Photo by Frank Lanza

With the first leg of Phish’s 2012 Summer Tour in the books, we’ve taken some time to sift through the many highlights left behind in its wake. As the dust settles from what is being regarded as the band’s finest tour in a decade, here’s a list containing ten of the best moments that occurred along the way.

1. Ghost > Boogie On Reggae Woman – 6/7/12 – Worcester, MA
After fans came away with mixed reactions from Phish’s 2011 New Year’s run, many questioned what the band would sound like in 2012. But those worries were quelled during the second set of the the tour opener in Worcester, MA when the band came out firing on all cylinders with this impressive song combo.

“Ghost” emerges from a patient, spacey intro reminiscent of early versions of the song. The thematic nature of the playing comes as the initial hook—a stark contrast to the noodle-y playing that took place during the New Year’s run. As the jam builds to a crescendo, the music departs from its structure with Mike Gordon employing his signature “Meatball” effect and Trey Anastasio running through his arsenal of effects pedals.

As the jam fizzles out, Mike leads the charge into “Boogie On Reggae Woman,” which clocks in over 11 minutes—the longest version in recent memory. Trey is particularly reserved during the early stages of the jam, allowing Page McConnell and Mike to establish the direction of the improvisation. When Trey does begin to play, he works around a repetitive theme, which Page quickly picks up and begins riffing on. Mike and Jon Fishman work to keep with the funky nature of the song while Trey moves the established theme around the fret board, showing off its diverse yet repetitive nature. The jam is highly impressive and, for a tour opener, incredibly promising.

2. Sand → Golden Age – 7/3/12 – Wantagh, NY
There’s something truly frightening about a “Sand” jam if played correctly. The song’s dark vibe when taken to the next level can prove to be emotionally consuming, and this version demonstrates such a vibe. There are moments that will have you in awe of the band’s musical abilities and others that will make you forget where you are—a truly transcendent listening experience. The jam also features Trey’s beloved “digital delay” sound, recalling some of the extended space-trips of the mid ‘90s. Atop the spacey ambience, Trey leads into the opening riff of “Golden Age,” moving the improvisation into more uplifting territory. After the intensity of the “Sand” jam, the blissful playing is welcome but doesn’t last long. The end of “Golden Age” highlights some of the band’s best psychedelic jamming, carried heavily by the rhythm section.

3. Twist – 6/22/12 – Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati marked the return of the “Twist” jam. The band works its way through a number of themes and melodic concepts, including a “Heaven On Their Minds” (Jesus Christ Superstar) jam, that make this one of the standout moments from the tour. Throughout the 14 minute version, the band explores the depths of dark ambient improv through a droning, four-part journey. Each member can be heard listening to the others and riffing off their ideas. Hearing the band gel on this level is bound to put a smile on any fan’s face, no matter how jaded.

4. Light → Manteca → Light – 6/16/12 – Atlantic City, NJ
Dubbed by fans as “Lighteca” , the Atlantic City “Light” jam features a “Manteca” segue and a whole lot more. Breaking away from “Light” as soon as the initial solo is over, Phish explores this version of the song in earnest. The jam isn’t exactly playing on “Manteca” either. The band plays around with themes of their own design throughout and even move into “Crosseyed and Painless” territory, singing the song’s “still waiting” refrain over the jam’s peak.

5. Fee – 7/1/12 – East Troy, WI
Phish treated fans to a sublime outro jam in this version of the fan favorite “Fee.” The rarity, which is usually played without improvisation, fell into a blissful ending following its final chorus. The jam, led by Page on grand piano, presents some of the chairman’s most beautiful playing of the tour. The laid back groove builds without the need for a blistering climax, rising and sinking in tempo and mood throughout.

Photo by Frank Lanza

6. Mikes Groove – 6/23/12 – Burgettstown, PA
Burgettstown’s “Mike’s Groove” featured the tasty combination of “Simple” and “Light” placed in between “Mike’s Song” and “Weekapaug Groove.” But it’s during “Simple” that the segment really started to heat up. Trey and Page start the jam with some blissful guitar and piano interplay, which eventually grows in an atmospheric manner, culminating in a resonant drone. The drone, which consists of sustained notes and sparse cymbal hits, allows for Trey to start “Light” , a fitting song for the stirring sounds of the “Simple” jam. The energy during this segment reachs a high during “Weekapaug Groove,” which remains in standard form for the most part. Page works away at his Moog synth while Mike holds down a solid rhythm and Trey adds his digital delay loop to bring the jam to an even heavier funk. Fishman gladly brings things down to a puddle of sound before quickly kicking back into the final refrain of the song. The impeccable energy and creative diversity to each of these jams makes this “Mike’s Groove” stand out amongst the others played this tour.

7. Sneakin’ Sally Though the Alley – 7/6/12 – Saratoga Springs, NY
In a set full of heavy jams, this version of Robert Palmer’s “Sneakin’ Sally” stands out as a perfect example of Phish taking their playing to the next level. After a quick vocal jam, the band comes in at full force with Trey taking the reigns of the jam early-on. There is a mutual back-off as they let the jam establish, before the playing takes a more patient turn, letting Page and Fishman layer funk onto Trey’s focused playing. Trey carries the relaxed jam along by strumming a few chords while Fishman and Mike catch up to his pace. From there, the band is able to let loose for a while, playing with energy and direction and, of course, taking breaks to re-establish the rhythm when necessary. The jam sinks out after the band has said all they want to, leading the captivated crowd into “Ghost” .

8. Waves – 6/28/12 – Noblesville, IN
“Waves” has raised eyebrows recently, especially after the version soundchecked at Bethel Woods last year earned a reputation as the holy grail of 3.0 jams. The version at Deer Creek is a clear indication of the tune’s capability. This is ear candy Phish. From soaring solos to ambient joy, this jam is a wholly impressive nugget from the first leg.

9. Birds of a Feather – 6/15/12 – Atlantic City, NJ
Appearing more regularly on this tour, “Birds of a Feather” made an early impact at Bader Field. The band enters the jam with an eager mentality. This attitude is apparent in Trey’s dense soloing, which he uses to guide the band to climaxes and then back down to more melodic places. From here, the band plays around with the simple themes and explores the less established structure.

10. Piper – 7/8/12 – Saratoga Springs, NY
With the variations on both blissful and dark jams over the course of the tour, many were wondering which direction “Piper” would take on the last night of the run. The song had a lot to live up to, considering the historic version of the song which was performed at the same venue in 2004 (6/19/04). The jam, though initially lackluster, did not disappoint. While the intro lacks evident direction, the band eventually settles on a musical path. The result is a mingling of the different flavors, including Trey’s quick guitar loops, effect pedals, drawn out chords, and vocal noise. But in all the chaos, there was an undeniable euphoria. A perfect way to close out a run of diverse jamming styles.