VDB's 3.0 Top 30

[VDB]

If for nothing other than my own personal amusement and because it's a great way to waste a Sunday, I offer you my top 30 jams of 3.0. This list will get updated if/when my opinions change and (hopefully) during or after each future tour.

Each pick includes a link to phishtracks.com. The top few selections were easy. Everything after that was pretty tough and many fine jams had to get left off. Let the raging debate begin!



1.
Tweezer - 7/31/2013 - Lake Tahoe
A paradigm-shifting, sprawling behemoth of a jam. From back when the woos were original and cool.

2.
Light - 9/1/2012 - Dick's
Gargantuan. Multifaceted. Scintillating.

3.
Rock and Roll - 8/5/2011 - The Gorge
Goes way out there. Nasty, scary stuff pulled from the depths of the storage shed.

4.
Down With Disease - 6/3/2011 - Detroit
Spacious and powerful. Supremely lovely.

5.
Ghost - 12/31/2010 - MSG
Big, bright and uplifting. Glory hallelujah.

6.
Light - 7/14/2013 - Merriweather Post
Highly inventive jamming that sounds like it could be from two decades ago.

7.
Tweezer - 7/31/2009 - Red Rocks
Perhaps the creative high point of 2009. Reeks of old-school originality.

8.
Sand - 9/2/2012 - Dick's
The most exploratory Sand ever. Wanders far afield and comes back for a bonus Sand jam.

9.
Tweezer - 12/28/2012 - MSG
A heavyweight version with a blissful, bluesy outro jam.

10.
Waves - 5/26/2011 - Bethel
Ever the pranksters, Phish perform one of their finest jams this era a full day before the audience shows up. Loose and exploratory. Great music to do drugs to.

11.
Down With Disease - 1/3/2015 - Miami
A groovy affair that offers a whiff of Dog Log early on and features a big dose of Manteca-infused Trey rage near the end.

12.
Light - 8/19/2012 - Bill Graham
Spry, Carribbean-themed grooves on the way to an explosive peak.

13.
Simple - 8/6/2010 - The Greek
A big, happy, bouncy romp that would foreshadow the plinko era.

14.
Tweezer - 7/13/2014 - Randall's
Picks up where the Light before it left off and keeps the blissmobile rolling right along.

15.
Undermind - 8/31/2012 - Dick's
An undeniable highlight in one of the best shows of this era.

16.
Chalk Dust Torture - 8/31/2013 - Dick's
Not quite as long as the epic IT version, but probably covers more ground.

17.
Light - 8/7/2009 - The Gorge
A breezy, tropical-flavored delight.

18.
Harry Hood - 8/5/2013 - Hollywood
The first exploratory Hood in a long time. Goes places.

19.
Carini - 10/18/2013 - Hampton
A multipart epic strewn with originality.

20.
Carini - 12/30/2012 - MSG
Gnarly and menacing. Not safe for children or the elderly.

21.
Tweezer - 10/20/2013 - Hampton
Exploratory version that starts off dark and angry and winds up in beautiful, melodic space.

22.
Runaway Jim - 8/31/2012 - Dick's
Amazing things can happen when you limit the number of songs you'll play in a show.

23.
Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley - 6/4/2011 - Blossom
Plinko-funk hits its zenith. Extended Manteca teases.

24.
Bathtub Gin - 8/7/2009 - The Gorge
Patient and spacious. Closes out with some gorgeous, groovy psychedelia.

25.
Carini - 10/31/2013 - Atlantic City
A celebratory version that aims high and nails it.

26.
Weekapaug Groove - 1/2/2015 - Miami
Trey on marimba lumina, Mike on guitar and Page providing synth bass. Groovy, psychedelic and utterly surprising.

27.
Twist - 6/22/2012 - Riverbend
Breaks form early and never looks back. Passes through several distinct segments.

28.
Light - 8/7/2010 - The Greek
Intricate, thematic, full-band improv.

29.
Twist - 11/1/2013 - Atlantic City
One of the best examples of Phish's recent propensity for interwoven, original jam segments.

30.
Backwards Down the Number Line - 6/12/2010 - Blossom
Dark, mysterious, deeply psychedelic.

[mattstick]

Well done. Can't really argue too hard with anything but mostly because I don't care enough about anything left off.

Maybe the "Michael Jackson 2001" sneaks into my list somewhere.

[mehead]

Special Olympics reference?

:?

[mistercharlie]

Well done. Can't really argue too hard with anything but mostly because I don't care enough about anything left off.

Maybe the "Michael Jackson 2001" sneaks into my list somewhere.

I agree about the MJ2001 and might add in the Red Rocks Boogie On as well.

[emay]

well done.
def hard to put top 30 3.0 jams in order best to least.
gonna give that mpp light another listen

needs more dicks 2012

[Hicks]

Swap out the Berkeley Light for the Berkeley Simple, move the AC Carini up higher and I'd pretty much agree with this list 100%.

needs more dicks 2012

Did you even read the list?   :wink:

[emay]

Swap out the Berkeley Light for the Berkeley Simple, move the AC Carini up higher and I'd pretty much agree with this list 100%.

needs more dicks 2012

Did you even read the list?   :wink:

haha  :smoke:
noticed a couple in there i missed actually.
would add the dicks undermind.

[mehead]

I agree with a lot of these but I'd have to include the Albany -7 and Ghost.

Thanks for linking the tracks

[emay]

I agree with a lot of these but I'd have to include the Albany -7 and Ghost

def was a milestone in 3.0

[Hicks]

Swap out the Berkeley Light for the Berkeley Simple, move the AC Carini up higher and I'd pretty much agree with this list 100%.

needs more dicks 2012

Did you even read the list?   :wink:

haha  :smoke:
noticed a couple in there i missed actually.
would add the dicks undermind.

[emay]

Swap out the Berkeley Light for the Berkeley Simple, move the AC Carini up higher and I'd pretty much agree with this list 100%.

needs more dicks 2012

Did you even read the list?   :wink:

haha  :smoke:
noticed a couple in there i missed actually.
would add the dicks undermind.

:hereitisyousentimentalbastard
sorry outta my element today.
brain is not in thinking mood been packing and cleaning all day.



list looks stellar!  :mrgreen:
continue on.....

[Hicks]

I hear ya, in the same boat, I'm kinda freaking out about the new job I'm starting tomorrow. 

[emay]

I hear ya, in the same boat, I'm kinda freaking out about the new job I'm starting tomorrow.

good luck man!
starting my new job next monday! already getting nervous/anxious from it  :|

[Hicks]

I hear ya, in the same boat, I'm kinda freaking out about the new job I'm starting tomorrow.

good luck man!
starting my new job next monday! already getting nervous/anxious from it  :|

Same to you, we got this. 

[VDB]

I do love that MJ 2001. Not sure how I left it out of the HMs but I just added it.