Well, ladies and gents....Phish's triumphant return to Austin was a marked improvement from their 2015 showing, and overall, this show did not disappoint.

Short version: slightly above "average great" territory, some gems in both sets, and worth your time to give a listen.

Set 1: the earliest Light has been played since its inception, and this early curveball was thoroughly enjoyed. Light/Moma/Funky and Theme are clear Set 1 highlights, and surpass the re-listenable watermark. Halfway to the Moon was surprisingly delightful as well....oh, and jaded vets: stop complaining about The Line, even if your concerns are justified.

Set 2/Encore: Everything's Right continues its run as a powerhouse jam vehicle, and DWD, while predictable, takes us to expectedly unexpected places. Steam and Wedge were well executed, and a classic Antelope set closer + Loving Cup singalong had the crowd feeling satisfied.

Even if not an all-timer (or all-tour) show, all that attended were happy with the result. We're lucky to have such an incredible band and community to take this all in. Happy tour!

Howdy All!

Long time lurker on .net with hundreds of shows across the country under my belt since 1991 (11/15/91 "Mrs. Pizza Shit" show at Trax's in Charlottesville, VA, anyone?). I am proud to report that both the Shakedown in the lot and the venue itself at COTA has matured into a really welcoming stop on the tour, balloon busting cops and our Not-Safe-For-East-Or-West-Coasters heat not withstanding. As a 25 year resident of the ATX, this was one of the most engaged crowds I've ever seen in these parts and it helped elevate an average-good show by the boys into an average-great vibe if you were there.

Also, I'd like to thank all of the kind folks both on the lawn and in the pit who helped make my 6 and 9 year old's first Phish show magical. Tons of kind words, encouragement, hugs and nasty dance moves from friends and strangers alike. The sweaty rail riders on Page Side/Rage Side even welcomed my kids into that swirling mass of joy for 46 Days (it helps that all of us, even the young un's, love to get down). Indoctrination complete!

As for the show itself, I found it thrillingly uneven. A bit of Taoist perspective if you will- you cannot appreciate the highs without some lows. The first set opens with a standard Sample, followed by a Light that, even with unique placement, fails to catch fire in the way that Light can. However, the tide quickly turns and the next 17 minutes is pure hip grinding cow funk- a good to great MOMA with a nicely built peak on the back end and a blistering Funky Bitch. While Trey is building the peaks it is Page who is really shining in the first set, with his solos on Bitch, Heavy Things and Halfway forcing some filthy moves on Rage Side. A beautifully dark Theme is next and it is well executed, similar in tone and texture to night 1 at Dick's 2017.

And then?......Well - if you're just going to look at the setlist you should probably move on to the second set. Don't. Do. It. Every song is nearly flub free and each one reaches a tidy Type 1 peak. IDK got the band laughing, squawking about Mike's calves in his shorts, and ends with this resonating, rumbling vacuum bass note that shook the whole venue for an entire verse. And the 46 Days that follows is straight fire. Filthy filth.

During the setbreak a sign unfurled that read "20 years since the last Texas Tweezer" but, alas, it wasn't meant to be. Instead the second set opens with the TAB newbie Everything's Right. And everything is. I believe that this song is destined to become a tentpole jam for the foreseeable future (let's agree to set aside its overtly positive, direct lyrics which some find a bit too on the nose for this band but I love). Things are straightforward until about 12 minutes in when Page and Trey settle on a beautiful major key phrase as the foundation for a patient, positive, uplifting and massive peak that validates why we chase this band around. It gets a bit raggedy finding its way back into the chorus to close out the song but the nearly 5 minute climb to the top is why are all here. This is followed by Cactus Calves' DWD bassline and off we go! Things get weird quickly as Trey attempts a variety of tricks in the early part of the jam, starting with the Leslie (do we need two keyboards in the band Trey?) and then some wild delays with his multiple Supa Puss (I think there are 3 on the rig now) setup. Things then get dark.....and darker.....and then straight ambient.....and then like the soundtrack to a 70's Sci-Fi B movie played underwater. Deep, deep, deep ambient delay trails and Mike dropping a couple of sustained bombs.

