The second night of the Fare Thee Well run, like the first night, provided some monumental peaks and some otherwise forgettable moments.Phil Lesh looked the part of a true aging yet legit rocker with a denim jacket complete with a Steal Your Face Logo on the back, while Mickey Hart banged his enormous collection of drums with a Hart on the back 49ers jersey for the second set. The “boys” truly had an agenda on this final California show ever for the band.
Bruce Hornsby who had just one lead vocal spot the prior night with “Casey Jones” made his presence known in the first set as he sang lead vocals spot on for “Brown Eyed Women” and “Loser.” Anastasio also got a lead vocal chance in the first set for a rocking “Alabama Getaway,” which the lead guitarist blazed through, as the song structure isn’t too far stretched from many of Phish’s more straight forward rockers. On the subject of rockin’, two of Bob Weirs’ more upbeat songs “Feel Like a Stranger” and “Hell in a Bucket” were nailed, with the later making a very rare set closing appearance with Bill Walton shone on the simulcast fist pumping away.
The second set was filled with more excellent guitar work courtesy of Anastasio who once again paved the way for the band, even if his guitar leads sounded more like something his other band would jam into that leaned less on consistent psychedelic flourishes but more on piercing buildups and peaks. The “Mississippi Half-Step,” “Uptown Toodeloo,” “Wharf Rat,” “Eyes of the World,” “He’s Gone” second set opener allowed for the band to communicate and get off on some nice improv tangents. Of course to many fans dismay, many of the lead vocals spots should have been handled by other singers, most noticeably Phil Lesh taking a turn on “Eyes of the World,” where the songs most important vocal notes were lowered. But the fans got a big hoot during “He’s Gone,” as the band played the refrain- “Steal your face right off your head.” A rather forgettable and flubbed “I Need A Miracle” kind of brought the momentum down but the show peaked back up at the end for a jubilant “Sugar Magnolia.” It’s on to Chicago now were we can start guessing what songs that haven’t been played yet- will hopefully make their appearance: “Terrapin Station” or “Shakedown Street” anyone?
Photos by Jay Blakesberg
