Hump Day
Hump Day
It's difficult, potentially impossible, to write a review about Phish and separate one's own personal experience from what's happening with the music. In fact I don't even really want to try. There are plenty of better bloggers, reviewers, YouTube commentators, etc out there that can do a much better job analyzing the music than I can. So for better or worse my 18 readers are going to also occasionally get a taste of what's happening in my life and my brain when I am at these shows. This will be one of those times.
Last night got off to a rough start for me. There was a ticket fuck up (not my fault but it specifically impacted me and the people I was with). I ended up alone in subpar seats up in chomper central for the first 5 songs of the show.
I really don't understand the behavior of certain people at shows. If you are at a show, be courteous and respectful of the people around you. Spread good energy, introduce yourself and be friendly with your neighbors, pay attention to the music, be courteous and SHUT THE FUCK UP. It shouldn't be that hard but for some it just is. Trump 'murica.
Anyhow I was surrounded by some talkers and chompers who were there for the party, not the music. I wasn't with my friends. I was pretty bummed out and in a challenging head space. I was unable to concentrate and lose myself in the music.
I backpacked the West Coast Trail this summer (75 km of the most amazing hiking and camping I have ever done). It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. When asked what he was thinking about while hiking McG said "Nothing, and I mean that in the best way possible." When I am at Phish and in the pocket, in my zone, in my happy place, really my favorite place in the world...it's the same thing. I am thinking about NOTHING (not the song). My mind is clear of clutter, nonsense and most thoughts and/or concerns. I am just locked in with the music and the energy of the band and room and people around me. The music overtakes my mind, body and soul. And I dance. Hard. It doesn't get much better for me.
The start of the show last night was the complete opposite of that. I was in my head, couldn't stop thinking about everything and didn't enjoy being alone. Sometimes I take for granted the amazing friends and phamily I have and how many people I know and love in our wonderful scene. I was a grumpy cat, it was not a good look. With that as a too long extended intro, here is what I thought of the music...
My soul. Eh whatever. Not my favorite. Ended up being the only true "cover" of the night. By true cover I mean a song that isn't a phish original nor a TAB or Gordon song or whatever. For now I'll call them Phish Covers by Members, or PCBMs for short (in the spirit of Phish Tickets by Mail, or PTBMs.)
NICU meh, check it off the list and get it out of the way. Halley's... I'm sure this won't be jammed out as usual. That was my thought then but I'm hindsight it appears just about anything can be jammed out the next 13 shows. As you can tell my headspace wasn't great. I immediately recognized Undermind and thought, Ok maybe this will get me from my bad head funk to the good funk. I enjoyed the Undermind (it's a great song, under lots of things including underrated) but felt like Phish left a lot on the table with this version...there was more jam here that the band didn't explore.
Divided sky started up, I still couldn't escape my head, so I did something I basically never do at phish... I sat down. I was moping and not enjoying myself. At all. Made it difficult to enjoy the music. I didn't even time the pause but I would still have set the over / under at 1:30.
At that point I started to turn around what was happening in my head. Things typically go well for me, I don't struggle at Phish. Perhaps this was my challenge for the evening, this was what I had to work on at the show tonight. Things have generally been great for me, I'm a lucky guy; don't let a little bump in the road ruin your vibe. Stand up and listen to the music, get out of your head. After all you're at a fucking phish show! If you can't be happy here and now, if you can't practice what you preach and choose happiness, then I am a hypocritical jerk. Of course life isn't always going to go the way you want, there are going to be challenges...how you react to them and behave in those times defines you more than when everything is awesome. So RISE UP, turn that frown upside down, you enjoy myself and choose happiness. Because most of all happiness is a choice and it is incumbent upon yourself to choose happiness.
As soon as I started to process the turn around in my mind and feel better, Holly appeared out of nowhere and brought me down to the other seats. The universe is a powerful thing and you will get out what you put in. I sent out a better vibe, I needed some help and the universe (and Holly) showed up for me. The world... is made of Energy.
I immediately was feeling better being down with my friends, the energy around us was solid, my head was about to clear...and then we got Marissa. Ok so maybe the universe wasn't quite ready for me to let go. Not really a fan on first listen of that particular PCBM.
Then home started up... I initially thought it was spilt open and melt on speed. The first of two times tonight I was fooled thinking a new song was an old song. I kind of like home but I was still turning everything around in my head and not there yet.
And then Prince Caspian started up. It's not everyone's favorite song of course but being with McKenzie and hearing Caspian is always special for us because we associate the song with Jar. This brought a smile to my face, calmed my mind and allowed me to settle into the show. Finally. And just in time. Holy fucking what just happened give me a break these guys are the best is this absolutely rocking insane incredible song actually Prince Caspian??? It immediately jumped to the best ever discussion, easily in the top 2 and probably my favorite. I was blown away by this jam. Holy shit Phish is on fire. Something about the way Phish is jamming right now is just different. Better. It's patient. The builds are unreal. The ability of the band to quickly lock in, change beats, listen to ideas from each member, leave space and of course peak. I don't have a great memory but I can't remember a tour ever starting out with such a run of incredible jams. Phish is peaking.
