The Verdict:
The second and final pre-MSG winter show of the year is a great show, provided that you enjoy particularly good second first sets in place of actual second sets.
I don't say that to be bitchy: if you're content with a lack of deep improv and love Phish music, it doesn't get much better than this. The first first set is just an avalanche of songs, as per usual in late 2010, including two Mike-sung bluegrass rarities and the debuts of both "Pigtail" and "The Birdwatcher." I like "Pigtail" as a TAB song, and was surprised to find that I liked this comparatively stripped-down take even more than their typical version.
The other highlight of the first set for me was "Stash," which continues to turn in versions that are, arguably, the jamming highlights of their respective shows (how's that for a backhanded compliment?).
The second set opens with a "Carini" that never really gets its legs entirely under it, but goes to some interesting places nonetheless, but the rest of the set sort of just settles in. "BOTT" -> "LxL" apparently gets a lot of attention, but I just wasn't feeling it, other than the segue, which was clever. I actually really liked the "Frankie Says" > "Albuquerque" segment because I love both songs and the drone that joins them together is a nice touch.
If you're not a nut for those two songs, though, there's nothing really in between "Carini" and "Hood" worth mentioning. The "Hood" is fantastic, mixing plinko and calypso styles that drive the song outside the usual box before wrapping it back up in a nice, traditional peak.
The Live Review:
12/28/10: Continuing with reviews today because later in the week my life is going to get busy and crazy.
12/28/10: I hope this is a good show because I'll almost definitely hit 5,000 tweets in the midst of it.
12/28/10: KDF opener is the exact opposite of what I was hoping for.
12/28/10: Interesting slow burn KDF explodes into a peak at the end.
12/28/10: My Mind's Got a Mind of Its Own! Wonder how long it's been since that one.
12/28/10: 56 shows.
12/28/10: Sounded like Trey was going to start Ocelot and Page started Alaska instead. #zerosumgame #phish
12/28/10: Alaska with Sarah Palin vocal samples. Okay, now that's funny.
12/28/10: For better or for worse, Trey is absolutely slaying again tonight.
12/28/10: She Caught the Katy cover, Mike on vocals.
12/28/10: Nice, short tune. Mike's vocals suit the style. Wolfman's is next.
12/28/10: Diving into the deep funk right away here. Good sign.
12/28/10: Seamless transition from the funk to a rock peak.
12/28/10: Phish debut of Pigtail, Trey gives a shout out to Tom before starting it up.
12/28/10: Mind-warpingly, Phish is doing a better job on the harmonies than TAB usually does.
12/28/10: Neat outro riff that didn't make it into the studio version and then an a cappella ending. I like it better than the official one.
12/28/10: Stash jam featuring some more of that Trey/Page linkup magic from last night's show.
12/28/10: Trey building tension with loops now.
12/28/10: Another top-shelf Stash here.
12/28/10: Bouncin' follows.
12/28/10: Bouncin' > Rift, Stealing Time.
12/28/10: Post Stash, the set is sagging a little bit.
12/28/10: First set closing with The Birdwatcher. Okay, so that's interesting.
12/28/10: Carini opens the second set. Hasn't been the improv giant in early 3.0 that it was before and has been after.
12/28/10: But I'm still hopeful for something wacky.
12/28/10: EVERYONE WAS SCREAMING WHEN THEY SAW THE LUMP
12/28/10: Jam getting chaotic around 6:30. Trey throwing notes in weird places. Mike driving.
12/28/10: Sort of ASIHTOS feel to the jam, now. Only more tempestuous.
12/28/10: I suppose it's only appropriate that my 5,000th #phish review tweet is to announce that Number Line is starting. #3.0
12/28/10: Snarkiness aside, though, this is a great take on the song. Tension-y bit in the middle and a great peak.
12/28/10: A little less predictable than most versions.
12/28/10: End of the song is butt-slammed into BOTT.
12/28/10: This BOTT would be a fantastic take if it was the first set and I hadn't already been waiting months for a real S2 jam.
12/28/10: At least Trey just pulled off an awesome -> Limb By Limb.
12/28/10: Limb By Limb goes noodly and minimalist right at the kick off of the jam section.
12/28/10: LxL was solid. Followed by The Wedge. Pretty sure the jam light is turned off for the night at this point.
12/28/10: Frankie Says!
12/28/10: Frankie doing a sort of ambient thing at the end.
12/28/10: Drone -> Albuquerque. Very cool.
12/28/10: Albuquerque > Hood. Eerie loops and such at the beginning of Hood. A bit stranger than usual.
12/28/10: Almost plinko-style start to the jam.
12/28/10: Calypso/plinko thing going on now. Awesome.
12/28/10: Seamless move out of calypso space into the outro progression.
12/28/10: Gorgeous, unique Hood to close the second set makes up for a lot in an otherwise very
2010 show.
12/28/10: Hood doesn't close the set. Bug does.
12/28/10: Instant gratification for y'all. https://t.co/Ybhzznz7nj
12/28/10: Thanks to @mkdevo, of course.
12/28/10: Shine a Light encore. Trey suddenly sounds incredibly hoarse. But it's sort of appropriate for this song.
12/28/10: The Hoarse > Silence #badpun #killme #phish
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