Helping Friendly Podcast: Episode Summary
Episode: 2025 Summer Tour Recaps: Folsom
Release Date: July 6, 2025
Host/Authors: RJ, Brian, and Megan from Osiris Media
Introduction
In this episode of the Helping Friendly Podcast (HFPod), RJ, Brian, and Megan delve into their experiences and insights from Phish’s 2025 Summer Tour performances at Folsom Field. The hosts provide a comprehensive analysis of the shows, discussing everything from venue comparisons to standout performances and fan interactions. This summary captures the essence of their detailed discussions, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.
Venue Comparison: Dick’s vs. Folsom Field
One of the central themes of the episode is the comparison between Phish’s traditional venue, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (often referred to as "Dick's"), and the newer Folsom Field in Colorado.
Brian’s Headline on Folsom Field: “At [07:11], Brian encapsulates the overall performance with his headline: “Fish on five days rest comes back with B level shows in an amazing setting.” This sets the tone for their evaluation of the venue and the shows held there.”
Positive Aspects of Folsom Field: Both Brian and Megan commend Folsom Field for its aesthetic appeal and functionality. Brian notes, “Aesthetically, it’s really beautiful. There’s something about walking across a college campus to see Fish” ([17:35]). Megan adds, “There is something so magical about seeing Fish on a college campus” ([17:59]).
Sound and Space: The sound quality and spaciousness of Folsom Field receive high praise. Brian highlights, “The sound was awesome. Wherever I was in the venue, I was in a different spot throughout the entire weekend” ([16:50]). Megan echoes this sentiment, appreciating the ample space and excellent sightlines.
Stress-Free Experience: Unlike Dick’s, where logistics can become stressful due to high demand and crowded conditions, Folsom Field offers a more relaxed atmosphere. Brian shares, “It felt like a very choice, stress-free, FISH experience at Folsom Field” ([16:52]). Megan adds that the community vibe is respectful and enjoyable, contrasting with past experiences at Dick’s.
Thursday’s Show Recap (July 3, 2025)
The hosts begin their detailed show-by-show analysis with Thursday’s performance.
Set One Highlights: Brian describes the first set as a solid entry with surprises and solid flow: “It was a really good entry level, like, opening set” ([18:36]). Notable songs included were “Tube” and “Kill Devil Falls,” which Brian praises for their groove and band connection ([20:23]).
Audience Feedback: A listener named Alex commented, “I traveled from the UK to these shows, and some moments in the second sets were better than Dick’s 24 for me” ([20:50]). This underscores the positive reception from international fans.
Megan’s Observations: Megan notes the inclusion of rarities and a focus on songs not frequently played, such as “Roses.” She expresses excitement over “Roses” not being performed since 2010 ([21:13]).
Quotes:
- Brian: “For anyone thinking about coming out to Colorado, if they do this again, I would say, you know, even if you stay in Denver, it’s not that far of a drive” ([16:50]).
- Megan: “I was pretty bummed not to hear [Roses]. I’ve been chasing that since 2010” ([21:13]).
Friday’s Show Recap (July 4, 2025)
Friday’s performance coincided with the Fourth of July festivities, adding a unique flavor to the night.
Opening with “Bathtub Gin”: Brian praises the opener, stating, “It was one of those moments when you actually put your book down and started looking at the stream, and I thought it was great” ([34:42]).
Set Two Excellence: Brian considers the second set as his favorite of the weekend, highlighting songs like “Sigma Oasis,” “Oblivion,” and “Blaze On.” He emphasizes the narrative arc and structure of the set, comparing it to classic Phish performances: “Every single one of these songs is a certified jam vehicle” ([41:08]).
Megan’s Favorite Jam: Megan singles out the “Oblivion” jam as one of her top three moments of the weekend, praising the rich and textured synths and Trey's inspired soloing ([35:59]).
Interactive Moments: Brian shares a personal anecdote about attending his son’s second Phish show, emphasizing the familial and memorable aspects of the concert experience ([43:00]).
Quotes:
- Brian: “This set reminded me a lot of Monda Green. Night three, set two” ([41:15]).
- Megan: “The Oblivion jam was absolutely killer” ([35:59]).
