Another banger of a show in another banger of a run. As good as 8/30 is, this second set has some of my favorite songs in their current rotation, and the band threw DOWN. Let's get into it...

I woke up on the third day of the Colorado Labor Day Weekend trip after crashing at a buddy's house and went to a place called Mike's Cafe, not by accident. He was one of the MVPs of this run - his sound is on another level. Especially in these blowout set 2s, he held everything together all weekend. I went to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and that was a fun day trip, checked out the full exhibits and displays. They had a really fun exhibit about different poisons that I particularly enjoyed. After that, I went to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge right near Dicks and made my way to the lot super early. Had a great time here and this is where I met up with people that I've exclusively known online through the Phish Discord for many years - but this elevated the experience to a new level for me. It was like checking in with a dozen old friends - we'd all talked for so many times before - now we were experiencing history in person.

Show Number 3 got off to a cracker start with the 46 Days, which had a little extra sauce on it. The fun truly begins with a nearly 19-minute Oblivion that comes next - already, coming out the gates firing. It was so gratifying to catch one of these - Oblivions have had so many good jams lately and it was one of my favorites from Evolve. Their new tunes are so fucking good... this continues to show off Phish's improvisational power in both sets - something that is a hallmark of some of the most treasured eras of the band. Axilla isn't particularly notable, but there was a nice segue into Bathtub Gin and this version is some high-powered hose, nearly reaching 20 minutes - two of those in the first 4 songs! Already coming off firing on all cylinders. Undermind was fun, and I enjoyed the Free for sure, one of my favorites. I love this song and seem to catch it at every run I go to - not that I'm complaining. Goopy first set funk is always welcome. Most Events closed things and this was a treat. My personal first time viewing this live, I loved the way it really got out there and ended things with a bang.

Set 2 is another full body ethereal experience. Well, at least it was for me, as I was on a nice mix of Molly and some other items. Loving Cup was definitely a surprise to start - it has only opened up the 2nd set twice outside of its debut year in 1993, with one of them being the 5/7/1994 Bomb Factory Tweezerfest show and the other being three years ago, 10/22/2021 in Phoenix. So it was definitely an unexpected choice to start off the second frame, and I was kind of expecting it to jam because of that. That didn't happen, but what did happen was a FANTASTIC Kill Devil Falls. I just relistened to it the other day and it was a great jam with great development, stays melodic, and explodes into a wonderful peak.

The one song I was hoping to hear heading into this run was What's Going Through Your Mind. Having tracked it since TAB debuted it in May and then they played it with Billy, and then later at Mondegreen, I wanted to hear it because I not only loved the track, but also because I love when they put out new content in general. I love New Phish Songs and New Phish Ideas. And this was jamming everywhere it was being played, so why not? MIND MIND MIND MIND MIND MIND....

A really fun, unique jam on this that could be the highlight of the show. Everyone was dancing (to a song they could absolutely stand)! After WGTYM ends, I was sort of expecting a slowdown, sort of expecting something of a breather but then BOOM.. Crosseyed and Painless. I was physically unable to stop dancing throughout this segment and it was a killer song selection. Similar in choice to MSG 12/29 - they have been inspired with the placement of Crosseyed in recent times. More goodness from the boys. Just when you think things can't get any better, after a close to C&P, the opening notes to Melt come off. I thought that this was absolutely incredible and there was just no way that the set continued to improve like that. Top-tier selection. The jam gets out there a bit, but isn't as relatively out there as some other recent Melts, but it does the job. Next comes MONSTERS... I was over the moon to get this one - one of Trey's most powerful recent songwriting selections. I was hoping to hear either this or Mercy and we were elated to hear the Monsters. This is as genuinely emotional as Trey has been in a while - his songwriting really turned a corner after GOTF and has been able to more convincingly write about mortality and even a look into mental illness that Monsters provides. I was proud to give a hearty ovation after the soaring guitar crescendo came to a close. Carini to close was just icing on the cake for another fantastic set and was a short and sweet fiery close. Always welcome to hear a Carini!

Bug opened the encore. I was just happy to see them play more after that Set 2 and of course there was more, a real good version of First Tube that I later learned had been boosted by the T-shirt. Check this version out if you want a precursor to the NYE one - they really have been killing First Tube lately - examine this one as it has a little extra juice.

Afterward I had perhaps one of the best post-show evenings in the lot just chilling with so many different online friends - the temperature was perfect, it wasn't cold, and we had just such a wonderful time basking in the moonlight and watching all the madness unfold. It was a true sadness that the lot eventually was forced to dissolve and I retired to my bed (my sleeping bag in my rent-a-car to save on lodging).

8/30 may get more attention at the present time but 8/31 has just as much Good Stuff. Not only do you have two heavy-hitters in the first set, Oblivion and Gin, but the KDF through Melt is over an hour of fantastic jamming, exploration (especially the WGTYM), and high energy rock and roll. Plus a nice version of Monsters for the pathos. What more can you want in a show? Such a fun time and yet there was still more to come.. what could possibly come the next night, other than Tweezer, of course?