It's interesting that there isn't a single review after three weeks. On the other hand, so many superlatives have been handed out that a "review" doesn't even matter any more.

Upon returning home, a friend of mine, who couldn't make it, said, "For a few days, the entire United States was talking about the Grateful Dead." I find that a little bizarre and interesting, sort of like rubbernecking a wreck or something.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about this run was that they pulled it off without a hitch. While I didn't experience the best sound in section 130 (430 was ironically superior), I absolutely loved the confidence they demonstrated on this night. This was not the same group as in Santa Clara. Maybe the fact that every nook and cranny of Soldier Field was filled to brimming mattered.

The music speaks for itself. As with all things Dead-related, "believe it if you need it, if you don't just pass it on." About 9 minutes into the Scarlet, Trey emerged as the leader of the band. Phew, what a relief. It was strange, too. Just as he was emerging, he was stepped on (both in the intro and outro to Fire). A non-Phish head friend of mine said, "Damn, they stepped on Trey TWICE!" By the end of this night, many a reluctant enthusiast was rooting for Big Red.

Team Trey!

Fare Thee Well was truly a momentous occasion for nearly everyone. Watching the webcast and seeing the real bliss on faces, the vibes must've been incredible. That Trey was involved makes it much more special for me. The first few songs seem almost like an invocation to the spirit of Jerry Garcia, as if he might just arrive fashionably late. I personally think the setlists for these shows could've been stacked a bit more propitiously, but after all, Trey wasn't there to imitate Jerry: it was all about keeping the music healthy and most of all, alive again. Just knowing that Trey was playing Franklin's Tower to such a crowd is an emotional keepsake that will sustain me should dark days ever come. Many thanks to the Core Four, Jeff, Bruce, and of course Trey!

I attended Santa Clara and consider the first night arguably the best of all five. I love this show almost as much. Trey was ready to give us a long intro into Fire on the Mountain that was cut short by Bruce singing the opening verse. I'm not complaining but I wanted to hear Trey take the intro to Fire as far as they would allow and he was ready. In any event...it was Trey playing Scarlet > Fire with The Grateful Dead !!