[We would like to thank Cotter Smart (@Cotter_Smart) for recapping last night's show. -Ed.]

There seem to be special times in life we are given a third opportunity. Be it college, with our significant other, or an extra Phish set. I say this not knocking the first two sets of music we all heard in the woodlands last night, they were good. The band sounded very intentional, they came out and played with a purpose. Nothing was bad, but outside of a few amazing moments during a “Pillow Jets” into “Your Pet Cat” jam there was nothing got to the heights reached previously in the tour. The secret set felt like culmination of it all.

I tend to get the difficult tasks of writing reviews for out of the ordinary shows. I wrote the Gamehendge review, and prior to that put pen to paper when Trey got stuck. Those were not easy to do; this represents an entirely different challenge. Trying to accurately describe the intricacies of a 50-minute behemoth as someone who’s not musically well endowed. I’ll do my best.

Writing these reviews always seem to line up with important life moments for me. The NYE 2019 show was when I figured out Lehigh was the school for me. This review was a show on my birthday, two weeks after starting my first real job, and 3 months after graduating college. A lot is changing, Phish stays the same. I can tell you firsthand I relied on this band’s music and community every step of the way. Phish is a distraction from reality. It’s a place to forget all concerns, distractions, issues, anxieties, etc. with thousands of your closest friends. That’s not to say they do not exist, just in the brief 3-hour time we have together they’re delayed a bit. All that matters now are those around you and 4 middle aged men who’ve repeatedly shown they may be the first cases ever of true telepathy.

I have never been to a Phish show someone did not love. I have never been to a Phish show that was not special for someone in the crowd. I try to think about this a lot at shows, look around and figure out who’s having that special moment. Lucky for me last night it was my dad. The sober dancing fool who absolutely loses control of his body during “First Tube.” They’re the reason I’m here and I want to give them a special shoutout for giving me the best birthday gift I could imagine. The one question I had coming into the festival was what would we do during the 10 hours a day Phish isn’t playing? Its not like there are filler acts, no large, organized events, DJ’s? sure but those come after. The truth is Phish has seemingly put on a clinic as to how to keep tens of thousands of people entertained. This place is a playground. It has morning yoga sessions, comedy shows, dozens of vending options, and really really realllllly overpriced beer. I have to take out more student loans to buy a fair share of beer in the concert grounds. The Ferris wheel is a damned delight, I must admit I have yet to make the pilgrimage to Olivia’s pool but me and everyone else my mom’s age are really going to enjoy a facial.

We wandered around a bit during the day, took in the sights, did what we wanted to do while leaving some stuff for today and tomorrow. We left to claim a spot at about 5:15, we lucked into a very spacious area about halfway up the soundboard Mike side the night before and wanted to get close again, fortune favored us. Now comes my least favorite part of the entire day. Sitting and waiting. Its hot, its sunny, and everyone knows we still have 90 minutes before the band emerges from whatever AC trailer, they’re practicing in. I must admit, the degradation from conversation to everyone picking an opener is a nice change of pace. It feels like people have conversations, once they run out of things to talk about it moves to calling the opener. Shoutout to the guy I was guessing with behind me who said he reads these reviews each morning with coffee. It was fun to get down with you. Now the music.

The band came on a little earlier than Thursday, 7:01 vs. 7:10. “Bouncing Around the Room” came first and always provides for a nice joint loosening opening dance party. It was a good version, nothing crazy but no places I winced. “Kill Devil Falls” followed, from my vantage point it seemed the lyrical section had a little more energy than usual. I always love the buildup before the jam. Trey found a cool space around 8 minutes in, but Fishman and Mike drove the boat. For a first set second song it was about as good of a sign as you could hope for. You know what’s a better sign? “Peaches en Regalia” my second and a massive surprise given the fact they played it at Grant rapids not two weeks before. It brought everyone down and was an overall good version. “Free” came in the 4 spot, selfishly I found myself hoping we’d get a version akin to DC 2021, I figured it’s a festival why wouldn’t they take this for a walk. They did impressive things in the nearly 9-minute version, especially Mike who took off running once the jam opened up. They found a nice funk pocket and came back into the song flawlessly. Four songs in, four dance parties. It’s a first set, that’s what first sets are for.

