First Song at Hampton

[emperor_brian]

Not going to peruse through 35 pages but if this hasn't been mentioned; if they are serious they re-open 3.0 with......The Curtain. If they take it humorously then........foreplay/longtime.

You know, agree with you about The Curtain With (specifically the WITH version). I don't think that's what they actually likely WILL open with, but it's what I'd LIKE to see them open with the most. I could have almost forgiven the horrible muck of most of the rest of Coventry if they had just nailed that song. I suppose it helps that it's one of my top 5 or so favorite Phish songs, but still.

Seeing them open up with that tune and NAIL it would, aside from being a kick-ass opener in general, say "we're back and we're GOOD!" better than any other choice. The symbolism would be perfect, and it'd obliquely justify them coming back in the same way the Coventry Curtain With justified them needing to quit. Only this time it'd have a much better message than "if we've gone this far downhill the only way to save any dignity is to quit."

[Superfreakie]

Not going to peruse through 35 pages but if this hasn't been mentioned; if they are serious they re-open 3.0 with......The Curtain. If they take it humorously then........foreplay/longtime.

You know, agree with you about The Curtain With (specifically the WITH version). I don't think that's what they actually likely WILL open with, but it's what I'd LIKE to see them open with the most. I could have almost forgiven the horrible muck of most of the rest of Coventry if they had just nailed that song. I suppose it helps that it's one of my top 5 or so favorite Phish songs, but still.

Seeing them open up with that tune and NAIL it would, aside from being a kick-ass opener in general, say "we're back and we're GOOD!" better than any other choice. The symbolism would be perfect, and it'd obliquely justify them coming back in the same way the Coventry Curtain With justified them needing to quit. Only this time it'd have a much better message than "if we've gone this far downhill the only way to save any dignity is to quit."

That is the exact reason I choose The Curtain (with). Phish enjoy symbolism and nothing would be more symbolic.......they start the first set with a launch into jam/(with) that brings us back into Curtain. SINGING: PLEASE ME HAVE NO REGRETS

[sunrisevt]

^^^No way. Stash is a set-piece, not an opener. imho.

Nah man, I meant that's what I'd pick.  I said earlier it'll probably be Chalkdust.
I guess you're right though, set opener is not the place for Stash.  I just want to get a decent one at some point.  The only one I ever got was at Coventry and I don't think I need to elaborate on that version.

Oh, I gotcha. You'll get your Stash eventually, no question.

[McGrupp]

This might be the only thread where, after 36 pages, we're still talking about the topic the thread was started for!  :-o

[Gumbo72203]

I was actually thinking about this again the other day, and another song popped into my head that is a totally legit addition to my main final list (for right now), and that song is POSSUM.

Think about it.  They could draaaaag the intro out forever, to get the crowd's ape-shit out of the way before the song hits.  And its simple, so they dont have worry about technicality so much, because they're all going to be nervous and excited as shit. 


So, my updated main final list, for right now is (in no particular order):

Maze
Possum
Chalkdust
Piper


I removed Ghost, because I dont think they'll do that.  It would make sense, Trey could loop-out while everyone goes nuts, and the band could gradually build into the groove.  I removed Tube, also, because I dont think they'll do anything that they can slam-bang into.



Slim, why don't you think any of those other songs have a chance of being played in the first set/show?  I'm still standing by my assertion that Wolfmans' will be in the first set.

[WhatstheUse?]

I removed Ghost, because I dont think they'll do that.  It would make sense, Trey could loop-out while everyone goes nuts, and the band could gradually build into the groove. 

So they won't do it, but it makes sense that they would?

[Gumbo72203]

Precisely. 

[tet]

i haven't locked this thread yet?   :roll:

[rowjimmy]

i haven't locked this thread yet?   :roll:

Come on. It's fun watching Gumbo revise his speculation over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over ∞

[Mr Minor]

He will still be posting his thoughts in April.... :evil:

[rowjimmy]

Four Weeks Left So:

Let's us review (further), shall we?

my guess is:

The Curtain With, to start things off in the way they should have ended.
A new song, to show that they have new stuff.
Get Back On The Train, well...  for obvious reasons. 
Fluffhead/YEM/Divided Sky, to show that they actually give a shit this time. 
2001, because of what August said about a 10-minute intro before Fish drops the beat
Glide, because that would be cool because of the lyrics.

these all make sense, but I'm really pinning it on a new song or Fluffhead. 

it'll actually probably be Stash, or something.  or Terrapin Station > Ghost > Colonel Forbin's Ascent* > Jennifer Dances > Fly Famous Mockingbird

* - with narration about the 'worst song we ever wrote'

How about an I Am Hydrogen opener?  THAT would be way cool and unexpected.  I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove > Mike's Song > Simple > Prince Caspian.  Inverted Mikes Groove!

