especially tweaking the 4th quarter roster. This has made for some highly entertaining and original shows, despite the repeats this creates.
The Mike's> Ghost 'segue' (definitely not a '-> ') was one of the most baffling things I've seen at a Phish show. It caught *everyone* off guard, taking a couple of seconds to process that yes they were hearing Ghost. This is such an unusual pairing (first time ever I think), and just impossible to pull of, that I think this was planned ahead of time. All four stopped on a dime and were immediately in the Ghost 'drop.'
After generally jamming things out like never before (well, starting last fall I guess), this tour has the confident swaggering vibe that again Phish can do anything. We're not all really pulling for them to make the free throws at the end of the junior high b-ball summer league here, this is grown-ass man obliteration of anything they so choose to do. This is Jordan time. Flipping it on and off like a switch--Chalkdust, why not? Gin in the 2nd set? Sure. Jammed out Limb by Limb? Yep.
I know this is ridiculously (even heretically) an overstatement, but that vibe feels like the band I got on board with in '97. Swaggering jaw dropping stuff nightly, like what else did you expect?? This is Phish 2014, where an 'off' night has a stunning 20 minute Hood or a very solid 20 minute Disease. Those are off nights these days, that's just how it is.
So back to Pine Knob, which I consider to be a intentional mindfuck of the audience, orchestrated by Trey to give us the jam blue balls. Every time a pocket was established in a jam (Ghost), or we were headed for some intense dark stuff (Weekapaug) or a gorgeous, swamp-bliss ethereality *with* a beat (Tweezer), or a tempo shift to type II land (Piper), we were unapologetically and JARRINGLY ripped out of the fabric of the enveloping jammy goodness. Brutally so. Much like the pre-planned punch in the eye of the Ghost drop. That entirely set the tone for the night, and led to one of the most bizarre (yet still enjoyable) Phish shows I've ever seen.
There was a massive feeling of WTF? at least in everyone in my immediate vicinity. And Trey (for the most part, but I think Mike did it once too) rushed us out of the jams into the next song in very jarring transitions, harsh-feeling. But the thing was, the next song was almost always something I wanted to hear anyway, another jam song. To me, this indicates Phish is well aware of the 'ripcord' phenomenon and instead of 'Horsing' us, it was Ghost, or Fuego, or Weekapaug.
I can only think this is an intentional reference to the ripcord on the part of Trey. Something like let's build up a number of promising jams (no problem there, these days), and right when everyone gets into them, lets just pull the plug. And in a real jarring way.
None of those songs 'made sense' coming after the song before them. Just like Mike's> Ghost. And the level of verbal communication between them on stage was also way more than I had ever seen. Something you would need to do if you're planning a bunch of stop-on-a-dime transitions. And the shit-eating evil grin by Trey. And the absolute and amazing refusal to just go for the tonic shred in Possum, but to tease us, over and over again, with what we wanted to hear, to almost do it and then just not. Fucking with us. And the control, the mastery over the dynamics required to do that. Possum was this show encapsulated in a single jam.
Also, they ran through nearly all of the jam vehicles. Perhaps to force their hands into something incredibly original and unique for Northerly. I honestly can't begin to imagine what the 2nd sets will look like. And I really feel that that is the point. During their most creative and original periods (97-98) it was really very difficult to call what the jams would be. We are back into that mode again, something thoroughly unexpected. Something I think Phish did on purpose. To give us the joy of the new again, to cause wonder, and in this case to cause head-scratching.
For uniqueness, I'm glad I went to this show but also thank god I'm going to the Northerly run.
This show reminded me a lot of 6/30/2012, N1 at Alpine Valley. Lots of songs, many I always love to hear, all well-played with good flow, but not the most exploration.
Glad you still had really enjoyed it and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
2 other things I'm pretty sure I heard initially, and confirmed (to myself at least) upon relisten:
1. That was a Fishman ripcord out of Weekapaug and into Cavern. And I use "ripcord" tongue-in-cheek, as opposed to derisively, especially given the context of the conspiracy theory above. But he did it. And I for one welcome our new greezy fizeek overlord.
2. Another Page Fuego tease in Weekapaug. 5:00 - 5:10 LP time. It probably won't make the show notes, its way faster in tempo (obviously) and he doesn't quite stick the landing. But you can't convince me he wasn't going for it right there. Which is pretty cool given the absolutely barbaric way he laid that tease down in 46 days. Great stuff. That one might be my favorite 7 seconds of music this year, were I to choose a single short passage.
My favorite show of Summer '13 was Gorge 1, which another show which focused on flow and precision than long jams.
