Whatever You Do, Take Care Of Your Shoes

“It took me a long time to get back on the train.”  There couldn’t be truer words to sum up this past fall tour.  Phish has finally turned a corner, and what we witnessed over the last few weeks was their best tour since reuniting in Hampton last year.  Everything just seemed to click - songs, jams, energy.

In my opinion, the venues played a key roll in this transformation.  By downsizing to smaller locations, Phish was able to reconnect with their audience on a much more personal level.  Hearing shows from Utica, Manchester, and Augusta, it was very reminiscent of the 93-94 era.  Very intimate and much more personal, and it definitely played a factor in the band taking some chances.

After a few warm-up gigs including ACL and the Broomfield run, Phish shifted into highgear the second night in Charleston, dropping some unexpected first song jams (“The Curtain With,” “Sand,”) and a second set that flowed perfectly from start to finish (check out the opening “Crosseyed” to see a small glimpse of what I mean).  From there, the tour just picked up steam.  The boys relaxed, and the risks they took paid off.  Augusta’s “Reba” rivals any other version from the last 15 years, and as an ENCORE?!  Yea, I’ll take it!  Guyutica was just an all-round party.  The “David Bowie” from that evening may take the cake as the most exploratory jam of the 3.0 era.  And while the boys appeared to have run out of steam mid-tour in Amherst, they picked right back up in Manchester for a show chock full of rarities.  The homestretch run in AC just solidified the tour, as Phish played seven action-packed sets, including a Zeppelin-infused 30th, and what some would argue their strongest musical costume to date on Halloween.

The Little Feat choice definitely played a roll in the success of the tour.  Maybe it’s like rekindling an old flame, but Phish rediscovered some of that magic from the early club days when Little Feat songs like “Skin In Back” and “Time Loves a Hero” were staples.  Trey was right when he said this one was for him.  Watching him play that night, there could not have been a better choice for an album.  Boardwalk Hall was transformed into a full on dance party, and the band tackled some of the most complex rhythms they ever attempted.

This is the Phish we love.  Each night filled with unexpected twists and turns, and strong, confident jams.  New songs like “Light” continue to be the driving force and catapult the band into that fantastic, unknown territory.  As we count down the days until the New Year’s run, we should be happy that the boys have found what was missing.

image courtesy of Ryan Mastro.