File Under: You had to be there.

Or maybe had to webcast. Or maybe neither. I’m glad I was able to get some time off work and catch the AC run and the shows here in Virginia. 7 shows in, this year really feels… different. In a very good way.

On paper, this one looks like someone left a Phish playlist on random and this is what came up. But at the show, in the venue, with a packed, happy and considerably smaller crowd than any of the AC shows, there was definitely a flow. I don’t know how else to sum it up than tonight was an odd, funny night. I can’t remember seeing the guys smiling, laughing and just goofing around as much as tonight.

Carl Gerhard guested in Party Time, an efficient Simple and smooth Axilla later, we were done with anything normal-ish. Trey and Page were trying to figure out what a group of people in the front were calling for. They thought it sounded like Tube, so that’s what they played. Faster than the recent AC version, this one also opened up a bit with some tasty extended Page riffage. Speaking of, it seemed like he went particularly nutty on the intro to Gin, an overall energetic version that got the crowd cooking. STFTFP took a little of that energy away from the gang I was standing around, but then came I Didn’t Know, and our theme for the rest of the evening.

Listening in you wont have the head scratching pleasure of watching Fishman tuck his dress into his boxer briefs. He encouraged anyone willing to also tuck in to come up. So you also won’t see the jackbag that got up on stage in a Fish dress only to reveal to us that he didn’t have anything on underneath to tuck it into. It was like a scene from Oz that wound up at a Phish show. Trey cracked up then thoroughly scolded the crowd for being so bad at tucking, and we were off into Antelope.

I don’t know what was up with the Antelope in AC, I haven’t listened back yet, but it just didn’t really crank me up like that tune usually does. Tonight’s did. It felt like a make-good Antelope, and Trey replaced all ‘runs’ with ‘tucks,’ which had he and Page smiling and laughing. Pretty much everyone around me was laughing right along with them, and dancing their asses off.

Set 2 just carried on the odd. SOAM had another tuck tucked in, and it threatened to get all dank and gooey at the end, but Trey pulled them back and into Mango. I chased that song forever in the 90s, they just didn’t ever bust it out at any of the dozens and dozens and dozens of shows I hit. This is my third one since the return, and it’s always so… sloppy. They pulled it together after the last chorus, only to follow it up with a big sigh in choosing Number Line. Limb x2 made up for it, followed by a great Stones cover, and then we found ourselves in Lengthwise. I didn’t see how it got up there, but the next thing we all know, Trey’s swinging this lightsaber around like a 12 year old. It was just awesome. He even asked CK5 to drop the lights so he could fool around with it in the dark while Fish prattled on. We can’t see anything, but it looked like Trey was playing his guitar with the lightsaber, the lights come up, and he is. We’re into Maze. Once Trey dropped the saber, he couldn’t really lock into the composed beginning with the rest of the band. Didn’t matter. When they got to his solos, he SHREDDED. Early 90s machine-gun Trey, only with more style. And that was the playing that he took into Cavern and Fire, which couldn’t be a more aptly named tune for the way they blazed through it.

They came out for the encore in ridiculously over-sized sombreros. I guess it should have been obvious given how wacky the rest of the night was, but nobody around me thought we'd hear Mexican Cousin. That goofy-ass song is fun. But a guy right behind me was borderline pissed at how jokey this was for an encore. As if responding, they went into Slave. Once again, for me, it felt like a make-good from AC’s ragged but still pretty decent version. This one was a beautiful, flawless, polished gem that I wish coulda gone on for another 10 minutes. I turned to the dude behind me and said, “better now?” He smiled back and shrugged. Which I guess is what lots of people might do at this night.

What an awesome, odd summer. From the dark, dank, creepy Carini on opening night to the guys who turned themselves back into 13 yr olds tonight. The only thing that’s consistently the same with this band is that it never is. I’m still surprised at the lack of the really composed tunes, I thought we’d get a YEM/Sky/Guyute or some such, but it just wouldn’t have fit the mood if we did. Tonight was far from the most emotional, or face-melting or intense or insane show I’ve attended, but I dunno. There aren’t many I’d trade the experience for. Fun! Tomorrow's my last 'til SPAC. I can't wait.

...Oh, get this show. Maybe an aud, 'cause people were really laughing along with the band and feeding the mood. Besides, it’s probably not like many others in your stash.

Not the best show musically, although it did have several highlights, but being at this show was really fun. If you judge a show by its jamming, this show is probably a 3, but if you judge a show by how much fun you had, this show is a 5. Party Time, Tube, Gin, STFTFP, and Antelope were solid in the first set. Once Fishman accelerated the beat in Gin, it was ON. Stealing Time has been getting stretched out nicely in recent versions, and this was a good example of that.

Back on the Train was extended to open the second set. SOAM had an out-there, dissonant jam, but I'll have to re-listen to it get a better feel for the jam. Mango Song was a nice treat, but not a particularly tight version. BDTNL in the middle of the second set wasn't the best song choice and it was a typical rendition. Limb by Limb was good, but I thought the following Shine a Light was also placed unusually. It was played well though. Lengthwise->Maze was great fun, as you can see in the video with Trey being a jedi and Fish calling people up on stage. The band was very chatty tonight and there was a lot of funny banter. I cracked up many times from my spot in front of the soundboard. Cavern and Fire ended the set well and the encore was nice too. Trey ripped in Maze and Fire. Trey and Mike came out with huge sombreros for the obvious Mexican Cousin, and I was very pleased with the Slave to close it down.

