Monday 12/09/2019 by phishnet

CHARLESTON3 RECAP: PLAY WHATEVER THE F*CK YOU WANT

[Recap is courtesy of user TwiceBitten, Nick Williams (@deepthoughtsjp on Instagram). Please remember that recaps are written by VOLUNTEER FANS. Their views are entirely their own and are not necessarily shared by anyone who volunteers to work on Phish.net. There is no such thing as an "official" dot net recap of a show. -Ed.]

Phish fans are not exactly a homogenous bunch and I find the differences in the fanbase generally line up with geography. Fans in the Northeast are the most persnickety. They are capable of providing enormous amounts of energy, but they are also prone to talking over slow songs, smoking cigs indoors, and groaning and shit-talking the show while the music is playing. Fans on the West Coast are a lot more easy going. There is room to move in the GA section, the crowd is more evenly divided gender-wise and in general they are the most pleasant audience to be around. Still, West Coasters lack the fire and grit when it comes to giving energy back to the band, and we all know the band feeds on that and uses it to complete the circuit.

The Mountain West fanbase is somewhat harder to pin down, seeing as they’ve only played Dick’s over the last nine years, and it’s a real melting pot of fans from all over the country. Speaking of cannabis, I will say that the audience in Colorado can also be a bit unresponsive, maybe due to the strong legal weed, but also possibly due to the vibes dissipating slightly in the large open air venue. Fans from the Midwest are a rowdy bunch, more willing to display enormous amounts of energy without discrimination, but also willing to talk over slow songs like their Northeast counterparts. I think the term “blind unfocused rage” works well to describe them.

© 2019 Phish (Rene Huemer)
© 2019 Phish (Rene Huemer)

All this brings me to the Southern fans. The South rules, here’s why: you people are not only insanely polite, but also so gosh darned thankful every time Phish plays in your region. Not only is the crowd energy exceedingly lit, but you know how to listen to a ballad, whistle at the deep and soulful lines, not smoke cigarettes indoors, and just in general be completely awesome to be around. I don’t want to make tickets any harder for you guys, but I will say that if any of you folks from other regions have not seen Phish in the South, you’re missing out on what Jerry would call “a real good time.” The 2015 Lakewood run and the 2018 Alpharetta run are two of my favorite series of shows I’ve ever seen. This year not only did the South provide an enormously positive crowd response (there was an old school wave through the arena preshow), but also the only proper shakedown of the tour.

The excitement was palpable as the band hit the stage for night three. The first thing I noticed was that Fishman was wearing his Bernie Sanders donut dress. Maybe it was a case of great minds thinking alike, but @farmhose had been bugging him to wear it in South Carolina for weeks now. This is an early primary state and any extra love the band shows down here for Vermont’s own presidential candidate can’t hurt his chances.

The first tune of the evening was the Phish debut of “Sigma Oasis," another New Age sobriety song from Trey that I liked quite a lot. “You’re already there” indeed. Trey first played this at a solo acoustic show in Boulder last year. At that Colorado show, he gave us this little bit of banter: “I’m not sure if that’s a philosophy or a song, but that’s the first time I’ve sung it. I like it as a philosophy we’re already here, there’s no place to get.” Amen. Up next was “Buried Alive,” which featured a couple unique passages from Trey and a “Little Drummer Boy” tease. “Guelah Papyrus” seemed tighter than a standard 3.0 version. I know I’ve heard him butcher this one quite a few times. The energy stayed up with a rippingly fast “My Sweet One.” I noticed on Saturday that there was a tune Fishman wanted to push the tempo on and Trey reluctantly went along for the ride. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen Trey put the brakes on Fish’s BPMs, so it was nice to see Trey at least trying to play that fast.

© 2019 Nick Williams
© 2019 Nick Williams

Is “Everything is Hollow” the opposite of “Everything’s Right?” I’ll leave that analysis to someone else, but I enjoyed this song and its placement. “Bright white light shining right between my eyes,” three eyed aliens from the Dog Star, etc… No time to dabble in half-baked extraterrestrial BS, 'cause here comes the first “Curtain” without since St. Louis 8/28/12, an underrated show played in one of the best indoor arenas in the country. Right before going into the “With” section, Trey cued Fishman and suddenly they were playing “Mound.” Every time this lopsided bluegrass-prog song comes out I am reminded that, yes, old Phish songs and Mike songs in particular really are that odd. Free bumper sticker idea: Keep Gamehendge Weird. Along with “Scent of a Mule” this one is near to my heart for the way it merges country music and the avant-garde.

