Tuesday 10/15/2013 by tmwsiy

IS THIS STILL YOUR DADDY'S CENTRUM?

I'm pretty stoked to be writing a few words about this venue and equally stoked for the upcoming shows. Sometime by the end of the year, or if the cards don't fall right, perhaps the first part of 2014 Tour, I'll hit my 300th show. Tons of special memories of course. I've seen Phish perform in every place from dorms, college quads, fraternity houses, gin soaked college bars with 15 people attending and deserted clubs to hallowed halls to the country's biggest, grandest and most cherished venues. Yet, of all the special places I've seen this band- the Centrum ranks right up there among my favorite venues. Perhaps I'm one of only a handful of people that would make that seemingly bizarre claim and hold the venue in such high regard. What is it about the Centrum? Who knows. A cocktail of great memories with friends, remembering the band beginning to "hit it big", great musical moments, omnipresent electricity in the air, historical shows, and a large dose of home-town homerism has elevated this venue for me. Regardless of what regard you hold this venue, there's no doubting the importance it has had in Phish history or the many great musical moments that it has hosted.

Who knows: You may not even recognize the Centrum in Worcester, MA when you visit on October 25th and October 26th for the bands fifteenth and sixteenth appearances here. These shows keep this hallowed venue square in the top few of most played venues by Phish (and likewise the second most performed artist here). Let's get a few things straight before we roll up our sleeves. First off, it is, phonetically, "Woo-ster" not "Worchester". And like Deer Creek, The Boston Garden or Great Woods, it doesn't quite matter which corporate behemoth shelled out enough money to rename the joint. It will always be "The Centrum" but feel free to call it the DCU Center if you want. The venue has actually had a few different names over the years. We need to do a bit of house-cleaning here on Phish.net as we actually have the names incorrect. In 1993 when Phish first played here on New Year's Eve and in 1995 the venue was named "Centrum in Worcester". In 1997, it was re-christened "Worcester's Centrum Center" and in the 3.0 era, starting with their performances in 2010, it has been known as "DCU Center".

The venue, with a capacity of 14,500 and situated in New England's second biggest city, has an embarrassingly rich history for not only epic Phish shows, but also for scores of other bands. We'll look at 'Ten Great Moments' in Centrum Phish history after we look to the future. Despite some real high moments musically and historically for the band, the venue has also been marred with complaints. Most notably have been the lack of restrooms, the lack of concessions and the miniscule concourse space to accommodate the always sold-out crowds. So what's changed? Read on for the best of what's to come and the best of what's already been!

Fans should rejoice in knowing that the DCU Center has just wrapped up a near $32 Million renovation. I had the opportunity to ask Sandy Dunn, General Manager and Amy Peterson, Director of Marketing a few questions about what we can expect and some general Phish questions.

When did the renovations start and when will be complete? The Arena closed on May 1 and will reopen in the first week of October. Initial construction began in 2009 as a multi-phase capital improvement project. $8.5M was invested into the facility in 2009 while this 5-month period of construction will culminate in an additional $23M in improvements and additions for a total of $31.5M. Additional phases are planned for the future.

Will Phish be the first event in the newly opened venue? No, the first concert is Pearl Jam; however, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is the first formal event- playing Columbus Day weekend.

Has capacity increased? No, the interior seating bowl, known for its great acoustics and intimate configuration, will remain mostly untouched with the exception of suites. With the addition of 4 new concourse-level luxury suites and a new concourse-level bar/club area, the capacity for the Arena has changed from 14,500 to 13,840.

How about concessions and restrooms? Yes, cue the applause! Two new large restrooms are being added- which will increase the number of restroom facilities from 77 to 103, over a 60% increase. All of the concession stands are receiving a facelift; however, there is also a brand new sandwich shop opening on the southwest corner of the building which will be able to service both the exterior and interior of the facility. A new, locally sourced menu will be featured with products complimenting the current arena options.

What can fans expect as far as a concert experience? Elements of the new design incorporate upgrades to both the interior and exterior of the facility. Plans include a new glass façade, digital marquee, a landscaped grand promenade entrance, a redesigned box office pavilion, an expanded concourse, indoor/outdoor restaurant space and a new concourse-level bar area. Most of the improvements are fan amenities and are geared toward enhancing the overall fan experience. More restrooms, more concession options. More, more, more…

Any changes with acoustics/audio? No changes there. We have solid acoustics and an incredible operations team that keep up with trends in the touring industry. Most tours travel with their own equipment and we continue to have a professional staff to assist with any needs they may have while here in Worcester.

