FORUM: THE INCREDIBLE SPEED OF YOUR ROCKET
While I’d never recommend to anybody that they make spontaneous plans to visit Dallas, necessarily, the argument for jumping onto Phish tour amassed another body of evidence with last night’s show at the L.A. Forum.
We are four shows into the summer swing and the band is deliberate, playful, and right where they belong – namely, deeply engaged with one another. Trey and Mike’s onstage bromance – manifested in lots of face-to-face interplay and even a little instrumental spooning – flowered further last night.
Photo by @tweeprise
For Mike’s part, I’m not sure if I’ve seen him as scrutable, engaged, and outwardly happy on a Phish stage in quite some time. As for Trey, it is hard not to conclude that his experience preparing for and playing in the Fare Thee Well celebration has reinvigorated his guitar playing, and in ways that nobody predicted.
The old, tired saw on the Grateful Dead and Phish, of course, goes like this: Phish brought precision and chops to the jam rock idiom that the Grateful Dead weren’t capable of. In fairness, that may have been sort of true a while ago. But none of us are exempt from the taxes of time and age, so in recent years precision and chops aren’t always on the menu when it comes to Phish. Yet in immersing himself in the riffs, techniques, and tones of Garcia’s playing, Trey has somehow rediscovered his Inner Anastasio. He is nailing the tough changes in a way that suggests it really matters to him, cheerfully volunteering for duty as Phish’s leader, prowling the stage, stoking a furnace of creativity, and assertively micromanaging the flow of jams and sets.
Photo by @tweeprise
The Forum crowd was electric and loud right out of the gate last night. The band took the stage to cacophonous roars, conspired for a few seconds, and then charged headlong into “Martian Monster,” which easily vaults into frontrunner status for Least Anticipated Opener of Tour. I confess that I still have trouble understanding where the scripted parts of that song end and the improvisational bits begin (if there are any, really), but I also don’t care very much. I’d take it over the expected perfunctory “AC/DC Bag” seven days of the week and twice on Saturday. A perfect audible.
The crackling energy carried over into a concise but ultra-fiery “Down with Disease” that featured a carefully constructed and gratifying return to the “this has all been wonderful” theme. “Waiting All Night,” a song I genuinely love, didn’t hang together particularly well, however, and precipitated a trough of sorts that encompassed “Heavy Things” (hot-ass organ), “Axilla” (LOUD-ASS organ), and “555.” Trey relished “Limb By Limb,” spinning up melodic gems en route to a scorching peak, but these gains were surrendered by a tossed-off “Ya Mar” that probably sounded like a perfectly reasonable call at the time. Band just couldn’t really play it for shit.
Photo by @tweeprise
Fortunately, there’s “Fuego.” Phish played it in the same room not even a year earlier, so I think a fair number of the fans in attendance were surprised to see it pop up again last night, but it refocused the set, recharged the crowd, and poured the foundation for a powerful and dramatic “Walls of the Cave.” While not nearly as exploratory as the last Forum “Walls” (2/14/03), it sent us into the long set break with cottonmouths and knees of jelly.
“No Men In No Man’s Land” opened the second frame right where the first left off, and I spent much of this song watching the throng of dancing dervishes at the back of the floor who were emphatically in it to win it, at any cost. It is easy-breezy to get sucked into this quicksand groove, and Trey’s new Mutron pedal (thanks again, Fare Thee Well!) turns out to be the express train to my cerebral pleasure centers. Various band members seemed to hint at “Ghost” as the “No Men” jam began to fragment, but set that aside for a businesslike run at “Carini” and “Tweezer” (both versions the first of the tour).
Photo by Dave Vann © Phish From the Road
It’s at this point that I’m probably expected to complain in calibrated fashion about the fact that the “Carini” -> “Tweezer” sequence was short and not especially adventurous. Yep, those two statements are factually true, and it’s also at least arguably true that “My Friend, My Friend” intruded upon the “Tweezer” just as it was starting to cook. But I didn’t mind a bit at the time, and even in playback it was a fun fifteen minutes. Moreover, there was nothing at all to complain about whatsoever in the following three tunes – neither the boiling tension of “My Friend,” nor the timely caress of “Roggae,” nor the machine gun fusillades of “Backwards Down the Number Line” (played in honor of Chris Kuroda’s birthday, or so I am told). The expected “Slave to the Traffic Light” closer – and the first L.A.-area “Slave” since Pauley Pavilion in 1996, strangely enough – found Mike and Trey toe-to-toe at center stage trading licks as they ascended to a deeply satisfying climax.
