The Groove I Asked For

– United Center, Chicago | July 18–20, 2025

A birthday weekend filled with funk, intention, and a band that heard me.

I came to Chicago for one thing:
The funk.

It was my birthday weekend, and I came in with a short list of hopes:
– A Tube jam
– A 2001
– And whatever other deep-pocket groove they had in store.

I had floor tickets all three nights and showed up ready to move.

⸻

Night 1 – The Signal

Friday starts strong — then Bathtub Gin hits.
Midway through the jam… a “Tequila” tease.
That rhythm has been locked in me since Pee-wee Herman.
It felt like a toast from the band.

Then they drop On Your Way Down — a 588-show bustout I’d quietly been chasing.
Swampy, bluesy, slow-funk perfection.

That’s when I started thinking: They’re tuned in.

⸻

Night 2 – The Ask

Saturday afternoon, I just happened to run into Mike Gordon on the lot.
No scene — just a quiet moment. I looked at him and said:

“Let’s get funky tonight, Mike.”

He looked over and said:

“Ok, thanks.”

That night delivered exactly what I hoped for:
– Ya Mar in the first set — clean, playful, perfectly Mike
– Tube to open the second set
– 2001 right after — bingo.

I was on the floor thinking: This isn’t random. This is real.

⸻

Night 3 – The Groove Delivered

They opened with:
– Cars Trucks Buses
– AC/DC Bag
– Funky Bitch
– Mike’s Song (Page absolutely torching the clav)

Then Weekapaug Groove in the encore — tying it all together.

⸻

Final Thought:

Phish didn’t just play Chicago.
They played my Chicago.
And they played it funky.