Phish has played many shows there over the years, what comes to mind when thinking about Phish? Phish has played the DCU Center 14 times since 1993. The October 25th and 26th shows will make it 16 and it also bumps the band into the #2 spot for the most played artist in the building (Neil Diamond comes in at #1 with 21 appearances). We love everything about Phish- the band members, the crew, the tour manager, the agent and the fans. The atmosphere is what really stands out to us. Though the band is only playing two-nights, the whole environment around the building is electric beginning days before the band arrives and lasting long after they leave.

Do you have statistics on attendance over the previous 14 shows there? We’ve seen approximately 167,933 fans come through for the last 14 shows, all of which have been sellouts.

How do Phish events compare with other typical concerts there as far as concession revenue or anything else you track? Over the years, the Phish fan has matured. Though there continues to be a broad age range of devotees, it was rare to see 40+ year old fans in the early 1990s. As this has shifted, so has their spending habits which increase the facility revenues from things like merchandise and concessions. The fan base continues to include a younger audience spending precious dollars on a ticket to their favorite band and little else. But it also now includes limos, overnight hotel rooms, pre-concert dinners at Worcester’s burgeoning restaurant scene, as well as higher expenditures while at the concert itself.

There you have it! Not only do we as fans feel the electricity in this great venue, but so does the staff. I recall speaking with one of the marketing people prior to taking pictures for Hidden Track in 2012. I always like to shoot the breeze with venue management and see what they think of Phish. I usually ask if the venue enjoys hosting Phish and if there are typically any problems. With a wide grin and a totally genuine smile, she cheerfully exclaimed, "We love Phish- always have!" And she added that they see less problems than with just about any other event that they host. She then asked me if I was a Phish fan myself (most photographers are there because their editor mandated it and not too thrilled with the assignment.) I told her that I was and that I had seen ten of the previous shows there. She told me that she had heard fans love the venue and asked me what I liked about it. I wasn't able to articulate much- it was minutes before the opening notes of "Buried Alive" and my heart was already pumping rendering my speech and thought process slightly skewed. Nevertheless, I suppose if I bump into her later this month, I can point to this blog post and just tell her to check out the "Ten Great Moments". Because at the end of the day, it really is about the music of course.

[Trey in Worcester, 2012, Photo: Parker Harrington]

So in no particular order, here are "Ten Great Moments" from Phish and Centrum history. Note- this is by no means an exhaustive "Top Ten". It is simply 10. The first ten that came to mind, purposefully without looking at setlists. I probably missed 10 better moments. It just goes to show the rich history here.

Entirety of 1993-12-31 This was a special show. It really felt like Phish was beginning to explode in popularity and reminded me of catching U2 at the Centrum for a three-night run on the Unforgettable Fire Tour and then becoming one of the world's best known bands not long after. 1994 of course marked sell-out shows at the Boston Garden and MSG and 1992 still had the band performing smaller venues and many sparsely sold venues. It just felt right that night. Tom Marshall belting away on Set 1's closing Antelope, the aquarium set from their (hilarious?) MTV video, a simulcast on Boston's and one of the nation's most important rock stations at the time, WBCN, and great versions of plenty of songs like Reba, Tweezer, and scores of others. Not only a great New Year's show, but one of Phish's best pre-1995 efforts and a complete milestone in their career.

Runaway Jim 1997-11-29 Still the longest Phish song ever performed, it was a stellar Set II opener. Scorched earth policy? You bet. Phish left nothing behind and wove together a thrilling hour of music the was a virtual smorgasbord of different types of music and jamming, Like the also legendary "Fleeezer", I'm sure this performance has it's detractors- but for me. it is everything I love about Phish. Quirky, unexpected, fun, scorching and just down-right jamming. The incendiary "Weekapaug Jam" contained within this piece is but icing on the cake.

Wilson -> Buried Alive -> Tweezer 1995-12-28 In the heart of the second set, in the heart of one of Phish's finest years, is this classic triumvirate of songs. Bombastic. Quintessential Phish.

Bass Jam 1995-12-29 Fantastic Bass Jam with Mike and his bass instructor, Jim Stinnet, that Mike had noodled and practiced the preceding evening during Tweezer. Just fantastic seeing masters performing with THEIR masters.

Bathtub Gin -> Real Me -> Bathtub Gin 1995-12-29 Gin is one of my all-time favorite Phish songs and one that instantly puts me in a happy place regardless of set placement or anything that came before it. Having only performed "The Real Me" once prior, the transition in and out of it was just flawless. Perfect 10 and still to this day, one of the best examples of the difference between " >" and " ->" on Phish.net. Great segue. Must hear.

