So BW, the kid from Brighton, arrived at my house early on Saturday morning. We had a long drive in front of us through Canada, which presents its own challenges at times (see 98 and 00 summer tours). Fortunately, we got through smoothly without any delays.
We arrived at SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center) late afternoon with plenty of time to relax before the show. SPAC is a beautiful, wooden pavilion, surrounded by a state park. Beautiful area. The lawn is small at SPAC, and it was crowded with all the kidz sneaking into the venue.
I had a ticket in the pavilion, but chose to meet up with DR and hang out in the upper level for the first set. The first set was solid – a classic Reba, a solid Wolfman’s Brother. For the second set, I decided to go down to my seat in the main level alone and get a better view.
The set started with A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, something I had not heard before, and it was jammed out for a good 15-20 minutes. You always recall the emotion of the second set opener as the sun goes down, the air cools just a bit, and you are witnessing the greatest concert anywhere in the world at that time. Then, they played Piper…..
The first 12 minutes of Piper are standard and doesn’t sound that unique. Very typical of Piper and post-hiatus jamming. At about 12:30 into the song, the band breaks it down into a light, airy beat. As you listen to the recording, you hear those whistles and screams of a crowd unaware of what they are about to experience. And the build up begins….
I basically divide the Piper into 5 phases
1. The first 12:30 minutes
2. The calm before the storm
3. The build up
4. The echoes of Phish
5. The transition into Jiboo
Even during the “build up” jam, you say to yourself, this is pretty rocking, a very impressive jam in Piper. Then they enter the phase that to me symbolizes the last truly epic jam of Phish that will echo forever. The moment was truly that amazing, making the whole journey to SPAC (and the return trip home) worth every penny and sacrifice. I listen to the SPAC Piper when I go to the gym and it still gives me goose bumps.
After the show, we were hungry. We waited awhile for some burgers, and since BW didn’t have a game plan, I decided I wanted to go back to Detroit. I drove for about 2 hours when I asked BW to take over driving. He lasted about a half hour. I woke up form my short nap and took us the rest of the way home. I don’t think we got home until 10 or 11 the next morning, but we made it home safe. It was worth the sacrifice. BW slept the whole time, but whatever (the kid still owes me for gas money).
So that’s the story of SPAC. It deserved it’s own thread. I drove 10 hours to get there, went to the show, and drove 10 hours home. Quite a reflection of my dedication to this band. I would return to Deer Creek the next Thursday to pick up the early summer tour run there and then go onto Alpine.
Thanks for reading as always.
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Saratoga Peforming Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
Set I: Reba, Runaway Jim, NICU -> Scents and Subtle Sounds, Wolfman's
Brother, Walls of the Cave -> David Bowie
Set II: A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, Piper -> Tweezer Reprise Jam ->
Gotta Jibboo > Limb By Limb, Cavern
Encore: Wading in the Velvet Sea
Show Notes: "Harpua" was teased toward the end of the "Piper" jam. Trey
forgot all of the words to the third verse of "Cavern," only just pulling
it together in time for "deadly ice calm" line. He then eked out a quite
self-referential "Purple Haze" tease before coming back in with the fourth
verse. "Limb by Limb" may have contained some "Disease"-type jamming.
