Some scattered thoughts:

1. Make sure you give the first set a listen - lots of energy, very good song selection, a nifty transition from Saw it Again to Fuego, and a chilled-out YEM given a little extra oomph by Trey playing around with his Fee megaphone. C'mon, do it. You gave 5/7/94 I a spin back in the day too, I'd bet.

2. I think you can draw a pretty neat demarcation line for this tour between the epochal Randall's 3 show and 7/15; up until Randall's 3, they'd been hewing to their 2012/13 battle plan for the most part, kicking off with a big jam (or a high-energy opener into big jam), mainly blowing out the 3rd quarter, and so on. Randall's 3, with three huge jams as the centerpiece of Set 2, is the logical conclusion to that kind of set-making. So where do you go from there?

One thing people had been mourning as 3.0 has progressed has been the loss of the segue - we all love them, since they show the band's paying very close attention to each other and just sound cool on top, but they'd been appearing with less regularity the past few years. Starting with Northerly 1, you could see segues coming back, the band tying segments of music together (even without jams in them), maybe scaling back the improv a bit without totally forsaking it to explore this new/old avenue of doing things. I think those shows, without the big jams of SPAC or Randall's, have been a bit underrated and undervalued. Hopefully, after last night, they won't be anymore.

3. The reason I bring all this up is because I don't really think this show occurred in a vacuum, like the band found one segue, decided that (much like kissing a girl) they liked it, and just rolled with the changes, so to speak. Sometimes a show happens in a vacuum like that (the Moby Dick show definitely did, as did Tweezeppelin), but I think in this case the band was working towards something new, and tonight was the logical conclusion. Which is funny, because we've still got five shows left in this tour...so where do they go for those last five shows? Back to big jamming? Continuing with segue-driven sets? Combining the two?

One hopes it's the last option, because the last time they combined segue-driven sets with big jamming, the phrase "cow-funk" was bandied about more than once...

4. Okay, the music. Every seguefest the band has played hasn't *just* been about the segues, but have included some thrilling improv passages as well - think the HYHU jam in the Bomb Factory set, the magical Hood of 2/20/93, the flaming-hot Antelope jam that rolls into Fixin' to Die on 11/30/94. And then think of the glorious Tweezer jam after the second BOTT segment, hinting at Golden Age as it moves from beautiful semi-hose to stomping powerful rock to hilariously goofy free jazz to a perfectly placed Waiting All Night. There's an alternate universe where they stuck with this Tweezer jam and it went 25-30 minutes. That show was probably a pretty good one, too.

5. Also, like every seguefest, there's a few segues that aren't quite as smooth as the others - the second -> into BOTT and the first Free -> Tweezer are a bit off, esp. when Page is totally caught off guard, and DWD sounded like it was going in 15 different directions (definitely Tweezer from Fish at one point) before they settled on NICU. Hey, if you're making an omelet this tasty, you're gonna break a few eggs.

6. That said, Catapult -> (a mid-set!!) Slave is breathtaking.

7. To go back to the whole improv thing, I'll always remember the goosebumps I got when Trey started fiddling with the Simple riff and the band just dropped into the right key on a dime, but I'll also remember the goofy funky jam they kicked into after NICU ended (that's probably a -> jam, right? NICU, for all intents and purposes, was over), Page in particular dropping some funny organ stings, before finding its way into a very, very clearly unplanned HYHU (man, Fishman is a good sport).

8. If ever you think that this band isn't self-aware and doesn't know its own reputation and history (even when they say they don't), give this show a listen again and behold the funniest (to me, at least) HYHU/Fishman song/HYHU of all time. This band knows, trust me.

9. Of any segment I'd like to see released as a video from this show, I truly hope it's I Been Around. You want to see the band just enjoying the hell out of themselves? That's a segment to watch.

10. This is a show to treasure forever. I'm glad I got to hear it. I hope you all are, too.

Last night Trey made it crystal clear, our humanity is irrelevant; we are all simply vessels made to bathe in the waters of radiance and glory which is Phish. As I was beginning to think that this tour had already started its descent, like the icy, monochrome arms of winter, they bust out a second set that sounded like eight rails of cocaine mainlined while standing on top of a fighter jet. It became apparent that all the previous shows were simply a veneer masking Trey’s true demeanor. Tonight he declared himself Mayor of “I’m-going-ham-ville” with the ideology that portion control is for communists. I must apologize for the people standing next to me for my constant shrieking and pooping like some kind of suicidal zoo animal. By the time DWD started, all the air had been flushed from my lungs and it felt like I was crying blood with the uncontrollable urge to eat children. It probably looked like I was dancing similar to an inbred orangutan on Adderall who just ate a meatloaf mixed with rabies. Tonight was tastier than the tears from a bald eagle compared to previous sets that felt like an aborted porcupine in my mouth giving me the urge to barf up my intestines so I can use them to choke myself to death. What previous felt like sitting in a grey office under dull fluorescent lights in the same time-frame as a bunch of other pale, sallow people, tonight was a party with crack pipes and riot cops. Tonight was a beautiful, perfect horror; a cold water extraction of a set, leaving behind the ass milk from a cyborg and delivering the essence of a unicorn.