Photo by @stim_buck
Finally: Be it resolved that Phish should always encore with “You Enjoy Myself.” I always want to be sent home by “YEM,” and to be sent home with this unique and spirited version was especially sweet. By now you have seen the photos of Trey and Mike making the human guitar pretzel, which was certainly a nifty little parlor trick. The music produced during this section was not nearly as compelling as the “drum + bass” passage that followed, which was thundering and melodic and just plain huge. I’m told Bill Walton made it to the rail to get down to this “YEM,” but I suppose I couldn’t pick him out of the crowd...
There’s lots of good news in the emerging arc of this tour, fans. Phish’s playing is consistent enough right now that three of the first four shows could support arguments for best show of tour so far, and Bend I gets a pass because it was the opener. Devotees of the long jam will probably lean Shoreline, and devotees of the unusual setlist will probably lean Bend II, but devotees of the carefully assembled start-to-finish show may find their bliss in last night’s Forum gig. [Discuss.]
Phish Summer 2015 – Setlists & Recaps
07/21/15 Setlist – Recap – Bend 1
07/22/15 Setlist – Recap – Bend 2
07/24/15 Setlist – Recap, Recap2 – Shoreline
07/25/15 Setlist – Recap – LA Forum
07/28/15 Setlist – Recap – Austin
07/29/15 Setlist – Recap – Grand Prarie
07/31/15 Setlist – Recap – Atlanta 1
08/01/15 Setlist – Recap – Atlanta 2
08/02/15 Setlist – Recap – Tuscaloosa
08/04/15 Setlist – Recap – Nashville
08/05/15 Setlist – Recap – Kansas City
08/07/15 Setlist – Recap – Blossom
08/08/15 Setlist – Recap – Alpine 1
08/09/15 Setlist – Recap – Apline 2
08/11/15 Setlist – Recap – Mann 1
08/12/15 Setlist – Recap – Mann 2
08/14/15 Setlist – Recap – Raleigh
08/15/15 Setlist – Recap – Merriweather 1
08/16/15 Setlist – Recap – Merriweather 2
08/21/15 Setlist – Recap – Magnaball 1
08/22/15 Setlist – Recap – Magnaball 2
08/23/15 Setlist – Recap – Magnaball 3
09/04/15 Setlist – Recap – Dick's 1
09/05/15 Setlist – Recap – Dick's 2
09/06/15 Setlist – Recap – Dick's 3
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Phish.net
The Mockingbird Foundation
You, my friend, can really write. Perfunctory? Precipitated? Used correctly? It's heady times at old .net, I'd say. I confess to being ignorant of the process by which one posts the more official looking show wrap-ups, such as this (as opposed to just a blog seed) but my word, I certainly hope this OP gets a few more cracks at it. Its hard to find any real bias in your writing, aside from the obvious one that we all share; namely, loving this one-of-a-kind band. This review was crafted by someone who obviously has a command of the group's repertoire and history yet can insightfully examine a show for whatever value it had. Quite a refreshing change from the typical reviews which often seem to be offered by an attendee of the show that, probably for that reason, is a little too generous with their praise.
Well done!
Isn't it interesting how the presence of big, set-carrying jams isn't so important when the overall playing is top-shelf. I'll take a show that flows from start to finish and leaves me smiling over one that I must endure for over an hour and a half to get my 15-20 minute "fix" on a long DWD or whatnot.
I don't care so much that a song stays in the box if the box burns my fingertips when I'm holding it.
just guessing - as i was present and feeling the energy of all things this night - i think they ( the phish from vermont ) determined to just give us the gift of the most excellent sound and light - the YEM ( to my ears and eyes ) seemed to be all about CK5. i was so completely emersed in the light changes at this moment, i felt transported into some other time and place of immiediate absorption into auditory and visual glory. the lighting possibilities at the forum were astonighing. this concert and setlist came across to me (subjective opinion) to be most about the ck5 and the artistry of kuroda's input. YEM (while forgoing the reprise) was a dear perfect call on the part of the band. the lighting was so beautiful i could not look away to take a photograph as the immiediate experience superseded the desire for documentation.
