Ranking Dick’s: #11 08/31/2014 (2014 N3)
Setlist:
Set 1: The Curtain With, Wombat, Kill Devil Falls, Bouncing Around the Room > Poor Heart, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, Lawn Boy, Wolfman’s Brother, Waiting All Night, Winterqueen, Funky Bitch, Tube > Possum
Set 2: Chalk Dust Torture> Twist > The Wedge > Tweezer -> Sand> Piper -> Joy > Mike’s Song > Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley > Weekapaug Groove
Encore: Loving Cup > Tweezer Reprise
Quick Lowdown: The last night to the excellent 2014 run is yet another heater. With jamming and excellent song selection, Phish left Dick’s in yet another pile of burnt wasteland. A strong start to set one and a second set that doesn’t let up capped by a “Tweeprise” to end things. The show is a hell of a way to end a summer tour.
Set 1 Recap: “Curtain With” opener? Sign me up! “Curtain With” is well played and continued the tradition of bust out openers. “Wombat” follows up with one of the more danceable versions. “KDF” is another high energy song in the 3 slot giving this set a nice trifecta opening. From there the rest of the set is pretty much the standard gambit except for a massive “Wolfman’s”. Yet another “Wolfman’s that is one for the books from Dick’s. Another must hear version. Slightly below average first set all things considered.
Set 2 Recap: “Chalk Dust Torture” was already established as a Dick’s beast and this version only enhances that title. This “CDT” is one that the band goes for and reaches the far depths of Phish’s wide ranging musical arsenal. If you like versions that veer from the norm, this is a great one for you. “Twist” is a great follow up despite this not reaching that higher level versions. The “Tweezer->Sand” combo that hits the middle of the set is my highlight of this show. Weaving in and out of each other before finally settling into a incredibly awesome dark dance party. This combo is one I que up when I need to get the energy level going and is wonderfully executed by Phish. “Joy” slows things down for a moment but the “Mike’s Groove” that follows is how you end a set. “Mike’s” may not feature the highly sought 2nd jam but this one is a full blown ass kicker. A clinic on how to use the echoplex, this is one of the most high energy jams around. Follow that up with “Sneaking Sally” and a “Weekapaug” to close and most of us had little left for the encore.
Encore: “Loving Cup>Tweezer Reprise” is nothing crazy but is still “Tweezer Reprise” to finish the tour.
The Takeaways: “The Curtain With”, “Wolfman’s Brother”, “CDT”, “Tweezer->Sand”, “Mike’s Song”
This Show Summed Up in One Gif:
Score: 4.35/5