As posted to the forum last night:

2:01 AM, 28Jul, just home from Merriweather Post

It must be a thing this year; when phish play an epic show, you are then required to drive in a proportionally voluminous rainstorm. Barely missed wrecking my car in a pileup, i was swerving through deep rivers of accumulated highway water. Unexpected swaths of flooding and the resulting turbulence had smashed 3 others just before i swerved through; it was fine, i held the wheel, i kept the hand steady. It was close but not so much. The force was with me tonight. The rain was beyond. Liquid slamming down. I saw 4 or 5 lightning bolts slashing down to ground, all of them directly located in the general direction i was heading. Something awesome and humbling. And so appropriate, somehow. A capstone to a night.

The show should be called The Free-zer, or the Merriweather Post Freezer. Obviously that isnt everything one might mention about the show; the Catapult, the spirited goofs, the feeling you forget and forgot again. There was something tangible in the air; I’m not kidding; when the set started with Wilson i turned to Wenger and relayed what was coming down the psychic line, “Opening with Wilson? Something big is coming.” I don’t say dumb stuff like that lightly or often. Air. It can tell you things. Objectively, it definitely could have been a trickle down sensation from the approaching storm; perhaps my gut instinct came from subtle atmospheric pressure drops, or whatever. Crisp summer-yet-sweaty-air pockets. The goofs in Fee relaying some sense,a hint?, of a set to come. The Wilson; i dont have anything statistical to back it up, but it just telegraphed a vibe of calm-before-the-roller coaster. And then it all went off.

Man, this was One of Those Shows. It called to mind 7/11/00. I know, im on sacred ground here, but its like that sort of show. Like a goofy modern Roxy. The electric guitar from redhead guy might not be as fast or flashy, but all that Phish is in there, still, and when it erupts out, you get a thing like a show we saw tonight. The kind of thing where the cosmic goof, the band’s own laughter at themselves, is as important as what or how they play. The high water mark, perhaps, being, the I’ve Been Around march around the stage. For real. It might have been the best part of the show, the guys in a line. I still generally reject the idea of televising phish, but absentees should seek out the video of this part, or set, even. The band in a line, old friends in music and comedy, pranking Fish and then marching like goofy stageshow actors. Like I said, it might have been my favorite part of the show. It’s pretty tough to say.

It’s not Randalls or SPAC; it’s part of the hopeless schizoid cannon of phish. A smaller subset than the ‘forever jammin’ sorts of shows--almost the rarest kind of gig, in fact. 1 in 50? 1 in 75? More? There’s no one big gag to latch onto; no Tuck or Woo or Page’s House or Moby Dick or anything else; the Free-Zer transitions are really it, a willingness to T2 and be ridIcculus and all that sort of thing. The Jennifer Dances. The moment when he’s got nothing, then ‘takes a request from the drummer’. Yes. Yes, they remember. They just like to keep the suspense going. They know the jokes too. It’s pretty damn obvious.

Merriweather FreeZer, the truth, the kind of thing.
Phish 2014. It is oh so real. See you on the road.

Believe the hype!! This isn't "the best phish show I've ever been to until the next show"! This is the IT you've been craving! That 1st set! It's a gem! It's engaging and adventurous! Fee opener and then The Curtain With! 555 has become a regular occurrence this tour but hasn't really had the energy I personally anticipated all winter but tonight I feel like we are finally seeing Mike "step up and bust out" and give the song his soul! The connection between the crowd and the band was giving the evening a vitality and blissful enthusiasm. Moreover, it left many of us wondering "what in the world is going to top that!?" How do you follow Saw IT Again>Fuego and then a stellar first set YEM closer!?

You want to know how? By walking out on the stage, grabbing your Languedoc, and not sparing one single second before erupting into a monster Wilson! Maybe it was something in the air but it felt more appropriate than in times past. Tweezer began like every other but not before I cried out to my friends that I could take Tweezer at anytime! Anywhere! All night long! I guess I wasn't the only one who felt that way! The flow into Back on the Train was sublime! The segue back and forth between the two and essentially every song of the second set was without a doubt flawless! This is why we go to Phish shows! The technical skill and timing is mind numbing! Simple will give you goosebumps! Catapult?! Came out of nowhere! Slave was on point and the mid 2nd set DWD was impeccable! The energy! Maybe it was the approaching storms.. NICU is perfection; honestly my jaw was on the floor. Why are you reading this and not listening to this show already?!

I could go into the fine details about the rest of IT but I will sum it up like this.. On the drive home I forgot the first set happened.
Do not forget what I said about how we were wondering after that YEM how they could come out and blow the 1st set away? It was as if it was on a different day or because the second set we all stepped into the freezer and cryogenically stopped time; why that particular analogy you ask? That IS what happened! This entire night will live on forever in our hearts. July 27th 2014 is not a date to be forgotten my friends!

@noob100 said
"10. This is a show to treasure forever. I'm glad I got to hear it. I hope you all are, too."

