[We would like to thank @LizardwithaZ and @OrangeSox for contributing this to the blog. - Ed.]
It’s usually difficult to see the exact trajectory of a tour happening in real time. Some may make statements early-on about it being the “best tour since ______” or any other number of superlatives, often rooted in the bias of recency, especially when mixed with the potent fuel of attendance. On the other hand, one might claim it’s been subpar, with not enough bustouts, predictable setlists, or “the band is playing “Evolve” too much!”
Summer 2024 definitely falls into the previous category, with general acclaim and consistent superlatives. Building on an already exciting year–the band’s improbable 40th–following a Gamehendge spectacle for New Year’s, the most exciting Mexico run yet, the band’s first visit to Sphere in April, a new album before summer tour, and more media exposure than in years, it all challenges the view that in “even years” Phish is somehow less awesome than in odd numbered years.
Since the dust has settled, can we get a better sense of the tour as a whole? The hills and valleys become more clearly identifiable. We see the tight rotation of songs around solid setlist construction, a wide variety of jams that shone through but others that depended on what seemed like I-IV tropes, the individual band members’ influences and contributions, and a million little things in between.
While the site’s Jam Chart teams wrestles with the tough decisions and everyone is sketching their JOTY brackets (with the one seed still likely “Chalkdust” from Mexico), we figured we’d take a look back at the tour–all 26 shows spread across 9 venues–with a bit of hindsight to check out some of the highlights. After all, the ratings have returned...
Toward that goal, first check out this video playlist that contains all of the selections from this tour's LivePhish webcasts shared on the band's official YouTube channel. Here's another official playlist, this one audio, curated by the folks at LivePhish for the app.
Looking ahead toward the Forum Jam of the Year blowout, phish.net user @Outlive keeps a LivePhish+ playlist of his favorites (87 total!) that he is kind enough to share on the forum. Here's another more concise LP+ playlist of the top 24 jams of '24 compiled by @Chewbacca_Wookiee. For another in the '24 theme, here's a LP+ playlist of all this tour's versions clocking in at 24+ minutes. And, since it's not just all about the jams, here's a Summer Debuts and Bustouts LivePhish+ Playlist. And, don't forget Phish.in has great quality audience "tapes" of every stop from this run, including special front of house (FOH) recordings from the three Northeastern stops (Great Woods, Mohegan, and Bethel).
Great Woods
Mohegan
In their first return to Mohegan since 2019, the band played a blistering set 2 on night one (seriously, check out the whole thing), and then on the second night showed that they’re always willing to shake things up by playing “The Curtain” in the first set, only to throw “With” into the middle of a Mike’s Groove instead of the classic “I Am Hydrogen.”
Alpine Valley
St. Louis
Deer Creek
Grand Rapids
Bethel
Mondegreen
Dick’s
And of course, what better way to end our "Reprise" of a fantastic Summer Tour than with the HD release of a jammed out "Tweezer Reprise" for the ages!
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