Live Music

Countdown to Hampton: Ignition…

Hampton Coliseum

In just two days, Phish will break nearly five years of silence with a three night run in one of their favorite venues: Hampton Coliseum. Over the past two weeks, we’ve given you a little look back at what makes Hampton Coliseum so special to Phish, their fans, and more.

Today, we look ahead.

 

For those who’ve followed this series, or Phish themselves, you certainly noticed that the last appearances of the band at Hampton (or anywhere else) were lackluster at best. Why then, you may ask, would anyone be excited to see them come back and possibly do the same again? In all honesty, we can’t completely rule out to possibility that Phish 3.0 won’t be any better than Post-Hiatus Phish. But there are reasons to be optimistic.

During the last Phish tour, it became painfully obvious that Trey Anastasio had a serious drug problem. Since that time he has been through jail, rehab, and a lengthy probation. Last year, he returned, cautiously, to the road and played with renewed vigor. The Fall 2008 tour of Trey & Classic TAB was met with rave reviews by many, including myself. Trey is clearly back, happy, and ready to rock.

Trey @ APW 

Word from those in the know is that the band has been rehearsing heavily with the goal of coming back stronger than ever before. They have reportedly already written set lists (which I’m told are quite killer) for the Hampton shows and, as anyone who knows my taste in Phish should be able to tell you, that bodes well. In my opinion, Phish was best when they rehearsed tirelessly and wrote set lists before every show. If you doubt my assertion, you are probably hung up on that incessantly groovy cowfunk which is forgivable but not my favorite. I prefer pre-1996. Phish as a tightly wound coil, ready to strike. This is what I seek. This is what I hope to see in the coming shows. I also expect a bit of that cowfunk as well as some of that shoegazing ambient stuff from the late 90s. Phish 3.0 should be the merger of all of Phish’s finer points.

What will be missing? Certainly, we hope that the bad personal habits will be gone and that the band will be able to tour with a safe backstage environment structured to protect them from such things. Beyond that, will they continue to set aside the more youthful elements of their shows? It’s been more than ten years since Phish sang “Tela” and nearly nine since the last “Forbin > Mockingbird”. Is Gamhendge gone forever? What about “Fluffhead”?

Rehearsal

Perhaps, they’ll swerve the other direction and re-embrace some of the older material. It’s been made clear that the absence of rehearsal brought the demise of “Fluffhead” along with the swath of technical gaffs in other tightly composed songs. Perhaps, the re-introduction of rehearsal, will bring forth a wealth of long lost nuggets. I’d love to hear a proper version of “Letter To Jimmy Page” or “Esther”. I’d be absolutely ecstatic.

Truth be told, I’m crossing my fingers and looking forward with the hope that this time, Phish plans to get it right. Win or lose, the anticipation is thrilling and nerve-wracking. Nothing will release this tension like a Phish show so, it’s a good thing that there are three on my calendar this weekend.

Phish @ Hampton

Check back during & after the weekend for reports from the shows.

Countdown to Hampton: There and Back Again

Hampton Coliseum

In just a few days, Phish will break nearly five years of silence with a three night run in one of their favorite venues: Hampton Coliseum. Over the next two weeks few days, we’ll continue to take a little look back at what makes Hampton Coliseum so special to Phish, their fans, and more.

 

In 1999, Phish came back to Hampton for the fifth consecutive year; this time for two show to close out a short December tour. These would also be the last shows before the millennium ending, Big Cypress shows (that’s a whole ‘nother series of blog posts.) Modi and I went to these together and had a pretty great time (as usual.) The shows, themselves rate as ‘soundly average’ to ‘pretty good’ without really shattering any Earth. Phish held the serious muscle in reserve for New Years.

Here are the setlists:

1999-12-17 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
1: Piper, Meat > Sparkle > Gotta Jibboo > Punch You in the Eye,
When the Circus Comes, Water in the Sky, Twist
2: Birds Of A Feather, The Moma Dance > Bug, Jennifer Dances,
Split Open and Melt, Character Zero
Encore: The Old Home Place, The Squirming Coil > Loving Cup 

1999-12-18 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
1: Harry Hood, Back at the Chicken Shack, Dog Gone Dog, Tube, Heavy Things,
Back on the Train, First Tube, The Inlaw Josie Wales, You Enjoy Myself
2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Sand, The Horse > Silent In The Morning, Possum,
Mike's Song > Simple, Weekapaug Groove > Buffalo Bill > Weekapaug Groove
E: Ya Mar, Sleeping Monkey

This was not exactly Hampton ’97 but there was some great stuff this time around. First set, first night had a strong “Piper” to open the run, a rockin’ “Punch You in the Eye”, and “Water In The Sky” with its reference to the Everglades where some of us would next be seeing Phish. “Birds of a Feather” followed by “Moma Dance” served as a great one-two punch but (I’m just gonna come out and say it) “Jennifer Dances” sucked the life out of the room. Yep. For those who don’t talk this stuff with me too much (and yet, are inexplicably reading this blog) you have found a Phish song that I hate. Moving along, the show was saved by a strong “Split Open And Melt” and a not-one, not-two but, THREE song encore that closed with an excellent version of “Loving Cup”.