And out of the depths comes Steam. Man, I just absolutely love that riff. I find myself walking around and quietly, but audibly, singing it all the time. Maybe it's just me and my constant mental soundtrack- I think there is a diagnosis for that. Anyway, the Steam that follows is standard but never reaches the seriously dissonant heights it is capable of. The third quarter drops with Seven Below, a real treat and with a beautiful melody, but played a bit sleepily. The boys have lost the momentum and it seems that the choice of Dirt to follow is yet another downshift. Are we really grinding down into second gear? And yet...… the crowd goes bonkers as soon as it starts. It's as odd a reaction as I've ever seen, both for an Austin audience, and for any Phish audience with this song. The band seems to notice and the version it plays is tight, emotional and lively.

The fourth quarter is a greatest hits medley consisting of a well played, Type 1 Wedge, an oddly placed but always fun Wilson and a set closing Antelope. This type of fourth quarter feels like a "thanks ya'll for being patient with some of the newer stuff" 4th that we are seeing a lot of recently. The Antelope clocks in at just over 10 minutes and, much like DWD, it gets dark and claws it's way upward for a single scalding peak. Trey's phrasing "issues", of which much has been written lately, are on display for some of the early parts of the jam, but he rights the ship and offers a little machine gun hose for good measure. Loving Cup lands for the encore, and an amazing moment transpires about 4 minutes. Trey seems to lose the threat entirely for about 24 bars and then just as suddenly comes roaring back with 45 seconds of hose. What a beautiful buzzzzzz.

Overall the entirety of the show is absolutely worth a listen, with highlights aplenty in atypical songs and no straight duds or misfires with the exception of Trey's ripcording of Heavy Things that caught the whole band off guard. A professional effort from the boys and a welcome uptick to the last few Texas shows (which is odd as the various incarnations of TAB have been killing it in Texas).

And finally- a word on our fearless leader's tone. As a gear junky it seems that perhaps Treys new Custom Audio switcher has too many options. He is constantly on and off the board, particularly trying to find a fit for that Leslie speaker. While it packed a huge punch in the Trey Trio (no keyboard player), that tone gets absolutely lost in the mud as it steps all over, around and through Page's keys. I think the shear number of effect options is making organic communication with the band more difficult as Red seems pre-occupied with effects, particularly the delays and the Leslie. Once Trey has satisfied his curiosity with his rig early into jams he comes back to his searing lead tone (sometimes with that x3 Mutron as the cherry on top of a very delicious sundae- God Bless You Mike Beigel) and things seem to take off immediately. Just my two cents- for more info. on Red's Rig a trip to treysguitarrig.com can be helpful.

Thanks for reading, for the great vibes and for this great community of music nerds!

We love this band. And we love you too.

Matty, Michelle, Bodhi and Avery in Austin

This is my third Phish show and I had a great time. The venue is nice but very hot. Most of the day in Austin was overcast and not scorching but the sun came out - of course - as soon as I got in the pit.

Set 1's "The Moma Dance" and "Funky Bitch" were my highlights. I noticed some women have a synchronize dance to "The Line." Gordon reveals his sexy calves!

Set 2 didn't really "get me" until "The Wedge" started. Maybe because "Everything's Right" and "Steam" feel like one color to me. I finally caught a "Wilson" and it was filled with great energy!

I've been to every TX show since 2015 and while every phish show you attend will have great moments, I have a feeling this show will contain the highest "replay" value.
Nothing I feel the need to write home about in the first set but I guess I can note that all the songs were executed well. It was fun, but many bands are fun. What I want is inspiration. I want awe. I want piss-my-pants, emaculant improvisation.
Well Phish have me exactly what I was looking for in the Everythings Right jam. The band works through a few themes and then signal to peak and it seemed like they just kept building and building until they exploded. This might not be what everyone wants. They have been bliss-peaking a lot of jams these past years (BD Chalkdust and Simple come to mind).
I love a bliss-peak, but I also like shit to get weird. DWD gets nice and gnarly. Someone else said it, the perfect yang to ER's Yin. It's not August 93 SOAM or Antelope weird. It's not Providence Bowie weird. It's Phish summer 2018 minor groove weird, which is a great weird to be.
The haze clears into steam. I've never heard a bad steam.
Seven below gives us a standard satisfying peak and Dirt takes the cool down slot.
Wedge Wilson lope and loving cup were all well executed and satisfying.
I love this band so much. They delivered the goods in Austin for us and made many a-smile. Thank you Phish

