My first TAB show, completely exceeded expectations.

It was my eighth of now nine trips to the 9:30 Club and perhaps the bet show I've seen there (other acts include MGB, MSMW, Uberjam, Lettuce, Leftover Salmon, DSO, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Tauk, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Moon Taxi, others)

Highlights of Set One came mid-set for me, with Land of Nod and a show-stopping Dark and Down. Lost a little momentum after Night Speaks to a Woman with a fairly dull Wherever You Find It>Drifting>Pigtail. Come As Melody, however, was a nice closer.

In Rounds better be on the next TAB album, as it was arguably the funnest song of the night. The lyrics are Trey-silly, but find themselves stuck in your head days later without hearing it a second time. Plasma was probably the highlight of the set, with James Casey killing it on Sax. Mr. Completely is a jammer through and through. If you've never heard the sole Phish take on this one from Salt Lake '03, it's worth a listen.

After resisting puking during Show of Life the band predictably closed out the night with the classic First Tube. A lot of the crowd up front had left, and this one was the only song during the night that really got the crowd moving. If you were a head at this show, it was evident during First Tube-and it killed.

Awesome Show.

Highlights: Dark and Down, In Rounds, Simple Twist Up Dave, Plasma, Mr. Completely