After many years of watching blubbering and emotionally homogenized commencement speeches as well as inebriated wedding toasts, neither of which are ever judged for their content but are properly contextualized in their emotional setting, I must say that this piece of writing captures the event quite well.

I, for one, teared up considerable reading this as I did when it happened. I don't know how the band even played during this weekend, given the physical and emotional state Trey was in, the suddenness of their unplanned retirement, the prescence of family members at the event, as well as (and this doesn't get talked about) all the behind-the-scenes members of the Phish family who were no doubt also deeply rocked by all that was going on.

Add to all the above the recognition of the obvious circumstancial sacrifice made by the fans to be in attendance.

It's a minor miracle that they made it through the songs at all.

I will never be able to seperate the music of this event (or from all of the summer of '04 for that matter) from the puffy-eyed drama that enshrouded it.

Certainly makes one appreciate the current state of things, doesn't it?

Regarding the greatness of the musical expression in the jams, what sticks out to me about the music of this weekend and the shows leading up to it, is the constantly changing thematic of dark horror and abounding joy that is alternating within the music. The wrestling, dissonant and heart-wrenching state of the band is oozing from the pores of these performances.

I didn't want this to be my final memory of the band, and I am thankful that it won't be.

Thanks for writing this.