Gotta be superball day 3 right?

July 03, 2011

Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY

Set 1: Soul Shakedown Party > AC/DC Bag > The Curtain > Colonel Forbin's Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird > Destiny Unbound > Big Black Furry Creature from Mars^[1], Wilson^[2] > Mound, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing^[3], Time Loves a Hero, Reba^[4] -> David Bowie

Set 2: Big Balls^[5] > Down with Disease^[3] -> No Quarter > Party Time, Ghost > Gotta Jibboo > Light, Waves > What's the Use? > Meatstick^[6] > Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, The Star Spangled Banner

Encore: First Tube

[1] Theme from The Twilight Zone and Theme from Leave it to Beaver teases from Mike.
[2] Mind Left Body tease.
[3] Unfinished.
[4] Dave's Energy Guide tease.
[5] Phish debut
[6] Japanese lyrics.

Notes: This show was the third of the three-show Super Ball IX festival. The Curtain was played for the first time since September 9, 2000 (202 shows). The first Mockingbird narration since September 30, 2000 (188 shows) referenced the previous night's fourth set Storage Jam and explained that all of SBIX was merely a mental projection of a reality that the band created in 1988 on their way to Colorado. Mike teased the theme from The Twilight Zone and the theme from Leave it to Beaver during BBFCFM, Wilson contained a Mind Left Body tease, and Reba contained Dave's Energy Guide teases. A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing and Disease were unfinished. The setbreak featured All-American themed music. This show featured the Phish debut of Big Balls. Meatstick included Japanese lyrics. Before the encore, Trey thanked each of the crew, management and artists who helped make Super Ball IX happen. First Tube was accompanied by and followed by fireworks.

The Curtain and Forbin's w/ narration for the first time since 1.0 (and a great narration taboot), and one of the better wilson's ever played. Mound is one of the best (if not the best version) ever played. and to cap it off the best 3.0 Reba into a good 3.0 bowie to close the set. Are there any 1st sets from 3.0 that are better? An embarrassment of riches in this set.

F.U.C.K.Y.O.U.

August 31, 2012

Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

Set 1: First Tube, Uncle Pen, Carini > Kill Devil Falls, You Enjoy Myself^[1], Ocelot^[2], Undermind

Set 2: Runaway Jim^[3] > Farmhouse > Alaska, Chalk Dust Torture^[3] > Emotional Rescue > Fuck Your Face^[4]

Encore: Grind, Meatstick^[5]

[1] "We all love Dick's" vocal jam theme.
[2] Crosseyed and Painless tease.
[3] Unfinished.
[4] Emotional Rescue quote.
[5] Japanese Lyrics.

Notes: This show was officially webcast via LivePhish. The first letters of the songs of this show spelled out "Fuck Your Face" before Fuck Your Face itself was played. Before You Enjoy Myself, Page said "We are so happy to be back in this place, thank you guys so much. We love Dick's, we do." The crowd responded by chanting "We love Dick's."  The You Enjoy Myself vocal jam was based around a "We Love Dick's" theme with different band members' names inserted. Ocelot included a Crosseyed and Painless tease. Prior to the second set, Trey wished Matty from the Waterwheel table a happy birthday. Runaway Jim and Chalk Dust were unfinished. Emotional Rescue was played for the first time since September 30, 2000 (236 shows). Fuck Your Face contained an Emotional Rescue quote.

@westbrook said:

8/31/12?

This will probably be the majority vote. If they had jammed out YEM that wouldve put it over the top for me for sure. I think the combination of bust outs and top versions of songs gives a slight edge to 7/3/11 for me, although 8/31/12 I is obviously a fantastic set.

First sets in 3.0 are far from anything special. All mentioned here could easily pass for a great first set, or second set.

I would like to throw 10.26.10 and 8.15.11 into the mix as well. But I think 8.31.12 takes this.

This was pretty sweet.

August 07, 2009

Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA

Set 1: Down with Disease, Ocelot, Pebbles and Marbles > Possum, Sleep, Destiny Unbound, Stash, Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley > Cavern

Set 2: The Moma Dance, Light -> Taste, Fluffhead, Joy, Bathtub Gin^[1] > Harry Hood

Encore: Slave to the Traffic Light

[1] Unfinished.

Notes: Gin was unfinished.

For me it is 6/10/11. Haven't listened to much 2009 or 2010 though.

10/26/10 manchester NH
After Midnight, The Sloth, Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues[1], Mellow Mood, Access Me, Llama, All of These Dreams, The Curtain With > Scent of a Mule, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, It's Ice > Walls of the Cave

@StStephen said:

F.U.C.K.Y.O.U.

Right back atcha buddy.

This is the correct answer, BTW.

It goes: 1. 8.31.12 2. 7.3.11 and then everything else

6/15/12, while its not the best, it was my first set of Phish and it was pretty special, perfect introductory set and I've been hooked like a junkie ever since. great song selection.

