@dipped said:

And what are some qualities many would associate with each of the 1.0/2.0/3.0 eras? Just trying to catch up on the conversation that's all.

1.0 -- is 15 years, has so many different periods. Thai is a gross over-simplification, but here is my take.

- Pre '94 - Perhaps more like 3.0. Less Type 2, more song-based Jamming. Very little deep funk and other basic-chord-progression jams. mostly high energy arena rock, and Phish's brand of quirky jazz (see Junta).

-'94-mid '96. Arena Rock on Steroids!!! Type 2 high octane shows. I think Page comes into his own as driving a style. Fall '94 and Dec. '95 among others contain many must listen shows.

late '96 - '98. Funk the Funk!!! deep in dark in '97, through dancing cow-funk of '98. Perhaps launched by their work to cover Talking Heads' Remain in the Light. (many consider Fall '97 to be the THE TOUR. Along with infamous "Island Tour" of April 98.))

'98-2000. A more rock-based Funk. The very light Trey-Band infused (some would say "cheesier" songs enter the mix. Solid jamming throughout.

2.0 - Probably the most deep in Type 2 and maybe the weakest in performing written music (YEM intro always butchered, and Fluffhead not even tried). Perhaps a bit repetitive in the darkness of the emerging Jams. Very eery, dark spacey Type 2 Jams (see Scents and Subtle Sounds from Camden in summer '03, not sure of date). 2/28/03 and 6/19/04 are among the highlights. And a monster 46 Days and Ghost from IT are good Jams to hear the vibe of the time.

3.0 - Arena Anthem Rock Gods!! lol. Tight rocking sets as they find their improv legs. Type 1 jamming almost exclusively. 25 song shows a normal. Some great stuff in '09, and a lull to most of us in '10 -- but signs of what was to come in Summer '11. (Bethel, and the Storage Jam are good indications of what had the scene buzzing by the end of 2011, despite falling a bit flat at the NYE MSG run.) And now this monster summer!!

The last 3 years have been amazing to listen to them build a new style of Arena Anthem rock, psychedelia jamming, and Funk. Kind of melding a hybrid between the various styles, in what hopefully will continue to explode from the Glory we saw this summer.