Spot on, really. From the opening notes of Fee I was floored. Then the night just crescendos consistently all the way through to the end. You have to go back a long ways to find a show that was played *like this*. It's hard to venture a review for this show...so much energy and madness. I'll just finish by saying no other band on the planet can play this kind of show; nobody else has the guts to do it in front of 25,000 and untold numbers on the interwebs.
I was smiling from ear to ear all night; I hope everyone else was, too...isn't that what it's all about?
(and about the actual music...listen and decide for yourself (it's great))

first set started off with fee and curtain... enough to intrigue to say the least. 46 days reached a pretty huge peak and brought the first touch of heat to our faces.

two sweet, well executed songs later they played a sand that to my ears seemed ripe with flourishes. page getting quirky, trey adding flairs, the type of phish clockwork that foreshadows a huge jam. & unlike the other sands of this tour to my ears, the band didnt seem to be chasing a theme or sound. the groove calmly and self sufficiently swelled and broke in a finish. nevertheless, sand finished at an ordinary length and was still sick.

saw it again and fuego paired were a lighthearted nudge against fans reminding us of two things: the band still fucks with us, and the band is still doing it for us.

to follow that up, an awesome and perfectly placed set closing yem. only the second yem of the tour, and felt earned after spac's crippled composed section.

and thats only the first set.

as a bar setter for what a first set to an epic night should be, it can almost stand alone in signifying what this night was. rarities, risks, jokes, phishyness in its essence was radiating from the music. and, the songs happened to be fantastically executed and placed.

for the second set, i will let the merits of experience assure you of most of this sickness. anyone that has listened to the original tweezer fest, or any goofy/segue-infused show for that matter knows the thrilling nature of this type of playing. last night, not only did phish play a set with five tweezers and circulate the stage instrument-less like poorly synchronized jesters, but they did it in an era where they don't tend to and certainly don't need to. the band may have proved itself 20 years ago, but last nights second set is a thesis for the argument that the band is still alive, toying with ideas, and most importantly playing for fun.

https://medium.com/the-phish-from-vermont/throwback-throwdown-review-7-27-14-dd58371cb4d4

Throwback Throwdown: Review 7/27/14

What can I say. This amazing band, in their 31st year, still can play a show like last night that just completely knocks you on the floor in shocking disbelief. Part of Phish fandom is of course “knowing” what comes next: “Hey, they’re playing ‘Oh Kee Pah’ so I bet it goes into ‘Suzy’”, or, “They played ‘Mike’s’ so we’ll get ‘Weekapaug’ later.” Or even, “We are due for an ‘Antelope’ tonight.” What is so amazing about Phish is how they sometimes (it has to be rare to create this ‘knowing’ feeling in the first place) completely defy what “should” happen next. One of my favorite moments at a show where I witnessed this was 8/14/97 Darien Lake: Ken Kesey and his “Merry Pranksters” Bozo show got Phish into such a funk groove that they failed to go into “Mockingbird” out of “Colonel Forbins” because, as Trey exclaimed, “We can’t!!! The funk is too deep.” I remember laughing hysterically at that line. Just like I was laughing hysterically during much of the set II last night (by some miracle of summer travel plans I picked CMAC — a hometown show — and MPP2 — where my brother lives — as the two shows I could afford this summer…so lucky me was there last night). We don’t often appreciate that aspect of Phish — sure the jams take us to “places”, and the songs make us dance, etc., but sometimes this band just makes us laugh…a lot.

When Fishman kicked in the “Back on the Train” beat and Trey followed suit, literally seconds into the 3rd quarter Tweezer jam we were all anticipating, I was really pissed (I literally screamed “no” in a fit of rage…I regret that now). I was thinking: OK — these segues are cute and all, but for f*ck’s sake please don’t interrupt my second set “Tweezer.” But, this was my “knowing” Phish brain. Since they had ended the song, “Back on the Train” would do its thing and then we would likely be led down a march of more and more songs (and segues) for the rest of the set. When literally seconds (or maybe a minute) after that, they busted back into “Tweezer,” I first laughed, but then realized how this minor gesture really opened up the realm of what is possible at a Phish show. Suddenly the Tweezer jam could come after “Back on the Train” (which it did — for 9 minutes of melodic bliss hose; add that to the previous two “Tweezers” and we have a respectable 15 minute “version”). But once they did that, anything was possible. No formula existed anymore. “Free” — a song that has remained almost exactly the same since Billy Breathes was released (remember those ‘95 versions that jammed out ? So do I) — was suddenly cut off in the middle for more “Tweezer” — and then “Simple”, but what was the real icing on the cake is that they came back and finished “Free” proper. That non-Tweezer moment might have been my favorite moment of the set (somehow it didn’t feel right to leave that “Free” unfinished— and I generally don’t like “Free”!).

Although it appears the reaction to this show is almost universally positive, I’m sure there must be some corners of the internet who see 20 tracks on a set 2 list and dismiss the show as a ‘cute’ and ‘gimmicky’ segue-fest — but lacking any real serious improvisation (“I need my four song second set, brah!”). If only that were the case. The set not only included a sizable “Tweezer” jam, but also a ridiculously thick groove in the “DWD” that segued beautiful into what is apparently now a late set 2 song of “NICU.” Then that proceeded to jam “type II” for the first time in nearly 20 years. Yes, there were now epic long jams, but once again, Phish — with rapid efficiency — was able to create very interesting ‘out there’ moments in the interstices of the (many) songs.

Everyone is comparing this show to 5/7/94 (Bomb Factory), or other segue-fests (2/20/93 or 6/22/94), but what people haven’t brought up is the dramatic difference in Phish’s jamming style these days (when compared to 1993-1994). As many have noted @waxbanks and @phishcrit), Phish’s jamming back then was difficult/abstract/frenetic — featuring constant key and tempo changes and dissonant melodies (see A Live One’s Tweezer for instance)— even if they did hold to capacity to build anthemic rock peak jams that strayed away from this sometimes hard-t0-listen-to ‘spontaneous’ composition style. But, this Phish is a different animal. Since 1997, the band still has not really changed their improvisational approach in type II jams (there of course really importance differences in the years since then, I realize). As @waxbanks describes in A Tiny Space to Move and Breathe in 1997 Phish jams become much more open, free, and, most importantly, groove based (Phish tried to play funk prior to 1997 but it didn’t quite work). James Brown and Miles Davis’s electric music, etc. now represented the roots of their jamming style. So, last night, in between the Tweezers and slew of other songs, we got ridiculously open/free harmonically simple jams like Tweezer and funk-groove based jams in Simple, DWD, NICU, and (don’t forget that) Booggie On.

