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The first day of a Phish summer tour is my baseball opening day, Memorial Day Weekend, first day of college football, and fresh ski tracks of the season wrapped into one magnificent evening of music. It’s everything I love this most wrapped into one glorious occasion. For a band like Phish, the first show of the summer is an indication of catching up with Phish friend and getting amped about what’s to come when you finally get a chance to see a show (…or eight, in my case). It rules.
Last night, in Bend, Oregon, Phish kicked off their 2015 summer tour. The tour kickoff comes on the heels of Trey Anastasio sitting in with the Grateful Dead over 4th of July weekend. Though there have been many “meh” tour kickoff Phish shows over the years, this one brought the heat out of the gate. Notable highlight for me was a a fresh tune introduced in the second set called “No Men In No Man’s Land,” which ended with a super funky jam into Weekapaug Groove> Boogie On Reggae Woman. It’s thick, fresh-squeezed funk with extra pulp. Think James Brown on an off-night.
It’s just some classic Phish funk that makes you want to dance. No Men In No Man’s Land was teased in the Miami Down with Disease from the beginning of this year, so listen closely if that’s your thing. Or just chill and enjoy. I don’t care. I just I can’t wait to see them at Mann, Merriweather, and Magnaball in August. If anyone knows some cheap, easy ways to get to the West Coast by showtime at Shoreline, I’m in.
Here’s another new track they debuted in the first set. It’s called — *giggle* — “Blaze On.”