We arrived to the lot at around 5:30 on Tuesday evening. The sun was shining bright, and our spirits were high. The lot scene was one of the best I have ever experienced. There was no fighting, everyone was very cool to each other, and the lanes were filled with all kinds of goodness, and by goodness I mean awesome t-shirts, beer, ganja treats, and dogs. Cops were only looking for gas, which was great.
We chatted around for 90 minutes or so, drank some beers and were in to the show.
The venue is a large outdoor soccer stadium located just south of Chicago. I was a little unsure as to how our seats would be, if we would be able to see the lights, if the sound would be good. It turns out we were okay. The sound was crisp and clear and most importantly LOUD! We could hear every note individually, which is important.
Set One:
Opening with Kill Devil Falls was interesting. It had good energy, but I'm not sure how I feel about the song. It's decent. Crowd was loving it. We were then bombarded by the one two punch of Sample in a Jar and Ocelot. These two songs had some terrific energy behind them, so they weren't bad at all. If I'm going to be outside in the sunshine, dancing lightheartedly to some Phish tunes, these are the kind I'm looking for. Paul and Silas was next, quite a rarity not having been played since 1998. Pretty sweet. Another song filled with great energy. Short, but very fun. I love it when Trey says "Play it Mike." Next came a new song, Windy City. I love hearing new songs that haven't been played live. Something about it that is just fun and cool and interesting. It's a decent song, I liked it. The Curtain With was an old song I haven't heard since Coventry. I have mixed feelings about it, but they nailed it. It was perfect. Train Song was standard, but well placed. Gumbo- AWESOME! I love Gumbo, the entire crowd was dancing and having some fun with this. Then along came Heavy Things, so I went to the bathroom. I got out and asked what was playing and someone in a beer line told me "Time Burns Craptastic," so I joined him in line for a beer. Got back for the final 5 minutes of it, which is the best part anyway.
All in all a good set. Energy made it what it was. Set break saw this happen...
Second set started off with a very rocking version of Backwards Down the Number Line. I wasn't sure about this song until seeing it live - it was totally killer. Really good way to keep that energy up. Rocked and jammed out version of this, nice and dark and spacey at the end. clocking in at just under 14 minutes. I highly recommend listening to it. Somehow the jam ended up becoming...
Carini!!! HOLY FUCK BOYS! By far one of my favorite songs. I was on cloud fucking 9 when I heard those notes. I love this song, and this version was amazing. So perfect. Just awesome on every level. Great kind of jammed out ending which ended up as...
Gotta Jibbo- Wow sweet! I love this song too. Very well done, great lights, nice and spacey. I was still high off Carini... It seemed to rock hard. Kind of the theme of the night. Speaking of themes...
Theme From the Bottom was placed perfectly. It rocked as well.
Wilson- Did I mention that this set ROCKED? The crowd was louder than I have ever heard during the chants. It was stellar. The soccer stadium really helped that out I'm sure. This was very, very well placed. I was fearing a sleeper song in this place, but no, just some sweet Wilson rock action.
2001- WHAT??? really??? Oh my god. I don't see how this could get any better. So funky, I was just dancing the whole time. We had room for it. Good thing. This was goooooooood.
Chalkdust Torture- it was clear my face would be gone by the end of the night. This was rocked out in a very, very good way. The crowd freaked out. I freaked out. What was next?
Harry Hood- oh man. Harry! What can one say. I was floored by this.
Squirming Coil- Beautiful. I was a little welled up during Page's solo at the end, thinking about whatever you think about when you are down and out, overcoming adversity and such.
Encore:
Loving Cup- A completely predictable yet completely perfect way to rock our asses one last time.
Set 2 was one of, if not the best set of live phish I have ever witnessed. It was fantastic. I realized how much I love this band, the true fans, and the experience. Now I just want more!
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