My point is: this is a very different band than the 1994 Phish. I personally much prefer their jamming style today (and I agree the band has found another peak period in 2012-present — even if we can argue if it is on the same level as their previous peaks in 1995 and 1997-1999). But, to ‘add in’ the crazy, unexpected, and hilarious segues and antics (common to 1994) to this Phish’s improvisational gusto and experience? Well, it’s a bit overwhelmingly awesome. And it makes sense. The roots might be something like the “Theme from the Shaft” in Worcester, but in 2013 for the most part Phish anchored their shows with epic improvisations rather than song selection/placement and “setlist flow.” There was a potential to create a new kind of rut of “knowing what to expect” (“it’s the 3rd quarter, so I will now get my awesome jam.”) They decided to shake it up, because, most of all, they just don’t seem complacent right now (like I would argue they had seemed in much of 2009-2011). Now, with fresh song placements and creative segues, Phish is once again keeping us on our toes.

I guess I was going to write a review of the show. The first set was just what I was looking for. “Fee” used to be Phish’s “pop” song when I was in High School — it’s really amazing how rare it is now. I must admit when Trey decided to end the Fee harmonic outro jam section to correct his missed lyric I was confused and angered (not as bad as the “Back on the Train” moment, but still). I love “Fee” jams — 7/1/12 was one of my favorite jams of the year. Sure, correct the lyric, but keep the jam going! When I checked my zzyzx stats before the show, I was informed that the two most common songs I’ve never seen live (in 74 shows), were “My Sweet One” and “The Curtain With.” Well, done and done. Seriously though, I have been chasing “The Curtain With” since 2000 (I got one of the rare “withouts” on 8/28/12, but was rewarded with a >Peaches). This version had a hiccup in the very first part of the intro (the transition between the hammer on’s and the first open “slave-like” A-chord), but then was very, very well played. The jam really chilled out at the beginning and there was a lot of space for Page, Mike and Trey to work. It hit a nice peak, but then felt like it ended a bit abruptly — but no matter — I got my “with” man! Don’t overlook the “Sand” from the first set. It really established a textured groove and was not just a simple guitar solo per usual (the groove it created was a sign of things to come in the second set!). The return of “YEM” was exhilirating, and I really love a first set YEM. While Trey didn’t completely fall apart in the (very difficult!) intro like SPAC, there was a minor flub — but, once again, this was made up for by a cool Mike-Trey duel jam that kept things funky and conversational.

Then, well, the second set happened. And, it had me laughing, laughing, fall apart. I love this band.

Fee and YEM have never bookended the first set before.

The whole band swaggering around the stage with Mike's bass playing at the end of I've Been Around was somehow the perfect end to a show that defied all expectations coming in. I called a Tweezer, but I sure didn't call that!

Re: DWD being unfinished - it sounded like Fishman wanted to go back into Tweezer but it didn't happen...that sort of pulled the plug.

Don't sleep on the Sunday show.

Wow, what can I say? This show is the real deal. I feel very fortunate to have been in the pit, center stage. The best part about this show, IMO, was how much fun the boys were having on stage. They started out free and wild and continued down that path, getting looser and looser. By the time HYHU emerged out of the NICU jam it was clear anything could happen. This wasn't a night where one or two songs stand out above the rest, it was a whole package. At set break my friends and I were already blown away. Then... well the setlist speaks for itself. This was a very special night. Thank you Phish!!

Highlights: Fishman jumping on top of the piano to take a bow, Trey's song request from the drums, the impromptu synchronized walkoff to close the second set, the jam from nowhere at the end of NICU, the fifth Tweezer, and of course Henrietta butchering Jennifer Dances

The music itself is superlative. This show absolutely nailed everything we chase in a show. Bustouts, setlist diversity, flow, segues, risk taking, and yes even jamming. When the dust settles, the level of musicianship and improv and jamming will be regarded as commensurate to some of their finest work.

But to me, this experience was more about how it made me feel. And it is one of the most honest concerts I have ever witnessed by any band. Like season 4 of The Wire honest. The kind of honesty that packs the power of a sucker punch. Fishman standing there "naked" in front of 20k people with no earthly clue what he was going to do next. It was one of the least pretentious moments one could ever encounter, and encapsulated the whole night.

Fee was the 1st Phish song I ever heard. Back in my dorm room in 1990. I could easily track this show to my personal journey over the last 25 years. It didn't just create a feeling of nostalgia, but I actually felt those same feelings I felt years ago. That elusive "gold ring down inside" that always slips away, I was able to grasp it, even if just for a couple hours.

But nostalgia, and old feelings aside, more than anything this show taught me how to live and be in the moment. More than any yogi or meditation book or buddhist monk or the most expensive shrink could. Because I have never seen 4 guys more present and in the moment than Phish that night.

