9/2-3 Phish @ Dick's Sporting Goods Park - Commerce City, CO

A week ago I left work at 2:30 and traveled west.  I started the journey with Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band "Greatest Hits".  The opening track, "Roll Me Away" was the opener at the show I'd seen the previous Saturday in Moline.  I stopped briefly in Tiffin, IA and as I got back on the interstate I saw a hawk flying which is referenced in that song.  The lyrics from that album seemed to fit with my roadtrip.  I even heard "Turn the Page" on the road east of Omaha on radio coming back.  I really enjoyed that Seger show and it was a consolation for having to miss the Friday Dick's Phish show this year.  Next year hopefully I won't have to miss the first night which unfortunately for me turned out to the be the strongest show by a wide margain.  That's the way it goes sometimes.  I had a lot of fun and enjoyed the two shows I saw.  It's inspirational how well Phish is playing right now.  I think it's the best they've played since I was in high school.


I drove from Davenport, IA to York, NE and stayed at the luxurious Motel 6 where Tom Bodette left the light on for me.  I dined on Taco Bell.  After a shower and a few episodes of Modern Family I got a good night's rest.  There was still at least 6 hours of driving left.  Listened to the Nebraska official movie soundtrack.  I can tolerate western Nebraska but eastern Colorado is horrible.  Staring off into nothing for 3 hours is brutal.  It was easy to get to Dick's Sporting Goods Park and the Quebec St. area from 76 using rt. 2.  I camped with Pat, Ryan, Heather, Jeff, and Katherine.  There was a good crew of other people camping nearby who made the weekend fun.  They played songs from The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 which made them good people in my book.  However, it was very hot.  90 degrees on Saturday and 96 degrees on Sunday. 


The first set on Saturday was very impressive.  Though nowhere near the Chicago Simple this was a good version for an opener.  Martian Monster seemed explored more than earlier this summer.  Reba was a major highlight of the weekend for me.  Then they kept the momentum up with Sand.  Crazy Sometimes from the Mike solo tour works well with Phish.  Limb by Limb contained a "Follow the Yellowbrick Road" tease by Trey.  Wolfman's Brother was extended beyond normal 3.0 boundaries.  Walls of the Cave was a high energy way to wrap up a set that could pass as a second set on some nights.  I was happy with the first set. 


Everything's Right had a jam that needed a bit more leadership.  It fizzles before heading into Fuego. 
Steam was followed by Chalkdust and by now it was starting to get a little too song oriented.  Too many songs.  The calling card of the Saturday Night Special.  The jamming happened the night before.  This wasn't my first rodeo.  I know how they operate during 3 night runs in this era.  Mike's was straight forward.  Winterqueen was a cool down moment but did yield some brief interesting playing at the end before surprising us with What's the Use? before Weekapaug.  I thought that would wrap it up.  They tacked on Slave to the Traffic Light.  Lizards, Antelope was a very old school generous encore.  The landing during Antelope left something to be desired.  It was a powerhouse setlist but this second set was played almost totally within the box which is disappointing coming on the heels of the Baker's Dozen.  Still we heard a lot of classic Phish songs.  After that Reba everyone was a winner. 


The first set on Sunday was rather pedestrian until a rocking 46 Days and an explored Bathtub Gin to wrap it up.  This was my 145th show.  Pat was with me at my first show 7/24/99 Alpine Valley.  I was glad he was with me for a fun second set and a powerful encore. I liked the dark space that was explored during DWD.  The sentiment of the lyrics of Rise/Come Together are Trey's statement about the nation.  Meatstick reminded me of 7/12/00 and 9/22/00 two other favorite versions .  It sank in how long I've been seeing Phish.  The band didn't necessarily play the songs I wanted to hear during this set but they are playing so well that it didn't really matter.  Waste, First Tube was a good way to end the summer.  The postshow music was Steely Dan "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" which was a nod to the fallen Walter Becker.  The next day I heard "FM" by Steely Dan and decided to listen to the radio the entire way back.  No static at all.  I heard everything from Danzig to Rockwell to Grand Funk Railroad as I was getting closer to my home.  In Nebraska for dinner it felt like an Arby's night.  I stopped briefly in Omaha and then made the final push for home.  Last weekend was a lot of driving but I'm glad I went.  I saw some old friends.  It was good for the soul.