Sound Check Music Blog

Last night Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, Vermont, erupted with energy as Phish took stage in the name of flood relief and ambassadors of high spirits.

Just before the boys went on Gov. Peter Shumlin came out and congratulated the crowd on their resilience in the heat of disaster.

As most of you probably already know, Hurricane Irene showed little mercy for Vermont and surrounding areas as she took lives, destroyed infrastructure, and ruined crops with one full sweep.

Phish’s pride was injured, just as thousands of others back at home. So as a coping mechanism they decided to play a benefit show.  Over 12,000 showed up for last nights event.

As they always do, the band cranked out two extremely explosive sets and sugar coated their fans with a “Loving Cup” encore that, in my opinion, was an all time high. Let’s not talk about it. Let’s see it. PS This “NICU” is the sick nasty.

Phish-”Bathtub Gin [Vermont 9/14/11]“

Phish-”NICU [Vermont 9/14/11]“

Phish-”Chalkdust Torture [Vermont 9/14/11]“

This was the first time Phish has played Vermont since 2004 when unfavorable conditions poured down over Coventry.