SET 1: Carini: Energy pre-show was super intense. People were ready to get down and thoroughly prepared to do so. The opening notes of Carini shook Thomas & Mack, fans were in full throat, yours truly included these being my first Phish shows in Sin City. Fish straight up SCREAMING Carini Had a Lumpy Head at the end. Nuts.

Rift: Not perfect by any stretch, but the effort and energy are all there.

Frankenstein: Awesome in the three hole, just ratchets up the energy that much more if that was even possible. Scrambled my eggs BIG TIME.

Mellow Mood: The irony of this being played at one of the bands more rock and roll shows of all time is not lost on me. Good stuff. Probably good they gave us a breather because folks were bouncing off the walls.

Wilson[1] 4.5 minutes in and this one is just…different than most versions. Gets ugly and sinister, absolutely brilliant! Has such an edge to it, evil Phish. >

Spock's Brain: Way, way, way out of left field. Took me a good minute to figure it out. Huge bust out. >

Bathtub Gin: Out of the composed section the jam is speedy and upbeat. A slower pace is recognized around 9 minutes and the Chicagoans in attendance get the rest of us to clap along and band obliges. Mike is owning faces in this segment and beyond. The peak is incredible, not sure why this version has generated a bit more love over the years. If I could bottle the feeling I had during this and sold it, I would be a billionaire. Cloud nine >

Character Zero: Rock stars, arena rock stars. Just crushed.

First set summary: I was floored! Regarding replay value, I would definitely advise anyone reading to checkout Wilson and Gin. Both are fantastic. But I had a ton of fun relistening to the whole thing just now remembering so much of what happened from 22 years ago. At set break, spirits were soaring. The wave got going and a frisbee was being tossed for the narrow side of the second deck, across the floor and over to the other side of the arena in the second deck. Ever seen that happen? Nuts!

SET 2: Dinner and a Movie: Another epic bust out, last played was the Slip, Stich and Pass show first since March 1, 1997, or 242 shows. What a way to come out of the set break swinging a very heavy bat!

The Moma Dance: This Moma rages in a way that few ever have or will. It is just incredibly fierce. Words won’t do it justice, but you listening to it will. Little space jam tacked on to the ending >

Also Sprach Zarathustra: The place is melting at this point and grooving as one. Super cool to be a part of this. Walk this Way tease early on. >

Fluffhead: Pretty well played and big, ol’ end shred has the arena on fire. Cool little space jam into… >

Meatstick: Standard >

Walk This Way[2] When Kid came out, I was disappointed. I felt like the show was on its way to all timer type territory if they played a couple more bangers. But oh well. Screechy screech time.

Rapper's Delight[2] Fishman antics were funny

You Shook Me All Night Long[3] Screeeeech

ENCORE: We're an American Band[4] I had badly wanted to see this since hearing the tapes from 11.16.96. The alternate lyrics were…eye opening.

Second set summary: Moma, whew buddy, so much replay value there and really through Meatstick is just a ball. So much fun and the band and the fans are intimately connected throughout. The Kid Rock stuff has kind of grown on me over the years, it is what it is. I love this show, always will and likely have severe attendance bias. With the Wilson, Gin and Moma standouts I would rate this a strong 4.1 out of 5.

[1] Heavy metal jam.
[2] Phish debut, Kid Rock on guest vocals.
[3] First Phish performance in its entirety, Kid Rock on guest vocals.
[4] Kid Rock on guest vocals.

Wilson included a heavy metal jam, complete with Trey waving his guitar in the air. Kid Rock provided guest vocals from Walk This Way through the encore. Walk This Way and Rapper’s Delight (with funny stage antics from Fish, who danced on his knees like Kid’s sidekick Joe C.) were Phish debuts. You Shook Me (All Night Long) was played in its entirety by Phish for the first time, although it had been jammed on other occasions. Walk This Way was also teased during 2001. Spock’s Brain (first since June 24, 1995, or 391 shows), Dinner and a Movie (first since March 1, 1997, or 242 shows), and American Band (first since November 16, 1996, or 271 shows) returned after long absences. The Carini opener was preceded by a Wilson tease and saw Trey have several problems with his guitar. Meatstick featured Mike and Trey doing the Meatstick dance.