Overall, a much better show to be at or watch than to listen to on a recording.

FUN FUN FUN

This is what webcasts are for! Being way back in the lawn wouldn't allow you to see all the stage antics tonight, unless the screens are clear, focused on the right band member, ON. The original TUCK, Trey's banter, the light saber ala Jimmy Page, the sombreros, the guest dancers/tuckers.. what a visual FUN night! At some point (late in the 2nd?) I said aloud to our little party that "they're about due for a tuck reference" since there hadn't been one in some time. Within 1-2 seconds Trey quips, "Tuck it". Laughter ensued.

Musically I thought the highlight was the Lengthwise -> Maze, but can't wait to check it out again soon.

this was my 186th show and I would put it in my TOP 5 in terms of "having a phucking blast"! anyone who hates on the way the show was played either wasn't there or has simply forgot what the point of touring with the boys is....I have relistened to the show twice and there IS some real polished playing and also some fantastic exploratory moments; this show might have it all; except a YEM....

When Phish is having fun, we're all having fun. That is all.

Not the greatest show I have ever listened to but holy crap was it FUN!!! The "tucked in" theme was a blast and the boys were loving it up on stage. Webcasts are awesome especially when you can see their smiles on stage as well as the antics. Musically the Split Open was the highlight for me but from the I Didn't Know on was just a blast. There were a couple of tunes that made me cringe when they f'd up but such is life. They had fun and so did I. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. I might even tuck my shirt in............................

@HighGearAntelope, wrong.

First) If you weren't there you can't really give a quality review one way or the other.

Second) If you've been to Portsmouth, like I have last night and last year too, and am at currently waiting for the tonight's show to start, then you'd know that it's general admission and you can pretty much get to the front no problem. Easy access all the time - such an awesome venue.

For Example, check out this video I took while walking down to the front about 30 minutes into the first set.
http://youtu.be/6dOFVuWo-Mg />
Anyways, I agree with you that the show was rad.

How can you review a show that you weren't even at?

Anyway, great tuckin show. Had fun. 5 stars and you know it.

One of the best Gins of 3.0! I don't know why more people don't talk about it.

3.9, you guys are crazy, I give it a 6... banter, amazing jamming....most importantly, phresh new sound...keep kickin it phish

This is a show that will definitely be better to re watch rather than re listen to i'm the future. Not to say that the show was bad musically, Had some major high points, Trey tearing Maze a new asshole being an example of that, but the setlist speaks for it's self. One of the more odd and disjointed you'll ever see with a few ripcords and some energy killers tossed in.

The onstage antics and banter are why this show will be remembered. If you wanna see Fish tuck his mumu into his underwear and Trey reveal his true Jedi calling, them hop onto youtube and search this show, or head over to one of the sites that is frowned upon by .net and seek out a captured stream, you won't be disappointed despite the initial impression given by the setlist. Watching the LP streak last night was worth every penny I paid

This was a great show that should not be dismissed due to its on-stage shenanigans, it had some very deep and serious moments interspersed with a band having a great time and feeling very comfortable it their own skin. The SOAM took me to places I've not visited before, and I would easily match the Lengthtwise>Maze>Cavern>Fire ending with virtually any other on this kick-ass, take no prisoners tour. If this indeed goes down as one of the WORST shows of Summer '12 then it was a very good summer indeed. This definitely was a show of being there at the moment and letting the music wash over you like the humid conditions of that evening dictated and it was not the "best" show that I attended this summer but it will easily end up being the best experience at a Phish show that I will have had in 2012, just one of "those" nights...

Peace,
Alex

What a "mother tucking" great show. Boys were in great form and having so much fun on stage.

"File Under: You had to be there."

I couldn't have said it better.

I just looked at the early reviews of the Cincy show (which I listened to on UStream) & it's hovering around a 4.6. But this show, which I was at, is a SOLID 3.9. Phish will continue to play what they want, but I hope they never start playing what they think we want.

Whether it's a rockin' Party Time with Geerz or a killer Maze where 1/2 the song he plays with a light saber & tells us we all suck at tucking.
-or-
A Lightnin' Hopkins bust-out, with Kuroda's favorite song (which is also a personal Top 5), and a Fluffhead Encore...for the first time in a billion shows.

Just remember, it's all good.
As my friend Max used to say (05/31/11), "They could play 'Mary Had A Little Lamb' for 3 hours & I'd be fine!"

Merxicern Cerzern...Mah Fravrit Cerzern!

In and out of focus.. Time turns tuck-tastic!!!!

Just for completeness, on 6/19/2012, Babylon Baby was performed at least twice in soundcheck and possibly 3x (to finish the soundcheck). It was somewhat hard to hear the soundcheck outside of the venue with the traffic nearby. Being that they rehearsed it so extensively, I wasn't surprised when they nailed it that night.

Unfortunately, I did not hear Round Room and/or Saw It Again at soundcheck, as I showed up when they were already playing Babylon Baby.

**second set, my bad