I don't know what it is about west coast shows, but this is probably my favorite show of the year so far. I've had some trouble finding things to like in many of the Fall '09 and Summer I '10 shows, but this sounds more like the Summer II '09 and Miami NYE Phish that was so fun to listen to last year.
S1 is absolutely pure energy, especially from Trey. This is one of those Trey-dominated shows where he's so on fire that it actually makes the show better that he's running everyone else off the stage. The whole first set is good, but the easy highlights are Wolfman's and KDF.
S2 continues the uninterrupted shredding (even Joy has a bit of a serious outro, that's how intense the energy is here). But there are a few legit jams here in case just having your face melted off isn't enough for you. The "Disease" > "Free" segment that starts the set is one of the best pieces of Phish music of the year so far (which might not sound like I'm saying much, but I am, because this is awesome). Then the "Tweezer" follows up on the early 3.0s tradition of great late-set "Tweezers."
Live Review:
8/5/10: Well, Summer II just got kicked off with a pitch-perfect Possum.
8/5/10: Funky as all get-out Wolfman's in the two spot. Clav action, vocal-scat harmonies, and now a slinky Type I solo.
8/5/10: This Wolfman's is going on the highlight reel for Summer II. First entry. Just filthy.
8/5/10: And we roll right into DSky from there...I love where this is going so far.
8/5/10: Great solo after DSky, too. The guys really sound reinvigorated. Whether that leads to actual jams remains to be seen.
8/5/10: Right after DSky on the SBD, someone (Page?) says 'Bitch?' in this really weird tone of voice. Then, Funky Bitch.
8/5/10: I like to imagine he was trying to start a fight with Fish.
8/5/10: And we just didn't hear the 'You really wanna step to this' part of the sentence.
8/5/10: Funky Bitch keeps the energy-ball rolling. Trey is really playing way better than his was during leg 1, at least tonight.
8/5/10: Very intentionally melodic solo in KDF, too. High energy, but with direction at the same time. Looking good.
8/5/10: Long pause after KDF. Maybe they're refueling MegaTrey with jet fuel?
8/5/10: Nah, they were just firing up Mike's 'Boo-bop' Machine. Halley's!
8/5/10: Trey just slam-banged the shortest, most concise-yet-effective Halley's solo ever into Sample. Pretty cool, actually.
8/5/10: The rest of the band just fucking flying past him when he slammed the brakes on was funny, too.
8/5/10: This would be your usual well-constructed, by-the-numbers Summer '10 S1, but Trey is a goddamn hurricane. It is amazing.
8/5/10: NICU, Bouncin' is a nice breather BUT I DON'T NEED A BREATHER I'M SITTING IN AN OFFICE CHAIR
8/5/10: Antelope polishes off the set in style. That's, what, the trillionth Antelope S1 closer since Hampton?
8/5/10: Trey noodling around Call To the Post to start the second set, Mike kicks up DWD feedback during.
8/5/10: We're about halfway through the DWD opener here and it's all just gorgeous, intentional Type I jamming so far.
8/5/10: Heading in an almost blues-rock direction now.
8/5/10: Sort-of Talking Heads section following. This is the real deal, here.
8/5/10: Great outro jamlet, with some syncopation from Fish and space-piano from Page. Space Everything!
8/5/10: Top it all off with a GREAT segue into Free. Why is west coast tour always so much better than east coast/midwest?
8/5/10: This sounds like a totally different band from Summer I.
8/5/10: As Trey starts up Alaska, I'm pretty sure you can hear a fan on SBD yell 'Oh, GODDAMMIT!' If so, it's hilarious.
8/5/10: Though I pick on Alaska, this version is better than most, thanks to yet more precise Trey shredding.
8/5/10: Trey is killing this BOTT, too. Wowzers.
8/5/10: Late-set Maze is a surprise choice.
8/5/10: Well, that Maze definitely didn't suffer energy-wise for being late in the show. The intensity of this show is ridiculous.
8/5/10: And right after I tweet that: Joy. INTENSITY
8/5/10: Oh dear. Trey is even trying to shred Joy. And it's sort of working. CAN HE BE STOPPED NO RUN
8/5/10: Oh boy. Late S2 Tweezers have been pretty much all amazing so far in 3.0. High hopes for this maybe-monster.
8/5/10: Mike taking the early lead in the jam. Trey staying back. Page adding flavor.
8/5/10: Trey building a nice riff now. The whole thing is really minimalist so far. Very cool.
8/5/10: This is seriously good. Trey's solo is one of those that sounds composed, sort of like 12/31/95 Reba.
8/5/10: Not saying it's AS GOOD AS the Reba, just reminds me of it in that way.
8/5/10: Now Trey closing the jam with a weird mutation of the Tweezer riff. One of my favorite all-Type I jams in a long time.
8/5/10: Page shifting over to the No Quarter organ. Brief space section -> Fluffhead.
8/5/10: Fluffhead is a pretty great S2 closer, I must say.
8/5/10: Trey explaining the origins of the Ocedoc. This is apparently the first show with it. Explains Trey's shredding possession tonight.
8/5/10: Finishes up with a fiery Loving Cup, Tweeprise. Great show.
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