I know this forum has history and all, but right now i don't want to spend the next 30 minutes trying to find it. Anyway's, I've always been interested in why fans prefer a certain opener over other songs in the catalog. So tell me your's...
:rockout: :banana:
Buried Alive. Because it's frigging awesome.
Punch You in the Eye
Soul Shakedown Party is always a fun start to the night.
Crowd Control
The Curtain was the first to came to mind. Buried Alive is a great call!
Llama
Quote from: birdman on October 29, 2015, 05:49:25 AM
Buried Alive. Because it's frigging awesome.
This.
With the exception of Vegass '04, after 1993 it became a signpost for a great show.
Quote from: rowjimmy on October 29, 2015, 07:42:05 AM
Quote from: birdman on October 29, 2015, 05:49:25 AM
Buried Alive. Because it's frigging awesome.
This.
after 1993 it became a signpost for a great show.
Ha! I've thought about that a lot. As an opener it never fails to get me amped up as soon as I hear Page and the cowbell.
Punch You in the Eye. Seems like a statement, and shows I've attended where they opened with it have all been great.
Also, Buried Alive.
Bathtub Gin... because Riverport '98!
But Buried Alive is a great choice also.
And the Divided Sky opener for 8/13/96 made me love that song as an opener also.
Love Buried Alive a whole lot, but I think I'm have to go with a Sloth opener.
Tweezer Reprise
Because Tweezer Reprise
Quote from: GBL on October 29, 2015, 09:40:32 AM
Tweezer Reprise
Because Tweezer Reprise
This is a great choice. Ive seen three tweeprise openers
I gotta go with Buried Alive as well. There's other songs I like more -- But nothing else makes quite the statement like Buried Alive opener. Like RJ pointed out, it's almost always the sign of a great show to come.
Can't go wrong with a Llama opener. Runaway Jim>Foam is another classic combo that get's me psyched...
I listened to some Aug93 show recently that opened with BBFCFM. That shit ruled face.
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on October 29, 2015, 09:52:46 AM
I gotta go with Buried Alive as well. There's other songs I like more -- But nothing else makes quite the statement like Buried Alive opener. Like RJ pointed out, it's almost always the sign of a great show to come.
Can't go wrong with a Llama opener. Runaway Jim>Foam is another classic combo that get's me psyched...
I listened to some Aug93 show recently that opened with BBFCFM. That shit ruled face.
Quote
8/8/93
Nautica Stage, Cleveland, OH
Set 1: Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Foam, Loving Cup, Runaway Jim, The Horse[1] > Silent in the Morning > Punch You In the Eye, Fast Enough for You, Paul and Silas, I Didn't Know[2], David Bowie[3]
Set 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Rift, Harry Hood, Wilson > It's Ice > Fluffhead > Possum > Big Ball Jam, Hold Your Head Up > Love You > Hold Your Head Up, Daniel Saw the Stone, Good Times Bad Times
Encore: My Sweet One, Free Bird
[1] Trey on acoustic guitar.
[2] Fish on Madonna washboard.
[3] Random Note and Simpsons signals.
Teases:
· Divided Sky tease in Big Black Furry Creature from Mars
· Dixie tease in Foam
· Tequila tease in Possum
· Charge! tease in Hold Your Head Up
· Rock and Roll Part Two tease
That's the ticket!
Also, that show is proof that Phish can play a fantastic show with virtually no "jams" -- I wouldn't necessarily say it stands out against most other gigs that month but it's a damn fine music concert!
Llama
or Bowie
Or PYITE
tweeprise is great too
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on October 29, 2015, 10:01:06 AM
That's the ticket!
Also, that show is proof that Phish can play a fantastic show with virtually no "jams" -- I wouldn't necessarily say it stands out against most other gigs that month but it's a damn fine music concert!
When I first started seeing them "Big" jams were few and far between. Fantastic shows, however, were played nightly.
PYITE
Llama
Buried Alive
Quote from: birdman on October 29, 2015, 10:21:13 AM
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on October 29, 2015, 10:01:06 AM
That's the ticket!
Also, that show is proof that Phish can play a fantastic show with virtually no "jams" -- I wouldn't necessarily say it stands out against most other gigs that month but it's a damn fine music concert!
When I first started seeing them "Big" jams were few and far between. Fantastic shows, however, were played nightly.
This. A thousand time, this.
Also,
Quote from: mehead on October 29, 2015, 10:23:54 AM
PYITE
Llama
Buried Alive
+ Funky Bitch completes the perfecta box. A Funky Bitch opener generally augers a barn-burner.
I damn near lost my shit when they opened with Alumni at Camden '10.
Buried Alive, Runaway Jim, and Mike's are all also excellent answers.
Quote from: runawayjimbo on October 29, 2015, 10:42:37 AM
I damn near lost my shit when they opened with Alumni at Camden '10.
