Knoxville: For The Listeners

Phish - 6.10.09, Thomson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN

I. Jim, PYITE, Ocelot, Foam, Train Song, Undermind, Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Squirming Coil, Character Zero

II. Get Back On The Train, Waves > A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing > David Bowie, Army Of One > Reba, Hellow My Baby (acapella), Julius > Cavern > Harry Hood

Encore: Frankenstein

Tonight will be a show people talk about because they’ve listened to it and understand it for what it is. Eugene and I were on the floor which had very little energy compared to last night, but that was mostly due to the security (there the entire show every 20 feet) and assigned seating. But they wanted to play, and they nailed all of the heavy hitters (Jim, PYITE, Mike’s Groove, Bowie, Reba, Hood. the set was supposed to end at julius. Trey went to lift off his guitar and page motioned with a hand across his throat that the set wasn’t ending. He got into it though, and called for the cavern, which we all thought was the end; then HE was the one who called for the Hood to close it. The band recognized not to cut such a great set short and it was worth it. we got a lot of music tonight.

In the first set, I’m almost certain Mike’s was not supposed to happen in set one, that another song was supposed to come followed by Zero. However, Mike was bombastic during the funky, extended Undermind which I think shifted the tone of that set. Things are happening spontaneously, and if people think the band is playing a shit ton of repeats, I can only feel bad for you not understanding the tone of this tour. They are playing what they want to, and they’re definitely digging their older material as well as the new stuff. Mike’s Groove was the most cohesive and fundamental since pre-hiatus Phish, and the Hydrogen was absolutely nailed by Trey, something that hasn’t happened often since the early to mid-90’s!  It was impressive to say the least.

it was wonderful to hear the post-hiatus material dusted off tonight (Waves -> ASIHTOS). I figured the Waves was headed to Bowie territory, but i didn’t expect to get the nice sandwich. Kuroda lit up the crowd behind the stage during the ambient section of Waves, and was just toying with us all!

Reba was another song I thought was set aside for Bonnaroo, but wasn’t!!! They nailed it, with an exceptionally soft section of the jam that just built until it exploded. I had them all up in my head at that point, eyes closed just soaking it in.  Best Reba I’ve heard in a long time!

Like I said, it was an introspective show in many regards, but a very well played performance. Last night was meant to tear faces off and own a small arena, but tonight was meant to play to a larger crowd and offer something special for those in attendance who could appreciate it. They knew the smaller crowd, hard to get ticket would bring out the people they are always going after. Tonight they knew there would be tickets on the ground, and they played to capture the attention of the hardcore fan. I don’t know how this transfers on tape, but it hit the spot for me personally. Set two started at 10:08 and the show ended at 11:40 PM, so you do the math on how much we got considering the size of the first set.

Trey defeated Mr. Miner tonight for the first time in 2009 with a very good Hood, and the Frankenstein was the perfect encore.  Hello My Baby was played acapella for the first time since 1999, right before a mind blowing Julius that raged harder than any version I’ve seen in 27 shows! Page came out front and center for Frankenstein with the Keytar just like in Hampton.  However, Mike sported his new tricked out bass that Page gave him at his birthday party last week.  It was a classic tongue-in-cheek nod from Mike to Page (or vice versa?!).  Check out the video of the full Frankenstein encore beneath. Kuroda brings the heat with the lights.

Phish - Frankenstein 6.10.09 Knoxville from The Butter Room on Vimeo.

While Asheville was the “Fishman Show,” he didn’t relent tonight and is my MVP. Fishman is really rounding into shape (well maybe not physically), but he’s pushing and challenging the rest of the band, lock step with Trey, and just enjoying it.  He may be the least vocal of the four guys, but I found myself deeply interested in listening to him and letting the others catch my ear outside of his rhythms.  Perhaps this is how Phish is best listened to at most times (Trey has said as much), but I really was able to leverage tonight to feel the show in my head rather than just hear it. I firmly believe that element directly comes back to Fish.

Knoxville sets the stage for Bonnaroo in several aspects. The Cavern seemed like Trey’s personal nod to the potentially shitty weather (take care of your shoes, people!), while the size of the sets and spontaneous nature of tonight almost makes anything possible in manchester. Likewise, the lot was out of control. The four-story parking garage gave way to anything and everything, with no police presence as of 1 AM. It was the best lot scene I’ve been a part of, and just relaxing for once.  You could do your thing, whether it be eating some burritos/grilled cheese/french bread pizza, drinking heady brews, or you know… phishing out. We were generally welcomed in Knoxville, evident by “visual-only” security checks at the insistence of local law enforcement.

Follow the lines pointing south, fans! Friday night is going to be a special show, and Sunday will be the icing on the cake. Where next week takes us? Your guess is as good as mine, but the wheels are spinning in the right direction.  Stay tuned to our From The Road section and Twitter page for updates from Bonnaroo for Phish and all the other goodness emanating from Tennessee!