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12/31 - New Year's Eve
 Phish :: 12.31 :: Miami |
After the madness of the night before, it was easy to forget that the final stanza of this story was New Year's Eve. At times overhyped and failing to deliver, this night would prove to be a very solid effort.
Walking into the venue on NYE for a Phish show and immediately looking up to the ceiling and rafters is something that I have always loved, trying to figure out what prank the band has in store for us, much like guessing what presents are in the wrapped boxes under the tree on Christmas morning. "AC/DC Bag" set the tempo with the patented line "Let's get this show on the road!" causing the venue to erupt. The first set seemed just a tad flat. Maybe many were still riding the high of the previous night, but the first set had moments, including "Bathtub Gin," before a slightly sloppy "Punch You in the Eye" and "Moma Dance." The band continued to dig deep into the bag of tricks dusting off "Swept Away" > "Steep" for the first time since Hartford '00, followed immediately by the first "Demand" since November of 1996. An Anastasio led "Julius" closed out set one and did manage to kick the energy up a notch, drawing things one step closer to 2010.
After a very short set break, the band reemerged for set two, which continued to thrive with energy. "Rock and Roll" was driven by McConnell on the keys, as he belted out the inspired and seemingly reinvigorated lyrics, "My life was saved by rock and roll!" The third cover of "Shine a Light" from The Rolling Stones' Exile On Main Street was another poignant moment and a reminder of what a banner year '09 was for Phish. It told each and every one of us — young or old, vet or newb, diehard or casual fan — that whatever you do "make every song you sing your favorite tune," for Phish 3.0 still had something to offer everyone. The song also seemed to symbolize that Phish was once again ALL about the music, with all hindrances of years past having been left behind like a bad memory or relationship. Phish was telling us, literally, figuratively and musically, that the "Light" for the future is shining brighter than ever.
 Fishman getting into the ball :: 12.31 :: Miami |
Along with the previous night's "Get Back on the Train" and "Boogie Like an Antelope," the other highlight jam of the run occurred during "Ghost." A deliciously funky number, it really stretched out featuring strong play by all four members being locked in before devolving into "NO2," a digital-delay-like loop jam, with lyrics about the dentist, before another very high energy set closer in "Suzy Greenburg." "Suzy" saw the crowd fist-pumping with Kuroda's white lights illuminating the venue, setting the stage for the collective masses to be fired up and "shot out of a cannon" into 2010.
Shortly before midnight, the band came back for their final set of 2009 with the appropriate "Party Time," the title track of their Joy bonus disc released this year. A simple, yet fun tune, it served as the usher for countdown and obligatory "Auld Lang Syne" which saw hugs, cheers, tears and kisses from the crowd as fireworks blasted from the front of the stage and thousands of balloons fell from the rafters as the patented swirl that signals "Down With Disease" filled the air. As I've previously said, the "DWD" riff is the single, most celebratory in the Phish repertoire and there's no mistake it has helped the band ring in several New Year's since the jam emerged on NYE 1993.
At the end of the tune, a giant disco ball was lowered from the ceiling to the front of the stage and opened in half. Fishman put on goggles and a leather flying cap and stepped into the orb as a giant cannon, like you'd see at a circus, was wheeled out near his drum kit, while a giant net was illuminated with a glowing "X" at the opposite end of the venue behind the soundboard. Trey and Mike tried to move the disco ball with no success, before two roadies helped load it into the cannon. Page then set off a charge that supposedly fired the cannon, triggering fireworks by the net and revealing that Fishman and the disco ball had been shot through the roof of the venue, as a giant spot light and helicopter sounds came down through the hanging debris before Trey asked "Does anybody know how to play the drums?" He immediately looked behind the stage and found a woman who climbed over the railing, onto a ladder and into a black curtained area, emerging on the other side at the drum kit. A voice over the PA said her name was "Sarah" from Pittsburgh, PA and she gushed how much she loved Trey. When Trey asked her what her favorite song was, she declared "Fluffhead!" and counted off as the band began to play it. "Sarah" struggled to get the beat at first, before triumphantly leading the rest of the band through "Fluffhead" and the remainder of the set.
 Phish :: 12.31 :: Miami |
It was funny to watch some confused by this prank. It turned out to be typical Phish humor, especially relevant on New Year's Eve, as "Sarah" was Fishman in drag, and had been set up by Trey repeatedly telling us the last vacuum solo of '09 would be on the first night, and the trap being even further set by the Rich stunt the previous evening. 2010 and a new decade were officially here and the set was closed out by "The Squirming Coil" and a blistering "You Enjoy Myself." The encore featured another debut, "Blue Moon," with Trey reading/singing a long list of thank yous to the crew, and an subtle announcement that they would be back next summer, before another Stones tune, "Loving Cup," absolutely blew the roof off the place, or what was left of it.
One thing to remember about a four-night stand, especially a Phish New Year's run, is that one needs to look at the collective body of work as a whole. Sure, certain nights will obviously garner more praise and adulation than others, but we need to focus on the entire picture to really see how this band ticks. Miami '09 was a triumphant exclamation point and final verse of the return to prominence for Phish.
12.31.09
Set I: AC/DC Bag, 46 Days, Water in the Sky, Bathtub Gin, Punch You in the Eye, The Moma Dance, Guyute, Swept Away > Steep, Demand > Seven Below, Lawn Boy, Julius
Set II: Rock and Roll > Piper, Simple, Theme from the Bottom, Shine A Light, Ghost* > NO2, Suzy Greenberg
Set III: Party Time > Auld Lang Syne > Down With Disease, Fluffhead, Joy, The Squirming Coil, You Enjoy Myself
E: Blue Moon**, Loving Cup
* with Auld Lang Syne tease
** First time played, featured Trey thanking all members of the Phish organization
Order these show for Download on LivePhish.com: 12.28, 12.29, 12.30, 12.31
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