Ghost 1997-11-28 It's a shame this Ghost doesn't get more accolades. Sure, some occasionally mention it, but this is truly one of the best I've ever seen. The funk is thick, the band is loose, the vibe is just right and the Centrum's acoustics perfect for capturing this marvelous performance in the height of one of Phish's grandest years. Pinpoint guitar work by Trey with tons of energy.

Them Changes 1997-11-30 This is probably the best show of this three-show Worcester run and one of the finest Phish show's I've seen. And while I could pick a score of songs to highlight (Funky Bitch, Wolfman's Brother, Stash), the most memorable thing for me that night was the smoking, Page led, encore in Buddy Mile's classic "Them Changes". Not only did Page absolutely shine, but Trey's guitar offered a seemingly perfect compliment and a completely "Phishy" take on this great song. Fingers crossed. Would love to see it return.

Harry Hood 2010-12-28 Sadly, I missed this show. I was crushed when I heard the Hood as it quickly vaulted into one of my Top Ever versions. Like "Bathtub Gin", "Harry Hood" is one of my all time favorites. This version hit all the right things for me: the pace, rhythm, hypnotic groove, and blissful happiness. While this Hood may not have the largest jamming peak, it is nonetheless a timeless and beautiful version of one of most venerable pieces from Phish's catalog.

Sand -> Nellie Kane 2012-06-08 I just loved this segue and previously wrote about it for LawnMemo's Blog: "A patient groove develops with a confidant Anastasio precisely and methodically building up the funky dance beat in earnest leading into the 5:00 mark. By 6:00 min the forceful power of Sand was on full display complemented by Gordon’s bass and the full-on band staccato jamming that wasn’t overwrought or forced and just seemed to gracefully bounce off the walls and ceilings rather than get lost in the lawns of most outdoor venues. An infectious dance vibe that had the Centrum enthralled, the urgency of Sand’s jam was palpable by 8:00 min mark and the crowd wondering what was next. A “Worcester Jam”? A monster second set staple like Rock and Roll? No. Another Phishy curveball (perhaps not a curveball for the astute listeners the picked up Trey’s teases earlier) in the bluegrass, fan-favorite “Nellie Kane”. The transition being so seamless and butter smooth, fans dancing in the aisles to the ferocious Sand jam were confused"

Debuts from 2003-02-26 This was a fun show that saw four songs debut by Phish that had all previously been played side projects of various band members. I was most excited to hear one of my favorite TAB songs in "Drifting" with "Final Flight", "Clone" and "Blue Skies" almost making their debuts. However, if you weren't at the Centrum that night, you haven't seen any of them again performed by Phish as they were all shelved ever since. While the first set saw this relatively unique set, there's quite a bit of meat in the second ("Ghost", "Ya Mar", "Waves", and "Golgi Apparatus" are all particularly exemplary).

These are definitely many great moments from Centrum history and these are but a few- an arbitrary ten. You make have a different list of ten. But one things is almost certain. After Phish hits the stage for the next couple shows in the sparkling, newly renovated Centrum, there will likely be a handful of candidates to add to the lists in the future. See you in Worcester!

If you liked this blog post, one way you could "like" it is to make a donation to The Mockingbird Foundation, the sponsor of Phish.net. Support music education for children, and you just might change the world.


Comments

, comment by SporkFan
SporkFan C'mon - no 98? "Mirror in the Bathroom", "Layla", the only "Timber" of the year. I also threw my shoe on the stage during "Tweezer" the second night, but that remains a private highlight for myself and my crew.
, comment by CypressMikes
CypressMikes When I'm a billionairre I am going to donate a ton of money to the DCU center so that they have more urinals.
, comment by AllForYourDelight
AllForYourDelight The 2-26-03 stash definitely deserves a mention in the 10 spot.
, comment by MDosque
MDosque Thanks so much for that write up. I am really enjoying this .net venue series - much appreciated. 12/31/93 is in my all-time top 5 shows ever list. Of course I wasn't there (12 at the time) but the energy that pops off the recording from the first song to Trey's "Is everyone in?" to the glorious Hood is best. phish. ever. Good stuff!

