Lovely reflection, on the whole @bertoletdown, though @J_D_G makes a great point: this masterful no-covers run can be taken as an anniversary celebration of the band's music without reading it as a rejoinder to those unmoved by 10/31 & "Wingsuit."

"It was their songs that endeared us to these performers. It is their songs that birthed this proud nation of nerds, wooks and weirdos. When we think of what we’re grateful for, at or near the top of the list is the fact that we are among those beings whose seratonin centers are activated by Phish songs. We know that many are not so lucky."

This is wonderfully said: there is an outsider's assumption that it's "all about the jam" for fans, but I've always felt that if the songs weren't good, we wouldn't care so much whether they were jammed out or not. Whatever one's take on First Sets these days, I've noticed that they often tend to be ecstatic sing alongs for many fans, because these songs mean something for all us.

Happy New Year, netters!