I was calmed down, worked through most of my issues in the first set, was with my friends, happy and comfortable. Fink was back and ready for set 2!
Set 2 opened with Punch. The past few punch's have been a little rough, Trey cant really seem to nail the guitar parts. This one for the most part was much better, the band is on, Trey is especially dialed in. Good punch, didn't blow me away but appreciated that they were tight on a song that has caused some issues recently. It was a super solid effort.
Then, for only the second time ever, Mr. Completely!!! Another PCBM, possibly my favorite TAB song not named Sand. In 2013 I wrote a piece for Mr. Miner's blog (speaking of better phish reviewers than me) about the top 10 one and done songs. This was the first one I mentioned and my favorite. And only the second removed from that list - thus far. This jam was awesome, long and deep and exploratory. This has to be the best jam vehicle in phish history based on it's field goal percentage. 2 for 2 with two 20 + minute outstanding jams. So good. And our 4th show in a row with a 20 minute jam. Everything is on the table. Wow. I am excited to revisit this jam after the tour.
Mercury is in my top 5 favorite phish songs. I hear the first notes and get so excited. I felt like they did a good job with it but I would have liked to seen it expanded much more. I want my 30 minute Mercury. Great version but phish is so good right now I'm greedy. The end of that song is set up for jam liftoff to outer space. This one didn't quite go there but damn it was nice to hear a well executed Mercury.
Come together must be an uplifting TAB song. Once again phish dropping a PCBM (I feel like I might be forcing this phrase but I'll keep trying). It made me smile, it's in the vein of more and everything's right, chomper type happy do good fix the world anthems.
Everything else was pretty uneventful, save maybe steam, including the encore. Things people do was the other intro that fooled me - sounds just like Esther. Nothing wrong with any of it but nothing super memorable for me. Overall a challenging show for me mentally but a good lesson learned about letting through some things. And phish has been on fire the first 5 shows of this tour.
Up next the bakers dozen. I'm convinced that there won't be any repeats. But now I'm wondering if there won't be any repeats the entire tour? Anything is possible with Phish right now. It's a special time in the history of this band. These upcoming 13 shows are legacy shows. It feels like Phish knows they are about to make a historical statement about just how great they are. A statement is about to be made by the band. Phish is
The. Best. Band. In. The. World. And we are the luckiest fan base in the world.
Safe travels, hope to see y'all in the big donut.
#liveyourliphe
#collectmoments
#enjoyeverysandwich
It's difficult, potentially impossible, to write a review about Phish and separate one's own personal experience from what's happening with the music. In fact I don't even really want to try. There are plenty of better bloggers, reviewers, YouTube commentators, etc out there that can do a much better job analyzing the music than I can. So for better or worse my 18 readers are going to also occasionally get a taste of what's happening in my life and my brain when I am at these shows. This will be one of those times.
Last night got off to a rough start for me. There was a ticket fuck up (not my fault but it specifically impacted me and the people I was with). I ended up alone in subpar seats up in chomper central for the first 5 songs of the show.
I really don't understand the behavior of certain people at shows. If you are at a show, be courteous and respectful of the people around you. Spread good energy, introduce yourself and be friendly with your neighbors, pay attention to the music, be courteous and SHUT THE FUCK UP. It shouldn't be that hard but for some it just is. Trump 'murica.
Anyhow I was surrounded by some talkers and chompers who were there for the party, not the music. I wasn't with my friends. I was pretty bummed out and in a challenging head space. I was unable to concentrate and lose myself in the music.
I backpacked the West Coast Trail this summer (75 km of the most amazing hiking and camping I have ever done). It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. When asked what he was thinking about while hiking McG said "Nothing, and I mean that in the best way possible." When I am at Phish and in the pocket, in my zone, in my happy place, really my favorite place in the world...it's the same thing. I am thinking about NOTHING (not the song). My mind is clear of clutter, nonsense and most thoughts and/or concerns. I am just locked in with the music and the energy of the band and room and people around me. The music overtakes my mind, body and soul. And I dance. Hard. It doesn't get much better for me.
The start of the show last night was the complete opposite of that. I was in my head, couldn't stop thinking about everything and didn't enjoy being alone. Sometimes I take for granted the amazing friends and phamily I have and how many people I know and love in our wonderful scene. I was a grumpy cat, it was not a good look. With that as a too long extended intro, here is what I thought of the music...
My soul. Eh whatever. Not my favorite. Ended up being the only true "cover" of the night. By true cover I mean a song that isn't a phish original nor a TAB or Gordon song or whatever. For now I'll call them Phish Covers by Members, or PCBMs for short (in the spirit of Phish Tickets by Mail, or PTBMs.)
NICU meh, check it off the list and get it out of the way. Halley's... I'm sure this won't be jammed out as usual. That was my thought then but I'm hindsight it appears just about anything can be jammed out the next 13 shows. As you can tell my headspace wasn't great. I immediately recognized Undermind and thought, Ok maybe this will get me from my bad head funk to the good funk. I enjoyed the Undermind (it's a great song, under lots of things including underrated) but felt like Phish left a lot on the table with this version...there was more jam here that the band didn't explore.