Let's not forget, Trey is a Texan! Very cool to give the shout out to his birth-state.
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Set 1: Funky Bitch was my highlight. Mike owns it both on the vocals and bassline, everyone very tight and Trey brings it home, clocking in at almost 9mins which seems longer than a typical version. Love the mid-set Theme and they gave us a Brian & Robert!
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Set 2: Everything's Right is the super jam of the evening. They had trouble with the landing but that'll happen when the jam is a wild ride! Steam and 7Below were wonderful jams too...Great slot for Dirt to give us a breather before a solid ending with wedge, wilson and antelope.

Great show and excellent vibe at Austin360 Amphitheater last night. Tuesday was the first non-triple-digit day in a couple weeks, so low 90's at showtime at 80's by a few songs in was welcomed weather by most Austinites there.

Sample opener was fun and light in the 2 spot was a treat. Light had a nice jam and a rocking peak. From the get-go, there was good interplay. Moma-Funky got the place moving. Fish nailed the Moma vocals and Trey shredded the end of Funky. After Funky Bitch, Trey took a second to address the crowd, "I know a lot of people move to Austin from different parts of the country, I'm just curious how many of yall are REAL Texans here? Raise your hands!" As Trey stood with both hands up and even flashed a hook em horns /rock n roll to the delight of the crowd. Reminding everyone that he was born in Ft. Worth in 1964.

A quick romp through Heavy Things, before Theme added a nice change of pace and first real Kuroda porn of the night. Solid versions of Brian and Robert - halfway to the moon and the line followed. You can tell Page loves playing Halfway to the moon.

During Fishmans vacuum solo in I Didn't know, Mike took his shoes off, dropped trou to reveal matching shorts underneath. Trey then changed the lyrics to "is this a picture of, Mike's calves!?" As the sun had fully set, 46 days brought the heat and some nice effect work by Trey to end a solid first set filled with Texas Banter, excellent vocals, and a bit of pageantry. The boys were obviously having a great time!

Second Set started off with a bang! If you haven't listened to Everything's Right, do it! The one-two punch of ER -> DWD is a tasty 40 minute of junk of what makes the band the best on the planet. The rest of the second set was bliss. On point playing, and Trey's tone was crisp and confident. Loving CUP left everyone wanting more! So happy that they came back to Austin after a somewhat off night with lots of songs in 2015, and really laid down and downright beast of a second set. Come back soon boys! See y'all at CURVEBALL!

As others have mentioned, this is a nice average show. Light was the first set highlight for me with the band taking a more blissful approach rather than dropping straight into the normal, dark territory the jam hits. Don't worry, it gets there towards the end. Funky Bitch has a nice solo and even Halfway to the Moon sounded pleasant to my ears. 46 Days closes us out in proper set one closing fashion and has a great type 1 jam with a satisfying peak.

Everything's Right has made a nice transition from TAB to Phish land and this version is no exception. The jam seems to always start off with some darker space which is welcomed. This version turns on a dime and begins to brighten. Trey leads the band to a really rocking peaking that will surely bring a smile to your face. Kind of reminds me of the Chalkdust jam from 12/29/17 in that it doesn't travel far, but you're happy with where it ends up. Disease sounded like you'd expect a 17 minute Disease to sound. Nothing too groundbreaking here, just a solid jam. The rest of the set doesn't have any particular highlights (maybe the Seven Below has relisten value) but has decent enough of a flow and a good enough closing Antelope.

Overall, I'd probably relisten to Light, 46 Days, and Everything's Alright. Still not sold on the DWD or Seven Below, but I wouldn't complain if someone put them on.