The answer here is 8/31/12, the real battle is for 2nd place. 7/3/11 is a great one, I was there and loved it. I'll toss out the first set from one year later, 7/3/12, as another contender. The skin it back bustout was awesome with a real nice jam to kick off the jones beach run. The Beatles cover was great. Solid, high energy possum and mikes groove in there. For me this was hands down the best first set of leg 1 last summer.

The second set was great as well, with the sand > golden age and the really strong antelope to close it out. Generally a pretty overlooked, very strong show.

Two choices for best first set of 2012...... for me its either Worchester night 2 or the very underrated 4th of July show at Jones Beach. The first set on the 4th of July was enormous with very eclectic song selection

October 26, 2010

Verizon Wireless Arena, Manchester, NH

Set 1: After Midnight, The Sloth, Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues^[1], Mellow Mood, Access Me, Llama, All of These Dreams, The Curtain With > Scent of a Mule, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, It's Ice > Walls of the Cave

Set 2: Possum > Light > Mike's Song > Simple^[2] > Makisupa Policeman^[3] -> Night Nurse^[4] -> Makisupa Policeman > The Wedge, Ghost -> The Mango Song^[5] > Weekapaug Groove^[6] -> Llama Reprise

Encore: Show of Life

[1] "From Goddard College" added to lyrics.
[2] Magilla tease from Page.
[3] "Woke up this morning with a policeman at my door all I could do was shrug, and go back in my bedroom and smoke another nug" lyrics.
[4] Phish debut.
[5] Heavy Weekapaug teases from Trey.
[6] Can't You Hear Me Knocking jam with Ghost and Night Nurse lyrics. Unfinished.

Notes: After Midnight was played for the first time since December 31, 1999 (206 shows). In Alumni, Trey added "from Goddard College" after the final "'cause I got a degree" lyric. Simple contained a Magilla tease from Page. Makisupa included the lyrics "Woke up this morning with a policeman at my door all I could do was shrug, and go back in my bedroom and smoke another nug." This show featured the Phish debut of Night Nurse; original artist Gregory Isaacs passed away the night before, October 25, 2010. Weekapaug was heavily teased by Trey in Mango before the segue into Weekapaug itself. Weekapaug subsequently contained a Can't You Hear Me Knocking jam, which featured lyrics from Ghost and Night Nurse, and was unfinished.

@westbrook said:

8/31/12?

No. 7/3/11 wins.

I think 7/3/11 takes it, but I enjoyed this one so much I'll give it the silver medal (so far):

July 06, 2012

Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY

Set 1: Runaway Jim, Ocelot, Heavy Things, Back on the Train, Funky Bitch, Tube -> Psycho Killer -> Tube, Hold Your Head Up^[1] > Cracklin' Rosie > Hold Your Head Up, Stash, Bouncing Around the Room, Paul and Silas, Horn, Corinna, Light Up Or Leave Me Alone

Set 2: Chalk Dust Torture > Carini > Sand, Roses Are Free > Punch You In the Eye > Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley > Ghost > Suzy Greenberg > Run Like an Antelope^[2]

Encore: Loving Cup

[1] Psycho Killer quotes and "tucking" references.
[2] Crosseyed and Painless tease; Tom Marshall and the Dude of Life on vocals; Lyrics changed to "Been you to have any spleef."

Notes: Psycho Killer was played for the first time since August 14, 2009 (127 shows). HYHU contained Psycho Killer teases and quotes as well as references to tucking. Prior to Cracklin' Rosie, Fish was introduced as Friar Tuck. Cracklin' Rosie was played for the first time since December 10, 1999 (279 shows). Mike teased Shafty after the second HYHU. Antelope contained a Crosseyed and Painless tease. Tom Marshall and Steve Pollak (aka the "Dude of Life") sang the lyrics to Antelope. The lyrics to Antelope were changed to "Been you to have any spleef."

June 08, 2011

Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Darien Center, NY

Set 1: Nellie Kane, Mellow Mood, Buffalo Bill, Kill Devil Falls, Wolfman's Brother, Rift, Undermind, Ride Captain Ride, It's Ice > Dog Faced Boy, Brian and Robert > 46 Days, Limb By Limb, Character Zero

Set 2: Golden Age > Mike's Song > Fast Enough for You > Weekapaug Groove^[1], What's the Use? > Theme From the Bottom > Backwards Down the Number Line > Also Sprach Zarathustra^[2] > Harry Hood

Encore: Good Times Bad Times

[1] Golden Age teases.
[2] Golden Age, Happy Birthday, and What's the Use? teases.

Notes: Weekapaug contained Golden Age teases. Also Sprach Zarathustra contained Golden Age, Happy Birthday and What's the Use? teases. In the soundcheck (which was played on Kevin Shapiro's From the Archives #15(b) show on 7/1/11 from SBIX), Funky Bitch contained alternate lyrics, Dream On contained a brief Stairway to Heaven tease and "Old Zealand" alternate lyrics, and The Pendulum had Two Princes quotes.

