The two most notable aspects of this show to me are the Phish debut of Middle of the Road--a Mike song that I like a lot more than his recent songwriting efforts, such as 555 or Crazy Sometimes, and that seems to hearken back to his 2.0 songs a lot more than those two songs do, for good or ill, I say good--and the huge jam out of Rock and Roll. The segue into Makisupa Policeman from Rock and Roll appears to me led by Fish, which is not always the case, and which I prefer much to the segues where he peters out, dissolving into cymbal rushes or stopping playing altogether. The Rock and Roll is long, for sure, but it's pretty typical of the 2009 and for that matter early 3.0 as a whole jamming style which Phish still relies upon to this day, to some extent, which has been at the very least expanded and enriched by elements gathered from previous years' jams' directions or new paradigm shifts like the "Plinko," "Storage jams," or "bliss jams." I do like the previous night's show at the Gorge better than this one, primarily because the jamming was buttered a bit more evenly across the songs, but I distinctly remember upon listening along to the summer tour that year that this show promised better things to come, if not at least a thrilling plateau.

Five years ago today. Crazy how time flies, isn't it?

These shows marked a turning point in the fledgling era of 3.0 Phish. Shows before we scatter-shot, and with do cause, as the band was still getting their improvisational bearings and musical foundation set beneath them after five years off the grid. When Down with Disease opened the first night, it had that *feel* ... you know what I'm talking about. The feel where something special was about to happen. It was intangible as much as it was sensory.

They smoked through Down with Disease, played (to my ears) the most unique Possum of 3.0, and dazzled with gems like an elongated Stash, Destiny, and a worthwhile early Ocelot. Phish then opened it all up. Using the Gorge itself as an amplifier, they played a first set, 18 minute Sneakin Sally that, I believe, is a top-10 jam of 3.0 Phish and the very best Sally played to date.

Moma Dance hit and then the glowsticks flew. I remember it so well, it was pure bliss. The fans were in full dance mode after setbreak, again, feeling now more than ever that we were experiencing a crux in the evolution of Phish. We just knew what was happening. We were riding the crest of a new wave, a new light... then Light itself came next. Wow. What a special and so unique calypso jam this evolved into. Island rhythms layered over vocal harmonizing created, much indeed, a light amongst the band and fans. A smooth segue into Taste provided another "wow" moment. Taste fades and Fluffheads hits. For those of you too immersed in more recent tours, it should be noted that Fluffhead was A REALLY BIG DEAL in 2009. At that point, it wasn't in "regular rotation" and after the Hampton run, the song itself embodied the reincarnation of Phish. Perfect placement. Joy followed with a smooth momentum that let us all absorb the feeling we were experiencing, but then, blastoff. Gin. This Gin. Had it not been for Summer of 2014, this Gin is easily the best of 3.0 Phish (and again in my opinion, still the best). Ripping through the normal Gin build, then breaking form into a driving open soundscape before trickling into a cascade of waterfall notes, this Gin has it all. Much the same, the Hood that comes next follows that same soundscape pattern Gin created 15 minutes before. Open space and serenity are thematic in this Gin. It is not fiery. It is peaceful and contemplative... beautiful even. What a combo to close a set... to close a show.

The next night picked up the pace in the first set. I mean Phish came out firing. Chalkdust, MOTR, Tweezer, Ya Mar (a jammed out Ya Mar at that!), 20 Years Later, and an absolutely ripping trifecta of Wolfmans > Zero > Antelope framed one of the best first sets I've ever heard... oh not to mention the Mango opener, first time played since IT. And of course a special Driver, even then the song carried so much weight for me... it was amazing to see live. The first set was complete, it flowed, it jammed, and it rocked. The feeling was growing. The light was getting brighter. The Gorge was opening itself up to the universe in a spectacular of light and sound and energy. When Rock and Roll opened the second set, I smiled beyond compare. The feeling. This song had it. 23 minutes of tension and release that flowed into nimble musical weaving that slinked into a full-band groove-fest that rocketed back into an incendiary 5-minute closing peak all before slowing down so very naturally and dissolving into Makisupa. The Policeman was especially playful that night. A broken down (in a good way) jam left lot of open space for Mike and Fish to do their thang. Then, because they are Phish, Mike and Trey decided to switch instruments - so cool. SO COOL! Wedge and Alaska provided an acceptable respite before a mid-set YEM hit us. To say the energy before the AHHHHH BOY build was volcanic would be an injustice. The band was raging and the crowd was furiousy dancing, Unfortunately, the YEM jam did not go anywhere special and the band seemed to sit back, almost a little *too* patiently for the rest of the show. Number Line and what-the-heck set-closing Piper rounded off the run, complete with Fish teasing that Llama drum beat multiple times, giving me multiple cardiac episodes, before settling down and serenading us with Grind.

