The Verdict:
The first show of 2016 tour proper is the band easing into things, but still providing enough interesting moments that the show is satisfying.
The song choices in the first set are excellent, and there are some surprises: huge ones like "Daniel Saw the Stone" and "Dear Prudence," as well as smaller ones like "Round Room" and "Uncle Pen." All of the rare songs are performed beautifully, and in-between there are strong takes on some more typical first-set songs. "Wolfman's" is a highlight in particular: it has a middle section that seems like it almost blasts off, but doesn't in the end. This is about as good as a first set gets without a legit jam thrown in there for good measure.
I wish I could say things opened up in the second set, but they really don't. They stay really good, though. The "Mike's Groove" sequence has that something that, although it stays Type I throughout, makes it a standout version. "Ghost" doesn't leave the box, but has some fun inside of it. It's nice to hear "Billy Breathes." The "Gin" that closes the second set is a fantastic bit of straightforward rock and roll.
The highlight of the show, though, is definitely the "Simple" -> "I Found a Reason." Not only is "I Found a Reason" a huge bustout and delivered with gorgeous delicacy, it fades is perfectly from a spacey-though-short "Simple" jam. If you're looking for serious jamming in this show, you're not going to find it, but at least give this pair a listen. They just work together well.
The Live Review:
6/22/16: Pigtail opener. Interesting choice to start the tour, it not being a 'real' #phish song and all.
6/22/16: Liking the #phish guys' harmonies on the chorus, though.
6/22/16: Standard run-through, but a nice vocals-only breakdown at the end. Wolfman's is next.
6/22/16: Chunky funk-rock section taking off around 4:30.
6/22/16: Big peak coming now. Trey bending a lot to add some tension.
6/22/16: After Wolfman's, Trey reprises the famous SuperBall 'Welcome!'
6/22/16: Pigtail, Wolfman's > SuperBall Welcome Reprise, Daniel Saw The Stone
6/22/16: Pitch-perfect Daniel > The Dogs. Weird combo, but it works.
6/22/16: Undermind is next. Loving the song choices so far.
6/22/16: Pretty standard Undermind, but followed by the gigantic Dear Prudence bust-out.
6/22/16: Great cover of a great song.
6/22/16: After an extended but pretty standard Stash, Round Room!
6/22/16: I love this song so much.
6/22/16: If #phish decided to play an album front-to-back as a set, I'm pretty sure Round Room would be my #1 pick.
6/22/16: SoaG would likely be a close second.
6/22/16: Horn and then a second dose of bluegrass with Uncle Pen!
6/22/16: No big highlights in this set, but a great set of song choices and nonstop energy. Bustouts with no major flubbing.
6/22/16: Uncle Pen is also a top-tier #phish song (cover) for me. Always fun to hear.
6/22/16: Trey totally nailed the fiddle (guitar) part. Makes my day.
6/22/16: Halfway next, then Walls to close the first set. I assume.
6/22/16: Trey biffs the transition into the Halfway verse, then Page forgets most of the words to the first verse.
6/22/16: AND AFTER ALL THOSE NICE TWEETS I JUST MADE GUYS THANKS A LOT
6/22/16: Duluth reference gets a roar from the crowd. Page forgets the following line.
6/22/16: Kicking ass on that piano tho
6/22/16: Neat little jam at the beginning of the second set. Lasted maybe a minute. Moody and ambient. Then explodes into Mike's.
6/22/16: Solid move into funk-rock jamming in Mike's. Not just the typical soloing from Trey.
6/22/16: Okay, that ended up mostly being Trey just soloing after all, but I liked where it was going for a minute.
6/22/16: > Hydrogen > Groove. Liking the Groove quite a bit. Fish laying back and Trey putting down a nice melodic solo.
6/22/16: More patient in building up to the frenetic rock jam we're used to hearing than they usually are these days.
6/22/16: This ain't going to be on anyone's jam chart, but I'm really liking this Mike's Groove sequence.
6/22/16: Bouncin' is sort of a weird choice here. We didn't really need a breather song after the relatively mellow Groove. Oh well.
6/22/16: Ghost!
6/22/16: Neat Little Drummer Boy tease *during* the drop in Ghost before the guys set off on a fuzzy rock and roll jam.
6/22/16: Fuzz-rock jam winds up after a few minutes. Grungy fade-out now. Fish laying down a great beat.
6/22/16: Trey returns to the outro riff. End Ghost.
6/22/16: The Line'd.
6/22/16: Simple follows the The Line. Weird second set, especially when following such a flowy first set.
6/22/16: Btw, Simple is currently spiraling into awesomeness on the back of a great Trey/Page linkup.
6/22/16: Interlocking guitar/piano arpeggios getting quieter now.
6/22/16: Almost like a Coil outro jam instead of Simple.
6/22/16: Great, delicate little jam here. Aaaaand a perfect segue into I Found a Reason. baubiopfugaoi;jgad
6/22/16: Well, that was just awesome.
6/22/16: No Men is next. Weird change of pace there.
6/22/16: Harmonies: F, Trey solo: B+
6/22/16: Short but intense rock jam (no funk) in No Men. That was fun.
6/22/16: Billy Breathes!!!!
6/22/16: Definitely a little rougher than the last time it was played, but loving hearing it nonetheless.
6/22/16: And so far, Trey is nailing that beautiful, beautiful solo, and that's all that really matters.
6/22/16: Bathtub Gin, most likely to close set two.
6/22/16: Page leading the charge in this Gin jam. Trey hanging back oddly.
6/22/16: Momentum picking up now. Mega-peak.
6/22/16: Trey talking about the 1996 Languedoc after Gin.
6/22/16: Either this set is tracked wrong or they're ending the second set with a slow Water in the Sky.
6/22/16: Okay, encore was Water in the Sky, Zero. Break after Gin isn't really on the recording.
6/22/16: Great setlist during the first set. Weird setlist during an uneven second set, but strong Type I Mike's Groove and Gin.
6/22/16: Simple -> I Found a Reason was beautiful and probably the highlight, but I'd hesitate to call it 'jamming.'
6/22/16: In all, #phish played a show that was great at everything but jamming. Take that as you will.
No comments:
Post a Comment