Phish - July 26th, 2022

For the second time this summer Phish steal a little extra time to extend a version of this rocker. As at Deer Creek, the band stays mostly within the confines of the song, but luxuriates in a laid back yet crisp approach that culminates in a "Meatstick" flavored peak that -> to NICU.

At first quickens into an uptempo minor groove, then bursts back to major peaksville, before a final segment kicks in at 11:30 with the jam downshifting to moodier fare in which Trey slips the "Gin" riff to head home in a slightly off-kilter way, leading to > "Maze".

Trey's quarantine rocker breaks out for the first time into open-ended improvisation. The jam begins with a hint of normal "INNYLTB" guitar riffing before modulating to an airy major key section. The music coasts along pleasantly in this space before getting spacier. Trey begins a repeating minor pentatonic riff while Page soaks the air with fat synthesizer textures. It then modulates back towards major key territory while retaining a loose, psychedelic feel. The music fades out in a slightly ambient wash that > an astounding "Leaves."

"Leaves" gets its first chance to truly "breathe" in this extended journey. Marvelous melodic interplay and "Beneath a Sea of Stars"-esque ethereal playing abound as the band leaves the song structure in the dust. The jam's power grows in its psychedelia, with every musical pivot well-executed and mellifluously melting into one another. The music then settles into a mysterious yet incredibly powerful space, with Trey layering multiple delay effects over Mike's synth bass, Page's stunning keyboards, and Fishman's ever-steady rhythmic rudder. Highly inspired improvisation.