4/20 / Easter / the return of Phish to Portland after almost 26 years (or 46 days x 200). The expectations were high and Phish was clearly on a mission to burn the mutha down to the ground and then salt the earth for good measure. Sound quality in sec. 221 was pristine - especially Mike and Fish's bass drum. No boom, rattle or distortion. I wasn't going in with high expectations for Moda's acoustics but it ended up being excellent from where I was posted up.

Trey was so patient. Building things up like he was in no rush. Just in the kitchen baking a funky soufflé and putting his whole foot in it. I don't get why people are saying he sounded rushed. I had the exact opposite take and really enjoyed his mystical meanderings. He was a man with a plan who knew precisely where he's headed and will get there when he gets there.

Mike was in beast mode. The whole band looked like they were having a great time and boy, they sure know how to throw a party.

I got inside about 45 minutes before they took the stage and the vibe was fam AF. Folks walking around smiling and connecting with friends old and new like a big ol' reunion. The electricity inside was palpable and crackling with excitement and anticipation. Everyone in a great mood, happy to be there, and ready to party down. The three 90's kids that were sitting right next to me had flown in from Philly for a quick 4-day SEA/PDX run and had never been to the PNW before. They had a blast and we quickly became simpaticos before the show kicked off. They talked about really appreciating how different the vibe is out here while also marveling at the nonchalant open drug use and general northwest chillaxittude. The neighborly rows of folks surrounding my seat were trading old show stories and saying, things like, "sorry, tell me your name again." We were all making fast friends and setting a very nice communal atmosphere amongst strangers, greeting each other and feeling pretty excited for what we were about to witness when the lights went down. I think it helped that most of us were all in our late 40's, loved the band and had been seeing them for decades (and decades).

The Portland show was worth the wait all these years. I can't even complain about the choices surrounding 2001.

The people watching while walking thru the hallways was top notch. So much glitter, huge warm grins, beautiful NW weirdness and so many big, shiny, sparkly pupils. Lots of great loud costumes too - not to grab attention so much but to just help celebrate and contribute to the festive atmosphere. It was a very kind freakdown party. Made my heart happy to be surrounded by it.
I sat down for the first half of Scents but otherwise I didn't stop dancing the whole night.
It was one of those shows where you didn't care what they played because everything was sounding fantastic - all about the flow and mood. This one was about IT and I think the band knew it because I'm pretty sure they blew well past curfew and didn't care. If it's gonna be that kind of party every 26 years then we'll just pony up for the fine, sir. Truth be told, I'm someone who can be overly-critical sometimes - and about Phish especially - but I left the venue buzzing and vibrating from my head to my toes (even after Sleepless in Seattle and the road tripping). I had packed in all kinds of goodies tonight and hardly had to dip into my stash because it was absolutely not necessary. This one was really special.

Flew in from New York to help welcome Phish back to Portland for the first time in over 20 years, and it was worth it. The sound in Moda Center was a bit uneven in the first set, but that might’ve lent the band a feeling of looseness, or at least a little more leeway. Trey seemed to be rushing a little bit at times, perhaps to try and fit as much into the show as possible, but it wasn’t a big distraction. The lengthy 46 Days opener went plenty off-script before rifling back for a monstrous finish. Given the arena’s name and recent trends in mondegreenery, Moma felt like a surefire preshow guess, and it did not disappoint. Other highlights in S1 included a mammoth Sigma Oasis and a nicely placed Antelope right before the S.A.N.T.O.S. closer. S2 was another banger, full of Tweezer references and tease-adjacent sounds, but the feeling in the arena seemed to peak with 2001, sliding out of a righteously funky Boogie On Reggae Woman. Naturally, they nodded toward Mt. Hood with an engulfed Harry Hood to end the second. The Wilson -> Slave encore was a nice way to usher us to the end. All the while, CK5 was bringing Easter and Trail Blazers vibes in the lights, which only got better over time. I have to assume Bill Walton and Pope Francis would’ve enjoyed this one: a happy Easter.

I thought the first set from start to finish was smoking hot. My first post-COVID show. Hard to believe I’m saying this but the Sigma was a freaking monster version. It far exceeded what I was hoping for. I thought the second set was just a tick below the first. Call it 4.6/4.4 or in that neighborhood. Fun encore, old school. First show in Portland in decades. Big crowd. More amateur drinkers at this show than others. The sound was superb. I was at the Eugene show in 2014 where thru broke Plasma out. Honestly thought it was a superb, superb show.

This show was one of the best days of my life. Amazing time, amazing show.

Had a great experience with the crew coming down on the 7:00am train from Seattle, pulled in, walked to Voodoo Doughnuts (they were tourists, they had to) and then chilled at my apartment, had lots of beers and 4/20 was celebrated for hours. After some great food (shoutout to Nong's Hao Man Gai in SE PDX), we split, and I hosted a nice pre-show party with folks from all over. Among them were 3 of my female coworkers, none of whom had basically listened to any Phish, and who were going to their first show. Oh yeah, and we were on the floor. Lmao. My parents also came up for their first and we were set to have a great time.

