@realitycheck said: [quoteEven of things are not that great, try to put some positive spin on them just a little.[/quote]

I don't want people to sugar-coat a review. Listening to the tour so far, they are all shows I wish I could've been at - I only see them a few times a year and they are typically the musical highlight of my year. but that doesn't mean all these shows are on par with the best phish that has ever been. these are your typical, average-great (Dirksen has taken a lot of heat for that tag but I think it's perfect) phish shows. certainly better than the cracked out '99 shows or the pre-haitus shows in 2004, but the band is capable of more than this. Just wait for the rest of tour, they will top these shows. and *that* will be amazing.

there is great music, and there is great Phish. most nights, phish makes great music. and that's what they're doing. every once in a while, they make jaw-dropping, amazing Phish.

"Right now they seem to be as consistently on fire, enthusiastic, and clearly blowing minds and showing folks a very, very good time"

To me, that is the very definition of average-great Phish. A truly amazing Phish show is a transcendent spiritual (not just musical) experience, and it sells the greatness of Phish short to call every show amazing in the context of what is possible.