@DanceTheJig728 said:

This is certainly up there

2012-06-28

agreed, i had more fun during that first set than anyother this summer other than 8/31, on the ride to deer creek we
had called the curtain with through weigh and we were thrilled to see our wishes come through five songs in a row

8/31/12, no doubt, the craziest first set jamming in 3.0 and beyond.

7/3/11 fo show.

@IntoYesterday said:

@poofer said:

8/31/12 by a mile....

No, absolutely not. I've listened to both many times. Spelling out a curse word while playing good music doesn;t win best first set in 4 years. 8/31 is the most overfluffed show of 3.0 at this point.

ppfffffffffffft....my comment had absolutely NOTHING to do with the spelling of set lists or curses and everything to do with content and jamming: a RARITY in this era. The Carini may be one of the best Ive ever heard....ive had plenty of friends tell me what a fun time Watkins was and how smoothly the festy went but thats where the conversation ends... the jams werent there. 8/31/12 qwned yer face from start to finish....

7/4/2012: While I hated the 2nd set, this was my favorite 1st set, until the f*** YOU set.

July 04, 2012

Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY

Set 1: Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues, Head Held High, The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday, Kill Devil Falls, Bittersweet Motel, The Moma Dance > Gumbo > David Bowie, Alaska > Susskind Hotel, Hold Your Head Up > Purple Rain^[1] > Hold Your Head Up, The Star Spangled Banner

Set 2: Boogie On Reggae Woman > Tweezer > Twist > Taste > Quinn the Eskimo > Julius > Rock and Roll > The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Harry Hood > Shine a Light > Show of Life > Slave to the Traffic Light

Encore: Sleeping Monkey^[2] > Tweezer Reprise

[1] Lyrics changed to "tucking in the Purple Rain."
[2] Lyrics changed to "Why'd you tuck my monkey on a train."

Notes: This was the second of two Pay Per view performances. Alumni Blues was preceded by a Dave's Energy Guide tease. Head Held High was played for the first time since October 31, 1998 (356 shows). The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday and Avenu Malkenu were played for the first time since June 21, 2009 (136 shows). Bittersweet Motel was played for the first time since August 2, 2009 (132 shows). Purple Rain was played for the first time since July 25, 1999 (314 shows) and included alternate lyrics "tucking in the Purple Rain" and "I am Friar Tuck!" The setbreak featured All-American themed music. Sleeping Monkey contained alternate lyrics "Why'd you tuck my monkey on a train."

How about 8-15-11? 8-16-11? 8-17-11? Seriously, 1 of the most overlooked parts of the uic run are the 1st sets.

October 23, 2010

Mullins Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Set 1: Meatstick^[1], Party Time, Golgi Apparatus, Kill Devil Falls > Tweezer, Lawn Boy, Sparkle > Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Hold Your Head Up > Love You > Hold Your Head Up, Possum > Tweezer Reprise^[2]

Set 2: Down with Disease^[3] > My Friend, My Friend^[4] -> Prince Caspian^[5] -> Halfway to the Moon -> Boogie On Reggae Woman > Maze, Wading in the Velvet Sea > Piper^[6] > Harry Hood > You Enjoy Myself^[7]

Encore: Shine a Light

[1] Japanese lyrics.
[2] Meatstick lyrics instead of Tweezer Reprise lyrics.
[3] Curtain tease from Mike at end; unfinished.
[4] Did not contain the "Myfe" ending.
[5] Unfinished.
[6] Maze tease.
[7] Wilson teases.

Notes: Meatstick included Japanese lyrics. During Party Time, Trey wished "Kevin" a happy birthday (Kevin is the owner of Higher Ground in Burlington). Tweezer Reprise featured band members singing the refrain to Meatstick in place of the Tweezer Reprise lyrics. Prior to Down With Disease, Mike teased the Leave It To Beaver theme. The end of Disease contained a Curtain tease from Mike. Disease and Caspian were unfinished and My Friend did not contain the "Myfe" ending. Piper contained a Maze tease and YEM included Wilson teases.

@photojon said:

The answer here is 8/31/12, the real battle is for 2nd place. 7/3/11 is a great one, I was there and loved it. I'll toss out the first set from one year later, 7/3/12, as another contender. The skin it back bustout was awesome with a real nice jam to kick off the jones beach run. The Beatles cover was great. Solid, high energy possum and mikes groove in there. For me this was hands down the best first set of leg 1 last summer.

The second set was great as well, with the sand > golden age and the really strong antelope to close it out. Generally a pretty overlooked, very strong show.

Burgettstown, AC1, SPAC1 & 3 all say no

@lacesoutmike said:

@westbrook said:

8/31/12?

This will probably be the majority vote. If they had jammed out YEM that wouldve put it over the top for me for sure. I think the combination of bust outs and top versions of songs gives a slight edge to 7/3/11 for me, although 8/31/12 I is obviously a fantastic set.

Sign'd.