Saturday’s Show Recap (July 5, 2025)
Saturday’s performance continued the positive trend, with the hosts discussing various musical highlights and community interactions.
Set Two Dynamics: Brian describes the second set as a blend of old and rare Phish tracks, noting the thematic cohesion: “It’s like four songs that flow really well together” ([58:16]).
Megan’s Insights: Megan appreciates the incorporation of synths and the seamless transitions between songs, particularly highlighting “Fuego” and “My Friend” ([65:52]).
Unique Performances: The band’s ability to mix classic tracks with newer sounds like “Cross Eyed Jam” and “Everything’s Right” is commended for keeping the performances fresh and engaging ([65:59]).
Quotes:
- Brian: “They locked in very quickly and found a lot of terrain and a lot of spaces of music to explore” ([37:36]).
- Megan: “I can’t imagine what it was like in the room. I mean, I guess I can because I’ve been to Fish shows with huge peaks” ([46:43]).
Sunday’s Show Recap and Reflections
Sunday’s performance marked the culmination of the weekend tour, with the hosts reflecting on the overall experience and Phish’s evolution.
Vibe and Evolution: Brian reflects on the tour’s routing and the band’s ongoing evolution: “They’re always evolving, they’re always tweaking, they’re always updating their sound” ([56:29]). He discusses how the isolated event nature of Colorado’s Folsom Field run contributes to a unique and enjoyable experience.
Community and Fan Engagement: Megan shares positive feedback from online comments, noting that despite concerns about jam lengths, the community largely loved the setlists and performances ([50:28]).
Future Shows and Expectations: The hosts touch upon upcoming shows in Columbus and Charleston, expressing excitement for continued performances and potential new highlights ([73:20]).
Personal Anecdotes: Brian recounts a special moment from the Sunday show, where the band played emotionally charged songs like “Lizards” and “My Friend,” creating memorable experiences for attendees, including his own family ([59:00]).
Quotes:
- Brian: “Ultimately, this will be kind of what it was slightly designed to be based on the tour routing as a kind of isolated event” ([69:46]).
- Megan: “The community loved, I want to say, in general, this whole run” ([49:58]).
Event Promotions and Future Plans
Toward the end of the episode, the hosts promote upcoming events and merchandise:
Heady Meat Sticks Event: Megan announces an upcoming barbecue event benefitting the Cancer Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, featuring live music and HFPod merchandise for sale ([05:43]).
Mailbag Episode Tease: The hosts express plans to address fan voicemails and questions in a future mailbag episode, encouraging continued audience engagement ([04:43], [05:55]).
Concluding Thoughts
The Helping Friendly Podcast episode offers an in-depth and enthusiastic recap of Phish’s performances at Folsom Field during the 2025 Summer Tour. RJ, Brian, and Megan’s analyses reflect a blend of technical musical appreciation and personal storytelling, providing listeners with a rich insight into the concerts’ dynamics, the band’s musical direction, and the overall positive vibe of the tour. Their balanced critique and celebratory remarks make the summary both informative and engaging for fans and newcomers alike.
Notable Quotes:
- Brian: “Fish on five days rest comes back with B level shows in an amazing setting.” ([07:11])
- Brian: “Aesthetically, it’s really beautiful. There’s something about walking across a college campus to see Fish.” ([17:35])
- Megan: “I was pretty bummed not to hear [Roses]. I’ve been chasing that since 2010.” ([21:13])
- Brian: “Every single one of these songs is a certified jam vehicle.” ([41:08])
- Megan: “The Oblivion jam was absolutely killer.” ([35:59])
- Brian: “They locked in very quickly and found a lot of terrain and a lot of spaces of music to explore.” ([37:36])
- Brian: “They’re always evolving, they’re always tweaking, they’re always updating their sound.” ([56:29])
- Megan: “The Oblivion jam was absolutely killer.” ([35:59])
Join the Conversation: Listeners are encouraged to continue sending in voicemails and reviews, with the hosts promising more interactive episodes in the future. Engage with HFPod on Apple Podcasts and social media to stay updated on upcoming episodes and events.
This summary was generated based on a transcript from the Helping Friendly Podcast episode released on July 6, 2025. For a full experience, listeners are encouraged to tune into the episode directly.