Phish returned to Deer Creek for the second of two shows at the site of many special evenings in Phish history. Night two was a much more cohesive affair featuring two sets filled with numerous highlights.
The Chalk Dust opener gave the band a chance to find their footing early. Instead of guitarist Trey Anastasio ripping through a solo the jam was more of a conversation with Mike, Page and Fish each adding interesting accents. Guelah Papyrus made its 2010 debut and was nailed unlike many of the songs in the previous night’s opening stanza. My Sweet One, Axilla and I Didn’t Know found their way to the stage for the first time this tour before Walls of the Cave returned after being shelved since Coventry.
Walls of the Cave didn’t get much of a reaction from the crowd on a night when the audience gave the band lots of love. Phish clearly practiced the complex tune and did a good job moving through each of the parts. Stash seemed shorter than usual and didn’t get too far out there. A pretty Train Song followed and perfunctory versions of Backwards Down the Number Kine and Ocelot came next. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s The Ballad of Curtis Loew continues its comeback and might now be a full fledged “once a tour” part of the repertoire. I can’t imagine ever getting sick of hearing Page sing the tune and Trey rip up the solo. Wilson and Possum ended a solid set and both whipped the crowd into a frenzy.
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