“Divided Sky” came next, always a welcome treat and a good version taboot. I have heard a couple pauses in “Divided Sky”; none I can remember being as intense as the one tonight. The 1:20 of people losing their proverbial minds was awesome. My voice is still shot today. It felt like you could bottle that energy up and take it home with you. That’s a why we Phish moment. Looking around and seeing the smiles on people’s faces as they scream with neighbors, they’ve never met but know all too well. It’s special and I pity those who don’t get “it.” Trey got through the remainder flub free, sustains and all. It was a beautiful moment with a nice solo as the cherry on top. If I could have a “Divided Sky” at every show I would. Tube!!! One of my favorite songs and one that takes a notoriously short time to get jamming, 53 seconds in this version. We got the funk siren! Second time in as many days, yesterday’s “Sand” also featured the delayed jam loop. It was a party, “Tube” always is. Did they jam it? I think Harris Wittels would’ve said no unfortunately.

For all intents and purposes, we were 6/6 on song selection but nothing quite got there everything was good, nothing was great. No complaints from me or my neighbors. “Mountains in the mist” came next, a beautiful, quiet song that I will always take as a breather. “Reba” followed; I don’t know if its just me but when I picture what “Reba” might look like I always picture Reba McEntire. Either way “Reba” is a beautiful song and one with an ending I truly cherish. Trey’s solo is such a beautiful exemplar of his stunning tone. It’s impossible not to be impressed as the band slowly builds around Trey who puts the cherry on top of a patient peak. No whistling, slightly upsetting as I’ve had that whistle stuck in my head for weeks now. I figured this was the moment, if any to give the ear worm the boot. No dice. “ʇʍᴉsʇ” was the 9 batter, usually reserved for those hitting below the Mendoza line, this one showed why it’s in the big leagues. A compact version with a key shift at 4:30 that took it to a fantastic pocket. Fishman is a damn animal and the entire band rotated around, my favorite non-composed jam yet. “Character Zero” was called up to send us to our once a show 15-minute set break. It was a great version with high energy that did its job. They took their time getting to a place that felt appropriate for a festival set end. Then the true anticipation began.

I tried to go to the bathroom, bad idea, the venue is absolutely packed and no less than 5,000 people had the same idea, were walking the same path, hell even tried to use the same stall as me. Regardless of my poor decision making it was time. We knew they were going to bring it but how? Would it be a monster “Tweezer”? a dark “DWD”? or maybe “My Friend My Friend”! They played a killer version in Bethel in which Trey said he needed a second, if you haven’t yet do yourself a favor and give it a listen. I was hoping for something similar, but expectations are always secondary to the unknown at Phish shows. It was a tight type 1 heater with impressive guitar work from Trey throughout. Page lays down some beautiful key overlays around 9 minutes and they’re full throttle. A smooth landing ends the free YouTube viewership and we’re off and running with “No Men in No Man’s Land”. A very nice bliss jam hits the ground running and provides the quality, head bopping, knee bending, sole bouncing jam we’ve come to expect from this iteration of the band we all love.

The lights at this point in the show were otherworldly. CK5 turned the woodlands into a spaceship, it was the only time I have ever stared at the lights for an entire song. They take it to cool places early and I would recommend the 11-minute version over a lot of longer jams that take awhile to find their feet. The jam devolves into a soundscape I have no chance at describing then a smooth segue into “Ruby Waves.” What I love about this year so far has been the lack of wasted time. Maybe they have a more refined idea of what setlists will be but there’d rarely a wasted second. I love not having to stop dancing but instead move differently as they effortlessly slide through songs. “RW” got there quick again, there was no settling down, a dark syrupy jam ensued that felt like it could have come out of any “Split Open and Melt.” They went into a plinko jam that proved difficult for my mom to dance to, but they were telling a story. Slightly clunky, a little funky, and absolutely spunky.

