Phish - August 3rd, 2018

Galaga and Zaxxon battle Space Invaders in the resplendent Echoes of an exploding Dark Star. [One may not need not a chamber to be haunted, but the best Ghosts - at least of late (and for sure: this is one of the best) - appear orchestral in nature. Fluid, nebulous, and wholly organic, deep brain-grooves give rise to a series of music images which, like paper dipped in water, slowly form to bloom, presenting a picture of exactly what this band is capable of, whatever the set, and whatever the year. (This, and the closing refrain is both chill and humorous.)]

Effect-heavy improv with layers of sounds eventually climbs, and builds, soaring to a blissful, thematic peak before grooving to an albeit brief return to the "Tweezer" theme.

After a stereotypically dark "Carini" jam, a happy groove quickly develops thanks to strong Trey-Mike interplay. An extended passage of very quiet and mellow jamming follows, eventually rising in energy roughly halfway through the jam as Trey goes whale call and Page switches focus to piano. The first intense peak washes over, coursing on the back of Fishman's ride and intense whale call. Three short minutes of peaking wind down to ambient space, only to be propelled straight back up thanks to Mike and Page directing the jam into a new key. A quiet-yet-plinko jam develops as the energy builds on Fish's polyrhythmic snare and cymbal work. Flirting with darkness for some time, the jam eventually yields to murk, grime, and effects-laden darkness before finally winding down to Trey-based loops and Page on the organ.