Alumni > BBFCFM no less! :crazy:
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on October 29, 2015, 10:53:23 AM
Quote from: runawayjimbo on October 29, 2015, 10:42:37 AM
I damn near lost my shit when they opened with Alumni at Camden '10.
Alumni > BBFCFM no less! :crazy:
yeah this was great!
antelope opener second night of dicks 2012 was the tits as well.
Agree with Funky Bitch opener. Nothing like getting one of their best grooves right out of the gate :crazy:
Would anyone argue that the funky Llama from this last summer is the best Llama opener in phishtory now?
yeah funky llama was the tits as well
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on October 29, 2015, 09:52:46 AM
I gotta go with Buried Alive as well. There's other songs I like more -- But nothing else makes quite the statement like Buried Alive opener. Like RJ pointed out, it's almost always the sign of a great show to come.
Can't go wrong with a Llama opener. Runaway Jim>Foam is another classic combo that get's me psyched...
I listened to some Aug93 show recently that opened with BBFCFM. That shit ruled face.
Speaking of things that rule your face:
QuoteFriday, 12/01/1995 Hersheypark Arena, Hershey, PA
Set 1: Buried Alive > Down with Disease > Theme From the Bottom, Poor Heart, Wolfman's Brother > Chalk Dust Torture, Colonel Forbin's Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird, Stash, Cavern
Set 2: Halley's Comet > Mike's Song -> Weekapaug Groove, The Mango Song > Wilson > Suspicious Minds > Hold Your Head Up, David Bowie -> Catapult -> David Bowie
Encore: Suzy Greenberg
That's a given
Also Wilson.
They opened with it at the Amsterdam (http://phish.net/setlists/?d=1996-07-12) show in 1996.
Things started falling apart soon afterwards. Because drugs....
Quote from: runawayjimbo on October 29, 2015, 10:42:37 AM
I damn near lost my shit when they opened with Alumni at Camden '10.
Buried Alive, Runaway Jim, and Mike's are all also excellent answers.
I mentally dq'd Jones Beach 2012 for this discussion b/c the two openers were such anomalies...
The week I moved out of my ex's house, :phish: opened consecutive shows with Skin It Back and Alumni, the two unicorns I'd been chasing--loudly--for my entire history w/ the band.
I'm still not entirely convinced they didn't somehow know what I needed to hear.
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on October 29, 2015, 10:53:23 AM
Quote from: runawayjimbo on October 29, 2015, 10:42:37 AM
I damn near lost my shit when they opened with Alumni at Camden '10.
Alumni > BBFCFM no less! :crazy:
Oh shit, was thinking there was a something in between but that's right. I remember I was standing near these pretty young kids who had no clue what was going on as BBFCFM started. I was raging so hard I think they moved.
Quote from: sunrisevt on October 29, 2015, 01:08:47 PM
Quote from: runawayjimbo on October 29, 2015, 10:42:37 AM
I damn near lost my shit when they opened with Alumni at Camden '10.
Buried Alive, Runaway Jim, and Mike's are all also excellent answers.
I mentally dq'd Jones Beach 2012 for this discussion b/c the two openers were such anomalies...
The week I moved out of my ex's house, :phish: opened consecutive shows with Skin It Back and Alumni, the two unicorns I'd been chasing--loudly--for my entire history w/ the band.
I'm still not entirely convinced they didn't somehow know what I needed to hear.
Good point, maybe not standard openers, but openers nonetheless.
ACDC Bag... because :phish:.
Buried Alive's got my vote for all-time King Opener.
I'm also partial to this little stick of dynamite -
QuoteOctober 29, 1994
Spartanburg, SC (USA)
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
Set 1: My Friend, My Friend, Sparkle > Simple -> Runaway Jim, Foam, Lawn Boy, Split Open and Melt[1] -> Buffalo Bill -> Makisupa Policeman -> Rift
Set 2: Down with Disease -> The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday -> Sparks > Uncle Pen, You Enjoy Myself, Hold Your Head Up > Bike > Hold Your Head Up, Run Like an Antelope -> Sleeping Monkey > Run Like an Antelope
Encore: Harry Hood
Natron, that would get a vote from me as well, I love that show.
buried alive, pyite, and wilson are all time classic openers because they bring the energy up and usually signal a great show to come.
soul shakedown and partytime (:ducks:) are fun in the proper outdoor setting.
but a mike's opener makes me the most happy. the show setlist is filled with endless possibilities to come.
Methinks buried alive at any point in the first 3-4 songs is a great sign, but PYITE is at the top of my list. AC/DC is secondi.
Old school: Buried Alive, pyite, or RunJim
New school: PARTY TIME!
Buried Alive, Llama, and Mike's would top off my list of favorites.
As far as one that hasn't been mentioned yet, I love a good CTB opener.
i've never seen so much agreement in any thread about a favorite phish...song/show/anything. interesting.
i too would pick PYITE, Buried Aive and Llama. Mike's and Tweezer are nice, too.
though i think August makes a good case with Crowd Control. nobody doesn't like a tasty "Crowl" as the cool kids call it.
