Greetings! Two things to keep in mind is that my judgment is biased in two respects: 1. the immediacy of the event (now and excellent front center position) and 2. These were my first shows since Saratoga 04.

This show started off with a typically blistering PYITE and Possum. Gin showed up early in the set and was the first opportunity to get into some heavy jamming. I think this was well played and bravely executed. Next segment featured Page's dad on vocals and tap dancing. This was a real treat. Great job Dr Jack! After this, was a short Boogie On Reggae Woman (featuring a loud obscene bass from Mike), a rare (for me I think my first) Destiny Unbound, a well-played Backwards Down the Number Line (with no real jam, just hot playing), Bouncing, a Stash that had a minor flub when Trey played the wrong turnaround (which the band totally redeemed by jamming it deep and dark, though they didn't go quite far enough I think), a typical Joy, my first Buffalo Bill (very short), Dog Faced Boy (also rare, but this one follows me), and then a RAGING Antelope. Grade 4 stars on the first set.

Second set started nice with a good Disease with a nice ambient feel at the end (probably closest we got to really "stepping out"). Trey started playing the chords quietly over the end of the jam, the band followed, and we were in a good version of Caspian. Twist followed and I think it was one of the highlights of the second set (along with Slave and the end of Disease). Twist's jam was intense and interesting. Roses Are Free followed and was played for maybe 5 minutes and followed by MFMF where I witnessed Trey use the mic stand as his slide again. When MFMF finished, Trey played a new cute song called "My Problem Right There". I liked it as an anthem of post-Whitehall Phish. The last 30 minutes or so was lots of shorter songs including a surprisingly short Mike's and Weekapaug (together I doubt if they added to 15 minutes). Suzy featured Page going strong and Weekapaug was sick with Mike's bass lines. Slave to the Traffic Light was typically good. The Character Zero encore was perfunctory. It was almost midnight and they had to clear off or pay an outrageous amount of insurance.

I'll give a grade of 3 for the second set, which had potential to be a lot more. In any case though a very satisfying show.

Thanks PHISH!