For us couch touring, only constant was not so good sound with the peeps talking throughout as to how great they were for streaming, which is true but still.
Sample, light and moma dance I missed jerking around for a feed. I’ll c(eco em out in the a.m. I turned on and tuned In To a most diff Funky Bitch. For sure Funky and even bitchy, but a little funky bit he vs a great big one...heavy things and theme, sometimes the bar beats 6ou and these two show two sides of being left half full and they do 8t almost happily and then funkily respectively. I always appreciate Brian (Eno) & Robert (Fripp), & relish their playing it with mustard. Mike, sing mock song again at curve ball, but you can be (Alf way to the moon to a possum or roggae or yamar, just sing Baby, sing. For sure the most poppy mike song, but poppy’s are good, just ask the wizard of oz characters who know about that... The Line I like and love what it’s about. Anyone who has played sports and knows about “choking”, this typifies the choker, which I’ve persinally been; again, poignant songs that teach or at least allure is to love and doin the right thang.... I didn’t know reminds me I’m a geek at times woo I g a band who is the same, .who still maybe dream of just being a barber shop quartet? 46 days seemed like they actually had the coal vs how I like it when that c9al gave out and you’re bumming... I think as well after ending shortish, seemed like it needed a walls of the cave or whatever to follow but I refuse to bitch about anything ever, especially Cuz I have 8 shows to be at in person and w8th as few short settled sets where they’re not at 9 vs 11, I gotta say I prefer shows like this the few I can only get audio vs audio and video while couching it, amd for sure vs being there. Of course when I’m there it’s always the last show that’s the greatest anyway.
Again a short second set, second verse same as the first... is This the shortest show of the year? I bet so, maybe among the shortest ever? but again, if it’s gonna be a show that’s only spectacular vs splendoriffically spectacular, let it be one where I’m not at and only found audio, and ok, if its gonna happen anywhere, Texas seems Likely. Throw in that the fans of Austin have always been the most gracious and accepting of material that’s either subpar or is that only they get; Daniel Johnson for example...
Anyway, the second opening Everything’s Right had me happy from first note. Yes, it’s a great jamming vehicle as many say, tonight maybe among the best versions; (this was the diddy with the most type two jamming of the eve) ever in its short lived life! But it more importantly is one of many new and newish songs that have me proud to have such a band as the one ive chosen and has chosen me to be a cult follower for; stillperforming new songs that are relevant and world shifting with their leanings toward making this shing ball of blue we call our home a better place (Bobby/Barlow nod there, tyvm). Also the simplest and shortest lines in a song ever to talk about being here now, vs looking backwards or forwards. Who doesn’t love Down with Desease? I know I do, even when it’s shorter and not as type two as most every one prior. STOPSTOPSTOP. I like my steam absolutely drenched where if I could I’d get out f it yet I’m so happy I can’t. This one while running dimentally supurb, was like when they are cleaning the steam room, like three in the morning, and you’re glad the jacuzzi is working.
Dirt is for sure in my top whatever (can’t commit to a fav, but dirt n ma y ways I enjoy as much as Fluff or even Harpua) And I may prove my actual short time a phan by saying I’m unfamiliar with it only being instrumental and guess what, really short, like dirt is already not long but it was wonderful, you know the words and hearing just the tune without them was emotional in a way I’d not expect. 7 below is choral for me and guess what, a bit short and not as many rapids, really a 4 or 5 below, which sometimes is better anyway... Everyday Wedge and Wilson, and both I’m sure in the top tier in how short they were, but Wilson was something special, it’s one I want to listen to again to try and figure why. Antelope was again, shortish but interestingly odd. Do ya think somebody slipped em all some sort of drug tonight ? A Mickey as they said somewhere once up9n a time, when you dressed so fine?
Loving Cup can’t ever be anything but A+ and it was, although the aforementioned record8ng dudes were positive it was gonna be a Beatles song by how they saw the band when they came out...
So again, only the second, ok, maybe the third if you count the first in Tahoe, show that you hope is the one you weren’t at if you have to have sub superfffic ones, this was one to miss, sorry Austin, but ya all seemed to enjoy it Purdy darn well.
Can’t wait for jersey. Camden Fluff Fee, with a little Mexican Cousin, or do a Puerto Rican Cousin if you like, heck, I think T.T.E. Is ripe for Jersey, but that’s just me. Goodbye and Goodnight, Will
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