May 26th, 2011

First played during Superball IX's From the Archives show and later released as LP on LP 02, this tech rehearsal version of "Waves" represented a turning point of 3.0 by proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Phish was still capable of astounding long-form improv. Elements that would reappear in key moments of 2011 such as the "A Love Supreme" theme in the 6/3/11 DWD and the abstract transcendence of the 7/2/11 Storage Jam are also present, further underscoring the outsized influence of this momentous performance. The FTA track begins with Trey asking Page "Do you want to play a jammier song?" to which Page replies "Sure, I do", and what resulted stands as one of the finest jams of any era. Departing the song at 7:45 with a willingness to explore and employing a wide array of tones and textures, the band charts a course for choppy waters and intentional discord enhanced by Trey's "out" playing. From the depths of the churning storm, an exquisite final movement of immense beauty eventually emerges to bring this odyssey of improvisation to a conclusion that is all at once wistful, cathartic, and profound.