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Words by: Jesse Borrell | Images by: Dave Vann
Phish :: 03.06.09 :: Hampton Coliseum :: Hampton, VA
 Page McConnell :: 03.06 :: Hampton, VA |
It was almost as if I didn't know what I was missing until I heard their familiar sound once again. The last couple years have been a wild ride on this Earth, and the possibility for great personal growth and redefinition since we last met in 2004 created an air of heightened camaraderie throughout the grounds of the Hampton Coliseum. Cruising around the lot before the show, it was great to be a part of the spectacle. With anticipation high, many colorful fans outside hoped to experience their own miracles wandering around with a finger in the air trying to get into the sold out arena. As the lucky few ventured inside, it didn't take long to realize we were truly involved in something special.
From the opening notes of "Fluffhead," the Hampton Coliseum went wild before a well-rehearsed Phish now in full control. Positioned on stage in an evenly spread formation that rendered all performers equal, the intricate compositions were almost inaudible beneath the crowd's noise. Diving in and out of the multi-textured stanzas, it was not far into "Divided Sky" that I realized just how much I had missed these quirky self-expressions. There are countless phans who live by these truths in their everyday lives, but the verification of seeing it first-hand reminded me of the ease and capacity with which this band creates soaring poetic dialogues.
And just like that, classics from the Phish catalogue were flying by; manifesting an epic setlist that can be described as anything but predictable. The fleeting reflective moments within "Horn" and "Water In The Sky" gave the audience a necessary chance to readjust their bearings and take it all in. At just under two hours, a generous amount of music ended the first set with ambitious staples "Squirming Coil" and "David Bowie." Give and take between the band and the lighting rig formed numerous menacing exchanges above and around us. At times no one could tell who was taking the lead, and it is during these attempts at deciphering the apparitions that we have come to expect somewhere near the apex of Phish. There is just nothing like it.
 Phish :: 03.06 :: Hampton, VA |
Almost as if fresh off the pages of The New York Times (read it here), "Backwards Down The Number Line" opened the second set and created a retrospective mood as Tom Marshall's lyrics described the capacities of life-long friendships in its official debut. During "Tweezer," any anticipatory hype revolving around Phish playing with similar manic energy as if "it was 1995" should have been completely forgotten - it is here and it is now.
The familiar thumps of "First Tube" built some serious pressure within the confines of The Mothership, creating an almost effortless, therapeutic atmosphere of tension and release throughout its journey. The jam rocketing out of "Harry Hood" exhibited the confident, pure, immense influx of cutting edge hard rock that has existed periodically during Phish's illustrious career.
Trey's miscue at the start of "You Enjoy Myself" was a possible reference to a past Hampton show mistake, and created a lighthearted mood for the heavy hitter that continued straight on through to the classic trampoline jam we all knew was coming. Throughout "Y.E.M.," all four band members stepped up and put everything on the line beneath a complex light show and before a crowd that's very state of being seemed to hang in the balance.
As the large amorphous spheres fell from the ceiling during the "Bouncing Around The Room" encore, I was reminded once again just how much the fan/artist relationship is intrinsically intertwined. What the band does and how they perform will influence us, but we will also influence the band - and more importantly we influence each other. Clearly, after this huge comeback show, we've got another chance at this. Maybe we can all do things a little different and remember to take stock in the big picture. Enjoy the moment, for it is here.
Click here for coverage of Hampton Night Two...
David Bowie 03.06.09 from Jesse Borrell on Vimeo.
Tweezer Jam 03.06.09 from Jesse Borrell on Vimeo.
The Squirming Coil 03.06.09 from Jesse Borrell on Vimeo.
03.06.09 :: Hampton Coliseum :: Hampton, VA
Set I: Fluffhead*, The Divided Sky, Chalkdust Torture, Sample in a Jar, Stash, I Didn't Know#, Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, Farmhouse, NICU, Horn, Rift, Train Song, Water in the Sky, Squirming Coil, David Bowie
Set II: Backwards Down The Number Line^, Tweezer, Taste, Possum, Theme from the Bottom, First Tube, Harry Hood, Waste, You Enjoy Myself
E: Grind**, Bouncing Around the Room, Loving Cup
* Last played 9/28/2000
# with Trey on drums
^New original
** Last played 12/30/98
Continue reading for more pics of Phish in Hampton...
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