A Beacon Of Light In The World Of Flight

January 8th, 2009

We’ve all been waiting on Phish to release dates and venues for their upcoming summer tour today.  Lots of (mildly informative) speculation, but no real news.  Quietly, however, Phish Dry Goods announced the release of a 7 disc DVD documenting the Clifford Ball.

Brand new 7-DVD box set documenting The Clifford Ball, a landmark concert event that drew more than 70,000 fans to upstate New York in August 1996. The Clifford Ball was the first of seven, two-day spectacles the band staged, including The Great Went a year later, followed by Lemonwheel in 1998. The Clifford Ball was held in Plattsburgh New York at a decommissioned air force base, where Phish played two marathon concerts. The band delivered a one-of-a-kind experience for concert goers, giving the military base a carnival-like atmosphere with rides, wandering jugglers and movies at night for campers.

The box set features nine hours of concert and event footage (with six complete sets of music recorded Live August 16 & 17, 1996 and bonus features including Phish’s extended soundcheck, its late night flatbed truck jam and a 30-minute featurette with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and more. This regionless DVD set includes options for both stereo and 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound Audio (remixed and mastered from the band’s multi-track tapes).

The Clifford Ball was the first in what would become a tradition of summer tour ending festivals hosted by Phish.  Mind you, this was before Bonnaroo, Rothbury, 10K Lakes or any other “jammy” American festival.  This was number one, and I’m really proud of the fact that I attended.  I saw a lot of shows, and while I might not rate this as number one, it’s up there.  Jerry on kids touring with the Dead:

It is this time-frame’s version of the archetypal American adventure. It used to be that you could run away and join the circus, say, or ride the freight trains.

This was an actual circus…just for us!  I felt like I was being rewarded for my “work” that summer.  Lots of people presume that Phish tour was non-stop joy.  Well, I’ll concede that it was, but it really took a lot of work to make it happen. At the ball, it was fun, fun, fun.  No worries about hotel money, rides to the next show…nothing.  Just relax and let the band take you on a little vacation.  

1996 was the year I started seeing Phish, and I did most of the summer tour that year.  I knew that I had found a home and a family, but the Ball showed me that I didn’t know everything yet.  The band went above and beyond to provide us with not only days of face melting music, but an environment built for our entertainment.  I’m excited to buy and watch the DVDs, as I have no pictures or anything of the like to remind me.  Memories, however… I have a few…

If you’d like to check out the setlists and give a listen, use the ever handy Phish Google spreadsheet and grab a copy!

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