Given the extremes of the last show, it was nice to get back
to something normal with this one. While I will say that this New Year’s run of
shows wasn’t outright bad, listening through them will confirm for you why you
don’t see people talk about them. Anyway, 1/4/03 is probably the most
consistent of the NYE run, as both sets are well played and feature at least
two well played songs/jams.
Set One
This is a strong first set that starts out pretty good and
gets better by the end. Especially compared to the previous show’s first set,
this one is mostly tight and locked in, with just a couple flubs from Trey here
or there. Roggae has some killer soloing from Trey and stands out a bit above
the average version. Maze is a typical heater; high energy with Trey’s solo
section a bit more droney and holding onto notes than is the standard. Saw It
Again makes a rare appearance, but the real set highlight is the Split Open and
Melt. This jam more than any other hints at where 2.0 is going with the jamming
style, as it’s as intense as the usual Melt but uses more loops and spacey/droney
playing from Trey and Mike. In all likelihood it won’t be one of the highlights
of the year but as far as 2.0 shows so far, this Melt is the top of the pile
and a must listen for 2.0 spelunkers like me.
Set Two/Encore
Not in terms of the jamming or anything else except the
setlist itself, it’s really stark how set one has NO segues at all and set two
is mostly all one continuous set of music. Yet as the saying goes, the tale is
in the tape not the setlist. This set is a clear indicator that they’re getting
their mojo back. Good but not noteworthy Rock and Roll opener, fairly standard
Mike’s with a cool semi ambient ending/outro; full segue into Mountains In The
Mist with an amazing Trey solo worth seeking out, sort of quiets down and stops
IMO before Weekapaug starts up from zero (this song always sounds so awkward
when it doesn’t arrive on a segue) and is a good high energy version that dips
its toe into type II toward the end; full on segue into What’s The Use? (which
in some ways could be used like I Am Hydrogen in a Mike’s Groove) which has a
quiet ambient ending that segues into a rip-roaring Down With Disease, which,
while not very experimental and barely over ten minutes in length, has some
killer playing from Trey throughout including a cool, unique wah wah pedal loop
segue into Fast Enough For You, which like so many songs from this set has an
astoundingly good Trey solo in it (legit one of the best FEFY performances); after
FEFY the song seems to have ended and the Phish.net setlist says there isn’t a
> segue into 2001 but IMO there is one it’s just quiet and lowkey. This 2001
is actually one of the more short and tired sounding versions I’ve ever heard,
and the big rock vamp endings mentioned on the setlist notes isn’t as fun or
interesting as you’d expect.
Friday encore ON PAPER looks like trash. I can’t stand this
song typically, let alone as the encore to cap off a run of shows…but GOD DAMN
this is the best version and everyone else who says so is right. Trey was
absolutely brilliant with his solos this show overall but especially second set
and encore!
Overall
After finishing this show for the first time I scribbled
“All sizzle and no steak, but it’s great sizzle.” I believe that’s a good summary!
This was the best of the NYE run overall. There maybe were some moments
especially on NYE itself that were more memorable, such as the jammed out Piper
opener and the Runaway Jim -> Time Loves A Hero, but this show actually
sounds like a real Phish show and has excellent, energetic playing in both sets.
Gotta go with a 4 out of 5. Trey really stepped up his game since the last show
but with a few exceptions there simply isn’t anything here that is noteworthy
and will be on lists of greatest jams or shows ever from this period.
[Highlights]
Set One: Roggae, Maze, and Split Open and Melt especially!
Set Two/Encore: Strong set overall, Trey’s playing/soloing
was on point throughout especially on the ballads like FEFY and Friday.
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