This show (to me), is the accumulation of everything phish has been throwing down all of 2018. Top tier song choices, silky sweet segues, a bliss jam in Everything's Right, a groove based power rock jam in Light, and an spaceship landing ambient jam in SOAM.
Looking at a larger narrative, this show is the peak of everything that has happened since 2016. In 2016, we were given very blissful and powerful short segments (ex. SPAC CDT, MSG Ghost, Lockin Ghost, Mexico DWD, MGM Birds). In 2017, the jamming became much more cohesive. Multiple movements in jams and much more diversity than 2016 (ex Chimple, Choco Chalkdust, Powder Tube, Jimmy ASIHTOS). Exceptions exist, of course; Vegas Golden Age seemed light years away from most of 2016. The MSG 17 Simple was a groove based masterpiece.
During the summer of 2018, the jams that I keep coming back to are like a combination of these years. Camden Light, Gorge Chalkdust, Alpha Ghost all have the dopamine peaks but unlike most of the previous years, are extremely easy to dance to. Yes, we are phish fans and will find a way to dance to anything they play. These recent peaks can make anyone comfortable to shake it to the beat.
I was sure that I would be let down after the fall tour that those 5 men gave us in October. Then they doubled down with 3 shows that have a chance to be in "top 5 of 2018".
This was like the scene in V for Vendetta, where the inspector goes to the burned down prison (or where ever he was) and can see all the events that had happened as well as everything that was going to happen. All I know is; I can't wait to see what's next in this story.