













After a three-day break, Phish Summer Tour 2012 continued tonight at Klipsch Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana. The area around the venue was filled with cornfields back in 1995 when Phish first played the shed known as Deer Creek and in more recent years suburbia continues to sprawl towards and into Noblesville. With the National Weather Service predicting the hottest day in Central Indiana since the ’30s, the band took the unusual step of issuing a warning about the weather and offered fans tips via their Facebook page.

[Photo From Stage by Mike Gordon]

Phish came out of the gates with the acapella ditty The Birdwatcher which had only been performed twice before – once in 2010 and once in 2011. Another 2012 debut followed in The Curtain With, a song that had been on the shelf for 39 shows. Fuck Your Face, last played at Blossom in 2011, was our third 2012 debut to start the concert. But the band wasn’t done digging deep into their repertoire as The Old Home Place returned to action after a 103 show layoff and Pebbles and Marbles made its first appearance of 2012. Do we hear six tour debuts in six songs? Why not? Weigh came next marking the 150th tune Phish had played this summer. And then Chalkdust Torture broke up the unbelievable string of six 2012 debuts in a row three weeks into the tour. Wolfman’s hasn’t disappointed in this era and tonight’s version was no different as guitarist Trey Anastasio delivered one delicious, rapid-fire run of riffs after another. Our first reference to the weather came in a cover of Cool It Down by Velvet Underground, tour debut #7 for the opening stanza, last played 54 shows ago in Worcester on December 27, 2010. Despite all the bust outs, the biggest surprises were saved for last as Tweezer surfaced for the first time at back-to-back shows mid-tour since the famed Giant Country Horns Tour in 1991 (7/21 > 7/23) and then Phish dusted off fan-favorite Tela. The Gamehendge ballad returned after a 44 show layoff (last time played -June 3, 2011). Stealing Time closed out a marathon set complete with eight 2012 debuts.

[Photo by Ali Morley]

The second set began with the first pairing of Mike’s Song and McGrupp (another 2012 debut) since October 7, 1999. Back On The Train broke through the normal constraints of the tune into a spacey interlude that saw impressive contributions from all four members of the band before leading into Hold Your Head Up (tour debut #10). The Argent cover served as an introduction for drummer Jon Fishman who offered his version of Syd Barrett’s Bike (tour debut #11) complete with vacuum solo. The band didn’t even wait for Fish and Trey to swap spots before starting Weekapaug Groove leaving the drummer on guitar for the intro-less version which sounded about how you’d expect. Then, Jon put the guitar down and headed over to the drums for some duel drum action while Page and Mike each took turns leading the jam. Eventually Anastasio returned to his normal role and took ‘Paug to a climax. Prince Caspian brought the set back to earth before Waves (tour debut #12) offered another trip out to outer space providing an improvisational highlight of the evening. Out of the dark, ambient Waves jam came a few hints at Bug before the song started in earnest. A typically fierce David Bowie closed Set Two. For the encore the quartet went the roller coaster route with slow ballad Show of Life followed by high-octane rocker Tweezer Reprise. Twelve tour debuts, interesting jams, great song selection – Deer Creek show #21 proved lucky indeed. Phish returns to the Klipsch Music Center tomorrow.

[Photo by Nicole Misencik]

Setlist…

Set 1: The Birdwatcher, The Curtain With, Fuck Your Face, The Old Home Place, Pebbles and Marbles, Weigh, Chalk Dust Torture, Wolfman’s Brother, Cool It Down, Tweezer, Tela, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan

Set 2: Mike’s Song > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Back on the Train > Hold Your Head Up, Bike > Hold Your Head Up > Weekapaug Groove[1], Prince Caspian[2] > Waves > Bug > David Bowie[3]

Encore: Show of Life > Tweezer Reprise

[1] Trey on drums and Fish on guitar at the beginning — said Fish: “I think we’re a better band this way!” — followed by Trey and Fish on drums together, then Trey back on guitar.

[2] Unfinished.

[3] Bug tease from Trey.

Notes: The Old Home Place was played for the first time since December 5, 2009 (103 shows). Weekapaug featured Trey on drums and Fish on guitar at the beginning — said Fish: “I think we’re a better band this way!” — followed by Trey and Fish on drums together, then Trey back on guitar. Caspian was unfinished. Bowie featured a Bug tease from Trey.

[via Phish.net]

Here’s The Skinny for Phish at Deer Creek…

Venue Capacity / Attendance / Type : 24,000 / 14,000 (Estimate) / Amphitheater

: 24,000 / 14,000 (Estimate) / Amphitheater Previous Shows at Venue : 20 Shows = 06/19/1995, 08/12/1996, 08/13/1996, 08/10/1997, 08/11/1997, 08/02/1998, 08/03/1998, 07/25/1999, 07/26/1999, 07/10/2000, 07/11/2000, 07/12/2000, 07/21/2003, 07/22/2003, 07/23/2003, 06/23/2004, 06/24/2004, 06/19/2009, 08/12/2010, 08/13/2010

: 20 Shows = 06/19/1995, 08/12/1996, 08/13/1996, 08/10/1997, 08/11/1997, 08/02/1998, 08/03/1998, 07/25/1999, 07/26/1999, 07/10/2000, 07/11/2000, 07/12/2000, 07/21/2003, 07/22/2003, 07/23/2003, 06/23/2004, 06/24/2004, 06/19/2009, 08/12/2010, 08/13/2010 Number Of Songs / Length – First Set : 12 / 8:09PM – 9:34PM (85 Minutes)

: 12 / 8:09PM – 9:34PM (85 Minutes) Number Of Songs / Length – Second Set & Encore : 12 / 10:07PM – 11:40PM (93 Minutes)

: 12 / 10:07PM – 11:40PM (93 Minutes) Total Number of Songs / Covers / Originals : 24 / 4 / 20

: 24 / 4 / 20 Biggest Bustout : The Old Home Place – 103 Shows [Last Time Played – December 5, 2009]

: The Old Home Place – 103 Shows [Last Time Played – December 5, 2009] Debuts : N/A

: N/A Weather : 99° and Sunny at Showtime [Band Issues Warning]

: 99° and Sunny at Showtime [Band Issues Warning] Wardrobe : Page – Navy Blue Short-Sleeve Button-Down Shirt and Jeans / Trey – Black Flyers Shirt and Jeans / Mike – Blue Short-Sleeve Shirt Tucked Into Jeans / Fish – Dress

: Page – Navy Blue Short-Sleeve Button-Down Shirt and Jeans / Trey – Black Flyers Shirt and Jeans / Mike – Blue Short-Sleeve Shirt Tucked Into Jeans / Fish – Dress Average Song Gap : 21.36

: 21.36 The Spread : Junta – 1, Picture of Nectar – 3, Rift – 1, Hoist – 1, Billy Breathes – 1, Farmhouse – 2, Round Room – 2, Joy – 1, Misc. – 5, Covers – 4

: Junta – 1, Picture of Nectar – 3, Rift – 1, Hoist – 1, Billy Breathes – 1, Farmhouse – 2, Round Room – 2, Joy – 1, Misc. – 5, Covers – 4 Longest LivePhish Track / Shortest LivePhish Track : The Curtain With 14:26/ Hold Your Head Up 1:22

: The Curtain With 14:26/ Hold Your Head Up 1:22 Audio: Live Phish

Poster…