Buried Alive
AC/DC Bag
After Midnight (Manchester 2010) didn't suck
Also, not mentioned, but obvious: Yamar
Quote from: Caravan2001 on November 02, 2015, 08:45:08 PM
Also, not mentioned, but obvious: Yamar
Hard to beat that one on a warm summer night @ an outdoor shed!
I will cosign what's been said here so far.
I'll also add that the Character Zero opener at Alpharetta 2011 (first Zero opener, I believe) was pleasantly and surprisingly effective.
The opener at my first show was MFMF.
It worked pretty well that night. :rawk:
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on November 02, 2015, 08:49:09 PM
Quote from: Caravan2001 on November 02, 2015, 08:45:08 PM
Also, not mentioned, but obvious: Yamar
Hard to beat that one on a warm summer night @ an outdoor shed!
Agreed. But lest we forget one of the greatest Yamar openers of all time, the Albany '97 Yamar. On a cold winter night in a coliseum, lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxBmHfckxC8
Quote from: EdBanky on October 29, 2015, 09:30:33 AM
Love Buried Alive a whole lot, but I think I'm have to go with a Sloth opener.
One of my fave tracks and I have seen it as an opener twice (first set once, second once) and I have to say, I don't like it as much when it starts out cold. I like it to slam outta something in the middle of the set when it's least expected. That said, I will take The Sloth in any slot (not literally, lol).
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on November 02, 2015, 08:49:09 PM
Quote from: Caravan2001 on November 02, 2015, 08:45:08 PM
Also, not mentioned, but obvious: Yamar
Hard to beat that one on a warm summer night @ an outdoor shed!
Totally agree, that song is summer..
Quote from: Caravan2001 on November 02, 2015, 10:20:11 PM
Quote from: EdBanky on October 29, 2015, 09:30:33 AM
Love Buried Alive a whole lot, but I think I'm have to go with a Sloth opener.
One of my fave tracks and I have seen it as an opener twice (first set once, second once) and I have to say, I don't like it as much when it starts out cold. I like it to slam outta something in the middle of the set when it's least expected. That said, I will take The Sloth in any slot (not literally, lol).
Hard to beat the PYITE -> Sloth 1-2 punch to open nye 95.
Quote from: PGLHAH on November 03, 2015, 05:02:11 AM
Quote from: Caravan2001 on November 02, 2015, 10:20:11 PM
Quote from: EdBanky on October 29, 2015, 09:30:33 AM
Love Buried Alive a whole lot, but I think I'm have to go with a Sloth opener.
One of my fave tracks and I have seen it as an opener twice (first set once, second once) and I have to say, I don't like it as much when it starts out cold. I like it to slam outta something in the middle of the set when it's least expected. That said, I will take The Sloth in any slot (not literally, lol).
Hard to beat the PYITE -> Sloth 1-2 punch to open nye 95.
A Sloth opener is really just a fantasy of mine. GTBT, Scent of a Mule, Glide, My Soul. Pretty much anything that chalked full of dark energy is a great opener. If I had to choose an opener off the newest album I'd probably go with Fuego or 555.
Quote from: Caravan2001 on November 02, 2015, 10:20:11 PM
Quote from: EdBanky on October 29, 2015, 09:30:33 AM
Love Buried Alive a whole lot, but I think I'm have to go with a Sloth opener.
One of my fave tracks and I have seen it as an opener twice (first set once, second once) and I have to say, I don't like it as much when it starts out cold. I like it to slam outta something in the middle of the set when it's least expected. That said, I will take The Sloth in any slot (not literally, lol).
Yup. I picked The Curtain as my favorite opener, which was a weird call seeing as I've only seen it open once and they don't really play it. I think I was more thinking about how it slammed into Sloth the first time I saw it. Or how I love it slamming into Tweezer.
Quote from: Hicks on November 02, 2015, 09:20:20 PM
The opener at my first show was MFMF.
It worked pretty well that night. :rawk:
This thread got me looking at my stats. I was surprised to see 6 MFMF openers. Great tune!
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on November 02, 2015, 08:49:09 PM
Quote from: Caravan2001 on November 02, 2015, 08:45:08 PM
Also, not mentioned, but obvious: Yamar
Hard to beat that one on a warm summer night @ an outdoor shed!
Amen! Wolf Mountain 96 would be the moment I discovered that phenomenon.
I'll finally get to 1000 posts by NYE at this pace.
Maze. Albany 95 set the tone perfectly.
But honestly anything that catches me by surprise in a good way. i.e. no Crowd Controls.
Oh Kee Pa -> YEM Providence 98 was a treat.
Quote from: Nedstruzz on November 16, 2015, 09:50:13 PM
But honestly anything that catches me by surprise
precisely :phish:.
Quote from: Nedstruzz on November 16, 2015, 09:50:13 PM
Oh Kee Pa -> YEM Providence 98 was a treat.
Love the crowd reaction when they slam in to that YEM :banana: