Phish came through an east coast favorite, Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia Maryland on July 18 and 19. It has been four years since the bands last show there. As the Northeast portion of the tour was a bit light, besides Syracuse on July 21 and the Madison Square Garden run later this week, the venue was really packed.
This tour has been littered with setlist creativity, and that remained true during their weekend in Maryland. The show opened with one of the band’s newer songs, “What’s Going Through Your Mind?” It’s the first time that the band has used it in the opener slot and it really worked well there. The always welcome “Contact” was next before the band threw everyone a curve and followed it with an early 1st set “You Enjoy Myself.”
Next up was a highlight of the weekend, “McGrupp And The Watchful Hosemasters”, but as the song was about to shift into one of the songs breakdowns Trey started strumming up “Have Mercy.” The rarely played reggae tune was a perfect little detour. Trey’s improvements in his vocals over the last several years really made this version stand out, and it seems like his voice has really grown into the song. After finishing up the “McGrupp” sandwich, “Shade” was next, which featured some great playing by Trey. A solid “Runaway Jim” then closed out the set.
Another newer tune opened up the second set, “Life Saving Gun.” This version seemed like the band keep searching but had trouble locking in until the end. There were several times that they probably should have moved on but pushing through and it not working is all a part of how the improvisation works. It did feel it was a good expression of the vibe in the air that night; smoky, hazy and stormy. Most of the afternoon was storming and as I drove in there was a huge lightning storm directly over the venue (thankfully it stopped a few hours before showtime).
Next up was “Gotta Jibboo.” First I should mention that Trey’s guitar tone this summer has been astounding – clear, bright and warm and it really makes listening to him play just about anything this summer a real treat. The start of the”Gotta Jibboo” jam is always a good snapshot of where Trey is at the time. This version should how comfortable he is out there as the notes dripped from his guitar like melted butter. “Ether Edge” featured probably the jam of the night. Trey’s clean tone offered a really interesting juxtaposition with his saturated sounds versus some dissonant stuff the rest of the band was doing. “Lifeboy” was up next and is always a great breather. Stevie Wonder‘s “Boogie on Reggae Woman” was next and everyone was treated to an all too rare these days, extended funk jam. A solid “Free” closed the set after.
The encore started off a bit slow with a “Monsters” and “If I Could” combo but then they ended the night off with a fiery “Run Like an Antelope.”
Phish – July 18 – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Set 1: What’s Going Thought Your Mind, Contact, You Enjoy Myself > Axilla (Part II) -> McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters -> Have Mercy -> McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Shade, Runaway Jim
Set 2: Life Saving Gun > Gotta Jibboo -> Ether Edge > Lifeboy, Boogie on Reggae Woman > Free
Encore: Monsters, If I Could I Would, Run Like an Antelope
(continue on after the photos for night two..)
The storms and the winds blew away most of the wildfire smoke the previous day, so Sunday of Merriweather was a beautiful (but hot) summer day. “Undermind” opened the night up and then “Back On the Train” kept things moving. The band this summer has been playing the idea of taking songs that aren’t normally jammed out and jamming them, and the funny little joke song “Ass Handed” got this treatment next. The “Moma Dance” brought some funk before the regal and rare “Fast Enough for You.” The summer staple “NICU” was up next before sliding into “Oblivion” which had a nice jam. An always fun “Possum” ended the set.
“Carini” opened up the last set of the weekend. This was the jam of the weekend in both quality and length. Sometimes the longer jams can feel a bit meandering at times while they search but this wasn’t the case with this 39-minute epic. A lot of the jam featured a style that they have been using the last few years. In this style they always keep the music and ideas pushing forward. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t of course, but when it is working it sounds like a faucet of ideas from the band is open. The ideas never stop coming and while they did settle on some themes here and there, these amoeba like jam parts always keep the music expanding and pushing out, never stopping and always moving forward, with new ideas bouncing off the walls in every direction.
The band started up “No Man in No Man’s Land” next which brought the energy up before a well needed “Beneath a Sea of Stars, Part 1” gave the crowd a minute. The lights were turned completely off for the start of the jam and they pushed it like a ship into the ether before floating it onto “Ruby Waves” next. This jam really showcased Trey’s healthy tone. They’ve done their fair share of happy jams, but this one had some real distinct shoegazeish, maybe even early Stereolab vibes. Trey’s guitar was blasting layered sugary tones that sounded like a soundtrack to a beautiful sunset. They kept up with the sunshine vibes and ended the set with “Backwards Down the Number Line.” “I Am the Walrus” by the Beatles was the first encore song before a “First Tube” closer.
Next up, Phish comes up to Syracuse on Tuesday July 21, before 5 nights in New York City starting on July 22.
Phish – July 19 – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Set 1: Undermind, > Back on the Train, Ass Handed, The Moma Dance > Fast Enough For You, NICU > Oblivion > Possum
Set 2: Carini, No Men in No Man’s Land > Beneath a Sea of Stars > Ruby Waves > Backwards Down the Numberline
Encore: I Am the Walrus > First Tube
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