10/31/16 - THE RISE AND FALL OF TREY ANASTASIO AND THE PHISH VERMONT

First, a few thoughts on the costume:
The costume, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders of Mars by the recently deceased David Bowie, was revealed an hour or two before the show started, and I liked the choice, mainly because it was just such a beautiful gesture and tribute. I had never heard it in full, but I knew and loved Moonage Daydream, Starman and Suffragette City. I then listened to it for the first time in full on Spotify, and thought it was good and cohesive, but not great, at least upon first listen. But of course, said listens can be deceiving.

Phish took the stage a while later and overall, their rendition was incredibly solid, and then some. It's obvious they practiced the living hell out of it and the arrangements (complete with backup singers and strings) were tight as shit. The band nailed all of their respective parts, both vocally and instrumentally, with a hell of a lot of passion, though they occasionally stumbled on the former, seeing as Bowie's parts on the album are very high; even getting out of Page's range every now and again.

A few highlights:

- Starman, with Mike on vox and the soaring strings, was just fantastic and damn near brought me to tears.

- Trey awkwardly strutting around the stage like Jay-Z during ''It Ain't Easy'' was hilariously confusing.

- The rest was just really solid. There was pretty much no jamming, which I didn't like all that much. I guess this was because of the abundance of extra musicians, but it still felt strange for every song to be so by the book, but that said, it felt so loose that it didn't really occur to me until later.

- Trey straight up fucking killed Rock and Roll Suicide vocally.

OVERALL (on the costume set): Incredibly solid and well performed, Phish's performance was a straight up triumph. The lack of jamming was far superseded by just how perfectly it was performed, including all the string and backup vocal parts. Not sure where exactly it ranks on the list of costumes, but it's definitely in the top five.

SET III:
Sand had a damn nice jam. After some great rhythmic jamming, Page moved to the Lil' Pumpkin and everything became more and more melodic. Trey then began soloing beautifully with Page and Mike backing him up up very melodically. Trey kept this going for a few more minutes while Page slowly but surely developed a beautiful progression. After a while, the jam became a tad quieter, eventually fading out before >'ing into Twist. But the rest (with the exception of a pretty good 2001) was fairly pedestrian.

The encore was, of course, Space Oddity. Maybe it's just me, but it felt like resolution. Maybe not acceptance, but at least, some kind of closure, for them and maybe me.

We love you David.

HIGHLIGHTS: Five Years, Moonage Daydream, Starman, Suffragette City, Rock 'n' Roll Suicide, Sand.

This is less a straightforward show review than a reflection on what was, for me, the most powerful moment of the night: that performance of "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide." Even in a run overflowing with transcendent jamming, it's those four astonishing minutes that I feel luckiest to have been there for in person.

****

One of the things that makes Phish so remarkable is the band’s ability to surprise — and intensely delight — its fans on a regular basis, even after 33 years.

But even with a fan base that’s primed to expect the unexpected, Phish’s 2016 Halloween show was a shocker.

That’s not because of what the band chose for its musical costume (ever since David Bowie’s death, many had speculated that one of the legendary performer’s albums was in the cards).

Rather, it’s because the evening’s climax came in a form no Phish fan could have predicted: a vocal performance by a guitarless Trey.

Big Red had prowled the stage sans guitar earlier in the Ziggy Stardust set, singing “It Ain’t Easy” with slightly awkward swagger. But when the raucous roar of “Suffragette City” subsided and Trey put aside his guitar for a second time to sing “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide,” what happened next wasn’t just a performance. It was a transformation.

With focus and intensity, Trey used his voice to take us on an emotional journey through the last days of a fallen rock star. The lines here were blurred: This wasn’t just Ziggy’s story; it was Trey’s own, before the redemption arc began.

To explore such painful and personal terrain, without the comfort and protection of his guitar, was a risky move — an “and you step to the mic…” moment (sorry) if ever there were one. And he nailed it, delivering the vocal performance of his life. In doing so, he inspired all of us to step out of our comfort zones — to not ever be afraid to make ourselves vulnerable in pursuit of something beautiful.

“All the knives seem to lacerate your brain / I've had my share — I'll help you with the pain.”

That’s what Trey and Phish did for us on this night, and on all nights when they’re really playing as one unit. They help us transcend, even if for just a few moments, the pain and the grind of our everyday existences, of our problems and fears.

