Although I will always consider shows at The Gorge to be homecourt experiences, the truth of the matter is that the venue is actually a long way from my old home place in Portland. After breaking down camp, wishing safe travels back to reality to friends old and new, and making the five hour journey (seven if you count the interminably long lunch stop in Goldendale for some delicious Tacos Al Pastor) home, I then took a 12-hour power nap. Making up for most of the sleep I didn’t get during another lost weekend spent deep inside the Phish bowl. As a consequence this recap is arriving fairly late...but hopefully just under the wire before those of you hitting the floor running at BGCA get ready to do your thing. I never expected to wake up to a universe where Gronk would be joining Paul McCartney and Bob Weir on stage for a performance of “Helter Skelter”...but I did...so I’ll roll with it for now.

I’m going to spend the next few days resting up for the Forum and Chula shows next weekend. My lips are fried from prolonged exposure to the dry high desert air. My body feels like I ran back to back marathons. My brain is mostly at a loss for the words that are required to adequately capture and convey to you the reader the scents and subtle sounds that comprised night two of Phish at The Gorge 2016. In short I am a hot mess, but making every effort to get my shit together so that I may talk about what happened in a concise but meaningful way. This is the real reason why it is often better for the recap to be prepared by somebody who did not attend the show. When you are at the show, you become part of the show. I find it difficult to step outside the glass after the fact and attempt to be objective about what transpired.

I always leave thinking that I just saw “The Best Show Ever!” and it is pretty much always true. No jaded vet here. The stunning vista that serves as the backdrop for the stage at The Gorge is incredible. The friends and family that were along for the ride are all truly amazing people. Real, genuine, open, honest, caring, and full of a dazzling lightness. I love you all and am eternally grateful for your continuing to be a part of my life. The new CK5 visuals were glorious when taken in from our spot at the top of the terrace. The music was alive and permeated every molecule of my body. So how could anyone who was at the show possibly come away from such an experience feeling any differently? You really HAD to be there. I don’t even really remember what happened. I didn’t take any notes during the show, I gave up on being an observer and went direct to complete participation. My takeaway was that the show was incredible...in the moment. The following is my objective take on the music based on listening to it again this morning as I chug Gatorade and continue to unpack.

Though the first set opens (nice call Bobo) with the frenetic rocket booster launch of “Buried Alive” it levels off fairly quickly into more languid takes on both “AC/DC Bag” and “Moma Dance.” After the initial rush of blood to the head it was all about building a patient relaxed vibe to ease the sun-weary crowd into what was certain to be another long night. “Uncle Pen” serves to bring the pace back up a notch or two. It is no secret that I’m not much of a bluegrass fan, but this one had some pep and I was ready to high step. Continuing with the get up to get down pacing of the set, the band slithers back into the mellow groove of “555.” The echoplex is sparingly deployed to great effect, bending time and space. Fishman is hammering railroad spikes. Deep blues from Mike and Page...like the water and sky behind the stage.

It was great to be reassured that I would in fact “Sleep Again” eventually. The Mudshark saw that one coming a mile away. We got back into the 50% club with that performance, which is nice. The funky breakdown in “It’s Ice” was pretty slick but too brief and featured a smattering of “Manteca” for extra spice. I identify with the character in “Driver” pretty strongly. I just wish he wouldn’t make so many bad decisions sometimes. It served as a much needed reminder that I am the man in the mirror and need to work on regaining some self control. A first set “Sand” is a relatively rare occurrence. This one got pretty well shredded by both Trey and Fishman. We are up, up, up and away...but then back down into “Horn.” It was almost as if the band was plotting out a cross section of the topography that lay behind the stage. Peaks and valleys, peaks and valleys, nothing but peaks and valleys, dry dusty sagebrush, glorious skies, and icy blue water. “Halfway to the Moon” ramped the energy level way back up on the strength of a soaring Trey lead and cascading rivulets of Page seeping into the rough hewn rock floor being laid down by the rhythm section. Perhaps it was the juxtaposition with the largely morose take on “Horn” but this one really set the table for the spectacular “Bathtub Gin” which closed out the set. Relentless groove. Firing on all cylinders. Molten electric jizz-splattered peak. Yes sir!

“Blaze On” opened the second set for only the second time in its brief history, the outstanding 7/24/15 Shoreline performance being the first. Defying the hopes I had that this one would go as deep as any of the stellar second or third set versions from 2015 it peters out pretty quickly into “Backwards Down the Number Line,” With several birthdays being celebrated by friends this weekend, this one shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Nor should the relative brevity of the performance. A lot of notes packed into eight minutes or so. Nice and tight. “Carini” was my call for the big song of the night when the question was posed to me pre-show. It was in a good spot to reach escape velocity, started out with great promise and a deep snarling growl...but stepped back from the ledge and melted away without taking the leap into the abyss. Pretty clear as “Birds of a Feather” began that this show was going to continue to be a song driven dance party rather than mindbending voyage through the wormhole. Which was really perfectly fine in every possible way. Laughs, hugs, great vibe...the energy was through the roof...and the amphitheater doesn’t even have one.

“Wingsuit” provided the means with which we glided into the fourth quarter of the show. Five minutes of song proper. Five minutes of soaring bliss. I slow danced with my wife during “Shade” and much like her it was wonderful and sweet. I’m crying now as I recall the tender situation. It takes moments like that to grasp what certain songs are all about. Now I get it. “Mike’s Song” was pretty sick for a few minutes and from all accounts ranks pretty high for recent versions...heavyweight rock and roll there. Another “Farmhouse” by request for Olivia continued the serrated sine wave of up and down tempo tunes that prevailed throughout the show. Patient and serene breather before giving way to a fast paced “Weekapaug Groove” that was every bit as good as the “Mike’s” with which it was paired. Great effects laden grinder that stays vigorous and vibrant throughout. The dance party vibe was still in full effect. “Shine a Light” was great...as always. You got any Stones? We are going to get our “Tweeprise” right?

The encores were pretty special both nights. The “Hold Your Head Up” sandwich around “Love You” was a great surprise and fit the sloppy good fun tone of the weekend perfectly. Killer vacuum solo. The “Harry Hood” which followed was as gorgeous as the Columbia River Gorge itself and Trey’s request for Toph to kill the lights evoked memories of my first trip to see Phish at The Gorge 19 years ago. I’ve been back every time they have and I hope that we will all continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The “Tweeprise” raged as always. Thanks for not leaving us hanging guys. See you at the Forum.

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