"if one always follows the rules... then that one will become too predictable ( and no one wants that )". - MOstGhoSt
hah hah hah
thank you for this most excellent review mr berteletdown!
i am so pleased you found so much you enjoyed this night. though, respectfully, i disagee with you regarding "ya-mar" i really enjoyed that part.
one thing i felt at this concert was a very east coast vibe in LA - i sensed an urban pressence and attitude - something i feel at msg with the phish - this night had it all going on.
this night was so magical. i was on the floor and the energy was just so on and on and on and ohhh my God - i gotta say - i love this band - and i love that the situation requires vacations with the people i love to see while on vacations. let's meet up again - another time another place - and lets all be together in the same blissful space.
After that it was all smoke and flames, great interplay throughout. DWD was tight and focused and I love Axilla (I or II, extended ending or no). 555 seemed to rediscove3r a little of it's edginess but I prefer those kind of songs when the band almost comes off like they want to punch you with sound. Yamar never really gets me going, I prefer NICU for whatever reason, but it's always good for a bouncing good time.
The second set was just awesome. If you're complaining about the perfection with which they transitioned from Tweezer> MF, MF you miiiiiiight be checking the time more then getting down in the grime. Because that was sick. Almost as sick as the Carini> Tweezer. Man do I love Carini, so metal and the more metal the better. All in all a pretty ripping show and I think the band digs The Forum.
BTW, I'm calling a Tweezer Reprise show opener the next time they're in LA. Just sayin'
Both those segues were masterpieces. -> Tweezer had some slight hiccups, but often those hiccups would cause Fish to dropout and let the band regroup, this time they trusted each other to pull it together with haste, and they got it.
And if we're getting Type II out of two new songs as well as a Twist that easily slides into the top 3 versions from the past 5 years, I'm fine with some old warhorses being used as connecting blocks.
More than fine with it really..It's kinda sorta my dream that Phish will one day totally revamp the list of songs that they turn into jam launchpads.
The boys are back and they're on fire*
With as tight as certain songs have been, there have been many examples each night where the timing just goes to shambles, even with as musically straightforward a tune as "Ya Mar" - and yes, there have been moments of flubbing written parts, but that's to be expected to a certain extent. What I'm hearing in particular is that coming off the GD50 run, Trey is sort of slowed-down in terms of pace, for lack of a better term, or maybe still in a mindset of GD pace to an extent, and having trouble finding footing in a lot of Phish tunes. I have a hard time explaining it, but it's very noticeable, at least sitting at home streaming the SBD's.
I would almost say that the band sounds most locked-in playing the new material, which is of course exciting to hear. Already a few of the tunes are destined to become favorites and rotation regulars.
LA highlights for me: No Men's, Roggae, Slave, YEM
As far as my scrutinizing the screw ups go, it's mostly from a place of curiosity. I think GD50 had a big impact on Trey, and I'm interested to see how it continues to feed into future Phish. There are just a lot of moments where things don't sound as tight as they should and I have to wonder if it's they looseness of GD playing that's the cause, or if the band is still getting their sea legs under them on this tour...
Rather, a post-8pm start is a late start for an 11:30 curfew....
It happened in the Gin at Bend, in the early part of Twist, and many other places as well. I believe that Trey found a fresh place in his soul during the sessions leading up to the Fare Thee Well shows. I would venture to guess that there haven't been too many times in the past 20 years when Trey has had the better part of a whole Spring/early Summer to play guitar alone in a studio for 5 hours a day, concentrating on material he didn't know. This had to have sharpened his skills (this seems obvious, really) but more to your point, I think the Dead's material has connected him to a musical place which was perhaps unknown to him, if I can say that. Not that he couldn't play it, but perhaps didn't know it. In a spiritual sense.
I think you are quite right in your observation of Trey's mental "pace" as it were....
There is a triumphant ring to his playing in these jams that has a major key celebratory vibe to it. I just think that he's in a place of pure victorious freedom. I mean he just played with his boyhood heroes and won the slam dunk contest. More importantly, he won the admiration of a fan base that generally didn't like him very much, but didn't know him. He carries the baton of kingship, and he's one of the few people in the Music Kingdom who can do so with grace and humility.