They are a thrilling reassurance that yes, there *is* something more than the shitty aspects of this world gone mad -- and it's the collective joy and connection we feel (both crowd and band!) as we experience this music together.

“Oh no, love. You’re not alone.”

Thanks to Phish, we know.

I haven't chimed in with a review in a while. Listening back to the Ziggy set now after the initial impact of the webcast (the day after), and other listens. I feel compelled to say a few things. Firstly, when Bowie died in January, I was one of those people that put their headphones on, walked out of the office, cranked Starman, and balled my eyes out. Not so much out of sadness (though I was sad), just because of how much his music and persona has meant to me and so many other people I cherish. Anyway, it hit me and we cried and danced and celebrated. Not many artists mean as much to me as Bowie did and does, but Phish is certainly one of them. So already this was a win in my books, in much the same way that seeing Trey play with the Dead last summer was thrilling just to see him on the stage, standing in for Jerry. So take this with a grain of salt if you must...

Musically it's been an odd year for the band, but that doesn't mean it hasn't had its highlights, and after what they put together in 2015, no one is in any position to complain. The fact is I thought the band was done in 2004, and from that perspective we're on year eight of bonus material. Let that sink in for a second. The fact that these same four guys are still playing music 30 plus years in and reaching the heights they're still capable of is a staggering accomplishment in the history of rock n roll. So let's get that out of the way, too.

What I absolutely loved about the Ziggy set is the emotional earnestness that arose from it, and how Bowie, his songs and music, his influence on Phish, Phish's history, and Trey's, all of it, informed the overall impact. "Five Years" has never been more relevant as a song as it is today in the world, with the ice caps melting (to say nothing of next week's election). And yet the beauty of that song was also in how personal it could also feel. You can't help also thinking with the band exchanging verses, and sharing the chorus, just how many years they've got left. A feeling of gravity and gratitude just kind swelled up in me listening to it, and it makes me emotional to think about even now.

They fucking slayed Moonage Daydream.

I've fantasized about Phish playing the title track for probably twenty years. Funny, in my mind it was always Trey singing it (in addition to slinging that iconic riff). To see Page get up and walk over next to Trey and sing about Ziggy in the third person, with Trey inevitably in that role, playing guitar, making love with his ego, breaking up the band (remember that? twice?), I was just floored by how much I genuinely love these guys. And how I much I loved Bowie, and how lucky we are to still have them.

Oh that was alright, the band was altogether

For however many years we've got left.

Before I owned a car, I took a bus into New York City, in an attempt to catch the original Ziggy Stardust tour at Radio City Music Hall. The show had sold out. I never got a ticket. Six hours of bus riding and I came up empty.

Fast forward to 2016. Caught up in the World Series and Monday night football I received a text about this show from a friend. He knew of my love for this album and wanted to make sure I was aware of this. I was not. I decided to couch tour.

Wow, glad I did.

I thought the first set was very well played. The Carini opener was perfect. I keep wishing for a 15 minute funk fest Free, but alas not today. Wombat was fun. This was my first Petrichor, and considering we had a record amount of rain in October, a perfect choice. Antelope ended a superbly played first set.

Ziggy Stardust was perfect from start to finish. They obviously enjoyed doing it. I had tears in my eyes throughout. My only wish was Trey stretched out Moonage Daydream, but that didn't happen. A minor, minor quibble. In my wildest imagination, I could never have pictured a favorite band of mine covering this album 43 years, and 3000 miles later. Thank you Phish!

I thought the flow of the third set to be perfect. Funky. Well played. Nothing truly epic, but everything just exactly perfect. Fun, great flow. My only other minor quibble, a Meatstick with choir and strings would have been sublime.

The encore? A perfect way to end a perfect show. Give this one a listen. It is well worth your time. For me, a show of the year candidate.

I have been seeing Phish since 1999. Yeah, I know I missed the '90's... Last night was my 60th show. I just want to say that Phish is in my heart with the following tribute: when Phish does well as a band, I feel like a better person. And when i do well as a person, I feel like Phish somehow feels my vibe and does better too. I love these guys. Last night was Classic Phish. Well done boys (and girls!). I love you all.

