Phish shot on tour in 2010, from the Phish.com Web site.
When the band Phish first started its rise to fame, its cross-genre blend of styles and its sort of lack of widespread, mainstream appeal eventually earned it the de facto title of America’s premier jam (or improvisational) band — a title that for years belonged to the Grateful Dead.
A group of musically inclined classmates from the University of Vermont formed Phish in 1983 and, after disbanding following a nearly 20-year run in 2004, the group reunited last year and put out its 11th studio album called Joy.
Phish began a 25th anniversary tour earlier this year, with an eight-city, fall segment of the tour ending with a three-date run over Halloween weekend in Atlantic City, announced on Tuesday, Aug. 24.
Phish will appear at Boardwalk Hall on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 29-31. Tickets at phish.com are listed as $60.
Phish has typically reserved Halloween weekend for something special. According to an article at Spinner.com, “The Atlantic City shows are of particular note because they will be the backdrop for the band’s annual Halloween tradition. Every year on the holiday, Phish perform a three-set show, including one set in which they don a ‘musical costume’ and cover an album in its entirety."
Last year’s nominees included discs by MGMT, Michael Jackson and Led Zeppelin, with the winner being the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street. Other past Halloween "costumes" include the Talking Heads’ Remain in Light, Velvet Underground’s Loaded, the Who’s Quadrophenia and the Beatles’ White Album.
Also interesting to note is that Phish founding member and lead guitarist Trey Anastasio recorded his 10-song, 2008 album Original Boardwalk Style: Live in Atlantic City, during his New Year’s Eve solo-band sets at the House of Blues at Showboat in 2006-2007.
The Spinner.com article also noted that the band raised ticket prices to shows by about 10 bucks, but the increase comes with the bonus of offering ticket buyers a free MP3 download of an official live recording just after the band’s encore.
Tickets to the fall segment of Phish's tour go on sale to the general public Sept. 10.
In a review of one of Phish’s summer dates in Hartford, CT, Rolling Stone wrote, “[Phish] delivered some serious rock bang for its recessionary buck … with music that taps into every aspect of their quarter-century career together.”
In the band’s revisit to Colorodo, the Denver Post wrote, “In what many consider the most anticipated show in recent years … Phish heartily rewarded its most lucky followers with a memorable mountain event that ranks on the very top shelf of the 27-year-old band’s trophy case.”
On the heels of its successful summer tour, Phish is giving away a special sampler entitled Live Bait, featuring 10 tracks gleaned from the tour’s first leg. Live Bait is available now by going here.
How does it feel — to be a Rolling Stone? “Feels great,” says Wood. “It’s an unbelievable thing that’s been going on for this length of time and we’re certainly covering new ground by being the first rock and roll band to be 50 years old.”
Plus the ACUA Earth Day celebration, the Album of the Week and Drew Toonz.
The second of four musical events has been revealed for Bader Field with the band Phish announcing on its web site a summer tour that includes a trip to Atlantic City for three nights of performances on Friday, June 15, Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17.
Ocean City Ghost Tours has been a popular attraction in the city for more than a decade, running walking tours of “haunted” and historical spots in Ocean City from spring to fall. But the tours really take off in popularity in the height of the summer season, and, as you might guess, in October. “The summer is very popular,” says Eileen Reeser, tour manager. “But when it gets close to Halloween, the crowds go way up again. The tours aren’t so much about the paranormal as they are about the folklore and history of the island. There are some great stories on the island.” Some notable haunted stops are City Hall and The Flanders Hotel. The ghost story...
There could be a link with the success of that Phish residency in Atlantic City — where the band's Trey Anastasio recorded a live album a few years back at the House of Blues at Showboat — and the three-day music festival that is expected to take place in June 2011 at Bader Field in Atlantic City.
I have no idea if Gov. Christie is a Phish fan. But even if he’s not, it’s time for him to go trolling for some money so that the world knows that Phish, which could have played its Halloween shows anywhere, decided to take Atlantic City’s bait.
Acclaimed jam band Phish has played 10 Halloween shows over the course of its career, which are known in the Phish camp as “Musical Costume” concerts, during its well-chronicled history.
No. 7. The Pier Shops at Caesars: Trip out to the free hourly water show with its 150 individually controlled fountain nozzles, a 19,000 gallon reflecting pool, 179 LED and intelligent lighting fixtures, and "state-of-the-art" audio technology.
Article:
A ‘Taste’ of Maroon 5
Article:
Florence's Fine Tuned Machine
Article:
Atlantic City Weekend: Impressive Lineup
Article:
Golden Vibes: Beach Boys Celebrate 50 Years
at Borgata
Article:
Sonny Fortune: Still Chasing the Trane
Article:
Black Keys in Atlantic City: Rock & Revel
Article:
First Bartender Awards
Nominees Announced!
Article:
Queens For A Year
1. Anonymous said... on Aug 24, 2010 at 03:13PM
“If you are looking for a great place to stay, The Chelsea Hotel offers great rooms at a decent price. Some of the Annex rooms have balconies. An annex avenue king is as low as 106.70 for a 3 night stay. Parking is between $5-10 a night that time of year. The Chelsea is on the boardwalk so you can walk to Boardwalk Hall.”
2. Anonymous said... on Aug 27, 2010 at 04:06PM
“phish in atlantic city has been a long time coming. my only concern is where could shakedown be held? the boardwalk would be the ideal spot, however i dont think the police would be to privy to that notion.”