I had mixed expectations for this one, especially following two stellar shows at Star Lake, and the fact the last time Phish played this venue in 2016 the show was… just not the greatest. But this is Phish mind you. Happy to report, my 25th show was an absolute heater.

Free is a great way to get things going. Always will be.

Steam had a different bridge arrangement with woo-ing that I’d never heard before. I like it.

McGrupp is a welcome rarity.

Evolve! For many this one is a bathroom break song but not for me. My absolute favorite Trey song from quarantine and I’ve been chasing it since Phish added it to their rotation in 2021. I was jumping around like a little kid when this one started. So glad I finally got one live.

Stealing Time through Theme is relatively standard fare, but all were well played and a lot of fun.

Kill Devil Falls this late in the set meant one of two things: it’d be a short one or it’d be a long one. Twas a long one. Outstanding improvisation, bliss, HOSE, groove, all of it. Must hear Phish on all levels.

A Suzy second set opener. I’m still waiting on my pizza. Props to the guy cranking out orders at light speed. At this point I’m feeling it might be Tweezer night.

And it was. Mike sounds great in this one especially. Moving through bliss, dark soup, and crunchy grooves, safely add another to 2023’s monumental Tweezers. This was the first of two “holy shit, Phish just did that” moments of the night. 28 minutes later, Oblivion awaits.

Trey dragged out the initial Oblivion jam to great benefit as it nosedived into darker territory. About ten minutes in it surfaces into a serene groove, which eventually builds up to an incredible HOSE peak and lands. Second “holy shit, Phish just did that” moment of the night.

Miss You was a much needed breather. Nice sing-along as I recollect myself from the previous two monster jams.

Wolfman’s was a groove fest to pick things back up, and then a smoking Possum tears the roof off the amphitheater. What. A. Set.

Fish is the hometown hero, so he gets the honors of a vacuum solo in I Didn’t Know. What’s the Use is a surprise, but a very welcome one. Then came Tweezer Reprise, to burn the amphitheater down for good measure.

Just a top to bottom smoker of a show. For my 25th show I got tent pole jams and a song I’ve been chasing. This is why I Phish. 4.5/5