Phish Summer Tour 2011
Words by Fox Johnson
Concert Photography by David Oppenheimer
Click photos for large view.
Phish is back at the forefront of the summer tour scene again this year. They have a run of 33 shows all in the US; many being sold out in advance. Starting their summer tour at the more obscure Bethel Woods Center For The Arts on May 27th, in Bethel NY. After covering most of the east coast on the first leg of Phish's summer tour, they return to NY to headline their always popular jam out 'Super Ball' July 1-3, in Watkins Glen NY; which is in the ninth consecutive year.
On the evening of June 17 as part of Phish's east coast run, they entertained an ecstatic crowd at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre; in Charlotte NC. The group playfully cranked out many expected songs now entrenched in Phish milieu. The first set included a trove of these beloved songs like: I Am Hydrogen, Bouncing Around the Room, Sample in a Jar, and an especially spirited Wolfman's Brother, to pull attendees into the right frame.
The second set Phish produced was what turned an enlivened but tranquil event at the Charlotte outdoor arena; into the full tilt barn burner of a night it ended as. Opening the second set with their joyful tune Backwards Down the Number Line immediately impacted energy onto the sea of Phish fans.
They progressed with songs including Weekapaug Groove, then producing an extremely jammy fusion; that shifted into the always ethereal Ghost. Icculus profoundly found its way into a Phish set for one of only a few times in past 15 years, to the delight of the crowd and their giddy front man Trey Anastasio. Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon wore David Mayfield Parade shirts and they projected the image on the shirts onto the big screen and declared David Mayfield as their god, Icculus.
Phish also performed a resounding cover of Pink Floyds song Bike. After some intense vacuum work they ended the second set with a blistering Chalkdust Torture and You Enjoy Myself. Phish did of course crank out a delightfully rollicking encore set that included Wilson, and ended with a brilliant cover of the Rolling Stones song Loving Cup. This all resonated the crowd thoroughly, as the essence of a Phish summer tour that will always be remembered.
Next Phish travels to the western US with a spellbinding first ever appearance at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood CA on August 8. They also are to be found at the highly anticipated Outside Lands festival at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco CA on August 12-14. Out of a talent rich group of entertainers, Phish will be the only band playing this festival to perform two sets. Eventually finishing out with a three night consecutive run at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City CO, September 2-4; to end a prodigious Phish summer tour season.
All photos © 2011 David Oppenheimer - All Rights Reserved
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