The Verdict:
Note: Once again, this show isn't available on PhishTracks, so you'll have to do without song links this time around. Sorry!
Though I am very much pro-3.0 (in case you couldn't tell by this point), one thing the band largely fails to do well in this era is pull off engaging three-set shows. Typically, there's a warm-up set, a less-than-stellar middle set, and then another warm-up set. The draw seems to simply be that the show is longer, not necessarily that it's better.
So, as usual, I went into a NYE show with relatively low hopes. And was, for once, embarrassed to be shown the error of my ways.
Now, this certain isn't the be-all, end-all show of the year, or even of this run, for that matter (that honor goes to 12/30), but it's a damn good show.
The "Don't Bogart That Joint" a capella opener kicks off a first set that's for all intents and purposes jamless minus a compelling, plinko-ized take on "Back On the Train," but there's a lot of verve here and that makes up for some of the predictability.
The second set mixes things up right away, though, with an expansive take on the late-2016 monster "2001" and then a "Carini" that careens into an echofunk jam of all things. Just when things start to get truly interesting, though, Trey pulls out a transition into "Twist" that somehow manages to be a smooth segue and a ripcord at the same time. It left me wondering where that "Carini" might have gone had it been given room to run, but the "Twist" that results instead follows a pleasing "Type 1.5" blueprint like most of the recent "Gin"s and "Wolfman's"s.
Luckily, the ripcord doesn't signal the end of the fun, as "Piper" starts up next, only to be hijacked almost immediately for "Ass Handed," which segues perfectly back into the "Piper" build. This jam dissolves into an exciting cacophony of loops and synth sounds before the band switches instruments. Luckily, these instrument-switching jams are bearing more and more fruit these days, and this one is particularly interesting, with Trey leaving his guitar loops running as the band jams. Hot takes on "Sand" and "More" round out the set.
Set three opens with the predictable but gorgeous "Petrichor" as the focus for this year's gag, and this take is just as spot-on as most of the fall/winter versions while being augmented by extra percussion, the TAB horns, and extra vocalists. The bad news is that the rest of the third set doesn't jam at all. The good news is that the entire set features the TAB horns and assorted other guest musicians, and it's awesome. It's great to hear these particular tunes played in this arrangement, and, for my money, absolutely worth the "sacrifice" of a jamless third set. It's the rare gimmick that works both as gimmick and as interesting musical moment, and I really enjoyed it. Especially the Big Boat tracks and "Ocelot." It's a really unique and fun way to close out what turned out after all to be a great year of touring.
The Live Review:
12/31/16: Going to take on this three-set monster today in the name of wrapping up 2016 Phish coverage.
12/31/16: I assume it's going to be like most three-set shows: relatively boring with a long setpiece that doesn't translate well to audio.
12/31/16: That said, maybe I'll be proven wrong.
12/31/16: After this, I'll go back and finish the Mexico '17 run, and then waaaay back to '12 tour.
12/31/16: I've heard almost nothing of '12 Phish before. Pretty excited about that.
12/31/16: Don't Bogart That Joint a capella opener. Pretty sure that's a debut.
12/31/16: Your Pet Cat next.
12/31/16: The only thing worse than the opening KDF riff is when Trey biffs the opening KDF riff.
12/31/16: Nice old-school Type I peak in KDF, despite my griping.
12/31/16: Back On The Train is next and pretty quickly heads into plinko-funk territory.
12/31/16: Great take. A lot of verve going into these tunes so far.
12/31/16: My Soul!
12/31/16: Brief pause after for Trey to tell a story about how he's freaked out that the front row of fans is moved back tonight.
12/31/16: Presumably because of the night's gag.
12/31/16: Then, Lawn Boy > Divided Sky.
12/31/16: Solid take on Ya Mar > Divided Sky.
12/31/16: Whoops, that was backwards. Divided Sky > Ya Mar.
12/31/16: Old-school guitar shakedown via Character Zero is next. Then, looks like S1 will end w/ Walls of the Cave.
