As most of you probably know, Phish announced their 2015 Summer Tour Dates this afternoon. In this post, we’ll take a look at the history behind each venue and if there’s no history, then the venue location.
7/21 Les Schwab Amphitheater, Bend, OR
7/22 Les Schwab Amphitheater, Bend, OR
Times played: Zero
Last Time Played: None
First Time Played: None
Phish opens the proper tour in Bend, OR. Phish has never played in Oregon east of the Cascades before. With its laid-back attitude and ample craft beer, Phish and Bend should be a match for fans. The venue itself looks very similar to Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor, ME and should have a similar vibe but with half the capacity at 8,000. The last time Phish played Oregon was October 17, 2014, opening the fall tour, marking the first Oregon show since 1998. They’ve been playing the state since 1991.
7/24 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
Times Played: 13
Last Time Played: 8/5/09
First Time Played: 8/29/92
The first venue with history on the list, Shoreline is, of course, best known as the place where Phish played the last show of 1.0 before the hiatus. The last few times Phish played the Bay Area, they’ve usually skipped Shoreline but as this might be their lone appearance this year, the bigger venue may be necessary at 22,000. Phish first played Shoreline on 8/29/92, opening for Santana. Phish has been playing the Bay Area since playing the DNA Lounge in San Francisco on March 29, 1991.
7/25 The Forum, Inglewood, CA
Times Played: 2
Last Time Played: 10/24/14
First Time Played: 2/14/03
Phish returns to the Fabulous Forum less than one year after playing a great show on the Fall Tour. With Kuroda able to play with the starlights in the ceiling and MSG Entertainment’s renovation of the space as a premier concert facility, I look forward to the Forum becoming a Phish tour staple for years to come with a good size at 17,505 capacity. The band first played the Forum in 2003, debuting Dr. Hook’s “Cover of the Rolling Stone” in honor of the band’s first and only appearance on the cover. Phish first played Los Angeles on 4/15/92 at the Variety Arts Center.
7/28 Austin360 Amphitheater, Austin, TX
Times Played: Zero
Last Time Played: None
First Time Played: None
One of two venues involving motor speedways, the Austin360 amphitheater sits alongside the track, right behind the observation tower at the Circuit of the Americas. It’ll be interesting to see how the crowd is on a hot July night in Texas but local fans are excited the band is back. This venue is medium-sized for the tour at 14,000. Phish last played Austin at the Austin City Limits festival on 10/8/10. They first played Austin on a multi-band bill at the Cannibal Club on 10/26/90.
7/29 Verizon Theatre at Grand Praire Dallas, TX
Times Played: Zero
Last Time Played: None
First Time Played: None
Phish hasn’t played Dallas since 7/26/1998. It is currently the largest US metropolitan area with the longest Phish drought. So the excitement for them to return is palpable. This is a new theater about 25 minutes west of downtown Dallas. Another small venue might also make this a tough ticket with a capacity of only 6,350. Phish first played Dallas on 10/27/1990 at the Rhythm Room, where the first known performance of Llama occurred. Of course, the band’s most famous night in Dallas was the 5/7/94 show at the Bomb Factory, where a monster “Tweezerfest” happened.
7/31 Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta, GA
8/1 Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta, GA
Times Played: 9
Last Time Played: 8/25/12
First Time Played: 6/15/95
Phish this year opts for the older confines of Lakewood as opposed to Alpharetta this year. It’s also much larger with a capacity of 19,000 compared to 12,000 at Alpharetta. The band has some serious history with the place having played it for 20 years now. Phish last played this space in 2012. The 1995 show has Mike play electric drill for the first time in the band’s history. Phish first played Atlanta on 2/3/1990 on a split bill with local favorites Widespread Panic.
8/2 Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, Tuscaloosa, AL
Times Played: Zero
Last Time Played: None
First Time Played: None
One of many new venues on this tour, Phish tries out another new spot in Alabama after last year’s stop at The Wharf in Orange Beach in addition to the old standby of Oak Mountain in Pelham. This venue is interesting for the tour as it has no lawn behind the seating due it’s small capacity of 7,470. Phish last played the college town of Tuscaloosa (Home to the University of Alabama) in 11/8/91 at the Ivory Tusk. They first played the city on 10/20/90 at Solomon’s.
8/4 West Riverfront Park, Nashville, TN
Times Played: Zero
Last Time Played: None
First Time Played: None
Last of the new venues, West Riverfront Park is actually still under construction for the upcoming season. That’s why we only have a rendering. With the skyline of Nashville as the backdrop, it looks like a gorgeous place for a night of Phish. The show will also boast intimacy as it barely outsizes Grand Prairie at 6,500 capacity. The band last played Nashville on 11/29/95 at the Municipal Auditorium. They first played Nashville on 2/28/1991 at the Sarratt Student Center on the campus of Vanderbilt University.
