I dug kicking things off with that BACK ON THE TRAIN opener. Talk about setting the tone! Had the whole venue grooving from the get-go. It's the perfect tune to ease you into the Phish experience—not too demanding, just the right amount of funk to get those feet tapping. And let's be real, in a country where trains are becoming as rare as a FORBIN'S appearance, this tune hits differently.

Now, we can't ignore the lingering influence of Billy Strings here. Sure, some of you diehards might be shouting, PHISH played bluegrass before Billy was born! But there's no denying that his recent sit-in has left its mark on the band's sound.

When SAMPLE IN A JAR kicked in, it was clear we were in for one of those classic Saturday night shows—you know, the kind that's perfect for the casual fans. Nothing wrong with that, phans! Sometimes you just need to groove without overthinking it.

But then came HEY STRANGER, and oh boy, did things take a turn. This tune has been showing so much potential lately, but tonight? It felt like they accidentally unplugged it halfway through. Trey seemed a bit distracted, and the energy dipped faster than a glow stick the morning after.

However, don't lose hope, because the back half of this set? Pure fire. DINNER AND A MOVIE was an unexpected treat that had us all grinning from ear to ear. The execution was flawless—clearly, there's some new practicing commitments paying off!

SAND. This is where things really started to lock in. Sure, it wasn't a face-melting, time-bending version, but it served its purpose as a solid mid-set jam. And in the context of this tour? Even a "standard" version is miles ahead of what we've seen in recent years.

GUMBO and WEIGH in the same set? For some of us, that's like hitting the Phish lottery! While it might not have been the heaping bowl of gumbo we were craving (more like a tempting sample cup), it was still a tasty morsel that left us wanting more.

Let's talk about that GUMBO, shall we? While it might not have been the heaping bowl we were all hoping for, Page McConnell turned it into a gourmet appetizer. His janky, barrelhouse piano work was like a secret spice that elevated the entire dish. Fish was solid as always, but this was Page's time to shine, and boy, did he bring the heat! It's giving SLIP STICH 97.

And speaking of Page, MAZE was basically his personal playground. Trey literally stepped back, hopping off his platform with a grin that said, "Watch this wizard work!" It was one of those magical Phish moments where we're all just fans, mesmerized by the Chairman of the Boards doing his thing.

Now, let's address the elephant in the first set room—Mike's WEIGH. I know, I know, Mike's songs can be divisive, but hear me out. Tonight, it worked. That skanky, swanky backbeat was tighter than a drum, and the quirky lyrics? Well, as someone once said on Marc Maron's show, Phish's silly lyrics are there to make the complex music more digestible. It's like a funky, jazzy groove wrapped in a dad joke—pure Phish magic.

Now we get to dive deep into the sonic wonderland that was the last 26 minutes of the first set and that mind-bending DOWN WITH DISEASE > WAVES > TWIST sequence. Buckle up, because this is where Phish really flexed their improvisational muscles!

Let's start with CITIES. From the moment they launched into this Talking Heads cover, you could feel the energy in the room shift. Trey's guitar work took on a distinctly Southern flavor, channeling the spirit of Duane Allman with every bend and slide. About 5 minutes in, Mike locked into a groove so funky it could make a statue dance. Page, not to be outdone, layered in some thick, syrupy organ tones that transported us straight to the Fillmore East circa 1971.

The real magic happened around the 8-minute mark when the band collectively decided to take a hard left turn into uncharted territory. Fishman's drumming became more fluid, almost jazz-like, providing the perfect foundation for Trey to unleash a series of ascending runs that seemed to defy gravity. This wasn't just Phish playing the Allmans; this was Phish reimagining what the Allmans could sound like in an alternate universe.

As for WILSON, let me tell you, phans, hearing those opening chords after that mind-bending CITIES was like coming home after a long, strange trip. The crowd's response was electric, with the WILSON chant practically shaking the rafters. Trey's guitar work here was particularly noteworthy, blending the song's trademark aggressive riffing with hints of the melodic exploration we'd just witnessed in CITIES. It was the perfect palate cleanser, setting us up for the sonic feast that was to come in Set Two.

It smokes; DOWN WITH DISEASE > WAVES > TWIST sequence. Holy smokes, phans! This wasn't just a jam; this was a journey through the cosmos of Phish's collective musical consciousness.

DISEASE kicked off with its trademark high-energy intro, but around the 5-minute mark, things started to get interesting. Trey found a melodic theme that seemed to materialize out of thin air, and the rest of the band latched onto it like a liferaft in a sea of possibilities. Page's piano work here was particularly sublime, providing a sparkling counterpoint to Trey's soaring leads.

At about 12 minutes in, the jam took a decidedly darker turn. Mike's bass became more prominent, laying down a thick, syrupy foundation that allowed Trey and Page to venture into more experimental territory. The interplay between all four members here was nothing short of telepathic.

The transition into WAVES was so smooth you could've missed it if you blinked. The band didn't stretch this one out like that legendary Bethlehem soundcheck, but the brevity allowed for a tightness and focus that was breathtaking. Page's synth work here created an aquatic atmosphere that perfectly complemented the song's lyrical themes.

And then, just when we thought we had a handle on where this jam was going, they seamlessly segued into TWIST. This version started off with its typical funky groove but quickly veered into uncharted waters. Around the 5-minute mark, Trey hit upon a riff that seemed to open a portal to another dimension. The rest of the band followed suit, and for the next few minutes, we were treated to some of the most adventurous, boundary-pushing improvisation I've heard this tour.

In the end, this sequence was a showcase of Phish's improvisational prowess, creating ADHD'd yet cohesive musical narratives on the fly. Each song flowed into the next with a purpose, creating a sonic journey that left us all slack-jawed in amazement.

For the next few minutes, we were treated to some of the most adventurous, boundary-pushing improvisation this tour has seen. It was Phish at their most fearless, venturing into sonic territories that lesser bands wouldn't dare to explore.

But the real surprise of the night came with KILL DEVIL FALLS. Just when we thought we had a handle on where this musical journey was taking us, the band took a hard left turn into what I can only describe as Allmanland. For a solid three or four minutes, they channeled the spirit of the Allman Brothers so convincingly, I was half expecting to see Dickey Betts materialize on stage.

Trey's guitar work here was nothing short of revelatory. He managed to capture the essence of that classic Southern rock sound while still infusing it with his own unique flair. The dual guitar harmonies we've come to expect from Allman Brothers tunes? Trey somehow managed to imply them all on his own, creating a rich, layered sound that filled every corner of the venue.

Mike and Fish locked into a groove that was tighter than a drum, providing the perfect foundation for this blues-rock exploration. And Page? His organ work during this section was so spot-on, you'd swear Gregg Allman himself was smiling down on us.

This jam went to places I'm still trying to process. It was like watching musical alchemists at work, transforming a relatively straightforward rocker into a vehicle for deep, soulful exploration. The way they seamlessly blended their own unique sound with these classic rock influences was nothing short of magical.

If this is what Phish is bringing to the table mid-tour, I can only imagine what they're saving for MONDAGREEN. The adventure continues, phans, and it's only getting better from here!