Dosque
, comment by dawass
dawass I lived in Worcester when I went to Clark University and saw many shows at the Centrum- Jethro Tull, Jerry Garcia Band. I got to see the Phish 1993 NYE event. A real gem and I agree that the sentiment of the fan base was that Phish had reached a new plateau. I recall the "band" floating in scuba gear right before midnight and the giant clam-shell floating into the air. Beyond the theatrics, the show was stellar. I also got to see the 1995 New Years shows. I was working at HMV in Boston and ran the ticketmaster machine. I scored 2nd row seats for the 12/29/95- front and center for Bass Jam and The Real Me you excellently described. I agree it is a flawless transition (second only to the 2001-> Split form Great Woods 7/9/94, IMO). Thanks for helping bring back some great memories for me.
, comment by markhood
markhood Need to mention the Hood and the DWD Jam from 12-31-93. Otherwise, great review!
, comment by planetfour
planetfour So great a writeup! I do think Layla should be up there, but lots of great moments and can't wait for the shows next week.
, comment by johnnyd
johnnyd Fantastic write-up and great (bonus) interview, @tmwsiy!

Worcester is absolutely an essential phish city throughout the years.
, comment by ColForbin
ColForbin Great writeup, @twimsy ! Can't wait for the shows and to check out the "new" Centrum.
, comment by tmwsiy
tmwsiy FWIW, I wasn't particularly fond of the Yacovone sit-in. Didn't really seem "Phishy" to me. I can't articulate why- it just didn't. Though that show was memorable and I thought of including it regardless. Was more a random stream of thought though without a lot of effort being put in making it "all inclusive" or truly a "Best Of". And now that I look over the shows and setlists- kicking myself in the ass for forgetting a few that I should have included.
, comment by L1verK1ck
L1verK1ck @SporkFan

I agree 100%. How can you leave this out

Set 2: Buried Alive >  Wipe Out >  Chalk Dust Torture ->  Mirror in the Bathroom[2] ->  Chalk Dust Torture ->  Dog Log[3] ->  Chalk Dust Torture >  Sanity >  Buffalo Bill >  Mike's Song ->  I Am Hydrogen >  Weekapaug Groove ->  Wipe Out ->  Weekapaug Groove >  Weekapaug Groove Reprise >  Run Like an AntelopeEncore: Wading in the Velvet Sea, Golgi Apparatus >  Wipe Out
, comment by jamrad
jamrad I'd have to agree as well, The "Wipe Out" show deserves some mention. It still holds the spot of my most vivid memory of the shows I attended at the Centrum.
, comment by ry007d
ry007d Of course, the '03 through '04 years of Phish are not necessarily superlative, but that '03 Worcester show holds so many fine moments (and only moments) that it deserves recognition as a cornerstone of that era.

On a side note: I always find myself listening to that Clone and imagining how funky it could be, now, in 3.0.

Dance hard, Worcester. See you in AC.
, comment by switz
switz I'd be willing to bet none of the above users read your disclaimer.

So in no particular order, here are "Ten Great Moments" from Phish and Centrum history. Note- this is by no means an exhaustive "Top Ten". It is simply 10. The first ten that came to mind, purposefully without looking at setlists. I probably missed 10 better moments. It just goes to show the rich history here.
, comment by Midcoaster
Midcoaster Woostah! Thanks for getting us pumped!
, comment by jlanglais
jlanglais Strangely enough I consider Worcester my home venue. Shows there always seem to have a comforting vibe.
, comment by ContemplatingJazz
ContemplatingJazz I know it was more recent so it hasn't yet stood the test of time, but the 2012 DCU Boogie On was arguably one of the strongest, tightest jams of that tour. Shit wails
, comment by earlytimes
earlytimes Good write-up but you failed to mention some of the most epic moments. 12/31/93 Hood, Split and DWD jam and the best parts of the '03 show (Moma Dance and Maze).
, comment by tmwsiy
tmwsiy @earlytimes said:
Good write-up but you failed to mention some of the most epic moments. 12/31/93 Hood, Split and DWD jam and the best parts of the '03 show (Moma Dance and Maze).
LOL, my first entry was ENTIRETY of 12/31/1993 and I meant it, that would include Hood, Split and Disease.

I loved the '03 show. But frankly the Moma depressed me- it reminded me how good Black-Eyed Katy used to be.
, comment by Jakkstraw
Jakkstraw 6 out of 10!
, comment by sausagemahoney
sausagemahoney Fantastic writeup, Parker! Almost makes me want to go to Worcester
, comment by BlackPeter
BlackPeter Thank you for mentioning sand> nellie kane ...that segue was like the smoothest butter ive ever listened too up their with dwd> mikes walnut creek 97'
, comment by FACTSAREUSELESS
FACTSAREUSELESS Excellent write-up. It's true, the acoustics are excellent there. I've probably seen over 60 concerts there over the years, including my first BIG concert as a youngster when I saw AC/DC.

Phish rules Worcester and I can't wait for the shows! Hope they return there for a New Year's Run for old times sake before they retire.

