#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

Tier 1a SL1 DC3 BW1 DE1
T1b GW3 BW3
T2a SL2
T2b GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
T3 AV1
T4 GW2 AV3 BW2 DE2
T5 DC1 CT2
N/A GR1 GR2

The two sets that count toward the ranking were a mixed bag. Lots of ripcords. Lots of jams that got places quickly. Some plodding. Some heat. Some ripping improv. Some eardrum-ripping cat screeches. Some cool setlist calls. Some very questionable ones.

You take the good
You take the bad
You take them both
And there you have
A tier 4 show
A tier 4 show…

Bonus #Phish #Ranked

Festival secret sets are dumb to rank—especially if you don’t see them live. But dumb never stopped us before so…

Prevailing wisdom has the IT Tower Jam followed by everything else. 21 years later (and 20 years after the band called it quits), that may no longer be true. Last night’s secret set was a masterpiece of mesmerizing musical moods accompanied by mind-blowing visuals.

Pulling off one of your greatest scenes so deep into your second act sure is something special…

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

Tier 1a SL1 DC3 BW1 DE1
T1b GW3 BW3
T2a SL2
T2b GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
T3 AV1
T4 GW2 AV3 BW2
T5 DC1 CT2
N/A GR1 GR2

S2 doesn’t have the highs of other T1a shows but offers so much—including a 25-min version of maybe the best Trey song since Mercury. Plus the best S1 of tour & a great encore = T1a for now.

Summer 24 is an embarrassment of riches—like NBC in 1987 w/ Cosby Show, Cheers, Golden Girls, Night Court & Family Ties. I guess that makes Grand Rapids Mama’s Family?

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

Tier 1a SL1 DC3 BW1
T1b GW3 BW3
T2a SL2
T2b GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
T3 AV1
T4 GW2 AV3 BW2
T5 DC1 CT2
N/A GR1 GR2

Had last night in 1a on the strength of the Gin and Bag—arguably the two best jams of the weekend. Not to mention Fuego, Golden Age, and LSG all getting places quickly.

But upon further review, it’s definitely a notch down from Friday—kind of like Three’s Company with Mr. Furley being a notch down from Three’s Company with the Ropers.

(Sound on. H/T @mielcarz)

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

Tier 1a SL1 DC3 BW1
T1b GW3
T2a SL2
T2b GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
T3 AV1
T4 GW2 AV3 BW2
T5 DC1 CT2
N/A GR1 GR2

It truly is a great tour when a show like last night is near the bottom. While it lacked the flow and/or sprawling improv of the shows above it, Cities, DWD & especially KDF all delivered highly relistenable jams.

KDF has shown of late that it can carry a show—much in the same way Mallory’s boyfriend Nick could carry an episode of Family Ties any time he showed up.

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

Tier 1a SL1 DC3 BW1
T1b GW3
T2a SL2
T2b GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
T3 AV1
T4 GW2 AV3
T5 DC1 CT2
N/A GR1 GR2

–Call last night best show of tour & I won’t argue. S2 was constructed perfectly & featured relentless improv. S1 had surprises & an outstanding jam in MFMF. E was solid.
–Going with a 3-show top tier bc STL1 & DC3 had higher highs
–Nice of Phish to save their best material & play for after Grand Rapids like Kelsey Grammer saved his A-game for after he left Cheers

Bonus #Phish #Ranked

Billy Night 2 was everything Night 1 was not. It was polite, controlled, respectful, and safe.

The reckless abandon that made N1 one of the best Phish sit-ins ever was nowhere to be found—as if Trey had Billy on a tight leash after giving him the keys to the car and letting him run wild the previous night.

Even Flatpick Jesus can’t save a show unless you give him a little something more to work with.

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

SL1
DC3
<gap>
GW3
<gap>
SL2
GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
GR1
<gap>
AV1
GW2 AV3
<gap>
DC1
CT2
GR2

When Trump guested on Fresh Prince years ago, no one could have predicted that he’d someday be the de-facto leader of a fascist movement trying to destroy the world as we know it.

Anyway, last night’s show was not devoid of highlights, but they were scattered between a minefield of ripcords, low-energy play, and questionable setlist calls. As for the sit-in, see the next post…

Bonus #Phish #Ranked

In terms of all-time #Phish guest sit-ins, last night was near the top. It blew away Trucks. I can’t think of another guest (maybe Carlos?) who was handed the band like that with the freedom to lead type 2.

Moma got places, but it was noodly & loaded w/ timid interplay tip-toeing around each other. A short Possum, ER & bluegrass staples were what they were.