New song. Please.

ill throw my money on this, even though I'm sure I'll be disappointed, unless its completely fucking SICK.

you know........  I think I like the Makisupa opener.  They opened the Went with it; even though I think this is one of the worst choices for a show opener, it would make sense here.  It would bring it full circle from the "woke up in the morning....  in Whitehall"  to "woke up in the morning.....   in rehab"  or "woke up inthe morning....   in Phish/in Hampton" or something.

hmm....   

i wonder how much they will factor that in? (the crowd level).  It would make sense, seeing as its kind of what they did with the first reunion, with Piper: slow, quiet lead in because everybody is drowning it all out anyway.  This is what makes me think, now, that they WONT do Tube, or something like that.  Actually, as I was playing drums the other day, I thought about hwo PERFECT Ghost would be. 

i think i'm calling Ghost now.  WITH loops!!! 

ACTUALLY, I know what song they'll be opening with.  Its all so clear now.

Think about it...   Okay.  Its going to be loud as all fuck in there.  That means a song that takes a little bit to get going, ala Piper in MSG.  But it'll also need to be something that builds to a fast, burst-out rock-hose type sorta thing, kind of like Piper, with how it builds up and gets really fast.  But then also...  it'll need to be reflective, and appropriate for the context of everything. 



Come on...  think about it.  What song has all 3 of these? 






still stumped?








oh come on....  THINK HARDER!!!!







okay, want me to tell you?







fine, i'll tell you:








MAZE!!!





Its perfect. 

Verse:
The overhead view is of me in a maze.
And you see what I'm hunting a few steps away.
But I take a wrong turn, and I'm on the wrong path.
And the people all watching enjoy a good laugh.
Embarrassed with failure, I try to reverse
The course that my tread had already traversed.

Verse:
So doing the trauma engulfing my dreams
Invaded through what was an unguarded seam.
The torrent of helplessness swept me away.
To the cavern of shame and the hall of dismay.
Inside me a voice was repeating the phrase:
"You've lost it. You'll never get out of this maze."

Bridge/Outro:
You'll never get out of this maze

i think they might open with Slave now...  its got a slow, quiet intro, and is a great jam vehicle. 

I just feel like they're not going to be doing Harry Hood, 

there will be a Hood encore in Hampton '09.

that was taken entirely out of context.  Of course they'll play Harry Hood.  I was meaning just not as an opener to any set. 





edit:  I could see Simple being an opener.  But I definitely don't see them blasting out with David Bowie.  Although they might.  I mean, it would work for the occasion, but unless they're spending 5 hours in the practice room 5 days a week for the 2 months beforehand, then I wouldn't want them to warm up with Bowie. 


My official list of possibilities:

Maze
Ghost
2001
Simple
new song
Slave To The Traffic Light

Yes, I'm tossing out YEM and Curtain With.  They won't open with those.  Its just weird, and too....  predictable.  And thats teh LAST thing Phish would be, is predictable.

well, actually...  Phish being unpredictable could mean that they'll be predictable.  The predictable thing to do would be to open with YEM or the Curtain With.  OORRRRR!!!!   YEM > Curtain With (out of nirvana space) > YEM.  THAT would be fucking DIZZANKKK

but yeah.  I think they might end up doing the unpredictable thing and be predictable.  How odd would that be?

opening song predictions:

Ghost
Divided Sky
Maze
new song
2001

how do you all feel about a Brother opener? 

Now THAT would fuck shit up realllllll quick



edit:   This just got me thinking....    what are the songs that you think would make people go apeshit the most.  Like, yeah...  okay...  a Ghost or YEM opener would be awesome, but I think there are certain songs that would make people bug more than others.

my list:

Halley's Comet
Tube
Brother
Buried Alive
Mike's Song
Colonel Forbin's Ascent
Divided Sky
Mango Song

actually, I've been thinking that Character Zero is a highly likely choice for first song.  Its simple, so the guys can warm up to playing, with a big Trey solo.  And then the lyrics are kind of relevant....

So... in summary:

you just guessed the whole catalog, Nostradamus.   :-D

That covered October 1 - November 26, 2008.

Now we venture forth through December and January...

wow.  i feel honored.  I...  yeah.  haha. 

anyway, today at work I thought about how great Bathtub Gin would be.  I think Trey would go for that, because it totally takes the focus off of him, with Page's discordant crazy cascades of piano quirkiness.  I really don't think they'll go there, though. 

