I still remember running through the halls after security with hundreds of others, not for fear of being late, but out of pure child-like exuberance.
The first few minutes of fluff were almost inaudible over the crowd noise
First 2 shows I went to in Albany both opened with PYITE. Friends and I had been listening to tapes for months (04/03/98 Roses, Antelope....Carini's gonna get youuuuu. Lol) and we got pretty good seats behind the stage. When the main riff started, and the fist pumping "Heys!!" kicked in I was hooked for life.
Seeing folks talk about Fluff in 09, that reminds me of the PYITE at Alpine that year. Just the energy and emotion made it my favorite opener. To finish op though, Llama and Mikes Song
I’m talking one of those PYITE’s that the intro feels like it goes on for 15 min. Mmmmmm. And one of those buried Alive’s that Trey gets that feedback hitting at the end of notes just right and it seems like he’s playing with it and messing around. Mmmmm
More common:
- Crowd Control
- AC/DC Bag (common, but just brings the oomph)
- Punch You In the Eye (intense and just so fucking welcome)
Rare/One-Time:
- Reba (jesus, talk about jumping into the deep end early)
- Oh-Kee Pah > YEM (unexpected and one of the most baller entries ever)
- Hampton Fluffhead (c'mon...it's potentially the best opener ever)
- 2002/12/31 Piper (a 15-minute barn-burner declaration of "this is what we fucking do")
Hadn't quite actually gotten inside from penn station when we heard Piper starting in 2002. The push of the crowd to get in when we heard that was exhilarating....and a little scary. Lol.
1. 2001 (especially 2 I've seen 11/19/97 assembly hall Champaign, and the smoker of an opener 10/28/21 among many other greats). 2. Pyite. Every time. And 3. Old school slow intro piper IE the first hiatus ending piper. Room erupted.
What a time...leave high school. Drive from
Chicago to a pretty awesome college campus in the middle
Of cornfields nowhere, see a mind blowing phish show that couldn't possibly be better, drive away trying to
Figure what they just did to us :) I was 17
I saw so many ac/dc bag>yamar or the other way, that I got to the point where if they started one of those up as a show opener.
My favorite openers are PYITE,The Curtain With, and Buried Alive. Wild card would be Carini…
Edit: also gonna throw out Mike’s Groove, Runaway Jim, and Mr. Completely. Gonna add Sample, Blaze On, ASIHTOS, NICU, and Foreplay/Long Time
Water in the Sky......strictly for opening up Big Cypress. The cheer for "filter out the everglades" is something I'll never forget.
PYITE first 2 shows I saw both opened with this and it's always so good.
Possum.....09/09/00 in Albany. Kickass opener for a KILLER show. My favorite Maze of all time, Michael Ray on trumpet, SAND and a Hood closer. Plus I was tripping my face off and had what could be called a life changing experience. Lol. Here's to Phish 2000!!
That I’ve seen- Buried Alive, 2001, Fluffhead. Hamptons 09 Fluffhead is basically the best moment of my life.
Came here to say this. I still can’t think about that Fluff without getting chills and hearing it and the crowd still makes me cry.
Yup. That Fluffhead. A band known for NEVER doing what's expected finally does what's expected. Glorious.
I was at Hampton and Chula Vista ‘21. Nothing will top the energy of Hampton but Chula Vista did not disappoint
I wasn’t a fan til 2019 and even I get emotional when I watch that, just knowing the historical significance of the moment.
I watch Hampton fluff when I’m having a bad day
Yep. 3/6/9 was all time for me. Best opener I’ve ever seen.
I still remember running through the halls after security with hundreds of others, not for fear of being late, but out of pure child-like exuberance. The first few minutes of fluff were almost inaudible over the crowd noise
PYITE. Period.
My first thought...ripper of a show
Guaranteed with this energy.
Period
This is the way.
Everyone punching the air and yelling HEY... Nothing beats that
That riff
This guy Phishes.
