, attached to 2012-10-24

Review by XXXGAK_GAK_GAKXXX

XXXGAK_GAK_GAKXXX If you like facemelters, tension and release, extended jams, mind boggling psychedelic overtures, allusions to the bizarre and confusing corners of the mind and/or anything other than what sound like worthy attempts at a top 40 hit and repetetive latin flavored rock and roll, you're going to have to look elsewhere.

There are shiny smooth streams here, but no unclimbable cliffs to be found.

Don't get me wrong, this show was performed fantastically, as you would expect from any TAB lineup, but the approach here, at least for tonight (I haven't heard anything else from this tour yet) was mundane at best.

This show was without a doubt the least amount of energy I've encountered at any Phish-related performance.

The image that emerged in my head in reaction to the overall vibe to this show was that of a convertible full of valley girls off-key chanting these Trey pop numbers on their way to hang out at the mall on a sunny day.

Push On was the only song that really had any risk value to it, which was minimal. They fed the monkey on Sand, but it ended with no peaks, no ripping and severe jam blueballing, as its energy was much needed in the second set.

Scabbard was excellent, although too short. It's such a disappointment that this is the exception to the rule with regard to the new TAB stuff.

I told myself (and @theEmu) that I would give Architect a chance in a live setting, and I fully intended to do so, but somehow I found myself in the bathroom during the second half of the song. I believe my subconscious lead me there.

Many of the TAB standards (Oh Child, Night Speaks, Cayman Review, etc.) were well played, but lacked any kind of real aerobatics. Again, while well played, there was no sense of urgency or anything inspired about them.

I could abide two or three pop songs in a set, and many more if they've got jams attached, but playing Pigtail, Architect, Valentine, Let Me Lie, Corona etc. in succession is a bit of overkill IMO. I hope Trey isn't completely tired of rocking out, because I would hate for this kind of thing to spill over into Phish tour.

Not that this is a major complaint or anything, but just to note, there were 14 songs played at this show that were also played at the Silver Spring Fillmore last year.

I realize Trey is trying to do something completely different here, but this current version of TAB has almost none of the things that got me interested in Phish, etc. in the first place. To be honest with you, if Trey continues in this direction, I wouldn't be disappointed if I never made it to another TAB show.


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