Phish, Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, VT 09/14/2011

Today’s belated review will be rather succinct compared to my normal jaunt of words. Because sometimes you just can’t explain everything.

"Please don't dominate the rap Jack
If you've got nothing new to say" – R. Hunter

The trip up to Essex Junction, Vermont (roughly 3 miles south of Burlington) from Boston was worth every ounce of energy. The foliage of VT is starting change colors and the Green Mountains provided hours of idyllic views accented by reds, oranges, and yellows along scenic Route 89 North.

The venue, typically a fairground or expo center, was filled to the brim with fans, low-key security, and a waning gibbous for our viewing pleasure.

Everything Phish played was so crisp and tight-sounding you would think you were playing an LP in the comfort of your living room. As any Phish or Deadhead knows – this can be a good and/or bad thing. In inprov, the listener rides the wave of exploration where mistakes potentially make the magic peaks even taller. It's all about how you get there, not when or where you arrive.

So, while the show may have been short on exploration, my expectations were not revved up to unobtainable and insurmountable levels. They can't be at this point with Phish as they wane into the golden age of their wonderful career. The performance provided musicianship at a consistently high-level – well worth the price of admission, and what’s better, the benefit of flood recovery efforts. I coulnd't possibly ask for more.

Now, let’s get down to the nitty gritty…

The 1st set: The set-up man and closer, if you will, of “Wolfman’s Brother” and “Julius” were "it". Julius was a best ever (for me). The flow continued into the 2nd set in the form of a rocking “Carini” that transformed into a major key jam and morphed into a “Down with Disease” and a well-placed “Slave to the Traffic Light”. I get such a kick out of Trey infectious jumping during the “DWD” jam that I can’t help but smile every time I hear the songs signature solo lick. It’s not quite as funny, to me, as Big Red’s arbitrary gestures and politician-esque waves to the crowd at the end of each set, but easily close second on the goofball scale. “Slave” led into a “Rock and Roll” that was dark in psychedelic exploration, but the set flow didn't last long. A song-based set followed, but make no mistake about it, it was one hell of a well-played show by the Phish from Vermont.



Wednesday, 09/14/2011
Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, VT
Soundcheck: Jam, Midnight Confessions, Ginseng Sullivan, Silent Night (on Theremin), Too Much Fried Dough At The Fair, Peaches en Regalia, Cannonball tease, Jam [Unconfirmed and Incomplete]
Set 1: Chalk Dust Torture, The Moma Dance > NICU, Funky Bitch, Sample in a Jar, Cavern, Bathtub Gin, Alaska > Possum, Wolfman's Brother > Julius
Set 2: Carini[1] > Down with Disease[1] > Slave to the Traffic Light > Rock and Roll > Twist > Backwards Down the Number Line, Theme From the Bottom > Suzy Greenberg > Character Zero
Encore: Loving Cup