Here are my selections for the top 10 jams in Dick’s history.
10. “Carini” 8.31.12 I
This surprise jam, early in the first frame, set the tone for the FYF show.
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9. “Runaway Jim” 8.31.12 II
A rare siting of an exploratory, second set “Runaway Jim” in the modern era. This one is kind of aimless for a while but comes together in the second half. Some might rank this higher, but it just doesn’t hit me very hard at all. It’s kind of messy and all over the place.
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8. “Sand” 8.30.13 II
This “Sand” opens up into a gorgeous passage of Phish. While not quite 2012’s version, this “Sand” is quite good in its own right.
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7. “Piper” 9.4.11 II
An airtight excursion that passes through several themes, one that Page laces with his magic Theremin.
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6. “Sand” 9.2.12 II
A far more fluid jam than I ever gave it credit for, and sick throughout.
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5. “Chalk Dust Torture” 8.31.13 II
A defining moment of late-summer ’13, as the band set the course for Fall.
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4. “Chalk Dust Torture” 8.31.12 II
An incredibly cohesive monster with some of Trey’s most inspired work of the year.
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3. “Tweezer” 9.3.11 II
One of the bands most triumphant moments in 2011.
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2. “Undermind” 8.31.12 II
This set closer confirmed that something special was going at Dick’s in 2012.
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1. “Light” 9.1.12 II
The mac daddy highlight from Phish’s years at Dick’s. It’s just so good.
