The thing about this is that it isn't a bad show. But the best part is the opening Carini > Possum. The rest of the show is solid, but never hits that same high, which makes it feel like a worse show than it truly is.

This was my first show, and I was very excited to see the band. Three days earlier, I had just turned in my senior thesis. The process was stressful. But I took comfort in the fact that three days after it was done, I'd get to see Phish for the first time. I was going with my dad, a Deadhead I got hooked on Phish with me during the pandemic.

When they played the opening notes of Carini, I lost my mind. Wasn't even on my mind as an opener, but was exactly what I needed to hear. "The thesis that you're writing is a load of shit, but I'm glad you finally finished it" spoke to me in that way live music can make a powerful connection with you. And then, on top of that, it was a badass jam. Full of fire and fury, and transitioned nicely into a ripping Possum.

The rest of set one, I think, is solid! Moma Dance is great, really free and fluid. Strange Design is a favorite ballad of mine and totally lovely. Stash had a really cool jam. Blaze On was played, of course, for the 4/20 of it all. But honestly, the band played it like it was obligatory. It was the least into Blaze On I've ever seen Trey.

To me, this second set really falters in the second set. Sigma Oasis is a solid opener, and carries into a Down with Disease. It is the longest jam of the night and, in my opinion, the weakest. The band stays in a pretty same-y world for the first ten minutes of the jam, then notice they haven't done anything with it and go straight to a peak they ride for a few minutes. It landed nicely into The Howling, which I may have been the only person in my section excited to hear. Was well played! Now it's starting to feel good. Twist was solid if uneventful.

My enthusiasm really peters out after that. I'm personally not a huge Mountains in the Mist fan- I think it's an absolute momentum killer, and the band has to work twice as hard to bring the energy back up. But a slow and botched Reba followed by a Drift While You're Sleeping closer does not do that. The encore pairing was cool, but the energy wasn't there.

It's not a bad show. But an underwhelming second set really leaves a really bland taste in your mouth. I don't go back to this show much, but when I do it's for that killer killer Carini.