So, I'll say this right up front: this show is the epitome of the solid "song-based" Phish show. There are a few brief moments of improvisational cleverness here and there, but no real jams to speak of. However, the song choices are superb and the playing is generally up to or above par throughout the entire show. So, you can probably come to a verdict on this show for yourself without really having to read much further. Just look at the setlist, and if it looks like fun to you, dive in. Generally speaking, for once, what you see is exactly what you get.
As is increasingly the case in this fall tour, the band annihilates the opener right out of the gate. This is a flaming hot blowtorch of a "Bag," followed by a clever segue into "Maze," and some absolute madness from Page especially during his spotlight in that song. Then, we get a few neat little ditties like a slightly-more-barroom-than-usual "Driver" and a "Gumbo" with some extra spice. "It's Ice" is basically a straight reading from Rift (take that to mean whatever you want), and since I love me the occasional Undermind rarity, "Two Versions of Me" is fun, though Trey has a bit of trouble with the lyrics. "Timber" is absolutely shredded, and "Light" is a short, pre-improv Type 1 version that ends with a serious '99-sounding ambient space that lasts for a few minutes. It sounds at first like the typical set-ending crescendo of noise, but then it just keeps going, building on the ending note(s) a bit like the Worcester '12 "Roses," but not as good. But still pretty good; and it and closes the set on an intriguing note.
No building on weirdness in the second set, though! We kick off with the strangely but effectively placed "MFMF," and then there's a mini-segue into the first-ever cover of "Golden Age." Predictably, this version is a bit rough around the edges, but blossoms into a full-blown Type 1 jam briefly before we're moving on to "On Your Way Down." This is probably, frankly, the highlight of the show. Trey slays his leads, Page nails the vocals, and Fish appropriately beats the hell out of his drums, and for a moment I was reminded that Phish can just flat-out tear up a good rock and roll song when they want to.
"Fluffhead" and "Harry Hood" take up the lion's share of the rest of the set, and both are solid-but-standard versions. The only other thing really worth mentioning in this set is the "Piper" -> "Tomorrow's Song" combo. The "Piper" has a pretty fantastic, if brief plinko section that dissolves nicely into an ambient wash that resolves itself in the opening of "Tomorrow's Song" (debut!). But the success of this pairing probably depends on your enthusiasm for Undermind rarities. For me, it was great to hear the song and the little jam that gets tacked on to the end of it, but for most I imagine it would be a potentially interesting "Piper" "derailed" by a "momentum-killer."
I enjoyed this show more than I imagine most fans would, because I like a good song-based show occasionally (at least on tape, if not when I'm in the audience live), and this one's constructed and built to perfection for my Phish-y tastes.
But, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to diving into 11/28's second set and hearing some real improv again.
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