The Verdict:
There's a sort of circularity to Phish 2011. It began with the Bethel soundcheck jam and a few great shows that featured jamming that went above and beyond just about everything from '09 and '10. Then, we spent most of the heart of the summer revisiting the doldrums of the least interesting portions of those two years. Once the band headed west, they seemed to start to evolve again, an evolution that culminated in fantastic runs at UIC Pavilion and Dick's. Now, rounding out the year at MSG, they've laid down a run that recalls the less inspiring parts of 2011 instead of building on momentum from late summer.
That said, I'm only partway through 12/31 right now, but at this point, 12/28 is the best of the bunch. The opening set is a typically well-built 2011 S1, and on top of just its sheer momentum and flow it features strong takes on "Possum," "Cities" (w/ plinko jam) and "KDF," as well as a barn-burner of a "Gin" closer.
Opening the second set with "Birds" is usually a head-scratcher, but here Trey and Co. bring the heat, revving things up for a great "Carini" -> "Tweezer" pair. The "Carini" goes against type, hitting on a jam space that's best describes as "bouncy" or "lilting," while "Tweezer" splits its time between plinko jamming and funk jamming...at the same time.
For sheer jamming value, this sequence is definitely the highlight of set. That said, "Rock and Roll" moves nicely from standard Trey Rock to a blues section that sets up a precise start-and-stop transition -> "NICU." The segue is worth a listen, at least. And, as a "Hood" aficionado, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that this "Hood" is pretty special it doesn't deviate much from the blueprint, but it has both melodic beauty and a huge rock peak to a degree that most typical versions could only wish for.
In all, this isn't a UIC or Dick's show by any means, but it's a strong showing when put in the company of late-summer 2011. I wish I could say the same of the rest of the run.
The Live Review:
12/28/11: Free opener.
12/28/11: Trey with some extra whammy between lyrics.
12/28/11: Glide!
12/28/11: High-tempo, too.
12/28/11: Hot version of Possum. Cities now.
12/28/11: Slow tempo, languidly funky.
12/28/11: Huzzah! Page to clav.
12/28/11: Really neat, bass-y plinko space now.
12/28/11: Fading to an angry drone now.
12/28/11: > Curtis Loew.
12/28/11: Standard-but-energetic take on Stash.
12/28/11: Contact. Loving the setlist so far.
12/28/11: Sample, compact-but-rocking KDF.
12/28/11: Looks like the set will end with Gin.
12/28/11: Nice slow-building rock jam/peak to this Gin. Trey going nuts at the 9 minute mark.
12/28/11: Now that's how you end a first set with Bathtub Gin.
12/28/11: Here you go: https://t.co/rPd5CLhpZ9
12/28/11: S2 starts with the almost-always disappointing opener Birds of a Feather.
12/28/11: Good thing I said 'almost-always,' because that version was HOT.
12/28/11: Carini seems like a logical follow-up.
12/28/11: Layered 'lumpy head' lyrics coming out of the song proper.
12/28/11: Move into a surprisingly calm space, led by Page's organ.
12/28/11: Awesome, bouncy little jam here in Carini. Quite a surprise.
12/28/11: Excellent -> Tweezer.
12/28/11: Cooking up some plinko-funk stew early in Tweezer, here.
12/28/11: Really cool plinko and funk synthesis continuing here.
12/28/11: Now busting out into a Trey-rock direction.
12/28/11: Neat fadeout at the end of the Tweezer jam > MFMF > RnR.
12/28/11: JENNY SAID WHEN SHE WAS JUST FIVE YEARS OLD THERE'S NOTHING HAPPENING AT ALL
12/28/11: Straight-ahead rock mania in this RnR.
12/28/11: Once again, Page on organ drives the jam in a different direction. Slowing down a bit now.
12/28/11: Nice little two-chord, almost-blues breakdown now.
12/28/11: Whoa! Stop-start jam makes a -> NICU. Very cool.
12/28/11: Oddly placed Bouncin', but Hood has us back on track now.
12/28/11: Will there ever be a point in my life where Harry Hood isn't my favorite song? I hope not.
12/28/11: Gorge and Chula Vista Hoods were thirty or so of the best moments of this year for me.
12/28/11: There's pretty much nothing in the world like a Gorge Hood, except maybe a Gorge Tweeprise.
12/28/11: Some fantastic percussion from Fish on this version. Making the usual opening to the jam more dynamic.
12/28/11: Fantastic build!
12/28/11: The string of notes Trey is putting together right now is absolutely gorgeous.
12/28/11: HOLY HELL, I did not expect to find such a good Hood just lurking around during a show like this.
12/28/11: If they nail the transition into the outro I'm going to flip out.
12/28/11: YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES
12/28/11: Hood: https://t.co/wMl7SwWjik
12/28/11: Could have ended there, but continues into Bug. Which means Trey must be happy.
12/28/11: Call me crazy, but I actually really like Bug as a S2 ender in the right circumstances.
12/28/11: End set.
12/28/11: Tube encore. That's interesting.
12/28/11: Rocky Top!
12/28/11: > Tweeprise
12/28/11: Possum, Cities, Stash, Sample, Gin, Carini, Tweezer, RnR, Hood, Tweeprise...they do realize there are three shows left, right?!
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