So I've officially listened to the show ("Back on the Free-zer") twice, and watched the webcast once, and my eyes have had tears I them all three times. We were witness to greatness of epic proportions last night. I don't even think that I need to explain a thing to anyone about the show itself, although phrases like legendary, epic, magical, and sick come to mind. The look on Trey's face during the second set said everything! Bliss, joy, energy, and music; these are just a few of the things that make Phish the most captivating "living thing" on the planet. Thank you guys, truly a masterpiece........See you in Orange Beach!

From the storm clouds breaking apart above the venue and the sun peaking out instead of storming, through the high energy first set that set the tempo (Sand, Bouncing, Saw it, Fuego, YEM......um, yes), into the second set that will surely be remembered and looked back on for years to come.....it just doesn't get much better than this.

The crowd was dialed in along with the band and from the moment Trey started dancing around the stage in set 1 phriends in the crowd began looking around at each other as if they sensed something magical looming. What the band delivered was something beyond my own and I'm sure everyone else's wildest dreams. I kept thinking to myself that I'm not this lucky to catch a show of this magnitude. At times all I could do was put my hands on top of my head and stare in disbelief.

Thank you, Phish.

Even just hearing the AUD now, it's clear that from the first note that this show was an unconstrained intermingling and eruption of the energy, humor, skill and passion that's always defined Phish at their best (and what the hell, even at their worst).

It's not just the incredibly delivered second set - it's the whole show! Not a sloucher of a tune anywhere - even the 'Fee' flub is made fun, and made up for with 'The Curtain With'. A rippin' '46 Days' that centers on some classic Trey rock god guitar hero soloing, a '555' that shows how well & quickly the song is maturing to fit into strong sets, then… c’mon… seriously? Look at that. WTF? A hot burning 'Sand', 'Bouncing' over to a metal 'Saw It Again' feeding perfectly into a metal 'Fuego' and then just that little 'YEM' that everyone’s been hunting since SPAC. If they had walked away at set break, this would have been a worthwhile show and everyone could have floated on home…

But of course they didn’t – and the rest is most definitely now history. No need for me to hash over what other reviews say about Set II – just reiterating the point a few others made – the 5 stars are for THE WHOLE DAMN SHOW! If you’re just sitting down to this, do yourself a favor and listen all the way through.

Congratulations to those of you who got this right down under your skin and into your retinas there in person. Surely you’ve emerged transformed! A congratulations to all of us for being smart enough to be fans of this band beyond description. Couldn’t find a night like this anywhere else – that’s for sure.

I'm going to go give a listen later today. But I have to think that the Saw It Again into Fuego was a keen stick in the ribs by the boys for any blowback/complaints related to Fuego being rolled out in every town this tour. And I heartily laughed when I saw that happen. Good for you, Phish, good for you.

I’ve made no secret of it to everyone I know that 7/27/14 is my favorite show ever and the best one I’ll ever go to. Though I think Big Cypress tops it, the second night at Merriweather is the 2nd best show Phish has ever played. I don’t think it’s an argument.

There are two different feelings, though.

With Big Cypress, it truly feels like that is it. You always ask the band to play more, and that night/morning they left it all onstage in the 8 hours they played. It is a rite of passage into being a fan of the band, but be careful because it might taint your experience for all future shows to come. There isn’t and won’t be any show like it to compare to. It’ll always be on the Mount Rushmore of Phish shows.

With MPP night 2, you still walked away really wanting to go to the next show. It was still in the middle of the summer 2014 tour. It was like, oh my god these guys might play shows like this at Orange Beach, Tuscaloosa, and Alpharetta, we’d be dumb to miss out. Though you also walked away thinking you could never go to a Phish show again and be happy (my buddy Dave felt that way after the first set!).

Though Big Cypress is on a level of its own and MPP2 is a standard 2-set + an encore show, both have something in common. It’s that you step away after listening to the show thinking, what in the world just happened???
You were there. You knew the songs. They’ve played them many times before.

But they did it again.

Left completely speechless, there’s pretty much nothing to say in the moment because you’ve never experienced anything like that. All you know is you are extremely overjoyed.

A year later, I have some thoughts to share that I couldn’t muster up at the time.

That was the night where I realized the music in and of itself can leave you floored. It can take everyone in the room to another realm and take every individual on their own fun little journey. It wasn’t the words, it was the instruments that were doing all the talking.

But this is also why people have a hard time explaining the band.

Not many people are well versed and fluent in musical language. We have to try to translate what literally happened to what figuratively happened.

I couldn’t even begin to try to explain to you the modulations in that set. Nor could I begin to explain to you why they made me put my hands on my head. It just did.

Also, because music is subjective, it’s hard to show someone a feeling. We understand love, we don’t fully understand why a band going from A -> F -> A makes us go insane. Someone might prefer D major and you might prefer minor. But we don’t speak that way.

At the same time, I’d feel kind of nerdy if after the show people talked about how key changes made them put their hands on their head.

My mother, brother and sister in law came to Maryland that night and I didn’t care. I had work the next day but I didn’t care.

What I now know is that it’s not worth trying to share my experience with people who don’t share the same interests as me (it’s a waste of energy), but that I should share in the groove with people who do. That will make me happier. That will make me present.

For those five hours, this was all that mattered and this was my escape from everything.

I walked in hoping for either something similar to Bomb Factory or Tahoe. By God did I get it, and by God was it everything I asked for and more.

