Oh my God! They don't always earn 5's but they also don't always give 3 set gifts mid tour to new venues and offer them free to us on the couch tour as a compensation for their previous show which was good but only half finished. I am not going to make you read my individual song by song analysis, because it is shouldn't take as long to read this as it does to hear a live version. I will say you should have the live version by the end of the day if possible. Here is why:

First, the band members. Everyone will have to offer an observation about something the band members do individually, and I would rather say that Trey didn't miss a beat tonight, and Page kept his newly found leadership role in tact, and Mike and Fish picked up where those 2 left off in a way that really made the whole group shine. It was so cohesive!

Second, the song selection was utterly perfect considering that the spotlight really came down on this show after the previous night. They only really missed queue once (on Meatstick opener but I can see how it would be fun live) and other than that, you would have to be super picky to think otherwise. It was as good or better than Saturday Dick's last year in terms of song selection. Hahaha 3 in? seriously? Destiny Unbound>My Friend? I will harp on that in a second. Unreal for real! Segue'd second set (which is debatable apparently according to this site), and the third set just improved until the Good Times Bad Times really laid down an exclamation point.

Third, there are moments of rehearsed Phish intertwined with moments of beauty. Caspian made sense, in terms of picking up where we left off, and the first set might be the best first set I can remember (again going hand in hand with last year's Sat Dick's, and then before that all the way back to the Everglades (which isn't really a first set but you know) and 97-99 tour with emphasis on Nassau and 97 fall). That is a bold parenthesized thing to say, but again Destiny Unbound>My Friend is a new personal Phish highlight I have witnessed, although from my couch and not to edge out 98 Alpine Encore which was live for me. You know what I am talking about! Bowie was great, and evil, Mikes > Theme gave Theme a chance to shine and this showcased great Trey, followed by the Piper which showcased Page's Hammond. The second set was my favorite. Third set really got off on Light>Hood>Good Times Bad Times (also not to be out done by the Everglades). The DEG tease in Light really keeps tempting a bust out and also gives hope to the possibility of a ?>DEG>Foam. Hint Hint.

Well Encore is Encore. Whatever right?