Predictions: Phish Summer Tour – Leg One

Andrew Bender

1. MVP Band Member? My money’s on Leo – Following the band’s tentative yet triumphant rebirth to Phish 3.0, Page’s playing seemed a bit more cautious than in years past, but in the last year he seems to be the vanguard for much of the more experimental and ‘out there’ jams.

2. MVP “Classic” Song? Rift – harmonizing and alternating vocals, a tightly arranged number that leaves far less room for wide-open improvisation and exploration but provides some interesting insights into how the band is meshing on a given night. Plus, Rift will NEVER leave you asking for ‘More Cowbell!’ And, few other bands have shocked and persuaded my soul to ignite.

3. Best show? 6/5/2011 – Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH – The last time that Big Red and the boys played Riverbend Music Center was over a decade ago . Despite a major rain storm playing havoc and soaking much of the crowd, the band still put on a solid performance that featured a first set Mike’s song and a memorable version of It’s Ice followed by a long, unfinished atypical jam. Plus, I’m hoping they finally finish the TMWSIY>Avenu >TMWSIY sandwich that always seems to be an open-faced when played in Ohio.

4. Number of new songs? Five new originals and seven new covers. Always a tricky question, and I’ve been both pleased and impressed with many of the newer numbers from the last few tours. Based on the last couple of years, five originals and seven covers seems about right.

5. Biggest Bustout? Shaggy Dog – possibly after a naked wook takes a run across the stage. The band has brought back many of their early tunes and Shaggy Dog is a quick, fun, country/bluegrass-inspired number that would make a lot of phans scratch their heads and dance around nonetheless.

Jonathan Kosakow

1. MVP Band Member – Page’s slippery fingers are always the most important link in raising the roof. When he’s on, there is no limit to where there jams can go.

2. MVP Classic Song – If I get my way and Page turns it up, we’ll get some great piano and clav funk for Suzy Greenberg, but I’d be happy if they destroy Slave to the Traffic Light a few times.

3. Best show – June 3 in Clarkston, MI. The Sleeper.

4. Number of new songs – Judging from past tours I think we’re looking at one or two a week, and I’m guessing we’ll see about five or six new songs throughout the first leg.

5. Biggest Bustout – Keyboard Army. ‘Nuff said.

Wade Wilby

1. MVP Band Member? – Trey Anastasio. Yes, Mike brings the bombs every night and you would be hard pressed to find a Mike flub, however, T Money has vastly improved since ’09 and is starting to feel much more comfortable improv’ing. I think this Summer we’ll see a Trey MVP season.

2. MVP “Classic” Song?- Disease. One of the jam vehicles that has stayed a source of show energy since its humble debut as a reprise during NYE 93. When the intro to this starts everyone knows its time to rage.

3. Best show?- Detroit. First Gordo B Day show since the ’80s and Pine Knob is the SPAC of the Midwest. A gorgeous setting during week two of tour when they are all warmed up on a friday night says sleeper show of the tour.

4. Number of new songs? – Four.

5. Biggest Bustout?- Rocka William. They’ve given Walfredo a shot. Now its time for the other rotation jam song to rear its head.

Ryan Dembinsky

1. MVP Band Member? – I’m hoping for a good group effort, but if held at gunpoint I’d say Mike. I thoroughly enjoyed Moss, so it’d be great to see Phish explore some more of his new songs. Also, I think Idea could become one of the best 3.0 songs by the end of this tour.

2. MVP “Classic” Song? – Harry Hood. They’ve been inching closer; first with the strong outing at the Greek and then with the big one in Worcester. It’s only a matter of time.

3. Best show? – DTE Energy Center, June 3rd. Phish has never played the old Pine Knob, so this is a long overdue visit to one of the classic Michigan summer venues, and this should be a rowdy Friday night crowd. I am also biased on account of this being the scene of my very first concert.

4. Number of new songs? – Eight. Seems like there is a lot of material piling up, so I would expect a higher number than last summer.

5. Biggest Bustout? – All Things Reconsidered. Phish hasn’t played this since February 23, 1997 (413 shows), but prior to that they played it over 80 times, so it’s probably still tucked away in the muscle memory somewhere.

DaveO

1. MVP Band Member? I hope it’s Mike Gordon. Cactus’ solo shows have been littered with interesting segues, loads of new originals and debuts of new cover selections. Hoping Gordon brings an injection of this to Phish this summer.

2. MVP Classic Song? 2001 started to see a bit of a return to glory in the version from Atlantic City from the Halloween Run. I predict two monster second set summer-shed renditions.

3. Best Show? First night Alpharetta. Phish will spend their off-day in between two-night stands at Merriweather & Alpharetta plotting some crazy shit.

4. Number of New Songs? 6. 3 from Trey, two from Mike, one from Page.

5. Biggest Bustout? Skin It Back. Gordon has been playing it with his band, Little Feat is hopefully still fresh on the brains of the band, it’s time for a killer Phish rendition.

Jeff Greenblatt

1. MVP Band Member – Trey

2. MVP Classic Song – Simple. After the exploratory version from January 1, 2011, Simple is due to get some more workouts like that.

3. Best Show? On a personal level I’m rooting for night two of Bethel Woods since I’m going to be there. I’ve always adhered to the theory that the second set of the second night of a three show run is usually where they hit their pocket of comfortableness within the band, the crowd and the venue, so look out for a monster Saturday night.

4. Number of new songs? Two.

5. Biggest Bustout? Golden Age. Not sure if this qualifies as a bust out, but the TV on the Radio tune should make its way into regular rotation this summer taking over the second set cover opener slot from Rock & Roll.

Sam Davis

1. MVP band member? Trey. Big Red has finally attained the tone he’s been working on for two years and has developed a new style to go along with it. This summer it comes into bloom.

2. MVP Classic Song? David Bowie. This has been brewing and will lead to one of the top highlight’s of summer.

3. Best show? Camden. Because there’s something in the air.

4. Number of New songs? Five. I suspect there will be a fair bit of new material on the first leg. Hopefully Tom and Trey have been working together again.

5. Biggest Bustout? All Things Reconsidered, because they’re ready.

Scott Bernstein

1. MVP Band Member – Page McConnell. The Chairman of the Boards really picked it up towards the end of the year and I get the sense he’ll assert himself in the improv more in 2011 than he has in the past.

2. MVP Classic Song – David Bowie. I’m hoping for a renaissance for Bowie since most versions of the tune in 3.0 have been underwhelming. Let’s hope they extend the intro and take the song “out there” a number of times this tour.

3. Best Show? Merriweather, June 11 – They say third time’s a charm and after two underwhelming Saturday shows at Merriweather in ’09 and ’10 that were followed by kickass performances the next night, this year’s Saturday gig in Columbia, MD will be a keeper.

4. Number of new songs? 12 – That’s right, I think the band will debut tons of new material this tour. There’s been a long layoff since MSG and I expect Trey has spent a bunch of time putting together new tunes on his iPhone/iPad and we certainly know Mike has plenty of material to choose from.

5. Biggest Bustout? Dave’s Energy Guide. When McConnell teased this classic prog-rock original at Deer Creek last summer it gave me hope that DEG hasn’t been forgotten. I predict the band will work this tune into another one of their originals at some point during the tour.

We’ll showed you ours, now you show us yours. Leave your answers to the five questions we’ve posed in the comment section below…