It's been quite a while since Phish have played in the KC area and it was really good to have them back. The Starlight Theater is a nice venue with a capacity of around 7,800 people. It has a nice sloping grade from bottom to top so everyone can see the show and from all angles.
Phish came on just before dusk to kick off the night with a Chalk Dust Torture and the crowd erupted. There wasn't a single space open in the venue, the isles were crammed with dancers and the whole from area was as well. I started off the night about 10 rows back just joining in the one big dance that was going on.
There were some really good highlights flowing through the first set with The Momo Dance getting everyone dancing. From end to end there was hardly a person sitting in a seat anywhere at the show. I love a nice Bathtub Gin and is was good to hear one tonight at the show along with a Stash getting everyone interacting with some clapping. I feel like every time I see them they play Kill Devil Falls and this was no exception. Still a great energetic version.
Finally I found my way back to my seat at the intermission of the show. They took about a 30 minute break inbetween the two 90 minute sets. When they came back out they ripped it into a Tweezer which only meant that they were going to reprise it at some point, probably the end. They did a few other newer tunes along the way with a classic harmonizing Bouncing Around the Room to get the folks stirred up.
The best of the show was still to come as they tore into a Weekapaug Groove and continues to get the crowd going with a Harry Hood and into a Suzy Greenburg where somewhere in that tune the was an added line "Todd Akin's a neurologist" yes a nice close to the set to come out and really finish strong with a cover of Loving Cup that was hot and right on as it flowed into the reprise of Tweezer and it was goodnight!
Great energetic show from end to end. the venue was amazing as it was easy to get in and out of and loads of people just hung out, had beers and talked about previous shows and what they wanted and didn't want to hear that night. I was quite satisfied with what I heard from end to end.
If you are interested in hearing this show live, you can pick a copy up at LivePhish.com KC Show.
Setlist: Chalk Dust Torture; Skin It Back; The Moma Dance; Rift; Bathtub Gin; Stash; The Ballad of Curtis Loew; Kill Devil Falls; Funky Bitch; Run Like an Antelope. Intermission. Tweezer; Piper; Mike’s Song; Bouncing Around the Room; Backwards Down the Number Line; Heavy Things; If I Could; Weekapaug Groove; Harry Hood; Suzy Greenburg. Encore: Loving Cup/Tweezer Reprise.