During “Brian and Robert” these southern fans showed real gentility and smoked outdoors. Whether it’s the weather and the ample smoking balconies, or whether it’s their pleasant and considerate demeanor, the Southern fans are a class act. Speaking of how great Mike’s songs are, I love “Crazy Sometimes.” It really worked with this crowd. The inmates had been given the keys to the asylum. Maybe one day this will get the type II treatment it deserves? Time for another cool down with “Frost.” A song that has been proven to be a nod to Jerry. Here was another chance for the crowd to show how respectful they could be during a ballad, responding to the deep lyrics like they did with “A Life Beyond the Dream” from Saturday night. Then again during this song I saw a dude wheeled out of the 200s strapped to a gurney, so it ain’t all roses in the Holy City. They’ve played this song four times in the last two years and I really hope they keep it up. One of the best ballads Trey has ever written.

“Breath and Burning” was the first since 8/11/18 MPP and had two white light peaks. You may hate this song, but the crowd loved it. We know you all love “Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues” as well as “It’s Ice.” Sure, Trey doesn’t nail the composed section with anywhere near the accuracy I’d like, but I’ll take a late 3.0 “Ice” jam over most early versions with their quiet piano-based meanderings. Tempo was maybe a bit hotter than Trey could handle, but it’s good to have goals, right? “Walls of the Cave” works so well as a first set closer. Again, there was perfect and total respectful silence during the quiet vocals in the first section. The audience was rewarded with a jam that peeled the paint off the walls. A huge banner that read “PLAY WHATEVER THE FUCK YOU WANT” was hoisted into the air a few rows back from the rail. Thunderous roars of applause cracked against the walls of this giant pineapple-looking venue. All in all a fantastic first set.

© 2019 Phish (Jake Silco)
© 2019 Phish (Jake Silco)
At seatbreak, a guy told me that the band had played 253 songs so far this year. The record of 257 was set back 2017 thanks to the Baker’s Dozen. I’m not able to 100% confirm any of this, so perhaps you will in the comments below. Halftime, while not a mere 15 minutes, was shorter than usual. The band wanted to get back out and play more music. They came back with a bustout in “After Midnight.” Did Phish already know what I had just learned about the song count? Were they going to break the record tonight? The song was played well enough, but didn’t break out into the jam it possibly could have.

Up next was “Stealing Time from the Faulty Plan.” Did anyone want this to be called here? Probably not. Though I will say the theme of “time” was a holdover from the set opener. Has this song ever fully gone type II? The jam chart lists two entries but I don’t think either really gets there. Charleston’s “Faulty Plan” was maybe more of a type 1.5 version and was getting pretty heady when Trey basically ripcorded into “Energy.” Does this fit into some sort of Einsteinian time and space equation? What does E = mc2 even mean? I’ll leave the science for someone else.

The beginnings of a type II jam were emerging from “Energy” when Trey called the drop into “Soul Planet.” According to the film “Interstellar," LOVE is the universal constant that transcends space and time. Well I’m here to tell you that although you may have never dreamed up this setlist in your wildest nightmare, you’re gonna need to embrace it and meet it with love in order to find the beauty in it. The jam instantly entered the flow state they’d been searching for all night. We were approaching Krautrock territory when the music evolved into a gorgeous ambient section that reprised the “Sigma Oasis” refrain. I’d say this was a successful jam.

Here, the band oozes into “Wingsuit,” another song that some “fans” seem to dislike. This lovechild of 10/31/13 seems to work best as a landing pad for a jam. I will always love this song because it gives a chance for Trey to explore the Lydian mode. I used to think that some songs just had an innate mystical quality to them, but then eventually I learned enough about music to know that raising that fourth scale degree puts the tritone right in the middle of the octave and creates a more open and unresolved sound when used in improvisation. Many Eastern folk scales are based on the Lydian mode, which itself is a pure scale derived from the overtone series. The use of George Russell’s Lydian Chromatic Concept is the key to understanding the tension and release of early Phish. I could write a whole article about this stuff and perhaps someday I will.

