Review Phish @ Camden – June 10, 2011

Another of last night’s highlights was the rare Swept Away > Steep combo, especially with a six-plus minute jam that was actually some of my favorite jamming and direction of the show. A beautiful, delicate floating breathe, the jam led into another ferocious David Bowie. After this however, the band seemingly filled the rest of the set with a bunch of single songs, including Julius, a sloppy Golgi Apparatus, before what I thought was a set-closing Fluffhead. Fluff did pack a mighty punch, and I actually liked the placement here. But, as I expected the band to step off stage, they instead played the sentimental ballad, Joy. And then walked off the stage. Oh, ok, so you crush a Fluffhead to close Camden with Joy? I gotcha. In fact, no, no I don’t and have no clue what you are thinking, Phish. But, that is NOT to say this was a bad show, just odd, which let’s face it, is something that makes Phish and the collective body of work in a tour so interesting.

Throughout the years, Camden has witnessed some incredible shows in the Phish legacy, but last night didn’t do too much to contribute to that and instead will have fans scratching their heads into what was going down. Maybe it’s the fact that this venue is so close to the raw energy of Philly, or the fact that surrounding the venue is one of the most dangerous cities in the country, or maybe its the almost lawless areas of lots that just about anything goes, but Camden and Phish usually go together quite well. Last night tried, but went down for some like a shot of quicksand, instead of whiskey. I enjoyed the show as it was happening, and suggest definitely checking out The Curtain With for a moment of grandeur, and a few other pieces like the Weekapaug and Steep for my other highlights.

• Phish Camden: Setlist and The Skinny