The next night, from the drum shots to open “Harry Hood”, was slated to be a monster. It was a great exercise in pacing with the band being kind enough to give us breaks in between the various waves of assault from such tunes as “Hood”, “Tube”, “First Tube” and a crushing version of “You Enjoy Myself.” That’s just set one! Set two continued the same pattern with strong opening combo of “2001 > Sand” and a broken up “Mike’s Groove”. The mellower material wasn’t weak fluff like “Jennifer Dances” either; they covered Jimmy Smith, hit us with “Dog Log” (aka “Dog Gone Dog”) and the rare “Buffalo Bill”. The encore, “Ya Mar”, which is usually a lighthearted number contained a small tribute from Trey to his recently passed grandfather and was followed by a silly song with potentially stirring sentiment: “Sleeping Monkey”.

Not a bad way to end the last “typical” shows of the century.

As the story goes, Phish played Big Cypress, toured on in 2000 and decided to take a break. They called it a “hiatus”. Phish fans call it “The Hiatus”. The band took some time off, explored solo projects and, when the itch returned, so did they. In fall 2002, Phish announced that they would play Madison Square Garden on New Year’s Eve followed by three nights at the Hampton Coliseum. Continue reading →

Countdown to Hampton: Phish Lands The Mothership

Hampton Coliseum

In just two ONE week, Phish will break nearly five years of silence with a three night run in one of their favorite venues: Hampton Coliseum. Over the next two weeks, we’ll give you a little look back at what makes Hampton Coliseum so special to Phish, their fans, and more.

 

In 1995, Phish announced their fall tour and included an October date at Hampton Coliseum. I’m not sure if the Phish community at large saw this as more than just another show but I certainly did. I spread the word amongst my friends and ordered my tickets. This was a must-see, in my book. We (my girlfriend and I) stayed at the beach with my friend Rob and had a terrific time.

Here’s the setlist:

1995-11-25 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
1: Poor Heart, A Day in the Life > David Bowie, Billy Breathes > Taste That Surrounds,
Bouncing Around the Room > Rift, Wolfman's Brother, Runaway Jim
2: Timber (Jerry) > Kung, Mike's Song > Rotation Jam > Mike's Song,
My Long Journey Home, I'm Blue I'm Lonesome, Strange Design > Weekapaug Groove,
Harry Hood, Hello My Baby, Poor Heart
E: Poor Heart Reprise, Fire
Show Notes: The first set Poor Heart was the original version.
The second set Poor Heart was the slow, shuffle version.
The Poor Heart Reprise slower, but only a few lines of the song were played.

The thing with “Poor Heart” was pretty crazy. To this day, I have no explanation for that other than the band forgetting that they’d played it. Everything was immaculately played; the feel in the room was incredible; with fans just grooving and having the best time. The “Rotation Jam” was bizarre (and it might not have been “immaculately played” but that’s beside the point) and a real treat to witness. All in all, this was a great start to a long love affair between Phish and the Hampton Coliseum.

Phish '95

That weekend carries with it another hallmark; something that is, personally, more significant than the good Phish show. The next day I learned that I was going to be a father. It was for this that I missed Phish’s next two visits to Hampton.

The first, exactly eleven months after the 1995 show, came in October 1996. This show is good, but not epic. In fact, we’re going to gloss over it almost entirely save for one significant note. Trey made the following announcement from the stage during this show:

Sometimes people ask me what the uh, best rooms that we play are ah, in are. This is pretty much it, for me. Just so you know to answer the question. Good sound. Everyone gets to go where they want on the floor. You can’t beat it.

Not the most eloquent of statements but, it does suggest why they came back again in 1997 and played two of their most renowned shows.

Here’s the setlists:

1997-11-21 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
1: Emotional Rescue > Split Open and Melt, Beauty of My Dreams, Dogs Stole Things,
Punch You in the Eye > Lawn Boy, Chalk Dust Torture, Prince Caspian
2: Ghost > AC/DC Bag, Slave to the Traffic Light, Loving Cup
E: Guyute
1997-11-22 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
1: Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Harry Hood, Train Song, Billy Breathes,
Frankenstein, Izabella
2: Halley's Comet > Tweezer > Black-Eyed Katy > Piper, Run Like An Antelope
E: Bouncing Around the Room, Tweezer Reprise

Where to begin? The Rolling Stones’ “Emotional Rescue”? Really? That song, from the album of the same name is the Stones’ disco “effort” but here, after an amusingly faithful attempt to cover the song (don’t let the falsetto vocals scare you off, folks,) Phish stretches it out with an additional ten minutes of cow-funk jamming before landing in “Split Open and Melt”. The “Ghost > AC/DC Bag” is a sublime journey with some phenomenal improvisation that simply must be heard to be believed. The “Slave To The Traffic Light” that follows is spot-on too.

Phish @ Hampton

The next night doesn’t mess around either. First set opens with a killer 30+minute “Mike’s Groove” followed by a “Harry Hood”. That’s a pretty great way to spend the bulk of an hour. The fact that set two opened with a 25-minute “Halley’s Comet” does not suck at all. And, when the “Halley’s…” segues into “Tweezer” which then segues into “Black Eyed Katie” also does not even remotely suck. This is awesome stuff, folks. Don’t just take my word for it, check out the reviews at Phish.net: 11/21 & 11/22.