© 2019 Phish (Jake Silco)
© 2019 Phish (Jake Silco)

Up next is “I Always Wanted it This Way,” which certainly continues the theme of “no one’s favorite song." Still, the Southern crowd was game it seemed. I wondered to myself if they were going to be able to close this set out in style without a “YEM,” “Bowie,” “Antelope,” “Hood,” “Coil” or “Slave” but immediately a powerful bass note blew those thoughts away from my mind. Trey brought the jam away from the usual places and spaces it inhabits into a 3.0 style build and peak that lit up the crowd again. And of course here comes the tune that I was forgetting: Trey’s most ambitious composition of the modern era, “Petrichor.” This is the first time (I think) that it’s been used in the late set spot usually reserved for the aforementioned songs, and I gotta say, I thought it worked very well here. This was a tight version of a complex song. It should be noted that the very first version of this song was performed in the same venue on 10/14/16, and while the song has not become their new "YEM" over the course of the last three years (what could?), it was nice to see it taking up that slot in the set, and I think it works best late in set two when all the jamming has been done and said.

It was here that I got a text from @MrDougDoug: I love this set so far - internet is going crazy like it’s the return of Dallas 16. Phish fans’ enjoyment of a show is directly correlated with how many 1.0 songs are played and not quality. Damn straight buddy. Sometimes I’m convinced that a portion of this fanbase doesn’t actually like music, just the idea of music that Phish represents. What does it represent to you? Who will decide what this contains? Certainly not me or you. We go to the shows to release all control, yet a portion of the fanbase wants to grasp so tightly to the reigns to the point where it stifles their own enjoyment. Who am I to tell them that they are “doing it wrong, ” but if you’re one of those fans, “you’re doing it wrong.”

To take us back to the show opener: “you’re already there." Stop searching, this is it. This set had heart, this set had class, this set had elegance, this set had grace. It also had a number of Phish’s least popular songs. So what? There have been a few totally fresh setlists in 2019, ones that could have never been played in any other year. That to me is astounding enough to give a show like this a pass. If that somehow offends you, maybe it’s time for you to find another...

Oh snap let’s not finish that thought, because here comes “Boogie On Reggae Woman." It’s baby making time, which leads naturally into “Rise / Come Together.” Can this song have one title please? LOL. If anyone thought “Boogie On” would begin a trend of crowd-pleasers to close the set, the joke's on you. But then again it always has been, hasn't it? I know Fish was thinking about Bernie when he played this one. This tune brought the set to a close. Someone gave Trey a painting while he took his bows. The encore break was a few minutes longer than usual. I’d like to imagine the band was laughing about the painting and arguing about who got to keep it to hang in their bathroom or woodshed.

They came back with “Pebbles and Marbles.” This was the first time it has ever appeared in the encore slot. To me, the lyrics fit the theme of the show, or at the very least, the theme of this review. After not playing this song much for most of 3.0, this was its third appearance so far in 2019. If it comes out for MSG it would be a Christmas Miracle. Unfortunately, the jam for the tunes was completely called off in favor of “Beneath a Sea of Stars.” Besides “Ruby Waves” this is the only other Ghosts of the Forest song that has shown some improvisational potential. The last version played at Mohegan Sun was one of the best jams of the year, and among the more forward-thinking passages of music that Phish has attempted in 3.0. This version clearly didn’t have time to go deep, but we got a nice little type-II-space jam, which is also a rarity for an encore.

© 2019 Aaron Bradley
© 2019 Aaron Bradley
Then good God, here comes the first "Izabella" since 8/6/17, which was the first since 7/31/98. The crowd ate it up and we probably all thought that would be the last song, but the trend of extra-long encores on this tour continued. The audience completey exploded with energy when the band went into what seemed like a pranksterish repeat of “Chalk Dust Torture,” but of course this is Phish, and we got a 19-year bust out of a song only played once (at the legendary Moby Dick show). Everyone was literally going apeshit for “Chalk Dust Torture Reprise.” Trey thanks us for coming on the tour, hopes we come back sometime, and tells us he loves us. The whole band gets introduced (“I’m Trey, I play guitar”). The song finishes with a final “Plasma” reprise. Geeze, way to reprise the reprise, guys.

