ChopJul 12, 2023

#Phish Summer 2023 #RANKED

Stereotypical tour opener with a lot of mediocre and a few wow moments. In this case, the wow came in the form of an unexpected encore of rarities.

Not a great night for improv, but we’ll slot it in tier 3 on the back of the old school 2001 > DWD and wild encore.

Tier 1: <vacant>
Tier 2: <vacant>
Tier 3: MAGA Greek1

Show threadChopJul 13, 2023

#Phish Summer 2023 #RANKED

MAGA Greek 2
<big gap>
MAGA Greek 1

No tentpole jam, but so much great improv and fun playing throughout the night. Puts the lack of good improv on night 1 in perspective. Plus, another encore worth staying for (hope that trend keeps up). Even the Antelope seemed like it had one of the better peaks in recent memory.

Show threadChop

#Phish Summer 2023 #RANKED

GA1
<gap>
MAGA Greek 2
<big gap>
MAGA Greek 1

Great setlist. And while you can quibble that Ghost never quite got there and the first half of Ruby Waves wasn’t great, you’d have to contend with the second half of Ruby Waves, probably the 🐐 Myfe, top 3ish Tube since 2004, great NMINML, and a surprisingly exciting Caspian.

Ps - Another mid-second set debut. Could tonight be the night Perseid (aka Forward People) makes an appearance?

Jul 15, 2023 at 2:12pmWeb
Show threadChopJul 16, 2023

#Phish Summer 2023 #RANKED

GA1
<gap>
MAGA Greek 2
GA2
<big gap>
MAGA Greek 1

More up and down and flubbier than the previous two nights with some questionable setlist calls. But if you choose to rank this one higher on the back of the massive Tweezer, no argument.

Show threadChopJul 17, 2023

#Phish Summer 2023 #RANKED

Tier 1: GA1
Tier 2a: AL2, GA2
Tier 2b: GA3
Tier 3: AL1

Switching to tiers bc there isn’t much differentiation. Phish has gotten very good in 4.0 at consistently delivering solid shows via a little of this & a little of that. The difference between the hits, the average, and the clunkers is not nearly as stark as it used to be.

Flubby and at times low energy night with a fairly forgettable 1st set, but then a largely dream setlist 2nd w/ great jams in Carini & Sand.

Show threadChopJul 19, 2023

#Phish Summer 2023 #RANKED

Tier 1: GA1
Tier 2a: AL2, GA2
Tier 2b: GA3
Tier 3: AL1
Tier 5: NC1

A brilliant ASIHTOS (🐐 candidate) complete with some mesmerizing drumming kept it off the level of Charleston3, Grand Prairie, and Hampton1 99.

Still, between the tepid first set, everything post-Light in the second, and some out-of-control Trey vocal stylings, it’s one of the weakest shows of 4.0, and I have no doubt it will be joked about for years to come.

Show threadChopJul 20, 2023

#Phish Summer 2023 #RANKED

Tier 1: GA1
Tier 2a: AL2, GA2
Tier 2b: GA3
Tier 3: AL1, NC2
Tier 5: NC1

Solid show with 3 nice jams and room for more until god—in an unprecedented move—made sure there wouldn’t be a repeat of the previous night’s fourth quarter by forcing the band to pull a Costanza and leave on the high note of Q3.

Show threadChopJul 22, 2023

#Phish Summer 2023 #RANKED

Tier 1: GA1
Tier 2: AL2, GA2, GA3, PIT1
Tier 3: AL1, NC2
Tier 5: NC1

Hard show to rank. No true tentpole jam, but a lot of “a little of this and and a little of that.” Not a classically great setlist, but it was interesting and unpredictable.

Special shout-out to one of the few interesting Bowies since 2009. It almost crossed over in to need-to-hear territory, but unfortunately the 3.0 and 4.0 kids still have giant goooose eggs next to their stats for Bowies seen.

Show threadChopJul 23, 2023

#Phish Summer 2023 #RANKED

Tier 1: GA1
Tier 2: GA2, GA3
Tier 3a: PIT2
Tier 3b: AL2, PIT1
Tier 4: AL1, NC2
Tier 6: NC1

Took a step back & reworked this a bit. The consistency of clear highlights each show combined with the consistency of not putting it all together each show is making this tour brutal to rank. All-time ER last night & rocking (if light on improv) Q4 but mostly lame S1 until Ass-handed. And while Tube & Ghost in the encore are exciting, each might be the weakest version of 4.0.

