Set I clearly rests within that category of You Had to Be There. Like two nights before, the fun and energy simply do not translate well to tape. Very cool to see more 10/31 - I still want a Cat - and if preparation for this performance, much like 10/31/96, will usher in a new era of Phish. This work, coupled with Fare Thee Well prep (PLUS the band's other solo projects: just waiting on a Tornado number) points to the inevitability we've seen play out to this point.

Fuse does more than simply launch Forbin (although there is that); it's a cool tune, which features cool guitar which reminds me, right or wrong, of _Surrender to the Air_.

Forbin's pretty arena-rocking, and you've heard (or read) the narration. The Bird is great; no problems other than that which you hear in a Rift or Ice. Pretty impressive, really, considering.

The rest has been discussed....

Set II

Cool Lope. In the moment you're hoping for more of an excursion.... the way it's played (I love CMAC's FuegoLope) is so musical, that the possibility of an extended version was thrilling. Wasn't meant to be, but that's okay: I could listen to Waves all day. And Trey is playing so well, he's going after so many more notes, that it sounded a bit like '03; not that it should - 15 is just fine.

The segue into Tweezer is one of my favorite Phish moments period, as one: it was a true surprise, have just caught one, and two: it's really, really cool.

The Tweezer itself is one of my favorite jams of recent vintage. (And time will tell; it may remain one of my favorites ever.) If you've never listened to Eureka 92, track it down; it's on the SS. The two are very similar. The playing is slow and melodic and thoughtful and interesting and enchanting. It's one of those (extended) moments where the band members occupy different spaces, pinging sounds one off another to create a lunar soundscape that Kubrick himself would have 'aped.'

By now you know how the rest plays out.

I remain enthusiastic about the thought put into encores.

And have no fear, festival-goers. This entire tour is spelling something. Those of you lucky enough to attend either, or both, will get the likes of Foam; an ambient 2001 with a Mutron breakdown; a crazy Scents and Subtle Sounds; Tela; Sky Train Wand; who knows....