8/5 Starlight Theatre, Kansas City, MO
Times Played: 1
Last Time Played: 8/22/12
First Time Played: 8/22/12
It’s good to see Phish giving this nice theatre in Kansas City another try, even with it’s smaller capacity at 7,958. People who went said it was a great spot and while the last show left a little to be desired by some, a few thought there was a good chunk of bliss in the middle of it’s “Mike’s Groove” with “Bouncing>Number Line>Heavy Things, If I Could” all finding their way there. Phish first played Kansas City, Missouri on 10/19/95 at the Municipal Auditorium. They played Kansas City, Kansas on 4/13/93 at Memorial Hall and opted to play the Sandstone Amphitheatre in Bonner Springs, KS from 1998-2003.
8/7 Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Times Played: 6
Last Time Played: 6/24/12
First Time Played: 7/31/92
One of my personal favorites, Blossom is a gorgeous amphitheater located in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The graceful sloping lawn is a wonderful place to bliss out for a night. The shed dates from 1968, making it feel like a different era. 23,000 can pack in, putting it on the large side of this tour but it still feels intimate despite the larger size. Blossom was first played in 7/31/92, again while opening for Santana.
8/8 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI
8/9 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI
Times Played: 15
Last Time Played: 7/1/12
First Time Played: 8/10/96
It’s all downhill from here. The place most played on this tour, Phish clearly has a connection with Alpine Valley, even releasing a live DVD from 2010 and making their 2000 show Live Phish Volume 5. The place is massive as well, holding up to 37,000 people; the largest non-festive venue on this tour. Phish surprisingly enough has not been here in 3 years. Usually played in tandem with Deer Creek in Noblesville, IN, surprisingly that combo was not scheduled this year.
8/11 Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
8/12 Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Times Played: 6
Last Time Played: 7/9/14
First Time Played: 7/18/92
The times played here is surprisingly high despite the long layoff. Phish returned to the Mann 19 years later last summer and apparently liked it enough to not wait another 20 to return. A quirky shed built for the Philadelphia Symphony in Fairmount Park, it’s proximity to Center City makes it an ideal spot. Even more ideal, not having to cross the river to Camden for the show. With no SPAC on the docket, this is your lone chance to make a balcony rock. Despite it’s capacity at 14,000, this proved to be a tough ticket last year. Like other long-time staples, Phish’s first gig here was opening for Santana.
8/14 Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, Raleigh, NC
Times Played: 8
Last Time Played: 6/18/11
First Time Played: 6/29/94
Phish returns to Walnut Creek for the first time in 4 years. The band had favored Charlotte for summer tour as of late. The band obviously has a love for the venue, releasing their “electrifying” 1997 show on DVD in 2008. (Electrifying because lightning hitting the stage forced a show delay). Unlike other venues, Phish did not get their first turn here opening for Santana but rather as a stop on their career-defining summer 1994 tour. 20,500 will be able to see this gig.
8/15 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD
8/16 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD
Times Played: 13
Last Time Played: 7/27/14
First Time Played: 7/17/92
The second most-played venue on the tour, the return to Merriweather looms large after last year’s “Tweezerfest”. Other highlights from the venue include a sick “Free>What’s The Use” in 1999. Once again, the band’s first performance was opening for Santana on 7/17/92. Similar to Blossom, it’s a tad smaller at 19,319.
8/21 Watkins Glen International Raceway, Watkins Glen, NY
8/22 Watkins Glen International Raceway, Watkins Glen, NY
8/23 Watkins Glen International Raceway, Watkins Glen, NY
Considered to be the main event of the summer, Phish makes it’s triumphant return to Watkins Glen International Raceway. Attendance was supposedly about 48,000 in 2011, no New England, New York, or New Jersey dates would make it seem attendance will be higher this year. The raceway can have up to 100,000 in attendance for races.The stories that came out of the place the last festival Super Ball IX are enough to get anyone excited for another round. Easy in without the hassle of many other sites, the pinball lounge parties, the ditch party, the Storage Jam, plenty of bustouts and jams, the beach ball Tube party, it was a celebration on all fronts. Now, will they go bigger for number 10, known as the MagnaBall? Only one way to find out and that’s to show up to the Glen in late August.
9/4 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO
9/5 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO
9/6 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO
Times Played: 12
Last Time Played: 8/31/14
First Time Played: 9/2/11
Some didn’t know if Dick’s would be on if Festival 10 happened. Well it appears to be going on. One of Phish’s greatest 3.0 traditions is raging Labor Day weekend at the home of the Colorado Rapids MLS team. People love it’s proximity to Denver, the legal weed, and the fact that the band is mighty comfortable by tours end and throws down. Dick’s hosts up to 26,000 people, the field always sells out but stands are usually available. Throw in the usual first night setlist shenanigans, such as the “S” show, “Most Shows Spell Something Backwards”, and the “Lushington” fakeout and it’s easy to see why fans come back year after year.
So a good chunk of new venues and old favorites! Can’t wait to hear what comes out of these shows. I’ll see you at Watkins Glen!
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