[Editor's Note: You may already be familiar with @UCPete's wonderful recap of last night. But Shoreline inspired another of our friends, and we hope you appreciate her thoughts as well. -charlie]

with the third concert of summer tour at shoreline, it seems the band is continuing in a very interesting and most excellent direction. while the first two opening concerts of summer tour at the bend gifted a veritable plethora of new songs, last night's concert revealed many superb moments of unified musicianship and improvisation with a setlist of familiar compositions. my overall impression was one of hearing and observing a definite and desired unity within the band.

Photo © @moSTgHoSt

in considering the shoreline concert as a whole, i heard at some given moment each band member centered in individual excellence. in my mind, the jam band concept is at its best when it is more like that of any great assemblage of jazz musicians. A democracy with a designated leader, respecting and allowing the other "voices" to take their turn and moment where-ever and whenever that moment spontaneously happens. i felt and heard such excellence last night, particularly in the second set.

the first two songs, "the line" and "moma dance", sounded as a respectable warm up and settling in, familiar and comfortable. i heard things begin to meld into the unity with "kill devil falls", and i noted trey's guitar sound, glorious tones with an eloquent chase of page on the keyboard, eloquence. "yarmouth road" was sweet and calm, in contrast to the moments of excitement within "kill devil falls", and as we moved through the cleverness of the lyrics in "undermind" at the conclusion of the song, i felt fishman punctuating the end so certainly and most intensely. the drums most immediate and confident.

Photo © Phish From the Road

then we are free. "free", a highlight for me within the first set. the bass was so so deep and very very on. i love this song for the bass breakaway moment and as i hear the lyrics, i just get ready with anticipation for the bass to take over and the guitar to answer back. last night's "free" was tight and intense. ( as it should be ) next, "reba", the rhythm section so beautifully synched behind the glory of the guitar soaring and i honestly felt like i was just taking a happy happy walk with that rhythm, just walking along and at leisure. this same feeling of walking with the rhythm section continued into "46 days", so unified and sweet, walking, walking, with leisure and ease.

in retrospect, i would say the well-played familiar favorites of the first set, initiated the space for the surprising improvisational moments that happened in the second set. the new song "blaze on" was the set opener and again i noted an impression of unity among all band members. a new song debuted at the bend in Oregon earlier that week, it already seems to be stretching into something creative and unexpected. "twist" was very interesting, different from other versions with unique moments of improvisation, particularly as i focused and listened to page on keyboard. the very strong bass sound helped make it unique.

"light" was a highlight - most definitely. i need to find the moment to revist last night's recording before i can articualte exactly why, but "light" was very special and exiting, with superb contribution and, again, unity on the part of all band members. being in attendance last night with weather conditions somewhat warmish and following the excitement and energy of both "twist&ququot; and "light", "joy" was so so welcome as a calm down moment for the audience to regroup and rest and so on... i needed to drink an entire bottle of water and do some note taking at this juncture, and the lyrics of "joy" are just so sweet and welcome to my ears - always.

Photo © Phish From the Road

"harry hood" again takes us back out there. very very interesting. i noted a fishman highlight with the intro and i just love it. i did have the happy experience of getting lost in the "hood" and as my thoughts went abstract with the improvisation i did forget what song we were exactly hearing until the return to the familiar with the descent to the conclusion. the set concluded with "cavern" and with nothing out of the the crazy ordinary in this song. i just felt the continuation of last night's wonderful unity of sound. the encore, "character zero", rocked, and the crowd was still all fired up on the friday night. i greatly enjoyed focusing on the glory of the all-out-rocking lead guitar.

i sincerely recommend a listen to last night's concert. the second set was a winner and i can't wait to revisit the recordings. i predict an excellent and unique summer tour with so many new songs, so much potential for improvisation, and exploration. the band continues in excellent form.

and so it was... i gathered with and followed out my crew. as the designated sober driver, i was cruising the calm San Francisco highways with very happy people, experiencing the drive across the golden gate bridge. gliding, gliding... with the glorious high of the aftermath, the euphoria of listening.

Official 7/24/15 Shoreline LE poster by Justin Santora. Edition of 675, 17.25x24.

Phish Summer 2015 – Setlists & Recaps
07/21/15 Setlist – Recap – Bend 1
07/22/15 Setlist – Recap – Bend 2
07/24/15 Setlist – Recap, Recap2 – Shoreline
07/25/15 Setlist – Recap – LA Forum
07/28/15 Setlist – Recap – Austin
07/29/15 Setlist – Recap – Grand Prarie
07/31/15 Setlist – Recap – Atlanta 1
08/01/15 Setlist – Recap – Atlanta 2
08/02/15 Setlist – Recap – Tuscaloosa
08/04/15 Setlist – Recap – Nashville
08/05/15 Setlist – Recap – Kansas City
08/07/15 Setlist – Recap – Blossom
08/08/15 Setlist – Recap – Alpine 1
08/09/15 Setlist – Recap – Apline 2
08/11/15 Setlist – Recap – Mann 1
08/12/15 Setlist – Recap – Mann 2
08/14/15 Setlist – Recap – Raleigh
08/15/15 Setlist – Recap – Merriweather 1
08/16/15 Setlist – Recap – Merriweather 2
08/21/15 Setlist – Recap – Magnaball 1
08/22/15 Setlist – Recap – Magnaball 2
08/23/15 Setlist – Recap – Magnaball 3
09/04/15 Setlist – Recap – Dick's 1
09/05/15 Setlist – Recap – Dick's 2
09/06/15 Setlist – Recap – Dick's 3

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