Phish tour resumed on Tuesday at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio for the band’s first concert in the Midwest since closing the spring leg of the tour at Deer Creek. The show was the ninth appearance by Phish at the 54-year-old venue located approximately 25 miles south of Cleveland they first played in 1992 when supporting Santana. Phish threw down one of their finest performances of the summer last night complete with multiple standout jams, the second biggest bust out of tour and an old school setlist.
All four members gathered around mics set up at the front of the stage to start the evening with an a capella cover of The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Phish hadn’t performed the other Fab Four’s 1967 single since debuting their version to launch a strawberry-themed night at Madison Square Garden in New York City on July 22, 2017 as part of the historic Baker’s Dozen residency. Notably, “Strawberry Fields Forever” was the 30th different song to open a show over the last 30 performances.
The band kept the 2022 debuts coming when they took their usual spots as the first “Crowd Control” in just under a year filled the two-slot. Phish patiently worked through “Punch You In The Eye” next loading the classic tune with a heaping dose of extra mustard. Keyboardist Page McConnell starred on “PYITE” by delivering an effusive solo, working electric piano into the mix and offering unusual fills in between verses and choruses. McConnell also shined on the “46 Days” that followed. Page impressively echoed and added variations on guitarist Trey Anastasio‘s leads during a potent version of the setlist staple. The foursome painted outside the lines for a short but sweet blissful excursion that laid the groundwork for a spot-on jump into “You Enjoy Myself.”
Tuesday marked the first time “You Enjoy Myself” was played in the five-hole since the famed “FUCK YOUR FACE” show at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park outside Denver on August 31, 2012. Phish was in fine form as they nailed the composed sections. Anastasio channeled Santana by making his guitar scream during a stellar solo before bassist Mike Gordon utilized a synthesizer effect for his duet with drummer Jon Fishman. Once again, the band followed the “You Enjoy Myself” vocal jam with more improvisation in a wonderful trend that was started on New Year’s Eve. The post vocal jam excursion covered plenty of territory over the course of just a few minutes. Trey showed off a synthesizer effect of his own on the ensuing “Tube.” Phish blew past the song’s normal structure for a brief bout of inspired jamming not too far astray from where they had taken “YEM.”
While ballad “Shade” gave fans a breather and the set’s lone taste of original material debuted after 2003, it was right back to the oldies for “Reba.” Phish expertly played the composed parts at the summer home of The Cleveland Orchestra with the confidence that comes nearly three weeks into a tour. The “Reba” jam had some of the same swagger as the foursome built the bliss to a mighty peak before tacking on a ragged “Cavern” to close the set. Fish hilariously employed his sound effects, including the “Moo,” in both “Reba” and “Cavern.”
Read on after The Skinny for the rest of the recap and more.
The Skinny
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The Setlist | |
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The Venue | |
Blossom Music Center [See upcoming shows] | |
23,000 | |
8 shows | |
The Music | |
9 songs | |
7 songs | |
16 songs | |
1997 | |
21.63 [Gap chart] | |
None | |
Strawberry Fields Forever, Crowd Control, | |
Strawberry Fields Forever LTP 07/22/2017 (168 Show Gap) | |
Free 25:18 | |
Strawberry Fields Forever 3:57 | |
Junta – 2, Lawn Boy – 3, A Picture of Nectar – 1, Billy Breathes – 1, Round Room – 1, Undermind – 2, Big Boat – 1, Sigma Oasis – 1, Misc. – 2, Covers – 2 | |
The Rest | |
79° and Fair at Showtime | |
Koa 1 | |
“Free” got the call to kick off the second set. Just as Phish reached the final notes of the song, the band spread their wings and took flight. McConnell hopped on Wurlitzer in time for a transition into a pretty soundscape the four-piece patiently explored to the delight of the crowd. Anastasio led a rise into a bliss-laden climax before the jam moved into funky terrain featuring Mike on synth bass. The band then connected on an anthemic progression akin to Charles Wright & the Watts 103 Street Rhythm Band’s “Express Yourself.” As the must-hear and second longest “Free” of all-time passed the 20-minute mark, Phish settled in on a hard-nosed jam space they crushed with passion and then broke down the music to near silence before McConnell began “Esther.”
Most compositions played on Tuesday were well-executed but Anastasio struggled a bit on “Esther.” Trey regained his footing on the “Blaze On” that followed ending a string of four songs at least 27 years old. A short jam bled into “Scents And Subtle Sounds” complete with intro for the seventh time in a row. LD Chris Kuroda engaged wild patterns on his rig to accompany a fierce jam filled with fretboad fireworks from Anastasio. Trey was relentless as he strung together one powerful riff after another to fuel the standout “Scents.” Eventually the band pulled the trigger on “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” aka “2001.” The audience roared its approval at every portion of the instrumental.
The quartet wasn’t done yet as they dropped into “Split Open And Melt” out of “2001” just like the first Phish version of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” did way back on July 16, 1993. Last night’s Floydian “Melt” jam featured tension galore built up to a huge release. Trey delivered angular leads, Mike played free jazz interludes and Page was calling for the aliens, yet Fish held the improvisation together with a sturdy beat to bring the all-killer, no-filler second set to an outrageous conclusion. Phish had one more treat in store for those at Blossom by encoring with “Bathtub Gin” for just the fourth time in the song’s 34 year history. The turbo-charged “Gin” ended the night with a massive climax.
Phish returns to the stage on Wednesday at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan. Livestreams are available via LivePhish.com.
Phish From The Road Photos
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Poster
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