My favorite Phish moment of all time happened there, the 58 min. Runaway Jim. At the time it didn't feel that long. I knew it was long but it was so mesmerizing I wasn't really concsious of the time. Of course there were no people holding I-phones in the air letting everyone know how long it was either (thank God!) What a jam. That was the moment that hooked me on these guys. I was a fan but still thought of them as a bit of a novelty before I went to that show. That tour was when I stepped back a bit and went "Shit, these guys are incredible."

Good stuff.
, comment by Spirit
Spirit Great read, cant wait to get inside. Top 10 though? the Boogie On from DCU last year was legendary. i would of traded both 7/3 and 7/4 for that show. Sand-> Nellie, Ghost, Boogie On, unbelievable.
, comment by Spirit
Spirit Just read the disclaimer, so I apologize for coming off a bit abrasive.
, comment by TippyBonanza
TippyBonanza Glad you mentioned 11-30-97 as the tops of that run. I was feeling kind of salty about Phish at that point and hadn't really enjoyed the 11-28 show (I skipped the 29th to see Moon Boot Lover), but 11-30 reminded me why I'd loved the band for all those years. So much great stuff, including my first Piper. I wrote a review of 11-30-97 and the two Albany shows for a zine called Fantastic Voyage System. Hard to believe that's 16 years ago!
, comment by Ravinus
Ravinus "We’ve seen approximately 167,933 fans come through for the last 14 shows, all of which have been sellouts."

LOL

, comment by tmwsiy
tmwsiy @Ravinus said:
"We've seen approximately 167,933 fans come through for the last 14 shows, all of which have been sellouts."

LOL
Not that it really matters, but I will follow-up with Centrum on that out of curiosity. They replied that Phish has played there 12 times, and I simply took the liberty of correcting that as we know, of course, it has been 14 shows. I just assumed they mis-spoke on the show count but obviously they forgot to add two dates and attendance.

The Centrum took a full page ad out in one of the papers last year thanking Phish and congratulating them on their sell-outs.

Sorry for the editorial gaffe.
, comment by smoothatonalsnd
smoothatonalsnd Saw my first show at the Centrum - 11/29/97. For me, the venue represents everything about me becoming a Phish fan: it was the site of my first two shows (11/29/97 and 11/29/98), it's fall tour in New England.

One of my favorite moments from the venue is the scorching second set opener to last summer's opener, 6/7/12, with the huge Ghost> Boogie On> If I Could. The Ghost has this amazing spacey start (and coming off an equally mindblowing Carini-> Taste), where Page plays one long pitch-bend on the synth that just gets the entire centrum juiced up. Especially after the slightly disappointing first set, that second set was crazy.
, comment by FACTSAREUSELESS
FACTSAREUSELESS @smoothatonalsnd said:
Saw my first show at the Centrum - 11/29/97. For me, the venue represents everything about me becoming a Phish fan: it was the site of my first two shows (11/29/97 and 11/29/98), it's fall tour in New England.

One of my favorite moments from the venue is the scorching second set opener to last summer's opener, 6/7/12, with the huge Ghost> Boogie On> If I Could. The Ghost has this amazing spacey start (and coming off an equally mindblowing Carini-> Taste), where Page plays one long pitch-bend on the synth that just gets the entire centrum juiced up. Especially after the slightly disappointing first set, that second set was crazy.
Definitely a keeper of a 2nd set. Agree totally. Taste is one of my favorites (they don't play it enough!) and it was stellar. The Boogie On was off the charts. I started jumping up and down and I couldn't stop. I think I annoyed the people behind me a little but I couldn't help it.
, comment by SubtleSounds
SubtleSounds The jammed out Roses from 2012 is pretty fun too. While obviously not in a league with the Island or Cypress, it's still a cool moment. Hearing the crowd react as they since the boys are not stopping is priceless.
, comment by nichobert
nichobert Yea, it's a great moment. 4th Roses jam ever!
, comment by ForgeTheCoin
ForgeTheCoin @jamrad said:
I'd have to agree as well, The "Wipe Out" show deserves some mention. It still holds the spot of my most vivid memory of the shows I attended at the Centrum.

Seconded.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Support Phish.net & Mbird
Fun with Setlists
Check our Phish setlists and sideshow setlists!
Phish News
Subscribe to Phish-News for exclusive info while on tour!


Phish.net

Phish.net is a non-commercial project run by Phish fans and for Phish fans under the auspices of the all-volunteer, non-profit Mockingbird Foundation.

This project serves to compile, preserve, and protect encyclopedic information about Phish and their music.

Credits | Terms Of Use | Legal | DMCA

© 1990-2024  The Mockingbird Foundation, Inc. | Hosted by Linode