HAMPTON, VA
The drive from my hometown of Boston, Massachusetts to Manchester, Tennessee just got a whole lot shorter, if you know what I’m saying. A lot of people’s summers are going to be rescheduled after Phish’s scorching comeback this weekend. Raise your hand if you’ve looked back at your calendar again and rechecked those summer tour dates. What’s it worth to you now compared to what it was worth on Thursday? Know this much: ticket prices are only going up after Phish bagged it and tagged it this weekend. Is one show worth the $250 it will take to get in? Well, $250 means something different to everybody, so far be it from me to tell you if you should spend it or not. But I can tell you this much: you will be getting the finest in the nation, choice cut, A+-grade Phish product. While they weren’t perfect, they absolutely have “it”, and that’s all that matters.
Tonight’s show was packed with more and more Phish classics. Dynamically, I’d say it was the most diverse setlist of the three shows. Go back and look at the overall 90 song selection for the three nights. It’s immaculate. They rocked every staple, a whole bunch of semi-bustouts, a couple of newer tunes and even some debuts. To my surprise, I found myself really enjoying some of the tunes that have previously not been amongst my favorites, such as "Farmhouse," "Undermind," and "Heavy Things." For the first time these tunes sounded like Phish to me. What a fantastic overall mix of tunes. If you’re not happy with the overall selection, you should probably ask yourself if the music of Phish truly satisfies your musical needs.
Tonight was a tale of two sets. First set was right up there with the first night’s first set for song selection and quality. If they had any rust on them, it once again was not showing in this set. For the third night in a row we got about 16 songs and 1 hour 50 minutes. First set has taken on a whole new complexion than it had post-hiatus, and it’s going down as easily as a postshow garlic grilled cheese.
Second set they really flexed their jamming muscle for the first time all weekend. "Down With Disease" was left unfinished as it segued into "Seven Below" and deepened the running plot for the weekend, leaving both "Down With Disease" needing to be finished and "Tweezer Reprise" needing to be played with only one set left to go. (Sidenote to Phish.com: What is up with the setlist? Fans throwing roses on the stage is not an asterisk. You might as well asterisk every time a fan throws a glowstick on stage. An unfinished song is an asterisk. Songs can and did segue into each other even if they’re not "Mike’s Groove" or "The Horse" > "Silent In The Morning." Finally, no mention of "Happy Birthday" at the beginning of the encore at all? Really? They sang the song! Who can I trust for a proper setlist around here if not Phish.com? End rant.)
They really went off into exploration on "Down With Disease," "Twist," and "Moma Dance." You could see and feel the fatigue of three days setting in on the crowd during the demanding rendition of "Twist," but hey, you’re never more than a 2001 away from getting everybody right back into it. There was some evident rust again in this set. Again, no complaining allowed if you’re in the building, we’re just calling a spade a spade here. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" was a struggle. If Trey had been playing "The Horse" on Guitar Hero, he would have failed. Other scattered bits and pieces need some polishing. But bottom line: They sound awesome, and astonishingly awesome for 5 years off. This show would have been quality in 1995.
One final note on the scene and we can close the curtain on an incredible comeback weekend. The scene was fantastic. Everyone I encountered packed their best vibes, even during the inevitable crowding to get in. I got to spend quality time on lot with good friends, old friends, and kind strangers. I had the chance to talk with phans from 14 different states and Japan. Everyone who sat anywhere near me during all three shows was dialed in 100% to the band. Three days on lot and in shows with completely positive vibes was phenomenal, it really raised the experience. Thank you to all my fellow fans! If you didn’t understand, who in the world would?
With that, I will close the curtain on an unforgettable weekend of listening, writing, remembering, and creating that will stay with me for a long time. Thank you so much to everyone for reading and sharing the articles. It’s been a pleasure being up until daybreak each day to deliver on deadline. If you have any comments, leave one below, or write me at sethwolfman@gmail.com. I’ll be here reviewing other shows while we wait for summer tour, so until then, SEE YOU THIS SUMMER! You know you’ll be there.
-Seth Wolfman
Setlists
Friday, March 6 setlist
Saturday, March 7 setlist
Sunday, March 8 setlist
Write-ups
Read our Friday Phish Hampton review/photos.
Or check out our review of Saturday’s Phish Hampton show.
