We left feeling confused and disappointed. I don't want Phish to just do the same show over and over either, but to me it was more than just weird song choices. It felt like they weren't playing to the energy of the crowd. People were there to dance and party and be amazed by the Phish experience, and we got power chords and sad bastard ballads. It felt like they inflated a balloon in the 1st set and the 2nd set was them just slowly letting all the air out. I know that sounds harsh and Lifeboy was a bustout and all that, but heavy lyrics like "god never listens" brought the mood down, and it never lifted. I'm not saying there weren't great moments but overall it was a pretty big let down, and I hate that I feel that way. Even the lights seemed lackluster during the second set. Where we were sitting Pageside, it seemed like the majority of people were in their seats and not smiling by Tide Turns. And the energy never came back up. After the completely dissatisfying Show of Life encore, a guy near me was yelling "NOOO you've got to be kidding!"
And I'll just say it, the band SHOULD care what the people want, at least a little. People like my friends and I don't have the kind of money or job situation where we can just go to the big stuff like Magnaball or Vegas. But we do spend hundreds of dollars, take time off work, and travel great distances to see Phish any time they're within a day's drive, so I don't think it's wrong for us to be let down by a bummer show. Still love Phish, always glad when I get to see them... but like I said, confused and disappointed.