Hampton Opener: What Will It Be???

Less than 2 Weeks to go. 10 Unbearably long days to wait. The anticipation reaching alarming levels making it hard to focus on anything else. Yes folks, in 10 days the light will dim and our favorite band will finally take the stage together for the first time in close to 5 years. HALF A FREAKING DECADE!!! In the time since the boys have last played not only have we broken the mold by electing a President that has helped to change the fabric of society in America, but perhaps just as surprising, a Philadelphia Sports team finally won a Championship. But now let us focus on the real important stuff, The Phish from Vermont! With the boys now officially back and the show a mere fortnight away, it is time to focus on what Phish will do when they take the stage on the evening of March 6th. It’s the question everyone is asking, “What will they open with”? I am glad to say that I know what they will open with…Interested? Let’s break it down…

The Favorites

Punch You in the Eye: The best opener Phish has. Period. There is nothing that gets your energy pumping like hearing Trey’s scratching and knowing they are about to jump into a rockin’ PYITE. This would also be a good choice for Opener because it has a solid intro that will allow the crowd ample time to scream and cheer before blowing the roof off with the “Hey” part of the song. I doubt there would be a single Phan in the Arena who wouldn’t be happy with this as the Opener.

Chalkdust: I kept calling this to be the Opener at MSG (I mean who the hell saw a Piper coming?!?!) in 2002 but, alas, I was one show off. Still, this is a classic opener that simply rocks. It will also allow the band to settle their nerves with an old standard. Add in the fact that Trey has said this is his favorite song to play live and a Chalkdust Opnener seems like a solid bet.

Wilson: Ba Dum Ba Dum…Wiiiillllsssooon. Can’t you just hear it now? This is another classic opener that the boys could play in their sleep. And the Wilson chant will help to settle down the cheering that otherwise has the potential to drown out the entire first song. A definite possibility.

Runaway Jim: This has opened more Phish shows than anything….ever. It would not be the least bit surprising to see it increase it’s lead by 1.

Golgi Apparatus: I saw you with the ridiculously expensive ticket stub in your hand. Not me of course; because I hit the lottery!!! But for many this is the sad reality. Back in 2002, this was the chic pick for Opener because people paid an arm and a leg to get into MSG…and now in 2009 history repeats itself. Will they go with the lyrical nod to the ticket fiasco this time around?

DWD: Close your eyes and imagine with me for moment…The house goes completely dark. We know the boys are walking on stage but we can’t see anything. After about a minute we hear that thick, deep feedback surrounding the entire venue and everyone in the crowd knows they are about to lose their minds. After what seems like forever, a huge spotlight shines on our old friend Gordo…and the crowd loses it’s mind. I won’t lie I was very tempted to call Down with Disease as my Opener prediction…but I didn’t. The reason I didn’t is because it’s one of the favorites to be played, and Phish NEVER goes with the likely choice. Which leads us to…

The Rockers (A.K.A. songs that will cause such a pop that the structural integrity of the Hampton Coliseum with be tested)

Tweezer: If they open with Tweeezer I won’t know what to do with myself. It would be a perfect way to say, “I know we’ve been gone for a while, but guess what? WE ARE BACK!”. Plus the composed part of the song is just long enough to allow the crowd to come down from the state of total craziness we will be in after seeing the band of all bands all on stage together for the first time in 5 years…Thus allowing us to settle in for that dark funk we all know and love.

Mike’s Song: The opening notes to Mike’s are about as recognizable as any song the boys play. Starting the show off with a Mike’s, and knowing that a Weekapaugh is not far away, would really show the crowd that they mean business.

First Tube: Composed. Not much room for error. Totally Rockin’.

Tube: Can you imagine if Phish took the stage and “an asteroid crashed”?!? If there were ever a situation where the Mothership was to simply lift up off the ground and take off into space, this is it. Please open with Tube…PLEASE!!! However, as unfortunate as it is, I don’t think Phish will open with a Rocker either. I just think that they would worry that the Coliseum might crumble to the ground. So maybe they will open with one of the…

Appropriate Covers

Foreplay/Longtime: It’s been such a long time. It really has.

The Boys are Back in Town: Oh hell yeah they are! Yet, as appropriate as either of these songs would be, I just don’t see the boys opening with a Cover. Yet could I be onto something with the appropriate lyrics…

Lyrics

Get Back on the Train: In Hampton the boys will figuratively be getting back on the train. Is that enough to make them open with this laid back and happy tune that always has the potential to turn into a sweet and funky Jam (see 2/28/03)? My guess is no. So maybe they will go with…

The Old Classics
Buried Alive: This kickass instrumental jam has opened many a show over the years. And with it’s upbeat and jazzy tone, it would definitely help to show that the boys are much alive and buried no more.

