There’s something different between a show like tonight where the band is intentional about taking songs for a whirl vs., say, Friday night where we get a more natural 4.0 show of jams throughout. But…

Who cares!! When Phish is locked in and having fun that night, so is the whole fucking fanbase. I’m here to largely review the 1st set.

The boys come out with a Sunday Bag type 2 opener and we’re off to the races. The thing about 2023 and 40 years as a band is they say so much more in 10 minutes than they have in the past in say 30 mins. The jam finds a quick groove before Trey says it’s MFMF time, which gets its own type 2 treatment that neatly segues its way into a Bathtub Gin that peaks in its usual glorious type 1 ways. Theme starts off atypical with a Trey and Mike jam (why are people going to the bathroom during this set do you not see what’s happening in front of you?!) that nicely weaves itself into the song’s structure before eschewing the ending for a funk jam that turns out to be full speed ahead into a FAST Llama (2nd in a week? What year is this?) which gets a type 1 jam treatment that LIGHTS MSG on fire! At this point the floor of MSG might collapse 48 mins into this show.

But the band finally gives us a breather of Tube. Right? No? Not a breather? Ok. Has anyone told you that Mike is incredible and a leader of jams and inducer of groovy dances this summer? No? Ok now you know.

Did Tube jam? Yes are you stupid or even paying attention? Of course it did this night is relentless.

Golgi closes out a very very fine set and feels like an appropriate energy stamp to what we just witnessed. What could set 2 bring after THAT?

The second set starts with Mike changing into his shiny silver shirt, or Sigma Oasis into the Page/Trey song Life Saving Gun. LSG gets a dabble before Trey turns it into No Men in No Man’s Land. Lonely Trip > FRANKIE SAYS > Jibboo > then…

We get back to our modern day roots + the 1st set vibe during Light which gives us the seminal jam of the night and closes the second set. This will probably be the jam you revisit. Suzabella sends us home on the stomping note the first set energy gave us.

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“Never miss a Sunday show” is revived. I’m reminded of how a “I was there” Phish show and the energy it creates, let alone at YEMSG, is unparalleled. I think in the long run, some of these jams may lose their luster to the debates we have. I also think that if you combined the first set from tonight with last night’s second set, we’d be done here (ok maybe that’s where the Friday show nearly got). But in the short term, def listen to the first set and maybe the whole show from beginning to end and enjoy the feeling of experiencing THAT.

Highlights: Gin, NMINML, Light