6/2/09..Jones Beach..Wantagh, NY..Reviews!!!

Phish Live Shows
#41

I’ve been to the first five shows of 2009, and I enjoyed this show the most. Once I go back and listen to the recordings of each show a few more times though it might not stand up to my initial feelings. Jones Beach is a fantastic venue and the whole experience was great (especially driving through Long Island no earlier than midnight to avoid hangups) so it might have made my impressions a little bit exagerated.

‘Runaway Jim’ and ‘Foam’ were rocking and completely nailed. I thought ‘Stealing Time From a Faulty Plan’ was ok but it didn’t really leave a big impression (I like “I gotta blank space where my mind should be” line alot though).

From then on is definately my favorite streach of 09’ Phish. ‘Farmhouse’ was actually a welcome cool-down after the 45 minute dance fest, and once ‘If I Could I Would’ started up I groaned a bit, but the jam was really good and had me appreciating and counting my lucky stars I was seeing Phish.

Second Set was very solid, but a little bit bittersweet. Each song in the extended ‘Mike’s Groove’ was taken to a tantalizingly fresh jam, but right as they stood on the brink of delving into something jaw-dropping they wrapped the song up and moved on. Really solid sandwich though, I griped for two sentences but its a miniscule complaint.

The spaceship synthesizers Page starts lifting off in ‘Harry Hood’ are downright otherwordly. The jam definately got in full ambient mode which I usually don’t like a whole lot, but the sounds and tones coming from the stage were just so goddamn cool I didn’t mind that the rythym of the Hood jam section was ditched. I must say though they slid back into the Hood jam really great, it was so fluid and smooth, it just kind of creeped and formed perfectly back into it.

‘Loving Cup’ and ‘Suzy Greenberg’ were a great way to end the show.

I liked the first set better than the second which is definately the first time for me out of the first five shows of '09.

Another beautiful buzz caught.

#42

Indeed.

#43

It seemed like they both kind of messed up…they just waited a measure and re-sang it. Not a bad recovery in my opinion.

Page was on point all night.

I also forgot to mention that it was Fishman who prematurely ended the Wolfman’s jam…Trey definitely gave him a dirty look for that one.

#44

they’re just gettin their sea legs back ya kno? i’m sure that after tomorrow and friday the guys will get the kinks out and resume kicking ass out of their repertoire.

#45

^agreed

#46

Kill Devil Falls = Chalkdust Torture, Part 2

#47

CK5 wasn’t lying when he said 3.0 would be alien funk.

#48

^ Alien Funk is right…Cities was sick…That Ambient Hood Jam is the bees knees (being the HUGE Ambient fan I am) but Trey needs to clean up Mr. Minor big time…

#49

At what point in the tour can we say that they already have their sea legs, and are just a bit too old to be comparing them to the 90’s phish?

There is no way that a 45 year old man can be as creative and loose with his jamming as a 25 year old. Just can’t happen.

I’m 32 and for the life of me couldn’t bring myself to do some of the goofy things i did when i was in my early to mid 20’s. Phish is the same way.

#50

^ shhhhhhh… nobody tell phil lesh :wink:

#51

I find myself much more creative and loose than I was when I was 7.

#52

I’m with ya there Reba.

My two cents on the shows I’ve heard so far is something is missing. They sound good, don’t get me wrong, but something’s lacking. Intensity maybe?

#53

FUCK YEAH!!! Phil still drops BOMBS at 69!!!

#54

i would say save this statement until the end of summer, and THEN see what’s up. i agree that it’s pointless to compare them to 90’s era, but to say they can no longer tap into the Source and pull IT out is definately premature. age has nothing to do with that.

#55

really enjoying this Simple. ^ that sounds like a good idea,if the boys didn’t think their creativity wouldn’t be close to anything before they wouldn’t be on the road. if they want it and it seems they do, then all the post hiatus fans will see a Phish they only dreamed about seeing!

#56

i said the same thing that night. not a bad thing at all.

#57

i think the bottom line for all of us is PATIENCE

shit, it might take til 2nd leg of summer tour for them to really get to the highest intensity, it may not take that long either…who the hell knows

but i do agree, something is missing still… and a large part of me is confident that they’ll find it as they get more shows under their belt and are playing almost nightly for a while

edit: and for the record, i really like these first two shows, but they’re probably 7 outta 10 at best… but that’s just cuz i think the ceiling is much higher with where they could/will be

lots of fluffy fluffin goin on… but that’s kind of expected when it’s been so long since a majorty of people have seen’em

#58

Strummin on a bass is a lot different then ripping it on a guitar.

Not to mention that 45 year old fingers simply cannot move as fast and do the same things as 23 year old fingers. Physically not possible. I think that is the little elemet that seems to be missing.

Don’t get me wrong, 80% of Trey is better then most anybody out there right now.

#59

Jones Beach night one was not as good as Fenway, IMO, but still solid. I think Fishman is playing too much, but it’s cool to hear him going nuts. The jam in Timber was kind of rhythmically off, and it was like he was filling up every space of the music. but at the same time he was playing some stuff that was quite insane so it was fun to hear. At least there going for it and ripping it up.

I think it’s a matter of finding the right balance between the intense raging fast stuff from the early era and the open spacious jams of the latter era. I think they lost some energy later on and got boring, so I think revisiting the more frenetic pace will re-energize them. I’m all for it.

Also got to take into consideration the vibe of the crowd. Ya know we all have to readjust ourselves just like the band. Everyone is a conduit for the energy of the performances, so the imbalances in the music also reflect imbalances of the whole psychic state of the entire crowd. Once people get their heads tuned in shit will start getting more interesting for everyone.

#60

also…
Foam has followed Jim as a set opener something like 25 or 30 times throughout Phish’s career. The last time this happened was 7/19/96. Kind of a bustout…