The night before, I took a bathroom break in the second set during Sing Monica.

That night, there was absolutely no good time to get up from your seat outside of set break. From first note to last, you were captivated. The band was locked in. The crowd was locked in. The energy was unreal. It was a musical spectacle unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

I have met people since then in the DC/Maryland area and somehow we get to talking about Phish. And somehow someone will ask if one of us went to that show. And somehow both of us start freaking out and talking about five Tweezers and a Reprise.

It’s something special. None of us who care will ever forget it.

Thought I'd share an idea about the "theme" of last night. After a second listen, I recalled Trey saying at the end of "Fee", after they flubbed the last verse, that "it was all there, but not in the right parts". When you think about it, the remainder of the show, especially the second set, contained a bunch of things that were all there (and finished), but not in the right parts. I also think this may attribute to the array of "second set" tunes being played in the first set. Just wanted to introduce this for all you conspiracy friends.

The entire show was brilliant, with bust outs and wild set construction, not to mention snappy and responsive jams/segues. This is as good as anything in the last 10 years, easy. After a murky 1st set on the 26th, with obvious disappointment from the band, they brought the thunder for the rest of the weekend. After thousands of hours of music created, they just still find a way to make it fresh for themselves and, subsequently, the fans. Be on this show ASAP!

Here's to a killer show! Thanks, Boys!

Let me begin by addressing the first set: Good. The Fee was nice as an opener, the megaphone being a special treat. Fuego near the end was a good jam and the You Enjoy Myself always spectacular.
But that's not why we are here: The Second Set.
When Phish performed 5/07/1994 at the Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas, the result was dubbed Tweezerfest. This performance nearly rivals that historic show of more than 20 years ago, but I would argue that most Phish fans do not understand the gravity of the situation.
THIS IS 2014 PHISH!!! This is unbelievable!!! This 7/27/2014 show will go down as one of the most unexpected, most exciting, and most enjoyable shows IN PHISH HISTORY!!!
This Tweezer segue-fest encompasses 6 songs.
Also the first Jennifer Dances in 15 years!!
I Saw You Around Bustout!!
First Hold Your Head Up in over 170 shows!!
This proves the boys can show the unexpected and still rock the fun train, both of which happened tonight.
Save this show.

i love how, after all these years, this band continues to astound me. sticking true to the mantra of "never miss a sunday show", the boys delivered a truly awesome "set" of material. sure there have been better jams on this already legendary summer tour, but the band wove together songs like they did in the early 90's in a way that wasn't jarring or forced.

highly recommend listening to this entire show - you can tell the band is having a great time doing this.

i started touring in the late 90's. MPP2 was my 86. i have had tears in my eye everytime I think about 7/27 or look at the setlist. I have always wanted a seguefest show like that. I have seen some amazing shows in my time but none have ever made me tear up days after. This show is in the 1.0 conversation, not just best of 3.0. not saying the show is the best ever, just saying it deserves to be in some conversations. not only did we get those segues, the HYHU bit, in my opinion, was one of the best and funniest things they have ever done. Really cool for me cause I actually saw the atrocity that was Jennifer Dances in 1999. really glad I was there for that historic show.

I couldn't be happier about this show. Everyone else has pretty much said all that has to be said. This was quintessential Phish doing what they do best: Making us dance, laugh, and smile ear-to-ear.

What a beautiful way to cap off my summer (and 80th show!)

Already can't wait for Vegas...

Between the bustouts, tweezer all night and the realignment of songs this is truly one not to miss.

I have heard some fans mentioning that the band is getting predictable with set II opener being a huge jam (carini, dwd, fuego, etc.), set I closer being somewhat the same type selection (antelope, bowie, etc). This totally broke that cycle...curtain and yem in the first set? slave mid second set? NICU late second set?

I will take what I can get, when I can get it, but it was nice to have them change things up a bit...just my opinion..

It was almost as if they took a step back and wanted to remind all of us that they are in fact the best band on the planet and don't we forget it. I got the same feeling from them on 11/1/2013 AC after they received a lot of heat for the Wingsuit debut on Halloween.

Great to see the boys having fun up there!! Can't wait so see what the rest of tour brings to the table.

This is the show that I look back upon and smile knowing I was there.

1st Set.. 46 days, Saw>Fuego, and YEM were all solid plays.

2nd Set.. Ill never forget it. I have never been as happy at a show as I was during this set.

Yes, not every move from song to song was super smooth. Not every song was top tier. Still, if you put it all together, it is amazing!

It has been exactly one year since the infamous 7/27/2014 MPP2 show and I have listened to this show no less than fifty times, so I wanted to take a few minutes to provide my own review of the show. I do not necessarily have anything additional to offer as far as critique of the music that has not already been said; rather my review is more of a personal account.

My first Phish show was Atlanta 1998 and at the time I was not really into Phish, but went on the road with three of my friends for the experience before I left for the military. The show was pretty good and totally different than any other show I had been to. I remember calling Cracklin’ Rosie off the first few notes and walked away with Prince Caspian being one of my favorite songs from the show.

From there I didn’t go to another Phish show until the two 2013 MPP shows, followed by 2014 MPP shows and the Birmingham show sitting with the same friends from the 1998 show. To prep for my return to Phish, in 2013 I had started making my way through each and every Phish show available via the fromtheaquarium YouTube channel, although I knew I would not be up to date on the current stuff.

