Tier 2: GW1
Great tour opener. Not nearly as “tight” as some are saying (see NICU and Ghost especially), but the show offered a little of everything. Unique setlist. Atypical versions of songs (Zero, Roggae). Incredible improv in Ghost.
Band seemed to run out of gas a bit mid-Light but then recovered in fantastic form with a killer Melt.
Going with Tier 2 to set the baseline for a hopefully strong tour.
GW1
<gap>
GW2
Phish is in a good place when a show like last night is an off night. Nothing went too long, but NMINML, Sand & CDT offered great improv while other tunes delivered peaky moments.
Still, S1 was fairly “first setty” compared to Friday. A tame YEM went into a bonus jam only to fizzle into oblivion and Oblivion. Sub-standard Bowie cut for Santos. Plus some questionable setlisting.
Sometimes you get Diff’rent Strokes. Sometimes you get Webster’d.
GW3
GW1
<gap>
GW2
While nothing touched the Ghost or Melt from GW1, this show simply offered more from start to finish. No JOTY (Jam Of The Year) contenders, but tons of high-energy heat for a Sunday night dance party. Plus, no S2 setlist clunkers that leave you feeling like that time Arnold and Dudley wandered into the bike store owned by Mr. Carlson.
GW3
<small gap>
GW1, CT1
<gap>
GW2
This show is so hard to rank. Fairly weak S1 despite a surprise Golden Age with a solid jam. Overall, the setlist isn’t winning any beauty contests, and the show took a nose dive when Piper was cut short around 6 minutes in.
But the ~65 minutes from Plasma through Ruby is absolutely elite Phish and their best stretch of play all year. Just a mesmerizing run that will no doubt make it into Power Hour Hall of Fame conversations.
GW3
<small gap>
GW1, CT1
<gap>
GW2
<gap>
CT2
Not playing the “With” in Curtain With in S1 only to drop it in the middle of a Mike’s Groove was pretty cool. Otherwise, this was a fantastic show for fans who aren’t into big jams, show flow, or high energy play.
After going hard for their first four shows, the band seemed to run out of gas after Tuesday’s power hour. Last night screamed “Gimme a break” before their big Alpine run. And so what? They earned it.
Tier 1: <vac>
Tier 2a: GW3
T2b: GW1, CT1, AV2
T2c: AV1
T3: GW2
T4: CT2
- Tame and not very tight S1 despite looking good on paper
- Epic Simple that I’d hastily place as the 4th best big jam of the year after the Mexico CDT, Mexico Wave of Hope & Sphere DWD
- Solid but not remarkable supporting cast in S2
If u want to argue the 40-min Simple is worth more than the GW3 complete show or CT1 power hour, go for it. It’s a good problem to have when the band is playing well and happy days are here.
Tier 1: <vac>
Tier 2a: GW3
T2b: GW1, CT1, AV2
T2c: AV1
T3: GW2, AV3
T4: CT2
Fairly strong—if mellow—first set puts this show in tier 3 above CT2. As for the second set? A few interesting moments spread out between several poor choices and lots of wasted potential—much like the career of Danny Masterson.
GOODBYE WISCONSIN!!!
Tier 1: SL1
Tier 2a: GW3
T2b: GW1, CT1, AV2
T2c: AV1
T3: GW2, AV3
T4: CT2
Only heard the Tweezer, Ether Edge, Theme, and glorious Piper so far, and I’ve heard enough. Between the 39-minute Tweezer that smokes the Alpine Simple and the incredible supporting cast, this is easily the best show of tour so far. A true You Snooze You Lose night at an undersold 10K arena. More please 🤓
Cheers to everyone who hit the show last night and cheers to Phish!
Tier 1: SL1
Tier 2a: GW3
T2b: GW1, CT1, AV2, SL2
T2c: AV1
T3: GW2, AV3
T4: CT2
S1 was full of rarities but also lacked excitement. Mr. C delivered as always, but the true highlight was the Ruby Waves—pound for pound their best jam of tour until a brutal ripcord. Hood encore also felt like one of the better standard Hoods.
