Jmart, you nail the Latin (at least I am assuming you do I didn’t Latin-check), but you flub “Slight of hand” (It’s sleight brah)!?

That first paragraph, that was just an exercise in subjectivity. Jmart just wrote another fantastic review, nay treatise, on, what I am assuming is, his favorite band, but I could have just hung my hat on the one grammatical error, died on that hill, and written him off. Which I think is what happens in this community when someone gets critical of Phish. Why, well I’ll get to that.

First, YOU, sir, do not have to be AT a show to capture its essence (and to have experienced what I experienced) we were quite aligned on how this show went down…bravo! In fact, an argument could be made that you saw it more objectively not being sucked into the felt-sense of being in the room.

Now, I am not sure if it was intentional but I did not really “get” the last section and the criticism you were trying to very politely explore. I think the movement from the sublime to the pedestrian revolves around the shift to Major Key (I could be wrong) and that is what you are sighting as almost being telegraphed by the band; and it is also a sort of more subtle rip chord of sorts when things are getting (insert your description of IT). If I have that correct then I am in firm agreement with you that it frustrates me as well. That’s all I really say about that for now.

Moving on, Sic Transit Gloria is probably my favorite (and, admittedly, only one of two known) Latin phrases, owing mostly to Wes Anderson and Rushmore. But the second one from Rushmore, , Nihilo sanctum estne? I think speaks to the fear of some of those who fearing that Glory Fades, grasp onto anything to ensure that it doesn’t slip from their grasp, hence, their cry, “Is nothing sacred?” As they conspire against you (and I) when we criticize the band.

All this to say that you are a master wordsmith and I respect your critiques as they are well founded and are always submitted with supporting evidence. And, god damn, if that slow, patient, and silent start to the Stash jam wasn’t just something special.