As much as all of the songs I've talked about would be great, I really still think Maze is my number one call.  That, or Ghost.  or Tube. 

actually...  Tube could work real well:  an asteroid crashed and nothing burned.  Phish as asteroid.  It crashed, and nothing burned. 

or they might just do Piper all over again.  Its already got hiatus-ending set placement status... 


so really, i guess my main final list (as of right now) is:

Maze
Piper
Ghost
Tube
Chalkdust (which is actually my number 2 choice)

also note that these are not MY personal picks of what i'd want. 


.....but watch them come pull fucking Divided Sky

thats what makes me thing they'll do, like, Maze and THEN The Curtain With.   

embarrassed with failure, I try to reverse the course that my tread had already traversed...

or Curtain With > Maze.

ehh...   i don't think it'll be Down With Disease. 

Well, actually....  thinking about the first lines, it could totally make sense.  that, and it gives the spotlight to Gordon at the beginning, which would be cool.

I can't decide anymore,

i bet the band is having the same problem.
hopefully they're keeping up with this thread.

:lol:

I'm sure they have a copy of Gumbo's "Main Final List (as of right now)"

such a thing exists?  :wink:

Oh it exists.....

so really, i guess my main final list (as of right now) is:

Maze
Piper
Ghost
Tube
Chalkdust (which is actually my number 2 choice)

also note that these are not MY personal picks of what i'd want. 

using my abilities of psychic stuff, i predict that only chalkdust has any chance of being played that night.
sorry gumbo, this isnt as easy as predicting Phix setlists.

i'm still sticking with Maze as the first song, though.  Or Twist.  or the 7/1/98 2001, based around the siiiiiiick unique groove Trey gets at like ~3:30 in

can i lock this thread now please?   :roll:

but what if Gumbo changes his mind again?!?!?!

How will we ever know what they will open with?  :?

just use this handy flow-chart:



(now wouldn't that be a funny opener??)

its not the opener, but there will be a Wolfman's Brother in the first set. 

yeah.....   

i mean honestly, the most likely picks i think are Chalkdust, 2001, a new song, or Maze.

























and YEM.   









































and Ghost













































or Piper, but they could also come out with something totally gnarly like a McGrupp or Mike's Song > Gamehendge > Weekapaug Groove. 


or Mango song would be sick. 



but you know i just HAD to make this post the way I made this post to be.  it couldn't have not been not any other possible way at all.  See, i need to get started on practicing for post of the year for 2009.  i mean, every day counts right?  Like, its not like i can slack off at all and expect to still be expected to be the winner of the post of the year for calendar year 2009.  Its like the anti-unrepelling force...... 

you know what i'm talking about.

but you know i just HAD to make this post the way I made this post to be.  it couldn't have not been not any other possible way at all.

I know I'm still a n00b here and all, and I mean no disrespect, but...

he speaks in tounges...he's full of the spirit. :wink:

I was actually thinking about this again the other day, and another song popped into my head that is a totally legit addition to my main final list (for right now), and that song is POSSUM.

Think about it.  They could draaaaag the intro out forever, to get the crowd's ape-shit out of the way before the song hits.  And its simple, so they dont have worry about technicality so much, because they're all going to be nervous and excited as shit. 


So, my updated main final list, for right now is (in no particular order):

Maze
Possum
Chalkdust
Piper


I removed Ghost, because I dont think they'll do that.  It would make sense, Trey could loop-out while everyone goes nuts, and the band could gradually build into the groove.  I removed Tube, also, because I dont think they'll do anything that they can slam-bang into.



Slim, why don't you think any of those other songs have a chance of being played in the first set/show?  I'm still standing by my assertion that Wolfmans' will be in the first set.

Gumbo's "Main Final List"

such a thing exists?  :wink:

It's presently undergoing revisions.

It will exist Saturday March 7 and be a replica of the setlist, claiming he called every song... :evil:

[antelope19]

 :lol:

Thanks!  I always like the cliff notes version better anyway.   :-D

[Mr Minor]

Epic summarizing skills. 

[sophist]

I removed Ghost, because I dont think they'll do that.  It would make sense, Trey could loop-out while everyone goes nuts, and the band could gradually build into the groove. 

So they won't do it, but it makes sense that they would?

We call this a tautology. 

[Play_It_Leo]

Wow. All that and not a mention of Divided Sky, Wilson, Bowie, Frankenstein... I'm sure there's a few more that could be on the list. I'm disappointed actually that this list of possibilities isn't very thorough  :wink: