Phish - August 28th, 2021

Opening a show for the second time in just over three weeks, this is one of the most sublime openers in recent Phish history. Trey takes the lead as he was wont to do in Summer '21. Fish's relentless drumming ensures the jam never loses a step. By the end of the jam, the band is fully locked in and it's only the first song of the show! > "Maze."

More melodically variable and far less guitar-dominated than most, the band gets dark and down in this tempered, almost subdued take.

The jam begins typically with solid, funky playing led by Trey and with Page's crunchy keyboard action. Around 7:00, there is a noticeable break to major mode. The forces seem to gather, suggestive of an oncoming peak. Instead, the band seems to luxuriate in this blissful mode, stretching and exploring the terrain without ever pushing the sentiment over the top. The intensity gradually diminishes, but the warm sentiment continues before devolving to transition space.

With the intro, no less! Moves into a warm jamming space with Fish doing some real interesting work and Mike stepping to the forefront, builds in intensity through good Trey effects work, and peaks quite well, before gently winding down to nothing and > "Bug".