This show will spend eternity in the shadow of 11/28, justifiably so I guess, but it's got a few treats on offer. Bag/Maze is a great way to start a show, Timber and Light are solid, and Golden Age is a fine launching pad for some Phish experimentation (let's hope the boys bring it around some other time). The Piper > Tomorrow jam is the show highlight, but the Caspian/Hood pairing is also excellent, particularly Trey's dazzling solo on Caspian (check out those Jerryesque triplets). This has been a good year for Hood - cf. the 85% successful Jones Beach experiment and the gorgeous synthesis at Festival 8 - and this version deserves its Set II hot seat. 'Boilerplate' isn't the right word for music this passionate, nor is 'consistent' accurate. How about 'Ladies and gentlemen we are *still* floating in space'? Sometimes you see (or become) a supernova, as on the following night; but roaming the spaceways with friends is plenty fine too.