Show threadChopJul 24, 2023

#Phish Summer 2023 #RANKED

Tier 1b: Cuse
Tier 1c: GA1
T2: GA2, GA3
T3a: PIT2
T3b: AL2, PIT1
T4: AL1, NC2
T6: NC1

GA1 has the better S1. Cuse has the best S1 jam (KDF). Ruby Waves & Tweezer are close but one is Tweezer. Encores are even (though I’d take If I Could). GA1 doesn’t have Miss You so points there. That leaves Ghost, Flew Away, 🐐 Myfe & First Tube vs Suzy, 🐐 Oblivion, Wolfman’s & Possum. Probably give GA1 the edge there.

Going with Cuse #1 for now, but thinking it flips over time.

Show threadLL af R Jul 24, 2023
@chopaganda we got so robbed here 😭
Show threadChopJul 24, 2023
@ll_rain ::sigh::
Show threadStoney TakesJul 23, 2023
@chopaganda Complete agreement on the encore. Surprisingly poor takes on two songs that have consistently delivered as of late. Trey playing 4D chess: let the folks trying to beat traffic off the hook, let the spunions that stayed pad their stats. A win win
Show threadForbin33Jul 23, 2023
@chopaganda think this is a solid ranking!
Show threadchillwigJul 23, 2023
@chopaganda
Show threadJosh Jul 23, 2023
@chopaganda I was getting worried because I agreed with your rankings all tour … until now. My primary beef is AL2 is too low. It’s one of the best shows all tour right behind GA. I’d have it in T2.
Show threadChopJul 23, 2023
@Nolasox I felt that way yesterday, but think i overrated it in the moment coming off of AL1. Nothing in the first set gets there outside the Sigma and every show has at least one legit S1 jam. The improv in the second set isn’t exceptional in any way vs the shows above it. And it’s most definitely not getting any bonus points for setlist.
Show threadJosh Jul 23, 2023

@chopaganda (I can’t believe I’m about to say this but…) Mull is actually a really solid first set jam as well.

For 1st sets, AL2 has the clear advantage over last night to me. While ER was a top jam of the tour and Soul Planet was strong, the rest of the set is eh imo. AL2 s2 doesn’t reach the heights of ER, but I it didn’t suffer from a bleh 4Q.

But no matter, we need a T2 show or better, and soon

Show threadChopJul 23, 2023
@Nolasox Yeah. But even average versions of 2001 > RnR keeps Q4 from costing the show points. I’m also giving more credit for the 36 min of ER > Soul Planet (that hurts to type) bc the improv is so much better than any stretch of AL2.
Show threadDon’t go back to RockdaleJul 23, 2023
@chopaganda everything except ER and maybe SP were short perfunctory versions. Outside of the formidable 1-2 punch it was a total yawner. They’ve lost their footing since GA. I have low expectations for tonight. Maybe Philly gets them back on track going into MSG.
Show threadBrad SolariJul 23, 2023
@Backeasyjim @chopaganda nowadays it’s better to have low expectations.
Show threadSkinny Little LegsJul 22, 2023
@chopaganda when do you listen to show to rank? Live? Next morning? Just curious. Miss you!
Show threadChopJul 22, 2023
@Skinnylittlelegs I just look at the setlist and song timings and assign a tier while I listen to Goose.
Show threadChopJul 22, 2023
@Skinnylittlelegs Jokes aside, I listen back in the morning. How much I listen back depends on 1) did I listen live and 2) is what I’m spot-checking matching my memory. The less it matches my memory, the more I’ll listen. But if I’m relatively sober for the webcast and the relisten matches my recollection, I won’t relisten to all of it.
Show threadSkinny Little LegsJul 26, 2023
@chopaganda LMAO
Show threadForbin33Jul 22, 2023
@chopaganda tier 2b for pitt1, average show at best with goos song selection and flow
Show threadmeltmagnetJul 22, 2023
@chopaganda lol all post 2.0 Bowies suck (and Antelope TBH)
Show threadRoseyJul 22, 2023
@meltmagnet @chopaganda Jim doesn’t get there anymore either.
Show threadmeltmagnetJul 22, 2023
@Rosey @chopaganda truth
Show threadkingofphranceJul 22, 2023
@chopaganda cannot understand AL2. You want to reconsider. I was there, and it was awful. Certainly nowhere near any of the nights of Atlanta. Just read the 2nd set list, it’s a bad dream. No way it equals Atlanta. Also, taking umbrage with your position to not visit Atlanta shows having to do with staying in Alpharetta. No one lives there, Uber is easy. Atlanta has better food in every category you love except maybe cheesesteaks, including Mexican. Come visit!!
Show threadChopJul 22, 2023

@kingofphrance Won’t argue on setlist, but I thought the show was played remarkably well will some fantastic improv.

Also, I love ATL, but I’ll save my visits for indoor shows not in the Summer.

