|
PHISH TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS AT HAMPTON FINALE
[Photo via Jesse McMahan]
Tonight Phish concluded a three-night stand at the Hampton
Coliseum in
Hampton, VA to start Fall Tour 2013. The first two shows of the run each featured a
number of highlights including a centerpiece jam of note, namely the "Carini" at Friday's tour opener and last night's "Ghost." This evening's performance contained a
number of centerpiece jams, a cover debut that sent the crowd into a frenzy, a pair of
2013 debuts and overall was an impressive show of force by a band 30 years into their
career.
"Julius" opened tonight's show, its first time in that slot since a June 25, 2004
performance at Alpine Valley. Mike Gordon's voice was put to the test early on "Funky
Bitch" and sounded much better than last night. Both keyboardist Page McConnell and
guitarist Trey Anastasio made the most of their "Funky Bitch" solos. The pair were also on
top of their games for the "Back On
The Train" that followed. While the first three songs don't look all that impressive "on
paper," each tune was played particularly well with creative soloing from McConnell and
Anastasio. Even "Roses Are Free" had a delicious, albeit short, jam tacked on to the end
of it. After "Sample In A Jar," Gordon had to strain to reach some notes in Phish's first
take on "Ginseng Sullivan" of 2013 (Last Time Played - August 24, 2012).
["Divided Sky" Pause Photo via Andrea
Nusinov]
As the set continued, a raucous version of "46 Days" saw Anastasio scream and shout the
title of the song before beginning his frenetic second solo. A memorable moment took place
during "the pause" in "Divided Sky," when many in the audience lit their lighters. LD
Chris Kuroda turned off the lights in the room leaving only the flicker of the lighters.
Each first set Page seems to get one opportunity to front the band and on this night he
used his turn for Jimi Hendrix's "Bold As
Love," which ended the opening stanza.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