My Friend My Friend: A statement from their former life perhaps? No complaints here. However, I just don’t see it being an older classic opener to start the new era of Phish. Which leads me to believe it may be…

A New Song
Insert Title Here: What better way for Phish to signal the beginning of the new era than with a totally new, never played before live song? This would definitively make the statement that the boys are embarking on a whole new adventure. However, this will not happen; because though this is a new adventure, they are still Phish and they know nothing would drain the excitement out of the room like busting into a song no one recognizes. Instead, maybe the boys will take it in a completely different direction and go with…

The Dream Openers
Harpua: What do you think would happen if Phish took the stage and went right into “oom pa pa, oom pa pa, oom pa paaaaaaaaaaa”?!?! I think it would almost be too much for me to handle. Not only would the Hampton Coliseum instantly become the single loudest place on the planet, but Trey would afforded a nice opportunity to wax poetic about how happy he is that they got the band back together and how grateful he is to be back in front of all of us loyal phollowers, etc. etc. It would be an amazing moment and one none of us (the band included) would ever forget.

Destiny Unbound: The most famous Destiny chant was (where else?) at Hampton in ’97. It was so loud that it even got Trey to comment on it but not to play it. Instead, they decided to play it for the first time in 12 years at a random show in Nassau (see 2/28/03 again). Maybe they will bust it out again here as an homage to the ’97 chant. But probably not. It is far more likely that the band would rather atone for other sins…

The Apology
Curtain With: The last time we all saw Phish was in a mud soaked field in the middle of nowhere Vermont. The last song they played was a BUTCHERED version of this beautiful jam. It would not surprise me at all if Phish decided to open with this and nail it this time…which would definitely signal their return as well as their realization that they did not leave on the best of terms. But again, I jut don’t see it. If they really want say “we’re back and we mean business” they will open with…

The Epics
YEM: If Phish has a masterpiece, this is it. This would be the perfect song to show that they are still “the Phish” and that they came to play. Trey even said he would give his left nut to play YEM 5 times in a row every day for the rest of his life…and I, for one, would be more than happy to take him up on that offer (minus the whole testicle thing of course).

Run Like an Antelope: This would be brilliant. It’s opening is composed and the boys could play it in their sleep. It would give the crowd and the band time to settle in before the jam section which would consistently and methodically raise the energy level to near epic proportions all leading up to one of the greatest lyrics Phish has, “Set the gear shift for the high gear of your soul”! If this happens we will all most definitely be running like an antelope, OUT OF CONTROL!!!

Fluffhead: Since the last time I heard this amazing piece of music live (Vegas 2000 1St night), I have said that if they bust it out again, I will drop to my knees and thank God. All I can say is, please let me drop to my knees in Hampton! Wait, I don’t think that came out right…but seriously, please open with Fluffhead. Yet as much as I would love to hear the Fluffhead that Mike said no to, I think it is far more likely they will open with…

The Dark Horse
AC/DC Bag: This would be a perfect opener. The crowd would lose it. It would be a nod to all the real phans out there (I mean who doesn’t love a Bag?!) and a nice nod to Gamehenge as well. I would also add in the caveat, that it is possible they technically open with Oh Kee Pah and that goes into Bag. But one way or the other, I could absolutely see Bag opening the first show in 5 years. But, there is one song I could see even more clearly…

My Pick
Harry Hood: WTF!!! I have to believe that anyone reading this article is saying “I just read this entire list for this idiot to tell me they are going to open with a song that they NEVER open with”!?! Allow me to explain; you can count on one hand the number of shows that Hood has opened, but on that hand you would have to include a show at Hampton (12/18/99) and the 20th Anniversary Show in Boston. So they have done it in Hampton before, and in the show they celebrated their 20 years of being together, Hood was the song they chose to play first. Also, can you think of a better, more recognizable, way to welcome us back than with Fish’s opening drum beats on this classic tune?! Me neither. So I say, why not Hood? The key thing to remember is that Phish has 100’s and 100’s of songs in their canon and one of the things we all love most is how unpredictable they can be, so no matter whether it’s a favorite, a New Song, an Epic, a Dream, a Hood, or something else entirely, I think I speak for all of us Phans out there when I say to the boys, whatever you play…we are just glad to have you back!!! Now I’d like to hear what you, loyal readers, have to say. Do you think I am crazy? Do you think you know beyond a shadow of a doubt what they will open with? Please sound off in the comments section and let me know what you think…that way, if you are right, it will be documented and you can prove to anyone and everyone just how smart you are…and who wouldn’t want that???