Part of my full run through of Summer '98, see here

After a great run things have started to peter off. This is a GOOD Phish show, with a very GOOD setlist, but not a GREAT Phish show. Most songs here are standard for '98 (again GOOD). The first set has a nice Bouncing Around the Room cool down before going into a nice run of songs, and caps with a hot Loving Cup. As far as the second set goes, honestly, the Scent of a Mule > HA HA HA > Scent of a Mule is fun, and the triple whammy of Slave/Chalkdust/Zero to close the set and encore is great rock energy.

Oh but I skipped a few things there, didn't I? It seems we have something that is common during this era i.e. Phish playing "top heavy" sets, where the jams come out early. This show is a great example, because we have two sets that are played that way. The first set starts with yet another stellar '98 Moma Dance opener, and then breaks out into a very fun Runaway Jim jam, with an upbeat energy that feels light years away from the ambient cooldown Jim jam from 7/2. And the second set does the same, kicking off with a fantastic and compelling Wolfman's Brother jam (wasn't I just declaring that Wolfman's jams were past their prime a few shows ago? I take that back) that segues into a somewhat shorter but still sublime '98 version of 2001.

On second thought maybe this was a great show? Hard to say when the purpose of this re-listen is to prove that Summer '98 is as strong as Fall '97. While the back two/thirds of both sets don't have anything jam chart worthy they're all great songs played really well, and the front portion of both sets make for great listening. This is a long form review after all, and when I look back at this show I'll probably just remember the great Runaway Jim and Wolfman's > 2001 from this show and just think, "yeah, those help prove my point."