This show is incredible, as is expected from the tour opener of Phish's most consistently amazing tour in their history.

Chalk Dust opened up furiously, and led into Black-Eyed Katy, the debut of the new funk instrumental. I may be in the minority when I say I prefer The Moma Dance, but they still weave and shred through BEK with authority. Theme From the Bottom has a good jam (as it always seems to have, anyway) and Train Song is a nice breather. Later in the set, the YEM is groovy, and pretty spectacular in my opinion. Zero is Zero.

But they brought something entirely different for the second set. In my opinion, the only better versions of Stash in Phishtory are 11/14/95 and 7/2/97. This version rages at the beginning, then gets contemplative, ambient, and melodic, and very craftily returns to the "Maybe so, Maybe not" ending theme. The 21 minutes flew by.

PYITE>Caspian>BATR is a neat little combination, and the Caspian especially is very soulfully delivered and stretched out. The Mike's Groove to end the set, however, is one of the greatest post '95 versions of the combinations. The tramps segment of Mike's is downright evil...Trey and Mike sound possessed. Once the closing chords come and go, they enter into a lower key, enchanting jam (complete with Born on the Bayou teases) that leads into a longer than usual Hydrogen. The Weekapaug rages (as per usual) but kicks into maximum overdrive near the end. One of the fastest Weekapaugs I've ever listened. Trey is a god.

You must listen to this show. Now.