Additionally, the band has a lot of new material and we need to give them the freedom and space to experiment with it and play around with set placement. Of course I'm making a big assumption that this is what's going on.
I look forward to hearing this show for myself. My gut tells me they're gearing up for Northerly Island. The boys HAD to have been frustrated with last year's run and I'm sure want nothing more than to enjoy a very memorable weekend in Chicago.
As always I thoroughly enjoy your commentary and perspective.
I haven't heard the show yet so I'll refrain from adding commentary but your thoughts have the scent of one who is dripping with satisfaction at his recent Phish experience.
Like many of us, the band has built up a level of credit with us over the last year that sort of gives them a free pass when things don't go to our liking.
I will have to listen to this show to try and hear elements of what you and @johnnyd are talking about, but you know, it could just be the unfortunate return of the "ripcord" you reference.
I'd rather think that you're right, but the scenario you paint does not make sense to me. Again, I'll have to listen for myself.
Thank you, however, for stimulating that. I'll be paying extra close attention this weekend.
Interesting theory. Kudos for getting us thinking. With that said, my money did not feel well served by a consistent ripcord/mindfuck for that second set. I never got back on the rails after the Caspian> # Line occupying such prime space as Q3 after the fantastic Mikes> Ghost offered so much promise. The rest of the set seemed rushed and short versions of Piper and Tweezer do not do anything for me other than to hear the lyrics and a quick solo. Granted the It's Ice and Mikes> Ghost and Weekapaug are worth a re-listen and the 2001> Possum is unique to be sure, I could have passed this one up and been satisfied with my SPAC run. I hope Northerly is fun for ya. I odd that last year and really thought about it but SPAC won the day for me this time.
Also, I love Fish taking charge especially during jams. Pushes the whole band to continue with a counterpoint. He seems to have an especially tight sense of when it's time for new directions.
I'm probably just trying to make too much sense of something inherently nonsensical, but I guess that's the point of reviews anyway.
One thing that I'm really interested in is what the hell is left for northerly night one.
Doesn't seem to likely.
I guess it's a fine point, but think 'mindfuck' instead of 'fuck you' to the audience and that's more what I'm trying to say. Playfully evil. Like a satyr or something, I don't know.
Regarding 93-95, do you really think you're portraying things accurately? I mean the band was "out there" for sake of being "out there" many times during that period. They were finding their place still, as it were.
Once a pattern is established, they like to demolish it. Forcing themselves to continue anew and thrive.
That's an interesting perspective but, I think, a little unlikely in this case.
More likely is that Trey had a classic relapse into the impatience which characterized earlier 3.0 tours. Last year Trey chose to be patient rather than excercise the "ripcord" and the result was wonderful.
I really hope you are a savant in this but I find it really improbable.
I love reading some of the stuff on this site, but once in a while, it seems everyone on here is a little too arrogant in the wants and desires of this group of gentleman. I don't give one shit if they play 40 songs in one night or if they play a 70 minutes Gin for the first set, a 90 Jim for the second set and follow it up with a Sleeping Monkey encore. I'm happy to be along for the ride.
This is their life. They do this constantly and have been for so many years now. Its not all going to be bust outs and locked in jams. They're going to play it straight sometimes. They're going to get wild sometimes. They're going to fall and they're going to fly. Just like we all do in our own lives. Every single day. Turn off your brains once in a while and enjoy the ride.
Saying that this behavior equates to "arrogance" is pretty strong.
Arrogance or not, our hard earned $$'s allow them to live a very comfortable life and live their dream. I love Phish because the realize this and are not arrogant musicians who simply play their show for themselves. Bands that do that toil in bars as you speak. We pay our money and we expect a certain quality of show for the ticket, travel, hotel expenses we put out.
Agree not every show is going to be bust out but that's what make less than average shows sting that much more when you invest time and energy and your show is not consistent with the rest of what the tour displays. If I had not done SPAC and only done DTE, I would not feel to happy and that's my right because of the money I'm laying down. Bands always need to respect their audiences and that does not make us arrogant. There is no show if people aren't in the seats.
RE: Ghost, I felt they played a 'Paug solo in the jam segment, which was essentially omitted from the actual 'Paug, as it was a choppy and funky take on the song. The soaring guitar solo was absent, but seemed to be accounted for prior in Ghost.
It was certainly an interesting show. Very well played, but true to be lacking that signature moment.
I love this site because of the discussions it creates and the speculations. I just would like to see a little more positivity when doing so. You know... like the good ol' days... the way it used to be!
