This opening night of three at Deer Creek was just about the best show I saw in 2003. If not the best, then right up there with the best. I saw my first shows at Deer Creek in 97 and admit that I am partial to the venue.

SET I: The first set is a bit of a hodge-podge, but it is a well-played hodge-podge. Everything is really solid all set.

1) You can never complain about a "Cities" opener. This one got everyone off on the right foot even if it did not sore to any insane heights a la 08/06/2011 Greek Theatre.
2) "Runaway Jim" doesn't run to far and has a pleasant Trey singing flub. One of those "haha we are having fun" flubs not one of those "oh my God this Phish cover band is awful" flubs a la the 2003/01/02 "Simple."
3) "Meat" is one of my all time favorites. They can play it every night. A good weirdo Phish tune. My friend Daniel loved that song also. That counts for something. We miss you buddy!
4) A little bit of an odd transition from "Meat" to "Water in the Sky." "Water" is a little sloppy if you want to really nit-pick the poor band to death. That song always makes me think of Big Cypress; which is, of course, a natural thing, because they opened it down there as you all recall.
5) Onto a fifteen minute "Stash" that kicks ass. I am not a big "Stash" guy normally, but this version would make a believer of anyone.
6) Another odd transition to "My Old Home Place." I like that song. Bluegrass Phish always has room in my book.
7) I love "Vultures." What the hell is up with that song? It always comes out of left field at me like "I Saw it Again" has a tendency to do.
8) I am not a big fan of "BOAF," but this is once a gain a very solid version. There were a hell of a lot of people outside the show this weekend. In 99 there was a hell of a lot of "BOAF" and I think I still hadn't forgotten it.
8) The "Mikes-H2-Weekapaug" is perfectly placed at the end of the set. I love first set "Mike's Groove." This is not an "all time great" or anything, but it is a great set closer. People were freakin' out. Plus, anytime you get "Hydrogen" you should be happy.

SET II: The second set of this show is spectacular in any time period. Very well played and considerate versions of these tunes. Really very psychedelic for a set with "46 Days", "Tweezer", "2001", "GTBT", and "Loving Cup" which are all big rock and roller type songs.

1) "Suzy" is a great opener. Much better than a "Suzy" closer. Nothing startling here, but Page funks it out.
2) "Taste" is one of the all-time least appreciated Phish tunes. This one (like many) does get out there into the "Why am I thinking about people I haven't seen in awhile" chaos, but I love it.
3) The "46 Days" "Tweezer" "2001" section of this show is really amazing. "46 Days" is raging around 8 minutes in. By minute 11 everything is very low tempo and psychedelic. Fishman is amazing through some of the down-tempo parts.
4) A nice segue into "Tweezer", which like "46 Days" gets very slow and understated. Not "The band wants to get back to the tour-bus" understated, but precise and directed understated.
5) More of the same in "2001".
6) "Limb by Limb" is one of those chameleon songs. I either love it or hate it. It makes a so-so show more so-so, but when it comes out like it did here or 12/29/1998 at MSG it can be spectacular.
7) "GTBT" has some initial low level slop but then Trey really ratchets it up. Amazing high energy "Trey is a rock and roll god" moments.
8) "Loving Cup" encore is a bit of a throwaway. Don't get me wrong, I like "Loving Cup", but right after "GTBT" I am pretty big rock & roll covered out. Still though, Trey slays it and only a moron would complain.
9) The "Tweeprize" is half as long as the "Tweezer" and continues in the "Trey destroys my brain" fashion.

A solid A minus show. Well worth the listen. A great start to what turned into a pretty great weekend. Shout out to Green Acres!