Just some thought on an interesting angle that you've brought up.
I think this is a glorious time for all.
A good Phish show, but I have to agree that some of the tempos were a little slow. The Ya Mar wasn't very good and part of that was the tempo. A first set DWD was nice (if I'm reading the song history correctly, last first set DWD was 9/2/12), Trey really shined on this one. I thought the first set sagged a bit in the middle, but No Men... was a nice start to the 2nd set.
I was surprised that Tweezer didn't jam out more (and I'm not one of those "OMG! No 20 minute jam at this show, it sucked!" types), it got in to some dissonant places but just kinda ended. I like My Friend My Friend but it was a tough listen, not very well played. I love Roggae and it was perfectly placed as the second set breather, but again, the tempo was a little draggy and it was a little sloppy. Slave was good, the jam peaked a little too soon, but always nice to hear that song.
The second set was only 65 minutes, so YEM as the encore wasn't a surprise. Nice rendition, Trey nailed the second sustained note. Trey really did well on the trampoline, the jam after that was fun, it was a nice surprise to see Mike wander over to Page's setup and play a few bits on the Clavinet.
I've found that as I can't afford to follow them around any more, I have a little more expectations in terms of the setlist and the level of playing at the shows I go to, I can't think "Oh well, good show, maybe the one tomorrow will be more adventurous".
Oh, and to the two Massholes a few rows in front of me who talked through the entire second set until a bunch of us told them to shut the hell up during the quiet bits of YEM, put an effin' sock in it, the people around you don't care about your job or girlfriend troubles.
Especially given Trey's practice sessions going into GD50 as you mention, I am a bit surprised that the same perfectionism isn't coming through as strong thus far on summer tour. They clearly have been rehearsing a lot of the new material, and I haven't heard the timing issues so much with those new tunes, but definitely on a lot of the classics. I dunno... maybe it will improve as the tour goes on.
Again, this is not to be a wet blanket for the sake of being one - moments like the LA Slave and YEM show that the band has the capacity to fire on all cylinders when everything gets dialed... Just surmising at the reason behind the feeling and time being noticeably off here and there.
Last note - I think Page has just been phenomenal thus far this tour... ridiculously good.
The only thing noticeable to long-time fans (and gearheads) such as myself is the sad lack of intensity and lighting saturation since they switched to LED-driven lighting a few years back. CK5 has only gotten better with age...but I, for one, notice and miss the lighting saturation and intensity of the old eco-unfriendly lighting system.
Especially given Trey's practice sessions going into GD50 as you mention, I am a bit surprised that the same perfectionism isn't coming through as strong thus far on summer tour.
Yes, I hear you. However, there's something else at work here. Musically, Trey has literally learned a new language, I think. He's discovered something heretofore unknown to him and it's as if it's 1983 again. That's really what I think is going on. I mean, his playing is otherworldly other than the fact that his timing has been off. It's not like we're dealing with Oxy-Trey and he's falling asleep on stage. On the contrary, he seems more focused than I've ever seen or heard him.
No, I think he's chasing something....something he tasted before this tour started and he doesn't want to lose the taste of. He's chasing a vision and he's lost in it. He's in a process of working it out. That's why I think the band just needs to roll with it. This may be a much different-sounding band by the end of this tour.
Last note - I think Page has just been phenomenal thus far this tour... ridiculously good.[/quote]
Thank you for your statement regarding 'firing on all cylinders," as well as the even-more true statement that Page has been super inspired in these last few tours. So- if one looks at this mathematically, People say Trey, Mike, and Page (I will, too, whisper that Fish has always been the driving force of this band) are all on a hitting streak, this makes this an AT LEAST .750 average!
Tours starting out this good (I have not listened to Austin I as of now), One - Remind me that I am so fortunate to be enjoying this time in our lives; Two - Make me so grateful that I will be at 75% of the next 4 shows; and Three - am impressed with the way y'all have words that fit your experience with this band.
BRAVO to y'all!
I understand my experience more through your explanations. WOOP WOOOP!
Keep on perceiving it all! I insist!