Walked over close to showtime and we were just getting out of the bathroom when I saw a familiar face - my new boss, who I had no idea was a Phish fan. Another great coincidence. Glad they saw me before I was ripped out of my mind from the secondhand smoke.

This show was FIRE. Obviously, 4/20 at Portland, where they hadn't played in 26 years - it was going to be special no matter what. The 46 Days started as we were walking down to the floor and we were on the back right-hand side. This 46 Days is special. It goes pretty far out and created a really nice soundscape. Special for sure. Moma Dance in the two slot is as trusty as can be. I love Moma, so always willing to take it live. My dad (who as previously mentioned, was in for his first show) has had Talking Heads as his favorite band since about 1979. I was telling him about the potential covers as we prepared, so of course they had to oblige by playing Cities within the first 3 songs. ALWAYS happy for a Cities as well. Perhaps the only low point of the entire show was that it was only like 5 minutes long, but they immediately make up for it with a nice segue into a burning, molten-hot Plasma. This is the second incredible jam of the set and we're four songs in. Must-hear! A coincidence as well that we had nice segues into Plasma at other Oregon shows - 10/17/2014 Eugene (my very first!) and also 10/19/2021 (the one with the longest opener in Phish history). Also there is a clear Norwegian Wood tease in Plasma around 11:35 in that is not marked yet on Phish.net.

Always love Bouncing. Sigma next is just another fucking BOMB that they dropped on this crowd, many of whom were likely seeing the band for the first time in a long while. They got a treat. This may be the best jam of the show, although the second set has something to say about that. It just keeps going and going. Just when you think it is about to peter down, it goes for another 5-7 minutes and peaks hard.. then straight into the Antelope afterward.. That was the shit, lovely Lope too. This one really got to me on the floor. I've seen some good Antelopes lately, Dicks 2024 likely being the best, but this one hit different. My coworkers were really taken aback because they didn't expect the craziness that Antelopes bring, that was super cool. They were enjoying it! Thought that it was gonna close but they added SANTOS, hell yeah. I probably smoked more in this arena during this show than I have in the last 3-4 years combined. I got very high LOL. But so was everyone else. I don't think I've ever seen more weed being smoked at a concert!

Set 2 also brought the heat in different ways. Wave of Hope starts off and I always welcome this, it's been an incredible jam vehicle. This is Great Jam #3 of the show. Wave > Twist > Scents is 45 minutes of prime Phish. The Scents is amazing. I literally always want to see this song when I walk into a show, and it brought it. Welcome Back To The Good Stuff, truly. I was on Cloud 9. Everything's Right is also one of my favorite recent jam vehicles and we were pleasantly surprised to get into dance territory with the Boogie On - everyone was grooving, perfect placement. The Boogie On > 2001 was a reward to the Portland faithful who had been so long without a show. I always want to hear both of these two as well, and it was like a perfect setlist. By this time we had moved from the floor to the 300 level to try and find a seat - and also let me tell you, there were none available - the place was FULL. This was a true sellout for the band and it was definitely one of those times where they delivered. The punchline to the 4/20 show was that it was literally smoky from the vantage point - you could barely see some of the lights and band members at times LOL. Just a wonderful dance party and a great setlist for the new fan as well.

Trey earned the ALBTD, which I also enjoy - there was a little bit of everything in this show. Exploration, peaks, dancing, ballads, and everything in-between. You had to expect the Hood as Mt. Hood was nearby, this is a very solid version. There's been some real good versions of Hood lately, that song is on a resurgence.

Encore is a nice victory lap and I'll take a Wilson or an ST3L any day. You have to think they knew they played a good show when there is BOTH a Hood and a Slave to the Traffic Light.

Anyways; just an incredible show from top to bottom. Seek out the 46 Days, Plasma, Sigma Oasis, Wave of Hope > Twist > Scents, Hood. Also a fun dance party late in the 2nd.

We all walked out of the show happy (met some unexpected folks from local stuff on the way out), and my coworkers got to experience the nitrous mafia at full blast. Lmao. None of them were convinced to buy a balloon. But all of the people I got to come to the show - my rookie coworkers, my parents - they all told me they had a blast and really enjoyed themselves. That's the real win! Such a fun show! Got to sleep in my own bed and got ready to prepare for the San Fran side of things, which were another two next-level shows.

See you all at Providence Park in Summer 2026 or 2027 (one can hope!)

Watched via livestream.
S1 with a nice Moma and with a rocker but short Cities to Plasma (Great!!). Oasis great too with a nice Antelope. Thought they would end it there but they followed with SANTOS.

S2 although starting with A Wave of Hope i actually really really digged this!! Seemed like the crowd wasnt having it?? but I thought it was a great way to start. Seemed like Everythings Right was a good contrast to Oasis from S1.

Encore with Wilson was good!!! Slave nice to follow up with.

Total show rating: 3.75/5.00