Set 1: An unfinished Caspian into NMINML is an intriguing start right off the bat, and that start gets all the more intriguing with a Ghost that escapes the "set 2 jam vehicle goes to Set 1 and loses its Set 2 powers" straitjacket with a glorious (if now slightly familiar at this point) major-key...
This was my first show. I will never forget walking into Lakewood and hearing Trey's opening walkdown of 'Julius', which was the first Phish song I ever heard (i.e. first album = "Hoist").
There was so much stirring at this show - the punchy energy of the band tempered by weeks in Europe and...
Ok folks time to write a review, shall we? Been a while since I chimed in on a recent show (8/31/12?) But this little offering on Jerry's birthday makes it pretty hard to resist.
For those keeping score, 2015 has seen the emergence of a pretty invigorated, inspired and practiced Trey...
Review of GHOST jam
2:22 Break into outro of song
3:00 Lift off, Mike slapping, Page on Clav, Trey with dirty tone
4:10 Trey on Wah, page to synth. Mike drives the jam, alternating three deep notes with accompanying slaps. Page lays the synth over the jam as Fishman is his usual backbeat....
Long time fan of the band and this site, finally created an account to make one comment about last night's show because I see nobody else has pointed this out and it is relevant to the observations about the false starts to Mike's Song.
After Rift, Trey made a quick remark, something to the...
Just got back to the hotel from my only stop on leg 2. You may notice the second set did not stop between songs once. It all flowed really well tonight, and I feel really grateful to see this band. Some may have read my forum post about a certain dark part of this community, in which I wondered...
The greatest Ghost ever played. Crazy YEM>Rocky Mountain Way. As cleanly played a show as you will ever hear.
Everyone already knows all that. The hidden gem in this show is the Split Open and Melt. Another of those jams that I like to say "turned inside out". This jam is dark and...
Cursory thoughts here on the first Lakewood shows Ive missed since 2003. Theses gigs were hinge shows without a doubt. Lots of mixed feelings and anticipatory emotions leading up to these shows. We all know how 2015 has unfolded thus far, how you've internalized the music so far is a personal and...
After nearly 9 years I’m the first reviewer? Well, let’s get this started Hotlanta!
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We were determined not to be late on this evening. My suggestion one day earlier of venturing into the Smokey Mountain National Park had left...
Just had to comment that this Ghost of totally off the hook, best I ever saw live (maybe best ever...who really knows)....Bytheway I miss the older version beginning to Ghost.
The longest version since Tahoe is gorgeous, in part, but does meh-ander now and then, despite a section where Trey repeats a "Born On The Bayou"-esque riff, and despite the final few minutes where the jam picks up momentum before petering-out with a loop'ed noise from Trey's guitar.
Another big and quality work of improvisation from a year of strong "Pipers." Incredible really. This version has multiple movements that weave together quite well, as well as a "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" tease.
Courtesy of user @lizardwithaz: Patience is the key to this Tweezer, as Trey immediately gets a siren echo going and a commanding Mike takes over a laid-back soundscape, and doesn't let up. Once the band finds a groove and the siren loops drop out, Trey finds his way fully into the jam and guides the band through a jam fit for a lazy summer day, finding a fun progression to return to over and over, eventually finding the way to a ping-pong jam, with Mike, Page, and Trey all swatting notes back and forth before an incredibly satisfying drop into another Mike-led groove, highlighted by a "Tweezer Reprise"-ish progression and some thrilling hose!
Enchanting. Page's solo features some unusual stylings and cool chord progressions. Trey's solo is a fairly simple, yet stunningly melodic, and includes a "Dueling Banjos" tease and playing vaguely reminiscent to "Faht". Different from the higher octane '97s, but definitely must-hear.
Arguably the best "Type I" version ever. The jam proceeds through the customary progressions, then, just when your ear is expecting the final refrain, the band veers off into a fantastic, swinging, stylistically well-played extension.
Raging porno-funk that slides into a very mellow midi horn laden outro. [A multi-section masterpiece of funky '97 styles highlight this strong jam. Page skillfully deploys multiple keyboards, and the jam energy ebbs and flows repeatedly.]
An excellent version which showcases the dynamic interplay between Trey and Page, while Fish and Mike keep the intricate rhythmic pattern steady throughout. Also has a fantastic peak and gradual settle.
"Bowie" picks up right where it left off in Providence, and summer '95 includes a number of spectacular, "Big" versions. This first one, while sticking to the "Bowie" theme longer than most, is exploratory both within that framework, and certainly once it gets beyond.
Segues in smoothly from Stash. This unusual version is played much slower than normal and carries real weight. The bizarre jam in the middle features Fishman on trombone and Mike on power drill.
Given that the "Heavy Things" after this version features a "Happy Birthday" tease, playing "Ocelot" wasn't the most overt "nod to Jer" on Jerry Garcia's birthday the summer Trey moonlighted at Fare Thee Well, but it is the most musically impressive. The word most associated with this version of the song is 'slinky'. In one more tribute to the Dead, the band takes almost three minutes before starting "Heavy Things."
Great late show "Reba" arrives via a sharp -> from "BOTT." A tight composed section leads to a strong jam, with super guitar matched in equal measure by on-point, full-band play. Unsurprisingly, then - yet surprisingly! - Trey manages to squeeze "Reba's" post-jam whistling into the ensuing "Gin," with Page's outright teasing a musical exclamation point upon this historic "couplet."