The show ended just a minute or two after midnight (get it), which is half an hour later than they ended on Saturday. As we walked out of the venue to the sounds of “Little Drummer Boy” being piped over the PA, I got a text from my sometimes jaded friend Miles that basically sums up my feelings on the night:

Show 300 for me. Been waiting for another CDT Reprise since 7/11/00. I hated the setlist but for whatever reason raged the show with a huge smile. Certainly an odd choice of songs. Hey, it’s not like they have tickets to sell. What do they care? Flow at times was like trying to pass a freshly plowed potato covered In dirt thru your ass. Yet I loved the show. Weird.

Was this the best show of the tour or year? Far from it. Yet still, this was Advanced Level Phish. If you beat this one, you’re ready for the final boss. This was like that Dallas 2016 show everyone hated but with some actual jamming, and perhaps better song selection. You don’t have to love it but If you are somehow truly upset by this show or the concept that Phish will indeed “play whatever the fuck they want," let’s face it, you’re probably a custy.

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Comments

, comment by TwiceBitten
TwiceBitten Haha thanks for the extra disclaimer :)
, comment by farmhose
farmhose THEY GOTTA KNOW WHAT A CUSTY IS
, comment by pureguava
pureguava Delightful and insightful review. Thanks.
, comment by serpent_deflector
serpent_deflector Chalk Dust Torture Reprise was debuted before that Moby Dick show. 25 years ago tomorrow, actually.

Re: the unique song total, 2016 has the record at 258. 2017 had 253, according to ZZYZX.

2019 will tie 2016, at the very least, when it plays ALS. But yeah... probably gonna get the record.
, comment by nicklb89
nicklb89 My sentiments exactly. Very well put! Tweezer was a "new song" once upon a time... Had a blast watching this show, if not for the setlist, but for the solid jamming and FUN the band is having up there. Keep it up boys. I'll be there.

I think I peed myself when they finished with chalk dust reprise.
, comment by hansokolow
hansokolow Great review for what will certainly be a divisive show. The song selection was spotty, to be sure, but what really brought me down were flubs by Trey all night long. As always, though, there were still highlights, see the Soul Planet jam and the amazing encore. And Boogie On.

I have to point out that there was another version of Chalk Dust Reprise on 12/10/1994. I have to because that was this custy's first show. Used as background while Trey thanked the whole crew at the end of their last massive, never-ending tour. Also, it's the musical basis for the Dicky Scotland Song from Coventry, which we've all done our best to forget.
, comment by joshkorin
joshkorin Great recap. CDT Reprise as pointed out above has been played more than once prior to last night (12/10/94) along with of course the Moby Dick show. Also, this is really nit picky, I know, but Ruby Waves is a TAB song, albeit a one timer TAB song (thus far)
, comment by TwiceBitten
TwiceBitten @serpent_deflector, see I said someone would set the record straight in the comments. Thank you.
, comment by DevinB
DevinB There's a special place in hell for the people who chain-smoke indoors and talk the entire time, Northeastern or otherwise. Even during a show like this one, which, admittedly, had plenty of lulls in which you could feasibly do either.

I suppose it's fine if you're bored and can't control your addiction, but don't ruin everyone else's good time just because you lack self-control. Step outside or wait until setbreak.

Signed,
The people you've been annoying for years.
, comment by HeadyGroundScore
HeadyGroundScore "Sometimes I’m convinced that a portion of this fanbase doesn’t actually like music, just the idea of music that Phish represents. What does it represent to you? Who will decide what this contains? Certainly not me or you. We go to the shows to release all control, yet a portion of the fanbase wants to grasp so tightly to the reigns to the point where it stifles their own enjoyment. Who am I to tell them that they are “doing it wrong, ” but if you’re one of those fans, “you’re doing it wrong.”

My sentiments exactly. It's a shame but I guess there's not much to be done about it.
, comment by CAVERNOUS
CAVERNOUS Thanks for the insightful and fun review as always. Some of the shows on this run were not easy to write about for various reasons, and the authors took the heat here at times, just for sayin' what's what... which is a shame... "yet a portion of the fanbase wants to grasp so tightly to the reigns to the point where it stifles their own enjoyment." I have always felt that these reviews add context, nuance, and camaraderie to my enjoyment of the music experience, whether I was there or not. Thanks so much for the reviews and all of our authors for doing it.
, comment by styles0024
styles0024 Stopped reading at “southern fans rule”

Didn’t they beat up an Effin kid?

