Phish Dicks part IIIf the first night was disjunctive, odd and sometimes discordant, the second night was tight, seamless and 
Opening up with Wolman's Brother is just a great way to start a show. It says, "We're here to throw down." Like Phish is known to do. Extended jamming to start a show really makes you feel right at home.Next up, the Sparkle kept the fast pace going with its usual tempo that's hard to match. Spinning spinning, falling apart, I just couldn't stop dancing no matter how fast the band jammed.I'll take a small credit for calling the Bathtub Gin, which never disappoints...especially here at Dicks, where it looks like we're all in a giant bathtub together. An audience participatory favorite that jammed and jammed and jammed some more, there was no doubt that tonight's show was going to be a heater.Back on the Train has always been one of those tunes that grabs me...ever since the first time they played it in 1999, I've felt a fondness for the sentiment that it brings me. In fact, last year when they played it here at Dicks it was one of the seminal moments in my reintegration to this life/band. Tonight measured right up to the bar, being the best version of the song, at the moment anyway. That's the magic of this band, when the version they're playing at that moment is the BEST version ever...lost in the moments...that's where I like to find myself.The first slowdown of the night, for me anyway, was Halfway to the Moon. I'm sure that I'm missing something with that song, maybe just because it was a slow moment and I was able to catch my breath for a minute or three.The classic Bouncing Around the Room was next, and it delivered that signature Phish sound/theme/silliness. I actually never tire of this song, even though some folks might say that it's too mainstream. It was definitely an early favorite when I first found the band, and remains on the top of my enjoyability scale at a Phish show.Another never to disappoint early classic, Stash, with all of its double entendres keeps the ripping pace rolling right along. As if the classics just can't stop coming, Esther, with its strange, magical journey, begins the slowing of the tempo as the set nears its end. I can feel the icy waters swallowing me whole.And then...wait for it...Phish's tribute to 2 of the greatest bands of the 80's David Bowie and UB40 is in the wings to wrap up a dynamic and rollicking first set, playing a song that has ZERO resemblance to neither the band that the song was named for, nor the other one named in the song. I've never understood so much about where Phish came up with some/most of their lyrics.Nonetheless, and quite allthemore, I was left dripping in sweat and out of breath at the end of the set, and dove right into intense discussion of what we'd just experienced with my friends and neighbors.
2nd set reminded me of that Thai market phrase I have become quite accustomed to. "same same but different".Same in the aspect that the classics and the rockin' Phishiness just kept on streaming out of the stadium's speaker system with Sand to scream open the second set.The twisted sounds kept winding its way through the tapestry that I had to check at least a couple of times that yes, in fact, it was still Sand.Up next a newer tune No Man in No Man's Land for me, always starts a little droll and uninspiring, however, as the lyrics came to an end, and the real texture of the internal jams began, I, yet again, found myself lost in that meditation of dance that I long for in a show. That moment that I forget what song it is they're playing and when it's really on, forget where I am and who is performing. THAT'S where the magic happens for me.And the quintessential Phish kept up its quick pace with Llama coming seemingly out of nowhere and ripping a new one for all in attendance.Somehow Phish sometimes really knows when and how to slow things down at just the right moment so we can catch our breath.Tonight's Mountains in the Mist was the perfect song for that exercise. This song has always held a special place in my heart. It's about a woman named Julia Butterfly who sat vigil in a giant redwood tree in Northern California for over 2 years, in fact she spent 738 days living in the over 1,000 year old redwood tree named Luna.I once had the opportunity to visit her and bring her supplies along with Mickey Hart and John Molo, and a host of over 100 other visitors all drumming and chanting and bringing supplies to her outpost.Keeping a lighter pace, the band moved next into Scents and Subtle sounds, a bit of a wandering musical journey with multiple jams and tempo changes, offering a little something for everyone, from psychedelic lyrics to overlapping layers of instrumentation all tied up in a neat little package.To wrap up the set, without skipping a beat, the band stepped right into the Rolling Stones' Shine a Light. Recently this has become more of a favorite Phish cover for me. And I danced with reckless abandon, letting the light shine right on me as I spun and spun and just got down. So much so that I failed to shoot a single second of video of that song.Dripping with sweat again, and completely out of breath, what could they possibly top that off with?The wait was brief and Trey stepped right up and went "BUM BA DAM" and the crowd responded "WILSON" and it was on...we stepped into yesterday, and the land of Gamehendge as the story of the Evil King Wilson was yet again told.As if that wasn't enough, there was one more surprise in store, and a surprise it was with a double encore ending in a mind melting Split Open and Melt. I mean, who expects the fun to keep going like THAT? Surely a moment usually reserved for a mid set, or set closer, however, getting lost in the melting jam at the end of the night was just perfect for me.And so wrapped up another fantastic night with one of my favorite bands that still performs live on planet earth today!!!Back for another round tomorrow, well, today, since I'm writing this the day after...I can and will wait to see what's in store for Saturday!!!