Besides the obvious songs getting a lot of attention this tour - Harry Hood, Chalk Dust, DWD - Phish has also given a few other classics a well deserved pat on the back for being who they are all these years. While many fans who follow there every move are fully aware of these stand outs, thought it made sense to dedicate a post to these worthy adversaries of the classic jam revival.
Antelope
Take Antelope for example. Just about every version this tour has been played with utter force. On average they are clocking in at about 10 to 11 minutes, which is pretty standard, so nothing over the top in the outward jam category. But quality peaks played throughout the summer so far. The best version is hands down the version from CMAC to end the second set. A show often talked about as being one of the weaker shows front to back but yet does have one of the top jams with the second set opening Down With Disease. So while the show as a whole is a bit inconsistent, it certainly started and ended the second set with a bang. This Antelope has some fun Fuego teases so fans have given it the "fuegolope" tag.
The Wedge
Besides the obvious version from Chicago that was taken for one of the best rides of it's 20+ year career, The Wedge has been played with pop this summer. From the tour opener in Mansfield, to this landmark version in Chicago, they've certainly been enjoying playing this song. With the band ending once again their summer tour in Denver, perhaps it's fitting that The Wedge gets the royal treatment..."Take the highway to the Great Divide"!
Stash
I've said it once, but i"ll say it again, Stash is my favorite Phish song. The intensity of the peak and how quickly they can get there where as other songs require 20+ jams to hit a soaring peak is what I love so dearly about this tune. It encapuslates a lot of what makes Phish jams so great and the best part, it's built direclty in to the songs structure. So far this tour hasn't held back in unleashing this song and it came out of the gate in Mansfield with perhaps the best version so far this tour.
Bathtub Gin
When the band opened up the first night SPAC's second set with Bathtub, it certainly took many fans for a loop as it is a typical first setter. Since the band had been laying off the covers early on, they had to find new placements for songs and I think most of us are very grateful for the outcome of requiring originals to step up to the plate. The lack of covers has helped lead the band to exploring territory in these classic songs and Gin has certainly been on the receiving end of this focus. The SPAC version is definitely worthy of a listen given we have included it as one of top jams so far along with the segue into Limb by Limb but no question the top version to date is from Randall's night 1.