Way to stereotype tho
, comment by Hippogator
Hippogator I love a reviewer that actually likes Phish for Phish and not just "likes Phish" so they can preach to everyone how it "used to be better" every chance they can possibly get.
, comment by 46Blaze
46Blaze Where in the world has everyone gotten the idea that CDT Reprise and Dickie Scotland share the same tune? They’re not even close, although I guess “Scotland” and “Torture” both have two syllables. Say, has anyone noticed that “Your Pet Cat” and “Petrichor” have the same music?
, comment by JMart
JMart Kudos to the reviewer for having some insight and searching for some positivity in tonight’s set.
I wonder, however, if anyone can truly tell anyone else how to Phish, as it were.
This was my 80th show, and besides Raleigh 2000, my absolute least favorite.
Phish has earned the right to play whatever they want, but it doesn’t mean that we have to like it.
, comment by TwiceBitten
TwiceBitten Well that was my 176th show and let me tell you...

:)
, comment by Adams_Phamily
Adams_Phamily great review twice!
, comment by tubescreamer
tubescreamer I can't recall if it was Nietszche or my friend Pete that once said, "if I have a bad time at a show that says something about where my head is at and has nothing to do with the band." Great review! Write that Lydian piece and/or submit it to the next academic phish conference at OSU.
, comment by Marc0Esquand0las
Marc0Esquand0las Excellent review. I’ve seen over 100 shows since ‘95 (for whatever that is worth) and I thought this was a great night, very passionate and focused positive experience from the band. It was short on “ragers” but it was beautiful nonetheless from start to finish
, comment by sleepingmonkie
sleepingmonkie This is the best and most truthful review I’ve ever read of a Phish show. Who cares if the setlist was a little more 3.0 than you wanted? The band has been the happiest and silliest I’ve ever seen them. They played so many heavy hitters, funk grooves, goofy teases and bust outs this tour, what more could we have possibly asked for to wrap it up? They played whatever the fuck they wanted, and it was exactly what I needed. I couldn’t be happier.
, comment by mgolia6
mgolia6 I am concerned over inserting the wrong comments in this box, criticism as of late on this site being ill received. Further the disclaimer at the beginning of this review leads me to believe that maybe the comments on reviews should be turned off (or maybe just censored...lol) letting the volunteer review stand alone, immortal, affixed in time, as it turns elastic. But then time snapped at the tension that was being placed upon it and the rubber band-like slinkiness slapped me in the eye and flicked my contact lense to the floor. I found the contact still intact, albeit dusty and in need of new solution, doused it and placed it back upon my retina; good as new. (are you laughing or fuming at this point?)

We don’t need to agree! What fun would it be if we did all agree all the time. We can live peacefully amongst each other, southerners, midwesterners, northeastern, eskimos, indians, aliens...petrichor lovers and haters alike. We live in an era that provides forums for us to communicate our feelings and, in my honest opinion, if done respectfully, it can elicit dialogue and stand to enlighten all parties involved.

I loved the author’s allusions to different themes within the songs, references to time and space as well as being in the moment. I even felt the explanation of Wingsuit and the musicality of the piece to be thought provoking, though slightly too technical for my taste. It did identify a bit about our humble narrator and his knowledge of such technical aspects of music and the scene. It also helped me to understand the reference point for some of what I didn’t especially like about the review in the very perfunctory yet seemingly astute analysis of the different regions of the country and those attributes that seemingly pigeonhole them as inherently good or bad.

But then I reflected further and wondered whether I didn’t like the reviewers assessment because it felt like it struck so close to home. Having grown up in the northeast, spent a few years out west before moving to Hawaii and now living in beautiful (and Bridge filled) Birmingham Alabama (vs. Talking Heads reference of rich people in Birmingham England) I am an amalgam (think Steve Martin in Parenthood) of these generalizations; a Northeasterner who loves the west coast GA so I can do windmills and dance in my back, while also brimming with Aloha and southern hospitality.

Moving on, (I digress and so apologize), I believe that, composed and with the intention of metta (loving kindness) we can comment and converse and disagree, respectfully, respectfully, and go on to glorify and criticize as we please, hoping we have composed some decent arguments in our defense, along the way.

