Briefly: Phish @ Red Rocks, 7/30/09

by Justin Ward on Jul 31, 09

in Reviews

Phish @ Red Rocks, 7/30/09

Last night was the first show that Phish has played at in 13 years, and the band opened the show right with “Divided Sky” before launching into a set of loose and well-played tunes from their repertoire. Here’s the setlist:

Set One: The Divided Sky, Ocelot, The Wedge, Poor Heart, The Moma Dance, Horn, Stash, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Possum
Set Two: Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Ghost, Wolfman’s Brother, Limb By Limb, Billy Breathes, The Squirming Coil, David Bowie
Encore: Loving Cup

Now all of this was before I was shuffled out of the pit and back to my car to drop off my photo equipment, as it was the only way I was going to be allowed access to the rest of the show per the media contact on site that was helping the crew of photographers. After pushing this woman and asking her why the restrictions were so tight on the folks that were given photo passes, she let me know that the band requested that no pro-level equipment be allowed back in the seats. And supposedly I was only one of three that was let back into the venue on my media pass, which is great and all. I should be appreciative of a free ticket and the chance to shoot this band that I love so much, but I missed most of the first set and ultimately think that the restrictions from the band were 100% bullshit. Why is that? Well, the security was not patting anybody down and my friends made it in with pro-level equipment that the band would not want to see. Plus, making people bring equipment back to their car hardly prevented us from helping out the bootleg tapers in the room (or the folks working to provide a usable stream for the fans at home).

Call me the amateur in the room, but had I known that the band was going to go all Nazi about the coverage, I would not have volunteered to get a photo pass for the first night of the run. I’m now turning myself down for the other photo passes that I requested on the tour, because doing so would probably cause another clusterfuck of media smackdown for no reason whatsoever. And I’m making it clear that I personally thought this was a huge mistake by the band, but they must have some sense for what they’re doing. Or maybe they’re just setting restrictions to stop all the “big-ness” of the whole organization before. Regardless, I got screwed last night as a fan, not as some stuffy media outlet that wanted to shoot photos of the band. I’m half-tempted to just post every single blurry shot I got and then send it to the band and ask them if they got their money’s worth.

Oh well, can you tell I’m pissed? I just wish I would have known before going into it. Lesson learned. Thanks for not that much, . See you in the lots tonight.

Related posts:

  • Video: Mock Show Poster Show @ Red RocksVideo: Mock Show Poster Show @ Red Rocks
    One of the best parts of the Phish @ Red Rocks 2009 run was the Mock Show poster exhibition on the third day of the four-night set of shows. Some nice fan put together a great video summary of th...
  • Phish Friday: More Red Rocks VideosPhish Friday: More Red Rocks Videos
    My man Patrick has been buried at work, but he still has a bunch of videos from Phish at Red Rocks that still haven't seen the light of day. We'll try to get 'em done before Festival 8 but we've got ...
  • Video: Phish @ Red Rocks, 7/30/09 – “The Wedge” in HDVideo: Phish @ Red Rocks, 7/30/09 – “The Wedge” in HD
    This was one of the songs I heard as I meandered my way back to the very bottom of the south lot at Red Rocks to put my camera away and get a recharge of beers from my rental car trunk. Patrick was t...
  • Video: Phish @ Red Rocks, 7/30/09 – “The Divided Sky” in HDVideo: Phish @ Red Rocks, 7/30/09 – “The Divided Sky” in HD
    It's fair to say I owe my entire Phish tour to my friend Patrick Nelson, a good man that just happened to come up with one extra ticket for each night of Phish at Red Rocks and happened to offer it up...
  • Video: A View From the Red Rocks HillVideo: A View From the Red Rocks Hill
    I'm feeling particularly nostalgic today about the recent Phish tour and I wanted to get my grainy iPhone photos up that I took at the seven shows I saw, but I thought I'd preview it all with a view f...
  • Review: Four Nights of Phish @ Red RocksReview: Four Nights of Phish @ Red Rocks
    Friends and readers know that I've been on the road for the past week or so, and I appreciate the break from regular posting to get some major miles in on my Summer of Justin Funemployment To...
  • Photo Fest: Phish Live from Red Rocks, Night One 7/30/09Photo Fest: Phish Live from Red Rocks, Night One 7/30/09
    Even though I had to rant a bit about the lack of relaxation by the band in regards to the folks that they willingly gave free tickets (sorta) and photo passes to -- still retarded to me no matter how...
  • Epic: Phish @ Red Rocks, Night Two 7/31/09Epic: Phish @ Red Rocks, Night Two 7/31/09
    All I'll say is, if the first night of the Phish run at Red Rocks was good at all, the second night was probably the best Phish show I've seen in my 12-show tenure with the band so far. Me and my...
  • Tonight: Phish @ Red RocksTonight: Phish @ Red Rocks
    Hey dudes. I'm chilling in Lakewood, CO and making all the final plans that I think I need to make to get over to the Red Rocks lot, but I wanted to get up a post in the meantime to let everyone know...
  • SETLIST: Trey Anastasio & Atlanta Symphony Orchestra @ Atlanta Symphony Hall, 2/9/12SETLIST: Trey Anastasio & Atlanta Symphony Orchestra @ Atlanta Symphony Hall, 2/9/12
    [caption id="attachment_51833" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="© Honest Tune / David Shehi"][/caption] While Phish fans are eagerly awaiting the news of new summer tour dates (including a ve...