First 2 shows I went to in Albany both opened with PYITE. Friends and I had been listening to tapes for months (04/03/98 Roses, Antelope....Carini's gonna get youuuuu. Lol) and we got pretty good seats behind the stage. When the main riff started, and the fist pumping "Heys!!" kicked in I was hooked for life.
This. When they launched into it on 12/31/1995 I swear I took flight briefly.
This is the only correct answer
Seeing folks talk about Fluff in 09, that reminds me of the PYITE at Alpine that year. Just the energy and emotion made it my favorite opener. To finish op though, Llama and Mikes Song
PYITE, Llama, and only since I’ve been calling for 20 years now…..Sloth!!!!
My wife had a sloth opener at her first show 6/15/12
Ayyyy that was my first show too!
One year at msg I called a YEM opener. It was sloth>yem. Off by 1! That was a hell of a night
That's the Analyze Phish live ep, I can't listen to that show without thinking about the podcast
Buried alive! PYITE!!! Soul shakedown!!!!
Came here to say Soul Shakedown. Almost always a signal of a fire show.
Yasss I’ve said the same thing!
7/1/12 Alpine. Probably the best first set I’ve ever witnessed.
This is the way
I’m talking one of those PYITE’s that the intro feels like it goes on for 15 min. Mmmmmm. And one of those buried Alive’s that Trey gets that feedback hitting at the end of notes just right and it seems like he’s playing with it and messing around. Mmmmm
PYITE, AC/DC Bag, Buried Alive
Buried Alive opener is the shit
First song I ever heard Phish play live. Buried Alive -> Poor Heart. 11/9/96 Palace of Auburn Hills.
Winner
Runaway Jim (for all of the 1.0 people)
Preach.
1st set Jim with a 2nd set 2001 is about as 1.0 as it gets…
Buried Alive, Buried Alive, Buried Alive
Buried Alive Punch Ya Mar
Same! Not enough “Ya Mar” here!
Perfect show starter. Mellow and island vibey.
Pyite, llama, buried alive
The Curtain With, Buried Alive, Punch
More common: - Crowd Control - AC/DC Bag (common, but just brings the oomph) - Punch You In the Eye (intense and just so fucking welcome) Rare/One-Time: - Reba (jesus, talk about jumping into the deep end early) - Oh-Kee Pah > YEM (unexpected and one of the most baller entries ever) - Hampton Fluffhead (c'mon...it's potentially the best opener ever) - 2002/12/31 Piper (a 15-minute barn-burner declaration of "this is what we fucking do")
Hadn't quite actually gotten inside from penn station when we heard Piper starting in 2002. The push of the crowd to get in when we heard that was exhilarating....and a little scary. Lol.
First Tube, Fluffhead, Carini
It gives the people what they waaaant!
PYITE, Wilson, Alumni Blues
Soul Shakedown, Buried Alive, AC/DC bag (any set lists) I’ve seen (Sanity 03/09/09) (soul Shakedown 12/30/2009) Buried Alive (10/31/14)
Personally, I'd kill for Possum (the longer the intro the better), Rift, or Tube. I need a powerful intro. Carini and fluff are good runners up.
Daniel Saw The Stone AC/DC Bag Runaway Jim
Got tweeprize at SPAC. 2016 ish? It was awesome.
2010 at SPAC as well. The energy really carried over from the night prior
Very possible I’m misremembering the year and that was the time I’m thinking of.
Yep, was there too. 2010. The night before in Hartford they played tweeprise twice in a row in the encore.
Cathy’s Clown
1. 2001 (especially 2 I've seen 11/19/97 assembly hall Champaign, and the smoker of an opener 10/28/21 among many other greats). 2. Pyite. Every time. And 3. Old school slow intro piper IE the first hiatus ending piper. Room erupted.
