The setlist is amazing, hitting some rarities while staying true to the OG's. Also, if any second set has less than 6 songs, we know what we're in for. Deer Creek usually gives us the goods, and the boys really delivered tonight.

Party Time! Excellent opener. The tone of Fishman's kit is one of the defining traits in the '24 sound, and I think this is a great example of him showing it off. Really fun. The Final Hurrah, the first of a few Halloween tunes in the first set, is just ok. I love this song, and the one from Sacramento '21 is a great example of where this tune can go, but this one falls short, literally; it just never really does anything. Not bad, but certainly not incredible. KBBA is cosmic-reggae at its finest. It's short, but I feel like the band goes to a lot of places in that short time. Pretty sweet. STFTFP, while usually being a pretty ok song, gets dirty really quick, and is definitely one of the better versions I’ve heard. Trey fuckin kills every second. The Dogs is so, so good. I love every Chilling Thrilling track deeply, so there could be a bit of bias, but I think this is a very solid, rocking version. Destiny Unbound is our Mike song of the set, a damn good choice, and this one takes no time to get funky. Page rocks the clav, and then Mike throws in his Meatball effects; it’s saucy stuff, for sure > Fish is really active (awesome cowbell action starting 3 minutes in!) in 46 Days, and this one also takes no time to get weird. They rock out for a while, with Trey and Mike controlling most of the jam. It gets pretty slow, and Trey starts up the iconic lick, but everyone else needs a second to catch up, yet they manage to finish it up in a fiery manner.
McGrupp is my favorite Phish tune, and Mike is my favorite musical contributor, and they both shine here. The first section is beautifully executed. Trey started singing this one strangely in recent shows, and I never really understood why, but we don’t get that here. Page kills it on the keys (as he usually does in this tune), his solos never fail to get me randy. Musically, of course. It ties up in a spectacular fashion, and McGrupp leaves to explore Gamehenge once more. Wingsuit is one the most beautiful Phish songs I can think of, and while the first half of this version is just meh, the latter half is just simply stunning. Truly makes you feel like you’re flying. The ending screech is awesome. Mike gets real funky on Meatstick. This version is pretty good, but not spectacular > Mike keeps up the good work in Antelope, but soon is taken over by Fish and Page, who team up to fight off Mike’s notes. But soon, Page, Trey, and Mike face each other in a quiet stand-off, they each play off of each other’s notes, until they all spread off into their own territory again. Fish then takes the lead, and charges forward, as if charging into battle. The peak here is epic, but Fish has trouble limiting his power at the stop. The ending section is oh-so satisfying, Page’s piano really ties it together. This Antelope is really good, guys.

This Ghost is easily in my the top 10 jams of the summer, without a doubt. The opening is quiet, slow, and cool. Very patient, very collected. It gives you time to adjust and get ready for what’s about to ensue. It feels like it starts to get really intense, but stays fairly light-hearted for a while, and starts to get into a really chill groove. Mike starts throwing in some awesome chunk effects around 13 minutes in. We start to pick up the pace, and the energy rises, giving us some epic rock n’ roll moments (Fish and Trey!!), but that doesn’t last long, as we start to slow down again, but then gain energy again, but then slow down again; this is a musical roller coaster, they weave seamlessly from slow to fast, retrospective to energized, as if the Ghost is flying in and out of the atmosphere, getting closer and closer to space each time. Eventually we get into a nice lil groove, with the guys just having a ball together, each one of them playing off of each other, as if they’re each thinking the same thoughts; they’re so connected to one another as people and musicians, it’s really beautiful. But then, in the last 5 minutes, they start to get really angry, and they raise hellfire from their fingertips. Real demonic shit. Black Sabbath couldn’t even make metal like this. It’s like if Sauron could talk. But then, the jam fizzles away, and the Ghost makes a final appearance to say goodbye.
Personally, I HATE Soul Planet as a song, but every jam from it that I’ve heard has been nothing but gold, so I suppose I can’t complain. This version in particular is excellent. The first 10 minutes or so are very fast-paced, some rock jamming at it’s finest, but then Trey takes the band in a different, more solemn direction, Mike and Page (he does some awesome stuff around 12 minutes in!) follow suit, and the jam gets incredibly cheerful. An AMAZING peak at 14 minutes, almost sounds like Number Line. Pure love right here. But eventually, we have to put on our mean face and get nasty, and Trey gets into rock mode. Page gives us an excellent blues solo, Mike turns on the quack, and Trey gives us a mean growl. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, Werewolf Trey! He’s on the prowl, and he’s coming to get you! The last 8 minutes or so of this jam is just awesome (as is the rest of it). I could listen to it for hours. Oozing with depth > a serene Billy Breathes to cool us down, we certainly needed it. Fish and Mike propel us into a very spooky Split Open and Melt, which can be best summed up as a wall of demonic, outer-wordly sound. It’s as if a tribe of black wizards are unleashing an evil spell from their tower atop the mountain into the unsuspecting village below. Mike (I think?) chants some strange spells near the end of the jam, so I suppose that’s what made them calm down and finish this monster. Top-tier shit.

Trey shares some words about the sentimental value of playing at Deer Creek, and they start up Slave, which is always a great encore choice. This version is very solid, great way to end a show.

This show is amazing. But, that doesn’t mean much because it’s one amazing show that’s swimming in a sea of other amazing shows, the sea being 2024. I would definitely come back to this one. Sorry about the long review, I had a lot to say. Highlights: 46 Days, McGrupp, Ghost, Soul Planet, SOAM