July 16 was the latest installment of Phish summer tour in Bangor, Maine. by Joel Shover

Show number three of PHISH’s Summer Tour 2022 brings me to the beautiful state of Maine where I drove past pine trees of all shapes and sizes for over 4 hours before arriving at destination Bangor ME. For a concert that everyone said they weren’t going to because it was so far north on the tour, there were a ton of phans.

For all the Phans that did make the trek there is always a reward and the show in Bangor was a baller! The Maine Savings Amphitheater seemed more open and that gave more freedom for not only the fans but the band as well as the fans would soon see what Chris Kuroda had in store on the light rig!

PHISH hit the stage and each member was smiling and you could tell it was a different mood than the last two nights, for we were in for something very special. FREE was the first set opener and the Phans were aflame as moonlight filled the skies as they played, as you’re reading this the echoes of Freeeeeeeeeeeeeee are running through your head. I believe we all found the passage back as we delve into Anastasio’s, I NEVER NEEDED YOU LIKE THIS BEFORE.

As luck would have it, Mike dropped the triple nickel, 555, which got everyone grooving along with his distinct bass sounds that drove the crowd right into POSSUM, the road was his end, the end was his road so they say!

The band then performed NO MEN IN NO MAN’S LAND as the fans swayed and bopped along to the upbeat soundsshowing they were happy to be here. Those bouncing beats continued for OCELOT as it showed us it was now time to prance with the beast you berate every night.

Check out the full gallery of photos by Joel Shover from this show here.

The classic REBA had the crowd bagging, tagging and selling to the butcher next door for nearly thirteen minutes.  Trey started the shredding of AXILLA PART II and as soon as we opened our eyes back up, we into the Maine staple RUN LIKE AN ANTELOPE, that had the entire Maine Savings Amphitheater fans and staff alike dancing with joy now that we had found Marco.

Set two would take us to depths that PHISH has never taken us to before starting with really thumping and direct we mean business SIGMA OASIS that drove into a historic thirty minute DOWN WITH DISEASE that featured signature Gordon Bass Bombs that I’m sure showed up on some geological survey somewhere in Maine or beyond. It was now time to ween the fans off that extreme high that that had just endured and what better way than the comfortable sounds of WHAT’S THE USE. But what was the use when ole FLUFFHEAD made his tour debut to the delight of the sold-out crowd.

Your Phish Summer Tour 2022 Review Guide:
Two nights at Great Woods Mansfield MA by Joel Shover
Bangor Maine by Joel Shover

Night One Jones Beach
Night Two Jones Beach

TSIWT was the next number but it wasn’t until we took the letters and moved them around that they looked that way. Once we were in our TWIST, we segued right back into our SIGMA OASIS REPRISE that was calling us back, but we were already there, right?  

Don’t believe the florist when he tells you that the ROSES ARE FREE (ween cover) started the double encore and it was Bangin! FIRST TUBE the classic instrumental song started with the bookends Gordon and Fishman showcasing their distinct beats while Leo struck the keys with grace as Trey manipulated his guitar and raised it to the guitar gods as they now hit the open road for the remainder of the tour past the pine trees and beyond.

Set 1:
Free
I Never Needed You Like This Before
(Trey Anastasio song)
555
Possum
No Men in No Man’s Land
Ocelot
Reba
Axilla, Part II
Run Like an Antelope

Set 2:
Sigma Oasis
Down With Disease
What’s the Use?
Fluffhead
Twist
(> ‘Sigma Oasis’ reprise)

Encore:
Roses Are Free
(Ween cover)
First Tube

Your Phish Summer Tour 2022 Review Guide:
Two nights at Great Woods Mansfield MA by Joel Shover
Bangor Maine by Joel Shover

Night One Jones Beach
Night Two Jones Beach

Go See Live Music…. Till The Next Show…Joel

Check out the full gallery of photos by Joel Shover from this show here.

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