Phish were the Big Black Furry Spiders From Mars. I'm pretty sure that's some of the strongest singing Trey has done live ("It Ain't Easy" and "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"). We all strive for him to hit us in the gut with his guitar, but props to him for laying it bare like that with just his voice. I was lucky enough to be there. When he said "give me your hands," not one person wasn't giving it up. It was church. A very soulful Phish. On the webcast (which has been taken down for copyright) you can see Trey kind of snarl in "Rock n' Roll Suicide." Like, "come on motherfucker, I'm gonna slay you with these lyrics and my voice! "Turn on with me!" "You're not alone!" That's literally what Trey does for a living. So him screaming seems it felt cathartic. Ziggy also was a perfect choice. An album about a Rock N' Roll savior, a symbol of power to bring people together, who comes down to help a world on the brink of destruction. Politics was a big thing everyone in that room was escaping from. Groovy Tube, 2001, and 46>Sand. And that Slave. I heard some folks wondering why they didn't play "Julius" with the singers for an encore. Maybe it was a union thing. By the way, Bowie At The Beeb (Best Of The BBC) has some loud, rocking versions of the Ziggy tracks that are worth checking out (such as "Moonage" and "Hang On to Yourself") and a burning White Light/White Heat.

After going to Dallas for the Grand Prairie shows, it would have been very hard for me to make it to all 4 nights in Vegas. So I decided to Kamikaze Halloween night and fly in from Philly for just the night. As rumored over the last couple months, Phish decided to cover David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. This was my 4th Halloween show with Phish and anyone who's been to any of them knows the feeling when they hand you the Phishbill walking in the door. There was a lot of excitement in the air. We went in early on the floor and got a nice spot on the front right side. We had a good size crew to hold down some real estate until the show started.

Set 1

After opening the last few nights with highlight songs from the 14 Vegas Halloween, it was obvious that Your Pet Cat was going to open the night. In standard Phish tradition, they open with the Carini curveball and then play Your Pet Cat... There was nothing over the top about the first set, besides for the "On Point" song selection. It was the hit list, over and over again. Even Petrichor was ok because they played 10 solid songs in a row before it. The Antelope was a nice send off before the costume set.

Set 2

Being up front and watching the orchestra set up was really cool. The band took the stage and everyone had chills. You could feel the band's passion for the album in the way they played. It really was a great tribute to Bowie. Each song had the vocals changing hands between the band members, and the Hartswick back up crew was a nice addition to fill some tone gaps. When Page came out and sang Ziggy Stardust with Trey, the floor went nuts. Overall I thought they did a great job with the album. The set up with the orchestra and back up vocalists, the blend of acoustic and electric guitars, and the changing of lead vocals all showed that the band really put a lot of thought into making the album as genuine as possible. Mr Bowie would have been proud.

Set 3

The band comes out swinging with 46 Days. Nothing crazy, but slowly fades into a ripping Sand. When Twist starts, I glanced around at the smiles all over the floor. They continue to play the hits.. Trey hops off the guitar onto the Marimba, which I'm not the biggest fan of. (I hired you to play guitar) But this was actually pretty cool. And almost in a mocking fashion, the rest of the band hops on Fishman's drum kit. The drum jam was pretty cool, but I felt like Fishman really got Ass Handed on that one. Meatstick was decent and then it rolled into 2001. This 2001 was soo cool. Please give it a listen. The back section of it had this stormy jam that really resonated with me. Similar to the first set, they play their typical BDTNL 2nd to last. Once again, no one really cared because of the setlist before it. It was a nice time to chat with friends and smile about the evening so far. Slave closes out the 3rd set as it probably should. Nothing crazy, just a solid rendition in perfect placement. The encore, as to be expected, Space Oddity. The crowd really tried to will them into one more song, but I believe they felt like the way it ended was another fitting tribute to Mr Bowie.

Overall it was another fantastic night of Phish. I stayed up in the casino hanging with friends until 5am when I cabbed it to the airport to fly home at 7am. A successful kamikaze mission for sure!!! Bring on MSG!!!

Was a great run overall and this night was no exception.

Thanks to social media we saw that the costume was going to be Ziggy, as was heavily rumored, before we got inside and was presented with the Phishbill. Great choice, the backup vocal accompaniment added a nice touch as did the strings although the strings only played in about half the songs.

Highlights were Moonage, Starman, Ziggy, R&R suicide

First set was fantastic, they smoked right out of the gates. Petrichor meh, too many down/dropped moments for my liking though it does have a nice finish. I'd rather they retire it and fill the 15 minutes of the set another way going forward...

