Always wanting to do a Phish Festival, I finally had the opportunity as the boys from Vermont decided to do one on the “Left Coast” proper. There are only a handful of places in this country you can do an outdoor camping festival on Halloween weekend. Luckily it was the Coachella Valley, the home of the Coachella Arts & Music Festival. Wide open flat expanses, sunny blue sky days and 80 degree weather beckoning those from the cold climes to experience our southern California Fall. Those who made the journey were treated to eight sets of absolutely mind blowing music. Well actually six sets, but we will get to that later.
As “Phans” descended upon this sleepy winter haven for retirees and golfers, the area took a twist as the time turned elastic. Granted that since Phish is an East Coast band, this was a huge risk for them to come out and do a big shindig on the other side of the country. Luckily Goldenvoice already had everything you need to put on a big festival. The 40,000+ “pholk” who showed up were by no means disappointed. They had a castle and a Ferris wheel and a giant coil and tons of things that spewed fire, if the music wasn’t enough to keep your attention.
We arrived at noon on Friday with a truck full of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food, graciously donated by the good folks at B & J’s, and it took us a several hours before they got us situated with everyone running around. Eventually, we were escorted to the makeshift VIP area to stage left, as close as anyone could expect to get without being in production or the band. After getting situated we got around to slinging Phish Food to the crew working the stage and walked around the spacious grounds. Despite the occasional odiferous interlude left behind from polo horses, you realize there is plenty of open flat space to accommodate the spinners, hoop-ers and those who just require a lot of space.
Well the first day of any run of show, always seems like a warm up. The band and audience seem like they are adjusting to their new surroundings. The set list looks solid, but I didn’t feel the energy. Maybe pulling in too many new songs in the first set is what just didn’t do it for me. The 2nd set “David Bowie” Trey made a little hint about the Halloween album before the song. So naturally you figure the tricksters that they are, that it wasn’t going to be David Bowie’s “Hunky Dory.” Leaving the show Friday night, I was a bit worried about Halloween. Wondering if they would be able to “Bring it?!” Two sets down, six to go.
Halloween Day started with a 3 PM start for the 1st set. At the entrance they were handing out a Playbill for the day’s show, in which it tells you which album they will be playing. So it wasn’t going to be surprise. Although I did run into a guy who was trying his best not to know the album, even though everyone around him was talking about it. It was rather humorous watching him desperately avoiding knowing. This afternoon set was in the glow of desert sun was a reminder why they chose Coachella. Well after the previous night this was definitely a relief to see that they brought a little more energy. The highlight of this set was the “Runaway Jim”>”Possum,” “Antelope.” They finished as the sun began setting, giving people a couple of hours to recuperate, fuel up, get amped before the Halloween set.
Exile on Main Street was the Halloween costume for the band this year, an album that most people should know and be able to follow. Right before the band came on stage they flashed through the 98 albums that didn’t make the cut on the giant HD jumbotron screens on both sides of the stage. The definition on these things were insane! The band came out and proceeded into “Rocks Off“ and brought the energy I hoped and jammed through the rest of this double album. They also brought a brass section out with them consisting of Dave Guy on trumpet, David Smith on trombone, and Tony Jarvis on sax. The special treat was having Sharon Jones and Saundra Williams doing back-up vocals. The highlights for me were “Sweet Virginia” and “ Loving Cup”. I am sure many of you have already downloaded the set and have come to your own conclusion. That set definitely left me exhausted, so when the 3rd set rolled around, it was almost anti-climatic. Don’t get me wrong , the 3rd set was thoroughly enjoyable, but paled in comparison to “Exile.” Just when you think things couldn’t get better, they come back out for the encore along with the brass section, Saundra and Sharon, and finish things off with probably the best “Suzie Greenberg” you will ever hear. I have to say that Halloween was definitely a treat this year.
Sunday started with a 12 PM acoustic set. I was amazed at the number of people that actually showed up. I guess it was the novelty of an acoustic set that brought everyone out. They even served coffee and doughnuts, with the doughnuts shaped like an 8. I expected a mellow set, which it was. Well after a few songs, Trey tells the crowd to try sitting down. As the crowd finally complies, Trey says “I’ve never played to a sitting down Phish crowd before.” Well as the set progressed and during “Wilson” Trey confessed that he was ADHD.
The rest of the Sunday sets were good , although we did leave right before the third set on Sunday, we had to get the Ice Cream Truck back to Long Beach. I would be remiss in not mentioning the absolutely fantastic job that Chris Kuroda did lighting no only the stage but the entire venue. Now he can add lighting dancing palm trees and giant fire plumes to his resume. Those of you who weren’t there, will have to wait until they release Festival 8 Movie in 3D. Yes, 3D! They shot all the sets in 3D. Should be interesting.
Thank you to Jason Colton and Patrick Jordan at Redlight, Donna Busch at Goldenvoice, for letting us be a part of Festival 8. Also a big thanks to Jay Curley at Ben and Jerry’s for setting us up with Phish Food at our truck. I hope Phish gives it some consideration and thinks about doing something at Coachella every year.