The band really came together in STL and raised their level of play. Let’s hope they keep it up and things don’t fall apart.
Tier 1: SL1
Tier 2a: GW3
T2b: GW1, CT1, AV2, SL2
T2c: AV1
T3: GW2, AV3
T4: DC1
T5: CT2
Easily the worst played show of tour. The only reason it’s not last is it wasn’t boring despite the sloppy play, missed vocals, long pauses, ripcords (yikes on Pillow Jets and DWD) and lack of flow. The band kept pushing which led to some fun jams—especially the adventurous Scents.
Shocking to get a car crash like this after the tightness of STL. Oh well. Life goes on.
Tier 1: SL1
Tier 2a: GW3
T2b: GW1, CT1, AV2, SL2, DC2
T2c: AV1
T3: GW2, AV3
T4: DC1
T5: CT2
- S1 didn’t have any huge jams but was mostly solid and fiery with a very good Reba for this era
- Flowing S2 loaded with great improv
- Short show with a lot of time left on the clock. Not a complaint, but was surprised Fuego closed (it worked well) and there was a short encore on a tour of big encores
- A different world from N1
SL1
DC3
<gap>
GW3
<gap>
SL2
GW1, CT1, AV2, DC2
<gap>
AV1
GW2, AV3
<gap>
DC1
CT2
– Maybe not the choicest bust outs for S1, but a rarities set nevertheless. Light on jams outside of a very efficient 46 Days
– Four-song, no-bullshit S2 with a walk-off Slave encore. Perfection.
– “Ghost > Soul Planet power hour has everything.” - Stefon
– Has anything as horrific as the song Soul Planet given this much pleasure since the Korean War gave us M*A*S*H?
SL1
DC3
<gap>
GW3
<gap>
SL2
GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
GR1
<gap>
AV1
GW2 AV3
<gap>
DC1
CT2
Insanely fun, not comparable to a regular show & should be an N/A. You guys will say that’s a cop out, so we’ll try to objectively rank the music—which sits above the lamer shows but doesn’t touch the better shows in setlist/jam quality.
Adding a singular talent like DiCaprio to Growing Pains spruced things up. But it came at the cost of the Seaver chemistry that made the show.
In terms of all-time #Phish guest sit-ins, last night was near the top. It blew away Trucks. I can’t think of another guest (maybe Carlos?) who was handed the band like that with the freedom to lead type 2.
Moma got places, but it was noodly & loaded w/ timid interplay tip-toeing around each other. A short Possum, ER & bluegrass staples were what they were.
Too bad the show ended at Carini bc that kind of balls-to-the-Walz twin guitar would have been great to get more of.
SL1
DC3
<gap>
GW3
<gap>
SL2
GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
GR1
<gap>
AV1
GW2 AV3
<gap>
DC1
CT2
GR2
When Trump guested on Fresh Prince years ago, no one could have predicted that he’d someday be the de-facto leader of a fascist movement trying to destroy the world as we know it.
Anyway, last night’s show was not devoid of highlights, but they were scattered between a minefield of ripcords, low-energy play, and questionable setlist calls. As for the sit-in, see the next post…
Billy Night 2 was everything Night 1 was not. It was polite, controlled, respectful, and safe.
The reckless abandon that made N1 one of the best Phish sit-ins ever was nowhere to be found—as if Trey had Billy on a tight leash after giving him the keys to the car and letting him run wild the previous night.
Even Flatpick Jesus can’t save a show unless you give him a little something more to work with.
Tier 1a SL1 DC3 BW1
T1b GW3
T2a SL2
T2b GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
T3 AV1
T4 GW2 AV3
T5 DC1 CT2
N/A GR1 GR2
–Call last night best show of tour & I won’t argue. S2 was constructed perfectly & featured relentless improv. S1 had surprises & an outstanding jam in MFMF. E was solid.