Fast forwarding to 7/27, I remember thinking to myself that the energy was much different than the night before, but really had no idea what that meant. Starting off with the flubbed Fee followed by Curtain really set things off on the right course and I was happy to just have those two songs regardless of whatever came afterwards. 46 Days through Bouncing were pretty straight forward, although I really enjoyed Sand and liked the way things were flowing. I didn’t recognize Saw It Again, but really enjoyed it and when it > into Fuego, I wasn’t all that thrilled since ‘everyone got a Fuego’. Closing out with YEM in the first set was huge and made me wonder what the second set was going to offer.

Starting the second set with another giant, Wilson, was big since it carried the momentum from the first set into the second. Followed by Tweezer…I was sure it would be a good set, until Tweezer was cut short and -> BOTT, which I do really like, but not if it means Tweezer is minimized! From there, we all know what happened next, but being there on that segue roller coaster for the next 17 songs was sensory overload. As someone previously noted, the Tweezer > Waiting transition was perfection and gave everyone a breather before taking off again hitting a string of fan favorites, to include a very well done Catapult, a strong Slave (I always want Slave to go on for hours), funky DwD, extended NICU with what sounded like hints of HYHU. Fishman adding his personal flare to the not-so-fan favorite Jennifer Dances was perfect and the synchronized Been Around was just a picture-perfect end to the set.

The encore of Boogie was great since it was the first of the tour, although I wish they would have done something like a Frankenstein since that’s what that second set was in my opinion. Tweprise was such an amazing end as the entire place raged, folks popped confetti, and the boys knew they just killed it. Walking out, it was hard to remember what had happened in the first set and it honestly felt like I had just been to two different shows, knowing I/we had just witnessed something extremely special. It was an amazing experience and one I continue to relive via the audio and video of the show. Here’s to MPP 2015!

Tears to my eyes. This old guy felt like he once did 20 years ago. Seriously writing this while listening to it the first time with tears running down my face. Jesus!

Ok, the backonthefreeezerfest is absolutely amazing and we will all probably put it the rotation of shows we listen to repeatedly for the rest of our lives. But give some love to the curtain with, some great sections of sand, a 555 that's as smooth as silk, and a really enjoyable YEM!

I know this website prides itself on finding the 'key' versions of songs & in this amazing show w/ so many transitions, it's tough to point out a 'highly recommended', but Set II "Waiting All Night" is hands down the best live version I've ever heard. Knowing the album and as a 10/31/13 & 07/11/14 attendee, this version should be lit up in green.

never wanted an account, i come here occasionally. alright, alright, i come here a good amount. and decided i would get one just for this show. had went to the previous six with MPP2 making it lucky number seven. Had a gut feeling we were getting a good show, was way off. a friend of mine had joked about tweezer a day or two prior, saying, "ohh yeah we will get a tweezer this weekend, ha ha, i just dont think it will be the tweezer you want."

dude, i got the tweezer i wanted. actually the one i thought id never get.

fee and curtain with to begin the show made me ecstatic, first time i have received a yem in the opening set. i thought the second set would be good, once again wrong, it was beyond fantastic.

Just give her a listen. both sets, no need to be in a hurry.

I somewhat intentionally did not listen to this show throughout the week. I felt that after the webcast I needed to let it settle. Needed to see if it really would live up to the hype.

It did.

In fact, it may be even better than I remember which I thought was an impossibility. A monumental show for so many reasons. Amazing set list, the band having so much fun, the segues, the Tweezerfest. The list goes on.

What is perhaps most distinguishing about this show to me is that it really harkens back to the days of old. To my ears, no show has sounded as 1992 or earlier as this show since 12-31-92. It's raw, old-school Phish in the 21st Century. It's good to have them back. We'll see how long it lasts, but for now we should all bask in the moment.

I have had serious some serious fun at Phish shows over the last 22 years. All I have to say about this one is that there were multiple times throughout both sets that I thought my head was going to explode. We were fortunate to be in the pit for this one. This effort deserves all of the praise that it is receiving. It doesn't matter when in their careers or 1.0, 2.0. or any of that. It was a high energy spontaneous dance party that I will never forget and was proud to be there. Cheers to Phish 4.0, it is here...Thanks again Guys, keep up the good work.

This show has it all. It's a testament to who these guys are creatively and the passion they have for what they have chosen as their life's work. I really wish the mainstream media followed Phish the way they follow the NFL so we could have a few post show interviews here. Like did they plan this out? Did they write out the setlist for the second set or was the whole thing spontaneous? Was this a response to my continued comments about the setlists getting unwarranted segues?

Reviewing this show goes like this. First set: Awesome, way to go they killed it. Second set: Top 10: All Time Sets. Technically it wasn't perfect and there were a few moments where someone was on the wrong key, but the energy was outstanding. It was also funny. In order to make me say this set is one of the best, I have to laugh. Fish yelled, "MY DONG," in Jennifer Dances. Brilliantly funny. Bravo Fish. To me the verbal exchange that led into 'I Been Around' was the icing on the cake. Heartwarming, electric, and left me with a smile on my face, this show is an instant classic.

