After hearing an above-average show get derailed by weird setlist choices in Detroit, I wasn't exactly thrilled when the band's first of two nights in Cincy opened with one of the strangest first sets I've come across in awhile. Luckily, this show's excellent second set more than makes up for its opening idiosyncrasy.
As I've been fond of pointing out in the past, while I love Phish's more intricate composed works in theory, hearing 3 or 4 of them in one show (or even just 2, sometimes) really throws things off for me. So I was ready to be displeased when I looked at the setlist for 11/20 and saw "Divided Sky," "TTE," "Fluffhead," and "YEM" all in the same show.
Things start with sloppy but energetic readings of "Chalkdust" and "Moma," and then, honestly, the rest of the first set passes more or less as you'd imagine it would based on the setlist. There's a little bit of noodly fun in "Jibboo" and "FEFY" is a nice (and nicely-played) surprise, but otherwise there's nothing here that you can't hear on a million other Phish recordings. This is probably my shortest-ever first set review, but there it is.
The second set stumbles out of the gate with a sloppy take on "PYITE," and at this point I was clicking through to the setlist for the next few shows, looking for a light at the end of the tunnel...when this "Tweezer" just exploded right in my damn face. This is an amazing version in a year full of amazing versions; I'd be willing to put it up there with the best summer takes. At this point in the show, Trey gets very "riffy." That is, he starts channeling that amazing power he has of picking an excellent riff up out of nowhere and leading the rest of the band into a great jam space based on that riff. This happens once at around 5:45 and happens again at 8:30, with the help of a heavily distorted, fuzzy tone that lends a little extra oomph to this space-funk romp. The band takes a left turn into pure space for the last minute or so of the song, but unlike the typical Summer '09 ambient meltdown/segue, this one has a little more momentum as Fishman keeps things rolling. This sets up a nice segue into a short "Light," which morphs in turn into "BOTT" slowly and sublimely. The take on this song is extra-short, but that's okay because it changes into "Possum" seamlessly and on a dime and this "Possum" is just absolutely incendiary. We get a bit of a breather with an average-great "Slave," and then one of my favorite "YEM"s in awhile hits. The composed sections are played almost perfectly and with serious verve, and the jam goes minimalist-funk, recalling the set's earlier "Tweezer," just without the distortion. Trey latches on to another great riff here and the band follows him for a few minutes, setting up a vocal jam wherein all four members harmonize on the guitar riff for a few more minutes. It's one of those perfectly clever Phish moments that made me sit back for a minute, listen, and grin, even in the middle of a long day at work. The set sputters to an end on "Joy" and "Golgi" fumes, but it's one of my favorite '09 Phish second sets in awhile. If you can handle a pretty standard take on "Slave" (and I love the song, so I can), the "Tweezer" > "Light" -> "Back On The Train" -> "Possum," "Slave To The Traffic Light," "You Enjoy Myself" run in this set is one of the better pieces of music these guys have put together throughout '09 and is pure Phish magic, not "just for '09," but for any year. Definitely worth a few listens.
Song choices for 11/21 look amazing. Looking forward to it.
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