You know those Sirius XM clips of Trey talking about not knowing what he's going to play until he gets to his spot, puts his guitar on, and looks out on the audience? Yeah, last night's Carini was Exhibit A of that behavior. I don't think he had his guitar on for more than 30 seconds before he launched into one of the strongest and fiery Carini show openers I've had the pleasure of being in the room for. It was a few minutes into that Carini while standing in the back of the GA floor that I realized that this moment is exactly what Trey, the band, and all of us needed in that moment. The floor was bouncing, I'm Trey's microphone stand was rocking back and forth, and the band and audience became one, and remember folks, we're still one song into the night!
Let's also talk about Mike's playing and cut through the night. This is what Summer 2018 was made of. Clean, juicy, crispy playing every note of the way with minimal mud. Maybe even zero Modulus Mud. He just sounded so good. Better than I remember and by far, way cleaner than anything from 2021. Not to mention he was playing more notes than recent shows. You could tell just from Carini. So what I'm trying to say is... that Carini told us everything we were going to need for the rest of the show: the playing is strong and ferocious, Mike is not going to be shy, the floor is going to bounce, and Trey is going to start songs with strength and confidence.
For an extra stoned crowd, Trey was really throwing us around during Possum. "Yeah Trey, I'll throw down for you but give us a little warning first!!!" And did you guys hear how Trey went RIGHT into his Possum solo after Page? No hesitation, no waiting. When he knew it was his turn, he wasted no time.
Disclaimer, I didn't have much of a voice during last nights show. I lost it at Dogs in a Pile the previous Saturday night (shoutout Dogs) and it had carried over through the week. What I'm trying to say is, the show is not the same when you can't scream at Mike Gordon's bass licks. That's all I want to say.
Leaves! Let's just say that I caught some friends b-lining it to the bathroom during Leaves which was comical. But not me. I fucking love Leaves. And last nights version was no exception. A much-needed break after that hot 3-song start. Dark lyrics, an epic, musically, if you will. Shit on it all you want but I love that song...
... but not as much as I love Strange Design. And it was my first Strange Design!! 79 shows in, I'm at a point where it's not every show you get something you've never heard before but let's see if this run will prove me wrong. Sanity tonight, please!!
Can we talk about Mike's Deep Impact bass effect usage during Stash? So appropriate and expertly played. Highlight of Stash for me. And at 9:09 pm, Mike took us RIGHT back into Stash. With no hesitation. I love it. These guys are so confident.
Never been a better night for Blaze On.
Set Two
Great Sigma... and with flights not requiring masks anymore as of two days ago, it never felt better to sing "take off your mask".
Here we go; Disease. A bangin' one too. However, gotta give a shoutout to our favorite drummer for really screwing up after the instrumental break before going back into the last chorus. Super cringe moment but recovered as always. And to end on a positive note, Disease is THE BEST Trey guitar riff in the Phish canon. Maybe Chalkdust as a close second but Disease is infectious. Liteally, a freakin' musical disease. Beautiful jam led to a FINISHED SET TWO DISEASE. You don't get much better than that, folks!
Into the Howling! I thought it was Emotional Rescue at first, lol. But the Howling got DOWN. So funky, so FRESH, and so much fun to dance to. Mike's tone during it should be preserved in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. SLAP IT MIKE.
Did anyone else think that Howling could have transitioned seamlessly into 2001? Just me? Cool.
Page on this Twist... wow.
Better Trey drifts while he's sleeping rather than drifting while suspended in air.
Classic Gumbo>Slave encore sending us home proper. Goodnight!