Friday 07/01/2011 by phishnet

FROM THE ARCHIVES - SUPERBALL IX

Impossible as it may seem, and old as it may make you feel, Phish archivist Kevin Shapiro curated his first "From The Archives" show at The Clifford Ball. Nearly 15 years later, a Phish festival wouldn't feel like a Phish festival without "FTA", and the fanboy with the gig every other fanboy would gladly kill for can still deliver the goods.

Before I get down to the biz at hand, it bears repeating that just last week - and perhaps not coincidentally - Phish released Live Bait #5, a themed compilation of choice nuggets from Phish festivals dating all the way back to 1987 (Ian McLean’s Party at Connie Condon’s Farm). If you haven't picked up LB5 yet then get off your ass and do it now. It presents Phish as a band of seasons, a band of eras, and a band of epochs, whose evolution has been punctuated, among other things, by big balls.

And now, a super ball.

Tonight's Superball IX "From The Archives" show blasted off just like a Phish show - about 45 minutes behind schedule - and your intrepid Phish.net reporter stayed up past his bedtime to capture all the action. Here's how it went down on The Bunny...

"Drowned" -> "Rock & Roll" - PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ - 6/29/00

This combo of classic covers was requested relentlessly this past week on Twitter, and it's no mystery why. The band is clearly locked down and primed from the first bars of "Drowned", and the jam moves effortlessly from idea to idea, never losing direction or purpose, before the band crafts an astonishingly impeccable segue into "Rock & Roll". This version is a mustang - short from nose to tail but muscular, quick, and strong willed -- owing in no small part to the rhythm section's relentless propulsion throughout.

"Waves" - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, NY - 5/27/11 (Tech Rehearsal)

Well, spank my ass and call me collect. Phish may well be more comfortable these days improvising when there's no crowd in front of them (see today's post-"Ginseng" soundcheck jam). This "Waves" is a full-blown 29-minute revelation, emphatically type-II, and undeniably the best known version of this song that Phish has ever played (including the iconic IT reading). This is one of those rare Phish jams in which Page prods the conversation to a darker place. When he does so the rest of the band nearly always follows, and they do so here to great effect. What follows is pure distilled hose. By the time we wake up tomorrow, this recording will be highly sought-after, and hopefully widely available, because it's a tearjerking gem that every fan must hear.

Hey, Kevin, how about a Live Bait of just soundchecks? Please?

"Wolfman's Brother" -> "Simple" - Loring Commerce Center, Limestone, ME - 8/16/97

This "Wolfman's" is classic 1997 Phish - patient, uber-greasy, and harmonically bold. Sections of this jam presage the nakedly emotional and modulating qualities of the Fall 1997 tour to follow, foreshadowing jams like the 11/13/97 "Stash" and the 11/21/97 "AC/DC Bag". Listen for Trey's divebombing E-string scratch right before the deft segue into "Simple", and then revel in the DMT-gnomes-on-Broadway "Odd Couple" quotes that precede the -> into "My Soul".

"Run Like an Antelope" > "Suzy Greenberg" - The Ballpark, Old Orchard Beach, ME - 7/3/94

In China (where fireworks were invented), 1994 was the Year of the Dog. In Phishstory, 1994 was quite possibly the Year of the Antelope. This version is a model of standard-awesome mid-90s tension and release all the way up to the pause. Things then proceed to get good and weird in the pre-"Rocco" section before a nicely raucous ending. As "Suzy" begins, you can hear the trebly crackle of fireworks and a feisty roar of approval from the crowd. While a perfectly appropriate "FTA" selection for an Independence Day weekend festival, this selection doesn't really stand up to its preceding ones, but by this point it's a tall bar.

Some genuinely electrifying Phish was offered up tonight, and I hope all of you enjoyed it as much as I did. Have a safe and thrilling weekend, everyone.


(Chris Bertolet, @bertoletdown)

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Comments

, comment by justnoah
justnoah Well said. The Bethel Waves is a MUST HEAR.
, comment by bertoletdown
bertoletdown Honestly, the whole blog entry should have been about the Waves. It's the best thing I've heard from this band since the Vegas Piper in '03, and maybe longer. Defies description.
, comment by Chadwell
Chadwell Waves was a pleasant surprise. Easily my favorite track of this session. When Shapiro says, "This track has been burning a hole in my pocket for a few weeks now," everyone should stop and listen.
, comment by bertoletdown
bertoletdown @Chadwell said:
When Shapiro says, "This track has been burning a hole in my pocket for a few weeks now," everyone should stop and listen.
Hear, hear.
, comment by joechip
joechip Holy waves. wow.

I think you're onto something with the idea that maybe they are more comfortable doing this kind of thing without an audience...I think playing to the percieved expectations of the crowd is what leads them into rushing through sets at times lately.
, comment by okeepaphan
okeepaphan Can't wait to check out this Waves.. maybe someone should hold a sign at the Gorge that says "pretend we aren't even here!"
, comment by sushigradepanda
sushigradepanda "Hey, Kevin, how about a Live Bait of just soundchecks? Please?"

100% behind this...
, comment by ckess22
ckess22 Perhaps a silly question...has anyone upped this online yet?? Can someone throw me a line here?
, comment by ckess22
ckess22 Download link...big things

http://www.mediafire.com/?m8dz39cfzac7b
, comment by gnosticaspirant
gnosticaspirant Anyone have a DL link for yesterday's soundcheck?
, comment by Fluffyfluffyhead
Fluffyfluffyhead Now that's what I'm talking about! This is what I want from the Phish. I know it won't happen every night but that's IT. Beautiful patient jamming. Forget audience expectations - just do it!
i love you Bunny stream
, comment by pauly
pauly http://www.mediafire.com/?m8dz39cfzac7b : link for the archives

Drowneed-> Rock+Roll 6.29.00
Waves 5.26.11
Wolfmans-> Simple 8.16.97
Antelope,Suzy 7.3.94
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