Tagged as: ,

  • http://nicholastolson.com Nicholas Tolson

    I’ll take those media passes. I also think you need a rep at Merriweather. :)

    • http://www.livemusicblog.com Justin

      Media passes for Phish apparently = teh sux.

      • http://nicholastolson.com Nicholas Tolson

        I gotta say, Justin, everything seems pretty par for the course for shooting a major act at a big venue.

        • http://www.livemusicblog.com Justin

          So you’re saying you get sent to your vehicle when you’re done shooting a band? That has never happened to me once and I’ve gotten more than a few photo passes here and there. I still call bullshit on it, especially considering this band should know better than trying to “control” their message. Fans are friggin’ broadcasting the shows from their iPhones, and it’s the media credentialed folks that got screwed in that deal. Every other photographer in the pit was visibly pissed when learning the news.

          • http://nicholastolson.com Nicholas Tolson

            I’d say it’s pretty common that photo passes don’t get you a ticket to the show, per se. That is, it’s just for shooting. It’s usually more up to how strict the venue is as to whether they will let you walk around and take pictures after your pit time is up.

            Plus, C Taylor Crothers has got to get his shots without running into the likes of you and me. ;)

  • http://nicholastolson.com Nicholas Tolson

    I’ll take those media passes. I also think you need a rep at Merriweather. :)

    • http://www.livemusicblog.com Justin

      Media passes for Phish apparently = teh sux.

      • http://nicholastolson.com Nicholas Tolson

        I gotta say, Justin, everything seems pretty par for the course for shooting a major act at a big venue.

        • http://www.livemusicblog.com Justin

          So you’re saying you get sent to your vehicle when you’re done shooting a band? That has never happened to me once and I’ve gotten more than a few photo passes here and there. I still call bullshit on it, especially considering this band should know better than trying to “control” their message. Fans are friggin’ broadcasting the shows from their iPhones, and it’s the media credentialed folks that got screwed in that deal. Every other photographer in the pit was visibly pissed when learning the news.

          • http://nicholastolson.com Nicholas Tolson

            I’d say it’s pretty common that photo passes don’t get you a ticket to the show, per se. That is, it’s just for shooting. It’s usually more up to how strict the venue is as to whether they will let you walk around and take pictures after your pit time is up.

            Plus, C Taylor Crothers has got to get his shots without running into the likes of you and me. ;)

  • Pingback: Epic: Phish @ Red Rocks, Night Two 7/31/09 — LIVE MUSIC BLOG.com

  • http://phishandthedead.blogspot.com/ sam martin

    Phish’s 3rd night at red rocks another keeper!!!!!!!
    The Show was eclectic. The Set-list was epic and spread from the Gamehendge songs all the way to new songs such as the broken heart love ditty, Alaska. After opening with an over played AC/DC bag they went into a spacey The Curtain With, and then Mound! High Points had to be Antelope, ending the first set and then the entire second set….

    http://phishandthedead.blogspot.com/2009/08/phishs-third-night-august-1st-at-red.html

    Sammy

  • http://phishandthedead.blogspot.com/ sam martin

    Phish’s 3rd night at red rocks another keeper!!!!!!!
    The Show was eclectic. The Set-list was epic and spread from the Gamehendge songs all the way to new songs such as the broken heart love ditty, Alaska. After opening with an over played AC/DC bag they went into a spacey The Curtain With, and then Mound! High Points had to be Antelope, ending the first set and then the entire second set….

    http://phishandthedead.blogspot.com/2009/08/phishs-third-night-august-1st-at-red.html

    Sammy

  • hipster resistance

    @ sammy he phish and dead blog is kind of weird but has potential. maybe getting rid of all the nasty ads would be a good way to start off

    • http://phishandthedead.blogspot.com/ Sammy Martin

      @ hipster resistance- thanks for the feedback. love the kinda weird. that is what i am. what ads are nasty. i am curious, what was the turn off- i have 2 ads throughout the entire blog. and though im not nearly as recognized as established blogs as LMB, i have had the site for 2 years and have media credentials…but seriously. i want the input, just tell me what turned you off about the ads.
      thanks
      sammy

  • hipster resistance

    @ sammy he phish and dead blog is kind of weird but has potential. maybe getting rid of all the nasty ads would be a good way to start off

    • http://phishandthedead.blogspot.com/ Sammy Martin

      @ hipster resistance- thanks for the feedback. love the kinda weird. that is what i am. what ads are nasty. i am curious, what was the turn off- i have 2 ads throughout the entire blog. and though im not nearly as recognized as established blogs as LMB, i have had the site for 2 years and have media credentials…but seriously. i want the input, just tell me what turned you off about the ads.
      thanks
      sammy

      • http:///www.musicandartblog.com alexb

        leaving a comment on your blog, maybe that was kind of mean, but ill tell you what i thought

  • hipster resistance

    aaah photo pass drama! it is a pain in the ass. phish is getting older and as bands get older (allman brothers) they seem to get more tight with VIP and photopass type of behavior. that’s awesome that LMB gets recognized as being a leading industry news source. it totally is one of the top 5 improv rock related outlets. i love hearing about this stuff, cause people that volunteer their time to support the scene like this feel passionately about this stuff!

  • hipster resistance

    aaah photo pass drama! it is a pain in the ass. phish is getting older and as bands get older (allman brothers) they seem to get more tight with VIP and photopass type of behavior. that’s awesome that LMB gets recognized as being a leading industry news source. it totally is one of the top 5 improv rock related outlets. i love hearing about this stuff, cause people that volunteer their time to support the scene like this feel passionately about this stuff!

Previous post:

Next post: