Phish - October 23rd, 2021

"Fluff" is tough to play, and few versions approach Phish perfection. Here, however, the band delivers. The technically challenging sections are super clean; more interesting than this, however, is the tempo, with Trey and Page noticeably at ease. Plausibly because there is no deliberation, the band finds innovation, the jam not only "Arriving," but passing through an extended passage of really cool play to deliver a -> into "NICU."

A very neat and surprising -> out of "Fluffhead", and a tremendous jam befitting the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre. After an extended take on the usual "NICU" jam, Mike suggests minor key and things get good and dark, before they slide into something more tropical, allowing Trey to weave in the "NICU" solo we all know and love (as he will several times in this show). The band snaps into a quicksilver groove at Fish's urging, which gives way to an effects-laden pitch-black zone, before briefly brightening and then dissolving into ambiance and a wonderful -> to a surprise "Bye Bye Foot". Nearly twice as long as any other "NICU", and well worth the run time.

Precisely at 5:15 the jam flips to major forming an upbeat "Weekapaug"-esque groove, and Trey slips in the first of three "NICU" teases. After some transition riffing at 7:00, the next segment launches with Moog waves from Page and beautifully coalesces into a fully-baked bliss jam from 8:00 - 10:00. Then, another round of minor funk (w/"NICU" tease) gets heavier with delays and leads into the last verse and one final "NICU" tease > "Slave".

As was his wont in 2021, Jon Fishman takes this jam over. He puts on yet another master class in drumming. Trey's soloing over Page's synth gives the jam an ethereal feel. Fish faithfully follows Trey wherever he leads during this one, and stands out the entire time. > into "Free".

> out of "NMINML". Trey weaves in one of the many "NICU" teases from this show into the first jam, then he suggests minor-key and Page follows him on synths, leading to a lower-boil groove replete with repeating loops and Mike goodness. The band climbs out of the muck and returns to a more upbeat rock jam, with the loops still going, and very neatly returns to "Free" proper.

Excellent -> out of "Sand". A driving, almost composed jam segment emerges from "Piper" proper, Trey hitting on a particularly catchy 70s-esque riff and Fish kicking into third gear. The beat switches up and Page moves to his synths as a new sound emerges, Trey going to his effects to really add substance to the on-stage roux. Fish picks up the pace again and the band moves into a hard-driving rockout, and then a cloud of ambient noise settles over the stage as the jam dies away and Fish hammers on his kit. But rather than end the jam, the band deepens and thickens the ambient cloud, everyone firing off whatever effects they can, Mike going to the drill to add some ear-splitting nastiness. Extraordinarily reminiscent of one of the more wicked improvisations from IT. A true Monster Jam.