{"id":16170,"date":"2012-09-16T15:37:45","date_gmt":"2012-09-16T20:37:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/?p=16170"},"modified":"2012-09-17T17:00:39","modified_gmt":"2012-09-17T22:00:39","slug":"concert-review-phish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/2012\/09\/16\/concert-review-phish\/","title":{"rendered":"Concert Review: Phish"},"content":{"rendered":"

The host of Jam Sandwich reviews the recent Phish concert in Kansas City<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Phish announced that they would be returning to Kansas City on August 22 for the first time since they reunited in 2009 there was a very split response from their enormously dedicated fan base.\u00a0 Phans from the KC area were ecstatic to be able to see a hometown show for the first time since 2004, however followers from elsewhere in the country were not so enthused.\u00a0 Complaints appeared rapidly on Facebook and fan message boards when the second leg of Phish\u2019s summer tour was announced, and it included two nights in Missouri and one in Oklahoma. The Kansas City show was at Starlight Theater, and these complaints did not keep fans from swarming Swope Park in masses, partying and carrying on in true pre-Phish concert tradition.\u00a0 The relaxed atmosphere at Swope allowed vendors to set up shop, selling everything from jewelry to pizza, without being hassled at all by the police.\u00a0 By the time 8:00 p.m. came around, the crowd was in good spirits, and headed to the theatre to watch the first Phish concert in KC in eight years.<\/p>\n

The first set opened with \u201cChalk Dust Torture\u201d a song that has been in heavy rotation since its first appearance in 1991. Many people complain that it is used as an opener too often, but no one seemed to mind at Starlight.\u00a0 The energy was high from the beginning to the end of the song, ending with the crowd singing along with the band, shouting out \u201cCan I live while I\u2019m young?\u201d in unison.<\/p>\n

\u201cChalk Dust Torture\u201d was followed by a cover of Little Feat\u2019s \u201cSkin It Back\u201d, a song that had been covered one time previously on this tour, but had since not been played by Phish since 1987.\u00a0 Many fans were confused as to what they were playing, but the cover was well executed, with guitarist Trey Anastasio taking the reins during the jam section.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoma Dance\u201d and \u201cRift\u201d followed, both keeping the audience engaged, but the energy at Starlight truly rose once the opening notes of \u201cBathtub Gin\u201d came out of the speakers.\u00a0 The crowd erupted when keyboardist Page McConnell began smashing on the keys of his baby grand piano, while Anastasio sang the first verse.<\/p>\n

\u201cStash\u201d was up next, featuring some of Anastasio\u2019s most impressive guitar work of the evening.\u00a0 The energy of the crowd continued on an upward stream as the sun went down to Anastasio\u2019s creeping guitar riff, which exploded into the crowd chanting along, \u201cmaybe so, maybe not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following \u201cStash\u201d was a Lynard Skynard Cover: \u201cThe Ballad of Curtis Loewe\u201d in which Page McConnell took control of lead vocals.\u00a0 The intensity felt by the crowd during \u201cStash\u201d died down due to the campy sing-along that is \u201cThe Ballad of Curtis Loewe\u201d, but good times were still being had by all.<\/p>\n

Once \u201cCurtis Loewe\u201d ended, the band increased the pace with their newer song, \u201cKill Devil Falls\u201d, followed by \u201cFunky Bitch\u201d, but the set closer \u201cRun Like an Antelope\u201d proved itself to be the highlight of the evening.<\/p>\n

Phish’s second set was certainly no match for the first.\u00a0 The opening string of songs (Tweezer>Piper>Mike\u2019s Song) was segued well, and featured some interesting jamming, seemingly centered around bassist Mike Gordon. However, the intensity felt during the first set was nowhere to be found.\u00a0 Mike\u2019s song ended, instead of segueing into \u201cSimple\u201d or \u201cI Am Hydrogen\u201d, which left the crowd hoping for something epic to come next. Instead, they were served easily the worst segment of the evening. \u201cBouncing Around the Room\u201d was executed well, but it was simply too slow-paced of a song to perpetuate the fire that was lit during the first set.\u00a0 By the time they had reached \u201cFarm House\u201d, the feeling could not be shook that they were simply going through the motions; playing some sort of pseudo-greatest hits show.<\/p>\n

After \u201cFarm House\u201d came \u201cWeekapauk Groove\u201d, a normally fast paced, high energy song.\u00a0 This rendition was played much slower than usual, though.\u00a0 It was indeed on a level with the slow pace of this entire set, lacking the vigor of the entire first set.<\/p>\n

The band redeemed themselves with the final segment of the second set (\u201cHarry Hood\u201d>\u201dSuzy Greenberg\u201d).\u00a0 \u201cHarry Hood\u201d featured some of Anastasio\u2019s best soloing of the evening, ending in a beautiful peak as per usual.\u00a0 \u201cSuzy Greenberg\u201d was a perfect way to end the second set, matching the energy that was felt during the first.<\/p>\n

The encore, which began with \u201cLoving Cup\u201d, arguably the best Rolling Stones cover in Phish\u2019s repertoire, left the crowd in good spirits, which was followed by \u201cTweezer Reprise\u201d, a song that is to be expected in any Phish encore if they have played \u201cTweezer\u201d earlier in the night (not to say that it is not enjoyed by the masses).<\/p>\n

By the time the crowd was exiting the theatre, the boredom felt during parts of the second set was nowhere to be found.\u00a0 The party continued at Swope Park until the wee hours of the morning, a phenomenon rarely experienced by Phish fans, due to police being savvy to their shenanigans. Perhaps this was a bi-product of Phish\u2019s prolonged absence in Kansas City, or maybe, they simply did not care.<\/p>\n

from jimmy keegan<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

————-<\/p>\n

Phish set list from Aug. 22 show at Starlight Theater:<\/p>\n

Set 1: Chalk Dust Torture, Skin It Back, The Moma Dance, Rift, Bathtub Gin, Stash, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, Kill Devil Falls, Funky Bitch, Run Like An Antelope<\/em><\/p>\n

Set 2: Tweezer > Piper > Mike’s Song, Bouncing Around the Room > Backwards Down The Number Line > Heavy Things, If I Could, Weekapaug Groove, Harry Hood > Suzy Greenberg<\/em><\/p>\n

Encore: Loving Cup, Tweezer Reprise<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n