History will not look kindly on the show Phish played at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia last night. The band threw down one of the best, if not the best, show since they reunited on Tuesday night featuring a dream setlist filled with blockbusters. We all knew what would happen the next night – a standard Phish show. And that’s indeed what happened, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a standard Phish show.

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[All photos by Jake Krolick from Philly Night 1 Photo Gallery on Glide]

Phish gigs come in many different shapes and sizes with last night’s show fitting in the Rock Show category. Every member of the band seemed to be feeding off of the energy of the crowd. Some showgoers sing along with the lyrics of each song, not in Philly. This was a crowd that just wanted to move and thrash the night away. Phish complied by delivering a number of potent tunes like 46 Days, Tweezer Reprise, Kill Devil Falls and Wilson. The audience roared their approval during the high-energy parts of the night and swayed en mass throughout the softer moments.

Nothing exemplifies the rock feel of this show more than the marvelous Tweezer for the second set. Phish took plenty of time finding the proper groove as soon as the jam started. To use a football analogy – once the groundwork had been laid, guitarist Trey Anastasio found the hole up the middle and scored a big touchdown. Anastasio kept hooking up with bassist Mike Gordon on a number of creative repeating patterns while drummer Jon Fishman kept the beat intense and keyboardist Page McConnell asserted a few counter-melodies for good measure. While Tweezer may not have veered too far off script, it was powerful and a show of force.

READ ON for more from Scotty on Phish in Philly – Night Two…

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Anastasio was in fine form all evening and was even a bit frisky telling Gordon to take a Heavy Metal bass solo in Wilson and introduced McConnell as “Marco Esquandolas” in the Run Like An Antelope that ended the first set. Also of note was the electric debut of Anastasio’s Sleep Again from his 70 Volt Parade days. Unlike that band, this tune worked well with McConnell taking a concise piano solo. Another highlight was the second set Birds of a Feather opener in which the jam took an adventurous turn. Gordon added some funk tones courtesy of his Lovetone Meatball pedal while McConnell and Anastasio ripped it up.

You Enjoy Myself has been hit or miss since the band’s return; some versions didn’t even contain a real guitar solo. Last night’s version was a sensational hit. The band members expertly worked their way through the composed sections and the jam featured remarkable interplay between Anastasio and McConnell. Nothing was rushed as each segment was played to its fullest.

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Now, Philly Night Two was far from perfect. The placement of Time Turns Elastic was horrible, the ending of Farmhouse was badly botched and the transition from Halley’s Comet to The Divided Sky was poorly executed. Yet none of those miscues took away from the overall flow of the concert. Phish treated us to tight playing, a few inspired moments of improv, spirited banter and a beautiful cover for an encore. It wasn’t epic but it was a good Phish show.

The quartet has clearly gained confidence as the tour progressed and even though last night’s show didn’t have a dream setlist with big gun after big gun, Phish was on. Not every show can be “epic,” and there’s nothing wrong with a good Phish show. Phish’s Fall Tour continues tomorrow night at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY.

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Set 1: Kill Devil Falls, 46 Days, Sugar Shack, Halley’s Comet, The Divided Sky, Sleep Again, Ocelot, Train Song, Wilson, Run Like an Antelope

Set 2: Birds of a Feather, Farmhouse, Tweezer, You Enjoy Myself, Esther, Time Turns Elastic, Tweezer Reprise

Encore: Oh! Sweet Nuthin’