Phish Summer Tour 2012: Chasing the Dragon

If you are one of those folks who likes to be sure they catch all the best shows of the tour. I have an uncanny knack of looking at the tour applying my knowledge of Phish with my understanding of how touring Jam bands work and come up with a list of shows where I predict they will play well or play poorly. I admit some of these are harder to predict than others, but for the most part. I am confident in my predictions. Let's take a closer look at the tour.

6/7/12 DCU Center, Worcester, MA -The first show of the tour is never the best one. However, this is inside in New England so it bodes well for a strong opener.

6/8/12 DCU Center, Worcester, MA--They should be comfy by now. Once again, INSIDE, in NE. It will rage this night.

6/15/12 Bader Field, Atlantic City, NJ--The few days break helps these, but I don't see any of these being among the strongest shows of the tour. The venue and city aren't among the best. But I admit these are as much a mystery to me as any on the tour

6/16/12 Bader Field, Atlantic City, NJ--Middle show of three day run this should be the strongest night of the run, but again see ablove

6/17/12 Bader Field, Atlantic City, NJ--Nope, but you never know

6/19/12 nTelos Pavilion, Portsmouth, VA--First of only two southern shows and Phish for some reason plays great down south. I'm guessing these will be great

6/20/12 nTelos Pavilion, Portsmouth, VA--see above

6/22/12 Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH--After a day off coming from what should be some strong shows and playing in one of their favorite cities and you know they say "Never miss a cincy show" This could be very well be the Dragon

6/23/12 First Niagara Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA--Momentum from Cincy will carry over into this very underratted venue

6/24/12 Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH--My hometown show, but this is a back to back to back. This does not bode well. I'm guessing there will be nothing left in the tank.

6/28/12 Klipsch Music Center, Noblesville, IN--the off time will be well needed, but not my favorite venue--these two nights are a crap shoot. I don't expect a whole lot here. I imagine they will have to restretch thier legs

6/29/12 Klipsch Music Center, Noblesville, IN--They should be looser now, but not back in top form

6/30/12 Alpine Valley Music Center, East Troy, WI--One of these two night will see one of the strongest nights of the tour. Great venue. Don't try and pick which one. Go to Both

7/1/12 Alpine Valley Music Center, East Troy, WI--see above

7/3/12 Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre, Wantagh, NY--Great Energy in NY, but I hear the venue is terrible. I'm guessing no on one or both of these

7/4/12 Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre, Wantagh, NY--see above

7/6/12 Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY--It's SPAC. Lookout below! Go to all of them

7/7/12 Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY--Middle show at SPAC, Duh! It should be one of the best nights on the tour and a chance at being the dragon.

7/8/12 Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs,NY--Depends on how hot the previous two night were. they could be spent or they could feel good and throw it all out there.

My guesses on the top shows of the tour in chronological order

Night 2 DCU

Portsmouth

Cincy

PA

Alpine (one of the two)

SPAC #2

Note: these are soley based on my experience, opinion and analytic skill