Chicago IL: Phish 7/20/13 at FirstMerit Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island
Skyscrapers are Grand
The supremely talented Vermont jazz-rock quartet Phish booked a three-night run at the newly-expanded FirstMerit Bank Pavilion on Chicago's Northerly Island this weekend. We took in the Saturday show -- sold out at 28,000, including the segregated lawn section -- a mere 17 hours after the final notes of Pearl Jam at Wrigley Field. Phish did not disappoint in Saturday's impromptu three set show.
Northerly Island is a man-made island in Lake Michigan built for the single-strip airport Meigs Field (CGX) which operated until 2003. Northerly Island is in Chicago's wonderful museum mile, adjacent the Shedd Aquarium and the magnificent and beautiful Field Museum. The venue held 8,000 until this summer when First Merit Bank added a 20,000 person lawn as an afterthought.
The venue was beautiful for the few thousands in the stands with views of the Chicago skyline as well as the Phish. The 20,000 on the segregated lawn could likely hear the show, but certainly could not see it. We were in the stands Page-side in the seventh row with neighbors from Boston and Atlanta. 90% fewer Chicago professional sports team jerseys at Phish than the night before at Pearl Jam, but we did note a custom Bears jersey emblazoned with "Loving Cup" and #22 (maybe he's a groundhog?)
Phish took the stage at the unheard of time of 7:15pm and played three invigorating sets.
Set I:
Prince Caspian -- Short, but longer than the Friday night version. Not too many kayakers floating among the waves, but we did spot a few yacht people getting down. Keyboardist Page McConnell was the song's MVP.
Twist Around -- Whew! The yacht people are intrigued by 28,000 whews in unison. Lead guitarist Trey Anastasio is the song's MVP for his multiple teases. The entire floor below us is twisting around.
Ha Ha Ha -- "Zappaesque" is how the prettiest girl in our section put it. Bassist Mike Gordon is the MVP for laughing along. Mike is sporting a new $10 grey bike helmet haircut.
Possum -- Ha Ha Ha! Proof positive that someone at Phish reads PT. Drummer Jon Fishman is the song's MVP for his fast pace, although Mr. Anastasio's wondrous string striking might have won it for him, if his song weren't such a blatant musical copy of You Don't Mess Around with Jim.
Cities -- You knew it was coming. Not the etherial dance party of Cities at the Berkeley Greek 8/6/10, but pretty groovy. Page is the MVP for his chordy performance.
Lawn Boy -- A literal shout out to the dality segregated lawn people. Page is the MVP for his front and center vocal solo. How would Eddie Vedder do with this song?
I Didn't Know -- Hilarious barber shop acapella. Jon is the song's MVP for being so electrolux.
Rift -- Um de lee, um de la. Page and Mr. Anastasio share the MVP for their ping pong vocals shocking and persuading our souls to ignite.
Destiny Unbound -- Someone sounds breathless. Mike is the MVP but Page holds the tune together.
My Friend My Friend -- When this tune turned dark the floor sunk. Mr. Anastasio is the MVP for his scratchy discordance.
Kill Devil Falls -- Phish's Cool Jerk. Many in the audience will have piles of mail waiting for them. Mr. Anastasio is the song's MVP for his squealing.
Cavern -- The man behind us barfs bright green (Chicago River water?) but misses his shoes and ours and then cracks a water bottle and cleans it up. The band flubs a few lyrics so the Chicago skyline is the song's MVP.
David Bowie -- Birds are flocking over the venue during the beautiful part as the fog moves in. Mr. Anastasio rolls up his sleeves and is the song's MVP for his halting.
Set II:
Get Back on the Train -- We took the purple L in 100 degree heat to Pearl Jam, but walked sober to Phish. Jon is the song's MVP for his ideas taking us around the world (or is Phish only a U.S. phenomenon?)
Mike's Song -- Slower than you remember. Page steals the MVP for his chord pounding.
Theme from the Bottom -- Hard to be hydrogen in the rain. Page is the clear MVP of this song, totally justifying his parent's decision to give him piano lessons as a child.
Weekapaug Groove -- The Bostonians behind us with a collective age over 200 do the funky new englander. Mr. Anastasio is the song's MVP, but Page is Korgtastic.
Golden Age -- Everyone is coming around to this new dance staple. Jon is the song's MVP for his back beats.
Waves -- 2.0'y. Mr. Anastasio plays it like he wrote it and is the song's MVP for his harmonies.
Piper -- Is this a song or a musical exercise? Starts out small and ends huge. Jon is the song's MVP for his pacing.
Slave to the Traffic Light -- More Chicago shout-outs. No doubt it was faster to walk (Segway?) the 6,000 feet to our hotel after the show than to take one of the thousands of cabs on Michigan Avenue going nowhere in midnight traffic. Page is the song's MVP for his keymastery.
Set III:
Meatstick -- Chicago is (was?) the hog butcher of the world, and this version was bratwurst zydeco. Jon is the song's MVP for his syncopation and backup vocals.
Birds of a Feather -- Ducks eat for free at Subway. Jon is the song's MVP quickly moving it along.
Strange Design -- Isn't this the same tune as Destiny Unbound? Page is the song's MVP bringing a few companions on this ride.
Ocelot -- Light and fluffy. Mike is the song's MVP slapping it along like trying to corral an ocelot.
Light -- Nice, but not Dicks. You know the feeling when you can figure out the end of a TV movie based on how much time is left before the show is over? This light had that predictable feeling. Mr. Anastasio is the song's MVP for his soul purification.
Harry Hood -- You new it was coming from Fishman's teases in Piper. Silly part was silly, beautiful part was beautiful. Mr. Anastasio is the song's MVP for his soulful wailing.
Good Times Bad Times -- Page as Plant pulling this cover's MVP.
E: Shine a Light -- Spiritual, but rushed by comparison to Indio. Many many many room 1009's in the loop. The Phish community was this song's MVP.
See you Friday night at the Gorge for Phish!