Guys, if you want to see not just how far the band has come, but how good they were in 2009, listen to these shows. You too will feel what I am talking about. Some sort of magic that only the Gorge brings out in this amazing band. Enjoy.

After playing probably the best show of the summer the night before, it was hard for the boys in phish to top that one, but they gave it a good damn shot.

the mango song is a nice rare/odd ball opener, and the chalk dust that follows rips too. the new tune middle of the road does alright before a pretty solid tweezer. mike finds some nice grooves, but this is certainly a first set tweezer. driver and twenty years later give another nice breather before yamar and a particularly strong ice pick things up. page and fishman rip the middle section of ice. then there is wolfman's. they were throwing around a lot of good first set wolfman's action this summer, but this one might take the cake. trey and page find some nice funky realms while fishman and gordon hold down the rhythm oh so well. eventually this one pops into one of my pet-peave songs, especially as a closer- character zero. this one is average, but in my opinion, the song is cheesey... but this time, it does not close. they drop a really nice antelope, complete with trey prodding mike along. very good playing with trey pushing mike to the forefront. the whole band nailed this one.

after playing a huge rock and roll at red rocks, i think they actually were able to step it up a notch on this one. very explorative with trey driving the ship on this jam. after a long exploration, they finally dip into a nice makisupa policeman. probably my favorite "breather" songs. alaska, one of my favorite new songs, really fits in well after the policeman. keeping with the really good flow, the wedge works really well after alaska. while this run, makisupa-alaska is not very explorative, it is played oh so well. you enjoy myself picks back up on the 2nd set exploration. it is well played, especially fishman and gordon, but it is not anything you haven't heard out of a yem before. i'm not a huge bdtl fan, but i do really like the piper that follows. this was another great jam tune all summer. this wasnt my favorite of the summer, i prefer alpine valley's, but this one is good none the less. trey navigates in a similar manner to the rock and roll jam earlier in the set before this one comes to a close. the accapella grind closes this one down really well. before encoring with the 'ol zeppelin/tweeprise encore.

while this show is not as good as the first night, it is not one to miss. this show has some good jams, tight playing, and good flow, but it is just tough to beath that sneaking sally and the gin>hood combo from the first night.

set 1:
mango song, it's ice, wolfman's brother, antelope

set 2:
rock and roll>makisupa, the wedge, yem, piper

After playing probably the best show of the summer the night before, it was hard for the boys in phish to top that one, but they gave it a good damn shot.

the mango song is a nice rare/odd ball opener, and the chalk dust that follows rips too. the new tune middle of the road does alright before a pretty solid tweezer. mike finds some nice grooves, but this is certainly a first set tweezer. driver and twenty years later give another nice breather before yamar and a particularly strong ice pick things up. page and fishman rip the middle section of ice. then there is wolfman's. they were throwing around a lot of good first set wolfman's action this summer, but this one might take the cake. trey and page find some nice funky realms while fishman and gordon hold down the rhythm oh so well. eventually this one pops into one of my pet-peave songs, especially as a closer- character zero. this one is average, but in my opinion, the song is cheesey... but this time, it does not close. they drop a really nice antelope, complete with trey prodding mike along. very good playing with trey pushing mike to the forefront. the whole band nailed this one.

after playing a huge rock and roll at red rocks, i think they actually were able to step it up a notch on this one. very explorative with trey driving the ship on this jam. after a long exploration, they finally dip into a nice makisupa policeman. probably my favorite "breather" songs. alaska, one of my favorite new songs, really fits in well after the policeman. keeping with the really good flow, the wedge works really well after alaska. while this run, makisupa-alaska is not very explorative, it is played oh so well. you enjoy myself picks back up on the 2nd set exploration. it is well played, especially fishman and gordon, but it is not anything you haven't heard out of a yem before. i'm not a huge bdtl fan, but i do really like the piper that follows. this was another great jam tune all summer. this wasnt my favorite of the summer, i prefer alpine valley's, but this one is good none the less. trey navigates in a similar manner to the rock and roll jam earlier in the set before this one comes to a close. the accapella grind closes this one down really well. before encoring with the 'ol zeppelin/tweeprise encore.

while this show is not as good as the first night, it is not one to miss. this show has some good jams, tight playing, and good flow, but it is just tough to beath that sneaking sally and the gin>hood combo from the first night.

set 1:
mango song, it's ice, wolfman's brother, antelope

set 2:
rock and roll>makisupa, the wedge, yem, piper