Jump ahead yet another year and Phish (and I) returned to the Coliseum; for two more nights. Continue reading →

Countdown to Hampton: My First Hampton Shows

Hampton Coliseum

In just two short weeks, Phish will break nearly five years of silence with a three night run in one of their favorite venues: Hampton Coliseum. Over the next two weeks, we’ll give you a little look back at what makes Hampton Coliseum so special to Phish, their fans, and more.

Growing up in nearby Virginia Beach, I came to know Hampton Coliseum as a welcome landmark along the highway, signifying our imminent arrival at home. I did not, however, have the opportunity to attend a concert there until after I’d left the area, midway through High School.

 

Spring of 1992 came around and, with it, Grateful Dead tourdates. The initial announcement included the usual run of shows at my local arena, the Capital Center, and I made plans to attend. I believe that my friend Mike, still in Virginia Beach, is the one who let me know that two shows had been added in Hampton just before the Cap Center run. This time, to skirt the ban, the band changed their name to “Bruce Hornsby and Friends”. They also limited sales to local outlets. This made it, in those pre-Internet days, all the more difficult for me to aquire a ticket. Telling my parents that Mike had one for me, I secured permission to drive down for the Friday night show.

On March 6, 1992, I skipped school, and drove to Hampton. As I had no ticket, I was not permitted to drive into the parking lot so, I parked at a nearby hotel. After securing a pizza box top and magic marker, I began walking up and down Coliseum Drive advertising, “$$ for One Ticket.”

Not ten minutes passed before success smiled upon me and I managed to secure a ticket for face value. I ditched my sign and left my car at the hotel (not advisable these days as the hotels are quite diligent about towing non-guest vehicles.) then I hustled into the lot for my second Grteful Dead show. We, of course, had no cell phones back then but Mike and I had planned to meet at the fountain in front of the coliseum. For those who have been there before for a Grateful Dead or Phish show, I’ll pause a moment so that you may recover from your laughing fit.

…

Upon reaching the fountain, I came to realize that ours was not only a silly plan, but it was not even remotely original. The area teemed with Deadheads- all looking for tickets and/or friends; selling food, crafts, or drugs; participating in or watching a large drum circle; or simply wandering aimlessly. I began to worry a little bit as I stood on the lip of the fountain and surveyed the area. With showtime rapidly approaching, I concocted a plan to go in alone and search further during the set break. I scanned the crowd one last time, noting that the drum circle was shrinking and that the flow of the masses had shifted from aimlessness toward the coliseum entrance. Biting my my lip, I set my resolve to go in alone. Continue reading →

Countdown To Hampton: A History Lesson

Hampton Coliseum

In just two short weeks, Phish will break nearly five years of silence with a three night run in one of their favorite venues: Hampton Coliseum. Over the next two weeks, we’ll give you a little look back at what makes Hampton Coliseum so special to Phish, their fans, and more.

I also hope to share with you a little of my own history of shows at Hampton from Phish and beyond.

Let us begin with a little geography and history, shall we? Hampton, Virginia sits at the tip of the southernmost of the peninsulas that jut into the Chesapeake Bay. The region is commonly referred to as Hampton Roads and includes the cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, and Williamsburg. The distinct, flying saucer shaped, arena sits in sight of Interstate 64 alongside a lake. 

Opened in 1970, the Coliseum seats up to 13,800 and is situated adjacent to a strip of hotels and a relatively new convention center. It has played host to all sorts of events from circuses to monster truck shows to Elvis and The Rolling Stones (who filmed their “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” video there.)

Its renown in the Phish community stems not just from the slew of remarkable Phish shows played there but also from the history of legendary Grateful Dead concedes held in the venue.

The Grateful Dead first played Hampton in 1979 and returned annually for several years. The most notable appearance came in 1989. Due to crowding issues caused by touring fans in 1988, the band was banned from playing in the city. A plan was hatched to circumvent the ban by booking them under the moniker “Formerly The Warlocks”. (The Warlocks was a name used by the band for a short time in ’65 & ’66.) I don’t know for certain if this stemmed the tide of fans as I, aged 15 years and at home in Virginia Beach, knew full well that The Grateful Dead were playing, but the shows went on. Myself, I was not permitted to attend.

Those that did attend were treated to more than stellar performances; the band broke out songs that had long been missing from the rotation including: “Dark Star”, “Help on the Way > Slipknot!”, and “Attics Of My Life”  (which had not been played since 1972!) A longtime Deadhead confided to me in 1995 that those shows may have been “the last, truly, great shows” played by The Grateful Dead. One man’s opinion, to be sure, but an opinion grounded in the experiences of a fan who had been seeing the band regularly since the Summer of 1973.

Stream The Grateful Dead 1989-10-09 from Archive.org

With that kind of mojo surrounding a building, you can imagine that the anticipation levels were high for the next time The Grateful Dead might come to town. We’ll talk about that in the next post; stay tuned.