Show threadbobocubedJul 19, 2023

@chopaganda

No lies detected...

Show threadPosterdanJul 19, 2023
@chopaganda I don't know, man, the wombat called the first set "awesome" and the show "crazy"
Show threadChopJul 19, 2023
@Posterdan You want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.
Show threadClaudeJul 19, 2023
@chopaganda You a Mona guy now? I have gone native>MetaText>Ivory>Mammoth, and all have pros/cons, but don't love any of them.
Show threadChopJul 19, 2023
@claude I loved Ivory with the exception of lacking a few key features the others had (quote tweets, instance browsing, etc.) Mona has the snappiness/feel of Ivory with all the bells and whistles it didn’t have. And I love all the ways you can customize it.
Show threadClaudeJul 19, 2023
@chopaganda Awesome, thank you. Will check it out.
Show threadRibeyesBiscuitWorldJul 19, 2023
@chopaganda heard that when trey did his toilet kneel before the show, his hair was in the toilet water…disgusting.
Show threadForbin33Jul 19, 2023
@chopaganda I put GA3 with GA2 and AL2 as tier 2. That carini and sand were bonkers
Show threadChopJul 19, 2023
@FORBIN33 The bar is high.
Show threadSethJul 19, 2023
@chopaganda I didn’t think ASIHTOS was quite GOAT territory. It was very good but I’d take Bakers Dozen or Hartford last yr over it.
Show threadPete ⭕️ Jul 19, 2023
@ShakedownSax @chopaganda agreed, def not the goat by any stretch. spac ‘04, NYE ‘17 and the ones you mentioned.
Show threadChopJul 19, 2023
@Phreba @ShakedownSax When I say 🐐 candidate, I mean it’s worth doing some relistens and having the conversation. At 18 minutes with several distinct sections and that unreal drumming from Fish, I’d be willing to do some back-to-backs to see where it stands.
Show threadSethJul 19, 2023
@chopaganda @Phreba Actually relistening now….absolute Fishman masterclass in the first several minutes of the jam. No doubt.
Show threadSethJul 19, 2023
@chopaganda @Phreba But that said, the rest of the band is just playing straightforward D major rock n roll noodling over Henrietta going to town, which is fine, fun even, but not exceptional IMO…until finally there’s a nice shift into a new idea several minutes later. I absolutely love the last 5 min or so…it’s sinister and beautiful at the same time.
Show threadSethJul 19, 2023
@chopaganda @Phreba Actually prefer the Light jam to the ASIHTOS jam quite honestly. Fish is every bit as impressive. Band is overall much more interesting as a unit dynamically here.
Show threadPete ⭕️ Jul 19, 2023
@chopaganda @ShakedownSax sounds fair to me, and yes, heaps delivers!
Show threadZach on the TrainJul 17, 2023
@chopaganda as someone who also enjoys jam band rankings, I’m curious to know what your top jams of the tour are so far.
Show threadChopJul 17, 2023
@zott Tweezer, Ruby, MFMF, Sigma is where the list likely starts.
Show threadChopJul 17, 2023
@zott Oh. Forgot about last night’s Carini and Sand
Show threadchillwigJul 17, 2023
@chopaganda i listened, its fine. then i listened to some summer 15, and a little voice inside my head said "dont look back, you should never look back"
Show threadJosh Jul 17, 2023
@chillwig @chopaganda Have you given the Ruby Waves a spin? That’s my top jam of tour so far.
Show threadChopJul 17, 2023
@chillwig I’m still taking Summer 2015 and Fall 2013 over any 4.0 just bc I liked the focused/tighter improv style much more than the super loose sound now. And far fewer nut-punch songs. But we tend to overlook how boring most first sets were, how much more predictable they were, and how much less improv we got.
Show threadchillwigJul 17, 2023
@chopaganda it would be ok if they played the line again
Show threadChopJul 17, 2023
@chillwig No it would not be
Show threadDrew but 7/27/25 GA ➡️ RepriseJul 17, 2023
@chillwig @chopaganda JFC Craig
Show threadSethJul 17, 2023
@chillwig @chopaganda
Show threadWojoJul 16, 2023
@chopaganda haven't heard last night's show yet, but I'm lockstep with you on the rest
Show threadChopJul 16, 2023
@Wojo That’s why they pay me the big bucks.
Show threadWojoJul 16, 2023
@chopaganda you get what you pay for 😆
Show threadJessayJul 16, 2023
@chopaganda came back to Mastedon just for the rankings 🤣
Show threadDon’t go back to RockdaleJul 15, 2023
@chopaganda I just listened to the Ruby Waves. Impressed. #phish
Show threadChopJul 15, 2023
@Backeasyjim That and the Myfe were stellar