I don’t have to have my head stuck up the arse of 1.0 to not like last nights show. I also was not present and know the automatic glow that encapsulates the soul of those in attendance. For couch Tour last night sucked. I wanted to love the second set but could not get there and nothing the band could have done could have gotten me there with the set list they played... other than do what they do best: Chop a few songs and improvise a little more, isn’t that what the band is all about playing music vs playing songs. (If you haven’t guessed I am one of those four song set lunatics). What I search for at shows cannot come in the playing of song after song with little focus on improvisation. It can come from new songs that launch us into the (inter)stellarsphere. I am all for that.

I loved moments, searched for other moments and ultimately long for the cohesion of a well crafted set of music, dosed with improvisation, which I unfortunately didn’t find last night. Show glow will certainly lend some forgiveness to shows like last night, case in point Miles aka jaded friend. I was not blessed with being present other than to say I tried to maintain my attention while not being distracted by my four dogs basking (and bathing) in the heat of the fireplace.

Ultimately I am allowed to say I didn’t like last night. I liked moments and don’t fault, hate, despise or otherwise feel any less or different of my favorite band (should that have been “of” or “for” or both?). I will say one thing though that was different (and I will have to let this feeling marinate a little before I come to a conclusion on what it means) and that is after the show closed last night I felt somewhat satiated. That was an odd feeling post Phish. I assume it has something to do with doing my first whole weekend of couch tour and a tour closer from the armchair. It was quite the opposite of any feeling I ever had post show and I’ve seen a few. #solidreview even if I didn’t agree with most of it.
, comment by TwiceBitten
TwiceBitten @MGOLIA6, thank you for your comments. Someone get this guy an official recap STAT! Seriously!

If I told you I thought it was one of the worst shows of the year would you agree with me then? I could have easily focused on the negative but it was more of a challenge to point out what was good about the show. I still feel like a bad night of Phish is more enjoyable than most other bands out there.
, comment by CForbin
CForbin A. Best review of 2019, hands down
B. People who don’t like Wingsuit ... you’re doing it wrong.
, comment by Ninjatoon
Ninjatoon This show was a well played bad show. It was bad...real bad. Coming off the previous two nights of crushing, a Sunday tour closer, with a hype ass crowd, we were all ready for a face melting. What we got was a poorly executed “stunt/gag”, which had essentially been done before. Except, when they did it at the Dozen, it felt fresh and triumphant. We were all so proud of them. This show made me feel like they were chasing their tail.

It’s fitting that they ended with “Chalkdust Reprise”, because that set was torture.
I love 3.0 Phish, so this has nothing to do with comparing it to “the old days”. This was a chance for Phish to close out a tour at its highest note. The bell rang, and they didn’t answer.
, comment by mgolia6
mgolia6 @TwiceBitten said:
@MGOLIA6, thank you for your comments. Someone get this guy an official recap STAT! Seriously!

If I told you I thought it was one of the worst shows of the year would you agree with me then? I could have easily focused on the negative but it was more of a challenge to point out what was good about the show. I still feel like a bad night of Phish is more enjoyable than most other bands out there.
Man, I love this band. I love the passion those that love this band have. The worst night of phish is still a good night if not a great night. No night is bad. They got on the stage and played music. Last night was not to my taste in certain ways and I will freely admit it. There were and always are moments. And for the record...I love Wingsuit and now have some studying to do thanks to your mention of the Lydian Chromatic Concept. I thought you handled the challenge of last night rather expertly.
, comment by TwiceBitten
TwiceBitten @46Blaze said:
Where in the world has everyone gotten the idea that CDT Reprise and Dickie Scotland share the same tune? They’re not even close, although I guess “Scotland” and “Torture” both have two syllables. Say, has anyone noticed that “Your Pet Cat” and “Petrichor” have the same music?
The way they sing his name at the end is the same, but I agree the music is totally different. The notes on both of these pages probably should be corrected somewhat:
http://phish.net/song/chalk-dust-torture-reprise/history /> https://phish.net/song/the-dickie-scotland-song/history />
On a related note, check out this alternate take on the Dickie Scotland "song" from a 99 soundcheck:
, comment by bhillsberg
bhillsberg Not liking this show has nothing to do with being jaded or song selection. And there are so many generalizations/assumptions in this review that are equally divisive to anything critical anyone else has already said.

Not liking a show doesn't have to equal having a bad time, "not getting it" or "doing it wrong."

It's that they played several more songs in 8 nights than they did in all of the 13 baker's dozen shows. Last night's setlist wouldn't even matter if they just played a few less songs and explored more rather than seeming like they were more worried about what to play next.

Sure, it's great that they are having fun. Furthermore, we are all blessed that they want to keep playing and rewarding us with more shows. That doesn't mean we can't be critical when they have set the bar so high...as recently as the preceding 2 nights.

Stop trying to paint someone being critical of a show, something that has always existed, as something more than it is. I for one like the diversity of reactions/opinions to shows.
, comment by TwiceBitten
TwiceBitten @bhillsberg said:

I for one like the diversity of reactions/opinions to shows.
Well then I thank you for including my opinion in that group...I guess?
, comment by hanger129
hanger129 This review sums up this show beautifully. This was my 70th show and it fell on my 30th birthday. While I could have asked for different songs, I can definitively say it's a show I've never seen before and that I had an absolute blast. As awesome as CDT Reprise was, Izabella was the best birthday present I could have asked for!
, comment by bhillsberg
bhillsberg @TwiceBitten said:
@bhillsberg said:

I for one like the diversity of reactions/opinions to shows.
Well then I thank you for including my opinion in that group...I guess?
I value your opinion/reaction to and review of the show. The issue I had was the stereotyping and generalizing, which I thought detracted from some of your well thought out insight into the music itself.
, comment by TwiceBitten
TwiceBitten

But then I reflected further and wondered whether I didn’t like the reviewers assessment because it felt like it struck so close to home.
, comment by bhillsberg
bhillsberg @TwiceBitten said:

But then I reflected further and wondered whether I didn’t like the reviewers assessment because it felt like it struck so close to home.
Not particularly. I had a blast all weekend. And I don't feel the need to get into the geography bit. But hey man, keep projecting/feeling the need to kind of force me to respond to your sarcastic remarks.
, comment by mgolia6
mgolia6 @bhillsberg said:
@TwiceBitten said:

But then I reflected further and wondered whether I didn’t like the reviewers assessment because it felt like it struck so close to home.
Not particularly. I had a blast all weekend. And I don't feel the need to get into the geography bit. But hey man, keep projecting/feeling the need to kind of force me to respond to your sarcastic remarks.
Sorry you feel this way. This was certainly not my intention.
, comment by Foreverjams
Foreverjams Wow, loved your review, so I’m posting a comment. I enjoyed the show, especially knowing the .Net will be complaining all night long. If you had something better to do Sunday night, hope it was fun.

I especially like your writing: the music theory, Jerry, Bernie, and most of all the title /banner. I was being a West Coast chill phan (still complaining on this new “Skip California every other year, Jerry would never do this” theme. I love watching phish from 5-8pm PST. Although this show was basically jam-less, it had “heart “ and I’ve already relistened. To west coasters, word is late July : Tahoe, Gorge, and new Chase to replace BGCA in 2020. See you in NYC
, comment by HankScorpio
HankScorpio I was at the moby dick show, fucking lost my mind. CDT reprise was a quirky annecdote to a journey to the nether reaches of the cosmos...and the world turned into the matrix. It holds up too, give it a spin
, comment by esphish
esphish Perfect quote - "Show 300 for me. Been waiting for another CDT Reprise since 7/11/00. I hated the setlist but for whatever reason raged the show with a huge smile. Certainly an odd choice of songs. Hey, it’s not like they have tickets to sell. What do they care? Flow at times was like trying to pass a freshly plowed potato covered In dirt thru your ass. Yet I loved the show. Weird." - Agreed
, comment by dmac420
dmac420 Thanks for a fine review, @TwiceBitten. That was me sitting behind you. Personally, I had a wonderful time at the show, while also acknowledging a few limitations in the moment like flubs or a jam not jelling and taking off—so what? Like every Phish show I've seen in the last 25 years, it was different from the one that came before, and will likely differ in tone, style and setlist from what follows. I had been feeling a little burned out on Phish in 2019, but these shows, including night 3, piqued my taste interest in large part through the unpredictability of the no-repeats gag. This whole tour is obviously not some people's cup of tea, but I adored being in the room with them in Chucktown, felt a lot of love coming from the stage and among the phans I hung out with, familiar and otherwise.
, comment by TwiceBitten
TwiceBitten LOL at the cowards downvoting not only my comments, but every single positive comment left on this thread. If you were smart enough to step to my review, you would. See you at the next one suckers.
, comment by TwiceBitten
TwiceBitten @dmac420 super nice to meet you!
, comment by FiestaTime
FiestaTime Image
They finally did it.
, comment by melt_the_tek9
melt_the_tek9 @dmac420 said:
Thanks for a fine review, @TwiceBitten. That was me sitting behind you. Personally, I had a wonderful time at the show, while also acknowledging a few limitations in the moment like flubs or a jam not jelling and taking off—so what? Like every Phish show I've seen in the last 25 years, it was different from the one that came before, and will likely differ in tone, style and setlist from what follows. I had been feeling a little burned out on Phish in 2019, but these shows, including night 3, piqued my taste interest in large part through the unpredictability of the no-repeats gag. This whole tour is obviously not some people's cup of tea, but I adored being in the room with them in Chucktown, felt a lot of love coming from the stage and among the phans I hung out with, familiar and otherwise.
I totally agree. Totally different show for me. At first we weren’t totally sure it was a no-repeat thing on Friday, then it became apparent. And that made me very excited!

Why? Because it’s something I’ve never had the chance to be a part of for Phish before. I was honestly way more excited to see songs I’ve never seen (Friday was show 51 and the chances to see new things are getting quite slim save the newest stuff aka Kasvot, Ghosts, etc.) than epic jams. I said to myself “If there is at least one epic jam that makes me feel like 20 minutes is 5 minutes then I’m fine with that.” That’s what basically happened, and that’s what made me happy. Phish variety is what I live for nowadays with these four goofy nerds on stage. What drew me to this band was the unpredictability and variety every night. And sometimes there are jams and sometimes not. To me that’s what phish is honestly all about.

I danced harder Sunday than the other nights. I think it’s because there were more songs and more ups and downs all show and I dance/rage for songs and slow up a bit more for oddities and deep jams, and slow songs that hit me. Lots of emotion on Sunday. Lots. Lots of feelings too. That’s all good.

My first show was in this room in ‘95. It holds lots of meaning for me. Every time I’ve seen them here since, I think it’s my last time seeing them in Charleston. Any and all shows here are welcome. Yes Trey was a bit off a lot of the show. But they still played a lot and he still found his notes. I think breaking curfew 30 minutes two out of three nights is a great, great gift to the fans in attendance, because a free 30 more minutes of Phish in two of three shows is something you can’t beat. REGARDLESS OF SONG SELECTION. If you’re tired and tired of the songs then leave. I need more room for interpretive dance to Petrichor anyway.

Lastly, got my first Alumni Blues. I’ve always said that any show with that song can’t be bad. Can it? Maybe so, maybe not. I will say this: people were flipping lids and all smiles and pumped all night in there. Energy was a tad low overall from the crowd vs Friday and Saturday, but man people were pumped up for anything. Phish delivers for some and not all, but they dish it out all the same. Love all around in Charleston let’s do this all over again!
, comment by TwiceBitten
TwiceBitten @melt_the_tek9 thanks for your post!
, comment by DirtyWarriorMan
DirtyWarriorMan Does Trey yell "F you!" after the Plasma reprise? Did he read the .net review of the Plasma show from earlier in the run?!
, comment by Tela_Tube
Tela_Tube This is such an awesome article. Nice work!
, comment by pootytang
pootytang I haven't listened to the whole show, I watched the bits on youtube which were fine. I followed the setlist as the night went on and the 4th quarter petrichor is a head scratcher (I'm not a big fan of the song to begin with, but that placement just seems so wrong). Anyway, I just wanted to mention that I think beneath a sea of stars is one of their best new songs, and an amazing jam vehicle. That they played a 5 minute version in the encore breaks my heart.
, comment by jaycam1027
jaycam1027 I saw 16 shows this year and all were amazing in their own way. My only real issue with Sunday 2nd set was that it was Sunday's 2nd set. Maybe Alpine Sunday got my hopes up and while I wasnt expecting a story fron Trey I was hoping for something different. I have no issue with Wingsuit but ive seen petrichor twice now. Charleston Night 3 and Chicago 2018 night 3. And while I can appreciate it ive also never seen a song suck the energy out of a room like that song. Overall I thought the show and the weekend was stellar, but I understand those that felt Sunday's 2nd set was lacking. Also @twicebitten you seem very judgmental for someone that doesn't seem to accept criticism. The way you profile people based upon geography and insult peoples intelligence when they dont agree with you, for me, goes against what this band and scene is built upon.
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