Phish 2013 had consistently good first sets. Through Summer and Fall tours, so many of my set-break conversations had to deal with the creative energy and inspired first sets. It was evident that the band was showing up to play full shows, not merely putting up a perfunctory ten songs, warming up for set two-- but having the anything goes attitude, which really elevated the Phish experience.

MPP2 set one, was the highlight of the MPP weekend for me. Set two was really good, a good Golden Age, an inspired Light, a funky Boogie and YEM. However, set one is where the presents were!

First Tube kicked off the sunny Sunday evening in an explosion. Like a firecracker signifying a celebration or anniversary, the show went from off to on in a matter of seconds. Then it was on. My favorite set one standard was next. The funky, funky Moma kept the momentum and despite my busted ankle, I was caught up in the flow. NICU gave a positive spin, reflecting the sunny summer's evening, which is always uplifting when properly placed. Next, the crowd favorite Roses pleased, but also led way to a mid set CDT- which kicked the show back into rage mode.

Back around Moma, a man came by and stood next to me and my lady. He had never seen the band before. In fact, he was driving by MPP and stopped to see who was playing. He went up to the box office and someone gave him a free ticket. He looked at me and his face lit up, "this is exactly what ive been looking for," he said. "Well it found brother," i replied. It was fun to have a newbie next to me who was having a an "ah-hah" moment. I gave him a lot of info on the band and the music kept hitting the nail on the head, song after song.

Then we came to it. The first good STASH of 3.0 (of course this is my opinion, but for the record I have at least listened to almost all of the 3.0 stash's). Around the nine minute mark, of the nearly 14 minute version, the icky funk came through and descended into a living beast. It only go better and didnt fade away the minute it got interesting. The a little past the ten minute mark the jam opened up. It was a glorious jam. They could have played Stash for 25 minutes that night, and it would have been one of the top few jams of the year- but even still it was new life in a good song that didnt have too much specific inspiration during 2009-2012.

*Just a side note, 2013 was really good to certain songs. Harry Hood, had the best version of 3.0 at Hollywood. Steam, while a new song, clearly had the best and possibly second best version at Hampton then Bill Graham, also Twist was reignited (much like the Twist from Cincinnati 2012) with clutch performances at Hampton the Atlantic City. Down With Disease also had it's best version of 3.0 at Reading (while many people like the 24 minute Clarkston, and the Toronto 2013- I still think the Reading DWD had NEW LIFE). Theme From The Bottom had it's most interesting version since, possibly the Island Tour...Of course the top dawgs of 2013 were Carini and Tweezer, but there have been good Tweezers and Carinis through 3.0.

Next was Scent of a Mule. What a Scent it was! Fish busted out the Marimba Lumina for the first time at MPP2 2013. It was awesome watching Fish play, what looked like to me, an electric xylophone. It was a sick jam. Back to back with the Stash- it was a very creative combo which lifted a good first set- to one of the best first sets!

It's Ice came next and basically- who doesn't love It's Ice! Right into TUBE which blew the crowd up again only to lead into the very appropriate Antelope set closer.

It was a great first set. So much energy, jamming, creativity and fan favorites.