@exburt said: "I was at the Forum show, but I didn't realize until I read this learned review that I shouldn't have had the great time that I did."

So is it fair to assume you simply stopped reading when I said precisely the opposite, i.e. "If you loved that show, more power to you! Own that experience, and don’t let anyone tell you differently"? Perhaps you just nodded off for that part.

"Or I could give some weight to the concept that there is always somebody in our social universe determined to inform us that the wonderful experience we just had was just, well, actually crap."

I'll dumb this down just for you: it's not a review of your experience. It's a review of the show performed by Phish, on stage. Nobody is capable of reviewing your experience – it's yours alone.

"Kind of like the Republican convention's take on the current state of the USA."

Oh? lol...

"My take of the reviewer's preference is that Phish hit their peak in the mid-1990's, and have been on an irreversible decline since. Why bother going to see 'em anymore? "

What is the EVIDENCE for your claim? But who needs evidence when you can just pull shit out of your ass? Because there is a 898-page, 411,000-word book that definitively refutes your fact-free, middle-school-fail insult.

"I am not familiar with Philip Zerbo or his credentials, but I suspect there's about 19,000+ folks who were in attendance who don't have a clue what the hell his reasons are for pooping on the wonderful show we saw. And don't give a shit. If he's really an editor of the Phish Companion, it's a great reason for not buying the book."

The book wouldn't help you. It's intended for people who can read words and understand what they "mean."

"Hey, Mortician's Wife. I had a great time, too. Along with the folks I went with and EVERYBODY within visual range of our seats. "

So if the crowd is going wild, the music MUST be great?

"My credentials? I saw the Dead in 1970 in New Orleans at the Warehouse, the night they got "busted, down in New Orleans..." "

It's hard growing old, I know first hand. It's not a joking matter, when the mind starts failing, as it has clearly has done in your case. Congrats, you saw the Dead in 1970. Your family must be very proud, but I’m failing to see the relevance here.

"Take that, Zamboni. I mean, Zerbo..."

Ooh, an insult, based on my name. That's original. Middle school hall of fame! Nice job, buddy!

Sigh.