Too bad the show ended at Carini bc that kind of balls-to-the-Walz twin guitar would have been great to get more of.

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

SL1
DC3
<gap>
GW3
<gap>
SL2
GW1 CT1 AV2 DC2
GR1
<gap>
AV1
GW2 AV3
<gap>
DC1
CT2

Insanely fun, not comparable to a regular show & should be an N/A. You guys will say that’s a cop out, so we’ll try to objectively rank the music—which sits above the lamer shows but doesn’t touch the better shows in setlist/jam quality.

Adding a singular talent like DiCaprio to Growing Pains spruced things up. But it came at the cost of the Seaver chemistry that made the show.

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

SL1
DC3
<gap>
GW3
<gap>
SL2
GW1, CT1, AV2, DC2
<gap>
AV1
GW2, AV3
<gap>
DC1
CT2

– Maybe not the choicest bust outs for S1, but a rarities set nevertheless. Light on jams outside of a very efficient 46 Days
– Four-song, no-bullshit S2 with a walk-off Slave encore. Perfection.
– “Ghost > Soul Planet power hour has everything.” - Stefon
– Has anything as horrific as the song Soul Planet given this much pleasure since the Korean War gave us M*A*S*H?

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

Tier 1: SL1
Tier 2a: GW3
T2b: GW1, CT1, AV2, SL2, DC2
T2c: AV1
T3: GW2, AV3
T4: DC1
T5: CT2

- S1 didn’t have any huge jams but was mostly solid and fiery with a very good Reba for this era
- Flowing S2 loaded with great improv
- Short show with a lot of time left on the clock. Not a complaint, but was surprised Fuego closed (it worked well) and there was a short encore on a tour of big encores
- A different world from N1

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

Tier 1: SL1
Tier 2a: GW3
T2b: GW1, CT1, AV2, SL2
T2c: AV1
T3: GW2, AV3
T4: DC1
T5: CT2

Easily the worst played show of tour. The only reason it’s not last is it wasn’t boring despite the sloppy play, missed vocals, long pauses, ripcords (yikes on Pillow Jets and DWD) and lack of flow. The band kept pushing which led to some fun jams—especially the adventurous Scents.

Shocking to get a car crash like this after the tightness of STL. Oh well. Life goes on.

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

Tier 1: SL1
Tier 2a: GW3
T2b: GW1, CT1, AV2, SL2
T2c: AV1
T3: GW2, AV3
T4: CT2

S1 was full of rarities but also lacked excitement. Mr. C delivered as always, but the true highlight was the Ruby Waves—pound for pound their best jam of tour until a brutal ripcord. Hood encore also felt like one of the better standard Hoods.

The band really came together in STL and raised their level of play. Let’s hope they keep it up and things don’t fall apart.

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

Tier 1: SL1
Tier 2a: GW3
T2b: GW1, CT1, AV2
T2c: AV1
T3: GW2, AV3
T4: CT2

Only heard the Tweezer, Ether Edge, Theme, and glorious Piper so far, and I’ve heard enough. Between the 39-minute Tweezer that smokes the Alpine Simple and the incredible supporting cast, this is easily the best show of tour so far. A true You Snooze You Lose night at an undersold 10K arena. More please

Cheers to everyone who hit the show last night and cheers to Phish!

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

Tier 1: <vac>
Tier 2a: GW3
T2b: GW1, CT1, AV2
T2c: AV1
T3: GW2, AV3
T4: CT2

Fairly strong—if mellow—first set puts this show in tier 3 above CT2. As for the second set? A few interesting moments spread out between several poor choices and lots of wasted potential—much like the career of Danny Masterson.

GOODBYE WISCONSIN!!!

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

GW3
<small gap>
GW1, CT1
AV1
<gap>
GW2
<gap>
CT2

- A setlist that’s largely out of the late 90s
- Strong candidate for My Friend, My Friend
- Super fun encore
- Great DWD and peaky Ghost that dominated set 2 like another famous pair from Wisconsin

#Phish Summer 2024 #Ranked

GW3
<small gap>
GW1, CT1
<gap>
GW2
<gap>
CT2

Not playing the “With” in Curtain With in S1 only to drop it in the middle of a Mike’s Groove was pretty cool. Otherwise, this was a fantastic show for fans who aren’t into big jams, show flow, or high energy play.

After going hard for their first four shows, the band seemed to run out of gas after Tuesday’s power hour. Last night screamed “Gimme a break” before their big Alpine run. And so what? They earned it.