–Going with a 3-show top tier bc STL1 & DC3 had higher highs
–Nice of Phish to save their best material & play for after Grand Rapids like Kelsey Grammer saved his A-game for after he left Cheers
Tier 1a SL1 DC3 BW1
T1b GW3
T2a SL2
T2b GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
T3 AV1
T4 GW2 AV3 BW2
T5 DC1 CT2
N/A GR1 GR2
It truly is a great tour when a show like last night is near the bottom. While it lacked the flow and/or sprawling improv of the shows above it, Cities, DWD & especially KDF all delivered highly relistenable jams.
KDF has shown of late that it can carry a show—much in the same way Mallory’s boyfriend Nick could carry an episode of Family Ties any time he showed up.
Tier 1a SL1 DC3 BW1
T1b GW3 BW3
T2a SL2
T2b GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
T3 AV1
T4 GW2 AV3 BW2
T5 DC1 CT2
N/A GR1 GR2
Had last night in 1a on the strength of the Gin and Bag—arguably the two best jams of the weekend. Not to mention Fuego, Golden Age, and LSG all getting places quickly.
But upon further review, it’s definitely a notch down from Friday—kind of like Three’s Company with Mr. Furley being a notch down from Three’s Company with the Ropers.
(Sound on. H/T @mielcarz)
@chopaganda definitely felt like Trey had an agenda of songs he HAD to get played with Billy last night.
I still marvel at the ease with which Billy played with phish but in terms of sheer wow factor night one was IT.
the Wolfman's held note duel was great, loved the debut of WGTYM, and even Evolve had some pop like I don't think we have heard before. The grass tunes were great particularly when Fish pushed the tempo to normal levels. Frankenstein felt wasted.
@chopaganda N1 felt fresh and exciting, probably the most effective use of a guest since Bobby in Nashville 2016. N2 was basically just a Derek Trucks sit-in under a different name. It’s telling that Billy was nowhere to be found during the highlight of the set (Light).
Dude remains a generational talent, just diminishing returns over two nights.
@mrcompletely I legit thought last night was fantastic. But I also don’t have my head so far up Billy’s ass that I’m blind to what was a lot of noodly, timid play—mostly on the part of Trey—in that Moma. Thankfully, when the tip-toeing started again in ER, Mike single-handedly made things happen. The bluegrass was still bluegrass.
Balls and strikes.
@mrcompletely @chris @chopaganda
I'm friends with Drew Matulich and I had no idea who Billy was when he picked up Drew for the mandolin spot 7/8 years ago.
Drew still plays local gigs regularly along with hosting music.
Billy is amazing and we're blessed to have him but I don't do summer sheds/arena shows much anymore. I'm here for the ride though!
@mrcompletely @chris @chopaganda
I went out tonight to see local bluegrass jam heroes The Saylor brothers (aka brushfire stankgrass) along with guest mandolin player Phil Barker from the band Town Mountain.
They did 2 full sets of Phish and BMFS songs. Yes, it was amazing and unexpected.
@BEK97 @mrcompletely @chris @chopaganda
Ben absolutely does John Hartford like few can.
Blessed to know him.
This was at French Broad brewery.
@mrcompletely @BEK97 @chris @chopaganda
So some of the songs, not in any particular order were
Get back on the train
Cocaine blues
Nellie Cane
Carini
Wolfmans brother >TOO>wolfmans
Dust in a baggie
Both sets were quite fun. I might need to start writing down setlists again for memory sake.
@chopaganda Not crazy, tbh.
I enjoyed the hell out of last night’s show and agree that it is special and probably should be set aside vs comparing to regular shows.
I’m gonna give it a few days before I re-listen just to (maybe) increase my objectivity.
Chop
Ryan Storm
Pete ⭕️ 
Wolf
Lost Reflector
Dave Goldstein
Dan Mielcarz
Corn man's son
Mr. Completely
J.M.Hart (rowjimmy)
brucy
Chris
Deadmule
Black-Eyed Katydid
I Voted for McGovern
Boney Diego
Rosey
butter
Stoney Takes
Matt