Wow, where to even start. This was the phirst show I had to take aspirin and use Ben-Gay the next morning; I was literally dancing or otherwise on my feet the entire show. Yes, even during the group's 'roundtable discussion' of Donut Cosmology (can this be a thing? Can this theory be published in some leading scientific journals???) during Harpua. HARPUA!!! Spastic dead-eyed hound!!! I have been chasing you for 23 years and 32 shows ago (7 with my girlfriend Vicky), and now I have faced off with you again...but not to be contained or trapped, as such a beast like you is to be feared and avoided. Just ask Poster Nutbag. The first set was excellent but seemed played at a mellow intensity, and not sure if due to the acoustics or Trey's energy level but it seemed like he was a bit out-of-sync with the band for the first few songs. I wouldn't blame him if he was because he has been absolutely killing it this run. That aside, it was a phenomenal first set among a plethora of phenomenal first sets this run. Even if they didn't play Forbin>Mockingbird, which was my phirst.
The SECOND set, tho...22 minute Drowned>18 minute Song I Heard the Ocean Sing??? I've always kicked myself for seeing the show AFTER the show everyone talks about, but with this run, EVERY show is like that it seems! But THIS show??? It was like its own bucket, not just a bucket list. To witness a Harpua after 40 minutes of madness like that?? It's indescribable. Maybe only between phenomenal beings of light, or astronauts, or sages. I knew with THAT kind of jam (and the biggest hint, the 'Jimmies') Phish would again open up a wormhole for us (just like at UIC, 11-25-94) and transport us into a world outside of time and space. Which, as we would bear witness to, Trey, Mike, Page and Fish had developed a theory about-Donut Theory-and shared it with us. The middle of the Donut-the Eye of the Perfect Storm of this historic run-and we were there for it.
And then, as a nod to that fated phirst show, they ripped out a raging 2001. What limbs had not been melted off me by that point I used to dance my last. At the end, band and we all spent, they took us out with a nice a cappella of "Good Old Summertime", and then the debut of Wind Cries Mary-again (like Phish) unexpected, but totally worthwhile.
Which I can say about this experience, and my experience with Phish in general.
Please me, I have no regrets.