Phish 2012 Summer Tour Highlights — Mike’s -> Simple -> Light -> ‘Paug @ Burgettstown

The Mike’s -> Simple transition is as classic as it gets. Many “best of” versions of the Mike’s Groove sequence have included this transition. Some of the more notables are from their ’94 tour such as 6/22/94 (Simple, Icculus, Catapult, H2, etc.) or 11/16/94 has one of the more impressive “Simples” who’s jam stands strong just on it’s let alone being sandwiched between Mike’s and Weekapaug. But probably one of the more memorable versions is the Vegas ’96, which for those that enjoyed the Blister SPAC teases will respect the Blister tease that pops up during this Simple jam. [Download the Phish Vegas 96 from livephish.com]

Here at Burgesstown we have yet another best of version and hands down a top ten if not top five jam sequence of leg one. The Mike’s is pretty straightforward but has a ton of energy and makes for one rocking experience. What’s great about “Simple” instead of “Hydrogen” is it keeps the energy level up slightly as you enter into a new realm of music. When “Hydrogen” is played, while albeit great to hear, especially if it’s after a rapid fire “Mike’s Song” where a cool down is needed, it can deflate the energy. Unfortunately in this era where they aren’t stretching Mike’s into those dark, fast paced depths as much as they use to so carrying the energy on into the next song is important in keeping the fans on their feet.

Things really start getting interesting about half way through the “Simple” jam when their ambient side takes a hold of the evening. Seguing beautifully into the jam vehicle, “Light”, they craft yet another amazing version of this song, and you haven’t seen the last of it when it comes to these here highlight posts. This version may not top the energy of the Bader Field version but it has heavier grooves that include plinko style jamming layered all over the place. Trey also has some really sweet melodies that he sprinkles on top of the groove making for a very playful sound that I can only imagine got the masses in the crowd going bonkers. With Kuroda’s light show in full effect, it is quite a mesmerizing performance.

As they set their sites on bringing this sequence to a close, entering into the “Weekapaug Groove”, they carry over the plinko grooves from “Light” and make this a ‘paug that is a must here. If you have to listen to any song in this sequence it’s this ‘paug. It sums up a lot of what they accomplished in this 40+ minutes of music exploration. It has energy, it has groove, it has moments of simplicity and creativity and you will be hard pressed to find a better version of this song anywhere in the Phish 3.0 era.

This show in general is a must hear, as Phish.net just confirmed with their Leg 1 breakdown putting this second set as the 2nd best set of the tour thus far. Check out the rest of their list.