6/28-29 Phish @ Klipsch Music Center - Noblesville, IN

After three days off Phish continued their tour through the midwest on Thursday in Noblesville, IN.  It was 100 degrees when I made the familiar drive during the afternoon.  This was retracing the journey I'd made to Cincinnati only 6 days before.  I stayed with my buddies from Decatur at a hotel in Fishers.  This was the first time for a Deer Creek run that I hadn't camped.  I originally planned on staying at Closeby Campground but I called an audible at the line of scrimmage when I saw the forecast.  We tailgaited prior and endured the extreme weather before mercifully the sun finally went down midway through the first set.  They allowed you to bring in two water bottles because it was so hot.  It made you sweat just standing there.   The three of us had a good vantage point in the middle of the pavilion behind the SBD and taper section. 

It was unique for them step up and start the show with the acapella Birdwatcher.  Curtain With immediately made it be known that this would be a special show.  The emotion of the With part is what shows are all about.  I remember seeing them bring back Curtain With at this same venue in 2000.  Later in the first set Pebbles and Marbles almost had a DWD sounding jam.  The funky triad of Wolfman's, Cool It Down, and Tweezer.  Cool It Down was appropriate with the unbearable heat.  Tweezer was much better than the Cuyahoga Falls version.  These were the highlights of an incredibly strong first set for this current era. 

The combination of Mike's > McGrupp was a strong start to the second frame.  McGrupp was the best version I think I've seen.  Back on the Train featured a really interesting outro jam.  The Fishman antics worked as an interlude before a well played Weekapaug.  Caspian was unfinished and floated upon the Waves into that neutically inspired tune.  This version killed it.  I'd consider this one of the best jams of the tour.  The improvisation landed into Bug and this was also a top shelf rendition.  Without stopping Fishman started up the set closing David Bowie.  Huge set.  I love David Bowie to close set II, IMO that's a great setlist spot for it.  There was a real sense of victory in the parking lot after the show.  Phish had won.

PHISH

6/28/12

Klipsch Music Center

Noblesville, IN

I: Birdwatcher, Curtain With, Fuck Your Face, Old Home Place, Pebbles and Marbles, Weigh, Chalkdust Torture, Wolfman's Brother, Cool It Down, Tweezer, Tela, Stealing Time from the Faulty Plan

II: Mike's Song > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Back on the Train > Hold Your Head Up, Bike > Hold Your Head Up > Weekapaug Groove, Prince Caspian > Waves > Bug > David Bowie

E: Show of Life, Tweezer Reprise

postshow P.A. music was The Isley Brothers "Who's That Lady"

PHISH

6/29/12

Klipsch Music Center

Noblesville, IN

I: Crowd Control, Dinner and a Movie, Sweet Jane, Limb by Limb, Possum, Mound, Life on Mars, Mango Song, Big Black Furry Creatures from Mars, Strange Design, Birds of a Feather, Halley's Comet, While My Guitar Gently Weeps

II: Down with Disease > Sand > Twist > Rift, Bathtub Gin > Fluffhead, Ride Captain Ride, Run Like an Antelope

E: Cavern > Sanity, First Tube

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On Friday it was still blistering hot in the beginning of the day.  We ate breakfast at IHOP.  The venue posted on Facebook that the doors wouldn't open until an hour later than scheduled because of an approaching storm.  We weathered it out at the hotel.  We witnessed some EZ-UP devastation when we drove by Closeby Campground and along Shakedown Street.  Especially staying at a hotel this year (which turned out to be a great decision with the extreme weather) it was obvious to me that the vibe of Deer Creek had clearly changed.  No longer was this a rural location where Phish played amongst the cornfields and we camped at farms and in pastures.  The game has changed with the urban sprawl thats occured northward along I-69.  We cooked some Nathan's hot dogs in the lot both night (non-vending).  I have a lot of great memories of this venue.  Structurally it makes it one of the best from an acoustic standpoint.  This is one of the best lawns to see a show at.  However, it's over 5 hours from my home and they play here on the weeknights so moving forward this may have to be a run of the past for me.  We shall see. 

The first set was disappointing for me in the sense that it lacked cohesion and was like a long jukebox set.  Everything was played well.  I did like hearing Dinner and a Movie.  Sweet Jane was the second song off The Velvet Underground's Loaded in as many nights. 

The second set was highlighted by a traditional take on Down with Disease that segued into the best Sand of the tour.  Twist had no improvisation.  Just when things were getting interesting during a rare second set Gin it seemed like Trey hit the eject button too soon.  Fluffhead takes up too much time in the second set.  It's always good to hear the Blues Image cover Ride Captain Ride.  This Antelope did not compare to the one played in Cuyahoga Falls the prior Sunday.  I liked the encore.  Overall, this show will live in the shadow of the evening before and for good reason.