As they say, all good things must end someday and the Phish Summer 2013 Tour ended on Monday night at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA. The capacity crowd of 17,193 people were dazzled with a great set of music complimented by an amazing light show by Phish Lighting Designer, Chris Kuroda. This was the first time I got to see the new light rig in action and he certainly made full use of all his toys at the Bowl.
Kicking off just after 7:30pm, Phish dove right into the deep end with an AC/DC Bag opener that got the crowd on it’s feet and kept them there for nearly 3 hours. The Hollywood Bowl is a unique setting nestled in the hills above Hollywood and with a history about as long as the town itself. It has hosted many great talents over the years and Phish played homage to one of them, closing out the first set with “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by George Harrison of the Beatles. The Beatles performed at the Bowl in August of 1964…almost 49 years to the day before the Phish show. That wrapped up a truly mind blowing first set riddled with other tasty musical nuggets and all painted most beautifully by Kuroda. His use of the actual bowl structure as an element in his lighting design gave the over all appearance that the space ship had landed and they were beaming us all up for one hell of an intergalactic journey. Other first set high spots were “Wolfman’s Brother” and “Ocelot,” making your author very happy.
SET ONE
AC/DC Bag
The Moma Dance
Sparkle
Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan
Lawn Boy
Wolfman’s Brother
Roses Are Free
Scent of a Mule
Ocelot
Cavern
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Second set kicked off with even more fervor than the first with a rockin’ “Chalkdust Torture.” Later in the set the “Down with the Disease,” “My Friend, My Friend” and “Harry Hood” simply blew away the bowl crowd sending all into a whirling spinning vortex of pure dancing frenzy. One more tip of the hat to the storied venue and the greats who have played there came with an encore of “Loving Cup” by the Rolling Stones who performed at the Hollywood Bowl in July of 1966.
SET TWO
Chalk Dust Torture
Golden Age
Birds of a Feather
Sand
Down with Disease
My Friend, My Friend
Harry Hood
Character Zero
ENCORE
Loving Cup