I am still picking my jaw up off the floor. I am so happy and feel so blessed to have been in attendance for what was possibly the best concert of any genre any band, any etc that i have ever been to. When the band starts off the first set with a fee, has an amazing first set, and ends it with a yem..... you know your in for it.... That second set!!!! I live for great segues in progessive and jam band music.. The segues in and out of that tweezer were amazing!!! Catapult, I been around, Saw it again, And THE BEST JENNIFER DANCES... Listen to what fish says .. i believe there is a "jennifer dances my dong" in there.. This show had a very old school feel to it.. This is what it must have been like to see phish in the 90's.... Shows like this is why i love our band.... shows like this are why i tour.... shows like this are why all my free time and money go to phish... Our band had a great time on stage and the music from that night reflects it. I dont know what else to say other than THANK YOU PHISH ... I

Some Phish shows are considered good because the band does something that folks don't expect. Maybe a song traditionally played in the second set makes its way into the first or a jam happens in a song typically not known for exploration by the band. Others are good because the show contains a rare gem that many have been chasing over the years. Still others are considered good because one can just tell that the band is having a whole lotta fun and it's phucking contagious. July 27, 2014 was a rare spectacle in which all of these things that alone could make for an awesome show blended into what can only be classified as a GREAT show.

A sweet mix in the first set of new and old with a Sand in the middle and YEM in the end that foreshadowed what was to come in the second.

The Tweezer blend that ensued was nothing short of spectacular - something that I feel fans will be talking about the rest of the summer and into fall - perhaps longer. Jennifer Dances and I Been Around - WHAT?! You couldn't have seen that coming with the Aricebo telescope.

Between the second set and encore, a younger guy, who had been touring for the past couple of years, asked me how many shows I had seen over the years. While I have been going to see Phish since 1990, I honestly do not know. I took a stab on the order of 50 or so. His reason for asking though was because, like me, he was blown away and he wanted to know if I had ever seen a set like that before. Honestly, no.
If MPPII set II is the new prototype of second sets to come, get ready and maybe, if you can, buy your tickets to Colorado now! This is good stuff and is on par with anything that I have seen - recency effect aside. I am really hoping for more of the same, so more folks can get a taste of the Phish that shocked and persuaded my soul to ignite. Keep it guys! This is the stuff.

I heard it again....and back on the simple freezer train was....FUEGO!
I had as much fun as any show from the 90's, so glad I made it down this weekend. This may be my last show till NYE, and I took full advantage of every moment of music,
Thank you......

What can I say? They killed it. I couldn't stop dancing, I thought I'd be able to stop and catch my breath at some point in the second set, but they kept building it up like a well organized orgasm and I wouldn't have been satisfied unless I danced to it all and don't worry, I did. It was a contagious show and an absolute joy. It felt so personal and fun, from jumping on trampolines to having Jon come out to sing Jennifer Dances, to dancing off stage in step; it was such a joyous and groovy night. But most importantly, tweezerfest people. I feel honored to have been there.

This show sounds like it must have been immensely phun to attend in person. It's remarkable though, that so many smooth -> transitions were accomplished upon the second set. The first set is average-great, to be sure, but the second set is a Tweezerfest, and ipso facto an all-timer. I wish Phish were this nimble regarding segues at all times. But the third Tweezer of the second set is typically 2014 in jamming orientation, and no particular fallow ground is broken here. It's just a phun, segued set that displays why Phish is utterly unpredictable and followable. Some of the cognoscenti may feel that shows like this should remain rare treats, but myself I find that the novel, unique, and original aspects of Phish are what have caused me to become devoted to them in the first place, and that the more they display those attributes, the more satisfied I'll be. As a home listener and non-attender of shows since 2000, I'm not particularly concerned as to whether "the scene" becomes unwieldy, at least as long as Phish keeps making time-honored music that I can enjoy.

This was only my fourth show (caught both MPP shows last year and this year as well), but it was obvious even to a newbie like me that something special was happening. The band was having so much fun, especially in the second set. The crowd-band interaction was an absolute joy to observe and to be a part of! It was such a privilege to be there sharing the experience with so many other Phish fans. As Rodney would have said - what a crowd! Now I get it - never miss a Sunday show!

I thought there was no way Phish could possibly top this, but (thankfully) I was wrong! The Halloween show in Vegas was even better! But that's another story...

Before the show began, the guy who sold my buddy his ticket sent him a text saying "here's hoping for a fee and a curtain (with)". When those two songs were first out the gate we knew it was gonna be a special night. I could run through the rest of the songs, but the other reviews have covered it pretty well. What I really remember from the show most was the energy on the lawn. Absolutely spectacular, the band was high energy as well, feeding the crowd, which in turn fed phish energy right back. By the time the tweezerfest started the lawn was going nuts, with each subsequent tweezer causing more pandamonium. Amazing show the whole way through, by far the best I've ever been to. Possibly my favorite show from 3.0. If you haven't listened to it yet, what's wrong with you?

This was easily the best Phish show/concert/live event I have ever seen (and I have been to some really fucking good concerts, well and some fucking terrible once but that's besides the point). Hell I think this was one of the best few hours of my life, I really mean it. Everything about the event was great, our seats, the crowd, the weather, the mood, and there was some decent music being played... Don't worry I'm kidding.

Being a relatively nooby Phan, having only been to 1 shows (hopefully many more!) I didn't have much knowledge of their discography. Within their first song I realized that it was going to be an extraordinary night. I didn't know a few of their songs but it was a great show. Trey's guitar soloing that night was just pure nirvana. That is all I have to say.

This is why we love Phish. It's Phish being Phish. This is what made all of us love them in the first place - these kind of shows. Enough has been said about this one already. An instant classic.

No other national band even has this much fun at a show!