Three second set jams, three above 11 minutes, none above 16, it felt like they were putting on a clinic in different ways they could jam without linking it together. Authors note: It did come together later. Pillow jets is probably my favorite track off the new album. It’s Phishy enough, dark, and does not take long to reach its desired destination. What ensued was my favorite jam without a screen in front of the band. They were patient, exploring various areas without deviating too far from the backbone that is Jon Fishman. Weirdly enough 8:16 in the jam is where it goes from good to great. They do not stop from there, flawlessly going into “Your Pet Cat”. It was a funkier than usual “YPC” that was a continuation of the “Pillow Jets” jam. What sounded to my ears like “Life Saving Gun” teases around 1:45 took us back into the type 2 world of Phish. Looking around the crowd and seeing everyone collectively dance like nobody was watching was a special moment. Phish was delivering. They wrapped up “YPC” nicely with a white lights-trees alight bliss peak. An effortless finish to “Ruby Waves” laid the stage for a “Ghost."

Recently we’ve seen “Ghosts” with longer intros, this one was very matter of fact. Not bad by any means but not as drawn out. My mom’s favorite song and by extension one of my favorites is always a welcome sight. “Ghost” had a nice, abbreviated bliss jam with some call and response between Trey and Page. It segued nicely into “NMINML,” tonight the theme was ending jams with previously played songs. My personal favorite set closer brought the house down.

“Fluffhead” has been on somewhat of a hot streak recently. The version from Chicago last fall was otherworldly, this took that torch and ran with it. Technically it was beautiful, flub free with a chill-inducing crowd reaction during Page’s solo. Trey took off when given the signal and there was no looking back. Waves of a perfect guitar tone 41 years in the making basked the woodlands in joy. Trey, and the rest of us, did not want it to end. He was telling a story that had a different meaning to every person in the crowd. They stuck the landing, and palpable excitement ensued when he told that one dude there may be a secret set. “Harry Hood” was the first of a double encore, a quiet slow building hood gave way to a beautiful re-entry into “Hood”. It was good but it rightfully did not end the show. Those honors belonged to “First Tube,” always welcome, always a dance party. I wore a shirt that said ‘Trey is a jedi” on Thursday, I should’ve waited one more day. His jedi tricks were out in full force for this rendition of “First Tube." It felt a little longer than the average version in the best way possible. I’m sure Rene Huemer has an amazing shot of tens of thousands of people holding their invisible guitars in the air, I cannot wait to see it.

Not long after the band left the stage a black curtain unfurled from above the lights and rose again in perforated sheets. Projectors near the soundboard gave us a glimpse of what Sphere might have been like. I swear they showed The “YEM” dog in the beginning as well. The Woodlands Jam began ambient with Trey on acoustic and visuals of wildlife changing. The visual landscape was breathtaking and impossible to describe due to its rapidly changing nature. The band settled into a soft meditative state that lasted about twelve minutes before giving way to a behemoth of a jam. Trey went to electric and there was no looking back.

The visuals increased in speed as the band picked up tempo. Fishman led the jam to start which increased in ferocity, it sounded like nothing I had ever heard before. A robotic, plinko-esque jam emerged before a return to Trey on acoustic and more ambience. If I could separate the jams into two it would be there around the 19:30 mark. The visuals became waterfalls and Page put his synth to work. A jam that would have been the best of the show if it followed any song lasted until about the 27-minute mark. Then another return to ambience before we were launched into space.

The last section was my favorite, it felt higher tempo than the average 2024 Phish jam with all four members meshing. They went in and out of ambient sections with true face melting exploratory type 2 Phish in between. Fish carried the tempo, Page’s snyths added backing to Trey’s slow build while Mike held the fort down. They peaked the Woodlands Jam for what felt like an eternity, with machine gun Trey coming out in full force. It was simply put the best live jam I have ever heard. [Check out this video. -Ed.]

It was a beautiful bow on top of a beautiful day. That jam is why we Phish, and it will always keep us coming back. I hope all there had an amazing time, thank you for being a part of a magical night. Onto night 3!

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