Ryan has it. The segment from Simple through Caspian is just unbelievable. This second set alternates down'n'dirty rock, delicate ambient melodies, and dazzling technicolor anthems - extraordinary music from a time when Phish hadn't yet begun their scary decline, but were no longer the innocently nerdy they'd so recently been.

(Published in the second edition of The Phish Companion...)

Well, this one has been swept under the rug altogether, and that's a crying shame. Granted, the first set is nothing special, unless you're a Pavement fan. The first and last performance of "Gold Soundz"� was a treat for those of us in the know, but otherwise there's not too much to report from Set 1.
Set II, however, is a completely different story. Why, you ask? "Simple"� -> "My Left Toe"� -> "�Jam"�, that's why. About a half hour of music that gets completely undermined by the way "Mike's"� > "Simple"� > "My Left Toe"� > "Caspian"� looks on paper. Hidden gem, plain and simple. The "My Left Toe"� comes out of the "Simple"� jam so effortlessly that more than half the crowd didn't even notice it. And the jam out of "My Left Toe"� is full of melodic Mike, patient Page, fantastic Fish and glory Trey. You should hear this.

A very strong show, which more than delivers on the potential suggested by the setlist.
Set 1 is satisfying, despite a few trivial flubs / rough spots. They really stretch out and build to a screaming climax on Taste. Limby gets ambient for a bit. Bag and Cities are solidly explored, if a bit leisurely in pace. Moma has a quirky, floaty feel. It's easy to get lost in the middle portion of this set, & lose track of space and time.
Set 2 takes things to another level. Simple > My Left Toe > Caspian is worthy of the praise that the other reviewers have given. The segues flow naturally, and there is a perfect balance of energy + bliss throughout the trifecta. The Mike's Groove bookends are equally notable, with a couple of inventive diversions from the norm that work nicely.
Golgi is solid enough. Then the encore delivers an exquisite pairing of sweetness and heat. If you don't feel chills during this version of B&R, then you're either not human or not listening!

Another one-time-played in gold soundz.

The Mike's Left Toe Groove is Phish at their best.

What a show.

Remember when people carried around pen and paper to write down setlists? I've always been a huge Pavement fan. I remember everyone standing around completely dumbfounded during Gold Soundz - I was by the tapers, and I kind of got a kick when the game of "telephone" started as the name of the song spread throughout the venue. I love that tune. I'd say I probably was one of a handful of kids at that show who knew that song and was singing along with it, but who knows, I'm probably completely biased and music snobby. Overall, pretty unimpressive first set. Second set made up for it - CK had the crowd BUMPING during the Mike's jam (remember the white lights spinning up and down?) Didn't care for the B&R part of encore, but Bold As Love sent us home happy. Incidentally, I took my friend Joel (you tapers know him), the DailyGuru (check him out online and on you tube) to this show, his first. He was hooked from then on out... Considering his favorite band up to that point was Aerosmith, I think I did him and humanity a huge mitzvah.