Never miss a Sunday Show, indeed.

Set 1 set started strong enough, with solid but standard "Sample", "Bag", and "Moma". But already the energy was different than N1, at least that is what I could feel. "Rift" > "Caspian" was a turning point for me. I have always loved "Caspian" for the way it seems to plunge me, full body, into the rolling ocean, and this jam felt particularly submersive. I guess "Monsters" is not exactly beloved judging by the amount of people who left to pee when it started. I, for one, really enjoyed it, particularly the slow build into a rocking finish. After a truly mind-bending "Jim" Jam (Page should play more Clavinet, that shit is dirty as hell and I LOVE it), the delightful surprise of "YEM" and the double surprise of a high energy "Ghost" closer, I was left buzzing. I thought, in the moment, that it was one of the best first sets I had heard in some time.

Then, Set 2 left me thinking that this was as perfect a show as I've ever been to. The "Gin" opener kept the energy from the first set flowing. And then came "Ruby Waves". I love that this song, in the hands of Phish, has become one of the most reliable jam vehicles of this era. Even before they launched the jam, I felt the spectre of the Alpine Valley version in the room with us. This newest version bears relistens, I'm certain. The peaks and valleys (waves, if you will) of this jam felt so incredibly in tune with the vibes in MSG, thanks in no small part to CK5. Fishman REALLY shone in this one- his steadiness allowed for the other three to get especially weird just before the landing was stuck. "Waste" being the first dance at my wedding is a bias, I grant. BUT I'm going to go out on a limb and say that "Waste" was the first dance at a LOT of people's weddings and it was absolutely a perfect come-down. "Fuego" in MSG is a special thing- a moment to notice the sheer magnitude of the place. I don't know if "Crosseyed and Painless" was faster than is typical, but it certainly ripped. "Bold As Love" was the perfect cherry topper (I like when jam-filled shows end with straight-ahead rockers). I think Phish pitched a perfect game.

I left N1 feeling not-so-great. It wasn't a bad show, exactly. As a matter of fact there were a few moments which I thought were pretty great. But overall it felt disjointed to me, and left me a bit tired. N2 left me feeling EXACTLY the opposite, and incredibly excited for the final two nights. What can I say? This is why I've seen this band dozens of times- because they have never lacked the capacity to pleasantly surprise me. And what a gift that is.

5/5