Phish - April 23rd, 2025

Centerpiece of a classic first set, Trey directly breaks directly to jam, a la "Cities." There is a sense of unencumbered determinism as, through the 5:00 mark, with Fish nuts on his cymbals, Trey sets off to strum. He then picks a melodic line made very much of the stuff of the song, which contributes to the evening's old-school air. Play pools a few minutes later to stew and it is from this brew, pleasantly offset by splashes of "Manteca" and dashes "Tweezer," where we get a sense this jam is going to be different. Only a few minutes remain, and it is here where you may find some of your favorite Trey of the tour before the band, as if the song hasn't been forgotten since 2003 (hyperbole), neatly drives the version to a close.

A "long" intro, when measured against recent versions: Hear the first indication this time's gonna be different. Trey scratches. We're off. A near-perfect composed section. Great tempo. Measured, highly musical and if not dark, nothing by way of light play ensues. Yet. Listen for "McGrupp." A change. More by way of major play, now, and more "McGrupp." Seamless. Trey and Page swap a lovely melody. Great almost stop-start playing. Almost. No "woos." Great - great - sustain with Page pounding his keys and listen to the release, a bit of trilling with the band as one roiling and rolling to "Bowie's" signature close. One of the best versions since the band returned.

In contrast to some of the other monsters of recent years, this version stays tethered to "Tweezer" (or something close to it) for an extended period before it gradually peels away, but even while the jam remains within arm's reach of home, the play is fresh and engaging. From there the band embarks on an adventurous journey marked by constant evolution which flows remarkably well, making every new section feel like an organic extension of the same piece, all without relying on any of the well-worn paths one might expect a jam of this length to indulge in. And while this dynamic does not lend itself to a singular peak, the jam is ripe with recurring motifs and themes despite its freewheeling nature, perhaps culminating around 24:30 with Trey's long sustained note over a "MLB"-esque descent. > "Lonely Trip" to end this exhilarating ride.