Third set was fun, 46-Sand always welcome, I like how they ended Twist with all four drumming (marimba included), 2001 was dank and funky, definitely a highlight, meatstick ehhhh always nice in my books to hear even if it has become a bit cheesy (CHEESECAKE!)...Slave was why I come to these shows...kickass...take no prisoners creshendo to set the place on fire one more time.

Fantastic run of shows...to think how hard and well they played the first three nights, Halloween exceeded expectations. We were tired by show 4 so I can only imagine the band must have also felt some fatigue by that point. Amazing that Trey's voice held so nicely.

One complaint about MGM- TOO MUCH SMOKE ! Terrible ventilation system in the Grand Garden Arena. I remember the same issue in 2014. Anyone who is a non-smoker just took a terrible beating and is likely going to be wheezing and smelling smoke for the next few days as the body slowly clears the particles lodged in our lungs from hours spent in that disgusting air.

I hope next time they play Vegas the shows get moved to the T-Mobile arena which I hope has better air.

Other than that, thanks Vegas for a real good time!

This show is second only to 2010's Little Feat costume in being my least-favorite musical costumes, but I would much rather hear something like Ziggy Stardust than Waiting for Columbus, especially since Zigs includes the strings and acoustic guitar. I have only listened to this show twice, so I can't really give you the droids you're looking for if you want the skinny on it, but I have a right to my entirely subjective opinion and it is that while it's a treat to see a traditional musical costume again after the Wingsuit set and the Chilling Thrilling set, both of those sets were more interesting to me first musically and second for their novelty. Phish didn't even really improvise that much in this Bowie set. The fact that this show capped a hugely entertaining four-show Vegas run and occurred in a great year of Phishtory is more reason for me to be somewhat spoiled to have expected, well, more (no pun intended on the title of that other song.) I am, however, vibrating with love and light and pulsating with love and light with anticipation for this year's Baker's Dozen, and Mexico this year was excellent, so... your head can be any place you let it get to, but just keep taking it everywhere with you and you'll find a pebble in dust.

My first Phish Halloween show. Beautiful. I have known this album and listened to it for many years. In fact, I listened to it on my turntable the night Bowie died. I flipped it to the second side as I retired for bed on that night. It is bizarre to know that I was probably listening to it while he passed. Every lick, every lyric, every beat of this album has been engrained in my soul. To have Phish play this for us was like having a dream I never knew I had come true. This was a very fun show for dancing. Like always, I left a puddle on the floor from sweat. Phish brought it just like Phish could and it was beautiful to experience for me. Also, all 4 shows were great. Vegas is a fun venue and I hope to go back to see Phish there again!

Okay. How about we have an objective review of the musical costume, from someone who was not there and did not have any financial investment in needing to like it. I love the album and they played it very well. But that is all they did. Not even one jam. And unfortunately, before I sat down to listen to the costume set, I listened to the original a couple of times. The original, very clearly is as amazing as it is because of the incredible vocals. The boys did their best, but let us face it, singing is not their strong point. Because this album really needs strong vocals, I thought it was not the best choice for them. It is a great, legendary album and I am a huge David Bowie fan and he died this year so that makes sense as a tribute, but unless you were there, this is not worth a repeat listen.

I saw somebody above say that this was a top-five Halloween set?? Do not think so. I am a huge fan of the Halloween sets and I have them all and have listened to them many, many times. I have even been to a couple of them. Except I did not bother getting the wingsuit set as virtually everybody was dismissing it and I have no desire to listen to a bunch of new songs of theirs, before they had properly worked them out. And from my very objective position, I would say that the only question is whether this musical costume or wingsuit was the least inspiring of them all. A lot of people get wrapped up judging the costume set by how much they like the album played. Talk about not being objective. When I read the comments, most people tend to judge a show by how well the band improvised. I would think that costume sets should be judged in the same fashion. And if one does that, there is no question that Loaded was the best Halloween costume they ever did. Then I guess you would have to pick the thrilling chilling sounds for number 2. My personal favourite is Remain in Light, but objectively I would have to put that at number 3. Waiting for Columbus at number 4 And then tied for 5th would be, White Album, Quadraphenia, Dark Side and Exile. All being monstrous albums by the biggest names ever in the history of rock 'n' roll. But for the most part, they just played them with one or 2 jams. Of course, if I had been there I would have been over the moon to see them play such legendary albums. But when you listen objectively, not too much going on. But that Loaded set is completely insane, full of wicked jamming. And the vocals were right where the boys need them to be. Simple and easy.