Preview: Phish – Legends of the Fall

In my opinion, they probably viewed the one-month break between summer legs as too short to require full practices and too long to necessitate practicing every day. So my guess is there was little to no practice between Summer legs and that led to a shortened song list and less interesting set lists and playing in Leg 2.

So where does that leave us for Fall 2010?

Practice time certainly should not be an issue. They’ve had months to prepare and even have a warm-up set at ACL to get them back in the feel of things. They are embracing their inner-1995 and stomping through some Northeast venues they crushed as young bucks which should provide some inspiration. I mean can they walk into the Providence Civic Center and NOT remember how much ass they kicked on the Island Run there?

But by far the biggest question of the fall tour revolves around the Halloween show in Atlantic City. When the band announced the AC run, many fans glossed over the glaring omission in the announcement and jumped to the conclusion the band will perform its traditional musical costume.

Last year, the announcement for Festival 8 said the following: “Keeping the tradition of past Halloween shows, Phish will don a musical costume on Halloween night and cover another band’s album. The tradition began on Halloween 1994 with Phish covering The Beatles’ The White Album. In subsequent years, they covered The Who’s Quadrophenia, Talking Heads’ Remain in Light and the Velvet Underground’s Loaded.”

This year’s announcement mentions only a “very special Halloween show” without mention of the musical costume tradition. The vagueness could easily be intentional. We know they love their pranks.

So will they or won’t they? I’d be surprised if a formal announcement was made prior to the start of the AC run. I mean I can’t imagine them sending out an email blast along the lines of “Just to clarify, we WILL be doing an album.” If they are going to play an album, I just don’t see it being another classic rock selection. Basically, with the exception to some degree of Remain in Light, each musical costume has been in that genre. Combine that with their pension for covering interesting out-of-the box artists last year – from TV on the Radio to Neutral Milk Hotel to Joni Mitchell to Rage Against the Machine – and I just think an album choice would go in a different direction. Although I do admit an A-list guest-laden take on The Band’s Last Waltz or a proper crack at something by Pink Floyd would be pretty stellar.

I don’t think they dare tackle a Radiohead album, although I’m sure it’s tempting. I’ve heard people suggest The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ landmark Blood Sugar Sex Magik LP but to be honest, I loathe RHCP and could not be rooting harder against that choice. Maybe it’s finally time for them to punk it up and attack London Calling? Or go heavier with Metallica’s Black Album? Or make a select few of us Rush fans happy and go with Moving Pictures or 2112?

The greater question lies if they are not doing an album. Phish fans take their Halloween shows very seriously and to break the tradition of the musical costume would be a serious gamble for the band. They’d have to do something just as special but different. So here are a few thoughts on what that could be:

1. Gamehendge Set – Last done in its entirety on July 8, 1994 at Great Woods, this would certainly be special. Not sure Trey 3.0 is as into the narration as in the past but I’m sure he could find ways to entertain himself up there.

2. Buncha Covers by One Artist – I’ve seen other bands do this – pick one band and just play sort of a “greatest hits” selection of their songs as a set or throughout the night. Michael Jackson comes to mind.

3. Special Guest O’Thon – Trot out one special guest after another and rip through some covers, standards and a Phish original or two. Some sort of monster jam at the end maybe.

4. Dead Set – Clearly the longest of longshots but would be pretty damn amazing to see Phish recreate a classic Dead set or string together a set of their own favorite Dead tunes. That would certainly make up for not paying tribute to Jerry in Telluride.

I would bet whatever it is, those lucky enough to be in attendance will leave satisfied.

With only five shows on the docket for Winter – two in Worcester and three at Madison Square Garden to ring in 2011, this Fall Tour could be the last full charge for the band until next summer. Hopefully they’ve prepared to conquer!