But your original premise that we are thinking way too hard....it appears from the folks chiming in that @AlbanyYEM is truly on to something with his analysis. I, for one, find this sort of chatter to be wildly amusing and greatly adds to my enjoyment of the scene. I love hearing and reading the thoughts of other fans who have a different perspective.
The perception of sound and experience is so incredibly subjective. All we can ever hope to do is share our view and see who it connects with. "Did I really hear that?" "Am I the only one that thought (this or that) was awesome?" That sort of thing.
Your point on the "jaded vets" resonates with me and I've stood on my soapbox a few times to herald that sentiment on this site, but I've come to appreciate the admin team here (I've only been on the site for a couple of years) as a group of truly diehard fans who have suffered and rejoiced with this band through all the various periods.
I've come to understand that many of the folks who initially came across to me as "jaded vets" were actually just trying to maintain a sense of perspective and balance. Memories are precious and almost living organisms and when it feels as though someone is pissing on them we all get defensive to a degree.
Raving about an average show as being an all-timer will almost always generated a "jaded vet" response. We do have an element of obnoxious "jadedness" within the community, however, which needs to get poked in the chest once in a while and reminded of reality.
I really knew my place in the world and gave me a sense of home. I was so bummed when they called it quits the first time. I'm a huge Panic fan... Umphreys, Moe., Biscuits and some of the newer bands are quite good. Nothing has ever hit me from a musical standpoint like these four. To this day there is nothing better to me than when that slow Eb-> F starts in Reba. I close my eyes and sink into the sounds.
Long story short... I don't care what they play anymore, nor when or where they play it as long as the play and I can find a way to listen and catch a few shows a year (stupid life and bills always getting in the way). Everyone can have their opinion. And I do love where the heads of 99 percent of the people on here are at. I just get deeply offended by the few that seem to take it for granted once in a while.
I'd just like to say that I certainly don't consider myself a jaded vet by any means. Somebody like @n00b100 is more of a 'vet' in my book because he clearly knows what he's talking about when it comes to Phish even though the moniker lets you know his stats say 'noob.'
It's all relative and hopping on when I did makes me really respect the people who've been around forever and still are so passionate. They've earned the right to be 'jaded,' even though most of them aren't if jaded means disliking current Phish.
But what I mean about the DTE was that Trey is damn well aware of the 'ripcord' phenomena just as he was aware people wanted a cover set for Halloween. Phish has always been highly self-referential and playful. I mean, that to me is why they play Neil Diamond songs with a vacuum solo. It's about having fun up there on stage, and in that respect I completely agree with @Jestinphish
Actually, I think Trey's intentionally poking fun at people who have demands for the band, much like those same jaded vets' arrogance you were talking about. Pure pranksterism. I don't pretend to know what's really going on in Trey's head, I can only speculate based on the music, the tour context, and their behavior on stage. I certainly didn't mean to come off as bitching about the show but more like someone taking the facts available and hypothesizing about some bizarre natural phenomenon.
The context for me was that this band is at the absolute top of their game. The jams all were going places and ended intentionally abruptly. This isn't a struggle for the jams to find legs, this is cutting them off full stump. Add Trey running around communicating changes and absolutely having a blast doing it. Again, there's no huge moral judgment here just an attempt to explain what the hell happened.
I saw my first Dead show in '81 as a teenager. I remember when there were stickers circulating the East Coast that said "The Fat Man Melts", in reference to Jerry's weight problems.
In the mid-eighties we were just happy to have him get through three songs without losing his voice.
Never used to listen to anything but the Dead for a long time. I thought Phish were punks in the mid-nineties until later in the decade when I caught the 50+ minute Runaway Jim at a show I was dragged to be a Phishhead who wouldn't shut up. I made a couple more shows but really wasn't a big fan yet, though I was starting to warm up to them.
What did it for me was Worcester '03. It was the YEM that opened the show into Clone. And the 15 minute Moma Dance later in the set (still the best I"ve ever heard). THEN I took an interest....
Anyway I was so disgusted by Jerry over the last 10-15 years of his career that I couldn't listen to anything after 1973 anymore without hating him.
Now I rarely listen to the Dead. I like String Cheese, Railroad Earth, and Phil Lesh. Never got into Panic. I do like Moe, but I need to be in the mood for them.
There is no one on the planet who produces the consistent quality of Phish. They are the masters. So I agree with you @Jestinphish. We are Birds of a Feather.
As for @AlbanyYEM, he's pretty much ruined any hope I have of a productive life, because he keeps making me go back and listen to segues over and over and over. Freaking guy. I'm supposed to be working.
Trey the wizard, keep keepin' it fresh my man.