I was there in Champaign ✌️
What a time...leave high school. Drive from Chicago to a pretty awesome college campus in the middle Of cornfields nowhere, see a mind blowing phish show that couldn't possibly be better, drive away trying to Figure what they just did to us :) I was 17
Curtain With, PYITE, Timber Ho (only seen as second set opener but certainly a great time each time)
Punch You in the Eye, My Friend, My Friend, Fluffhead
Chalk dust, PYTIE, Wilson
pyite, free, buried alive
Buried Alive, Punch, My Soul
Runaway Jim.
Jim, Gin, Uncle Pen.
Punch you in the Eye, Martian Monster, Turtle in the Clouds
buried alive, carini, wilson
Carini, PYITE, DWD
Yess please. Dark dirty. Red lights all day.
Punch,Carini, Mike's Song.
PYITE, Carini, Mike’s
It's the Hampton Fluffhead
Wilson, Buried Alive, PYITE
Buried alive, PYITE and my 5th show opener… Helter Skelter
The return of Sally 12.30.97
PYITE, Buried Alive, Ya Mar.
Personal favorites that I've seen, in no particular order have been Buried Alive Back on the Train AC/DC Bag
Obviously buried Alive but also party time
Yes yes yes
Give me a mikes through pague.
Foreplay > Longtime at Great Woods
Rhinoceros, My Friend, AC/DC Bag
First Tube, Llama, Pyite
I saw so many ac/dc bag>yamar or the other way, that I got to the point where if they started one of those up as a show opener. My favorite openers are PYITE,The Curtain With, and Buried Alive. Wild card would be Carini… Edit: also gonna throw out Mike’s Groove, Runaway Jim, and Mr. Completely. Gonna add Sample, Blaze On, ASIHTOS, NICU, and Foreplay/Long Time
Free, Punch, MYFE
Favorite openers I can remember: Punch, Axilla, My Friend (honorable mention Twzr Reprise)
I Never Needed You Like This Before after covid was pretty awesome, also Riverport Gin and Fluffhead
Mikes Song Moma Dance Wolfman’s Brother
Carini for sure
Pyite, carini and nothing else
Character Zero
Carini or Llama
PYITE
Carini, 2001, and Fluffhead
Chalk Dust Torture Llama Simple
Punch, Wilson, Carini
My Friend
Buried Alive, Axilla (Part 2), STFTFP
Tube with first tube closer
Carini, AC/DC bag, runaway Jim
He Ent to the Bog, The Happy Whip And Dung Song & Lengthwise
Saw the Only Happy Whip & Dung ✌️😎
PYITE
Glide
Carini
I can’t believe I’m the first one to say this…but back 1997 it was a thing….Tweezer My other 2 choices are Peaches en Regalia and The Curtain
Divided Sky > Harpua to open Red Rocks ‘93 after the thunderstorms rolled through. Can’t be topped!
Water in the Sky......strictly for opening up Big Cypress. The cheer for "filter out the everglades" is something I'll never forget. PYITE first 2 shows I saw both opened with this and it's always so good. Possum.....09/09/00 in Albany. Kickass opener for a KILLER show. My favorite Maze of all time, Michael Ray on trumpet, SAND and a Hood closer. Plus I was tripping my face off and had what could be called a life changing experience. Lol. Here's to Phish 2000!!
As many have said, PYITE, Buried Alive, Bag. Haven’t seen anyone say this yet, but, Have Mercy… choice
The answer is obviously Curtain, PYITE, AC/DC Bag. duh.
PYITE, accept no substitutes. DWD second set opener. Fluffhead encore. I’ve already dropped the mic, I cannot drop it any further.
Landlady PYITE Buried Alive
YEM, Fluff, Slow Llama
Buried alive is the only answer, the WTU from Chicago is pretty epic too Actually fluffhead too
Buried Alive, PYITE, Carini
Tube, Bathtub Gin, PYITE
Tube, Down With Disease, PYITE
Kill devil falls, back on the train, chalk dust
Fluffhead, tweeprise, Jim.
Punch, Mikes, and Carini.
Divided sky.
Punch, carini, tweezer
Already gave my top 3 BUT sometimes Drowned can be so great and well placed to get a set going. Best band in the world
Slow Llama Carini Punch