The first set was a very "family friendly" almost pedestrian affair. (This observation may be stemming from the large amount of tykes milling about on the lawn during the set.) No, I was not tripping - the fan base is getting older - and procreating. Another observation regarding the "younglings": every single child wore a Phish shirt (official and bootleg) - the marketers are on to something methinks! I can only imagine what the future holds for these kids.
Anyway, back to the music of The Phish...
Set I: The Llama opener was nice. That is all (see above).
Set II: I must admit I was a little concerned after the utter blandness of set I. Kicking the set off with Wedge did little to alleviate my fears. But then...Golden Age - thank you! I thought "hopefully this will lead to something more engaging". It took a little while to get there, but eventually I was able to relax.
Other reviews are praising this Reba? Wow! Trey had a layover in "Flub City" during the composed section. This is "stellar"? Please curb your enthusiasm. The improvisation that followed made up for the "layover". I was hoping for a Tweezer to follow. Mike's was an okay substitution (in my mind).
OMG! The Ghost that followed was so delightfully dark, gritty and sinister - my earlier "fears" were squashed! I think this version will be in heavy personal rotation. The new soundtrack for my morning commute - keep off the sidewalks! It had a "Fukuoka Darkness" that was truly something to behold - I'm glad I was there to experience it! I really enjoy the music of The Phish!
No Quarter! A ballsy song sung by the wimpiest man in rock & roll (sorry Page). Fun stuff! Just an observation. Had me laughing and smiling throughout.
Weekapaug was a nice set-up for the super-hectic set closer. I'm a little hoarse this morning because I was screechin' and hollerin' so damn much throughout the last 2/3rds of the second frame.
Does 2/3rds of a second set make for an exceptional show? Nope. I had to see what all the buzz was about firsthand. I'm glad I drove myself to Raleigh to experience The Phish at this point in their career. The tour is indeed a high-water mark in their history. This show is a 3.