It’s the last night of Phish’s three-night run at the Greek Theater, and it also happens to be the unofficial, but somehow totally official night of the toga—thanks to the help of some fantastic LA women, Nellie’s aunt, and a Facebook page with close to 200 members. We’re here, outfitted in our finest linens, uh, make that bed sheets (apologies to all Berkeley hotels) and disco sparkly fabric ready for the final throw down! Tonight’s show is definitely the most in-demand of the tour – getting into the beautiful and intimate stone amphitheater is the equivalent of Charlie stepping into the chocolate factory.
If you’re a Phish diehard then you know our Wonkaville is different than Charlie’s. We don’t need fizzy lifting drinks to reach incredible, dizzying, heights. What we need are tasty jams and musical nuggets. Fortunately third night’s show had both—and I’d steer you directly to the second set’s “Light” jam (hear: specifically the last seven beautiful and effortless seven-minute jam); “Harry Hood” which grooved, and grooved – oh, and first set wasn’t without it’s groove…how can you not dance to “Gotta Jiboo” or rock out to “46 Days”?
Really what we want are the surprises. We’ve been spoiled in the past. How about that “Suzy Greenberg”? Can’t say I was immediately thrilled with yet another Suzy (even Fishman said, “Neurologist? Here we are again” …but then…just then…when the song was supposed to be ending…Trey was totally animated, jumping, and launched right back into “Suzy”. What was happening? Are they doing an extra verse? No, they’re just stoked to be rocking out the “Suzy”. That’s what I’m talking about…the unexpected element of surprise. Man, that “Suzy” just about saved my show. Or, as a friend called it…Suzy reprise aka the surprise.
It’s not that Greek 3 wasn’t a great show—it was. But I came off of the southern run with a “Fuck Your Face”, “Alumni Blues”, and the raging “Harpua”. And someone counted that 19 songs from the Greek run were also played at Raleigh and Charlotte. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not going to tell anyone how to do their job (pointing to you, kid, with the “no whammy” sign). Re: repeats. I’m fine with doubling, tripling, even quadrupling up on songs (Hi, my name is XXX, and I’m a tweeprize-a-holic) but when the versions aren’t as good as the ones before…wait, yeah, I’m still going to the next show. That’s being a fan. And we’ll wait for the unexpected bestowing of gifts—those seminal sets, surprises, and reprises.
Check the ubiquitous ‘Wilson’ crowd chant in full force.
Set 1: AC/DC Bag, Foam, Gotta Jibboo, Reba, Sleep Again, Army of One, Poor Heart, 46 Days, Tube, Character Zero
Set 2: Wilson > Light, 20 Years Later, Harry Hood, Theme from the Bottom, 2001, Suzy Greenberg, Slave to the Traffic Light
E: Lizards, First Tube
Check out Scott Bernstein’s recordings of Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Jams are a special treat these days for fans
