Phish - Albany, NY 11/27/09

What a night.

First of all, we somehow managed to get amazing seats.  I guess livephish.com (check it! they're cool!) loves us?  Basically we were 25 feet away from the stage with a great view - first row of the side section.  Most excellent.  The only issue I had with our location was the sound quality - although not as horrible as some may claim it to be (ahem, father), it was still discombobulated and unbalanced where we were.  Bummer.

Our view from the seats -

I think the sets themselves made up for the lack of coherent sound quality.  We started off the night with a driving 'AC/DC Bag', always a crowd pleaser and riles up the crowd.  The 'Bouncing Around the Room' halfway through the first set was awesome, and with it came a hearty prelude to a glowstick war that followed later that night.. Remember how I was talking about how Phish's new stuff is kind of commercialized, a-quirky (not a word but I'm using it anyways) kind of music?  With 'Light' to finish off the first set, I have to admit - I stand corrected.  It was very jammed out, very cool - something I hadn't entirely expected.

Although the first set was well-played, it was the second set that grabbed me (but isn't it always?).

'My Friend My Friend' kicked off the set; always a rousing jam.  I had never seen that one live before.  But the ultimate winning combo of the night was 'Fluffhead' > 'Piper'.. WOW.  Maybe I say that so emphatically because those are two of my favorite Phish tunes, and to see them live let alone together was mind-blowing.  I swear, I felt tears in my eyes when I heard the opening riff to Piper.  It was a spiritual moment.

I have to say Mike really held those two together.  Not like the other guys were off the ball or anything (they weren't), but the bassline really keeps the groove going, allowing Trey to peer up into the abyss of the concert hall and explore, like he's translating some order from a higher power lurking up there in the rafters.  And that's the beauty of this band. 

The Bayne family being, well, the Baynes.  

The other notable jam that night was 'Harry Hood'.  As soon as the incoming bass line was plunked down, I knew it was time to get to business.

Closing the set was 'The Squirming Coil,' which only proved how much of a deity Page really is on the keys.  That outro.. Wow.  Eat your heart out, Mozart.

The encore was a cover of Jimi's famous "Fire," a rockin' way to end the night.  But I've gotta admit, I was pretty stunned into amazement by TSC and never landed..

Watch out for another update coming your way soon!
peace, love, and baby alpaca hand-stitched non-shrink hoodies,

elizabeth