Phish 2012 Summer Tour Highlights — Birds of a Feather @ Bader Field
Phish — 6/15/12 “Birds Of A Feather > Back On The Train > Heavy Things” from Phish on Vimeo.
On Phish.net (the fan based site for Phish) at the very end of the Song History section for “Birds of a Feather” after highlighting the best jammed out versions that have existed over the years since its debut in 1998, it reads:
Resurfacing occasionally for Phish 3.0, “Birds” hasn’t quite hit those heights again, but the version from the generally outstanding Hartford show from 8/14/09 was pretty terrific.
I think it’s safe to say that this statement can now be adjusted with this version from Bader Field. Rearing it’s head out for the first time of the 2012 Summer Tour, BoF got the second set of the first night at Bader Field in Atlantic City going strong as it usually does. But I’m sure most of the traveling fans in the crowd were thinking, “alright, lets get through this Trey freak out and move into something that has more promise”. But of course up till this point we had only seen Phish’s new jam legs stretched at Worcester since Bannaroo left much to desire on the jam front. If this was more mid-tour, I’m sure expectations would have been higher. But thankfully all in attendance got a nice little surprise as the boys took this one beyond it’s borders and then some.
At around the ten minute mark the locked in jamming that is on display is something any music fan should appreciate. The comping, riffs being laid down and rhythms are all fluid and cohesive, building a framework for a style of jamming that has now become synonymous with Summer 2012. It’s an extension of the Storage Jam that came about during Super Ball IX during last years Summer tour. But they have clearly extended on this style and have added more groove and melody to the mix. The key is how all members, especially Mike (bass) and Page (keys), have been contributing to the direction of the jams. It’s well documented that Trey (lead guitar) is the leader of the group. And while this may still be the case and I’m sure the band wouldn’t argue, when it comes to the live show, they’re all in it together. On the heels of a New Years Eve run that left many fans wondering whether the band had lost their jamming wings, the musical growth of all members is hitting a peak this tour and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
The ‘Birds jam finally comes to a head at the fifteen minute mark but that doesn’t mean the music and dancing have to stop as it segues fluidly into “Back Onto The Train”. The segues, a common theme among Phish shows and jam bands in general, have been strong this tour and pulled off for the most part without a hitch, which is key for a show being dawned as a dud or stud. So far, we have mostly studs this tour.
