Solid review, Scissortail.

Though, I fall into the “disagree” camp for the Lonely Trip placement. I like the song but I never crave it. And didn’t in that moment. But it did something beautiful to the Garden. To me it really felt like a moment of togetherness that I didn’t feel the other nights. Like it was the right point to have that kind of song. Plus with those Gun and No Men right before, I thought LT was earned. Particularly given the jam fest of the five sets that came before.

I, too, was bummed that Frankie didn’t jam. It would have been so great. Was going somewhere great. And it was my first FS since 2003, so I was PLEASED. And in the second set? Boy I thought it would go another ten minutes. Hoped. Damn! But that was made up for by a Jibboo that reminded me of the late 90s/2000 Jibboos.

In the moment, I thought the line “Life saving gun” was weird. Especially after Sigma, with its coincidentally COVID problematic line “take off your mask, the fear’s an illusion.” But later it occurred to me, wait, maybe we should take it as an anti-gun death statement of “what about a gun that SAVES lives?” Also I absolutely loved the music, the rhythm, the drive produced by these 60 year olds that gave me faith Phish might still have a lot of years left at a high-intensity level. Plus the rest of the lyrics are cool in a way I like a lot of the early songs in which lines may seem abstract but each line evokes imagery and lets the imagination run wild. Rather than yet another soul song. I also really appreciated that these 60 year olds could still create unique and cool music. All the new songs this tour have me very encouraged.

I LOVED the show. Aided by not having a bunch of wasted knobs and Phish bros around my group, like we had Saturday night behind the stage. But also, that first set, wow. And I’ll take a jammy set 2 with numerous songs under 20 minutes over one that has a 20-30 minute anchor jam that is followed by a laundry list of run through songs.

I’m even fine with them only playing 2.5 hours, if that’s how they approach it. Trim the fat, in my opinion. Then I can actually have time afterward to process what just happened with my friends and still get actual sleep. That 15-30 minutes that were shaved likely would have been a few standard versions of songs, probably ones I’m less interested in, with MAYBE a 10 minute song/type I jam that doesn’t really go anywhere. In all probability a Zero, which I’ve seen many of and don’t need even one more. I so much appreciated the First Tube the night before for this reason. Also I like First Tube as an encore closer.