It takes incredible courage to be critical with a show review. So hats off to ya there. I liked your lead in and commentary on your experience and the festival. You are correct in your assertion that no Phish festival (let alone any festival) will be like those that came before.

Regarding the way Sunday played out, the only gamble Phish is willing to take in regards to their concerts (music aside) is booking some shows at a casino. We live in such a litigious society and management companies (as “Corporate” as they may be) are the only way events like this will ever take place because they mitigate risk for the artist in the event that something goes wrong. These companies are risk averse, so situations like a “secret set” will never again be “secret” because they cannot risk 40k people scrambling, nay stampeding, to a dark nether region of the festival grounds in the middle of the night to watch Phish repelling out of helicopters into large vats of glow stick ink while playing their instruments. Hence the reason Trey announced it.

With them (these management companies) come things like severely expensive food and drink and potentially disgruntled (and minimally trained) gig workers. And it’s all about the bottom line, reduced cost and maximum profits.

So Sunday played out like it did, as did much of the weekend, but that’s the only way that an event like this takes place. The time will come when we, as well as the band, need to weigh our options (5 lbs) and determine if a four night stand (such as Dicks or Mexico) is the better alternative to the festival experience. Mondegreen certainly was the hybrid of the two. And to be clear, I don’t have an opinion either way, but as I get older, beds, bedding, and a warm shower are certainly preferred.

Anyway, thanks for your recap, appreciate your perspective on the event and the music. And thank you to everyone who has recapped a show this summer. This is such an amazing community.