Famous dead concert promoter Bill Graham was born Wolodia Grajonca in Berlin in 1931 and was given to an orphanage whose mission was to adopt jewish children out of Germany during the rise of Hitler. Graham made it to America, perfected a New York accent, earned a Purple Heart in the Korean War, founded the famous Fillmore concert hall and art museum, invented modern polyrhythmic music promotion, and -- as the charge d'affaires of The Grateful Dead, permanently changed the influence of modern music on modern times. Yet, apparently, he was a short-tempered meanie.
Graham died in a helicopter accident in 1991, and in 1992 the City of San Francisco re-named its decrepit Civic Auditorium after him. Graham's "come as you are" sensibilities had changed San Francisco's white glove attitudes, so perhaps it was fitting for the city to honor Graham in the formerly resplendent Civic Center, now a permanent home to thousands of beggars and vagrants. Perfect spot for the Phish!
Perfect spot for the Phish -- and the scalpers. For reasons unknown, these three Phish shows 8/17-19 at the ghost of Bill Graham have commanded $300+ prices -- and all of the associated phish phan phinger wagging and begging. Here is one phan with a $100 bill wrapped around her begging finger -- to no avail. At the Gorge, this would work for sure.
But 7000 souls did score the ducats and did their best to pretend the overgrown high school gym that is the BGCA was really the more intimate Fillmore with its luxe mezzanine and crystal chandeliers. Show was entirely general admission, which cuts down on seat hoppers. Our Friday night seat neighbors were from Atlanta, Chicago, Brooklyn, and Berkeley. Only one person in our immediate area was violating the California indoor cigarette smoking prohibition, but the BGCA filled up with medicinal vapor pretty quickly. No one spilled any $12 beers on us and we got invited to a party next month in Key West. As for the music, Phish delivered a solid west coast show -- sweet and lowdown -- even if the sound was about as bad as it can get for a 7000 person venue with support posts blocking your view.
Set I:
AC/DC Bag: Sound is light in the side balcony, like they forgot to take the packaging foam off the speakers.
Moma Dance: Jonny B. Fishman is the star of this funky dance number. A sailboat shout out to the America's Cup coming to SF in 2013.
Possum: Phish's version of Bad Bad Leroy Brown.
Corrina: Light and melodic Taj Mahal cover, a favorite of Bob and Jerry.
Sand: This epic tune was re-invented by Mr. Anastasio at the Berkeley Greek in 2002. Numerous phans are healing the symptoms without affecting the cause.
Halley's Comet: Lots of spaghetti in cans outside in the Civic Center encampment.
Funky Bitch: Mike Gordon is powerful when he is plugged-in on stage.
Sample in a Jar: Not much room to wheel around, but we did hear what you had said.
Roses are Free: Guy in the Ween shirt gets his shirt call. Everyone loves the "Throw that pumpkin at the tree, unless you think that pumpkin holds your destiny" lyrics. This is very deep stuff, apropos for San Francisco.
My Friend My Friend: Wife knife rhyme works every time.
Slave to the Traffic Light: This is one of the dozen or so beautiful songs in the Phish repertoire. Keyboard master Page McConnell is korgtastic.
Set II:
Down with Disease: WIth a very long outro playing on Mr. Anastasio's signature riff. Jazz-loving cab driver on the way home asks us which Phish album would be a good one to start with and we reply "Hoist"...
Birds of a Feather: There were at least 7000 souls flocking outside the BGCA in semi-homogenious solidarity.
Tweezer: Hard and heavy. Funky and partying like 1998. No reprise tonight!
Twist: We make it to the floor for the real twist around spectacle -- at least $100,000 of spilled drinks on the ancient floor make it all the twistier. Whew!
Velvet Sea: Indeed, this is what $100,000 of spilled drinks look like on a red concrete floor. Wading!
Chalkdust Torture: Our Berkeley seatmate makes the call. Mr. Anasatasio is having fun at his job.
Joy: "We want you to be happy!" is the message from those on the inside opening the doors to those sneaking in from the outside.
Run Like an Antelope: There is no room to run in the packed BGCA, so many just antelope in place.
Shine a Light: "Angels beating their wings in time..." Maybe Mick and Keith are reluctant to celebrate the Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary with any shows because the Phish own this tune now (on the eve of Phish's 30th anniversary.)
E: First Tube: Instrumental and orchestral and experimental -- with no tweeprize in sight.
See you tonight in San Francisco at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium!