, attached to 2011-12-31

Review by forbin1

forbin1 Excitement doesn't even begin to describe how I felt attending this show...It was my first NYE show since the 98 run...Upon finding our seats..which were the best seats I ever had in msg..sec 108 row 4...I sat down and soaked up all the goodness and excitement that had filled up inside the garden...there was definitly a different buzz about the room..then there was the previous nights...And then the house lights went down...

Set I

AC/DC Bag: Thought it was a good choice for an opener...got the crowd going...nothing crazy about this version...

Wolfman's brother: Worked well coming out of bag...Glad to see this show up..was afraid it might not happen...a well played version, that didn't stray too far...not as funky as I thought it might get..but a nice groove throughout...

Scent of a mule: Always a crowd favorite and a fun song...

STFTFP: Not one of my favorite songs...starting to grow on me..Trey did a nice job with this short version...

Lawn Boy: Page was solid as always...came out from behind the keys to the front of the stage and worked the crowd...

Jibboo: Always liked this song...there's quite a few good versions out there...Thought this one went rather well..Trey sounded good, picking up the pace when need be...

Farmhouse: A pretty standard version...little surprised by the set placement..thought the pace would keep up after coming out of Jibboo...but still enjoyable

P&M: My first one...Wasn't too sure what to expect with this..as I must admit I don't give this as much listening to as I probably should...Overall, I was happy with it...had some punch to it..

Ocelot: Another one of the newer songs that has really grown on me...A pretty solid version

Fluffhead: Good choice for closing out the set...Crowd was really into it..

Overall enjoyed the set very much..pace wise it seemed to jump around a bit..but I can't complain..

Highlights of set I: Wolfman's, P&M

Set II

Party Time: My first one..and thought it was a good way to open up the second set..

Light: A good version imho...gets really dark and spacey with Page on theremin...although I thought the theremin jam might go on longer..a real highlight of set II

Golden Age: Also a first for me...a lot of chatter wondering if this was going to be played during the run...Phish plays this tune really well and when worked liked it did coming out of light...it's a real treat..picked up the pace and was enjoyed by everyone..including myself..

Theme: Was excited about this...one of my favorite songs...nice set placement..worked well coming out of golden age..always good to see live...a pretty solid version I would say...didn't soar to uncharted territory..but it did the job...

Heavy Things: Was kind of surprised to hear this...especially the way the set was going...a pretty standard version..

Ghost: This is what everyone was expecting to hear this run..considering last years ghost..a pretty solid one...I think that a lot of people's expectations of them playing a monster version of this during this run were pretty high..and while it wasn't the spaciest ghost I've heard...it did the trick...some good stuff by Trey on this one I thought...

Sneakin: Didn't see this one coming..but then again..sneakin sally and msg almost go hand in hand...I'm a little biased when it comes to this song..as this would be my 3rd Sally..my first was the nye run in 97...and I think, myself included thought that they would really break out the funk with this one...a nice little vocal jam during it...but then it starts to die out...

46 days: Probably the best version I've heard...Trey shreds..everyone killed it...the garden was rocking during this...Trey was having a lot of fun with this one...a definite highlight of set II

Suzy: Good choice for set closer....page was solid as always...crowd was pumped...

Highlights of set II: Light -> Golden Age > Theme, Ghost > Sally > 46 Days > Suzy

Set II was the definite highlight of the night...

Set III

Cavern: Didn't expect them to open up the set with it...but always glad to hear a good cavern...

Steam: A little tea kettle that was on a speaker started to whistle with some steam coming out of it...hence we knew where this was going...My first Steam..and I was pumped...Think it's one of the better songs that they have debuted in a while and one that has a lot of potential...this was a really good version...gets a little dark and murky at times...as it should...while the band is jamming...about 15 people begin to hang, then proceed to dance from the rafters..all the while a keytar, amp, bass, and vaccum went up and down behind the stage..each was producing steam...I know I enjoyed it..as well as everyone in the house..it was really a cool sight...girl hanging in front of the stage did the countdown and then it was on to ALS...

DWD: Right after ALS...mike does the intro for dwd...I thought this was the perfect placement for it...there's nothing like a ripping dwd going on..while thousands of balloons are taking over the garden...for sure the boys were having a lot of fun with this...as Trey and Mike did a few laps around the stage..kicking balloons, all the while jamming...at one point trey and mike were lifted about 20 feet up in the air by these pedestals and the jamming continued...a cool sight for sure and one of my favorite memories from this night...

The Wedge: Nice...was happy to get one of these..nothing out of the ordinary with this one..a pretty solid version...I enjoyed it a lot...

Alaska: While it's got a lot of potential...I was surprised to hear it at this point during the show...thought the set was heading in a different direction...

Wading: A beautiful song...done well by Page...was a perfect choice and was happy to hear it...this song never gets old...

First Tube: Good way to end the set...got loud..not 09' loud..but loud enough...place was rocking...

Encore:

Slave: A perfect end to the night I thought...one of the more beautiful phish songs..the way it just comes full circle....was happy to hear this as an encore...

Highlights of set III: Steam > ALS > DWD, Wedge, Wading, Slave

Thank you Phish for an amazing year...I couldn't have asked for a better way to end my year...


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