#Phish Spring 2023 #RANKED

Tier 1: <null>
Tier 2: SEA2
Tier 3: SEA1

- Elite first set led by a sublime Wolfman’s -> Izabella, jammy Chalkdust, and one of the best Rebas since IT
- Nothing as deep as N1’s Wave of Hope or Golden Age, but the Ruby Waves, Piper, and the exceptional Tube all got places quickly
- Despite all this, S2 was a rollercoaster of ups and downs
- There is something to be said for squeezing in 5 classic 1.0 ballads/bathroom songs (pending your point of view) after setbreak

#Phish Spring 2023 #RANKED

Greek1
<Mariana Trench>
SEA2
SEA1

I was going to put up some dumb message about rankings being delayed because I won’t have a chance to give a full listen for a bit.

But why fight the inevitable? The only question around last night is where it falls in terms of all-time great shows in the history of the band

Incredible that they did this in year 40.

Also, just when you think Phish might finally be warming up to Seattle again… 😜

#Phish Spring 2023 #RANKED

Greek1
<Mariana Trench>
SEA2
Greek2
SEA1

- Brilliant first set highlight (Gin), surprising jam (555), some fantastic improv in the first half of the second set, questionable setlist calls, and the fourth quarter fell apart hard.
- The above sounds all too familiar in 4.0. Still, the improv was outstanding in the first half of S2 despite the places it came from.
– Could really put the last 3 shows in any order. This is mine…for now.

#Phish Spring 2023 #RANKED

Greek1
<Mariana Trench>
SEA2
<small gap>
Greek3
Greek2
SEA1

- Jim and Bag get the extended jam treatment—in S1 no less
- Short but super interesting Timber
- Cool jam out of BaSoS, though it ended quickly when it hit stride
- SYSF had a long, if not memorable, excursion
- Putting this just above Greek2 *for now* based on S2 not falling apart. Though it had the tamest play and least exciting improv of the tour so far. Based on S2 play alone, it’s arguably last.

#Phish Spring 2023 #RANKED

Tier 1: GRK1
T2: SEA2
T3: SEA1, GRK2, GRK3, LA1

- Very uninspired setlist, but didn’t fall apart badly in S2 like SEA1 & GRK2

- Great jams out of the usual suspects though not sure any reached “top moments of tour” status. No jams in atypical spots like prior shows

- Return from ER peak was downright jarring and not sure why Mercury isn’t jam-worthy anymore

- Probably the least “special” show of tour, but hard to rank it better or worse than the rest of T3

#Phish Spring 2023 #RANKED

Tier 1: GRK1
Tier 2: LA2
T3: SEA2
T4: SEA1, GRK2, GRK3, LA1

- You can quibble that some of the first set heavy hitters didn’t go hard, but who cares when you get a setlist like that?

- Melt was huge and has to be the best sub 15-min version since the 90s

- Massive CDT

- Sally covered so much ground in 10 min. Best since BGCA 2016

- The 44 minute Echo of a Rose is a masterpiece, and there is no shame in putting it ahead of the Greek Tweezer for JOTY so far.

#Phish Spring 2023 #RANKED

Tier 1: GRK1
T2a: LA3
T2b: LA2
T3: SEA2
T4: SEA1, GRK2, GRK3, LA1

- Giving last night the edge over LA2 bc of a stronger start-to-finish set 2
- Band had some extra pep in their step the whole show. Crazy fast and tight for this era
- Fall 21 vs Spring 23 could be a fun convo
- Putting aside the subjective setlists and jam quality, you can argue this run is objectively the best the band has sounded since 2015 wrt tempos, tightness, fills, transitions, etc.

@chopaganda Seattle 2 in T3 over Greek 3 is a CHOICE ;)

Perhaps I neee to relisten, but Seattle 2 has my least favorite S2 of the run despite an excellent S1.

I hate the term, but Greek 3 is a pure psychedelic vibe and that SYSF might be the jam of the tour to these ears.

I also quite like LA 1 up a tier, but don’t need to die on that hill.