SET 1: Blaze On, What’s the Use?, Martian Monster, Devotion To a Dream, Waking Up Dead > Timber (Jerry), Things People Do, Let Me Lie, Maze -> Lengthwise[1] -> Maze, Ass Handed, Carini, Wolfman’s Brother
SET 2: Mercury -> Twist > I Always Wanted It This Way[2] > Miss You, Fuego -> Sand, Joy, Possum
ENCORE: Good Times Bad Times
[1] Sung by Fish over the Maze intro.
[2] Debut.
My 25th show. My hometown. Sitting with my best friend and his fiancee, and paying it forward by taking my girlfriend to her first show! Part of what made this show so much fun for me was putting together a playlist for my girlfriend with the hopes that she’d hear some tunes and not feel out of the loop. Little did I know that she’d be singing “Meatstick” (which wasn’t even on the list!) between every song, hoping they’d play it! 
Both sets contained some really great moments, and just a couple of not-so-great moments.
The song selection was fresh and fun in the first set. I called the “Blaze On” opener and was happy with the tunes that came out after (aside from the Let Me Lie that I don’t think anyone wanted to hear: the audible reaction from the crowd made us all chuckle). I love what they’ve done with “Things People Do” (starting with Page’s album version and then the band coming in lightly after the first or second verse. Gives it kind of a slow “Water in the Sky” feel). I even really enjoyed “Waking Up Dead” after really not clicking with the album version.
As we heard that hi-hat chking, the band redeemed itself after “Let Me Lie,” and set the rest of the set on fire.
The second set was a little choppy because of “Miss You” and “Joy.” I’ll address those below. Mercury->Twist was really really nice. I’m so happy to hear that tune and to hear “Twist” kind of ooze out of it. “I Always Wanted It This Way” is definitely the most anticipated live tune from “Big Boat,” and boy is it nice. Page has some kinks to work out with the vocals and just leading the band in general, but this tune was boss. Me and my friends thought they’d hit “2001” but they dug right in. Fuego->Sand was super nice, and “Possum,” the once-loathed tune of 2009/2010 sounds especially crisp and fun when not played every other show.
I was a little bummed by just the one-song encore to close a two-night run. Everyone was happy but kind of scratching their heads on that one.
Regarding “Miss You” and “Joy” . . .
Trey started flubbing the lyrics during “Miss You” and then messing up a bit with his playing. I could tell he was frustrated from where we were sitting, and I could sense a little of that from the band, too. It was odd and kind of sad, given it’s about his sister. So when “Joy” came around I thought, “ok, Trey wants to sing for his sister and he wants a second chance to do it.” And I really believe the band knew that, too. I mean, we immortalize people and ideas and beliefs through song and I knew Trey wanted to do a good job. So, yes, both tunes kind of put a damper on the set, but I could feel a huge spiritual connection like I never have before in their music. Sometimes you only get that through seeing someone go through something really rough, and this is why music is so true and so real. It’s not just rainbows and smiles all the time. It was a really touching moment to me. If that sacrificed the flow, so what. That’s life, you know? I’ve been inspired by Phish’s jamming for years, but it’s rare that you get to witness friends on stage who are there for each other.
This is the “friends” era of Phish, and it totally clicked for me on Saturday night.
Great review man, thank you!