I've been remiss to post results of the 7th Annual Runaway Open from 2022, but since the 8th Annual is less than 3 weeks away - Sat. Sept 2nd at Willis Case in Denver - it seems well past time...

Last year, we had 120 plays (plus 18 additional donors, and a great slate of sponsors!) and gorgeous weather. Foursomes names have changed each year - sponsors, Phish characters, songs, etc. - and were named for venues in 2022. The top foursome was Gallagher's (Gronli, Stoleson, McCumsey, and Hunt); 2nd place was Red Rocks (Zabka, Zabka, Stone-Zabka, and Ratiff); and 3rd was Saratoga (Patrick Donnely's foursome; sorry we were never sent the other 3 names). The top golfer was David Hunt, and two of Donnely's foursome tied for 2nd place.

Player photos from the event last year are below the fold...

When was the last time you listened to 8/13/93? If you've never heard it, check it out (it's on Relisten too). You'll hear why it's one of the most widely traded shows on cassette in Phish history and, frankly, you don't need to read any of the reviews on this website about it to hear Why That Is True, either. Both fans and the band agree: It was a SPECTACULAR show. Trey did cartwheels backstage post-show. Check out the LivePhish sbd if you haven't already.

For some discussion about it, check out this Osiris Undermine podcast with Brian Feller, who was there, and user @Icculus, who wasn't.

We're excited about the upcoming First Annual Wingsuit Open, a charity disc golf tournament for Phish fans organized by Matt James. The event will be September 2nd in Aurora, CO, and benefits music education for children through the all-volunteer Mockingbird Foundation. Complete rules, registration info, and a course map are at www.peacejames.co/wingsuitopen. There will also be a mini disc golf competition and a putting competition on site, as well as other contests, prizes, and limited edition gift items TBA.

Matt's hoping to grow the event to 180 players; you'll want to say that you were an OG, at the inaugural event. Also, the event is currently in the "middle registration" period, and the donation request jumps in 5 days to "late registration". (Those unable to attend can also register to get a player's pack shipped to them.) So, sign up soon, and start working out those throwing arms!

Note that this is the same day as the Eighth Annual Runaway Open charity golf tournament, for which there are still openings and which will now also include a virtual component. Three kinds of golf, to accomodate your preference and location, and bring us all together for some fun and fundraising. Register for one, or all three, today!

[We would like to thank user Suzy Barros (@SuzyDrano) for recapping last night's show. -Ed.]

Well! What a couple nights that was, I’m glad I wasn’t tasked with recapping Friday night because I would have overfluffed (or fluffed just the right amount depending on who you ask, Best "Fluffhead" ever amirite???). Anyhoo, Friday was perfection for me, as was the only other show I’ve seen this summer (3^rd night Alpharetta) and though I’ve only listened to the highlights of the other shows, it’s enough to know something special has been happening in their playing, even besting the already excellent playing they did during the spring tour.

"Loving Cup"!!! Summer terr debut and the last time it opened a show unless I’m mistaken is all the way back in the cursed year of our lord 2004. I assume the reason being primarily because of its normal usage as a raging encore but there is really no good reason to not set the stage for the evening with a rager as end it with one, now is there??? Plus, when I turned around to give my dear old friend Marnie who joined me for these two shows a huge hug she was having a meltdown, I hadn’t realized it was her favorite song so that made it even better.

[We would like to thank user Jeremy Willinger (@Jeremy8698) for recapping last night's show. -Ed.]

On the penultimate night of what has been a standout run both in terms of playing and permanence, Phish continued to exhibit why they are the best band on the fucking planet.

Before jumping into this review, let us take a trip back to Tuesday: a perfect show that demonstrated how the band can find a pocket and capitalize in the space to create a defining performance. That momentum from the standout show of the year—yeah I’m saying it—was a wave on which band and phans rode together, past Wednesday and into last night’s ripper at YEMSG.

[Recap of Wednesday night's MSG show courtesy of Ian Zigel, user @Ripenesswasall, on IG at @memehendge. -Ed.]

“Character Zero” ends, I blink, and “Possum” fires up… or at least it feels like we’re picking up right where we’d left off after the pure Phish magic that was Tuesday’s show. My seat neighbor for these two nights, Trey (yes, really, that was his name), astutely points out that Tuesday/Wednesday crowds at The Garden are made up of the most devoted (albeit insane) Phish fans, and the music played for these shows can generally be summed up as “Phish for Phish fans.” Tuesday night saw the band go deep on a handful of favorites with Zen focus for Jerry Garcia’s birthday, arguably delivering the finest show yet of 2023; tonight is a perfect foil to Tuesday, with no shortage of jamming between songs, deeper cut song selections, antics, and an extremely fun and Phishy overall vibe.

The crowd is noticeably comfortable and in no rush to get to their seats with 5 minutes left to spare before the band takes the stage, but everyone locks in immediately with the unmistakable “Possum” intro. Tonight is my 48th Phish show and my first “Possum” opener. “Guyute” takes the number 2 spot, evocative of the encore on 12/29/22, which served this same pairing in reverse order. However, “Guyute” sounds much tighter and more rehearsed tonight.

[Recap of Tuesday night's MSG show courtesy of user @SterlingPiper83. -Ed.]

For me, Phish at Madison Square is where it's at. There is no other place You can possibly do so much so easily, while also seeing Phish. But the venue itself, notwithstanding the seemingly never ending construction, is just incredible.

One of the things that makes YEMSG so incredibly special to me is that when the band is locked in and we get to grooving just right the floor begins to pitch and sway beneath your feet. For those of You that haven't been, it is not unlike the sensation one feels when standing on a surfboard or boat in calm waters.

The all-volunteer Mockingbird Foundation is hosting the 8th Annual Runaway Open charity golf tournament for Phish fans on Saturday September 2nd in Denver during the upcoming Dick's run. We'll have 120 players in a shotgun start, with coffee, lunch, cocktail, gift bag, raffles, and prizes, and we'd love to see you there. Register soon (mbird.org/8ro), while spots are still available - it fills up every year, and we can't go above 120.

(Audio is the ending of "Tweezer/Magilla" by Michael Ray and The Cosmic Krewe, from the Mockingbird Foundation's double-disc tribute, Sharin' in the Groove. Concert photo by Nate Cundy for Listen Up Denver, by permission of the photographer and website.)