Divided sky started up, I still couldn't escape my head, so I did something I basically never do at phish... I sat down. I was moping and not enjoying myself. At all. Made it difficult to enjoy the music. I didn't even time the pause but I would still have set the over / under at 1:30.
At that point I started to turn around what was happening in my head. Things typically go well for me, I don't struggle at Phish. Perhaps this was my challenge for the evening, this was what I had to work on at the show tonight. Things have generally been great for me, I'm a lucky guy; don't let a little bump in the road ruin your vibe. Stand up and listen to the music, get out of your head. After all you're at a fucking phish show! If you can't be happy here and now, if you can't practice what you preach and choose happiness, then I am a hypocritical jerk. Of course life isn't always going to go the way you want, there are going to be challenges...how you react to them and behave in those times defines you more than when everything is awesome. So RISE UP, turn that frown upside down, you enjoy myself and choose happiness. Because most of all happiness is a choice and it is incumbent upon yourself to choose happiness.
As soon as I started to process the turn around in my mind and feel better, Holly appeared out of nowhere and brought me down to the other seats. The universe is a powerful thing and you will get out what you put in. I sent out a better vibe, I needed some help and the universe (and Holly) showed up for me. The world... is made of Energy.
I immediately was feeling better being down with my friends, the energy around us was solid, my head was about to clear...and then we got Marissa. Ok so maybe the universe wasn't quite ready for me to let go. Not really a fan on first listen of that particular PCBM.
Then home started up... I initially thought it was spilt open and melt on speed. The first of two times tonight I was fooled thinking a new song was an old song. I kind of like home but I was still turning everything around in my head and not there yet.
And then Prince Caspian started up. It's not everyone's favorite song of course but being with McKenzie and hearing Caspian is always special for us because we associate the song with Jar. This brought a smile to my face, calmed my mind and allowed me to settle into the show. Finally. And just in time. Holy fucking what just happened give me a break these guys are the best is this absolutely rocking insane incredible song actually Prince Caspian??? It immediately jumped to the best ever discussion, easily in the top 2 and probably my favorite. I was blown away by this jam. Holy shit Phish is on fire. Something about the way Phish is jamming right now is just different. Better. It's patient. The builds are unreal. The ability of the band to quickly lock in, change beats, listen to ideas from each member, leave space and of course peak. I don't have a great memory but I can't remember a tour ever starting out with such a run of incredible jams. Phish is peaking.
I was calmed down, worked through most of my issues in the first set, was with my friends, happy and comfortable. Fink was back and ready for set 2!
Set 2 opened with Punch. The past few punch's have been a little rough, Trey cant really seem to nail the guitar parts. This one for the most part was much better, the band is on, Trey is especially dialed in. Good punch, didn't blow me away but appreciated that they were tight on a song that has caused some issues recently. It was a super solid effort.
Then, for only the second time ever, Mr. Completely!!! Another PCBM, possibly my favorite TAB song not named Sand. In 2013 I wrote a piece for Mr. Miner's blog (speaking of better phish reviewers than me) about the top 10 one and done songs. This was the first one I mentioned and my favorite. And only the second removed from that list - thus far. This jam was awesome, long and deep and exploratory. This has to be the best jam vehicle in phish history based on it's field goal percentage. 2 for 2 with two 20 + minute outstanding jams. So good. And our 4th show in a row with a 20 minute jam. Everything is on the table. Wow. I am excited to revisit this jam after the tour.
Mercury is in my top 5 favorite phish songs. I hear the first notes and get so excited. I felt like they did a good job with it but I would have liked to seen it expanded much more. I want my 30 minute Mercury. Great version but phish is so good right now I'm greedy. The end of that song is set up for jam liftoff to outer space. This one didn't quite go there but damn it was nice to hear a well executed Mercury.
Come together must be an uplifting TAB song. Once again phish dropping a PCBM (I feel like I might be forcing this phrase but I'll keep trying). It made me smile, it's in the vein of more and everything's right, chomper type happy do good fix the world anthems.
Everything else was pretty uneventful, save maybe steam, including the encore. Things people do was the other intro that fooled me - sounds just like Esther. Nothing wrong with any of it but nothing super memorable for me. Overall a challenging show for me mentally but a good lesson learned about letting through some things. And phish has been on fire the first 5 shows of this tour.
Up next the bakers dozen. I'm convinced that there won't be any repeats. But now I'm wondering if there won't be any repeats the entire tour? Anything is possible with Phish right now. It's a special time in the history of this band. These upcoming 13 shows are legacy shows. It feels like Phish knows they are about to make a historical statement about just how great they are. A statement is about to be made by the band. Phish is
The. Best. Band. In. The. World. And we are the luckiest fan base in the world.
Safe travels, hope to see y'all in the big donut.
#liveyourliphe
#collectmoments
#enjoyeverysandwich
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