Many will rightly point out that the Grateful Dead and Phish are very different bands. But, one thing they share is the “two set” model of performance. No opener…just one band on the stage in two 1 to 1.5 hour (or more) bursts. They also share a similar and distinct approach to first and second set flow. The First Set at Dead and Phish shows will usually be “songy” and less improvisational. The second set is where the jams come out. This is unique. Has anyone gone to a jazz club and took in 2 or 3 standard 45 minute sets and noticed that the second or third sets are more exploratory or jammy than the first? Both bands only play(ed) particular parts of the repertoire in certain sets. “Me and My Uncle” is a first set song; “Ocelot” for Phish. When we hear a “first set” song in the second set we sometimes expect it will be different. For example, when Phish busted out Bathtub Gin in the second set of 6/29/12 we all salivated for the type ii/exploratory Gin that has been so lacking in 3.0. But, we actually got a version shorter and less exploratory than most set 1 versions. Go figure.

Insofar as first sets generally contain more straight-ahead songs, the seasoned Phish fan might become bored with first set material. There are only so many versions of Moma Dance one can hear before you kind of get the point. The jam-centric nature of Phish fandom has led some to almost completely disregard the first set as if it is a de facto inconsequential part of the show (Mr. Miner’s reviews which often treat the first set as an afterthought come to mind). This is kind of crazy right? Why are we willing to accept that half of the show of our favorite band is not worth discussing? I would argue (and will discuss below) that many of my all time favorite shows were so because of what happened in the first set. The first set establishes the band’s level of tightness and communication, and, most importantly, their inclination toward risk taking on that particular night.

There has been some discussion that 3.0 first sets are lacking. I mostly agree and a good example is the Jazzfest set on 4/26/14. Most people said they were “going through the motions” or the set had no “flow.” Let’s get more precise. In the rest of this essay, I will lay out what I think are the most important factors that make a first set fun — and show why 4/26/14 had none of them.

First, jams. Yes, set II is where the jams are, but I am always hoping for solid improvisation of some kind in the first set. Some of the best jams in Phish history have happened in the first set. I was at 7/29/98. It seemed like in Fall 97 they just threw the Second Set exploration model out the window and were consistently throwing down long type ii jams in the first set. There are certain jam songs (in 3.0 and before) that you can expect in the first set and expect some solid if not overly exploratory improve — Wolfman’s, Gin, and Stash come to mind. Jazzfest ‘14 was mostly a bunch of songs like KDF, Ocelot, and Character 0 that are generally straight ahead rock-blues Trey solos. These are “jams”, but very uninteresting ones that lack variation between versions (although for whatever reason I always enjoy the droning groove of Ocelot). Now, if we were treated to a KDF ala 5/27/11, that would be notable — but we weren’t. The only jam of any note was the Wolfman’s and what a standard one it was. Usually in Wolfman’s we enjoy some outright cow funk in the first part of the jam featuring Page and Mike, before it slowly builds to the Trey-peak. This version was not only shorter than most, but mostly skipped the funk and went straight to a straight-ahead Trey rock-build solo.

Second, bustouts. When Phish is having fun and taking risks it bodes well for the show overall. One of the most fun things they might do in a first set is “bustout” some old song we haven’t heard in many many years. After, slaying the Riverport Gin, they played “Dog Log” and, thus, already making it a 5 star first set in my book. Of course, there have been notable “bust outs” in the second set (the 7/2/2010 Fuck Your Face comes to mind), but usually these occur in the first set. I was at the bustout bonanza on 7/29/03 (which it just occurred to me was the 5 year anniversary of the Riverport Gin!), and while there weren’t many jams it was one of the most fun first sets I’ve ever seen. Starting with “Daniel Saw the Stone” you just didn’t know what would come next. And, this risk taking set the stage for a set 2 which featured an all-time Crosseyed jam (27 minutes — 2.0 haters, really, check this one out!). Bustouts at Jazzfest? Nothing close. Maybe “The Line” is notable simply because it is still such a new song, but bustout it is not.

Third, classic Phish compositional material. If Set ones are going to be generally song-based where there is little variation from version to version, I want Phish to tackle its most intricate and composed material. On 7/29/98, after the Gin, Dog Log combo, Phish played “Foam.” Wow — trifecta. Set ones go a notch up in my book when they play Fluffhead, Reba, The Curtain, Guyute, Divided Sky, or whatever. Some of these songs also include the bonus of gorgeous Trey solos. We don’t often enough appreciate it, but it is this composed material that sets Phish apart from every other jam band out there. The Dead, Umphrey’s, Moe, Bisco. No other band features such mammoth and intricate compositions as part of their regular repertoire. Sometimes these type of songs are unwelcome guests in the second set (Fluffhead is always great, but some of us might admit a twinge of regret when we realize the next 15 minutes of set 2 will be improv free). Again, how well they play these incredibly difficult songs is a sign of things to come for the show overall. Sometimes flubs lead to “looser” playing and crazier jams (see, Coventry SOAMelt!). So what did Jazzfest have to offer in this regard? Rift. That is all. And, it wasn’t the tightest version in history (Does anyone know when/if Trey will ever relearn the chords to Page’s transition to his second solo? Also, his second solo lacked its normal speed/dexterity and overall punch).
Fourth, Runaway Jim openers. I’m kidding, but seriously — is there any other better song to get the juices flowing than this one? Bertha maybe? I honestly go into each and every show with the hopes they will open with Runaway Jim. But, sometimes they open with Bathtub Gin and that is OK, I guess. :-)

So, for me, that’s it — jams, bustouts and composed material are all it takes to make a first set enjoyable. Rarely do you get all three of these and sometimes you get one or two. 4/26/14 lacked all three. It was a bunch of mostly easy (i.e. less technical) songs that if you listened to Jazzfest version you would be hard pressed to differentiate them from any other in 3.0 (except for the Wolfman’s which was, as previously mentioned, worse and shorter than most). But, it’s not as if 3.0 first sets are exclusively “meh.” In 2013, I could point you to both Gorge shows and 10/26 as great first sets. Phish is capable of not playing it safe or going through the motions in the first set — and I’m sure we’ll see plenty of that in 2014.