First Tubesday Enters 2.0 Era
Monthly Phish stream finds new waters in Mile High Spirits
By Meg D
December 15, 2015
One week ago, Mile High Spirits (at 2201 Lawrence Street) hosted its very first "First Tubesday," a monthly stream of a past Phish concert.
MHS was arguably a significant ambiance upgrade from the 1Up Colfax (R.I.P.) where it had previously been held for just under a year. The new venue gave the event a palpable fancy vibe, featuring warm mood lighting, bountiful seating, a Phish-inspired specialty cocktail menu and even dinner options from local food truck Rolling Smoke BBQ. A fair number of phans were coaxed out on a school night to relive the downright legendary Sunday show from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this past September.
Many things held constant through the crossover to the new digs. Taylor Hines remained at the audio-visual helm. He spent much of the day transforming MHS into a Phishy haven equipped with the familiar 12-foot screen, projector and booming speakers of the days of old. Hines was one of many familiar faces in the crowd last week, and it became clear that if you build it, they will dance.
Abby Radbill, who created First Tubesdays earlier this year, was pleased with both the new venue and turnout. “Mile High Spirits had never done anything like this before. They welcomed us with open arms”, she said of the new locale.
The MHS staff seemed to enjoy themselves as well, while serving up Blaze On Iced Teas and Bathtub Gin Gimlets. They commented on how friendly the crowd was and hope to work the next installment. “I’m thrilled to be able to combine my love of Phish with my work here at MHS, “ says Eric Frank, Mile High Spirits music director and talent buyer (and, of course, founder of COjam: The Colorado Jam Scene).
While we had to say goodbye to $2 PBRs and a rousing game of PacMan after the stream, I can’t help but agree that we looked mighty fine in that room. Change can be a good thing.
Yes, it looks as if First Tubesday has found a new home in Mile High Spirits, at least for the January date. “It’s nice we can raise the bar a little bit, by hosting in a place that is a bit more upscale”, says Radbill.
PHISH: Sunday, 9/6/2015 - Dick's, Commerce City, CO
Set 1: The Landlady, Free > The Moma Dance > Seven Below > Prince Caspian > Backwards Down the Number Line, The Line, Scent of a Mule[1] > Saw It Again, Halfway to the Moon, The Birdwatcher, Frankenstein[2]
Set 2: Wilson > Down with Disease[3] > Carini > Steam > Piper > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Tweezer > The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Slave to the Traffic Light
Encore: Tweezer Reprise, Harpua[4] > After Midnight[5] > NO2[1] > Keyboard Army[5] > Your Pet Cat[6] > Once in a Lifetime > United We Stand[7]
[1] Fish on Marimba Lumina.
[2] Page on keytar.
[3] Unfinished.
[4] Unfinished. Narration included Jimmy being a guy from the east coast coming west and needing an oxygen tank. Trey sucked from an oxygen tank.
[5] Contained Harpua narration.
[6] Contained Harpua narration from Mike about eating Poster Nutbag.
[7] Phish debut.