12/31/16: So far, exactly what you'd expect from a NYE first set. Good mix of mostly older tunes, played with a lot of energy. No jams.
12/31/16: Unless something totally bizarre happens in Walls, the highlight is probably BOTT, which featured some plinko and echo-funk.
12/31/16: Weird by that tune's standards, at least.
12/31/16: End set.
12/31/16: 2001 opens the second set. Interesting.
12/31/16: Lots of echo and synth right off the bat. I love that they're stretching this tune out again these days.
12/31/16: Page and Mike getting turns at leading the charge in this version.
12/31/16: Great version of 2001. Carini is next, and gets things going with an ascending riff from Trey.
12/31/16: Page to clav and now full-on funk jam in Carini. So that's weird.
12/31/16: Fish keeping the rock beat going, though.
12/31/16: Echo-funk time.
12/31/16: Really evil mode now. Great work from Fish.
12/31/16: -> Twist! Really sad that jam got cut off (and I think Fish was, too), but a great segue from Trey.
12/31/16: Twist is following the bluesy, minimalist blueprint it's followed for most of the year. It's a strong version if you're into that.
12/31/6: Meanwhile, I'm feeling the kind of ripcord regret I haven't felt often in the last two years. Where was Carini going to go?!
12/31/16: Wow, Twist is really picking up speed. This doesn't normally happen.
12/31/16: If this keeps up, Twist is going to get relegated to the first set ;)
12/31/16: Nice return to the Twist riff.
12/31/16: Piper...except then Fish starts singing Ass Handed over the Piper intro.
12/31/16: Piper -> Ass Handed -> Piper. Well, that was fun.
12/31/16: Piper starts out normal enough, but soon turns into a looped chord fest. Super weird, and unique. Liking this a lot.
12/31/16: Noise jam developing now. Really fun.
12/31/16: Developing into percussion jam. Someone (Trey?) on marimba.
12/31/16: Page so far staying on clav.
12/31/16: Loops continue during the percussion jam.
12/31/16: Mike is apparently on keys as per @phishnet
12/31/16: Percussion jam comes to a sudden end. Sand is next.
12/31/16: Pretty standard take on Sand, though the energy at this point is through the roof.
12/31/16: Slave.
12/31/16: Looks like the second set is going to end with another fiery take on More.
12/31/16: Be right back for S3.
12/31/16: Petrichor opens the third set. Sounds like the band's augmented by some guests.
12/31/16: Looks like sort-of TAB is accompanying, according to setlist notes.
12/31/16: Tune sounds great with the horns added.
12/31/16: Excellent take on Petrichor > Countdown > Auld Lang Syne > Suzy.
12/31/16: Sounds like the band+ is going to stay on stage for Suzy.
12/31/16: Well, that was pretty damn raucous. No Men is next, and the band seems to be sticking around.
12/31/16: Great to hear No Men with the horns a la the studio version.
12/31/16: Big jam breaking out now between Trey and the horns.
12/31/16: Breath and Burning next. Horn band set, maybe?
12/31/16: Long pause after Breath and Burning. Maybe to pop balloons?
12/31/16: Tide Turns.
12/31/16: Great break in Tide Turns with Page taking a solo on the electric piano.
12/31/16: 555! This should be fun with horns.
12/31/16: Okay, Ocelot with the horns, harmonies, etc. is awesome. First Ocelot I've cared about in a long time.
12/31/16: Well, that reinforced my opinion that Ocelot should be a TAB song. That was awesome.
12/31/16: Shout-out from Trey for the band+ and then Page shout-out for his keyboard tech who is done after this show after 22 years.
12/31/16: That man has probably seen so many sandwiches.
12/31/16: First Tube, probably to close the set.
12/31/16: Loving Cup encore.
12/31/16: Welp, no 12/30-style jamming there, but that was a way better show than I was expecting. Interesting, improv-heavy S2...
12/31/16: ...and the horns and such in S3 put some new twists on songs that are typically a bit dry. I liked it.
12/31/16: Oh, Loving Cup has horns, too. As Mick would want it.
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